Commons Church Podcast

On Sunday I threw out a quick statement about our relationship to money while I was talking about Jesus' words in Matthew 13. That seemed to intrigue a lot of people so I pulled together a quick video with some of the thinking behind what I was saying.

Most of us know the Sermon on the Mount. The foundational sermon Jesus gives as he launches his public career. It’s a masterful invitation into the life of God. Most of us are less familiar with the Sermon by the Sea. An enigmatic sermon Jesus gives later in life as he is preparing to head toward the cross. If the sermon on the mount presents us with the common sense life of God and the practical steps we can take to experience it, the sermon by the sea presents us with the strange and paradoxical imagination of the upside down kingdom. A kingdom where Jesus’ death is his crowning glory, and to give away everything becomes the means to receiving what we have always truly, deeply wanted. As we prepare ourselves for Easter, we explore the sermon of Jesus that perhaps most directly pointed to the surprise of Holy Week.

There are two letters to the city of Thessalonica in our Bibles. Both are traditionally held to be written by the apostle Paul and yet some scholars have questioned that because of the apparent contradictions in the content. One letter seems to encourage its readers to prepare for the imminent return of Christ. The second letter seems to be putting the breaks on and reminding the readers that they will still have to engage in culture, keep their jobs, and pay their bills. But is this really a contradiction? Or perhaps part of an ongoing struggle to find balance in our faith. Let’s explore together how Paul addresses this community, watches as they respond, and pastors them toward a healthy rhythm in life.

There are two letters to the city of Thessalonica in our Bibles. Both are traditionally held to be written by the apostle Paul and yet some scholars have questioned that because of the apparent contradictions in the content. One letter seems to encourage its readers to prepare for the imminent return of Christ. The second letter seems to be putting the breaks on and reminding the readers that they will still have to engage in culture, keep their jobs, and pay their bills. But is this really a contradiction? Or perhaps part of an ongoing struggle to find balance in our faith. Let’s explore together how Paul addresses this community, watches as they respond, and pastors them toward a healthy rhythm in life.

There are two letters to the city of Thessalonica in our Bibles. Both are traditionally held to be written by the apostle Paul and yet some scholars have questioned that because of the apparent contradictions in the content. One letter seems to encourage its readers to prepare for the imminent return of Christ. The second letter seems to be putting the breaks on and reminding the readers that they will still have to engage in culture, keep their jobs, and pay their bills. But is this really a contradiction? Or perhaps part of an ongoing struggle to find balance in our faith. Let’s explore together how Paul addresses this community, watches as they respond, and pastors them toward a healthy rhythm in life.

There are two letters to the city of Thessalonica in our Bibles. Both are traditionally held to be written by the apostle Paul and yet some scholars have questioned that because of the apparent contradictions in the content. One letter seems to encourage its readers to prepare for the imminent return of Christ. The second letter seems to be putting the breaks on and reminding the readers that they will still have to engage in culture, keep their jobs, and pay their bills. But is this really a contradiction? Or perhaps part of an ongoing struggle to find balance in our faith. Let’s explore together how Paul addresses this community, watches as they respond, and pastors them toward a healthy rhythm in life.

If reconciliation is always the hope of forgiveness how do we start that conversation? Supplemental Content: The response to this series was very encouraging. It was amazing to see people in the community and online interact with the material and share stories of struggle and forgiveness in their lives. Out of those stories a number of questions emerged and so we've decided to put together some additional content to address ideas that weren't touched on fully in the series.

You can't forgive an organization so don't try. Let yourself name the person who hurt you and work to forgive that person. Supplemental Content: The response to this series was very encouraging. It was amazing to see people in the community and online interact with the material and share stories of struggle and forgiveness in their lives. Out of those stories a number of questions emerged and so we've decided to put together some additional content to address ideas that weren't touched on fully in the series.

Like anything other discipline forgiveness is a skill you can practice and get better at. Supplemental Content: The response to this series was very encouraging. It was amazing to see people in the community and online interact with the material and share stories of struggle and forgiveness in their lives. Out of those stories a number of questions emerged and so we've decided to put together some additional content to address ideas that weren't touched on fully in the series.

Don't confuse forgiveness with giving someone unfettered access to your life. For a whole host of reasons we sometimes need to create and maintain healthy boundaries even as we forgive those who may have injured us in the past. Series Outline: In the Hebrew Scriptures ashes were used as a sign of grief or mourning. There are many forms of grief that we experience in our lives. Confusion or despair, lament or pain, loss or even death come crashing into our lives. Yet, one of the deepest experiences of grief we can have is the act of forgiveness. It’s not easy to forgive. It’s not light to let go. In fact, it means taking that pain that has been inflicted upon us and holding it so tightly that we refuse to let it lash out at anyone else. In this series we return to the topic of grief, and in particular the experience of forgiveness. How can Jesus lead us to let go of hurt?