The Austin Stone Podcast

What does it mean to fear God? Western Evangelicalism is going through a reckoning of fallen leaders and uncovered sin. Has God left us? This week we discuss guarding your steps from meaningless religion.Join us each week for the Chasing Shadows podcast—new episodes available on Thursdays throughout the Ecclesiastes series.Do you have a question you'd like us to answer? Email us at podcast@austinstone.org.Watch on YouTube

Ross Lester explores the necessity of seeing God rightly when we enter His presence.

Could the idealist be just as wrong as the cynic? There is a harsh reality for everything under the sun. This week, we discuss engaging that reality with open eyes and a hopeful heart.Join us each week for the Chasing Shadows podcast—new episodes available on Thursdays throughout the Ecclesiastes series. Do you have a question you'd like us to answer? Email us at podcast@austinstone.org.Watch on YouTube

Jimmy McNeal explores the evils of life under the sun to reveal our true need for Jesus.

Beauty and eternity, meaning and revelation—how do these things work together to give us a picture of God’s kindness? This week’s episode discusses how wisdom from Ecclesiastes can direct us to be present for the joy and sorrow of everyday life.Join us each week for the Chasing Shadows podcast—new episodes available on Thursdays throughout the Ecclesiastes series.Do you have a question you'd like us to answer? Email us at podcast@austinstone.org.Watch on YouTube

Halim Suh, an individual who delves into the haunting beauty of life’s changing seasons, discusses the profound insights from Ecclesiastes 3. He speaks about the importance of embracing fleeting moments, highlighting that both joy and sorrow are essential to life’s narrative. He emphasizes how understanding these contrasting seasons aids in appreciating God’s sovereign plan. Through a reflection on time, Halim reassures listeners that even struggles hold purpose, guiding us toward growth and hope.

Work is from God and yet is marked by sin. How can Christians pursue redemption through their work, especially in surroundings often marked by exploitative practices and opportunities for selfish gain?Join us each week for the Chasing Shadows podcast—new episodes available on Thursdays throughout the Ecclesiastes series. Do you have a question you'd like us to answer? Email us at podcast@austinstone.org.Watch on YouTubeRecommend ResourcesA Summer in the Psalms: Psalm 127, John Manning

Ross Lester examines the vanity of our work when we don’t view it as a way to worship God.

The writer of Ecclesiastes went as far as humanly possible in his pursuit of pleasure and still ends disappointed. So, how should we live in a culture that encourages building our identities around pursuing pleasure? Is stoicism the answer?Join us each week for the Chasing Shadows podcast—new episodes available on Thursdays throughout the Ecclesiastes series. Do you have a question you'd like us to answer? Email us at podcast@austinstone.org.Watch on YouTube

Halim Suh delves into the pursuit of pleasure's vanity and its paradoxes. He examines themes from Ecclesiastes, discussing how life's fleeting pleasures often lead to disappointment. Through a blend of science and philosophy, he suggests that true meaning lies beyond mere indulgence and requires a higher power. Suh also highlights how Christian perspectives reveal a deeper longing in our desires, encouraging listeners to seek fulfillment through a relationship with Jesus rather than transient delights.