Commons Church Podcast

Empowered by Spirit - Bobbi Salkeld

The start of season ten! Sometimes, I can hardly believe it’s been that long. And while we are still a year away from our tenth anniversary, it seems like a good time to go back and ground ourselves in some core ideas. For years now, we have included some of our foundational theological narrative on the first page of the journal. In this series, we will dive into each of the six statements that have kept us on course. And we will trust that God will help us journey even deeper into the Way of Je...

Scandalous Grace - Jeremy Duncan

The start of season ten! Sometimes, I can hardly believe it’s been that long. And while we are still a year away from our tenth anniversary, it seems like a good time to go back and ground ourselves in some core ideas. For years now, we have included some of our foundational theological narrative on the first page of the journal. In this series, we will dive into each of the six statements that have kept us on course. And we will trust that God will help us journey even deeper into the Way of Je...

Jesus Doesn't Fix God - Jeremy Duncan

The start of season ten! Sometimes, I can hardly believe it’s been that long. And while we are still a year away from our tenth anniversary, it seems like a good time to go back and ground ourselves in some core ideas. For years now, we have included some of our foundational theological narrative on the first page of the journal. In this series, we will dive into each of the six statements that have kept us on course. And we will trust that God will help us journey even deeper into the Way of Je...

Letting the Angry God Go - Bobbi Salkeld

The start of season ten! Sometimes, I can hardly believe it’s been that long. And while we are still a year away from our tenth anniversary, it seems like a good time to go back and ground ourselves in some core ideas. For years now, we have included some of our foundational theological narrative on the first page of the journal. In this series, we will dive into each of the six statements that have kept us on course. And we will trust that God will help us journey even deeper into the Way of Je...

Reading Through Jesus - Jeremy Duncan

The start of season ten! Sometimes, I can hardly believe it’s been that long. And while we are still a year away from our tenth anniversary, it seems like a good time to go back and ground ourselves in some core ideas. For years now, we have included some of our foundational theological narrative on the first page of the journal. In this series, we will dive into each of the six statements that have kept us on course. And we will trust that God will help us journey even deeper into the Way of Je...

the words and The Word - Jeremy Duncan

Hanging Out - Bobbi Salkeld

“....Happiness is not an ideal of reason but of imagination” –Immanuel Kant Two years ago, we had a blast doing a series like this...and we think you did too.So, we’re bringing happiness back.In part, because this is a practice of community. To share stories. To make meaning. To brighten faces. But also because it’s a practice of imagination. To shape futures. To inspire choices. To chart new pathways. Life has a way of making us feel limited at times, as though the patterns and options we have ...

Rest - Yelena Pakhomova

“....Happiness is not an ideal of reason but of imagination” –Immanuel Kant Two years ago, we had a blast doing a series like this...and we think you did too.So, we’re bringing happiness back.In part, because this is a practice of community. To share stories. To make meaning. To brighten faces. But also because it’s a practice of imagination. To shape futures. To inspire choices. To chart new pathways. Life has a way of making us feel limited at times, as though the patterns and options we have ...

Deconstruction and Lego - Jeremy Duncan

“....Happiness is not an ideal of reason but of imagination” –Immanuel Kant Two years ago, we had a blast doing a series like this...and we think you did too.So, we’re bringing happiness back.In part, because this is a practice of community. To share stories. To make meaning. To brighten faces. But also because it’s a practice of imagination. To shape futures. To inspire choices. To chart new pathways. Life has a way of making us feel limited at times, as though the patterns and options we have ...

A Day on the River- Scott Wall

“....Happiness is not an ideal of reason but of imagination” –Immanuel Kant Two years ago, we had a blast doing a series like this...and we think you did too.So, we’re bringing happiness back.In part, because this is a practice of community. To share stories. To make meaning. To brighten faces. But also because it’s a practice of imagination. To shape futures. To inspire choices. To chart new pathways. Life has a way of making us feel limited at times, as though the patterns and options we have ...

Anthony Bloom - Yelena Pakhomova

This one is about Anthony Bloom *** The Christian tradition has always recognized certain individuals as playing an important role in its formation and development. These people are often singled out - their stories recorded - their contributions remembered. From Paul to Ignatius, and from Julian of Norwich to Teresa of Calcutta, we call them saints. Saints are often memorialized by the places they’re from, by the disciplines or fields they worked in, or by the times they lived. Their holiness d...

Mary Oliver - Bobbi Salkeld

This one is about Mary Oliver *** The Christian tradition has always recognized certain individuals as playing an important role in its formation and development. These people are often singled out - their stories recorded - their contributions remembered. From Paul to Ignatius, and from Julian of Norwich to Teresa of Calcutta, we call them saints. Saints are often memorialized by the places they’re from, by the disciplines or fields they worked in, or by the times they lived. Their holiness dir...

Amy-Jill Levine - Scott Wall

This one is about Amy-Jill Levine *** The Christian tradition has always recognized certain individuals as playing an important role in its formation and development. These people are often singled out - their stories recorded - their contributions remembered. From Paul to Ignatius, and from Julian of Norwich to Teresa of Calcutta, we call them saints. Saints are often memorialized by the places they’re from, by the disciplines or fields they worked in, or by the times they lived. Their holiness...

Rene Girard - Jeremy Duncan

This one is about Rene Girard *** The Christian tradition has always recognized certain individuals as playing an important role in its formation and development. These people are often singled out - their stories recorded - their contributions remembered. From Paul to Ignatius, and from Julian of Norwich to Teresa of Calcutta, we call them saints. Saints are often memorialized by the places they’re from, by the disciplines or fields they worked in, or by the times they lived. Their holiness dir...

Renewed Covenant - Bobbi Salkeld

Exodus 33-40 *** There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers. We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering. It's a universal experience not to know the way forward but to press on anyway. Two steps ahead, one step back. Up a ladder, down a snake. Jes...

Golden Calves - Jeremy Duncan

Exodus 32 *** There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers. We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering. It's a universal experience not to know the way forward but to press on anyway. Two steps ahead, one step back. Up a ladder, down a snake. Jesus'...

All the Commandments - Jeremy Duncan

Exodus 20 *** There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers. We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering. It's a universal experience not to know the way forward but to press on anyway. Two steps ahead, one step back. Up a ladder, down a snake. Jesus'...

In the Wilderness - Scott Wall

Exodus *** There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers. We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering. It's a universal experience not to know the way forward but to press on anyway. Two steps ahead, one step back. Up a ladder, down a snake. Jesus' li...

Through the Waters - Jeremy Duncan

Exodus 13-15 *** There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers. We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering. It's a universal experience not to know the way forward but to press on anyway. Two steps ahead, one step back. Up a ladder, down a snake. Jes...

All Those Plagues - Bobbi Salkeld

Exodus 7+12 *** There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers. We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering. It's a universal experience not to know the way forward but to press on anyway. Two steps ahead, one step back. Up a ladder, down a snake. Jesu...

Burning Bush - Bobbi Salkeld

Exodus 3+4 *** There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers. We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering. It's a universal experience not to know the way forward but to press on anyway. Two steps ahead, one step back. Up a ladder, down a snake. Jesus...

Pharaoh and Shiprah and Puah - Jeremy Duncan

Exodus 1+2 *** There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers. We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering. It's a universal experience not to know the way forward but to press on anyway. Two steps ahead, one step back. Up a ladder, down a snake. Jesus...

First Century Sex - Jeremy Duncan

1 Cor 5-7 *** Some people – maybe you’re one of them – turn to pastors to make good choices. They want to know if what they think is acceptable to God, if what they do is pleasing to God, and if what they consider is in the will of God. There’s something blessed about want- ing affirmation from someone you trust. But what if your pastors don’t have the perfect answer and can’t give you the ideal guidance? Are there other ways to make good choices? Of course, there are. Wisdom is boundless like t...

Food and Freedom - Yelena Pakhomova

1 Corinthians 8:1–13 *** Some people – maybe you’re one of them – turn to pastors to make good choices. They want to know if what they think is acceptable to God, if what they do is pleasing to God, and if what they consider is in the will of God. There’s something blessed about wanting affirmation from someone you trust. But what if your pastors don’t have the perfect answer and can’t give you the ideal guidance? Are there other ways to make good choices? Of course, there are. Wisdom is boundle...

Consolation and Desolation - Bobbi Salkeld

1 Corinthians 6 *** Some people – maybe you’re one of them – turn to pastors to make good choices. They want to know if what they think is acceptable to God, if what they do is pleasing to God, and if what they consider is in the will of God. There’s something blessed about wanting affirmation from someone you trust. But what if your pastors don’t have the perfect answer and can’t give you the ideal guidance? Are there other ways to make good choices? Of course, there are. Wisdom is boundless li...

Who's TEAM are you on? - Jeremy Duncan

1 Corinthians 1 *** Some people – maybe you’re one of them – turn to pastors to make good choices. They want to know if what they think is acceptable to God, if what they do is pleasing to God, and if what they consider is in the will of God. There’s something blessed about want- ing affirmation from someone you trust. But what if your pastors don’t have the perfect answer and can’t give you the ideal guidance? Are there other ways to make good choices? Of course, there are. Wisdom is boundless ...

Mary the Tower and Thomas the Doubter - Jeremy Duncan

Dawn is breaking. Darkness fades away. And in the light of Easter morning we awake to find that resurrection has come to find us. Slipping into everyday moments. Seeping into the dried out and forgotten places of our hearts. Showing up to surprise in unexpected ways. So, we celebrate! Christ has been raised to life, and with him all creation too. Life and love burst into full bloom. Decay and despair release their grip. And as they do, we give in to hope. We look forward with fresh expectation. ...

Good Friday - Bobbi Salkeld

Things weren’t going to end well. Even after doing so much good, sharing so much love, and bringing so much hope, Jesus kept telling his friends that his enemies would get the best of him. And then, in the final moments of his life - With his body taken and broken by violence - Jesus seemed to pause as death approached. He turned his face to heaven, and taught his friends a prayer for broken hearts. Simply asking, “Why?” Which is the question we bring with us to the end of Holy Week. Carried fro...

Glory Versus Palms - Jeremy Duncan

Palm Sunday: JOHN 17 + 12 A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story. John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20). But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory” doesn’t mean much to most of us. It feels stodgy and strange. But what if we replace it with its definition? A...

It's Good That I Go - Bobbi Salkeld

Fifth Sunday of Lent: JOHN 15:18-16:15 A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story. John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20). But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory” doesn’t mean much to most of us. It feels stodgy and strange. But what if we replace it with its ...