The Austin Stone Podcast

“My father referred to me as the cancer of our family. He said I need to be cut out and removed because I was affecting everyone’s well-being." In high school, Alex Scaro lived for football. When an injury ended any hopes for a college career in the sport, Alex began smoking marijuana on a regular basis, and eventually turned to harder drugs. After a near-death overdose, Alex entered a recovery program where he joined a Bible study and heard the gospel for the first time. Then, Alex discovered where true hope, peace, and identity are found.

Greg Breazeale teaches on being shaped by the Word from Psalm 19:1-3 and 7-11.

When Kellen Nichols learned of his father's death, he was overcome with grief. Having developed a strong relationship with the members of his Missional Community, Kellen relied on them for support in his time of need. "From that moment on, his community stepped up and became a physical picture of what it looked like to obey God's command to bear one another's burdens."

Tyler David teaches during our Christmas Eve service on the incarnation of Christ from Hebrews: 2:14-17 and Hebrews 7:16.

“Precious Jesus, our Savior and King, You came to us this holy night, but not in the way we expected…" Merry Christmas! This poetic prayer focuses on the actual night our Savior was born.

Matt Carter finishes our Advent series by teaching from Exodus 40:20-34 on how we were created to be in God's presence, and how the completion of the Tabernacle points us to Christ, who enables us to boldly enter God's presence.

"Immanuel, God with us,You, our Redeemer King, full of grace and glory, came one holy night, to save us and change our story." For this year’s Advent readings at The Austin Stone Community Church, we asked some of our Story Team artists to write poetic prayers that center around the birth of Jesus and the salvation that first came to us in a manger. We hope these prayers stir your heart to worship Jesus along with us.

"Long ago laws were carved in stone, Rules for flesh and rules for bone. Kept inside a solid-gold ark, Waiting in the dark, Beneath the mercy seat..." For this year’s Advent readings at The Austin Stone Community Church, we asked some of our Story Team artists to write poetic prayers that center around the birth of Jesus and the salvation that first came to us in a manger. We hope these prayers stir your heart to worship Jesus along with us.

"O God of Kindness, God of Grace, You have had compassion On an empty-handed people..." For this year’s Advent readings at The Austin Stone Community Church, we asked some of our Story Team artists to write poetic prayers that center around the birth of Jesus and the salvation that first came to us in a manger. We hope these prayers stir your heart to worship Jesus along with us.

"When darkness lurked and shadows prowled, the light of Your Son broke in..." This Advent season, we want to celebrate the coming of our Lord with you, and rejoice as we connect more deeply with Christ. For this year’s Advent readings at The Austin Stone Community Church, we have asked some of our Story Team artists to write poetic prayers that center around the birth of Jesus and the salvation that first came to us in a manger. Over the next four weeks, we will share those prayers with you, and we hope that they will stir your heart to worship Jesus along with us.

Matt Carter continues our Advent series by teaching on how the Mercy Seat in the Tabernacle points us to the coming Messiah, from Exodus 25:16-21.

Halim Suh continues our Advent series by teaching on how the Altar of Incense in the Tabernacle points us to the coming Messiah, from Exodus 30:1-10.

Matt Blackwell kicks off our Advent series on how the Tabernacle and its components point us to the coming Messiah, Jesus, who is the true lampstand as the light of the world, from Exodus 25:31-32 and Exodus 40:16-33.

Ryan King teaches on striving together in prayer as a church for those taking the gospel to the unreached from Romans 15:30-31.

“Our goal is that you would know Jesus, and He does the rest."On the day she was born, Tiffany was abandoned by her parents. In the midst of her pain, Christ drew near to her, and she found new comfort in her heavenly father. Through God's healing grace, a new desire was ignited in Tiffany's heart to seek out and minister to others who, similarly, felt bound to their circumstances. Now, working alongside other women with the same vision, Tiffany devotes her time to sharing the love of Christ with women who feel trapped in the commercial sex industry.

Tyler David concludes our "Money: An Eternal Perspective" series by teaching on the New Testament standard for giving from Luke 21:1-4 and Matthew 23:23.

“So my wife would say, “honey, just quit doing what you are doing, because I am telling you, God wants to kill this thing.”Ron moved to Dallas to help pastor a declining church located in a transitional neighborhood. Despite his years of experience and many attempts to lead the people, the church continued to experience a mass exodus. This left Ron questioning everything he knew and did. Faced with having to close the doors of the church, he knew something had to change, and change is exactly what they did.

Matt Carter continues our "Money: An Eternal Perspective" series by teaching on trusting God with money from Exodus 35: 5-9 and Leviticus 27:30.

“When tragedy strikes or when suffering hits or when everything that you’re holding onto is ripped out of your hands, you really start to identify where your treasure is.” Andrew Burkhart, a pastor in Moore, Oklahoma lost everything he owned in the storm of May 20, 2013. His pregnant wife and young daughter were in their house moments before the tornado struck, but got out just in time before it was destroyed. Andrew tells his story of the wreckage and realizing where his true treasure is found.

Matt Carter kicks off our "Money: An Eternal Perspective" series by teaching from Exodus 35: 4-9 and Matthew 6:19-21.

“I just remember loading my syringe stronger and stronger each time, just wanting a way out of this, and the only way for me was to kill myself.”For Anthony, the abandonment of his earthly father led him to seek comfort in the atmosphere of gay bars and the rollercoaster high of designer drugs. After hearing the gospel, the darkness that shrouded Anthony's life was overtaken by the true hope and new life found in Jesus.

Halim Suh teaches on Moses' plea to God, "Please show me your glory," from Exodus 33.

“Love is not a feeling, love is a decision that we make.” Justin and Jana Cofield found themselves on a roller coaster of emotions when they decided to pursue adoption through foster care. As God continues to write their family's story, the Cofields trust His faithfulness and cling to Jesus as their hope.

Tyler David teaches on God's anger and mercy towards sin from Exodus 32:1-6.

For years, Shawn felt burdened by the guilt of her abortions and was weighed down by past sins. She didn’t feel like she deserved to be a mother and coped with the pain by indulging in alcohol. But then she heard the gospel and began to experience the true freedom found in Christ!

Matt Carter teaches on how to discover your calling from Exodus 31:1-6.

"We go off of the truths that every tribe, tongue, and nation will be there in heaven one day." Paul and Alice, compelled by the love of Jesus in their own lives, left everything they have in order to share the gospel with Muslims and unreached peoples in the Arab Peninsula. Despite their fears, they went with confidence and strength that only God can provide.

Halim Suh prepares us to resume our study in the book of Exodus by teaching on Christ's fulfillment of the Law from Matthew 5:17-19.

Living in inner-city Houston, Corey grew up with an abusive, drug-addicted stepfather who eventually hung himself in the attic of a house. Despite his traumatic childhood, Corey now believes God used this to shape him into the man he is today, and it’s by God’s grace alone that he “made it out.”

Tyler David concludes our "This Matters" series by teaching on why we value covenant membership from 1 John 4:7-12.

“I was basically like a sex slave and a mistress for him.” After being exposed to pornography at a young age, Lorraine found herself wanting to live a life of worldly pleasure. For years she tried to find her fulfillment in sex and in men. Desperate for real love, Lorraine quit college in order to have an affair with a man in Sweden for several months. When that relationship painfully ended, Lorraine was left at her breaking point, searching for a way out.

Matt Carter continues our "This Matters" series by teaching on why we baptize from Matthew 3:13-17.

“I remember that fear gripped me, I knew what was coming. I remember thinking please, God, don’t let it happen. And it happened anyway.”As a child, Danielle experienced the trauma of sexual and physical abuse that distorted her view of God’s love. After having two children as a teenager, another in her twenties, and experiencing a handful of broken relationships, she was at the point of giving up.But Jesus intervened—giving her a new life, and teaching her about true forgiveness found in Him.

Matt Carter continues our "This Matters" series by teaching on why we take the Lord's Supper from 1 Corinthians 11:24-26.

“If God is so loving, then why would He smite me with albinism?”Born with albinism and legally blind, Jimmie grew up in a small Oklahoma town where people constantly ridiculed him for the way he looked. This led him to despise God and search for his identity in music and drugs.By the grace of God and through a discipleship relationship with an ex-drug dealer, Jimmie experienced the love and forgiveness of Jesus, and his life changed forever.

Halim Suh continues our "This Matters" series by teaching on why we worship from 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Psalm 95:1-8.

“It was more than homosexuality. Holistically, I was a sinner. I needed Jesus to save the whole of me.” Raised fatherless, Jackie was molested by a family friend and introduced to pornography at an early age. She grew up living in a fog of drugs while struggling with gender confusion and having homosexual desires. At 17, she was in a relationship with another woman, but soon found herself longing for something more.

Matt Carter kicks off our "This Matters" series by teaching on why we preach (and why we preach the way that we do) from 1 Corinthians 14:23-25.

Chad Kincer kicks off our "This Matters" series by teaching on why we preach (and why we preach the way that we do) from 2 Timothy 4:1-2.

“The only thing I could say was, ‘Daddy, I love you’, and my own flesh and blood—my dad—turned and walked out the house and didn’t say a word.”Jimmy lived most of his life questioning why his dad left him at such a young age. But he was compelled by the gospel to love and pursue his estranged father in an effort to extend forgiveness and reconciliation.

Matt Carter leads us through a time of storytelling and reflection on all that God has done and is doing through the people of The Austin Stone for His glory.

Malayia began her college career at UT Austin with high hopes of becoming a doctor. But coursework was more difficult than she expected and soon, Malayia began to buckle under the pressure of her pre-med studies. Crying out to God in desperation, Malayia began to form a true relationship with Jesus— she sought healing from her depression and found hope despite unmet expectations.

Tyler David teaches on being in awe of Jesus from Matthew 14:22-33.

Joey Shaw teaches on Christ's power being made perfect in our weakness from 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

Hien’s sexual abuse started when she was only eight—a secret she kept from family and friends for most of her adolescence. Seeking validation and love, Hien engaged in sexual relationships with men, but she never found what she was looking for. After losing her younger brother in a car accident, Hien was shaken from her silence and from the lifestyle that left her empty. That’s when she began searching for hope—and she found it in Jesus.

Andy Kampman teaches on gospel hospitality from Matthew 18:23-33 and Luke 19:1-10.

Lyndee suffered from depression for most of her adolescent years. By drinking excessively and using drugs, she tried to numb her pain—yet she never found relief.Desperate for healing and exhausted from her lifestyle, Lyndee began seeking something bigger than herself. When she heard the message of the gospel for the first time, it gave her a hope that she never imagined.

Matt Chewning concludes our Summer Preaching Series by teaching on our ever-present role as missionaries and ambassadors in the kingdom of God from Acts 17:23-27.

With each new job endeavor, John sought his earthly father's approval—but he never seemed to measure up to the expectations set upon him. When John got the job offer to work for The Austin Stone Community Church, he began to seek wisdom and direction from God—his Heavenly Father. God showed John that it was worth following Jesus to unknown places even if it meant giving up comfort, approval and expectations.

Ross Lester continues our Summer Preaching Series teaching about our role as ordinary people in the extraordinary mission of God from Matthew 28:16-20 and John 20:19-22.