The God Experiment

Jeremiah talks about a relational mode of prayer. 

Jeremiah talks about being sensitive and responsive to God’s voice. The hypothesis is that it doesn’t always make sense when God directs us in our lives. The Experiment is to respond to His leading, regardless of our level of understanding. This episode also discusses how The God Experiment will no longer be a weekly podcast. 

Jeremiah and his dad talk about the challenges involved in relating to the Trinity. Topics include how we overcome the possible hurdles in our heart when relating to one Person of the Trinity, as well as the conflict between a relational approach to Christianity and the Western desire for objectivity and logic.  

Jeremiah talks with his dad about two ideas surrounding worship. The first is the view of worship as being primarily a liturgical (or Church-based) expression. The second involves the use of music in personal devotional times, including an example of singing the Scriptures aloud.

It's time to reconnect with your motivation for worshiping God. The hypothesis of this episode is that each person must find their own reason to worship. The experiment is to reconnect with the reasons why you have chosen to maintain a relationship with the Heavenly Father, and then worship Him from that place of personal understanding.

Have you reviewed your priorities recently? The hypothesis of this episode is that we are less effective and less fulfilled if we do not intentionally pursue what matters to us. The experiment is first to identify your priorities, and second determine what to do about them. 

Sometimes doing nothing is the best course of action! The hypothesis of this episode is that it can be an act of faith to wait for God to move. The experiment is to learn how to rest in God as we wait for His perfect will. Scriptures include Isaiah 30 and James 5.

Jeremiah discusses the book he co-authored with Wesley M. Pinkham, entitled "Relational Christianity: A Remarkable Vision of God," recently published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This brief introduction discusses the relationality of the Trinity, and how that translates into the foundational relationality of Christianity and human existence. 

Jeremiah reads and responds extemporaneously to the Gospel of John, chapters 11 & 12. Topics include the resurrection of Lazarus, the Sanhedrin's decision to put Jesus to death, Mary's anointing of Jesus' feet, and Christ's integrity in His relationship with His Father. 

Jeremiah talks with His friend Lewis about John 1:12. Particularly, they focus on the powerful truth that God has given us the ability to choose our relationship with Him. It is up to us to determine if we will be children of God. 

In this highly uplifting episode, Jeremiah talks about our efforts toward being good. The hypothesis is that goodness belongs to God alone. The experiment is to realize that you are not good, and can never be good without maintaining a deep relationship with the Father in which you reflect His own goodness.

In this episode Jeremiah talks about how we communicate to God as His children. The hypothesis is that we have every right to tell God exactly what we want, because we know He is our Father. The experiment is to be real with Him about the things you desire, while knowing He gives good gifts in His own timing.

Jeremiah tackles the topics of humility and repentance. The hypothesis is that there will always be internal issues for you to repent over. The experiment is to choose not to rest in your previous spiritual success, but to ask God for further transformation in your process of repentance. Scriptures include James 3 and Isaiah 55.

Jeremiah reads chapters 9 and 10 of the Gospel of John and responds. 

Jeremiah and his friend Phil explore the question: "Why did Jesus teach that loving God is the greatest commandment?" This conversation includes such topics as theodicy, existentialism, obedience, relationship, the nature of belief, and the dark night of the soul. 

In this episode Jeremiah talks about the voice of God. The hypothesis is that communications from God maintain certain qualities that help us recognize them as being genuinely divine in nature. The experiment is to review recent revelations or spiritual experiences to ensure that they were, indeed, from God, by the Holy Spirit.

Jeremiah talks about our self-conception. The hypothesis is that we should not take for granted that our current sense of identity is, in fact, God’s current definition of who we are. The experiment is to tell the Heavenly Father what you think about yourself, and ask Him to speak to you anew.

Jeremiah talks about the beatitudes in Matthew 5. The hypothesis is that the beatitudes are meant to be understood relationally. The experiment is to meditate on the beatitudes to cultivate our own humility, and thereby allow God to bless us in His own way.

Jeremiah talks with his friend Phil about the ancient Greek concept of happiness, particularly as it applies to the biblical worldview. They explore the ideas that true happiness is about long-term fulfillment and growth, that God does not expect humans to be perfect, and that to remain happy we must exercise forgiveness and grace.

Jeremiah reads chapters 7 & 8 of the Gospel of John, and responds in an extemporaneous manner.