The Good News From The Gardens Podcast

Building Blocks of Faith: Easter series on the early church that teaches us the fundamentals of faith.

Acts 2:41-47

What does it mean to truly live together? In Acts 2, the early believers didn’t just gather—they shared. Meals, resources, prayers, and praise flowed from a deep sense of belonging. They held all things in common, not out of obligation, but out of transformed hearts. And something beautiful happened: lives were change...

Building Blocks of Faith: Easter series on the early church that teaches us the fundamentals of faith.

Luke 24:13-35

Two travelers walk a dusty road, weighed down by confusion and loss. They talk, they wonder—and Jesus is right beside them, though they do not yet see. How often do we miss him in our own journey? In the breaking of the bread, their eyes are opened: Look! See! Jesus is with us! This Sunday, we are invited to move—fro...

Building Blocks of Faith is an Easter series on the early church that teaches us the fundamentals of faith.

John 20:19-31 & Acts 2:14a, 22-32

Everyone doubts; Jesus understands. Behind locked doors, the disciples wrestled with fear and uncertainty. Thomas gave voice to what many felt: “Unless I see, I will not believe.” Yet Jesus returned—not with rejection, but with peace. “Put your hand here.” In that moment, doubt became bel...

An Easter message weaving the resurrection of Jesus, the awe and wonder of faith, and the iconic "Earthrise" photo of astronaut Bill Anders while aboard Apollo 8.

Matthew 28:1-10

At dawn, the earth trembles, and so do our hearts. The women run from the tomb “with fear and great joy,” carrying the echo of heaven: “Do not be afraid.” When do you feel most alive—when everything is certain, or when hope breaks in unexpectedly? The ston...

1st Cor. 11:23-26

John 13:1-17, 34b-35

On the night of betrayal and love, Jesus speaks not from a distance but from the floor, turning a final heart-to-heart conversation into a living command to love one another as he has loved us. A service featuring the Lord's Supper, and Stripping of the Altar in preparation of Christ on the cross.

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Part of a sermon series on Heart to Heart Talks

Crowds gather, cloaks spread, branches wave, and voices rise: “Hosanna!” In Matthew 21:1–11, Jesus enters Jerusalem not with force, but humility—riding a donkey, fulfilling hope in an unexpected way. The city asks, “Who is this?” It’s the same question that echoes within us. Is he a distant figure, a wise teacher, a disruptor—or the Savior who meets us in our deepest need? This Palm S...

Part four of seven part sermon series on Heart-to-Heart Talks.

John 9:1-41

In this gospel story from John, the disciples assume someone’s sin must explain a man’s blindness. But Jesus redirects the question. Instead of blame, he points to God’s work being revealed. The deeper issue in the story isn’t physical sight—it’s spiritual vision. While the man gradually sees, the religious leaders refuse to see what is right in front of the...

Part three of seven part sermon series on Heart-to-Heart Talks.

John 4:5-42

Most encounters with strangers stay on the surface—a polite smile, a quick thank-you, a quiet moment shared without words. But sometimes a simple meeting becomes something deeper. At a well at noon, Jesus begins an unexpected conversation with a Samaritan woman. What starts as small talk becomes a moment of truth, revelation, and living water. Jesus sees he...

Part two of seven part sermon series on Heart-to-Heart Talks.

John 3:1-17

Have you ever slipped into a place quietly, hoping no one would notice what you were curious about? In Gospel of John, Nicodemus does just that. After Jesus overturns tables in Jerusalem, igniting controversy, this respected leader comes by night—protecting his reputation while reaching toward the light. He believes Jesus is from God, but he does not yet unde...

Part one of seven part sermon series on Heart-to-Heart Talks.

Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus enters the wilderness hungry, exposed, and fully human. After forty days of fasting, the tempter strikes at his emptiness, urging an easy fix. This sermon explores how temptation so often meets us when we are tired, hollow, shaky, or “hangry”—when impulse feels stronger than wisdom. Jesus doesn't deny his hunger or esc...

Conclusion of sermon series on Gifts That Keep on Giving.

Matthew 17:1-9

On the mountain of Transfiguration, the disciples respond logically—preserving glory, offering hospitality. Jesus interrupts. This moment asks us to examine how often we react from habit or expectation. Faithful living may mean pausing, discerning, and staying open, so Christ shapes us by surprising gra...

Part five of six part series on Gifts That Keep on Giving.

Matthew 5:13-20

Jesus names his disciples—then and now—as salt of the earth and light of the world. Scripture holds tension between private and public faith: Jesus sometimes calls for silence, yet often commands visible acts of healing and liberation. In a secular world, believers struggle to discern when and how to express faith amid fear and misunderstanding. Yet faith re...

Part four of seven part series on Gifts That Keep on Giving.

Matthew 5:1-12

The Beatitudes remind us why fewer, better-crafted words matter. Their poetic simplicity makes a radical message clear and memorable. Jesus challenges not only what we share, but how we share it. In this message let's contemplate the importance of good listening and deep ...

Part three of seven part series on Gifts That Keep on Giving.

Matthew 4:12-23

There comes a time when bold choices must be made—confronting injustice, discerning our public life, and answering Christ’s call to “follow me.” Discipleship is complex, requiring us to step away from who we have been toward who God calls us to be, despite fear, opposition, or sensible reasons to hesitate. Faith asks attentiveness to God’s leading and cou...

John 1:29-42

Curiosity is often treated as a weakness or distraction, but in this week’s Gospel it becomes holy ground. Two disciples follow Jesus, unsure of what to say or want. Jesus asks, “What are you looking for?” Not what they believe or whether they are worthy, but what they seek. He honors their wondering before reshaping their understanding. Their curiosity becomes the doorway to discipleship. The Holy Spirit plants questi...

Part 1 of 7 part series

Matthew 3:13-17

At the Jordan River, Jesus steps into the waters not because he needs repentance, but because he chooses solidarity. In Matthew 3:13–17, baptism is revealed not as a private spiritual moment, but a communal calling. As the heavens open and God names Jesus “Beloved,” a community is formed around promise and purpose. In baptism, vows are spoken that bind us to one a...

Luke 2:1-20 & John 1:1-14 

The Nativity tells of God shepherding hope into the world through the birth of Jesus. In the humility of a manger, divine promise takes on vulnerable flesh, revealing that hope is not distant but present among ordinary lives. The first to receive this news are shepherds—tired workers keeping watch in the dark—showing that hope often comes to th...