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

From the time of Jesus's earthly ministry, there have been questions about his intention and purpose in the world. We should not be surprised to find that these questions persist in our day (and into our visions of the last days), but it does leave us with a choice: which version of Jesus will shape our choices, our attitudes, and our interactions with our world?

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Eastertide ”

Rebecca Taylor shares her "Agents of Hope" message with us.

Rebecca is a wife of 29 years, mom to four grown children, and a lifelong learner—mostly because she’s committed to not making the same mistake twice. She went to Northeastern Seminary in search of answers and came away with a master’s degree, more questions, deeper compassion, and a bigger, more resilient faith. With over 20 years of experience in churches and Christian higher education, she brings a love for people, purpose, and a strong cup of coffee. Rebecca is passionate about helping others live as everyday agents of hope.

Speaker: Rebecca Taylor

The oppressed Jewish minority in Rome were hopeful that Jesus would be a conquering king, but he disappointed them by submitting to his own execution. It would be easy for us to point the finger at modern believers who align with political power, but what if there is a message for those of us who wish to be saved from all that?

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Walking Toward the Garden ”

There are those who believe that every unfortunate event is the result of a particular sin. While there are passages in scripture that might tempt us toward that belief, Jesus explicitly rejects it—and offers a beautiful alternative vision of the role our actions play in our circumstances.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Walking Toward the Garden ”

One of the great mysteries of our faith is that it is lived out and shared through particular people and people groups but is available to and intended for ALL people. How can it be true that we receive and pass on a universal salvation while still being a set apart, holy people? Talk about awe-inspiring!

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Immersed in Awe: An Advent Sereis ”

As we prepare our minds and hearts for Advent, members of the Staff and Leadership Team will share experiences ranging from being new to being more introverted at Artisan. This panel will seek to offer safe, authentic connection, and discuss some strategies to overcoming some of the barriers that often hold us back from feeling like we belong.

Speaker: Staff and Leadership Team Members

We begin with a selection of American songs—including the "title track" of the series—that use satire and symbolism to inspire and challenge us. Each song will be paired with scripture passages and a brief pastoral reflection.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “With God On Our Side?: An election season series about America and what it means to be the people of God ”

James cautions against losing control of the words we use—especially when it comes to judging others. While it is possible to choose to say nothing, it is even more important to do the inner work of addressing the judgmental heart. This sermon concludes with a guided reflection.

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Steeped in Wisdom: The Challenges Peacemakers Face ”

A Long Way Home depicts a moment when Saroo is not sure he finds that remembering his early childhood is painful, yet he can't help but continue to remember it because it is all he has. We turn to the scriptures to find God's people being called both to remembrance and to embracing new life in Christ. How do we keep these in balance?

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Artisan Summer Read: Long Way Home ”

In the famous sand unsettling Bible story of David and Bathsheba, a powerful man commits a grave sin against a powerless woman, and then covers his actions with violence. Then a prophet calls the powerful man to account. But who are WE in this story, and where does Jesus fit in?

Speaker: Pastor Scott Austin

Part of the series “Ordinary Time 2024: A sermon series for ordinary time ”

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 ”