PODCAST · religion
The Invitation
by Joshua Banner
The Invitation podcast is a 'little retreat' to help you hear and respond to the God's invitation to a deeper relationship with him. Each episode is a guided prayer and meditation led by Josh Banner, a certified spiritual director.
Episodes
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New Reality in Belonging - Josh Banner Part Two No. 113
This is part two of the fourth conversation in a series of podcast episodes introducing to the world a new doctorate of ministry (DMin) study cohort to be hosted at Western Theological Seminary. The title of this series shares the name of the study cohort, "A New Reality in Belonging…
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New Reality in Belonging - Josh Banner Part One No. 112
New Reality in Belonging - Josh Banner Part One No. 112 by Joshua Banner
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New Reality in Belonging - Keith Reynolds No. 111
This is the third of a series of podcast episodes introducing to the world a new doctorate of ministry (DMin) study cohort to be hosted at Western Theological Seminary. The title of this series shares the name of the study cohort, "A New Reality in Belonging: Contemplation and Justice for All…
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New Reality in Belonging - Cami Beecroft Man No. 110
This is the second of a series of podcast episodes that are introducing to the world a new doctorate of ministry (DMin) study cohort to be hosted at Western Theological Seminary. The title of this series shares the name of the study cohort, "A New Reality in Belonging: Contemplation and Justice…
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A New Reality in Belonging - Michelle Loyd-Paige No. 109
This is the first of a series of podcast episodes that are introducing to the world a new doctorate of ministry (DMin) study cohort to be hosted at Western Theological Seminary. The title of this series shares the name of the study cohort, "A New Reality in Belonging: Contemplation and Justice…
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Facing the Violence: Embracing Weakness with Thurman & Guided Breath Prayer No. 108
What do we do with the agony? What can we do? Where do we go for help? For all those who feel deeply For all those who are confused For all those who feel helpless For all those who are angry For all those who are hiding and are shut down For all those who have no voice For all those who are...
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What if our neighbors are the sacrament? Pt. III | Invitation Podcast No. 107
A New Reality in Belonging Series - Robert Caldwell & Keith Reynolds Pt III What if justice begins with listening? What if we don’t bring Jesus to others—but discover Jesus already among them? In this final conversation with Keith Reynolds and Robert Caldwell, we explore contemplation, Black...
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Surrender Over Certainty Pt II / Invitation Podcast No. 106
In Part II of this ongoing conversation, Josh continues his dialogue with Robert Caldwell and Keith Reynolds, deepening the exploration of surrender, obedience, and belonging. Set in the season of Advent, this episode reflects on waiting, disorientation, and unfinishedness as sacred spaces where...
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A New Reality in Belonging Series - Robert Caldwell & Keith Reynolds Pt I No. 105
In this episode podcaster and spiritual director, Josh Banner with Keith Reynolds, and Robert Caldwell explores how the church can embody creative, justice-oriented responses to today’s social realities by centering marginalized communities and reimagining spiritual formation as social...
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Eastertide Series #4 Getting Small - Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus No. 104
In this fourth installment of the ‘Eastertide’ series, Josh Banner invites listeners to explore the concept of becoming small through Christ's resurrection. By reflecting on Psalm 131, the discussion delves into humility and love for others, even those we don't understand. The episode examines...
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Eastertide Series #3 Getting Small - Howard Thurman on Powerlessness No. 103
In this episode of The Invitation Podcast, Josh Banner delves deep into the concept of resurrection as a means to become humble and small. Drawing upon passages from Psalm 131, Romans 12, and integrating thoughts from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King Jr., and Howard Thurman, Josh explores...
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Eastertide Series #2 Getting Small - Bonhoeffer On Powerlessness No. 102
In this episode of The Invitation Podcast, Josh Banner explores the idea of 'Resurrection Life as an Invitation to Become Small.' He delves into the late writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, suggesting that Bonhoeffer's true essence and his writings on powerlessness align with a deeper understanding…
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Eastertide Meditation Series 'Resurrection Invites Us to Get Small' No. 101
In this episode of the Invitation Podcast, Josh Banner explores the upcoming podcast series focusing on resurrection as an invitation to becoming small. He reflects on the heroic dimension often associated with Christian faith in America and invites listeners to reconsider their understanding...
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Easter Small
I made this sketch for the Invitation Podcast series The Resurrection Invites us to Become Small.
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Seven Manners of Loving
I put this meditation together March 27, 2025 after facilitating an SOCL retreat. I left the retreat appropriately tired yet full and in need of processing with sound. Rhodes, nylon string guitar, and 'field' recording processed with a Chase Bliss Mood II and some Felt Instruments Smugi.
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Rediscovering Belonging: Reflections on Contemplation, Justice, and Community No. 100
In this hundredth episode, I share the completion of my doctoral dissertation, reflecting on the impact of global and national issues on our well-being. Drawing inspiration from Willie James Jennings, I explore the concept of a new reality in belonging and its significance in our polarized world....
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Year End Giving! - A 2024 Update & Meditation on Creative, Maladjusted, Non-Conforming Faith
In this episode discuss my journey with The Invitation, the challenges and goodness of 2024, especially as I finish my doctorate! To wrap up the year I share four sacred sayings that have helped me, a reading from Dr. King, Paul Kingsnorth, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and Howard Thurman. This update...
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Apatheia
"Lord, teach me to care and not to care." It's been awhile since I needed to process with music. Found sounds here just outside my studio on a windy day. Here's our original release: https://ordinaryneighbors.bandcamp.com/album/the-necessary-dark
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From Victims to Witnesses - Forum on Spiritual Direction No. 98
In this episode six members of the School of Contemplative Listening respond to our conviction that spiritual direction can solve (almost) all the world's problems. This is an episode in our onrunning Forum on Spiritual Direction series. As we propose contemplative listening at the vital...
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Our Deep Need for Listening - Forum on Spiritual Direction w/ Cami Beecroft Mann No. 97
We all need help. We can all offer each other help. Cami has taught me so much about these things! This episode is a conversation Josh had with SOCL co-director, Cami Beecroft Mann in 2021. We consider this episode a prequel to the Forum on Spiritual Direction where Josh and Cami discuss the...
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On Becoming a Human Being Fully Alive - Makoto Fujimura No. 96
Josh talks with painter, author, arts advocate Makoto Fujimura about the connections between creativity and prayer. To introduce Makoto Josh offers a reflection on Makoto as a 'worldly mystic,' how he offers for us in his paintings and writings ways to rediscover our own sacred yet earthly...
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Getting Honest with God & Belonging to Myself w/ Kristi Hepp No. 95
Josh talks with Kristi Hepp about her new record "In Between the Gardens." This is the third episode that maps Josh's history with Oklahoma City where Kristi originally hails from. The focus question of this episode is the focus question of Kristi's record, what is a human being fully alive? In...
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Suffering & The Mystical Body of Christ w/ Charlie Hall No. 94
What do we do with suffering? Why would we want to cooperate with the pain? How can suffering be helpful? There are many reasons to be concerned with the way organized religion handles these very vulnerable questions. In this episode, I talk with worship leader Charlie Hall, an old friend about...
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The Jesus Prayer & the Philokalia w/ Brock Bingaman No. 93
This is a conversation I had with Brock Bingaman, pastor of All Saints Community Church in Oklahoma City, on the Jesus Prayer and a book he co-edited on the Philokalia. Brock is an old friend I was glad to reconnect with for this conversation. Maybe breath prayer could be especially helpful for...
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Screwing Around With Our Dependencies in Lent No. 92
This episode is a meditation on screwing with our dependencies in Lent. In the language of the Twelve Steps of addiction recovery: we are powerless over our drug of choice, and our lives as we know them are unmanageable. The purpose of Lent is to subvert our addictions that we might become more...
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Advent Meditations Pt VI Before God We Are Always Beginners No. 91
This is the conclusion of a six-part series of Advent meditations using the Invitation prayer guide, 40 Ways to Spend 5 Minutes with God. In this episode, Josh reads from the end of the prayer guide a reflection on how before God we are always beginners. This prayer guide, first written in 2015…
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Advent Meditations Pt V Longing & Expectation in our SOUL No. 90
Let's return to prayer, to longing and expectation with our strength during Advent. In this meditation, Josh offers a short meditation of praying with the soul. We attended to our bodies in the previous episode. We are bodies. We are also souls. This is the fifth of a six-part series of Advent...
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Advent Meditations Pt IV Longing & Expectation in our STRENGTH No. 89
Let's return to prayer, to longing and expectation with our strength during Advent. In this meditation, Josh offers a short meditation of praying with our strength, in and through our bodies. This is the fourth of a six-part series of Advent meditations using the Invitation prayer guide, 40 Ways…
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Advent Meditations Pt III Longing & Expectation in our MINDS No. 88
Let's return to prayer, to longing and expectation in our MINDS during Advent. In this meditation, Josh offers a short meditation of praying with the heart. This is the second of a six-part series of Advent meditations using the Invitation prayer guide, 40 Ways to Spend 5 Minutes with God. This...
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Advent Meditations Pt II Longing & Expectation in our Hearts No. 87
Let's return to prayer, to longing and expectation in our hearts during Advent. In this meditation, Josh offers a short meditation of praying with the heart. This is the second of a six-part series of Advent meditations using the Invitation prayer guide, 40 Ways to Spend 5 Minutes with God. This...
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Advent 2023 Meditations with New Prayer Guide! No. 86
In this episode, Josh offers the first of a six-part series of Advent meditations using the Invitation prayer guide, 40 Ways to Spend 5 Minutes with God. This prayer guide, first written in 2015 has been substantially re-written. You can download a digital copy of the guide at...
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From Repentance to Reparations to Reconciliation to Repast w/ Greg Thompson Pt II No. 85
Josh and Greg explore Greg's discernment to divest his ordination, leave local church ministry to explore different creative approaches to healing racism. Previously Greg had described his mission in the three elements of the political, the contemplative, and the convivial. Here in part two Greg...
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Getting Vulnerable w/ Greg Thompson Pt I No. 84
In this episode Josh opens up a conversation with Greg Thompson about his book co-authored with Duke Kwon, Reparations: A Christian Call to Repentance & Repair. Yet in the process of attempting to create a conversation about healing the ravages of white supremacy, Josh is confronted with his own...
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Spiritual Friendship w/ Josh Bottomly Episode No. 83
Josh has a conversation with his best friend about their 30+ years of spiritual friendship since they met at summer camp in middle school. This episode is a co-release with the Awakening, a worship/arts camp for high school students based at Hope College. Promo vid: https://youtu.be/6-aewn-cgIo…
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Forum on Spiritual Direction w/ Cami Beercroft Mann Ep 4a No. 82
Part II of the third conversation between Cami Beercroft Mann and Josh Banner for the series, the Forum on Spiritual Direction. We continue to tease out the meaning of the thesis of this series that spiritual direction can solve (almost) all of our problems.
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Forum on Spiritual Direction w/ Cami Beercroft Mann Ep 3 No. 81
Part I of the third conversation between Cami Beercroft Mann and Josh Banner for the series, the Forum on Spiritual Direction. We continue to tease out the meaning of the thesis of this series that spiritual direction can solve (almost) all of our problems. There are a few spots open for those...
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Forum on Spiritual Direction w/ Cami Beercroft Mann Ep 2 No. 80
This is our second full conversation of the Forum on Spiritual Direction where we continue to discern the focus question for discernment, "Can Spiritual Direction Solve (Almost) All of Our Problems?" Cami and I engage in an extended contemplative conversation to discern and tease out the…
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"Composting Failure" - Forum on Spiritual Direction No. 79
Spiritual Direction Can Solve (almost) All of the World's Problems. Can it? This episode something of an experiment for the Forum on Spiritual Direction. As I have struggled to accept my own failures, I offer some of my weaknesses and questions with you as an opportunity to explore the focus...
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Forum On Spiritual Direction Intro w/ Cami Mann Pt 1b - NO. 78
Part II of what we are now calling a "prelude" to our new series, The Forum on Spiritual Direction. We continue to discuss can direction solve (almost) all of the world's problems? In this episode we move from considering Josh to focus on Cami's story, how she came to the practice of direction…
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Forum On Spiritual Direction Intro w/ Cami Mann Pt 1a - NO. 77
Spiritual Direction Can Solve (almost) All of the World's Problems. Can it? This is the first part of two episodes introducing our new series, the Invitation "Forum on Spiritual Direction' where Cami Mann and Josh Banner invite you into a long conversation to consider the vital, healing need of...
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Update: How the Prison, the 12-Steps, & Ignatius Help us Embrace Our Powerlessness No. 76
Josh offers some updates on the Invitation and shares more about what he is learning in and through the School of Prayer, how it is formed around what he experienced over the six years praying with a group of men in a prison while facilitating the Spiritual Exercises. Here Josh identifies how...
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Zach Winters Pt I No. 75
Zach Winters surprised the Banner's with a little concert after sharing a meal with us. Zach's sung version of Psalm 23 has helped Josh and Susanna for several years. It was a gift to sit with him, with his music and share good conversation. Pt II will include Josh's continued conversation with...
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Reparations Chapter 3 w/ Rev Julie Van Til - Part VII No. 74
This is part seven of our series, "White People Talking to White People About Racism," a reading of Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance & Repair by Duke Kwon and Greg Thompson. In this episode the Rev Julie Van Til helps Josh unpack chapter three. Subscribe to the Invitation:...
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Reparations, Learning to Care: A Celebration of Latorious Willis' Prison Release! - Part VI No. 73
Before we can actively be a part of healing the ravages of white supremacy, we have to learn to care, to be invested. This whole series, "White People Talking to White People About Racism, A Reading of Reparations: A Christian Call to Repentance and Repair by Duke Kwon and Greg Thompson," this is...
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Reparations Chapter 2 w/ Rev Bryan Berghoef - Part V No. 72
The Rev Bryan Berghoef helps Josh unpack "Seeing the Reality of White Supremacy," chapter 3 of Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance & Repair. We are releasing this especially on the occasion of the 4th of July weekend because chapter two begins with Fredrick Douglas' speech on the 4th of...
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Reparations Chapter 1 w/ Kate Kooyman - Part IV No. 71
The Rev Kate Kooyman helps Josh unpack “The Call to See,” chapter one of Reparations. This call, this invitation to reparations is a discipline of seeing. Chapters one and two of our book this summer are intensive opportunities for us to see the white supremacy that pervades America, the church,...
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Reparations Introduction w/ Dr Susanna Childress - Part III No. 70
My wife, Susanna Childress, helps me respond to the introduction of Reparations. The idea is to let each chapter breathe a bit, to find ways to open ourselves to God in the reading and in the discussion. Susanna is especially able to help us think about how immersing ourselves in the writings of...
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Reparations Introduction w/ Dr Jesse N Curtis - Part II No. 69
Josh and Dr Jesse Curtis touch on some of the big ideas in the introduction to Reparations, but mainly they admire the careful yet bold while also pastoral tone of the book we’ve chosen for our summer read and discussion. Jesse Curts begins his contribution by sharing from his own journey, how he...
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Reparations Orientation With Rev Dr Denise Kingdom Grier - Part I No. 68
To stay up to date with our summer series, "White People Talking to White People About Racism," please subscribe: https://theinvitationcenter.org/subscribe To learn more about the series: https://theinvitationcenter.org/reparations-book-discussion The Rev. Dr. Denise Kingdom Grier offers a bold,...
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Conversation w/ Kenda Creasy Dean (Unedited) No. 67
Unedited audio of Josh’s conversation with Kenda Creasy Dean, the Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Seminary. This content was created to support and deepen the Awakening, a summer week-long experience in the worship arts at Hope College that Josh serves as...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Invitation podcast is a 'little retreat' to help you hear and respond to the God's invitation to a deeper relationship with him. Each episode is a guided prayer and meditation led by Josh Banner, a certified spiritual director.
HOSTED BY
Joshua Banner
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Invitation have?
The Invitation currently has 107 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Invitation about?
The Invitation podcast is a 'little retreat' to help you hear and respond to the God's invitation to a deeper relationship with him. Each episode is a guided prayer and meditation led by Josh Banner, a certified spiritual director.
How often does The Invitation release new episodes?
The Invitation publishes regularly with 107 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Invitation?
You can listen to The Invitation on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Invitation?
The Invitation is created and hosted by Joshua Banner.
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