The Bible tells many stories—of kings, prophets, and nations—but underneath it all is a bigger narrative arc. One that has always been leading us toward Jesus. In this sermon, Jeremy Duncan explores the road to Emmaus, the layers of scripture, and why Jesus is our clearest picture of God.

Walter Brueggemann (1933–2025) was one of the most influential Old Testament scholars of our time—an educator, theologian, and prophetic voice whose work shaped countless pastors, students, and communities.

I love studying the Bible. Context, history, original languages, even archaeology—these are gifts that help us understand the story. But as much as I value scholarship, I’m also a pastor. And that means study is never an end in itself. Whatever we learn, whatever new insight we uncover, it has to land in an encounter with Jesus.

One of the things I’ve always found beautiful about Christian spirituality is how earthy it is. It doesn’t shy away from the physical or the ordinary; in fact, it embraces them fully. This is not a spirituality that asks us to escape the world, but one that invites us deeper into it.

Before the Bible was complete, early Christians were already writing—and singing—songs of faith. In this message, we explore the Oxyrhynchus Hymn, a 1,700-year-old Christian chant preserved with musical notation, and what it reveals about worship, theology, and the heart of the early church.

Egypt and Pharaoh aren’t just ancient figures in the Bible—they’re symbols of every system that resists justice. In this teaching, we explore how the Exodus story speaks to the human condition across history, from Babylon and Rome to the powers and empires we see today.

In Ephesians 5, Paul makes a surprising comparison between getting drunk and being filled with the Spirit. What’s the connection? It’s not about prohibition or pretending—it’s about how God invites us into real, lasting connection. Join us as we explore why Paul talks about singing to each other and how music can be a Spirit-filled path to deep relationships.

Why do humans sing? From evolutionary debates to neuroscience, and from Frozen to the ABCs, we explore the surprising origins and benefits of song. Discover why singing together might be one of the most important (and most neglected) practices for our mental health, memory, and spiritual life.

In Exodus 13, a small Hebrew word changes the whole story—and reveals how easy it is to mistake control for surrender. We’ll explore the surprising language behind “when Pharaoh let the people go,” uncover the deeper meaning in the Exodus narrative, and ask what it teaches us about letting go in our own lives.

In this message, we explore what Jesus really meant by “blessed are the poor in spirit.” Far from a call to spiritual achievement, this beatitude is a scandalous reminder that the kingdom of God begins with grace—not merit. Drawing on the insights of Dallas Willard and Walter Brueggemann, Jeremy invites us to embrace our spiritual poverty as the very place where God meets us. Whether you feel lost, uncertain, or unworthy, this is good news for you.

What if Jesus’ beatitudes aren’t telling us how to earn God’s favor—but who already has God’s attention? In this reflection, we explore what it really means to be meek, why it’s not something we want to be, and how Jesus turns our assumptions about power and inheritance upside down. This isn’t a call to quiet strength—it’s a revelation of God’s heart for those who’ve been pushed aside. Dive into a fresh reading of “the meek shall inherit the earth” and discover the radical hope at the heart of Jesus’ sermon.

Is the problem our desires—or how little we understand them? Paul invites us to rethink the narrative around desire. Instead of suppressing what we want, what if we’re called to interrogate those longings—to uncover what’s beneath them and align our lives with what is truly good? This is not about shame or denial. It’s about discovering peace. Shalom. And choosing the path that leads to wholeness.

What if the biggest truths about the universe could guide the smallest steps we take each day? In this reflection, let's unpacks the metaphor of “dirt and stardust” from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, connecting Paul’s cosmic vision in Colossians to the practical choices we make in how we live, love, and seek justice. From the ground we walk on to the stars above us, this is a story about being salt and light in a world God is healing.

At the end of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, there’s a list of names that’s easy to skim. But what if these final greetings are more than just footnotes? In this teaching, Jeremy Duncan explores how the cosmic vision of Christ comes to life in ordinary relationships—and why gratitude, encouragement, and kindness are where theology truly lands.

Some of the New Testament’s most difficult verses come wrapped in household codes—lines like “wives submit” and “slaves obey.” But what if these weren’t endorsements of the status quo, but subtle acts of subversion? So let’s explore the cultural context behind Paul’s letters, the deep logic of mutual submission, and the cosmic conviction that all things are being reconciled in Christ. A thoughtful, honest look at Scripture for anyone wrestling with power, patriarchy, and peace.

Baptism is one of the most central and beautiful rituals in the Christian tradition. It’s practiced in almost every denomination, from Catholic to Pentecostal, Orthodox to Evangelical.

Paul is one of those figures in the Christian tradition who defies easy comprehension. His letters—rich, layered, and sometimes confounding—can feel distant or opaque to modern readers. That’s often because we lack the specific context: the history, the personalities, the local tensions he was addressing. And yet, within that complexity, there are anchors—centering truths that help orient us to Paul’s theological imagination.

Recently, I spoke about the letter to the Colossians, one of the so-called disputed letters of Paul. Some scholars doubt that Paul himself wrote it. The language, they argue, is too poetic, too cosmic, too polished to be Paul. But for me, that critique doesn't diminish the letter. In fact, it deepens my appreciation for how early Christians worshipped, shared ideas, and expressed their faith.

In Colossians 1:24, Paul writes that he is "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions." It's not the flashiest controversy, but it has certainly stumped more than a few theologians over the centuries.

Is Paul really suggesting that Jesus didn’t finish the job? That somehow his own suffering is required to complete Christ’s work? Let’s dig in.

Colossians 1:15-20 is breathtaking. Poetic, sweeping, and theologically rich, this passage stands among the most compelling articulations of Christ in the New Testament. But its grandeur can also obscure its meaning if we’re not paying attention.

These verses are often referred to as a hymn—possibly an early Christian song, maybe written by Paul, maybe not.