The Liturgy of Politics: Crafting our experiments
Release Date: 09/08/2024
Order of Faith: The Holy Spirit
The Practice Church Podcast
In this series, we will be sharing why we are leaning on the Apostles’ Creed as the Order of Faith (commonly known as a Statement of Faith) for our church community. What does the creed say? What does it mean? And how does it influence what we do as a church community? This is going to be an important series for our community. This week, we considered the third movement of the creed. Jason invited us to reflect on the work of the Holy Spirit. For additional resources, please visit our If The Practice Church is your home community, please join the . If The Practice Church has been meaningful...
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Order of Faith: Jesus Christ, our Lord
The Practice Church Podcast
In this series, we will be sharing why we are leaning on the Apostles’ Creed as the Order of Faith (commonly known as a Statement of Faith) for our church community. What does the creed say? What does it mean? And how does it influence what we do as a church community? This is going to be an important series for our community. This week, we considered the second movement of the creed. Bill invited us to consider the person of Jesus, his divinity and his humanity. For additional resources, please visit our If The Practice Church is your home community, please join the . If The Practice...
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Order of Faith: God the Father
The Practice Church Podcast
In this series, we will be sharing why we are leaning on the Apostles’ Creed as the Order of Faith (commonly known as a Statement of Faith) for our church community. What does the creed say? What does it mean? And how does it influence what we do as a church community? This is going to be an important series for our community. This week, we considered the first movement of the creed. We recognize that belief is more than intellectual agreement, but involves trust and a “readiness to act as if what we believe is true.” (Dallas Willard) God, the Father almighty is a personal, relational...
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Encountering the Messiah: The Temptation of Jesus
The Practice Church Podcast
The majority of our journey in 2025 will be oriented toward the presence and work of Jesus that we see in the Gospels. We begin this journey with the help of the church calendar, celebrating and reflecting on some key moments in Christ’s story. This week, Mimi Dixon invited us to consider the temptation of Jesus. What were the temptations that he faced, how do we face those same temptations, and how can we turn our attention to find rest and freedom from the depth of God's love and goodness? For additional resources, please visit our If The Practice Church is your home community, please join...
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Encountering the Messiah: Baptism of Christ
The Practice Church Podcast
The majority of our journey in 2025 will be oriented toward the presence and work of Jesus that we see in the Gospels. We begin this journey with the help of the church calendar, celebrating and reflecting on some key moments in Christ’s story. This week, Kirsten invited us to consider the question, "Who are you?" As we celebrated the baptism of Christ, we explored how this moment answered the question about Jesus, and what we too can learn from his baptism. For additional resources, please visit our If The Practice Church is your home community, please join the . If The Practice Church has...
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Encountering the Messiah: Epiphany
The Practice Church Podcast
The majority of our journey in 2025 will be oriented toward the presence and work of Jesus that we see in the Gospels. We begin this journey with the help of the church calendar, celebrating and reflecting on some key moments in Christ’s story. This week (Epiphany Sunday), we considered the story of Epiphany. What do we to see in the visit of the Magi and Herod's terrible respond to the birth of Christ? How do we see our own stories reflected in Epiphany, and how are we being invited to encounter Jesus more deeply in it? For additional resources, please visit our If The Practice Church is...
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Walking With the Prophets: New Creation (Isaiah 35)
The Practice Church Podcast
In this recurring series, we are walking in the story of scripture, noticing the intricate way God’s story is woven together and shines a light on our own stories. In the last two years, we have walked in (Genesis 1-11), (Genesis 12-50), , , the , and . Now we will continue walking in this era of the kings of Israel and Judah, but we will do so from the perspective of the prophets. We will consider the indictments, judgments, and instruction delivered through the prophets. What do we learn about God and how should we hear these accusations and calls for repentance? We’ll pause with...
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Walking with the Prophets: Needs, Desires, and Joy (Isaiah 55:1-3)
The Practice Church Podcast
In this recurring series, we are walking in the story of scripture, noticing the intricate way God’s story is woven together and shines a light on our own stories. In the last two years, we have walked in (Genesis 1-11), (Genesis 12-50), , , the , and . Now we will continue walking in this era of the kings of Israel and Judah, but we will do so from the perspective of the prophets. We will consider the indictments, judgments, and instruction delivered through the prophets. What do we learn about God and how should we hear these accusations and calls for repentance? We’ll pause with...
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Walking With the Prophets: Hearts of Flesh (Ezekiel 36 & 37)
The Practice Church Podcast
In this recurring series, we are walking in the story of scripture, noticing the intricate way God’s story is woven together and shines a light on our own stories. In the last two years, we have walked in (Genesis 1-11), (Genesis 12-50), , , the , and . Now we will continue walking in this era of the kings of Israel and Judah, but we will do so from the perspective of the prophets. We will consider the indictments, judgments, and instruction delivered through the prophets. What do we learn about God and how should we hear these accusations and calls for repentance? We’ll pause with...
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Walking With the Prophets: Not By Strength (Ezra/Nehemiah)
The Practice Church Podcast
In this recurring series, we are walking in the story of scripture, noticing the intricate way God’s story is woven together and shines a light on our own stories. In the last two years, we have walked in (Genesis 1-11), (Genesis 12-50), , , the , and . Now we will continue walking in this era of the kings of Israel and Judah, but we will do so from the perspective of the prophets. We will consider the indictments, judgments, and instruction delivered through the prophets. What do we learn about God and how should we hear these accusations and calls for repentance? We’ll pause with...
info_outlineAristotle said the purpose of politics is to create a people who are better than they would be without it. Politics has a way of shaping how we see ourselves, how we see others, and how we should live in the world. Have you noticed how this is parallel to the task of the gospel? This journey of faith creates us to be someone better than we would be without Jesus. Jesus shapes how we see ourselves, how we see others, and how we should live in the world. Is it any wonder our political activity has gotten so bound up in our understanding of the gospel?
In fact, our partisanship and faith have become so wrapped up together, that it is like one big ball of tangled string. They influence one another in various ways (some helpful and some not), and often times it is hard to tell where one begins and the other ends. This month, we will be crafting experiments together. These experiments will center on how we engage politics and how we are being formed by politics. Together we will notice what strings in this tangled mess the Holy Spirit is drawing to our attention, and we will intentionally practice ways of untangling that thread. How can we seek to be formed in the way of God's kingdom and bring that to bear on politics rather than allowing politics to shape how we view the kingdom?
We began this week with crafting our experiments. Setting the stage for the journey, we considered the formational nature of politics, and how this nature runs parallel to the gospel. Recognizing how easy this makes it for partisan politics to become entangled with the gospel, we set out to craft experiments that will help ground us in the kingdom of God and allow the Spirit to shape how we see ourselves, how we see others, and how we believe we should live.
You can find the handout for crafting an experiments here.
For additional resources, please visit our website.
Resources for Navigating This Political Season
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