spiritual rhythms

This is a message by Ps. Alex Stark from our Rhythms series, we hope and pray it’s been a blessing to you.

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Newlife Church is one family, many churches and we exist to simply see more people more like Jesus by planting and leading thriving local churches.

You’ve joined us for Rhythms, a series exploring the essence of Christian life asking ’Who am I becoming?’. It’s about personal formation—shaping our lives with Christian values, moving beyond mere thoughts about God to practical habits and disciplines that mirror Jesus. These are our rhythms.We pray that this message is a blessing.

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We’d love to hear from you!
hello@church.nu
www.facebook.com/newlifebrisbane
www.instagram.com/@newlifebrisbane
www.youtube.com/@newlifechurchau

This is a message by Ps. Alex Stark from our Rhythms series, we hope and pray it’s been a blessing to you.

_
Newlife Church is one family, many churches and we exist to simply see more people more like Jesus by planting and leading thriving local churches.

You’ve joined us for Rhythms, a series exploring the essence of Christian life asking ’Who am I becoming?’. It’s about personal formation—shaping our lives with Christian values, moving beyond mere thoughts about God to practical habits and disciplines that mirror Jesus. These are our rhythms.We pray that this message is a blessing.

_
We’d love to hear from you!
hello@church.nu
www.facebook.com/newlifebrisbane
www.instagram.com/@newlifebrisbane
www.youtube.com/@newlifechurchau

This is a message by Ps. Dylan Ball from our Rhythms series, we hope and pray it’s been a blessing to you.

_
Newlife Church is one family, many churches and we exist to simply see more people more like Jesus by planting and leading thriving local churches.

You’ve joined us for Rhythms, a series exploring the essence of Christian life asking ’Who am I becoming?’. It’s about personal formation—shaping our lives with Christian values, moving beyond mere thoughts about God to practical habits and disciplines that mirror Jesus. These are our rhythms.We pray that this message is a blessing.

_
We’d love to hear from you!
hello@church.nu
www.facebook.com/newlifebrisbane
www.instagram.com/@newlifebrisbane
www.youtube.com/@newlifechurchau

You are not what you do occasionally. You are what you do consistently. One of the most transformative spiritual practices you can experience is the sabbath - a regular dedicated 24-hour period of rest where you stop working and connect with God. The Sabbath was introduced to the nation of Israel in the book of Exodus, and its wisdom is still profound for our world today. What if your lack of being able to rest says more about what your life is truly defined by than you want to admit?

Spiritual Rhythms Bless my Everyday Life (Worship and Message) | Sandals Church

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Megan Fate-Marshman, guest speaker for the upcoming Sunrise Women's Christmas Breakfast, joins Cliff to talk about making less of ourselves so that Christ would increase.

Scripture Referenced:
Philippians 2
Mark 9

Website:  www.meganfate.com

Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/sunrisecommunitychurch
Watch live on Mondays at 10am: www.facebook.com/sunrisecommunityonline/live

Song: Fredji - Happy Life (Vlog No Copyright Music)
Music provided by Vlog No Copyright Music.
Video Link: https://youtu.be/KzQiRABVARk

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God’s Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.

This episode’s spiritual discipline is the Examen – but don’t worry, this isn’t a test! It’s an ancient practice combining prayer, thankfulness, and reflection. As they walk through the steps of the Examen, Adam and Micki Ann discuss the importance of reflective practices.

In simplest terms, the Examen is the process of prayerfully reflecting on your day. As you go over the events, feelings, and conversations that happened, invite God to highlight moments to you, offering thanks and asking forgiveness as needed. Part of what makes this practice unique is the focus on feelings. As Micki Ann explains, God speaks to us through our hearts, so knowing ourselves better is helpful in growing closer to God.

Listen in to this episode to hear Micki Ann’s thoughts about getting to live your day twice and why the Examen is so valuable.

About Adam Whitescarver

Adam is passionate about seeing God’s people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.

Jump Through the Conversation:

• [0:37] Why talk about spiritual practices on this podcast
• [1:34] The etymology of “examen”
• [2:51] What is The Examen?
• [6:19] The steps of The Examen
  • 1. Looking back on your day with God
  • 2. Reviewing your day and expressing thanks
  • 3. Paying attention to feelings (consolations and desolations)
  • 4. Asking for forgiveness
  • 5. Looking ahead to the next day
• [14:50] What it really means to examine our feelings
• [18:20] Adam’s thoughts on this practice
• [22:26] The benefits of “living your day twice”
• [26:13] The importance of reflection
• [29:20] The fruitfulness of The Examen
  • Being able to see that God is at work in your life
  • Knowing our own hearts
  • Reflecting
• [32:37] Closing thought from John Calvin

Links and Resources:

• A Beautiful Church website
• Chattanooga House of Prayer website
• Give today
• Resources from the Chattanooga House of Prayer

Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God’s Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.

How can the Ten Commandments be used as a positive spiritual practice? In this episode, Adam and Micki Ann move past the common negative view of the Ten Commandments and show how they can be used to bring us closer to God and the life He created us for.

Especially in the context of creation, the Ten Commandments help answer the question, “What would my life be like if it was as God intended?” They act as a calling both to holiness and to human flourishing. Through prayer (and memorization!), the Ten Commandments can be used to evaluate our own lives, allowing God to reveal areas of sin and help us realign ourselves with His morality.

Listen in to this episode to hear some of Adam’s experience with this practice and tips for incorporating it into your own spiritual walk.

About Adam Whitescarver

Adam is passionate about seeing God’s people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.

Jump Through the Conversation:

• [0:49] Why the Ten Commandments?
• [4:24] The Ten Commandments and human flourishing
• [7:00] The Ten Commandments and human spirituality
• [10:52] Remembering the “upward call”
• [13:44] Changing popular perception of the Ten Commandments 
• [18:58] How to use the Ten Commandments as a spiritual discipline
  • Memorization
  • Praying through them
• [21:25] Challenges of this practice
• [26:12] Exploring the Ten Commandments in the context of a prayer retreat

Links and Resources:

• A Beautiful Church website
• Chattanooga House of Prayer website
• Give today
• Resources from the Chattanooga House of Prayer

Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God’s Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.

There are many ways to read Scripture, but Lectio Divina (Latin for “sacred reading”) is a slowed-down approach with the aim of engaging in conversation with God through the text. In this episode, Adam and Micki Ann look at the four movements of Lectio Divina and how these practices can be used to hear God in unexpected places.

The movements of Lectio Divina are easy to remember: Read (slowly!), Reflect (on “shimmery” words/passages), Respond (in prayer), and Rest (allow the Word to settle). Although they can go by different names, these are the four pieces that have been practiced for hundreds of years. Several “bonus” movements can be added, including a time of preparation before reading and an opportunity to Resolve at the end. As Micki Ann notes, the more you practice Lectio Divina, the more the movements become habits that help you to become aware of how God can speak to you through nature, a conversation, and even art.

Listen in to this episode to hear how changing the way you read the Bible can revitalize your spiritual journey, and find out how Adam connects Lectio Divina to Batman.

About Adam Whitescarver

Adam is passionate about seeing God’s people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.

Jump Through the Conversation:

• [1:18] What is Lectio Divina?
• [9:30] “Dryness” and changing the way you read Scripture
• [14:53] The four movements of Lectio Divina
  • (Bonus) Preparation
  • 1. Read
  • 2. Reflect
  • 3. Respond
  • 4. Rest
  • (Bonus) Resolve
• [24:20] Adam’s advice to task-oriented people
• [26:07] How the movements of Lectio Divina can help you hear God outside of reading Scripture
• [31:34] The invitational aspect of Lectio Divina

Links and Resources:

• A Beautiful Church website
• Chattanooga House of Prayer website
• Give today
• Resources from the Chattanooga House of Prayer

Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God’s Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.

For this episode, Adam and Micki Ann switch roles to allow Adam to tell the story of how he came to realize that he needed to craft a rule of life. As they discuss life-giving habits, real limitations, and the rhythms that guide both of these categories, Micki Ann and Adam explain the rule of life and how it benefits the whole self.

A rule of life is the ordering of your spiritual disciplines and boundaries to “support spiritual growth and life." Adam shares that even though his life was full of prayer, Bible reading, and listening to sermons, he felt empty and drained. By crafting a rule of life around daily, weekly, and yearly practices, Adam’s life took on a rhythm of doing and not doing that strengthened his spiritual life. As much as the rule of life is individual (based on your own personality, abilities, limitations, etc.), it’s important to practice it in community – for accountability, encouragement, and edification.

Listen in to this episode to hear ways to start crafting a rule of life, and find out why this rhythm is like growing cucumbers.

About Adam Whitescarver

Adam is passionate about seeing God’s people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.

Jump Through the Conversation:

• [1:50] What is a rule of life?
• [6:14] How Adam found himself needing a rule of life
• [11:01] Why Adam’s spiritual practices were draining and how he reconfigured them
• [16:51] The individual and corporate aspects of the rule of life
• [19:32] The importance of writing things down
• [20:40] Adam’s growth with his rule of life
• [25:54] Example from the retreat guide on how to develop a rule of life
• [32:52] On starting small
• [37:50] The benefit of doing the rule of life in community
• [40:52] Adam’s family and the rule of life

Links and Resources:

• A Beautiful Church website
• Chattanooga House of Prayer website
• Give today
• Resources from the Chattanooga House of Prayer
• Rule of Life Retreat Guide by Adam Whitescarver

Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God’s Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.

What comes to mind when you hear the word “sabbath?” In this episode, Adam and Micki Ann address preconceptions about the Sabbath and show why this sacramental time is an invitation not just to rest but to deepen intimacy with God.

As Adam shares, a mandatory Sabbath day can seem like the act of an “oppressive overlord,” but this couldn’t be farther from the truth; the Sabbath a holy, consecrated day, but it’s also an acknowledgement of human limitation and our intrinsic need to take a break from work. In fact, we’re encouraged to think about what “taskmasters” in our lives are keeping us from rest and peace. Of course, there’s mystery in why God made this day holy and blessed, and the only way to understand this better is to seek His heart.

Listen in to this episode to hear some practical steps for creating a day of rest. Plus, Micki Ann and Adam answer an important question: what if you work on Sundays?

About Adam Whitescarver

Adam is passionate about seeing God’s people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.

Jump Through the Conversation:

• [1:31] Addressing misunderstandings about the Sabbath
• [3:55] God’s creation of the first Sabbath
• [8:54] Connection between the Sabbath, eternity, and Jesus’s work on the cross
• [11:07] Defining sabbath rest 
• [14:54] What it means to “remember” the Sabbath
• [20:20] What’s keeping you from resting?
• [26:33] Plan, prepare, and practice
• [29:35] Doing Sabbath on a different day
• [33:11] Jesus and the Sabbath
• [35:00] Information about ChattHOP’s Sabbath Retreat Guide

Links and Resources:

• A Beautiful Church website
• Chattanooga House of Prayer website
• Give today
• Resources from the Chattanooga House of Prayer 
• Sabbath Retreat Guide by the Chattanooga House of Prayer
• The Sabbath by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God’s Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.

If the thought of sitting in extended silence sounds challenging or even awkward, you’re not alone. Even Micki Ann acknowledges that silence, solitude, and stillness are some of the hardest rhythms to learn – but also the most important. In this episode, Adam and Micki Ann look at these three concepts, what makes them difficult, and the benefits they offer.

Instead of thinking about silence, solitude, and stillness strictly in terms of absence (of noise, people, or movement), Micki Ann explains that these conditions allow for an experience of the “very rich presence [of God].” Of course, the absence of distractions can be uncomfortable, and it’s essential to pay attention to the thoughts, emotions, and temptations that emerge in the quietness. But if you can recognize and address these resistances, then you can begin to enjoy the peace cultivated through these three disciplines.

Listen in to this episode to hear what the Rhythms Retreat on silence, solitude, and stillness is like and learn some tips for developing these practices on your own.  

About Adam Whitescarver

Adam is passionate about seeing God’s people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.

Jump Through the Conversation:

• [1:22] Explaining silence and solitude
• [2:31] Acknowledging and dealing with discomfort
• [5:21] Creating a place of peace
• [8:09] Explaining stillness
• [9:42] The importance of addressing our reactions to silence, solitude, and stillness
• [16:48] Tips for cultivating these rhythms 
• [24:51] Identifying the desire to develop these practices
• [26:04] Benefits of silence, solitude, and stillness 

Links and Resources:

• A Beautiful Church website
• Chattanooga House of Prayer website
• Give today
• Resources from the Chattanooga House of Prayer

Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God’s Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.

Joining Adam for Season 5 is Micki Ann Harris, the Spiritual Formation Director at the Chattanooga House of Prayer. In this episode, Micki Ann shares how her life experiences led her to Chattanooga and ChattHOP, and she and Adam talk about their Rhythms Retreats and why these spiritual practices are invaluable for Christians.

Although Micki Ann became a Christian as a 9-year-old, she found her calling in ministry when she rededicated her life at 20. After moving across the country several times and serving in many church and ministry roles, Micki Ann helped found the Chattanooga House of Prayer in 2010. Her current role is the culmination of years of growing in intimacy with God and feeling a personal need for the beautiful and life-giving spiritual practices that she teaches to others. These spiritual rhythms are the backbone of the retreats Micki Ann leads at ChattHOP, and although there are various rhythms (as you’ll hear in this season!), the goal of each one is fostering deeper intimacy with God. 

Listen in to this episode to find out some of the specific rhythms that Micki Ann and Adam will be discussing this season.

About Adam Whitescarver

Adam is passionate about seeing God’s people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.

Jump Through the Conversation:

• [1:19] Introduction to Micki Ann
• [6:34] How a difficult season deepened Micki Ann’s intimacy with Christ
• [9:56] Micki Ann’s calling and growth in ministry 
• [14:59] Adam’s observations and encouragement to twenty-somethings
• [16:04] The relationship between action and formation
• [20:04] Micki Ann’s history with ChattHOP
• [23:48] Current role as Spiritual Formation Director
• [25:30] The inception of Rhythms at ChattHOP
• [29:47] What retreats at ChattHOP look like
• [33:30] Some of this season’s topics/rhythms
  • Silence and solitude
  • Cultivating intimacy with God
  • Meditative approach to Scripture
  • Sabbath
  • Forms of prayer
  • Understanding worth of human bodies
  • Rule of life
• [39:11] Why one should attend a ChattHOP retreat

Links and Resources:

• A Beautiful Church website
• Chattanooga House of Prayer website
• Give today
• Resources from the Chattanooga House of Prayer
• Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
• Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton

Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God’s Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.

Welcome to Season 5 of A Beautiful Church Podcast! For the past four seasons, we’ve brought you ecumenical voices from across the greater Chattanooga area through Adam’s conversations with pastors, priests, and ministry leaders – all with the goal of showing the beauty within the diversity of God’s Church and how there’s more that unifies us than divides us. Unity is at the core of ChattHOP’s mission, and in this season, we’re highlighting a different way of building unity by exploring spiritual disciplines that the Church has used for centuries.

If you want to go deeper with these spiritual practices, check out the Retreat Guides on our website’s Resources page. 

About Adam Whitescarver

Adam is passionate about seeing God’s people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.

Links and Resources:

• A Beautiful Church website
• Chattanooga House of Prayer website
• Give today
• Resources from the Chattanooga House of Prayer

Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

In a culture that competes for your family’s time, attention and identity, we as parents must get our priorities straight to raise healthy children. Josh & Christi Straub are founders of the organization Famous at Home and believe you don’t have to leave your profession to serve your family well. With ideas from their latest book, Famous at Home, Josh & Christi share practical steps to help reprioritize your family life, how to invest in the emotional lives of your children and how to fight for each other and not against each out. 

This marriage and parenting series is brought to you by Aro. Aro is offering RFL listeners a $25 discount by using code RFL at checkout AND a free six-month subscription for a limited time. Order your Aro today at goaro.com and use the promo code: RFL

GIVEAWAY: Until August 31, Aro is offering the chance to win a three night getaway to Bolt Farm Treehouse, a luxury mountaintop retreat that, just like Aro, helps people reconnect with nature, their people, and their purpose. To register for a chance to win, text RFL to 66866.

Thanks to Pine Cove Summer Camps for supporting the Rhythms for Life podcast. Pine Cove is excited to announce they’re opening a NEW overnight youth camp in Georgia, the Pine Cove Springs. Spots are still available for summer 2022! Check out pinecove.com/springs and use the code: RHYTHMS250 for $250 off a first-time overnight, youth camp registration at the Pine Cove Springs!

The Rhythms for Couples Retreat is October 21-24 at Lost Valley Ranch. Register now at rebekahlyons.com/rhythmsretreat

View Rebekah's new website for fun freebies and to subscribe to the email list to receive video podcasts.