Episode 96 :: Ashley Abercrombie :: Stories of Hope, Love, and Conflict in the Kingdom of God

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Ashley Abercrombie is back on the podcast!!. Every time I encounter Ashley, whether that’s online, reading her books or Bible studies, I end up shoutin’ like I’m at a big tent revival. Y’all, this woman passionately cares about the Kingdom of God, the body of Christ, and encouraging us to know and serve God and His Church as our fullest selves and learning how to love one another better. Her most recent book, Love is the Resistance:  Learn to Disagree, Resolve the Conflicts You've Been Avoiding, and Create Real Change is such an important word for this season in time.

As the sons and daughters of God, we are a people of hope. However, a lot of the Church is not  currently known by their love, their mercy, or their welcome. But Jesus is the epitome of all of those things. As His kids, we have to evaluate what we are presenting about the Gospel. When people are able to encounter God, that’s where life change can happen. I hope and pray that we are willing to dive in here. Our world is hungry for what the Savior provides, and our souls are weary and need to be refreshed too. 

We give a healthy dose of time to look at the story of Jonah and where we find ourselves in it. From that posture, we ask questions like “what is the difference between standing up for God’s word, and doing so at the expense of His creation?”  Truth telling is not about yelling at or shaming people.  How do we practice mercy, empathy and compassion, but also figure out how to process and place boundaries. Do we evaluate the words we use in the name of Jesus? Are we willing to ask God to search us out and know us and show us what we He sees in us? Who do we label and treat as an enemy? We also discuss how healthy conflict is a skill we have to learn, and it can be learned even if we’ve never seen it modeled to us in our personal lives or families of origin. 

Listen friends, I want you to hear me when I say this, even though I say it a lot, it's so so true. You matter. Your story matters. Don’t grow weary of doing good, and remember that this, all the “this” that surrounds us right now, is not how the story ends. Let’s press in, and see where the Lord may call us to grow and learn today as we strive to live like people of hope. 

Connecting with Ashley: 

Ashley’s Books

Ashley’s podcast she co-hosts with Tiffany Bluhm 

Bible Study course for Love is the Resistance

Facebook

Instagram 

Website 

YouVersion Bible Studies

Episode Sponsor: Hopefuel

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References:

Ashley’s first book Rise of the Truth Teller

My first conversation with Ashley, episode 2 of the podcast

Tiffany Bluhm - episode 51 and 79 where we chat, and our video chat on my youtube page

“The World Turned Upside Down”

Ahmaud Arberry

Breonna Taylor

George Floyd 

Time’s Up Movement 

Me Too Movement

Disciple means “learner”

The Sanhedrin

The original 12 disciples: a hodge podge crew 

“The Chosen”

A dude being swallowed by a whale REALLY recently 

The Bible Recap

The Bible Project’s video on Jonah 

Walter Brueggeman, his interview with Krista Tippett (On Being Podcast) Phyllis Trible “womb like mother love”

Healthy Differentiation (a great resource for this I Think You’re Wrong, But I’m Listening: A Guide to Grace-Filled Political Conversations by Beth Silvers and Sarah Stewart Holland)

Healthy Boundaries (great resource for this: Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to say No and Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. Charles Townsend

If God is Good: Faith in the Middle of Suffering and Evil by Randy Alcorn :: A great resource for struggling with bad things happening and God’s goodness

Indigenous People and their grief in unearthing their buried past 

Sabbath is a big deal 

Mentor Monday on Ashley’s instagram!

My conversation (episode 57) with Ashley Elizabeth Graham Johnson

Latin of “scrutiny”

Scripture References:

John 14:6, John 1-  The truth comes from Christ 

John 8:31-32- That truth sets us free 

Ephesians 5:17-21, Hebrews 10:24-25- Speaking life and love over people 

Matthew 11:15- Let he who has ears to hear 

Matthew 5:6- Hunger and thirst for righteousness

Matthew 4:18-23, Matthew 8:27,Mark 4:33-34,  -The disciples were drawn to Jesus 

Mark 6:7-13- 12 men turned the world upside down bc they said ‘yes’ to Jesus

Matthew 15:7-9 (and then the bombs of Matthew 5:17-19 and Luke 4:16-30) Jesus knew the Law- sooo many examples, but here’s just one

Not all priests in leadership were bad : Nicodemus- John 3 // Gamaliel- Acts 5

Ecclesiastes 1:9- There is nothing new under the sun 

God is sovereign (a whole list for you )

2 Chronicles 7:14- God has called His people back again and again - again, so many examples, but here’s one to start with 

Romans 5:5- Hope does not put us to shame 

Romans 5:3-5- Suffering produces perseverance → character→ hope

Mark 12:29-31- Neighborly love 

Matthew 5:43-48- Love our enemies

Jonah 

Joel 2- God historically, even when carrying out major judgement, gives space for the opportunity to repent (Jonah’s story + this one scripture are just 2 of MANY examples)

Jonah 3:3- 3 days to walk through the town

Matthew 12:40- 3 days in the whale, 3 days in the grave for Jesus  

Jonah chapter 4

Exodus 34:6-7, Psalm 145:8-9, Psalm 86:15- God has mercy for you (scratches the surface of scriptures on mercy) 

God can take your anger- see practically the entire book of Psalms and the book of Habakkuk

Acts 9:1- Uttered murderous threats under his breath

Ezekiel 33:10-12, John 11:38-44- God hates death too 

Psalm 34:18, Matthew 5:4- He mourns with those who mourn

Exodus 14:14, Zephaniah 3:17, Romans 8:31-39-  He is God who battles evil (there were so many passages that could talk about this, but I narrowed it down to a few)

Romans 6:23- The wages of sin is death

2 Corinthians 5:15, Romans 5:8 -  Jesus died and rose again to save those who could not save themselves 

Acts 8:26-40- Philip encounters the Ethiopian eunuch

The Lord the loves you- a whole list of good scriptures about it :) 

1 Peter 5:8, Ephesians 6:10-18-We have one enemy, an enemy of our soul 

Deuteronomy 12:3, Judges 6 (Gideon had to tear down the idols of his father before he could walk in the calling the Lord gave him. I love his whole story in this chapter though)  Psalm 96:5, Isaiah 44:9-20, Ezekiel 14:3- Lord, where have I built idols?

Psalm 16:5-6- The Lord has drawn lines for me in pleasant places

2 Timothy 2:1-3- Live a peaceful and quiet life 

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast:
Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life)
Facebook
Twitter
Blog 

*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com