Join us as Scott delves into Genesis 15, exploring Abraham's journey of faith and doubt. This sermon unpacks the "base of fear" we often experience, the "hard-fought" space "where faith forms" through honest questions, and the "sacramental discernment" that guides our "ways forward." Discover how God's "sure sign" in a unilateral covenant reveals His unwavering commitment, stretching beyond our limited years and inviting us to live with a faith that trusts His goodness in every small, painful step.

In this week’s teaching, Jeremy explores Genesis 13 and the moment Abraham begins to trust God after failure. Coming out of his mistakes in Egypt, Abraham is faced with a new test — will fear guide him again, or will faith take root this time? This story of Abraham and Lot isn’t just ancient history; it’s a mirror for our own journeys of grace, learning, and renewal.

If you’ve ever felt weighed down by regret, uncertain about what comes next, or wondered whether you can begin again — this message is for you.

🕊️ Series: Big Promises, Small Steps

📖 Text: Genesis 13

🎙️ Speaker: Jeremy Duncan

📍 Commons Church

#Faith #Genesis13 #Abraham #CommonsChurch #BigPromisesSmallSteps

This sermon, "Big Promises Small Steps," explores the story of Abraham and Sarah from Genesis, focusing on themes of discernment, the challenges of beauty, and God's unwavering devotion. It delves into how individuals navigate big and small changes in life, drawing parallels between ancient narratives and contemporary experiences. The sermon also touches on the "Matriarch in Danger" type-scene in Genesis and its foreshadowing of the Exodus story, highlighting God's remembrance and liberation of the vulnerable. It encourages listeners to reflect on their own fears and struggles, and to find hope in God's persistent presence through life's difficulties.

The story of Abraham and Sarah begins not with certainty, but with faith, hesitation, and the courage to take the smallest of steps toward a bigger promise.

In this opening message of our Big Promises, Small Steps series, Pastor Jeremy Duncan explores how the grand narrative of God’s reconciliation—what Paul calls “the healing of all things”—begins with a single family leaving home, not knowing where they’re going.

Through themes like “When the Moon Hits Your Eye,” “Stuck in the Middle with You,” and “Everything We Leave Behind,” this sermon invites us to reflect on the slow, unfolding nature of faith — and the ways God meets us in our pauses, transitions, and in-between spaces.

Maybe you’re in your own “Haran” moment — waiting, wondering, unsure what’s next. This message will remind you that even when the surface is still, sacred work is happening beneath your feet.

📖 Scripture: Genesis 11–12
🎙 Speaker: Jeremy Duncan
🏛 Series: Big Promises, Small Steps (Week 1)
📍 Recorded at Commons Church, Calgary

➡️ Subscribe to hear more teaching from Commons Church.
🌐 Learn more: commonschurch.org

#Abraham #Sarah #Genesis #FaithJourney #CommonsChurch #SermonSeries #BigPromisesSmallSteps #BibleStory #Faith #Jesus

What if faith isn’t about certainty—but about trust?

In this message, Pastor Jeremy revisits the story of Thomas and Jesus’ promise of the Spirit in John 14, exploring how honest questions can lead to deeper encounters with divine love.

Through Thomas’ doubt, Philip’s confusion, and Jesus’ response of kindness, we discover a God who meets us not with precision or perfection, but with presence. This talk invites us to see that faith is not what we think—it’s what we trust ourselves to.

Join us as we explore what it means to move beyond theory and into love:

• Thomas and the courage to question
• The kindness of Jesus in our uncertainty
• The Spirit as God’s ongoing presence within us

📖 Scripture: John 14:1–21

#CommonsChurch #FaithAndDoubt #HolySpirit #JesusAtTheCentre #GroundedSeries

Join Bobbi from Commons Church in Calgary for "Grounded: Participation," the fifth installment in their "Grounded" series. In this sermon, they explore what it means to shape a community that is good for you and good for the world, drawing insights from Acts 2.

Bobbi shares her personal journey and the exciting news of leading the new Marda Loop Commons parish launching in late 2026. Discover the four ancient practices that guided the early church – devotion to apostles' teaching, breaking bread, prayer, and koinonia (fellowship) – and how these practices practically tie us to the world.

Learn about the Jewish roots of participation, remembering the call to take care of others as seen in Deuteronomy 15. The sermon beautifully illustrates how churches, as holy places, invite us to participate in something mysterious, ancient, and collaborative, ultimately leading to the renewal of all creation.

What does it really mean to be a peacemaker?
In this sermon from our Grounded series, Pastor Jeremy Duncan unpacks Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

We’ll explore:
 • The difference between peacekeeping (avoiding conflict) and peacemaking (creating transformation)
 • How Jesus’ teaching on turning the other cheek, giving your cloak, and walking the extra mile reveal a radical third way of nonviolent resistance
 • Why following Jesus invites us to courage, honesty, and reconciliation in our relationships, our communities, and our world

📖 Scripture: Matthew 5:9, 38–45
🎧 Listen on our podcast: commons.church/podcast
🌐 Find resources (sermon notes, liturgy, prayers): commons.church/sundays

If you’ve wrestled with conflict—in marriage, friendships, politics, or global issues—this message will challenge and encourage you to imagine a world more like heaven.

👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more teaching and conversation from Commons Church.

In this sermon from our Grounded series, Pastor Jeremy Duncan explores the story of the Emmaus Road in Luke 24, where the risen Jesus walks with two disciples who don’t recognize him at first.

What if faith isn’t just about ideas or passion, but about centering everything on Jesus?
We’ll discover how:
 • Doubt can be part of faith and lead us deeper.
 • Spiritual passion is a response to God’s grace, not a way to earn it.
 • Jesus is at the centre of Scripture and the story of our lives.

This message invites us to reframe our doubts, our passion, and our faith journey with Jesus as the heart of it all.

📍 Commons Church is a Jesus-centered community in Calgary, Alberta.
Learn more at: commons.church

We reflect on Commons' commitment to shaping spiritual passion. We explore Luke's account of Jesus being anointed by a woman, contrasting it with versions in Mark, Matthew, and John. The message delves into Luke's unique perspective, highlighting Jesus' point about forgiveness and love, and poses a key question: "Do you see this woman?" We consider how we learn faith from others and the particularity of our own spiritual journeys, emphasizing that our passions make our community and the world brighter. This reflection on Luke 7:36-47 encourages us to embrace grace and recognize the diverse forms of devotion in our lives.

We all know him as “Doubting Thomas”—but is that really fair? In this teaching, we take a closer look at Thomas’ story in the Gospel of John and discover:
 • Why nicknames in the Bible matter (and how Thomas got his)
 • What his name “The Twin” really means
 • How his doubt might actually mirror our own journey of faith
 • Why doubt and faith are not opposites, but twins

From John 11 to John 20, Thomas shows us that faith isn’t about certainty—it’s about trust, risk, and the courage to keep following Jesus even when we’re unsure.

If you’ve ever wrestled with questions, wondered if doubt disqualifies you, or longed for proof that God’s promises are real—this message is for you.

📖 Scripture explored: John 11, John 14, John 20
🙏 Subscribe for more teaching, encouragement, and honest conversations about faith.

In the final installment of our "Sacred Practice" series, we explore the Christian practice of keeping time, looking at how faith works itself out in our bodies, habits, and shared experiences. We discuss the significance of the Christian calendar, the human need to mark time, and how daily, ordinary moments can become sacred. Join us as we reflect on endings and beginnings, and discover how time, through Christ's example and community, ultimately keeps us.

This Sunday, Bobbi explores pilgrimage as a sacred practice, distinguishing it from mere habit. She shares her personal journey to Iona, a sacred island off Scotland, and discusses the historical significance of pilgrimage in various cultures and faiths, including the Christian tradition and the Camino de Santiago.

Bobbi contrasts her transformative experience in Iona with a less impactful visit to Fatima, Portugal, highlighting the difference between being a pilgrim and a tourist. The talk also delves into labyrinths as an accessible form of pilgrimage, emphasizing their embodied, symbolic, and enjoyable nature, and encourages listeners to seek out local labyrinths for their own spiritual journeys.

The sermon concludes by reflecting on the idea that while intentional pilgrimages are valuable, some of the most profound spiritual encounters can happen unexpectedly in everyday life. Drawing from Hebrews 12, Bobbi encourages listeners to approach life with the light and persevering spirit of a pilgrim, keeping their eyes fixed on Jesus, the "pioneer and perfecter of faith." The ultimate message is that whether planned or spontaneous, pilgrimage is a path that always leads us home to God.

Welcome to Commons! In this talk, Bobbi explores journaling as a sacred practice. She discusses different approaches to journaling, including the "Line-a-Day" diary for tracking everyday life and the "Infinity Prompt" for deeper emotional processing. Bobbi also touches on the use of sketchbooks for self-reflection and the idea that journaling can be a practice not just for personal benefit, but also for the good of others. This discussion is part of the "Sacred Practice" series, which encourages Christians to engage with various spiritual disciplines.

Why do humans sing — and why has singing together been a part of human culture for as long as we can remember? In this talk, we explore the surprising science, deep history, and spiritual significance of song — both inside and outside the church.

We’ll cover:
 • Song Psychology – how music rewires the brain and shapes memory
 • Social Bonding – why singing together builds connection and trust
 • Neural Pathways – what happens in your brain when you sing
 • Healing & Wellbeing – how singing boosts mood, reduces stress, and strengthens community

From ancient evolutionary debates (Pinker vs. Darwin) to the earliest Christian hymns, from Frozen earworms to Paul’s letters in the New Testament — you’ll see how music has always been more than just entertainment.

Whether you’re a trained vocalist or someone who can’t hold a tune, you’ll discover why singing is one of the most human things you can do… and why you should probably do it more often.

📖 Scripture references: Ephesians 5:18–20, Colossians 3:15–16, James 5:13
🎶 Historical note: The 3rd-century Oxyrhynchus Hymn — one of the oldest pieces of Christian music ever recorded.

If this inspires you, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more thoughtful explorations of faith, life, and culture.

#WhyWeSing #NeuroscienceOfMusic #FaithAndSong #Christianity #WorshipMusic #MusicAndFaith #SocialBonding #HealingThroughMusic

Today also marks the final week of our summer series, Reads a Classic, where we’ve reflected on the wisdom of enduring voices in the Christian tradition. We’ve learned from Hildegard of Bingen, Brother Lawrence, and Dallas Willard. And today, Jeremy explores the profound legacy of Walter Brueggemann, who passed away just weeks ago.

As one of the most influential Old Testament scholars of our time, Brueggemann taught us how to read the scriptures not just for what they say, but for what they imagine—how they invite us to resist empires, lament honestly, and hope boldly.

In this teaching, we explore:

🌀 Brueggemann’s life and theological contributions
📚 What it means to read scripture with prophetic imagination
🏛️ The symbolism of Egypt and Pharaoh as recurring empires in our world
🌊 A poetic re-reading of the Exodus and Red Sea crossing
💭 The dangers of self-deception, the lure of control, and the power of lament
✊ The invitation to imagine Church as an alternative community for justice and compassion

Whether you’re deeply familiar with Brueggemann’s work or hearing his name for the first time, this is a powerful conversation on how scripture—when read poetically—can shake us from numbness and awaken new ways forward.

👇 Who are the voices that have shaped your faith? Drop your “classic reads” in the comments—we’d love to hear them!

#CommonsChurch #ReadsAClassic #WalterBrueggemann #PropheticImagination #Exodus #SpiritualFormation #Theology #Justice #PoetryInScripture

In this week’s special episode of our S5 Reads a Classic series, we dive into the enduring wisdom of philosopher and spiritual teacher Dallas Willard. Join us as we explore his vision of Christian spiritual formation, the kingdom of God, and the slow, transformative work of grace in our lives.

Whether you're new to Willard or returning to his work with fresh eyes, this sermon will challenge and encourage you to rethink discipleship not as mere behavior modification, but as inner transformation rooted in the love of Jesus.

🕊️ Expect insight, reflection, and a thoughtful conversation about the kind of life Jesus invites us into—deeply formed, fully alive, and attuned to the presence of God in ordinary moments.

🎧 Listen in. Take notes. Share with a friend.

Dive into Week 2 of our "Reads a Classic" series as Scott introduces us to Brother Lawrence and his timeless classic, The Practice of the Presence of God. Discover how this 17th-century lay monk found profound spiritual transformation in the ordinary, mundane tasks of daily life.

Last week, Bobbi took us on a wild ride with Saint Hildegard of Bingen's Scivias—if you missed it, catch up now! This week, we explore Brother Lawrence's revolutionary approach to faith, emphasizing "holy freedom" and finding divine connection in every aspect of life, from preparing meals to cleaning dishes.

Learn how Lawrence's concept of a "general fond regard to God" can free us from restrictive spiritual practices and invite us to see God's presence saturating the world. We'll also unpack the fascinating story behind The Practice of the Presence of God, a book published posthumously and seemingly against Lawrence's wishes—a testament to the power of meaningful conversations and shared wisdom.

This message is for anyone navigating a polarized culture, facing physical limitations, or simply seeking to infuse their daily work with deeper meaning. Brother Lawrence reminds us that every mundane task, done in love, can mirror Christ's daily efforts to join God in what God is already doing.

Key Themes:
Brother Lawrence & The Practice of the Presence of God
Finding God in the Ordinary
Holy Freedom in Spiritual Practice
Divine Connection in Friendship & Daily Life
The Spirituality of Work
Overcoming Spiritual Frustration

Join Bobbi as she kicks off a new summer series, "Reads a Classic," by diving into the life and visions of Hildegard of Bingen, a remarkable 12th-century prophet and polymath. Discover Hildegard's revolutionary take on Eve, her concept of "viriditas" (holy greening power) flowing through all creation, and her profound vision of the Sapphire Man as Christ. Bobbi encourages us to embrace the "strength of small changes" and find God's "viriditas" in our everyday lives. Tune in for a sermon that will spark curiosity and encourage participation in God's healing and greening work!

In the finale of our Colossians series, we explore Paul’s sign-off in Chapter 4—and uncover how his final greetings actually complete a sweeping movement through the letter: from the cosmic scale of Christ’s reconciliation of all things… to the gritty, intimate realities of daily life.

✨ We revisit the major themes:
 • The Cosmic Opening: Why Paul starts in the stars to talk about daily ethics.
 • Our Desires and Contributions: How our wants shape the world—and how to reshape them.
 • Household Codes (and Their Subversion): Reading Paul’s commands through a lens of mutuality and reconciliation.
 • Bringing It Home: How the grand story of the universe lands in something as ordinary as greetings and gratitude.

🔍 Along the way, Jeremy draws connections to his book Dirt and Stardust, exploring what it means to be both grounded and illuminated—salt of the earth and light of the cosmos. You’ll hear reflections on slavery, submission, justice, and the surprising relevance of Paul’s personal roll call to our lives today.

🧂 Live lives seasoned with salt.
🕊️ Be grateful. Be hopeful. Be wise.

Subscribe for more teaching rooted in Scripture, justice, and lived faith.
📖 Series Playlist: [link to playlist if available]
📚 Learn more about Dirt and Stardust: [link to book if available]

#Colossians #FaithAndJustice #ChristianTeaching #DirtAndStardust #CosmicChrist #MutualSubmission #BibleSeries #PaulineLetters #NewTestament

This sermon delves into Colossians 3:18-4:1, examining Paul's household code concerning wives, husbands, children, fathers, bondservants, and masters. It explores the ancient Greco-Roman context of these instructions, particularly the concept of the paterfamilias, and challenges traditional interpretations by highlighting Paul's radical call for Christ-like mutuality, self-emptying love, and an end to harshness within relationships. The message encourages listeners to consider how these ancient words can inspire healthier, more equitable, and compassionate relationships in the 21st century, even when facing relational ambivalence or societal norms that differ from the past. Discover how faith can lead us to "go further" in embodying the transformative love of Jesus in our daily lives.