The Good News From The Gardens Podcast

The Eyes of Faith | Luke 12:49-56

The Eyes of Faith | Luke 12:49-56
Part 2 of sermon series Pillars of Faith.
Jesus is having what we call a “Come to Jesus meeting”. Using the family unit as His example, Jesus delivers harsh words to his disciples about how purifying and potentially divisive God’s call to obedience is. The cross of Christ often leads followers to encounter hostility and rejection, even from those they love. For Jesus, obedience to Him, is obedience to God’s will that often remains to be seen, but yet trusted to be in play out in front of us. Listen to this message and gain insight into Jesus' fiery rhetoric. It's not damnation, but a call to step into the fires of life. For it is there where we are refined, freed and empowered. 
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Faith That Counts | Genesis 15:1-6

Part 1 of sermon series on Pillars of Faith.
God promises childless and aging Abram that a child of his own will be his heir and that his descendants will number as many as the stars. Abram trusts God’s promise, and through this faith he is considered righteous. In the Gospel reading from Luke Jesus addresses his disciples doubt, telling them to not be afraid. In this message we ponder the importance of faiths great and small, weak, stronger, and even indifferent. Our attempts at faithfully seeking to understand God's love for the world through Jesus Christ count for something to someone.
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Looking Beyond Yourself | Luke 12:13-21

Week 4 of 4 sermon series on actions “required” of our faith.
Jesus uses a parable to warn against identifying the worth of one’s life with the value of one’s possessions rather than one’s relationship with God. Desire clarity amongst the things that clutter our lives? Listen to this message as we ponder what possesses us, God, or stuff.
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The Power of Persistent Prayer| Luke 11:1-13

In teaching his disciples “His” prayer, Jesus also reminds them to focus on God’s coming reign, God’s mercy, and the strengthening of the community. Jesus encourages his disciples to childlike trust and persistence in prayer. In this message we contemplate the exercise of prayer, and who or what is being changed when we pray.
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Stop, Collaborate and Listen | Luke 10:38-42

During his visit to the home of Mary and Martha, Jesus reminds Martha that her concern for her many tasks distracts from the one thing that precedes all else: abiding in the presence of God. What does it look like for us to stop, collaborate, and listen in Christ? Listen to this message about how  prioritizing the presence of Christ in our lives, leads to mindful and purpose filled relationships in Christ.
 
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On The Trail of Unconditional Love | Luke 10:25-37

In this message we hear how Jesus is challenged to explain what is involved in obeying the greatest commandment. He tells the parable we all know as the Good Samaritan; a parable rich in surprises: those expected to show pity display hard hearts while the lowly give and receive unexpected and lavish mercy. Pastor Steve shares a couple stories from his recent 60 miles over 6 days Appalachian Trail hike that reflect the persons of this parable and the challenge of our daily lives to be a modern day Samaritan. Listen to this message and be led to consider what it looks like for us to get out of our mind and into a heart conditioned by the love of God in Jesus Christ.
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Dwelling In Wisdom| Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

On this Holy Trinity Sunday we dwell in wisdom. In the Bible wisdom is portrayed in terms sometimes human and sometimes divine. Often, wisdom is personified as feminine. In this passage, Woman Wisdom is depicted not only as the first creation of God, but also as God’s helper, rejoicing in God’s creation, especially in human beings. In this message we hear the Trinity's wisdom for what our call to holy living looks like.
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The Spirit of Spontaneity | Acts 2:1-21

On this Sunday we celebrated Pentecost, the gifting of the Holy Spirit. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told his disciples they would be filled with the Holy Spirit. Now, amid signs of fire, wind, and a variety of languages, the people were amazed and astonished at Jesus’ promise coming true. During this message we pondered and then engaged in some spiritual spontaneity! All thanks to the Holy Spirit!
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A Holy Flow of Events | Acts 16:16-34

Through a divine chain of events Paul and Silas offer liberation in Christ to a slave girl, are unjustly jailed then liberated, and in the end bring a jailer and his household to Christ. Listen to this message for a peek into how one thing in Christ, leads to another. 
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An Amazing Detour | Acts 16:9-15

A vision compels Paul to move his ministry into Greece. There he meets Lydia, an important person in the business community, whose heart has been opened by God to receive the gospel. Her conversion and baptism provide the impetus for the founding of the church at Philippi. But it’s the question she poses to Paul that might give us pause, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” What does faithfulness to the Lord look like to you? In this message we ponder the Spirit's guidance, providence and its accessibility to those new and old to the faith.
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