Episodes

James Bryan Smith asks, what is the greatest opportunity you have ever been given? In this episode, James explores this question and explains that our greatest opportunity is to follow Jesus. Smith explains that we have been invited to a relationship with Jesus and how it is the greatest opportunity we have been offered. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: ...

James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with author Brian Zahnd about his book, “The Wood Between the Worlds.” Everything about the gospel message leads to the cross, and proceeds from the cross. In fact, within the narrative of Scripture, the crucifixion of Jesus is literally the crux of the story—the axis upon which the biblical story turns. But it would be a mistake to think we could sum up the significance of the crucifixion in a tidy sentence or two. That kind of thinking only ins...

James Bryan Smith gives his second spiritual practice for 2024, called the two-minute morning. In this episode, James explains how to do this practice and why he feels it helps him set his mind on Things Above. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Conversation With Emily P. Freeman Part Four 2. Grieving with Hope 3. Breath Prayer 4. Conversation with ...

James Bryan Smith has a Things Above Conversation with author and friend Emily P. Freeman. James interviews Emily on her upcoming book, “How to Walk into a Room.” The book will be released in March 2024. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Grieving with Hope 2. Breath Prayer 3. Conversation with Farrell Mason 4. Glory, Grace and Truth 5. Our Soul & ...

In this episode, James Bryan Smith talks about how we can experience grieving with hope. James opens the episode by talking about what he considers to be his favorite book that he has written, Room of Marvels. Smith reads the foreword of Room of Marvels, written by Dallas Willard, to help further explain how we can experience grieving with hope. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends Unive...

James Bryan Smith starts the new year with an episode about a spiritual discipline he enjoys called breath prayer. In this episode, James explains what breath prayer is, and gives several examples of how to practice the soul training exercise yourself. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Conversation with Farrell Mason 2. Glory, Grace and Truth 3. Our...

James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with author Farrell Mason on her latest book, “Soulfull: A Weekly Devotional to Nourish the Mind, Body, and Spirit” Farrell Mason speaks to the universal human experience: navigating relationships, coping with change, rebounding from a setback or loss, finding peace, and prioritizing food, fellowship, faith, and regular joy. Soulfull offers balanced and creative ways to pull a little bit of heaven down to our patches of earth. Whether you’re taki...

James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Jesus is God’s Glory, Grace and Truth.” This is the 4th episode of the series of episodes on the longings of our soul. In this episode, James explains the connection between beauty, goodness, and truth and how they relate to our soul. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Our Soul & Relationships 2. L...

James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Our souls long for relationships.” Over the last three episodes, James has been discussing the longings of our souls. In this episode, Smith talks about five of the final ten longings of our soul. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Longing To Be Loved 2. Spirituality & Longings 3. Conversation wit...

James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with author and spiritual director Casey Tygrett. James and Casey discuss Casey’s latest book, “The Gift of Restlessness.” Casey emphasizes that restlessness is a sign that we must move up, move on, or move out. Working within the prayerful tradition of writers like Henri Nouwen and Barbara Brown Taylor, Tygrett turns over our innermost questions and holds them up to the light. Where do I belong? What am I here for? Is there enough? And he finds ...

In this episode, James Bryan Smith’s thought from above is, “We all long to be loved.” Smith picks up where he left off the last episode, talking about the longings of our souls. In this episode, James talks about three more longings of our souls: the need to be wanted, the need to be loved without condition, and the need to live an undivided life. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends Un...

James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is “Your spirituality is what you do with your longings.” Smith is starting a four-part-episode series about spirituality and our souls. In this episode, James examines the relationship between our spirituality and the longings of our souls. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Conversation with Jeff Crosb...

James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with author and publisher Jeff Crosby. James and Jeff discuss Jeff’s book, “The Language of the Soul: Meeting God in the Longings of Our Hearts.” For over fifteen years, writer Jeff Crosby has been searching for a language of the soul–a way to articulate our deepest longings. Through the years, he gathered clues from within global music styles, from different cultures, from his own Christian tradition and its sacred texts–and from deep within him...

James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Everything turns on the turn.” In this episode, James explains the meaning behind this thought from above, which he learned from Ann Voskamp. He talks about the three ways we turn when faced with difficult situations in life. Smith closes the episode with a spiritual practice that he encourages you to try. The practice is to work through these three statements: I will let go of ______ (You fill in the blank) What are you carrying? What is t...

James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Christ is your greatest treasure.” Following up on his first two episodes of season six, James continues to explain what it means to live a good life. In this episode, Smith talks about six areas of our life that he believes are essential to living a good life. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Con...

James Bryan Smith has a Things Above Conversation with author Ann Voskamp about her book, “Waymaker: Finding the Way to the Life You’ve Always Dreamed Of.” Ann Voskamp is a Canadian author, blogger, and memoirist on themes of Christian women’s spirituality and the author of multiple books, including the New York Times bestseller, “One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are,” as well as “The Broken Way: A Daring Path Into the Abundant Life.” Learn more about Ann on her website h...

In this episode, James Bryan Smith’s thought from above is, “The good life is a deep, passionate, and emotional life.” Following up on the previous episode about the good life, Smith talks about the importance of our emotions concerning living the good life. James explains how our emotions are a crucial part of our life and talks about how we can live into a healthy emotional life. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formatio...

In this episode, James Bryan Smith’s thought from above is, “The good life is the obedient life.” Smith begins the episode by discussing a class he teaches at Friends University called The Good Life. In the class, he asked his students about the age-old question, what is the good life? In this episode, Smith explains how the good life is the obedient life. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Fr...

James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with Ruth Haley Barton. In this episode, James and Ruth discuss her book, “Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again” In her book, Ruth offers hard-won wisdom and practical steps for developing rhythms of work and rest that bring life—to us and to the communities we lead. Ruth has been a student, practitioner, and thought leader in the area of Christian spirituality and formation for over 20 years. When she fo...

James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “You can have an Abba experience.” Smith opens the episode with the question, what is the one thing you think God most wants for you? He gives a few different answers to his question but ultimately says that what Jesus wants most for us is to experience eternal life now. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes...

James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “we need the church.” In this episode, James talks about the impact of attending church and why we need it. To help illustrate his thought from above, Smith references two songs written by Rich Mullins; “Sometimes by Step” and “Creed.” Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Conversation with Trevor Hudso...

James Bryan Smith has a Things Above Conversation with long-time friend and author Trevor Hudson. In this episode, James asks Trevor questions about his upcoming book, “Seeking God-Finding Another Kind of Life with St Ignatius and Dallas Willard.” Trevor is the author of over 22 books and has worked with Renovaré International Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation, the Dallas Willard Center for Christian Spiritual Formation, and the Jesuit Institute in South Africa. Learn more about Trevo...

James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “your portion is perfect peace.” In this episode, James talks about times when we struggle with our faith and what we can do during those times. Smith recalls a song that helps to explain his thought from above called, Christ Abides by Eliza King. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Doubting Thomas 2...

James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Our doubts do not trouble Jesus.” In this episode, James talks about the disciple known as “Doubting Thomas,” and explains why we should not think of Thomas in a negative way. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Conversation with Seth & Heather Thompson Day 2. King & Kingdom 3. Trust Without Reserv...