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Deep Dive Spirituality February Update

Writer's picture: Brian RussellBrian Russell



My goal is creating this monthly update/newsletter is to serve you in your life and mission. I’d love to hear your feedback. What resonated most in what I shared? What would you like to see more of? What questions or topics would you love to hear me cover in a future essay, podcast, or video?


Let’s pray:

Our Great God, whose glory is above all nations and who is worthy of perpetual praise.

Stir in our hearts anew a hunger to hear your Word.

Fill us with your joy so that we may be strong in you alone.

Empower us for your mission to bring good news to all who are desperate for what only you can do.

To you be all glory through Christ the Son in the power of the Spirit. Amen and Amen

(A Collect Based on Psalm 113, Neh 8:1-12; 1 Cor 12:12–27; Luke 4:14–21)



Three Questions I Ask Myself When Studying the Psalms


Part of my devotional life is the intentional daily reading, reflection and praying of the Psalms. Presently, I focus on reading the lectionary psalm for the coming Sunday daily. For example, this coming Sunday (February 9, 2025, The Fifth Sunday After Epiphany) the reading is Psalm 84. From Monday until Sunday I will spend some time with Psalm 84.


Whether you are studying the Psalms for personal application or teaching/preaching them, here are three questions that will transform your study:


(1) How does this Psalm teach me/us to pray? The Psalms come to us as sacred Scripture. But they were originally the prayers written by folks like us. They instruct us on how to pray. How do the words and ideas in the Psalm help me to pray to the God who loves me?


(2) What kind of person does this Psalm assume that it's reader is? What do the psalmist’s words indicate about the psalmist’s life of faith and circumstances? What is his/her character? What claims does he/she make about God and faith?


(3) What would it take for me to become a person who can pray this prayer with integrity? The psalms often carry the assumption of the psalmist’s innocence in the face of actions of the wicked. The psalmist often will ask God to take action against his or her adversaries. These types of prayers challenge me to take a deep look inside. Is there someone who might be praying this psalm against me? How certain am I that I can pray this psalm? How does this psalm call me to realign with God’s values? What does integrity and holiness look like according to this psalm?


Two extended quotations that I’ve spent time reflecting on this past month. I trust that they will serve you well too:


John Wesley:

“Let me be homo unius libri. [A man of one book.] Here then I am, far from the busy ways of men. I sit down alone: Only God is here. In his presence I open, I read his book; for this end, to find the way to heaven. Is there a doubt concerning the meaning of what I read? Does anything appear dark or intricate? I lift up my heart to the Father of Lights: — “Lord, is it not thy word, ‘If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God?’ Thou ‘givest liberally, and upbraidest not.’ Thou hast said, ‘If any be willing to do thy will, he shall know.’ I am willing to do, let me know, thy will.” I then search after and consider parallel passages of Scripture, “comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” I meditate thereon with all the attention and earnestness of which my mind is capable. If any doubt still remains, I consult those who are experienced in the things of God; and then the writings whereby, being dead, they yet speak. And what I thus learn, that I teach.

–This is about half of Paragraph 5 from John Wesley’s Prologue to his Standard Sermons


I love this passage from Wesley. Reflect on the reverence and commitment that he brings to his reading of Scripture. He turns his devotional life into the raw materials that he then shares with others. Wesley’s 18th century English takes a couple of readings to grasp fully but I love how he describes his study process. He trusts God to help him understand the word and seeks out the writings of other faithful interpreters to enrich his study. Most importantly he shares what he learns. Wesley models one of my favorite sayings: “The Gospel comes to us on its way to someone else. (Alex McManus)”

Albert Edward Day:

“Obedience is indispensable. Not to a static code, however helpful it may be at times. But obedience to God, who is present with us in every situation and is speaking to us all the time. Every obedience, however, small (if any obedience is ever small” quickens our sensitivity to him and our capacity to understand him and so makes more real our sense of his presence.”

–From The Captivating Presence by Albert Edward Day


Faithfulness is our response to God’s grace. Day is describing faithfulness in terms of obedience. Sometimes we tend to bulk at the language of obedience. It sounds like “legalism” or “works righteousness.” Day’s wisdom here is helpful. Obedience or faithfulness is best understood as a moment by moment walk with God. It is practicing the presence of God. Such a way of life isn’t confined to our devotional life or to some spiritual silo. It’s life itself. Am I growing in love for God and neighbor? How would I know? It will be visible (or not) in my ongoing transformation in love as I show up daily in the world.


Reading Scripture for the Love of God and Neighbor


I recorded this video as well as the below in a high tech professional studio using a green screen. That’s me at the table. All of the background is digital.

In this video I reflect on Augustine’s interpretive principle: “So anyone who thinks that he has understood the divine scriptures or any part of them, but cannot by his understanding build up this double love of God and neighbor, has not yet succeeded in understanding them.” I share some ideas about how to apply Augustine’s dictum as well as obstacles that we may face in applying it.



My Journey with the Biblical Message of Entire Sanctification


I shared my reflections on God’s calling to holiness of heart and life. Entire sanctification is central to Wesleyan theology. It is the epitome of the optimism about the deep transformation work that God can do in our lives. In short God calls us to a deep and ongoing growth in love for God and neighbor.


I end the video with this challenge:


“Friends, Don’t settle for a half-salvation. God’s love is not meant merely to forgive but to transform, perfecting us steadily in love here and now. Open yourself for this grace, for it is the birthright of every child of God. May your heart echo the prayer of Charles’ hymn:

‘Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee!’”


I hope the video resonates with you. Let me know if you have questions.



Personal Prayer Requests:


(1) Health. Focus. Energy.


(2) I’m in the processing of writing two books for Invite Press on the book of Exodus under the title: Exodus and the Mission of God’s Holy People. I wrote my PhD dissertation on Exodus 15:1–21. I’ve been teaching Exegesis of Exodus at Asbury nearly 25 years now. These books will curate my best thinking and insights for growth in grace, mission and holiness. One book will be a shorter study guide (roughly 18000 words or less) accessible to all and designed for group study (9 weeks with 30 minutes of video teaching by me). The second book will be a deeper dive into the book as a whole (40–50000 words) for pastors/teachers and anyone interested. I can summarize my ideas about Exodus into three sentences:


–God delivered God’s people from Egypt so that they can live as a missional people that reflects/embodies God’s holy character to/for/in the world.


–God is not for Israel against Egypt and the nations; God is for Israel for the sake of Egypt and the nations.


–It was easier for God to get Israel out of Egypt than it was/is to get Egypt out of Israel.


Pray for focus and energy. My deadline is this Spring. I’m hoping to finish by 3/31 but I can extend to May 31 if necessary.


(3) My teaching at Asbury. The Spring term started Feb 3. I’m teaching Intro to the Old Testament, Biblical Narrative, and the Exegesis of Psalms. Pray that my teaching will be transformational for the men and women whom I have the privilege of serving.


(4) My coaching ministry. Pray that I show up and serve powerfully and transformationally the men and women who trust me as their spiritual coach.


(5) If you have prayer requests that you’d like to share with me, email me: Brian@brianrussellphd.com


Here are some more resources and recommendations for you this month:


(1) Join me and Rich Lewis (author of Sitting with God: A Journey to Your True Self Through Centering Prayer https://amzn.to/4jgmM3J ) on 2/25 at 10am eastern for our monthly virtual centering prayer gathering. We offer a brief reflection (about 20 minutes), we practice centering prayer as a community (20 minutes), and we have a time of testimony and question/answer (20 minutes). The topic of our reflection this month is “What is Means to Consent to God’s Presence in Centering Prayer.” Email me for the Zoom link.


Wondering what it means to consent to God’s presence? Here is a quotation from James Finley’s Merton’s Palace of Nowhere in which he shares the wisdom of Thomas Merton on this question. I love the metaphor that he uses:


“Merton once told me to quit trying so hard in prayer. He said: ‘How does an apple ripen? It just sits in the sun.’ A small green apple cannot ripen in one night by tightening all its muscles, squinting its eyes and tightening its jaw in order to find itself the next morning miraculously large, red, ripe and juicy beside its small green counterparts. Like the birth of a baby or the opening of a rose, the birth of the true self takes place in God’s time. We must wait for God, we must be awake; we must trust in his hidden action within us.”


(2) Two books that I’m excited to share with you:


Henri Nouwen, The Wounded Healer (1979). https://amzn.to/4jGVNOT


Call me late to the party. I’ve known about this book for decades but never read it. I picked it up after seeing a quotation online in January. Great, deep, rich book into the practice of ministry. Nouwen is a classic spiritual writer and this one is perhaps his best. How do we best serve a suffering world? By identifying the suffering in our own hearts and using it as fuel for a life of loving service for those desperate for what only God can do.


Rueben P Job and Norman Shawchuck (Eds.), A Guide to Prayer (Upper Room, 1998). https://amzn.to/4hpAH5S


I’ve owned this devotional for years but never used it much. One of my former colleagues highly recommended it, but it didn’t connect. Anyway I gave it another shot in January, and wow, I love it. There are daily Scripture readings, a prayer, a hymn to sing, and a collection of spiritual reflections from prominent authors through the ages. I’m currently using this devotional along with John Oswalt’s When Morning Gilds the Skies (I shared this back in December https://amzn.to/3Ox5Lnv ). I look forward every morning to these two books along with my regular Scripture reading.


(3) I’ve recommitted to recording consistently new episodes of the Deep Dive Spirituality Conversations Podcast:


You can watch episodes of the Deep Dive Spirituality Conversations podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzah82ipRosZZsT5DBbbm_L6J07XTOXEy

Here is link to the audio on Podbean: https://deepdivespirituality.podbean.com/ (or search on your preferred podcast platform).


(4) Looking for a transformational study for your small group or personal use? I created “Living as Citizens Worthy of the Gospel: A Five Week Study of the Book of Philippians


Embark on a transformational journey with me as I lead you on a five-week deep dive: 'Living as Citizens Worthy of the Gospel: A Five Week Study of Paul's Letter to the Philippians.' Journey into the teachings of Paul as you explore the essence of living as a citizen worthy of the Gospel of Christ.


The message of Philippians is timeless, but it is particularly relevant for our day.

This self-paced program can be used by individuals or for small group studies. It offers a comprehensive study of Philippians, focusing on themes of gratitude, missional living in the world that doesn't yet know Jesus as Lord, holiness, and a vital Christ centered piety.


Each session includes roughly 30 minutes of expert video instruction from me as well as guided personal/group reflections to help you understand the book of Philippians and integrate its teaching into your life in ways that will bring transformation and depth to your Christian life. Whether you're a seasoned reader of Scripture or relatively new to the faith, this program is designed to enrich your spiritual journey and empower you to live out the Gospel in your daily life.


The study includes a downloadable/printable study guide. You can make unlimited copies for all participants at simply your cost of printing documents. Join me and discover what it means to be a citizen worthy of the Gospel!


For more information, check out: Living as Citizens Worthy of the Gospel. Use code "Newsletter" for 20% off the list price $49.95).


(5) I’ll be launching the 5th cohort of my program Deeper on March 1. Deeper If you are looking for intentional growth in grace as well as tools to increase your capacity for vision, mentoring others, strengthening your missional work for the long game, check out www.brianrussellphd.com/deeper. Deeper is a 12 month soul journey. It’s a collection of my best coaching work. I’d be grateful if you’d share this with pastors whom you think would benefit from working with me.


If you’ve found this update helpful, would you consider sharing it with a friend or colleague?


Thank you for the privilege of your time and attention. Blessings on your life and mission. If I can be of further service to you (or if you just want to say “Hi”), reach out brian@brianrussellphd.com


Peace,

Brian


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