Podcasts about congregational

Ephesians 2:1-7 Printable Outline:    2-22-26     Sermon audio:        2-22-26 https://youtu.be/KQ23nE8f0fQ  

Join us as we gather live for our Sunday Service. Today we hear from our congregation as the members share testimony of what God spoke to them during the forgiveness series. We look forward to gathering with you virtually and hearing your thoughts and prayers during our live chat. We believe in Loving Jesus, Loving People, and seeing Jesus transform lives. For more information on our church, click on the following links: Website: junctioncovenant.com/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/junctioncov...

Ephesians 1:18-23 Printable Outline:    2-15-26     Sermon audio:    2-15-26

Ephesians 1:15-17 Printable Outline:  2-8-26     Sermon audio:  2-8-26

Market Harborough Congregational Church meets on Sunday mornings at 10.30am at the top of the High Street, we love to welcome visitors, people who want to know more about Jesus Christ and those who are looking to belong.Morning Worship 9th February 2026Leader: Rev Roo MacRaeRevival (3) in the Church: Holiness, Unity & MissionBible Readings: Acts 2

Ephesians 1:13-14 Printable Outline:  2-1-26     Sermon audio:    2-1-26

This is the service from Market Harborough Congregational Church in Leicestershire.  If you can join us one week we would love to welcome you.Morning Worship 2nd February 2026Leader: Rev Roo MacRaeRevival (2): The Holy Spirit & the heart of revivalBible Readings: Ezekiel 36:16-38, Romans 8:1-17

The Church: is Not a Building but is a Building Project, is Universal and Local, is Visible and Invisible, is True or False, is Redeemed and Regenerate, is Gathered and Scattered, is Autonomous and Cooperative, is Elder-led and Congregational, is Accountable and Reconciling, performs baptism and the Lord's Supper, is Militant and Triumphant, Worships and Witnesses, gathers for Preaching and Prayer, is Holy and Hospitable, and is Meager and Glorious.

Ephesians 1:11-14 Printable Outline:  1-25-26     Sermon audio:  1-25-26

In our new afternoon service Pastor David teaches on the regulative principle of worship using selected scriptures and references to our church's confession [2LBC, ch. 22].» Definition of the Regulative Principle:The church must only do what God has commanded in His Word—nothing more and nothing less.» Scripture is sufficient:2 Timothy 3:16-17» Biblical Examples of Acceptable and Unacceptable Worship:Exodus 20:3-6Genesis 3:21, 4:5-7, Deuteronomy 12:29-32Leviticus 10:1-2, 2 Samuel 6:6-7Hebrews 12:28-29» New Covenant PracticeJohn 4:24,Acts 2:41-42, Hebrews 10:24-25» Defining Elements & Circumstances» Basic ElementsReading Scripture (Luke 4:16-19, Acts 15:21, 1 Tim. 4:13)Call to worship (Ps. 122:1, 95:1-3)Benediction (Num. 6:24-27, 2 Cor. 13:14)Preaching and teaching the Word (Acts 20:20, 27, Rom. 10:17, Eph. 4:11-14, 2 Tim. 4:1-2)Prayer (Acts 2:42, 12:5, 1 Cor. 11:3-5, 16, 14:14-19, 1 Timothy 2:1-2a)Congregational singing (Ps. 100:1-5, Matt. 26:30, 1 Cor. 14:15, 26, Eph. 5:18b-19, Col. 3:16)Baptism (Matt. 28:18-20)The Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7a, 1 Cor. 11:18, 26)» Other Elements *(may include)Offerings/Giving Financially to Support Ministry (Mal. 3:8-10, Mark 12:41-44, 1 Cor. 16:1-2, 2 Cor. 9:1-7)Confession of Sin & Assurance of Pardon (1 Jn. 1:9-10, 2:1-2)» Summary of distinctions:Exodus 3:5, Isaiah 6:3-5» Will-WorshipColossians 2:23 *(KJV)» Practical applications / Conclusion

This is the recording of the sermon preached by Rev Roo MacRae on Sunday 25th January, it is the first in a new series entitled Revival.Leader: Rev Roo MacRaeTheme: Revival (1): Awakening to the Living GodBible Readings: Acts 3:1-23, Psalm 85

Sermon Text - Matthew 4.12-23 - by Pastor Dan Frey

Acts 2.41-47

Ephesians 1:7-10 Printable Outline:  1-18-26     Sermon audio:  1-18-26

Brian From sits down with Pastor Scott Oberle of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Downers Grove to talk about ministry, calling, and what it means to truly serve a community. Scott shares his journey into pastoral ministry, his experience with street ministry, and how his church centers dignity, hospitality, and presence for people on the margins. Together, they reflect on how churches can move beyond self-preservation to live faithfully as salt and light in their neighborhoods.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(01:16) The challenge of mending broken relationships within church communities.(02:47) Scriptural and theological foundation for unity, drawing from both Old and New Testaments.(06:38) Real-life examples and historical anecdotes on church conflicts.(10:00) Causes of relational breakdown: disappointment, neglect, unresolved conflict, political/personal differences.(15:00) Practical ways pastors can foster church unity; preaching, prayer, sacraments.(21:38) The role of “stealthy peacemakers” and intervening in private disputes.(27:27) Congregational responsibility for reconciliation and unity.(31:10) Limits of reconciliation and pastoral wisdom; closing prayer.

Ephesians 1:1-6 Printable Outline:  1-11-26     Sermon audio:    1-11-26

(01:16) The challenge of mending broken relationships within church communities.(02:47) Scriptural and theological foundation for unity, drawing from both Old and New Testaments.(06:38) Real-life examples and historical anecdotes on church conflicts.(10:00) Causes of relational breakdown: disappointment, neglect, unresolved conflict, political/personal differences.(15:00) Practical ways pastors can foster church unity; preaching, prayer, sacraments.(21:38) The role of “stealthy peacemakers” and intervening in private disputes.(27:27) Congregational responsibility for reconciliation and unity.(31:10) Limits of reconciliation and pastoral wisdom; closing prayer.

Guest: Ronald White. Chamberlain returned to Bowdoin College as its president, attempting to modernize the institution by introducing science and broader curricula. He faced resistance from conservative trustees and alumni but persisted in his vision for a progressive education. Religious tensions also arose as Unitarianism gained influence; Chamberlain remained inclusive, even as Fanny and his daughter left the Congregational church. Throughout this era, he continued to be a highly sought-after speaker at veterans' reunions, outshining famous generals like Grant and Sheridan with his ability to weave classical literature and deep meaning into his war recollections.1863 GETTYSBURG

Psalm 146 Printable Outline:  1-4-26     Sermon audio:    1-4-26

Ephesians 5:15-18 Printable Outline:  12-28-25     Sermon audio:    12-28-25

1 Peter 1:13 Printable Outline:    12-24-25     Sermon audio:  12-24-25

Romans 10:8-17 Printable Outline:  12-21-25     Sermon audio:    12-21-25

Hebrews 12:1-3 Printable Outline:  12-14-25     Sermon audio:    12-14-25

Is Advent a Catholic tradition, or just a really old Christian rhythm we forgot existed?In this Advent themed episode, we answer two real pastor questions:“Is Advent a Catholic tradition? Will this cause issues in a Baptist church?”  “Do you sing Christmas carols during Advent, or wait until Christmas Eve?” (Also, why is this guy getting ambushed in elder meetings?)We talk history, Baptist baggage, and the practical “how do I introduce this without detonating my church” stuff. Plus, we settle the great candle debate: real or electric, and how new the carpet is definitely matters.  00:00 Cold open 00:49 Question 1: “Is Advent a Catholic tradition?”  03:12 How to introduce Advent without chaos (and why you should not just drop it in)  10:59 “Isn't Advent a Catholic thing?” A simple intro that works  13:23 Why Advent helps your sermon calendar (and saves your brain)  14:57 Practically Pastoring Conference   16:47 Sponsor: Church Merch (stop wearing the 2004 VBS shirt)  17:55 Question 2: Christmas carols during Advent, yes or no?21:30 “This is bigger than song choice” the pastoral issue underneathJoin the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/practicallypastoringRegister for the Practically Pastoring Conference (Feb 9–11, 2026, Tarpon Springs, FL). Tampa Bay pastors, DM us for a special code: https://www.practicallypastoring.com/conferenceLinks from the show:

Hebrews 12:7-14 Printable Outline:  12-7-25     Sermon audio:    12-7-25

Psalm 107:1-3 Printable Outline:  N/A     Sermon audio:    11-26-25

Psalm 107:1-43 Printable Outline:  11-30-25     Sermon audio:    11-30-25

Rabbi Michael G. Holzman joins Mark Labberton to explore the formation of his Jewish faith, the pastoral realities of congregational life, and the multi-faith initiative he helped launch for the nation's 250th anniversary, Faith 250. He reflects on his early experiences of wonder in the natural world, the mentors who opened Torah to him, and the intellectual humility that shapes Jewish approaches to truth. Their conversation moves through the unexpected depth of congregational ministry, the spiritual and emotional weight of the pandemic, the complexities of speaking about God in contemporary Jewish life, and the role of cross-faith friendships. The episode concludes with Rabbi Holzman's reflections on how the suffering in Israel and Palestine reverberates among Jews and Muslims in America. Episode Highlights "I think we are desperately in need of ways to get Americans to agree that they're in the same community… simply by naming the Declaration of Independence as a piece of shared American scripture… we are inviting people and really challenging ourselves to think about the words in those documents seriously, and prayerfully." "My formation as a child was relatively non-theological… my mother just would sit there and say, 'Do you feel that wind?' And for me, knowing that it was in a national park mattered… being in such a grand and awesome space, under the enormity of the heavens." "The pursuit of truth with epistemic humility really became the cornerstone…if Moses wasn't allowed to see God's face, I'm never gonna see God's face—and yet we are all still pursuing what the meaning of this incredible text is." "I was a little bit unprepared… until you experience it as a pastor, you don't really understand the power of those things. That rootedness in this particular congregation gave me a sense of existential meaning that I didn't anticipate." "The thing that got me through that darkness was Saturday morning Torah study… just being there with the text and with these faces and these people… that to me was my path through the darkness." "When people are sitting over the text, the most palpable experience of God is this moment of understanding another human being… it's so vulnerable and it's so fleeting and it's so beautiful." "There is an experience happening on the ground of absolute suffering and horror on both sides… and there's a parallel experience happening for Jews and Muslims in America. It's powerful, spiritually powerful, emotionally powerful, and to people's core." Helpful Links and Resources Faith 250 https://www.faith250.org/ "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46550/the-new-colossus "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" by Frederick Douglass https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/what-to-the-slave-is-the-fourth-of-july/ "America the Beautiful" by Katherine Lee Bates https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/spotlight-primary-source/america-beautiful-1893 I and Thou, Martin Buber https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780684717258/i-and-thou About Rabbi Michael G. Holzman Rabbi Michael G. Holzman is the Senior Rabbi of Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation (NVHC), where he has served since 2010. His work focuses on spiritual formation, civic engagement, multi-faith partnership, and the cultivation of communities grounded in dignity, learning, and ethical responsibility. He founded the Rebuilding Democracy Project, which developed into Faith 250, a national multi-faith initiative preparing communities for the 250th anniversary of the United States through shared reflection on foundational American texts. He teaches and writes on Jewish ethics, civic life, and spiritual resilience. Show Notes Faith 250 American Scripture Faith 250 as a response to political despair and a way for clergy to exercise agency Four core American texts explored as shared scripture across faiths Intent to counter politicization of the 250th anniversary through spiritual depth Multi-faith relationships grounding the initiative in shared civic and moral concern Emphasis on clergy as conveners of spiritually safe, local containers for reading The Declaration, New Colossus, Frederick Douglass, and America the Beautiful as "scriptural" portals to civic meaning "American scripture" as a means of naming shared identity and shared community Jewish Formation and Torah Childhood shaped by nature, wonder, and ethical awareness rather than synagogue life Early encounters with the Everglades as formative experiences of spirit and awe Discovery of Torah study as a young adult across Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform settings Epistemic humility as a defining mark of Jewish study practice Pursuit of truth understood through the "through a glass darkly" frame of Moses Torah received "through the hand of Moses" as mediating truth and mystery Chevruta (paired study) as the engine of discovery, disagreement, and meaning Pastoral Life and Congregational Meaning Surprised by the depth of pastoral work: weddings, funerals, life-cycle passages Intimacy of congregational leadership as a source of meaning rather than tedium Congregational relationships forming an existential and vocational anchor The role of community support during family medical crises How decades-long pastoral presence shapes shared covenantal life Teaching 12- and 13-year-olds to encounter the text as spiritual practice The power of intergenerational relationships in spiritual resilience Pandemic and Spiritual Survival Early months of 2020 as a time of fear, isolation, and emotional strain Counseling families whose loved ones were dying without visitors Previous experience with depression creating early warning signals Telehealth therapy as a critical intervention Saturday morning Torah study on Zoom becoming the path through darkness Growth of the study community throughout the pandemic Predictable humor and shared reading as markers of communal stability Textuality, God-Language, and Jewish Hesitations Jewish discomfort speaking explicitly about God for theological and cultural reasons Layers of humility, anti-mysticism, differentiation from Christianity, and historical experience Sacredness and mystery of the scroll growing in the digital age Physicality of the Torah scroll attracting deeper attention and reverence Hebrew as a source of multivalent meaning, sonic power, and spiritual resonance Reading together as the most common encounter with God: understanding another's soul Pastoral awareness of individuals' life stories shaping group study dynamics Cross-Faith Devotion and Shared Honor Friendships with Muslim, Christian, and Hasidic leaders deepening spiritual insight Devotion in others sparking awe rather than defensiveness Disagreement becoming a site of connection rather than separation Devotion in other traditions prompting self-reflection on one's own commitments Stories of praying with and learning from ultra-Orthodox leaders Shared pursuit of truth across tradition lines as a form of civic and spiritual honor American religious diversity offering unprecedented exposure to sincere piety Israel, Gaza, and American Jewish Experience Suffering, fear, and horror experienced by Israelis and Palestinians Parallel emotional and spiritual pressures faced by Jews and Muslims in America Concern about political manipulation of community trauma Generational trauma and its transmission, including Holocaust-era family stories Emotional resonance of global conflict in local congregational life Distinction and connection between geopolitical realities and American spiritual experience Call to honor emotional realities across neighborhoods and communities Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment Magazine and Fuller Seminary.  

Ethereal Encounters welcomes Peter Panagore Date: Thanksgiving, November 27th, 2025 - 5 PM EST Topic: Peter Pineal Gland Activation: Unlocking Your Divine Connection Bio: Living in Boothbay Harbor, Peter is a husband, father, grandfather, a two-time near-death experiencer, storyteller, ordained pastor, writer, best-selling book author, entrepreneur, public speaker, TV talent, producer, and more. He earned my Master of Divinity at Yale University with a focus on the classics of Western mysticism. MINISTER He served eighteen years as a Congregational community minister in the United Church of Christ, primarily along the coast of Maine. TELEVISION For fifteen years (2003-2018), Peter had the honor and privilege to broadcast ( a daily two-minute spot on two NBC TV stations with Daily Devotions (brand) just before the morning's weather. Through this program, he reached thirty million viewers annually on TV (Nielsen Ratings) and an uncountable number of listeners on FM and AM stations across Maine, New Hampshire, and the nation. https://www.peterpanagore.love

Philippians 4:6-9 Printable Outline:    11-23-25     Sermon audio:    11-23-25

Proverbs 3:7-18 Printable Outline:    11-16-25     Sermon audio:  11-16-25

Selected Scriptures Printable Outline:    N/A     Sermon audio:  11-9-25

This episode features Dr. J. Stephen Yuille, Professor of Church History and Spiritual Formation at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Director of Puritan Publishing at Reformation Heritage Books. Yuille shares with the NBN about his new five-volume edition of The Works of John Cotton (Soli Deo Gloria, 2025). John Cotton (1585–1652) was among the most influential Puritan pastors of his age, shaping church life in both England and New England. Yuille explains how this new edition traces Cotton's thought across his major works—from his devotional classics, to his defense during the Antinomian Controversy, his exchanges on religious liberty, his writings on Congregational church government, and his apocalyptic sermons on Revelation and the Song of Solomon. Together, this 5 volume set Cotton's complete works, published together for the first time since their original printing 400 years ago, reveals his vision of grace, godliness, and community that helped define early American religion. Listen as Stephen Yuille reflects on John Cotton's enduring relevance for theology, history, and the study of faith in public life. Your host, Ryan Shelton (Ph.D. Queen's University Belfast 2024), is a historian of seventeenth-century Christian literature and theology. His research focuses the development of covenant theology in trans-Atlantic puritanism and the poetry of John Milton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Matthew 7:13-27 Printable Outline:    11-2-25     Sermon audio:  11-2-25

Psalm 91 Printable Outline:    10-26-25     Sermon audio:    10-26-25