Commons Church Podcast

This sermon, "Big Promises Small Steps," explores the story of Abraham and Sarah from Genesis, focusing on themes of discernment, the challenges of beauty, and God's unwavering devotion. It delves into how individuals navigate big and small changes in life, drawing parallels between ancient narratives and contemporary experiences. The sermon also touches on the "Matriarch in Danger" type-scene in Genesis and its foreshadowing of the Exodus story, highlighting God's remembrance and liberation of the vulnerable. It encourages listeners to reflect on their own fears and struggles, and to find hope in God's persistent presence through life's difficulties.

The story of Abraham and Sarah begins not with certainty, but with faith, hesitation, and the courage to take the smallest of steps toward a bigger promise.

In this opening message of our Big Promises, Small Steps series, Pastor Jeremy Duncan explores how the grand narrative of God’s reconciliation—what Paul calls “the healing of all things”—begins with a single family leaving home, not knowing where they’re going.

Through themes like “When the Moon Hits Your Eye,” “Stuck in the Middle with You,” and “Everything We Leave Behind,” this sermon invites us to reflect on the slow, unfolding nature of faith — and the ways God meets us in our pauses, transitions, and in-between spaces.

Maybe you’re in your own “Haran” moment — waiting, wondering, unsure what’s next. This message will remind you that even when the surface is still, sacred work is happening beneath your feet.

📖 Scripture: Genesis 11–12
🎙 Speaker: Jeremy Duncan
🏛 Series: Big Promises, Small Steps (Week 1)
📍 Recorded at Commons Church, Calgary

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🌐 Learn more: commonschurch.org

#Abraham #Sarah #Genesis #FaithJourney #CommonsChurch #SermonSeries #BigPromisesSmallSteps #BibleStory #Faith #Jesus

What if faith isn’t about certainty—but about trust?

In this message, Pastor Jeremy revisits the story of Thomas and Jesus’ promise of the Spirit in John 14, exploring how honest questions can lead to deeper encounters with divine love.

Through Thomas’ doubt, Philip’s confusion, and Jesus’ response of kindness, we discover a God who meets us not with precision or perfection, but with presence. This talk invites us to see that faith is not what we think—it’s what we trust ourselves to.

Join us as we explore what it means to move beyond theory and into love:

• Thomas and the courage to question
• The kindness of Jesus in our uncertainty
• The Spirit as God’s ongoing presence within us

📖 Scripture: John 14:1–21

#CommonsChurch #FaithAndDoubt #HolySpirit #JesusAtTheCentre #GroundedSeries

Join Bobbi from Commons Church in Calgary for "Grounded: Participation," the fifth installment in their "Grounded" series. In this sermon, they explore what it means to shape a community that is good for you and good for the world, drawing insights from Acts 2.

Bobbi shares her personal journey and the exciting news of leading the new Marda Loop Commons parish launching in late 2026. Discover the four ancient practices that guided the early church – devotion to apostles' teaching, breaking bread, prayer, and koinonia (fellowship) – and how these practices practically tie us to the world.

Learn about the Jewish roots of participation, remembering the call to take care of others as seen in Deuteronomy 15. The sermon beautifully illustrates how churches, as holy places, invite us to participate in something mysterious, ancient, and collaborative, ultimately leading to the renewal of all creation.

What does it really mean to be a peacemaker?
In this sermon from our Grounded series, Pastor Jeremy Duncan unpacks Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

We’ll explore:
 • The difference between peacekeeping (avoiding conflict) and peacemaking (creating transformation)
 • How Jesus’ teaching on turning the other cheek, giving your cloak, and walking the extra mile reveal a radical third way of nonviolent resistance
 • Why following Jesus invites us to courage, honesty, and reconciliation in our relationships, our communities, and our world

📖 Scripture: Matthew 5:9, 38–45
🎧 Listen on our podcast: commons.church/podcast
🌐 Find resources (sermon notes, liturgy, prayers): commons.church/sundays

If you’ve wrestled with conflict—in marriage, friendships, politics, or global issues—this message will challenge and encourage you to imagine a world more like heaven.

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In this sermon from our Grounded series, Pastor Jeremy Duncan explores the story of the Emmaus Road in Luke 24, where the risen Jesus walks with two disciples who don’t recognize him at first.

What if faith isn’t just about ideas or passion, but about centering everything on Jesus?
We’ll discover how:
 • Doubt can be part of faith and lead us deeper.
 • Spiritual passion is a response to God’s grace, not a way to earn it.
 • Jesus is at the centre of Scripture and the story of our lives.

This message invites us to reframe our doubts, our passion, and our faith journey with Jesus as the heart of it all.

📍 Commons Church is a Jesus-centered community in Calgary, Alberta.
Learn more at: commons.church

We reflect on Commons' commitment to shaping spiritual passion. We explore Luke's account of Jesus being anointed by a woman, contrasting it with versions in Mark, Matthew, and John. The message delves into Luke's unique perspective, highlighting Jesus' point about forgiveness and love, and poses a key question: "Do you see this woman?" We consider how we learn faith from others and the particularity of our own spiritual journeys, emphasizing that our passions make our community and the world brighter. This reflection on Luke 7:36-47 encourages us to embrace grace and recognize the diverse forms of devotion in our lives.

We all know him as “Doubting Thomas”—but is that really fair? In this teaching, we take a closer look at Thomas’ story in the Gospel of John and discover:
 • Why nicknames in the Bible matter (and how Thomas got his)
 • What his name “The Twin” really means
 • How his doubt might actually mirror our own journey of faith
 • Why doubt and faith are not opposites, but twins

From John 11 to John 20, Thomas shows us that faith isn’t about certainty—it’s about trust, risk, and the courage to keep following Jesus even when we’re unsure.

If you’ve ever wrestled with questions, wondered if doubt disqualifies you, or longed for proof that God’s promises are real—this message is for you.

📖 Scripture explored: John 11, John 14, John 20
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In the final installment of our "Sacred Practice" series, we explore the Christian practice of keeping time, looking at how faith works itself out in our bodies, habits, and shared experiences. We discuss the significance of the Christian calendar, the human need to mark time, and how daily, ordinary moments can become sacred. Join us as we reflect on endings and beginnings, and discover how time, through Christ's example and community, ultimately keeps us.

This Sunday, Bobbi explores pilgrimage as a sacred practice, distinguishing it from mere habit. She shares her personal journey to Iona, a sacred island off Scotland, and discusses the historical significance of pilgrimage in various cultures and faiths, including the Christian tradition and the Camino de Santiago.

Bobbi contrasts her transformative experience in Iona with a less impactful visit to Fatima, Portugal, highlighting the difference between being a pilgrim and a tourist. The talk also delves into labyrinths as an accessible form of pilgrimage, emphasizing their embodied, symbolic, and enjoyable nature, and encourages listeners to seek out local labyrinths for their own spiritual journeys.

The sermon concludes by reflecting on the idea that while intentional pilgrimages are valuable, some of the most profound spiritual encounters can happen unexpectedly in everyday life. Drawing from Hebrews 12, Bobbi encourages listeners to approach life with the light and persevering spirit of a pilgrim, keeping their eyes fixed on Jesus, the "pioneer and perfecter of faith." The ultimate message is that whether planned or spontaneous, pilgrimage is a path that always leads us home to God.