#16: The focal point of Scripture (with Alan Smith)
“I look at Scripture through the lens of Jesus Christ, and the focal point of that lens is Jesus on the Cross. If Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God, then all previous revelations of God are less than ultimate. That doesn’t make Scripture less authoritative or less inspired. But it reminds us that God is inviting us into a story not an encyclopedia. ”
Alan Smith is a deep thinking pastor, writer, and friend of mine from Dallas Fort Worth. Drawing from a range of Christian traditions, we discussed faith, certainty, doubt and Scripture as an unfolding narrative with Jesus Christ as the lens of interpretation.
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In episode 140 of The Puddcast, we discuss spiritual and emotional growth with Mariko Clark and Rachel Eleanor, authors of The Book of Belonging. We explore the journey of creating a Story Bible that emphasizes representation, inclusion, and gentle parenting practices. Mariko and Rachel reflect on the personal and communal impact of trust, intuition, and vulnerability, sharing their experiences with parenting, deconstruction, and creative collaboration. This conversation is an invitation to embrace hope and embodied spirituality as we navigate our complex journeys of faith and belonging.