Overflow: Loving God with our Mind

Learn how to read the Bible deeply, pay attention to how God speaks through Scripture, and lovingly apply God’s Word in the world.

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Have you ever felt like you're just scratching the surface of God's Word? Like there's a deeper conversation with God waiting for you within Scripture, but it's just out of reach? Introducing “Overflow: Loving God with our Mind,” a course that will help you rediscover the myriad ways God speaks through the Bible and how you can listen and respond with an open heart and mind.

Taught by pastor, cartoonist, and professor Steve Thomason, this course uses gorgeous original visuals to take you beyond traditional Bible study techniques into practices that will help you make Scripture a living part of your daily life—while also inviting you to ask deep questions and engage your whole self in learning.

Whether you're seeking to deepen your personal walk with God or lead your community with greater spiritual insight, this course offers the tools you need for personal growth and impactful leadership. Use it for your own personal spiritual practice, or get a group registration to use in Bible studies, adult education, or small group gatherings.

What You'll Learn

  • Practices to help you shut out distractions and noise as you focus on diving into Scripture as a way of connecting with God.
  • How to deepen your faith by asking important and even challenging questions about the biblical text (don’t worry—you can’t break it!).
  • Why exploring the specific contexts of each of the Bible’s books is so important to interpreting it in a faithful, fruitful way—and how you can apply insights from biblical contexts to contemporary contexts.
  • Ancient and contemporary strategies for interpreting scripture that will drive you more deeply into the heart of God.
  • How to allow your worldview to be shaped by Scripture as opposed to superimposing your worldview on Scripture, and why this can be a helpful corrective in our current cultural climate.
  • A practice to help you develop a plan to become a lifelong learner of the biblical text.

About this Course

  • Modules

10

  • Learning Elements

65

  • Videos

19

  • Practices & Activities

20

  • Time

8 hours, 30 minutes

  • Price

$55.00

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Here's What's Inside...

In this course you will

  • Learn theories and practices for studying the Bible.
  • Value the ways in which God speaks through the Bible.
  • Develop attitudes of openness and honest listening to apply God's word in the world.

In this module you will

  • Understand why learning is important to connecting with God.
  • Practice learning as a spiritual practice.
  • Develop a foundation for prayer and Bible study as habits of spiritual learning.

In this module you will

  • Understand and use resources available for Bible study.
  • Appreciate and notice context.
  • Develop motivation for not simply hearing the word, but applying it.

In this module you will

  • Learn resources and strategies for effective observation during Bible study.
  • Practice observation skills by noticing terms, structure, context, and form.
  • Consider how God is speaking during your observations.

In this module you will

  • Learn about the Bible's contexts.
  • Practice applying a contextual lens to your own study.
  • Develop an open mind and humble heart toward Bible study.

In this module you will

  • Learn about the historical and geographical foundations of the Bible.
  • Cultivate a mindset that welcomes multiple perspectives.
  • Practice applying multiple perspectives to biblical study.

In this module you will

  • See the application of interpretive strategies on a particular scripture passage.
  • Find and use interpretive tools like a concordance.
  • Consider how God can speak through these tools.

In this module you will

  • Learn about ways that the "mind" was conceptualized in biblical times.
  • Develop an appreciation for learning and study in seeking God.
  • Consider how to develop and protect your own mind in our current culture.

In this module you will

  • Use the metaphor of a bridge to understand how to apply biblical truths.
  • Develop a plan for continued learning to pursue God's kingdom.

Find out your next steps as you complete the course. You'll also be encouraged to submit feedback about your course.

You'll Learn How to Connect with God
An illustration of a biblical timeline starting with an Ancient period at 2000 BC, through a Medieval period, and ending with a Modern period at 2000 AD.

As Christians, we are called to love God with our whole being–including our hearts and our minds. This course will teach you to engage deeply with Scripture, allowing it to nourish your relationship with God and expand your mind in meaningful ways. By carefully studying God’s Word, you will enrich your Christ-centered identity and sustain your life of faith.

What to Expect

  • Eight interactive modules to drive you more deeply into Scripture and to help you connect with God.
  • An optional handbook to print or use digitally that tracks your progress and supplements your learning.
  • Beautiful visuals from artist-instructor Steve Thomason.
  • Lifetime access to the course.
  • A free account in the Faith+Lead Learning Lab, a private social network where you can discuss what you’re learning with a supportive community of peers.

Ready to Enroll?

Enroll in this one on-demand course today or unlock free access to this and all on-demand courses plus more with Faith+Lead Membership →

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$55

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Access to 20+ on-demand courses

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Access to all workshops and their recordings

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Access to member-only live Q&A monthly interviews

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Access to monthly group coaching

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*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.95/month

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Access to this on-demand course

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Access to an online supportive community

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Access to 20+ on-demand courses

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Access to all workshops and their recordings

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Access to member-only live Q&A monthly interviews

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Access to monthly group coaching

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Looking for just in-time training resources?

Use this on-demand course as a complementary ready-made resource for small groups, Bible studies, discipleship growth, and equipping lay leaders in your specific ministry setting.

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Meet Your Instructor

  • Rev. Dr. Steve Thomason

    Rev. Dr. Steve Thomason’s passion and purpose intersect in the areas of theology, spiritual formation, and art. Mixing a lifelong love of drawing, illustrating, and animating with degrees from Wheaton College, Bethel Seminary, and Luther Seminary, Steve has done everything from owning and operating his own art studio to pastoring an 8,000 member congregation.

    In addition to his faculty position at Luther Seminary, Steve has developed and maintains A Cartoonist’s Guide to the Bible. He is also the author of several books, including The Visual Preacher: Proclaiming an Embodied Word (Fortress Press, 2022), A Cartoonist’s Guide to John (Vibble Books, 2022), A Cartoonist’s Guide to Luke (Vibble Books, 2021), A Cartoonist’s Guide to Mark (Vibble Books), and A Cartoonist’s Guide to Matthew (Vibble Books, 2019).

Connect as you learn

Connect inside the Faith+Lead Learning Lab

Learning happens best when you do it together with folks who are on the same journey as you are.

That's why our private social network, the Faith+Lead Learning Lab, hosts conversations about course content with other learners, instructors, TAs, and community leaders.

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Study together with a small group or congregation

Want to bring Overflow: Loving God with our Mind to your Bible study, small group, or even your entire congregation?

Choose "Enroll a Group" at checkout and select how many people you'd like to provide access to the course. You can go through the course together in-person, watch lessons together via Zoom, or even create a private group in the Learning Lab where participants can connect asynchronously.

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