Church is Messy

Church Is Messy: Church in the Wild - Slavery and Singleness

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Church Is Messy, Svea sits down with Pastor Caleb Smith to unpack a challenging passage from 1 Corinthians dealing with slavery, singleness, marriage, and what it means to find true security in Christ. Caleb reflects on the importance of reading Scripture in its original context, helping listeners understand the complexities of first-century slavery and Paul’s deeper message about resisting the temptation to build our identity and security on status, relationships, or life circumstances instead of Jesus.

The conversation also becomes deeply personal as Caleb shares about the ongoing health challenges he’s been navigating over the past several months and how those struggles have forced him to wrestle with what it looks like to trust Jesus when life feels uncertain. Together, Caleb and Svea explore how following Jesus doesn’t mean using faith as an excuse for impulsive life changes, but learning to remain grounded in Christ’s presence and faithfulness no matter what season of life we’re walking through.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 — Intro
02:00 — Update on Caleb's health
05:18 — Approaching the passage (1 Corinthians 7) — slavery and singleness
07:25 — First-century slavery vs. American slavery
11:34 — How some have used Jesus/marriage/family as an institution of bias or oppression
13:00 — The church's neglect of single people
14:37 — Paul's core point: don't use Jesus as an excuse to change your circumstances
19:12 — Don't seek security in human institutions
21:30 — Svea's personal story — her first husband's cancer death
23:39 — Paul's authority and approach in 1 Corinthians 7:25–40
25:00 — Caleb's personal application — finding security in Jesus through health challenges

Church Is Messy: Church in the Wild - Married Life

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Church Is Messy, Rick and Svea continue their walk through 1 Corinthians by tackling a topic that’s often misunderstood: sexuality in marriage.

They name two common extremes: treating sex as a tool for control or treating it as something spiritually suspect. Instead, they point to a better vision, seeing it as a good gift meant to be expressed within a marriage marked by trust, humility, and covenant love.

The conversation keeps coming back to this idea: marriage isn’t about getting what you want, it’s about seeking the good of the other. That kind of love doesn’t come naturally; it takes intentional trust, owning your part when things are off, and choosing humility even when it’s hard.

They also get practical, offering wisdom for real-life marriages—especially when things feel strained. From setting healthy communication rhythms to pursuing counseling without shame, the goal isn’t perfection, but movement toward healing and wholeness.

Ultimately, this episode reframes love in a powerful way: we don’t pursue this kind of relationship because it always “works,” but because it’s good and because it reflects the kind of people we’re becoming in Christ.

RESOURCES:
Message manuscript and outline: https://autumnridge.church/message-notes-church-in-the-wild-wk16-married-life/
Message video: https://autumnridge.church/video/church-in-the-wild-wk-16-married-life/

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
03:24 Weaponizing vs. Spiritualizing Sexuality in Marriage
05:23 Covenant vs. Conquest: A Vision for Marriage
10:38 Trust, Humility & Owning Your "Piece of the Pie"
15:19 The Importance of Professional Counseling
16:48 Practical Advice for Marriages in Difficulty
19:15 Shared Mission, Adventure & Fun in Marriage
20:59 Healing from Trauma & Abuse
22:22 "We Don't Do This Because It Works — We Do It Because It's Good"
25:30 Spiritual Headship & Ephesians 5

Church Is Messy: Church in the Wild - Sex and the Resurrection

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Church Is Messy, Rick and Svea return to 1 Corinthians—specifically chapter 6—to tackle the complex and often uncomfortable topic of sexuality. They explore how the Corinthian church was shaped by its culture, where distorted views of the body and sex were normalized, and connect that to how modern culture similarly “disciples” us today.

The conversation highlights a biblical vision of sexuality as something good, sacred, and deeply connected to our spiritual lives—not separate from them. Rick and Svea clarify that while the Bible may not function like a rulebook, it consistently points to God’s design: faithful, lifelong covenant between one man and one woman in the covenant of marriage, while honestly portraying the brokenness that deviates from it.

They also emphasize that people’s views of sexuality are often shaped by early experiences they didn’t choose, but through Jesus, there is always an opportunity to move forward without shame and pursue a better way. The episode underscores that our bodies matter—that we are “temples of the Holy Spirit”—and that how we live physically reflects our faith.

Ultimately, the discussion calls listeners to be aware of the cultural “algorithms” shaping them, to take formation seriously, and to embrace a higher, more holistic vision of sexuality and the body—one rooted in grace, intentionality, and following Jesus.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 - Intro

01:17 - Easter Sunday reading of 1 Corinthians 15

02:26 - Sexuality in the Corinthian church / prostitution as cultural norm

04:32 - Greek philosophy: the body as disposable

06:19 - How the Bible addresses sexuality (descriptive vs. prescriptive)

07:49 - Polygamy in the Old Testament

09:14 - God's original design for sexuality (Genesis ideal)

10:53 - God's positive view of sex (Proverbs 5, Song of Solomon)

14:08 - How we're introduced to sex shapes how we define it

14:47 - Sexuality class icebreaker story (doctorate program)

17:49 - Sexual "algorithm" — cultural formation & overcoming shame

19:03 - Church's stance on cohabitation / following Jesus in sexuality

20:57 - The body as temple of the Holy Spirit

25:24 - Sexual habits in singleness and their impact on marriage

27:09 - Honoring God with all physical habits (drink, rest, Sabbath)

29:29 - Wrap-up & preview of next week (marriage)

Church Is Messy: Church in the Wild - Be Silent

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea unpack a challenging (“rugged”) passage from 1 Corinthians 14, focusing on orderly worship, spiritual gifts (like speaking in tongues), and a difficult line about women in the church. Rather than avoiding tension, they model how to engage it—encouraging listeners to interpret unclear passages through what’s clear, use context, and patiently wrestle toward understanding.

The conversation moves beyond the text into formation: following Jesus means honesty, not performance. They challenge “performative spirituality”—using religious language or practices to impress rather than connect—and call the church to authenticity, humility, and clarity, especially for the sake of those still exploring faith.

Ultimately, the episode centers on being a church that is clear, welcoming, and distraction-free in its worship—where everything we do helps people see Jesus, not us.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 - Intro
01:25 - 1 Corinthians 14: Orderly Worship & Speaking in Tongues
02:29 - How to Interpret Difficult Passages
06:10 - Emotional Honesty When Reading the Bible
07:25 - Rick's Personal Bible Study Method
10:09 - Vulnerability & Authenticity in Church Community
13:47 - Performative Spirituality
17:47 - Personal Experiences with Charismatic Worship
19:47 - Order vs. Freedom in Worship
23:03 - Sermon Prep: Manuscript vs. Extemporaneous Preaching
25:02 - Clarity, Jesus, and the Purpose of Scripture
30:38 - Being a Good Ambassador at Easter

Church Is Messy: Church in the Wild - 1 Corinthians 13

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Church Is Messy, Rick and Svea revisit 1 Corinthians 13 following Svea’s weekend sermon—looking beyond its reputation as a wedding passage to what Paul was actually addressing in a deeply dysfunctional church. What emerges is a clear picture of spiritual maturity shaped by love.

Svea shares how her understanding of the passage grew as she studied it, alongside a six-stage framework of spiritual growth—discovering, learning, doing, contemplating, becoming, and loving—and the experience many encounter as “the wall,” where faith can feel uncertain or stalled. Rather than signaling failure, this season may be an invitation to deeper, more lasting transformation.

The conversation also names a tension many feel: much of church culture emphasizes learning and doing, while the deeper, more inward work of formation often goes unexplored. Through practical examples like patience, Rick and Svea show the movement from something we try to practice to something that becomes part of who we are as we follow Jesus.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 — Intro
01:07 — Introducing the sermon on 1 Corinthians 13.
01:14 — Svea's initial reaction to preaching the Love Chapter.
02:36 — The true context of 1 Cor. 13: love as a recipe for a dysfunctional church, not a wedding poem.
06:11 — What was left on the cutting room floor (tongues, knowledge ceasing, preview of Rick's next sermon).
08:10 — Paul's character: the tension between his perceived harshness and writing the most beautiful words about love.
10:41 — The opening sermon illustration: love that is imperfect but genuine vs. flawless but loveless.
12:53 — Introduction to the Spiritual Growth Framework.
12:57 — Stages 1–3: Discovering, Learning, and Doing.
17:41 — The Wall: what it is, what causes it, and why it's not a punishment.
23:41 — Stage 4: Contemplating (and why the church has an allergy to it).
25:16 — Stage 5: Becoming (motivation shifting from obligation to identity).
27:30 — Stage 6: Loving (virtue becoming instinctive, not intentional).
29:56 — Practical walkthrough of all six stages using patience as the example.

Church Is Messy: Church in the Wild - Spiritual Gifts

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

This episode of "Church Is Messy" unpacks the sermon Rick preached on 1 Corinthians 12 and the topic of spiritual gifts. Rick opened that message with a reflection on mortality — the "dash" between a person's birth and death date — prompting a lively discussion about whether they'd want to know their end date in advance (both say yes, though they acknowledge they're in the minority). This leads into the central theme: how an awareness of limited time should motivate intentional use of the gifts God has given each person.

Rick and Svea explore several facets of spiritual gifting: how to discover your gifts (through prayer, availability, and asking others for feedback), the pitfalls of spiritual gift surveys (which can cause people to feel exempt from responsibilities they score low in, like hospitality or evangelism), and the importance of leaning into strengths rather than fixating on weaknesses. Rick shares his own conviction that teaching God's word is his irreplaceable calling, while also emphasizing that all spiritual gifts — from encouragement to listening to generosity — can be exercised anywhere, not just in formal ministry roles.

The episode closes on a devotional note, with both hosts reflecting that a life oriented outward toward others — living as a "there you are" person rather than a "here I am" person — is not only God's design but also the source of the deepest joy. Svea teases the upcoming weekend's message (her turn to preach), which will continue into 1 Corinthians 13 on love as the ultimate motivation for using one's gifts.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 — Intro
03:44 — Recap of the Sermon on 1 Corinthians 12 / Spiritual Gifts
04:41 — Would You Want to Know Your End Date?
09:10 — Rick's Personal Calling and Use of His Gifts
11:04 — Every Believer Is Gifted
14:04 — Barriers to Using Your Gifts
18:03 — The Downside of Spiritual Gift Surveys
26:38 — Living Out Your Dash with Intentionality
31:24 — Preview of the Upcoming Weekend

Church Is Messy: Church in the Wild - Food Fight

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Church Is Messy, Rick and Svea explore the second half of 1 Corinthians 11, where Paul sharply rebukes the Corinthian church for their divisive behavior during communion. Paul’s warning reveals how seriously God takes unity within the church.

Rick explains that unity is not just a goal for Christians—it reflects God’s very nature as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The problem in Corinth wasn’t personal sin before communion, but pretending to be unified while practicing division, as wealthier believers feasted while the poor went hungry.

Rick and Svea discuss what true unity looks like in practice: moving beyond tolerance to actively honoring and welcoming people across differences in age, background, culture, and life stage. They remind listeners that biblical unity in diversity is not a cultural trend but an ancient foundation of the church.

The episode closes with a picture of this unity in action through multigenerational faith communities learning from one another around the same table.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 - Intro
02:32 - Introduction to 1 Corinthians 11 Passage
03:39 - God's Discipline and Importance of Unity
04:37 - The Trinity and Unity
07:01 - A Thought Experiment
08:40 - Divine Discipline vs. Condemnation
09:42 - Better Not to Meet - A Church Out of Whack
10:20 - Taking Communion in an Unworthy Manner
12:33 - Communion as a Meal in Small Groups
13:32 - Clarifying Unity in Christ vs. Loving All People
15:42 - The Tolerate, Celebrate, Elevate Progression
16:30 - Philippians 2 - The Mind of Christ
18:11 - Practical Application in Church Life
20:32 - Idealized Small Group Expectations
21:07 - Loneliness Epidemic
22:51 - Cultural Shift on Unity and Diversity
26:54 - Christian Foundation for Unity
28:12 - Beauty and Goodness of Unity
30:38 - Preview of Next Week

Church Is Messy: Church in the Wild - Hairy Stuff

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Church Is Messy, Rick and Svea tackle one of the most notoriously difficult passages in the New Testament: 1 Corinthians 11, which discusses head coverings and gender roles. The conversation centers on how people tend to retreat into fundamentalism—grasping at simplistic, dogmatic answers—when facing uncertainty or complex biblical texts. Rick explains that this impulse appears across the theological spectrum, from those who dismiss difficult passages entirely to those who impose rigid, literalistic interpretations without acknowledging the real complexities involved.

The heart of their discussion explores why 1 Corinthians 11 is so challenging to interpret. Even top scholars disagree on fundamental questions: What does "head of" mean when Paul says God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of man, and man is the head of woman? Does it signify authority, source, unity, or preeminence? Rick presents Lucy Peppiatt's scholarly theory as one reasonable explanation while acknowledging it cannot be definitively proven. He emphasizes that any valid interpretation must account for all the facts without contradicting itself or the rest of scripture. Svea shares her personal experience of feeling stress and anxiety when hearing this passage read, even in the healthy environment of Autumn Ridge, reflecting the real impact these texts have on women in ministry.

Ultimately, Rick and Svea encourage listeners to approach difficult scripture with confidence, curiosity, and courage rather than contempt or cynicism. They stress that it's spiritually mature to say "I don't know yet" and to trust in God's character while continuing to study and wrestle with hard passages. The main point Paul makes is clear despite all the complexity: men and women are interdependent, and all are fully dependent on God. Sometimes the most important lesson from a difficult passage isn't what it definitively says, but learning how to approach it with humility, rigorous study, and unwavering trust in God.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
02:55 - Connecting Fundamentalism to the Difficult Passage
05:56 - Fundamentalism as a Response to Uncertainty
07:00 - Svea's Personal Experience as a Woman
08:45 - The Umbrella Imagery
10:35 - What Does "Head Of" Mean?
11:47 - John Chrysostom's Fourth Century Perspective
13:30 - Long Unbound Hair & Cultural Context
14:22 - Rick's Full Interpretation of "Headship"
17:02 - Jesus' Functional Subordination
19:27 - The Mystery of Angels in the Passage
19:54 - Spiritual Maturity in Uncertainty
21:29 - God Beyond Full Comprehension
22:35 - Approaching Difficult Scripture as Worship
23:18 - Lucy Peppiatt's Theory
23:56 - Evaluating Competing Interpretations
26:00 - Paul's Main Point: Interdependence
26:25 - Dealing with Personal Bias
28:46 - What to Remember a Year from Now
30:54 - Preston Sprinkle's 20-Year Wrestling
31:21 - Learning How to Approach Scripture
33:02 - Impact Story: Red Letters Only Christian
33:35 - Closing & Moving Forward

Church Is Messy: Church in the Wild - Fight Club

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0600

Rick and Svea continue their challenging journey through First Corinthians, tackling Chapter 6 which addresses conflict within the church. They explore Paul's confronting question: "Why not rather be wronged?" and discuss how the Corinthian believers were taking each other to court instead of resolving disputes within the community.

They examine three key perspectives: theological (understanding our eschatological identity in Christ), ecclesiological (recognizing we're one body and conflict hurts us all), and leadership (accepting that being misunderstood comes with the territory). They share personal vulnerabilities about their own "insecurity cards"—Rick's struggle with being misunderstood and Svea's feelings of inadequacy—and discuss how the cruciform lifestyle (self-sacrificing love modeled by Jesus on the cross) should shape how Christians handle conflict.

The conversation emphasizes that while conflict is inevitable, we're called to seek security and satisfaction in Christ alone rather than demanding affirmation from others. They explore practical applications for church life, leadership, and personal relationships, highlighting how choosing to "rather be wronged" isn't about tolerating abuse but about prioritizing others' needs and protecting confidentiality—even when it means taking the hit yourself.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Introduction
01:45 Nine Sacred Pathways & Spiritual Connection
04:45 Conflict in the Corinthian Church
06:35 Insecurity Cards Discussion
09:10 Self-Awareness & Growth
12:10 Jesus & Paul Were Misunderstood
13:10 Taking an Eschatological Perspective
15:25 Cruciform Way of Life
18:15 Three Lenses: Theological Perspective
21:25 "Why Not Rather Be Wronged?"
22:43 Three lenses: Ecclesiological Perspective - Body of Christ
25:20 Not Demanding Affirmation from Others
27:50 Woman at the Well - John 4
29:10 Representing Jesus Well
30:25 Three lenses: Leadership Perspective - Being Misunderstood
31:52 Leadership & Confidentiality
34:35 Practical Leadership Example
37:00 Decision Tree - When to Take the Hit
38:15 Closing Remarks

Church Is Messy: Church in the Wild - Sex, Judgment, and Church

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Church Is Messy, Rick and Svea tackle one of the most uncomfortable passages in the New Testament: 1 Corinthians 5. They discuss a shocking situation in the Corinthian church where a man was sleeping with his stepmother, and the congregation was doing nothing about it.

Rick and Svea explore the tension between creating a church where people feel safe in struggling with sin while still maintaining biblical standards. They unpack what it means to address sin within the church versus judging those outside it, and why Paul's instruction to "hand this man over to Satan" was actually an act of love aimed at restoration.

The conversation covers challenging questions like: How do we balance grace and accountability? What's the difference between being judgmental and exercising discernment? And how should Christians engage with cultural issues without becoming the "morality police"?

Whether you're wrestling with how to approach sin in your own life or wondering how the church should respond to difficult situations, this episode offers a thoughtful, grace-filled perspective on navigating one of Scripture's messiest passages.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 - Introduction & Overview of 1 Corinthians 5
01:14 - The Situation in Corinth
03:23 - Relevance to Modern Church Life
04:28 - Pastoral Heart & Balancing Grace with Truth
07:26 - "Lowered the Bar, Raised the Standard"
08:50 - Struggling vs. Stubbornly Entrenched in Sin
10:34 - "Who Rules" vs. "What Are the Rules"
12:55 - Addressing Sin Within vs. Outside the Church
14:25 - Wanting Good for Non-Believers Without Being Judgmental
17:03 - Judgment vs. Discernment
19:01 - Christians, Politics & Voting
20:00 - Roe v. Wade & Pro-Life Position
26:36 - Early Church Example: Infant Exposure in Rome
28:12 - Addressing Sin Among Believers
28:53 - "Hand This Man Over to Satan"
30:26 - Letting People Experience Consequences
31:04 - Wisdom Cannot Be Reduced to Rules
33:58 - "Don't Even Eat With Such People"
37:12 - The Agape Feast & Lord's Supper
40:02 - Creating a Safe Church for Struggling Believers
42:55 - How Church Discipline Works in Practice
46:53 - Preview of Next Episode

Church Is Messy: Church in the Wild - We Are the Temple

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Church Is Messy, Rick and Svea dive into Paul's letter to the Corinthians, exploring how the early church struggled with the same tribal divisions we see today. Using a clever Jelly Roll analogy, Rick illustrates how easily Christians can align themselves with personalities and influencers rather than keeping Jesus as their foundation.

The conversation tackles the tension between theological knowledge and spiritual maturity, the danger of evaluating Jesus through the lens of our preferred tribe rather than the other way around, and what it means to truly be the temple of God. Rick and Svea discuss the importance of knowing not just what we believe, but why we believe it, and how immaturity and pride can lead us to seek certainty in the wrong places.

Throughout the episode, they emphasize that while we're called to contribute to God's work, it's ultimately His presence and power that produces growth—not our performance. The discussion offers both challenge and comfort: we're all vulnerable to these patterns, but we have a solid foundation in Christ that can't be shaken.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
02:10 Jelly Roll Parable and Church Polarization
04:45 Teaching How to Think, Not What to Think
06:30 Historical Perspective on Division
10:00 Evaluating Jesus Through Our Tribe
14:45 Theologically Rich but Spiritually Poor
19:30 Immaturity and the Craving for Certainty
23:00 Building on the Foundation of Christ
26:00 Contributing vs. Producing
28:15 We Are the Temple
32:20 What a Healthy Church Looks Like
37:00 Closing & Preview of Next Week

Church Is Messy: Church in the Wild - Practice what we Preach

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Church is Messy, Rick and Svea discuss navigating faith and action during turbulent times. They explore how to respond to current immigration and ICE issues in Minnesota with both courage and love, examining the difference between principled protest and reactive behavior. Drawing from the Civil Rights Movement and biblical wisdom, They address how to process strong emotions, engage with law enforcement wisely, and maintain unity across diverse perspectives. They also discuss what it means to be a praying church that empowers its members to serve, and offer encouragement to those in our community who are Americans by choice.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
01:17 Ghana Ministry Trip
02:11 Minnesota Immigration Crisis
04:22 Weekend Message Decision
06:21 Navigating Big Emotions
09:57 Protest vs. Tantrum
17:47 Foolish vs. Wise Danger (Proverbs 22:3)
24:37 Addressing ICE Actions
28:49 Unity in Diversity
32:26 Americans by Choice
35:05 Empowerment to Serve
36:26 Being a Praying Church
37:00 Closing Prayer

Church is Messy: Church in the Wild - 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Church is Messy Pastor Caleb Smith (who gave this week's message) and Svea discuss Paul's teaching from 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 about the paradox of the cross - how God's "foolishness" is wiser than human wisdom and his "weakness" is stronger than human strength. Their conversation explores how this ancient message applies to modern Christians facing intellectual persecution and cultural rejection, emphasizing four key responses from Luke 18: reliance on God, humility, trust, and obedience as a framework for engaging with contemporary challenges while standing firm in faith and leading with love.

At about the 24 minute mark Caleb talks about a statement Transform MN (of which Autumn Ridge is a part) put out about praying during the events unfolding in Minnesota. The link to that document is https://transformmn.org/portfolio/this-is-why-we-pray/

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
02:46 Different approaches to the passage.
03:27 Oxymorons and paradoxes.
07:32 The foolishness of the cross.
09:04 The scandalous nature of the cross.
11:27 Modern application - being called a moron.
12:34 Encouragement to persecuted followers of Jesus.
16:01 Responding with empathy.
17:11 The power (dunamis) of God.
19:54 Connection to the garden and original sin.
22:12 Application to contemporary culture.
26:08 Four principles from Luke 18: reliance on God, humility before God, trust in God, obedience to God.
28:48 Living out the four principles.
30:25 Series overview and looking ahead.

Church Is Messy: Church in the Wild - Fences and Ladders

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0600

Rick and Svea discuss 1 Corinthians 1, focusing on how the human desire for acceptance creates division in the church through “fences” (in-groups and out-groups) and “ladders” (status and hierarchy). They show how the Corinthian church split around admired leaders like Paul, Apollos, and Peter, driven more by Roman culture’s obsession with prestige than by real theological differences. The episode draws connections to modern Christian identity, emphasizes unity and equality in Christ, and encourages humility, community, and finding true acceptance in God’s love.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
01:11 Diving in to 1 Corinthians chapter 1.
02:01 Fences (acceptance) and ladders (approval).
04:52 There are no fences in Christ. The only fence is our sin. The only gate is Jesus.
08:40 1 Corinthians 1:12 - I follow Paul, I follow Apollos... Attaching to human figures, not Jesus. Stupid games lead to stupid prizes. Their prize of petty competitiveness and fractured relationships.
11:57 We do this too. We can't define ourselves by what people or groups we agree with or disagree with.
13:36 Thinking of spiritual formation, how do we avoid falling into the trap of attaching ourselves to and aligning with a singular spiritual leader with whom you agree and saying, "I'm a so-and-so Christian?" Be in community with other believers.
19:21 We tend to apply our need for acceptance and approval in dysfunctional ways. What's the God-given underlying foundation for wanting acceptance and approval?
23:30 Advice for those who are ready to live without fences and ladders, but you see fences and ladders all around you.

Church Is Messy: Church in the Wild - Know Your Why

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0600

This episode kicks-off a 20-week series on 1 Corinthians. Today Rick and Svea dig into the series thesis and then look at "knowing your why."

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
04:47 1 Corinthians Series overview
06:19 Understanding Paul and looking at our own assumptions and what the original authors were trying to communicate.
08:33 Interesting parallels between Corinth and Rochester.
11:12 Delving into our 1 Corinthians series thesis and key verse.
13:34 Stand firm.
19:40 Be fearless.
23:32 Let love lead.
27:46 At the end of 16 chapters and 20 weeks, what's the goal for the church to say, "We've grown in these ways?"
32:53 Being in tune with our "why." The results of not knowing your why.
37:13 Hand-holds to help see your why.

Church Is Messy: Answering your Questions #3

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

During the month of December Rick and Svea turn the microphone around and answer your questions on the podcast. Do you have a questions you'd like them to address in future episodes? Email your questions to podcast@autumnridge.church.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
02:40 Five questions for today's episode: 1) (04:37) God is all-knowing. He knew the fall was going to happen, why didn't he prevent it? 2) (13:21) Creation, the fossil record and the biblical timeline. 3) (23:46) Why doesn't Jesus save everyone, in reference to Matthew 22:14 - many are called but few are chosen. 4) (37:28) Jesus serving Judas at the last supper knowing his betrayal was imminent. 5) (45:29) When do we receive our resurrection body? What happens when we die?
04:37 QUESTION 1: God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. God knew his two masterpiece creations in His own image would rebel in self-reliance in the Garden. He knew Eve would be deceived and Adam would fail to lead his wife. God, throughout the Bible intervenes and rescues. Why not intervene and rescue at the beginning and prevent the Fall as the all-knowing, all-present, and all-powerful God?
07:07 A biblically informed speculation: God knew all the possible outcomes to all the possible scenarios and this is the path he chose.
09:23 Getting practical. Why do we choose to have kids knowing they're not going to be perfect and there will be some heartache along the way?
13:21 QUESTION 2: How do we reconcile the fossil record and Biblical timeframe?
16:17 Our interpretation - Genesis 1 & 2 doesn't give a rigid timeframe. It gives an account of creation. It's not saying how and how long it stating who created and why he created.
21:58 Apply Romans 14: If there is disagreement on the understanding of Genesis 1 & 2, be convinced in your own mind and show grace to the other point of view.
23:46 QUESTION 3: Can you address Matthew 22:14, where Jesus says many are called but few are chosen? This is one of the most heartbreaking verses of the Bible for me. I desperately want to believe that God has made a way for many to be chosen. I know and believe that salvation comes only through Jesus, and I am hopeful that there are ways people accept Jesus that perhaps we cannot see from the outside, so it is not few that are chosen. Is it possible that I am misunderstanding this verse?
25:14 A framework for reading about parables.
27:52 Parables are made up stories intended to communicate truth - usually one truth. The truth of this parable is respond to the invitation appropriately.
29:55 What's the deal with the man dressed inappropriately for the wedding?
33:10 What does it mean many are invited but few are chosen?
37:28 QUESTION 4: Can you speak on the significance of when Jesus first instituted communion at the last supper and Judas received? He shared that with Jesus and then led him to the cross and Jesus knew that was going to happen.
38:40 Fencing the table.
39:54 This was a Passover meal instituted in the Old Testament book of Exodus.
45:29 QUESTION 5: When do we receive our new bodies? Is it when Jesus comes again and the rapture happens? Do we go to heaven and come back when Jesus comes back, get our new bodies and return to heaven? Do those in heaven stay there? What does revelation or other parts of the Bible reveal about this?
48:41 What happens to someone who dies now?

Church Is Messy: Answering Your Questions #2

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

During the month of December Rick and Svea turn the microphone around and answer your questions on the podcast. Do you have a questions you'd like them to address? Email your questions to podcast@autumnridge.church.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
02:15 QUESTION 1: The discussion on not being able to lose one's salvation was new to me and in the end I still didn't understand.
03:58 John 3:16-18 It's indispensable to see Jesus as the King, the Authority, the One who is rightly holding us accountable.
05:41 The moment of salvation and receiving forgiveness of sin from God (justification) and living with growing into sinning less often and becoming more like Jesus (sanctification) are similar to a marriage. You are married when you say "I do" but you have the daily process of choosing your spouse.
08:02 QUESTION 2: What drew us to a non-denominational church such as Autumn Ridge?
11:45 Some of the benefits of being a non-denominational church.
14:04 Potential drawbacks to being a non-denominational church.
16:07 QUESTION 3: How do we address the fraud happening in MN as a church family?
17:41 All ethnicities and cultures are batting 1.000 when it comes to crime.
21:43 Let's remember that ALL people are made in the image of God and ALL people are flawed.
23:46 QUESTION 4: Mary wasn't given a choice was she? Gabriel just tells her, "You will conceive and give birth to a son and you will call him Jesus."
26:25 Where and when does God need permission to do something in your life?
29:39 Mary's response shows not only was she willing, but she was honored to be chosen.
32:20 QUESTION 5: Can you explain the Trinity?
34:39 There are a number of verses that talk about the Trinity, but the term "Trinity" never appears in Scripture. God is one being that exists in three persons. "Person" and "Being" are not synonyms.
40:08 QUESTION 5B: How do you know which person of the Trinity to pray to?

Church Is Messy: Answering Your Questions

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
01:55 Send your questions for the podcast to podcast@autumnridge.church
03:18 QUESTION 1: What advice or insight would you give on silencing or at least quieting the questions of "Is God real?" or "Did Jesus really die for us?"
06:10 An unexpected answer: lean in to those doubts and questions. Jude 22: Be merciful to those who doubt.
09:52 It's not my responsibility to convince you. It's my responsibility to share with you what convinced me.
11:55 Hold on to profound moments and experiences with Jesus - they can be powerful motivational tools to keep on keeping on.
13:04 Resources: Podcasts - Undeceptions with John Dixon; Theology in the Raw with Preston Sprinkle; books on topics like the resurrection by N.T. Wright.
14:59 QUESTION 2: How do we reconcile once saved always saved and losing salvation? Individuals use scripture for both approaches.
15:33 Those two positions can't be reconciles. They are mutually exclusive. Looking at the whole of Scripture, what Jesus said, and the Epistles point to security.
17:50 If we could lose our salvation, we would.
18:05 Two passages people look at about losing salvation: Galatians 5 and Hebrews 6.
23:24 Passages that convinced Rick about security in Christ: John 10, Romans 8, Ephesians 1.
27:44 QUESTIONS 3: Can you comment on spiritual circumcision? Is this a requirement and specifically who does the circumcising of the heart?
29:17 Used as a symbol like a wedding ring or baptism. It's a profound symbol of something that has been done.
36:48 It is a synergy. We can't circumcise our hearts on our own and God won't circumcise our heart on his own even though he could; he wants a relationship.
38:05 QUESTION 4: How do we reconcile that we are all made in the image of God and yet we live outside of God's design?
40:39 Good news - we are made in the image of God. Bad news - we've all fallen short. Good news - Jesus stepped into the world to be with us and make it possible to be united with him through his life, death, and resurrection.
42:22 Being made in God's image we should expect that people from all walks of life will exhibit things that reflect the goodness of God.
48:53 The assumption that Christians "should be" more of all these good things than non-Christians. That assumption implies we're Christians because of our behavior not our Savior. We should see a trajectory of personal growth, but we shouldn't assume that Christians are the "good guys" and the non-Christians aren't. As Jesus followers, we need to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do as he did.

Church Is Messy: Love Is The Agenda - The Origin of the Gospel Story

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0600

On this Love Is The Agenda weekend, Rick and Svea talk about our guest speaker, Dr. Walter Kim, and the message he had on living out the gospel.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
02:49 CIM is taking the 2025 Thanksgiving week off. During December we're going to answer your questions on ANY topic. Send questions to podcast@autumnridge.church.
04:07 Starting with one of Dr. Kim's questions: What am I saved for? What's the purpose of my life?
09:03 Live out the gospel in compelling ways.
11:58 The demonstration of the gospel makes the proclamation of the gospel compelling.
13:18 We don't always have to demonstrate and proclaim the gospel at exactly the same time. It's okay to do one at a time, but it's never okay to do only one of the two.
19:07 The message of the gospel. What is the gospel?
24:48 Thinking out loud about the gospel.
28:06 Living out the gospel: a couple of examples.

Church Is Messy: Acts of Leadership week 7 - Your Story to Tell

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Rick and Svea close out the series on Acts of Leadership by looking at a powerful act of leadership: telling your story about your relationship with Jesus. No one knows your story better than you. No one will know your story unless you tell it.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
02:28 This passage resonated with a lot of people. It helps to take the fear out of evangelism - just tell your story.
05:39 Paul's genius in how he told his story: bring light.
08:22 Paul begins telling his story by honoring those to whom he is speaking - even though those people were of questionable character. 1) recognize dignity and 2) express respect.
16:35 Honoring someone may require a high degree of self-control so you don't speak what first comes to mind about that person.
17:43 Adopt an approach toward people that comes out of who we are becoming in Christ.
24:00 No one knows your story better than you. No one will know your story unless you tell it.
27:23 What was life like before Jesus? What initially drew me toward him? What has my life been like since Jesus?
29:32 We are responsible for what we contribute and we should take that seriously. We're not responsible for the result; God is.
33:34 Taking it from an individual level to a corporate level. The why behind some of Autumn Ridge's outreach practices.
42:50 Wrapping up the series on Acts of Leadership with this bow: telling your story is a powerful act of leadership that doesn't require the position of being a leader.

Church Is Messy: Acts of Leadership week 6

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Rick and Svea spend much of the episode discussing Paul's warning to the church leaders in Ephesus as found in Acts 20:17-38: watch out for the wolves among you.

A warning from Rick about this episode: It may contain meandering conversation with points of lucidity in a forest of discontinuity and convoluted word salads, but it has been fun.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
03:21 Serving is leading and leadership.
06:35 The genius of Scripture: the same passage allowed Rick to pivot the emphasis in response to immediate needs without bending it to fit the new topic. This message's focus: Be on guard - have the back of those whom you lead.
10:57 Wolves prowling around as a threat to the flock: Paul's admonition then and still true today.
12:02 Three ways to spot a wolf: 1) they try to raise your level of fear; 2) they try to lower your level of empathy; and 3) they try to distract you from being an ambassador for Jesus and his kingdom.
12:21 Looking at each wolf tactic: Watch out for those using fear as a manipulator.
17:07 Watch out for those downplaying empathy or even calling it a sin.
25:33 Watch out for those trying to distract us from the primacy of Jesus.
29:14 How do you overcome the wolves? In every arena of your life, live as though Jesus were living your life: be with Jesus, become more like Jesus, and do as Jesus did. Who we are becoming is more important than what we do.
31:52 The big difference between a true representative of Jesus and a wolf: A true representative will say follow me as I follow Jesus. A wolf will try to get you to join their endeavor and impose aspects of Christianity on others so they can get more control.
34:31 The way of Jesus is always going to be different than any expression of the world's way.
35:17 Playing the movie forward.

Church Is Messy: Acts of Leadership - Move Toward the Messes part 2

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500

This week the Acts of Leadership series takes us to Acts 15. Rick and Svea look at circumcision and the old covenant, the new covenant, and James' declaration in Acts 15:19, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God."

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
02:41 We will always have to wrestle with issues that would seek to divide us.
05:00 Circumcision: the sign of the old covenant.
11:41 Baptism: the sign of the new covenant. Comparing circumcision with baptism.
13:52 The new covenant is superior to the old covenant. The old covenant started outwardly and hoped it would become inward. The new covenant starts inwardly and expresses itself outwardly.
20:25 If salvation is by faith alone, why did James add four "conditions" on the church in Acts 15?
24:07 James isn't adding conditions to faith in Jesus, he's showing other practices that, if practiced, will pull their hearts away from Jesus and toward other gods.
36:51 The thinking process of looking at Scripture in regard to temporary, cultural application vs permanent.
39:21 If Paul, Peter, and James were addressing the American Church what practices might they suggest that would be helpful in following Jesus?

Church Is Messy: Acts of Leadership - Move Toward the Messes part 1

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500

This week Rick and Svea look at Acts 10 and the story of Cornelius.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
06:11 Three questions about leadership: whom am I looking to for leadership, how am I leading myself, who looks to me for leadership.
07:31 Cornelius in Acts 10. He was a complex character, we're all complex characters.
10:12 We're never correct to reduce any person to one defining thing; it tends to bring out one of four bad responses. We're all multifaceted.
13:08 In this passage we get to see how God saw Cornelius.
15:52 A thought experiment.
20:12 Good isn't bad; good is good. It's just not good enough to close the gap between us and God.
23:16 The gap Cornelius had and his angelic visitors. God's methods are intentionally messy and inefficient.
28:14 In this chapter we've seen Cornelius as a leader of people, show self-leadership, and now he looks to Peter for leadership.
34:11 We need to trust Jesus enough to deconstruct our self-imposed rules so that he can rule. It's all about heart orientation.

Church Is Messy: Acts of Leadership week 3

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Pastor Caleb Smith joins Rick and Svea to dig into the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro and Rick's Boundary Waters adventures.
03:50 Week three of Acts of Leadership: what jumped out of this week's passage?
07:43 Caleb's process in seeing discipleship in this passage.
14:16 Who you are is a greater contribution than what you do.
17:42 The Quadrants: unconscious incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence, unconscious competence.
24:53 Jesus followers should be the most curious people around.
31:11 Applying to whom do we look for leadership, self leadership, and others looking to us for leadership in this passage.

Church Is Messy: Acts of Leadership - Deep Community

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Today Rick and Svea talk about the challenges to developing authentic deep community and provide some ideas for developing this community.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
00:48 This week's focus is on community and the requirement for leadership decisions to shepherd each other.
02:15 We live in a culture that is driven by individualism and isolation.
05:11 Authentic, biblical Christian community isn't easy; it requires bravery, intentional vulnerability, messiness, awkwardness, and sometimes pain.
09:01 A framework for community: intimates, kin, village, tribe.
11:53 Church gatherings at Autumn Ridge are a gathering of a tribe. Community can be experienced and enjoyed, but it is not developed in the tribe. It's developed in the up-close relationships.
13:06 Challenges to developing deep community.
18:37 The fear of rejection.
21:23 Ideas for developing community.
23:45 How fast can this happen? Is there a microwave setting for developing community?

Church Is Messy: Acts of Leadership - Am I a Leader?

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode Rick and Svea open discussion on our new series - a survey of the book of Acts: Acts of Leadership.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
02:22 Exciting news about Autumn Ridge and Practicing the Way.
05:18 Acts of Leadership message series: leadership is a destination of discipleship.
07:15 "I'm not really a natural leader" or, "I don't really want to be in a position of leadership."
08:13 Three questions about leadership.
13:33 The disciples question for Jesus and his unexpected answer. He's in the driver's seat; we're not.
20:43 The importance of community. We need to be in relationship with people who are not exactly like we are.
28:51 What does self-leadership look like when we thought we were following a course of action and expectations but God makes it clear the path is different than we thought?
33:33 Recap: The tension of loving God and doing as you please.

Church Is Messy: Loving Our Enemies

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode Rick and Svea have a discussion about loving our enemies and hating our enemies.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro - A Sunday afternoon gone wrong.
04:05 An illustration from Rick's Sunday experience.
06:11 Two visions: Love your enemy or hate your enemy.
08:23 What does it look like to love your enemy?
09:55 Paying a price for loving our enemy is a testing point. Not engaging in hero worship when someone says they forgive their enemy.
14:42 The pressure to define "who is my brother" and "who is my enemy" devolves into who is human and who is subhuman and often taints our behaviors toward "others." It's not good for anybody.
18:24 Looking to history to examine crimes against humanity or a particular group of people always begins with using dehumanizing language.
19:07 Svea describes an incident she had from the previous week.
27:09 Jesus gave us a simple (not always easy) handhold: pray for your enemies.

Church Is Messy: A Response to the Assassination of Charlie Kirk

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500

We begin a new season of Church Is Messy on a very serious note: A response to the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro - welcome back after Rick's sabbatical.
01:46 A renewed sense of identity as a part of sabbatical.
08:05 The assassination of Charlie Kirk.
10:09 An email we received.
12:22 We're a church that values questions - from everybody.
14:40 Something Rick would do differently if he could.
15:36 Rick's intent in the weekend services.
16:40 At least three broad categories of people regarding Charlie Kirk among those who attend Autumn Ridge Church.
19:55 Sunday morning is not a time to say what can be said, it's a time to say what must be said. What must be said is we are grieving and we need to turn and look to Jesus.
26:04 "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." -Tertullian
30:16 The view that this is a wakeup call for Christians to rise up.
31:46 A question that hasn't been asked yet.
35:05 We owe it to ourselves to slow down and get really honest with ourselves about our demands, wants, and responses.
35:54 It's tragic that empathy has been downplayed, disparaged, and kicked to the curb. Too many Christians see empathy as a negative.
37:11 This is a time to engage in empathy. Empathy is necessary for understanding.
41:04 Who do I trust? Beware of false prophets.

Church Is Messy: Take Your Next Step and Trust the Process

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In the final episode on our series on the mission, vision, and values of Autumn Ridge Church, Rick and Svea discuss values seven and eight: 7) take your next step and 8) trust the process.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
02:37 Values 7 and 8: 7) Take your next step, and 8) Trust the process.
07:28 Direction over speed.
08:17 There is a logical progression, but there is no checklist in next steps.
10:36 Some logical and some intangible next steps.
18:30 Trust the process.
20:41 Is the process internal or external?
22:49 What does it look like to trust God when we're not seeing results?
24:32 How can we discern the difference between being patient and passivity when it comes to spiritual formation?
25:47 How are these two values in harmony and in tension with each other?
32:25 Each of the values is a faithful summary statement of some aspect of the gospel.

Church Is Messy: Move Toward the Messes and Make Generosity Normal

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In this continuing series of looking at the mission, vision, and values of Autumn Ridge Church, Rick and Svea turn their attention to values five and six: 5) move toward the messes and 6) make generosity normal.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
01:48 Our mission, vision, and values (mvv) are guardrails that keep us from straying into unhealthy practices.
03:42 Move toward the messes.
05:23 How did Jesus model moving toward the messes?
08:25 What's a common thread Jesus exhibited to work through the messes he encountered?
09:42 How do we follow Jesus in moving toward the messes in a healthy and edifying way?
11:00 Moving toward the messes doesn't mean we're the person who always fixes the mess.
12:19 Avoiding the ditches.
14:57 This value brings out the necessity of authenticity.
16:37 Make generosity normal. It's not just about money.
21:39 This value reminds us to slow down, see the people around us, and make ourselves approachable.
25:01 These two values force us to examine ourselves and see how we're engaging with others.
28:19 What would you say to those who don't feel equipped to move toward the messes or feel like they don't have enough (of whatever) to be generous?
31:51 These values are an expression of following the way of Jesus.
35:18 What will it look like for our church to live out these values?

Church Is Messy: Honor Guests Enthusiastically and Belong Before You Believe

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In this continuing series of looking at the mission, vision, and values of Autumn Ridge Church, Rick and Svea turn their attention to values three and four: 3) Honor guests enthusiastically and 4) belong before you believe.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
03:20 Coming to church can be difficult. Knowing people are coming in feeling anxious, what do we want them to experience?
05:32 Hospitality in the church.
07:09 Honor guests enthusiastically: we care more about your experience than our own.
10:16 What are some practical ways we try to honor guests enthusiastically?
13:54 What does it "cost" us to pursue honoring guests?
17:07 Belong before you believe. Probably our most misunderstood value.
22:23 Is there an expiration date on how long someone can belong before they believe?
24:01 You don't have to change anything about you to be around us.
27:16 The dispositions, attitudes and mindsets that help live out this value well.
29:19 Simple steps to take.
30:41 Answering a different question: The fear of compromising the gospel to be a welcoming church.

Church Is Messy: Take Truth Seriously and Give Grace Relentlessly

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In this continuing series of looking at the mission, vision, and values of Autumn Ridge Church, Rick and Svea turn their attention to values one and two: Take truth seriously and give grace relentlessly.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
02:10 Eight values at Autumn Ridge Church. Why do we have them?
05:14 Values one and two: 1) take truth seriously and 2) give grace relentlessly.
06:45 We happily place ourselves underneath the authority of Scripture - even if it means we're out-of-step with culture.
08:28 Is it possible our understanding of truth could change?
11:39 What does it look like for followers of Jesus to follow the truth?
13:42 What does "Speak the truth in love" mean?
16:00 Truth at the expense of grace and grace at the expense of truth: both are damaging.
19:31 Giving grace relentlessly.
21:02 What is grace?
23:14 How do we want to be experienced?
25:13 How do grace and truth intersect with each other?
31:03 Two actions step to take truth seriously and give grace relentlessly.

Church Is Messy: Our Mission, Vision and Values

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea kick-off a five-part series on the Mission, Vision, and Values of Autumn Ridge Church.

Topics discussed in this Episode:

0:00 Intro
02:47 Why does Autumn Ridge have a mission statement? Knowing why we say "Yes" and "No" to various opportunities.
04:02 Most of life's hurts happen when we live in contradiction to our purpose.
07:10 Our vision: communicating the kind of church we desire to be.
09:15 Why is it important we have a vision statement?
12:18 Digging in: Every single word in our MVV has been labored over and is important.
12:23 Our Mission - Disciple vs follower of Jesus...
16:06 Fully devoted...
17:35 Three aspects: authority, identity, activity.
20:00 Our Vision - We want to be a church...
20:42 Of all cultures...
24:15 Where Curious people...
25:32 Where Skeptical people...
26:43 And where Hurting people...
29:30 Love to attend.
30:19 Why is it important for our congregation to know and understand our mission and vision?

Church Is Messy: Holy Lit - the Bible as Holy Literature

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea discuss the three major goals of the summer's Holy Lit series.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
02:46 Holy Lit - three goals
03:05 Goal one: Uncomplicate our relationship with the Bible.
09:59 If you have a simplistic understanding of the Bible you're going to have a more complicated relationship with it.
12:01 Goal two: Energize our engagement with the Bible.
15:33 Goal three: Expand our ability to understand the Bible.
16:48 Series thesis: This is a backstory to the story of the Bible.
19:36 Why is this important? Aligning with truth.
24:46 The Bible is overwhelming, I don't even know where to start.
28:11 What's coming up in the Podcast.

Church Is Messy: Loaded Questions - How do I not feel like a failure?

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 28 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Pastor Caleb Smith joins Rick and Svea to close the Loaded Questions series. They discuss success and failure and how society's framework for success is at odds with the Gospel's framework for success.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
00:57 Reflecting on the Loaded Questions series.
04:42 What was it like preparing to speak on failure?
06:20 Svea to Caleb: Did your definitions of success and failure change or grow as a part preparing for this message?
09:46 Embracing the tension of the gospel's framework of success and the inescapable realities of life.
17:17 The rich, young ruler: a case study in questioning the framework of success.
24:39 What does it look like if everything is stripped away and we're satisfied with only Jesus?
30:20 How do we develop into being satisfied with having nothing but Jesus?
36:39 Micah 6:8 - act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.

Church Is Messy: Loaded Questions - Can I believe and still have doubts?

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 21 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea have a robust conversation about doubt. They talk about the connection with doubt, faith, and belief. Are there unsafe questions to ask? They also discuss the role of community in removing doubt.

Resources:
A. J. Swoboda's book, After Doubt

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
02:31 Summary of what Svea learned about herself, doubt, and Jesus in preparing for this message.
09:58 1 Corinthians 4: 20 - The kingdom of God isn't a matter of talk but of power.
12:38 What is doubt?
18:00 What do we mean when we talk about faith or belief?
23:40 Is it possible to experience doubt because we're putting expectations on Jesus he never promised?
29:53 How do I know if a question is a safe question to ask? There are no unsafe questions, there are unsafe people.
33:14 Recurring question after the services: how do I know I am saved? How can I have confidence in my salvation?
40:37 You HAVE to invite other people in. Don't struggle by yourself.
45:03 For those who struggle with intellectual doubts.

Church Is Messy: Loaded Questions - Does faith fix mental health?

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 14 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode Svea is joined by pastors Otis Hall and Jodi Quinn as they look at faith and mental health.

Resources:
Jodi Quinn's email: care@autumnridge.church

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
01:21 The number of Americans dealing with mental health issues is staggering.
02:03 We seem to be afraid to talk about mental health.
04:37 Being real about mental health issues. Otis' struggles.
06:42 Prayer and following Jesus doesn't mean all our mental health issues will go away.
08:42 Svea to Otis: how have you felt Jesus support you in your own life.
10:38 Shouldn't I expect that if I believe Jesus I won't have to struggle with mental health?
12:48 The age-old question: why do bad things happen to good people?
14:10 What resources we have available for people who are struggling.
16:56 What would you say to someone who doesn't know Jesus or feels like Jesus has let them down?
18:58 Walking with Jesus isn't an instant cure, but he is a way through.
22:28 Breath prayer.
25:48 Some helpful application points from 1 Peter 5: be humble, cast your anxiety, be courageous.
34:42 Closing prayer.

Church Is Messy: Loaded Questions - Is our church a welcoming place for the LGBTQ Community?

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 07 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

This we we certainly live up to "church is messy." If time allows, we would encourage you to watch the sermon before listening to this podcast. We're also providing a number of resources on the topic of sexuality.

Resources:

Sermon Video URL: https://youtu.be/DidFo1xj9ow
Center for Faith, Sexuality and Gender (https://www.centerforfaith.com)
Greg Coles
Preston Sprinkle
Rebecca McLaughlin
Christopher Yuan
Sam Allberry
Jackie Hill Perry
Mark Yarhouse

Three sermons by Jon Tyson:

The Controversial Jesus | Jesus and the Gay Community – Jon Tyson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqF0MwqjuBU&t=37s
The Controversial Jesus | Jesus, Gender, and the Trans Community – Jon Tyson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS2oIkfYNwc
The Controversial Jesus | Sexual Formation – Jon Tyson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTGrYxeEZ9U&list=PL8vSjHOSaE12d8ZPujJfxFzcyNlYBActf&index=3

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
01:26 Watch the sermon, and avail yourself of the resources we suggest.
06:33 Helpful points from the message
08:53 How can we be welcoming without being affirming?
10:57 It's not the job of a Christian to call out non-Christians. If you have a relationship with a fellow believer then ask "what does it mean to follow Jesus in this area of your life" and have a conversation based on truth and grace.
15:34 How do I love someone well, communicate with my children, and be an ambassador for Christ regarding this topic?
18:31 Pronouns, names, wedding attendance.
22:13 What's wrong with a same-sex relationship that's filled with love? Practicing discernment, truth, and grace.
27:23 Series Thesis: Faith doesn't hide from questions, fear does. What fears are associated with this topic?
31:10 How do we live with courage and engage with people or at work without posturing?
39:23 Why did Rick skip over the topic of incest in 1 Corinthians 5 but address some other issues?

Church Is Messy: Loaded Questions - how do we know what's true?

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea answer your questions about truth.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
01:58 Loaded Questions takes on a different format from other messages
06:38 Why does truth matter?
10:51 Is it possible for Christianity to be true and other religions to be true?
15:05 How can we know Scripture is true?
19:06 In Scripture is it possible the authors were biased?
22:48 What do I need God for?
24:43 How can you discern if what you're hearing is from God or the devil?
26:48 Do you obtain knowledge at all? How do the disciples know they saw Jesus?
31:49 How do we know what denominations are teaching truth when they have different beliefs but are still using the Bible as the source of that belief?
35:41 The Apocrypha: Is it true and how is it distinguished from Scripture?
37:23 Jesus' mother, Mary.
39:38 I'm not a Christian for the perks, I'm a Christian because I'm convinced it's true.

Church Is Messy: Galatians - Something to Boast About

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea finish off the series on Galatians mostly focusing on burdens, loads, and pride.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
03:26 A LOT of diverse topics to cover is Galatians 6.
04:44 What resonated with Svea that she wasn't able to cover in this passage?
05:41 Carrying our own load and bearing each other's burdens.
11:40 God isn't calling you to fix the people who sinned against you.
17:21 I'm responsible for what I contribute, now necessarily how other people respond.
20:01 How do you tell the difference between someone caught in sin and someone doing something you don't like?
22:00 Presenting pride in the affirmative vs being the root of all sin (the pride Jesus died to forgive vs the pride commended in this passage).
29:14 Swinging on the pendulum of feelings of inferiority and superiority.
34:49 As Christians how do we engage with people and ideas that offer insight into human nature but are deeply hostile to the gospel?

Church Is Messy: Galatians - Free and Fruity

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Today Rick and Svea contrast works of the flesh with fruit of the Spirit.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
02:21 "Don't bite and devour each other..."
04:50 Defining ourselves by obeying rigid rules or religious structures invites comparison on who is and isn't achieving and breeds pride.
06:09 How might Jesus has told the parable of The Good Samaritan to Autumn Ridge Church?
08:16 If the Gospel stops messing with us, we're changing it; it's not changing us.
11:09 Paul was writing to believers, not unbelievers. Works of the flesh happen within church people.
13:38 We don't conquer works of the flesh by religious rule-keeping. Change happens by the Spirit growing Christ-like character in you.
17:04 Contrasting religious rule-keeping with living by the Spirit.
26:03 when we live by the Spirit, we can no longer stomach biting and devouring each other.

Church Is Messy: Galatians - Cutting Remarks

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 09:08:00 -0500

Today Rick and Svea look at the allure of certainty instead of clarity, creating environments where litmus tests are the norm vs being in Christ.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
01:46 Crawford Loritts was at Autumn Ridge Church.
03:31 Back into Galatians. Svea says it's a difficult book.
05:06 Gravitating toward environments and activities where we feel significant.
08:34 Getting into the shoes of a typical Galatian man.
11:29 Giving in to the allure of certainty instead of clarity.
13:25 Putting so much emphasis on circumcision.
15:55 Modern-day litmus tests to see if we're in the "in crowd."
16:43 We are people of the Gospel; being in Christ.
18:02 Being in Christ - can you lose your salvation?
22:06 Deconstruction.
31:08 Bad news. Good news.

Church Is Messy: Galatians - Good News

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Welcome to episode 100! Today, as they discuss Galatians chapter 4, Rick and Svea dig into having everything in Christ but living as though we have nothing.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
00:38 Episode 100: Where did the name "Church Is Messy" come from?
03:15 Galatians 4, we've been given everything in Christ but it's so easy for us to live as though we have nothing.
06:33 A specific example of how we get it wrong: conflict.
17:21 Paul leans in on conflict.
18:43 Adoption: the irrevocable security we have in our standing with God.

Church Is Messy: Galatians - Ragamuffins

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Today Rick and Svea acknowledge Galatians is a difficult book to understand, especially if we don't have an understanding of the Old Testament. They talk about tools to help gain understanding and spend some time discussing "the law".

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
01:32 Galatians is a hard book to get through and understand. Use tools like The Bible Project or The Message to help understand the deep content of Galatians.
09:05 Looking at Galatians 3, an understanding of the Promise, the law, and Jesus' role in them is crucial.
11:02 Understanding "the law."
13:29 Misconceptions about the law.
22:42 Galatians keeps driving us to stop trying to live by the structure of the law and following its rules but for our hearts to be so aligned with Jesus that he drives our behavior.
23:34 Ragamuffins.
27:21 Application of being one in Christ, recognizing our distinctions, and seeking to understand differing viewpoints.

Church Is Messy: Bonus Episode - Answering Your Questions

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0600

This episode is focused solely on answering your questions. We've received four very different questions and today we're putting out this bonus episode to answer them.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
00:50 Question 1 - In Galatians 2 Paul specifically says gentiles don't need to be circumcised after following Christ - but yet he directs Timothy to get circumcised (Acts 16). This seems like a double-standard.
10:29 Question 2 - Jesus became sin for us on the cross. How can God become sin when he's perfect and can't even look upon sin?
15:50 Question 3 - What is the difference between an Apostle (capital "A") and an apostle (lower-case "a")?
22:44 Question 4 - How do you stay united with someone with whom you have a deep idealogical disagreement?

Church Is Messy: Galatians - Fluency or Gibberish

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0600

In this episode Rick and Svea dig really deep into gospel fluency vs gospel gibberish. The gospel isn't just trusting Jesus for salvation, it's trusting Jesus for and with the rest of your life.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
00:57 Garrison Keillor and fake spring.
02:29 "You foolish Galatians..."
04:49 The Christian life is NOT trusting Jesus for salvation and then living the rest of your life doing things on your own and following rules.
10:40 The problem with trusting in something or someone other than the Holy Spirit to fill the various "holes" in our lives.
14:52 Digging in: The gospel isn't just for salvation, it's for the rest of your life.
20:56 Series Thesis: The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Antithesis: The only thing that counts is self-reliance expressed through law.
24:32 Self-esteem: If you are in Christ you are fully-delighted in by God. Until you believe it, it's going to ring hollow and you won't experience the freedom Paul is talking about in Galatians.
30:52 The will power approach to life vs believing the gospel.

Church Is Messy: Galatians - Undivided

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 09:56:04 -0600

In week two of our Galatians study Rick and Svea discuss conflict, the freedom we have in Jesus, and gospel fluency.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
01:40 Answering your questions: Does Galatians give a hierarchy of how we should relate to other people?
07:16 Galatians chapter 2.
09:33 Addressing conflict with other Jesus followers.
15:53 The intersection of conflict, freedom in Christ and gospel fluency.
18:52 The framework of gospel fluency.
20:13 A summary of the gospel.
24:05 Practical hand-holds to gospel fluency.
27:35 Accepting and loving people vs endorsing practices contrary to the gospel.
30:54 Explaining behaviors and lifestyles contrary to the gospel to your kids.

Church Is Messy: Galatians - Make It Count

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600

As we kick of our new series on the book of Galatians, Rick and Svea discuss false gospels and answer a listener question.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
03:23 Whose approval are you seeking?
06:37 An example of appropriate and missing the gospel.
10:03 The specific problems the Galatian church faced - adding to the gospel.
14:10 We're all trying to reflect Jesus, not each other.
17:41 How do we discern legalistic practices vs healthy practices in our own life?
22:03 The progressive gospel and the regressive gospel: current, deadly false gospels.
28:06 Listener question: How do we balance loving people without accepting all the choices people make?
34:43 Upcoming themes in Galatians.

Church Is Messy: The Lion's Share - Why Is our Church so Expensive?

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 08:37:31 -0600

We're putting a bow on The Lion's Share series. Today we scrutinize our own church and discuss our ministry method.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
01:06 Turning the focus on how Autumn Ridge handles money. Being transparent.
03:29 Where is the organization: more than enough, just enough, less than enough? Our strategy.
10:58 Year-end giving.
12:46 Why this timing (January) on a series about finances?
14:54 Our ministry method - the hub model.
25:26 The kind of church we aspire to be.
27:22 The upcoming Galatians series and a "Thank You."

Church Is Messy: The Lion's Share - Faithful and Generous

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Today Rick and Svea talk about their own struggles with greed and simplicity and the New Testament framework of faithful giving and generous giving.

Bible passages referenced in today's episode:
1 Timothy 6:17-19; 1 Corinthians 9:13-14; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
01:13 This message pushed Rick to wrestle down his own contentment.
03:56 Simplicity: a corollary to contentment.
05:16 Svea fell back into the trap of not practicing simplicity this past week.
07:16 Rick confronting greed as he's excited about his new hobby of hunting.
08:34 The practice of generosity - a tangible expression of love.
09:28 It's not about the amount it's about the heart.
13:19 Generosity binds us together.
14:20 How can I approach generous giving - some guidelines.
14:55 (1) Diagnose your reality.
15:30 (2) What do you want your reality to be.
15:42 (3) Make a plan to close the gap.
17:01 What about tithing?
18:50 Prioritize giving to the local church - faithful giving - and then giving to others - generous giving - (see the 1 & 2 Corinthian references, above).
23:38 The joy of aligning all we are with who Christ is.
24:49 This series has helped to connect the dots on why Jesus spoke about money so much.

Church is Messy: The Lion's Share - the False Promise of the Prosperity Gospel

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 09:27:36 -0600

Today Rick and Svea dig deep into the essence of the prosperity gospel, it falsehoods, and the various expressions of the prosperity gospel.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
01:47 Intro to the prosperity gospel.
02:50 The real essence of the prosperity gospel.
03:42 Live Q&A after most Saturday services (when Rick preaches).
04:22 From the Q&A session last weekend: what is the fallout of the prosperity gospel?
06:01 The year was 2013.
14:48 The ditch: manipulation vs. grace.
17:55 Why do we obey God?
20:07 Different expressions of the prosperity gospel.
20:41 Health and Healing prosperity gospel,
26:13 The inverse: the poverty gospel,
28:24 The purity, sex, and marriage prosperity gospel,
31:17 The parenting prosperity gospel,
32:38 The country and culture prosperity gospel.
36:42 The error of the prosperity gospel: our actions force God's hand.
37:38 The hope of trusting God IN our circumstances not FOR our circumstances.

Church Is Messy: The Lion's Share - More than Enough

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600

In the first half of the episode Rick and Svea share where their vulnerabilities lie regarding money. In the second half they dig into contentment.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
01:12 Rick's history with Football.
04:25 Rick and Svea wrestle through how calendars and money demonstrate who or what has our hearts.
07:05 Svea talks about being vulnerable to finding security in money.
11:32 Rick talks about his primary vulnerability comes through the satisfaction and significance money can bring.
13:48 This series reveals deep soul issues and the opportunity we have to invite God into those spaces.
14:52 Svea and her husband, Steve, are taking a serious look at intentionally redistributing any surplus funds.
18:49 A danger of jumping straight from greed into generosity without first learning contentment.
20:13 Digging into contentment.
23:47 Lasting contentment.
28:23 Watch out and be on guard - the dangers of moving up and to the right (the dangers of more than enough).
30:54 Next week: the prosperity gospel. It's a bigger problem, and has infected, more than we realize.

Church Is Messy: The Lion's Share - Just Enough

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 07:42:36 -0600

In this episode, Rick and Svea unpack some of the ideas behind "Just Enough."

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
00:27 Review of 2024
04:45 The Lion's Share.
07:37 The tension and awkwardness of a money message series.
08:20 Wanting for people not from people.
12:53 Resisting the temptation to sit the series out.
15:00 The topics this series will cover.
16:07 Just enough.
18:23 Do I find significance, security, or satisfaction in what I have or who I have?
23:06 The challenge: what is "just enough"?
33:41 The emphasis Jesus put on the motivations of our heart.

Church Is Messy: Jonah Week 6 - Unrelenting Grace

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Rick and Svea close out Jonah talking about traps, windows and mirrors, God's judgement in the Old Testament, and how we can apply the themes of Jonah to life after elections (this episode was recorded on Election Day, 2024). Ultimately, it boils down to this week's sermon topic: Unrelenting Grace.

Topics discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
01:22 Election Day banter.
02:46 A pastoral encouragement about election anxiety.
05:09 Keep looking up - keep your eyes fixed on God.
07:06 The early Church.
09:53 Like Jonah, we all have traps we fall into when we find our security, significance, or satisfaction in something other than Jesus.
11:21 Do we see Jonah as a window or as a mirror? Perhaps the book is a window and the man is a mirror.
13:25 What do we fixate on when an idol is being messed with? For Rick it's organizing shoes, for Svea it's organizing closets. Instead, what needs to happen is to get honest with God and tell him how we're feeling.
18:17 What about...judgement in the Old Testament.
21:19 Jonah doesn't want God to be good toward other people, only to his people.
22:37 What can we apply from Jonah as we move into the weeks and months following the elections?
27:40 Jonah doesn't have a completely satisfying ending. There's no closure. But that's part of its genius.
30:45 A prayer.

Church Is Messy: Jonah Week 5 - God's Compassionate Love

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500

The roles are reversed: Rick asks Svea about her message on Jonah and we get insight into what didn't make it into the message this past week.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
01:33 Believing God is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love at the heart level banishes fear, heals hurts, and melts anger.
04:00 How do you recognize the real ugliness and brokenness in the world that touches our lives, remember who God is and what we're like in him in such a way we are not angry people?
08:12 What was left on the cutting room floor?
09:17 Answer: Jonah didn't want to be seen as a fool to the Ninevites or his own people because God relented on overthrowing the Ninevites.
16:25 Why do we want to whitewash certain biblical figures?
18:08 We want simple - the good guys and the bad guys, but we're all good guys and bad guys.
25:11 Elijah and Jonah - similarities and differences.
27:26 Rebellion and religion are almost identical - they both lead to the same thing - self-reliance.
29:06 Jesus is the better Jonah.

Church Is Messy: Jonah Week 4 - Freedom

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea grapple with a number of important themes from Jonah this week:

God's provision
Jonah is full of biblical parallels
Obedience

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
00:59 Lots of fun aspects and different connections in the text a more casual reading may miss. (Such as the fish in Jonah switches from masculine to feminine in Hebrew.)
04:25 The fish: tomb or womb?
05:51 Did Jonah's view of the fish change in retrospect? God's provision may look different than we're expecting.
07:21 Two rabbit trails: the fish-historical narrative vs parable vs satire and womb-God's compassion.
10:06 Parallel between Jonah's fish and the Christian fish symbol - Jesus is the means of deliverance.
12:46 Typology: the parallel with baptism. The inexhaustible depths of how Jonah is connected to the entire Bible.
20:30 Jonah chapter three: half-hearted obedience.
22:51 Where many of us find ourselves: wanting to be obedient to God but not always for the right reasons. External Obedience + Internal Obstinance = Slavery.
29:46 A comparison and contrast of walking through difficult seasons of obedience with what we see in Jonah.

Church Is Messy: Jonah week 3 - Repentance

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea make light of finally getting to "the whale" and how this is often given the lion's share of the messaging about Jonah when it's really an insignificant element of the story. This week's episode drips with challenges to go deeper and looking at what the text is actually saying.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
01:33 Svea is struck by how many of us grew up with a child-like level of understanding of the book of Jonah.
05:00 For many the focus of the book is on a very small part of the story - and with the wrong intent. The large fish wasn't a means of punishment but a means of grace.
08:17 God's provision and grace can often times be an opportunity to learn or practice humility.
10:30 We may not have the same fears of the sea as in the time of Jonah, but we do have a fear of chaos and death. The global pandemic exposed our big fish.
12:54 Western Christians can learn much from the global church.
14:51 Vince Lombardi: fatigue makes cowards of us all.
18:47 Holding all of our fears, pains, insecurities, etc. before God.
22:43 Jonah's prayer in chapter 2.
27:09 In chapters 3 & 4 we'll see examples of external repentance, but no evidence of an internal repentance. Are there things we're doing right on the outside but on the inside we're still hostile to God?

Church Is Messy: Jonah Week 2 - The Line

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500

This week Rick and Svea look at Jonah 1:1-16. Jonah acts as an enemy of God and yet God shows him grace. They draw out a number a parallels between Jonah and Jesus and how they differ in their motivation.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
01:42 Where is the line?
06:51 Rick gets honest - some of his backstory.
10:29 God sets his heart on his enemies and loves his enemies like a son.
11:41 Jonah acts as an enemy of God but God shows him scandalous grace.
18:14 Jonah is the entire Bible in miniature.
20:17 Jonah goes down in the ship to sleep; perhaps depression and trying to escape God?
21:47 Parallels between Jonah and Jesus (in Mark 4).
23:15 Studying Jonah has given Rick an even greater appreciated for baptism.
24:12 The symbolism of Jonah "going down" in chapter 1. Svea talks about "accident chains" from her aviation days.
27:47 Being vulnerable vs being exposed.
35:08 Jonah would rather die than carry a message of reconciliation. Jesus would rather die than NOT carry a message of reconciliation.

Church Is Messy: A Question from Jonah Week 1

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500

In the weekend message introducing the book of Jonah, Rick stated there are two common views to interpreting the story of Jonah: historical narrative or primarily parable. In this episode Rick and Svea discuss a question posed to them: Does Jesus' reference to Jonah in Matthew 12, when foretelling his own death and resurrection, support a particular interpretation of Jonah?

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro
01:04 Our unity isn't based on everyone agreeing on everything. Our unity is based on inclusion in Christ. It's okay to have different understandings on a variety of topics and still maintain unity.
03:12 Many of us only thought of Jonah as a miraculous, historical account. Learning people view this book as anything other than history can be destabilizing and feel like a slippery slope to less allegiance toward the Bible.
08:51 The astute question: Jesus referencing Jonah.
11:40 Four options for interpreting Jesus' reference to Jonah.
17:17 Reaffirmation of the authority and inerrancy of Scripture when multiple viewpoints of interpreting passages like Jonah are present.

Church Is Messy: Intro to Jonah

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea introduce us to the book of Jonah and its timeframe in history. This is a book filled with comedy and satire; in many ways hundreds of years before its time, and yet is has profoundly important questions and themes it wants us to deal with.

Note: this episode was recorded prior to the first message being given.

Topics discussed in this episode:

00:00 Intro.
02:20 Background of the book of Jonah - it's like the arc of the entire Bible condensed into a few chapters.
05:01 Synopsis of Jonah.
08:33 The focus: are we aligned with the heart of God or will we insist on God doing something different.
10:16 Two camps of thought regarding Jonah: the book as historical narrative or the book as parable.
14:36 If we regard the book as parable are we removing some of the story's potency?
16:00 Pride + Ignorance = Foolishness. Humility + Instruction = Wisdom.
19:16 Coming to Scripture with preconceived ideas about what it says vs approaching the text in humility and letting it speak to us.
22:14 In our scientific and post-Christian culture, Jonah is the sort of story people love to point to and discredit our faith or the credibility of the Bible.
25:15 So, is Jonah historical narrative or is it a parable?
32:15 What is the theme on which this series will focus?

Church is Messy: Living Like the Elect Before an Election

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode Rick and Svea try to bring light, not heat to the discussion of politics.

Svea recommends watching the message on which this episode is based before listening to the podcast.
Find the video here: https://youtu.be/KHN2c6-z-Ow

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
01:09 Discussion of Politics and Churches and Church Leaders
04:46 Rick's goal as a pastor is to teach people how to think about politics and how to align with the Bible.
06:12 How do we reconcile the idea that everyone is trying to do their best with politics?
07:00 The early church in Rome had complicated interactions between Jews and Gentiles.
10:53 How to seek unity without conformity; "bring the light, not the heat."
13:22 What are churches to do about engaging people with political issues?
15:41 How to seek to understand others with different views from yours versus trying to convince each other to change.
19:59 Discussion on single-issue voting.
24:45 How do people interact when we challenge their perspectives or try to control them?
29:04 How do we engage in local government?
30:58 What Biblical principles can we apply to understanding politics?
32:07 Rick shares how prioritizing and weighting different issues can help us make decisions: Which candidate will be most helpful for the issues that are most important to you?
36:32 Discussion of supporting the interests of others while voting.
39:29 How do we engage online politically or engage with our peers online?
41:28 What about the use of fear in today's political rhetoric?
45:31 Be informed, but don't get formed by negative influences.

Church Is Messy: Ghosted Series Questions and Recap

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Welcome to a new season of Church Is Messy! Rick and Svea kick the season off with a bang and delve into a number of questions and topics related to our recently completed series, Gifted, on the Holy Spirit.

Topics discussed in today's episode:

00:00 Intro and Rick and Svea's Summer Highlights and Lessons Learned.
05:53 Recap of the Ghosted message series and a summary of the topics: including what is the Holy Spirit's role in spreading the Gospel, what is the Spirit's role in our own faith, what about spiritual gifts, and what is God's will for us?
15:21 Jesus said it is better than he goes away and we get the Spirit. Why might he have said this?
18:27 How did the believers experience the Spirit differently before and after Jesus?
22:30 We can engage with the Spirit and develop the fruit of the spirit by developing "spiritual practices" and habits.
24:11 People often focus on spiritual gifts that appear as "sensational" or "extraordinary" rather than seemingly ordinary.
26:31 What about instances where the Holy Spirit did do a sensational miracle or work? How do we approach those instances?
32:54 Everyone wants to know "God's will for them." How does the Spirit play a role in this and what practically do we experience?
36:57 Discussion of what people think about being lead by the Spirit and the role the Bible plays in the Spirit's leading.
44:03 How should a church plan and pursue vision and plans while acknowledging the Spirit's role in success?
47:58 How can we get to know our spiritual gifts?
53:49 Story about the photo on Rick's wall that "speaks to him."

Church Is Messy: Bonus Episode - Spiritual Formation

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea discuss a topic about which they both feel passionate: spiritual formation. What is it? How is it different than discipleship? Is it even a biblical term? Listen and catch the vision for why they're so excited about spiritual formation.

Want to take your next step? Check out our classes: https://autumnridge.churchcenter.com/groups/classes-studies?

Topics in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
00:59 What is spiritual formation and how is it different from discipleship? Spiritual formation includes things that form us other than discipling under Jesus.
02:56 How does the Practicing the Way class help define or clarify what spiritual formation is?
04:54 Is "spiritual formation" new age, or unbiblical?
05:19 What does the Bible say about spiritual formation?
07:04 There are so many things that form us spiritually or distract us from being formed by Jesus.
10:00 Discussion of various methods of discipleship and whether traditional practices for following Jesus are sufficient in themselves or if there are missing components.
11:41 Svea suggests that many believers have neglected the practice of actually spending time with Jesus. This has sometimes been reduced to understanding, believing, and doing the right things, but as the book of James says, even demons know the truth.
15:28 "WHO we are" and "HOW we are" and "who we are BECOMING" are all more important than what we do.
20:12 All things we do should be shaped and informed by Jesus's example and teaching
24:05 Romans 12 explains how spiritual formation isn't mystical or new age-y, but is logical even.
25:51 Why is Autumn Ridge leaning into spiritual formation and the Practicing the Way class?

Church Is Messy: Bonus Episode - Politics

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0500

What are two topics we've been told to avoid talking about if we don't want an argument? Religion and Politics. Rick and Svea dive head-first into the issue of politics. Take a look at the list of topics below and you'll see there isn't much they didn't touch on.

Be sure to check out the resources so you can be informed as you make your own determination about how to proceed as an ambassador of Christ in the arena of politics.

Additional Resources:

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
00:53 Context: we tend to think there are good guys and bad guys politically, but things can be more confusing than that.
02:53 There is so much tribalism, power-grabbing, and moral superiority in US politics today.
03:55 We are NOT saying "don't vote," "don't register with a political party," "don't go to school board meetings," but we ARE saying to participate as an ambassador of Jesus.
06:37 We should be humble about our opinions while still trying our best.
07:51 Good Christian citizens or Christian Nationalism
11:13 Is the USA a "Christian Nation"?
14:36 There isn't a perfect political candidate--Jesus isn't on the ballot. So what do we do?
21:38 Should we evaluate politicians based on their worst mistakes? Are there really good or bad people?
21:55 Are there only 1 or 2 options on how to accomplish all various political ends, or are we a bunch of broken people trying to figure things out?
27:51 Should we automatically vote for Christian candidates? Do they have character and competency for that role?
30:09 Rick discusses additional resources that can provide helpful insights to those who want to learn more about how to engage in politics as a believer.
37:04 Closing prayer for wisdom and guidance as listeners move through the upcoming 2024 political season.

Church Is Messy: Bonus Episode - Sunday School for Grown Ups Discussion

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0500

In this bonus episode between seasons, Rick and Svea discuss large recurring themes in familiar Old Testament stories. A lot of the discussion revolves around the content of the Bible being so amazing and such a big deal, God communicated it in the best way possible for all communities, all generations, and all cultures with everything in these stories pointing us to Jesus, the Gospel, and life in him.

Topics in this Episode:

00:00 Intro
01:43 The ethos of the series: a deep dive into incredible, familiar, overlooked stories that are often perceived as childish.
02:38 The Bible stories we often share with kids were originally written by and for adults. They are great to share with kids, but they're not kids stories.
05:31 These stories aren't necessarily misunderstood, but they are often "under-understood"
09:49 Rick talks about his view of the Bible as a supernatural text written by literary genuses.
10:55 A lot of these old testament stories are about the nature of sin--humans choosing to do things their own way instead of God's way.
14:57 An individual's interpretation of a Bible text isn't the litmus test for trusting and believing the Bible. The litmus test is "do they want to understand and trust it (the Bible) whatever the truth is?"
15:51 Many times, parts of the Bible are read as more scientific than they really are. Genesis is historical narrative, not poetry, but it isn't necessarily an academic textbook.
16:20 We should take the Bible seriously, but that means we take everything seriously. Not everything is explainable, but all parts of the Bible should be taken as real.
27:08 The content of the Bible is so amazing and such a big deal, God communicated it in the best way possible for all communities, all generations, and all cultures.
33:26 Rick shares an example of communicating ideas across history: how would we communicate a cell phone to Moses? We might describe it like a little box you hold up and use to talk to someone far away--we wouldn't explain the invention of electricity, satellites, digital signals, silicon chips, microphones and speakers, batteries, etc. Can we think of Creation the same way?
36:41 Should we be concerned that the stories in Genesis were told elsewhere in earlier historical texts? Rick suggests that the author of Genesis used commonly known stories and told them from a theologically accurate perspective.
41:14 We should see the power, glory, wisdom, and majesty of God alongside the human condition in these stories MORE than the scientific details of the how.
42:16 We love certainty, whereas the Bible sometimes leaves details unclear. Still, the purposes and objectives of the Bible are sufficient for what we need.
45:55 Everything in these OT stories points us to Jesus, the Gospel, and life in him.

Church Is Messy: The Lost Words of Jesus Week 3

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 29 May 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Pastor Caleb Smith joins Rick and Svea on today's episode. They dig into what is perhaps one of the most debated stories Jesus ever told, The Parable of the Dishonest Manager in Luke 16.

Show Notes

00:00 Intro Rick's story from the gym trying a new workout and being less than shrewd
03:13 Many preachers skip this parable because it can throw people off, but Caleb was excited to study and preach this passage.
05:03 Discussion of reading the Bible through the original, intended audience's perspective
07:40 There is some cutting room floor content that didn't make it into the sermon, as follows:

Some of the cultural aspects of the characters:
>The rich man was likely known throughout the region as having many ties in the community.
>The manager was "not going to dig", because that was almost as lowly as being a beggar.

10:55 We don't have to identify ourselves with any of the characters in this parable. The point Jesus was trying to drive home wasn't to be like either of the main characters. Western readers tend to read parables as ethical behavior examples.
11:46 We tend to focus on behavior modification as the most important thing. Jesus emphasizes our value modifications.
14:15 This parable is interesting because it is directed at the disciples rather than the pharisees like in the preceding three parables.
14:56 If dishonest people focus on relationships, then how much more should believers focus on relationships?
17:04 We need to put our mental energy to work to strategically focus on building relationships.
19:15 Two people can do the exact same things in relationships but have very different intentions, one being loving and the other not. Manipulators want from, not for.
21:18 Caleb is wearing yellow socks that are "actually orange and white for University of Tennessee".
22:05 Moments of crisis often reveal what we value most and what gives us security. We should establish our values and security before these crises come.
28:10 "Jesus was firing his disciples from a job he never gave them in the first place," meaning that our security in Jesus doesn't make it our responsibility to keep God safe from unrighteousness or imperfection. What jobs would Jesus fire us from that he never gave us in the first place?
32:13 Recommendation for Poet and Peasant by Kenneth Bailey and articles from the Bible Project on this parable in Luke 16.
32:50 Rick admonishes people to not wait to develop friendship until you need it. You can't wait to build friendships in a crisis moment. Our church is committed to support building friendships in what we do.
34:43 The next series coming up is Sunday School for Grown-Ups. We hope to bring new insights into these "kids stories".

Church Is Messy: The Lost Words of Jesus Week 2

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 22 May 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Today's Topic

Rick and Svea discuss one of Jesus' most famous stories, The Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11-32.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Intro - Rick's late caffeine morning.
01:39 Talking about the word, "Lost."
04:21 Love requires we be sensitive about the language we use, especially around those who have not yet come to faith in Jesus. We shouldn't be motivated by proclaiming, we should be motivated by people hearing - and hearing our intent.
08:48 The crowd who heard this story by Jesus and with whom they may have identified.
11:59 Focusing on the older brother.
13:02 Practicing the Way classes this week tackling sin and our view of a Father who would make a fool of himself by running to us to shower us with love and forgiveness when we repent.
14:57 "Riffing" on God the Father and the father in the parable.
19:52 Tim Keller and The Prodigal Son. If you live this you'll be misunderstood and people won't think you take sin or doctrine seriously.
23:44 The difference between doing and becoming.
29:36 The song "Stained Glass Masquerade" Ricked used in the message. Being a safe place to be real with each other about our struggles and our sin. Knowing we have "spiritual friends" who have our back.

Church Is Messy: The Lost Words of Jesus Week 1

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 15 May 2024 08:16:27 -0500

Rick and Svea reverse roles today. He puts Svea in the "hot seat" as they discuss the genius of the stories in Luke 15:1-10. In these parables, Jesus simultaneously speaks to, and shows compassion toward, two groups of people who viewed themselves as being at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Intro
01:14 Mother's Day is this weekend. Svea has a lot of "mom labels."
04:29 Getting into the Lost Words of Jesus series - parables of lost things. Jesus really knew his audience. How did Svea get into studying the text?
06:07 How was Jesus' audience of sinners, religious leaders, and tax collectors both valued, loved, honored, but also lost? What was that audience like? How did Jesus connect with them all?
08:45 Jesus was showing his heart and compassion for his audience.
09:46 Do we view these parables from the lens of a Pharisee, a lost sheep, or a Shepherd? How did different groups in Jesus's original audience approach his stories?
15:08 How did these parables affect people at that time? What possibly were Jesus and Luke's intentions in telling and recording these stories?
17:04 Application points: How do we avoid isolation within Christian communities and build relationships with those who are different from us?
22:57 Should we maintain relationships even if the other person is never going to follow Jesus How do we approach relationships with nonbelievers as a Church and as individuals? What role does God play in these relationships?
27:54 Close in Prayer.

Church Is Messy: Run to Win

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 08 May 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea talk about Rick's last weekend message about focusing in on our mission.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Intro
00:50 What was the purpose of this past sermon? Why was it applicable to our church?
01:23 Discussion of changes in our church and in other churches - post-COVID, senior pastors, men and women in leadership, worship service options, etc.
05:15 The Bible and the Gospel require change and surrendering of preferences in many ways.
08:29 All that we are and all that we have is based on Jesus, and we are grounded on the principle of trying to reach people for Jesus.
13:09 How do we balance salvation as God's work, but other rewards come for our work? How does the Biblical metaphor of "building on a foundation" and the trial by fire function in the context of the Gospel?
15:28 Our reward as followers of Jesus is seeing other people come to know Jesus.
17:51 We are created FOR good works: reference 2 Corinthians 5 and how believers are ambassadors of Jesus.
19:57 What is it that propels our church forward to reach people with the Gospel? We are not going to invest our time in things that do not help us reach our goals. Rick shares examples of how Autumn Ridge has been applying this.
24:47 Future generations of local churches will need to manage whatever programs and initiatives we create and hand them off to them.
27:35 The purpose of churches is to be all about what Jesus is about.
29:58 Methods do not equate to the mission, and if they are ineffective in reaching our mission, we can change them.
34:27 Gospel comfort does not come from the way a church does things or from different circumstances.
36:13 Every day, we are to live for the glory of Christ, to be with him, be like him, and do as he did in big and little things.

Church Is Messy: Love Is The Agenda - Fostering

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 01 May 2024 06:00:00 -0500

On this episode, Pastor Otis Hall joins Rick and Svea in the studio to continue the weekend’s discussion on James 1:27 and how that verse can propel us into action to care for our society’s most vulnerable.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Intro
01:17 We looked at a passage in James that gave us insight into the fostering world.
02:26 James 1:27 is about having a passion for compassion for all vulnerable people. Jesus did this numerous times throughout the gospels.
05:14 The Jewish community at the time was focused on doing things for the vulnerable, but they were still learning the heart, intention, and approach of caring for the vulnerable.
07:47 Why did Pastor Otis focus on foster care for this season of Love Is The Agenda?
10:59 Early Christians played a significant role in helping and rescuing children in their community, even though it was illegal at the time.
12:52 Discussion of Autumn Ridge's current initiatives to help people take their first step in caring for vulnerable youth in their community--addressing food scarcity through Big Boxes program, offering simple contributions through the mission store, and putting together a respite night for foster families, and bolstering our own kids programs--which include foster kids.
18:30 Rick's experience fostering a teenager and encountering challenges that came from a kid's prior experiences. Everyone needs a community of support.
27:06 As the end of the James passage states, how does living out the gospel by caring for vulnerable people support our sanctification and personal faith?
30:14 How do we understand the common objection that things like Autumn Ridge's fostering initiative are all about good works versus grace in Jesus?
31:41 Closing prayer for everyone who engages in serving Rochester's foster care community.

Church Is Messy: Welcome Home - Parenting

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Today, Pastor Caleb Smith joins Svea in the studio as they close out our discussions on family by looking at parenting and parental influence.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Intro
01:36 An exceptional message that spoke to people of many different categories of people who have parental influence whether or not children are a part of home life.
03:23 The parental models we have in the bulk of Scripture are not examples of great parenting - usually just the opposite.
06:13 The parental influence and example of Jesus - largely exhibited in his relationship with the disciples.
08:14 Dual roles of actively shaping and modeling with our lives.
13:46 Speaking to people who are grieved by what may have been "caught" vs what was "taught."
16:50 How are you engaging in your discipleship with Jesus? The fruit of the Spirit is a natural byproduct of intentional discipleship.
19:20 Each child is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting.
22:45 Disconnecting the idea that discipline means punishment or retribution. Discipline is about training and thriving.
27:38 How do we account for great parents who do not follow Jesus?
33:52 When we don't know what to do or how to proceed, we can go back to the foundation of what it means to be a child of God ourselves and try to bring that, as best we can, into our own child's life.

Church Is Messy: Welcome Home - Single Life and Dating

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Today's Topic

Rick and Svea talk about singleness, dating, and loneliness. They discuss Jesus and his singleness, guarding against being defined by another person, and not choosing a path that leads away from Jesus.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Intro.
00:52 Nerding out on church history.
04:58 Fighting against alienating singles - Svea's experience.
06:02 Feeling the anti-gospel pull toward homogeneity and seeing the world as we are.
08:24 Looking at Hagar: an outcast seen by God and our fundamental need to be seen.
09:28 Being single isn't the problem; being alone is the problem. A vision to known and be known.
10:56 The soapbox: the weekend services are not a church; they are something our church does. Don't be a consumer and evaluate church by what we receive, but also by what we give.
13:11 We are a diverse group of people united in Christ.
14:27 A discussion about two groups that tend to be successful at building community
17:56 Coaching for those who come to Autumn Ridge: throw the ball back - help make it easier to keep a conversation going.
20:02 A theology of singleness: Jesus' humanity as a single person.
23:48 As a human, Jesus needed other people, but he NEVER used people.
26:43 Guarding against defining our significance by someone else.
31:25 Practical tips to avoid problems in pursuing a pure life
35:24 Don't ever let yourself be wooed into walking down a path that leads you away from Jesus.

Church Is Messy: Welcome Home - Marriage

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 09:20:18 -0500

Today, Rick and Svea examine Ephesians 5 and what Paul says (and doesn’t say) about marriage, our presuppositions, and our culture. By applying this chapter to all relationships, what can the family of believers learn about the gospel way of life?

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Intro
00:42 Welcome to new listeners
02:40 Church should be a comfortable, restful, and safe place - a family
06:55 What could single people take away from a message on marriage
08:44 All of the Christian life is meant to put others first - mutual submission is a command to all believers
10:05 Reflecting, resisting, or redeeming our culture
12:33 Presuppositionalism
16:15 What are the differences between Jewish thought and Grecco-Roman thought on marriage?
21:19 Ephesians 5: Putting the needs of the other person first.
23:14 Submission: I voluntarily choose your lead or your need over my agenda.
25:21 Does the church family’s mutual submission look different from a married couple’s mutual submission?
31:09 Unity: what we “remember” the text saying vs what it actually says
33:48 Scripture wasn’t written in a vacuum. How do you live for Christ within the culture you are a part of? An example of Christians redeeming Roman culture.
37:34 The Bible does not say the husband is the head (authority) of the house. The husband is the head, and the wife is the body - they are unified.

Church Is Messy: 1 Timothy 6

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0500

1 Timothy Message Series

1 Timothy Chapter 6

Rick and Svea swap chairs as Svea preached the message on 1 Timothy 6 this week and Rick asks her clarifying questions.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Intro and recap of the message.
02:54 Discussion of what slavery was like in the NT times.
08:57 Not every single verse in the Bible points to how the world is "supposed to be" but Scripture engages culture where it is and inform us on what it looks like to follow God in the reality of life's situations.
10:17 The circles of context. The overarching message of the New Testament regarding slavery is it's wrong. But, if you were a slave and serving Jesus, how do you behave? You respect your master.
15:03 Aristides: Less than 100 years after 1 Timothy was written, the behavior of Christians, including slaves and their masters, was reported to the Emperor as being counter-cultural.
17:08 Money. How did this chapter mess with Svea as she prepared the message?
19:18 Svea's response: discussing the topic of money with congregation members at either end of the wealth spectrum and the "gut punch" to both the spender and the saver.
21:31 Learning to trust God. The experience of finding security trusting in the means by which God provides instead of trusting God.
24:54 We tend to hedge our bets with trusting Jesus. All of us need to learn to trust the Giver, not the gift.
25:44 Figuring out Simplicity. Generosity seems more obvious.
26:46 Simplicity is the focus on doing and engaging in the things that support our top priorities. It's not minimalism. It is applying the gospel best to whatever phase of life you're in.
32:52 Being mindful, not mindless, helps to create margin.
35:56 Jonathan Edwards quote.
37:09 Taking a short break. Be back after Easter for Home Improvement.

Church Is Messy: 1 Timothy 5:17-25

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0500

1 Timothy Message Series

1 Timothy Chapter 5:17-25

Today, we live up to “Church Is Messy” as we dive into the topic of accountability. How do we rightly hold people accountable? How do we respond when we’re being held accountable? How do we respond to anxiety-producing situations? Roll up your sleeves and get ready for a little messiness.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Intro
01:13 Overview of “Church is Messy” name and concept.
02:20 How do we hold others and leaders accountable within a local church?
06:30 How is Autumn Ridge leadership structured?
09:39 Trust can grow better with open accountability than with a facade of perfectionism.
11:13 Do we need to be concerned about false accusations?
12:26 Discussion of how 1 Timothy presents character requirements of leadership, but not a specific job description.
15:01 How does Autumn Ridge use 1 Timothy to inform its leadership selection process?
19:01 What sorts of things need to be brought up for the benefit of accountability and relationships?
23:12 How do we respond to conflict and relational tensions?
27:14 Svea talks about how she processes her own response to feedback while also focusing on understanding the other person’s perspective and experience.
30:28 Rick places high importance on pastoral candidates who have experienced real hurt because it helps them understand others’ hurt as well.
31:28 “Know where your home is,” and know where your identity and purpose are when dealing with anxiety-producing situations.

Church is Messy: 1 Timothy 5:1-16

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0600

1 Timothy Message Series

1 Timothy Chapter 5:1-16

While the first half of 1 Timothy 5 is often viewed as a tutorial on caring for widows, this week Rick and Svea discuss what may be surprising themes this section is dripping with: leadership in challenging situations and what confrontation in the way of Jesus looks like.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Intro.
01:03 Svea: I’ve always read the chapter from a widow’s perspective.
04:39 Surprised by the biblical confrontation and leadership themes in 1 Timothy 5.
08:49 What kind of disposition will help us to navigate and engage with change in our lives?
10:00 The goal of confrontation is to save a relationship not to sever a relationship.
13:11 What might it look like to truly live out seeing others as our mothers and fathers or brothers and sisters (as in the opening verses of chapter 5) - especially in conflict?
18:37 Don’t view others as a burden but care for them and see the far-reaching impact of that decision: safety in community.
23:19 In the way of Jesus are we easy to confront and hard to offend? Being defined by Jesus, not our ideas and performance.
27:08 How might we have encouraged Timothy if we had been a part of the Ephesian church?

Church is Messy: 1 Timothy 4

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 10:32:11 -0600

In this episode, Pastors Rick Henderson and Svea Merry discuss 1 Timothy 4 and the issues of church leadership, reliance on the Spirit vs our conscience, understanding spiritual growth, and primary and second issues of Christianity.

00:27 Intro - Recap of the series, intro to 1 Timothy 4, and transitioning from 1 Timothy 3
01:28 If people watch us progress in our faith, relationships, or leadership, they will see us changing from one way to another.
03:26 1 Timothy 3 has qualifications for church leaders, but how do we handle growth while balancing minimum requirements for leadership?
08:31 If no one is perfect and every leader is still progressing, like Timothy, then how can we determine when someone is ready to lead?
10:57 Some studies show that, statistically, men apply for jobs that they expect to grow into, while women often don't apply if they don't meet every single qualifications.
17:26 Timothy was called to leadership and empowered by the Spirit, not his own qualifications. Similarly, we should rely on God to support us in all we do as we invest ourselves.
21:50 Discussion of the difference between our conscience and the Spirit, and the role of Scripture, prayer, and community in these things.
25:20 We have some older code in us that doesn't check out. Ref. Start Wars: Return of the Jedi scene. How do we recognize and deal with old code in us?
29:36 Q&A time: answering listeners' questions: 1 Corinthians 11, female head coverings, avoiding instruments, etc.
30:44 What are the differences between Orthodoxy and salvation? What about primary issues or secondary issues? And, Rick refers to a clip from Alistair Begg on "The Man on the Middle Cross"
35:57 Discussion of the desire for certainty instead of clarity and the problems it can cause.
40:54 Ending with prayer that God will make us more like Jesus as our church addresses these topics in 1 Timothy.

Church Is Messy: 1 Timothy 3

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0600

1 Timothy Message Series

1 Timothy Chapter 3

In this discussion on 1 Timothy 3, Rick and Svea answer your questions about our attitudes toward leaders who taught us something we now disagree with, the interpretation that is inherently connected to Bible translation, specific words and phrases in 1 Timothy 3, and leaning into our own shortcomings as we look at the qualifications of leaders.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Intro.
01:33 Rick's most interesting things from 1 Timothy in order: understanding the gospel, studying the Bible for all it's worth, and then men and women in leadership
03:18 How can we handle the pastors and leaders who taught us the Gospel and the Word if we now disagree with them?
09:08 What's the difference between false teachers and people who get something wrong about Scripture? If a pastor is wrong about something in Scripture are they a false teacher?
11:32 Fear-mongering with Scriptural perspectives: many of us were instilled with fear of any disagreement over Scripture.
14:09 What do we do with Bible translation committees who provide translations with a specific doctrine in mind?
16:36 Bible translation and interpretation are inherently connected.
18:37 How do we pick a Bible translation? First, pick one you can read and understand.
22:30 Different benefits of paraphrase, thought-for-thought, and word-for-word translations. The goal is to "discern the meaning rather than the equivalent word."
23:37 How do we interpret the usage of "wife" and "woman" in 1 Timothy 3.
26:30 Is there a chance that 1 Timothy intended to politely address a specific scenario where church leaders' wives were disrupting the church's ministry?
28:36 Pastor Rick discusses the context of home life in the context of 1 Timothy.
34:38 Discussion of "one-women man," divorce, widows, and singleness.
41:27 Leaning into our shortcomings and shortcomings in following Jesus: authority, identity, and activity.

Church is Messy: 1 Timothy 2:11-15

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0600

1 Timothy Message Series

1 Timothy Chapter 2:11-15

Join us for an in-depth discussion on 1 Timothy 2:11-15. Rick and Svea dive into the differences of interpretation, a brief history that brought us to this discussion, and a recognition that men and women are different.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Intro.
01:43 Context: 1 Timothy 2:11-15.
03:47 Navigating differences of interpretation.
10:19 The Bible IS clear on the essentials we must agree on.
13:08 Do research.
18:20 Punched in the brain the "The Question."
20:23 How has this issue become so enmeshed with liberalism and feminism?
23:05 A brief history: complementarianism.
24:27 A brief history: soldiers coming home after WWII - America and Europe diverged.
27:15 A brief history: 50s, 60s, & 70s: youth culture, a major cultural shakeup.
29:56 A brief history: mainline Protestants, Fundamentalists, and Neo Evangelicals.
36:28 A brief history: merging of ideas and becoming too simplistic - liberal and conservative.
39:39 Holding up Scripture and being more like Jesus.
44:51 A First-century problem: the gospel's reputation was on the line.
48:00 There IS a difference between men and women.
50:48 Titus: Men and women are not interchangeable, but both are indispensable.

1 Timothy Week 2

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0600

1 Timothy Message Series

1 Timothy Chapter 2:1-10

Join us for an in-depth discussion on 1 Timothy 2:1-10. Rick and Svea tackle embracing humility and mutual submission and the far-reaching implications of the gospel for men and women.

Additional Resources
https://autumnridge.church/1-timothy/

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Welcome and Introduction.
01:00 The challenge and conviction about not praying for those in authority.
03:10 How does praying for those in authority play out?
04:37 Embracing humility and submission "resets" and recalibrates us.
06:31 What does it look like to pray with thanksgiving for those who are trying to do away with a godly way of life?
09:55 Practical ways to model humility and submission.
10:31 Our conscience and the Holy Spirit are not the same.
20:38 Gospel Fluency.
22:56 The implications of the gospel: Men and women in 1 Timothy 2:8-10
29:52 Using verses 1-10 as a mirror of self-examination as we move into verses 11 and following.

1 Timothy Week 1

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 14:20:30 -0600

1 Timothy Message Series
1 Timothy Chapter 1

Join us for an in-depth discussion on 1 Timothy 1. Rick and Svea dig into living the gospel, dealing with false teaching, and our tendencies to add to or subtract from Scripture.

Additional Resources
https://autumnridge.church/1-timothy/

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Welcome and introduction.
01:56 1 Timothy Series and the thesis: "We teach what we know but reproduce who we are."
03:15 Purpose and context of 1 Timothy and its overarching message of living the gospel.
06:56 What is the ice cream, ketchup, and mustard gospel?
09:34 Paul instructed Timothy on standing up to false teachers in Ephesus. How does this apply to us?
14:12 Does calling out false teachers apply to situations outside the Church?
17:03 We are "pilgrims" and we are responsible TO others, not responsible FOR others, like ambassadors.
18:23 Tendencies and vulnerabilities of adding or removing commands from Scripture.
19:56 How to collaborate on self-awareness and gospel accuracy.
23:12 Discussion of "I'll never be more disappointed in you than I am in myself," and humility, shame, or self-condemnation.
31:30 Should we just overlook sin instead of addressing it? Why not?

Love Is the Agenda

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0600

Today Rick and Svea share the studio with Pastor Otis Hall. In the Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:1-9), they discuss shifting the focus to looking for the desired result: a good harvest, not just from the perspective of sowing the seed.

NOTE: This is the last episode of 2023. Rick and Svea will be back behind the microphones in January 2024 for a new series, Devoted.

Message Scripture Passages:
Mathew 9:35-38; Mathew 13:1-9; Mathew 13:18-23

Topics Discussed Today:

00:00 Intro
01:14 Otis’s background in plant science and molecular genetics--pre-ministry
02:04 Otis’s long-term experience of being called into ministry
03:16 Background of Otis’s sermon, Matthew 9 and Jesus’s prayer for “workers” for the harvest, and Matthew 13 with the parable of the sower.
09:41 How did Jesus model addressing people’s needs prior to sharing the Gospel?
10:46 What about sharing the Gospel apart from loving service? Or, “Just share the Word.”
14:53 How to practically incorporate service and love while sharing the Gospel?
28:03 So what do we actually do? How can members of our congregation engage?

Dear Church: The Church in Laodicea

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0600

So far in this series, we’ve looked at the unexpected messages to four churches in modern-day Turkey.

UNEXPECTED MESSAGE:

• It’s better to have no church than an unloving church.

• It’s better to let a church suffer than to prevent it.

• It’s possible for a church to stand up for Jesus while standing against Jesus.

• It’s possible for a church to wrongly value staying together over staying faithful.

• It’s possible for everyone but Jesus to be convinced that a church is alive and well.

• A church may be strongest when it’s weak.
• It’s possible for a church to be physically rich but spiritually bankrupt.

Message Scripture Passage:
Revelation 3:14-22

Series Thesis:
KNOWING the truth doesn’t change anything. SUBMITTING to the truth changes everything.

Topics Discussed Today:

00:00 Intro
01:48 Lukewarm coffee and lukewarm churches.
02:26 What does "lukewarm" mean in the letter to Laodicea?
06:15 History of Laodicea with hot springs, cold water streams, and financial wealth.
07:46 What does this context and history suggest about Jesus's message here?
14:27 Svea's story of trusting Jesus when learning to ski as a kid.
18:51 Self-reliance and competency in spiritual matters.
20:08 Discussion of Jesus's pace in dealing with people--efficient, quick, slow, or something else?
25:52 How could Autumn Ridge Church learn from and apply the messages in this and the other letters to churches in Revelation?

Dear Church: The Church in Philadelphia

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0500

So far in this series, we’ve looked at the unexpected messages to four churches in modern-day Turkey.

UNEXPECTED MESSAGE:

• It’s better to have no church than an unloving church.

• It’s better to let a church suffer than to prevent it.

• It’s possible for a church to stand up for Jesus while standing against Jesus.

• It’s possible for a church to wrongly value staying together over staying faithful.

• It’s possible for everyone but Jesus to be convinced that a church is alive and well.

• A church may be strongest when it's weak.

Message Scripture Passage:
Revelation 3:7-13

Series Thesis:
KNOWING the truth doesn’t change anything. SUBMITTING to the truth changes everything.

Topics Discussed Today:

00:00 Intro
01:53 Additional discussion from last episode on Sardis: how do we know if our church is alive?
04:31 God is committed to making us more like Jesus. What are the signs of the Spirit in us?
09:36 Is it good for churches to have non-believers among them?
12:50 Responding to these letters individually and collectively.
14:14 Engaging in serving others individually and collectively.
18:11 Pastoral moment on not just knowing the truth but also submitting to it.
20:14 Rick's experience of gaining social standing in the community and the challenges it brought in his own life.
23:38 What do we do when our own perspectives get in the way of success in following Jesus?
28:22 Looking at love, purpose, and unity as key themes in Jesus's seven letters.
30:22 Testing of character and gaining clarity on our spiritual health is a gift of Jesus.
34:51 Jesus' description of himself in letter to Philadelphia, he claims to be God but then also talks about "his God". How do we understand these ideas?
39:31 Our goal is for people to say, "Look at what God did in and through this church."

Dear Church: The Church in Sardis

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0500

So far in this series, we’ve looked at the unexpected messages to four churches in modern-day Turkey.

UNEXPECTED MESSAGE:

• It’s better to have no church than an unloving church.

• It’s better to let a church suffer than to prevent it.

• It’s possible for a church to stand up for Jesus while standing against Jesus.

• It’s possible for a church to wrongly value staying together over staying faithful.

• It’s possible for everyone but Jesus to be convinced that a church is alive and well.

Message Scripture Passage:
Revelation 3:1-6

Series Thesis:
KNOWING the truth doesn’t change anything. SUBMITTING to the truth changes everything.

Topics Discussed Today:

00:00 Intro
01:00 Overview of the church in Sardis: unnoticed, irrelevant.
01:45 The church in Sardis started strong but might have become routine.
03:37 What does it take to avoid lukewarm faith.
05:31 Usage of “woke” in Scripture compared to current cultural usage.
11:38 What is Jesus looking for in a healthy church?
13:42 What is the heartbeat of believers and the Church?
15:17 Adoption, repentance, and the certainty of salvation in Jesus.
18:56 Jesus knew us and our future even before we believed in him.
21:40 God is gentle and kind to believers, even in discipline and rebuke.
25:04 Is the Church for believers or non-believers? Or someone else?
28:27 “The gravitational pull to be for ourselves is so strong.” Read 2 Corinthians 5 for the fix.
30:30 What are three markers of a healthy church?

Dear Church: The Church in Thyatira

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0500

So far in this series, we’ve looked at the unexpected messages to four churches in modern-day Turkey.

It’s better to have no church than an unloving church.
It’s better to let a church suffer than to prevent it.
It’s possible for a church to stand up for Jesus while standing against Jesus.
It’s possible for a church to wrongly value staying together over staying faithful.

Rick and Svea discuss how gospel fluency (and define what it is) helps to understand what was going on in Thyatira.

Message Scripture Passage:
Revelation 2:18-29

Series Thesis:
KNOWING the truth doesn’t change anything. SUBMITTING to the truth changes everything.

Topics Discussed Today:

00:00 Intro
01:17 What is gospel fluency? How does this perspective help us?
01:44 How does the content of the gospel impact us?
05:13 What do you mean by knowing the content of the gospel?
07:06 The implications of gospel fluency
09:02 The motivation of gospel fluency
10:45 Intro to the church in Thyatira and the popular stigma around it.
12:10 Who is Jezebel, and what made her harmful to that church?
15:08 Is tolerating sin the same as anti-gospel behavior?
16:52 How do we not tolerate sin and anti-gospel behavior?
23:30 Discussion of references and metaphors in Revelation 2:18-29

Dear Church: The Church in Pergamum

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0500

So far in this series, we’ve looked at the unexpected messages to three churches in modern-day Turkey.

It’s better to have no church than an unloving church.
It’s better to let a church suffer than to prevent it.
It’s possible for a church to stand up for Jesus while standing against Jesus.

Today, we spend quite a bit of time looking at practical steps to reflect Jesus properly so we stand for him and don't stand against him.

Message Scripture Passage:
Revelation 2:12-17

Series Thesis:
KNOWING the truth doesn’t change anything. SUBMITTING to the truth changes everything.

Topics Discussed Today:

00:00 Intro
01:36 Symbolism in the letter to Pergamum
02:50 Jesus shows his intimate familiarity with each church
05:31 John's isolation lends validity to the message from Jesus
05:45 Which John wrote this letter
08:49 Bringing out unexpected messages in this series
12:02 This passage beautifully plays out our series thesis
13:41 Practical steps to reflect Jesus properly
14:52 Loving well
18:12 Navigating loving and kindness in the workplace
22:12 Using wisdom to engage instead of affirming or celebrating
25:49 The emphasis is on what's happening inside the church, not outside the church
27:37 The big problem with the American church is lovelessness and rudeness
30:24 We love to focus on the sins of the "out" group, not the sins of the "in" group

Dear Church: The Church in Smyrna

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0500

It's better to let a church suffer and to prevent it. Today’s episode unpacks suffering, faith, and trust in Jesus.

Message Scripture Passage:
Revelation 2:8-11

Series Thesis:
KNOWING the truth doesn’t change anything. SUBMITTING to the truth changes everything.

Topics Discussed Today:

00:00 Intro.
01:54 Recap and overview of the series resources.
04:31 The strength of our faith and the strength of Jesus
06:52 The New Testament was originally written to groups and communities of people, not to individuals.
09:48 Did Jesus avoid rebuking the church in Smyrna just because they were already suffering so much?
12:17 What does it mean when Jesus said Smyrna would suffer persecution for "10 days"?
14:12 Discussion of the statement that "A dead Jesus is a worthless Jesus."
16:16 Trusting in Jesus rather than in teachers, pastors, and leaders.
18:14 People who don’t flinch are the people who love Jesus, not the people who know theology.
26:14 Difference between "children of the empire" or "children of the kingdom."
29:29 Persecution and Protection.

Dear Church: The Church in Ephesus

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea kick off the new "Dear Church" series with a discussion about symbolism in the Book of Revelation and move on to the difficult topic of a loveless church. Rick then casts a vision for what he thinks a loving church exemplifies.

Message Scripture Passage:
Revelation 1:17-2:7

Series Thesis:
KNOWING the truth doesn’t change anything. SUBMITTING to the truth changes everything.

Topics Discussed Today:

00:00 Intro

00:40 The start of our small group season and the benefit of group study

03:21 What is the church or a church?

06:28 Jesus is present among the churches and is “holding” the messengers of each church

08:13 What is the “star” of each church--angel, messenger, pastor?

13:00 Why did John only send one circular letter to seven churches?

16:55 Do we know which individual actually delivered this letter?

17:26 The detriment of a loveless church - Jesus “removing the lampstand”

21:23 What is a loving church? How do we be a loving church?

28:52 Vision of what a church looks like that both loves God and loves others

How to be a Church of All Cultures

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 10:46:37 -0500

During the Preseason message series the mission, vision, and goals of Autumn Ridge Church have come up repeatedly. In this episode Rick and Svea dissect the Autumn Ridge Vision, "We want to be a church of all cultures where curious, skeptical, and hurting people love to attend." They talk about practical steps to help achieve this aspiration.

Topics in the episode:
00:00 Intro.
01:23 Our mission and vision.
03:03 What we don't talk about much.
03:41 Some questions about our vision.
06:25 Why are we talking about this?
09:23 History of multi-cultural churches in the US.
11:17 How can we address our vision of being multi-cultural?
17:15 Why do we say "all cultures" instead of "multi-racial"?
20:16 What else can we be doing as a congregation?
21:20 Break for a few weeks, then back in the end of September for the Dear Church series

Masterpiece: The Art of Peace

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 08:19:32 -0500

Pastor Paul McDonald joins Rick and Svea as their discussion closes out the Masterpiece series.

About the Masterpiece series

Theme Verse: For we are God’s handiwork [masterpiece], created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Series Thesis: We are good works of art created to do the art of good works.

Resources for this episode

Watch the message at: https://youtu.be/Fv_sGUSjkXg
Listen to the message at: https://arcsermons.transistor.fm/episodes/masterpiece-the-art-of-peace
Watch all of the Masterpiece messages: https://autumnridge.church/video-tag/masterpiece/

Topics Discussed in this episode

00:00 Intro
01:02 Wrapping up Masterpiece series and introducing Pastor Paul.
06:07 What we want our church to be like for curious, skeptical, and hurting people.
08:33 "Everyone is looking for peace, yet it is so elusive."
09:45 Discussion of Paul's message thesis: "the heart of all conflict is a heart in conflict with God."
11:54 What did Jesus show us about peace?
15:17 Pastor Paul's personal experience with peace and his message.
16:57 Don't want to provide pat answers for those in the middle of the storm right now.
18:18 During times of turmoil experience peace by remaining in Christian community.
18:49 Knowing principles vs. enacting principles.
20:22 Traditional practice of Sabbath rest and how it relates to peace and unity.
21:52 How Autumn Ridge Church small groups can support peace and unity.
24:58 What stands in the way of our peace? How do we engage with such roadblocks?
27:17 Recap of the series and how it has impacted Autumn Ridge's congregation.
30:07 Close in prayer.

Masterpiece: The Art of Unity

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Caleb Smith joins Svea Merry on the podcast today.

About the Masterpiece series

Theme Verse: For we are God’s handiwork [masterpiece], created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Series Thesis: We are good works of art created to do the art of good works.

Resources for this episode

Watch the message at: https://youtu.be/opZLI4KlLD4
Listen to the message at: https://arcsermons.transistor.fm/episodes/masterpiece-the-art-of-unity

Topics Discussed in this episode

00:00 Intro
01:39 Recap of the sermon on Unity and the Masterpiece Series.
06:36 The story of Barnabas and Paul and what it teaches us about Unity--as an example of apparent disunity.
07:40 How can we learn from Biblical examples that seem contrary to what we expect?
08:47 Paul and Barnabas show us how one can maintain unity despite disagreements and differing directions.
17:00 Unity is not that everything is the same, that everyone’s truth is true, that we have to abandon our faith, or that we have to ignore hard conversations.
20:43 Not every church is the same, but we can still be united in pointing people to Jesus Christ.
21:19 Cultures can each resonate differently with topics in Scripture, but there can still be unity.
23:45 "God uses the diverse to bring together the picture of the whole."
25:14 What does it mean that we are a kingdom of priests?
27:10 Applying unity to the current context of Autumn Ridge Church through good listening and understanding.
32:03 Example of a congregant disagreeing with a local church but still believing God has called them to be at that church.
36:17 When does disagreeing move from unity into sin?
37:23 Leaning into trusting God and His word in the face of ambiguous faith application.

Masterpiece: The Art of Love

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Bob Ross, air conditioning, adversity, and pruning. What do all of these have in common? Rick and Svea have a very practical conversation about the latest installment in our Masterpiece series, The Art of Love.

About the Masterpiece series

Theme Verse: For we are God’s handiwork [masterpiece], created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Series Thesis: We are good works of art created to do the art of good works.

Resources for this episode

Watch the message at: https://youtu.be/5b_uhDsZO7E
Listen to the message at: https://arcsermons.transistor.fm/episodes/masterpiece-the-art-of-love

2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3

Topics Discussed in this episode

00:00 Intro
00:38 Recap of our Outdoor Baptism Service
03:23 Overview of Rick's sermon on love yesterday and Bob Ross analogy
04:00 Being in Christ and "Bearing with each other in love" or "putting up with" (Ephesians 4:2)
07:25 Loving and bearing with others while still having boundaries and accountability
10:18 Boundaries for abiding in Jesus and the air conditioning analogy
12:32 Explanation of how sin and moral wrong is always a violation love
15:11 How does God prune us to make us bear more fruit, be more loving, and find significance, security, and satisfaction in Jesus?
19:33 Adversity can show us we have been leaning on the wrong thing
22:42 What can we do when we recognize we are placing our significance, security, and satisfaction in the wrong things?
24:31 Rick's experience with personal challenges and how they helped him create strategies to better follow Christ and yield to his ways
28:51 If we truly believe that we are loved by Jesus and that others are loved by Jesus, what would it really look like?
29:45 Are pruning and correction the same, or is pruning for a different purpose?
33:13 The Gospel is deep and transforms so much of our lives.

Masterpiece: The Art of Patience

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0500

This week Rick and Svea give us a two-for-one. In the first half of the episode, Rick and Svea delve into the area of women in (church) leadership. In the second half, they have a heart-felt talk on Svea's sermon about patience. In her message, Svea showed how Jesus modeled patience even when he knew his remaining time on Earth could be measured in hours.

About the Masterpiece series

Theme Verse: For we are God’s handiwork [masterpiece], created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Series Thesis: We are good works of art created to do the art of good works.

Resources for this episode

Watch the message at: https://youtu.be/JrwZdlcArl0
Listen to the message at: https://arcsermons.transistor.fm/episodes/masterpiece-the-art-of-patience

Topics Discussed in this episode

00:00 Intro
02:02 Women in Leadership
02:11 What does the Bible say about women in leadership?
09:25 What is the history of women in leadership at ARC?
14:08 Rick and Svea's recommendations on studying both perspectives on what the Bible says about women in leadership.

16:48 The Art of Patience
17:05 Svea's experience with losing her patience with her son and realizing that patience is a gift.
20:18 Is our world OK when people lack patience? It seems acceptable to be impatient.
21:30 "Patience is what you want to see in the driver behind you, but not in the driver in front of you."
22:25 Want to want to
23:13 How did Jesus model patience even when he was facing an extreme challenge?
28:42 God's patience for us, especially patience in salvation
30:46 How are we patient with God? What we need to remember when God seems slow to act.
32:04 Patience is not just our willingness to wait; it's "whom am I trusting?"
33:29 A plan for growing in patience

Unity in Worship

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Rick and Svea discuss unity in the church and the challenges that come cultural or stylistic preferences, particularly in regard to styles of worship music.

This episode is an extension of a message preached at Autumn Ridge Church in Rochester, MN on July 2, 2023. Watch the original message.

See Romans chapter 11 to read the primary Bible passage discussed in this episode.

Masterpiece: The Art of Gentleness

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 07:29:03 -0500

About the Masterpiece series

Theme Verse: For we are God’s handiwork [masterpiece], created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Series Thesis: We are good works of art created to do the art of good works.

Resources for this episode

Listen to the message at: https://churchismessy.transistor.fm/episodes/masterpiece-the-art-of-gentleness
Watch the message at: https://youtu.be/HJwA2i30s-0

Topics Discussed in this episode

00:00 Intro
00:55 Recap of Rick's sermon on Gentleness, part of Autumn Ridge Church's Masterpiece Series
03:55 Is gentleness a feminine quality?
07:01 How did Jesus display strength and gentleness in John 8?
11:30 Judging sin and practicing gentleness
15:10 Moral codes, relationships, and gentleness
20:43 Commandments as an expression of love
23:15 Ultimate reality is ultimately about relationships
28:43 What is the real intention when addressing sin?
31:50 Confronting sin based on the Gospel & appealing to others' dignity
35:15 Pastors and the Church as God's plan for His kingdom

Masterpiece: The Art of Fathering

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0500

About the Masterpiece series

Theme Verse: For we are God’s handiwork [masterpiece], created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Series Thesis: We are good works of art created to do the art of good works.

Resources for this episode

Listen to the message at: https://churchismessy.transistor.fm/episodes/masterpiece-the-art-of-fathering
Watch the message at: https://youtu.be/fod8fgjKuRE
Info on Opal Lee starting Juneteenth: https://www.texasmonthly.com/being-texan/opal-lee-fort-worths-grandmother-of-juneteenth-is-still-marching-at-96/
Senora Dodd starting Father's Day: https://www.fairmountmemorial.com/post/sonora-dodd

Topics Discussed in this episode

00:00 Intro

01:10 Recap of Otis's sermon on Juneteenth, Father's Day

03:50 What is the meaning and goal of "Family on Mission"?

06:10 How did Jesus model "Family on Mission" as a single person?

07:55 We are designed for community, not autonomy

13:07 What is the difference between "Family or Mission", "Family and Mission", "Family on Mission"?

16:40 The Apostle Paul's commendation to follow him as he follows Jesus

20:25 Is a Masterpiece perfect? If we are God's Masterpieces, why aren't we perfect?

21:33 How do we change our perspective on our collaborative mission?

The Plan for Worship at Autumn Ridge Church

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0500

In this special episode of Church Is Messy, Rick and Svea follow up an email that was sent to the Autumn Ridge congregation on June 20, 2023 about the plan for the worship services. Rick gives greater detail to many of the topics introduced in the email.

Here are a list of topics and the times in today's podcast:
00:00 Intro
01:20: What is going on with weekend services and worship styles at our church?
02:05: What was our church's approach to making this decision?
11:00: Our worship service survey and what it revealed
13:15: Our church's history with worship service types
19:04: What criteria and requirements did our advisory and elder teams have for this decision?
24:03: Other churches have gone through this before
28:33: What is unified worship?
38:24: The road ahead
39:22: Watch the July 1-2 message online if you can't attend a service (video will be available after July 3)
39:56: What can guests expect at Autumn Ridge Church in the near future?

Masterpiece: The Art of Humility

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0500

What is God’s purpose in using humility to make us his masterpiece?
Pastors Caleb Smith and Svea Merry discuss different aspects of humility. This is a practical topic for every person - not just church people.

About the Masterpiece series

Theme Verse: For we are God’s handiwork [masterpiece], created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Series Thesis: We are good works of art created to do the art of good works.

Resources for this episode

Listen to the message at: https://media.transistor.fm/c93033f3/9138d154.mp3
Watch the message at: https://youtu.be/0qdlf0Y_gY4
Passages discussed in this message/episode: Philippians 2:1-8, Luke 18:9-14, John 13:1-5

Moments in this episode

00:00 - Intro
01:03 - Recap of Caleb’s message on humility and his experience as a “Hot Dog.”
07:19 - Being confident, self-assured, and proud in a healthy and God-glorying way
09:28 - How to humbly use our abilities and gifts for others, rather than for our own purposes.
10:35 - How did Jesus show humility in becoming like us?
13:00 - Is humility the same as being a doormat? Was Jesus a doormat?
17:45 - Did Jesus show humility in always saying “yes” to people and always doing what they want?
18:55 - How did Jesus reach humility by using the Pharisee’s own example against them?
23:00 - What foundational thoughts can help anyone to live in humility?
26:30 - How does God’s forgiveness of our past, present and future mistakes help us be humble?
28:40 - We may be surprised by who is and who is not in heaven
35:40 - Jesus washed his followers’ feet, knowing they would betray him.
38:38 - Read through the gospels with the lens of Jesus demonstrating humility

Masterpiece: You Are God's Masterpiece

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0500

We kick off the Masterpiece series with a discussion between Pastors Svea Merry and Caleb Smith about what a masterpiece is and isn't and get a hint about where the series will be going over the next several weeks.

Your Questions Answered and Open, Loving Conversations

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 31 May 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea begin by answering questions that have come in recent weeks. They also talk in detail about open and loving ways to share the gospel with other people.

He Gets Us: Rebel

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 24 May 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea close out the He Gets Us series looking at the scandalous love of Jesus for those who were on the fringes.

Follow the Cloud

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 17 May 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Today guest Pastor Caleb Smith joins Svea Merry in the studio to talk about his message and a little bit more about "following the cloud" and what it looks like to recognize the faithfulness of God in the various chapters of life.

He Gets Us: Struggle

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 10 May 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea look at the struggles of life and the example we have in Jesus in dealing with struggle and hardship.

He Gets Us: Outrage

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 03 May 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Today Pastor Otis Hall joins Rick and Svea on the podcast to discuss questions people had after Otis' message on outrage and appropriate responses to the situations that may cause outrage, anger, and indignation.

He Gets Us: Compassion

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Today Rick and Svea discuss compassion and Jesus' example that compassion was always accompanied by some form of action.

You can view the full message that is the basis for today's discussion at: https://youtu.be/PH3M47DhQ0s

He Gets Us: Anxiety

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Was Jesus anxious? Did Jesus worry? In this episode we look at the difference between anxiety and worry. Realizing God is both sovereign and intimately personal can keep us from worry. Pastors Rick and Svea unpack these ideas today.

Ministry Reflections with Pastor Rick Henderson

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Today Pastor Svea Merry asks Pastor Rick Henderson to reflect on his first three years at Autumn Ridge Church.

1 Peter: Shepherds and Sheep

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 06:00:00 -0500

In this final episode discussing the 1 Peter series, Rick and Svea answer a number of question from their congregation. Topics include dealing with leadership in church, being humble leaders, spiritual forces, and more. Plus Rick gives a detailed account of an experience he had with demonic forces during a recent trip to Guinea, West Africa and calls listeners to take 1 Peter 5:8-9 seriously.

Watch the 1 Peter 5 sermon here: https://youtu.be/gnRbbtwTW08

1 Peter: Warrior, Secret Agent, or Ambassador

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea continue their discussion on 1 Peter chapter 3.

1 Peter: Check Your Attitude

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea discuss practical ways to live out Peter's words of encouragement in 1 Peter chapter 4.

1 Peter: Bring It Home

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 07:00:00 -0600

Rick and Svea discuss 1 Peter chapter 3 and how it helps us follow Jesus. Our identity, thoughts, and actions can all be shaped by this incredible passage.

(Bonus) 1 Peter: Landmines Part 2

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 12:40:18 -0600

(Bonus Episode) Rick and Svea further discuss 1 Peter chapter 2 and elaborate on several important concepts from the last episode.

1 Peter: Landmines

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 06:00:00 -0600

Rick and Svea continue to discuss 1 Peter chapter 2 and how God's love in us causes us to engage culture.

1 Peter: The Favorite

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0600

Rick and Svea explore questions that dig below the surface and help us to discover our true identity in Christ.

1 Peter: Perfectly Secure

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0600

In week two of the 1st Peter series, Rick and Svea continue the discussion on our identity in Christ and how it drives our activity.

1 Peter: Stand Fast

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0600

After a two-month break, Pastors Rick and Svea jump into a new season of Church Is Messy. This week Autumn Ridge started a new message series on the book of 1 Peter. Rick answers questions and digs deeper into the concepts of election and our identity in Christ.

Regifting: Your Questions Answered

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 06:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Church Is Messy, Rick and Svea discuss listener questions from the Regifting series.

Regifting: Shields Down

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 06:00:00 -0600

Svea and Rick have a vulnerable conversation about vulnerability.

Regifting: Heart of the Matter

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 06:00:00 -0500

This week on Church Is Messy, we look at the conversation between Jesus and the woman at the well and how Jesus challenges us to move toward the messes and evaluate how we engage with people different from us.

Regifting: Good Grief

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea discuss grief and the interplay of emotional maturity and spiritual health.

Regifting: Into the Borderlands

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 06:00:00 -0500

In this week's episode Pastor Rick and Pastor Svea explore the freedom found in limits

Christian Nationalism

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea discuss Christian Nationalism in this episode of Church Is Messy.

The Nicene Creed

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea answer questions they've received about some of the theology of the Nicene Creed.

Sacred Series 2022: Doubt and Deconstruction

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Doubt and deconstruction are often thought of as bad words. Are they better thought of as powerful tools God can use to strengthen our foundation of trust and faith in him?

Sacred Series 2022: Orthodoxy

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Today we're exploring orthodoxy and unity in the church, some controversial theological topics, tools for maintaining unity, and why Rick is the way he is.

Uncensored: Further Discussion of Biblical Sexuality

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Based on our recent message called "Uncensored" this episode takes a further look at the nuances of acceptance vs approval.

Being a Church of All Cultures

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Listen in on a discussion between pastors Otis Hall, Rick Henderson, and Svea Merry as they discuss what it means to be a church of all cultures.

_____ Bless the USA

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 06:00:00 -0500

From Pastor Rick's Independence Weekend message: Is the USA a Christian nation? Was it ever a Christian nation?

Look Up: The Revenant

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Is God the authority or is he an accessory in your life?

Father's Day 2022

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 06:00:00 -0500

A father’s responsibility is to ENCOURAGE, COMFORT, and URGE his kids toward/in faith.

Look Up: Seesaw

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Rick and Svea discuss the story of Rahab and how when the city of Jericho was "melting with fear" she chose to trust God and look up.

Look Up: Burnout

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Looking at the story of Elijah in 1 Kings, Rick and Svea discuss how God brings refreshment to a man utterly spent.

Church IS Messy

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 25 May 2022 08:00:00 -0500

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry have a very candid conversation about the real messiness of scandal rocking our own church and the scandals rocking churches as a whole.

Neighboring (Part 2): A Wee Little Man

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 04 May 2022 14:31:39 -0500

Executive Pastor Otis Hall joins Rick and Svea as we continue our conversation on Neighboring.

Neighboring (Part 1): The Ok-est Commandment

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0500

We kick off our new message series titled Neighboring.

Easter - Was Jesus' Resurrection a Real Event?

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 15:21:17 -0500

Was Jesus' resurrection a real, historical event? Pastor Rick dives deep into the Easter message.

The Great Divide (Part 5): Facing Hell

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 14:12:02 -0500

If God is all about hope, redemption, and forgiveness, then why does Hell exist?

The Great Divide (Part 4): For Goodness Sake

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 07:42:24 -0500

In our most recent message, Rick asked, "Can we be moral and do good without God?" On today's episode, we dive deeper into that debate.

The Great Divide (Part 3): Can We Trust the Bible

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:03:00 -0500

SHOW NOTES

Rick's recommendation on where to start reading the Bible: John or Luke

Is God a Moral Monster by Paul Copan
Ehrman Project
The Holy Post Podcast

Psalm 51
Daniel 2

The Great Divide (Part 2): Reconciling God and Suffering

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:02:00 -0500

Pastor Svea Merry joins us to share her own story of loss and suffering.

3 Ways to Work Through Suffering
1. We need to trust the truth of God.
2. Be able to talk about what you're experiencing with someone you trust.
3. Be willing to engage in your emotional health.

The Great Divide (Part 1): Dealing with Doubt

Rick Henderson and Svea Merry — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:00:00 -0500

SHOW NOTES

Matthew 11 - Jesus and John the Baptist
Cross Examined
Reasonable Faith
The Bible Project
Autumn Ridge Church