Episodes
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Salt of the Earth: Sexuality
Sexuality Scott Axtmann Sex is one of the most talked about subjects in our culture, yet it can still be one of the hardest things for Christians to talk about honestly. In this message from Pastor Scott’s Salt of the Earth series, he explores the beautiful but complicated gift of sexuality. Why...
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Salt of the Earth: Politics
Politics Scott Axtmann Pastor Scott tackles one of today’s most divisive topics and challenges Christians on both sides of the political aisle to take a hard look at how they engage. Politics matter, but what happens when loyalty to a party starts to compete with loyalty to Jesus? From demonizing...
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Salt of the Earth: Opposition
Opposition Mark Skillin What if the biggest source of opposition in our lives isn’t coming from the world around us, but from our own hearts? In this message, Mark explores the biblical idea that humanity is born with an oppositional nature, beginning with Adam and Eve’s rejection of God’s…
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Salt of the Earth: Neighborhood
Neighborhood Scott Axtmann What if loving your neighbor actually meant knowing your neighbor? Pastor Scott challenges us to look beyond our busy schedules, closed doors, and comfortable routines and start building real relationships with the people God has placed around us. Through stories from…
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Salt of the Earth: Justice
Justice Vicky Griffiths Who determines good from evil, and who is responsible for ensuring justice is done? As believers, how do we navigate controversial issues to do with justice in our world? In this message, Vicky explores how Biblical justice springs from two foundational principles; that…
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Salt of the Earth: Work
Work Max DeHaven In this talk, Max (one of our Ren elders) takes a fresh look at work and what it means to live out our calling. He explores the idea that our everyday jobs, responsibilities, and even the seemingly mundane tasks of life can be meaningful ways to serve God and others. Max also...
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Salt of the Earth: Conflict
Conflict Brian Boeninger Conflict is something we all experience, whether it’s within ourselves, in our relationships, or in the world around us. In this sermon Brian (one of our Ren elders) explores how we can respond to conflict as Christians, reminding us that conflict isn’t always bad and can...
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Salt of the Earth: Hospitality
Hospitality Vicky Griffiths Anyone can throw a dinner party or host a friend for the weekend, but biblical hospitality is different. In this message Vicky explores how, at the heart of the gospel, is an unimaginable hospitality driven and motivated by God's love. It is because of this love that…
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Salt of the Earth: Church
Church Pastor Scott continues the Salt of the Earth series with a compelling look at why the local church matters so much. He challenges us to move beyond simply attending church and to become fully devoted participants who serve, give, pray, and bring our unique gifts to build up the body. Scott...
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Salt of the Earth: Friendship
Friendship Mark Skillin Mark takes a fresh look at friendship and why it matters far more than we often realize. Drawing from Scripture and the works of C.S. Lewis, he explains that the best friendships seem to happen almost unexpectedly, when people discover a shared passion or a kindred spirit....
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Salt of the Earth: Words
Words Scott Axtmann Words have the power to wound, heal, discourage, and give life. Every one of us has experienced their impact. This recording begins with a brief testimony from Josi about the power of words, followed by Pastor Scott's message from our Salt of the Earth series. Drawing from...
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Salt of the Earth: Suffering
Suffering Vicky Griffiths Why does suffering happen? How can we still stay faithful to our call to be the 'salt of the earth' in our greatest trials? In this message, Vicky explores these questions through the illustration that Jesus gave of the wise man who built his house on the rock, and the...
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Salt of the Earth: Thought Life
Thought Life Scott Axtmann What if the biggest spiritual battle you face isn't happening around you, but inside your own mind? In this message, Pastor Scott explores how our thoughts shape our lives, why so many of us wrestle with fear, shame, anxiety, and lies, and what it really means to "take...
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Salt of the Earth: Identity
Identity Scott Axtmann In this message, Pastor Scott explores one of the biggest questions we all wrestle with: our identity. He unpacks why so many of us build our sense of worth on things that can never truly satisfy and shows what changes when we stop letting our past, our mistakes, or other...
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Salt of the Earth: Ordinary Activities
Ordinary Activities Scott Axtmann Pastor Scott reminds us that while we spend so much of life chasing exciting moments, most of our days are made up of ordinary tasks, and those moments matter to God as well. In this message, he shares how everything from washing dishes to pulling weeds can…
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Salt of the Earth: Digital Life
Digital Life Mark Skillin In this message, Mark tackles the challenge of living faithfully in a world of constant notifications, endless information, and digital distractions. With humor, personal stories, and practical insight, he asks an important question: are our devices helping us, or…
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Salt of the Earth: Sabbath
Sabbath Vicky Griffiths Vicky takes an honest look at why so many of us feel rushed, exhausted, and unable to truly rest. Through personal stories and biblical insight, she explains that Sabbath is not just a rule to follow but a gift from God that brings freedom, renewal, and a deeper awareness…
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Salt of the Earth: Time
Time Scott Axtmann Pastor Scott explores one of life's biggest challenges: how we spend our limited time. In this encouraging message, he reminds us that while life is brief, every moment matters and can be used for God's purposes. Through practical examples and biblical wisdom, he shares how to...
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Salt of the Earth: Solitude
Solitude Scott Axtmann What if the thing your soul needs most is something the modern world constantly pulls you away from? In a world filled with noise, distraction, and constant motion, Pastor Scott invites us into the forgotten spiritual practice of solitude. Drawing from the life of Jesus and...
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Salt of the Earth: Celebration
Celebration Scott Axtmann What if celebration isn’t just something we do, but a powerful way we love others? In this message Pastor Scott explores how joy, honor, and gratitude are actually spiritual disciplines that shape our hearts and relationships. He unpacks why learning to truly celebrate...
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Salt of the Earth: Contemplation
Contemplation Vicky Griffiths In this message from the “Salt of the Earth” series, Vicky unpacks what contemplation really looks like in everyday life. In a world full of noise and distraction, she explains how slowing down and thinking deeply about God’s Word can actually change us from the…
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Salt of the Earth: Scripture
Scripture Scott Axtmann Pastor Scott continues the Salt of the Earth series with a powerful invitation to rediscover the life changing beauty of God’s Word, revealing who God is, how we are saved, and how we are meant to live. He challenges us not just to know Scripture, but to truly submit to…
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Salt of the Earth: Prayer
Prayer Scott Axtmann Pastor Scott opens the Salt of the Earth series with a powerful call to real prayer as a daily, honest relationship with God that shapes every part of life. He challenges both cultural indifference and empty routine, urging us to seek God with authenticity, even in dryness or...
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Salt of the Earth: Introduction
Salt of the Earth Series Introduction Scott Axtmann This opening message introduces the “Salt of the Earth” series. Scott will explore what it truly looks like to follow Jesus in everyday life, often in ways that stand in contrast to cultural norms. Drawing from Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5,...
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Standalone Sermons: Easter Message
Easter Message Scott Axtmann Easter Sunday Message In this Easter message, Pastor Scott reflects on Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Jesus, highlighting her deep devotion, grief, and initial confusion at the empty tomb. Though overwhelmed by sorrow and unable to recognize Him at first,...
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Standalone Sermons: Alonica Worship Band
Alonica Worship Band Alonica Worship Band Before welcoming the band Alonica, Pastor Scott’s short message explores the meaning of corporate worship as a central, centuries-old practice where believers collectively direct their praise and affection toward God. It explains that worship is more than...
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Standalone Sermons: Thoughts on Mission
Thoughts on Mission Scott Axtmann Thoughts on Mission This message shares a powerful testimony of transformation, from addiction and despair to new life through an encounter with God, made possible by the patient love and persistence of friends who lived out their faith. It emphasizes that every...
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Philippians: Fragrant Offering
Scott wraps up our Philippians series by highlighting how the generosity of the Philippian church was a fragrant offering to God, showing that giving flows from a right lifestyle and a heart aligned with Him. He reminds us that God can be pleased by our faithful, cheerful, and sacrificial giving,...
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Philippians: The Secret of Contentment
The pervasive sense of discontentment with what we have almost fuels the culture around us, but God intends us to live a life characterized by peace and contentment. In this message we unpack what the apostle Paul might mean when he says he has learnt the secret to being content in all...
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Philippians: Thinking and Being in Order to Experience the Peace of God
Mark explains that when Paul begins with “finally” in the Epistle to the Philippians, he is offering a concluding encouragement for believers to focus their minds on what is true, noble, and pure. He reminds us that how we think shapes how we live, which is why the Christian life involves...
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Standalone Sermons: Living as Citizens of Heaven
A small portion of Scott’s sermon was unfortunately not recorded, so the audio begins partway through his message. In this message from the Epistle to the Philippians, Scott reflects on what it means to live as citizens of heaven while following Christ in the present world. He encourages…
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Philippians: Paul's Master Class in Handling Conflict
Philippians 4: 2,3 Whether trivial or more serious, most of us have experienced differences of opinion among people in the churches we have attended. Sometimes we may even find that we are the ones caught up in disagreements. How should we handle these moments when they arise? In just two verses,...
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Philippians: Saved by the Cross through Cleansing and Cross-bearing
Saved by the Cross through Cleansing and Cross-bearing Mark Skillin Philippians 3:17-4:1 In this message from the letter to the Philippians, Mark Skillin explains that the cross not only cleanses believers from sin but also calls them to a life of following Jesus through sacrifice and…
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Philippians: The Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ
Philippians 3:1-11 In this sermon on Philippians 3:1–11, Mark Skillin explains how Paul could tell believers to rejoice even while he was in prison. Paul warns against putting confidence in religious status, background, or good works, since he once had all of those things but came to see them as...
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Philippians: Genuine Leadership
Philippians 2:19-30 In this sermon we look at Philippians 2:19–30, where Paul highlights Timothy and Epaphroditus as examples of genuine Christian leadership. Writing from prison, Paul addresses the ongoing challenge of discerning trustworthy spiritual leaders and contrasts outwardly impressive...
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Standalone Sermons: 2026 Aims
In this pastoral talk on “2026 Aims", Pastor Scott encourages us not to shy away from resolutions but to see them as meaningful goals that help us live intentionally for God. Reflecting on the quiet of winter as a time for evaluation, he challenges believers to consider how they use their limited...
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Advent: The Greatest Gift
In this interactive Christmas sermon, Vicky Griffiths invites the children gathered at the front of the church to help open a table full of wrapped gifts, each one revealing a deeper truth about the Christmas story. As the eight gifts are opened, such as a a scroll of prophecy or a light-up star,...
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Advent: God With Us
In this message, we explore the breathtaking truth at the center of Christmas: God became human and dwelt among us. Walking through John 1:1–18, we linger on the mystery of the incarnation and what it means that Jesus fully entered the human experience—our weakness, suffering, sorrow, and joy.…
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Advent: The Empathetic God
In this sermon, guest speaker Dr. Mike Caparelli explores empathy as a defining attribute of God, revealed most clearly through the Incarnation. Rather than putting humanity “in its place,” God chose to put Himself in our place—crossing the greatest possible gap between heaven and earth. Drawing...
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Philippians: Shining Stars
In this message from Philippians 2:12–18, Pastor Scott explores what it means to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” by taking seriously the transforming work God is doing within us. Using vivid illustrations, he invites us to see God as the master architect renovating our lives—and...
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Standalone Sermons: At Home with the Lord
On November 15, 2025, our beloved Jackie Plante went home to be with the Lord. Pastor Scott shares about the way she loved and ministered to people even in her final hours in the hospital. The good news is that Christ followers can mourn Jackie’s passing with grounded hope. To process this as a...
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Philippians: The Humility of Jesus
Philippians 2:5-11 We all want to make something of our lives—but what if the path upward actually begins by going down? In this message from Philippians 2:5–11, we see Jesus, who had every right to stay above it all, choosing instead to stoop low and serve. His humility not only reveals God’s...
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Philippians: Loving Like Christ
Philippians 2:1–5 This message calls us to love with the same humility and selflessness that Christ displayed. Paul’s words in Philippians 2 remind us that nothing is more beautiful than a life poured out in love for others. True Christlike love doesn’t come naturally—it’s cultivated through…
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Prayer & Revival: What Fills Us, Spills From Us
Guest speaker Pastor Emily Cordon Drainville from Sanctuary Church shares how God is stirring renewal in the Church through prayer and bold witness. Drawing from Acts 4:23–31, she teaches that there is no revival without resistance—and that spiritual pressure reveals what’s really inside us. The...
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Philippians: Unstoppable Joy
Philippians 1:12–30 What if the very things meant to silence faith actually make it stronger? In this message, Pastor Scott unpacks how Paul’s imprisonment—and even the selfish motives of others—became unexpected catalysts for the spread of the gospel. Drawing from Paul’s deep joy amid suffering,...
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Philippians: Affection + Prayer
Philippians 1:1-11 This message reflects on Paul’s warm affection for the church in Philippi and uses his prayer as a model for how Renaissance Church should pray in this season of renewed corporate prayer. It emphasizes that prayer must be more than activity—it must align with God’s will, flow...
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Prayer & Revival: Maturing the Church for the Harvest
How do you prepare to get ready for an influx of new believers as a result of prayer? This week, guest speaker Tim Zulker—executive director of New England Urban Church Planting and longtime mentor to leaders across Rhode Island—shared a message from Ephesians 4:1–16 about preparing for revival...
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Prayer & Revival: Persistance in Prayer
In this sermon on prayer and revival, Vicky Griffiths encourages us to rethink how we approach God. Drawing from Luke 11, the teaching emphasizes bold, persistent, and shamelessly audacious prayer—asking, seeking, and knocking until we see results. Jesus models a relationship with a loving…
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Prayer & Revival: This Kind Comes Only By Prayer
In this message on Prayer and Revival, Pastor Scott reminds us that revival isn’t just emotional hype but a move of God that awakens us to His presence and reshapes everyday life. Looking at examples like the Moravian prayer movement and Isaiah’s vision of God’s holiness, he shows how revival...
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Prayer & Revival: How to Sustain
In part two of our Prayer and Revival series, we focus on how to keep the fire of prayer burning once God has lit it in our hearts. We look at the importance of abiding in God’s love—rejecting condemnation and coming boldly to Him even when we feel weak or unworthy. We also talk about the need to...
About this show
Renaissance Church is a nondenominational Christian church located in Providence, RI founded in 2003 by Pastor Scott Axtmann.
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Renaissance Church Providence RI
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