The Northwood Podcast

There are many would-be followers of Jesus who struggle to understand that the way he walks is often fraught with challenges and even suffering. In the Gospel of Luke 9:51-62, Jesus tells his disciples, and others nearby, that the path he walks will call them into discomfort. He emphasizes how high the stakes are; a calling more important that even our familial ties. This episode unpacks these the...

Take a breath and buckle up. This one is a doozy. Not only is the passage from the Bible we’ll consider quite unpleasant, it forces us to reckon with similar unpleasant things today; specifically, the slaughter of children in the name of our wars. This episode considers a story from the book of 2 Samuel 21:1-14 in which a woman named Rizpah fought for the dignity of her children and of others. In...

In this episode, we consider one of Jesus’ most famous commandments. He commanded us to love one another, and that by this love, others would know that we are followers of Jesus. Seems simple enough, but is it? In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about Northwood Christian Church, please visit our website at  www.indyncc.org . If you’d like to donate, please follow this link:  https://giv....

This episode is called, “Now, It’s Ours.” But what is ours, exactly? After reading this story, we find that ours is the power to call life from unexpected or dead places. What Jesus had the power to do in life, so now does the Church to proclaim life in the midst of grieving communities scrapping for hope. This episode is about these things. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about North...

This episode reflects on a story as told in the Gospel of John 21:1-19. In this story, Jesus meets with his disciples after a long night of fishing. Using their vocation as a metaphor, he called them to join him in his life-giving, albeit exhausting, mission. How might we receive this call today? What can it mean in 2025? This episode explores these questions. In the meantime, if you’d like to lea...

This episode was recorded live at Northwood Christian Church on Easter Sunday. In these reflections, Heath describes the barriers to belief in the more literal interpretations of the Easter events, carving out room for doubt and uncertainty, even whilst edging toward faith. Also, this sermon invites us to believe in the most wild claims as well, as a discipline and practice of hope; to see how thi...

This episode was recorded live at Northwood Christian Church on Palm Sunday. It reflects on the various expectations we place upon Jesus; the ways by which we expect him to liberate us. However, God’s ways often, if not usually, confound our expectations. Jesus rode into Jerusalem to confront the forces of empire, but he did not bring a bigger, better gun. The passage here considered is Luke 19:28...

This episode was recorded live in early January of this year. In it your host, Heath Jones, preaches on a text from the Gospel of John, specifically John 1:1-18. This is a fairly well known passage that likens Jesus’ coming into our world to light piercing the darkness. We discover that this light is the love of God, revealed and reflected through and in Jesus. This light is ours to share with the...

This episode was recorded live in early December of last year. It reflects on the coming chaos as described in Luke 21:25-33. Jesus uses a fig tree as a teaching tool to describe how close the coming of God’s Realm is, even when things seem topsy turvy. This episode reflects on these themes. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about Northwood Christian Church, please visit our website at ...

In the 12th chapter of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is asked by a scholar which of all the religious commands in their holy texts were the most important to keep. Jesus answers simply and directly: 1.) Love God. 2.) Love Others. All else will fall into place when these two primary commands are kept. This episode explores these themes. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about Northwood Christian...

At the tail end of the 10th chapter of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is approached by a blind man named Bartimaeus whose sight he restored. This, however, is more than a simple miracle story. It carries deep meanings that are revealed as we consider this story in light of other things Jesus said and taught. While one man is healed of his physical blindness, perhaps others may be healed of their spiritual b...

At the end of the 10th chapter of Mark’s Gospel Jesus is approached by a rich man who feels lost. We wants to know how to discover a life worth living. He has already done all that he can, and still feels as if it weren’t enough. What Jesus tells him leaves him feeling surprised and very sad. How will we respond to these words today? This episode strives to find out. In the meantime, if you’d like...

At the end of the 9th chapter of Mark’s Gospel Jesus answers one of the disciples questions concerning the casting out of evil. Apparently, they were uncomfortable with someone exerting healing power through unsanctioned channels. Jesus’ response to his disciples question may help us know how to partner with others outside of churches who do life-giving work.  In the meantime, if you’d like t...

In today’s story from Mark 7 we consider an encounter between Jesus and a foreign woman asking for help. At first, in a very un-Jesus-like manner, he treats her very rudely; even calling her a slur. However, she advocates for herself and Jesus is moved to compassion. This story taught its early readers about their own prejudices and fears. What might it have to teach us today? This message explore...

Today’s message reflects on a story we’ve been discussing for the past two weeks, the story of Jesus’ feeding of the 5000. This time, we’ll consider the story from the Gospel of John’s perspective along with the miracle story that comes next, Jesus’ walking on water in the midst of troubled seas. These two stories teach us what to hope for. Are we called to a vain hope? This message called us to r...

Today’s message is really part two of a talk I gave a week prior at my church. However, this week’s works as a standalone as well. It considers two passages found in Mark 6 as well as the implications of Jesus’ attention to those many miss or overlook. Jesus’ values called him to a greater compassion to which his disciples are called as well. This means us! This message considers these themes. In...

Today’s Bible passage for consideration has two quite memorable lines, those being: 1.) “A prophet is without honor in their hometown” (Mark 6:4), and 2.) “If any place will not welcome you […] as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet” (Mark 6:11). In their immediate context, these verses are to instruct early Christian missionaries how to respond to rejection. However, it may leave r...

There are two miracle stories of Jesus that are presented to us in an interlocking fashion. These stories are found in Mark 5 and are about the restoration of two different daughters from two different walks of life. The contrast between these two, and Jesus’ compassionate dealings with them both, should give us insight into how we are to love today. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more ab...

Jesus told many parables to help his disciples better understand God and God’s values. Today’s is no exception. In it, Jesus calls our attention to a mustard bush to make the case that the Realm of God is more like a scraggly commonplace plant, than a hearty large tree with seemingly more going on. Today’s episode unpacks these themes. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about Northwood C...

Abraham Lincoln once delivered a speech at the 1858 Republican National Convention now called ‘A House Divided.’ What you may not know is that this title comes from a much older saying of Jesus found in Mark 3. In this episode, we will consider Jesus’ teachings about division and pushback from one’s friends . In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about Northwood Christian Church, please vis...

Today, we’ll be considering two passages from the Bible, found in 1 Samuel 2 and Luke 1, respectively. In those passages are contained the stories of two women (three, really) who found reason to sings songs of victory and joy in the face of hard living. Today, we’ll consider their plight, their songs, and the relative peace they found in the midst of their circumstances. In the meantime, if you’d...

This episode was recorded on the Eve of Trinity Sunday. The Doctrine of the Trinity, you may already know, is a tough nut to crack. Which is why I’d rather spend this time explaining what attracts me to the doctrine, rather than try and prove it so by way of esoteric ruminations. This episode is my attempt. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about Northwood Christian Church, please visit...

This episode corresponds with Pentecost Sunday; the day Christians celebrate the empowering of the Church by way of God’s Holy Spirit. While the fire burned bright on Pentecost, Christians have struggled to maintain the flame ever since. This episode considers what Pentecost calls us to and wonders how it might empower the church today. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about Northwood...

This week’s episode is a recording of a message Heath gave live on Ascension Sunday. In that story Jesus left his disciples, but they were not left without something to do. Jesus said that they were to be ‘witnesses’ to the Gospel of Jesus all over the globe. This message explores what this may imply in our modern times. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about Northwood Christian Church...

In this message we’ll cover an iconic passage from the Letter called 1st John. In the 5th chapter we read about how ‘God is love.’ And, that there is no fear in love. What do these themes, fear and love, have to do with one another? Also, what might they teach us about our present moment in time? This message explores these themes. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about Northwood Chris...