Thomas Cogdell - Identificational Repentance

During the Christ the Reconciler retreat, we tackled Identificational Repentance - a difficult and overlooked topic, but very important for reconciliation and unity. Thomas taught first about the negative effects of sin going "wide" and "long", then addressed biblical examples of identificational repentance to heal these "wounds of the world."

Teaching given at Christ the Reconciler, 19 July 2025.

Here are links to some good resources, most of which are mentioned in the teaching:

And, if you prefer video (which does show you the scriptures being taught on) …

Amy Cogdell - Apostolic Authority, Submission and Love

[ Re-posted as preparation for the upcoming CTR retreat on Identificational Repentance ]

The end of Boundaries of Reconciliation #1, True & False Unity, was the ruling of the Jerusalem Council on the controversy of Gentiles becoming followers of Jesus. This second teaching in the series picks up there by addressing the gift of apostles to the church; the role of apostolic authorities in safeguarding unity, and the beauty of healthy mutual submission.

At the end of the teaching, Amy introduces the word "apostolate" and the concept of Christ the Reconciler as an apostolate, whose leaders carry apostolic authority for the community, but are also submitted to apostolic authority in their own traditions.

Teaching given at a Christ the Reconciler retreat on 12 November 2022.

The teaching is also on YouTube, if you prefer to watch it:

Mark Kinzer - The Nicene Creed, Judaism, and the Jewish People

In June 2025, several members of CTR attended the Unity Forum held in Dallas, Texas. The topic was the Nicene Creed - as both an ecumenical gift, and an ecumenical challenge. Our friend Rabbi Dr. Mark Kinzer presented both aspects, particularly the challenge from a Messianic Jewish perspective of “Israel forgetfulness” in the Creed. He also read extensively from Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour: 1700th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325-2025), published by the Vatican’s Theological Commission, which in Dr. Kinzer’s opinion has some remarkable commentary on the Jewish aspects of the Nicene Creed.

Teaching given on 26 June 2025, and recorded on Thomas Cogdell’s iPhone. Q&A not included.

Michael & Terri Sullivant - God Rewrites the Narrative of Our Life

Michael and Terri Sullivant are respected leaders from Kansas City. They have prophetic giftings - both in the gift of prophecy over others, and in the area of teaching about Biblical handling of prophetic gifts.

In 2011 they gave a workshop at Hope Chapel in Austin, Texas. They spoke together on the topic of God’s ability to rewrite the narrative of our lives. This seems an appropriate teaching to revisit, since Amy just finished the Runaway Bay manuscript that “rewrites the narrative of her life” (and her Dad’s).

Teaching given on August 28, 2011.

George Miley - Stories from My Life

This teaching ended the Antioch Network retreat in Austin in July, 2010. The focus of that retreat was, “Restore the Ancient Anointing” - a theme very much on George’s heart in those years, as he also was working on the Ancient Wells compilation. But he broke from the theme to narrate several key events in his life that taught him about God and himself, helping him mature into a more whole-hearted follower of Jesus.

Teaching given on July 30, 2010, at Still Waters retreat center in southwest Austin.

Amy Cogdell - The Throne, Part 2

Building on Caroline Owens' teaching on The Throne in March 2024, Amy opens up new understandings of the eternal throne of God as revealed in scripture passages in the Old and New Testaments.

She also reflects on her recent trip to Europe, revealing how what the Lord spoke to her in Auschwitz relates to the ongoing development of community at Christ the Reconciler.

Teaching given on 1 Feb 2025 at Christ the Reconciler.

The video of the teaching on YouTube has images and slides embedded in it:

Matt Ryniker @ Tiferet Israel

As part of the Faith of Friends initiative, Rabbi Dan Millner of Tiferet Israel synagogue in Austin invited Pastor Matt Ryniker of Hope Chapel to speak to his congregation, expressing support and solidarity in the face of rising anti-Semitism after the events of October 7, 2023.

Talk given on August 28, 2024. Includes Rabbi Dan's introduction, and some Q&A at the end.

Here are a couple of related links:

Amy Cogdell - Abraham, Friend of God

As the Hope Women’s book study of In the Bosom of Abraham wraps up, it might be worthwhile to revisit Amy’s 2019 teaching on Abraham, a friend of God. This teaching has some of the seeds that became her book on Abraham.

Teaching given on 26 June 2019, at the Antioch Network gathering in Istanbul.

Dr. John Gresham - Receptive Ecumenism (+ Thomas Cogdell Witness)

Dr. John Gresham was invited to speak on the topic of Receptive Ecumenism. He subtitled his talk, “Welcoming And Loving Those Unlike Us.” During the talk, he presents a fascinating diagram on the gifts that various historic streams have to offer the whole body of Christ.

Talk given during te North American Network (NAN) conference at the Alleluia Community in Augusta, Georgia, on February 24, 2024.

Afterwards, Thomas Cogdell from CTR was invited up to give a “witness” of how he has experienced the principles that Dr. Gresham spoke about.

Johannes Fichtenbauer - Our Common call: Community

Johannes Fichtenbauer was the last speaker on the first day of the 2024 North American Network (NAN) conference. As usual, Johannes had a lot to present! He passed out a dense handout, which he made it about 2/3 of the way through in the time allotted. All of it was important and very encouraging in our call to community.

Talk given at the Alleluia Community in Augusta, Georgia, on February 23, 2024. Audio & video recordings courtesy of NAN.

Rev. Dr. A.W. Mays - The Oneness For Which Christ Prays

Pastor A.W. Mays is a dearly loved and highly respected elder statesman in the Black Church in Austin. He has pastored Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church since 1986, and has labored for unity in the body of Christ, especially in the area of racial reconciliation.

Pastor Mays was invited to be the keynote speaker for the Stronger Together pastor's gathering in 2024, sponsored by Christ Together. The evening of January 30, he spoke powerfully about his experience growing up black in Central Texas, and the power that Jesus has to tear down the barriers that we have erected to divide the body of Christ.

Teaching published with the gracious permission of Christ Together.

Jim Botts - Formed By God's Family

Used by permission of HCBC.

On February 11, 2024, Hill Country Bible Church (Lakeline) invited the DreamTogether 2030 initiative participants to visit their 9 am service. The sermon was preached by Jim Botts, who was just returning to the pulpit in the midst of a battle with cancer.

Pastor Botts speaks of the importance of staying connected to the people of God, in all of their messiness. Without community, we are fooling ourselves into thinking that we can mature and make a difference in the world for God.

The video of the entire service can be found on the HCBC website. Or you can watch just the sermon using the YouTube link below:

Danny Malakowsky - Community

Danny speaks of the importance of community - the “we” and “us” … the “y’all” … of the New Testament. He is addressing men in particular, and their need for fellowship and community, but his message applies to women as well, and to the whole body of Christ.

Teaching given on October 21, 2023 at the Hope Chapel Men’s Retreat.

Denise Pierce - Church Folk Are Reconcilers

In the midst of their "Church Folk" sermon series, Greater Mt. Zion Church in Austin, Texas invited Rev. Denise Pierce into the pulpit. Her topic was unity and reconciliation in the body of Christ - "Church Folk Are Reconcilers." It was a truly wondrous sermon! She talked about Protestant-Catholic reconciliation; the Unity of the Trinity in John 17; and the fact that Ephesians 2 addresses the hostility between Jews & Gentiles. This provides a wonderful new perspective on topics very near to our heart at CTR.

That same Sunday (December 3, 2023), Greater Mt. Zion celebrated those who are participating in DreamTogether 2030, a reconciliation initiative rooted in the famous "I have a dream" speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Rev. Pierce is one of the leaders of this initiative.)

We were honored to have Rev. Pierce reference Christ the Reconciler during the sermon, as she presented for consideration the definition of reconciliation from our Foundations of Reconciliation series:

"Reconciliation is a series of actions that
removes hostility from a relationship,
repairs the damage it has done, and
restores the God-intended unity."

We highly recommend watching the video, which includes the scriptures used by Rev. Pierce.

Podcasted by CTR with the permission of Rev. Denise Pierce.