For People with Bishop Rob Wright

Send us Fan Mail When we've been hurt or rejected, vengeance may be something we desire. Christian maturity helps us build capacities to defer and fend off the need for vengeance. In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about vengeance. Using Luke 9:51-62, they unpack Jesus' response when his disciples wanted to "rain fire and brimstone" on a Samaritan vi...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when we strip away centuries of religious interpretation and confront the actual teachings of Jesus of Nazareth? This Jesus isn't the gentle, apolitical figure often presented in modern Christianity, but rather "a holistically spiritual freedom fighter" deeply concerned with poverty, exploitation, and injustice.  In this episode, Bishop Wright has a con...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when we encounter truth we aren't ready for? Jesus' words about the Spirit of Truth were a guide to his disciples who couldn't yet bear everything their teacher had to share. Jesus' teachings on the Spirit of Truth remain a guide for us today too! In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about truth and the weigh it carries in...

Send us Fan Mail "Diversity belongs to God's imagination." With this bold statement, Bishop Rob Wright cuts through the political noise surrounding conversations about human difference. In this thought-provoking episode, we explore how the ancient biblical story of Pentecost offers a divine endorsement of human diversity that transcends modern political debates. In this episode, Mel...

Send us Fan Mail Prison takes many shapes and forms. The size of an individuals home or investment portfolio pales in comparison to true spiritual release - a freedom of purpose, clarity, and belonging that transcends physical limitations. This God given release is true freedom! In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright delve into Acts 16, reflecting on the story of Paul and Silas. Imprisoned yet...

Send us Fan Mail Words create worlds. From Genesis where God speaks creation into being, to Jesus asking a paralyzed man, "Do you want to be made well?", speech carries the power to transform reality. But what happens when certain topics become unspeakable? In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation that explores how modern society increasingly avoids difficult conver...

Send us Fan Mail God does some of God's best work in the darkness! These painful periods hold unexpected creative potential—a perspective shared by both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize speech and Jesus in his final hours with his disciples. Dr. King spoke during a time of profound national division. Yet he saw beyond immediate chaos to "a genuine civilization str...

Send us Fan Mail Being in relationship with God is accompanied by suspense. Even in the bible, John 10: 22-30, Jesus is asked "Are you the Messiah? How long will you keep us in suspense?" Faith in God meets in the tensions of certainty and the suspense of the unknown.  In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about the suspense that accompanies faith. Bishop Wright...

Send us Fan Mail What do we do with our wounds? When betrayal cuts deep, when painful experiences leave scars, we have control of how we move forward - with God's help. Jesus' post-resurrection appearances challenge our conventional responses to hurt. Jesus, freshly risen from death after being betrayed by his closest followers, doesn't seek distance or retribution. Instead, he pass...

Send us Fan Mail This week we celebrate 250 episodes of our Podcast, For People! From its inception until now our purpose has been singular, to talk about God, God’s goodness and how we might respond to this good God made known to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Thus far, we have listeners in 142 countries. An immense thank you goes to Easton Davis, our producer, and Melissa Rau, my conversation...

Send us Fan Mail Authority comes in many forms, but as Jesus entered Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, he modeled an understanding that may transform how we view our empowerment. While crowds waved palm branches and shouted "Hosanna!" one day and "Crucify him!" shortly after, Jesus remained steadfast. Neither public praise nor rejection sways him from his purpose. This spiritu...

Send us Fan Mail Loss hits hardest when we love deeply. How do we face it without denial or paralysis? In John 12, at a dinner for Jesus after Lazarus' resurrection, his friends respond to impending loss differently—Lazarus with nostalgia, Martha with busyness, and Judas with business. But Mary offers a different way: acknowledging a loss that draws her closer to Jesus. In this episode, Melis...

Send us Fan Mail Empathy is not just about intellect. Empathy is about putting flesh on Christian ideals. It's about compassion enough for everyone. The story of The Prodigal Son is one of Jesus' parables thats reaches beyond the Christian faith. In the story, Jesus stretches empathy wide for everyone involved.  In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about empathy...

Send us Fan Mail When Moses noticed a burning bush and decided to investigate rather than ignore it, he unwittingly set in motion events that would liberate an entire people from slavery. What might happen if we approached our faith with similar holy curiosity? In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about remaining curious with our faith matters. They discuss how curiosity...

Send us Fan Mail To grow up in Christ will make you maladjusted to the world. St. Paul was a Roman citizen - the platinum standard for the age. Yet, in Paul's letter to the Philippians, he reminds us that we are citizens of heaven living on earth. What are the costs of this heavenly citizenship? As we grow up in Jesus, we get a glimpse of how we have adjusted ourselves to a world in open oppo...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in keeping a Holy Lent! The theme for this year’s Lenten series is Growing Up in Christ! We get to this theme in response to the opportunity and necessity of us all becoming more mature Christians. Our marriages, families, vocations, state, nation and world all will be better when we decide, with new resolve, to Grow up in Christ! Above all, Growing up in Christ is an acti...

Send us Fan Mail It was Jesus' habit to pray. He had a rhythm of action and reflection. As Christians in a modern world, prioritizing our time to pray, reflect, and be in relationship with God isn't easy. In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about time, drawing insights from Jesus' practices and Rabbi Abraham Heschel’s teachings. Are we merely consuming our...

Send us Fan Mail “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you and pray for those who abuse you.” Those are Jesus’ directives to us who call him lord. What a dangerous oddness! The concept of "dangerous oddness," a unique term by Walter Brueggemann, paints a picture of Jesus' countercultural call. In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conve...

Send us Fan Mail Climate change is a real-world problem. Its intricate web connects governance, social justice, and ecological sustainability. Real solutions require moral leadership that reaches far beyond political party and country lines. In the latest episode of our series on Moral Leadership, Bishop Wright has a conversation with Dr. David Orr, an esteemed environmental scholar, on his journe...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for Bishop Wright's latest podcast series: The Heart of Moral Leadership. Moral leadership is critical in turbulent political times because it provides a compass for guiding people through uncertainty, promoting justice, and fostering unity. In periods of division, leaders with strong ethical principles inspire trust, encourage empathy, and model behavior that priorit...

Send us Fan Mail Faith and public policy are at a crossroads, making waves in national headlines. This intersection is deeply political, with Christians divided on all sides of the issue. As followers of Christ, it’s essential to remember that while Jesus’ message is undeniably political, it is never partisan. In this episode, Bishop Wright sits down with Rebecca Linder Blachly, the Director of th...

Send us Fan Mail In our suffering, we often forget that even Jesus suffered. Many have turned away from God due to past wounds, yet some seek healing from the same experiences. By reflecting on Jesus' suffering, we can begin to understand this human condition can be used by God to change lives!  In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about suffering and how it is a res...

Send us Fan Mail Tick-Tock... Not the app some of us spend time on! Tick-tock used to refer to the passing of time marked by a second hand on a watch or clock. When Matthew tells his story of Jesus, he often uses a word that points to the rapid elapse of time, “immediately.” “Immediately,” James and John left their family’s fishing business and joined Jesus in his friend making campaign. In this e...

Send us Fan Mail What if our fixation on political leaders hinders our spiritual and communal growth? As we reflect on the intersection of Donald Trump's inauguration as the 47th president and Dr. King's birthday, we are invited to recognize the potential dangers of idolization and hypercriticism that can lead to societal paralysis. In this conversation, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a...

Send us Fan Mail What lessons can a former president's legacy teach us about today's political landscape? President Jimmy Carter's inaugural address from 1977, given nearly 50 years ago, remains relevant to the social and political climate in our country and world today. In this episode Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation focused on President Carter's speech. They poi...