The Good News From The Gardens Podcast

Living in Community

Building Blocks of Faith: Easter series on the early church that teaches us the fundamentals of faith.
Acts 2:41-47
What does it mean to truly live together? In Acts 2, the early believers didn’t just gather—they shared. Meals, resources, prayers, and praise flowed from a deep sense of belonging. They held all things in common, not out of obligation, but out of transformed hearts. And something beautiful happened: lives were changed daily. How might we better share what we hold in common? What would it look like to open our lives and schedules to the church? In this message, we discover how a community rooted in Christ becomes a living witness—where generosity grows, joy multiplies, and no one walks alone. 
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Moving to Jesus' Presence

Building Blocks of Faith: Easter series on the early church that teaches us the fundamentals of faith.
Luke 24:13-35
Two travelers walk a dusty road, weighed down by confusion and loss. They talk, they wonder—and Jesus is right beside them, though they do not yet see. How often do we miss him in our own journey? In the breaking of the bread, their eyes are opened: Look! See! Jesus is with us! This Sunday, we are invited to move—from distance to nearness, from doubt to recognition, from absence to presence. Christ walks with us still, speaking, listening, revealing. Listen to this message and ask yourself, "To who, or what, is the resurrected presence of Jesus leading me?"
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Becoming A Believer

Building Blocks of Faith is an Easter series on the early church that teaches us the fundamentals of faith.
John 20:19-31 & Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Everyone doubts; Jesus understands. Behind locked doors, the disciples wrestled with fear and uncertainty. Thomas gave voice to what many felt: “Unless I see, I will not believe.” Yet Jesus returned—not with rejection, but with peace. “Put your hand here.” In that moment, doubt became belief, and faith was born. In Acts, Peter stands boldly, proclaiming the risen Christ with confidence he once lacked. In this message we unpack aids for our ability to believe in the risen Lord, we explore the courage to believe, and what it is to have peace in the midst of our up and down faith journeys.
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Alive in the Aftershock!

An Easter message weaving the resurrection of Jesus, the awe and wonder of faith, and the iconic "Earthrise" photo of astronaut Bill Anders while aboard Apollo 8.
Matthew 28:1-10
At dawn, the earth trembles, and so do our hearts. The women run from the tomb “with fear and great joy,” carrying the echo of heaven: “Do not be afraid.” When do you feel most alive—when everything is certain, or when hope breaks in unexpectedly? The stone rolled away, just as he said. A promise kept. Resurrection is not only then—it is now: in forgiveness offered, in courage rising, in love that refuses to stay buried. Miracles ripple through ordinary moments like aftershocks of grace. Do not be afraid. Go and tell. He is alive—and so are we.
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Trembling With, For, and Because of Christ - A Good Friday Reading and Meditation

Mark 14:26 to 15:47
Meditation begins at 17:17. 
The Passion of Christ narrative, meditation, and cross interactive experience centered in the hymn Were You There? 
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At The Table, On Our Knees - A Maundy Thursday Message

1st Cor. 11:23-26
John 13:1-17, 34b-35
On the night of betrayal and love, Jesus speaks not from a distance but from the floor, turning a final heart-to-heart conversation into a living command to love one another as he has loved us. A service featuring the Lord's Supper, and Stripping of the Altar in preparation of Christ on the cross.
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Reading Our Palms: A Palm Sunday Message

Part of a sermon series on Heart to Heart Talks
Crowds gather, cloaks spread, branches wave, and voices rise: “Hosanna!” In Matthew 21:1–11, Jesus enters Jerusalem not with force, but humility—riding a donkey, fulfilling hope in an unexpected way. The city asks, “Who is this?” It’s the same question that echoes within us. Is he a distant figure, a wise teacher, a disruptor—or the Savior who meets us in our deepest need? This Palm Sunday, beneath celebration and noise, we are invited inward. Who is Jesus—to the crowd, to the world, and most importantly, to you?
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So Many Questions

Part four of seven part sermon series on Heart-to-Heart Talks.
John 9:1-41
In this gospel story from John, the disciples assume someone’s sin must explain a man’s blindness. But Jesus redirects the question. Instead of blame, he points to God’s work being revealed. The deeper issue in the story isn’t physical sight—it’s spiritual vision. While the man gradually sees, the religious leaders refuse to see what is right in front of them. Their questions become defenses against truth. The story invites us to look inward: Whom do we refuse to hear or truly see? Jesus comes so that God’s love might be revealed—yet recognizing that love requires hearts willing to see beyond assumptions and fear.
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Well, Actually...

Part three of seven part sermon series on Heart-to-Heart Talks.
John 4:5-42
Most encounters with strangers stay on the surface—a polite smile, a quick thank-you, a quiet moment shared without words. But sometimes a simple meeting becomes something deeper. At a well at noon, Jesus begins an unexpected conversation with a Samaritan woman. What starts as small talk becomes a moment of truth, revelation, and living water. Jesus sees her fully—not as others judged her, but as someone capable of faith and witness. The same is true for us. The one who knows our whole story still meets us with grace. Is being fully known by God frightening… or freeing? Either way, living water is offered to all.
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Hush-Hush

Part two of seven part sermon series on Heart-to-Heart Talks.
John 3:1-17
Have you ever slipped into a place quietly, hoping no one would notice what you were curious about? In Gospel of John, Nicodemus does just that. After Jesus overturns tables in Jerusalem, igniting controversy, this respected leader comes by night—protecting his reputation while reaching toward the light. He believes Jesus is from God, but he does not yet understand who stands before him. Across three encounters, his cautious curiosity grows into courageous devotion. What about us? If we had a hush-hush heart-to-heart with Jesus, what would we risk to truly know him—and would we stay when we discover he is more than we imagined?
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