The Neighborhood Church, Bentonville, AR

This week Pr Joe is joined by Tom Helmich and Tevo Christmann for a podcast that was supposed to be about Christmas but turned out to be mostly Tevo sharing stories of praying, hoping, and seeing it happen. In a way that surprised us too, the podcast did turn out to be about Christmas because Christmas is precisely a story of praying, hoping and seeing it happen - in this case hoping and seeing our Savior. We delve into the Luke 2;21-24 and reflect on the names of Jesus and their meaning.

Support the show

Check out more here...

This Week Par Joe, Tom and Tevo recap the joy of the KidCity Christmas play "The Bethlehem News Network" and we reminisce on the not-so-behind-the-scenes mishaps during the play.

Today's passage comes out of Luke 3, when John the Baptist announces the coming of the one who yields the winnowing fork and separates the wheat form the chaff. Hint: It's Jesus. Plus: it's good news!

Support the show

Check out more here...

This week Kim returns and brings an extra special guest. You cannot hear him because he is at this stage mostly non-verbal, but trust us Luke Kirby is on this podacst.

Pr Joe, Kim and Tevo read out of Matthew 2 the announcement heard by the magi and reflect situations in our lives when God speaks unexpectedly and changes everything.

Support the show

Check out more here...

PR Joe and Tevo get together to muse on the church goings-on leading up to what some believe to be the most wonderful time of the year.

Today's reading is out of Luke 2:8-20, the story of the angel's announcement of Christ's to the Shepherds in the field. In an unexpected moment, these lowly shepherds receive the most wonderful news: our savior is born! At first they are afraid but they find Jesus at the end.

When God breaks the silence it can be terrifying at first but there are wonders to see along the way and worship at the end.

Support the show

Check out more here...

This week Pr Joe Liles is joined by Tom Helmich and Tevo Christmann in reflecting on the story of Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10.

Cornelius was a Roman centurion who believed, gave alms and prayed constantly. However, as a gentile and a Roman, he did not enjoy participation in the Jewish community. After Pentecost, gentiles were coming to Christ and so there was a decision to be made about whether gentiles, unable able to join ranks with Jews, would be able join in with Christians. How is such a decision to be made? Through prayer God made it clear to Peter that gentiles were welcome. 

Today, let us seek God in prayer that our eyes would be opened to ways in which we erect religious barriers to the kingdom.

Support the show

Check out more here...

This week Pr Joe is joined by Tom Helmich, Tevo Christmann and very special guest Emily Harkins who, having preached at church on Sunday, stayed a couple of extra days to share a bit more of how she creates room for unlikely people to have a seat at the table.

Emily Harkins was ordained as a Pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in May of 2020 and serves as the Lead Pastor and Founding Developer of this new community of faith, The Dwelling.

Since 2013, Emily has worked alongside persons experiencing homelessness through the City with Dwellings Emergency Overflow Shelter at Augsburg Lutheran Church in Winston-Salem and the City with Dwellings Community First Center. She also was one of the founding board members of City with Dwellings and continues to serve as an advisor to the organization.

Find more about The Dwelling at https://www.thedwellingws.org/

Support the show

Check out more here...

This week Pr Joe is joined by Tom Helmich, Tevo Christmann and first-time special guest Bryan O'Patry to discuss the first chapter of the book of Acts.

This discussion follows up Tom's message this past Sunday where he talked about the primacy of the work of the Holy Spirit over any thing done by human beings. As an example he discussed baptism as a sacrament performed in obedience, but whose validity really comes from the Spirit rather than any sacred rite or special pastoral ordination. This means that anyone who has the Spirit has a seat at the Table of Christ. No one can take that away from us.

"You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him." (Romans 8:9)

Support the show

Check out more here...

In the Church today, like in the time Paul wrote the letter to the Romans, it is possible to hold different opinions from our brothers and sisters in Christ. In Romans paul sets out to explain how that is possible. First, he explains that we are all fallen, and therefore are are all equal. Then he explains that our justification comes from Christ and not our deeds. How then should we live?

Pr Joe Lies is joined by Tom Helmich and Tevo Christmann in discussing the 14th chapter of Romans where Paul concludes that the Christian life is to be lived according to one's conscience.

"So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin." -Romans 14:22-23

Support the show

Check out more here...

**We are aware of the problem with this audio and decided to post this podacst anyway**

Pr Joe returns with Tom Helmich, Tevo Christmann and second time special guest Taylor Smith in reading from Romans 5, exploring the meaning of Mission, and understanding that the mark of justification, which we are given by faith, is what leads us to mission in all its forms.

As mentioned by Taylor, a quote from Karen Watson, a missionary to Iraq, killed by unknown assailants on March 15, 2044:

"You should only be opening this in the event of death.

When God calls there are no regrets. I tried to share my heart with you as much as possible, my heart for the nations. I wasn't called to a place; I was called to Him. To obey was my objective, to suffer was expected, His glory my reward, His glory my reward . . .

The missionary heart:

Cares more than some think is wise
Risks more that some think is safe
Dreams more than some think is practical
Expects more than some think is possible.
I was called not to comfort or to success but to obedience. . . .

There is no Joy outside of knowing Jesus and serving Him. I love you two and my church family.

In His care,

Salaam, Karen"

Support the show

Check out more here...

While Pr Joe Liles travels and Tom Helmich enjoy vacation, Kim and Ryan Kirby, Cheryl Schilb and Tevo Christmann get together to discuss the necessity and purpose of hard conversations.

Support the show

Check out more here...