stevengriffin.org Podcast

Do you ever get frustrated reading your Bible? Do you struggle when you hear a sermon, or have a conversation concerning Scripture, as to how best to fact-check your interpretations and the interpretations of others? On this episode, we look at the 3 "Worlds of the Text" to help guide us in interrogating the Scriptures.

The curtain is drawn back past the instant of death. What will it reveal? Today, we examine the Intermediate State, that nebulous state of being sandwiched between our physical life and our ultimate, eternal fate.

Now 10 days into the celebration of Lent, I am pleased to share one way in which I have been using the spiritual principles of the mitzvah and the Examen to provide vehicles for daily reflection and purpose in this holy season.

A brief meditation on the purpose of, and preparation for, the liturgical season of Lent. Published on Ash Wednesday. Music Credit: Jesus My Love, by Richard Rolle.

A couple weeks ago, I felt burdened to share some thoughts regarding social media and the noticeable spike of my friends and connections leaving those platforms in the wake of the highly politicized online environment.

As we look ahead to 2017, may we recognize that the time which we inhabit, as well as the space we occupy, is holy.

Beneath the fear, anger, and just general disruption of the past week, are spiritual forces.

Joseph! Genesis! Failed seduction! Nirvana, Kill Bill, Monty Python, and Jeff Goldblum! The scene of Joseph's interactions with Potiphar's wife is often held up as a morality tale of character triumphing over lust...but is that really the extent of meaning? (Music and media credits may be found at stevengriffin.org)

A poem by Trappist monk Thomas Merton pondering the contemplative experience of silence as a journey towards God.

Rabbi Hillel encouraged his followers to be a human, where others were not behaving as such.

Today's movement is a brief encouragement of the power of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. Music credit: O Sacrum Convivium by Thomas Tallis.

Today's movement provides a reflection on the disciplines of confession, penance, and continual self-conversion as we start our busy weeks. Music credit: Heyr, Himna Smidur by Arstidir.

The introduction and first "movement" of brief devotionals, intended to bring us away from the political, away from the oversaturation of the negative, despondent, and fearful spirits. These devotions, starting with today on the topic of "Scripture," will instead help us align with that which is positive and worth centering ourselves upon. Music credit for today's episode: Cherubin Hymne by Pyotr Ivanovich Turchaninov.

Part of God's communication with humans is achieved through other people. Today's episode uses Jack Deere's book, The Beginner's Guide to the Gift of Prophecy, as a launching point to introduce the phenomenon of encouragement through God's leading.

The spiritual world and the physical world - Jesus cared about both? We explore the concept of the Holy Spirit as we conclude our series on Jesus and the disciples' traveling ministry. We also briefly touch upon the tragedy in Orlando last week and some of the spiritual implications of these kinds of atrocities.

Our 10th episode! (Seems like that's significant for some reason. Thought I should at least mention the obvious...) Today's episode is a follow-up of sorts to Episode 7 (Vocation and Tension), but exploring more of the "tension" piece of that equation.

Our last scripture passage in Luke (9:1-20) where we "Journey with Jesus," as Jesus sends his disciples into the towns of Galilee and thousands are fed outside Bethsaida in the wilderness.

Holy Week 2016 is upon us! As we look forward to the conclusion of the Lenten season, I wanted to post a Palm Sunday sermon which I gave back in 2011 at Timberline Old Town church in Fort Collins, CO. Whether or not you remember this message from back that far, there are some common themes between the events on Palm Sunday and the journey with Jesus in Luke 7, 8, and 9. Please enjoy.

What if your "calling" and your "career" aren't necessarily the same? We explore the tension between these two concepts, and how risking well might be God's best path forward for us.

We "Journey with Jesus" back across the lake to Capernaum, where Jesus plays the part of a hooded mystic to the townspeople.

We continue our "Journey with Jesus" in Luke 8. As we get out of our cramped fishing boat, a raving lunatic runs up to Jesus and spiritual awesomeness ensues.

We begin our journey with Jesus and the disciples through Luke 7 and 8. In this episode, Jesus sleeps while the disciples massively freak out.