The Journey Church Houston Podcast

The Journey
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

The Journey Church Houston is a church plant in Houston, TX. The Journey exists to invite people on a Journey to discover the truth, goodness, and beauty of the Christian Story. We aspire to be a church that is Biblical, Thoughtful, Relational, and Missional. Our prayer is this podcast will equip believers to know what we believe, why we believe it, and how it makes sense of the world. Visit us at www.thejourneyhouston.org!

  1. 10h ago

    Early and Middle Medieval Church (A.D. 600–1200) | A Cloud of Witnesses, Session 4

    Was the medieval period really a “Dark Age” for Christianity? In this episode of A Cloud of Witnesses: The History of the Church, we explore the early and middle medieval church from A.D. 600–1200—a period often remembered for castles, knights, crusades, and church corruption, but which was also a time of remarkable Christian growth, influence, theological development, missions, and reform. We’ll look at the rise of the papacy and the influence of Charlemagne, the complicated relationship between church and state, the problems of simony and the Investiture Controversy, the role of monastic communities in preserving Scripture and pursuing reform, the growing divisions between Eastern and Western Christianity, and the Great Schism of 1054. We’ll also examine the Crusades and hear part of Pope Urban II’s famous appeal for the First Crusade. Rather than reducing the Crusades to a simple story of heroes and villains, we’ll consider the genuine religious convictions and political concerns that motivated many participants alongside the violence, atrocities, and problematic claims about spiritual authority that accompanied them. The medieval church was neither as glorious nor as dark as the stereotypes suggest. It was a complicated period in which Christianity became deeply influential while also experiencing serious corruption and division. And that raises an important question for Christians today: What should we do when we look honestly at the history of the church? We can celebrate what is good, recognize what needs reform, and remember that Christian influence must always be accompanied by faithfulness. If you found this episode helpful, please rate and review the podcast, subscribe so you don't miss future episodes, and share it with someone who enjoys history or is curious about Christianity. We’d love for you to join us as we explore the truth, goodness, and beauty of the Christian Story. And if you're in Houston, we'd love to have you join us in person on Sundays at 9:30 AM for Discipleship Classes—including classes like our church history series—followed by Worship at 10:30 AM at 1703 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX 77008.

  2. 1d ago

    Confidence for The Journey: Israel Crosses the Jordan | Joshua 3

    What does it look like to have confidence when you don't know exactly what lies ahead? In Joshua 3, Israel stands at the Jordan River on the threshold of the Promised Land. They are about to embark on a journey filled with trials and dangers, but God calls them to move forward with eager expectation—not because they know everything that will happen, but because they know that God is faithful to His promises. In this sermon, Pastor Steven Hiller explores how we can have confidence on the Christian journey by eagerly expecting the fulfillment of God's plan, grounded in His faithfulness and confirmed by His works in the past. Our confidence is not blind faith or wishful thinking. God has given us His promises, demonstrated His faithfulness throughout the Christian Story, and ultimately proven His ability to fulfill His plan through Jesus Christ—His life, death, resurrection, and promised return. We may not know every detail of the journey ahead. We may face suffering, uncertainty, loss, and trials. But we know the destination: the promised Kingdom of God, where Christ will return, death and suffering will be no more, and God will dwell with His people forever. We can step forward in faith because God has proven Himself faithful. If this episode encouraged or challenged you, please rate and review the podcast, subscribe so you don't miss future episodes, and share it with someone who could use a reminder of God's faithfulness. Join us Sundays at 10:30 AM at 1703 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX 77008. #Joshua3 #BookOfJoshua #ChristianSermon #GodIsFaithful #ChristianHope #TrustGod #ChristianJourney #JesusChrist #BiblicalFaith #TheJourneyChurchHouston

  3. Sep 29

    Theologians and Church Councils (A.D. 300-600) | A Cloud of Witnesses, Session 3

    What happens to Christianity when the age of persecution comes to an end? In Session 3 of A Cloud of Witnesses: The History of the Church, we enter one of the most formative periods in Christian history: A.D. 300–600. Christianity moves from persecuted minority to influential institution, and with that transition come both new opportunities and new challenges. In this episode, we explore Constantine and the Edict of Milan, the rise of monasticism, the ecumenical councils, and the theological controversies that led to the Nicene Creed and Definition of Chalcedon. We’ll meet some of the most influential theologians in church history, including Athanasius, the Cappadocian Fathers, Jerome, Ambrose, and Augustine. At the heart of this era is a question that still matters today: How do we faithfully receive, understand, and protect the faith that has been handed down to us? We’ll also consider Augustine’s City of God, the fall of the Western Roman Empire, and the surprising ways Christianity continued to spread through missionaries like Patrick of Ireland. Whether you’re a lifelong Christian, a student of church history, or simply curious about how the Christian faith has endured through centuries of change, this conversation will help you understand the people, controversies, and convictions that shaped Christianity as we know it today. ⭐ RATE the episode if you found it helpful. ✍️ REVIEW the podcast and let us know what you’re learning. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for future episodes. ↗️ SHARE this episode with someone who would benefit from learning more about Christian history. Join us in Houston: 📖 Discipleship Classes — Sundays at 9:30 AM ⛪ Worship — Sundays at 10:30 AM 📍 1703 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX 77008 Our 9:30 AM Discipleship Classes include A Cloud of Witnesses: The History of the Church, exploring the people, events, ideas, and theological debates that have shaped the Christian church across history. #ChurchHistory #ChristianHistory #EarlyChurch #ChurchFathers #EcumenicalCouncils #NiceneCreed #Athanasius #Augustine #Christianity #TheJourneyChurchHouston

  4. Sep 27

    The Faithful Outsider | Joshua 2

    What does it take for an outsider to become part of God’s story? In Joshua 2, we meet Rahab, a Canaanite woman living in Jericho whose reputation and circumstances put her firmly on the outside. Yet when she hears what the LORD has done and what He has promised, she responds with faith and allegiance. Rahab had heard what everyone else had heard. But unlike the king of Jericho and the generation of Israelites before her, she believed, and her faith moved her to act. Her story reveals the surprising breadth of God’s mercy: no one who turns to Him in faith and allegiance is beyond His saving grace. And Rahab’s story doesn’t end with being rescued from Jericho. She is welcomed into God’s people and ultimately becomes part of the family line of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 1, Rahab stands alongside Tamar, Ruth, and David in the genealogy leading to Christ, a beautiful picture of God’s grace reaching outsiders and bringing them into His redemptive story. If you’ve ever wondered whether someone like you could really belong with God, Joshua 2 offers a powerful answer: God’s mercy is wider than your past, your reputation, your failures, or your sense of being an outsider. Never stop marveling at God’s mercy. Receive His mercy, and let that mercy transform you into someone who lives by faith. If this episode encourages or challenges you, rate and review the podcast, subscribe for future episodes, and share this message with someone who needs to hear it. #Joshua2 #Rahab #TheFaithfulOutsider #GodsMercy #ChristianFaith #BiblicalFaith #BookOfJoshua #JesusChrist #Gospel #TheJourneyChurchHouston

  5. Sep 22

    The Apostolic Fathers & Apologists (A.D. 33–300) | A Cloud of Witnesses, Session 2

    What happened to the Christian faith after the apostles began to pass from the scene? In this second session of A Cloud of Witnesses: The History of the Church, we step into the first centuries of Christianity and meet the Apostolic Fathers and Apologists—early Christian leaders who helped the church remain faithful to the apostles amid persecution, cultural pressure, and false teaching. We’ll explore figures such as Polycarp, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Tertullian, along with the development of early Christian worship, church leadership, catechesis, and the recognition of the New Testament Scriptures. We’ll also consider some of the major challenges the early church faced, including Gnosticism and Marcionism. The session concludes with an excerpt from The Martyrdom of Polycarp, where an elderly Christian leader is commanded to deny Christ in exchange for his life. His response offers a striking picture of what it looks like to remain faithful when following Jesus becomes costly. Church history isn't merely a record of the past. It reminds us that Christians have always had to wrestle with how to know the faith, preserve the faith, and live by faith in a changing world. If you're exploring Christianity, seeking to understand where the Christian faith came from, or simply wanting to become more rooted in the faith you profess, we hope this conversation helps you see the Christian story with greater clarity. ⭐ Rate and review the podcast to help others discover it. 🔔 Subscribe for future episodes from The Journey Church. ↗️ Share this episode with someone who might benefit from it. Join us in person in Houston: 📖 Discipleship Classes — Sundays at 9:30 AM (including our Church History class) 🎶 Worship — Sundays at 10:30 AM 📍 1703 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX 77008

  6. Sep 20

    On the Edge of the Promise | Joshua 1

    What do you do when you know what God has promised, but you don’t know all the details about how He’s going to accomplish it? That’s the tension Joshua faces at the beginning of Joshua 1. Moses has died, and God’s people are standing on the edge of the Promised Land. God has promised to give them the land, to give them victory, and to be with them, but Joshua doesn’t know exactly what the journey ahead will look like. God doesn’t give Joshua all the details. He gives him His promises, His Word, His mission, and His presence. In “On the Edge of the Promise,” we explore what Joshua 1 teaches us about biblical courage and what it means to move forward faithfully when we know God’s promises but don’t know all the details of how He will fulfill them. Joshua would lead God’s people into the Promised Land and into a real experience of God’s rest. But Joshua could not give them the ultimate rest they needed. Hebrews 4 points us beyond Joshua to Jesus, the greater Joshua, who makes the way for us to enter God’s eternal rest through grace alone, faith alone, and Christ alone. We live in that same tension today. We know what God has promised, but we don’t know all the details of how He will fulfill those promises. So how do we move forward? Not because we know what lies ahead, but because we know the God who goes before us. You don’t need to know everything God is going to do. You need to know what God has said, trust the God who said it, and faithfully take the next step. If this episode encourages you, rate and review the podcast, subscribe for future episodes, and share it with someone who needs courage for the road ahead.

  7. Sep 15

    A Cloud of Witnesses: The History of the Church | Session 1, Introduction

    Why does studying church history matter? If Jesus is building His church across generations, then understanding the story of those who came before us can help us understand our own faith—and our own moment—in a deeper way. In this first session of A Cloud of Witnesses: The History of the Church, we begin a journey through 2,000 years of Christian history, from the earliest followers of Jesus to the church today. Church history is more than dates, names, councils, and controversies. It is the story of real people seeking to follow Jesus in real places and real circumstances. It helps us understand where we came from, evaluate our own moment more wisely, learn from the faithfulness and failures of those who came before us, and remember that Christ has faithfully preserved His church throughout history. Most importantly, church history reminds us that we are part of a story much bigger than ourselves. In this introductory session, we explore eight reasons to learn church history, preview the twelve-week course, and consider why Jesus Christ—not merely the church—is ultimately the center and goal of history. Whether you are a lifelong Christian, newer to the faith, or simply curious about Christianity and its place in the story of the world, we invite you to explore the story with us. Join us every Sunday at 9:30 AM for Discipleship Classes, including A Cloud of Witnesses: The History of the Church, followed by Worship at 10:30 AM. 📍 The Journey Church Houston 1703 Heights Blvd. Houston, TX 77008 If this episode was helpful, rate and review the podcast, subscribe, and share it with someone who would benefit from the conversation.

  8. Sep 13

    Be Strong and Courageous | Joshua Overview

    How do God’s people live between promise and fulfillment? As the book of Joshua begins, Israel stands on the edge of the Promised Land after 400 years in Egypt and 40 years in the wilderness. God has promised them a home, His provision, and, most importantly, His presence. But they don’t know exactly how they’re going to get there. Ahead of them are fortified cities, formidable enemies, unexpected obstacles, and, at times, their own fickle hearts. Into that uncertainty, God gives Joshua a command that becomes the theme of the book: “Be strong and courageous.” But biblical courage isn’t self-confidence. It’s confidence in God. Because God is faithful, His people can trust Him, obey His Word, and move forward in faith, even when they don’t know exactly what lies ahead. In this overview of Joshua, we’ll see three foundational truths: God has promised — so trust Him. God has spoken — so obey Him. God is with you — so move forward courageously. And ultimately, Joshua points us beyond himself to a greater Joshua—Jesus Christ. Joshua led God’s people into an earthly inheritance and rest, but Jesus conquers Satan, sin, and death and leads His people into the everlasting Kingdom and final rest God has promised. We live between promise and fulfillment too. We may not know all the details of what lies ahead, but we can know the God who holds those details in His hands. Listen to the full episode and discover what it means to live with strength and courage because God is faithful. If this episode encourages or challenges you, subscribe to the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could benefit from it. And if you’re in Houston, we’d love to have you join us on Sundays at 10:30 AM at 1703 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX 77008. #BeStrongAndCourageous #BookOfJoshua #Joshua #GodIsFaithful #BiblicalCourage #TrustGod #ChristianPodcast #ChristianSermon #JesusChrist #HoustonChurch

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About

The Journey Church Houston is a church plant in Houston, TX. The Journey exists to invite people on a Journey to discover the truth, goodness, and beauty of the Christian Story. We aspire to be a church that is Biblical, Thoughtful, Relational, and Missional. Our prayer is this podcast will equip believers to know what we believe, why we believe it, and how it makes sense of the world. Visit us at www.thejourneyhouston.org!

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