ATW - Conversation with Rod Williams

07/03/24 • 95 min

Summary

In this conversation, Melissa Lapin interviews Rod Williams, who shares his journey of faith and the different perspectives he gained from his experiences in various churches and ministries. Rod talks about encountering the love of God through a pastor who made him feel seen and loved. He also discusses his involvement in the Jesus movement and the impact of the charismatic movement on his faith. Rod shares how he experienced a pivotal moment of feeling the presence of God during a difficult time in his life. He emphasizes the importance of being conscious of God's nearness and overcoming shame and guilt. The principal themes of the conversation include the beauty of the body of Christ and working together, the influence of the Holy Spirit, and the importance of embracing both sound doctrine and supernatural experiences. The speakers discuss their personal journeys and encounters with God, highlighting the need to let go of religious and political divisions and embrace love, unity, and individuality within the context of union with God. They emphasize the importance of discerning influences and voices in our lives, focusing on whether they make Jesus bigger or smaller. In this conversation, Rod Williams emphasizes the nearness of God and the unity of the Trinity. He highlights that Jesus is not separate from the Father, but rather, when you see Jesus, you see the Father. Williams challenges the idea that God is distant and angry, and instead presents a loving and merciful God who desires to be close to us. He encourages listeners to focus on Jesus and the Trinity, and to find community and support in their journey of understanding and experiencing God's love.

Takeaways

-Rod Williams shares his journey of faith and the different perspectives he gained from his experiences in various churches and ministries.
-Encountering the love of God through a pastor who made him feel seen and loved was a pivotal moment for Rod.
-The Jesus movement and the charismatic movement had a significant impact on Rod's faith, leading him to experience the goodness of God and see miracles.
-Rod emphasizes the importance of being conscious of God's nearness and overcoming shame and guilt. The body of Christ is beautiful and it is important to work together in unity.
-The Holy Spirit has a powerful influence and can bring about profound encounters with God.
-It is important to embrace both sound doctrine and supernatural experiences.
-Religious and political divisions can hinder our understanding of God and our ability to love others.
-Discerning influences and voices in our lives is crucial, and we should focus on whether they make Jesus bigger or smaller. God is not distant or separate from us; He is near and desires to be close to us.
-When we see Jesus, we see the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is always present and unified.
-The early fathers and those who were close to Jesus understood that God is good, loving, and for us.
-Fear is not our friend; perfect love casts out fear. We should focus on the love of God and let it cast out our fear.

Summary

Takeaways

Previous Episode

ATW - Conversation with Beth Alexander

Summary

In this episode, Melissa Lapin interviews her friend Beth Alexander. Beth shares her background and testimony, explaining that she did not grow up in a faith-based household and had limited exposure to church. However, at the age of 19, she had a powerful encounter with Jesus' love and decided to become a Christian. Beth then discusses her journey of navigating the expectations and pressures of religion, as well as her search for purpose and identity. Despite the challenges, she has found peace and confidence in following God's leading. Beth Alexander shares her experience of feeling lost and losing her identity after becoming a Christian and being thrust into a leadership position as a pastor's wife. She struggled with the contradictions and expectations placed on her. However, she had a transformative experience with the Holy Spirit, which led her to discover her purpose in education. Beth became a teacher and eventually had a dream to start her own school. Initially overwhelmed by the idea, she found inspiration during the COVID-19 pandemic when schools went online. Beth realized that her school could be virtual, and she embraced the opportunity. In this conversation, Beth Alexander shares her journey of starting Thalia Academy, an online school that focuses on kingdom values and emotional intelligence. She talks about the challenges she faced as a teacher during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it led her to start her own school. Beth emphasizes the importance of healing and processing past experiences and finding confidence in one's identity. She encourages listeners to step out in faith, even if it seems scary, and to surround themselves with the right people and resources. Beth also highlights the need for individuality and authenticity in a world that often promotes conformity.

Takeaways

-Beth Alexander did not grow up in a faith-based household and had limited exposure to church.
-At the age of 19, Beth had a powerful encounter with Jesus' love and decided to become a Christian.
-Beth faced challenges in navigating the expectations and pressures of religion, but ultimately found peace and confidence in following God's leading.
-Beth's journey highlights the importance of community and being seen and understood by others. Becoming a Christian and being thrust into a leadership position can lead to a loss of identity and confusion.
-Private moments with God are important for personal growth and understanding.
-Discovering your purpose may require going through different experiences and seasons of life.
-Sometimes, dreams and callings may seem overwhelming, but they can be realized in unexpected ways. Take the time to heal and process past experiences in a healthy way, surrounded by the right people and resources.
-Step out in faith, even if it seems scary, and rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
-Embrace your uniqueness and don't conform to societal expectations.
-Start with small steps and allow your dream or purpose to grow over time.
-Believe in yourself and have confidence in who you are.
-Don't be afraid of judgment or failure; just trust God and take action.

Next Episode

ATW - Time with Donna Rowe

Summary

In this episode of After the Well, Melissa Lapin and Donna Rowe discuss their personal experiences with spirituality and encountering God. Donna shares her journey of growing up in a family without a strong religious background and her search for a deeper connection with God. She recounts a pivotal moment at the age of 17 when she felt a profound encounter with God, which brought her peace and a sense of purpose. They also discuss the importance of personal experiences with God and the need for individual exploration and understanding of spirituality. Donna Rowe shares her experiences with cults and the challenges she faced in finding a supportive community after leaving. She discusses the importance of feeling understood and validated, and the difficulties of navigating religious structures and expectations. Donna emphasizes the need for personal growth and transformation, and the journey of rethinking and redefining one's relationship with God. She explores the concept of righteous consciousness and the work of the cross, and the freedom that comes from letting go of religious rules and striving. Donna also mentions her exploration of Trinitarian theology and the hope she has for a new way of experiencing God. In this conversation, Donna Rowe and Melissa Lapin discuss the importance of listening to the Holy Spirit and following His guidance. They emphasize the need to pay attention to where God is leading and what He is teaching in the present moment. They also highlight the significance of studying church history and understanding the early church fathers. The conversation touches on the theme of surrendering to God's quest for knowledge and having a profound relationship with Him. They discuss the freedom that comes from letting go of striving and the fear-based beliefs that have been perpetuated in the church. The conversation concludes with the importance of discerning the spirit behind the messages we hear and seeking a community that fosters safe exploration and growth.

Takeaways

-Personal encounters with God can bring peace and a sense of purpose
-It is important to explore and understand spirituality on an individual level
-Having a community of like-minded individuals can provide support and understanding
-Religious upbringing and traditions may not always align with personal experiences of encountering God Finding a supportive community after leaving a cult can be challenging, as many people may not understand or validate your experiences.
-Navigating religious structures and expectations can be difficult, and it's important to find a community where you can be open and honest about your journey.
-Personal growth and transformation are essential in redefining your relationship with God and letting go of religious rules and striving.
-Exploring different theological perspectives, such as Trinitarianism, can lead to a deeper understanding of God and a more authentic faith experience.
-There is hope for a new way of experiencing God and a restructuring of religious systems that may be polarizing and restrictive. Pay attention to where God is leading and what He is teaching in the present moment.
-Study church history and understand the early church fathers.
-Let go of striving and fear-based beliefs in order to experience freedom in Christ.
-Discern the spirit behind the messages we hear and seek a community that fosters safe exploration and growth.