JR.'s Sermons
518 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 6 ratingsSermons preached by JR. Forasteros and his preaching team
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Episodes
The Christmas Grinch
January 01, 2023 00:00 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBThere's one person in the Christmas story we don't like to talk about - the guy who tried to kill Jesus, and in the process visited an atrocity on the families of Bethlehem. That's right: Herod the Great, the original Christmas Grinch. But is it possible we have more in common with Herod than we might think? Is it possible that we're grinchier than we realize? Join us for New Year's Day (and the 8th day of Christmas) as we explore how we can begin our new year taking our call to follow Jesus...
The 2022 Christmas Special
December 25, 2022 00:00 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MBEveryone's favorite morning show returns. JR. and Nathan in the Morning! celebrates our third annual Christmas special by welcoming special guests Kathy Khang and Jose Humphreys. Light is one of the most beloved Christmas themes. But our world has racialized that metaphor, equating light (skin) with good and dark (skin) with evil. How should we engage this theme in a way that enables this beloved tradition to bring life and flourishing to all of us?
If Only in My Dreams
December 18, 2022 12:00 - 37 minutes - 34 MBChristmas is a season of new life, of impossible possibility. Joseph illustrates for us the sort of faith that finds hope in the most unlikely places. As we approach Christmas, how can we attend to the Holy Spirit, particularly in those least likely places?
John Had a Point - I'll Be Home for Christmas
December 11, 2022 00:00 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBWe're about to the time in the Advent season when the Christmas cheer begins to feel oppressive. After all, we know the world isn't really characterized by peace on earth or goodwill to all peoples. We might relate to John the Baptizer, who, after preparing the people for Jesus' ministry, found himself in prison. What do we make of Jesus' mysterious response to John? How do John and Jesus help us navigate the tension inherent in the Christmas season?
An Advent Carol - I'll Be Home for Christmas
December 04, 2022 12:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBThis time of year, nobody wants to be Scrooge. But the ba-humbug spirit is sneakier than we might think. John the Baptizer appears to us this year as the three spirits of Advent past, present and future to remind us what it looks like to be God's faithful people. Today, the question is: are we preparing ourselves for Jesus' arrival?
Home is Where God's Heart Is - I'll Be Home for Christmas
November 27, 2022 12:00 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBEver feel like the world's ending? What comes to mind when you think of the apocalypse? Fire and brimstone? Sun blocked out and moon turning to blood? Bad news... right? Wrong. Somewhere along the way, we picked up the idea that God is going to abandon the world and take us all away. But that's wrong! The good news is that God loves the world - and home is where God's heart is. What does it look like for us to love the world the way God does?
Curiosity - Table Settings
November 20, 2022 12:00 - 23 minutes - 21.6 MB'Curiosity' is not a word we associate with churches. Churches are more often known for quieting questions and insisting we 'just have faith.' But curiosity is a virtue - the most faithful people in Scripture were often curious. That's a good thing because God is bigger than any box we make, and when we choose to be curious, we often discover God in new and surprising ways. What does it look like for Catalyst to value curiosity?
Transformation - Table Settings
November 13, 2022 12:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MBWhat does it take to become more like Jesus? The process of change for a Christian can take a long time, and it's not very glamorous. It's a lot like BBQ, actually. What can we learn from the process of "low and slow"? How can our faith flourish as deliciously as a perfectly smoked, 20-hour brisket?
Diversity - Table Settings
November 06, 2022 12:00 - 27 minutes - 25 MBDiversity is a buzzword these days, and it's not something churches are particularly known for. So what does it mean for a church to say we value diversity? Why does God care about diversity? And how does pursuing diversity help us know God - and heal the world - better?
Friendship - Table Settings
October 30, 2022 12:00 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBAt Catalyst, we believe that Friendship is the heart of Jesus’ good news. What does that mean? Friendship with God invites us to go beyond hospitality to seeking friendship outside our own spaces. What does that mean for us - both as individuals and as a church? PLUS: we’ll hear from our Mexico team about how they discovered friendship in Chihuahua!
On Being a Black Sheep Church - Black Sheep
October 23, 2022 12:00 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBWhat does it mean to be a Black Sheep church? How can we be faithful in a culture that doesn't fit? We review our time with Jeremiah, and hear one last promise. The call is overwhelming, so it's a good thing the God who calls us is even bigger!
How We Learn to Listen - Black Sheep
October 09, 2022 12:00 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MBHow do we NOT feel overwhelmed when facing the evils of the world? No wonder we have a tendency to silence or ignore those suffering - especially when we're powerless to help. Jeremiah teaches us that in times of great crisis maybe what we need to do is be silent and learn to lament. Because lamenting teaches us how to hear the voices of the crushed and marginalized. Lamentation is our pathway back to the people God created us and calls us to be!
Sabbath Revolution - Black Sheep
October 02, 2022 12:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MBSabbath is one of those old-fashioned ideas we don't pay attention to much these days. After all, who can really afford to take a whole day off from life? In Jeremiah's day, the people's failure to keep Sabbath was the signal fire that they were faithless. Why is Sabbath so important? And what does it look like to keep Sabbath in our (way too) busy world? How is Sabbath an act of revolution?
No Fast, No Feast - Black Sheep
September 25, 2022 12:00 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MBYou know that "This is Fine" Dog? It's a pretty good representation of God's people in Jeremiah's day - and maybe in ours too. That's why God told Jeremiah not to attend funerals or weddings. God refused to go along with business as usual in the face of the people's unfaithfulness. What does 'no fast, no feast' look like for God's faithful people today?
Lying in Our Shame - Black Sheep
September 18, 2022 12:00 - 52 minutes - 47.7 MBEveryone knows that God loves us. So... why is it so hard to receive that love? What is the path to freedom from the guilt, shame and fear that keep us trapped in idolatrous ways of life?
Leaky Raincatchers - Black Sheep
September 11, 2022 12:00 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBNo one worries about idols anymore. Which is weird because the prophets warned about them all the time. Why should we still heed their warnings today? What, exactly, IS an idol? And what does any of this have to do with raincatchers that leak?
What Makes a Prophet? - Black Sheep
September 04, 2022 12:00 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBWhat is a prophet? Contrary to popular imagination, prophets in the Bible weren't fortune tellers. God called prophets to tell the truth about God's people, to hold up a mirror to the people. What does that look like today?
One Big (Magical) Family - La Familia Madrigal's Handy Dandy Guide to Spiritual Transformation
August 28, 2022 12:00 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MBThroughout the summer, we’ve see how differently we all experience the world, and how different our paths to healing can be. Such a variety can be overwhelming – sort of like Mirabel’s big opening number. As we bring this series to a close, let’s remember a core, simple truth: no matter who we are, we belong. We’re all part of the family God has created here at Catalyst!
Camilo the Enthusiast - Enneagram 7 - La Familia Madrigal's Handy Dandy Guide to Spiritual Transformation
August 21, 2022 12:00 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBDid we save the best for last? Maybe so... Enneagram 7s are the life of every party. Sevens love life and want to live it to the fullest - just like Camilo in Encanto. But life isn't all fun and games - so what does it take for Sevens to slow down and be present to the hard parts of life, too?
Bruno the Loyalist - Enneagram Six - La Familia Madrigal's Handy Dandy Guide to Spiritual Transformation
August 14, 2022 12:00 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBDo you have a friend who worries constantly? Who's aware of every possible danger - most you'd never considered? You might know an Enneagram 6. While they sometimes sound like Chicken Little, 6s are called Loyalists because they're the most steady, reliable people you've ever met. What's the path to health for these 6s? How do the rest of us make space for them to flourish? Brace yourself... for answers, we're going to have to talk about Bruno!
Bruno the Loyalist - Enneagram 6 - La Familia Madrigal's Handy Dandy Guide to Spiritual Transformation
August 14, 2022 12:00 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBDo you have a friend who worries constantly? Who's aware of every possible danger - most you'd never considered? You might know an Enneagram 6. While they sometimes sound like Chicken Little, 6s are called Loyalists because they're the most steady, reliable people you've ever met. What's the path to health for these 6s? How do the rest of us make space for them to flourish? Brace yourself... for answers, we're going to have to talk about Bruno!
Dolores the Investigator - Enneagram 5 - La Familia Madrigal's Handy Dandy Guide to Spiritual Transformation
August 07, 2022 12:00 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBDo you know someone who's got a sharp eye for details? Someone who tends to fade into the background, but doesn't miss anything? Someone who has only so much energy for social interactions? They might be an Enneagram Five. These Investigators are a model of curiosity and intelligence. How can they learn to operate not out of scarcity and fear, but abundance and faith? And how do the rest of us help them flourish?
Pepa the Romantic - Enneagram 4 - La Familia Madrigal's Handy Dandy Guide to Spiritual Transformation
July 31, 2022 12:00 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBYou know those creative types? The suffering artist, that person who seems to have this deep well of emotions the rest of us only dabble in? You know an Enneagram 4, and like Encanto's Tia Pepa, they can be both nourishing and overwhelming. How do we keep from getting blown away by these Romantics' wild emotions? And what's their path to flourishing?
Luisa the Performer - Enneagram 3 - La Familia Madrigal's Handy Dandy Guide to Spiritual Transformation
July 24, 2022 12:00 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBDo you know a person who seems to have an extra four hours in their day? That go-to person to get anything - and everything! - done? That magnetic personality who puts the Oh! in Overachieving - they're an Enneagram 3. And just like Encanto's Luisa, there's a lot going on under the surface that we don't see. So how can we help these workaholics find flourishing?
Julieta the Helper - Enneagram 2 - La Familia Madrigal's Handy Dandy Guide to Spiritual Transformation
July 17, 2022 12:00 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBWho doesn't love a helping hand? A thoughtful present at just the right time? But nothing can turn those gifts sour faster than finding out they come with strings attached. If you've been on the receiving end of an underhanded offering, then you might know an Enneagram 2. But if you know a healthy 2 - like Encanto's Mama Julieta, then you know the balm of healing and harbor they provide. So how can we identify the Twos in our midst? What is their path to wholeness? And how do the rest of us ...
Isabela the Perfectionist - Enneagram 1 - La Familia Madrigal's Handy Dandy Guide to Spiritual Transformation
July 10, 2022 12:00 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MBDo you know that person whose standards are higher than anyone else you know? They have a drive to excel that the rest of us find intimidating. And yeah... they can be a little judgy. What we don't realize is that these Perfectionists reserve their harshest judgments for... themselves. So what's the path to flourishing for an Enneagram 1? And how can the rest of us love them well?
Mirabel the Peacemaker - 9s - La Familia Madrigal's Handy Dandy Guide to Spiritual Transformation
July 03, 2022 12:00 - 38 minutes - 52.2 MBDo you know someone who feels like a warm plate of chocolate chip cookies? Maybe you know someone who's gentle, kind and filled with care for everyone around them. They're probably an Enneagram 9 - the Peacemaker. What makes 9s special? What is their path to flourishing? And how can the rest of us learn from them and support them?
Mirabel the Peacemaker - Enneagram 9 - La Familia Madrigal's Handy Dandy Guide to Spiritual Transformation
July 03, 2022 12:00 - 38 minutes - 34.8 MBDo you know someone who feels like a warm plate of chocolate chip cookies? Maybe you know someone who's gentle, kind and filled with care for everyone around them. They're probably an Enneagram 9 - the Peacemaker. What makes 9s special? What is their path to flourishing? And how can the rest of us learn from them and support them?
Abuela the Challenger - La Familia Madrigal's Handy Dandy Guide to Spiritual Transformation
June 26, 2022 12:00 - 52.5 MBDo you know someone who is a little prickly, who has a tough exterior and a strong sense of justice? A person who stands up for the little guy, but also has a tendency to steamroll people? Then you might know an Eight. Abuela, the matriarch of la familia Madrigal, illustrates how Eights can be a potent force for good when they're healthy, but cause a lot of damage when they get off track. So how can Eights be open to the Spirit? And how do the rest of us love the Eights in our lives well?
Abuela the Challenger - Enneagram 8 - La Familia Madrigal's Handy Dandy Guide to Spiritual Transformation
June 26, 2022 12:00 - 38 minutes - 35 MBDo you know someone who is a little prickly, who has a tough exterior and a strong sense of justice? A person who stands up for the little guy, but also has a tendency to steamroll people? Then you might know an Eight. Abuela, the matriarch of la familia Madrigal, illustrates how Eights can be a potent force for good when they're healthy, but cause a lot of damage when they get off track. So how can Eights be open to the Spirit? And how do the rest of us love the Eights in our lives well?
Encanto and the Enneagram - La Familia Madrigal's Handy Dandy Guide to Spiritual Transformation
June 19, 2022 12:00 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBENCANTO is one of the most popular movies in recent memories. It's packed with spiritual truth - and each character offers us a picture of the possibility of transformation. This summer, we're diving into Encanto using the Enneagram - an ancient guide to spiritual growth - to help us look more like Jesus and love more like him too!
Cthulhu and the Trinity - re:Connected
June 12, 2022 12:00 - 40 minutes - 37.3 MBThere’s a popular notion that all religions are different paths to the same destination. But when we explore different faith systems, we find each understands the nature of god(s) and reality very differently. Christians believe God is Trinity – a paradox that points to a deep truth at the heart of reality: God is love, and love is the most essential, powerful force in the universe!
Jesus in the World - re:Connected
June 05, 2022 12:00 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBWhen it comes to people who aren't Christians, the Church doesn't have a great track record. Far too often we imagine we're taking Jesus to people who don't know him. But Paul's encounter with the Athenians illustrates a powerful truth: God is already present among all the peoples of the world. Because God loves the whole world. How can we join God where the Holy Spirit is already at work?
The Gift of the Holy Spirit - re:Connected
May 29, 2022 12:00 - 38 minutes - 34.8 MBThe Church is more than a social club, more than a collection of vested interests. The Church is Jesus’ visible presence in our world. What makes the difference is the Holy Spirit – God who lives within and among us. Join us as we celebrate what it means that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is living within us, empowering us to be present to our world.
Evangelizing the Church? - re:Connected
May 22, 2022 12:00 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBNot everyone who claims to be a Christian is following Jesus. That’s scary to admit, but it’s been true since the earliest days of the Church. What should our response be to those who claim Christianity but don’t look like our Christ? We turn to Peter’s words to his contemporaries in Acts 3 for a surprisingly grace-filled and truth-filled message of invitation and hope.
What Makes a Good Follower? - re:Connected
May 15, 2022 12:00 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBWhat makes a good convert to Christianity? Too often the church pursues wealth, fame and power. But as Paul's experiences in Thessalonica and Berea illustrate that it's not those markers of cultural success and acclaim we're used to admiring. Rather, what makes a good disciple is one who is curious and faith-filled. How do we spot that today?
Saved for the World - re:Connected
May 01, 2022 12:00 - 39 minutes - 36 MBFar too often, we view faith as something that separates us from the world. We become judgmental, condescending, celebrating when we prosper and they don't. But as the book of Acts shows us, God saves us for the sake of the world. What does a faith look like that turns to the world to embrace, rather than condemn?
Grounded in Worship - re:Connected
April 24, 2022 12:00 - 36 minutes - 33 MBWhat's the point of Sunday church? Why get together in a room, sing songs and listen to someone talk? And why do that weekly? Believe it or not, gathering regularly with our spiritual family is key to flourishing in our faith. Why is that? Let's let the early church show us.
The Truth about Easter - re:Connected
April 17, 2022 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.4 MBWho would lie about Jesus coming back from the dead? Lots of people, as it turns out. What's at stake in Jesus' resurrection? And how do those stakes still matter today?
God is Not an American - God is Not...
April 10, 2022 12:00 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MBLove of country can morph into nationalism - putting our country before everything else. Believing we're chosen, that God loves us more than anyone else. Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus is not on our side - rather, he invites us to follow him, to be on HIS side. How does following Jesus free us to love our country truly as well?
God is Not a White Man - God is Not...
April 03, 2022 12:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBChristianity has a long history of oppressing both women and peoples of color - often using the Bible to justify it. But Jesus is the God who freed the Hebrew slaves, who comforted the Exiles, who appointed a woman as the first apostle and preacher. What does a faith that rejects misogyny and racism look like? How can we affirm that God is not a white man?
God is Not a Family Man - God is Not...
March 27, 2022 12:00 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBToday’s churches are often built around and center the nuclear family - Dad, Mom, Wally and the Beav. Why is that? Jesus was single. So was Paul. And the so-called ‘traditional family’ didn’t exist until the last century. How can we avoid creating an idol out of the family? What is God’s vision for family? And how is that vision good for all of us, no matter what our families look like?
God is Not Ignoring History - God is Not...
March 20, 2022 12:00 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MBWhat do you think when you hear the word ‘reparations’? A political movement? A threat to the status quo? As God outlines in the book of Numbers, reparations are an integral part of the process of forgiveness and reconciliation. What do reparations look like in our individual lives? And how can we be a voice for just reparations in our culture?
God is Not a Capitalist - God is Not...
March 13, 2022 12:00 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBUS economics is based on principles of making profit and supply and demand. But does the invisible hand that guides the market belong to God? Elijah's encounter with a widow illustrates that God does not live in a world of scarcity. So as God's people, we can reject any system that insists on my success over your failure.
God is Not You - God is Not...
March 06, 2022 12:00 - 40 minutes - 37.3 MBThere are few things we value more than our individualism. But the early church identified pride as the root sin. Why is individualism so dangerous? And how can we resist the temptation to set ourselves up as gods?
Back to Reality - Deep Breath
February 27, 2022 12:00 - 42 minutes - 40 MBWho ever wants to come back from vacation? Or go to the office on Monday? Or leave any of those places where we feel free to be most fully ourselves? Jesus shows us that God invites us into these spaces not to hide, but to receive strength and courage to take Jesus' love to the world.
Truth and Reconciliation - Deep Breath
February 20, 2022 12:00 - 32 minutes - 29.3 MBOver the last several years, we've all experienced strained and broken relationships. What is the faith-filled path forward in these relationships? How do we create space for forgiveness and reconciliation? Joseph's reunion with his brothers illustrates how we can seek real healing.
Spiritual Practices - Deep Breath
February 13, 2022 12:00 - 27 minutes - 25 MBHow do we prepare for the work God calls us to? Spiritual practices create space for the Holy Spirit to work in us. They are not self-care, but joining with God for healing and restoration!
A Political Church - Deep Breath
February 06, 2022 12:00 - 37 minutes - 34.1 MBOne of the biggest complaints about churches today is that we're too political. What we mean though, is that churches are too partisan. Because God calls us to love our neighbors the same way we love ourselves and our families - and that's a political act. So how can we be political without becoming partisan? Isaiah's vision of God's throne room is good news for anyone who's sick and tired of politics as usual.
What is My Calling? - Deep Breath
January 30, 2022 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBMost of us struggle to hear God's call. Isn't that something reserved for preachers and prophets? But God calls each of us. And God calls ALL of us. Our calling is something for good - not just our own good, but the good of our community, and of the world around us. So what is God's call for us?