Athens Church Podcast

Advent often feels like it begins in the dark. Circumstances crowd in, anxiety hums beneath the surface, and waiting feels like a spotlight on everything we cannot control. Yet into that very place, God speaks a single, hope-soaked word: nevertheless. This message from Tyler Bushhorn traces the story from Isaiah’s promise to the shepherds’ hillside, where heaven breaks open and peace arrives not a...

What does it mean to hope when life is messy, uncertain, or even painful? Zack Lykkegaard explores this question as Advent begins, connecting everyday longings with the unshakable hope found in Christ. He shares moments of joy, frustration, and anticipation and then points to Scripture that shows how hope can return even when it seems lost. Through stories from Lamentations and the promises of Jes...

In this morning's message, Israel reaches the edge of the sea with the desert behind them and Pharaoh’s army racing toward them, yet right in that impossible place, God is quietly doing something they cannot see. He leads them to a spot they would never choose so they can learn to trust him in ways they never have. When the sea opens, they discover that God does not only make a road out, but...

In this sermon, the scene opens with Israel finally stepping out of Egypt after four centuries of fear and forgotten identity. God has covered them with the blood of the lamb, shattered Pharaoh’s grip, and turned Egypt itself into a nation urging them toward freedom. As they gather their belongings and hurry out with bread that has not even had time to rise, it becomes clear that this moment is no...

Today's message looks at the night of Passover, when God brought justice on Egypt and rescued his people. After nine warnings, Pharaoh still refused to listen. Judgment came, but God also made a way of mercy. God told each family to sacrifice a spotless lamb and put its blood on their door. When judgment passed through, every home covered by the blood was protected and Israel was ready to lea...

In Exodus 9–10, God doesn’t just confront Pharaoh, He dismantles everything Egypt depends on. Through hail, locusts, and darkness, He exposes false gods and false securities of comfort, control, and clarity. Before God leads us out of our own Egypt, He often shakes what we’ve been leaning on. Pharaoh wanted relief, not repentance, and we often do too. Yet God’s mercy continually presses in, not to...

When God sends the plagues on Egypt, He’s not just judging Pharaoh. He’s revealing who truly reigns. Each plague exposes a false god Egypt trusted for life, power, or control. God still does the same today. He loves us enough to confront whatever rules our hearts: success, comfort, approval.  He confronts these things not to shame us, but to free us. The story reminds us that every false power eve...

Moses returns to Egypt full of hope. God has spoken, and the mission is clear. But instead of freedom, Pharaoh makes life harder. The people are crushed by heavier labor, and their hope turns into anger. Moses cries out, “Why, Lord?” And God answers, and not with an explanation, but with a reminder of who He is: “I am the Lord.” He repeats His covenant promises: “I will bring you out. I will redee...

This week, Pastor Aaron walks us through Exodus 3 and 4, one of the most personal and pivotal moments in all of Scripture. It’s the story of God calling Moses from the middle of an ordinary day, in the middle of the wilderness, and inviting him into something far bigger than he ever imagined. In this message, we see that God doesn’t just call the qualified. He meets ordinary, uncertain, and reluct...

There’s a story Jesus tells that we all know.  It's about a son who runs away, a bitter son who has "done all the right things" and a father who never stops loving both of them. In this message, guest speaker Mike Hamby helps us see that story for what it really is: not just a parable about repentance, but a picture of what life with God actually looks like. It’s a story about comin...

Exodus 2 reads like a game of hide-and-seek. We read about a baby hidden in a basket, a body hidden in the sand, a man hiding in the wilderness, and a people who feel like God Himself is hidden. Yet beneath the silence and shadows, God is moving. In this message, we see how God works through ordinary people, unexpected places, and even hidden seasons to prepare and shape His people. If you’ve ever...

Exodus opens with hope where we see God’s people growing and flourishing in Egypt. But a new Pharaoh rises, one who doesn’t remember Joseph. Refuge becomes prison, and blessing turns into burden. Pharaoh’s fear twists Israel’s growth into a threat, and he tries to crush God’s people through slavery and death. Yet in the middle of Pharaoh’s schemes, two ordinary midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, stand f...

We’re beginning a new series called Exodus: A Formation Story. Exodus is more than ancient history; it’s a melody that plays throughout the whole Bible. From the prophets to the Psalms to the words of Jesus, we hear echoes of God rescuing His people out of bondage, leading them through the wilderness, and bringing them into His promises. The book opens with a list of names, reminding us that God’s...

What happens after we die? For centuries, cultures and religions have offered different answers, but the Church has confessed one clear hope: “I believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.” From Job’s cry, “I know my redeemer lives,” to Jesus’ words at Lazarus’ tomb, “I am the resurrection and the life,” the story of God has always been moving toward resurrection. Jesus’ vict...

When the creeds say, “I believe in the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,” they’re not pointing us to a building or a denomination.  They’re pointing us to a story bigger than ourselves. As we continue our This We Confess series, guest speaker Geoffrey Kruger explains how the church is the ekklesia: God’s people called out to belong to Christ. That’s why the Ni...

The Apostles’ Creed says it simply: “I believe in the Holy Spirit.” The Nicene Creed expands it: “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life…” But behind those words is a sweeping story.  God’s Spirit has been moving through all of scripture and all of eternity. We see Him hovering over the waters at creation, breathing life into Adam, reviving dry bones in Ezekiel’s vision, and ra...

In this message, we explore a part of the gospel story that’s often overlooked but changes everything: the moment Jesus ascended into heaven. As pastor Aaron Lentz shares, this wasn’t His exit from the world, but His coronation as King of kings, taking His seat at the right hand of the Father. From that place of authority, He reigns over all creation and draws even closer to His people through the...

In the fourth message from our This We Confess series, lead pastor Aaron Lentz focuses on the most pivotal moment in history: the suffering, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This isn’t just theology. It’s deeply personal. For our sake, Jesus chose the cross. He stepped into our pain, carried our sin, endured betrayal, humiliation, and death, not out of obligation, but out of love. ...

What do we mean when we say, “I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord”? In this week’s message, we explore one of the most powerful and foundational lines in the creeds and in the Christian faith. We look closely at who Jesus really is: the Christ, the anointed one, our Prophet, Priest, and King. He is not just a great teacher or spiritual figure. He is God’s eternal Son, fully God and f...

As summer winds down and new routines take shape, we’re invited to slow down and ask: What am I building my life on? In this episode, we continue our series, This We Confess, by digging into the very first line of two ancient and enduring creeds, the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. What does it really mean to say, "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth"? P...

In this message by Lead Pastor, Aaron Lentz, we kick off a brand new series called This We Confess which is a journey through the core beliefs that have shaped the Christian faith for centuries. These aren’t fringe ideas or theological trends, but the deep, time-tested truths that have united the church across generations, continents, and cultures. Before we explore the individual confessions, tod...

In this moving message from Genesis 2, guest speaker, Mike Hamby, invites us to return to the garden, and not just Eden, but the inner garden of our soul, where we can experience the abiding love and presence of God. Through personal story, poetic imagery, and thoughtful teaching, we’re reminded that God is not absent, even when He feels far away. Whether you feel caught in shame, noise, or discon...

Guest speaker Mike Hamby wraps up our series in the Gospel of Mark with a deep dive into one of the most debated passages, Mark 16:9–20. With warmth, clarity, and a touch of Appalachian humor, he helps us understand the role of textual criticism and affirms the reliability of Scripture. More importantly, he shows how even difficult texts ultimately point us to the good news of Jesus, the serpent-s...