The Good News From The Gardens Podcast

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?
Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity.

Not Today, Satan

Part one of seven part sermon series on Heart-to-Heart Talks.
Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus enters the wilderness hungry, exposed, and fully human. After forty days of fasting, the tempter strikes at his emptiness, urging an easy fix. This sermon explores how temptation so often meets us when we are tired, hollow, shaky, or “hangry”—when impulse feels stronger than wisdom. Jesus doesn't deny his hunger or escape his humanity. Instead, he prepares, listens, and puts God first. His heart-to-heart struggle shows us that temptation is rarely dramatic but deeply personal. In our own ordinary battles, Jesus teaches us how to face them faithfully, one choice at a time, and say, “Not today.”
Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity.

Heart to Heart with Jesus: An Ash Wednesday Message

Heart to Heart with Jesus
On this Ash Wednesday, Jesus speaks to us about prayer, fasting, and treasure—not as religious obligations, but as an intimate conversation that reveals what we truly love and who we are becoming.
Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-21
Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity

The Gift of the Unpredictable Jesus

Conclusion of sermon series on Gifts That Keep on Giving.
Matthew 17:1-9
On the mountain of Transfiguration, the disciples respond logically—preserving glory, offering hospitality. Jesus interrupts. This moment asks us to examine how often we react from habit or expectation. Faithful living may mean pausing, discerning, and staying open, so Christ shapes us by surprising grace and reveals himself through us.
Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity.

The Gift of Public Witness

Part five of six part series on Gifts That Keep on Giving.
Matthew 5:13-20
Jesus names his disciples—then and now—as salt of the earth and light of the world. Scripture holds tension between private and public faith: Jesus sometimes calls for silence, yet often commands visible acts of healing and liberation. In a secular world, believers struggle to discern when and how to express faith amid fear and misunderstanding. Yet faith requires both devotion and public witness. Without action, it grows bland. In this message we ponder expressions of bold faith.
Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity.

The Gift of Poetic Challenge

Part four of seven part series on Gifts That Keep on Giving.
Matthew 5:1-12
The Beatitudes remind us why fewer, better-crafted words matter. Their poetic simplicity makes a radical message clear and memorable. Jesus challenges not only what we share, but how we share it. In this message let's contemplate the importance of good listening and deep discernment for God’s will through Jesus Christ.
Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity.
 

The Gift of Bold Action

Part three of seven part series on Gifts That Keep on Giving.
Matthew 4:12-23
There comes a time when bold choices must be made—confronting injustice, discerning our public life, and answering Christ’s call to “follow me.” Discipleship is complex, requiring us to step away from who we have been toward who God calls us to be, despite fear, opposition, or sensible reasons to hesitate. Faith asks attentiveness to God’s leading and courage to walk together, discovering how ordinary people can follow Christ as a community.
Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity.
 

The Gift of Curiosity: Part two of seven part series on Gifts That Keep on Giving.

John 1:29-42
Curiosity is often treated as a weakness or distraction, but in this week’s Gospel it becomes holy ground. Two disciples follow Jesus, unsure of what to say or want. Jesus asks, “What are you looking for?” Not what they believe or whether they are worthy, but what they seek. He honors their wondering before reshaping their understanding. Their curiosity becomes the doorway to discipleship. The Holy Spirit plants questions in us not to mock us, but to draw us closer. Our longing and uncertainty are not failures of faith, but invitations into discovery, transformation, and holy becoming.
Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity.

The Gift of Committed Community: A sermon series on gifts that keep on giving.

Part 1 of 7 part series
Matthew 3:13-17
At the Jordan River, Jesus steps into the waters not because he needs repentance, but because he chooses solidarity. In Matthew 3:13–17, baptism is revealed not as a private spiritual moment, but a communal calling. As the heavens open and God names Jesus “Beloved,” a community is formed around promise and purpose. In baptism, vows are spoken that bind us to one another—to teach, to forgive, to show up. In this message we ponder our fulfillment of baptismal promises, and how we live them out: by bearing burdens together, resisting isolation, and embodying God’s beloved-ness in word and deed, long after the water dries.
Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity.
 

Shepherding Hope - A Birth of Christ Message

Luke 2:1-20 & John 1:1-14 
The Nativity tells of God shepherding hope into the world through the birth of Jesus. In the humility of a manger, divine promise takes on vulnerable flesh, revealing that hope is not distant but present among ordinary lives. The first to receive this news are shepherds—tired workers keeping watch in the dark—showing that hope often comes to those overlooked. Fear is named before comfort is given, as angels announce good news that changes their direction and purpose. The shepherds witness, go, and tell, becoming tenders of God’s hope. Their story invites us to nurture light in fragile places and carry hope into the night.
Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity