Pat Bailey - The Closing of the Heart

Pat Bailey was the guest speaker at a CTR retreat on March 21, 2015. We were so privileged to hear from her! She spoke on closing the door of the heart.

Amy & Thomas Cogdell - Formation (Foundations of Community #8)

In the 8th teaching of our Foundations of Community series, we continue the second half of the series, which focuses on the commitments to action.

The third commitment is to Formation. After a brief intro by Thomas, Amy talks about why we need formation, how formation works, and what we should do as a community regarding formation.

Teaching recorded for the retreat at Christ the Reconciler on 12 February 2022.

Or, if you prefer to watch so you can follow along with the points and scriptures referenced:

Angelina Gamper & Thomas Cogdell - The Fast That God Has Chosen

Angelina and Thomas co-taught as guest speakers at Midtown Church in Austin on February 6, 2022. They were invited to speak on the topic of fasting, as Midtown was preparing for their annual 21-day churchwide fast.

Thomas provides an overview, including some of the benefits and dangers of fasting. Then Angelina speaks about the heart of fasting that God desires.

Or, here’s the link to the Midtown podcast of the teaching … and if you prefer video, Midtown put it up on their Youtube channel:

George Miley - Jesus as the Master Teacher

As we prepare for our retreat focused on Spiritual Formation, it is good to revisit the wonderful teachings of George Miley on Apprenticeship to Jesus. This teaching introduces the concept of Jesus as the Master Teacher, the one who knows the most about how to live life well and teaches His followers these ways.

Teaching given at Christ Church Anglican in Phoenix on 24 July 2011.

Thomas Cogdell - Reconciliation (Foundations of Community #7)

In the 7th teaching of our Foundations of Community series, we continue the second half of the series, which focuses on the commitments to action. The second commitment is Reconciliation. Thomas talks about keys to reconciliation, and how we live out John 17 through reconciliation at CTR.

Teaching recorded for the retreat at Christ the Reconciler on 12 November 2021.

Or, if you prefer video, here you go:

Mark Kinzer - Exodus 34 & Community

Messianic Jewish Rabbi Mark Kinzer gave this teaching to the Achana prayer group, via Zoom. The teaching was given on 5 October 2021. Published by CTR with Mark's permission.

If you prefer video, we also have it on YouTube:

Thomas Cogdell - Turning Hearts to Unity

Sermon given by Thomas at Hope Chapel on December 5, 2021.

And, if you prefer to watch the teaching (which has all the scriptures embedded … and also has the funny signs at the beginning which are cut out from the audio-only version):

Marianna Gol - Living a Life of Consecration

Since Marianna is coming next week … why not remind ourselves of what Marianna taught us the very first time she visited? This teaching is from 5 December 2012.

Bob Garrett & Dan Almeter - Introduction to Alleluia Community

On the Monday morning of Bob & Dan’s visit to CTR, we held a Zoom call with a few remote participants, in which Bob & Dan introduced Alleluia Community to them, and fielded questions. This provides a very good introduction to Alleluia, and shows well some of the ways in which they have been walking similar paths to CTR, only decades ahead. (Of course, in other ways CTR is very different.)

Amy Cogdell - Abraham

Matt Ryniker, Senior Pastor of Hope Chapel in Austin, invited Amy to preach on the morning of September 26, 2021. He had begun a series on major figures from the Old Testament. Amy had written a book on Abraham, so she was excited to preach about him!

The sermon begins not with Amy’s voice, but with Kevin Daniel. Kevin performs a lengthy reading from Amy’s book, Chapter 1 - The Voice. After his reading, Amy begins her sermon.

Here is the video of the sermon, if you prefer to watch it:

Thomas Cogdell - Prayer (Foundations of Community #6)

The first five teachings of the Foundations of Community series give insight into our renunciations as a community. This teaching begins the second half of the series, which focuses on what we are committing to. The first commitment is to Prayer.

Teaching given by Thomas Cogdell for the CTR Retreat (via Zoom) on 18 September 2021.

It’s a fairly complex teaching, so watching it on video is helpful, because the slides show the points that Thomas is making … even though unfortunately the top of Thomas’ head was cut off by the camera!

George Miley - Silence & Solitude

One of George’s favorite topics, a oft-neglected spiritual discipline. As George says, it is in solitude that we discover that we are never alone. Teaching given at Christ Church Anglican, Phoenix, on 21 August 2011.

George also has a set of notes that go with this teaching, that you can download by clicking here, if you like.

Amy Cogdell - Forgiveness (Foundations of Community, #5)

In the 5th teaching of our Foundations of Community series, Amy follows on Merisha’s teachings on repentance and confession, with a teaching on forgiveness. How does forgiveness work in God’s court of justice, in heaven? How do we “justify the wicked” and “condemn the righteous”, without realizing it?

Teaching given at the Christ the Reconciler retreat on 21 August 2021, which was held at Hope Chapel.

After she spoke, Rose Watson sang a beautiful spontaneous song over all who were gathered … and over you who are listening now online!

If you prefer video, the teaching is also available on YouTube:

Steve Hawthorne - Practical Passion for God's Glory (Session 2)

In 1995, Steve Hawthorne gave a series of teachings at Hope Chapel, on Tuesday evenings if memory serves. He was exploring the ideas around “The Story of His Glory”, a major theme in his life, teachings, and writings. This is the second of these teachings, delivered on 11 October 1995.

Steve Hawthorne - Practical Passion for God's Glory (Session 1)

In 1995, Steve Hawthorne gave a series of teachings at Hope Chapel, on Tuesday evenings if memory serves. He was exploring the ideas around “The Story of His Glory”, a major theme in his life, teachings, and writings. This is the first of these teachings, delivered on 4 October 1995.

George Miley - Thoughts On Leadership

George Miley is currently writing a book called “Leaders Following.” Ten years ago, on 11 May 2011, he gave a short (7-minute) meditation on leadership at Fr. Peter’s Achana meeting.

Dr. Andrew Jackson - Icons of God

Andy Jackson (a friend from Phoenix, Antioch Network, and ITN) shares about his discovery of riches in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Teaching given at the Antioch Network gathering in Phoenix on 30 January 2018.

Rabbi Mark Kinzer - Covenant Community & Israel

Covenant community was a theme of the recent visit to the Alleluia Community in Georgia. It is good to go back and revisit Rabbi Mark Kinzer’s teaching on this topic, from his first visit to CTR in 2018.

Teaching given on 10 February 2018 at Christ the Reconciler.

Merisha Janke - Living in the Light

The fourth in our Foundation of Community series is, like the third, brought to us by Merisha Janke, our friend from Help for All Nations. Merisha speaks from her experience growing up in the Lüdenscheid community in Germany. She focuses on confession one to another as a crucial part of living in the light, and the power of the cross to deliver us from all hidden sin.

Teaching given on June 19, 2021, at Christ the Reconciler.

We also have the teaching on video, if you prefer to watch it … Merisha is wonderfully expressive! However, the audio is not quite as good, and the video recording ended about ten minutes before the end of the talk.

Phillip Owens - John 16

During our season of studying the Upper Room Discourse, Phillip offered the community a short reflection on John 16. Teaching given on 22 Sept 2018 at Christ the Reconciler.