Sometimes we feel like we’re expected to perform joy this time of year. But the kind of joy that really matters is not naive; it’s an act of resistance. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott continues our Advent series by discussing this kind of joy, one that stands in opposition to fear and is ultimately grounded in hope. Episode Recap: Joy can feel inappropriate when we think about all the problems in the world (0:10) Jesus was born into the context of Roman oppression (3:39) Joy and fear cannot coexi...
Dec 16, 2022•25 min
When we talk about peace on earth, what kind of peace are we actually asking for? Today, lead pastor Josh Scott continues our Advent series by unpacking the idea of peace. He explains how Jesus brings a different kind of peace than many people were expecting, and he challenges us to think about the ways we can bring true peace — the kind that requires justice — to the world around us. Episode Recap: Many of us don’t know how to tell the story of Jesus without Anti-Semitism (0:10) Advent is about...
Dec 08, 2022•32 min
What does it look like to have hope in a world that’s so full of suffering and injustice? Today, lead pastor Josh Scott kicks off our Advent season series with a conversation about hope. He offers some helpful context about what hope looked like for Isaiah and in the time of Jesus, and he asks if maybe Advent is less about us waiting for God to act, and more about God waiting on us. Episode Recap: Advent represents the beginning of a new year on the Christian calendar (0:10) Advent focuses on ou...
Dec 02, 2022•32 min
The practice of silence or contemplation doesn’t require us to be passive, but to play an active role in noticing the things others might overlook. Today, author and podcaster Kat Armas wraps up our “Naked Spirituality” series by talking about the concept of silence. Kat explains how silence can be an invitation to reconnect with ourselves, with the earth, and with our community, and she reminds us that we can come to God as we are, without shame. Episode Recap: Moment of silence for the Club Q ...
Nov 28, 2022•31 min
Many of the greatest stories in the Bible start with one person who said, “yes.” Today, lead pastor Josh Scott continues our “Naked Spirituality Series” by discussing the word “yes.” He looks back at examples throughout scripture of people who said yes to new possibilities, and he reminds us that saying yes also requires us to say no to things that get in the way of whatever new thing we’re stepping into. Episode Recap: Harmony is not simplicity 2.0, it’s a new orientation (0:10) Many of the gre...
Nov 17, 2022•32 min
As we move out of a season of perplexity, we can start to experience harmony, which comes when we let go of our search for certainty. Today, Children and Student Director Tiffany Dowdy continues our “Naked Spirituality” series by reflecting on the word “behold.” Tiffany explains how we can experience harmony by simply existing in the current moment, and they remind us that the goal is not to arrive somewhere, but rather just to remember that we are loved. Episode Recap: After the season of perpl...
Nov 10, 2022•34 min
When you’re in a season of deconstruction or disorientation, it’s natural and important to say “no” and ask “why.” Today, lead pastor Josh Scott continues our “Naked Spirituality” series by unpacking the role that these two words play during the season of perplexity. He also shares how he sees “no” and “why” reflected in the Psalms, as the writers experienced orientation and disorientation, before then finding a new orientation. Episode Recap: Perplexity is a season of deconstruction (0:10) “No”...
Oct 27, 2022•33 min
Just as summer fades into autumn, our spiritual journeys will naturally include a transition from the season of complexity to one of perplexity. And in that season, it’s normal and even healthy to ask the question “When will this be over?” Today, Hunter Wade continues our “Naked Spirituality” series by discussing the idea of “when.” Hunter reflects on her own journey of asking “when” and explains how we can show up for people in our lives who are asking this question. Episode Recap: It’s OK if t...
Oct 20, 2022•41 min
What if prayer is less about asking God to intervene on someone’s behalf and more about becoming aware of the ways we can show up to meet people’s needs? Today, lead pastor Josh Scott continues our “Naked Spirituality” series by unpacking some of the ways that the word “please” can shift our awareness, move us to compassion, and inspire us to take action. He explains how “please” reminds us that the world is bigger than just our needs and desires and encourages us to show up for the people aroun...
Oct 12, 2022•31 min
At some point in our lives, many of us start to believe that asking for help is a sign of weakness or inadequacy. In reality, “help” is an invitation to build relationships and establish a stronger and deeper form of community. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott continues our “Naked Spirituality” series by exploring why “help” is so hard to say but so important to embrace as part of your spiritual journey. He also reminds listeners that no matter who you are, you already belong. Episode Recap: If sor...
Oct 06, 2022•37 min
To say we’re sorry can feel incredibly vulnerable, especially when we believe that we’re supposed to be perfect. But “sorry” is ultimately grounded in self-examination, and it has an important role to play as our faith evolves. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott moves us into the second part of our “Naked Spirituality” series, which is focused on complexity. He shares how making peace with the idea of “sorry” can help us come to terms with our own humanity and embrace the fact that we are always in p...
Sep 28, 2022•41 min
Many of us grew up with the idea that worship was about getting God’s attention or convincing God to feel or act a certain way. So where does worship fit into our faith as it evolves into a more progressive Christianity? Today, lead pastor Josh Scott continues our “Naked Spirituality” series by exploring some key ideas about what worship is not and sharing his emerging understanding of what worship might actually mean. Episode Recap: What does worship mean in a progressive Christian space? (0:10...
Sep 28, 2022•40 min
We say “thanks” so many times every day, but how often do we pause to think about what it really means? Today, lead pastor Josh Scott continues our “Naked Spirituality” with a conversation about the word “thanks.” He responds to some common misconceptions about what thanks is not, and he invites us to make giving thanks a daily practice, grounded in an understanding of who we are and where our identity lies. Episode Recap: Spirituality is about what you do with your pain (0:10) We’re continuing ...
Sep 16, 2022•38 min
God is always around us, and when we recognize that presence, we can experience what it truly means to be “here.” Today, lead pastor Josh Scott continues our “Naked Spirituality” series by talking about the importance of “hereness.” He explains how practicing hereness plays an important role in the simplicity stage of spirituality, and he shares some examples of how nostalgia and escapism can keep us from experiencing the present in its fullest form. Episode Recap: When we see spirituality in st...
Sep 06, 2022•32 min
Can prayer actually change things, and if not, why do we do it? In this episode, Lead Pastor Josh Scott and Director of Content Derek Webb address this question by comparing their current understanding of God to the often problematic ways people tend to talk about prayer. They also explain how prayer can transform us and inspire us to partner with God to change the world around us. This episode continues our “What About...? Outtakes” series, where we’re responding to some of your important quest...
Sep 05, 2022•16 min
Just as human development moves in stages, our spiritual life also evolves and changes. Today, Brian McLaren kicks off our new series by explaining the four stages he identified in his book, “Naked Spirituality:” simplicity, complexity, perplexity, and harmony. Brian also reminds us that the ultimate goal of spirituality, no matter what stage we’re in, is to better love God, ourselves, our neighbors, and the world around us. Episode Recap: We all want to be transformed people (0:10) Human spirit...
Aug 30, 2022•31 min
What does it mean for us if the miracles in Scripture really happened? What does it mean if they didn’t? In this conversation, Lead Pastor Josh Scott and Director of Content Derek Webb reflect on these questions, discussing the idea that whether or not miracles literally happened matters less than the truth they reveal about who Jesus was and what he cared most about. This episode continues our “What About...? Outtakes” series, where we’re responding to some of your important questions about fai...
Aug 29, 2022•16 min
Wherever you are in your faith journey, it’s natural to have questions. With this “What About...?” series, we’ve been examining what it looks like to think about some of the biggest questions through a progressive lens. Today, to wrap up the series, lead pastor Josh Scott responds to some of your questions about Christian traditions, our role in the world, the Bible, and more. Episode Recap: To close out our “What About...?” series, we’re responding to your questions (0:10) What about the Christ...
Aug 24, 2022•35 min
Money can feel awkward to talk about, especially in a church context, because so many people have used it as a tool for creating guilt and shame. But in reality, giving to the church is just about coming together to care for the people in our communities who need our support. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott talks through some of the history of tithing in the Bible, and he reminds us that no matter how much or how little you give, you always have a place at the table. Episode Recap: Many of us feel...
Aug 23, 2022•35 min
When you experience a shift in your faith, it’s natural to question whether or not the Bible can still make sense for you. So how can we think about the Bible in a more progressive way without discounting it entirely? Lead Pastor Josh Scott answers this question in the first episode of the “What About...? Outtakes” series, where we’re responding to some of the important questions we haven’t covered in our sermon series. Episode Recap: We’re answering some of the “What about...?” questions we hav...
Aug 22, 2022•13 min
Many of us grew up hearing that baptism was something that people do to be saved. But where does the ritual come from, and what can it mean for Progressive Christians today? Today, lead pastor Josh Scott walks us through a re-examination of the roots of baptism. He explains how baptism started as a ritual of purity, repentance, and resistance, and he shares how engaging with this ancient practice can help us feel connected to a larger community of people who follow Jesus. Episode Recap: Many of ...
Aug 20, 2022•41 min
Whether or not the miracles in the Bible actually happened matters less than the meaning we can engage from those stories. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott continues our “What About...?” series with a conversation about miracles. He explains how Jesus’ miracles point to his mission of bringing social healing and inclusion to those who need it most, and he challenges us to take up Jesus’ call and join him in the work of healing our communities. Episode Recap: People tend to have one of two opposite ...
Aug 19, 2022•27 min
Many churches use creeds to standardize what they believe, but in the process, they ultimately end up excluding those who believe differently. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott explains why he takes issue with creeds, tracing their roots back to the merging of church and state under the Roman Emperor Constantine. He breaks down four reasons why most creeds are problematic and then shares the meaning behind GracePointe’s only creed, “We Belong.” Episode Recap: Before the creeds, the Jesus movement wa...
Aug 18, 2022•32 min
The church has become so enmeshed in American life, but it wasn’t always so cozy with the state. Church actually began as a resistance movement. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott explains how our understanding of church and state has evolved since the time of Jesus, and how we lost something important when Christianity became a tool of the empire. He also shares some practical examples of ways we can work to combat theocracy and nationalism, while making the world better by caring for the people in ...
Aug 17, 2022•38 min
Whether or not you believe the stories about demons in the Bible literally happened, they can still teach us something important. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott examines some of the stories about unclean spirits in the book of Mark and explains how those stories reflect the oppression people were experiencing under the Roman Empire. He also challenges us to treat oppression in our world the same way Jesus treated those unclean spirits: calling out the problems we see and fighting to change them r...
Aug 08, 2022•36 min
We all have a voice in our head that causes us to question ourselves, our identity, and our purpose. In Scripture, that adversary or accuser is personified in the character of the Satan. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott talks through the different ways the Satan shows up throughout Scripture. He also encourages us to ask the question, what would change if we truly believed Paul’s statement that God will crush Satan under our feet? Episode Recap: When you experience a faith shift, it’s natural to st...
Aug 03, 2022•31 min
Our lead pastor J osh Scott will be joined by founding pastor S tan Mitchell for a conversation about our journey and how we became an LGBTQ+ affirming community.
Jun 26, 2022•37 min
Happy Juneteenth! Today we celebrate liberation in the past and recommit ourselves to the work of equity and ending white supremacy in the present and future.
Jun 19, 2022•42 min
This week at GracePointe lead pastor Josh Scott will speak about the gun violence crisis we are facing in the US, by inviting us to think theologically about the challenges that we face.
Jun 12, 2022•41 min
What do we do after the dust settles? Do we rebuild? Do we stay still? Do we mourn or celebrate? What if we are asking the wrong question? Join us this Sunday as we imagine and build a new kin-dom.
Jun 05, 2022•25 min
