The Follower Podcast

A conversation on prayer with James Aladiran

In this conversation, Matthew and James Aladiran explore the journey of faith, prayer, and the stirring of desire for God.
 
James shares his background as a child of missionaries and how his early experiences with prayer shaped his relationship with God.
 
They discuss the current spiritual hunger in the world, particularly among the youth, and the importance of sustaining that hunger through discipline and effort.
 
The conversation emphasizes the need for a deep, personal relationship with God, built over time, and the balance between grace and personal effort in the Christian walk. 
 
They also highlight the connection between prayer and holiness, encouraging listeners to seek a deeper relationship with God through intentionality and self-reflection.
 
To find out more about James and his ministry visit Prayer Storm
 
Takeaways
Desire for God often begins with a stirring in the heart.
Sustaining spiritual hunger requires discipline and effort.
Radical Christianity is about long-term growth in faith.
You can encounter God at events, but knowing Him takes time.
Building a relationship with God involves investment and history.
Prayer and fasting should stem from love, not obligation.
Legalism and devotion may appear the same externally, but differ internally.
Creating a plan for spiritual practices is essential for growth.
Understanding your unique prayer personality is crucial for effective prayer.
Regular self-reflection is necessary to maintain spiritual purity.
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Human 5: The Humanity of Jesus with Nathan Foster

In this final conversation discussing his new book, Matthew and Nathan Foster explore the profound themes of humanity, longing, and the nature of Jesus.
They discuss how our deepest longings for truth, goodness, and beauty find their fulfillment in the humanity of Jesus, who embodies these qualities.
The dialogue delves into the unexpected nature of God as revealed through Jesus, emphasizing intimacy, mutual self-disclosure, and the significance of suffering.
They reflect on the mystery of relationship with God and how longings can guide us toward a deeper understanding of our humanity.
Ultimately, they highlight the call to authentic humanity and the beauty of living in alignment with our true selves.
Takeaways
Longings for truth, goodness, and beauty find fulfillment in Jesus.
Jesus embodies the humanity that connects us to God.
Grief and loss are integral to the human experience, as shown by Jesus.
The unexpected nature of God challenges traditional views.
Intimacy with God is a unique aspect of the Christian faith.
Mutual self-disclosure in suffering deepens our relationship with God.
The humanity of Jesus invites us to lean into mystery.
Longings can guide us toward understanding our true selves.
Authentic humanity is about reflecting God's glory.
Jesus offers a pathway to living a good life.
Keywords
humanity of Jesus, longings, spirituality, connection, intimacy with God, grief, beauty, truth, relationship, self-disclosure

Human 4: On Beauty with Jon White

As part of a series discussing his first book, Matthew and Jon White explore the profound themes of beauty, creativity, and their integral roles in human experience and spirituality.
They discuss how beauty serves as a pathway to understanding God and the gospel, emphasizing that beauty is not merely aesthetic but a powerful force for hope and resistance in a troubled world.
The dialogue also touches on the importance of creativity in everyday life and how it connects us to our deepest longings and the divine.
Ultimately, they invite listeners to recognize beauty as a transformative element that leads us closer to the essence of Jesus and the future promise of restoration.
Takeaways
Beauty can be a pathway to understanding God.
Creativity is essential to the human experience.
Beauty serves as resistance against suffering.
Engaging with beauty unlocks the human heart.
Discipleship involves recognizing beauty in the world.
Art and faith can intersect in meaningful ways.
Beauty is integral to the gospel message.
Our deepest longings point us towards Jesus.
Creativity is a form of prayer and worship.
Remembering the future inspires hope and action.
Keywords
longings, beauty, creativity, gospel, discipleship, hope, art, resistance, human experience, transformation

Human 3: On Goodness with Lisa Koon

In this conversation, Matthew and Lisa Koons explore the deep longings of the human heart, particularly focusing on the longing for Goodness.
They discuss the connection between prayer, mission, and justice, emphasizing the importance of seeing goodness in humanity despite its brokenness.
The dialogue delves into theological perspectives on Goodness, the impact of cultural definitions, and the significance of recognizing the inherent Goodness within each person as created in the image of God.
They discuss the journey of self-discovery in relation to God, the elusive nature of goodness as a divine attribute, and the overarching goodness of God that invites individuals into a deeper relationship with Him.
Takeaways
The longing for goodness is hardwired into humans.
Understanding goodness requires a theological framework.
Humanity's original intent is rooted in goodness.
Cultural definitions of goodness can be arbitrary and harmful.
Seeing goodness in others can transform our interactions.
We are on a journey of becoming more Christ-like.
Shame can hinder our self-identity and relationship with God.
Community plays a crucial role in affirming our true identity.
Goodness is a divine quality that is both mysterious and essential.
We are designed to be loved and valued by God.
Repentance should be viewed as a restoration to our true selves.
God's kindness leads us to a deeper understanding of repentance.
Humanity's purpose is rooted in God's goodness and love.
We can reclaim our identity through understanding our divine nature.
There is a path to true humanity that is shown through Christ.
Keywords
longings, goodness, prayer, mission, justice, humanity, theology, original goodness, cultural definitions, self-perception, CS Lewis, shame, identity, goodness, humanity, redemption, repentance, community, divine nature, faith

Human 2: On Truth with Liam Byrnes

In this conversation, Matthew and Liam Byrns delve into the profound themes of truth, goodness, and beauty as explored in Matthew's book.
They discuss the human longing for these ideals and how they can lead to a deeper understanding of Jesus.
The dialogue navigates the complexities of truth in a modern context, emphasizing the importance of personal encounters with truth, the historical lenses through which we view it, and the integration of intellect and emotion in our understanding of faith.
The conversation culminates in practical insights on living out truth in a relational and compassionate manner.
Take Aways
Our longings for truth, goodness, and beauty guide us to Jesus.
Truth is often perceived through various historical lenses.
Personal encounters with truth are essential for understanding.
The integration of mind, heart, and action is crucial in faith.
Humility is necessary when discussing truth in a complex world.
Truth is not just propositional; it is relational and experiential.
Christianity invites us to a broader understanding of truth.
Liturgy and structured prayer can help us articulate truth.
Compassion and kindness are powerful tools in proclaiming truth.
The journey of knowing God involves both learning and unlearning.
Key Words
truth, goodness, beauty, Jesus, longing, personal encounter, historical lenses, integration, discipleship, prayer
 

Human 1: On Longing with Trevor Hudson

In this episode, Matthew and Trevor Hudson explore the themes of longing and the human experience as they discuss Matthew's upcoming book, 'Human'.
They delve into the nature of our longings, the tension between our deepest and strongest desires, and how these longings can lead us closer to God.
The conversation emphasizes the importance of relationships in navigating our longings and the transformative power of grace in our lives. Ultimately, they reflect on how our longings echo God's own desires for us, inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him.
Take aways
Longing is a pathway to understanding our relationship with God.
Our deepest longings can lead us home to God.
Navigating the tension of longing is essential for spiritual growth.
Strongest longings may distract us from our deepest desires.
Relationships are crucial in processing our longings.
Suppression of longings can lead to exhaustion.
Grace, not willpower, transforms our desires.
Restlessness can be a gift that keeps us seeking God.
Our longings reflect God's longing for us.
There are no unfinished symphonies in our spiritual journey.
Key Words
longing, human experience, spirituality, transformation, relationships, faith, Jesus, emotional health, self-discovery, vulnerability

Yes, that's the god we don't believe in. Reflections on Love in an age of fear

In the final episode of our Advent series, Matthew reflects on how our views of God can be warped by those who claim to represent Him, how Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God and how the God we find in Jesus is a God of Love.
If you enjoyed this episode you can go a little deeper by subscribing at www.wearefollower.com to receive a devotional thought and some reflective exercises that will help you explore this concept. 
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You're not supposed to clap there. Reflections on Joy in an age of anguish.

In the third episode of our Advent series, Matthew speaks about Joy. In particular, He considers how our pleasures call us deeper to Joy and how, in an age of anguish and scepticism, Joy may just be the revolution. 
To dive deeper into this topic you can subscribe at www.wearefollower.com to receive weekly devotional thoughts and reflection exercises that take you deeper into the topic of each podcast. 
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What do you mean He breathed on them? Reflections on Peace in an age of anxiety.

This is the second episode in our Advent series. In this episode, Matthew explores the Shalom of Jesus and how it is much deeper than the fragile peace our culture pursues. 
To explore this more, you can visit www.wearefollower.com and subscribe to receive weekly devotional reflections complimenting each episode and taking you a little deeper into the journey. 

And then there was the longing. Reflections on Hope in an age of Nihilism

This is the first episode in a four-part Advent series in which Matthew explores Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love to help us arrive at Christmas with wonder. 
In this episode, Matthew discusses the realities of our longings and how, if we allow them to lead us well, they can cultivate a Hope in us that is anchored in Jesus and transformative for our lives. 
Weekly reflections and exercises will also be sent out to help you go a little deeper into these topics. You can get those in your inbox by subscribing at www.wearefollower.com