GracePointe Church | Nashville, TN

What would it look like for us to practice justice that’s restorative, instead of punishing? Today, lead pastor Josh Scott explains why justice and generosity are two of the central focuses of progressive Christianity. He reminds us that God cares more about justice and human flourishing than about what rituals we do or what doctrines we believe. He then opens up the floor for a conversation with...

If we want to practice radical inclusivity, we need to start by facing and accepting ourselves. Today, Mike Maeshiro shares his experience of serving in the church as a gay Christian. He explains how his experience of God forced him to re-evaluate the theology he believed in, and he encourages us to move beyond performative inclusion into radical, authentic inclusivity of all people. Episode Recap...

What does it mean to be Jesus centered when you separate him from all the harmful things people have said and done in his name? Today, lead pastor Josh Scott talks about some of the key things he does and does not believe about Jesus, reminding us that believing in a specific doctrine matters far less than believing what Jesus said. He then takes time to answer questions from our community about h...

Progressive Christianity starts from the belief that humans are not born disconnected from God, and that nothing can separate us from God. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott begins a new series where we’ll unpack some of the key factors that set progressive Christianity apart from more conservative theologies. He explains where the doctrine of original sin came from and why it falls short, and then spe...

Between the crucifixion and the resurrection, there was a silent Saturday of uncertainty and fear. And many of us experience that same kind of season when we begin to deconstruct our theologies. Today, GracePointe’s founding pastor Stan Mitchell reminds us that it’s OK to miss what we’ve left behind and to still feel the effects of the wounds we’ve received in the past. He also encourages us to no...

The GracePointe of 20 years ago may look radically different than GracePointe today, but this community has always existed to create space for growth and deconstruction. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott and founding pastor Stan Mitchell celebrate GracePointe’s 20th anniversary by reflecting about the past, present, and future of GracePointe. Stan also explains how GracePointe fits into a larger histo...

We tend to idealize the early church, but were things actually as good as we might think? Today, lead pastor Josh Scott leads us through Paul’s letters to examine some of the conflicts and complexities that defined the early Jesus movement. He reminds us that mess is a part of being human, but that we can create a space where that mess doesn’t turn into harm.  Episode Recap: The early church was s...

Most of our lives are lived in the ordinary, but how often do we take the time to notice the beautiful moments all around us? Today, lead pastor Josh Scott wraps up our series on spiritual practices for progressive Christians with a conversation about awareness. He explains how the story of Jacob reminds us to pay attention to God’s presence all around us, and he encourages us to practice “here-ne...

Curiosity can be a powerful spiritual practice, but only when it’s rooted in empathy. Today, GracePointe’s founding pastor Stan Mitchell explains how empathic curiosity can help us deepen our connection with other humans and have more grace for ourselves and others. He describes Jesus’ radical empathy for Judas and for the people who crucified him, and he reminds us that loving others is ultimatel...

Is church a place we go to please God, or can it be something more? Today, lead pastor Josh Scott reflects on the complicated role church has played in many of our lives. He then shares a few roles church may still be able to play in our lives today: connecting us with community, inspiring us to imagine a different future, and allowing us to connect more fully with the divine. Whatever your relati...

Prayer can still have a place in your spiritual practice, no matter what you believe about God and God’s role in the world. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott examines some of the harmful ways people tend to talk about prayer. He then reflects on some of the positive ways prayer or meditation can help us slow down, process our feelings, and show up in the world empowered to bring about change.  Episode...

Ritual has too often been used to control and exclude others, but does it still have value for progressive Christians? Today, lead pastor Josh Scott continues our series on spiritual practices by examining the ways ritual can connect us to ourselves, to our neighbors, and to the divine. He encourages us to reject any rituals or systems that have told us we don’t belong and instead seek out practic...

Whether you’re parenting a young person or trying to figure out your own faith journey, sometimes it’s helpful to get back to the basics. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott and Children and Youth Director Tiffany Dowdy talk about some spiritual practices for beginners. They also discuss the challenge of parenting when you’re on your own deconstruction journey, and they remind us that every spiritual pr...

Many of us have been harmed by the ways people use the Bible, but it’s possible that the Bible still has something to offer you. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott talks with Zack Hunt about some ways we can approach the Bible as progressive Christians. They talk about what it really means for scripture to be “God breathed” and remind us that it’s OK if revisiting the Bible is too painful for us. Episo...

Just as our physical bodies need rest, our souls need rest in order to connect with humanity, with the divine, and with the world around us. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott examines the role rest plays in the creation story and talks through some of the ways rest can restore us so we can better show up in the world for ourselves and the people around us. Episode Recap: Our souls need rest just like...

Our experiences are not something to invalidate or ignore, they’re a gift that shapes how we view the world. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott begins a new series on spiritual practices for progressive Christians. He reminds us that the Bible is full of people who changed their minds based on experiences, even if that experience contradicted the things they’d previously been told. He also explains how...

Something miraculous can happen when we hear a familiar story told from a new perspective. Today, Hunter Wade explains why it’s so important for us to listen to new voices and perspectives that differ from our own. She examines a passage in the Bible where Jesus was faced with a new point of view and chose to respond, and she reminds us that there’s power in both telling our own stories and in lis...

Despite what many of us have been told, there’s a version of faith that allows us to be fully human and fully ourselves. Today, Mike Maeshiro talks with us about his experience of growing up as a gay Christian, finding freedom through the process of coming out, and deconstructing many of the things he once believed about God. Mike also challenges us to trust that the love that has transformed us c...

For Jesus and the tradition he was raised in, you cannot serve God without pursuing justice. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott examines the role justice plays in Exodus, in the messages of the prophets, and in Jesus’ own worldview. He also discusses the way Christianity has changed into something completely different from its roots, and he challenges us to prioritize justice over theology and communit...

If you’re on a journey of deconstructing or seeing your worldview evolve, know that you’re not alone! Today, lead pastor Josh Scott interviews Heather Hamilton about the spiritual awakening that inspired her to deconstruct her fundamentalist evangelical views and begin to see the divine in all people and all of creation. Heather is the author of “Returning to Eden,” and she talks with Josh about h...

If you want to understand what it’s like to experience the world with imagination and wonder, look at how kids interact with the world. Today, Children and Youth Director Tiffany Dowdy discusses the holy imagination that can inspire us to envision a better world and move us into action. They remind us that we’re each on our own spiritual journey with the freedom to roam and explore, and encourage...

The Holy Spirit is not something we can control or fit inside neat boundaries. Instead, the spirit calls us to move beyond fear and exclusion and commit to continually reimagining our faith. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott examines the “Gentile Pentecost” story in Acts 10. He draws parallels between this story and other moments in scripture where we see people’s views of God challenged, and he remin...

In the story of Pentecost, we see how the spirit of wisdom stands in direct opposition to the empires that try to control us. Today, Kat Armas shares how Acts 2 changed her view of the Holy Spirit. She invites us to reexamine the way we think about wisdom, and to oppose the efforts of empire to force assimilation by stamping out wisdom. Episode Recap: Empire does not always get the last say (0:10)...

The story of Pentecost reminds us that we’re all invited to participate in the movement Jesus started. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott begins a new series about Pentecost by reflecting on the type of movement Jesus wanted to create. He talks about the way peace and nonviolence play an integral role in Jesus’ story, and he reminds us that transformation takes time, both in the world and in our own li...

Today, we’re celebrating our first service in GracePointe’s new space, reflecting on how we got here, and looking ahead to what comes next! Lead pastor Josh Scott shares why he’s so excited for this new chapter in GracePointe’s story, and he reminds each of us that we belong. Episode Recap: It’s time for change, and change is possible (0:10) How we got here (2:12) Thank you to everyone who’s made...