The Good News From The Gardens Podcast

In this All Saints Sunday message we ponder what it looks like to live and act like a "saint". With echoes of the prophet Isaiah and Mary’s song of praise, Jesus reveals surprising things about who enjoys blessing and who endures woe. He invites his disciples to shower radical love, blessing, forgiveness, generosity, and trust even on enemies and outsiders. This message is meant to challenge, and inspire you to embrace your blessedness, and to avoid woeful living. 
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In John 8, Jesus speaks of truth and freedom as spiritual realities known through his word. He reveals the truth that sets people free from sin. In Romans, Paul wraps up the readings with theological might…we are justified by faith in the cross of Christ. In this Reformation Sunday message we ponder God’s divine redemptive activity on the cross, and our inability to earn it. And for that we exclaim, thanks be to God!
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In this Sunday’s message we explore what life looks like for us when we wrestle and persevere for what is righteous and good in our world we do this through the lens of two biblical stories. First, we hear of how Jacob wrestles all night long with a divine adversary who ultimately blesses him and changes his name to “Israel,” a name that means “he wrestles with God.” And in the gospel of Luke Jesus tells a parable of an unjust judge who is worn down by a widow’s pleas. How might these two stories shape us to be what God created us to be?
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Jesus’ mission includes making people whole again. Jesus encounters and heals ten lepers, yet  only one, a Samaritan recognizes that he has been healed of his leprosy. The others moved on seemingly unaware or without gratitude that they had been healed. In this message we ponder the relationship between healing and gratitude.  
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Part 4 of 4 part Stewardship Series Because of God, Followers of Jesus Do For God
Paul’s letter to Timothy is a personal message of encouragement. In the face of hardship and persecution, Timothy is reminded that his faith is a gift of God. He is encouraged to exercise that faith with the help of the Holy Spirit. In this message we consider the stewardship of God’s mysteries in how we  share and pass on faith to our family. 
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Jesus tells a parable in which the poor one is “lifted up” and the rich one is “sent away empty.” In this message we explore compassion as the divine attribute that binds us to one another, that keeps us from being insulated by wealth or comfort, and that reorients us toward generosity, stewardship, and love.
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Part 2 of 4 part Stewardship Series Because of God, Followers of Jesus Do For God
Jesus tells the curious story of a dishonest manager who cheats his employer and then is commended by him for having acted so shrewdly. Jesus wonders why his own followers are less creative and diligent in their stewardship given that they are managers of a far more valuable household. In this message consider what it looks like for you to serve the interests of God and not wealth.   
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Part 1 of 4 part Stewardship Series Because of God, Followers of Jesus Do For God
In this Sunday's Gospel, Pharisees and scribes are giving Jesus grief for welcoming and eating with sinners. Jesus goes on to tell a pair of parables that speak to what time well spent for God looks like. In the wake of Charlie Kirk's divisive death, how might we be a reflective image of God's love? What God-given talents might you employ so as to bring about times of unity in the name of Christ? 
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Part 2 of 2 sermon series Serving the Future
On this God’s Work Our Hands Sunday we hear Jesus use sharp and divisive language to explain the level of commitment expected He expects out of those who follow him. A follower of Jesus doesn’t half-commit to His movement. A follower of Jesus is fully aware of what they are getting them self into. A follower of Jesus’ primary interest is serving the future for God. Followers of Jesus carry their cross. What cross carrying work are you/we called to in serving God’s interest’s today, and tomorrow? Through this message contemplate what we want, alongside what the kingdom of God needs.
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Part 1 of 2 sermon series Serving the Future
In this first of two part series Jesus shares the spiritual significance of serving the future of God’s kingdom by denying our ego and delaying our gratification. What does it look like for you and I to individually, and collectively serve God’s interest’s today, and tomorrow?  Listen to this message and contemplate what we want, alongside what the kingdom of God needs. 
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