Rev'd Up for Sunday

St. Mark's New Canaan
  • 5.0 (17)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Listen along as the priests of St. Mark's, New Canaan (Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy) gear up for Sunday. Each week the preacher will lead a discussion of the scriptures of the day. Sometimes irreverent, often witty, always filled with love for our Lord: don’t miss these conversations about the questions, mysteries, and hope these three find in the Bible. 

  1. 4d ago

    "The Kingdom Hidden in Plain Sight" Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 | Episode 269

    What if the biggest spiritual truths are hidden inside the smallest stories? Elizabeth Garnsey and Rob Schwartz explore six memorable parables from Matthew 13, discovering how mustard seeds, yeast, treasure, pearls, and fishing nets reveal a Kingdom that grows quietly, transforms lives, and often goes unnoticed. Questions for Further Discussion Themes & Application Throughout these parables, Jesus compares God's kingdom to ordinary things: seeds, yeast, treasure, pearls, fishing nets, and household treasures. Why do you think Jesus chose everyday experiences rather than grand religious images?The mustard seed and yeast both suggest that God's work often begins quietly and almost invisibly. Where have you seen small acts of love or faith eventually grow into something much larger?The treasure and the pearl both involve giving up everything for something of greater value. What does it mean today to "reorder your priorities" around the Kingdom of God? Personal Reflection Questions Elizabeth described the Kingdom less as a place and more as an entirely different way of seeing and living in the world. How does that change the way you hear these parables?Have you ever unexpectedly stumbled upon something that transformed your life, or has your faith journey been more like a long search for a priceless pearl?Jesus ends by encouraging disciples to bring out "what is new and what is old." What wisdom from the past do you want to preserve, and what new insights might God be inviting you to embrace? Broader Spiritual Considerations Modern culture often celebrates dramatic breakthroughs and instant success. How do Jesus' images of gradual, hidden transformation challenge those expectations?Why do you think people are often drawn toward certainty and clear boundaries, while Jesus repeatedly tells stories that leave room for mystery and paradox?Which of these six parables speaks most powerfully to the world we live in today, and why?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

  2. Jul 14

    "The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds" Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 | Episode 268

    How does Jesus’ parable about wheat and weeds relate to the forces of good and evil , and what’s all this talk about fire?! John Kennedy and Rob Schwartz wrestle with this challenging parable while exploring themes of justice, patience, and the surprising humility Jesus calls us to embrace. What does it really means to leave judgement to God? Questions for Further Discussion Themes & Application Why does Jesus tell us to let the wheat and weeds grow together instead of pulling the weeds immediately?What does this parable teach us about the difference between identifying evil and appointing ourselves as judges?How do patience and trust become acts of faith when the world feels full of injustice? Personal Reflection Questions Are there "seeds of destruction" you recognize growing in your own life, such as resentment, fear, pride, or bitterness?What practices help you cultivate the "wheat" instead?Is there someone you've written off as beyond redemption? What might this parable challenge you to reconsider? Broader Spiritual Considerations Why do human beings seem so naturally drawn toward dividing the world into heroes and villains?What can this parable contribute to modern conversations about polarization, cancel culture, and public shaming?What parallels can be found between this parable and other traditions that emphasize inner transformation over condemning others?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

  3. Jul 7

    "The Parable of the Sower" Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 | Episode 267

    What keeps Jesus’ message from taking root in our lives? This week, Peter Walsh and Rob Schwartz dig through one of Jesus' best-known parables to uncover surprising insights about spiritual growth, distraction, doubt, and what it means to cultivate a heart that's ready to receive. Questions for Further Discussion Themes & Application Peter suggests this parable is ultimately about the condition of the soil rather than the skill of the sower. How does that change the way you hear Jesus' message?Rob distinguishes between simply hearing and truly listening. What practices help us become more spiritually attentive instead of merely informed?One of the episode's central insights is that good soil produces different harvests: thirty, sixty, and one hundredfold. How does this challenge our tendency to compare our spiritual lives with others? Personal Reflection Questions Which type of soil best describes where you find yourself in this season of life? Why?Can you remember a time when a passage of Scripture or a spiritual truth moved from your head into your heart?Where have you seen God patiently cultivating "good soil" in your life over time? Broader Spiritual Considerations Peter quotes Thomas Long's observation that the real question is not why some people attend church, but why so few people are spiritually alive. How does that challenge the Church's priorities today?Throughout history, Christians have interpreted this parable in different ways, sometimes emphasizing God's initiative and other times human responsibility. Where do you think this passage places the balance between divine grace and human response?If Jesus were telling this parable in today's world, what modern imagery might communicate the same truth about cultivating receptive hearts and lives?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

  4. Jun 30

    "Take My Yoke" Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 | Episode 266

    Jesus invites the weary to find rest, but what kind of rest is he actually talking about? This week, Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy explore one of Jesus' most beloved invitations and uncover why following him is both more demanding and more freeing than we often imagine. Along the way, they discuss burnout, Sabbath, spiritual pride, and why true rest begins by coming to Christ. Questions for Further Discussion Themes & Application Jesus says, "Come to me...and I will give you rest." What kind of rest is he offering, and why is it so difficult for us to receive?What does it mean that Jesus' yoke is "good" or "kind" rather than merely "easy"?How can discipleship be both deeply demanding and deeply freeing at the same time? Personal Reflection Questions What currently feels like the heaviest burden in your life?When was the last time you experienced genuine spiritual rest rather than simply taking a break?What are you truly "yoked" to right now? Work? Success? Approval? Worry? Comfort? Christ? Broader Spiritual Considerations What does Jesus' critique of both the religious establishment and popular expectations suggest about how faith can become captive to ideology?If modern society prizes optimization and constant achievement, what does Jesus' invitation to rest reveal about a different vision of what it means to be fully human?During a weekend celebrating national independence, how might Jesus' invitation to become "yoked" to him reshape our understanding of freedom?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

  5. Jun 23

    "A Hospitable Heart" Matthew 10:40-42 | Episode 265

    This week, Peter Walsh and Elizabeth Garnsey explore how hospitality, welcome, belonging, and small acts of kindness can transform both individuals and communities. From Abraham's hospitality to the challenge of modern isolation, they invite us to see Christ in those we welcome and to become people who help others belong. Questions for Further Discussion Themes and Application How does Jesus redefine discipleship by emphasizing receiving and welcoming rather than simply going and doing?How can seemingly small acts of kindness become spiritually significant?What does it mean to recognize Christ in "the little ones" among us? Personal Reflection Questions What "cups of cold water" have others offered you during difficult seasons of life?Where in your life are you being invited to practice greater hospitality?Who are the "little ones" in your community who may need encouragement, support, or recognition? Broader Spiritual Considerations What does it mean to say that Christ is present in those we welcome?How do churches balance radical welcome with the realities of human differences and disagreements?What kind of world would emerge if hospitality became a primary spiritual practice?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

  6. Jun 16

    "The Cost of Discipleship" Matthew 10:24-39 | Episode 264

    "I Have Not Come to Bring Peace, But a Sword." Did Jesus actually say that? And if so, what did he mean? Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy tackle one of the most challenging passages in the Gospels. From family conflict and social justice to fear, courage, and the difference between false peace and true peace, this conversation might change the way you hear Jesus' words forever. Questions for Further Discussion Themes and Application What "false peaces" do individuals, families, churches, or societies sometimes maintain at the expense of justice and truth?How do we know when conflict is a necessary consequence of faithfulness rather than something to avoid at all costs?What does it mean to acknowledge Christ publicly in a culture that often encourages faith to remain private? Personal Reflection Questions What part of this passage do you find most challenging or unsettling? Why?Have you ever experienced tension, misunderstanding, or division because of your values or faith commitments? How did you navigate it?What relationships or expectations have most shaped your sense of identity? Broader Spiritual Considerations What is the difference between divine peace and the absence of conflict?How do we discern whether our deepest allegiances belong to God, family expectations, political identities, or cultural assumptions?What might it look like to become, in C.S. Lewis's words, a "little Christ" in the world today?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

  7. Jun 9

    "How to Be an Apostle" Matthew 9:35-10:8-23 | Episode 263

    What does it mean to be sent into the world as participants in God's work? Peter Walsh and Rob Schwartz discuss the connection between proclamation and action, Jesus' deep compassion for those who are "harassed and helpless," and the transition from being disciples (learners) to apostles (those who are sent). Questions for Further Discussion Themes and Application How do we recognize God's call even when we feel unprepared?Why might Jesus choose ordinary and imperfect people to carry out extraordinary work?What does it mean to move from being a disciple who learns to an apostle who is sent? Personal Reflection Questions When have you felt called to do something before you felt fully prepared?Which aspect of Jesus' ministry comes most naturally to you: teaching, serving, encouraging, healing, advocating, or something else?What gives you endurance when faithfulness becomes challenging? Broader Spiritual Considerations How can compassion move us from observation to participation in another person's struggle?How do we discern where our energy is best spent and where it may be time to move on?What role does prayer play in sustaining people who are engaged in difficult or demanding work?How can we remain both "wise as serpents and innocent as doves" in a polarized world?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

  8. Jun 2

    "Have Mercy!" Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 | Episode 262

    This week’s reading brings us to Jesus calling Matthew the tax collector, dining with those considered outsiders, healing a woman suffering for twelve years, and raising a synagogue leader's daughter. Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy identify a common thread running through all these stories: mercy. Learn how following Jesus is a journey into greater mercy, deeper trust, and true spiritual freedom. Questions for Further Discussion Themes and Application Peter suggests that mercy might be a word worth carrying in your heart for an entire year. If you chose one spiritual word or practice to focus on this year, what would it be and why?John notes that God often chooses unexpected people throughout scripture: Jacob over Esau, David over his brothers, and Matthew over more respectable candidates. Why do you think God is drawn toward people on the margins? Elizabeth argues that everyone in the story needs mercy, including the Pharisees. How does that challenge the way we typically divide people into "good guys" and "bad guys"?  Personal Reflection When have you experienced mercy from someone at a time when you least expected it?Have you ever felt like Matthew, the hemorrhaging woman, or the synagogue leader, carrying a burden that left you feeling isolated, ashamed, or desperate?Peter speaks about following Jesus as moving from a profession to a vocation, from simply doing something to becoming someone new. Where have you experienced that kind of transformation in your own life?  Broader Spiritual Considerations The clergy describe Jesus as both faithful to his tradition and radically transformative within it. How can religious communities honor tradition while remaining open to new insights from God? The conversation suggests that many of society's divisions are fueled by fear, pride, and exclusion. How does the Gospel challenge these forces?What is the relationship between mercy and justice? Can one exist fully without the other?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

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About

Listen along as the priests of St. Mark's, New Canaan (Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy) gear up for Sunday. Each week the preacher will lead a discussion of the scriptures of the day. Sometimes irreverent, often witty, always filled with love for our Lord: don’t miss these conversations about the questions, mysteries, and hope these three find in the Bible. 

Information

  • Creator
    St. Mark's New Canaan
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    271
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Rev'd Up for Sunday
  • Show Website
    Rev'd Up for Sunday

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