Austin Mustard Seed Sermons

The fourth Sunday of Advent centers on God's love. Pastor April Karli explores the significance of the presence of angels in the stories of Jesus' birth and invites us to consider how we have experienced God's presence with us. The post 4th Sunday of Advent – God With Us appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

What is your current relationship to prayer? Has prayer ever felt transactional to you? Pastor April helps us refocus on prayer as an invitation from God to participate in bringing light to darkness and leads us in a practice of Imaginative Prayer. The post Imaginative Prayer – Liturgy 11/6/22 appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

How can we know the Bible is meaningful to our modern lives? Where does scripture's authority come from? Pastor Shane Blackshear helps us understand the answers to these questions and most importantly, how we should respond. The post Let's Talk About The Bible – Liturgy 10/16/22 appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Pastor April Karli shares Ephesians 4:1-16 and challenges us to consider how we arrive at truth. The post How Do We Know Something Is True & Why Does It Matter? – Liturgy 10/2/22 appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

In preparation for our Baptism Sunday, Shane Blackshear explores various viewpoints from history and Scripture on the who, what, and how of the practice of baptism. The post Baptism appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Pastor April and Ashley Blackwell discuss how attachment theory and our attachment styles affect how we understand and related to God, especially in times of suffering. The post God's Absence: God & Attachment appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Mary Whitehurst preaches on The Armor of God and its effectiveness at all times, but especially those times when we feel God's absence. The post God's Absence – The Armor of God – Mary Whitehurst appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

The post God's Absence – Shane Blackshear appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

June 19, 2022 – Pastor April teaches out of the book of Esther where we ask the question, where is God? The post God's Absence – The Book of Esther – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

The post Sermon – 5/1/2022 – Easter Week 3 – John 21:1-19 – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

The post Sermon – 4/17/2022 – Easter Sunday – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Please enjoy Pastor April's message from Palm Sunday, 2022. The post Sermon – 4/10/2022 – Palm Sunday – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

On Sunday we explored the extravagance of Mary's gift to Jesus. The post Sermon – 4/3/2022 – Mary's Anointing of Jesus – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Pastor April leads us through the passage of scripture known as “The Prodigal Son Returns” The post Sermon – 3/27/2022 – A Compassionate Father and His Two Sons – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Pastor Shane brings this morning's teaching… The post Sermon – 3/6/2022 – When In Romans… – Shane Blackshear appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

This morning, Pastor April teaches through The Transfiguration of Jesus. We also invited former missionaries to Russia, Chris and Anya Gandy, up to share their thoughts on the situation in Ukraine. The post Sermon – 2/27/2022 – The Transfiguration & Ukraine appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

After 2+ years of “Covid adapted Liturgies”, we spent the last month or so meeting outside in our parking lot. This morning was our first liturgy back inside. We took a moment to reflect on what we've learned from being out of the building. The post Sermon – (2/20/2022) – What We Learned From Parking Lot Liturgy – April Karli & Shane Blackshear appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Andrea Lucado brings this morning’s teaching from the 2nd chapter of Philippians. The post Sermon – (8/16/20) – “Philippians: Working Out My Salvation” – Andrea Lucado appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

A dear from of AMS, Mary Whitehurst brings this second teaching on the book of Philippians. The post Sermon – (8/9/20) – “Philippians: All Done!” – Mary Whitehurst appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Pastor April introduces our first teaching on the book of Philippians. The post Sermon – (8/2/20) – Philippians: “All Things New” – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Mason Parva closes out our series on The Spiritual Disciplines with a great teaching on “why”. The post Sermon – (7/26/20) – “The ‘Why’ of Spiritual Discipline” – Mason Parva appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Local Austin Spiritual Director Terra McDaniel joined us this past Sunday and gave an incredibly encouraging teaching on some spiritual practices that can be used during this time in quarantine. The post Sermon – (7/12/20) – Spiritual Practices for the Pandemic Season – Terra McDaniel appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

The post Sermon – (7/5/20) – Spiritual Disciplines: Sabbath – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

The post Sermon – (6/28/20) – Spiritual Disciplines: Silence – Shane Blackshear appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Pastor April continues our teaching series with the next spiritual discipline, Confession. The post Sermon – (6/21/20) – Spiritual Disciplines: Confession – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Pastor April opens up a series of teachings on the Spiritual Disciplines with our first Sunday practice, Slowing. The post Sermon – (6/14/20) – Spiritual Disciplines: Slowing – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

“On Pentecost Sunday we consider the arrival of the Holy Spirit and what that story means to the church and the role we play in this broken and unjust world.” The post Sermon – (5/31/20) – Pentecost Sunday – Tim Allen appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Audio from this Sunday is a mini-family meeting about our plans for re-gathering. Leaders at Austin Mustard Seed share what we’ve been been praying about and discussing with regards to COVID and how we can safely gather again. We also spent time praying together as a community for God’s direction for Austin Mustard Seed during this season.  The post Sermon – “Regathering” – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

This Sunday April led us through John 10:1-10. We considered what Jesus meant when he used metaphors calling himself the good shepherd and a gate. Scripture and Quotes:Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate … Read More → The post Sermon – “The Good Shepherd” – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

On Sunday we visited the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. It can be difficult to see Jesus even in the best circumstances. We were challenged to consider how to recognize Jesus’s presence with us in the midst of difficult times and grief. Luke 24:13-35Now on that same day two of them were going to a village … Read More → The post Sermon – “The Road to Emmaus” – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

On Sunday April led us through the story of Thomas. Thomas expressed his need to see and touch the risen Jesus. We were asked to to consider the questions: What do you need from Jesus today? How can you receive Jesus’s peace? Scripture & Quotes:John 20:19-31When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors … Read More → The post Sermon – Doubting Thomas – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

On Easter Sunday April led us through the story of the women finding the empty tomb and asked us to consider the question, “How much hope does the resurrection bring you in light of the covid19 shutdown?” Scripture and Quotes: After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to … Read More → The post Sermon – Easter Sunday – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

On Palm Sunday we were thrilled to welcome special guest speaker Dennis R. Edwards. Dennis is associate professor of New Testament at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago. He is also the author of several books including:“What is the Bible? And How Do We Understand It?” and “The 1 Peter Story of God Commentary.” Dennis spoke on the story of … Read More → The post Sermon – Palm Sunday – Dennis R. Edwards appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

For the fifth week of Lent Madelynn Marlow shared from Ezekiel 37. She encouraged us to remember God’s healing, life giving presence among us even when things feel dry and lifeless, like the valley of dry bones. Scripture and quotes: Ezekiel 37:1-1437 The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord … Read More → The post Sermon – Ezekiel 37 – Madelynn Marlow appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

On Sunday we had a digital liturgy via Zoom. April shared thoughts from Psalm 23 about God’s presence and blessing with us even in the darkest valleys.Scripture and quotes: Psalm 23The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.    He makes me lie down in green pastures;he leads me beside still waters;    he restores my soul.He leads me in right paths    for his … Read More → The post Sermon – 3/23/20 – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

For the first Sunday of Lent, April Karli guided us through Jesus’s temptation in the wilderness where we considered the question: To what extent do we trust God? Scripture and quotes:Matthew 4:1-11Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was … Read More → The post Sermon – Lent One: Into the Wilderness – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

This week we conclude our series on racial justice and diversity. Special guest Tanya Rodgers joins April and Shane to talk about her experience as a person of color in church and society. The post Sermon – Racial Justice, pt. 3 – April Karli, Tanya Rodgers, & Shane Blackshear appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

This week Shane and April continue the conversation about racial justice. The post Sermon – Racial Justice, Cont. – April Karli & Shane Blackshear appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

We began a three part series about Racial Justice this Sunday. Shane and April shared hopes for how Austin Mustard Seed can enter into and be challenged by this conversation.Scripture and resources mentioned in the message: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 “For he … Read More → The post Sermon – Racial Justice, Intro – April Karli & Shane Blackshear appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

April Karli shared this morning from Micah 6:1-8 about what it is God expects of us as God’s people. Text and quotes:Hear what the Lord says:    Rise, plead your case before the mountains,    and let the hills hear your voice.Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord,    and you enduring foundations of the earth;for the Lord has a controversy with his people,    and he will contend with Israel.“O my … Read More → The post Sermon – What Does God Expect? – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Chris Morton speaks on what it means to dwell in the presence of God from Psalm 27. Resources and quotes: “A banner rallies people against a group, an object, or a concept. …an enemy stokes the flames of anger and keeps the antagonism going. It’s always easier to gather a group around what we’re against, because it gets people angry. In this way, banners create enemies.” The … Read More → The post Sermon – Dwelling… – C. Morton appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

“In our passage today, John 1:29-42, we hear Jesus’ first words to his first disciples. They were ‘What do you want?’. We discuss why knowledge and behavior alone aren’t enough for true Christian discipleship or transformation, to really get there we have to get our ‘wanters’ on the table. This is vitally important because the essence of discipleship wanting what … Read More → The post Sermon – “What Do You Want?” – Shane Blackshear appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Matthew 3:13-17Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then … Read More → The post Sermon – The Baptism of Jesus – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

On Epiphany Sunday, April Karli shared about the revelation that Jesus is for everyone. We considered the story of the three wise men through this text from Ephesians. Ephesians 3:1-12This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles — 2 for surely you have already heard of the commission of … Read More → The post Sermon – Epiphany Sunday – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Apologies that this upload is late. Back on December 15, 2019, Jonathan Baker brought the morning’s message on Peace & Love. The post Sermon – Peace & Love – Jonathan Baker appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

This morning, on the second Sunday of Advent, Andrea Lucado preaches a message on Hope: The Magnificat. The post Sermon – Hope: The Magnificat – Andrea Lucado appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

The first Sunday of Advent, April Karli shared about living hopeful expectation in the midst of uncertainty. We were invited to consider that Advent is an in-between time as we remember Jesus’s first coming as a baby and await his promised second coming. How is Jesus inviting you to be awake to his presence this Advent season? “But about that … Read More → The post Sermon – 1st Sunday of Advent (Hope) – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

Some folks from our community share their Stories of Thanksgiving. The post Sermon – Stories of Thanksgiving appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

This week Tim Allen and April Karli explored what we mean by neighboring and why it’s important to us at Austin Mustard Seed. We looked at the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus found in the gospel of Luke. Luke 19:1-10He entered Jericho and was passing through it.  A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was … Read More → The post Sermon – Be a Good Neighbor – April Karli & Tim Allen appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

This morning, Pastor Shane brings the teaching from Luke 21:5-19. Jesus claims that not one stone will be left on another in the temple, then goes on to let his followers know what will happen in the immediate future, including persecution. Jesus promises that God will be with his people and those who endure and are faithful. The post Sermon – Jesus Prophecies the Destruction of the Temple – Shane Blackshear appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.

On All Saints Sunday, we reflected on the Beatitudes from Luke 6:20-31. April Karli explores Jesus’s teaching on being blessed. “Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. “Blessed are you who weep now, … Read More → The post The Beatitudes – April Karli appeared first on Austin Mustard Seed.