The Next Step Podcast
Season 2: Ponder Anew
Episode 8: I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus
Date: 29 July 2020
Guest: Conrad Gempf, London School of Theology
Also available on: iTunes
Season 2 of the Next Step Podcast focuses on the resource, Ponder Anew: A Hymn Journal of Trust and Confidence, brought to you by Next Step Press.
Episode 8 centers on the hymn, Scripture, devotion, and faith experiments in chapter 8, “I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus” beginning on page 71. New Testament scholar Conrad Gempf will read the Matthew 6 Scripture on page 75 after some brief introductions and a pray by author Justin Rossow. After a discussion of those verses, Justin will read the devotion on page 76.
You’ll hear Conrad and Justin talk through some of the other animal imagery in the teachings of Jesus, from sparrows and dogs and hens, to sheep, goats, and camels (among others). Their conversations doesn’t cover everything, but you’ll get a quick overview of how Jesus uses animals as illustrations. The whole conversation leads to wondering how we can trust and rely on Jesus a little bit more this week. Take some time to explore the animal imagery in the verses on pages 80-81 and do one or both of the Faith Experiments on page 78. How is Jesus inviting you to take a small step toward intentional dependence this week?
You can find Conrad’s book Jesus Asked on Amazon, or better yet, listen to the author read the entire book on his web page. Conrad’s engaging style and wonderful voice make Jesus Asked a great companion to the Next Step Podcast. You can also see Conrad at work in this video post: Go, Stand, Witness, Rejoice: A Close Reading of Acts 5:16-42. Conrad was also our guest for Season 1, Episode 3 of the Next Step Podcast: Ride On, Ride On in Majesty.
Katie Helmreich’s blog, Consider the Ducklings, published in conjunction with Season 2, Episode 7 also picks up on the theme of the simple trust and dependence of animals. The recent article by Kim Longden, Seek First His Kingdom, looks at the Scripture verses in this chapter and explores what it means to receive God’s good gifts and enjoy them in freedom and dependence on Jesus.
This recording was made possible in part by the generous support of Next Step Patrons. Today we recognize Valarie and Anne for their ongoing support of our mission and ministry. Thank you, Anne and Valarie, for helping us equip others for their next step following Jesus!
If now is the right time for to make a commitment to the mission of resourcing next step discipleship, please consider becoming a Next Step Patron today. To see different options for support, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep.
We follow Jesus better when we follow Him together, so we invite you to join the Facebook Pop Up Group sharing this hymn journal experience here: The Ponder Anew Facebook Group.
The intro and outro music for Season 2: Ponder Anew was arranged and performed by Brendan Knorp. All rights reserved.
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