Church is Messy

Rick and Svea spend much of the episode discussing Paul's warning to the church leaders in Ephesus as found in Acts 20:17-38: watch out for the wolves among you. A warning from Rick about this episode: It may contain meandering conversation with points of lucidity in a forest of discontinuity and convoluted word salads, but it has been fun. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 03:21 Servi...

This week the Acts of Leadership series takes us to Acts 15. Rick and Svea look at circumcision and the old covenant, the new covenant, and James' declaration in Acts 15:19, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God." Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 02:41 We will always have to wrestle with issues that would seek to di...

This week Rick and Svea look at Acts 10 and the story of Cornelius. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 06:11 Three questions about leadership: whom am I looking to for leadership, how am I leading myself, who looks to me for leadership. 07:31 Cornelius in Acts 10. He was a complex character, we're all complex characters. 10:12 We're never correct to reduce any person to one defining thi...

Pastor Caleb Smith joins Rick and Svea to dig into the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro and Rick's Boundary Waters adventures. 03:50 Week three of Acts of Leadership: what jumped out of this week's passage? 07:43 Caleb's process in seeing discipleship in this passage. 14:16 Who you are is a greater contribution than what you do. 17:42 The Quad...

Today Rick and Svea talk about the challenges to developing authentic deep community and provide some ideas for developing this community. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 00:48 This week's focus is on community and the requirement for leadership decisions to shepherd each other. 02:15 We live in a culture that is driven by individualism and isolation. 05:11 Authentic, biblical Christ...

In today's episode Rick and Svea open discussion on our new series - a survey of the book of Acts: Acts of Leadership. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 02:22 Exciting news about Autumn Ridge and Practicing the Way. 05:18 Acts of Leadership message series: leadership is a destination of discipleship. 07:15 "I'm not really a natural leader" or, "I don't really want to be in a position o...

In today's episode Rick and Svea have a discussion about loving our enemies and hating our enemies. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro - A Sunday afternoon gone wrong. 04:05 An illustration from Rick's Sunday experience. 06:11 Two visions: Love your enemy or hate your enemy. 08:23 What does it look like to love your enemy? 09:55 Paying a price for loving our enemy is a testing point. No...

We begin a new season of Church Is Messy on a very serious note: A response to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro - welcome back after Rick's sabbatical. 01:46 A renewed sense of identity as a part of sabbatical. 08:05 The assassination of Charlie Kirk. 10:09 An email we received. 12:22 We're a church that values questions - from everybody. 14:40 Somet...

In the final episode on our series on the mission, vision, and values of Autumn Ridge Church, Rick and Svea discuss values seven and eight: 7) take your next step and 8) trust the process. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 02:37 Values 7 and 8: 7) Take your next step, and 8) Trust the process. 07:28 Direction over speed. 08:17 There is a logical progression, but there is no checklist i...

In this continuing series of looking at the mission, vision, and values of Autumn Ridge Church, Rick and Svea turn their attention to values five and six: 5) move toward the messes and 6) make generosity normal. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 01:48 Our mission, vision, and values (mvv) are guardrails that keep us from straying into unhealthy practices. 03:42 Move toward the messes....

In this continuing series of looking at the mission, vision, and values of Autumn Ridge Church, Rick and Svea turn their attention to values three and four: 3) Honor guests enthusiastically and 4) belong before you believe. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 03:20 Coming to church can be difficult. Knowing people are coming in feeling anxious, what do we want them to experience? 05:32 H...

In this continuing series of looking at the mission, vision, and values of Autumn Ridge Church, Rick and Svea turn their attention to values one and two: Take truth seriously and give grace relentlessly. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 02:10 Eight values at Autumn Ridge Church. Why do we have them? 05:14 Values one and two: 1) take truth seriously and 2) give grace relentlessly. 06:4...

Rick and Svea kick-off a five-part series on the Mission, Vision, and Values of Autumn Ridge Church. Topics discussed in this Episode: 0:00 Intro 02:47 Why does Autumn Ridge have a mission statement? Knowing why we say "Yes" and "No" to various opportunities. 04:02 Most of life's hurts happen when we live in contradiction to our purpose. 07:10 Our vision: communicating the kind of church we desire...

Rick and Svea discuss the three major goals of the summer's Holy Lit series. Topics Discussed in this Episode: 00:00 Intro 02:46 Holy Lit - three goals 03:05 Goal one: Uncomplicate our relationship with the Bible. 09:59 If you have a simplistic understanding of the Bible you're going to have a more complicated relationship with it. 12:01 Goal two: Energize our engagement with the Bible. 15:33 Goal...

Pastor Caleb Smith joins Rick and Svea to close the Loaded Questions series. They discuss success and failure and how society's framework for success is at odds with the Gospel's framework for success. Topics Discussed in this Episode: 00:00 Intro 00:57 Reflecting on the Loaded Questions series. 04:42 What was it like preparing to speak on failure? 06:20 Svea to Caleb: Did your definitions of succ...

Rick and Svea have a robust conversation about doubt. They talk about the connection with doubt, faith, and belief. Are there unsafe questions to ask? They also discuss the role of community in removing doubt. Resources: A. J. Swoboda's book, After Doubt Topics Discussed in this Episode: 00:00 Intro 02:31 Summary of what Svea learned about herself, doubt, and Jesus in preparing for this message. 0...

In this episode Svea is joined by pastors Otis Hall and Jodi Quinn as they look at faith and mental health. Resources: Jodi Quinn's email: care@autumnridge.church Topics Discussed in this Episode: 00:00 Intro 01:21 The number of Americans dealing with mental health issues is staggering. 02:03 We seem to be afraid to talk about mental health. 04:37 Being real about mental health issues. Otis' strug...

This we we certainly live up to "church is messy." If time allows, we would encourage you to watch the sermon before listening to this podcast. We're also providing a number of resources on the topic of sexuality. Resources: Sermon Video URL: https://youtu.be/DidFo1xj9ow Center for Faith, Sexuality and Gender ( https://www.centerforfaith.com ) Greg Coles Preston Sprinkle Rebecca McLaughlin Christo...

Rick and Svea answer your questions about truth. Topics Discussed in this Episode: 00:00 Intro 01:58 Loaded Questions takes on a different format from other messages 06:38 Why does truth matter? 10:51 Is it possible for Christianity to be true and other religions to be true? 15:05 How can we know Scripture is true? 19:06 In Scripture is it possible the authors were biased? 22:48 What do I need God...

Rick and Svea finish off the series on Galatians mostly focusing on burdens, loads, and pride. Topics Discussed in this Episode: 00:00 Intro 03:26 A LOT of diverse topics to cover is Galatians 6. 04:44 What resonated with Svea that she wasn't able to cover in this passage? 05:41 Carrying our own load and bearing each other's burdens. 11:40 God isn't calling you to fix the people who sinned against...

Today Rick and Svea contrast works of the flesh with fruit of the Spirit. Topics Discussed in this Episode: 00:00 Intro 02:21 "Don't bite and devour each other..." 04:50 Defining ourselves by obeying rigid rules or religious structures invites comparison on who is and isn't achieving and breeds pride. 06:09 How might Jesus has told the parable of The Good Samaritan to Autumn Ridge Church? 08:16 If...

Today Rick and Svea look at the allure of certainty instead of clarity, creating environments where litmus tests are the norm vs being in Christ. Topics Discussed in this Episode: 00:00 Intro 01:46 Crawford Loritts was at Autumn Ridge Church. 03:31 Back into Galatians. Svea says it's a difficult book. 05:06 Gravitating toward environments and activities where we feel significant. 08:34 Getting int...

Welcome to episode 100! Today, as they discuss Galatians chapter 4, Rick and Svea dig into having everything in Christ but living as though we have nothing. Topics Discussed in this Episode: 00:00 Intro 00:38 Episode 100: Where did the name "Church Is Messy" come from? 03:15 Galatians 4, we've been given everything in Christ but it's so easy for us to live as though we have nothing. 06:33 A specif...

Today Rick and Svea acknowledge Galatians is a difficult book to understand, especially if we don't have an understanding of the Old Testament. They talk about tools to help gain understanding and spend some time discussing "the law". Topics Discussed in this Episode: 00:00 Intro 01:32 Galatians is a hard book to get through and understand. Use tools like The Bible Project or The Message to help u...

This episode is focused solely on answering your questions. We've received four very different questions and today we're putting out this bonus episode to answer them. Topics Discussed in this Episode: 00:00 Intro 00:50 Question 1 - In Galatians 2 Paul specifically says gentiles don't need to be circumcised after following Christ - but yet he directs Timothy to get circumcised (Acts 16). This seem...