GARDEN CHURCH Podcast

This Sunday we had a guest speaker, Todd Proctor, who led us through Acts. Todd observed three stories of how God works through the church in unexpected people, in unexpected ways, in unexpected places. This is crucial because the stories in Acts are precursors to the stories that we are now invited to participate in, presently.

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Though there are many Mary’s mentioned and named throughout the New Testament, the story of Mary Magdalene is a powerful one. While there is mystery and rumors surrounding this character, we can glean truth from the scriptures about Mary’s character. Pastor Bill introduces us to the woman who led the female disciples that funded Jesus’ ministry, the woman who stayed at Jesus’ feet as he was being crucified, and the woman who encounters Jesus’ outside the empty tomb. Listen to find out what happened to this woman to love Jesus and the gospel above her own life.

This week, Pastor Darren teaches out of Luke 4:14-21. This text deals with Jesus proclaiming the Year of Jubilee, and what was God's socio-economic and political vision for his people. Through Jesus, a new reality breaks through for the poor, oppressed, and outcast here and now. We are invited to join Jesus in bringing this upside-down kingdom through our lives. We see this reality through the story of the rich young ruler and the blind beggar contrasted with the most controversial story of Zaccheus.

As Peter was walking by the gate called Beautiful, he encountered a lame man who was asking for money. Peter offered to heal the man, and he began to walk. Acts then continues to cover stories of Peter and the rest of the Apostles doing what Jesus did. However, Peter didn't begin with these highlights of success. Pastor Darren walks us through Peter's rough and bumpy discipleship with Jesus and offers us a model of what we can expect in our own walks with God.

What happens when a ceremonial unclean leper that has been ostracized and rejected his whole life encounters Jesus? The law and the system are turned upon their head by the Way of Jesus. God breaks systems that oppress and reject, all in pursuit of love. That is God's heart, and in Jesus' interaction with the Leper we see God's love put on display.

Encounter is a series about what happens when ordinary people experience and extraordinary God. This week Pastor Darren shared his story about how his 9-week healing process of two torn ligaments was cut short by a miraculous healing. This story was a precursor to the Encounter story that the paralytic man and his friends had with Jesus. Listen this week as we hold on to the truth that God wants to give us faith that is renewed every day as we continually encounter God through our everyday ordinary lives.

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.