The Orchard Podcast Mike and Michelle Tessendorf & Brian LaMew

"Go the extra mile" and "Turn the other cheek" are universally known expressions that were first spoken by Jesus himself. Both of these phrases are ancient and yet timeless as they guide us in the daily challenge of loving people around us, especially those who are difficult to love. In this episode, we will talk about Jesus' unorthodox approach to loving others and how that affects the impact we can make in the world as his followers.
We also are excited to have Deacon Stanley Jones Jr the Department Head for Missions at First Baptist Church of Glenarden International as our special guest for this conversation as he shares his insights from his life and ministry on the topic of extra-mile living and loving.

Join us in this thought-provoking episode as we delve into one of Jesus' lesser-known teachings found in Matthew 5:31-37, where He explores the significance of oaths and the essence of integrity. While oaths may conjure up images of childhood pinky swears or solemn promises made on a loved one's grave, Jesus challenges us to a deeper understanding—one rooted in trustworthiness, keeping our word, and honoring our relationships.

In this episode, we embark on a transformative journey from legalism to love, guided by Jesus' radical teachings on the law of love. As we explore Matthew 5:17-20, we confront the temptation to approach spirituality like studying an owner's manual—meticulously memorizing and reciting passages without experiencing genuine transformation. Instead, Jesus invites us to leave behind the confines of rule-based religion and embark on a life-giving road trip of heart transformation. By embracing the law of love for God and others, we unlock the power to live lives of genuine faith, holiness, and impact in the world. Join us as we navigate the twists and turns of this spiritual journey and discover the freedom and joy that come from embracing the transformative power of love.

Often we underestimate the impact we can make in the world and fail to see our full capacity. In this episode of the Orchard Podcast we take a look what Jesus says about our influence when we serve in his kingdom. We also welcome Theuno Swart, Orchard: Africa's National Director of South Africa, to join in the conversation as he shares his insights and stories living a missional life.

As we kick off a new year of the Orchard Podcast, we are going to start with a conversation about Jesus' seemingly backward vision for life and society. We will unpack the beatitudes found in Matthew 5 and talk about the picture these famous one-liners give us of God's kingdom.
Listen and then shoot us an email with a thought or a story at podcast@orchardafrica.org. We'd love to hear from you and have you join the conversation.

We have all heard the song that goes "this little light of mine...I'm going to let it shine..." How do you think our world would change if we not only "let our light shine," but we helped those around us shine brightly too. In this episode, we will talk about the connection between God's light, our light and our neighbor's light. We will also wrap up 2023 with this final episode of the year and share some reflections on our Orchard Zoolights event in November.