Madison Church: Square Podcast

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Send us Fan MailPastoring, encouragement, praying, singing, leading, and many more. The Spirit is the one who gives us gifts according to His grace. These gifts are meant for the upbuilding of the kingdom. The Bible is also explicit about what the purpose of these gifts are... in order to love! Every gift has been given to love those that we are in community with which builds the kingdom of heaven right here on earth. So, use your gifts with the authority and power given to you from God!

Send us Fan MailThis week we used the Nicene Creed, an ecumenical testimony of what we believe, as a launching point for thinking about the Holy Spirit. The creed describes the Spirit this way: "The Lord, the giver of life." That is such a foundational way of thinking about the Holy Spirit when often we assume that this member of the trinity is only at work in the spectacular and the supernatural. But in recognizing that our very life depends on the Spirit at all times, we realize He is closer and more accessible than we think. Just as the Spirit was breathed into Adam's nostrils to give life, and over those dry bones in the valley, and on the disciples in that upper room... the Spirit is still filling our lungs with the very Breath of God so that we might have life. 

Send us Fan MailThe Sunday after Easter is sometimes called "Low Sunday..." As Barbara Brown Taylor noted, this is because "The attendance is low and so is the adrenaline." It is the week after all the hype and the resurrection joy. But now it's a week later. So now what? Christ is Risen. Does it matter? Eastertide is a church season in which we might answer, "Yes." And so this week we begin our series on the Holy Spirit and consider the mini-Pentecost before Pentecost, when Jesus breathed on his disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." We too, inhale this breath of New Creation, this resurrection life, and it animates us as the Body of Christ to come out from behind locked doors and oxygenate the world with the Love of God. This God-breath of the Spirit revives us and resuscitates us even in the "low places" of a broken world. For the Spirit who raised Jesus from the grave, can also raise us up in that Resurrection Life. 

Send us Fan MailPastor Ericka shares a powerful Easter message as we walk through Mary’s encounter with the risen Christ. What begins in weeping becomes a powerful revelation: Jesus is alive, He is calling your name, and death no longer gets the final word. Join us as we discover how resurrection meets us in our grief, transforms our perspective, and invites us to live in the reality of new life—right now.

Send us Fan MailPalm Sunday begins that Via Delarosa, "the sorrowful way" that Jesus walked to the cross. At the beginning of the week, the people ran alongside Jesus on the road shouting, "Hosanna! Save us now!" In Lent we recognize hat is still the ongoing cry of believers today. But in Revelation 21, we see the answer to that plea. A day is coming when we will walk a road of no more sorrow, because Jesus walked the sorrowful road of Holy Week on our behalf. And according to John's vision, those worshippers from every tongue and tribe and nation will also be holding palm branches in their hands as symbols of victory and triumph and praise... and their cry will not be, "Save us!" but rather they will declare, "Salvation belongs to our God."

Send us Fan Mail"This week we hear from our former director of administration and connection in a recorded video she made about a month before meeting her Lord... after a two year journey with cancer. In it, she reflects on 2 Corinthians 4 and Christian paradox of outwardly wasting away while being internally renewed day by day. Laura takes us through this text as it intersects with her experience of suffering and trust. Her desire was not so much to be a faith hero as much as to encourage us to fix our eyes not only on what is seen, but on what is unseen... for what is seen is temporary, and what is unseen is eternal."

Send us Fan MailThere are many different ideas about who Jesus was and continually is. Depending on who you ask you can get a million different answers, but let's explore who Jesus says that Jesus is! Once we've decided who Jesus is to us, then does this revelation change the way that we live? Dive into Matthew 16 with us as we reflect on these questions. 

Send us Fan MailWhen the world feels unstable and life reminds us how fragile it is, where do we turn? In this message from Psalm 90, Pastor Ericka explores Moses’ prayer, “Teach us to number our days,” and invites us to anchor our lives in the eternal God who is our dwelling place in every generation. When our days are placed in His hands, even fragile lives can be lived with wisdom, purpose, and hope.

Send us Fan MailThis Sunday we "vigil together" in worship as our sister and colleague is close to meeting her savior face to face. Pastor Andrea reflects on 1 Corinthians 15, which is where the title of the Lenten Series comes from... as Paul calls death our "Last Enemy." And yet, this is an enemy that Jesus has put under his feet through his own death and resurrection. Because of this victory over death, what is sown in dishonor is raised in glory. Pastor Andrea highlights this new wardrobe that we will put on for eternity... an imperishability found in being joined to Jesus Christ. Those of us who are dust and will return to dust can make that great exchange... from dust to glory.  Join us to draw on the hope we have even in the face of death. 

Send us Fan MailThis Sunday Pastor Andrea kicks off the new Lenten sermon series "Facing our Last Enemy: Death and Resurrection Hope." She preaches out of John 12, where Jesus gives us an agricultural lesson about what must happen to the seed in order for there to be a harvest. "Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed," Jesus said. "But if it dies, it produces much fruit." Jesus was talking about his own death which was right around the corner. People had followed him thinking he might be the one to lift them up, up up! But instead, Jesus reminds us that the Christian life is down, down, down first. "Anyone who saves their life will lose it, Jesus said. But whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." And so, whenever believers stand at the edge of a hole in the ground, they bury their loved ones in hope... because Jesus has already gone to the grave on our behalf. And if we are joined to him in a death like his, then we will also be joined to him in a resurrection like his. 

Send us Fan MailThere are many different ideas about who Jesus was and continually is. Depending on who you ask you can get a million different answers, but let's explore who Jesus says that Jesus is! Once we've decided who Jesus is to us, then does this revelation change the way that we live? Dive into Matthew 16 with us as we reflect on these questions. 

Send us Fan MailNicodemus goes to see Jesus in secret and is told that to see the kingdom of God, one has to be born again. “How can this be?” Nicodemus wondered… this week we hold covenant baptism and the story of Nicodemus from John 3 together as two notes that can be in harmony with one another because the baseline that plays beneath them both is grace. In both conversion and infant baptism, we see God’s divine initiative… God reaches for us before we reach back. And of course, we see Nicodemus again at the cross, caring for Jesus’ body... perhaps even that tomb was a womb, birthing Nicodemus’ belief. 

Send us Fan MailIt would seem that John the Baptist knew exactly who Jesus was... and yet when things did not go the way he had planned, and he is sitting in Herod's dungeon, he questioned everything he knew. John sent his messengers to Jesus to ask him, "Are you the one? Or should we wait for another?" There is a lot of heartbreak in that question. It represents some deep disappointments and some dashed expectations. But the Messiah did not arrive according to his expectations, nor does he always show up according to ours! Jesus ushered in his kingdom with service and sacrifice rather than storming the gates in power and force, which is often how we wish he would take care of things. "Blessed are those not offended on account of me," Jesus said. We are blessed when we are not scandalized by the smallness, meekness, and self-sacrifice that Jesus leads us in on the way to the Kingdom being realized. 

Send us Fan MailIn today’s message, “Could This Be the Messiah?”, we linger at a well with Jesus and a woman who never expected to be seen—let alone known—by God.Drawing from John chapter 4, this sermon explores what happens when we truly sit with Jesus long enough to be honest about our thirst. It’s a story of divine pursuit, unearned grace, and a Savior who crosses every boundary to offer living water. From shame to truth, from isolation to witness, we’re invited to see how encounter with Jesus always calls for a response.Whether you’re feeling spiritually dry, newly curious, or ready to drink deeply again, this message is an invitation:Come and see. Could this be the Messiah?

Send us Fan MailWho is this man that even the wind and waves obey him? Just as the disciples wondered we wonder today. Well, He's the one in the boat who cares for us, He is our Messiah so saves us from our sins and He is YHWH the one with who can still the waves. 

Send us Fan MailThis week we consider Nathanial's question to Phillip in John 1: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth? This question may have been a bit tongue in cheek, but it betrays a bias we often have against the ordinary and the unimpressive. Like Nathanial, we assume that God's Divine Truth must come from spectacular people or places or from centers of power, education, or religion. And yet, throughout Scripture, God shows his preference for calling and using those who are quite ordinary, unimpressive, and insignificant. We can be encouraged that God is more interested in being a great God than in all of us being great. In fact, it is in our humility that God can truly use us. What would it look like to embrace and embody lowliness this year, just as Christ chose to do? For it is there that God's glory can really shine. 

Send us Fan MailToday we take up the text of The Epiphany... where God's glory was manifested to the Gentiles for the first time. The magi from the east came on their long journey to worship Jesus. This is a fitting reality check for all of us who feel the cold, dark, circumstances of life settle back in after the warm, bright glow of Christmas. The same was true for Jesus.  The Magi's question, "Where is the One who was born king of the Jews?" pushes Herod into a murderous rage... and he wants to snuff out this light to protect his own power. Even so, God's story of salvation persists. And the wideness of His mercy to these very surprising people can encourages us: because there is no distance from Jesus that is too great for God to bring us to His Son.

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Send us Fan MailThis week, Pastor Bob Arbogast from Celebration Fellowship takes a look at Paul and Silas in prison from Acts 16. Pastor Bob serves a worshipping community that is behind bars, and yet he speaks of how his members can sing and pray because they know they are free, just like Paul and Silas did...not only when the prison doors opened and their chains fell off, but even before that. Listen in this week as Pastor Bob reflects on his experience as a pastor who serves those on the inside that have found a freedom more true and real than what they had experienced in captivity on the outside. Prison may hold their body, but their person is free...  because in Jesus we are set free to know genuine love and forgiveness. 

Send us Fan MailIn this world there is a lot of suffering, but we serve a God who cares for us in the midst of our suffering. He tells us that we are not alone when we suffer, there will be a purpose, and our suffering is only temporary. There is hope in the gospel, especially for ones who are suffering. 

Send us Fan MailToday we enter into the story of the disciples straining against their oars on a stormy sea because the wind was against them. Jesus shows up walking to them on the water, and tells them, "Take courage! It is I, do not be afraid." This is a word for us today as well, as the church strains against the oars of our turbulent times. The winds are against us too. Join us as we reflect on the full meaning of Jesus' words to the disciples, and also to Peter, as he attempts to walk on the water- but, like us, needs Jesus to reach out and grab him when his fear overwhelms his faith. 

Send us Fan MailThis week we hear the words of Amos who went to Israel with a protest at the height of their prosperity. His words are full of blistering judgement because this prosperity was built on the backs of the poor through acts of injustice. Anytime the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer, God is not on board. And so God, through Amos, tells the believers what he thinks of their worship in the sanctuary: He hates it!  But a call to repentance is good news, not bad news. It's an opportunity to turn around. To do things differently. And to believe in the One who brought judgement and justice together perfectly on the cross. In Him, we are freed up and sent out to be accurate representatives of this God who loves justice. 

Send us Fan MailHow do we live faithfully, right here, right now? This week, we turned our hearts to the story of Esther—a story often mistaken for a fairy tale, but in reality, one of risk, resistance, and divine purpose. Esther's journey from hidden identity to bold advocacy reveals what kingdom living looks like in the midst of oppression and uncertainty.Through Esther's courage, Mordecai's integrity, and even Vashti's refusal to be objectified, we are invited to see the many faces of faithful resistance. This message challenges us to consider: what time is this that we’re living in, and what is God asking of us?Whether you're in the palace of influence or in the quiet places of obscurity, God may be inviting you to say yes—just like He did with Esther—for such a time as this.Thanks for listening. We pray you're encouraged, challenged, and drawn closer to God's purpose for your unique placement in this world.

Send us Fan MailToday we consider the story of Rahab, who lived within the thick walls of earthly power and security in Jericho. Even so, she fixed her eyes on a coming kingdom, yet unseen, that was truer than the one she was a part of. In faith, she defects from her earthly citizenship and aligns herself with the Kingdom of God. Because Jesus came preaching the Good News that the "Kingdom of God is at hand," believers must be willing to take on that same realignment. This is not easy to do! It is risky and costly... and yet critical... as the writer of Hebrews reminds us, "... for here we have no lasting city, but fix our eyes on the one that is to come.

Send us Fan MailToday we come to the very end of Habakkuk and his profession of faith even in times of scarcity. Habakkuk brings his laments to God, and God answers him with a memory tour of His deliverance. Times of trouble are on the way, but even so, Habakkuk pins his hope to the God of his salvation. As we face turbulent times, we are grounded in our faith by remembering all that God has done in the past, all he is doing even now, and all he will do in the future. When we come to this place, we like Habakkuk, can rejoice no matter our circumstances. 

Send us Fan MailFinding strength in adversity, the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah) teaches us about unwavering faith under pressure. These three Hebrew men refused to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue despite the threat of a fiery furnace. Their remarkable response—that God could save them but even if He didn't, they still wouldn't bow—demonstrates true faith that transcends circumstances. In the furnace, they encountered a fourth figure, likely Christ himself, walking with them through their trial. Their experience reminds us that genuine joy comes not from being delivered from our fires, but from knowing who holds our future regardless of outcomes.

Send us Fan MailToday we consider the quiet resistance and civil disobedience of the midwives in Exodus, Shiphrah and Puah. When Pharaoh told them to kill all the baby boys at birth, they did not listen because they feared God. Believers have always lived in the shadow of the empire, and there will be times when God's Kingdom and the Kingdoms of this world do not align. How will we practice Christian resistance when that happens? Like Shiphrah and Puah, we are to bear life in places of death, wherever we are. Join us as we are reminded of our vocation: all of us-midwives- who bring to birth the kind of world that God intends.  

Send us Fan Mail"God with us in Turbulent Times" sets us before the story of Joseph as a spiritual resource for the believing community for when life feels perplexing or uncertain. The journey of Joseph from favored son, to slave, to prisoner, to Egyptian leader, to the rescuer of a nation and the forgiver of his betrayers, reminds us that God's way of accomplishing His purpose is often slow and hidden. The repeated biblical phrase 'the Lord was with Joseph' becomes a centering reality for us even in the midst of difficult circumstances that try to convince us otherwise. And so, along with God's people across time and place, we return once again to anchor ourselves in God's sovereignty during turbulent times, believing in faith that "He's got the whole world is in His Hands."

Send us Fan MailFinding Rest in God's Presence explores how to discover true spiritual peace in today's hectic world. This message delves into the biblical concept of rest that goes beyond physical relaxation—it's about finding spiritual renewal through trust in God.Through the powerful stories of Elisha and Elijah, we learn two essential aspects of spiritual rest. Elisha's experience in 2 Kings 6 teaches us to see beyond our visible circumstances to recognize God's protection that already surrounds us. When Elisha and his servant were surrounded by enemy forces, Elisha prayed for his servant's eyes to be opened to see the spiritual reality—hills full of horses and chariots of fire protecting them.Elijah's journey in 1 Kings 19 shows us how God meets us in our exhaustion and isolation. After his great victory on Mount Carmel, Elijah fled in fear and found himself alone in a cave. There, God spoke not through dramatic displays of power, but through a gentle whisper, demonstrating His intimate presence even in our darkest moments.This message addresses common struggles like anxiety, burnout, spiritual fatigue, and the tendency to strive in our own strength rather than resting in God's provision. It offers practical guidance on how to:Recognize where you're striving instead of trustingSee the spiritual protection God has placed around youHear God's whispers in your daily lifeCommand God's rest over specific areas of strugglePractice Sabbath rest as a lifestyle, not just a dayWhether you're feeling overwhelmed by circumstances, battling anxiety, or simply exhausted from trying to handle everything on your own, this message provides biblical wisdom for finding true rest in God's presence. Learn how to stop the cycle of striving and enter the empowered rest that comes from complete trust in God's faithfulness and provision.Perfect for anyone seeking spiritual renewal, dealing with burnout, or wanting to deepen their trust in God during challenging times. This teaching combines biblical insights with practical application to help you experience the rest Jesus promised to all who come to Him.