Passages
Passages explores upcoming Bible passages used for preaching and weekly discipleship by Craig Brown, Lead Pastor at First Free Methodist Church of Seattle. Passages will open new doors to Biblical texts in preparation for a sermon or other teaching.
Episodes
139 episodes
Matthew 10:16-23 | October 6, 2024
As 21st century American Christians, it is hard to relate to being a persecuted Christian. Jesus tells us that we are being sent out like, "lambs in the midst of wolves." What chance do Christians have in a hostile world? This week's episode ex...
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Season 4
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Episode 31
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24:04
Genesis 12:1-8 | September 8, 2024
The people of God have always been on the move. Since the days of Abram, God invites people to look outward rather than just inward. All of this is still a choice. Like Abram had to decide to "go", so do we.Program Note: Passages will b...
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Season 4
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Episode 30
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26:13
Ecclesiastes 12 | September 1, 2024
What matters in life? In many ways, the book of Ecclesiastes exists to tell us what DOES NOT matter in life. The closing chapter of Ecclesiastes invites us to wonder about the right kind of question we need to ask about life.
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Season 4
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Episode 29
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18:43
Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 | August 25, 2024
You have likely heard someone say, "We are waiting until just the right time." You may have also heard someone say, "Here today and gone tomorrow." Opportunity seems to strike at a time when we are not always ready for it. Do we wait or go? Thi...
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Season 4
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Episode 28
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17:35
Ecclesiastes 9:7-12 | August 18, 2024
Enjoying life can be difficult for some. There are many who hold a sense of guilt, obligation, or some other duty which keeps them from experiencing the enjoyment of life today. Being too goal-driven can lead us far away from enjoyment with our...
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Season 4
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Episode 27
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20:51
Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 | August 11, 2024
Talking about death is hard. Most of us steer clear of the topic and only touch upon it when required. Is there wisdom for us to gain in a conversation about dying? Is there a good death? What lessons can we take from others to deepen our life ...
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Season 4
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Episode 26
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21:12
Ecclesiastes 5:10-20 | August 4, 2024
Joy is less of an emotion and more of a choice. When we choose to live our life only for ourselves and those who benefit us, we find ourselves in an endless cycle of greed. It is a joyless way of life. When we make the choice for joy we can fin...
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Season 4
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Episode 25
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17:57
Ecclesiastes 4:7-16 | July 28, 2024
The choice to be together or "go it alone" is one we face now more than ever. The isolation of pandemic may have led us to believe that isolation is better for us. God's wisdom is filled with encouragement to find joy in shared work, support, a...
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Season 4
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Episode 24
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17:58
Ecclesiastes 3:1-10 | July 21, 2024
We have all had the "time of our life" or "killing time." Knowing that there are times and seasons in our lives should not surprise us. It is part of being human. How will we hold the time we are in? What will we do...or not do...in this season...
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Season 4
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Episode 23
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22:14
Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 | July 7, 2024
The Book of Ecclesiastes is not a book we read too often. Its darker and more cynical wisdom sounds just a little too dreary. What this book offers us is a realistic view of the world we live in whether we chose to admit it or not. If this is t...
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Season 4
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Episode 22
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19:53
Mark 5:21-43 | June 30, 2024
Jesus' ministry of healing is not just limited to what people may ask of Him. Jesus brings a healing beyond everyone's expectations. The whole person matters to Jesus. It may cause us to wonder about how we pray for healing. Are we praying for ...
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Season 4
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Episode 21
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28:17
Luke 12:22-24 | June 23, 2024
Jesus' teaching on money is hard for the 21st century Christian to hear. Much of our culture is focused on getting and having enough. Worry about financial security continues to confront families in poverty and in wealth. In this sense, worry h...
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Season 4
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Episode 20
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20:40
Luke 12:13-21 | June 16, 2024
Greed continues to plague the human condition. For thousands of years human beings have often been gripped by their fear of loss and security. This fear gives rise to the practice of greed which sees the "self" as the center. In this week...
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Season 4
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Episode 19
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18:42
Luke 16:10-13 | June 9, 2024
The Gospels record a significant amount of Jesus' teaching on money. Over all of these centuries, very little has changed in our relationship with wealth. This week's episode explores how money can become a great resource when it serves us as w...
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Season 4
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Episode 18
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20:12
1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12 | June 2, 2024
Passing on a legacy is complicated. For parents, it often means sharing the learnings from one's successes and failures. When King David draws close to his own death, he pauses to share some important words with his son Solomon. Like any parent...
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Season 4
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Episode 17
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20:36
Romans 8:12-17 | May 26, 2024
Being a child or being a parent is filled with joy and challenges. We have all experienced moments when we wished things between our parents or children were different. What is it like to have a perfect parent? This week's episode explores what...
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Season 4
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Episode 17
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24:50
Acts 2:1-21 | May 19, 2024
The coming of the Holy Spirit marks an unprecedented change in how God is at work in the world. Rather than speaking through a single prophet or even through Jesus, God now comes in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is "distributed" to the followers ...
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Season 4
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Episode 16
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24:41
May 12, 2024 | Luke 24:44-53
Jesus offers his followers some important parting words before his ascension. Not only does he tell them that everything they have seen and heard has been according to the scriptures but, he also makes them witnesses to proclaim the message. By...
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Season 4
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Episode 15
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23:27
April 28, 2024 | Esther 7
The story of Esther is a gripping tale of conspiracy, intrigue, and integrity. Here we find a great hero in Esther, who defies all constraints placed upon her. She is the agent of God's justice where evil is exposed. She saves herself and her p...
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Season 4
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Episode 14
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22:51
Hebrews 5:11-14 | April 21, 2024
When we don't know where we are going in life or are simply confused, we often think it is easier to retreat inward. Our response of fear in these situations will bring isolation rather than openness. The followers of Jesus are called to live l...
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Season 4
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Episode 13
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23:42
Colossians 3:12-17 | April 14, 2024
Being thankful and expressing gratitude do not come easy for all of us. They are both expressions of deeper commitments we have each made. Thanksgiving and gratitude exist because of our commitments to compassion, grace, humility, and most of a...
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Season 4
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Episode 12
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23:27
Philippians 3:7-11 | April 7, 2024
Businesses large and small take time to look at their income and expense statements. Were there losses? Where did we gain? When do we take such a survey of our own life in light of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus? This week, the Apos...
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Season 4
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Episode 11
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24:13
John 20:1-18 | March 31, 2024
The story of Jesus' resurrection is filled with many different emotions. There is joy, wonder, confusion, and even fear present in this story. What emerges by the end of this text is a beautiful sense of hope which emerges in the presence of th...
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Season 4
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Episode 11
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22:59
Mark 11:1-11 | March 24, 2024
Jesus' entrance into the city of Jerusalem shortly before his death and resurrection is a moment of celebration. In Mark's version of this story, we see no large crowds, a Jesus who says nothing, and all of it happening on a donkey. Humility is...
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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27:02
March 17, 2024 | Acts 6:1-7
Being a community, or even a family, can be hard at times. Everyone has opinions and, most of the time, we are not always willing to change our mind or even listen carefully to others. There is a special way Christians live in community where t...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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24:47