The Jesus Conversations Podcast

JAU Zoom Meeting 8-11-24 "Reframing the Gospel Message"

In this episode, Dennis and David maintain that the true gospel is not about "getting saved" and going to heaven, but about knowing God the Father through the person of Jesus Christ. They argue that the focus should be on experiencing God's presence and participating in His work in the world, rather than pursuing individual rewards or avoiding punishment. This requires a shift from self-focused spirituality to a God-centered perspective.

Notes 
NT Wright, Paul a Biography
Henry Blackaby - Experiencing God 

Attention: Future episodes may or may not always be released on Sundays. Watch for them anyday of the week. 

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JAU Zoom Meeting 8-4-24 "I have the fullness of God"

Is God in the 2024 Olympics? In this episode, Dennis and David discuss the biblical concept of the "fullness of God" and our identity as God's beloved children. They emphasize the importance of understanding and living out of this truth, rather than focusing on external circumstances or future concerns. 

NOTES 
God in the Olympics video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=941fNzgK7Yo
Song: "What the world needs now" 
Scriptures: John 1:16: Eph. 1:4; 3:19

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JAU Zoom Meeting 7-28-24 "Am I going to Heaven?"

Why is the message "going to heaven" destructive to Christians? What was Jesus' mission, to save people from sin or to make God known? Listen or watch as we discuss in this episode why John 14:20 gets lost in the prevailing Christian narrative of heaven as our ultimate goal, and we thus miss what God wants to in this life. 

 

Notes 

Scripture: Lk. 23:43; John 14:2, 20-23

Movies: Beautiful Mind 

Book: LaHaye, Jenkins, John's Story, The Last Eye Witness. 

 

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JAU Zoom Meeting 7-21-24 "Where are the fathers?"

Our group in this episode consisted of mainly older men who began today's discussion on the theme of God's use of their lives in the twilight years. They hit on one of the most important roles, and that being spiritual fathers to the next generation. They see the most critical function as speaking into the younger generation from their experience of living in Jesus. 

Notes 
1 Cor. 4:15
Book: John's Story, LaHaye and Jenkins 

 

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JAU Zoom Meeting 7-14-24 "They don't get it!"

The group in this episode discusses a different interpretation of Paul's "thorn in the flesh" proposed by NT Wright. Rather than a physical ailment, the thorn may have represented the pain and frustration Paul felt from people rejecting the gospel message. This led to a broader discussion about how hard it is for people to accept the Evangel today. 

Notes 
Scripture: 2 Cor. 12:1-7 Paul's thorn 

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JAU Zoom Meeting 7-7-24 "I am one with God."

Today's group discuss how their understanding of God has shifted from seeing Him as a distant, separate being to experiencing a deep, intimate oneness with Him through Jesus. They share how this has transformed their prayer lives and relationship with God, moving away from a focus on sin and performance to living freely in God's presence.

NOTES 
Scriptures: Jn 14:20; Acts 17:28; Gal.2:20; Rom. 6:11; Lord's Prayer Matt. 9:9-13
Document: "Knowing Inside of Jesus" https://nwmenscoalition.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/knowing-inside-of-jesus-6-30-24-1.pdf

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JAU Zoom Meeting 6-30-24 "Message bearers of Freedom"

What do you tell someone still locked in the old narrative that they must strive to improve their standing with God? Our group today talks about how the common Christian belief of being a "work in progress" is rooted in the false narrative of sin and guilt. They shared how discovering their true identity in Christ - that they are already complete and perfect in Him - has set them free from this performance-based mentality.

Notes 
Scriptures: Col. 2:9,10 
The Who- "I am free" 
Iron Butterfly - "In Gadda Da Vida" 
Dennis D - "Knowing Inside of Jesus" 

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JAU Zoom Meeting 6-23-24 "Which Jesus?"

Is Jesus a white "Christianized" Anglo or a Jew of Middle Eastern descent? In today's meeting, our group discusses how Western Christianity has "de-judaized" Jesus, overlooking or downplaying his Jewish roots and heritage. We explore the importance of understanding Jesus as a Jew, and how that provides important context and meaning to his life and ministry, and our story in Him. 

Notes 
NT Wright interview - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8eDrwWmJrc
Scriptures - Gal. 3:8, 16, 28; 1 Jn. 3:2

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Conversations with Scott 6-22-24 "The light of life"

Prompted by a recent video capturing the moment a sperm penetrates a human egg, Scott and Dennis delve into questions about the beginning of life and the spirit. What does the light captured in the video represent? When does a person become a spiritual being, etc.? Grab your Bible and prepare for deep plowing on this one. 

Please leave us your thoughts on the Comment section below. 

NOTES 
Video link on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/r/yqYeeSY1DG95uEEs/?mibextid=xCPwDs
Sciptures - Jn. 1:3,4,5; 3:3,16,19; Col. 1:16
Scotts Blog - Scotts Page (myscottpage.blogspot.com)

JAU Zoom Meeting 6-9-24 "Is "The Chosen" Jesus who we are?"

In the video series "The Chosen", Jesus is depicted as very human. If Jesus is our life, and the definition of who we are, would The Chosen Jesus represent us? Our group engaged in a lively discussion on this topic in this episode of Jesus as Us Zoom Meeting. 

NOTES 
Key scriptures: John 14:20; 17:24; 1 Cor. 11:7; Col. 1:27
J Presten Eby - Kingdom of God Ministires 
Knowing Inside of Jesus -  https://nwmenscoalition.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/knowing-inside-of-jesus-6-8-24.pdf