Church At The Well Podcast

In week two of our journey through the book of James, Jordan reminds us that God's Word is a mirror that reflects our great need for God and God's great love for us.

Happy New Year! We're starting off the new year with a new sermon series - a journey through the book of James. Specifically, a closer look at some of the timeless wisdom found in this powerful letter.  What is wisdom? Where does it come from? Is it about having all of the right answers, or is it about living with a posture of dependence on God? Jordan explores this and more in this week's podcast episode. 

This week, Kayla explores how Joseph's quiet, costly decision to remain with Mary reveals the gentle, counter-conditional love at the heart of the Christmas story. 

Joy pops up at Christmas on cards and in songs, but what actually is joy? Through the lens of the shepherds in Luke 2, Abby offers a definition of joy, shares stories of joy from our congregation, and offers three observations about joy as well as an invitation to practice joy this Advent and Christmas.

How did Mary wait with peace for God's promises to be fulfilled in and through her story? It might just be because she knew how the story would end. On this second Sunday of Advent, we look at how both Mary and Jesus trusted the promises of God, and consider how we too might wait with peace. 

Hope As followers of Jesus, we are invited to place our hope not in our circumstances, but in our savior. In this Family Sunday sermon, Abby tells the story of the ancient Israelites' hope for the awaited Messiah, offers three things to keep in mind when we think about hope, and shares a story about hope from her childhood.

In the book of Ruth, God weaves together the boldness of Ruth, the faithfulness of Naomi, and the above-and-beyond care of Boaz into a story of redemption that points to Jesus. This week, Jordan wraps up our time in the book of Ruth with a look at the big picture and some good news from Ruth 4 to bring with us into our week. 

God's love for us is a costly brand of love that we see reflected in the story of Ruth. In this sermon, Kayla helps us recognize this "hesed" love in surprising places, invites us to consider the puzzle pieces of scripture in light of the big picture, and shares a story from her own life of being taken under the wings of others' care.

Lead Us Not Into Testing When God tests us, it is for our good, revealing where we are placing our trust and giving us an opportunity to experience God's faithfulness. In this sermon, Abby explores the difference between testing and temptation, shares about a wilderness experience in her life, and offers three pieces of good news for those being tested.    

This week, we continue our journey through the Lord's Prayer with a closer look at Jesus' invitation to pray, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." 

Give Us This Day, Our Daily Bread In a consumer society, we’re groomed to “grab it before it’s gone,” but in the Kingdom of God, we receive what God has for us as a gift. In this sermon, Abby unpacks three words from this line and shares a story about how God has been teaching her the difference between grabbing and receiving. ----more---- Discussion Questions 1. To pray, "Give" us this day our daily bread" is to refuse to grab but rather, to receive with open hands what God has for us as a gift. When are you most tempted to grab, and how do you know you are in "grab" mode? 2. To pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" is to be willing to share, acknowledging that God meets your needs through his provision for others and that he meets others' needs through his provision for you. How has God answered a prayer of yours through another person?  3. To pray, "Give us this day, our daily bread" is to ask God for what we need and trust him for it. What need(s) do you find it hard to trust him for?  4. Jesus said, "

This week, we continue our journey through the Lord's Prayer with a closer look at the petition, "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." 

This week, Jordan continues our journey through The Lord's Prayer with a deeper look at what we're really praying and hoping for when we pray, "Your Kingdom Come." ----more---- Discussion Questions What line or phrase from the Lord’s Prayer stands out to you today? Why do you think that line or phrase stands out? “We are not referring to a place where we are going but rather a reality that has come to us… the kingdom of God isn’t so much a place as it is a new order in which… the will of God is done.” (Justo Gonzalez) What surprises you or intrigues you about this definition of the Kingdom of God? Reading Isaiah 11:6-9, what are some things that will be true when the Kingdom of God has fully come? Where God’s rule and reign is, there is freedom, healing, justice, humility, and generosity. Can you think of a time this week when you saw one of these values (or another kingdom value) on display, either in your life or in your community? When Jesus invites his followers to pray, “Your Kingdom come,” he makes spa

God’s name: what is it, and how do we “hallow” it? In this sermon, Abby explores the mystery and gift of God’s name as first revealed to Moses and then, more fully, through Jesus. She offers practical ways we can be hallowing his name in our lives and points us to a time when his name will be more fully revealed. ----more---- Discussion Questions Read Matthew 6:9 – 13 Is there a line, phrase, or request that stands out to you as you read and engage with the Lord’s Prayer today? If so, which one is it? And why do you think that particular line is standing out? God revealed his name to Moses, and with it, more of Godself, when he said to Moses, “I am who I am” (Yahweh) in Exodus 3:13 - 14. In your own words, what are some things this name reveals about God? Are there any names for God in the Scriptures that you feel particularly drawn to, and why do you think that particular name stands out? How might your picture of God be different if this name weren’t in the Scriptures? Using your imagination, what might i

This week, Jordan shares three things we can learn about God from the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6. 

As we mark Adam’s last Sunday as Church at the Well’s lead pastor and welcome Jordan and Abby into their new roles as co-lead pastors, Adam explores an instructive picture from the Book of Numbers: Aaron’s budding staff, a reminder that leadership in God’s kingdom is not grasped for but received, and that flourishing and new life ultimately come from God.

What does prayer have to do with creation? In this sermon, Abby explores three ways we can pray in light of creation, drawing from examples in Scripture and sharing stories of how God has met and ministered to her in and through nature.

This week, we explore how God invites us to both community and solitude as part of Sabbath. 

Finding Rest in Jesus In between commands against stealing, idolatry, and others, the Sabbath command might seem oddly out of place in the Ten Commandments. But what if it's there for a reason? This week, Adam continues our Summer Sabbath series by considering God's invitation to something deeper than a "day off" - an invitation to the true rest of Sabbath that we find in Jesus. 

Three Obstacles to Practicing Sabbath Rest just doesn’t just happen; we have to choose to take it. In this sermon, Abby considers three common obstacles that hinder us from practicing Sabbath and invites us to see Sabbath not as something to master or accomplish, but as a gift to receive and enjoy as we are able. ------------------------- Discussion Questions: Preparing for Sabbath isn’t just about guarding time, but, if helpful, planning it. Take two minutes to write a list of life-giving things you might enjoy doing as part of your Sabbath practice, then go around the circle, each sharing a few items from your “Sabbath Menu.” Is there someone in the group who knows someone who practices the art of rest well? If so, please share. If not, how does it feel not to know anyone who rests well? Building on Exodus 20:10, come up with a list as a group of who Sabbath is for besides you. (In other words, come up with a modern paraphrase of this verse). Do any items on your list stand out? What are a few ways our pra