S7E230 - Transformation and Shame Artwork

The Eikon Podcast

Please consider supporting this podcast by going to: https://www.patreon.com/eikonpodcastJoin Michael Burns (biblical teacher, author, and speaker), Jason Alexander (pastor, speaker), and Gianna Hearn (journalist, host of "The Weekly G" video news magazine of the NBA G-League) for a fun, lively, and relevant examination of biblical texts, emphasizing their historical and cultural context with an eye on applying those principles into the mess of modern life. To submit questions, or suggestions, or give feedback contact us at eikonpodcast@gmail.com. If you're a new listener. Welcome and thank you. We recommend that you start listening to season 4, episode 93. After you're caught up to the present, we suggest that you then go back and explore the first 3 seasons when the podcast was still called "All Things to All People with Michael Burns."

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The Eikon Podcast

S7E230 - Transformation and Shame

September 22, 2025 • Michael Burns • Season 7 • Episode 230

Michael and Jeff explore the themes of spiritual formation, the dynamics of bounded and centered sets in the gospel, and the importance of community in transformation. They reflect on personal experiences, the role of scripture, and the metrics of growth in church health, emphasizing the need for a centered approach to spiritual growth that invites transformation rather than imposing rigid expectations. The conversation highlights the significance of faithfulness over success in ministry and the power of indicative exhortation in fostering a deeper relationship with God.

00:00 Introduction and banter

08:21 Bounded vs. Centered Communities in the Gospel

12:14 The Role of Scripture in Transformation

17:19 Metrics of Growth vs. Faithfulness in Ministry

26:50 Personal Experiences with Bounded Mentality

29:34 The Power of Transformation and Motivation

32:20 The Center of Focus: Jesus vs. Self

37:12 The Lazy Exhortation

38:52 Indicative vs. Imperative Exhortation

40:33 Invitation vs. Exclusion in Exhortation

49:23 Expecting Failure and Reorientation

52:52 The Shift in Perspective on Failure