SMany have often described the Holy Spirit as an “it” or a “thing,” when actually, He’s the third person of the Trinity. He’s the One Jesus knew was coming after Him. He’s… well, that’s that we’re talking about on this first episode of the series entitled “Summer in the Spirit.”

In this Episode, host Bethany Barr Phillips, introduces the series focusing on the Holy Spirit she emphasizes the importance of understanding the Holy Spirit both theologically and personally. Through sharing personal experiences and insights, Bethany explores the role of the Holy Spirit in everyday life, the misconceptions surrounding Him, and the empowerment He offers to believers.

Takeaways

• “I don’t want the world to define God for me, I want the Holy Spirit to reveal God to me.” A.W. Tozer
• We often limit the Holy Spirit by trying to neatly define Him.
• Have you described the Holy Spirit?
• The Holy Spirit is a person of God, not a force.
• Understanding the Holy Spirit is crucial for spiritual growth.
• The Holy Spirit’s presence and power is not restricted to the pages of the Scriptures.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to Summer in the Spirit

08:09 - Personal Experiences with the Holy Spirit

18:33 - Theological Insights on the Holy Spirit

24:23 - Conclusion and Call to Action

Bethany's Website. - Where you can find out more about how to follow, the substack, the Pioneer Assembly Book Club and more.

Regret is REAL. And knowing it’s coming is sometimes worse than knowing you may have to live with it. While you may not always like a possible outcome, you don’t have to regret the reality from a decision you made.

In this third and final episode in the series on decisions, Bethany Barr Phillips discusses the complexities of decision-making and dissects regret, offering seven decisions you won’t regret. These seven key decisions can lead to a life with less regret, encouraging listeners to trust in God's guidance over worldly desires.

Takeaways

Seven Key Decisions:

• Prayer over Pettiness: Are you making a decision for or with God?
• Trust over impulsiveness: Are your trusting His timing or creating your own?
• Forgiveness over faking it: Are you truly forgiving or are you faking it and keeping score?
• Right thing over the easy thing: Are you more concerned with comfort rather than call?
• Obedience over independence: Are you willing to submit rather than lead your own life?
• Resting over striving: Are you able to rest or do you feel like striving is significance?
• Worshiping over worrying: Are you willing to worship instead of worry?

Chapters

00:00- Introduction to Decision-Making and Regret

01:48 - Seven Decisions You Won't Regret

05:49 - Prayer Over Pettiness

06:41 - Trust Over Impulsiveness

07:44 - Forgiveness Over Faking It

08:55 - The Right Thing Over The Easy Thing

09:59 - Obedience Over Independence

11:32 - Resting Over Striving

12:29 - Worshiping Over Worrying

13:40 - Conclusion: Living Without Regret

Links

Ryan McDermott's Book titled: He is Here

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Does God sometimes get it wrong? Is He willing to do for you what He’s done for others? Why is it such a struggle to trust God’s guidance in decisions? In this episode, Bethany Barr Phillips explores the complexities of trusting God's guidance in our decisions. She discusses the struggle of faith, the importance of obedience, and the need to trust in God's plan, even when it seems unclear. God isn’t always going to do things like we want, but He is worthy to be trusted in the wandering. Through biblical examples and personal insights, she encourages listeners to embrace the journey of faith and recognize that God’s guidance doesn’t exempt us from things that might hurt us. It’s His guidance that allows us to walk through it into the next season of our lives.

Takeaways

• We create a see saw effect of stress in our faith lives, b/c we get so fixated on being right, that we forget our main goal is to glorify God.
• Trusting God means accepting step-by-step guidance.
• Following God isn’t about knowing the whole plan. It’s not about trusting in the plan. It’s about trusting God.
• God’s guidance must be greater than people’s opinion.
• God's guidance does not exempt us from pain.
• Sometimes we wait for signs when God wants us to act.

Chapters

00:00 -The Choice of Judas: Trusting God's Decisions

03:08 - Understanding God's Guidance in Our Lives

05:48 - The Seesaw of Stress: Balancing Faith and Decisions

08:52 - Biblical Examples of Step-by-Step Guidance

11:58 - Obedience and Surrender: Keys to Divine Guidance

14:48 - Facing the Struggle: Trusting God's Plan

18:09 - Navigating Hurt and Healing in Faith

20:51 - Encouragement for the Journey: You're Not Alone

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At some point, everyone faces a decision about their future. If you’re human, you have that moment in time where you froze thinking if you chose wrong, you’d end up like those looking for the holy grail before Indiana Jones came along. In this episode, Bethany Barr Phillips discusses the challenges of making decisions in life, and fleshes out indecision and no decision. Drawing from the allegory of Pilgrim's Progress, she explores the journey of faith and the necessity of making choices that align with God's will.

Whether you’re worried you’ll ruin your life or don’t trust the next right thing, this episode will challenge you to move forward with what’s in front of you.

Takeaways

• God wants us to take action in our current season.
• Making a decision reveals the level of our trust in God.
• We cannot ruin our lives with a single decision if it honors God.
• Making a decision is not God’s cruel way of testing you to see if you’re listening good enough. Sometimes, making a decision reveals just how much you really trust Him.
• Any Godly decision about your life will not cause you to go outside of God’s word or live outside of God’s word.

Four Questions to Make a Decision:

1 - What does His Word say?

2 - What are my motives?

3 - Have I saught counsel?

4 - Will this decision point people to Jesus?

Chapters

00:00 - The Challenge of Decision-Making

01:31 - Understanding the Christian Journey

04:45 - God's Guidance in Decision-Making

06:29 - The Fear of Ruining Your Life

08:13 - Four Steps to Making the Right Decision

13:40 - Conclusion and Encouragement

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"When Jesus died on the cross, so did your sin; when He rose from the dead, so did your hope." (Max Lucado) Jesus rising from the grave is essential to the Christian pioneering journey, and yet, many don't truly understand why or what He accomplished. In this Field Note, host, Bethany Barr Phillips, answers two questions:

1. Why did He rise?
2. What did it do?

It's not enough to simply talk about the resurrection. We must understand that without it, we there is no reason for hope in the life of a pioneer. Don't miss this clarifying episode willing to give concrete reasons why Jesus rose from the grave and what it actually does for the life of all who believe.

Takeaways

• Jesus’ death was the perfect sacrifice that reconciles us to God.
• Jesus’ resurrection paves the way for our resurrection from the dead and eternal life with Him forever in heaven.
• Jesus rose to validate everything that was said about Him and everything that He said about Himself.

• The resurrection sets Christianity apart from all other religions. We worship and serve the only God that is ALIVE.

• “We live and die. Christ died and lived!” —John Stott

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Many talk about the cross, but have you stopped to think why it matters? If we really lived like the cross matters, then maybe the world would look different. In this Field Note, Bethany Barr Phillips discusses the profound significance of Jesus's death on the cross.

She outlines three key reasons why the crucifixion matters: (1) It allows for a full relationship with God, (2) highlights our inability to save ourselves, and (3) emphasizes that we cannot pay for our own sins. The discussion also touches on the love of God revealed through the cross and the importance of sharing this message with others.

Takeaways

• Without the cross, Christianity lacks its core message.
• Believing in Jesus means accepting the full weight of the cross.

• "[Christ's] death is the foundation of our hope, the promise of our triumph." - Billy Graham

• J.I. Packer: “The cross of Christ is a revelation of the love of God, for it reveals what that love is prepared to suffer for the one loved.”

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Chapters

00:00 - The Significance of Jesus's Death

02:00 - Understanding Our Relationship with God

04:24 - The Need for Salvation

06:46 - The Power of the Cross

When Jesus called Judas as a disciple, he knew this was going to be the road …And He was willing to let him sit at the table anyway. In this field note, Bethany explores the complex relationship between Jesus and Judas, as she invites you to wrestle with the thought of betrayal among fellow believers. Jesus welcomed Judas to the table despite his sin, and He does the same with us. The discussion will encourage you to reflect on your own life and the possibility of redemption, regardless of past mistakes.

Takeaways

• Jesus still called Judas knowing he would eventually betray him.
• Betrayal can come from those closest to us.
• Judas witnessed miracles yet chose betrayal.
• Jesus welcomed Judas to the table despite his sin.
• Christ's love is transformative AND redemptive. Our past does not disqualify us from redemption.

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Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to Judas' Betrayal

02:01 - The Significance of Judas' Role

04:56 - The Table of Grace

07:11 - Redemption and Forgiveness

Why does preparation matter in our faith life? Because what we don't prepare for, we could possibly miss. It's not popular language in today's faith circles, but being prepared for Christ's presence is a responsibility and privilege for every believer.

In this Field Note from the Pioneer Assembly, host Bethany Barr Phillips explores the significance of Tuesday of Holy Week, focusing on the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids. She emphasizes the importance of being prepared for Jesus' return and invites listeners to reflect on their faith and commitment. The conversation will encourage and challenge you to be willing to prepare even when it's not popular.

Takeaways

• He doesn’t require a resume of service activities, but He does want us to be ready at all times.

• There are consequences for being unprepared.

• As followers of Jesus, we must be prepared for His return at any time.

• “When He returns is not as important as the fact that we are ready for Him when He does return.” A.W. Tozer

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Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to Holy Week and Its Significance

01:47 - The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

05:03 - Preparedness for Jesus' Return

07:00 - Invitation to Faith and Commitment