This is a podcast for the wounded, the misfits, and the spiritual refugees to let you know you are not alone. We're here to cultivate love and hope in the wilderness. We believe the story of God is bigger, wider, more inclusive and welcoming, filled with more love, than we could ever imagine. There's room here for everyone. There's room here for you.
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"Doubt can be the thing that pulls you closer to home" with Eric Thomas
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We just couldn’t help ourselves. Even though our team is busy behind the scenes preparing for Evolving Faith 2023, we just had to drop one more bonus episode featuring R. Eric Thomas’s talk from the 2022 conference. Eric is one of the funniest writers you’ll find on the internet, but he’s also incredibly thoughtful and genuine as he explores his ow…
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Patchworks of Meaning: Stitching Together Our Stories with Scripture
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Surprise! Another bonus episode featuring Barbara Brown Taylor from our 2022 Evolving Faith conference. Barbara skillfully walks us through how to own our ever evolving relationship with scripture. She reminds us that just as the text has stood the scrutiny of our ancestors, it can also handle ours. Barbara challenges us to see our own relationship…
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In this special episode, Kate Bowler joins host Sarah Bessey for a conversation about the search for spiritual language around blessing and praying without certainty. Kate also fields questions from the Evolving Faith community about her own faith journey and how that has shaped her thoughts about hope, “un-spiritual” feelings, and the character of…
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Jeff and Sarah offer a benediction that reminds us of all we’ve learned from our guests through this season of the podcast. They leave us with the blessing that God loves us, and that with God’s Spirit and the community of fellow wanderers, we are never alone in the wilderness. Show Notes Evolving Faith Conference Podcast After Party (Community Dis…
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Jeff and Sarah answer questions from the Evolving Faith online community. They discuss their stories of “deconstruction” and shifts in their faith practices, as well as how to walk through faith evolution when loved ones aren’t on board. They also share books that have shaped them along the journey and discuss reading the Bible with room for lament…
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"We Could Use Some Resurrection" with Nadia Bolz-Weber
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Nadia Bolz-Weber talks about how we’ve used the phrase “the Lord” in ways that often paint a very different picture than who Jesus was and is. She tells us that in the time that Jesus was on earth, “Lord” was a term used for Caesar. Lords were dictatorial and made people’s lives miserable. But Luke tells us of a different God entirely, God as baby,…
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Are You Prepared to Die? with William Matthews
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William Matthews opens by asking a powerful question: Are you prepared to die? He describes the nature of horror films and draws parallels to the experience of being Black in America. He then takes us to the story of Mary of Bethany, who publicly challenged patriarchy and social norms by publicly mourning Jesus before his death. William tells liste…
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B.T. opens by acknowledging all of the understandable reasons we have to be angry—racism, homophobia, misogyny, the damage caused by nonaffirming Christians, and so much pain all around us. But B.T. realized that there came a time where his anger turned into what he calls “doom rehearsal,” which is the habitual consumption of presumed despair based…
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We Belong to God, with Lisa Sharon Harper
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Lisa opens by sharing about her own realization that the gospel she was taught wouldn’t actually be good news for her own enslaved grandmother. This crisis of faith took her to the Book of Genesis, and she reminds us that the text was written by Brown, colonized people. Lisa tells listeners that we have to have eyes to read from this perspective to…
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“I Want You to Know Freedom,” with Jennifer Knapp
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Jennifer tells us her own story of publicly coming out in 2010 and discusses the burden placed on the LGBTQ community to disclose deeply personal information. She shares what she’s learned in the process, that proximity breaks down prejudice, and stories allow us to understand that people aren’t peculiar, but they are particular. Jennifer tells lis…
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A Guest in Someone Else’s Story with Eric Barreto
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Eric begins by retelling the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter 8. He explains that the eunuch did something that people in power typically don’t do: He asks for help. Eric describes his own upbringing in a faith that fell short of demonstrating love and justice to the marginalized and made him feel like he could only belong i…
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Sacred Mystery and Fierce Love with Kaitlin Curtice
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In this episode, Kaitlin discusses her own journey of decolonization and connection to her Potawatomi heritage. She explains that decolonization is the breaking down of systems of colonization, both personally and systemically. Kaitlin challenges us to look at the ways that colonization has affected all of us—not just those who are oppressed—becaus…
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Remember the Refrain with Cece Jones-Davis
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Cece Jones-Davis takes us to the story of the people of God fleeing captivity through the parted waters of the Red Sea. She describes the song that Moses sang to celebrate what God had done and points out that Miriam sang the refrain while playing her timbrel. Cece tells us that we are a people on the move, and we still need a chorus. She reminds u…
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Let God Love You with Danielle Shroyer
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This episode of The Evolving Faith Podcast features: A brand new segment of the podcast called Welcome to the Party, Jeff where Jeff reveals which show from pop culture past that he has “discovered.” Danielle Shroyer’s talk from the 2019 Evolving Faith conference that none of us have been able to forget. Danielle discussing the story of original si…
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The Power in the Story with Jasper Peters
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This episode of The Evolving Faith Podcast features: Shocking news that both Fozzie and Sarah fall off of couches when they nap. Jasper Peters’ talk from the Evolving Faith 2019 conference where he starts with the question, “What happens when the things we were taught about the Bible don’t turn out to be true?” He discusses how the Bible has been u…
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The Geography of God, with Sarah Bessey
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This episode of The Evolving Faith Podcast features: Very natural chitchat between Jeff and Sarah. So natural. Jeff torturing Sarah by reading her bio out loud to her. Sarah’s talk from the Evolving Faith 2019 conference where she takes us to the passage in Matthew 11 where Jesus says if we are weary, worn out, or burned out on religion, he can sho…
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A Story of Suffering, with Tanya Marlow
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This episode of The Evolving Faith Podcast features: A conversation between Jeff and Sarah about Derry Girls you don’t want to miss Tanya Marlow’s talk from the 2019 Evolving Faith conference where she discusses the stories we tell to make sense of the world How her own story of chronic illness doesn’t fit the narrative that the church often tells …
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A Messy, Mysterious Faith with Pete Enns
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Pete tells the story of his own evolving faith and what he learned about being born of the spirit as he wrestled with questions and doubts. He discusses how the work of the spirit can often feel like a loss of control and a moving away from a spirituality dependent on systems and certainty. Pete reminds listeners that clarity is often the first thi…
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Jeff takes us to Ezekiel 47, where the prophet Ezekiel was exiled from all that he has known. As a divinely appointed tour guide gives Ezekiel a vision of renewal and reconstruction, he sees a river flowing out from the restored sanctuary. Jeff asks listeners to consider the same question posed by the tour guide to Ezekiel, “Human one, what do you …
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Who Told You That You Had To Fit?, with Chanequa Walker-Barnes
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In this episode of The Evolving Faith podcast, we hear from Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes as she asks the question, “Who told you that you had to fit?” She discusses the exhaustion that comes with trying to make yourself fit in spaces where you feel like a square peg in a round hole. Describing her own personal experiences, Dr. Walker-Barnes tells us …
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A Subsistence Spirituality, with Barbara Brown Taylor
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In our first episode of season 2, Barbara Brown Taylor discusses the realities of spiritual wilderness and asks us to consider what it looks like to have a faith lean enough to survive. She explains that a true wilderness means coming to the end of our perceived safety and learning that we’ve never really had any guarantees all along. Barbara says …
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The finale of Season One! In this episode, Jeff and Sarah offer their reflections on the season, their gratitude to you, dear listeners, and finally fill out the Evolving Faith Podcast bingo card for good. Then, weaving together the entire season’s talks and moments throughout the season, they offer a Benediction for the Wanderers as we all move fo…
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The Wilderness, Spiritual Gifts, and Gender-Expansive Christians
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In this life-giving episode we are thrilled to welcome Austen Hartke, Michiko Bown-Kai, and Rev. Dr. Christina Beardsley as they each present a talk about evolving faith through the lens of their trans and/or non-binary identities. Then our guests join Sarah and Jeff in a wise and beautiful conversation on wilderness, hope, paradox, and how the ful…
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Identity, Belonging, and Disability
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In a beautiful, wise experience, we are thrilled to welcome Stephanie Tait, Derrick Dawson, and Raedorah Stewart as they each present a talk about identity, belonging, and an evolving faith through the lens of disability. Then our guests join Sarah and Jeff in a life-giving conversation on identity, hope, beauty, belonging, covenant, and perceiving…
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Art, Embodiment, and Healing with Audrey Assad and A'Driane Nieves
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This week, we hear from two incredible artists: Audrey Assad and A’Driane Nieves as they engage with art, embodiment, healing, and an evolving faith. These talks remind us that artists bring to their work sorrows and joys, griefs and delights, which a canvas or a song can hint at. But there’s always more. Then Sarah and Jeff have a conversation abo…
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This week, we hear from poet, political activist, and rapper Propaganda. Prop takes us on a journey into how music and art can help form an evolving faith. You’ll be immersed in what turned out to be one part beautiful poetic experience and one part off-the-wall, incredibly profound philosophy lecture. And maybe that’s the magic of Prop: he defies …
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Wonder, Welcome, and Communion with Kaitlin Curtice and Jonathan Martin
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This week, we hear from the Poet and the Preacher. Join us as Kaitlin Curtice leads us through a winsome and beautiful invitation to the light still glimmering around us and then gather with us at the Communion tradition for Evolving Faith as Jonathan Martin preaches about the welcome of Jesus to the Table. Then Sarah and Jeff talk about where they…
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Relationships, Parenting, and Navigating an Evolving Faith
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For the first - but not last time - we’re featuring a double-header of talks from Evolving Faith. First Cindy Wang Brandt explores parenting while your faith is evolving, placing the priority on giving our children spiritual autonomy and the freedom to explore and thrive. Then Kathy Escobar addresses what we gain in the wilderness when we are hones…
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Enemies, Empathy, and Shalom with Osheta Moore
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Politics Formed by Faith with Nish Weiseth
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This week, we go all in on politics, spiritual formation, and the call of this moment in time before the American election. In this fiery talk, Nish Weiseth calls her fellow white evangelical Americans to account and argues that politics are the single largest systemic tool that we have at our disposal with which we can love our neighbor. Simply pu…
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Under the Wings of the Spirit with Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns
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Does an evolving faith mean everyone has to think or worship like a white Westerner? or throw the faith of their grandmothers away? How do we read the Bible with the Spirit? In this episode, Pentecostal theologian Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns explores reclaiming wonder and curiosity and humility about our relationship with the Bible as an icon. Using a…
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An Evolving Faith Is Still Faith with Pete Enns
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Have you ever been called a heretic? Unfaithful? Ostracized for changing your mind on something related to your faith or theology? Well, this week’s episode with popular biblical scholar, podcaster, and author Pete Enns is for you. Pete talks about the biblical mandate for an evolving faith, illustrates this concept through the stories of Jonah and…
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Your Woke-ness is Not Worship with Sandra Maria Van Opstal
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This week, pastor, activist, and liturgist Sandra Maria Van Opstal challenges us to reimagine the intersection of worship and justice. She explores the impact of white supremacy on an evolving faith, worship, and justice work, leads us to learn from the global church and how justice is sustained. She then places a demand on all of us to move forwar…
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The End of the World with Mike McHargue
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Mike McHargue is one part Bill Nye the Science Guy and one part Mr. Rogers - and one part Baptist preacher. This week, Science Mike delivers a hilarious and devastating call to repentance as he expounds on climate change, the limits of science, the possibilities of faith, and the end of the world. Then Sarah and Jeff explore mysticism, certainty, a…
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A Willingness to Be Disturbed with Dr. Wil Gafney
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In this episode, famed Hebrew Bible scholar Dr. Wil Gafney offers us the opportunity to experience evolution in our interpretation of Scripture through the richness of womanist biblical interpretation. Sarah and Jeff explore how an evolution of faith necessitates an evolution in our relationship with Scripture, learning how to integrate the harder …
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Welcome to the Wilderness with Sarah Bessey
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We revisit the conference opening message from our co-host Sarah Bessey as she welcomes everyone to the wilderness, talks about grief, and - of course - prays for the days ahead of us. Show Notes 2023 Evolving Faith Conference
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Belonging, Courage, and Evangelical Darlings with Jen Hatmaker
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Jen Hatmaker was the darling of evangelical Christian women until the price of belonging became her integrity. Show Notes 2023 Evolving Faith Conference
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On Episode 3 of the Evolving Faith Podcast, Sarah gets to make Jeff super uncomfortable as they listen to and then discuss Jeff's talk on the theology of the compost. He shares his conviction that God has written redemption into creation itself and humanity's call to embrace the transformative power of worms. Show Notes 2023 Evolving Faith Conferen…
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Climbing the Mountain of Injustice with Austin Channing Brown
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For episode 2, Sarah and Jeff revisit Austin Channing Brown's bring-the-house-down sermon from Evolving Faith 2018. They reflect on what they've learned and experienced since that day as well as how Austin's words planted the seeds for some major shifts in their own lives. Show Notes 2023 Evolving Faith Conference…
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Evolution, Apocalypse, and Remembering Rachel Held Evans
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In the premiere episode of The Evolving Faith Podcast, we hear a talk given at the Evolving Faith gathering in 2018 by the late Rachel Held Evans, author, speaker, and co-founder of Evolving Faith. She talks about a tough and tender faith and what that calls us to when we encounter the oppressive, dehumanizing and unjust forces working in the world…
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