Melissa and Courtney talk with Lisa Whittle about how a whole body theology can keep us from obsessing or neglecting our bodies. They discuss the need for a foundational view of our bodies drawn from the whole of Scripture rather than isolated verses. Whether we struggle with accepting imperfections in the way we look or we get frustrated because our bodies don’t function the way we wish they did, recognizing that our bodies exist for the glory of God can lift the weight of worrying about what others think of us.Conference Ticket Giveaway:Write a review on Apple Podcasts and complete this form for a chance to win a free ticket to TGCW26!Recommended Resources:Body and Soul: A 6-Session Study of the Whole Person God Created You to Be by Lisa WhittleRelated Content:The Deep Dish: Aging Is a Discipleship IssueAs You Start that Diet: 3 Truths About Body ImageFive Lies About Your BodyLet’s Talk: How to Spot and Let Go of ShameDiscussion Questions:1. In what ways are you tempted to measure your worth (or the worth of others) by physical appearance or ability?2. Describe one way you would like to have a healthier relationship with your body? What might need to change for that to happen?3. Share a time when you felt physically limited. How can experiences of frailty or weakness give us opportunities to glorify God?4. In what ways does Jesus’ own experience of physical weakness (hunger, fatigue, suffering, death) comfort or challenge you in your view of the body?5. How do you discern whether pursuing improved form and function is healthy or problematic?6. What would it look like for you to pursue health and strength with a “glory mentality” rather than a self-focused one?7. How does the reality of spending eternity in a glorified version of your body influence the way you view and care for your body now? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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The Dish on Gossip
When we treat gossip as an “excusable sin,” we ignore the corrosive power it has in our lives and relationships. In this conversation, Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk about why we’re so drawn to gossip, how to avoid it, and how to repent of it when you fail. They discuss some telltale phrases that are red flags for gossip, how to turn the conversation to something else, and when and how it’s right to confess gossip. Listen in as Courtney and Melissa spill the tea on gossip. Related Content:How to Shut Down GossipLet’s Talk: Fighting SinTaming the Tongue: How the Gospel Transforms Our Talk Discussion Questions:1. How did the verses shared expand your understanding of what gossip is and how it’s harmful?2. How have you experienced the repercussions or damage of gossip?3. What recent opportunities have you had to use healing, life-giving words? When have there been opportunities for your words to be potentially damaging?4. In what situations are you most prone to engage in gossip? What motivations might be driving this desire?5. What redirection strategies would be helpful for you to have in mind as you try to guard your conversations against gossip?6. What things unite your current friendships? How do they affect the quality of those relationships? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Making Decisions with Our Limits in Mind
Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with Jen Wilkin about how to make decisions regarding good opportunities in light of our finiteness. They talk about why quitting is sometimes wise, how to think about decisions that will affect your family, and why it’s better to think of God's will as a field rather than a maze.Recommended ResourcesLeadership on the Line by Ronald A. Heifetz and Martin LinskyPrecious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas BrooksRelated ContentShould I Prioritize Family or Work? Neither.The Busy Christian Family 6 Lessons for Tending Your TimeDiscussion Questions What is your attitude toward change? Are you more prone to embrace or resist changes in your life?Who has God positioned in your life to help you process significant transitions or decisions?What could a regular practice of “taking the temperature” of your current commitments look like? How can you assess the way they’re affecting your relationships with the Lord and others?In what ways are your current commitments influencing the amount and quality of time you spend with the Lord?Describe a time when you’ve decided to commit to a “sacrificial yes,” “necessary no,” or “not right now.” How has God used that experience to teach you about stewarding time?What attributes of God do you need to be reminded of as you make decisions about commitments in this season of life? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Waiting for God in the Gaps
Melissa and Courtney talk with Mark Vroegop about the gap moments of our lives when we have to wait. They discuss why waiting is so frustrating, what it means to wait on the Lord, what the Bible says about waiting, and how to recognize the sinful patterns we should avoid in times of waiting. No one likes to wait, but waiting is where we learn to walk by faith and where God does some of his best work in our lives!Discussion Questions: 1. How are you currently experiencing waiting?2. What expectations are you bringing to that situation, and how might those be shaping your thoughts and actions?3. How has God used past seasons of waiting as “fertilizer” to strengthen your faith?4. How does knowing that God both commends and commands waiting change your perspective as you wait?5. Of the 3 A’s mentioned (anger, anxiety, apathy), which are you most prone to feel in your “gap times”?6. Which attributes of God are most comforting or helpful for you to be reminded of in your “gap times”?7. Which biblical example of waiting was most meaningful to you? What other encouraging examples come to mind?Resources Mentioned:Waiting Isn’t a Waste by Mark VroegopRelated Resources:How God Uses Our WaitingHope for Waiting HeartsGod’s People Are a Waiting PeopleSeasons of Waiting: Walking by Faith When Dreams Are Delayed by Betsy Childs Howard Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Live: Bible Study in the Local Church Matters
Recommended ResourcesChosen Together (TGC25 keynote by John Piper on Ephesians 1:3–14)In View of God’s Mercies by Courtney Doctor (Bible study book)Related ContentHow to Organize and Orchestrate a Bible Study3 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Bible StudyFour Types of Questions NOT to Ask in Your Small Group Bible StudyNeed a Fall Women’s Bible Study? Try One of These.Rubric Questions for Choosing a Group Bible Study:Does this study require me to have my Bible open?Are the questions rooted in the text?Does this study account for various learning styles?Is it accessible to the women I'm leading?Does it speak to a current need in our church?Five Levels of Communication:1. Small Talk2. Facts3. Opinions and Ideas4. Feelings5. Deep EmotionDiscussion Questions1. Which book of the Bible could you study over and over without ever getting tired of it?2. What unique aspects of doing Bible study within the local church have you experienced?3. When have you been part of studies that were aligned with what was happening in other areas of the church? What benefits did you experience from that alignment? What opportunities exist for future alignment?4. What locations do you usually study in (home or church)? What benefits could come from hosting your group in different settings?5. How prone is your study group to using “Christianese”? How can you be more intentional about using language that would make unbelieving friends comfortable joining your discussion?6. How has prioritizing time in God’s Word and in prayer helped you love others better? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Deep Dish is a new podcast from TGC hosted by Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor that invites women into deep conversations about the deep truths of God. These discussions (which are always better served up with a slice of deep-dish pizza!) will equip women to engage in richer discipleship relationships in their local contexts. Tune in for warm conversations among friends—including special guests along the way—to dig deeper into God’s Word and explore how it applies to every area of our lives.
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