http://www.epiclesis.org Ancient Future Faith Community en-US Sun, 02 Aug 2026 14:51:46 +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/multiplication/ Sun, 02 Aug 2026 14:51:46 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22801 imagine the crowd's astonishment, how they must have been utterly dumbfounded, by the multiplication miracle by Jesus of those famous five loaves and two fishes? No matter whether that crowd could perceive it fully, the Kingdom was in fact near. The Messiah, Jesus, had come, and He had compassion on His people. The covenant was being renewed. The 12 tribes of Israel were being reconstituted with 12 of the King’s followers. Fragments— leftovers and remnants— the broken pieces of God’s people were being gathered up. Join Pastor Chris as he looks at the multiplication-- and its implications-- that happened on the shore of the Sea of Galilee so very long ago. Note: The artwork associated with this podcast/sermon is of the mosaic beneath the altar at the Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha. The images referred to in the sermon:

1. Sea of Galilee with towns.
2. Outside the Church of the Multiplication.
3. Inside Church of the Multiplication.
4. Altar of the church.
5. Mosaic beneath the altar.

 ]]> imagine the crowd's astonishment, how they must have been utterly dumbfounded, by the multiplication miracle by Jesus of those famous five loaves and two fishes? No matter whether that crowd could perceive it fully, the Kingdom was in fact near. The Messiah, Jesus, had come, and He had compassion on His people. The covenant was being renewed. The 12 tribes of Israel were being reconstituted with 12 of the King’s followers. Fragments— leftovers and remnants— the broken pieces of God’s people were being gathered up. Join Pastor Chris as he looks at the multiplication-- and its implications-- that happened on the shore of the Sea of Galilee so very long ago. Note: The artwork associated with this podcast/sermon is of the mosaic beneath the altar at the Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha. The images referred to in the sermon:

1. Sea of Galilee with towns.
2. Outside the Church of the Multiplication.
3. Inside Church of the Multiplication.
4. Altar of the church.
5. Mosaic beneath the altar.

 ]]> imagine the crowd's astonishment, how they must have been utterly dumbfounded, by the multiplication miracle by Jesus of those famous five loaves and two fishes? No matter whether that crowd could perceive it fully, the Kingdom was in fact near. The Messiah, Jesus, had come, and He had compassion on His people. The covenant was being renewed. The 12 tribes of Israel were being reconstituted with 12 of the King’s followers. Fragments— leftovers and remnants— the broken pieces of God’s people were being gathered up. Join Pastor Chris as he looks at the multiplication-- and its implications-- that happened on the shore of the Sea of Galilee so very long ago. Note: The artwork associated with this podcast/sermon is of the mosaic beneath the altar at the Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha. The images referred to in the sermon:

1. Sea of Galilee with towns.
2. Outside the Church of the Multiplication.
3. Inside Church of the Multiplication.
4. Altar of the church.
5. Mosaic beneath the altar.

 ]]> Pastor Chris Alford Can you imagine the crowd's astonishment, how they must have been utterly dumbfounded, by the multiplication miracle by Jesus of those famous five loaves and two fishes? No matter whether that crowd could perceive it fully, the Kingdom was in fact near. T... 00:33:33 John the Baptist, Manna, miracle, Moses, multiplication, Sea of Galilee, Tabgha https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/patience/ Sun, 26 Jul 2026 20:05:40 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22774 patience was not a prized virtue. But it was very important to the early Christians. Early Christians often talked about patience. It was the first virtue they wrote a treatise about —at least three, evidently— and they called patience the "highest virtue," "the greatest of all virtues," the virtue that was "peculiarly Christian." Patience was so important to the early church that at least one author says that it is one of the chief reasons it grew. Join Pastor Chris for a look at three little parables of Jesus that have the strong, but perhaps not so obvious, theme of patience running through them. Note: The work of art associated with this podcast/sermon is titled "The Evolution of a Pearl" by Heidi Heiser.]]> patience was not a prized virtue. But it was very important to the early Christians. Early Christians often talked about patience. It was the first virtue they wrote a treatise about —at least three, evidently— and they called patience the "highest virtue," "the greatest of all virtues," the virtue that was "peculiarly Christian." Patience was so important to the early church that at least one author says that it is one of the chief reasons it grew. Join Pastor Chris for a look at three little parables of Jesus that have the strong, but perhaps not so obvious, theme of patience running through them. Note: The work of art associated with this podcast/sermon is titled "The Evolution of a Pearl" by Heidi Heiser.]]> patience was not a prized virtue. But it was very important to the early Christians. Early Christians often talked about patience. It was the first virtue they wrote a treatise about —at least three, evidently— and they called patience the "highest virtue," "the greatest of all virtues," the virtue that was "peculiarly Christian." Patience was so important to the early church that at least one author says that it is one of the chief reasons it grew. Join Pastor Chris for a look at three little parables of Jesus that have the strong, but perhaps not so obvious, theme of patience running through them. Note: The work of art associated with this podcast/sermon is titled "The Evolution of a Pearl" by Heidi Heiser.]]> Pastor Chris Alford In the Roman Empire, patience was not a prized virtue. But it was very important to the early Christians. Early Christians often talked about patience. It was the first virtue they wrote a treatise about —at least three, evidently— and they called patienc... 00:26:06 early church, fine pearls, mollusks, mustard seed, Parable, patience, the net, virtue, yeast https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/sow-dont-pluck/ Sun, 19 Jul 2026 18:46:53 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22730 Cristian Cazacu Why is there evil if the Kingdom is present? And what are we to do about it? In His parable of the weeds among the wheat, the Lord Jesus teaches us that the answer to the weeds around us in the world is... to plant more good seeds: patiently, lovingly, pe... 00:31:07 darnel, doing good, ignorance, Justin Martyr, kingdom and the presence of evil, Parable, patience, right time, Romania, upside kingdom, weeds, wheat https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/heart-detector/ Sun, 12 Jul 2026 10:52:40 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22657 transformation. But whether it ends up being an "ah-hah" moment for the listener depends upon their heart. Maybe parables are the ultimate heart detectors.   Art credit: "Heart and Soul" by Jan Camerone. Other photos Pastor Chris referred to in this sermon:

1. Model of a working first century Judean fishing boat.
2. Model of the “Jesus Boat” they found at the Sea of Galilee in 1986.
3. The actual “Jesus Boat” on display.
4. The Sea of Galilee from Capernaum.
5. Farther up the hill looking down toward Capernaum.
6. “The Sower” by Millet (1850).
7. “The Sower” by Van Gogh (1888).
8. “The Sower” by Melani Pyke (contemporary).

]]> transformation. But whether it ends up being an "ah-hah" moment for the listener depends upon their heart. Maybe parables are the ultimate heart detectors.   Art credit: "Heart and Soul" by Jan Camerone. Other photos Pastor Chris referred to in this sermon:

1. Model of a working first century Judean fishing boat.
2. Model of the “Jesus Boat” they found at the Sea of Galilee in 1986.
3. The actual “Jesus Boat” on display.
4. The Sea of Galilee from Capernaum.
5. Farther up the hill looking down toward Capernaum.
6. “The Sower” by Millet (1850).
7. “The Sower” by Van Gogh (1888).
8. “The Sower” by Melani Pyke (contemporary).

]]> transformation. But whether it ends up being an "ah-hah" moment for the listener depends upon their heart. Maybe parables are the ultimate heart detectors.   Art credit: "Heart and Soul" by Jan Camerone. Other photos Pastor Chris referred to in this sermon:

1. Model of a working first century Judean fishing boat.
2. Model of the “Jesus Boat” they found at the Sea of Galilee in 1986.
3. The actual “Jesus Boat” on display.
4. The Sea of Galilee from Capernaum.
5. Farther up the hill looking down toward Capernaum.
6. “The Sower” by Millet (1850).
7. “The Sower” by Van Gogh (1888).
8. “The Sower” by Melani Pyke (contemporary).

]]> Pastor Chris Alford One commentator has said that a parable is “storytelling with a message,” that also declares a truth, and that also asks for a response. So, when Jesus is telling a parable, it’s not just a literary exercise or a brain teaser. He’s using a story to call H... 00:31:59 Galilee, harvest, Jesus boat, John Chrysostom, Parable, seed, soil, Sower https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/jesus-the-galilee-and-john-the-baptist/ Sun, 05 Jul 2026 11:21:16 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22661 Globe 2: Israel map 3: Galilee/Tahoe 4: Sea of Galilee 5: Tiberias 6: Magdala 7: Capernaum 8: Galilee and Dead Sea 9: Israel map with dots: Jerusalem, Sea of Galilee, baptism site, Machaerus]]> Globe 2: Israel map 3: Galilee/Tahoe 4: Sea of Galilee 5: Tiberias 6: Magdala 7: Capernaum 8: Galilee and Dead Sea 9: Israel map with dots: Jerusalem, Sea of Galilee, baptism site, Machaerus]]> Globe 2: Israel map 3: Galilee/Tahoe 4: Sea of Galilee 5: Tiberias 6: Magdala 7: Capernaum 8: Galilee and Dead Sea 9: Israel map with dots: Jerusalem, Sea of Galilee, baptism site, Machaerus]]> Pastor Chris Alford In this continuing series, we see Jesus ministering in and around the Sea of Galilee. That’s where He set up his home base (Capernaum), and it’s the region where He sent out the disciples as apostles to drive out demons, heal diseases, and spread the word... 00:40:34 "Children in the Marketplace", Capernaum, Herod, John the Baptist, Machaerus, Magdala, Sea of Galilee, Tiberias https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/a-cup-of-cold-water/ Sun, 28 Jun 2026 11:04:45 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22653 Pastor Chris Alford On this Sunday, we came to three little verses that cap off Matthew 10. And it’s the last thing— the last bit of instruction, the final words if commission— that Jesus gave before He sent His Apostles off on their mission. Wonder if the apostles were tryi... 00:23:42 apostles, commission, cost of following, David Koresh, disciples, Jim Jones, Marshall Applewhite https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/not-peace-but-a-sword/ Sun, 21 Jun 2026 20:23:44 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22578 expect persecution. Jesus even goes as far to say that His apostles should expect being flogged. Should we expect persecution as modern-day followers of Jesus? Join us as we look at a passage in Matthew 10, and along the way we also think about what it means to pledge our allegience to Christ.]]> expect persecution. Jesus even goes as far to say that His apostles should expect being flogged. Should we expect persecution as modern-day followers of Jesus? Join us as we look at a passage in Matthew 10, and along the way we also think about what it means to pledge our allegience to Christ.]]> expect persecution. Jesus even goes as far to say that His apostles should expect being flogged. Should we expect persecution as modern-day followers of Jesus? Join us as we look at a passage in Matthew 10, and along the way we also think about what it means to pledge our allegience to Christ.]]> Pastor Chris Alford Jesus is saying it very plainly— He’s laying it right out there—that His messengers, His apostles, should expect persecution. Jesus even goes as far to say that His apostles should expect being flogged. Should we expect persecution as modern-day followers... 00:30:34 apostles, Matthew, sparrows, take up your cross https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/shepherd-shepherds-and-sheep/ Sun, 14 Jun 2026 19:26:34 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22548 Pastor Chris Alford As Jesus traveled around through the villages of Galilee, large crowds gathered around Him. Matthew describes those people as confused and helpless. Why did Jesus begin His ministry there, and why does the Gospel compare the people to sheep? Join Pastor C... 00:29:43 apostles, Galilee, Good Shepherd, Jesus, new covenant, religious leaders, sheep https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/tell-me-the-story-of-jesus/ Sun, 07 Jun 2026 15:47:29 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22434 Duc in Altum Chapel exterior Duc in Altum Chapel interior Duc in Altum Chapel lower level]]> Duc in Altum Chapel exterior Duc in Altum Chapel interior Duc in Altum Chapel lower level]]> Duc in Altum Chapel exterior Duc in Altum Chapel interior Duc in Altum Chapel lower level]]> Pastor Chris Alford We're in the long season after Pentecost and on this particular Sunday, Pastor Chris began a short series examining the Gospel readings. Matthew's account of the person and work of Jesus is full of wonderful stories. Our first story records Jesus healing ... 00:29:18 allegiance, Capernaum, Duc in Altum, faith, faithfulness, fidelity, healing, Jesus, Magdala, Nazareth, physician, pistis https://www.epiclesis.org/podcasts/everyone-was-filled/ Sun, 24 May 2026 11:22:06 +0000 https://www.epiclesis.org/?post_type=wpfc_sermon&p=22402 Pastor Chris Alford The Holy Spirit was surely present and at work many times in God's Story throughout the Old Testament. So, what made the giving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost different than previous times? Join Pastor Chris as he looks at three Old Testament characters,... 00:29:10 Bezalel, Gideon, gifts, Holy Spirit, Joseph, king, Pentecost, Peter