Pope-style advice: let Jesus lead, not follow you
A host delivers the promised 'pope-style advice' from the fake-pope premise: when you claim to follow Jesus, watch how often you stand still and ask Jesus to follow you instead. He warns against taking a pale pastel of Jesus' character (e.g. 'God is love') and painting a whole landscape that enlists Jesus as backer for your own passions, using an Elton John quote ('Jesus would support this union') as the example. The advice: come to scripture willing to be changed by it rather than looking for affirmation, distinguishing people who want Jesus as Savior from those who submit to Him as Lord.
More on Scripture
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'It's not a religion, it's a relationship': framing the big question
- Does God want a relationship with you - and if so, what do we actually mean by it?
Ben frames the night's first big question: the phrase 'it's not a religion, it's a relationship' is common, and evangelicals say 'God wants to be in relationship with you' - but is it true, and if so, what do we mean?
From No. 602 · Relationship Counseling
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The New Testament case for human shaping
- What does the New Testament actually say about spiritual authority and submission?
Ben walks the New Testament texts: Hebrews 13:17 ('obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls') presumes a soul-watching laborer, not a rule-maker;…
From No. 600 · Rage The Elephant
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How to tell your voice from God's: the Bible test and leniency
- How can you tell the difference between you speaking and God speaking?
Ella distills the question: how do you tell the difference between you speaking and God speaking? Her first answer: we have a Bible — what God is telling you is probably already in it ('Ben's gonna have a proud papa moment').
From No. 597 · Maybe A Word From God
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Self-help Jesus and the wave problem
- Why do believers cycle through self-help-style Jesus fads instead of lasting growth?
The hosts move to the second topic: 'self help Jesus' content on social media — spirituality coded with affirmations that God loves you but really centered on self-improvement, arriving in waves like fad diets.
From No. 545 · By Invitation Only