Epiclesis

Time has a way of changing the way you can see things. What does that mean, and what might that phrase have to do with Peter's encouraging New Testament letter? Pastor Chris began a short series on the first letter of Peter. Could you use some encouragement? Let's listen carefully to Peter's words to Christians scattered across the known world and see how they might put a "pep in our step" as we live and work and serve in the "meantime." You have been born again! Your new life will last forever!

Note: The artwork associated with this podcast/post is Rembrandt's interpretation of St. Peter.

Worship on that first resurrection morning? Yes, indeed. From just a few verses in Matthew 10, we see the wondrous and thoroughly biblical four-fold pattern of Christian worship on display. Curious about how that works? Join us as Pastor Chris takes us through the beautiful details.

 

Note: The artwork associated with this podcast/sermon is an unitled work on the theme of Christ's resurrection by illustrator/artist Cliff Nielsen. You can find more of his wondeful work here on Facebook.

On this Palm Sunday, Pastor Chris looked at some things that Ezekiel's vision of the Valley of Dry Bones has in common with Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Those two remarkable biblical accounts share some beautiful parallels, and along the way we also took a look at one pivotal event just before Jesus entered the city. What might all three stories of those biblical stories reveal about the person and work of Jesus? Join us!

The painting associated with this sermon/podcast is titled "Ezekiel" (1979) by Richard McBee.

Pastor Chris focused on this Lent Portrait of the man born blind by looking at two or three of the more familiar themes associated with the story: blindness of at least two kinds and healing. But have you ever considered the story's many connections with creation? There are many-- and they are delightfully surprising. Join us!

Note: The artwork associated with this podcast sermon is titled "And Now I See" by Justine Peterson. You can view it here. Also, the other work that Pastor Chris referred to is titled "John 9 Reflection" by Brian Jekel seen here.

On this Sunday, we were blessed to have Dr. Dianne Collard speak to our congregation. Dianne is one the missionaries we enthusiastically support at Epiclesis (and you can find more information about her here). Her message this day? About contetment.

She writes, "The command from God that we should learn contentment is a challenge that we face all of our life. Let’s consider just what is meant by contentment and how God tells us we can achieve it. This message is replete with Scripture verses and personal testimony.'

The artwork associated with this podcast/sermon is by Eva Crawford and is titled "More Than Conquerors," 2018. You can find more of her vibrant art here.

Dianne is a champion of Christian artists of all kinds. She chose this particular work "because contentment is based on our dependence on Christ and the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives."

"Bridegroom” is one of the important scriptural titles for the Messiah. Jesus purposefully goes into hostile territory, Samaria. And while there, He starts up a conversation with an unmarried, perhaps-five-time-divorced, now-cohabitating, foreign, Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well.

And so here's the question Pastor Chris asked about this famous encounter with the Woman at the Well: Are there any of marriage or betrothal themes present in the story? Yes, is the answer. Join us as we look at the encounter through the lens of Jewish Scripture and tradition and culture where we will see the Woman at the Well as a kind of symbol of the bride of Christ.

The artwork associated with this podcast is titled "Woman at the Well" by Wayne Forte. A closer detail of the work can be seen here.

Two other settings of the same story that Pastor Chris referenced were a 6th century mosaic by an unknown artist(s) and "The Woman of Samaria at the Well" by James Tissot.

Nicodemus is a character that perfectly personifies the tensions that surrounded Jesus. And he seems completely unique in the Gospels. What might a beautiful painting of his memorable nighttime meeting with the Messiah highlight some things we can learn about our relationship with Jesus?

Also, along the way, we looked at some fascinating comparisons between Nicodemus and Judas. Join us!

The image attached to this podcast is the "study" version of Henry Tanner's "Nicodemus Comes to Jesus."

The finished version that Pastor Chris also refers to is here if you'd like to see it.

Robert Brown was back in the Chapter House for a conversation about Nicodemus. Have you ever thought about how Nicodemus might compare and contrast with Judas? Both men had some things in common, but in the end both men's journeys ended up in radically different places.

Along the way we also talked about Israel's purpose and how Jesus did come to set all things right. But Jesus set all things right in miraculous ways that neither Nicodemus nor Judas expected. Join us!

 

Note: The image associated with this podcast is titled "The Judas Kiss" by Robert Schoeller.

Today’s character, the first in a series of portraits during Lent, is Satan. Scripture references for today take us back to the very beginning and remind us that Satan is at first a deceiver, one who calls into question God’s goodness. Sometimes Pastor Chris also referred to Satan as the “Author of Upside-Down Things.” Why? Join us and find out.

Along the way we also noticed that portraits of Satan are not necessarily painted with dark colors and angry brushstrokes.

 

The painting associated with this sermon/podcast is a detail from "The Fallen Angel" by Alexandre Cabanel (1847).

Find the three high-rez images that Pastor Chris used during the teaching here: Original full size. Close-up. Extreme close-up.

The Transfiguration comes at a pivotal point in Matthew’s Gospel, and it occurs at a dramatic, shifting moment in the other two Gospels that include it. It is after the Transfiguration that Jesus “sets his face” toward Jerusalem-- a moment of pause and then change of direction. And it’s a perfect moment and story to reflect on here at the beginning of Lent.

Just before this event, Jesus had revealed some hard things to his disciples, including that they might die. But there was good news for the disciples because they were witnesses to a Transfiguration. They learned that there was a new reality that made everything they were to endure not only bearable but desirable: They learned that Jesus is God incarnate, the king of the universe, the pinnacle of salvation history, ready to inaugurate his kingdom.

Artworks (in order) that Pastor Chris mentioned in this podcast/sermon:

1. Icon: Transfiguration of Jesus (1408) Theophanes the Greek.

2. Mosaic in the apse of the Church of the Transfiguration (1924) Mt. Tabor.

3. The Transfiguration (c 1520) Raphael.

4. The Transfiguration of Jesus (1824) Alexander Ivanov.

5. Transfiguration of Jesus (1872) Carl Bloch.

6. Transfiguration (2008) Lewis Bowman.

7. The Transfiguration (2023) Chris Brazelton (The image used on the title page of this podcast/sermon).

8. The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ (2025) George Meluch.