The Austin Stone Podcast

Pastor Ross Lester kicks off a sermon series called “Times Like These.” Teaching from Hebrews 10:35-39, Ross explores God’s call for His people to persevere in the midst of difficult circumstances.

In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, believers around the world are striving to be faithful to Jesus and love their neighbors. “Alone Together” is a series of stories about how the people of The Austin Stone are living faithfully in uncertain times. We’ve all been called to be faithful in this season, but in many different ways. Today, across Austin and around the world, doctors and nurses, restaurant owners and delivery drivers, singles and students, moms and dads, artists and accountants, and more, are loving God, their church, their city, and the nations in the midst of this season. We might be spending our days apart, but in Jesus the church will always be united. These are stories of God’s people—alone, together. Please help us spread the word about the podcast by rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts—or wherever you found this episode—and by sharing this episode with your family and friends. If you have a story to share with us during this time, please visit https://austinstone.org/share. Finally, for up-to-date information on how The Austin Stone is responding to the new coronavirus, please visit https://austinstone.org/coronavirus.

Matt Carter preaches on Easter Sunday from Matthew 12:38-42, explaining how Jesus is greater than anyone or anything that has come before or since. Matt unpacks Jesus’ authority and power to shepherd and save even the most unbelieving hearts.

Please note, this story is for mature audiences as it references heavily sexual themes, including pornography and sexual assault. When Hannah Mae was sexually abused at five-years-old, she only remembered feeling confused. Confusion developed into shame, self-loathing, and loneliness that haunted her for years. She became addicted to masturbation and started working in the pornography industry, thinking that these things would make her feel valued. But deep down, Hannah Mae knew that they wouldn’t save her, and she cried out to God for help. He answered—through a slow, patient process of recovery. Hannah Mae learned that God’s forgiveness is eternal, that she is no more a sinner today than yesterday and tomorrow. She clings to the truth that God calls her His bride, holy and pure. She is His beloved, always and forever. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Isaiah thought that he didn’t deserve God’s love and always had to earn it. To numb his feelings of guilt and unworthiness, he turned to sex, drugs, and alcohol. Yet with his marriage and sanity on the line, he recognized that only God could change his heart posture. In this ongoing process of healing, Isaiah knows that he can trust God to give him good things simply because he’s His child. Because, as Isaiah has learned, God gives His love freely. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Judy believed that her purpose in this world was to achieve perfection, and she worked hard at it for years. But her obsession with it led her to spiral into heavy substance abuse, escalating to a point where she came to God in desperation. During her recovery journey, Judy realized how her need for perfection overruled her need for God. She knows now that her purpose in this world is to serve God as His ambassador, loving His people and sharing the gift of compassion. Jesus, her perfect Savior, will always be enough for her. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Ross Lester continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew as he teaches on the power of words from Matthew 12:33-37.

Matt Carter continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew as he teaches about the one unforgivable sin and how, even in learning there is an unforgivable sin, there is still good news to be heard from Matthew 12:22-32.

Matt’s desire to control his life led him to develop deeper roots in sexual sin and pornography, which he kept hidden because he wanted to become the perfect version of himself. Through a series of wake-up calls, God worked in Matt’s heart to show him it was time to stop hiding and believing that he held the power to save himself. Since then, Matt has witnessed how God steps in to intercede for him as Protector, Deliverer, and Conqueror. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Andre Grey continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew by teaching that Jesus instructs and invites us to embrace regular rest as a sign of our trust in His finished work for us from Matthew 12:15-21.