Bread & Wine: In Relentless Pursuit of Christian Community

S1E12: If Our Community is Like the Disciples, Who's Judas?

If Our Community is Like the Disciples, Who's Judas? What if the pursuit of authentic Christian community isn't about rules, but about the vulnerable adventure of loving each other deeply? This episode examines how true discipleship means choosing the challenging path of intentional love over the safer route of rigid structure. In this episode of Bread & Wine: In Relentless Pursuit of Christian Community, hosts Steve McKinney and Wes Davis explore the tension between love and rules in Christian community. This conversation delves into how authentic discipleship requires moving beyond superficial agreement to embrace the messy reality of genuine relationships. Through thoughtful dialogue, Steve and Wes unpack how living in true Christian community means mirroring God's intentional love for humanity. They examine why proximity, friendship, and small numbers matter in building authentic relationships, drawing parallels to Jesus' own model of community with his disciples. As Steve powerfully observes, "The heart of community is... the attempt to restore the image of God in you... That's what love is." This discussion challenges listeners to consider what makes Christian community distinctive, with Wes asking the provocative question, "What does it mean to be free from shame and heartache and worry?" Questions Explored in this Episode: - What does it mean to be set apart for love in Christian community? - How do we balance structure and adventure in pursuing authentic relationships? - Why is intentional proximity essential for genuine community? - How does our fear of being known hinder authentic connection? - What makes Christian community truly distinctive? THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR If you're looking for a new way to do life, networking, and especially business, this just may be the book you're looking for! Collaboration is the New Competition demystifies how to choose the right people, time, and place to collaborate. I provide a framework to help you make the most of this tool to solve daily problems and even wicked challenges while also broadening your sphere of influence. You'll discover how effective collaboration propels you from problem solver to major influencer, thought leader, and true competitor, regardless of what business or organization you're leading.  Collaboration is the New Competition [https://a.co/d/ecARPGS] on Amazon in old-school paperback format, Kindle ebook, or Audible download. For more information, downloadable exercises, or to book the author for a keynote or book signing, visit https://priscillamckinney.com/ If you're interested in sponsoring the podcast, send us a line at breadandwinepod@gmail.com.  If you've enjoyed today's conversation, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, share this with a friend struggling with this hard topic. Contact us anytime to share your experiences and questions. Until then, don't give up on sharing the bread and wine.

S1E11: Church? How Exciting.

Church? How Exciting. Can our churches move from being places of boredom to spaces of genuine adventure and community? This episode challenges us to reimagine church life through the lens of authentic adventure and meaningful relationships. In this episode of Bread & Wine: In Relentless Pursuit of Christian Community, hosts Steve McKinney and Wes Davis explore the tension between safety and adventure in Christian community. This conversation examines how churches can transform from spaces of tedium into environments where genuine connection and growth flourish. The hosts delve into the paradox of modern church life: while we long for meaningful community, we often find ourselves feeling disconnected or bored by church experiences. Through personal insights and candid discussion, they explore how preparing ourselves for authentic relationships and embracing the inherent risks of community can lead to true adventure in faith. As Steve observes, "I don't know Wes. I look around church and I think a lot of us are bored to death...We lack adventure." Later in the episode, Wes adds a crucial perspective on authentic community: "What stops people from feeling fully alive is we think we're supposed to do something to fix people." Questions Explored in this Episode: - Where is the adventure in church life, and why does it seem missing? - How can we prepare ourselves to offer something meaningful to our community? - What does it take to re-enter community after experiencing hurt? - How do we balance compassion with adventure in church life? - Why is genuine care more transformative than trying to fix others? - What role does conflict play in building an authentic community? THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR If you're looking for a new way to do life, networking and especially business, this just may be the book you're looking for! Collaboration is the New Competition demystifies how to choose the right people, time and place to collaborate. I provide a framework to help you make the most of this tool to solve daily problems and even wicked challenges while also broadening your sphere of influence. You'll discover how effective collaboration propels you from problem solver to major influencer, thought leader and true competitor, regardless of what business or organization you're leading.  Collaboration is the New Competition [https://a.co/d/ecARPGS] on Amazon in old-school paperback format, Kindle ebook, or Audible download. For more information, downloadable exercises or to book the author for a keynote or book signing, visit https://priscillamckinney.com/ If you're interested in sponsoring the podcast, send us a line at breadandwinepod@gmail.com.  If you've enjoyed today's conversation, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, share this with a friend struggling with this hard topic. Contact us anytime to share your experiences and questions. Until then, don't give up on sharing the bread and wine.

S1E10: What Does it All Mean?

What Does it All Mean? In a world where we carefully curate our public personas, can authentic community survive our fear of being truly known? This episode explores the paradox of simultaneously yearning for and dreading genuine connection. In this episode of Bread & Wine: In Relentless Pursuit of Christian Community, hosts Steve McKinney and Wes Davis explore the tension between our desire for authentic relationships and our instinct to hide parts of ourselves. This conversation delves into how Christian communities navigate the delicate balance between vulnerability and self-protection. The hosts examine the complex dynamics of showing up authentically in community, comparing it to the unavoidable transparency of marriage. Through personal insights and thoughtful discussion, they unpack how our fear of being known shapes our approach to relationships, while simultaneously acknowledging our deep need for connection. As Steve observes, "A large part of our life is organized by the fear of being known." Wes adds depth to this perspective, noting, "When you enter into community and say 'how you doing', you're putting your head into the lion's mouth at that point. Because you're...now entering into the arena of someone else's being." Questions Explored in this Episode: - How do we balance our fear of being known with our desire for authentic connection? - What role does vulnerability play in building a meaningful community? - How does our fear of knowing others' pain affect our ability to form deep relationships? - Why is showing up consistently so crucial for building an authentic community? - How does being made in God's image inform our approach to community? THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR If you're looking for a new way to do life, networking, and especially business, this just may be the book you're looking for! Collaboration is the New Competition demystifies how to choose the right people, time, and place to collaborate. I provide a framework to help you make the most of this tool to solve daily problems and even wicked challenges while also broadening your sphere of influence. You'll discover how effective collaboration propels you from problem solver to major influencer, thought leader, and true competitor, regardless of what business or organization you're leading.  Collaboration is the New Competition [https://a.co/d/ecARPGS] on Amazon in old-school paperback format, Kindle ebook, or Audible download. For more information, downloadable exercises, or to book the author for a keynote or book signing, visit https://priscillamckinney.com/ If you're interested in sponsoring the podcast, send us a line at breadandwinepod@gmail.com.  If you've enjoyed today's conversation, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, share this with a friend struggling with this hard topic. Contact us anytime to share your experiences and questions. Until then, don't give up on sharing the bread and wine.

S1E9: Like Peter Gabriel said, Come Talk to Me

Like Peter Gabriel said, Come Talk to Me Can authentic Christian community survive deep disagreements and personal conflicts? This episode explores the challenging reality that true community requires choosing commitment over comfort, even when relationships get messy. In this episode of Bread & Wine: In Relentless Pursuit of Christian Community, hosts Steve McKinney and Wes Davis explore the tension between our culture's tendency to avoid those we disagree with and Christ's call to prioritize love above all else. This conversation delves into how Christian communities navigate through conflicts, arguments, and the hard work of staying together when it would be easier to drift apart. The hosts share vulnerable stories about their own community's struggles with philosophical differences, political disagreements, and personal conflicts. Through honest reflection, they reveal how working through these challenges, rather than avoiding them, has actually strengthened their bonds. As Wes observes, "There's an invisible agreement between us that we're committed to each other beyond our own... disappointment." Steve builds on this insight, noting, "That's what holds us in common, and I think that's what makes it uncommon." Questions Explored in this Episode: - What does it take to stick it out in community? - What do you do when you don't agree with each other over emotional issues? - What's the highest value in community? - How can we maintain commitment when personalities clash? - Why is choosing to stay and work through conflict worth the risk? THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR If you're looking for a new way to do life, networking, and especially business, this just may be the book you're looking for! Collaboration is the New Competition demystifies how to choose the right people, time, and place to collaborate. I provide a framework to help you make the most of this tool to solve daily problems and even wicked challenges while also broadening your sphere of influence. You'll discover how effective collaboration propels you from problem solver to major influencer, thought leader, and true competitor, regardless of what business or organization you're leading.  Collaboration is the New Competition [https://a.co/d/ecARPGS] on Amazon in old-school paperback format, Kindle ebook, or Audible download. For more information, downloadable exercises, or to book the author for a keynote or book signing, visit https://priscillamckinney.com/ If you're interested in sponsoring the podcast, send us a line at breadandwinepod@gmail.com.  If you've enjoyed today's conversation, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, share this with a friend struggling with this hard topic. Contact us anytime to share your experiences and questions. Until then, don't give up on sharing the bread and wine.

S1E8: Where's the Flannel Graph for David Naked?

Where's the Flannel Graph for David Naked? What happens when the freedom Christ promises collides with our deep-seated need for religious order? This episode explores the paradoxical tension between spiritual liberation and our instinct to create restrictive systems of faith. In this episode of Bread & Wine: In Relentless Pursuit of Christian Community, hosts Steve McKinney and Wes Davis explore the tension between Christ-given freedom and our human tendency toward rigid religious structure. This conversation delves into how Christian communities navigate the challenging space between tyrannical order and chaotic freedom. The hosts examine how authentic Christian community can help believers untangle themselves from religious knots while avoiding descent into chaos. Through personal experiences and candid discussion, they challenge the traditional perception of church as a place of joyless rule-following, contrasting it with the vibrant freedom Christ intended. As Wes observantly notes, "Nobody looks inside the church and says 'there's a bunch of cool and free and joyful people'... But we know theoretically we should be." Steve adds depth to this perspective, pointing out that "The church fears... the chaos and disorder that is potentially there with freedom because it is potentially there." Questions Explored in this Episode: - What is a saint? - Is our view of a saint tainted by the guilt and judgment we often feel when involved in a church? - What does it look like to be free in Christ as a saint? - Why are there no flannel graphs of David dancing before the ark of the Lord? THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR If you're looking for a new way to do life, networking and especially business, this just may be the book you're looking for! Collaboration is the New Competition demystifies how to choose the right people, time and place to collaborate. I provide a framework to help you make the most of this tool to solve daily problems and even wicked challenges while also broadening your sphere of influence. You'll discover how effective collaboration propels you from problem solver to major influencer, thought leader and true competitor, regardless of what business or organization you're leading.  Collaboration is the New Competition [https://a.co/d/ecARPGS] on Amazon in old-school paperback format, Kindle ebook, or Audible download. For more information, downloadable exercises or to book the author for a keynote or book signing, visit https://priscillamckinney.com/ If you're interested in sponsoring the podcast, send us a line at breadandwinepod@gmail.com.  If you've enjoyed today's conversation, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, share this with a friend struggling with this hard topic. Contact us anytime to share your experiences and questions. Until then, don't give up on sharing the bread and wine.