The Common Ground ABQ Podcast

What happens when we strip away the distractions of everyday life and truly encounter God's presence? This powerful reflection from a youth camp experience reveals how transformative it can be when we create space for authentic spiritual breakthrough. We hear honest testimonies about the walls we build—worrying about what others think, separating our church life from our everyday existence, an...

What happens when our expectations of God don't match reality? This powerful exploration of Luke 24:13-31 takes us on the road to Emmaus with two disciples who were so consumed by disappointment that they couldn't recognize Jesus walking right beside them. Their story mirrors our own spiritual journeys in profound ways. We build up anticipation for how God should move, how our marriages sh...

This powerful message takes us to the shores of the Sea of Galilee where we encounter Peter at his lowest point—returning to his old life as a fisherman after denying Christ three times. The central teaching revolves around John 21:1-12, where Jesus meets his exhausted disciples who have caught nothing all night. What makes this encounter extraordinary is the charcoal fire Jesus prepared for them....

This powerful message invites us to reconsider everything we thought we knew about God's loyalty and mercy. Drawing from Luke 22:14-23, we're confronted with the stunning reality of the Last Supper—a meal where Jesus knowingly broke bread with those who would betray, deny, and abandon Him. The central question pierces our hearts: if we struggle to invite people to dinner who merely annoy u...

This powerful message challenges us to shift our perspective from what we lack to who God is. At its core is the familiar story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 from John 6:1-13, but it invites us to see it with fresh eyes. When we face overwhelming circumstances, our natural instinct is to do the math—to count our resources, measure our abilities, and calculate whether we have enough. Philip looked at...

This powerful message takes us deep into Luke chapter 7, where we witness a stunning collision of two radically different attitudes at the same dinner table. On one side sits a Pharisee named Simon, who invited Jesus to his home not out of genuine hospitality, but to test and potentially embarrass Him. On the other side stands a woman known throughout the city as a sinner, who crashes the dinner p...

This powerful message takes us deep into Acts chapter 10, exploring what we might call the 'second Pentecost'—the moment when God dramatically expanded His family table to include the Gentiles. We're confronted with Peter's rooftop vision of unclean animals and God's revolutionary command: 'Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.' What unfolds is a beaut...

This powerful message challenges us to move beyond comfortable Christianity into intentional engagement with those outside our circles. Drawing from Luke 5:27-32, we explore Jesus' radical choice to dine with tax collectors and sinners, demonstrating that God's invitation isn't just for us to come to His table, but for us to go to others' tables. The sermon brilliantly unpacks thre...

This powerful message invites us to examine what happens when our service to God becomes disconnected from our relationship with Him. Through the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42, we discover a profound truth: we can be physically present with Jesus while being emotionally and spiritually distant from Him. Martha welcomed Jesus into her home with genuine hospitality, yet somewhere between...

This powerful message invites us to examine the open invitation God extends to each of us through the parable of the great banquet in Luke 14. We're confronted with a challenging reality: the host prepared an elaborate feast with intentionality and love, sending personal invitations to guests who then made excuses based on work, possessions, and family obligations. These weren't evil excus...

This powerful message challenges us to examine what it truly means to live as sent people in a world filled with suffering and injustice. Drawing from John 20:19-22, we're confronted with the reality that the disciples locked themselves away in fear after the resurrection, yet Jesus appeared among them with a simple message: 'Peace be with you.' The sermon uses the haunting image of a...

This powerful message takes us deep into Romans 6:4-11, challenging us to move beyond viewing the resurrection as merely a historical event or future promise. We're invited to understand that when Christ rose from the dead, we rose with Him - not someday, but right now. The central question confronting us is profound: what actually changed after our baptism? Too often we treat our faith like a...

We find ourselves living in a fascinating tension that theologians call the 'already and not yet.' Through Colossians 2:13-15, we discover three profound truths about our spiritual reality: our debt has been canceled, our accuser has been disarmed, and death has been dethroned. The powerful imagery of D-Day and V-E Day helps us understand that while the decisive victory was won at the resu...

This powerful Easter message takes us deep into the heart of what makes Resurrection Sunday the pivotal moment in all of human history. We explore Matthew 28:1-10, walking through the journey from Friday's crucifixion to Sunday's empty tomb, and discover why this isn't just another inspirational story but the bedrock of our faith. The sermon beautifully unpacks four crucial elements: t...

This powerful Palm Sunday message invites us into the paradox of Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We explore Luke 19 and Philippians 2 to understand the heart of Christ as He rides toward His destiny. The crowd waves palm branches—ancient symbols of national independence—shouting 'Hosanna,' meaning 'save us.' Yet they fundamentally misunderstand what kind of salvation Je...

This powerful message challenges us to reconsider what it truly means to be part of a faith community. Drawing from Acts 2:42-47, we're invited into a vision of church that goes far beyond Sunday attendance—it's about devoted, sacrificial community life. The early believers didn't just gather occasionally; they devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer toge...

This powerful message confronts us with one of Jesus' most challenging invitations: to take up our cross daily and follow Him. Drawing from Luke 9:22-25, we're reminded that the disciples expected a military Messiah who would end their suffering, but Jesus revealed something far more profound—the Messiah came to walk straight into suffering. The cross isn't an interruption in our journ...

What if obedience isn't about restriction, but about relationship? This powerful exploration of John 14:15 challenges us to reconsider everything we thought we knew about following Jesus. The verse 'If you love me, obey my commandments' isn't a demanding ultimatum from a distant deity—it's an invitation into deeper intimacy with our Creator. We discover that the Greek word &#39...

This powerful message confronts us with a challenging truth: trust is not a one-time decision but a daily posture that reveals what we truly rely on when pressure hits. Drawing from Proverbs 3:5-6, we're invited to examine the difference between surrendering something to God in a moment and actually trusting Him with what happens next. The sermon exposes how we often quietly supplement God wit...

This powerful message centers on John 12:24-26, where Jesus uses the profound metaphor of a seed falling to the ground and dying to bear much fruit. We're challenged to understand that spiritual formation isn't about behavior modification but about heart transformation that happens beneath the surface. The sermon explores how true growth requires burial, surrender, and the breaking of our...

We often confuse spiritual growth with behavior modification, trying to act right on the surface while our hearts remain unchanged. This message challenges us to embrace authentic transformation that starts from the inside out, as Romans 12:2 reminds us about being transformed by renewing our minds. The central theme revolves around covenant relationships and how God uses proximity—both vertical w...

This powerful message invites us into a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be faithful in the small, seemingly insignificant moments of our lives. Drawing from Luke 16:10, we're challenged to examine whether our daily choices reflect a heart rooted in Jesus or enslaved to worldly pursuits. The parable of the shrewd manager becomes a mirror for our own stewardship—not just of money,...

This powerful message invites us into a profound truth: we are clay in the Potter's hands, formed not by our performance but by God's grace. Drawing from Isaiah 64:8 and Ephesians 2:8-10, we're reminded that salvation isn't a reward for good behavior—it's a gift that transforms us from the inside out. The central tension we all face is beautifully explored: we are spirit-filled humans living in a...

This message centers on the concept of 'Mission Possible'—the calling we've all received to continue the work Jesus began. Drawing from John 4:35-38, we're reminded that we're reaping harvests from seeds others have planted, and we're called to plant seeds for those who come after us. The beauty of this truth is that we don't have to see the full harvest ourselves; we s...

What if the exhaustion we feel in our spiritual lives isn't a sign of failure, but simply evidence that we've been trying to carry a divine calling with human strength alone? This powerful exploration of John 20:21-22 reveals a transformative truth: mission isn't just about what we do for God, but about receiving what God offers us first. When Jesus appeared to His frightened disciples...