How to Read the Bible + Its Tricky Parts, and Understanding Spiritual Abuse
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Show Notes
In this month’s episode of Friends in Formation, James, Richella, and Nate discuss different ways to read the Bible (big chunks, small bites, meditating, memorizing, and changing it up), what to do with tricky texts in Scripture, and how to spot spiritual abuse.
- [:53] How do you approach Bible reading?
- [16:28] How do you handle tricky sections of Scripture?
- [30:20] How widespread is spiritual abuse and what are its dangers?
Resources Mentioned
- Life with God Bible
- Wesleyan Quadrilateral
- The Bible Project
- Hard Sayings of the Bible Series, Intervarsity Press
- F.F. Bruce, Hard Sayings of Jesus
- Nick Page, The Badly Behaved Bible
- Renovaré Podcast Episode: Luci Shaw – On Poetry, Creativity, and Madeleine L’Engle
- Richard Foster, The Challenge of the Disciplined Life
- Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphries, Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse: Creating Healthy Christian Cultures
- Wade Mullen
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Nathan Foster
Nathan Foster is an author and host of Life With God, a Renovaré Podcast. Formerly, he was an Associate Professor of social work and served as the Andrews Chair in Spiritual Formation at Spring Arbor University. He was also a licensed clinical social worker and certified addictions counselor. Nathan has published two books, including The Making of an Ordinary Saint: My Journey from Frustration to Joy with the Spiritual Disciplines.
James Catford
James Catford has spent his career at the intersection of publishing, leadership, and spiritual formation, working with many authors closely connected to Renovaré. He led the British Bible Society for fourteen years, founded the think tank Theos, and later chaired SPCK, the UK’s largest Christian publisher. He now serves as founding chair of the Center for Christianity and Public Life in Washington, D.C., and on the board of the Martin Institute and Dallas Willard Research Center at Westmont College. He is married to Sue, a former TV anchor and media executive.
Richella Parham
Richella is Chair of the Renovaré Board of Trustees. With a background in small business, education, and church leadership, Richella is a speaker and the author of Mythical Me (IVP) and A Spiritual Formation Primer. She is the mother of three young adult sons and lives with her husband Jack in Durham, North Carolina. Read her full bio and connect with Richella at richellajparham.com.