Harvard Avenue Christian Church
224 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingWeekly sermons from Harvard Avenue Christian Church, Tulsa OK – part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
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Episodes
Full Of It
May 12, 2019 16:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MBtext :: Acts 9: 36 – 43 theme verse :: “Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity.” (Acts 9:36) // Dorcas, a disciple of Jesus, was “devoted to good works and acts of charity.” The actual […]
They Smell Like Sheep
May 08, 2019 00:23 - 34 minutes - 24 MBtext :: John 21: 15 – 25 theme verse :: “Lord, what about him?” (John 21:21b) // ‘Tis the season for transition. Jesus moved from death to life. The disciples moved from followers to leaders. Our seniors are moving from high school to… whatever comes next. Any transition to a new existence comes as a […]
WERE You There?
April 28, 2019 16:00 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MBtext :: John 20: 14 – 20 theme verse :: “…Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:20b) // In each of the gospel accounts, the women are the first to learn of the resurrection, first to see and hear the risen Lord, and first to be charged with the task to […]
Sacred Rhythms :: Feel the Rhythm (An Easter Jam)
April 21, 2019 16:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MBtext :: Luke 24: 1 – 12 theme verse :: “Peter got up, ran to the tomb; stopping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.” (Luke 24:12) // Rhythm is simply defined as a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound. Gloria […]
Tenebrae: A Service of Darkness {Good Friday}
April 20, 2019 00:00 - 1 hour - 47.1 MBA series of readings and choral works, updating the traditional service of darkness, marking the solemn importance of the cross, and Good Friday. As the readings move us through the order of events in the crucifixion, most are followed by the extinguishing of a candle – 14 candles in all. In the audio, you’ll hear […]
Sacred Rhythms :: The Disruption of Service {Maundy Thursday}
April 19, 2019 00:00 - 34 minutes - 24 MBtext :: John 13:1-20 theme verse :: “For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15) // Any musician will tell you that honoring the ‘rests’ are just as important as playing the ‘notes.’ Even so, we are culturally all about the notes and […]
Sacred Rhythms :: Recognizing & Responding to the Presence of God
April 14, 2019 16:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBtext :: Luke 19: 28 – 40 theme verse :: “They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’” (Luke 19:34) // “Discernment is truly a gift from God, but not one dropped from the skies fully formed. It is a gift cultivated by a prayerful life and the search for self-knowledge.”(Ernest Larkin). There was a lot of […]
Sacred Rhythms :: Bringing My Whole Self Before God
April 07, 2019 16:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MBtext :: Psalm 139:1-18; 23-24 theme verse :: “See if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:24) // Some of us have been so shaped by shame-based family or church systems that we resist entering into deeper levels of self-awareness for fear of being debilitated even […]
Sacred Rhythms :: Flesh-and-Blood Spirituality
March 31, 2019 16:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBtext :: Exodus 19: 1 – 8 // Civilizations have long valued and cared for the mystery that is the human body. The Christian practice of honoring the body is, as Stephanie Paulsell notes, “born of the confidence that our bodies are made in the image of God’s own goodness.” The complexities of physical health […]
Sacred Rhythms :: Deepening Our Intimacy With God
March 24, 2019 16:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBtext :: Romans 8:26-27 // Many of us have learned a “go-to” prayer over time –often a bedtime prayer as a child or The Lord’s Prayer as we prayed it each week in worship. But ask anyone without notice to say a prayer aloud or share about their prayer life and most get wide-eyed and […]
Sacred Rhythms :: Encountering God in Scripture
March 17, 2019 16:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBtext :: 1 Samuel 3: 1 – 10 // Do you read Scripture primarily for information or transformation? Do you imagine it as a text book or a love letter? There is room for both realities, of course, but in creating a sacred rhythm between God and follower of God, it is good to consider […]
Sacred Rhythms :: Creating Space for God
March 10, 2019 16:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBtext :: Mark 6:7-13 and 30-32 // When is the last time you were quiet enough to hear your own heart beat? To feel it? Sense itsrhythm as if your very soul was trying to show itself to you in a marvelous and tangible way? Parker Palmer suggests “the soul is like a wild animal—tough, […]
Sacred Rhythms :: Longing for More {Ash Wednesday}
March 06, 2019 13:00 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBtext :: Mark 10: 46 – 52 // Richard Rohr says, “A good journey begins with knowing where we are and being willing to go someplace else.” The sacred season of Lent always affords us such an opportunity. What is your deepest spiritual desire? Do you long for more? The movement from desire to discipline […]
(y)our whole life :: humility
March 03, 2019 17:00 - 34 minutes - 23.8 MBtext :: Matthew 23:1-12 theme verse :: “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12) // In the Middle Ages, a common food eaten by those with little economic means included deer innards. It was made into a pie, of sorts, and became known as […]
(y)our whole life :: compassion
February 24, 2019 17:00 - 31 minutes - 21.4 MBtext : Matthew 14: 13 – 21 theme verse : “Jesus said, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’” (Mt 14:16) // Upon welcoming guests in their home, many say, “We practice an open fridge policy –please help yourself!” Some have taken this hospitality to the next level. In some neighborhoods […]
(y)our whole life :: hope
February 17, 2019 17:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBtext : Psalm 127:1-2; Romans 8:35-39 theme verse : “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, willbe able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our […]
(y)our whole life :: patience
February 10, 2019 17:00 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBtext :: Exodus 17: 1 – 7 theme verse :: “Moses called the place Massah because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’”(Exodus 17:7) // Watching paint dry or grass grow were often sayings dropped when people were describing less-than-exciting experiences. Today’s culture supports immediate gratification and […]
(y)our whole life :: courage
February 03, 2019 15:06 - 29 minutes - 19.9 MBtext : John 16:29-33 theme verse : “In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” (John 16:33b) // Do you know courage when you see it? Some people possess the abilities to approach physical challenges with a sense of fearlessness. And yet the ability to override fear is not […]
Guiding Light :: In A Faith
January 27, 2019 16:43 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBtext : Luke 4:21-30 theme verse : “When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage.” (Luke 4:28) // The major themes of 2018, according to those who study the frequency of cultural conversation, include immigration, the #MeToo movement, possible Russian interference in the 2016 election and –fake news. The idea of […]
Guiding Light :: In A Friend
January 20, 2019 16:42 - 40 minutes - 27.9 MBtext : 1 Samuel 18:1-5 theme verse : “Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.” (1 Samuel 18:3) // An ancient philosopher said, “There are only two people who can tell you the truth about yourself—an enemy who has lost his temper and a friend who loves […]
Guiding Light :: In A Death
January 13, 2019 16:42 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBtext : 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 theme verse : “Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.” (1 Corinthians 15:36) // 27,339. That’s the number of Starbucks in the world… for now. The world is enamored with a pricey cup of coffee, free wifi and a chance to people watch from […]
Guiding Light :: In A Word
January 06, 2019 16:41 - 36 minutes - 25 MBtext : Isaiah 60:1-6 theme verse : “Arise, shine; for your light has come…” (Isaiah 60:1) // “Glory is God’s style.” Christian writer Frederick Buechner offers this gem. When the Bible tells us that “the heavens are telling the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1), it is saying that the heavens are revealing God’s style: sunsets, […]
Resolved
December 30, 2018 16:41 - 26 minutes - 18.4 MBtext :: Matthew 13: 45-46 theme verse :: “On finding a pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Mt 13:46) As we enter a time when millions of people will make resolutions for the New Year, we are met with a parable that Jesus tells about a […]
A Thrill of Hope :: Fall On Your Knees {Christmas Eve 6pm – traditional}
December 24, 2018 16:41 - 49 minutes - 33.7 MBtext :: Luke 2: 1 – 20 theme verse :: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host…” (Luke 2:13) // Sometimes standing isn’t possible. It is often pain or sadness or exhaustion that “takes your legs out from under you.” Sometimes it’s prayer that drives us to our knees […]
A Thrill of Hope :: Fall On Your Knees {Christmas Eve 4pm – acoustic}
December 24, 2018 16:40 - 49 minutes - 34.1 MBtext :: Luke 2: 1 – 20 theme verse :: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host…” (Luke 2:13) // Sometimes standing isn’t possible. It is often pain or sadness or exhaustion that “takes your legs out from under you.” Sometimes it’s prayer that drives us to our knees […]
Christ Is Born in Bethlehem {Traditional worship cantata}
December 23, 2018 16:40 - 1 hour - 48.8 MBCHRIST IS BORN IN BETHLEHEM a traditional cantata in concert Kelly Ford, director of traditional worship Deborah Gist, reader Rev Mark Briley, liturgist
Christmas In Tune V {The Rising worship concert}
December 23, 2018 16:39 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MBCHRISTMAS IN TUNE V A Rising Worship Concert Isaac Herbert – The Rising Band Leader
A Thrill of Hope :: Sweet Hymns of Joy
December 16, 2018 16:39 - 27 minutes - 18.6 MBtext :: Luke 1:39-45 theme verse :: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” (Luke 1:45) // “You better sing!” is the encouragement of Jennifer Hudson, one of four coaches on The Voice, when she is really moved by a contestant’s singing. […]
Blue Christmas
December 13, 2018 16:38 - 1 hour - 44.4 MBtext: Acts 27: 13 – 20 // The Blue Christmas service is an annual evening of worship where space is created where it’s okay to say ‘This season is hard.’ Whether carrying grief into this holiday; or dealing with loss of a job, relationship, self-confidence, or direction; or sitting in uncertain health in your own […]
A Thrill of Hope :: Chains Shall He Break
December 09, 2018 16:38 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MBtext : Luke 1:68-79 theme verse : “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us…” (Luke 1:78) // PEACE SUNDAY. The Christian liturgical year has long pointed us toward peace on the second Sunday of Advent. Peace really deserves more than one focal Sunday but we’ll light […]
A Thrill of Hope :: A Weary World Rejoices
December 02, 2018 16:37 - 36 minutes - 25.1 MBtext : Jeremiah 33:14-16 theme verse : “In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.” (Jeremiah 33:15) // Do you ever feel like you’re tripping your way to the end of the year? In a […]
A Story to Tell : Better Than Life
November 25, 2018 16:37 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBtext : Psalm 63: 1 – 8 theme verse : “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.” (Psalm 63:3) You spend three months without your usual responsibilities, you learn a few things. You see different things, and you see things differently. Sabbath, sabbatical, rest, renewal. What it means, what […]
Open Mic :: Feedback
November 18, 2018 16:36 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MBtext : Acts 20:17-24 theme verse : “I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received form the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24) // We all know that shrilling sound called “feedback” […]
Open Mic :: Check … 1. 2. 3.
November 11, 2018 16:36 - 38 minutes - 26.5 MBtext : Proverbs 11:24-25 theme verse : “Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due and only suffer want.” (Proverbs 11:24) // An old rap song from my youth included the line, ‘You better check yourself before your wreck yourself.’ While none of the other lines were memorable, that one […]
Open Mic :: Is this thing on?
November 04, 2018 16:35 - 37 minutes - 26 MBtext : Luke 17:11-19 theme verse : “Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice.” (Luke 17:15) // Researchers have noted that positive emotions wear off quickly. Dr. Robert Emmons suggests that our emotional systems like newness. They like novelty. They like change. We […]
in, not of, but for :: Sent
October 28, 2018 15:35 - 34 minutes - 23.4 MBtext : John 17:10-19 theme verse : “As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:18) // Have you ever been confused in a conversation to the point you felt the person talking to you was speaking a foreign language? In John’s version of ‘The Lord’s […]
in, not of, but for :: Weeding
October 21, 2018 15:34 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MBtext : Matthew 13:24-30 theme verse : “…in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both grow together…” (Mt 13:29-30) // Franciscan Priest Richard Rohr points out that some Native Americans have a tradition of leaving a blemish in one corner of the rug they are weaving because they believe […]
in, not of, but for :: Set Apart
October 14, 2018 15:34 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBtext : 1 Peter 1:13-16 theme verse : “For it is written, ‘You shall be holy for I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:16) // Holy Shmoly. Who can really be holy? At best we’re what Nadia Bolz Weber calls Accidental Saints, right? Who wants to be holier than thou anyway? It turns out that some […]
in, not of, but for :: Wide Invitation {World Communion Sunday}
October 07, 2018 15:33 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBtext : Luke 14:15-24 theme verse : “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.” (Luke 14:22) // The invitation comes. You cross-check calendars. She can attend. He’s got an appointment. Everyone is exhausted. The RSVP card stares back at you thinking, “What do you say?” You check the box next […]
Creationtide :: Preaching To The Birds
September 30, 2018 15:33 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBtext : Job 12:7-10 theme verse : “But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you…” (Job 12:7) // What if I told you that a man who preached to the birds also saved the church? Francis of Assisi did both these things by many […]
Creationtide :: Harvesting Peace
September 23, 2018 15:32 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBtext : James 3:13-18 theme verse : “Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.” (James 3:13) // By any number of accounts, we see that our decisions and actions are having some detrimental effects on the world we call home. […]
Creationtide :: The Cosmic Christ
September 17, 2018 15:32 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBtext : Luke 8:22-25 theme verse : “Who then is this that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?” (Lk 8:25) // As if there weren’t already some context clues on their journey, the disciples really begin to wonder about who Jesus is when he dials in a new boating […]
Creationtide :: Not A Solo Gig
September 09, 2018 17:29 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBtext : Psalm 148 theme verse : “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded, and they were created.” (Ps 148:5) // When one stops to consider the immensity of God’s creation, it can truly change our perspective and our living, even our understanding of worship. Turns out, worshiping God is not a solo […]
Wonder :: Full
September 02, 2018 15:31 - 29 minutes - 33.5 MBReader: Doc Shannon Preaching: Rev. Mark Briley
Wonder :: Why?
August 26, 2018 15:31 - 33 minutes - 38.7 MBJob 23: 1 – 10 // Everyone asks, “Why?” As children, we ask that one-word question in response to everything. We’re just discovering the world and it’s full of wondrous questions. As we age, experience deepens our why questions. Why is there suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why not me? What […]
Wonder :: Moving God
August 19, 2018 15:30 - 35 minutes - 40.5 MBExodus 33: 7 – 16 // “Lord move, or move me,” goes the lyric sung by the group, Far From Home. We’ve all likely done our best to move God like a chess piece in the game of our lives; longing to control every aspect of our lives. To our dismay, we wonder if God’s […]
Wonder :: Humans are wired for it!
August 12, 2018 15:30 - 38 minutes - 44 MBReader: Todd Maxwell Preaching: Diana Booren
Wonder :: Framework
August 05, 2018 15:29 - 37 minutes - 43 MBtext : Hebrews 4: 14 – 16 Theme Verse: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…” (Hebrews 4:15) // I Wonder as I Wander is typically a hymn we sing during Advent. The melody itself is very mysterious and spirit-provoking. Beyond one season a year, however, […]
Sunday Funday – The Real Us
July 29, 2018 15:29 - 44 minutes - 50.6 MBReader: Doc Shannon Preaching: Rev. Mark Briley
Good /fāTH/ Effort :: Triumph
July 22, 2018 15:28 - 38 minutes - 43.9 MB2 Corinthians 5: 16 – 21 // What would it take for a skeptical culture’s view of Christianity to see our faith as good? While we aren’t aiming to please an audience beyond God alone, Jesus practiced a faith more interested in reconciliation than keeping a list of the sins of others. What does that […]