Audio – Restoration Covenant Church: Recent Episodes
Restoration Covenant Church
John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus, is (by Jesus’ own words) the greatest of all prophets, and is… in prison? Given by Chaplain Krista Messam on 7/09/23
Today we meet the 3rd person to wear the cloak of Elijah: John the Baptist, who came to prepare Israel to meet their Messiah. Given by Pastor Jon on 7/02/23.
One of the great things about tracking the life of a Biblical character is that you can see growth and change. This week: one of the most fascinating and beautiful passages of a nonviolent peace in history. Given by Pastor Jon on 6/25/23.
Rev. (almost) Dr. Kimani Francois uses Psalm 22 & 23 to talk about our questions of God, our faith in God, and the power of belonging. Given on June 18, 2023.
Something has changed in Elisha; an enemy comes for healing and he leaves healed. What do we do when bad things come our way? Why are we obsessed with the question of why? Given by Rev. Jon MacDonald on 6/11/23
Two stories, side-by-side, illustrate the responsibility of stewarding our God-given power and influence. Given by Rev. Jon MacDonald on 6/04/23.
Elijah comes down to find Elisha, annoint him as the new prophet of Israel, and then bounce into retirement. But God is not done with Elijah just yet. Given by Pastor Jon on 5/28/23.
Elijah is lost, and God provides comfort like a mother against the backdrop of hyper-masculine gods like Baal. Given by Rachel Bergman at Restoration on 5/21/23.
We wanted to post both Jon and Rachel’s sermons from Sunday to see how two people approach a text differently, and why different voices are so important to reading the text in community. Given by Pastor Jon at FCC on 5/22/23.
In our summer series, we will be looking at the lives of 3 prophets: Elijah, Elisha, and John the Baptist. Up first: Elijah and the widow. Given by Pastor Jon on 5/14/23.
Finally, the Good News. The hero of the story: the father. Given by Pastor Jon on 5/07/23.
On week 2 of our series on the prodigal son we meet the other prodigal; the older brother. Given by Pastor Jon on 4/30/23.
In our 3-week series on The Prodigal Son, we begin with looking at the younger son and why it is so hard to come home. Given by Pastor Jon on 4/23/23.
Christ is Risen! On Easter Sunday we look at Jesus’ reconciliation and re-commissioning of Peter. Given by Pastor Jon on 04/09/23.
Pete has a bad night. Like, a really, really bad night. Are we who we are on our worst night? Given by Pastor Jon on 04/02/23.
This passage begins with a request, which leads to a warning about wealth, which leads to a story about greed. What we need, deep down, is rest. Given by Pastor Jon on 3/19/23.
We need our imaginations of success shaped by Jesus, not the world around us. Given by Pastor Jon on 03/12/23.
Jesus stands at a crossroads, inviting those who are able to follow Him and confronting those who are unwilling to turn to Him. Given by Pastor Jon on 3/05/23.
In our new Lenten series entitled “Oh the Humanity!” we look at the belief (and unbelief) of a father seeking the healing of his son. Note: the first few minutes was lost on the Restoration podcast, so we spliced in the first few minutes from the FCC service in a way that is so smooth […]
As we close our series on prayer, we look at the most important outcome of prayer: hope. Hope that is birthed from a confidence in God despite (often) our circumstances. Given by Pastor Jon on 2/19/23.
What do we do with our anger? What do we do when, if we’re honest, some of our anger is rooted in a frustration with God’s seemingly slowness to respond to us? Given by Pastor Jon to FCC on 02/12/23.
What do we do with the space between God’s desire for the world and the broken world that is? We learn to join the Psalmist in saying, “God, I trust you.” Given by doctoral candidate and pastor Kiki Francois.
Hold on; I thought this was a sermon on joy. What is all this talk of repentance? Given by Pastor Jon on 01/29/23.
As a chaplain, Krista Messam has had a front row seat to grief. As ferocious and inevitable grief is the good news is that grief is sacred; that God is near to those who grieve.
Last week we talked about the upward direction of prayer; Whom we are praying to. This week we talk about the inner posture of prayer. Given by Pastor Jon on 1/15/23.
Jesus tells us a story that we might learn to always pray and never give up. And the story is… odd. Given by Pastor Jon on 1/09/23.
Did you know that ‘remember’ is one of the most repeated commands in Scripture? Given by Pastor Jon on 01/01/23.
In our final Sunday of Advent we hear Mary’s song as well as the time Jon got to be Santa at Franklin Elementary school last week. Given by Pastor Jon on 12/18/22.
For our 2nd week of Advent we talk about how hope leads to peace; a peace that comes to us in the person of Jesus. Given by Pastor Jon on 12/04/22.
Luke introduces us to Jesus through an old priest named Zechariah. Why does Luke begin here? Given by Rev. Jon MacDonald on 11/27/22.
In the conclusion on our series on the absurdity of the Good News, we come to the end. Literally. Given by Pastor Jon on 11/20/22.
How did Jesus understand power and authority? How did He use it? And how can we wear the armor of the God? Given by Pastor Jon at a joint worship service with FCC on 11/13/22.
Ezekiel sees a vision; the temple returning to Israel and a river that brings healing to every corner of our world. Given by Pastor Jon MacDonald on 11/07/22.
Zacchaeus climbs a tree to see Jesus and his life is completely turned upside-down by the Good News. Guess what: the Good News if for us too! Given by Rev. Kiki Francois on 10/30/22.
In our new series on the absurdity of the Good News, we begin by Jesus’ insistence that we are born again. Given by Rev. Jon MacDonald on 10/23/22.
We have all been something beyond value. What is it we will do with the one wild and precious life we’ve been given? From 10/09/22 by Pastor Jon MacDonald.
What does the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man have to teach us regarding our obligation to care for the poor? Given by Pastor Jon MacDonald on 10/02/22.
Jesus finds a man at a pool who is handicapped and asks him if he wants to be well. What happens next shows that Jesus wanted to bring much more than a mere physical healing. Given by Dr. Edgar ‘Trey’ Clark on 09/25/22.
Here’s the audio of Jon’s sermon from our joint worship service with FCC! Mercy is better than sacrifice and it is way, way better than revenge. Given on 09/18/22.
[Note: we lost our audio for the Restoration service, so this is Pastor Jon’s message from FCC] We begin our series on Faith in a Secular Age with a conversation of who can see the kingdom of God (children) and who cannot (the wise and the learned). Given by Pastor Jon on 9/11/22.
Continuing our series on Finding God in Art, we look at Lorde’s career and her song “Mood Ring,” as we look at how Jesus’ presence moves us from cynicism to hope. Given by Pastor Jon on 8/28/22.
In our end-of-the-summer series on Finding God in Art we begin with Arcade Fire’s song “Unconditional” and the question of how to grow in our love for one another. Given by Pastor Jon on 8/14/22.
In the conclusion of our Summer series on our father Abraham we see him asked to sacrifice his son, his only son, whom he loves. Given by Pastor Jon on 08/07/22.
Abraham again sends Hagar away and God again sees her and protects her. Given by Rev. Nick In’t Hout on 07/31/22.
Well now here’s a difficult passage; Sarai tells Abram to sleep with her slave Hagar, and then when she gets pregnant, she is sent away. Discarded and sent away, she is seen by the God who sees. Given by Dr. Tray Clark on 07/17/22.
Sarah hears that God will keep His promise to her and she laughs. Not the good kind of laugh. Given by Pastor Jon on 7/10/22.
On this holiday weekend we meet one of the most mysterious and important figures of Scripture: the priest and king of Jerusalam. Melchizedek. Given by Pastor Jon on 07/03/22.
So Abram goes west, gets his nephew out of trouble, and then receives another word from God. And a very viceral covenant is made. Given by Pastor Jon on 6/27/22.
Introducing our new series on Our Father Abraham, we are re-introduced to the Jewish roots of our faith as we examine God’s faithfulness to Abraham. Given by Pastor Jon on 06/19/22.
Live by the Spirit and you will not indulge your flesh. So just two questions I guess: what is ‘the flesh’ and how do we live by the Spirit? Given by Pastor Jon on 6/05/22.
Here Paul finally comes out and makes his climactic point: it is for freedom that we have been set free. Given by Pastor Jon on 5/29/22.
Can’t we all get along? Like, for real: how can we all get along? Paul has the answer for us. Given by Pastor Jon on 5/22/22.
Here Paul finally gets to it: what the law is, what it’s role was, and why it died with Jesus. Given by Rev. Jon MacDonald on 05/15/22.
This sermon is entitled “Worth Fighting For” and NOT “Worth Fighting Against.” So yes Jon might talk about politics here. Given on 5/08/22.
We welcome Pastor Martin, coming all the way from Nairobi, Kenya! You can learn more about his ministry at facebook.com/WondersofHopeKenya/
Jesus is not a ghost, and that is important. Given by Pastor Jon on Easter Sunday 2022.
With all the division and warfare in our age, we need to learn from the wisdom of Jesus: walk through the crowd. Given by Rev. Jon on 3/13/22.
Continuing our series on the hidden life of Jesus, we look at the strange thing He said to His mom and brothers when they came to gain an audience from Him. Given by Pastor Jon on 4/3/22.
Jesus gives His disciples a hard word and most abandon Him. In a moment of vulnerability He asks the 12: Do you want to leave too? Given by Rev. Jon MacDonald on 3/27/22.
With all the division and warfare in our age, we need to learn from the wisdom of Jesus: walk through the crowd. Given by Rev. Jon on 3/13/22.
This Lent we are looking at the secret life of Jesus. We begin with His time of testing in the wilderness. Given by Pastor Jon on 3/06/22.
In our dramatic conclusion to our series on the 3rd Way, we see Naaman healed of his leprosy AND his pride. Given by Rev. Jon MacDonald on 2/27/22.
One of the finest examples of the Third Way in the Hebrew Scriptures is Daniel. Given by Rachel Bergman on 2/20/22.
This is not a Valentine’s Day sermon. This is not a love story. This is a story of survival. Given by Rev. Jon MacDonald on 2/13/22.
Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. Given by Rev. Jon MacDonald on 2/06/22.
On our 15th birthday as a church, we continue our series on the 3rd Way of Jesus with a question: why do you call good? Given by Rev. Jon MacDonald on 1/30/22.
Jesus is angry. In four separate stories at the beginning of Mark, He stands up for those marginalized by religious leaders. Given by Rev. Jon MacDonald on 1/23/22.
A trap is set for Jesus; should we pay our taxes or refuse to acknowledge Caesar’s claim over their lives? Jesus rejects the binary and finds a 3rd Way. Given by Rev. Jon MacDonald on 1/16/22.
For the next 2 months we will be studying the 3rd way, looking in particular at the works of Walter Wink and the life of Martin Luther King Jr. Today serves as an introduction to the 3rd Way as articulated by Jesus Himself. Given by Rev. Jon MacDonald on 01/09/22.
Jesus understood the hearts of people and He did not entrust Himself to them. We would do well to do the same. Given by Rev. Jon MacDonald on 1/02/22.
On the Sunday after Advent we look at the only story of Jesus as a child. Given at FCC by Rev. Jon MacDonald on 12/26/21.
Merry Christmas! This is the audio recording of our joint Christmas Eve service with FCC. Given by Rev. Jon MacDonald on 12/24/21.