Grace Auburn Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Grace Auburn Church
On the final episode of our series "Who We Are: The DNA of Grace Auburn Church," our pastors share stories of how they landed at Grace Auburn, what they are most thankful for here at the church, and celebrate the Lord's goodness and kindness through grace that enables gratitude in the heart of believers.
When it comes to preaching, every pastor has to find his voice. In this episode, Matt shares his story of finding his. Led through the early years of ministry by faithful mentors and guided by the witness of faithful men who have preached the word of God faithfully for centuries, Matt become convinced at an early age the the Word of God preaches itself, and every sermon should point back to gospel of Jesus Christ.
Lee is joined on the Grace Auburn podcast by Matt Dean and Liam Barham to discuss the songs we sing on Sunday mornings. The meaningful process of prayerfully selecting theologically rich, historical hymns along with modern songs is one that Liam and Matt deeply enjoy in their weekly rhythm together. To hear more songs that we sing on Sunday mornings, click here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0SHSDK4AZH9muRrHHyDOIW?si=PnnGtehpTcK1V6-qmhVKPQ
On this episode, Matt and Lee discuss our corporate order of worship at Grace Auburn Church on Sunday mornings. The term liturgy has been used for centuries to describe the structured order worship in the gathering of God's people. From the "Call to Worship" to the "Benediction," they dig into each component of our worship services – why we each moment matters – and reflect on our many years of gathering in this way on Sunday mornings at Grace Auburn. For further study or reflection, we found this article from Justin Taylor on TGC helpful: https://graceauburn.co/tgcliturgies
On this episode, Lee is joined by Deacon Blake Thaxton and Elder Jack Sommer to discuss the Biblical instruction on church membership. In today's me-centered culture, church membership reminds us that we belong to Jesus and one another. The entirety of the New Testament is crystal clear that believers should never live in isolation but in community – empowered by the Holy Spirit to love, serve, encourage, comfort, correct and bear with one another all the days of our Christian life.
In Part 3 of Leadership at Grace Auburn, we continue the "Who We Are" series on the podcast by discussing leadership development at Grace Auburn. Lee is joined by Pastor Caleb Farrow to discuss the different paths young leaders can walk while serving in the life of our church. From a 9-month internship to a three-year residency, leader development continues to be at the heart of how we know, love, and serve our college students and recent graduates. This conversation defines the terms – internship, apprenticeship, residency – and clearly lays out the goal of each pathway for those who serve in these roles. Related episode - "The Residents – Why Would You Want to Work for the Church?": https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-would-you-want-to-work-for-a-church-our-residents/id1627085939?i=1000716516352
In this week's episode, Lee Cadden and Kevin Briggins introduce the role of deacons at Grace Auburn Church. For the first seven years of our history, our church has thrived under healthy leadership from our elders and staff. As we continue to grow, we are excited to introduce deacons – those who serve the practical needs of our members – to our leadership team. Kevin and Lee discuss the Biblical precedent from Acts 6 on the role of deacons in the early church. This discussion aims to clear the air on what deacons do not do in a healthy church and who is eligible to serve in this role. See attached: "Deacons at Grace Auburn Church" – paper written by the Elders of Grace Auburn Church https://graceauburn.co/deacons Referenced: "Deacons: How they Serve and Strengthen the Church" by Matt Smethurst
Today's conversation on our leadership structure and church governance with elders Kerry Bradley, Dave Meadows and Lee Cadden begins a multi-part series, "Who We Are." We hope these conversations stir up the faith of the members of Grace Auburn and help those who are considering this local church as their new church home.
In this episode, Lee and Matt Dean reflect on how the Lord worked in Matt's heart, mind and soul during his sabbatical, the kindness of the Lord to do some amazing work in his family, and his eagerness to jump back into the work God has given him to do as Lead Pastor at Grace Auburn. If you did not worship with us on Sunday 8/10, make sure you listen to that sermon here.
On this episode of the Grace Auburn podcast, Facilities Director Mark Wimberly joins Lee to share his story and answer the question, "Why do You want to work for the church?" Mark's journey is full of the Lord's faithfulness to lead him through both personal and vocational hurt and will be an encouragement to anyone seeking to follow the Lord in good seasons and bad. As Facilities Director, Mark serves Grace Auburn by managing vendor relations and all things maintenance for the church building.
Grace Students Coordinator, Brooke Silver, joins Lee on the podcast to share her heart for ministry and the Lord's leading her into our faith family. As an English major and recent graduate from Auburn, Brooke's journey into vocational ministry has been consistently marked by putting one foot in front of the other with a consistent, "YES!" to the Lord each and every time a door has been opened. She has served as an intern and resident at our church and now works with John Beatty in Grace Students. Related episode – Women's Hope with Addie Beatty and Ray Hornsby: https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermons/72251511395893
On this episode, Lee is joined by Liam Barham – Music Director at Grace Auburn Church. Liam shares his love for the local church, how his experience at Liberty University shaped his passion for Jesus and drove him to get involved in a gospel centered church once arriving in Auburn for graduate school. Regardless of his role as a volunteer or on our staff team, Liam's passion for music, corporate worship, and leading people into authentic worship is evident in all he does for our local church.
On this episode of the Grace Auburn Podcast, Lee is joined by former and current residents Fuller Musselwhite, Knox Wolsoncroft, and Cole Kennedy. They share their experience as residents – what they have learned over these last few years and all that they are excited for in the years ahead. Their stories of salvation and calling into vocational ministry are rich and widely textured. We hope they are an encouragement to you in your faith as you seek to do all that you do as unto the Lord.
On this episode, Lee is joined by members Ray Hornsby and Addie Beatty to discuss their love for Women's Hope Medical Clinic. Both Ray and Addie serve in various ways with Women's Hope. As a ministry in the community, Women's Hope seeks to walk alongside mothers and fathers with "free and confidential help available for women and men with unexpected pregnancies." If you'd like more information about ways you can support Women's Hope, visit https://womenshope.org/donate/.
As we continue to highlight organizations and ministries where the members of Grace Auburn are involved, Samantha Anders joins Lee on the podcast to discuss the work of The Exceptional Foundation of East Alabama. They provide a meaningful program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through social, recreational and educational activities designed to promote healthy living, support social relationships, explore the arts, improve functional skills and foster community involvement. Samantha serves as The Director of Promotions. If you'd like to get involved with their work, check out their website at efofea.org!
On this episode of the podcast, Lee is joined by Frank Vaughn, the newest Pastor on our team. Frank and Amy have been members of Grace Auburn for several years and have served in a variety of ways as volunteers and on our staff team. As one of our Associate Pastors, Frank oversees shepherding for our members through Biblical counseling and pastoral care.
On the most recent episode in our "Why Do You Want to Work for a Church?" series, Kelly Sommer shares her story of returning to her hometown of Auburn after years of fruitful life and ministry in Marietta. Their church in Georgia had a profound impact on she and Jack's marriage and led them to seek deep, authentic gospel community when they returned to Auburn. She and Lee discuss how a first-generation mindset led her family to expect hard things when it comes to serving in a church plant and why that posture continues to matter in the life of our church. Kelly serves on the Grace Auburn staff team as our Communication and Media Coordinator and as an elder's wife. She has many years of experience in the marketing and communications world, and brings a wealth of experience and gifting to our team.
In this episode, Pastors Lee and Jeff share their thoughts and excitement for Matt to begin his Sabbatical over the Summer while the rest of us press on in the work of ministry at Grace Auburn Church. Jeff shares his excitement for the rich work that we are embarking on this summer and into the Fall – including his trip to India, another team's trip to North Africa, Grace Games, Staycation, and our annual Community Group Leader Retreat at Camp Marannook.
Over the last several months, the Grace Auburn Church leadership has been praying, dreaming, and working toward the development of plans, systems, and structures that will enable us to continue healthy growth as a church while remaining focused on our mission and true to our DNA. Because of that, the podcast has been on hiatus for a season while we've been doing a bit of housekeeping. But that season is coming to a close... We are excited to launch a new season of the Grace Auburn Church Podcast beginning in the Summer of 2025. On this episode, Lee shares where we'll be going in the months ahead – how do we grow into Skyway drive and remain true to who we are; what's going to change and what will never change; interviews with our members who serve with local and international partners; and new staff introductions as continue in our series, "Why Would You Want to Work for a Church?"
In this week's episode, Lee is joined by Jeff Hollis, Caroline Sasnett, and Joel Sasnett to discuss complementarianism, egalitarianism, and trends seen in our culture that impact leadership in the local church and in our homes. While not a primary matter of church belief - like salvation is found in Christ alone - we believe complementary (counterpart) roles of men and women in the local church is Biblical and critical for the overall health of the Church.
Jesus makes it plain and simple when it comes to our hearts and the things we treasure. We can store up treasure in this life - where rust and moth destroy and thieves break in and steal, or we can store up treasure in heaven - where nothing and no one can take what Jesus has secured. So we ask the question today: "What do you treasure?"
Sermon Series (2022) - Now for Then - a Life of Joyful Generosity - Now for Then | Grace Auburn Church
The Divine Conspiracy - Dallas Willard - https://graceauburn.co/conspiracy
In this episode, Lee introduces a new series of conversations on the topic of joyful generosity. For members of Grace Auburn, our willingness to serve the kingdom of God above the kingdom of self is evidenced by the way we invest our resources and steward the treasure that the Father has entrusted to us. This series will include interviews with members of the church that are growing in the grace of giving and trusting in the faithfulness of God to provide for his children.
Quotes from Paul David Tripp are from this article at Crossway - What Did Jesus Teach about Money? | Crossway Articles
In this week's podcast, Pastors Lee and Jeff discuss all that God is doing in the life of Grace Auburn Church. We are celebrating growth, life change in and through authentic gospel communities, and believe with absolute certainty that the foundation of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection is our enduring hope and constant source of life. Paul's message to the Corinthians endures to this day: who you build upon matters and what you build with matters for this life and the one to come.
In this week's episode, Executive Pastor, Lee Cadden, introduces the "Christ Above All" series on the podcast. These conversations will include reflections on Sunday's sermon, current events in the life of our church, and reflections on how the gospel, specifically Christ above all things, impacts our current cultural moment.
In this episode of the Grace Auburn Church podcast, Lee is joined by Caroline Sasnett to discuss Operations within a church and how does that "behind the scenes" world evolve and grow as a church plant is established within a community. Caroline has recently expanded her role from Communications and is now serving as Operations Director at Grace Auburn.
In this week's episode, Lee and Trace Pridgen journey through the last 15 years of life and ministry by way of introducing Trace to our church family and asking him the same question we've asked each member on our staff team: why would you want to work for a church?
In this episode, Lee Cadden, Caleb Farrow, and Raina Lanier discuss the growth of our college ministry over the past four years and all that we are excited for in Raina's new role on our staff team. As Outreach Director, she will serve a dual role of care and leadership alongside Caleb with our college women and as a bridge for our members to serve with local organizations.
In this week's podcast, Matt Dean and Lee Cadden discuss the origins of leading our church through a team of Biblically qualified elders, the examples we had in the early days of forming the church, and why leading as both an elder and vocational pastor on our staff team is a unique responsibility.
If you are new to Grace Auburn, on January 25 of 2024, we closed on our Skyway Drive property that will be our future home. We secured the building for $9.5M with a combination of our giving and financing with a Christian private equity group that partners with our church planting network.
The process - from fundraising, rezoning requests, purchase, and now design for a renovation - has been one that we have kept before the church when relevant. Per our request, our architect has provided a master plan for a full conversion of the building – We asked the architect to design this building with all the potential for ministry we could imagine...from the parking lot and green spaces that would provide welcoming experiences, a lobby that could host fellowship gatherings and lingering between services, a simple and beautiful space for worship, offices for our staff, and enough space for kids, students, and our campus ministries to thrive.
In this week's podcast, Lee and Matt reflect on Matt's sermon from Sunday when we shared with the congregation where we are in the process and what its going to require to move into Skyway Drive.
In this week's episode, Lee Cadden and Mark Weeks wrestle with the same question each elder has been asked during this series, from 1 Timothy 3, "Why do you desire the noble task of elder in this local church?" Mark shares his journey into Grace Auburn with his wife, Michele, and their children, how the Father has grown his family since joining the church, and how He is shaping each of us through our time as elders.
In this short podcast episode, Lee Cadden updates the Grace Auburn family on where we are in the construction design process, introduces our construction team (links below) and how we came about selecting the, and discusses why we are approaching this move with a phased construction approach.
Chambless King Architects - https://shorturl.at/brAEF
Johnson Kreise Construction - https://shorturl.at/awVY6
In this week's podcast, Lee Cadden and Jack Sommer continue the introductions of our elders. They discuss Jack and Kelly's story in moving back to Auburn in 2017, how their time in Marietta and the influence of elders in their church impacted them deeply as a young married couple starting their family, and why he desires the noble task of serving as an elder at Grace Auburn Church.
On this week's podcast, Lee Cadden and Kevin Briggins chat about their calling to move their family from Augusta, Georgia to Auburn for Kevin's work and how the Lord led them to Grace Auburn through prayer and discernment before they arrived. As a faithful servant who's family serves with our college students and hosts a community group, Kevin has been a true gift to our church and the elders since joining that team at the beginning of this year.
In this episode of the Grace Auburn Church Podcast, Lee Cadden and Dan Mason share the Mason's journey into Grace Auburn, the Lord's leading for their family and time in ministry, as well as their being led to Grace Auburn in the earliest days of our church.
Elder Now (The Gospel Coalition) - www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/elder-now/
In this week's podcast, Lee Cadden and Dave Meadows continue in our series, "Shepherding the Church." This podcast series serves to introduce each of our elders, share some of their stories, and allow each to answer the question, "Why do you desire the noble task of elder at Grace Auburn Church?"
In this week's episode, Lee Cadden and Kerry Bradley kick off our series "Shepherding the Church." Each week we are hearing an elder's story, how they got to Grace Auburn, and why they desire the "noble task" of shepherding the church (1 Timothy 3:1).
(Link "Living Through Disappointment" referenced in our discussion of an earlier date where we really thought the Lord was leading us in one direction, and we were seriously disappointed at the time when that wasn't the case).
In this season of the Grace Auburn Church podcast, we are going to be discussing the role and importance of elders in the local church and what makes our team of elders so special. Regardless of the translation of the Bible you prefer, Christ-exalting, honorable men have been chosen by local churches for thousands of years to shepherd communities of faith in adherence to the Word of God. We are thankful for the ones that God has given us since our inception in 2018. This podcast serves as an introduction to the series. In it we will introduce each of the elders, get to know them a little bit more than perhaps you already do, and ask the question, we do you desire the noble task of leading as an elder? (1 Timothy 3)
On this Christmas week of 2023, we are concluding our podcast series, "The Good Way," by discussing as pastors how we are shaped through the Holy Spirit in community. As a church we believe authentic gospel communities are integral to the mission God has given us. While spiritual disciplines and His leading in our homes are foundational components of our sanctification, something is missing in our discipleship until our lives are bound to others in the local church.
Over the last few weeks, we've concluded the portion of the Good Way dealing with the ways in which the Spirit shapes us internally and how that impacts how we share the good news. These conversations focused on things that have been traditionally labeled disciplines. In today's podcast, Lee discusses with our pastors' wives April Dean, Chelsea Hollis, and Sarah Farrow ways in which the Holy Spirit shapes us in the everyday moments of life. From first waking, throughout the daily moments with our families, and our bedtime routines, how is the Lord using these holy, everyday moments to make us more like his Son, Jesus?
In this week's podcast, our pastors discuss evangelism - what does it mean to share the gospel with people who do not yet know the Father? Jesus' questions to his disciples are the same for us today - "Who do people say that I am? Who do you say that I am?"
Packer - Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God
On this episode, our pastors round-table a discussion on the relationship between work and rest. How do we, as image bearers of God, fulfill our unique design to work heartily as for the Lord and recognize that we are a limited people who need rest - physical, emotional, and spiritual rest. Again, This conversation is not an exhaustive teaching on the subject but a snapshot into their regular habits that make up the rhythm of meaningful work and restorative rest.
"Keeping the Sabbath is Still Relevant for Christians Today" - https://rebrand.ly/sabbath
Today, pastors Matt Dean, Jason Ingle, and Lee Cadden resume our series, "The Good Way," by discussing the vital roles that prayer, silence, and solitude play in our lives. As fellow travelers who have been walking the way for some time, the discussion was rich, deeply meaningful, and we hope it will be encouraging to you as we journey through this life together.
Resources mentioned:
O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Gibson
Morning and Evening - Spurgeon
Praying the Bible - Whitney
Every Moment Holy - Liturgies for Life - McKelvey
The Practice of the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence
This week's podcast comes on the heels of a roller coaster week before the city zoning commission, their recommendation that will go before our city council in December, and our continued path of trusting in the Father's guidance, provision, and kindness to his bride. All of that comes on the heels of our chatting about the only right way to prepare a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner and mistakes we made while in our younger years.
In this week's podcast, pastors Lee Cadden, Jeff Hollis, Jason Ingle, and Caleb Farrow reflect on our first open house on a possible new home for Grace Auburn, what role, if any, does pumpkin flavoring play in Fall cuisine, and they answer a series of questions on how exactly we plan to stay true to who we are regardless of our growth and location.
On this week's podcast, our pastors discuss joyful generosity, the mission God has given THE Church and our church, and how Grace Auburn has, and always will be, invested heavily in church planting around the world.
"The Lord's Work in the Lord's Way" and other Crossway Short Classics - https://shorturl.at/jvGV0
Our Future Home - https://graceauburn.church/future-home (ways to pray, and ways to give)
On this podcast episode, Lee is joined by Mark Weeks - Member and Elder of Grace Auburn Church and a part of our two-year-long facility search team. Their conversation spans that course of time as Mark reflects on the church's growth, the process of searching for a more permanent home, and the 100+ collective years of real estate experience in the Auburn/Opelika area of the members of that search team. They discuss possible concerns members may have and just how exhaustive and prayer-filled this process has been. As a church, we will continue to prayerfully lean and wait for the Lord to do what only He can do for His people.
On the podcast this week, Matt, Jeff, Caleb, and Lee discuss the decision to share with our church family where we are on the purchase of a property that could be our next, long-term home. There are many things that could take this opportunity off the table, but in an effort to live authentically as a body, having a Sunday to pray, process, and ask God for his leading and provision was an awesome way to worship together.
In this week's podcast, the pastors of Grace Auburn begin discussions on how and why they study the Bible. But at the same time, UFOs somehow made it into this episode. The heart of this episode is linked to a Thomas Watson quote where he implores Christians across time to warm themselves at the fire of meditation. How has our culture abused that word and how can we as faithful followers of Jesus reclaim the ancient practice of studying the Word of God, delighting in it, and being warmed, as King David rejoiced, by the Word day and night?
Habits of Grace (book) - buy at Amazon
Thomas Watson (bio) - at Banner of Truth
In the first of our round table discussions on "The Good Way," Pastors Matt Dean, Caleb Farrow, Jeff Hollis, Jason Ingle, and Lee Cadden discuss where and how each of them begins his day in the Word of God. Whether by listening or reading, having your day saturated with the Word of God must be central to the believer's day...that the "word of Christ" may dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16).
Note: the audio on our new board wasn’t mixed correctly, so thanks for bearing with the low volume on this one.
In this week's episode of the podcast, Lee Cadden shares about the upcoming season of the Grace Auburn Church Podcast. Over the rest of the Fall, we will gather in round table format to discuss the means of grace we experience through the Holy Spirit as we journey with Him and one another in being formed into the image of Christ. We believe these habits of grace, habits of the household, and habits in authentic gospel community are truly the ancient practices that lead to deep, spiritual formation.
David Brooks - "How America Got Mean" - https://shorturl.at/aj249
In this week's episode, our Grace Kids leaders share their journey into the life of our church as members and how one yes led to another as the Lord faithfully brought them onto our staff team. Leah serves as Grace Kids Director and Sarah as our Grace Kids Coordinator.
This week, Lee sits down with John Beatty as he shares his journey into vocational ministry as our most recent addition to the Grace Auburn Church staff team. Please bear with us in this episode: there is a low hum that we could not isolate and/or eliminate from the recording, but the conversation was too rich to try and re-record.
In this episode, Lee and Matt discuss disappointment. How do you live faithfully before a holy God, knowing that even when things do not turn out the way you hoped, He is still sovereign and faithful? He is always trustworthy. With a walkthrough of Philippians 4:5-7, Matt reminds us of who is in control of not only where we worship together but of our very lives.
The Hiding Place - Corrie Ten Boom (https://rb.gy/p59w3)
In our final episode of our series on calling into vocational ministry, Matt Dean shares his journey beginning in 1996 when a college pastor asked him one life-altering question. Matt's answer changed everything, and God's faithfulness to call and lead him into pastoral ministry is an incredible story. As Lead Pastor of Grace Auburn Church, Matt provides primary direction for leadership, vision, and preaching.
In this week's podcast, Kari Glemaker shares her calling into vocational ministry and how God in His goodness led her and Dave from Cincy, OH all the way back to Auburn! She's been on staff since 2020 and has served our teams in Kids, Hospitality, and now serves as Women's Ministry Director. She is the primary point of contact for shepherding the women of Grace Auburn Church and oversees women's ministry events.
In this week's podcast, Caleb Farrow shares his story and calling into pastoral ministry. Beginning with more than a decade in student ministry, Caleb provides leadership and oversight of Grace Campus and the many expressions of authentic Gospel communities throughout the church.
In this week's episode, Jarrod Holt shares his journey into vocational ministry. As Creative Arts Director, Jarrod provides leadership and direction for our team of musicians, working alongside our pastors to lead Grace Auburn in a whole-life response in worship of Jesus, as well as media and design oversight for various ministries within the church.
On this episode of the Grace Auburn Church Podcast, Associate Pastor Jeff Hollis shares his journey of calling into vocational ministry, specifically his calling to be a pastor here at Grace Auburn Church. This is a wonderful conversation of confirmation and affirmation, and also one full of challenge and the faithful response of the Hollis family to say, "Yes!" to the Father's leading in Jeff's life. As Associate Pastor, Jeff provides pastoral care for members of Grace Auburn Church and oversight to our membership process as well as leadership for worship and livestream production teams.
This week on the podcast, Amy Vaughn shares her family's story of journeying between 4 states all along the Gulf Coast following the call of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amy serves as our Hospitality Director and serves our volunteers, staff, and members in a variety of ways, and we love having her on our staff team.
People are the Mission - Danny Franks - https://rb.gy/k7rw5
In this week's podcast, Caroline Sasnett shares her story of being called into ministry at an early age and her journey over 15 years of volunteering and serving her local congregations that ultimately led to her first role on a church staff in Washington, D.C. She and her family relocated after the pandemic of 2020 and have been faithful members of Grace Auburn since they arrived on the Plains. We are thrilled to have her serving our church as the Communication and Media Coordinator.
In this episode, Raina Lanier, Grace Students Director, shares her story of coming to faith and calling into ministry. Her experience coming on to our staff team has uniquely equipped her to care for, love, and serve our students and their families. We are honored to have her join our staff team!
On this week's podcast, we ask the questions again of our newest Associate Pastor, Jason Ingle: 1) In discerning your calling into vocational ministry, was there one voice, or perhaps a few, that confirmed the Lord's calling on your life? 2) Why in the world would you want to work for a church? If you could do anything in the world, why work for Grace Auburn Church?
The next several months will contain interviews with each of our staff members. In each conversation, we will ask and answer two questions: 1) In your calling into ministry, was there a consistent voice, or voices, that served to confirm and shape your calling? and 2) Why in the world would you want to work for a church? In this first episode of this series, Executive Pastor Lee Cadden will share the direction of our conversations and his own story of being called into pastoral ministry.
Lee Cadden and Associate Pastor, Jeff Hollis, go long-form through Jeff and Chelsea's story of returning to the church after many years on their own. In telling their story of joining Grace Auburn as members and eventually as part of the staff team, the conversation points to the Biblical expectation that we would belong to one another as members of a local church. This episode contrasts the mindset of 1st generation church planters and members - "whatever it takes to get the mission done" with that of 2nd generation churchgoers - "I'll do what's asked of me. I'm really here for the coffee and good music." The podcast ends with how serving and giving of your time, your talents, and your money and how those things are really part of a "whole life" response to who Jesus is and all that He has done for us.
Lee Cadden and Matt Dean discuss the centrality of our mission - that the city, campus, and nations would know and love Jesus by establishing authentic gospel communities - and how we do this through the "one anothers" of those communities. God has placed each of us exactly where we are - in our city, on our local campus, and among the many nations He has brought to Auburn. Let us be a people who dare not waste such an eternal opportunity and responsibility.
In this episode, Executive Pastor, Lee Cadden has a conversation with Kari Glemaker and Caleb Farrow, both long-time staff members and community group leaders at Grace Auburn, on the importance of how and why we establish authentic gospel communities. Why does this phrase matter, and how is it playing out in the city, on Auburn's campus, and among the nations that God has brought to Auburn.
Caleb and Sarah's story from previous podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/graceauburn/episodes/The-New-Normal-Ep-7---Gods-Faithful-Timing-with-Caleb-and-Sarah-Farrow-edc0u0
In this first episode of the Grace Auburn Church Podcast, Lead Pastor, Matt Dean, and Executive Pastor, Lee Cadden tell the story of how it all began. From the beginning of a dream to plant a church in Auburn, we tell the story of how God birthed a new church with a heart for the city, campus, and nations to know and love Jesus. Together we talk about our mission statement, how it came about, and why membership in a local church matters. We finish by taking a flyover of how and why we gather for corporate worship and why each component in our order of worship matters as we orient our lives and hearts toward Jesus.
A brief introduction to season one of the Grace Auburn Church Podcast. We are excited to spend the next four episodes with leaders from our church on what makes us...well...us. What does the DNA level of a church look like, and why does church membership still matter in our day? Together, we are being formed into His image, both individually as a local expression of His bride. Whether you are new to Grace Auburn or have been with us for years, we hope these conversations are an encouragement!
What happens inside a community group? We are strengthened and nourished for the mission to which we have been called and formed more into the likeness of Jesus.
What is a community group? The what is actually a who. Who is a community group? The community group is the people, not the meeting. The relationships that form inside a group are core to the identity of that group and who we are as followers of Jesus.
In this episode we take a deeper dive into the why and what of our community groups as missional outposts in our current cultural context. We also take a look at the demographics and numbers that represent the people in our community and the incredible opportunity we have to be a people on mission, as cities on a hill, to welcome others into our homes and into our lives.
We all love stories - the great books and movies that we love all entail a plot, characters, a problem, some sort of pain, and a hero to make things right. That said, however, the stories that we believe have shaped and continue shaping us into the men and women that we are today. According to the way of Jesus, there are really only two options for those of us created in his image: we believe the story of the Kingdom of God, or we believe some cultural narrative that will always lead to idolatry. Would we follow Jesus as we live into the true story of God?
Today we talk about how the nature of God affects the way the people of God live and love one another. We talk about our current cultural moment and what it means to live in this in-between time before the second coming. We look at the question - What is this time for?
In this episode, we look at how the triune God has always been on mission through the people of God and how the way we love one another is a primary way the news and Gospel of Jesus Christ is spread. We take a long walk through the narrative of God's promises to his people and their fulfillment in the person, work, death, life, and resurrection of Jesus.
The phrase, authentic gospel community, comes from a genuine desire for people to be really known, as they are and as they are becoming more like Jesus, and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be the leading line, our greatest hope, and our central aim in all that we do together.
I like to think of authentic gospel community as a trellis - a helpful guide by which we grow deep, meaningful relationships that take deep root in the soil of our lives, thereby giving a framework for fruit of the Spirit of God to be born.
Consider then that Community Groups are the center beam of that trellis - the primary means by which we as members of Grace Auburn belong to one another.
Executive Pastor Lee Cadden presents the vision of the Grace Auburn Leadership Podcast and provides some examples of what is to come.