Gravity Commons Podcast

We talk with Idelette McVicker about her journey out of whiteness and reckoning with her Apartheid past as an Afrikaner woman. In her book Recovering Racists: Dismantling White Supremacy and Reclaiming Our Humanity she shares 20 practices or “Stations of Liberation” that can help white people recover from the racism we have inherited, from acknowledgment […] The post Idelette McVicker: Reclaiming...

Dominique DuBois Gilliard is back to talk about how power works in systems and structures, and how we can leverage privilege in subversive ways on behalf the the marginalized and oppressed in faithfulness to Scripture. These are the themes of Dominique's new book Subversive Witness: Scripture’s Call to Leverage Privilege. This was a Gravity Commons […] The post Dominique Dubois Gilliard: Lever...

Dr. Christina Edmondson joins us to talk about how to faithfully oppose and resist the pernicious power of racism as Christians and churches. Her book (co-authored with Chad Brennan) is Faithful Antiracism: Moving Past Talk to Systemic Change (use promo code GL22 for 30% off and free shipping through May 3!). We talk about what […] The post Christina Edmondson: Practicing Faithful Antiracism For S...

David Ford joins us for a Gravity Commons LIVE discussion about his new commentary The Gospel of John: A Theological Commentary. We explore the themes in John’s Gospel that make it a distinct witness among the Gospels in the New Testament, and through David’s exuberant engagement with this text, are invited into a fresh, profound […] The post David Ford: A Fresh Encounter with Jesus Through John’s...

Instead of loving neighbors, strangers, and enemies, many Christians are taught to fear them. Author and speaker Catherine McNiel talks about her book Fearing Bravely: Risking Love for our Neighbors, Strangers, and Enemies, helping us see how love can drive out our fear, and reclaim the transformative power of love for the sake of our […] The post Catherine McNiel: Confessing our Fear and Loving o...

Leadership coach and author Karen Hardwick shares seven practices for leaders to cultivate a deeper connection with themselves, their spiritual purpose, and others. Her book is The Connected Leader: 7 Strategies to Empower Your True Self and Others. You can connect with Karen on her website, on Instagram, and Linkedin. From our sponsor Check out our […] The post Karen J Hardwick: Becoming a Connec...

Many church leaders are facing a liminal moment, wrestling with how to navigate complex theological and cultural terrain and lead the church into a faithful witness of the Gospel in turbulent times. We talk with Seth Richardson, Director of our new initiative (Gravity Congregational Transformation), about how careful and hopeful noticing can shift our perspective […] The post How to Turn Church Ch...

In divided times, how do we work for justice and make real peace? Melissa Florer-Bixler joins us to discuss her prophetic book, How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace to get at these very questions. Melissa draws from the Scriptures and her work among those contending for justice to give […] The post Melissa Florer-Bixler: How to Have An Enemy appeared first on Gravity Leaders...

“Phil from Philly” emailed us with a question about some of the specifics about what it looks like to love enemies. In this episode we reflect on his question, along with issues of power, abuse, conflict, justice, and love. Show notes / links: Join us for an Enneagram Transformation Workshop in Fredericktown, Missouri on March […] The post On Loving Enemies: A Question From a Listener appeared fir...

*CONTENT WARNING*: domestic abuse, pornography, rape. Sheila Gregoire and Sarah McDugal discuss some of the harmful myths about sex and marriage that are perpetuated by Christians, especially those under the moniker “purity culture,” and ways toward a more healthy and holistic view of bodies, sex. and marriage. This was a liberating Gravity Commons LIVE conversation […] The post Sheila Gregoire &a...

We talk with Gravity Leadership Podcast co-founder Ben Sternke about 5 important things he’s learned in ministry so far. This is part of an ongoing series called "5 Things I've Learned." We want to hear from you! Let us know what you wish you knew when you started out in ministry. Email us at podcast@gravityleadership.com […] The post Ben Sternke: 5 Lessons I’ve Learned in 20 Years of...

We talk with Gravity Leadership Podcast co-host Christy Penley about 5 important things she’s learned in ministry so far. This is part of an ongoing series called "5 Things I've Learned." Two things are fun about this conversation: 1) Christy actually shares 6 things instead of 5, which is very on-brand for her, and 2) […] The post Christy Penley: 5 Lessons I’ve Learned in 20 Years of...

Many have listened with great interest to the Christianity Today podcast The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill,exposing the leadership abuses of Mark Driscoll and the fallout among the members of his church. On this episode we will take a closer look at how the podcast itself functions in the same cultural and theological world […] The post What’s Missing From the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Podcast? appe...

Allyson McKinney Timm and Meghan Tschanz (from Justice Revival) join us to discuss the ongoing struggle for women to have constitutionally protected equality, and why this is a fundamentally Christian concern. Justice Revival provides churches and seminaries with innovative, quality education that explores the importance of human rights to a Christian understanding of justice. Links: […] The post...

In our first Gravity Commons LIVE conversation (with our Gravity Commons community), we talked with David Gushee about his upcoming book Introducing Christian Ethics: Core Convictions for Christians Today. David has taken his many years of teaching and experience to offer a fresh vision of the Christian moral life for today’s turbulent world. This unique […] The post David Gushee: Christian Ethics...

Author and communicator Carlene Hill Byron helps us understand the mounting dilemmas that pastors and churches face around mental health, and how the church can become a healing community for its members in pain. Her book is Not Quite Fine: Mental Health, Faith, and Showing Up for One Another. Carlene Hill Byron is a fundraiser […] The post Carlene Hill Byron: Covid, Mental Health, Faith, and Comm...

Leading activist and author Lisa Sharon Harper spent three decades researching ten generations of her family history through DNA research, oral histories, interviews and genealogy, and in her new book, Fortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World--and How to Repair It All, Harper draws on her lifelong journey to know her family's history […] The post Lisa Sharon Harper: How Racism Broke the...

Clinical psychologist Rod Wilson explains how three “sacred sayings” can transform our leadership and the world. In his book Thank you. I’m Sorry. Tell Me More, he offers three practices--gratitude, remorse, and care--as pathways to real human communication, connection, and reconciliation, and provides a practical, inclusive, and relationally-focused resource for those want to become better […] Th...

Tara Beth Leach joined us to talk about her new book, Radiant Church: Restoring the Credibility of Our Witness. Tara Beth also shared about her tumultuous personal and professional life over the last two years. Tara Beth Leach is a pastor, preacher of the Word, and writer. She speaks widely at conferences, retreats, and universities […] The post Tara Beth Leach: Restoring the Credibility of the Ch...

Gravity Co-founder Matt Tebbe shared his most crucial learnings in his first 20 years of ministry. This is the first of an ongoing series we’re starting called “5 Things I’ve Learned.” We want to hear from you! Let us know what you wish you knew when you started out in ministry. Email us at podcast@gravityleadership.com […] The post Matt Tebbe: 5 Things I’ve Learned in 20 Years of Ministry appeare...

We talked with Curt Thompson about his new book The Soul of Desire: Discovering the Neuroscience of Longing, Beauty, and Community, which suggests that underneath all our longings is the desire to be seen and known. Curt integrates interpersonal neurobiology, Christian spirituality, and theology to help us reckon with what it means to be human, […] The post Curt Thompson: How Naming Desire Leads t...

Many of us have a complicated relationship with our body. Some of us feel ashamed of our bodies. Some of our bodies are riddled with stress, pain, and trauma. Racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, etc. have told some of us that we don’t have the right kind of body. Psychologist and researcher Hillary McBride join us […] The post Hillary McBride: Learning to Listen to the Wisdom of Your Body appeared fi...

Prolific New Testament scholar Craig Keener joins us to talk about modern miracles. Through numerous stories, his new book, Miracles Today: The Supernatural Work of God in the Modern World, demonstrates the miraculous works of God, which have been part of the experience of the church around the world since Christianity began, continue into the […] The post Craig Keener: God’s Supernatural Work in...

What is the role of emotions in Christian discipleship? Many of us have learned to mistrust or ignore our emotions, but this creates a constricted and rigid spirituality. Becky Castle Miller helps us understand what emotions are and aren’t, how Jesus embodies human emotion, and why naming and working with our emotions is central to […] The post Becky Castle Miller on the Role of Emotions in Christ...

Contemplative prayer is nice, sure, but is it really necessary? Pastor AJ Sherrill thinks so (we do, too). In his new book Being with God: The Absurdity, Necessity, and Neurology of Contemplative Prayer, AJ shows us how contemplative prayer is crucial not only for spiritual growth in the modern world, but also contributes to our […] The post AJ Sherrill on the Necessity and Neurology of Contemplat...