Commons Church Podcast

Things weren’t going to end well.

Even after doing so much good, sharing so much love, and bringing so much hope, Jesus kept telling his friends that his enemies would get the best of him. And then, in the final moments of his life - With his body taken and broken by violence - Jesus seemed to pause as death approached.

He turned his face to heaven, and taught his friends a prayer for broken hearts. Simply asking, “Why?”

Which is the question we bring with us to the end of Holy Week.

Carried from all the places of our sorrow - our loss - and our helplessness.
Here we ask our whys, and remember that God spared nothing to make all things new. That Jesus gave himself
over to death to lead us into life. That in his final words Jesus revealed how God knows the language of our doubt and fear. Showing us the road to resurrection, dark as it may be. And we that we don’t have to walk it alone.

Palm Sunday: JOHN 17 + 12

A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story.

John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20).

But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory” doesn’t mean much to most of us. It feels stodgy and strange. But what if we replace it with its definition? A word we are more fond of – Beauty. Book of Beauty.

As we make our Lenten journey – these forty days toward Easter – what beauty will we find in the story of Jesus as John tells it?

These beautiful stories guide us like roadmaps to live as friends of God. The stories here are about service, Spirit, belonging, union, heartbreak, and new life.

Glory includes so much. It’s beautiful like that.

Fifth Sunday of Lent: JOHN 15:18-16:15

A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story.

John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20).

But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory” doesn’t mean much to most of us. It feels stodgy and strange. But what if we replace it with its definition? A word we are more fond of – Beauty. Book of Beauty.

As we make our Lenten journey – these forty days toward Easter – what beauty will we find in the story of Jesus as John tells it?

These beautiful stories guide us like roadmaps to live as friends of God. The stories here are about service, Spirit, belonging, union, heartbreak, and new life.

Glory includes so much. It’s beautiful like that.

Fourth Sunday of Lent: JOHN 15:1-17

A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story.

John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20).

But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory” doesn’t mean much to most of us. It feels stodgy and strange. But what if we replace it with its definition? A word we are more fond of – Beauty. Book of Beauty.

As we make our Lenten journey – these forty days toward Easter – what beauty will we find in the story of Jesus as John tells it?

These beautiful stories guide us like roadmaps to live as friends of God. The stories here are about service, Spirit, belonging, union, heartbreak, and new life.

Glory includes so much. It’s beautiful like that.

Third Sunday of Lent: JOHN 14:8-23

A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story.

John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20).

But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory” doesn’t mean much to most of us. It feels stodgy and strange. But what if we replace it with its definition? A word we are more fond of – Beauty. Book of Beauty.

As we make our Lenten journey – these forty days toward Easter – what beauty will we find in the story of Jesus as John tells it?

These beautiful stories guide us like roadmaps to live as friends of God. The stories here are about service, Spirit, belonging, union, heartbreak, and new life.

Glory includes so much. It’s beautiful like that.

Second Sunday of Lent: JOHN 14:1-7

A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story.

John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20).

But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory” doesn’t mean much to most of us. It feels stodgy and strange. But what if we replace it with its definition? A word we are more fond of – Beauty. Book of Beauty.

As we make our Lenten journey – these forty days toward Easter – what beauty will we find in the story of Jesus as John tells it?

These beautiful stories guide us like roadmaps to live as friends of God. The stories here are about service, Spirit, belonging, union, heartbreak, and new life.

Glory includes so much. It’s beautiful like that.

First Sunday of Lent: JOHN 13:18-38

A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story.

John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20).

But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory” doesn’t mean much to most of us. It feels stodgy and strange. But what if we replace it with its definition? A word we are more fond of – Beauty. Book of Beauty.

As we make our Lenten journey – these forty days toward Easter – what beauty will we find in the story of Jesus as John tells it?

These beautiful stories guide us like roadmaps to live as friends of God. The stories here are about service, Spirit, belonging, union, heartbreak, and new life.

Glory includes so much. It’s beautiful like that.

Part 4 of 4. Today we talk about violence
***
In studying the Bible, we have found it to be a trustworthy and beautiful guide for life. And yet, we also know the many ways this same profound text has been weaponized against others. Whether to marginalize, silence, or shame those who have dared to ask questions and chart a new path through the world, this is not only wrong but a misapprehension of the Bible’s role in the Christian faith. 

On the first page of this year’s journal, we wrote, “we are completely fascinated by this complex and beautiful collection of texts we call the Bible—but we worship Jesus.” That’s not because we think there is a disconnect between the two. In fact, we are convinced the Bible is what points us back to Jesus. However, Scripture is where we encounter Jesus. Scripture is not a replacement for Jesus. And therefore, our use of the Bible must be as peaceful and grace-filled as the Jesus we follow. In this series, we will attempt to disarm the Bible of violent interpretations but also to recapture some of the extraordinary ways in which the Bible calls us to life change.

Part 3 of 4. Today we talk about atonement theory.
***
In studying the Bible, we have found it to be a trustworthy and beautiful guide for life. And yet, we also know the many ways this same profound text has been weaponized against others. Whether to marginalize, silence, or shame those who have dared to ask questions and chart a new path through the world, this is not only wrong but a misapprehension of the Bible’s role in the Christian faith. 

On the first page of this year’s journal, we wrote, “we are completely fascinated by this complex and beautiful collection of texts we call the Bible—but we worship Jesus.” That’s not because we think there is a disconnect between the two. In fact, we are convinced the Bible is what points us back to Jesus. However, Scripture is where we encounter Jesus. Scripture is not a replacement for Jesus. And therefore, our use of the Bible must be as peaceful and grace-filled as the Jesus we follow. In this series, we will attempt to disarm the Bible of violent interpretations but also to recapture some of the extraordinary ways in which the Bible calls us to life change.

Part 2 of 4. Today we talk about the inspired vs inerrant Scriptures.
***
In studying the Bible, we have found it to be a trustworthy and beautiful guide for life. And yet, we also know the many ways this same profound text has been weaponized against others. Whether to marginalize, silence, or shame those who have dared to ask questions and chart a new path through the world, this is not only wrong but a misapprehension of the Bible’s role in the Christian faith. 

On the first page of this year’s journal, we wrote, “we are completely fascinated by this complex and beautiful collection of texts we call the Bible—but we worship Jesus.” That’s not because we think there is a disconnect between the two. In fact, we are convinced the Bible is what points us back to Jesus. However, Scripture is where we encounter Jesus. Scripture is not a replacement for Jesus. And therefore, our use of the Bible must be as peaceful and grace-filled as the Jesus we follow. In this series, we will attempt to disarm the Bible of violent interpretations but also to recapture some of the extraordinary ways in which the Bible calls us to life change.