GARDEN CHURCH Podcast

In our year-long series, Practicing the Way of Jesus, we are taking a break post-Easter to focus on the person of Jesus and what it means to encounter him. Pastor Bill helped start off this mini-series properly entitled Encounter: When Ordinary People Experience an Extraordinary God. We began by walking with the disciple known as Doubting Thomas. Bill helped us understand what it means to walk with Jesus in the midst of doubt, skepticism, and confusion while being moved in faithfulness.

Three days later after the death of Jesus, we have a plot twist in history, he is resurrected. With this resurrection Jesus brings the hope of new life because what took place on the cross was proved true. Listen as Pastor Darren guides us in understanding what is the good news that Jesus proclaimed with his life, death, and resurrection.

In order to understand the significance of Jesus’ death on the cross, we must understand the Gospel. The Gospel is good news for all who hear, and the faith of Christianity hinges on what took place on the cross. It all starts in the Garden of Eden, and that is where Michael Petrila leads us in our reflection of Good Friday.

On Palm Sunday, Jesus came in on a donkey completely subverting the perspectives of his disciples and followers. When they wanted a conquering king that would overthrow Rome, Jesus let everyone down by coming in God’s way. Pastor Bill, teaches us how Jesus will constantly let us down if we hold on to our perspectives of God’s plan for the world. In order to properly align ourselves with the subversive reality of Jesus, we must let go of our plans.

We are continuing with our focus on the spiritual discipline of 'fasting'. Pastor Bill helped clear the foggy nature of this discipline, by defining what it is and what it isn't. Fasting is a way that realigns, clarifies, and centers our minds and souls to God. Listen this week as we learn how this discipline has given prominent figures throughout scripture guidance in walking in step with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

"Appetites are not the driver for behavior." Continuing with our discussion on Fasting, Pastor Bill walks us through how fasting equips us to fight Satan and the flesh. We revisit Matthew 4, as Jesus is in the wilderness, assessing how he is not at his weakest, but because of the discipline of fasting, Jesus was at his strongest. Join us as we learn to join in the fight against spiritual warfare through the discipline of fasting.

In Matthew 4, Jesus is taken by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where Jesus is tempted by Satan. By analyzing how Satan attacks Jesus, we are able to know how he also attacks us. Guest teacher Listen, as guest teacher Chris Weinand helps us understand the tactics of Satan and how we as the church can stand against his advances.

Fasting is a discipline that invites humanity to pray with our bodies. It also is an avenue where we can stand in solidarity with the poor. Pastor Darren leads us through Isaiah 58, as we understand how we can intentionally fast to relate to those who are poor and marginalized in our world. Join the Garden as we learn how to stand against oppression and stand for justice, one meal at a time.

Once confronted by Jezebel, Elijah is sent into an escape from his homeland. During this time, God turned Elijah's escape and turned it into an encounter with God. Pastor Bill, walks us through this story of Elijah going to Mt. Herman and the lesson he learned about the power of silence. It is here where we are invited to join Elijah to listen to the sound of silence and find God speaking in the midst of it.

In the wilderness away from people, work, traffic, music, television, and all other distractions, we find silence. For most, if not all of humanity, silence can seem to be violent to our souls. However, upon examining the lifestyle of Jesus we find that he found strength in silence and solitude. It seems that when Jesus was away from everything that the world deems important, he was able to find communion with the Father. Listen as Pastor Darren invites us into our first Spiritual Discipline as we learn to live like Jesus, Silence + Solitude.