Artisan Church Podcast (www.artisanchurch.com/podcast)

This week's sermon explores how there are many forms of wilderness in our lives, and how those spaces can become grumbling refuges for us that stunt our deeper purpose. As Israel seeks the Promised Land and Nicodemus tries to understand Jesus's instruction on the Kingdom of God, we, too, are invited to explore how to leave the wildernesses of our lives and head home towards home again.

Speaker: Pastor Jae Newman

Part of the series “Lent ”

God made a promise to Abram, and 24 years later, it still had not been fulfilled. After many trials and mistakes, and with some pointed reminders, Abram received a new name—Abraham—and a new version of the promise. Abraham is later commended by the Apostle Paul for his faith, which was shaky, messy, and sometimes barely there.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Lent ”

In between two instances of hearing a voice from heaven name him "my beloved son," Jesus experienced much trial, temptation, and suffering. For those of us who are in between our mountaintop transcendent spiritual experiences, we can use Lent as an opportunity to practice the repentance of a transformed mind: trusting God and waiting with hope for the next reassurance.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Lent ”

The Magnificat, Mary's hymn of praise to God, is full of righteous anger at the injustices of her world—and ours. We can easily imagine her with her fist raised in protest! Yet we must not move too quickly toward an un righteous anger. Following the example of Mary at the Annunciation, we can see two other gestures of Mary that prepared her heart to sing such a song.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Advent ”

Some of the biblical texts chosen for the season of Advent are downright apocalyptic! This is because they emphasize the second coming of Jesus. While these passages can cause us to feel some anxiety about the world, if can trust and rely on Jesus, we can still live lives that are marked by joy, prayer, and peace.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Advent ”

The Gospels tell us that Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness to pray as he cultivated his own consciousness of God in the midst of his activities. Christian sages and mystics from the past and in the present day have emphasized the link between contemplation and meditation and continuing Jesus’ acts of healing and peacemaking.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Make Peace ”

For those who find the "verse by verse" approach unsatisfying or unconvincing, it may be helpful to think instead about the broad principles expressed and implied in scripture. Identifying the moral logic found in the Bible and seeking to apply it consistently to all social issues of our day is a valid method of applying biblical truth.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “All Are Welcome: Queer Inclusion From a Christian Perspective ”

The most obvious (if not the most helpful) approach to this topic is to examine the relatively few verses in the Bible that directly address LGBTQ+ matters. Although these verses have traditionally been used to exclude queer folks, it is reasonable to reach a different interpretation after a more careful reading of the text.

Recommended article: "Brief Biblical Case for LGBTQ Inclusion " by The Reformation Project

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “All Are Welcome: Queer Inclusion From a Christian Perspective ”

The story of Jesus and Peter walking on water includes the oft-quoted phrase "You of little faith!" But it is evident from the story that even "little" faith is enough to experience a miracle. What if we celebrated our small moments of faith, rather than feeling belittled and insufficient?

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Great Green Growing Time: An Ordinary Time Series ”

The miracle of the loaves and fishes is one of the most well-known stories in the entire Bible. But there are details all around the main event of the story that we may not have considered. We take a look at some of those details, wondering about what God might have for us along the margins.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Great Green Growing Time: An Ordinary Time Series ”

In a much-quoted passage in the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul berates himself for doing things he does not want to do. Yet in a much-quoted teaching in the book of Matthew, Jesus says that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. How are we to make sense of these competing narratives within Christianity?

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Great Green Growing Time: An Ordinary Time Series ”

When Jesus sent out his disciples, he told them they were some of the few who could speak truth to power among the religious establishment. But he warned them that their message would not be received kindly by all. And then he gave them the ultimate superpower: to walk away in peace from those who would not listen.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Great Green Growing Time: An Ordinary Time Series ”

Sometimes, prayer is only one piece of the puzzle. There are moments when we are called not only to prayerful reflection but to prayerful action . In taking action to work toward the world God desires, we can not only participate in the answering of our own prayer; we can also become part of the answer to someone else's prayer.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Recovering Prayer: Prayer for People who Can’t Pray Anymore ”

Have you ever been told that your emotions can't be trusted? That your heart is "deceitful above all things"? This message is for you, and the news is good: God accepts and loves all of you: your brain, your heart, and yes, your emotions. This is actually the more complete message we can receive if we listen to the whole scriptural record rather than just one verse.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Recovering Prayer: Prayer for People who Can’t Pray Anymore ”

Many of us have been in places where community prayer was used to manipulate, where expectations felt unbearably heavy, or where the whole thing felt like one more religious performance. As we seek to recover prayer, let us consider how the act of praying together can become beautiful and safe again.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Recovering Prayer: Prayer for People who Can’t Pray Anymore ”

Thomas à Kempis said, "It is easier to be silent altogether than to speak with moderation." When we find we lack the words to pray, one option is to engage in silent prayer. In this form of prayer, we abide with Jesus and listen for the voice of God, which may take the form of a word from a friend, an insight from scripture, the awe inspired by nature, or many other forms,

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Recovering Prayer: Prayer for People who Can’t Pray Anymore ”

A sermon based on chapter 9 of Wholehearted Faith by Rachel Held Evans, in which the author writes eloquently about the waters of baptism, which is a sacrament that reminds us that we belong . We conduct an Ignatian reading, imagining ourselves at Jesus's baptism and reflecting on how water reminds us that everything in God's creation is connected.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Work of the People (Wholehearted Faith): Artisan Community Read: Wholehearted Faith ”

A sermon based on chapter 6 of Wholehearted Faith by Rachel Held Evans: Can we here at Artisan Church recover a real sense of conviction about our actions and the harm we have done to others and to ourselves without also traumatizing (or re-traumatizing) ourselves with the deeply destructive models of shame-based religion many of us were raised with?

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Work of the People (Wholehearted Faith): Artisan Community Read: Wholehearted Faith ”

The biblical texts for this week offer us a wonderful opportunity to consider how (and how not!) to read the Bible. What do you do when you can choose from among the prosperity gospel, stringent literalism, social justice, and signs and wonders—all in one week’s texts? We will try to figure it out together.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Work of the People (Epiphany): Epiphany ”

The prophet Micah speaks with eloquence about a “controversy” between the people and God. They want to focus on proper worship, while God wants them to focus on justice and mercy. In his own time, Jesus points the people back to these themes at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Work of the People (Epiphany): Epiphany ”

We celebrate the last day of the liturgical Christmas season (albeit a couple days late) by reflecting on the story of the magi visiting the child Jesus. This often misplaced story offers us a moving picture of God’s desire in Jesus to offer salvation to every tribe and nation—not just a select few. This is indeed good news!

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Work of the People (Epiphany): Epiphany ”

One of the overly simplistic platitudes we are trying to avoid is the idea that we’ll all be fine “in the sweet by and by,” some future hope. We should seek to find some balance between a real hope in God’s ultimate healing and saving work and the need for peace and relief in the here and now.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “World Falling Apart*: *But We’re Staying Together ”

Artisan’s most distant member all the way from Finland, Ville Anttila, joins us in person to share a message and a testimony. What should the direction of our faith be, when a "traditional view of faith" can at the same time prop up some people while slowly killing others?

Speaker: Ville Anttila

Part of the series “The Church in the World: Celebrating the Global Church ”

As we think about the Church in the world, and particularly Artisan Church at work in the world, it's important for us to parse out the aspects of our faith that have been shaped by U.S. culture. In this sermon, Becka will encourage us to consider the cultural lens through which we look at God and the church. How has our narrative of Christianity been influenced by our cultural, political, and economic narratives as citizens and/or residents of the United States?

Speaker: Rebeka Fergusson-Lutz

Part of the series “The Church in the World: Celebrating the Global Church ”

The most famous reaction to the risen Christ comes from Thomas, who refused to believe Jesus was alive unless and until he could feel the holes in his body. Although Thomas earned a pejorative nickname for his skepticism, Jesus did not scold or deride him. This should be an encouragement to doubters everywhere.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Gospel of John: Conclusion (Part Two): Part Two ”

As we look ahead to the beginning of Lent, we will consider the most common Lenten spiritual practice: fasting. Whether it is a traditional food fast, or another form of voluntary self-deprivation, fasting can be a powerful practice. Yet it can also feel oppressive, and we may carry some baggage from previous attempts. One helpful key: adding in something to replace whatever you’re “giving up” for Lent.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “First Light: Spiritual Practices After a Long Night ”