Epiclesis

Epiclesis
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Ancient Future Faith Community

Episodes

  1. 4D AGO

    Bride and Groom

    "Bridegroom” is one of the important scriptural titles for the Messiah. Jesus purposefully goes into hostile territory, Samaria. And while there, He starts up a conversation with an unmarried, perhaps-five-time-divorced, now-cohabitating, foreign, Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. And so here's the question Pastor Chris asked about this famous encounter with the Woman at the Well: Are there any of marriage or betrothal themes present in the story? Yes, is the answer. Join us as we look at the encounter through the lens of Jewish Scripture and tradition and culture where we will see the Woman at the Well as a kind of symbol of the bride of Christ. The artwork associated with this podcast is titled "Woman at the Well" by Wayne Forte. A closer detail of the work can be seen here. Two other settings of the same story that Pastor Chris referenced were a 6th century mosaic by an unknown artist(s) and "The Woman of Samaria at the Well" by James Tissot.

    29 min

  2. MAR 1

    Darkness to Light – Light to Darkness

    Nicodemus is a character that perfectly personifies the tensions that surrounded Jesus. And he seems completely unique in the Gospels. What might a beautiful painting of his memorable nighttime meeting with the Messiah highlight some things we can learn about our relationship with Jesus? Also, along the way, we looked at some fascinating comparisons between Nicodemus and Judas. Join us! The image attached to this podcast is the "study" version of Henry Tanner's "Nicodemus Comes to Jesus." The finished version that Pastor Chris also refers to is here if you'd like to see it.

    32 min

  3. FEB 25

    Comparing Judas to Whom?

    Robert Brown was back in the Chapter House for a conversation about Nicodemus. Have you ever thought about how Nicodemus might compare and contrast with Judas? Both men had some things in common, but in the end both men's journeys ended up in radically different places. Along the way we also talked about Israel's purpose and how Jesus did come to set all things right. But Jesus set all things right in miraculous ways that neither Nicodemus nor Judas expected. Join us!   Note: The image associated with this podcast is titled "The Judas Kiss" by Robert Schoeller.

    40 min

  4. FEB 22

    The Author of Upside-Down Things

    Today’s character, the first in a series of portraits during Lent, is Satan. Scripture references for today take us back to the very beginning and remind us that Satan is at first a deceiver, one who calls into question God’s goodness. Sometimes Pastor Chris also referred to Satan as the “Author of Upside-Down Things.” Why? Join us and find out. Along the way we also noticed that portraits of Satan are not necessarily painted with dark colors and angry brushstrokes.   The painting associated with this sermon/podcast is a detail from "The Fallen Angel" by Alexandre Cabanel (1847). Find the three high-rez images that Pastor Chris used during the teaching here: Original full size. Close-up. Extreme close-up.

    29 min

  5. FEB 15

    Witnesses to a Transfiguration

    The Transfiguration comes at a pivotal point in Matthew’s Gospel, and it occurs at a dramatic, shifting moment in the other two Gospels that include it. It is after the Transfiguration that Jesus “sets his face” toward Jerusalem-- a moment of pause and then change of direction. And it’s a perfect moment and story to reflect on here at the beginning of Lent. Just before this event, Jesus had revealed some hard things to his disciples, including that they might die. But there was good news for the disciples because they were witnesses to a Transfiguration. They learned that there was a new reality that made everything they were to endure not only bearable but desirable: They learned that Jesus is God incarnate, the king of the universe, the pinnacle of salvation history, ready to inaugurate his kingdom. Artworks (in order) that Pastor Chris mentioned in this podcast/sermon: 1. Icon: Transfiguration of Jesus (1408) Theophanes the Greek. 2. Mosaic in the apse of the Church of the Transfiguration (1924) Mt. Tabor. 3. The Transfiguration (c 1520) Raphael. 4. The Transfiguration of Jesus (1824) Alexander Ivanov. 5. Transfiguration of Jesus (1872) Carl Bloch. 6. Transfiguration (2008) Lewis Bowman. 7. The Transfiguration (2023) Chris Brazelton (The image used on the title page of this podcast/sermon). 8. The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ (2025) George Meluch.

    24 min

  6. FEB 8

    Mind of Christ or Tribal Differences?

    In this world, you’re not going to be liked for one reason or another. In fact, you might even be hated. We talk sometimes about what we’d like to be remembered for—or about what we’d like to be known or admired for. But what would you like to be hated for? Someday, maybe even today, someone is going to see you or hear you and get angry and "gnash their teeth," as the Psalmist says. Join Pastor Chris as he looks at three Scripture passages to discover ways we can faithfully live in a contentious world divided by tribal factions.

    26 min

  7. FEB 5

    The Wicked Will See and Be Vexed

    Pastor Chris was back in the Chapter House with Robert Brown to talk about several passages of Scripture-- and they all had (at least in Pastor Chris' mind) some things in common. There's a verse in Psalm 112 that talks about how the wicked see how the righteous live and they are "vexed" and "gnash their teeth." What does that say about them? And what does that say about how we should live in light of Kingdom values? Join us! It was an interesting conversation. The image associated with this podcast is of the ceiling of the Chapter House of York Minster Cathedral in England. Photo credit: Tom Bartel, 2013.

    51 min

  8. FEB 1

    Not Merely Hearers

    This Sunday morning teaching happened in an atypical, even experimental form— a sermon in dramatic dialogue. In a kind of homage to the quirky, 1981 film, My Dinner with André, the “sermon” mirrored the wide-ranging, personal, and deep conversation between Wallace and André (the actual names of the actors/characters in the movie). But the content of Sunday’s dialogue between André (Pastor Chris) and Wallace (Robert Brown) centered on two friends catching up after a long absence who had, unbeknownst to each other, had married, had families, become Christians, and pursued careers/callings neither expected of each other or themselves. André had become an Eastern Orthodox layman and a Marriage and Family Therapist, while Wallace had become a Presbyterian pastor. The Lectionary texts consist of a Wisdom Psalm (Psalm 15), and a Prophetic text (Micah 6). After André and Wallace retell their conversion stories and the life events that led them up to the present, they end up talking about the Epiphany texts for Wallace’s upcoming sermon. That discussion forms the key transition to the real meat of the conversation—how we as Christians might wrestle with such texts. Note: The photograph associated with this podcast is a production still from the movie "My Dinner with André."

    42 min

  9. JAN 25

    Educating a Prayer Skeptic

    A life- and soul-altering event accounts for Psalm 27.  A profound and intimate experience of God has driven David to this conclusion: "With a Friend like this, I need fear no one" (v. 1). Reflecting on David's response to God's astonishing deliverance, Jay Dudley discloses three stunning experiences of answered prayer that have had a similarly soul-altering impact on him. The sermon is a 3-point "experiential Amen" to Psalm 27:1 The artwork associated with this podcast is titled "Psalm 27" by Chris Duffett.

    30 min

  10. JAN 18

    Epiphany upon Epiphanies

    The word "epiphany" has at least two words, also appearing in Scripture, with related meanings: "advent" and "apocalypse." In this sermon, Pastor Chris led the congregation in a look at those terms and how they might found in three Bible passages-- two in John's Gospel and one in Acts. So many times with Jesus, who is the ultimate epiphany of all, we can see all three things at work at the same time. How might that be? Join us and find out!   The painting associated with this sermon/podcast is "The Baptism of the Christ II" by Daniel Bonnell, a favorite artist of our church family.

    24 min
  • 10 Episodes

4.7
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14 Ratings

About

Ancient Future Faith Community

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  • Creator
    Epiclesis
  • Years Active
    2010 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Epiclesis
  • Show Website
    Epiclesis