The Pillar Network

Pillar Women Ep. 15 - Interpreting the Mundane Through the Grand Story of Redemption

OVERVIEW Most of us know the big story of the Bible: creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. The harder part is remembering that story when we are tired, anxious, sitting in a waiting room, cleaning the kitchen, or wondering whether the work in front of us matters at all. Because whether we realize it or not, we are always interpreting our lives. A hard season can start to feel like the whole story. A disappointment can begin to shape what we believe about God. Even our exhaustion can expose the stories we are telling ourselves about who we are and what depends on us. So put your earbuds on and come back to what is true. In this episode, Betsy takes the great story of redemption and brings it into the ordinary places where we live, asking how creation, fall, redemption, and consummation help us understand what is right in front of us. Be encouraged to lift your eyes, remember where your life fits within God’s greater story, and see the life in front of you in light of Christ and the promise that He is making all things new.   HIGHLIGHTS “The truth of God’s Word is the ultimate authority in our lives. It shapes how we see God, how we understand ourselves, and how we interpret the life right in front of us.” “Sometimes on Monday morning we need to remember what we confessed on Sunday.” “The story began by His will and for His glory. That puts our lives in their proper place. There is a center, and we are not it. God is.” “Ordinary life was never an obstacle to the glory of God.” “The value of your life does not depend on every task feeling exciting.” “No need is too ordinary for our High Priest.” “Christ’s ascension does not mean that he has become distant from our ordinary lives.” “A day is coming when work will have no thorns, our relationships will have no sin, and our bodies will have no death.”   DIG DEEPER * What ordinary circumstance feels especially heavy to you right now? What have you begun to believe about God, yourself, or your life because of it? * What does creation help you remember about God’s good design, your purpose, and your limits? * Where can you see the effects of the fall in this situation? * How do the life, death, resurrection, and present reign of Christ change the way you see what is in front of you today? * What does Christ’s promised return and the promise that He will make all things new give you hope for? * What is one concrete response the gospel is calling you to today: rest, repentance, gratitude, asking for help, serving, or simply remaining faithful * Who could you invite into this conversation this week?

Ep. 121 - The William Carey Project with Ryan Robertson, Brooks Buser, Nate Akin, & Liam Garvie

Nate Akin and Liam Garvie talk with Ryan Robertson (President of Reaching & Teaching) and Brooks Buser (President of Radius International) about the William Carey Project. This collaborative effort, inspired by the legacy of the Baptist missionary William Carey, aims to reach 10 unreached language groups around the world by bringing together the strengths of Radius, RTIM, and Pillar. Learn more at thepillarnetwork.com/williamcarey [http://thepillarnetwork.com/williamcarey].

Ep. 120 - What is a Pastor? with Nate Akin, Jason Wredberg, & Dave Kiehn

Dave Kiehn interviews Nate Akin and Jason Wredberg about their new book with Courier Publishing [https://courierpublishing.com/], "What is a Pastor?" They discuss the biblical foundation for the office of pastor, whether pastoring is an office or a gift, the pastoral office in historic confessions, and more. Get the book here - https://a.co/d/0gq4OCpE [https://a.co/d/0gq4OCpE].

Ep. 119 - A Conversation about Conferences including the Unite Conference

Nate Akin, Liam Garvie, and Dave Kiehn discuss conferences, particularly our upcoming Unite Conference. In addition, they talk about why conferences are important and how to get the most out of them.

Ep. 118 - Historical Models for Local Church Mentoring with Phil Newton

Phil Newton shares insights on mentoring in the local church drawn from several examples from church history. Phil gave this talk at a Pillar regional gathering in Memphis, TN earlier this year.