https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lifequest-podcast--3660354enNewsCopyright Nigel Mohammedhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/be7066a75969e66dc9800839b980d5cb.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lifequest-podcast--3660354Tue, 03 Sep 2024 12:52:13 +0000Nigel MohammedNigel Mohammedthebiggerstory1@gmail.comLife-Quest is about our Calling in life. What makes your heart come alive? If we know, then that is clue to what we need to give our lives to. However, many are not connected with their hearts enough to know what makes them come alive or they believe...cleanepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/3-navigational-points-story-journey-desire-part-2--61251189
Obviously if we don't know what Season God has us in, then our Journey will feel rather Disoriented..Where am I going? What am I supposed to be doing with my life? What vision do I have for my life?

The danger here is that we settle for the status quo and settle for living in a story of 'Just getting by'. But God has created and redeemed us to live in His Bigger Story of Redemption. In this 2nd Podcast, I go through a Pruning Season, a Wilderness Season, a Harvest Season before I move on to the 3rd Navigational point of Desires.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61251189Tue, 03 Sep 2024 12:50:57 +0000Nigel MohammedContinuing with the nature of Seasons as a useful category for the Navigational point of Journey the 2nd point, it is very important to understand the nature of seasons let alone knowing what Season God has us in. Obviously if we don't know what...
Obviously if we don't know what Season God has us in, then our Journey will feel rather Disoriented..Where am I going? What am I supposed to be doing with my life? What vision do I have for my life?

The danger here is that we settle for the status quo and settle for living in a story of 'Just getting by'. But God has created and redeemed us to live in His Bigger Story of Redemption. In this 2nd Podcast, I go through a Pruning Season, a Wilderness Season, a Harvest Season before I move on to the 3rd Navigational point of Desires.]]>1803awaken,deepen,desires,fulfill,seasonscleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/3-navigational-points-story-journey-desire--61250820https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61250820Tue, 03 Sep 2024 11:59:25 +0000Nigel MohammedThe world has become rather crazy in the last 2-3 years has'nt it? We can easily lose or way in life and lose a sense of direction and our lives can be marked by a sense of Disorientation. When you're Disoriented, you don't know where you are and are...1350desire,god,journey,navigation,storycleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/when-it-won-t-go-away-a-biblical-response-to-chronic-pain-part-2--56386554https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56386554Sun, 06 Aug 2023 20:22:59 +0000Nigel MohammedA Framework of Redeeming Chronic Pain2427christ,objective,people,psychosomatic,relationshipscleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/when-it-won-t-go-away-a-biblical-response-to-chronic-pain-part-1--56386532https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56386532Sun, 06 Aug 2023 20:17:57 +0000Nigel MohammedThe experience of Chronic Pain from several different perspectives and a Framework of Redeeming Chronic Pain.1368christ,framework,holistic,pain,redemptioncleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/themes-and-underlying-issues-in-jesus-revolution-and-our-own-times--54884087Many of the hippies of Southern California in the 1960s were
becoming followers of Jesus. But the traditional churches did not accept them and there was a lot difficulty experienced by all people involved. Songwriters like Keith Green and Don Francisco came out of the Jesus Movement and many contemporary worship songs were influenced by these songwriters.

There are several relevant factors that can be applied with the film and our own times in 2023. What are they? How can we develop this into creating something for marginalised subcultures in our own day?]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/54884087Sat, 24 Jun 2023 17:31:24 +0000Nigel MohammedHow can we utilize the watching of this film 'Jesus Revolution' to develop the discussion of the relevant themes and issues between the 1960s Jesus People who the traditional church struggled to accept with the issues of our own day? Many of the...Many of the hippies of Southern California in the 1960s were
becoming followers of Jesus. But the traditional churches did not accept them and there was a lot difficulty experienced by all people involved. Songwriters like Keith Green and Don Francisco came out of the Jesus Movement and many contemporary worship songs were influenced by these songwriters.

There are several relevant factors that can be applied with the film and our own times in 2023. What are they? How can we develop this into creating something for marginalised subcultures in our own day?]]>1917church,hippies,movement,subculture,traditionalcleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/vulnerability-the-route-to-authentic-connection-and-the-fig-leaves-of-churchianity--53214776
The unselfish sacrificial lifestyle and willingness to be vulnerable was powerful therefore. The way that the vast majority of the Western Church tends to be somewhat superficial. How are you we ask in our churches. 'I'm fine' we respond. This is all pervasive and creates a superficiality. The tragedy is that people are doing 'fine' mostly because so many have affluent materialistic lives in most Western churches. Yet, even when people are not doing 'fine' because they are in a season of suffering, we still tend to settle and hide behind the mask of 'I'm doing fine'.

To genuinely love each other we have to take a risk to be vulnerable. The things we long for like connection, love, belonging, purpose and meaning are all connected to the necessity to be vulnerable in some capacity. The reason is that so many people in the West are isolated, lonely, marginalised and lack a sense of belonging.

In this podcast I discuss Brene Brown's research findings on vulnerability and compare the deep principles of vulnerability with the roots of all human psychology in Eden and how the fig leaves are still very much in place in modern Western Christianity because there is such a lack of willingness to be vulnerability in order to cultivate authentic connection, community and love that shows the world who Jesus really is.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53214776Wed, 15 Mar 2023 18:51:14 +0000Nigel MohammedIn Acts 4v34 it says that there was 'no one in need'. This is because they sold their possessions and even sold their houses. The neediness in the early Ecclesia in Acts 4 was based on how vulnerable they were. This vulnerability created authentic...
The unselfish sacrificial lifestyle and willingness to be vulnerable was powerful therefore. The way that the vast majority of the Western Church tends to be somewhat superficial. How are you we ask in our churches. 'I'm fine' we respond. This is all pervasive and creates a superficiality. The tragedy is that people are doing 'fine' mostly because so many have affluent materialistic lives in most Western churches. Yet, even when people are not doing 'fine' because they are in a season of suffering, we still tend to settle and hide behind the mask of 'I'm doing fine'.

To genuinely love each other we have to take a risk to be vulnerable. The things we long for like connection, love, belonging, purpose and meaning are all connected to the necessity to be vulnerable in some capacity. The reason is that so many people in the West are isolated, lonely, marginalised and lack a sense of belonging.

In this podcast I discuss Brene Brown's research findings on vulnerability and compare the deep principles of vulnerability with the roots of all human psychology in Eden and how the fig leaves are still very much in place in modern Western Christianity because there is such a lack of willingness to be vulnerability in order to cultivate authentic connection, community and love that shows the world who Jesus really is.]]>1606connection,fear,love,shame,vulnerabilitycleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/categories-provide-clarity-to-intepret-our-story--52462015
The Category of Warfare is crucial because the whole backdrop of the Bible which is about God's bigger story from Creation to New Creation will characterize some aspects of our lives. Of course balance is needed but it is not wise to completely ignore this category. For example there are seasons of the Fog of war when we lose direction, drop the ball and feel like we have lost our way. Knowing how to break agreements with mental strongholds is important in these seasons.

The category of Desires is also crucial. I have talked much about Desires in his podcast series on Interpretation as well as this LifeQuest podcast.

We tend to believe that we live in a small story and so we miss the Bigger Story. But the Bigger Story is always going on. Brother Lawrence washed dishes in a remote monastery in a previous century, so it would be easy to assume that he lived in a small insignificant story. But kings came to him for advice, because he practiced the presence of God, he lived in God's bigger story. So the Bigger Story is always going on, but we need spiritual eyes to see, so we ask God...'What is the expression of the essence of who I am' or who I am becoming by your Grace'?]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52462015Tue, 17 Jan 2023 12:46:03 +0000Nigel MohammedHow do we Interpret our story? Well most of us do not Interpret our story. We can all admit that we don't normally interpret our lives well. But Interpretation of our story can help to crystallise the essence of who we are or who we are becoming....
The Category of Warfare is crucial because the whole backdrop of the Bible which is about God's bigger story from Creation to New Creation will characterize some aspects of our lives. Of course balance is needed but it is not wise to completely ignore this category. For example there are seasons of the Fog of war when we lose direction, drop the ball and feel like we have lost our way. Knowing how to break agreements with mental strongholds is important in these seasons.

The category of Desires is also crucial. I have talked much about Desires in his podcast series on Interpretation as well as this LifeQuest podcast.

We tend to believe that we live in a small story and so we miss the Bigger Story. But the Bigger Story is always going on. Brother Lawrence washed dishes in a remote monastery in a previous century, so it would be easy to assume that he lived in a small insignificant story. But kings came to him for advice, because he practiced the presence of God, he lived in God's bigger story. So the Bigger Story is always going on, but we need spiritual eyes to see, so we ask God...'What is the expression of the essence of who I am' or who I am becoming by your Grace'?]]>1586categories,desires,heart,interpretation,warfarecleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/interpretation-of-our-lives-our-calling-our-hearts-how-do-we-interpret--52121147
It is not something if we are honest that we engage with much. It is not really our default disposition is it? I wonder why not? Maybe the society we live in, the relentless onslaught of busyness that consumes our lives.

Unforeseen circumstances, social fragmentation, all the 'lsm's aka the ideologies that have shaped our culture like Individualism and Consumerism, just those two 'Isms' will direct us into living in a much smaller story than God's Bigger Story of His Kingdom.

So how do we Interpret our lives? This is what this podcast is about. 'Above ALL ELSE guard your heart, for out of it spring the issues of life' says Proverbs 4v23

This will take about 3 podcasts on this topic.....If you would like to explore this idea of how you interpret your own life story, and would like to go on a journey of getting your heart back if you are able to be honest enough to admit, that crucial aspects of your true heart are buried....then email me at...thebiggerstory1@gmail.com
My name is Nigel Mohammed of Life-Quest ministry. I teach, facilitate, mentor, and write. We can do this 4 week course on our Calling in the context of our whole life story on Zoom if you live in a different area or even different country.

Or we can do it in person one to one or in a group. I run this course at a local Community Hub where I live on the South Coast of England.
Again...thebiggerstory1@gmail.com]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52121147Wed, 07 Dec 2022 15:15:59 +0000Nigel MohammedOne of the concepts that can help keep us awake, alive, diligent and as whole hearted as we can be in a fallen world is the idea of Interpretation. How many of us regularly Interpret our lives, our story, our hearts, our calling, our vocation? It is...
It is not something if we are honest that we engage with much. It is not really our default disposition is it? I wonder why not? Maybe the society we live in, the relentless onslaught of busyness that consumes our lives.

Unforeseen circumstances, social fragmentation, all the 'lsm's aka the ideologies that have shaped our culture like Individualism and Consumerism, just those two 'Isms' will direct us into living in a much smaller story than God's Bigger Story of His Kingdom.

So how do we Interpret our lives? This is what this podcast is about. 'Above ALL ELSE guard your heart, for out of it spring the issues of life' says Proverbs 4v23

This will take about 3 podcasts on this topic.....If you would like to explore this idea of how you interpret your own life story, and would like to go on a journey of getting your heart back if you are able to be honest enough to admit, that crucial aspects of your true heart are buried....then email me at...thebiggerstory1@gmail.com
My name is Nigel Mohammed of Life-Quest ministry. I teach, facilitate, mentor, and write. We can do this 4 week course on our Calling in the context of our whole life story on Zoom if you live in a different area or even different country.

Or we can do it in person one to one or in a group. I run this course at a local Community Hub where I live on the South Coast of England.
Again...thebiggerstory1@gmail.com]]>1473calling,desires,heart,interpretation,journeycleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/4-key-questions-in-relation-to-our-calling-what-we-are-to-give-ourselves-to--52119336
To Be Told is about our Story because we all have a story....that needs to be told. How many of us get to speak our story with someone who truly listens well and provides much needed insight and counsel? Its rare is it not? I wonder why? That's another topic about the state of both the culture we live in and the state of modern 'church' run by the 'priesthood of SOME believers'.

The 4 Questions are: WHO am I to serve? WHERE am I to be? WHAT burden am I to bear? HOW am I to engage?]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52119336Wed, 07 Dec 2022 11:49:44 +0000Nigel Mohammed4 Key Questions that Dan Allender, a Christian author, speaker, and psychologist clarifies in his book 'To Be Told' can help us significantly to get the clarity that we all need. To Be Told is about our Story because we all have a story....that...
To Be Told is about our Story because we all have a story....that needs to be told. How many of us get to speak our story with someone who truly listens well and provides much needed insight and counsel? Its rare is it not? I wonder why? That's another topic about the state of both the culture we live in and the state of modern 'church' run by the 'priesthood of SOME believers'.

The 4 Questions are: WHO am I to serve? WHERE am I to be? WHAT burden am I to bear? HOW am I to engage?]]>1048burden,calling,context,empathy,storycleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/when-your-story-stalls-part-2--50872818This is a follow up to my first podcast on 'When your story stalls Part 1. It's been a little while- maybe that's because my own story stalled!! How uncomfortably ironic!
In times of upheaval and disruption one of the valuable things we can do to help facilitate our way forward is to bring to God specific Questions.

Here are some Questions related to Reorientation. When we are in a time of upheaval, transition, and disruption with all that goes with that, we need clarity. Questions can bring clarity.

What parts of my life are not fully awake, alive and free? What am I lacking in this moment that I will need for the coming season? What will I need going forward? What specifically do I need to bring from the previous season into the next?

What have you put in my heart- that its time has come?
How am I to walk with others differently?]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50872818Wed, 10 Aug 2022 08:35:09 +0000Nigel MohammedSometimes God brings disruption into our lives but it is to redirect our lives. It is also to bring to the surface deeper underlying issues in our lives, in our hearts, our relationships and our character. In a time of disruption when our story feels...This is a follow up to my first podcast on 'When your story stalls Part 1. It's been a little while- maybe that's because my own story stalled!! How uncomfortably ironic!
In times of upheaval and disruption one of the valuable things we can do to help facilitate our way forward is to bring to God specific Questions.

Here are some Questions related to Reorientation. When we are in a time of upheaval, transition, and disruption with all that goes with that, we need clarity. Questions can bring clarity.

What parts of my life are not fully awake, alive and free? What am I lacking in this moment that I will need for the coming season? What will I need going forward? What specifically do I need to bring from the previous season into the next?

What have you put in my heart- that its time has come?
How am I to walk with others differently?]]>1347clarity,disruption,questions,recrientation,seasonscleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/when-your-story-hits-a-dead-end--50317832
We can feel a sense of shame when our life becoems stuck, especially men. There are different kinds of 'stuck'. Some of the issues that we can struggle with when feeliing stuck are just to mention a few: Insignificance; a lack of identity; meaninglessness; a lack of purpose and direction; no sense of vision or calling; a feeling that we are drifiting through life from one thing to the next but locked into a particular pattern, that can feel paralysing.

Because of the way we are taught to live in Western culture our first impulse when things go wrong or we feel stuck is to 'fix it', so we start 'doing' something to make it better.

But God HImself may well be in the very stalling of our story because he is trying to get our attention. Busyness can define our lives but can also be a 'cover up' for not having to feel. Busyness can equal a sense of meaning.

But something or Someone has to DISRUPT our story to make us FEEL certain things- so that as i say, God can get our attention. He sometimes gets our attention through a 'divine discontent' and this means that God is actuall IN the painful emotions, bringing them to the surface to perform 'heart surgery'.

When our story stalls or we feel stuck, there is always something going on IN THE HEART. You cannot commit to a LARGER story if you have LOST HEART or go numb. You are on the sidelines when you check out on a HEART level.

So HOW do you NOT LOSE HEART in a season of feeling stuck?.....]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50317832Fri, 24 Jun 2022 09:44:44 +0000Nigel MohammedHave you ever experienced a feeling of being stuck in your life. The feeling of being stuck in our lives is about much deeper underlying and historical factors of the story we have lived in. Story and Identity are crucial because we can only know who...
We can feel a sense of shame when our life becoems stuck, especially men. There are different kinds of 'stuck'. Some of the issues that we can struggle with when feeliing stuck are just to mention a few: Insignificance; a lack of identity; meaninglessness; a lack of purpose and direction; no sense of vision or calling; a feeling that we are drifiting through life from one thing to the next but locked into a particular pattern, that can feel paralysing.

Because of the way we are taught to live in Western culture our first impulse when things go wrong or we feel stuck is to 'fix it', so we start 'doing' something to make it better.

But God HImself may well be in the very stalling of our story because he is trying to get our attention. Busyness can define our lives but can also be a 'cover up' for not having to feel. Busyness can equal a sense of meaning.

But something or Someone has to DISRUPT our story to make us FEEL certain things- so that as i say, God can get our attention. He sometimes gets our attention through a 'divine discontent' and this means that God is actuall IN the painful emotions, bringing them to the surface to perform 'heart surgery'.

When our story stalls or we feel stuck, there is always something going on IN THE HEART. You cannot commit to a LARGER story if you have LOST HEART or go numb. You are on the sidelines when you check out on a HEART level.

So HOW do you NOT LOSE HEART in a season of feeling stuck?.....]]>1338disruption,god,heart,story,stuckcleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ad32-313-early-ekklesia-persecuted-minority-marked-by-movement-vs-post-313ad-institutional-christendom-to-now--49116133
After AD313 when Constantine established the Edict of Milan which permanently established - toleration for Christianity within the Roman empire- the marginalised persecuted Ekklesia radically changed and became part of the empire through this Edict of Milan.

3 eras of different modes of 'Church' are discussed in this podcast based on a book by Alan Hirsh called 'The Forgotten Ways'. After AD313 the Institutional Church that now met in buildings was fundamentally Attractional, meaning you had to get people to go to church.

However, in the last 10-15 years there has been an emerging Missional mode of the Ekklesia that is marked by pioneering, innovation, missional, non-institutional, decentralised, not based in buildings. It is grass roots and marked by movement so is not static like buildings are.

The book 'The Forgotten Way' by Alan Hirsch was inspired by a Question: How did the Ekklesia go from 25,000 in AD100 to 20 million just before Constantine in 325AD? How did it go from a persecuted marginalised minority, a small movement to the most significant force in the Roman empire in the previous 200 years?

What did the early Ekklesia NOT have that the Western Institutional top down hiearchal church run by professionals has in abundance? In the early Ekklesia before AD313 there were no institutions, no buildings, no religious professionals, no seeker sensitive services, no youth groups, no worship leaders or worship services.

Moreover, the ealry Ekklesia made it hard to become part of it because of the persecution they faced, so they had to know that people were deeply committed and prepared to die for the Lord Jesus. Historically, God's people have had the most powerful impact on the culture in a much less institutional mode of church.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49116133Sat, 19 Mar 2022 12:34:01 +0000Nigel MohammedThe early Ekklesia from AD32 to AD313 was a persecuted minority on the margins. But it was a Movement that did not have much of what the Western Institutional Church has today. After AD313 when Constantine established the Edict of Milan which...
After AD313 when Constantine established the Edict of Milan which permanently established - toleration for Christianity within the Roman empire- the marginalised persecuted Ekklesia radically changed and became part of the empire through this Edict of Milan.

3 eras of different modes of 'Church' are discussed in this podcast based on a book by Alan Hirsh called 'The Forgotten Ways'. After AD313 the Institutional Church that now met in buildings was fundamentally Attractional, meaning you had to get people to go to church.

However, in the last 10-15 years there has been an emerging Missional mode of the Ekklesia that is marked by pioneering, innovation, missional, non-institutional, decentralised, not based in buildings. It is grass roots and marked by movement so is not static like buildings are.

The book 'The Forgotten Way' by Alan Hirsch was inspired by a Question: How did the Ekklesia go from 25,000 in AD100 to 20 million just before Constantine in 325AD? How did it go from a persecuted marginalised minority, a small movement to the most significant force in the Roman empire in the previous 200 years?

What did the early Ekklesia NOT have that the Western Institutional top down hiearchal church run by professionals has in abundance? In the early Ekklesia before AD313 there were no institutions, no buildings, no religious professionals, no seeker sensitive services, no youth groups, no worship leaders or worship services.

Moreover, the ealry Ekklesia made it hard to become part of it because of the persecution they faced, so they had to know that people were deeply committed and prepared to die for the Lord Jesus. Historically, God's people have had the most powerful impact on the culture in a much less institutional mode of church.]]>1026ad313,decentralised,ekklesia,institutional,movementcleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-call-of-the-ekklesia-healing-community--49030930
The Gospel is so much greater in scope than we have been led to believe. God as Three in One balances the One and the Many. All societies are based on the One and the Many, but because of the profoud 4 fold alienation from the Fall as shown in Genesis 3v7-24 human society has been able to truly balance the One (Freedom for the Individual) and the Many (Justice for the Community)

Because Redemption is a wide in scope as Creation and the Fall because the whole creation groans, true Christian Mission is nothing less than the healing and reconciliation of this profound 4 fold alienation. Jesus trained and released 12 men (and women) but Traditional Institutional Church is deeply oriented toward 'Get them in and keep them in' (the church)

This means that the Traditional Institutional Church is oriented completely opposite to the way that Jesus invested in people.

Some possible characteristics of Healing Community in order to put on display a new way of being human because of the Trinity> Committment; Discipleship; Journey Inward and Outward; Small Groups; Telling our Story; Acceptance; Worship; Alternative Leadership; Surviving Conflict; Trust and Time.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49030930Fri, 11 Mar 2022 16:58:12 +0000Nigel MohammedThe Ekklesia, the called out people of the One true and Living God is both a journey inward into one's own interior life and a journey outward that takes the follower of Jesus into active service and mission in response to human suffering. The...
The Gospel is so much greater in scope than we have been led to believe. God as Three in One balances the One and the Many. All societies are based on the One and the Many, but because of the profoud 4 fold alienation from the Fall as shown in Genesis 3v7-24 human society has been able to truly balance the One (Freedom for the Individual) and the Many (Justice for the Community)

Because Redemption is a wide in scope as Creation and the Fall because the whole creation groans, true Christian Mission is nothing less than the healing and reconciliation of this profound 4 fold alienation. Jesus trained and released 12 men (and women) but Traditional Institutional Church is deeply oriented toward 'Get them in and keep them in' (the church)

This means that the Traditional Institutional Church is oriented completely opposite to the way that Jesus invested in people.

Some possible characteristics of Healing Community in order to put on display a new way of being human because of the Trinity> Committment; Discipleship; Journey Inward and Outward; Small Groups; Telling our Story; Acceptance; Worship; Alternative Leadership; Surviving Conflict; Trust and Time.]]>1507alienation,community,healing,mission,relationshipscleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-call-of-the-ekklesia-living-out-of-the-whole-story--49030461https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49030461Fri, 11 Mar 2022 16:17:14 +0000Nigel MohammedThe Traditional Institutional Church in the West only tells half the story of the Fall and Redemption, while neglecting Creation and Consummation/Restoration. This is largely the result of the Dualistic and unbiblical 'Sacred-Secular' divide that is...1265alienation,dualism,mission,story,worldviewcleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-virus-in-the-body-of-christ-dualism--48994854
So we have to escape the physical body because the soul is superior in the spiritual realm. This is a very basic description of Plato's dualism. This Greek Platonic Dualism is also known with Traditional Institutional Church as the 'Sacred-Secular' divide. This means that everything INSIDE the church is considered to be sacred and everything OUTSIDE church is secular.

This is based a false Platonic assumption that therefore God is not interested in the physical world or our life in the world at all, He is only interested in what happens inside the four walls of the church, like preaching, singing, evangelism, praying, intercession, having devotions, missionary work, full time ministry etc.

The Biblical Worldview dominated Western culture up until a period called 'The Enlightenment' or the 'Age of Reason', in the 17th and 18th centuries. During this period the Revelation of God in creation, Scripture and Christ was replaced by human Reason.

Deism still believed in 'God' but He became the 'Great Clockmaker' who created the universe and left it to run on its own natural laws. It resulted in a deeply mechanistic view of the world and of life.

Imagine a diagonal line from top to bottom. At the top you have the Bibilcal worldview, next in the 17th-18th century you have Deism which meant that God is not involved at all the physical world. Finally it results in Secularism which does away with any need for God at all.

God is both Transcendent and Immanent which means nearness and means that God is involved directly in the physical world. He is Immanent in sustaining the laws of nature, in history, in His Incarnation, and in the Body of Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The physical world is not inferior at all, especially because of the Incarnation.

The traditional institutional church with its Platonic Sacred-Secular divide means that it does not have a truly Biblical Worldview of Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration. It only tells HALF the Story of Fall and Redemption.

This means tragically that the Traditional Institutional Church, which is top down, hierarchal, where 'ministry' is done by the few 'professionals' up front like the worship team and the pastor, that the people are not properly equipped at all to engage their community and the 'Church' is relegated to a marginalised position in a secular culture that does not allow 'faith' to impact the public arena. The Gospel is effectively kept within the four walls of church and has such minimal impact that it is seen as irrelevant by the culture.

It results in Christians living in Compartmentalised lives with split personalities. For example, this is my church life, this is my home life, my work life, my social life etc. The Sacred-Secular divide means there is not only no Biblical Worldview, but there is no true equipping of people do the 'works of ministry' in all creation.

Has the last 2 years since March 2020 forced the issue that the Traditional Institutional Church that was only too pleased to close its doors and yield to State tyranny shown that this man made system with roots in Constantine is woefully inadequate to truly be salt and light and spread the leaven of the Gospel in all of life. This is why I have done this short series on 'Looking Back To Move Forward The Call of the Ekklesia'.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48994854Tue, 08 Mar 2022 17:02:30 +0000Nigel MohammedDualism has its roots in the philosophy of the Greek philosopher Plato who split reality into two realms, the eternal spiritual realm and the physical realm. Plato believed that the eternal spiritual realm is superior to the lowly physical realm, so...
So we have to escape the physical body because the soul is superior in the spiritual realm. This is a very basic description of Plato's dualism. This Greek Platonic Dualism is also known with Traditional Institutional Church as the 'Sacred-Secular' divide. This means that everything INSIDE the church is considered to be sacred and everything OUTSIDE church is secular.

This is based a false Platonic assumption that therefore God is not interested in the physical world or our life in the world at all, He is only interested in what happens inside the four walls of the church, like preaching, singing, evangelism, praying, intercession, having devotions, missionary work, full time ministry etc.

The Biblical Worldview dominated Western culture up until a period called 'The Enlightenment' or the 'Age of Reason', in the 17th and 18th centuries. During this period the Revelation of God in creation, Scripture and Christ was replaced by human Reason.

Deism still believed in 'God' but He became the 'Great Clockmaker' who created the universe and left it to run on its own natural laws. It resulted in a deeply mechanistic view of the world and of life.

Imagine a diagonal line from top to bottom. At the top you have the Bibilcal worldview, next in the 17th-18th century you have Deism which meant that God is not involved at all the physical world. Finally it results in Secularism which does away with any need for God at all.

God is both Transcendent and Immanent which means nearness and means that God is involved directly in the physical world. He is Immanent in sustaining the laws of nature, in history, in His Incarnation, and in the Body of Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The physical world is not inferior at all, especially because of the Incarnation.

The traditional institutional church with its Platonic Sacred-Secular divide means that it does not have a truly Biblical Worldview of Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration. It only tells HALF the Story of Fall and Redemption.

This means tragically that the Traditional Institutional Church, which is top down, hierarchal, where 'ministry' is done by the few 'professionals' up front like the worship team and the pastor, that the people are not properly equipped at all to engage their community and the 'Church' is relegated to a marginalised position in a secular culture that does not allow 'faith' to impact the public arena. The Gospel is effectively kept within the four walls of church and has such minimal impact that it is seen as irrelevant by the culture.

It results in Christians living in Compartmentalised lives with split personalities. For example, this is my church life, this is my home life, my work life, my social life etc. The Sacred-Secular divide means there is not only no Biblical Worldview, but there is no true equipping of people do the 'works of ministry' in all creation.

Has the last 2 years since March 2020 forced the issue that the Traditional Institutional Church that was only too pleased to close its doors and yield to State tyranny shown that this man made system with roots in Constantine is woefully inadequate to truly be salt and light and spread the leaven of the Gospel in all of life. This is why I have done this short series on 'Looking Back To Move Forward The Call of the Ekklesia'.]]>1278dualism,institutional,plato,unbiblical,worldviewcleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/looking-back-to-move-forward-the-call-of-the-ekklesia--48920967https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48920967Wed, 02 Mar 2022 11:55:53 +0000Nigel MohammedA poem about Johnny will resonate with countless numbers of Christians who may feel in a place of transition. This is about Stage 5 and 6 in the Stages of Faith. Stage 5 is deeply transitional similar to Stage 4, but mystery & paradox can sit...1104calvary,connection,de-institutional,integrated,transitionalcleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/looking-back-to-move-forward-the-call-of-the-ekklesia--48920461Having a way to process significant moments in our lives equips us to be proactively engaged in order to initiate inner change so as to live differently to see the organic nature of our lives. I cover Stage 1-4 in this podcast. Stage 1 are those who have been brought up in Traditional Institutional Church and have been there most of their lives and don't want or even see the need for anything different. Stage 2 are very 'black & white' thinking people. Stage 3 follows the party line without question and there's a clear dividing line between 'Christians and Non-Chrisitians'. Stage 4 is deeply transitional and they begin to distance themselves from Traditional Church as these people have been wounded by church.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48920461Wed, 02 Mar 2022 10:44:24 +0000Nigel MohammedIn the first 3 podcasts in this short series, I laid a foundation by explaining the meaning of 'Kairos' moments or events, which was about learning to be proactively engaged with these defining moments in our lives whatever the nature or size of the...Having a way to process significant moments in our lives equips us to be proactively engaged in order to initiate inner change so as to live differently to see the organic nature of our lives. I cover Stage 1-4 in this podcast. Stage 1 are those who have been brought up in Traditional Institutional Church and have been there most of their lives and don't want or even see the need for anything different. Stage 2 are very 'black & white' thinking people. Stage 3 follows the party line without question and there's a clear dividing line between 'Christians and Non-Chrisitians'. Stage 4 is deeply transitional and they begin to distance themselves from Traditional Church as these people have been wounded by church.]]>1175dogmatic,faith,institutional,paradox,transitionalcleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/looking-back-to-move-forward-the-call-of-the-ekklesia--48911586https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48911586Tue, 01 Mar 2022 16:46:56 +0000Nigel MohammedThere are 6 words that we can practice in engaging significant Kairos Moments. In the last podcast I discussed the first 3 of Observe, Reflect and Discuss. Here I talk about the next 3 of Plan, Acountable and Act. In Discuss we have brought a person...1023accountability,action,faith,plan,repentancecleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/looking-back-to-move-forward-the-call-of-the-ekklesia--48911405https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48911405Tue, 01 Mar 2022 16:31:02 +0000Nigel MohammedThis talk is to develop the foundation that I am laying in order to provide a context before I get to the main topic which is the Title Looking Back To Move Forward The Call of the Ekklesia. There are Kairos Moment and Events that impact us...937discuss,enagement,kairos,observe,reflectcleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/looking-back-to-move-forward-the-call-of-the-ekklesia--48911168https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48911168Tue, 01 Mar 2022 16:11:05 +0000Nigel MohammedThis is the first of a short series on 'Looking Back' to the New Testament 'Ekklesia' the called out people of God and how they the community of Christ was characterised by Mission, Discipleship, Community and Movement. I am laying a foundation here...832connection,engagement,events,feelings,thoughtscleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dying-to-live-the-western-cultural-story-and-masculinity--48822482https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48822482Mon, 21 Feb 2022 21:41:48 +0000Nigel MohammedMystery and paradox can sit comfortably with deep assurance. What do I mean? Becoming and overcoming characterise a bigger story we are called to live in. Our greatest gift to others is hidden in our deepest wounds. Initiation rites of passage have...941becoming,culture,jesus,masculinity,paradoxcleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-crystallising-of-our-calling-and-worldviews--48786000https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48786000Fri, 18 Feb 2022 16:35:36 +0000Nigel MohammedOur Calling is hidden in our deepest pain but we have to take a journey to find it. It's where deep empathy is birthed, and when we connect with who we are becoming because of what have had to overcome by God's grace, it becomes unthinkable to...373assumptions,bible,calling,pain,worldviewcleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/confronting-the-false-selves-we-construct--48784863https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48784863Fri, 18 Feb 2022 15:08:47 +0000Nigel MohammedWhat makes your heart come alive? Why can it be difficult to answer this question? How the cold winds of Crisis can summon us to an inner transformation to confront the false selves we construct. Standing on shaking shifting ground and responding the...413calling,crisis,disorientation,identity,journeycleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-are-your-non-negotiables--48784433https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48784433Fri, 18 Feb 2022 14:38:32 +0000Nigel MohammedWhat are your non-negotiables? What makes your heart come alive? What Cause would you die for? Do you know your core desires? Can you crystallise the essence of who you are? What are the two unmet needs in the world you are compelled to meet and why?...383calling,destiny,heart,orientation,passioncleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/3-navigational-points-story-journey-desire--48739975https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48739975Tue, 15 Feb 2022 12:48:22 +0000Nigel MohammedSome people live out of their true identity, and know what their true Calling in life is. As followers of Jesus we are not necessarily equipped to know or Calling. Just as a Sat Nav is a navigational device to help us reach our destination, there are...665calling,desire,journey,navigation,storycleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/resisting-the-spirituality-of-the-new-world-order--48689300https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48689300Fri, 11 Feb 2022 15:12:51 +0000Nigel MohammedDoes Cultural Marxism implicity infiltrate contemporary forms of spirituality and if so, how? What are the implications of this? Is contemporary spirituality blind to the very culture that it resists?889consumerism,globalism,jesus,leftism,spiritualiitycleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/miles-davis-so-what-what-is-wrong-with-the-worldnew-recording-draft--45218672https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45218672Tue, 08 Jun 2021 18:42:23 +0000Nigel Mohammed901cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/transforming-story-2-new-recording-draft--43507094https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43507094Wed, 17 Feb 2021 10:38:15 +0000Nigel Mohammed900cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tracy-chapman-talking-bout-a-revolution-transforming-story-1new-recording-draft--43507090https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43507090Wed, 17 Feb 2021 10:38:09 +0000Nigel Mohammed900cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-345-series-of-the-bigger-story--43507088https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43507088Wed, 17 Feb 2021 10:38:01 +0000Nigel Mohammed668cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/inner-city-blues-transforming-story-4new-recording-draft--43493223https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43493223Wed, 17 Feb 2021 10:37:50 +0000Nigel Mohammed900cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-does-it-mean-to-be-human-new-recording-draft--43507097https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43507097Wed, 17 Feb 2021 10:37:31 +0000Nigel Mohammed900cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/our-3-fold-calling-the-call-to-belongnew-recording-draft--43507082https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43507082Wed, 17 Feb 2021 10:37:24 +0000Nigel Mohammed749cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-3-lifequest-podcast--27759128https://api.spreaker.com/episode/27759128Tue, 19 May 2020 13:30:27 +0000Nigel Mohammed670cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-9-highway-358-chat-show--24925289https://api.spreaker.com/episode/24925289Tue, 07 Apr 2020 14:28:21 +0000Nigel Mohammed178cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-story-are-you-living-in--18764132https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18764132Thu, 08 Aug 2019 15:04:12 +0000Nigel Mohammed1402cleanfull