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Host Justin Rossow is joined by two staff members from Trinity, Arcadia, MI as the three discuss postures and experiments. Jess Knoll, Ministry Assistant and Church Secretary, shares some of the attitudes and postures she experienced from her congregation as part of her cancer journey. Chelsea Chapin, Community Connections Coordinator, talks about the language of "running an experiment" and how that framing opens people up to the possibility of change. Together the three coworkers and friends discuss how postures and experiments help us take a small next step and grow in deeper dependence on Jesus.

Episode 10 was first recorded on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. It features a conversation with Jamie Wiechman and Justin Rossow. After a brief introduction, you'll hear Justin process the Compass question (Where am I right now?) as well as the first of the Standard Following Prayers (Jesus, where are you speaking into my life?) Then Jamie follows suit and shares a little bit about the difficult season her family is facing this Holy Week, and what it means for Jesus to drink the cup of suffering for us in the Garden of Gethsemane. Both friends take comfort from the image of Jesus serving and sustaining us, even when we are too weak or too wounded to do anything active to try and get better. CHOOSE YOUR FAITH ADVENTURE If you decide to read more the Gethsemane blog they talked about in this episode, head over to It's Getting Dark. If choose to hear more from NT Wright and Kate Bowler, check out this video: https://youtu.be/xICbsfop5PA?si=DyW4Sqd76AEF8i4V. If you would like to check out the Disciple Like You Mean It course, visit this page. You can also discover more about Breathe Life Ministries at their home page: https://breathelifetoday.com/ The intro and outro music comes from Peter Prochnow's rendition of the hymn, "Awake My Soul and With the Sun" and is available from the Michigan District of the LCMS at www.thehymnalproject.com. Used by permission. This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons. Please consider becoming a Next Step Patron before the end 2023. To see different options for support, including monthly and annual options, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Thank you to all of our Patrons! Patrons make it possible.

Episode 09 was first recorded on March 14, 2024. It features a conversation with Jamie Wiechman and Justin Rossow. They will be discussion how the Come, Sacrificing Often card became a faith experiment on the heals of the Disciple Like You Mean It course. You can download a printable version of that prayer card and read more here. Choose Your Faith Adventure If you decide to read more from Jamie Wiechman, check out one of these blogs: Come, Sacrificing Often My Training in Slowness Isometric Spirituality If choose to hear more from our friends at Breathe Life Ministries, you can pick from one of these podcasts: Rest, Heal, Play (Come, Holy Spirit) O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High! (Ponder Anew) The Dignity of the Cross (When from Death I'm Free) You can also discover more about Breathe Life Ministries at their home page: https://breathelifetoday.com/ If you would like to check out the Disciple Like You Mean It course, visit ⁠this page⁠. -------------------------------------------------- The intro and outro music comes from Peter Prochnow's rendition of the hymn, "Awake My Soul and With the Sun" and is available from the Michigan District of the LCMS at www.thehymnalproject.com. Used by permission. This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons. Please consider becoming a Next Step Patron before the end 2023. To see different options for support, including monthly and annual options, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Thank you to all of our Patrons! Patrons make it possible.

Episode 07 was first recorded on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. It features a conversation with two lay leaders from Heart of the Shepherd Lutheran Church in Howell, Michigan. The conversation is a kind of guided brainstorming session designed to help Katie and Bob expand the discipleship culture at their church. They have both been through the Disciple Like You Mean It online training, and now their pastor has asked them to help spread the impact of the tools and attitudes in that course. After a brief introduction and opening prayer by Next Step Press founder Justin Rossow, you will get a little background on both of these lay leaders, including their impression of the course. Three words seem to rise to the top in this conversation: Prayerful, Invitational, and Intentional. Those three keys to expanding your discipleship culture help these leaders imagine some ways to create new relationships as well as engage existing groups with insights from the Next Step discipleship process. Along the way, you will hear Katie say that she is using Visual Faith® Ministry tools and taking a group to a Visual Faith® Ministry event in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She'll be using that common experience to springboard more engagement with ongoing discipleship and grow toward a DLYMI Triad. If you are in the area on March 16, 2024 from 9am-1pm, you can sign up for that VFM event here: www.tinyurl.com/visualprayer101. Then keep your eyes open for Katie and Justin, and make sure you say hi! CHOOSE YOUR FAITH ADVENTURE If you choose to explore Visual Faith® Ministry, download one of their many free resource from their webpage: https://www.visualfaithmin.org/. Justin, Bob, and Katie all make reference at different times to important concepts from the Disciple Like You Mean It training. Justin mentions Resonance from the acronym SMART. If you decide to take a SMART next step, turn to this blog. Katie talks about Non-Judgmental Noticing at one point. If that sparks your interest and you choose to find out more, choose from find several resources related to that concept on the Next Step Community blog: Non-Judgmental Noticing, a podcast with Jamie Wiechman from Breathe Life Ministries. How Are You Today? a blog about noticing emotions with a teenager. Noticing Yourself With God, a blog from Steve Wiechman. Noticing Your Emotions, With Jesus, a tool from the DLYMI course. Noticing Your Non-Judgmental Noticing, a podcast with Pastor Sam Fink (Katie and Bob's pastor at Heart of the Shepherd). Finally, all three talk about the importance of a GPS attitude instead of GPA approach to discipleship. If your next step relates to your GPS, you have options: Orientation vs Performance: GPS or GPA? Mary and Martha, GPA or GPS? My Next Step, Volume 1 (the one with the compass on the cover) The intro and outro music comes from Peter Prochnow's rendition of the hymn, "Awake My Soul and With the Sun" and is available from the Michigan District of the LCMS at www.thehymnalproject.com. Used by permission. If you choose to explore taking a Triad through the Disciple Like You Mean It course, visit this page. This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons. Please consider becoming a Next Step Patron to help keep these resources coming! To see different options for support, including monthly and annual options, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Thank you to all of our Patrons! Patrons make it possible.

The Wednesdays are for Walking With series explores the Disciple Like You Mean It online training from Next Step Press. In this special production of the Next Step Podcast, we will practice non-judgmental noticing with Jesus and help one another take a small next step, together. Episode 07 was first recorded on Wednesday, December 19, 2023. It features an advent devotion by Justin Rossow and a conversation with Professor Ted Hopkins from Concordia University, Ann Arbor. 0:00-14:30After some background on Professor Ted Hopkins and an opening prayer, you'll hear the text for today's episode: Psalm 35:1-6, 22-28. Then we'll get an initial response to that reading before listening to an advent devotion (8:00-14:30). 14:31-22:29 Then you'll hear Drs Hopkins and Rossow discussion the theology behind the devotion and what it means to experience other people as enemies, but to hold that experience within a broader Scriptural narrative. 22:30-35:15The talk then turns to Advent Eschatology (that is, the study of the last things, or end times: the Second Coming) and prolepsis (that is, God's future participating in your present). A brief discussion of those theological categories leads into a longer wrestling with a very practical question (25:17): what do I do when I experience someone as an enemy, even at Christmas? 35:16-endBefore we are done, we'll think through what we might have said to King David if he had joined us for this podcast, and Ted and Justin both consider what kind of response the Spirit may be shaping in them (42:38) before Pastor Hopkins closes us with prayer. CHOOSE YOUR FAITH ADVENTURE If you would like to hear (or read) more from Prof. Hopkins, you have options: Ted's academic volume: Christ, Church, and World: Bonhoeffer and Lutheran Ecclesiology after Christendom. Ted's last appearance on the Next Step Podcast: Season 2 (Ponder Anew), Episode 12: It is Well With My Soul. A series of articles on the Next Step Community Blog: Change? Who Said Anything About Change?; Faithful Change; and Great (and Not-So-Great) Expectations. If you decide to explore the Scripture verses cited in this episode, you can start with this list: Psalm 35:1-6, 22-28 (Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me!) Romans 5:6-11 (While we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son.) Romans 12:14-21 (Vengeance is mine, declares the Lord.) 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (God made him who had no sin to be sin for us.) Galatians 3:7-14 (Christ became a curse for us.) Psalm 31:5 (in context) and Luke 23:44-46 (Into your hands I commit my spirit.) If you want to watch, or share, the Advent devotion on Psalm 35:26, check out the YouTube video, below. https://youtu.be/Qh_q96cZx7k?si=AgfRABnZ2ArBX6JJ The intro and outro music comes from Peter Prochnow's rendition of the hymn, "Awake My Soul and With the Sun" and is available from the Michigan District of the LCMS at www.thehymnalproject.com. Used by permission. If you choose to explore taking a Triad through the Disciple Like You Mean It course, visit this page. This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons. Please consider becoming a Next Step Patron before the end 2023. To see different options for support, including monthly and annual options, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Thank you to all of our Patrons! Patrons make it possible.

Episode 06 was first recorded on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. It features a conversation with Pastor Sam Fink, who took two Triads through the very first cohort of the Disciple Like You Mean It online training. 0:00-13:22After a brief introduction and opening prayer, you'll hear a little of Pastor Sam Fink's story and what brought him to launch a couple of Disciple Like You Mean It Triads in his first year at a new congregation. 13:23-30:58 Then we'll look at one of concepts from the course called Non-Judgmental Noticing. We'll talk about the Stop, Drop, and Roll method for noticing your emotions with Jesus. Then Sam will share a personal example (17:38), a parenting story (22:10), and a story of interacting with a church visitor (27:21). In each case, Non-Judgmental Noticing play a key roll in the encounter. 30:58-38:44With the season of Christmas upon us, we'll take some time to wonder about how Non-Judgmental Noticing could be a tool you might use this holiday season as you spend time with people you don't typically get to see during the year. 38:35-endBefore we are done, we'll get final thoughts from a member of our Disciple Like You Mean It Community and Pastor Sam closes us with prayer. CHOOSE YOUR FAITH ADVENTURE If you choose to explore taking a Triad through the Disciple Like You Mean It course, visit this page. If another podcast episode is in your near future, here are three related episodes: Non-Judgmental Noticing with Jamie Wiechman (Breathe Life Ministries) Joy to the World with Conrad Gempf (London School of Theology) Expanding Your Sermon into the Week with Pastor Sam Fink If you decide to read the sermon Justin Rossow preached at Sam Fink's installation as pastor at Heart of the Shepherd, Howell, MI, head over to Needing Jesus, Every Day. If you opt to explore some blogs related to joy, choose one or more of the following: Far as the Curse is Found by Justin Rossow Priorities of Joy by Allie Bauck When Joy to the Word Comes True by Justin Rossow The intro and outro music comes from Peter Prochnow's rendition of the hymn, "Awake My Soul and With the Sun" and is available from the Michigan District of the LCMS at www.thehymnalproject.com. Used by permission. This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons. Please consider becoming a Next Step Patron before the end 2023. To see different options for support, including monthly and annual options, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Thank you to all of our Patrons! Patrons make it possible.

The Wednesdays are for Walking With series explores the Disciple Like You Mean It online training from Next Step Press. In this special production of the Next Step Podcast, we will practice non-judgmental noticing with Jesus and help one another take a small next step, together. Episode 05 was first recorded on November 13, 2023. It features a conversation with three men who formed a Triad for the very first cohort of the Disciple Like You Mean It online training, and their pastor (who got them all into it in the first place). 0:00-10:08After a brief introduction and opening prayer, you'll hear from Daniel, David, Ryan and Pastor Nathan about how they got connected to the Disciple Like You Mean It course and their experience in a small group of three, or Triad. 10:09-17:04 Then we'll look at the role of Information, Imitation, and Innovation in the life of a disciple, with examples from their experience with the DLYMI training. 17:05-29:28One specific faith experiment in the course is sometimes called the Catcher's Mitt Calendar. Our guests will share how Innovation played a role in their engagement with that faith experiment. 29:29-endBefore we are done, we'll get final thoughts from the group before Pastor Nathan closes us with prayer. CHOOSE YOUR FAITH ADVENTURE If you choose to explore taking a Triad through the Disciple Like You Mean It course, visit this page. If you opt to experiment with the Prayer of Examen as it is found in Delight! Discipleship as the Adventure of Loving and Being Loved, click here. If you decide to go back to explore the Catcher's Mitt Calendar, turn to the bottom of this blog: My CEF Faith Calendar. The intro and outro music comes from Peter Prochnow's rendition of the hymn, "Awake My Soul and With the Sun" and is available from the Michigan District of the LCMS at www.thehymnalproject.com. Used by permission. This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons. Please consider becoming a Next Step Patron before the end 2023. To see different options for support, including monthly and annual options, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Thank you to all of our Patrons! Patrons make it possible.

The Wednesdays are for Walking With series explores the Disciple Like You Mean It online training from Next Step Press. In this special production of the Next Step Podcast, we will practice non-judgmental noticing with Jesus and help one another take a small next step, together. Episode 04 was first recorded on November 6, 2023. It features a conversation with Kim Longden, Katie Helmreich, and Jamie Wiechman, three people who are walking through the Disciple Like You Mean It experience in a group of three (or Triad). 0:00-8:30After a brief opening prayer, you'll hear from Jamie, Kim, and Katie about their experience so far with the Disciple Like You Mean It online training. 8:30-15:04 Then we'll discuss a question Jamie submitted in the course: How exactly do you lower the bar on your next step? 15:05-23:52As part of that discussion, you'll hear the Triad talk about what happens when the people around you don't seem to be ready for the same next step as you are, and what it means to notice your acquaintances and even need help a little more intentionally. 23:53-33:31Kim also noticed something significant as part of her interaction with the course material. She said she's sometimes uncomfortable when people begin to share more deeply, because she often feels like she has to fix it. That insight gives us a chance to talk about the ministry of listening to others as an intentional act of service and discipleship. 33:32-endBefore we are done, we'll talk about showing you care even in the silence and looking for ways for lowing the bar and taking small next steps as you grow in your practice of listening. CHOOSE YOUR FAITH ADVENTURE If you choose to read more from today's guest, check out the following: I Can't Fix Everything by Kim Longden Don't Wear the Gorilla Sweater by Katie Helmreich Today is Where the Gift Is by Jamie Wiechman If you want to read more, but you like the feel of a real book in your hands, turn to the volumes in our Tales from the Next Step Community series from Next Step Press: Jesus at the Center of My Messy Life (2020) Be Still and Notice (2021) Take My Moments and My Days (2022) If you decide to go back to the podcast Kim was listening to when she noticed she is sometime uncomfortable with silence, head over here: Listening on Behalf of Jesus. If you would like to check out the Disciple Like You Mean It course, visit this page. The intro and outro music comes from Peter Prochnow's rendition of the hymn, "Awake My Soul and With the Sun" and is available from the Michigan District of the LCMS at www.thehymnalproject.com. Used by permission. This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons. Please consider becoming a Next Step Patron before the end 2023. To see different options for support, including monthly and annual options, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Thank you to all of our Patrons! Patrons make it possible.

Wednesdays are for Walking With, Episode 03 was first recorded on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. It features a conversation with life coach Rev. Dr. Jonathan Brandenburg from LINC SoCal and the coaching firm Bridge and Rhino. You'll also hear from Deanna Rossow, one of the participants in the first cohort of the Disciple Like You Mean It training and my mom (Hi, Mom!). 0:00-4:51 After a brief introduction, we'll hear a little bit more about Dr. Brandenburg and his background, including his time as a parish pastor and working with LINC SoCal. 4:42-11:27 Then Justin will ask Jonathan about "coaching" in a Christian context and we'll hear a little about coaching with Bridge and Rhino. 11:28-25:21 A pop quiz is next, as Justin walks Jonathan through a multiple choice poll from Lesson 1.5 The Parable of the Pottery Class from the online course Disciple Like You Mean It. The two Drs will talk through Jon's answers as well as answers from people in the course. 25:22-41:22Then the two friends apply insights from professional coaching to listening to others as a member of a Triad (micro-small group of 3 in the DLYMI course). The talk about listening with the ears of Jesus, non-judgmental noticing, and asking questions that help the other person process before allowing the Gospel to grow out of the conversation. 41:23-endBefore we are done, we'll open the conversation up to people currently taking the Disciple Like You Mean It course and talk about what was helpful in what they heard from Jon. Choose Your Faith Adventure If you decide to experience the kind of conversation involved in "life coaching" with a Gospel foundation, you can sign up for a complementary 30 min session with Jonathan by selecting a day and time here. If you choose to check out the Parable of the Pottery Class mentioned in this podcast, you can find it in Volume 1 of the My Next Step series (the one with the compass on the cover), or in this blog. If the repeated shout outs to Breathe Life Ministries caught your attention, head over to their homepage to discover more. If you would like to check out the Disciple Like You Mean It course, visit this page. Patrons Make it Possible The intro and outro music comes from Peter Prochnow's rendition of the hymn, "Come Holy Ghost, Creator Blest" and is available at www.thehymnalproject.com. Used by permission. This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons. Please consider becoming a Next Step Patron before the end 2023. To see different options for support, including monthly and annual options, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift.

The Wednesdays are for Walking With series explores the Disciple Like You Mean It online training from Next Step Press. In this special production of the Next Step Podcast, we will practice non-judgmental noticing with Jesus and help one another take a small next step, together. Episode 02 was first recorded on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. It features a conversation with Conrad Gempf, recently retired from the London School of Theology. You'll also hear a comment from Pastor Nathan Wendorf, one of the participants in the first cohort of the Disciple Like You Mean It training. 0:00-6:59 After a brief introduction and opening prayer, you'll get a little more history on Professor Conrad Gempf, his background, training, and interest in Luke and Paul, as well as a little about his friendship with Justin Rossow and Next Step Press. 7:00-16:30 Then Conrad and Justin will discuss the mindset or attitudes you might take when you approach Scripture. Conrad shares his Batman vs Spiderman analogy (10:48) to describe different ways of setting the agenda for reading the Bible. And then suggests that steeping or marinating in Scripture (14:32) is a good way to think about what we are doing as we ask, "Jesus, where are you speaking into my life?" 16:31-23:31 Conrad also shares "The Gospel according to Superman" (this must be our comic book episode) and the two friends discuss a 911 approach to Scripture reading and prayer as opposed to a relational approach, where you might even ask questions of the text. 23:32-28:23Conrad shares his personal habit of Bible reading, following the M'Cheyne plan for reading four chapters a day and discussing weekly with a friend. And then, instead of suggesting everyone start by reading the whole Bible in a year, Conrad highlights three elements from his personal practice that he thinks can apply to anyone when it comes to engaging Scripture: immerse yourself in Scripture (marinate) allow Scripture to change you (be bit) engage Scripture with someone else 28:24-endBefore we are done, you'll hear Justin ask Conrad specifically about applying the Old Testament to your life without allegorizing it, and you'll hear from one of our DLYMI trailblazers, Nathan Wendorf (Senior Pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Harlingen, Texas). You can get more help on meditating as marinating (or savoring) in section 5.2 "Lip-Smacking Good" in Volume 2 of the My Next Step series (the one with the carabiner on the cover) or read a version of the Batman/Spiderman analogy in section 6.2 "Up Close and Personal" in that same volume. If you would like to experiment with the M'Cheyne Reading Plan with Conrad, check out this web page. You can hear more from Conrad in the following episodes of the Next Step Podcast. Or listen to him read his book Jesus Asked by visiting http://gempf.com/wp/Jesus-Asked-the-podcast/. Next Step Podcast episodes with Conrad Gempf: https://community.findmynextstep.org/2022/12/11/jesus-son-of-solomon/ https://community.findmynextstep.org/2021/05/15/pentecost-intimacy-with-god/ https://community.findmynextstep.org/2020/12/26/joy-to-the-world/ https://community.findmynextstep.org/2020/07/28/i-am-trusting-thee-lord-jesus/ https://community.findmynextstep.org/2020/04/04/ride-on-in-majesty/ The intro and outro music comes from Peter Prochnow's rendition of the hymn, "Come Holy Ghost, Creator Blest" and is available at www.thehymnalproject.com. Used by permission. This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons. Please consider becoming a Next Step Patron before the end 2023. To see different options for support, including monthly and annual options, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Thank you to all of our Patrons! Patrons make it possible.

Welcome to Wednesdays are for Walking With, the latest feature of the Next Step Podcast! The goal of this series is to explore the Disciple Like You Mean It online training from Next Step Press. We'll practice non-judgmental noticing with Jesus and help one another take a small next step. Episode 01 was first recorded on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. It features a conversation with Deanna Rossow, one of the participants in the first cohort of the Disciple Like You Mean It training. You'll hear about a recent milestone in Deanna's life, and then host Justin Rossow will help her wonder what next step the Spirit might be inviting her to take in response to that milestone. Along the way, you'll hear from another one of our DLYMI trailblazers, Lexie Brown (Director of Family Life Ministry at St. Paul, Ann Arbor) as we realize again the importance of holding a GPS attitude (Where am I right now? Where is Jesus leading?) instead of a GPA attitude (How well am I doing? How could I be doing better?) when it comes to faith and following. Read more about it in the blog Orientation vs Performance: GPS or GPA? As part of the conversation, Deanna mentions the My Next Step series of books from Next Step Press as well as Delight! Discipleship as the Adventure of Loving and Being Loved. The intro and outro music comes from Peter Prochnow's rendition of the hymn, "Come Holy Ghost, Creator Blest" and is available at www.thehymnalproject.com. Used by permission. This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons. Please consider becoming a Next Step Patron before the end 2023. To see different options for support, including monthly and annual options, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Thank you to all of our Patrons! Patrons make it possible.

Jamie Wiechman, cofounder of Breathe Life Ministries, joins host Justin Rossow on the Next Step Podcast to talk about section 2.3: "Jesus, I'm Tired" in  the resource My Next Step: A How-To Companion for People Who Want to Follow Jesus (But Sometimes Get Stuck) Volume 1: Getting Started. Book link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XZ8HYN2 After a brief introduction and Justin and Jamie begin their conversation on noticing yourself with Jesus by looking at Jamie's blog "The Lord is Not Slow. Say What?" Blog link: https://community.findmynextstep.org/2022/10/03/the-lord-is-not-slow-say-what/ Jamie then shares a little more about how Breathe Life Ministries comes along side people to help them slow down and notice what they are experiencing without self-condemnation. Creating that space is one way to invite Jesus into whatever you are going through right now. You can view the Zoom meeting of this episode here: https://youtu.be/88-_bWTV1uE This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons.  Please consider becoming a Next Step Patron before the end 2022. To see different options for support, including monthly and annual options, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Thank you to all of our Patrons! Patrons make it possible.

This extra, bonus chapter of the When from Death I'm Free hymn journal for Holy Week comes from author and illustrator Alli Bauck. After two Lenten seasons of following the hymn journal, Alli decided to create her own chapter from a favorite hymn and collaborated with Next Step Press founder Justin Rossow to produce a whole new chapter for the top new release in Christian Devotionals from 2020. You can download your complimentary copy of the My Song is Love Unknown bonus chapter, then follow along as Alli and Justin walk you through the theology and the thinking behind the Scripture readings, devotion, coloring page, and faith experiment. It's a great way to lean into your Holy Week experience! Download Here Alli shared how much she enjoys listening to different version of the song. Here are a couple of her favorites: Fernando Ortega version: https://youtu.be/fIbYENJVSic Dynamic choral version: https://youtu.be/iFmvFi0ocp8 We follow Jesus better when we follow Him together, so we invite you to join the Next Step Community by signing up at http://bit.ly/joinnsp. Sign Up Today You can find more from Alli Bauck on the Next Step Community blog or in the anthology Be Still and Notice: Tales from the Next Step Community, Year 2. Other hymn journal from Next Step Press include: Ponder Anew: A Hymn Journal of Trust and Confidence and Light in the Darkness: A Hymn Journal for Advent & Christmas. You can help Next Step Press possible by providing regular, monthly support for content like this podcast: become a patron today.

The resource Light in the Darkness: A Hymn Journal for Advent & Christmas explores twelve different Christmas carols and original songs composed, arranged, and recorded by singer/songwriter Brooke Orozco and musician Brendan Knorp. Brooke and Brendan join author Justin Rossow for the final episode of this season of the Next Step Podcast that has been focused on their music and the hymn journal. After a brief introduction and an opening prayer, you'll hear Brendan read Matthew 4 and Brooke read select verses of Psalm 119 (both on page 117 of the hymn journal). As part of the following discussion, Justin will read the devotion on the next page, titled, "He Comes to Light the Way." After we listen to Light in the Darkness, the title track for both the Christmas album and the hymn journal, we'll hear more about the composition of that song and gain some insight on the rest of that album from the recording artists themselves. As part of the discussion of the recording process, Brooke mentions one of her favorite songs on the album is an arrangement of German carol that wasn't included in this hymn journal: Waerst Du Kindchen. Brendan especially appreciates their setting of O Come, O Come Emmanuel, a song titled Emmanuel on their CD. Brendan talked about that song and its arrangement in the podcast recorded to go with Chapter 3 of the hymn journal: The Next Step Podcast, Season 3, Episode 3. The entire A Light in the Darkness Christmas album from Brooke and Brendan is available on your favorite streaming services as well as on YouTube. As part of the discussion, Brooke mentions the book Delight!: Discipleship as the Adventure of Loving and Being Loved, and Justin talks about how J.S. Bach would begin his compositions with the the Latin abbreviation J.J. (to find out more, read the article "Jesus, Judge Me!") At the close of this season of the Next Step Podcast, we want to thank all of our Next Step Patrons. Their regular support helps make this next step discipleship content possible. Thank you, Patrons! Whether you choose monthly support, an annual contribution, or a one-time gift, please consider becoming a Next Step Patron in 2022. To see different options for support visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Patrons make it possible. The intro and outro music for Season 3: Light in the Darkness was arranged and performed by Brendan Knorp. The music included in the podcast was written and performed by Brooke and Brendan. All rights reserved.

Pat Maier, cofounder of Visual Faith™ Ministry, and Amy Meyer, cofounder of Neighboring Life, join Justin Rossow, founder of Next Step Press, to talk about Chapter 10: Infant Holy, Infant Lowly in the resource Light in the Darkness: A Hymn Journal for Advent & Christmas. John 1 is the traditional reading for Christmas Day, and after a brief intro and opening prayer, we'll hear about the Word becoming flesh as Pat reads from the English Standard Version. Then Amy will read the same verses from The Message paraphrase. You can find that reading on page 97 of the hymn journal. After discussing those verses, we'll hear from Pat Maier about her artwork on page 95 that keeps Jesus at the center of our Christmas celebrations, and about the mission of Visual Faith™ Ministry to provide resources that help you slow down and experience time in prayer and in Bible study more intentionally. Once we've looked briefly at the corner art on page 98, you'll hear Justin read the devotion on that same page. You can share that reflection with your friends by posting or emailing a link to the blog version of this chapter's devotion, "For His Bed a Cattle Stall." After we hear Brooke and Brendan sing their version of "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly," we'll turn to the Prayer Experiment on pages 100-101 and hear from Amy Meyer about the soon-to-be-launched online community called Neighboring Life. Founded by Amy and her husband, Jeff, Neighboring Life invites you and your household to imagine neighborhoods where every person belongs, where every person knows they matter and have a contribution to make, a story to share. We'll make sure to let the Next Step Community know when Neighboring Life goes live sometime in 2022. Before we are done, we'll get an update on the Pat's neighborhood sketch on page 101 and Amy's experiments to build community in her new apartment living. You can follow Pat's lead with this recipe for her Fresh Orange Muffins (links to other Visual Faith resources are included in the article). As you can probably tell just by reading their names, Amy Meyer and Pat Maier are not related, although we did discover that Pat lives on Meyer Avenue, a happy coincidence. The two will team up again next year, September 23-25, 2022, for one of Camp Arcadia's women's retreats. Make sure to check it out! This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons. Please consider becoming a Next Step Patron before the end 2021. To see different options for support, including monthly and annual options, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. The A Light in the Darkness CD from Brooke and Brendan is now available on your favorite streaming services as well as on YouTube.