http://www.epiclesis.org Ancient Future Faith Community en-US Sun, 10 May 2026 16:26:19 +0000 hourly 1 © Epiclesis Sermons & Teaching from Epiclesis Epiclesis Weekly teaching ministry of Epiclesis, an Ancient-Future Faith Community. Epiclesis pastorchris@epiclesis.org false https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/roman-emperors-and-fiery-ordeals/ Sun, 10 May 2026 16:26:19 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22340 Pastor Chris Alford In this final sermon in a series on the first letter of Peter, we took a close look at the first six emperors of Rome. Why? To provide some vivid and even shocking context for what otherwise might seem like easy words and phrases in the Scripture passages... 00:28:21 encouragement, Fall of Jerusalem, Ignatius, Nero, Paul, persecution, Peter, Roman Emperors, Tacitus https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/royal-priesthood-holy-nation/ Sun, 03 May 2026 15:49:34 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22326 Pastor Chris Alford Christian person, have you ever thought of yourself as a priest? Our baptism makes us to be people who share in the priesthood of all believers. We are to minister in a kind of priesthood, through the power of the Holy Spirit, spread the Gospel of Jesus C... 00:31:49 chosen people, holy nation, Israel, Peter, royal priesthood, temple https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/positive-practices-for-the-holy-discontents/ Sun, 26 Apr 2026 10:00:42 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22307 Dr. Jay Dudley On this Sunday, Dr. Jay Dudley taught from 1 Peter 2:24 and showing that an intended result of Christ bearing our sin is that we die to it and live to righteousness. The word translated "die" here is a euphemism meaning "absent" or "missing." This suggest... 00:31:08 Carmena Capp, Christian spiritual practices, E. Stanley Jones, fire, J. D. Walt, M. Scott Peck, slavery, straw, suffering, sword https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/time-and-seeing/ Sun, 19 Apr 2026 16:59:44 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22255 Pastor Chris Alford Time has a way of changing the way you can see things. What does that mean, and what might that phrase have to do with Peter's encouraging New Testament letter? Pastor Chris began a short series on the first letter of Peter. Could you use some encourageme... 00:31:36 Abraham, angels, Artemis II mission, believing is seeing, C.S. Lewis, Gentiles, God's big story, inhertiance, Jesus, Jews, Peter, prophecies, Star Wars, time https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/resurrection-worship/ Sun, 05 Apr 2026 19:39:21 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22184 here on Facebook.]]> here on Facebook.]]> here on Facebook.]]> Pastor Chris Alford Worship on that first resurrection morning? Yes, indeed. From just a few verses in Matthew 10, we see the wondrous and thoroughly biblical four-fold pattern of Christian worship on display. Curious about how that works? Join us as Pastor Chris takes us th... 00:28:16 angel, Divine Presence, Easter, four-fold pattern, Jesus, Mary, Mary Magdalene, resurrection, tomb, worship https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/bringing-the-dead-to-life/ Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:11:17 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22153 Pastor Chris Alford On this Palm Sunday, Pastor Chris looked at some things that Ezekiel's vision of the Valley of Dry Bones has in common with Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Those two remarkable biblical accounts share some beautiful parallels, and along the way we ... 00:28:55 Dry Bones, Ezekiel, hopelessness, Jerusalem, Jesus, judgment, Kidron Valley, Lazarus, Mount of Olives, Palm Sunday, presence of God, resurrection https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/blindness-sight-and-new-creation/ Sun, 22 Mar 2026 13:43:37 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22117 view it here. Also, the other work that Pastor Chris referred to is titled "John 9 Reflection" by Brian Jekel seen here.]]> view it here. Also, the other work that Pastor Chris referred to is titled "John 9 Reflection" by Brian Jekel seen here.]]> view it here. Also, the other work that Pastor Chris referred to is titled "John 9 Reflection" by Brian Jekel seen here.]]> Pastor Chris Alford Pastor Chris focused on this Lent Portrait of the man born blind by looking at two or three of the more familiar themes associated with the story: blindness of at least two kinds and healing. But have you ever considered the story's many connections with ... 00:31:29 embedded theology, Feast of Tabernacles, Gihon Spring, Hezekiah's Tunnel, Jesus, Living Water, man born blind, Pharisees, Pool of Siloam, Sabbath, sin, temple, worship https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/to-be-or-not-to-be-content/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 18:20:00 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22142 about her here). Her message this day? About contetment. She writes, "The command from God that we should learn contentment is a challenge that we face all of our life. Let’s consider just what is meant by contentment and how God tells us we can achieve it. This message is replete with Scripture verses and personal testimony.' The artwork associated with this podcast/sermon is by Eva Crawford and is titled "More Than Conquerors," 2018. You can find more of her vibrant art here. Dianne is a champion of Christian artists of all kinds. She chose this particular work "because contentment is based on our dependence on Christ and the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives."]]> about her here). Her message this day? About contetment. She writes, "The command from God that we should learn contentment is a challenge that we face all of our life. Let’s consider just what is meant by contentment and how God tells us we can achieve it. This message is replete with Scripture verses and personal testimony.' The artwork associated with this podcast/sermon is by Eva Crawford and is titled "More Than Conquerors," 2018. You can find more of her vibrant art here. Dianne is a champion of Christian artists of all kinds. She chose this particular work "because contentment is based on our dependence on Christ and the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives."]]> about her here). Her message this day? About contetment. She writes, "The command from God that we should learn contentment is a challenge that we face all of our life. Let’s consider just what is meant by contentment and how God tells us we can achieve it. This message is replete with Scripture verses and personal testimony.' The artwork associated with this podcast/sermon is by Eva Crawford and is titled "More Than Conquerors," 2018. You can find more of her vibrant art here. Dianne is a champion of Christian artists of all kinds. She chose this particular work "because contentment is based on our dependence on Christ and the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives."]]> Dr. Dianne Collard On this Sunday, we were blessed to have Dr. Dianne Collard speak to our congregation. Dianne is one the missionaries we enthusiastically support at Epiclesis (and you can find more information about her here). Her message this day? About contetment. She w... 00:30:21 contentment, Dianne Collard, satisfied https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/bride-and-groom/ Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:10:04 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22066 closer detail of the work can be seen here. Two other settings of the same story that Pastor Chris referenced were a 6th century mosaic by an unknown artist(s) and "The Woman of Samaria at the Well" by James Tissot.]]> closer detail of the work can be seen here. Two other settings of the same story that Pastor Chris referenced were a 6th century mosaic by an unknown artist(s) and "The Woman of Samaria at the Well" by James Tissot.]]> closer detail of the work can be seen here. Two other settings of the same story that Pastor Chris referenced were a 6th century mosaic by an unknown artist(s) and "The Woman of Samaria at the Well" by James Tissot.]]> Pastor Chris Alford "Bridegroom” is one of the important scriptural titles for the Messiah. Jesus purposefully goes into hostile territory, Samaria. And while there, He starts up a conversation with an unmarried, perhaps-five-time-divorced, now-cohabitating, foreign, Samar... 00:28:38 bride, groom, Jacob, Moses, Samaria, well https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/darkness-to-light-light-to-darkness/ Sun, 01 Mar 2026 13:00:47 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22047 here if you'd like to see it.]]> here if you'd like to see it.]]> here if you'd like to see it.]]> Pastor Chris Alford Nicodemus is a character that perfectly personifies the tensions that surrounded Jesus. And he seems completely unique in the Gospels. What might a beautiful painting of his memorable nighttime meeting with the Messiah highlight some things we can learn a... 00:32:02 born again, bronze serpent, Henry Tanner, Israel, Jesus, Judas, Moses, Nicodemus, the nations, Torah