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. 8h ago

    "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

    35 min

  2. 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

    39 min

  3. 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

    29 min

  4. 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

    34 min

  5. 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

    40 min

  6. 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

    46 min

  7. May 26

    “Experiencing the Trinity” Matthew 28:16-20 | Episode 261

    This week, we explore the Great Commission and the mystery of Trinity Sunday. Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy discuss the Trinity not simply as doctrine, but as a lived experience of self-giving love. Along the way, they wrestle with power, mercy, division, spiritual formation, and what it means to live as a community shaped by the presence of Christ. Questions for Further Discussion Themes and Application What does it mean that Jesus commissions imperfect, grieving, and uncertain disciples instead of waiting for flawless faith?How do you respond to the idea that the Trinity is better experienced than explained? What does “making disciples” look like in today’s world beyond simply growing church attendance? Personal Reflection Have you ever experienced doubt and faith existing side-by-side?Do you tend to think of God more through fear, obligation, mystery, love, or relationship?What part of the Trinity feels most accessible to you right now: Creator, Christ, or Spirit? Broader Spiritual Considerations Why has the Trinity remained one of Christianity’s deepest mysteries for centuries?How does the Great Commission invite Christians into global responsibility rather than tribal identity?What might it mean to understand salvation not merely as belief, but participation in the “life of love” described through the Trinity?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

    33 min

  8. May 19

    "A Come to Jesus Moment" John 7:37-39 | Episode 260

    We've never discussed THIS lesson before! Our Pentecost episode explores Jesus’ dramatic proclamation during the Feast of Booths: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me.” The clergy unpack the rich symbolism behind the water rituals of the festival, the imagery of rivers flowing from the temple, and the deep connection between Spirit, baptism, wisdom, and transformation. Along the way, they reflect on how authentic spiritual life is not simply about inward experience, but about living water flowing outward into the world through transformed lives and communities. Questions for Further Discussion Themes and Application Why do you think water is such a powerful image for the Holy Spirit alongside more familiar Pentecost symbols like fire and wind?The clergy reflect on spiritual life as something that must flow outward into the world. What does “outflow” look like in real life?What did you make of the discussion around Jesus acting strategically or unexpectedly during the festival? Does it change how you picture him? Personal Reflection Do you tend to focus more on inward spiritual experience or outward action? Why?How do you personally understand the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life?What emotions surfaced for you while hearing this Pentecost conversation? Broader Spiritual Considerations How can Christian communities avoid becoming spiritually inward-focused or emotionally performative?What do you think the church most needs to hear from Pentecost right now: fire, wind, or water?How does the image of rivers flowing from the temple connect with themes of healing, justice, and renewal in the world today?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

    36 min
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5
out of 5
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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
    269
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Rev'd Up for Sunday
  • Show Website
    Rev'd Up for Sunday

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