Waterstone Community Church Podcast

The Day of Atonement stands as the cornerstone of Leviticus, rich with rituals and symbolism that stress the cleansing of sin. Amidst misconceptions about God's character, we aim to see The Day of Atonement as a ritual full of his love and grace in handling sin's consequences. We also see the parallels between Leviticus and the New Testament teachings, which ultimately  point to Jesus as the complete sacrifice for believers' atonement. References: Leviticus by Tim Mackie & The Bible Project TRANSCRIPT

The book of Leviticus is about demonstrating God's holiness and life to the world. Today we focus on Leviticus 18, where we find the importance of embodying God's values in sexual practices to reflect His goodness. Additional context is also shared from the book of Genesis and the work of theologian Rebecca McLaughlin. References: Washed and Waiting by Wesley Hill "4 Things Christians Must Reclaim" video, The Gospel Coalition, 2019, Rebecca McLoughlin TRANSCRIPT

Easter Sunday reminds us of the early Christians' radical love and how Christianity spread like wildfire—clear evidence of how Jesus' resurrection transformed their lives. Who exactly was Jesus, and what was his mission? For generations, his life, death, and resurrection have compelled people to grapple with accepting him as divine or rejecting him altogether. So, what's the significance of his resurrection, and how does it shape our lives today and tomorrow? References: The Rise of Christianity, by Rodney Stark "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity TRANSCRIPT

Palm Sunday is the day we commemorate the time that Jesus entered into Jerusalem on the back of donkey. The disciples spread their cloaks on the donkey for Jesus to sit on, and the multitudes came out to welcome him, laying before Jesus their cloaks and the branches of palm trees. The palm branches and cloaks symbolized Jesus' victory and triumph. The people hailed and praised Him as the “King who comes in the name of the Lord”. After welcoming Jesus triumphantly into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the people expected him to overthrow Roman rule and establish an earthly kingdom. However, when Jesus didn't fulfill these expectations and instead challenged religious authorities, disillusionment set in, leading to their eventual rejection of him and his crucifixion on Good Friday. Just as the people of Jerusalem anticipated a certain outcome from Jesus and grew disillusioned when it didn't materialize, sometimes we experience similar disappointment, doubt, or even anger towards God when our prayers seem

Loving our enemies challenges us to mirror God's love by promoting love for all. As followers of Jesus we should confront societal norms and illustrate the counterintuitive nature of God's kingdom. Ultimately, let's encourage our community to embrace the challenging, transformative power of love in a world yearning for grace. References: Pray For You by Jaron Lowenstein God is Love by Chris Renzema TRANSCRIPT

Despite Jesus initially showing indifference and making a hurtful remark, the Canaanite woman's steadfast faith and determination ultimately bring about her daughter's healing. From this story we learn that we are called to examine our own biases and preconceptions, and to extend God's grace to everyone we encounter. The gospel's powerful message of inclusivity, challenges us to embrace and welcome others with the same love and acceptance shown by Jesus. References: Map of Tyre & Sidon Structure of Matthew 14-15 Jesus Feeds the 5,000 Jesus Walks on Water Jesus Offends the Pharisees Jesus Offends the Canaanite Woman Jesus Feeds the 4,000 TRANSCRIPT

Jesus warned us against greed when we taught on generosity and the over accumulation of possessions. He challenges us to prioritize being rich toward God and to live selflessly, not allowing money to hinder our spiritual growth. Instead, he prompts us to embrace the tension, constantly questioning, "Could I be more generous?"

Following Jesus is an open invitation for all. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to follow Jesus, although it comes with a price and is a daily decision to become more like him. If you have decided to follow Jesus, the question is, do you look more like Jesus today than you did yesterday? Do you look like a person who is more filled with love than you were five years ago? Does your presence resemble the joy of Jesus when you interact with other people? Put maybe a different way, when people encounter you, whether that is your spouse or your friends, or the barista, do they experience the presence of Jesus? Does his presence radiate from your being, his love and joy and kindness and generosity? Is that what people encounter when they come in contact with you?  Do you feel a gap between these questions and your reality? What would it look like for you to step into faith and not feel the gap, but to experience more deeply the life Jesus has on offer, the life that we are all longing for, but we are somehow

References: September Twelfth, 2001 – Boston poet X.J. Kennedy Christopher Plummer, Sound of Music "To feel at home in a place, you have to have some prospect of staying there. Your life is a grain of sand on the eternal beach." Wendell Berry "You have nothing in and of yourself. You and I are made of clay and spit. Any holiness of ours is polluted beyond our petty comprehension. I have nothing to offer Him but a bent neck, a neck He has helped me bend. I have nothing to offer Him but filth, and He has taken it and exchanged it for blood, like wine, and his own body, broken like bread. Do you resent this world? Do you hate Him for cancer, for car wrecks and for the sudden shocking sleep of the young? Do you hate Him for those waves that break too high, for those hours when far more than six-thousand die? Do you resent your story, your height, your baldness, your itchy feet, your unstable lower intestine, the forest-fire sunsets, and your own mortality? Buy cream for your wrinkles. Whiten your teet

In Luke 14:26, Jesus uses strong language, saying, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple." This statement is often interpreted metaphorically, emphasizing the radical commitment required to follow Jesus. It underscores the idea that discipleship involves prioritizing one's devotion to God over all other relationships and personal attachments.

*Note: Due to technical difficulties, the first 3 minutes of this sermon was not recorded.

Our anger often stems from distorted attachments and misplaced love for things that cannot truly fulfill us. When we prioritize these things above all else, any perceived threat or obstacle becomes a trigger for anger. We react fiercely when they are challenged, threatened, or fail to meet our expectations. This anger is characterized by its intensity, irrationality, and destructive potential. It harms ourselves and others, damaging relationships and hindering personal growth. The book of Proverbs emphasizes the importance of controlling anger and the benefits of approaching situations with patience and understanding. Anger can be a powerful tool for good and it's crucial to channel it constructively and use it for positive purposes. References: The Deadly Sins/Anger; The Fascination Begins in the Mouth, by Mary Gordon, New York Times, 1993 "If you have a god who never gets angry, you can’t have a god of love, because if you never get angry about a

It takes all of us. It’s not just up to parents. How can we step into the generation gap with the truth of the gospel, until the truth of the gospel becomes undeniable to the next generation? References: Greatest Gen (before 1925), Silents (born 1925–1945), Boomers (1946–1964), Generation X (1965–1979), Millennials (1980–1994), Generation Z (1995–2012) Generational Gap Ad - Australian Lamb Why parents aren't to blame for the rise in teen depression, by Jean M. Twenge “Every Generation has trauma—not every generation has Tik-Tok.”

As believers we remain people of hope by proclaiming the promise of a new heaven and new earth, where God's presence dwells intimately among his people. We celebrate that in heaven there will be no more sorrow, tears, and death, and ultimately creation will be restored to its intended perfection. The New Jerusalem is presented as a beacon of hope, a city of eternal joy and communion with God, inviting us to anticipate a future free from the struggles of the present world. References: “In your life, there is bound to come some trouble that there will be no words for.” Rich Mullins The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark "it was this hope that fueled the early church that made them unstoppable." Dominion by Tom Holland "Hell is other people.” Paul Sartre, French philosopher “Well enough about me. How about you? What do you think of me?” Bette Midler in the movie Beaches “How much larger our lives would be if our selves could become smaller in it.” G.K. Cheste