The Liturgy of Politics: Crafting our experiments
Release Date: 09/08/2024
Walking With the Prophets: Idolatry (Hosea)
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: Injustice (Amos)
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
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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A Prayer Before Voting
The Practice Church Podcast
This fall, we have been offering practices for a kingdom-centered politics. In this short practice, we offer a prayer in preparation of voting. We would encourage you to pray this prayer before you vote, whether in the parking lot of your polling place or while you wait in line. As we hold various groups of people in the light of God's loving presence, we respond together, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done.
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Walking with the Kings
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. Last year we began our journey walking in (Genesis 1-11), (Genesis 12-50), , , and the . If you missed the previous series, you can check out the links above. In this series, we will explore the period of the kings from Saul through the fall of the Northern Kingdom and Judah. We will notice how the stories of these kings echo all the way back to the garden. How do the Israelites and their kings respond to that choice to...
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Walking with the Kings: David
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. Last year we began our journey walking in (Genesis 1-11), (Genesis 12-50), , , and the . If you missed the previous series, you can check out the links above. In this series, we will explore the period of the kings from Saul through the fall of the Northern Kingdom and Judah. We will notice how the stories of these kings echo all the way back to the garden. How do the Israelites and their kings respond to that choice to...
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Walking with the Kings: Saul
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. Last year we began our journey walking in (Genesis 1-11), (Genesis 12-50), , , and the . If you missed the previous series, you can check out the links above. In this series, we will explore the period of the kings from Saul through the fall of the Northern Kingdom and Judah. We will notice how the stories of these kings echo all the way back to the garden. How do the Israelites and their kings respond to that choice to...
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A Counter-Formational Political Practice: The Examen
The Practice Church Podcast
This guided practice is a part of our series . As we seek to untangle ourselves from the partisan liturgies of our culture, we are engaging counter-formational practices. In this practice of the Examen, we consider our political activity (the media we consume and our response, our conversations, the ways we serve our communities, and voting) and ask when our activity was centered on the partisan liturgies of our culture and when they were centered on the radical alternative of God's kingdom.
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The Liturgy of Politics: The Partisan Liturgy of Tribalism
The Practice Church Podcast
Aristotle 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...
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A Counter-Formational Political Practice: Breath Prayer
The Practice Church Podcast
This guided practice is a part of our series . As we seek to untangle ourselves from the partisan liturgies of our culture, we are engaging counter-formational practices. In this practice, we respond to the partisan liturgy of fear with the practice of breath prayer. With Jesus, we pray the words, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done.” This prayer reminds us, in the words of Pastor Mike Lueken, even if the worst we can imagine happens in this election season, “Jesus is still king. The kingdom is still real, and all shall be well.” And it reminds us that we are invited to join the...
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.
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Resources for Navigating This Political Season
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