Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation
Welcome to the new season of the podcast, now titled "Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation"!
Join your host, Pastor Robert Young, as we embark on a journey of spiritual exploration and renewal. This podcast is designed to help you deepen your faith and find inner peace through calming, reflective, and transformative meditative practices inspired by scripture.
Our Evolution
While the podcast, formerly known as Not Your Parent's Religion, focused in Seasons 1 and 2 on correcting misinformation and myths about religious beliefs and the teaching of Jesus Christ, the program has evolved. In Season 3, we began drawing closer to God with guided meditations, exploring all the details of why and how to meditate, and discussing the Biblical origins of Christian meditations.
With over 30 years of experience in Church planting and mentoring other Pastors, and 30+ years of training leaders in evangelism/discipleship, Pastor Young is here to guide you through these moments of stillness and connection with God.
What to Expect in Season 4
We are excited to return with Season 4 starting Sunday, October 5. We will continue to offer a structured weekly schedule:
- Sundays: Our weekly guided meditation episode.
- Monday through Friday: Daily devotions and reflections that expand on the topic of the Sunday meditations.
- Wednesdays: Audio episodes of our House Church series. This series reflects the Bible's teaching that believers should gather together for corporate worship, fellowship, encouragement, and even admonishment.
For those seeking an enhanced experience, we are adding video versions of the meditations and devotions to our Patreon page. These videos are designed to give you a more immersive experience as you meditate on the Father, His teachings, and His presence.
Tune in each week as we lead you on this path to connecting more deeply with God.
Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation
The Jesus No One Talks About Series: Jesus, Both Lion & Lamb | Friday Devotion
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One verse can reframe your whole picture of Jesus: Luke 19:10 says the Son of Man comes to seek and to save the lost. We start there, because it keeps faith from turning into performance, politics, or personality. Jesus is active, personal, and intentional about restoration and that has real implications for how we treat people who are messy, skeptical, defensive, or quietly searching.
We talk through a balanced view of Jesus that doesn’t flatten him into a single trait. He confronts the Pharisees and Sadducees, but he also welcomes leaders like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea when they come with sincerity. The point isn’t that Jesus is anti-religious people; it’s that he is anti-hypocrisy, anti-oppression, and anti-pride. He offers grace to anyone, religious or not, but humility is the doorway. If you’ve ever struggled with how to be honest without being cruel, or kind without being vague, this reflection helps you name that tension and move forward with wisdom.
We sit with the image of Jesus as both lion and lamb, both judge and savior, full of both grace and truth, then we make it personal with a simple question: how can you reflect both the truth and grace of Jesus in your relationships? We close with prayer, asking God to shape us into people who carry truth and love together. If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review so more people can find the show.
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Scripture And The Mission Of Jesus
Pastor Robert YoungToday's scripture is coming from the book of Luke, chapter 19, verse 10. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
Firmness And Compassion Together
Pastor Robert YoungA balanced view of Jesus shows both his firmness and his compassion. He confronted the Pharisees and Sadducees, yet he welcomed leaders like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, who came with sincerity. Jesus was not anti-Pharisee or anti-Sadisty. He was anti-hypocrisy, anti-oppression, and anti-pride. He offered grace to anyone, religious or not, but they had to approach him with humility. Jesus is both lion and lamb, both truth and grace, both judge and savior.
Reflection Question On Relationships
Pastor Robert YoungLet's take three minutes to reflect on the following question. How can you reflect both the truth and grace of Jesus in your relationships?
Choosing To Reflect Grace And Truth
Pastor Robert YoungI follow Jesus who is full of both grace and truth, and I reflect his heart. Again, I follow Jesus who is full of both grace and truth, and I reflect his heart.
Closing Prayer For A Faithful Life
Pastor Robert YoungA closing prayer. Dear Lord, thank you for being both firm and gentle, truthful and gracious. Help me to see you clearly and represent you faithfully. Shape me into someone who carries both your truth and your love. For Christ's sake, Amen.