Sermon: Fast | Week 2: Fasting from Multitasking and Inattention // Brent Levy

The Speakeasy is a gathering for unfiltered conversations on faith and justice. At each gathering, we invite a special guest to share their personal experiences and stories in conversation around a particular topic or issue related to faith and justice. We hope these events inspire empathy, foster common ground, and cultivate deeper connections in our community and beyond.

This month, we welcomed Susannah Tuttle, Director of the Eco-Justice Connection and NC Interfaith Power & Light, as she delves into the critical intersection of faith and climate justice. As you listen, you'll discover Susannah's journey from a passion for theater to becoming a leading voice in ecological ethics and her vision for a world rooted in love, kindness, and justice.

What You'll Learn:

• The role of faith communities in the climate justice movement.
• How climate justice intersects with other social justice issues, including racial and economic justice.
• The concept of global equitable climate finance and the responsibility of people of faith in addressing the climate crisis.
• Practical steps individuals and congregations can take to contribute to climate justice, such as asset mapping and divestment from fossil fuels.
• The importance of local action and community engagement in creating systemic change.

How It Will Help You:

• Gain insights into the ethical and theological motivations behind climate justice advocacy.
• Learn how to leverage your faith and community to make a tangible impact on environmental issues.
• Understand the power of collective action and how to mobilize resources for the greater good.
• Find inspiration to live a hope-filled life while confronting the challenges of climate change.

Where to Learn More:

• Visit the NC Interfaith Power & Light website at ncipl.org for resources on faith-based environmental advocacy.
• Explore the concept of JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) principles and how they apply to climate justice.
• For those interested in the intersection of faith and climate finance, research the US Climate Fair Share campaign and consider how your congregation can participate.
• Listen to the Climate Justice Y'all podcast.
• Check out Music Declares Emergency, a group of artists, music industry professionals and organizations that stand together to declare a climate and ecological emergency.

This conversation was recorded in front of a live audience at The Plant in Pittsboro, NC, on March 10, 2024. To learn more about Susannah Tuttle and NC Interfaith Power & Light, visit ncipl.org. To learn more about The Local Church, visit our website or connect with us on Instagram.

Date

March 10, 2024

Synopsis

This week, Brent shares about fasting from planning and deadlines in order to embrace ripening.

You'll Learn

• The spiritual significance of fasting during Lent and how it prepares us for the joy of resurrection.
• Insights into the human tendency to control outcomes through planning and how this can hinder our spiritual growth.
• The biblical perspective on unexpected life events and the call to trust in God's greater wisdom.
• The parable of the fig tree and its lessons on patience, trust, and the nurturing work of God in our lives.
• Practical wisdom from contemporary stories that encourage us to focus on the present and trust the process.

How It Helps

• Discover the freedom that comes with releasing the need to control every aspect of your life.
• Learn to appreciate the 'messy middle' of life's journey and the beauty of gradual growth.
• Gain a deeper understanding of repentance as a positive, life-giving turn towards God's plans.
• Find peace in the knowledge that God is at work in your life, even when progress isn't immediately visible.
• Embrace the present moment and the grace that it holds, rather than rushing towards the end goal.

References

Scripture: Luke 13:1–9

About The Local Church

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.

To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Date

March 3, 2024

Synopsis

This week’s Lenten practice is fasting from scarcity anxiety, the worry that there isn’t enough. You’ll hear about a diving board incident gone wrong, a rich fool, how scarcity is a part of our mindset from the moment we wake up, and more, and how to overcome it.

References

Scripture: Luke 12:13-35

About The Local Church

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.

To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Date

February 25, 2024

Synopsis

We’re contuing our series for Lent, and this week’s fast might be particularly challenging. If you’ve ever texted during a movie, scrolled Instagram at a stoplight, played Royal Match in class, browsed the headlines at the dinner table, checked your email during a Zoom call, or made your grocery list during a sermon… this one’s for you.

References

Scripture: Luke 10:25-42

About The Local Church

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.

To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Date

February 18, 2024

Synopsis

This week, we introduce a brand new series for Lent called “Fast: Practices for a Slow Lent and a Spacious Life.”

References

Scripture: Luke 9:51; Luke 10:1–12

About The Local Church

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.

To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Date

February 11, 2024

Synopsis

It’s Transfiguration Sunday, and this week, Brent wonders if this story is not meant to be understood as much as it’s meant to be experienced.

References

Scripture: Luke 9:28–36

About The Local Church

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.

To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

The Speakeasy is a gathering for unfiltered conversations on faith and justice. At each gathering, we invite a special guest to share their personal experiences and stories in conversation around a particular topic or issue related to faith and justice. We hope these events inspire empathy, foster common ground, and cultivate deeper connections in our community and beyond. 

To kick off our new season, we welcomed Mike Wiley, who shared about how to develop empathy, what dribbling a basketball teaches us about creating social change, and how the voices in his head have impacted him.

This conversation was recorded in front of a live audience at The Plant in Pittsboro, NC, on February 4, 2024. To learn more about Mike Wiley, visit mikewileyproductions.com. To learn more about The Local Church, visit our website or connect with us on Instagram.

Date

February 4, 2024

Synopsis

This week, pastoral intern Camber Herrig introduces the concept of carceral hermeneutics and asks, “Who is Jesus,” and her answer might surprise you.

References

Scripture: Luke 9:18–27

About The Local Church

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.

To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Date

January 28, 2024

Synopsis

This week, we wrap up our time in Luke 8 with a sermon on birds, storms, demons, and names.

References

Scripture: Luke 8:22–39

About The Local Church

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.

To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

In this episode, Brian Newman, executive director of the Isaac Ishmael initiative, shares his unique perspective on the Israel-Gaza conflict, exploring its historical roots, theological implications, and the role of faith in pursuing peace.

1. Historical Context of the Conflict:
   Brian Newman provides a historical overview of the Israel-Gaza conflict, tracing its origins back to the mid-19th century with the rise of nationalism in Europe and the subsequent Zionist movement led by Theodor Herzl, which sought a homeland for the Jewish people. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the complex history that has shaped the current state of affairs in the region.
2. Theological Perspectives and the Land:
   Newman discusses the conflation of biblical Israel with the modern state of Israel, highlighting the differences between religious claims to the land and the secular nature of the current Israeli state. He challenges listeners to consider whether the nation of Israel today can be equated with the biblical promises made to the Jewish people.
3. Dispensationalism and Modern Implications:
   The podcast delves into the concept of dispensationalism, a Christian theological framework that influences many evangelical Christians' views on Israel's right to the land. Newman explains how this belief system impacts the political and religious dynamics of the conflict.
4. Jesus' Role in Peacebuilding:
   As a pastor and follower of Jesus, Newman shares his theological approach to the conflict, emphasizing the need to invite Jesus into the conversation and the potential of his teachings to foster peace. He argues that the radical and revolutionary message of Jesus offers a path towards reconciliation that is often missing in the approaches of both Judaism and Islam as practiced in the region.
5. Religion as a Facet of the Conflict:
   While acknowledging the deep religious significance of Jerusalem to all three Abrahamic faiths, Newman suggests that religion often serves as a smokescreen for the political, social, and military aspects of the conflict. He calls for a deeper understanding of the ways in which religious narratives are intertwined with and sometimes overshadowed by the geopolitical struggle.

Links

• Christmas Sermon by Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac
• The Isaac Ishmael Initiative
• Image used in podcast artwork: "Christ in the Rubble" by Kelly Latimore