Aaron Couch and Gus Simpson talk about the Bible and some practical ways to build a discipline centered around the Text.
016: The Core 4 — Prayer
For the next few months, A Better Conversation will be in parallel with Shaping Faith, our current sermon series at Real Life exploring Christian disciplines. Today, Aaron and Gus take a look at prayer — what it is, why we practice it, and how it changes our hearts and minds.
015: God and Science with Dr. Dusty Van Hofwegen
Aaron and Gus sit down for an interview with our old friend Dr. Dusty Van Hofwegen, a working scientist and microbiologist, about the real and perceived divisions between the Church and the scientific community.
Resources:
014: An Affirmation of Marriage
Aaron Couch and Gus Simpson take a look at the biblical view of marriage, some misconceptions about marriage, and practical tools for becoming a better partner and spouse.
Resources:
013: Abuse with Peter and Claire Roise, Part 2
Aaron Couch sits down with Peter and Claire Roise, advocates for abuse awareness, to shed some light on the many forms relational and spiritual abuse can take, and how the Church can help bring awareness and healing.
For more information on the Roises and their advocacy work, check out:
012: Abuse with Peter and Claire Roise, Part 1
Aaron Couch sits down with Peter and Claire Roise, advocates for abuse awareness, to shed some light on the many forms relational and spiritual abuse can take, and how the Church can help bring awareness and healing.
For more information on the Roises and their advocacy work, check out:
011: What Is Discipleship?
For the uninitiated, Aaron Couch and Gus Simpson provide a look at what discipleship is, how it works, and why Christians are called to be disciples of Jesus who make disciples.
010: Literary Genres of the Bible
Aaron Couch and Gus Simpson take a deeper look at eight of the literary genres we find in the Bible and how we should approach them.
009: Cultivating Healthy Relationships
With the holidays upon us, many of us are spending extra time with friends and family, and might be feeling just a bit strained in those relationships. We figured this is a good time to talk about some of the components of healthy relationships. Whether you’re struggling with your spouse, your kids, or your mother-in-law, here are some things to keep in mind. Merry Christmas!
008: Church Planting with Paule Patterson
Last year, Real Life helped plant Mission Ridge Church in Missoula, Montana. In today’s episode, we talk to Paule Patterson, lead pastor of Mission Ridge, about the ups and downs of starting a new church in a new town.
007: Why Context Matters, Part 2
Aaron Couch and Gus Simpson continue their look at why it’s important to study the Bible in context, and the different lenses we can use to do so.
Websites:
Authors:
Brad Gray
Doug Greenwold
Ray Vander Laan
Lois Tverberg
Dwight Pryor
David Fohrman
D. Thomas Lancaster
David Stern
Pete Enns
Books:
Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus
Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus
Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus
The Gospel According to Moses
Jewish Commentary of the New Testament
006: Why Context Matters, Part 1
What is a contextual hermeneutic, and why does it matter? Why should we care so much about the history, geography, and culture of the Bible? Aaron Couch and Gus Simpson tackle these questions and more.
005: Dealing with Suicide
Aaron Couch and Gus Simpson start a conversation around an appropriate biblical response to suicide.
What the Bible Says about Suicide: 7 Reminders of Hope
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800.273.8255
004: Depression
Depression is a real problem, both within and outside the Church, and we shouldn’t be afraid to talk about it. Aaron Couch and Gus Simpson share personal experiences around depression and attempt to untangle misconceptions and provide helpful tools, whether you deal with depression personally or are trying to support a loved one.
003: Connecting Heart-to-Heart
Empathy is foundational to forming relationships and ministering effectively. Building on last week’s discussion on relational ministry, Aaron Couch and Gus Simpson talk about practical ways to connect with others on a heart-to-heart level. If you’d like to check out the scene we discuss from Inside Out, you can find it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT6FdhKriB8.
002: What Is Relational Ministry?
If you’ve been a part of Real Life for long, you’ve probably heard the term “relational ministry.” Today, Aaron Couch and Gus Simpson dive into what it is, why we do it, and some tools we can apply as we relate to others.
001: Biblical Context with Brad Gray
Aaron Couch and Gus Simpson interview Brad Gray of Walking the Text. We discuss what led to Brad’s fascination with understanding biblical context, the resources he has built over the years, and what people can expect from his visit to Real Life for The Restoration of All Things. Don’t forget to register for The Restoration of All Things by visiting liferotp.com/restore.
000: Introduction
Aaron Couch and Gus Simpson discuss what they hope to accomplish with A Better Conversation.