Commons Church Podcast

What does it take to cultivate meaningful, authentic relationships in a world that thrives on distraction? This week, we explore the challenges and beauty of fostering deeper connections with friends, partners, and even ourselves. It’s about setting boundaries, being intentional, and finding intimacy in ways that truly matter. ★ Support this podcast ★

We explore the story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana and uncover its deeper meaning during the Christmas season. Through themes of anticipation, divine timing, and the power of small moments, this story invites us to recognize the presence of God in the ordinary and embrace the joy of transformation. A reflection on the beauty of faith and the magic of Christmas. ★ Support...

Join us for an inspiring and heartfelt exploration of Jesus’ childhood story from Luke 2:41-52. In this message titled “The Boy in the Temple: Growing Up, Getting Lost, and Being Found” , we reflect on how Jesus’ formative years reveal deep truths about divine vulnerability, growing into our humanity, and finding God even when we feel lost. This third Sunday of Advent is a time of joy and anticipa...

As we enter the Advent season, let’s approach Jesus’ life from a new angle. Not simply his birth, but all the stories that come before his public ministry. This series will look at old testament passages seen to point to Jesus, at the formative years of Jesus’ life, and exploring the lessons and experiences that shaped him as he grew. We’ll reflect on his humble beginnings, the nurturing of his fa...

🎄 Advent Series: Approach 🎄 In this message, we reflect on the connection between Isaiah’s prophecy and Matthew’s gospel, uncovering how the ancient cry of “God with us” becomes tangible through the birth of Christ. From the threat of war in Isaiah’s time to the vulnerability of a child in a manger, we dive into how God’s presence transcends fear, conflict, and despair to bring peace, justice, a...

What does the parable of the sheep and the goats teach us about judgment, grace, and the nature of God’s kingdom? In this compelling talk, we unpack one of Jesus’ most famous—and often misunderstood—stories, exploring themes of humility, service, and the presence of the divine in everyday acts of love. Through this lens, we challenge traditional ideas of judgment and eternity, showing how Jesus sh...

Today, we dive into one of Jesus’ parables told in two different places, exploring their deeper meanings and transformative implications. Are these stories about divine judgment, or are they invitations to a life of trust, grace, and courage in the face of uncertainty? We unpack the Parable of the Talents and its counterpart in Luke’s Gospel, reframing traditional interpretations and examining how...

This week, we explore the powerful lessons of Matthew 25 through Jesus’ parables on readiness, grace, and judgment. We delve into the deeper meaning of Jesus’ teachings and how they challenge our expectations of certainty, faithfulness, and generosity. Discover how these parables invite us to embrace grace, trust the divine timing, and shine our light in the world—even in moments when we might fee...

Jesus taught primarily in parables. Short pithy stories that surprise us with Jesus' unique perspective on life. These parables centre around three main concepts. Kingdom, Grace and, wait  for it... Judgment. Over the last few years we have developed series to focus on the stories of kingdom, and of grace, and in this series we intend to face into the hardest parables, those that give us Jesus' un...

Jesus taught primarily in parables. Short pithy stories that surprise us with Jesus' unique perspective on life. These parables centre around three main concepts. Kingdom, Grace and, wait  for it... Judgment. Over the last few years we have developed series to focus on the stories of kingdom, and of grace, and in this series we intend to face into the hardest parables, those that give us Jesus' un...

In this sermon, we begin our new series on the parables of judgment—one of the most challenging and misunderstood aspects of Jesus’ teachings. Judgment often sounds intimidating, but what if it’s not about condemnation or punishment? What if it’s God’s loving correction, guiding us back when we’ve strayed off the path? Join us as we explore:  • How Jesus reframes judgment as an act of love and gui...

In this week’s sermon, we tackle one of the most challenging aspects of faith: our relationship with wealth. Is generosity an obligation, or can it be a deeper, more fulfilling part of our spiritual journey? We explore how wealth has often corrupted religious spaces, leading to misconceptions like the 10% tithe, and we break down what the Bible really says about giving. Join us as we:  • Debunk th...

In this bonus podcast, we explore the often misunderstood relationship between Jesus and the Pharisees. While the Pharisees are frequently seen as the “villains” of the New Testament, there is much more nuance to their interactions with Jesus. We’ll discuss the different groups present in Jesus’ time, including the Sadducees, Zealots, and Essenes, and how Jesus’ teachings most closely aligned with...

As pastors and friends, this is a question that emerges in conversation pretty regularly. We all have doubts about what we believe, questions about whether our beliefs are well-founded, and we struggle sometimes to find the rhythms and habits that support the faith we want to foster. At Commons, we think wrestling with these questions is an essential part of being a faith-full human. In fact, our...

This week we explore the felt experience of faith and what it means to hold on to faith even when emotions fluctuate. We discuss how faith can be both a deep, personal relationship with God and a set of religious practices that sustain us through life’s ups and downs. From a conversation with my son about bacon to the story of the “beloved disciple” racing to the empty tomb, we dive into how our f...

As pastors and friends, this is a question that emerges in conversation pretty regularly. We all have doubts about what we believe, questions about whether our beliefs are well-founded, and we struggle sometimes to find the rhythms and habits that support the faith we want to foster. At Commons, we think wrestling with these questions is an essential part of being a faith-full human. In fact, our...

This week, we explore how faith can evolve through critical ideas, personal growth, and changing life experiences. Centered on the journey of faith, this series tackles topics like theology, doubt, and resilience. Through the story of Nicodemus, we learn about deconstructing and rebuilding faith, embracing uncertainty, and trusting in a love beyond ourselves. This is an invitation to hold on, grow...

There is no doubt that every single one of us cares about the planet. Driving west through valleys made low by the Rocky Mountains is just one way to feel small in the best possible way. But how do we hold that care, and that smallness, alongside the convictions of our faith? Is it love God, love people, love the planet? If Jesus didn’t say that, could he have? Through the themes of play, awe, sus...

There is no doubt that every single one of us cares about the planet. Driving west through valleys made low by the Rocky Mountains is just one way to feel small in the best possible way. But how do we hold that care, and that smallness, alongside the convictions of our faith? Is it love God, love people, love the planet? If Jesus didn’t say that, could he have? Through the themes of play, awe, sus...

There is no doubt that every single one of us cares about the planet. Driving west through valleys made low by the Rocky Mountains is just one way to feel small in the best possible way. But how do we hold that care, and that smallness, alongside the convictions of our faith? Is it love God, love people, love the planet? If Jesus didn’t say that, could he have? Through the themes of play, awe, sus...

There is no doubt that every single one of us cares about the planet. Driving west through valleys made low by the Rocky Mountains is just one way to feel small in the best possible way. But how do we hold that care, and that smallness, alongside the convictions of our faith? Is it love God, love people, love the planet? If Jesus didn’t say that, could he have? Through the themes of play, awe, sus...

Whether you’re a homebody or not, home matters. Of course there are the equity pieces of housing first and affordability. These are big concerns in the life of the city. It’s good to want for others what we want for ourselves: safety, security, and a place to receive our Amazon packages. But there’s also a quieter hope for what home can mean. As is our practice in the summer, we’ll listen to the t...

Whether you’re a homebody or not, home matters. Of course there are the equity pieces of housing first and affordability. These are big concerns in the life of the city. It’s good to want for others what we want for ourselves: safety, security, and a place to receive our Amazon packages. But there’s also a quieter hope for what home can mean. As is our practice in the summer, we’ll listen to the t...

Whether you’re a homebody or not, home matters. Of course there are the equity pieces of housing first and affordability. These are big concerns in the life of the city. It’s good to want for others what we want for ourselves: safety, security, and a place to receive our Amazon packages. But there’s also a quieter hope for what home can mean. As is our practice in the summer, we’ll listen to the t...