Ronnie McBrayer

Simplify. Simplify. Part 3

This is Part 3 of Ronnie's latest series of talks entitled: "Simplify. Simplify." This episode is about simplifying our "stuff." From the podcast: "If you would serve God well, follow Jesus sincerely, and live a true life of freedom, you will do so without the enslavement of this ugly, false god known as Mammon. This isn’t a shame-inducing strategy by Jesus to make us feel bad about our decisions. It is the God’s honest truth. These are competing gods moving in two different directions, and Jesus is trying to set us free from depending upon this money-oriented greedy world, to pursue a life and treasure of far greater value." 
 

The Life and Writings of Paul, Part 4 of 8

Part 4: A European Entryway
No single individual outside of Jesus of Nazareth has been more influential within Christianity than Paul the Apostle. After his radical conversion he became the church’s most zealous missionary. Without his travels and letters, Christianity would be much different than the version we have inherited today. Join Ronnie as he leads this eight-part study on “The Life and Writings of Paul the Apostle.” 

Simplify. Simplify. Part 2

This is Part 2 of Ronnie's latest series of talks entitled: "Simplify. Simplify." Ronnie takes on faith, church, and all the accoutrements that keep us from simplifying our spirituality. Turning to the Great Commandment in Mark 12, Ronnie says, "Love is the solution for calcified, legalistic, short-sighted, institutionally-obsessed religion. Love is the cure for the compartmentalization of our faith - where we can choose greed, or xenophobia, or racism, or rank nationalism over decency, compassion, and justice. Love is the counterbalance to how we like to exclude others. Love is the way to reverse our corporate failures to find consensus in the face of our most pressing challenges, and the way to craft solutions for the common good. Love is the rebuke to we strict religionists who would rather be pious than gracious or kind."

The Life and Writings of Paul, Part 3 of 8

Part 3: The Barnabas Connection
No single individual outside of Jesus of Nazareth has been more influential within Christianity than Paul the Apostle. After his radical conversion he became the church’s most zealous missionary. Without his travels and letters, Christianity would be much different than the version we have inherited today. Join Ronnie as he leads this eight-part study on “The Life and Writings of Paul the Apostle.” 

Simplify. Simplify. Part 1

This in an introduction (from Psalm 46) to a series Ronnie is introducing for this late winter and spring (2023), entitled: "Simplify. Simplify." Ronnie says, "This series isn’t about cleaning out your garage, your closet, or that junk drawer of yours. A little, maybe, but not exclusively. It’s about untangling your life. Decluttering your spirituality and your faith. It’s about traveling light and easy. It’s about paring away all that is unnecessary. It’s about reducing the items on your to-do list. It’s about playing small-ball on a field you can actually cover. It’s about staying afloat, as Thoreau said, "in this chopping sea of civilized life, the clouds and storms and quicksands and thousand-and-one items: Simplify. Simplify."

The Life and Writings of Paul, Part 2 of 8

Part 2: From Damascus to the Desert
No single individual outside of Jesus of Nazareth has been more influential within Christianity than Paul the Apostle. After his radical conversion he became the church’s most zealous missionary. Without his travels and letters, Christianity would be much different than the version we have inherited today. Join Ronnie as he leads this eight-part study on “The Life and Writings of Paul the Apostle.” 

The Life and Writings of Paul, Part 1 of 8

Part 1: Meeting Saul of Tarsus
No single individual outside of Jesus of Nazareth has been more influential within Christianity than Paul the Apostle. After his radical conversion he became the church’s most zealous missionary. Without his travels and letters, Christianity would be much different than the version we have inherited today. Join Ronnie as he leads this eight-part study on “The Life and Writings of Paul the Apostle.” 

Goats to Tigers

Using Matthew 3, the baptism of Jesus, and a wonderful tale from Frederick Buechner, Ronnie takes on the subject of Christian baptism - as sacrament, symbol - and most importantly a sign of things to come.

Sam And Ann (Without an E)

Ronnie begins this Advent/New Year talk with a personal story and ends with the universal one; about kissing, kindness, and the love of God.

Shut Your Mouth

For the Advent Season: Some thoughts on parenthood...angelic messages...unanswered questions...deconstruction...and being quiet.