Commons Church Podcast

This one is about Rene Girard *** The Christian tradition has always recognized certain individuals as playing an important role in its formation and development. These people are often singled out - their stories recorded - their contributions remembered. From Paul to Ignatius, and from Julian of Norwich to Teresa of Calcutta, we call them saints. Saints are often memorialized by the places they’...

Exodus 33-40 *** There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers. We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering. It's a universal experience not to know th...

Exodus 32 *** There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers. We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering. It's a universal experience not to know the w...

Exodus 20 *** There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers. We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering. It's a universal experience not to know the w...

Exodus *** There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers. We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering. It's a universal experience not to know the way...

Exodus 13-15 *** There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers. We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering. It's a universal experience not to know th...

Exodus 7+12 *** There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers. We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering. It's a universal experience not to know the...

Exodus 3+4 *** There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers. We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering. It's a universal experience not to know the...

Exodus 1+2 *** There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers. We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering. It's a universal experience not to know the...

1 Cor 5-7 *** Some people – maybe you’re one of them – turn to pastors to make good choices. They want to know if what they think is acceptable to God, if what they do is pleasing to God, and if what they consider is in the will of God. There’s something blessed about want- ing affirmation from someone you trust. But what if your pastors don’t have the perfect answer and can’t give you the ideal g...

1 Corinthians 8:1–13 *** Some people – maybe you’re one of them – turn to pastors to make good choices. They want to know if what they think is acceptable to God, if what they do is pleasing to God, and if what they consider is in the will of God. There’s something blessed about wanting affirmation from someone you trust. But what if your pastors don’t have the perfect answer and can’t give you th...

1 Corinthians 6 *** Some people – maybe you’re one of them – turn to pastors to make good choices. They want to know if what they think is acceptable to God, if what they do is pleasing to God, and if what they consider is in the will of God. There’s something blessed about wanting affirmation from someone you trust. But what if your pastors don’t have the perfect answer and can’t give you the ide...

1 Corinthians 1 *** Some people – maybe you’re one of them – turn to pastors to make good choices. They want to know if what they think is acceptable to God, if what they do is pleasing to God, and if what they consider is in the will of God. There’s something blessed about want- ing affirmation from someone you trust. But what if your pastors don’t have the perfect answer and can’t give you the i...

Dawn is breaking. Darkness fades away. And in the light of Easter morning we awake to find that resurrection has come to find us. Slipping into everyday moments. Seeping into the dried out and forgotten places of our hearts. Showing up to surprise in unexpected ways. So, we celebrate! Christ has been raised to life, and with him all creation too. Life and love burst into full bloom. Decay and desp...

Things weren’t going to end well. Even after doing so much good, sharing so much love, and bringing so much hope, Jesus kept telling his friends that his enemies would get the best of him. And then, in the final moments of his life - With his body taken and broken by violence - Jesus seemed to pause as death approached. He turned his face to heaven, and taught his friends a prayer for broken heart...

Palm Sunday: JOHN 17 + 12 A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story. John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20). But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory” doesn’t me...

Fifth Sunday of Lent: JOHN 15:18-16:15 A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story. John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20). But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glor...

Fourth Sunday of Lent: JOHN 15:1-17 A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story. John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20). But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory”...

Third Sunday of Lent: JOHN 14:8-23 A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story. John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20). But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory” d...

Second Sunday of Lent: JOHN 14:1-7 A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story. John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20). But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory” d...

First Sunday of Lent: JOHN 13:18-38 A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story. John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20). But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory”...

Part 4 of 4. Today we talk about violence *** In studying the Bible, we have found it to be a trustworthy and beautiful guide for life. And yet, we also know the many ways this same profound text has been weaponized against others. Whether to marginalize, silence, or shame those who have dared to ask questions and chart a new path through the world, this is not only wrong but a misapprehension of...

Part 3 of 4. Today we talk about atonement theory. *** In studying the Bible, we have found it to be a trustworthy and beautiful guide for life. And yet, we also know the many ways this same profound text has been weaponized against others. Whether to marginalize, silence, or shame those who have dared to ask questions and chart a new path through the world, this is not only wrong but a misapprehe...

Part 2 of 4. Today we talk about the inspired vs inerrant Scriptures. *** In studying the Bible, we have found it to be a trustworthy and beautiful guide for life. And yet, we also know the many ways this same profound text has been weaponized against others. Whether to marginalize, silence, or shame those who have dared to ask questions and chart a new path through the world, this is not only wro...

Part 1 of 4. Today we talk about our definitions of God, the power of our images and how for us to see God we need to look at Jesus.  *** In studying the Bible, we have found it to be a trustworthy and beautiful guide for life. And yet, we also know the many ways this same profound text has been weaponized against others. Whether to marginalize, silence, or shame those who have dared to ask questi...