nate claiborne

In this episode, Nate provides an update about the state of the podcast going into March. While there was much energy toward episodes each week on the M'Cheyne Reading Plan and New City Catechism, reality set in going into February, and the former will only be monthly, while the latter will not be at all.

Instead, there will be upcoming episodes highlighting what a Circle is like from the inside, as well as the broader vision for NewCity in this next season.

For the episodes related to the M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan, you can find them here.

In this episode (our 200th!), Nate has a chance to talk with Jason Dunn, NewCity's Executive Director of Congregational Care, and soon to be Associate Pastor.  Jason has been at NewCity since 2009, became a Ruling Elder several years ago, and is now accepting a call to the Associate Pastor position. He currently splits his time between overseeing Family Ministries, Congregational Care, and Kingdom Partnerships. 

In this episode, Nate and Pastoral Resident Ryan Gawrych discuss New City Catechism Question 6:

How can we glorify God?
We glorify God by enjoying him, loving him, trusting him, and by obeying his will, commands, and law.

They discuss the theology, significance, and practical implications of living our lives to God's glory.

In this episode, Nate talks with Pastoral Resident Ryan Gawrych about New City Catechism Question 5:

What else did God create?

God created all things by his powerful Word, and all his creation was very good; everything flourished under his loving rule.

They discuss the importance of God being creator, and especially that creation is good, though sin does affect it. They also talk about the importance of culture and about engaging with the world that we live in rather than retreating from it.

And, Ranger Rick is still apparently around and you can check it out here.

In this episode, Nate offers some reflections on Esther, which we're almost done with, and Mark, which we've just begun. On the app (find NewCity on Church Center), you can find links to a bunch of old episodes on Romans, as well as introductions to Mark and Esther.

In this episode, Nate Claiborne talks briefly about New City Catechism Question 4:

How and why did God create us?

God created us male and female in his own image to know him, love him, live with him, and glorify him. And it is right that we who were created by God should live to his glory.

Nate highlights the connection between being made in God's image and our ability to glorify him, something we strive to do as a community of people, male and female, adults and children alike.

In this episode, Nate draws connections between the different reading cycles within the M'Cheyne Reading Plan. In Nehemiah we see commentary on Abraham's story in Genesis that we read earlier this month. In Acts 22-23, we see Paul offering commentary on his own Damascus road experience from chapter 9. The Bible really is the first hyper-linked text and reading multiple chapters a day from different parts of it allows us to see that more clearly.

In this episode, Nate Claiborne discusses Question 3 from the New City Catechism:

How many persons are there in God?

There are three persons in the one true and living God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

Nate draws on Kevin DeYoung's insights, which you can find in the commentary on the app, to help grapple with the doctrine of the Trinity and its practical importance for us as Christians

In this episode, Nate discusses ways to adapt the M'Cheyne plan into your Scripture practice for the Common Rhythm. He draws on comments Damein made in his most recent sermon, as well as the questions from the All of Life Guide, to discuss how to integrate a Bible reading plan like this into your routine.

As mentioned, there are many episodes that go into detail about chapters we've read so far in 2024. You can find the Bible book overviews here:

• Introduction to Genesis
• Introduction to Matthew
• Introduction to Ezra
• Introduction to Nehemiah
• Introduction to Acts

In addition, we have recorded several other discussions about specific chapters we'll be reading together:

• Genesis 1-2
• Genesis 12-26
• Matthew 1-2
• Matthew 6
• Acts 8
• Acts 9
• Matthew 9

As always, we look forward to questions and ideas to help drive our future conversations. You can contact us at podcast@newcityorlando.com

In this episode, Nate and Ben talk about the importance of catechesis, a long standing practice for passing on the Christian faith from one generation to the next. This episode is an introduction to an on-going series of short episodes on the questions and answers in the New City Catechism.

The article that Ben mentions can be found here.

In this episode, Nate and Ben discuss New City Catechism Question 1:

What is our only hope in life and death?
That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ.

They dig into the meaning of the answer, as well as how it helps form us in ways that cut against dominate views in our modern culture. They also address how an understanding of this question gets to the heart of the gospel, and how we can use it in our discipleship.

In this episode, Nate Claiborne explains more about the M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan that NewCity is doing in 2024. There are different ways to approach it for your Bible reading, and it is ultimately a tool for communion with God, not a project to complete and check off our to-do lists.

You can find more info about the background of the plan here.  The website that Nate mentions with the daily readings on it, as well as the devotional by D. A. Carson is accessible here. If you want a print version of Carson's devotional, you can find it here.

You can find the Logos Bible Software app in your phone's app store, or visit this link to create a profile and access several Bible translations and other free resources in the basic version.

And, as mentioned in the episode, if you have any questions, send us an e-mail at podcast@newcityorlando.com.

 

In this episode, Nate asks Sara Nixon, the Director of Care at New City, to give an update on how the care process works at NewCity. The conversation sheds light on the recent shifts our pastoral care structure has undergone. With a newly adopted model, our pastoral team is equipped to guide members through the trials of suffering, sin, and sorrow.  Moreover, the upcoming rollout of Collectives will ensure that no one is forgotten, with elders overseeing care for members within their zip code.

You can connect with Sara by e-mail (snixon@newcityorlando.com) or by visiting the Care page on Church Center.

The series of episodes from earlier this year that Nate and Sara discuss can be found here:

• Following Jesus in Soul Care Week 1
• Following Jesus in Soul Care Week 2
• Following Jesus in Soul Care Week 3
• Following Jesus in Soul Care Week 4

In this episode, Nate asks Grace Crosby, NewCity's jack of all trades Ministry Assistant, about her upcoming trip with Freedom424 to Thailand. Her group is heading there to connect with Beginnings Foundation, which works to rescue girls from human trafficking. Grace explains her heart for missions, and then the details and logistics for this particular trip and what they hope it is able to accomplish.

The Beginnings Foundation in Thailand leverages basic life skills education to provide alternatives to trafficking victims. They run cooking and sewing schools for the girls, equipping them with new skills and a renewed sense of hope. But the path to recovery isn't straightforward; these girls face daunting challenges such as potential threats within Thailand's public school system and a bleak environment trapping them in this vicious cycle.

You can learn more about Grace's trip here.

In this episode, Nate sits down with his former Hebrew professor, Dr. Gordon Johnston, Professor of Old Testament at Dallas Seminary. Dr. Johnston helps us understand the nature of the case laws in Exodus 21-23 by explaining how they related to the Decalogue. The discussion also covers how we might read these texts as Christian Scripture today, and even guidance for how we can understand some of the more difficult passages in this section of Exodus.

In this episode, Nate sits down with Dr Glenn Kreider, Professor of Theological Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, where Nate is currently pursuing his PhD under Dr Kreider's supervision. After briefly discussing the PhD program, the conversation moves to God's declaration at the end of Exodus 33, and how that lens helps us make sense of God's character and faithful presence with his people through the rest of the biblical story. 

Ever wonder why the Ten Commandments hold such a prominent place in the Bible? Why they are repeatedly mentioned throughout the scripture and have been instrumental in shaping the moral imagination of Jesus' followers? Today, we embark on an enlightening journey of exploring the profound significance of these commandments and their resonance in our lives.

We kick off by discussing the structure of the Ten Commandments, highlighting how Jesus distilled their essence into two primary focuses: our relationship with God and with our neighbors. We examine this ethical approach that transcends our vertical and horizontal relationships, emphasizing the essential commandment of loving our neighbor as ourselves. In this lively discussion, you'll have a chance to see how these commandments, time-tested and potent, provide practical guidance for both times of plenty and times of need. 

Finally, brace yourself as we venture into the reversal of the logic of religion as depicted in the scriptures. You'll get to see God in a new light – as thunder and smoke, serious and holy, and Lord and lofty. We'll connect this with the narrative of the tabernacle showing how God is transcendent yet imminent, and how He does everything necessary for us to be with Him. We dive deep into Romans 13, analyzing the second table of the law as a manifestation of having greater integrity of faith in every area of life. It's not just a conversation about the Ten Commandments; it's about understanding their importance and relevance in our everyday lives. Join us for this riveting exploration of faith, ethics, and spirituality.

Interested listeners can work through the NewCity sermon series on The Ten Commandments here:

• The Liberated Life: Prologue
• The First Commandment
• The Second Commandment
• The Third Commandment
• The Fourth Commandment
• The Fifth Commandment
• The Sixth Commandment
• The Seventh Commandment
• The Eighth Commandment
• The Ninth Commandment
• The Tenth Commandment

In this episode, Nate talks with Theologian in Residence Michael Allen about last fall's Exodus series. They recap some of the themes features in that sermon series, and then look ahead to this second part of Exodus that we will be walking through this fall. Mike draws out the important themes to keep in mind, and how those can be traced both forward and backward through Scripture. 

With fall (or at least Florida fall) around the corner, we're gearing up for the kickoff of Communities at NewCity. After re-launching last fall, we've seen significant growth in the number of Communities, as well as the first signs of multiplication. In this episode, Nate asks Ryan and Kenny, who direct Communities at NewCity, about the vision for Communities, as well as some insights into the new Communities that are available this fall. You can find more information about all of them by downloading the Church Center app and finding NewCity on there.

In this episode, Nate and Ben discuss the onset of their respective PhD programs and the value of reading tough texts in community. They discuss how this led to developing a Commissioned Community around reading Christopher Watkin's Biblical Critical Theory. They discuss how Watkin's book isn't about spoon-feeding answers; instead, it's about equipping us all to have insightful dialogues on cultural issues using the Bible. They also touch on the concept of secularism as a Christian idea, tracing it back to Augustine's City of God and City of Man. While culture changes over time, some antithesis remain the same, and Watkin is able to utilize the the story of Scripture to do what the tools of critical theory and modern French philosophy try to do in vain. The end result is a constructive engagement of culture, rather than a deconstructive or destructive one.

If you're interested in joining this Commissioned Community, which starts on Sept 10th, you can find more information in our app on Church Center.