Taken together in this opening sequence of Leviticus, we have a personal offering that announces our presence before God and our commitment to engage with him, we have a grain offering where we remember God’s promise and we become part of how that memory is unlocked and remembered in others, and we have a peace offering where we pause to be thankful for all that God has gifted to us, lest that realization slip away. Leviticus is not a one note song - there is this surprising symphony of images a...
Oct 10, 2016•35 min•Season 3Ep. 5
We are going to try to explore the major themes and movements in this book, and in that we’ll try to understand what God was teaching this ancient culture about himself. As we do that, sometimes we’re going to see how God was preparing the story of Jesus and the connection is going to make a lot sense to us. Other times we’re going to see how just how completely Jesus upends these ancient assumptions about God, and we’re going to see just how incredibly revolutionary the Christian story was in b...
Oct 03, 2016•31 min•Season 3Ep. 4
September always feels like a new start. School is back in session, the pause of summer vacations have come to an end, and there is renewed focus on moving forward. It’s no di erent for us at Commons. And so every year we like to start September with a re ection on the central concepts that guide our community. This year we’ll take the letter of 1st John as our guide and walk through those three key values that shape Commons. Intellectually honest. Spiritually passionate. With Jesus at the centr...
Sep 26, 2016•31 min•Season 3Ep. 3
September always feels like a new start. School is back in session, the pause of summer vacations have come to an end, and there is renewed focus on moving forward. It’s no di erent for us at Commons. And so every year we like to start September with a re ection on the central concepts that guide our community. This year we’ll take the letter of 1st John as our guide and walk through those three key values that shape Commons. Intellectually honest. Spiritually passionate. With Jesus at the centr...
Sep 19, 2016•34 min•Season 3Ep. 2
September always feels like a new start. School is back in session, the pause of summer vacations have come to an end, and there is renewed focus on moving forward. It’s no di erent for us at Commons. And so every year we like to start September with a re ection on the central concepts that guide our community. This year we’ll take the letter of 1st John as our guide and walk through those three key values that shape Commons. Intellectually honest. Spiritually passionate. With Jesus at the centr...
Sep 11, 2016•33 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Jesus knew the Psalms. Paul knew the Psalms. In fact, the entire early Christian community was steeped in the same Psalms that have served as the central prayer and hymnbook for the church since its beginning-until now. Reading, studying, and praying the Psalms is God’s means for teaching us what it means to be human: how to express our emotions and yearnings, how to reconcile our anger and our compassion, how to see our story in light of God’s sweeping narrative of salvation. Our intent this su...
Sep 05, 2016•30 min•Season 2Ep. 51
Jesus knew the Psalms. Paul knew the Psalms. In fact, the entire early Christian community was steeped in the same Psalms that have served as the central prayer and hymnbook for the church since its beginning-until now. Reading, studying, and praying the Psalms is God’s means for teaching us what it means to be human: how to express our emotions and yearnings, how to reconcile our anger and our compassion, how to see our story in light of God’s sweeping narrative of salvation. Our intent this su...
Aug 28, 2016•32 min•Season 2Ep. 50
Jesus knew the Psalms. Paul knew the Psalms. In fact, the entire early Christian community was steeped in the same Psalms that have served as the central prayer and hymnbook for the church since its beginning-until now. Reading, studying, and praying the Psalms is God’s means for teaching us what it means to be human: how to express our emotions and yearnings, how to reconcile our anger and our compassion, how to see our story in light of God’s sweeping narrative of salvation. Our intent this su...
Aug 22, 2016•24 min•Season 2Ep. 49
Jesus knew the Psalms. Paul knew the Psalms. In fact, the entire early Christian community was steeped in the same Psalms that have served as the central prayer and hymnbook for the church since its beginning-until now. Reading, studying, and praying the Psalms is God’s means for teaching us what it means to be human: how to express our emotions and yearnings, how to reconcile our anger and our compassion, how to see our story in light of God’s sweeping narrative of salvation. Our intent this su...
Aug 15, 2016•34 min•Season 2Ep. 48
Jesus knew the Psalms. Paul knew the Psalms. In fact, the entire early Christian community was steeped in the same Psalms that have served as the central prayer and hymnbook for the church since its beginning-until now. Reading, studying, and praying the Psalms is God’s means for teaching us what it means to be human: how to express our emotions and yearnings, how to reconcile our anger and our compassion, how to see our story in light of God’s sweeping narrative of salvation. Our intent this su...
Aug 08, 2016•30 min•Season 2Ep. 47
Psalm 73 Jesus knew the Psalms. Paul knew the Psalms. In fact, the entire early Christian community was steeped in the same Psalms that have served as the central prayer and hymnbook for the church since its beginning-until now. Reading, studying, and praying the Psalms is God’s means for teaching us what it means to be human: how to express our emotions and yearnings, how to reconcile our anger and our compassion, how to see our story in light of God’s sweeping narrative of salvation. Our inten...
Aug 01, 2016•33 min•Season 2Ep. 46
Psalm 8 Jesus knew the Psalms. Paul knew the Psalms. In fact, the entire early Christian community was steeped in the same Psalms that have served as the central prayer and hymnbook for the church since its beginning-until now. Reading, studying, and praying the Psalms is God’s means for teaching us what it means to be human: how to express our emotions and yearnings, how to reconcile our anger and our compassion, how to see our story in light of God’s sweeping narrative of salvation. Our intent...
Jul 22, 2016•26 min•Season 2Ep. 45
Psalm 51 Jesus knew the Psalms. Paul knew the Psalms. In fact, the entire early Christian community was steeped in the same Psalms that have served as the central prayer and hymnbook for the church since its beginning-until now. Reading, studying, and praying the Psalms is God’s means for teaching us what it means to be human: how to express our emotions and yearnings, how to reconcile our anger and our compassion, how to see our story in light of God’s sweeping narrative of salvation. Our inten...
Jul 16, 2016•32 min•Season 2Ep. 44
Jesus knew the Psalms. Paul knew the Psalms. In fact, the entire early Christian community was steeped in the same Psalms that have served as the central prayer and hymnbook for the church since its beginning-until now. Reading, studying, and praying the Psalms is God’s means for teaching us what it means to be human: how to express our emotions and yearnings, how to reconcile our anger and our compassion, how to see our story in light of God’s sweeping narrative of salvation. Our intent this su...
Jul 03, 2016•35 min•Season 2Ep. 43
We believe we need a recovery of sorts. Contemporary culture has pushed us to think that public life is mostly structured (show up on time, fill your obligations, do your job), but private life is mostly unstructured (free time to use as you see it). What happens then when spiritual life is relegated to the unstructured part of life, to our private “off work” world where there are few obligations? Well, it tends to exist in emotional spurts, through momentary impulses. It tends to lose focus. Yo...
Jun 27, 2016•34 min•Season 2Ep. 42
We believe we need a recovery of sorts. Contemporary culture has pushed us to think that public life is mostly structured (show up on time, fill your obligations, do your job), but private life is mostly unstructured (free time to use as you see it). What happens then when spiritual life is relegated to the unstructured part of life, to our private “off work” world where there are few obligations? Well, it tends to exist in emotional spurts, through momentary impulses. It tends to lose focus. Yo...
Jun 20, 2016•34 min•Season 2Ep. 41
We believe we need a recovery of sorts. Contemporary culture has pushed us to think that public life is mostly structured (show up on time, fill your obligations, do your job), but private life is mostly unstructured (free time to use as you see it). What happens then when spiritual life is relegated to the unstructured part of life, to our private “off work” world where there are few obligations? Well, it tends to exist in emotional spurts, through momentary impulses. It tends to lose focus. Yo...
Jun 13, 2016•32 min•Season 2Ep. 40
We believe we need a recovery of sorts. Contemporary culture has pushed us to think that public life is mostly structured (show up on time, fill your obligations, do your job), but private life is mostly unstructured (free time to use as you see it). What happens then when spiritual life is relegated to the unstructured part of life, to our private “off work” world where there are few obligations? Well, it tends to exist in emotional spurts, through momentary impulses. It tends to lose focus. Yo...
Jun 06, 2016•27 min•Season 2Ep. 39
What is the “good news” of Jesus Christ? Why do people need to hear it? How can they experience it? What will it mean for their future? And what does the good news have to do with everyday life? These large and basic questions form Paul’s agenda in Romans—an agenda dictated by a combination of audiences, circumstances and purposes. The salvation issue, with all its various facets, was at the center of the early Christian movement as it sought to defend itself over against both Judaism and pagani...
May 30, 2016•34 min•Season 2Ep. 38
What is the “good news” of Jesus Christ? Why do people need to hear it? How can they experience it? What will it mean for their future? And what does the good news have to do with everyday life? These large and basic questions form Paul’s agenda in Romans—an agenda dictated by a combination of audiences, circumstances and purposes. The salvation issue, with all its various facets, was at the center of the early Christian movement as it sought to defend itself over against both Judaism and pagani...
May 23, 2016•35 min•Season 2Ep. 37
What is the “good news” of Jesus Christ? Why do people need to hear it? How can they experience it? What will it mean for their future? And what does the good news have to do with everyday life? These large and basic questions form Paul’s agenda in Romans—an agenda dictated by a combination of audiences, circumstances and purposes. The salvation issue, with all its various facets, was at the center of the early Christian movement as it sought to defend itself over against both Judaism and pagani...
May 16, 2016•34 min•Season 2Ep. 36
What is the “good news” of Jesus Christ? Why do people need to hear it? How can they experience it? What will it mean for their future? And what does the good news have to do with everyday life? These large and basic questions form Paul’s agenda in Romans—an agenda dictated by a combination of audiences, circumstances and purposes. The salvation issue, with all its various facets, was at the center of the early Christian movement as it sought to defend itself over against both Judaism and pagani...
May 09, 2016•34 min•Season 2Ep. 35
What is the “good news” of Jesus Christ? Why do people need to hear it? How can they experience it? What will it mean for their future? And what does the good news have to do with everyday life? These large and basic questions form Paul’s agenda in Romans—an agenda dictated by a combination of audiences, circumstances and purposes. The salvation issue, with all its various facets, was at the center of the early Christian movement as it sought to defend itself over against both Judaism and pagani...
May 02, 2016•36 min•Season 2Ep. 34
What is the “good news” of Jesus Christ? Why do people need to hear it? How can they experience it? What will it mean for their future? And what does the good news have to do with everyday life? These large and basic questions form Paul’s agenda in Romans—an agenda dictated by a combination of audiences, circumstances and purposes. The salvation issue, with all its various facets, was at the center of the early Christian movement as it sought to de ne itself over against both Judaism and paganis...
Apr 25, 2016•34 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Life is good… for the most part that is. Until some intruder, some interloper, called confusion or despair, lament or grief, loss or (gulp) death comes crashing in. And then there is no telling where the mind and heart can travel. Like the proverbial y in the ointment, life’s apparent setbacks can threaten the whole. Has everything come undone? How can I know the meaning of such things? Does life even have a meaning? The ancient book of Lamentations wrestled with just such questions. In daring f...
Apr 18, 2016•30 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Life is good… for the most part that is. Until some intruder, some interloper, called confusion or despair, lament or grief, loss or (gulp) death comes crashing in. And then there is no telling where the mind and heart can travel. Like the proverbial y in the ointment, life’s apparent setbacks can threaten the whole. Has everything come undone? How can I know the meaning of such things? Does life even have a meaning? The ancient book of Lamentations wrestled with just such questions. In daring f...
Apr 11, 2016•32 min•Season 2Ep. 31
A chance to look back at the last year and forward toward where God might be leading us. ★ Support this podcast ★
Apr 02, 2016•35 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Easter ★ Support this podcast ★
Mar 29, 2016•31 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Palm Sunday ★ Support this podcast ★
Mar 19, 2016•31 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Jesus taught primarily in parables. Short pithy stories that surprise us with Jesus unique perspective on life. These parables centre around three main concepts. Kingdom, Grace and, wait for it… Judgement. In this series we intend to face into the hardest parables, those that give us Jesus’ unique perspective on judgement. As Klyne Snodgrass explains: Discourse we tolerate; to story we attend. Story entertains, informs, involves, motivates, authenticates, and mirrors existence. By creating a nar...
Mar 11, 2016•33 min•Season 2Ep. 27
