Transforming Mission Podcast with Tim Bias & Sara Thomas

Hope Declared: Preparing the Way with John the Baptist In Episode 351, 'Hope Declared,' the hosts continue their Advent series by discussing Luke 3:1-6 and John the Baptist's call to prepare the way for the Lord. The conversation explores the context of Luke's gospel, contrasting human kingdoms with God's reign, and emphasizes the importance of humility and discernment for church leaders. The epis...

Episode 350: Hope on the Horizon Episode 350 begins a new liturgical year with the start of Advent. We'lre looking at the theme of 'Living the Promise of Hope,' by exploring Luke 21:25-36. Join us as we discuss the importance of staying vigilant, patient, and spiritually ready while awaiting Jesus' return....we'll talk about that too.  Personal anecdotes and stories highlight how Jesus shows up in...

Join us in a special Thanksgiving reflection on living a life of gratitude through the biblical story of Jesus feeding the 5,000, found in Luke 9:10-17. Journey through the four significant movements of being chosen, blessed, broken, and given as Jesus exemplified, and explore their implications for leadership and daily life. Discover how embracing gratitude can transform your perspective, enrich...

We're continuing to look at the role of gratitude in leadership. This week, we're focusing on 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Join us to look at how giving thanks in all circumstances can transform your leadership and life. Tim shares insights on making gratitude a foundational practice, even in challenging times, and how it positively impacts your team, community, and personal well-being. You'll learn that...

Embracing Gratitude Amidst Anxiety In Episode 347 of Transforming Mission's podcast, we're continuing to explore the theme of gratitude, particularly from the perspective of trusting in God during times of anxiety and need.  We recorded this episode during the week of the 2024 Presidential Election and addresses the uncertainty and strong emotions that many are experiencing. By examining Philippia...

Embracing Gratitude: Lessons from Luke 17 In Episode 346, discover how gratitude is not just a polite habit, but a vital aspect of faith and leadership. Dive into the Biblical story of the 10 lepers in Luke 17, and explore how only one healed returned to thank Jesus, reflecting a deeper understanding of grace. Understand how recognizing and expressing gratitude can transform your life and leadersh...

In Episode 345, Everyday Transformation: The Sweet Spot of Hope, listen to explore Hebrews 12:1-6 and 'The Sweet Spot of Hope.' Reflect on the shaping influences of your faith while you learn about the 'great cloud of witnesses' and the importance of overcoming life's obstacles. Through personal stories and testimonies, gain insight into perseverance and spiritual growth. Discover how relationship...

Episode 344 looks at hope and transformation through the lens of Revelation 21:1-7. Journey through the vision of a new heaven and a new earth, understanding God's promise of making all things new amidst the uncertainties of present challenges. Reflect on the intimate relationship depicted between God and God's people, and your role in this ongoing renewal. Embrace your position as a hope-filled l...

Episode 343, The Power of Hope, explores the themes of hope and God's presence in John 14:1-9. The episode navigates the comforting words of Jesus to his disciples, promising a place for them even in times of uncertainty. Through personal stories and reflections, Tim and Sara illustrate how God's presence can bring peace and hope in life's anxious and transitional phases. The discussion highlights...

Everyday Transformation: Empowered by the Spirit This week, look at how the Spirit empowers you to share God's love as we focus on Luke 4:16-20. You'll explore how Jesus proclaimed his mission and how the Spirit enables us to live and lead with God's love. Topics include overcoming barriers, the power of encouragement, and living out the gospel message in daily life. Be challenged to reflect on ho...

Everyday Transformation: Responding to God's Call Mark 1:16-20 invites listeners to explore God's call and claim on their lives. Under the larger theme of everyday transformation, join us to examine the calling of the first disciples as well as your call. You'll hear insights on the practical call to follow Jesus, the significance of discipleship in daily life, and personal reflections on moments...

Authority of Jesus in Confronting Evil and Suffering In episode 340, we dive into the theme of everyday transformation by exploring Mark 1:21-28. Discussing the authority of Jesus and his role in countering evil, Tim and Sara offer insights on opposition to suffering and the importance of love in confronting modern-day issues. Through this episode, you will also hear a thought-provoking story by N...

Experiencing Jesus Through Reflection and Relationships You are invited to join a new series focused on intentional discipleship and transformation through Jesus. The episode explores the importance of reflecting on daily experiences to encounter Jesus and foster spiritual growth. Sara shares insights from her research, revealing that transformation occurs in moments of reflection rather than the...

Rise Above: Crucial Conversations Welcome to episode 338 of the Transforming Mission Podcast! In this episode, we explore what it means to have crucial conversations—those delicate discussions where different opinions and significant relational investments are at play. We ask key questions like, 'Am I ready to sit next to you rather than across from you?' and 'Are we willing to put the problem bef...

Explore how your relationship with Jesus can guide you to rise above cultural divisiveness, focusing on nurturing righteous relationships within the church and community. Understand the importance of spiritual disciplines, scripture interpretation, and the greatest commandment to love God and neighbors. The conversation addresses the misuse of scripture, the need for generosity, forgiveness, and h...

"RIse Above With Your Words" explores how Christ-centered leaders can influence their communities through the integrity and alignment of their words and actions. Join us as we discuss the spiritual and cultural importance of cohesive speech and behavior, referencing Biblical teachings from Ephesians and the example of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Health is an important contributor to our words and actions...

Episode 335: The Sweet Spot of Hope In episode 335, The Sweet Spot of Hope, discover how the intersection of future aspirations and present actions creates a 'sweet spot of hope.' Learn how to balance your ability to shape the future with the understanding of your limits. Engage in a reflective experiment on recent accomplishments and future possibilities, understand the importance of agency, and...

In episode 334, Is it Optimism or Hope?, the hosts discuss the critical differences between optimism and hope, emphasizing how Christian leaders can facilitate and empower hope among their followers. They highlight the distinct role of agency in hope, sharing personal anecdotes and the story of Admiral Stockdale to illustrate the concept. The conversation underscores the importance of self-awarene...

In this episode, dive into why hope is a fundamental driver of life's most desired behaviors and outcomes. You'll learn how hope influences simple actions and outcomes like showing up, boosting productivity, enhancing well-being, and even improving health. Explore the fascinating correlation between hope and mortality, and envision how the church can be a beacon of hope in the community. Discover...

What is nexting? No that's not a typo. The concept of 'nexting' is a practice of hope that involves anticipating and planning for the future. Explore how hopeful vision and emotional intelligence can guide church leaders in navigating their leadership. Whether you're working on a new sermon series, seeking to engage your community, and/or creating supportive environments for discipleship, we have...

Welcome to a new series focused on hope. Join us as we discus how our beliefs shape our hope and introduce the traits of hopeful people. We'll look at the difference between hope and wishful thinking, emphasizing hope as a confluence of reason, passion, and resilience. We'll introduce you to the hope cycle (or remind you if you've been around a while). The Hope Cycle is made up of goals, agency, a...

Living Our Mission: The Role and Impact of the Church Today Gain insights into the unique aspects of the church, the importance of staying connected to the mission, and how to function as the body of Christ in today's world. Learn about essential church functions, the impact of church size on living into the mission, and practical ways to engage and transform your community through personal faith...

In episode 329, the conversation continues from episode 328, transitioning from discussing worship to the art and significance of preaching. Tim shares about the use of the lectionary in preaching, the importance of cultivating relationships with Jesus and people, and effective sermon preparation techniques. He includes his thoughts on various aspects like incorporating stories, different types of...

This week our discussion centers around worship, exploring the purpose of worship, key elements of worship planning, and the impact of preferences on worship services. As a reminder, worship is centered on connecting with God and living out God's love in everyday situations. Important aspects like music, liturgy, and the need for a collaborative approach to worship planning are discussed, along wi...

As we continue the Ministry Masterclass series, this week we're focusing on leadership. We'll look at an exploration of leadership influences and how their teachings have shaped our leadership. We'll look at the habits and experiences that fuel effective leadership, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, generosity, and daily reflection. Then we turn our attention to identifying and developin...