Convergence Church Podcast

Why do we swing between striving for control and running from failure? In Overcoming Shame: The Perfectionist, the Prodigal, and the Receptive Child, Michael Rowntree explores Ecclesiastes 7:15–29 to reveal how both self-righteousness and self-indulgence are forms of pride. True freedom, Solomon teaches, comes not from mastering life but from fearing God—trusting Him when logic fails, humbling ourselves when pride rises, and receiving His grace as children instead of schemers.

How can we find joy when life feels heavy? In Joy in the House of Mourning, Michael Rowntree unpacks Ecclesiastes 7:1–14, where Solomon turns conventional wisdom upside down—showing that sorrow, loss, and hardship can shape us more deeply than pleasure ever could. Discover how godly grief produces wisdom, humility, and lasting joy that only comes from trusting God in the middle of pain.

Is Jesus really enough? In this message, The Unsearchable, Unfathomable, Unparalleled, Incomparable Excellencies of Christ, Sam Storms dives into Ephesians 3:1–13 to reveal the boundless riches of Jesus—riches that no mind can fully grasp or heart can ever exhaust. Discover why every longing of the human soul finds its answer in Him alone, the Lion and the Lamb, whose beauty, power, and mercy surpass all comparison.

Why do some people have everything--and still feel empty? In this message on Ecclesiastes 6:1-12, Michael Rowntree exposes the tragedy of blessing without joy. Solomon shows that apart from God, even wealth, wisdom, and long life leave the soul unsatisfied. Discover how true contentment comes not from having more but from knowing the Giver-and how humility and gratitude break the curse of restless striving "under the sun."

Can the gospel truly unite people divided by race, religion, and culture? In The Church: The One New Man in Jesus Christ, Sam Storms unpacks Ephesians 2:11–22, showing how Christ broke down the walls between Jew and Gentile to form one new humanity—the Church. Discover how the cross not only reconciles us to God but also to one another, creating a diverse yet unified temple where God’s Spirit dwells.

Why do wealth and power so often lead to emptiness instead of peace? In this message on Ecclesiastes 5:8–20, Michael Rowntree examines Solomon’s wisdom on money, work, and worship. Discover why greed leads to restlessness, why joy is found not in grasping but in receiving, and how true contentment comes when we see every good thing as a gift from God’s hand.

Is it really God’s will to heal everyone? In this message on Matthew 8:16–17, Michael Rowntree explores Jesus’ ministry of healing and deliverance as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” Discover how Christ’s compassion, authority, and atoning work reveal God’s heart toward the sick and suffering—and how faith, mystery, and mercy all fit within God’s healing purpose today.

How should we approach God when we gather to worship? In this message on Ecclesiastes 5:1–7, Michael Rowntree unpacks Solomon’s wisdom about reverence, words, and vows. Learn why worship is more than outward actions—it’s about drawing near with a humble heart, listening before speaking, and living in awe of the God who is in heaven while we are on earth.

What does it really mean to go from death to life? In this message on Ephesians 2:1–10, Sam Storms unpacks one of the clearest pictures of the gospel in the Bible. Discover how God rescues us by His grace, raises us with Christ, and empowers us to walk in the good works He prepared for us—so we can live with purpose and joy as trophies of His mercy.

Why do we work so hard—and for what? In The Wise Way to Work, Michael Rowntree unpacks Ecclesiastes 4:4–16, exploring how envy, laziness, and isolation distort our view of work. Discover God’s design for a balanced, relational approach to labor—one that values contentment, partnership, and purpose over the empty chase for wealth or status.