Teaching of the Week

Michael and Terri Sullivant are respected leaders from Kansas City. They have prophetic giftings - both in the gift of prophecy over others, and in the area of teaching about Biblical handling of prophetic gifts. In 2011 they gave a workshop at Hope Chapel in Austin, Texas. They spoke together on the topic of God's ability to rewrite the narrative of our lives. This seems an appropriate teaching to revisit, since Amy just finished the Runaway Bay manuscript that “rewrites the narrative of her life” (and her Dad's). Teaching given on Austin 28, 2011.

This teaching ended the Antioch Network retreat in Austin in July, 2010. The focus of that retreat was, “Restore the Ancient Anointing” - a theme very much on George's heart in those years, as he also was working on the Ancient Wells compilation. But he broke from the theme to narrate several key events in his life that taught him about God and himself, helping him mature into a more whole-hearted follower of Jesus. Teaching given on July 30, 2010, at Still Waters retreat center in southwest Austin.

Building on Caroline Owens' teaching on The Throne in March 2024, Amy opens up new understandings of the eternal throne of God as revealed in scripture passages in the Old and New Testaments. She also reflects on her recent trip to Europe, revealing how what the Lord spoke to her in Auschwitz relates to the ongoing development of community at Christ the Reconciler. Teaching given on 1 Feb 2025 at Christ the Reconciler.

Caroline's teaching on the Throne of God, given at the SHORE retreat on March 16, 2024 at Hope Chapel.

In June 2019, Amy was asked to be the keynote speaker for an Antioch Network gathering in Istanbul. She gave three talks, all on the subject of Friendship with God. The final talk was about Jesus. Jesus was a friend of God! Talk given on June 28 2019.

In June 2019, Amy was asked to be the keynote speaker for an Antioch Network gathering in Istanbul. She gave three talks, all on the subject of Friendship with God. The second talk was about Moses. It ends with Phillip Owens singing Andrew Peterson's song Rise Up. Talk given on June 27, 2019.

As part of the Faith of Friends initiative, Rabbi Dan Millner of Tiferet Israel synagogue in Austin invited Pastor Matt Ryniker of Hope Chapel to speak to his congregation, expressing support and solidarity in the face of rising anti-Semitism after the events of October 7, 2023. Talk given on August 28, 2024. Includes Rabbi Dan's introduction, and some Q&A at the end.

As the Hope Women's book study of In the Bosom of Abraham wraps up, it might be worthwhile to revisit Amy's 2019 teaching on Abraham, a friend of God. This teaching has some of the seeds that became her book on Abraham. Teaching given on 26 June 2019, at the Antioch Network gathering in Istanbul.

Dr. David Gresham was invited to speak on the topic of Receptive Ecumenism. He subtitled his talk, “Welcoming And Loving Those Unlike Us.” During the talk, he presents a fascinating diagram on the gifts that various historic streams have to offer the whole body of Christ. Talk given during te North American Network (NAN) conference at the Alleluia Community in Augusta, Georgia, on February 24, 2024.

Micah was asked to preach on June 8, 2024, at his church - Bastrop Church of Christ. He spoke on worship, from Revelation 4 & 5.

Johannes Fichtenbauer was the last speaker on the first day of the 2024 North American Network (NAN) conference. As usual, Johannes had a lot to present! He passed out a dense handout, which he made it about 2/3 of the way through in the time allotted. All of it was important and very encouraging in our call to community. Talk given at the Alleluia Community in Augusta, Georgia, on February 23, 2024. Audio & video recordings courtesy of NAN.

Caroline's teaching on the Throne of God, given at the SHORE retreat on March 16, 2024 at Hope Chapel.

Used by permission of HCBC. On February 11, 2024, Hill Country Bible Church (Lakeline) invited the DreamTogether 2030 initiative participants to visit their 9 am service. The sermon was preached by Jim Botts, who was just returning to the pulpit in the midst of a battle with cancer. Pastor Botts speaks of the importance of staying connected to the people of God, in all of their messiness. Without community, we are fooling ourselves into thinking that we can mature and make a difference in the world for God.

Caroline Owens is one of the leaders of Christ the Reconciler. Late in 2023, she began hearing in her spirit a prophetic word for the community. She delivered the word at the retreat on February 3, 2024.

Danny speaks of the importance of community - the “we” and “us” … the “y'all” … of the New Testament. He is addressing men in particular, and their need for fellowship and community, but his message applies to women as well, and to the whole body of Christ. Teaching given on October 21, 2023 at the Hope Chapel Men's Retreat.

In the midst of their "Church Folk" sermon series, Greater Mt. Zion Church in Austin, Texas invited Rev. Denise Pierce into the pulpit. Her topic was unity and reconciliation in the body of Christ - "Church Folk Are Reconcilers." That same Sunday (December 3, 2023), Greater Mt. Zion celebrated those who are participating in DreamTogether 2030, a reconciliation initiative rooted in the famous "I have a dream" speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rev. Pierce is one of the leaders of this initiative. Rev. Pierce references Christ the Reconciler during the sermon, including a quote of the definition of reconciliation that we have received from God: "Reconciliation is a series of actions that removes hostility from a relationship, repairs the damage it has done, and restores the God-intended unity." Podcasted by CTR with the permission of Rev. Denise Pierce.

As we observe the season of Advent, waiting and watching for the coming of Jesus, let us remember that Dan Davis' last sermon at Hope Chapel was about the Second Coming. He had never taught on the return of Christ, in all the thousands of sermons he preached there. On September 8, 2019, he preached a beautiful sermon about the hope we have in the return of the Lord in glory. Our own Sandi Pedrotti closed the sermon with a meditation and invitation. Come, Lord Jesus!

Micah Davis, a community member at Christ the Reconciler, gives a short teaching and encouragement on how to interpret a major theme of the book of Revelation. Teaching given on 21 October 2023 at a Christ the Reconciler retreat.

Marianna Gol was born into a secular Jewish family in Russia. Now she is a lover and follower of Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel. In this message she speaks about the ONE messianic body that has been created by the death and resurrection of Christ. Jews and the nations become one through faith in the Messiah - that is the mystery of God Paul speaks about. Marianna Gol gave this message on 3 November 2017 in the final Wittenberg 2017 gathering, moving the hearts of many with her passion and also new understandings of familiar passages.

This provocative talk comes from a true father of the Messianic Jewish movement, Benjamin Berger. Speaking to a gathering of primarily Catholics and Protestants, he spoke about the importance of the land of Israel using the language of sacramental theology. Talk given in Wittenberg, Germany, on 16 June 2016, for the penultimate gathering of the Wittenberg 2017 initiative.

George Miley continues his short series on the concept of “apostolically-gifted leaders” — those God has appointed to pioneer works that cross boundaries - geographic (missions) and denominational (reconciliation). Teaching given at the Antioch Network gathering in Seattle, WA on 11 January 2011.

George Miley continues his series on the concept of “apostolically-gifted leaders” -- those God has appointed to pioneer works that cross boundaries - geographic (missions) and denominational (reconciliation). Teaching given at the Antioch Network gathering in Seattle, WA on 11 January 2011.

George Miley introduces the concept of “apostolically-gifted leaders” as those God has appointed to pioneer works that cross boundaries - geographic (missions) and denominational (reconciliation). Teaching given at the Antioch Network gathering in Seattle, WA on 10 January 2011.

One of George Miley's frequent refrains is the need for silence and solitude, especially for the busy modern soul. But ... how to do this? Really? In this teaching, George visits some practical considerations for being able to enter solitude. Teaching given at the CTR Ancient Wells Retreat on July 15, 2011.

In the fourth and final teaching in the Boundaries of Reconciliation series, Thomas Cogdell addresses the practical question - "What should our conversations around the dinner table be like at Christ the Reconciler?" This teaching was given at Christ the Reconciler during the retreat held on April 22, 2023.

In this teaching, Thomas Cogdell continues the Boundaries of Reconciliation series with the 3rd teaching. One objection to the True & False Unity teaching (#1 in the series) could be - “But I am a prophet, I speak truth to power, even if it means calling out those who are following a ‘false gospel.'” This teaching looks at the responsibility of a prophet, from the perspective of both the Old and New Testaments. It addresses the relationship of the prophet to other leaders in the body of Christ, and how the prophet should respond when they malfunction and don't respond properly to the word being brought. (Of course, the prophet can also malfunction!) This teaching was given at Christ the Reconciler during the retreat on 28 January 2023.

George Miley introduces the major themes of his new (as-yet-unpublished) book, Leaders Following.

In this teaching, Thomas Cogdell addresses the concern that work towards Christian unity could produce a "false unity." What is true unity? False unity? How do we rightly respond to those whom we disagree with, to the extent that we question whether or not they are "real Christians"? This is the first in what is anticipated to be a series of four teachings on the topic of Boundaries of Reconciliation. It was given at Christ the Reconciler during the retreat on 10 September 2022.

When the Cogdells stumbled into the Antioch Network gathering in Herrnhut Germany in 2008, they were amazed to find people talking about Catholic - Protestant reconciliation! One of them was Paul Miller, a YWAM missionary working with Catholics in France. He gave a remarkable talk on reconciliation for the purpose of Evangelical mission, in a culturally-Catholic country. Recorded on 11 June 2008.

The first time Mark Kinzer visited CTR, we were hoping to get him interested in Wittenberg 2017. But he mostly wanted to talk about our community. When he came a second time, after Wittenberg 2017 had completed, he gave this teaching on covenant community and Israel. Worth re-listening in these days, when we are considering “all-in” community commitments at CTR. Teaching given on February 10, 2018 at CTR.

In June 2019, Amy was asked to be the keynote speaker for an Antioch Network gathering in Istanbul. She gave three talks, all on the subject of Friendship with God. The second talk was about Moses. It ends with Phillip Owens singing Andrew Peterson's song Rise Up.

We conclude the Foundations of Community with this, the 10th teaching of our series. It also completes the second half of the series, which focuses on the commitments to action. The fifth and final commitment is to Work. Phillip Owens imparts to us his high value and immense capacity for work, explaining that it comes from God and is for God. Thomas wraps up by grounding our understanding of work in Jesus' report to his Father, John 17:4. Teaching recorded for the retreat at Christ the Reconciler on 10 May 2022.

As we observe the season of Advent, waiting and watching for the coming of Jesus, let us remember that Dan Davis' last sermon at Hope Chapel was about the Second Coming. He had never taught on the return of Christ, in all the thousands of sermons he preached there. On September 8, 2019, he preached a beautiful sermon about the hope we have in the return of the Lord in glory. Our own Sandi Pedrotti closed the sermon with a meditation and invitation. Come, Lord Jesus!

During a small Antioch Network meeting in Berlin, Jayson Knox was asked to address the topic of apostolically-gifted leaders. The purpose of the gathering was to explore the idea of "Antioch Network Europe" - which has since become a reality! Teaching given on 16 November 2011.

The last in a series on Spiritual Formation given at Christ Church Anglican in Phoenix. This teaching was from August 28, 2011.

The end of Boundaries of Reconciliation #1, True & False Unity, was the ruling of the Jerusalem Council on the controversy of Gentiles becoming followers of Jesus. This second teaching in the series picks up there by addressing the gift of apostles to the church; the role of apostolic authorities in safeguarding unity, and the beauty of healthy mutual submission. At the end of the teaching, Amy introduces the word "apostolate" and the concept of Christ the Reconciler as an apostolate, whose leaders carry apostolic authority for the community, but are also submitted to apostolic authority in their own traditions. Teaching given at a Christ the Reconciler retreat on 12 November 2022.

On October 9, Amy had the honor of being invited to give a guest sermon at the Bastrop Church of Christ. This was a beautiful full-circle blessing for Amy, because one marker moment in her journey into the Catholic Church was a dream she had, where she saw a Catholic woman preaching in a Church of Christ - which, in her experience, would never ever happen. And here, over 20 years later, the dream came true in the sense that Amy, a Catholic woman, was invited to preach at BCOC. Praise the Lord! BCOC was in a series of sermons on the Psalms of Ascent, and Pastor Andrew invited Amy to address Psalm 133. Of course this Psalm begins with a famous statement about unity, but Amy felt drawn to also address the more cryptic phrase “oil running down the beard of Aaron.” She asks the question, “What's up with Aaron's beard?” And, if you want to find out … take a listen!

In this teaching, Thomas Cogdell addresses the concern that work towards Christian unity could produce a "false unity." What is true unity? False unity? How do we rightly respond to those whom we disagree with, to the extent that we question whether or not they are "real Christians"? This is the first in what is anticipated to be a series of four teachings on the topic of Boundaries of Reconciliation. It was given at Christ the Reconciler during the retreat on 10 September 2022.

George Miley presents a teaching drawn from the third chapter of his new book on leadership. He talks about the unusual kingdom characteristic of submission, in a Godly leader. Teaching given for the Antioch Network Virtual Gathering on 13 March 2021.

We conclude the Foundations of Community with this, the 10th teaching of our series. It also completes the second half of the series, which focuses on the commitments to action. The fifth and final commitment is to Work. Phillip Owens imparts to us his high value and immense capacity for work, explaining that it comes from God and is for God. Thomas wraps up by grounding our understanding of work in Jesus' report to his Father, John 17:4. Teaching recorded for the retreat at Christ the Reconciler on 10 May 2022.

We conclude the Foundations of Community with this, the 10th teaching of our series. It also completes the second half of the series, which focuses on the commitments to action. The fifth and final commitment is to Work. Phillip Owens imparts to us his high value and immense capacity for work, explaining that it comes from God and is for God. Thomas wraps up by grounding our understanding of work in Jesus' report to his Father, John 17:4. Teaching recorded for the retreat at Christ the Reconciler on 10 May 2022.

In the 8th teaching of our Foundations of Community series, we continue the second half of the series, which focuses on the commitments to action. The third commitment is to Formation. After a brief intro by Thomas, Amy talks about why we need formation, how formation works, and what we should do as a community regarding formation. Teaching recorded for the retreat at Christ the Reconciler on 12 February 2022.

In the 7th teaching of our Foundations of Community series, we begin the second half of the series, which focuses on the commitments to action. The second commitment is Reconciliation. Thomas Cogdell talks about keys to reconciliation, and how we live out John 17 through reconciliation at CTR. Teaching recorded for the retreat at Christ the Reconciler on 12 November 2021.

The first five teachings of the Foundations of Community series give insight into our renunciations as a community. This teaching begins the second half of the series, which focuses on what we are committing to. The first commitment is to Prayer. Teaching given by Thomas Cogdell for the CTR Retreat (via Zoom) on 18 September 2021.

In the 5th teaching of our Foundations of Community series, Amy follows on Merisha's teachings on repentance and confession, with a teaching on forgiveness. How does forgiveness work in God's court of justice, in heaven? How do we “justify the wicked” and “condemn the righteous”, without realizing it? Teaching given at the Christ the Reconciler retreat on 21 August 2021, which was held at Hope Chapel.

Merisha Janke was invited by Pastor John McComb to give the sermon on Palm Sunday 2021 (March 28). She was asked to speak on the topic of "Repentance and Forgiveness." Merisha invited Thomas Cogdell to give a brief testimony at the end, about both personal and identificational repentance.

The fourth in our Foundation of Community series is, like the third, brought to us by Merisha Janke, our friend from Help for All Nations. Merisha speaks from her experience growing up in the Lüdenscheid community in Germany. She focuses on confession one to another as a crucial part of living in the light, and the power of the cross to deliver us from all hidden sin. Teaching given on June 19, 2021, at Christ the Reconciler.

The 2nd teaching in the “Foundations of Reconciliation” series, following Caroline's teaching on The Accuser of the Brethren. Amy & Caroline work together to further unpack the ways in which we invite the Accuser into our minds, our lives, and the church - and how to instead welcome the Advocate, the Holy Spirit! Teaching given at Christ the Reconciler on 15 May 2021.

Caroline Owens is on the leadership team of Christ the Reconciler, a community of followers of Jesus seeking to live out John 17. She prepared this teaching for the first retreat back at CTR after a year-long pause because of the coronavirus. The teaching was given on April 17, 2021. Caroline has been married to her husband Phillip for over 30 years. They have six children. Caroline is a Roman Catholic who has taken vows as a lay Dominican - the "Order of Preachers." Preach it, Caroline!

In 1995, Steve Hawthorne gave a series of teachings at Hope Chapel, on Tuesday evenings if memory serves. He was exploring the ideas around “The Story of His Glory”, a major theme in his life, teachings, and writings. This teaching was delivered in the first half of the third session on 18 October 1995.