Church is Messy

Today, Pastor Caleb Smith joins Svea in the studio as they close out our discussions on family by looking at parenting and parental influence. Topics Discussed in this Episode 00:00 Intro 01:36 An exceptional message that spoke to people of many different categories of people who have parental influence whether or not children are a part of home life. 03:23 The parental models we have in the bulk...

Today's Topic Rick and Svea talk about singleness, dating, and loneliness. They discuss Jesus and his singleness, guarding against being defined by another person, and not choosing a path that leads away from Jesus. Topics Discussed in this Episode 00:00 Intro. 00:52 Nerding out on church history. 04:58 Fighting against alienating singles - Svea's experience. 06:02 Feeling the anti-gospel pull tow...

Today, Rick and Svea examine Ephesians 5 and what Paul says (and doesn’t say) about marriage, our presuppositions, and our culture. By applying this chapter to all relationships, what can the family of believers learn about the gospel way of life? Topics Discussed in this Episode 00:00 Intro 00:42 Welcome to new listeners 02:40 Church should be a comfortable, restful, and safe place - a family 06:...

1 Timothy Message Series 1 Timothy Chapter 6 Rick and Svea swap chairs as Svea preached the message on 1 Timothy 6 this week and Rick asks her clarifying questions. Topics Discussed in this Episode 00:00 Intro and recap of the message. 02:54 Discussion of what slavery was like in the NT times. 08:57 Not every single verse in the Bible points to how the world is "supposed to be" but Scripture engag...

1 Timothy Message Series 1 Timothy Chapter 5:17-25 Today, we live up to “Church Is Messy” as we dive into the topic of accountability. How do we rightly hold people accountable? How do we respond when we’re being held accountable? How do we respond to anxiety-producing situations? Roll up your sleeves and get ready for a little messiness. Topics Discussed in this Episode 00:00 Intro 01:13 Overview...

1 Timothy Message Series 1 Timothy Chapter 5:1-16 While the first half of 1 Timothy 5 is often viewed as a tutorial on caring for widows, this week Rick and Svea discuss what may be surprising themes this section is dripping with: leadership in challenging situations and what confrontation in the way of Jesus looks like. Topics Discussed in this Episode 00:00 Intro. 01:03 Svea: I’ve always read th...

In this episode, Pastors Rick Henderson and Svea Merry discuss 1 Timothy 4 and the issues of church leadership, reliance on the Spirit vs our conscience, understanding spiritual growth, and primary and second issues of Christianity.  00:27 Intro - Recap of the series, intro to 1 Timothy 4, and transitioning from 1 Timothy 3 01:28 If people watch us progress in our faith, relationships, or leadersh...

1 Timothy Message Series 1 Timothy Chapter 3 In this discussion on 1 Timothy 3, Rick and Svea answer your questions about our attitudes toward leaders who taught us something we now disagree with, the interpretation that is inherently connected to Bible translation, specific words and phrases in 1 Timothy 3, and leaning into our own shortcomings as we look at the qualifications of leaders. Topics...

1 Timothy Message Series 1 Timothy Chapter 2:11-15 Join us for an in-depth discussion on 1 Timothy 2:11-15. Rick and Svea dive into the differences of interpretation, a brief history that brought us to this discussion, and a recognition that men and women are different. Topics Discussed in this Episode 00:00 Intro. 01:43 Context: 1 Timothy 2:11-15. 03:47 Navigating differences of interpretation. 1...

1 Timothy Message Series 1 Timothy Chapter 2:1-10 Join us for an in-depth discussion on 1 Timothy 2:1-10. Rick and Svea tackle embracing humility and mutual submission and the far-reaching implications of the gospel for men and women. Additional Resources https://autumnridge.church/1-timothy/ Topics Discussed in this Episode 00:00 Welcome and Introduction. 01:00 The challenge and conviction about...

1 Timothy Message Series 1 Timothy Chapter 1 Join us for an in-depth discussion on 1 Timothy 1. Rick and Svea dig into living the gospel, dealing with false teaching, and our tendencies to add to or subtract from Scripture. Additional Resources https://autumnridge.church/1-timothy/ Topics Discussed in this Episode 00:00 Welcome and introduction. 01:56 1 Timothy Series and the thesis: "We teach wha...

Today Rick and Svea share the studio with Pastor Otis Hall. In the Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:1-9), they discuss shifting the focus to looking for the desired result: a good harvest,  not just from the perspective of sowing the seed. NOTE : This is the last episode of 2023. Rick and Svea will be back behind the microphones in January 2024 for a new series, Devoted. Message Scripture Passages:...

So far in this series, we’ve looked at the unexpected messages to four churches in modern-day Turkey. UNEXPECTED MESSAGE: • It’s better to have no church than an unloving church. • It’s better to let a church suffer than to prevent it.  • It’s possible for a church to stand up for Jesus while standing against Jesus.     • It’s possible for a church to wrongly value staying together over staying fa...

So far in this series, we’ve looked at the unexpected messages to four churches in modern-day Turkey. UNEXPECTED MESSAGE: • It’s better to have no church than an unloving church. • It’s better to let a church suffer than to prevent it.  • It’s possible for a church to stand up for Jesus while standing against Jesus.     • It’s possible for a church to wrongly value staying together over staying fa...

So far in this series, we’ve looked at the unexpected messages to four churches in modern-day Turkey. UNEXPECTED MESSAGE: • It’s better to have no church than an unloving church. • It’s better to let a church suffer than to prevent it.  • It’s possible for a church to stand up for Jesus while standing against Jesus.     • It’s possible for a church to wrongly value staying together over staying fa...

So far in this series, we’ve looked at the unexpected messages to four churches in modern-day Turkey. It’s better to have no church than an unloving church. It’s better to let a church suffer than to prevent it.  It’s possible for a church to stand up for Jesus while standing against Jesus. It’s possible for a church to wrongly value staying together over staying faithful.    Rick and Svea discuss...

So far in this series, we’ve looked at the unexpected messages to three churches in modern-day Turkey. It’s better to have no church than an unloving church. It’s better to let a church suffer than to prevent it.  It’s possible for a church to stand up for Jesus while standing against Jesus.  Today, we spend quite a bit of time looking at practical steps to reflect Jesus properly so we stand for h...

It's better to let a church suffer and to prevent it. Today’s episode unpacks suffering, faith, and trust in Jesus. Message Scripture Passage: Revelation 2:8-11 Series Thesis: KNOWING the truth doesn’t change anything. SUBMITTING to the truth changes everything. Topics Discussed Today: 00:00 Intro. 01:54 Recap and overview of the series resources. 04:31 The strength of our faith and the strength o...

Rick and Svea kick off the new "Dear Church" series with a discussion about symbolism in the Book of Revelation and move on to the difficult topic of a loveless church. Rick then casts a vision for what he thinks a loving church exemplifies. Message Scripture Passage: Revelation 1:17-2:7 Series Thesis: KNOWING the truth doesn’t change anything. SUBMITTING to the truth changes everything. Topics Di...

During the Preseason message series the mission, vision, and goals of Autumn Ridge Church have come up repeatedly. In this episode Rick and Svea dissect the Autumn Ridge Vision, "We want to be a church of all cultures where curious, skeptical, and hurting people love to attend." They talk about practical steps to help achieve this aspiration. Topics in the episode: 00:00 Intro. 01:23 Our mission a...

Pastor Paul McDonald joins Rick and Svea as their discussion closes out the Masterpiece series. About the Masterpiece series Theme Verse: For we are God’s handiwork [masterpiece], created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 Series Thesis: W e are good works of art created to do the art of good works. Resources for this episode Watch the mess...

Caleb Smith joins Svea Merry on the podcast today. About the Masterpiece series Theme Verse: For we are God’s handiwork [masterpiece], created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 Series Thesis: W e are good works of art created to do the art of good works. Resources for this episode Watch the message at: https://youtu.be/opZLI4KlLD4 Listen t...

Bob Ross, air conditioning, adversity, and pruning. What do all of these have in common? Rick and Svea have a very practical conversation about the latest installment in our Masterpiece series, The Art of Love. About the Masterpiece series Theme Verse: For we are God’s handiwork [masterpiece], created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 Seri...

This week Rick and Svea give us a two-for-one. In the first half of the episode, Rick and Svea delve into the area of women in (church) leadership. In the second half, they have a heart-felt talk on Svea's sermon about patience. In her message, Svea showed how Jesus modeled patience even when he knew his remaining time on Earth could be measured in hours. About the Masterpiece series Theme Verse:...

In this episode, Rick and Svea discuss unity in the church and the challenges that come cultural or stylistic preferences, particularly in regard to styles of worship music. This episode is an extension of a message preached at Autumn Ridge Church in Rochester, MN on July 2, 2023. Watch the original message . See Romans chapter 11 to read the primary Bible passage discussed in this episode.