

Commons Church Podcast
Commons Church
Sermons from Commons Church. Intellectually honest. Spiritually passionate. Jesus at the centre. Since 2014.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 23, 2024 • 32min
Find Your Cosmic Interlude - Jeremy Duncan
We explore the story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana and uncover its deeper meaning during the Christmas season. Through themes of anticipation, divine timing, and the power of small moments, this story invites us to recognize the presence of God in the ordinary and embrace the joy of transformation. A reflection on the beauty of faith and the magic of Christmas.
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Dec 15, 2024 • 25min
Growing Up, Getting Lost, and Being Found - Bobbi Salkeld
Join us for an inspiring and heartfelt exploration of Jesus’ childhood story from Luke 2:41-52. In this message titled “The Boy in the Temple: Growing Up, Getting Lost, and Being Found”, we reflect on how Jesus’ formative years reveal deep truths about divine vulnerability, growing into our humanity, and finding God even when we feel lost.This third Sunday of Advent is a time of joy and anticipation, and yet it doesn’t shy away from our struggles. Bobbi invites us to embrace the tension of the season: joy and gloom, light and darkness, searching and being found. What can we learn from a 12-year-old Jesus in the temple? How does his story mirror our own journeys of faith, growth, and belonging?
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Dec 8, 2024 • 29min
Advent Pregnancies - Yelena Pakhomova
As we enter the Advent season, let’s approach Jesus’ life from a new angle. Not simply his birth, but all the stories that come before his public ministry. This series will look at old testament passages seen to point to Jesus, at the formative years of Jesus’ life, and exploring the lessons and experiences that shaped him as he grew. We’ll reflect on his humble beginnings, the nurturing of his faith, and the quiet yet profound moments that prepared him for his mission. Join us as we seek to understand the depths of Jesus’ humanity and find inspiration for our own spiritual journeys during this sacred season.
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Dec 2, 2024 • 30min
What is Matthew Doing with Isaiah? - Jeremy Duncan
🎄 Advent Series: Approach 🎄In this message, we reflect on the connection between Isaiah’s prophecy and Matthew’s gospel, uncovering how the ancient cry of “God with us” becomes tangible through the birth of Christ. From the threat of war in Isaiah’s time to the vulnerability of a child in a manger, we dive into how God’s presence transcends fear, conflict, and despair to bring peace, justice, and restoration.This talk challenges us to see Christmas not just as a celebration of the miraculous but as a profound reminder of God’s unshakable commitment to all of humanity. Whether you’re steeped in tradition or encountering these stories anew, discover the hope that comes with knowing Emmanuel, God truly with us.📖 Scripture Focus: Matthew 1:18–25, Isaiah 7🙏 Let’s prepare our hearts for the light breaking into the darkness this Advent.📍 Subscribe for more reflections on faith, scripture, and community.
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Nov 25, 2024 • 32min
Rethinking the Judgement of the Sheep and the Goats - Jeremy Duncan
What does the parable of the sheep and the goats teach us about judgment, grace, and the nature of God’s kingdom? In this compelling talk, we unpack one of Jesus’ most famous—and often misunderstood—stories, exploring themes of humility, service, and the presence of the divine in everyday acts of love.Through this lens, we challenge traditional ideas of judgment and eternity, showing how Jesus shifts our focus from future speculation to present action. Join us as we discover how the life of the age to come begins in the here and now, inviting us to notice the divine all around us. Perfect for anyone seeking a fresh perspective on faith, theology, and living with compassion in today’s world.
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Nov 17, 2024 • 30min
Parable of the Talents - Jeremy Duncan
Today, we dive into one of Jesus’ parables told in two different places, exploring their deeper meanings and transformative implications. Are these stories about divine judgment, or are they invitations to a life of trust, grace, and courage in the face of uncertainty?We unpack the Parable of the Talents and its counterpart in Luke’s Gospel, reframing traditional interpretations and examining how these stories challenge us to rethink God’s character and our response to grace. Along the way, we explore themes of trust, justice, and the cost of doing the right thing, with a powerful parallel to Zacchaeus’ story.
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Nov 11, 2024 • 31min
Five get in :) Five left outside :( - Jeremy Duncan
This week, we explore the powerful lessons of Matthew 25 through Jesus’ parables on readiness, grace, and judgment. We delve into the deeper meaning of Jesus’ teachings and how they challenge our expectations of certainty, faithfulness, and generosity. Discover how these parables invite us to embrace grace, trust the divine timing, and shine our light in the world—even in moments when we might feel unprepared. Perfect for anyone seeking a fresh perspective on spirituality, purpose, and living with compassionate faith in today’s complex world.
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Nov 4, 2024 • 28min
Bad Servants - Bobbi Salkeld
Jesus taught primarily in parables. Short pithy stories that surprise us with Jesus' unique perspective on life. These parables centre around three main concepts. Kingdom, Grace and, wait for it... Judgment. Over the last few years we have developed series to focus on the stories of kingdom, and of grace, and in this series we intend to face into the hardest parables, those that give us Jesus' unique perspective on judgment.
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Oct 28, 2024 • 29min
Unprepared Guests - Scott Wall
Jesus taught primarily in parables. Short pithy stories that surprise us with Jesus' unique perspective on life. These parables centre around three main concepts. Kingdom, Grace and, wait for it... Judgment. Over the last few years we have developed series to focus on the stories of kingdom, and of grace, and in this series we intend to face into the hardest parables, those that give us Jesus' unique perspective on judgment. And maybe, like Jesus, we can come to believe that even this, is for our good. And as we immerse ourselves in Jesus' narrative world-we hope to be transformed by the experience of gracious judgment.
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Oct 20, 2024 • 32min
Cultivating God's Vineyard - Jeremy Duncan
In this sermon, we begin our new series on the parables of judgment—one of the most challenging and misunderstood aspects of Jesus’ teachings. Judgment often sounds intimidating, but what if it’s not about condemnation or punishment? What if it’s God’s loving correction, guiding us back when we’ve strayed off the path?Join us as we explore: • How Jesus reframes judgment as an act of love and guidance, not punishment • The true meaning behind Jesus’ parables of judgment, like the parable of the vineyard • Why God’s judgment is for us, not against us, and how it helps us find life, not destruction • The deeper purpose of God’s correction in our journey toward grace🔑 Key Takeaways: • Judgment is not about fear; it’s God’s loving invitation to live differently. • God’s judgment clears away the obstacles that keep us from experiencing His grace. • Jesus offers a new understanding of judgment—one that leads us to life, not ruin.🌿 If you’ve ever struggled with the idea of God’s judgment, this message offers a fresh perspective full of hope, love, and grace.🙏 Don’t forget to share, and subscribe for more messages about faith, grace, and living out the way of Jesus.
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