Bible Study: Jesus' Encounters: What John’s Gospel Teaches Us About Inclusion - Lent Bible Study with Bird Treacy

Episode 113, Published 03/08/2025  Gain confidence with the scriptures through our weekly Bible Study - this conversation discusses the Bible Readings for the week of 03/09.  Find the prayer services and upcoming reading list here.   We welcome back Bird Treacy for a rich discussion about children's role in church, the Gospel readings for the first week of Lent, and Jesus' relationship with Jewish traditions. Bird gives us a good word about the theological depth of children and how churches should fully include them in worship rather than treating them as distractions.   Our conversation transitions into exploring the Gospel of John, focusing on Jesus' personal encounters with Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, and the official. In an episode perfect for International Women’s Day – Bird highlights how these encounters reveal Jesus' unique ministry and his challenges to cultural expectations. We also discuss the significance of Jesus' Jewishness and how his deep knowledge of tradition enabled him to reinterpret it in ways that expanded access to God.   Bird Treacy is a Godly Play Trainer, Episcopal church lady, church programming consultant, and writer based in the greater Boston area. Prior to finding her way to professional work in the church, Bird earned a masters degree in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies with an emphasis on Disability Studies from Emory University, and she brings both an academic lens and a lived experience of disabled identity to her current work. When not wranging small humans or developing programming, you can usually find Bird cooking, writing, competing in jigsaw puzzle competitions, making lace, or doing some other craft project. She lives with her wife, a current veterinary student, and their five cats. Bird has a WEALTH of Resource, stay in touch with her -- Website, Substack, @abirdinchurch (Instagram)   Sign up for our monthly email to get the readings and prayer services sent straight to your inbox!   Key moments in our conversation include: Key moments in our conversation include:  00:24 Bringing Children to the Center  07:43 Jesus's Relationships in the Public Spaces  10:36 Women in the Gospel of John   13:43 The Jewishness of Jesus   You can read a complete transcript of this episode, here.   Things we talk about on this episode:  Godly Play Foundation   Let’s stay connected! Website: www.bedtimechapel.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bedtimechapel/ Facebook: Bedtime Chapel Monthly Newsletter: Sign-Up Here