Church At The Well Podcast

In the beginning of the book of Acts, the disciples were challenged with an "impossible" ask, carrying some heavy emotional weight, and facing great uncertainty. The resurrected Jesus responds with a promise - that the Spirit of the Living God would be with them. This week, Jordan starts our new sermon series by exploring what that promise might have meant to the disciples - and what it could mean for us today.

The Healing of Peter's Heart In a simple breakfast conversation between Peter and the resurrected Jesus, much more is going on than first meets the eye. In this sermon, Abby uncovers three pieces of good news from that conversation--good news about what Jesus frees us from, what he invites us into, and how he heals our hearts.

The resurrected Jesus shows up to a "family reunion" of his close friends and followers. This week, we consider what that might mean for us as we celebrate Easter Sunday with a reflection on John 20. 

Palm Sunday has a lot to teach us about what Jesus is actually like. In this sermon (for a special Family Sunday), Jordan explores three clues hidden in Mark 11 — and finds surprisingly good news in a scavenger hunt, a cheering crowd, and a baby donkey.

What does Jesus do when we're disappointed with ourselves? This week, Kayla walks us through Peter's worst night, pausing at the moment Jesus turns and looks straight at him - and explores what it means to be fully known, and fully loved anyway.

Thomas was willing to follow Jesus to the end. What he wasn't prepared for was what came after. In this sermon, Jordan traces two movements in Thomas' story — from devotion to disappointment, and from disappointment to detachment — and explores the invitations those movements hold for Thomas, and for us.

Sifted as Wheat When Peter promises to suffer and die with Jesus, Jesus warns him that he is about to be sifted as wheat--but what does that mean? In this sermon, Abby explores how wheat was processed in ancient Israel and offers three pieces of good news for Peter and for us when it comes to facing hard things. ----more---- Note: Due to some technical difficulties during recording, this episode has some sound quality issues. Thank you for your understanding! 

This week, we reflect on Jesus' nighttime conversation with Nicodemus in John chapter 3. 

Have you ever noticed that our spiritual journey flows through a sequence of seasons, much like the seasons of nature? On this first week of Lent, Jordan shares a reflection from John 10 about how even in a spiritual "winter," we still belong to the Good Shepherd.

What do we do when what we have been working and praying for doesn’t come to pass? In this sermon, Vision Team member Tracy Centracchio weaves James’s directives for the early church with stories from her medical missions trips to Haiti, reminding us of the good news that God is writing a much larger story than we can imagine.

Whole-hearted Humility Quarrels, hedonism, and disparaging people with ugly words was taking place in the early church James wrote to. In this sermon, Abby explores these as symptoms of a soul condition for which James prescribes a surprising remedy. 

In chapter 3 of his letter, James warns his audience of the power that their words hold -power to direct and power to destroy. When silence might seem like the best response, James offers a different way. This week, we explore the invitations from both James and Jesus to live a life of congruence. 

How do we respond when we notice the “first-class seats” in our world—and in our hearts? We continue our exploring the book of James as Kayla explores favoritism, fear, and belonging in Biblical times and today.   

Sometimes we think we just need to press on, try harder, or push through. But that’s not a biblical way of thinking about perseverance. In this sermon, Abby explores God's invitation to us when it comes to perseverance and reveals the God of the Scriptures as One who perseveres.

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.