In this episode of our spring series, The Way Forward, we walk through Acts 17:16-34 to explore Paul’s encounter in Athens. As Paul engages with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers at the Areopagus, he provides a model for how we can navigate unfamiliar cultures and carry on thoughtful, faith-filled conversations in our own time.

How do we move forward when our efforts seem to go unnoticed, or when we feel like we are investing in places where there is little immediate "fruit"?

In this talk, we reflect on:
The challenge of exceptionalism: How the gospel invites us to dismantle the walls we build between ourselves and others.
The "Unknown God": Paul’s sermon on the universal intent of God’s care and renewal.
Overcoming discouragement: Why your life’s service, creativity, and love are never just "throw-away lines," even when the results are hidden from view.
Join us as we explore what it means to faithfully pursue the "way forward" in the far-off places of our lives.

Scripture Reference: Acts 17:16-34

In this message, we explore the story of the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, examining how early believers navigated deep conflict and cultural shifts within the church.1

Key topics include:
The Nature of Conflict: Why "certain people problems" are a normal, albeit challenging, part of community growth.
Navigating Change: Understanding what to keep from the past and what to leave behind as the mission evolves.
The Power of Conversation: How the Jerusalem Council demonstrates that holy, transformative dialogue is central to the life of the church.
Grace and Inclusion: A look at the paradigm shift that expanded the circle of belonging, prioritizing grace over legalism.
Bobbi also shares updates on the upcoming Marda Loop Commons launch and current community life at Commons Church. For more details on upcoming events and team-building opportunities, visit commons.church.

In Acts 13, the spotlight shifts from Jerusalem to Antioch—a diverse, unexpected community where the Holy Spirit is doing something entirely new. From former outsiders and unlikely leaders to the commissioning of Paul and Barnabas, this chapter reveals a church that chooses mission over comfort, creativity over control, and expansion over preservation.

In this message, we explore how God's grace continually pushes the church beyond its assumptions, why the most transformative movements often emerge from the margins, and what it means to trust the Spirit enough to send our best into the unknown.

Whether you're navigating change, wrestling with tradition, or discerning what's next, Acts 13 reminds us that the future of God's kingdom has always belonged to communities willing to follow where the Spirit leads.