In this episode we explore what a micro church is and why smaller, participatory gatherings can still embody the full life of the church worship, maturity, and mission from living rooms to local service. We talk autonomy (it’s a church, not just a “group”), a multigenerational picture around the table, Matthew 18, and a 1 Corinthians 14 rhythm where everyone comes to give.

We also share real stories—like a Sunday spent serving at a soup kitchen followed by prayer and communion—and why this can be a gentler on-ramp for skeptics and the hurt. You’ll hear how calling and creativity open space for diverse expressions (from neighborhood meals to hospice worship) while staying humble: this isn’t “the only way,” just a fruitful one for many.

If you find this teaching helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with your friends!

Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:38 Definition & autonomy: a micro church is a church

03:32 A living-room picture + Matthew 18 presence

04:08 Participation over performance; shrinking the stage/audience gap

05:25 1 Corinthians 14: everyone comes ready to give

08:13 From big church to built-in community

10:18 Mission in practice: “soup kitchen Sunday” + communion

12:02 Calling & creativity: diverse expressions of church

13:04 Not the only way: humility & unity across expressions

14:44 Overcoming “living-room nerves”: safety & expectations

18:12 Beauty in vulnerable moments & shared worship

19:12 A safer entry point for seekers; bringing church to people

UNpolished Church podcast exists to help equip and resource Christians toward experiencing greater intimacy with one another, transformation into Christ, and impact for Jesus’ redemptive mission in the world. If you have enjoyed or benefited from this podcast, please share with a friend and be sure to turn notifications on so you will be alerted to future episodes!

Sign up to receive updates: https://www.jonsherwood.com/podcast

#MicroChurch #biblestudy #jonsherwood #unpolishedpodcast #missionalcommunities #community #organicchurch #housechurch #scripture #truth #faith #jesuschrist #discipleship #christian #christianity #spiritualformation #prayer #spiritualgrowth #spiritualpractices #spiritualdisciplines #theology #church #bibleteaching #biblicalstory #metanarrative #practicingtheway #storyofgod #creationtonewcreation #howtoreadthebible #spirituality #christcentered #livingtheword

In this episode of the Unpolished Church Podcast, host Jon Sherwood engages in a heartfelt conversation with Tony about his life, faith journey, and the transformative power of Jesus.

They discuss Tony's deep family roots in Black Mountain, his initial hesitance towards church, and how a welcoming community helped him embrace his faith.

Tony shares personal struggles, including his son's health crisis, and how faith and community support played a crucial role in navigating these challenges.

The conversation emphasizes the importance of accountability, truth, and the sense of belonging within a faith community, culminating in a prayer of gratitude for Jesus and the hope He brings.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:40 Tony's Journey and Family Roots

03:01 Finding Faith in Community

06:47 The Impact of Jesus in Personal Struggles

09:17 Miracles and Transformation Through Faith

11:14 Community, Truth, and Accountability

14:23 Conclusion and Prayer

UNpolished Church podcast exists to help equip and resource Christians toward experiencing greater intimacy with one another, transformation into Christ, and impact for Jesus' redemptive mission in the world. If you have enjoyed or benefited from this podcast, please share with a friend and be sure to turn notifications on so you will be alerted to future episodes!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive updates: https://www.jonsherwood.com/podcast

#biblestudy #jonsherwood #unpolishedpodcast #unpolishedchurchpodcast #microchurch #missionalcommunities #community #microchurch #housechurch #truth #spiritual #study #faith #believing #jesuschrist #disciplesofchrist #debates #theology #christian #amicrochurchnetwork #ashevillechurchnetwork #microchurches #sermons #give #prayer #holyspirit #sermon #deliverance #decisionmaking #spiritualwisdom #spiritualdepth #christianity

In this episode of The Unpolished Church, Jon Sherwood sits down with Xam and Maui Vang to explore something many Christians talk about but struggle to practice: spiritual formation in everyday life.

This isn’t theory. It’s as tangible as buying blankets for neighbors, handing a stranger your extra pair of shoes, and choosing Scripture over the next dopamine hit on social media. Through honest stories, the Vang's share how prayer, generosity, and Scripture have been reshaping their home, their habits, and their hearts.

What follows is simple and beautiful: a house filled with “joyful noise,” a community that actually notices when you’re missing, and a deeper reverence as the church prepares for the Lord’s Table.

Along the way, they describe the surprising freedom that came from a social media fast and the quiet fruit of showing up for people again and again.

Timestamps:

[00:00] - Intro

[00:16] - OG's of Asheville Church Network

[01:50] - Xam and Maui Vang's Story

[06:40] - Formation practices & Sabbath practice coming in January

[11:30] - Where do you feel Jesus inviting you to trust Him more?

[17:04] - Prayer & Outro

UNpolished Church podcast exists to help equip and resource Christians toward experiencing greater intimacy with one another, transformation into Christ, and impact for Jesus' redemptive mission in the world. If you have enjoyed or benefited from this podcast, please share with a friend and be sure to turn notifications on so you will be alerted to future episodes!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive updates: https://www.jonsherwood.com/podcast

#biblestudy #jonsherwood #unpolishedpodcast #unpolishedchurchpodcast #microchurch #missionalcommunities #community #microchurch #housechurch #truth #spiritual #study #faith #believing #jesuschrist #disciplesofchrist #debates #theology #christian #amicrochurchnetwork #ashevillechurchnetwork #microchurches #sermons #give #prayer #holyspirit #sermon #deliverance #decisionmaking #spiritualwisdom #spiritualdepth #christianity

In this episode of The Unpolished Church, Jon Sherwood sits down with the Jeter's to explore something many Christians talk about but struggle to practice: spiritual formation in everyday life.

This isn’t theory. It’s as tangible as buying blankets for neighbors, handing a stranger your extra pair of shoes, and choosing Scripture over the next dopamine hit on social media. Through honest stories, the Jeter's share how prayer, generosity, and Scripture have been reshaping their home, their habits, and their hearts.

What follows is simple and beautiful: a house filled with “joyful noise,” a community that actually notices when you’re missing, and a deeper reverence as the church prepares for the Lord’s Table.

Along the way, they describe the surprising freedom that came from a social media fast and the quiet fruit of showing up for people again and again.

You’ll hear:

Why generosity isn’t just money and how blankets, bandages, and shoes became worship

How fasting from social media made prayer and Scripture come alive

Why singing at home can become real prayer (“joyful noise” and all)

How a church family’s love shows up in baby showers, accountability, and communion

Why community that cares enough to “check on you” can change your life

Timestamps:

[00:00] - Intro

[01:14] - Prayer, generosity & Scripture in this season

[02:00] - Blankets for neighbors & the “gave him my shoes” story

[04:00] - When everyone cries… and why generosity is contagious

[04:30] - Fasting Facebook: choosing Scripture over dopamine

[06:07] - “To sing is to pray twice”: joyful noise in the home

[07:10] - Preparing for the Lord’s Supper (Communion/Eucharist)

[08:31] - From “shooting in the dark” to real fruit through community

[09:23] - The church that notices when you’re missing

[10:59] - Accountability, iron groups & a baby shower that preached love

[13:50] - “We don’t share DNA, but we share the blood of Jesus”

[14:06] - Closing prayer of gratitude & sending

UNpolished Church podcast exists to help equip and resource Christians toward experiencing greater intimacy with one another, transformation into Christ, and impact for Jesus' redemptive mission in the world. If you have enjoyed or benefited from this podcast, please share with a friend and be sure to turn notifications on so you will be alerted to future episodes!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive updates: https://www.jonsherwood.com/podcast

#biblestudy #jonsherwood #unpolishedpodcast #unpolishedchurchpodcast #microchurch #missionalcommunities #community #microchurch #housechurch #truth #spiritual #study #faith #believing #jesuschrist #disciplesofchrist #debates #theology #christian #Hatfield #JamesHatfield #DaniellaHatfield #amicrochurchnetwork #ashevillechurchnetwork #microchurches #sermons #give #prayer #holyspirit #sermon #deliverance #decisionmaking #spiritualwisdom #spiritualdepth #christianity

In this episode of The Unpolished Church, Jon Sherwood sits down with James & Daniella Hatfield from the Asheville Church Network to explore something many Christians have heard of but few have truly experienced: spiritual formation.

Coming from a low-church evangelical background, James & Daniella Hatfield had almost no exposure to ancient Christian practices. But what began as curiosity soon grew into a deep, life-altering journey. Together with their network, they discovered practices like breath prayers, silence, examen, and listening prayer ancient rhythms rooted in the Desert Fathers and Mothers, the early church, and historic Christian traditions.

What followed was transformational: renewed intimacy with Jesus, emotional and spiritual healing, and even the birth of a new microchurch formed through listening prayer a ministry that now brings worship, compassion, and presence into local hospice rooms where people spend their final days.

James & Daniella Hatfield share how formation reshaped their marriages, leadership, parenting, and their entire network’s culture. From tears during early breath-prayer sessions to their children joyfully singing “Amazing Grace” over patients on their deathbeds, their story is a raw, unpolished testimony of how spiritual formation brings life where faith has grown dry.

You’ll hear:

Why spiritual formation felt “new” despite being deeply ancient

How breath prayers, silence, and examen opened emotional healing

The story of a listening-prayer moment that birthed a hospice microchurch

Real encounters with families and patients in their final hours

How their kids are learning faith through embodied experiences

Why formation shapes leaders, communities, and mission

How practices—not programs—change the heart of a church

Timestamps:

[00:00] - Welcome to The Unpolished Church Podcast

[00:23] - Introducing James & Daniella Hatfield

[02:23] - Why Spiritual Formation Felt “New”

[03:46] - The Ancient Roots: Desert Fathers & Mothers

[05:18] - Practices That Changed Everything

[07:15] - Their First Spiritual Formation Retreat

[09:30] - Early Emotions, Tears & Healing

[11:20] - Why Formation Is Not the Goal but the Path

[12:58] - Moving from Ideas to Experiences

[14:33] - How Formation Is Shaping Their Network

[15:25] - Listening Prayer: A Practice That Shifted Everything

[17:11] - The Calling to Start a Hospice Microchurch

[18:47] - Beginning Ministry in the Hospice

[21:23] - Stories of Joy, Tears & Final Moments

[23:59] - Amazing Grace and Sacred Encounters

[25:24] - Worship at the Edge of Life

[27:02] - Meeting Jesus in Vulnerable Spaces

[29:03] - How Their Kids Experience Microchurch Life

[31:09] - Challenges & Beauty of Serving as a Family

[34:08] - Why Children Need Real Experiences of Faith

[38:00] - The Heart of Microchurch: Imago Dei

[39:58] - How to Discern God’s Calling

[42:05] - Gifts, Needs & Purpose

[43:41] - Taking Small, Honest First Steps

[44:45] - Closing Encouragements & Reflections

UNpolished Church podcast exists to help equip and resource Christians toward experiencing greater intimacy with one another, transformation into Christ, and impact for Jesus' redemptive mission in the world. If you have enjoyed or benefited from this podcast, please share with a friend and be sure to turn notifications on so you will be alerted to future episodes!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive updates: https://www.jonsherwood.com/podcast

#biblestudy #jonsherwood #unpolishedpodcast #unpolishedchurchpodcast #microchurch #missionalcommunities #community #microchurch #housechurch #truth #spiritual #study #faith #believing #jesuschrist #disciplesofchrist #debates #theology #christian #Hatfield #JamesHatfield #DaniellaHatfield #amicrochurchnetwork #ashevillechurchnetwork #microchurches #sermons #give #prayer #holyspirit #sermon #deliverance #decisionmaking #spiritualwisdom #spiritualdepth #christianity

In this sermon we explore the grand metanarrative of Scripture, the story of the Bible from creation to new creation.

We explore the essence of the Christian faith as a narrative that provides a true story of the world. It emphasizes the importance of Christians sharing this story to disrupt competing narratives and offers a metanarrative that helps in understanding truth, reality, and the human condition.

If you find this teaching helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with your friends!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Scripture Practice

00:52 Understanding the Meta-Narrative of the Bible

01:34 Summarizing the Bible's Story

08:07 The Bible's Unified Story

13:24 Participating in the Biblical Story

20:54 The Importance of Exegesis

35:23 Concluding Thoughts and Prayer

UNpolished Church podcast exists to help equip and resource Christians toward experiencing greater intimacy with one another, transformation into Christ, and impact for Jesus’ redemptive mission in the world. If you have enjoyed or benefited from this podcast, please share with a friend and be sure to turn notifications on so you will be alerted to future episodes!

Sign up to receive updates: https://www.jonsherwood.com/podcast

#TheStoryOfTheBible #biblestudy #jonsherwood #unpolishedpodcast #microchurch #missionalcommunities #community #organicchurch #housechurch #scripture #truth #faith #jesuschrist #discipleship #christian #christianity #spiritualformation #prayer #spiritualgrowth #spiritualpractices #spiritualdisciplines #theology #church #bibleteaching #biblicalstory #metanarrative #practicingtheway #storyofgod #creationtonewcreation #howtoreadthebible #spirituality #christcentered #livingtheword

Is Christianity a bookish faith? For much of Christian history, Scripture was heard together, not just skimmed alone on a screen.

Today we’re recentering the text in community and learning to read the unified story that leads to Jesus (Luke 24, John 14:6-9, Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:15, John 5:39). In this conversation, Jon unpacks why the Bible is not an “IKEA manual,” why “Word” in John 1 isn’t equating Jesus with text, and why analog, corporate hearing still forms us deeply.

We’re after transformation, not trivia.

If you find this episode helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with friends!

Chapters

[00:00] Intro

[00:55] A Bookish Faith

[02:30] Jesus is not the Bible, and the Bible is not Jesus

[04:56] The Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus

[06:48] - Luke 24:25-27

[07:16] - John 14:6-9

[08:09] - Hebrews 1:3

[08:51] - Colossians 1:15

[12:12] - What The Bible Is Not?

[14:51] - Re-centering The Text As Christian Community

[22:13] - The Drama of Scripture - Bartholomew & Goheen

[24:31] - The Prayer and Outro

UNpolished Church podcast exists to help equip and resource Christians toward experiencing greater intimacy with one another, transformation into Christ, and impact for Jesus’ redemptive mission in the world. If you have enjoyed or benefited from this podcast, please share with a friend and be sure to turn notifications on so you will be alerted to future episodes!

Sign up to receive updates: https://www.jonsherwood.com/podcast

#bible #biblestudy #jonsherwood #unpolishedpodcast #unpolishedchurchpodcast #microchurch #missionalcommunities #community #organicchurch #housechurch #scripture #truth #faith #jesuschrist #discipleship #christian #christianity #prayer #spiritualformation #lament #intercession #lordsprayer #spiritualdisciplines #spiritualpractices #spiritualgrowth #CSLewis #DallasWillard #TheMatrix #prayer #livingonaprayer #morningprayer #faith #christianity#romans12 #romans12ministry #spirituality #church #theology #spiritualgrowth #howtopraytogod #gratitude #lament #authenticity #selfimprovement #mentalhealth #selfdevelopment #beyourself #selfawareness

In this episode of the Unpolished Church podcast, host Jon Sherwood explores the definition of church, particularly in the context of microchurches.

What is the minimum elements required to call something "church"?

Jon outlines three core elements that define a church: lordship, mission, and maturity, and explains how these elements guide the formation and function of microchurches.

He encourages listeners to reflect on their own definitions of church and the implications for their community practices.

If you find this episode helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with friends!

Chapters

[00:00] Intro

[00:23] What Is Church?

[03:21] The 3 Things Every Church Must Have

[07:25] Micro Church Minimum (Minimum Level Of Christians To Be Considered a Church)

[08:35] Navigating Change in Church Structures

[10:43] Outro

UNpolished Church podcast exists to help equip and resource Christians toward experiencing greater intimacy with one another, transformation into Christ, and impact for Jesus’ redemptive mission in the world. If you have enjoyed or benefited from this podcast, please share with a friend and be sure to turn notifications on so you will be alerted to future episodes!

Sign up to receive updates: https://www.jonsherwood.com/podcast

#bible #biblestudy #jonsherwood #unpolishedpodcast #unpolishedchurchpodcast #microchurch #missionalcommunities #community #organicchurch #housechurch #scripture #truth #faith #jesuschrist #discipleship #christian #christianity #prayer #spiritualformation #lament #intercession #lordsprayer #spiritualdisciplines #spiritualpractices #spiritualgrowth #CSLewis #DallasWillard #TheMatrix #prayer #livingonaprayer #morningprayer #faith #christianity#romans12 #romans12ministry #spirituality #church #theology #spiritualgrowth #howtopraytogod #gratitude #lament #authenticity #selfimprovement #mentalhealth #selfdevelopment #beyourself #selfawareness