The Austin Stone Podcast

Tyler David leads us in the book of Matthew with a message on the “Temple To End All Temples.”

However, later, in 1905 formerly enslaved African persons Thomas J. White and his wife, Maddie B. Haywood, founded the Travis County Emancipation Celebration Association and, two years later, they pooled enough community resources to purchase five acres of land on Rosewood Avenue and Chicon and named it Emancipation Park. They believed that Black people should celebrate Juneteenth on Black-owned land. It was their own piece of freedom. It was their own piece of property. Emancipation Park lasted for over 20 years until the City of Austin seized the privately-held land through a process called ‘eminent domain’ and constructed the first federally-funded housing projects named Rosewood Courts, which still occupy the space today. To comply with the city-enacted mandate, enforced by the ‘Separate but Equal’ doctrine of U.S. law, the Negro District was created in East Austin, east of East Avenue, which is present-day I-35. The Negro District would house all of the segregated facilities within the city, including a park—a park that we now know as Rosewood Park. From that point on, the limited resources that the city would invest and put into Black recreation, leisure, and services went into Rosewood Park. But despite all of the violence that created Rosewood Park for the Black population, Black people in Austin still made it their own.

Clarksville was named for Charles Clark, the man who decided Clarksville would be a place where Black men, women, and children could reunite with their families and friends, torn apart during slavery. As more Black families arrived in the area, Clark's visions guided them. He wanted them to direct their own lives and freely practice their religion away from the gaze of the establishment. It was theirs.They were united by a shared history of being reduced to a condition, being ‘enslaved’ and never ‘a slave,’ and they were determined to be someone—to become citizens of the United States of America on their own terms. And that's what they did. When the City of Austin made the decision to become what is renowned for today—a place of pristine green natural spaces, the center of knowledge production and innovative technology—they faced a problem. Black people and their communities dispersed in various parts of the city, stood as a challenge to them achieving their goals. The city’s solution to this challenge was the creation of the 1928 Master Plan, which designated the area east of East Avenue, or present day I-35, to become the ‘Negro District,’ where all services for Black people were to be located. It was a deliberate and strategic decision to force Black people to move into East Austin. Those residents and community members that decided to remain in place were denied services and public investment.

Ross Lester leads us deeper into the book of Matthew with a message on our “Delivered Deliverer” from Matthew 17:22-23.

Although I wasn't there when the ministers in charge of St. John Regular Baptist Association began the organization, my great-great-grandfather, Reverend Calvin Allen Sr., was. He was among reverends Jacob Fontaine, Jessie B. Shackles, John Henry Winn Sr., Buffington, and Horace Smith. His presence that day would ensure that I would be here today sharing with you their story and how they organized one of the largest independent associations of Black people within the state of Texas following the emancipation of enslaved Africans in the U.S. The St. John Regular Baptist Association went on to have over 200,000 members in its earlier years. In a 1904 editorial of the Austin American-Statesman, they predicted that the association and the Negro race will become extinct. It read, ‘When the shackles of slavery were thrown aside, the Negroes, yielding to licentiousness and ignorance will soon disappear.’ Well, they were terribly mistaken because the St. John Regular Baptist Association continues until this very day. Upholding the same determination as those men who sat under that large canopy of the oak tree between 25th and Leon Street that decided they would take the future into their own hands and uplift their people.

Originally featured on “TGC Q&A,” a podcast from The Gospel Coalition, “How Do We Love the Unborn and Their Mother?” focuses on how we can advocate for the unborn and their mothers, empower women with better choices, and why compassion and grace are essential in upholding the sanctity of life. The Gospel Coalition and The Austin Stone share a deep Scripture-based love for all of life—including the unborn. Scripture tells us we’re created in God’s image, foreknown, knit together by God in our mother’s womb—fearfully and wonderfully made. From conception to the grave, all life is precious. So, how should followers of Christ view the sanctity of life and love our neighbor and the unborn in a way that honors God’s creation? Margaret Gibson, the Director of Development at The Source Texas and leader at The Austin Stone, explores the necessity of the whole body of Christ to engage in the pro-life cause and how we are to compassionately engage in supporting the unborn and their mothers.

Halim Suh leads The Austin Stone through Matthew 17:14–20 with a message on omnipotent faith.

The current racial demographics of most Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including Huston-Tillotson, lead some to believe that it has always been this way. That Black people founded, administered, and taught at Black schools and HBCUs. While true in some cases, it’s simply not reflective of history. We must remember one thing, that during that time African people were considered ‘property, not people’ by the broader population. However, enslaved African people in the U.S. actively resisted this notion in demonstrative ways. This is evident in all the ways Africans and their descendants pursued higher learning and made historic contributions in all fields against all odds.Although HT’s history, like many HBCUs in the U.S., are rooted in the agendas that discounted the interest of Black communities, Black people fought and lost their lives in the very literal sense to take control of their education and their institutions. During every phase of Historically Black Colleges and Universities’ existence, prominent men and women emerged from these institutions and went on to do great things within their communities.Austin is no different.

We partnered with local historians and organizations to create “Know Austin, Love Austin,” a guided audio tour of racially-significant landmarks in our city. The tour highlights four locations across Austin, introducing its listeners to the historical importance of each site. Each stop includes a brief history of the landmark, remarks based on a Christ-centered perspective, and space for guided reflection and prayer. It is our hope that this audio tour opens a door for us to see our city in a new way—that it educates us on the history of systemic racism and injustice and prompts us to be advocates for God’s justice and agents of meaningful change. We pray that this tour would arm us with the knowledge of the origins, results, and ongoing effects of injustice in our society and drive us to display the glory of the gospel in new ways.

Ross Lester leads The Austin Stone through Matthew 17:1-13 on the transfiguration.

Ross Lester, a native of South Africa, will share how we can grow in our love for the nations.

Ross Lester preaches on the sanctity of life from Psalm 139.

Halim Suh teaches on one of the ways we can be a church that loves our city—by showing the beauty of racial harmony and ethnic unity that God designed His church to exemplify.

Today, Ross Lester preaches from 1 Peter 2:9-10 on the topic, “How Can We Grow In Our Love For The Church?”

Greg Breazeale kicks off our vision series by teaching on God being our first and highest love from Deuteronomy 6:4-5.

Matt Blackwell leads us through 2 Chronicles 20 with a message on “Praying in the New Year.”

Ross Lester teaches on the constant reminders of the love of God in the sending of Jesus Christ.

Matt Blackwell will take us through Luke 2 and examine how Jesus is our one true Peace.

Halim Suh leads us through the Scripture to help remind us of the incredible beauty and completeness of our hope in Christ.

Ross Lester continues our series, The Gospel of Matthew, by leading us through what it looks like to embrace Jesus’ life over our own in order to receive His death instead of ours.

Halim Suh continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew by teaching on the foretelling of Jesus' death and resurrection from Matthew 16:21-23.

Ross Lester will walk with us through the Scriptures to call out the who, what, and why of Jesus from the book of Matthew.

Andre Grey continues our journey through the Gospel of Matthew, preaching from Matthew 16:1-12.

Ross Lester leads us through Jesus’ feeding of the four thousand in Matthew 15:29-39.

Halim Suh leads us through a sermon titled, “What is Great Faith,” taught from Matthew 15:21-28.

Ross Lester explores Christianity’s unique view of eternity and the incredible claim of bodily resurrection after death.

Greg Breazeale teaches from Philippians 2 on Christ’s unique humility among all the gods of the world.

Ross Lester will continue our journey in the UNIQUE series with a message on Christianity’s unique view of what it means to be human.

Tyler David leads us through Mark 1:9-11 and helps us unpack the basics of the doctrine of the Trinity.

Ross Lester launches the UNIQUE sermon series with a message on God's unique authority taught from 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

Matt Blackwell preaches from Matthew 15:10-20 on how Jesus champions life-change that happens from the inside-out versus the outside-in.

Today, Ross Lester will preach from Matthew 15:1-9 on the topic, “How to be a Religious Hypocrite.”

Tyler David teaches on the topic, “Walking and Sinking in Faith.” In Matthew 14:22-34, we see Jesus’ divine power not only subduing all that overwhelms us, but we also see Him using His power to sustain and save His people.

Ross Lester preaches from Matthew 14 on the Feeding of the Five Thousand, and unpacks how well the scripture paints a portrait of our generous and provisional God.

Matt Blackwell preaches from Matthew 14:1-12 on John’s willingness to die for the truth versus Herod’s unwillingness to die to his sin for the sake of living for the truth.

How do we continue to engage the nations during a pandemic? Andy Kampman points to the book of Acts and how the early Christians continued to worship and serve even in the midst of difficult times.

Greg Breazeale ends our Mystery and Meaning series by sharing what the Scriptures say about the reality of hell.

Andre Grey dives even further into our Mystery and Meaning series to share what the scriptures say about the kingdom of God.

How do we make Jesus our treasure and gain a joy you can never lose? This week, Ross Lester leads us through Matthew 13’s answer to these questions and more.

Matt Blackwell continues our deep dive into the Mystery and Meaning series to uncover what the parables of Matthew 13 show us about the nature of God and how His Kingdom victoriously faces evil.

Today, Ross Lester will teach from Matthew 13 and challenge us to explore our hearts and how receptive they are to the invitation of eternal life with Jesus.

“Love” characterizes the fullness of our walk with Christ. Today, Tyler David shares how the scriptures call us to love other believers from John 13:1; 33-34.

Today, Ross Lester teaches from Romans 12 and unpacks its radical but beautiful call to consistent, intentional, and missional Christian friendships.

Despite the pandemic, Hannah has made progress with overcoming an eating disorder. While in quarantine, she has embraced food freedom and continues to show vulnerability about her sin. She reflects on her experience of opening up to her community and finding God’s redeeming love. He has cast out the darkness and brought her into the light, and she trusts in His grace to strengthen her fight. Please help us spread the word about the podcast by rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts—or wherever you found this episode—and by sharing this episode with your family and friends. If you have a story to share with us during this time, please visit https://austinstone.org/share. Finally, for up-to-date information on how The Austin Stone is responding to the new coronavirus, please visit https://austinstone.org/coronavirus. Click here to read the transcript of this story.

Sara wonders how COVID-19 will reshape the way people build community and develop relationships in the future. As a mother, wife, and active member of The Austin Stone, she has adjusted to a “new normal.” Still, she longs to go out and engage in community and corporate worship, especially as she continues to battle with clinical depression. Sara realizes that no matter what, Jesus is her everything. He will remain the same despite the uncertainty and changes around her. Please help us spread the word about the podcast by rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts—or wherever you found this episode—and by sharing this episode with your family and friends. If you have a story to share with us during this time, please visit https://austinstone.org/share. Finally, for up-to-date information on how The Austin Stone is responding to the new coronavirus, please visit https://austinstone.org/coronavirus. Click here to read the transcript of this story.

Join Ross Lester for the final week of the sermon series, “Times Like These.” Teaching from Romans 15:13 and Hebrews 10:23, Ross explores God’s call for His people to have hope in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Shawn is the CEO and founder of a fitness company that was rapidly growing until the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly halted his plans. With employees and clients in his care, he has felt the immense weight of ensuring everyone stays afloat. Through it all, he’s learned that his identity ultimately does not come from his job or his role as provider. His identity lies in Christ, and through Him, hope reigns. Please help us spread the word about the podcast by rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts—or wherever you found this episode—and by sharing this episode with your family and friends. If you have a story to share with us during this time, please visit https://austinstone.org/share. Finally, for up-to-date information on how The Austin Stone is responding to the new coronavirus, please visit https://austinstone.org/coronavirus. Click here to read the transcript of this story.

Join Ross Lester as he unpacks Christ’s message to us on living in the peace of God in the midst of difficult circumstances from the book of Philippians.

Bonnie is a goer from The Austin Stone living in Europe, and she has experienced the tremendous devastation and isolation caused by the pandemic. As a former healthcare worker, she wondered where her place truly lies, but she now realizes that she needs to remain faithful to where God has placed her. She wants to love her neighbors as best as she can, trusting that God makes all things new in the midst of death. Please help us spread the word about the podcast by rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts—or wherever you found this episode—and by sharing this episode with your family and friends. If you have a story to share with us during this time, please visit https://austinstone.org/share. Finally, for up-to-date information on how The Austin Stone is responding to the new coronavirus, please visit https://austinstone.org/coronavirus. Click here to read the transcript of this story.

Casey had just launched his dream barber shop when the COVID-19 lockdown was announced. As a small business owner, he knew the responsibilities of caring for his employees and family. But he’s felt a peace that surpasses all understanding, knowing that God always provides. Casey has experienced His faithfulness in ways that has continued to give him peace about the future, as uncertain as it remains. Please help us spread the word about the podcast by rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts—or wherever you found this episode—and by sharing this episode with your family and friends. If you have a story to share with us during this time, please visit https://austinstone.org/share. Finally, for up-to-date information on how The Austin Stone is responding to the new coronavirus, please visit https://austinstone.org/coronavirus. Click here to read the transcript of this story.