Epiclesis

Isaiah had some encouraging news for the people of his day; the problem was, their ultimate deliverance was a long, long way off. How could he say that "salvation was close at hand"? One more thing: What can we take from this important piece of prophecy? Join us!

Elijah's pain took him from one momentous mountain to another. Where does pain take you? And does pain lead you actually to receive something from God, or do you tend to camp out in pain? Join Pastor Chris for a look at Elijah, some mountains, and pain.

Our worldly notions about wealth and worth can color our view of the Kingdom of God. But these upside down times call for eternal, right-side up truths. Are you a coco de mer or a mustard seed kind of Christian? Thank God for His word, and our ancient Christian heritage, to give us priceless insight and direction.

Rocks appear in Scripture a lot, but the Ultimate Rock is Jesus, of course. In this teaching, we pick up again with Isaiah who has some words of encouragement about the future-- after exile-- and the Rock. Along the way, Pastor Chris also sang an old favorite hymn. Join us!

Pastor Chris recently released a video address to the family of Epiclesis. Along the way he mentioned two or three really good books (and helpful quotes), a couple of spiritual disciplines he's asking the church to take on (including putting on your "PPE"), and then he concluded with some stirring words from a second century martyred pastor. Find the video at the top of the page, or if you just want to listen to the audio portion, use the second media player just above.

If you're looking for some immediate encouragement, then you'd better just move right along. Pastor Chris thinks the church is headed for a kind of exile. But if you're interested in how there might be purpose in exile, or in events that result in the "Lord's renown," then jump in. In this teaching, Pastor Chris takes a close look at the exile of the Children of Israel into Babylon and draws some comparisons to our times. Are there any lessons for us to learn? You bet. Join us!

Lament is an important, and biblical, way forward in the time of Covid. The problem is that not many evangelicals know how. Dr. Carla Waterman is the guest on this episode of Ancient-Future Faith to talk about lament and how it can steady us in trying times. Great insight here, friends. Listen in... and be blessed!

There seems to be much to fear these days, but Dr. Carl Peters gives us some pastoral encouragement, and biblical reasons, to fear not! Have you ever thought about not fearing as a way to push back against the powers and principalities? In this upside down world, surely one of the most countercultural things we can do is not fear. Join us!

Pastor Chris brought a timely message about the kind of yoke we should bear in an upside down world. But does our culture want us to be yoked to something else? Along the way we talked about what the church should do-- and be-- in this "new Dark Ages." Finally, we identified one of the most counter-cultural things Christians can do today.

In a first-ever three-way telephone conversation on Ancient-Future Faith, Chris talks with Dr. Steve Pinson and Dr. Ellen Koehler about our current pandemic's effects on the church. Steve gives insights about the health-related concerns from his perspective as a veteran anesthesiologist, and Ellen reflects on potential ramifications for worship from her perspective as Epiclesis' Pastor for Worship and Liturgy.

Toward the end, Chris asks the big question on so many pastors' minds these days: Will people come back to church?