As You Are is a community of college-aged women working to create intentional, Christ-centered community through weekly Bible studies and worship nights on our college campuses. The podcast, hosted by Anna Butler and Emily Harrison, serves as a resource for studying the Bible and topics around faith. Join in on the conversation with us!
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Today we’re chatting with 3 of our leaders about college friendships, our relationship with the Lord and allowing Him to guide us. This is such a great conversation with Kinley, Ellie & Anna Claire.
Today we’re interviewing 4 of our AYA Bible Study leaders - Annie from UGA, Cecile from Alabama, Grace from South Carolina, & Mari Robin from North Carolina. We’re chatting through expectations for college and what these girls wish they knew before they started their time college.
Today MC is wrapping up this series on Ephesians! In Ephesians 6 Paul calls us to live out our faith with courage and confidence. We’ll talk about honoring God in our relationships, putting on the full armor of God, and learning to stand firm when we face spiritual battles. This chapter reminds us that we don’t fight alone. We have everything we need in Christ to withstand the enemy and keep walking faithfully.
Today MC walks us through Ephesians 5. This chapter calls believers to imitate Christ by walking in love, turning away from sin and darkness, and living wisely. Paul encourages us to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to honor God in our relationships.
Today Mary Crosby walks us through Ephesians 4. In this chapter, Paul reminds us that our new life in Christ should change the way we live. As we put off our old selves and put on the new, we're called to pursue unity, love, forgiveness, and Christlike character—learning to trust God in the moment.
Today Mary Crosby walks us through Ephesians 3! Paul reveals that God's plan all along was to bring Jews and Gentiles together as one family through Christ. He prays that believers would be rooted in God's love, know the immeasurable love of Christ, and be filled with the fullness of God—trusting Him in the moment because He is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine, and His Holy Spirit is in us, empowering us.
Today we're finishing the book of Genesis! In chapters 48–50, Jacob blesses his sons before he dies, and Joseph reassures his brothers that although they meant evil against him, God meant it for good. Genesis ends with God's people still waiting for His promises to be fulfilled. As we wrap up the book, we're also reflecting on the themes we've seen throughout Genesis: God's faithfulness, His sovereignty, and His redemption, His definition of Good and Evil, and our sin. Through it all, we've been learning to trust God in the moment.
In Genesis 45–47, Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers, offering forgiveness instead of revenge and recognizing God's sovereign hand in every part of his story. Emily and Anna dive in to how these chapters remind us that even when we can't see the full picture, God is always at work—inviting us to trust Him in the moment.
Mary Crosby takes us through Ephesians 2 today! In this part of his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul reminds us that we were spiritually dead because of our sin, but God, in His great mercy, made us alive with Christ. We are saved by grace through faith—not by our own works—and created for good works. Because every one of us is equally in need of God's grace, no one deserves it more than another. The gospel not only brings us into relationship with God, but also unites us with one another as the body of Christ. MC dives into what these truths mean for us today.
The story is getting good! Joseph is finally reunited with his brothers, but they don’t recognize him. He goes through a series of tests with them to see if they have changed since they left him for dead.
Today Mary Crosby breaks down Chapter 1 of Ephesians for us. What does it mean to be a saint? What is a spiritual blessing vs an earthly blessing? What does it mean to be chosen and adopted by God before we do a single thing?
We’re studying the book of Ephesians this summer! It’s a short book - just 6 chapters - but there is so much to unpack and apply to our lives. Our new staff member Mary Crosby Swinney is taking out leader Bible study through Ephesians this summer so we’re bringing you along for the ride!
Joseph has been through a lot of betrayal at this point in his story, but today we finally reach the moment where he is remembered by the cupbearer, and meets Pharaoh to interpret his dreams. God’s plan comes to fruition in the most perfect way, and we realize not one thing could have gone differently in order for this plan to succeed. Tim Keller Sermon: https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/discipline/
Joseph’s story is such a clear picture of how God can move through both fortunate and hopeless-seeming situations. It’s a wild ride, but we’ll see that each step of the way is a part of God’s bigger plan. We talk a little bit about what it looks like to trust and obey God in all situations. Extra Resources: Tim Keller Sermon: https://podcast.gospelinlife.com/e/lust-the-case-of-joseph/ Bible Project Lesson: https://bibleproject.com/classroom/joseph/modules/3
This story is SO wild. Today Emily and Anna focus in on the story of Tamar, the daughter in law who single handedly saved a family line. The way she accomplished it may surprise you, but at the end of it all, she ended up in the genealogy of Jesus. Bible Project class: https://bibleproject.com/classroom/joseph/sessions/8
Today we’re looking at Genesis 34-37. We meet Joseph (Jacob’s son) and see the sin bubbling up in their family, but we also see how God is moving in a powerful way behind the scenes to ultimately refine them and save them. Tim Keller Sermon: https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/the-hiddenness-of-god/
Today Emily and Anna are looking at Genesis chapters 31-33. Jacob is fleeing yet again - everywhere he goes he seems to be wrestling and running. But today we see him meet with his most important opponent yet - God.
Today we’re looking at Genesis 28-30. Jacob is on the run for his life! His older brother Esau is furious after Jacob stole his birthright, and he has vowed to kill him. On his way out of town, Jacob has an encounter with God that begins a change in his heart. But in the meantime, he makes it to his uncle’s land, falls in love, and gets caught in a scheme that will keep him there for quite awhile.
Today we meet Jacob & Esau and begin talking through their complicated story. We see through this mess that God truly sees something in people when we don’t, and that He can use anyone for His purposes. Resources: Tim Keller Sermon: https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/the-problem-of-blessing/ BEMA: https://www.bemadiscipleship.com/13
Today we spend some time just enjoying the story! God has fulfilled His promise to Abraham and Sarah. In this episode Abraham sends his servant to find Isaac a wife. This is also Abraham and Sarah’s last episode, because they both…spoiler alert…die. But don’t worry, it was after very long faithful lives (RIP). So we are launching into the story of next man in the line of patriarchs - Isaac. Hope you enjoy!
Today, Emily and Anna unpack the test God places before Abraham, exploring what it means to trust without clarity, choose faithfulness over control, and keep our idols in their rightful place. Resources: Tim Keller Sermon: https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/real-faith-and-the-only-son/
Today Emily and Anna read and discuss the story of Isaac’s birth. God’s promise is finally fulfilled and it’s not about Abraham and Sarah or the “goodness” or “badness” of their faith. This story and this miracle is about God’s greatness and His faithfulness. God transforms Sarah’s laughter from cynical and self-critical to a joyful laugh, full of faith in God. Are we allowing God to transform our lives or are we holding on too tightly to our own plans, hopes and dreams? Additional Resources: Tim Keller Sermon: https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/real-joy-and-the-laughing-woman/
Today we’re discussing Genesis 18-19. This is the story of Sodom & Gommorah and of Lot’s wife looking back. We will see God’s definition of Sodom’s sin, Abraham’s priestly intervention, and a reminder to allow God to lead us forward rather than looking back.
Today we talk about Abram and Sarai’s decision to take matters into their own hands to have an heir. Our ability to look at their story from a 10,000 foot view helps us look at the important questions - are we really trusting God or are we trying to take control? Must listen sermon from Tim Keller: https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/real-freedom-and-the-listening-lord/
We’re looking at Genesis 12-15 today, examining the life of Abraham as he follows God’s call. God told Abraham that he would be a father to many and that God would bless all the people in the world through his descendants. The problem was that Abraham was very old and didn’t have any kids. PLUS his wife wasn’t able to get pregnant. But Abraham believed God’s promise. We see Abraham struggle to find a faithful way to walk in God’s calling - moments where he tries to take matters into his own hands, and moments when he is honest with God about how he feels. How do you feel about waiting for an a
