The Austin Stone Podcast

Lauren is a brand new registered nurse, working at her first hospital in midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. While her hospital no longer allows visitors for many of its patients Lauren works everyday to ease the burden on those who are sick and lonely. It’s not easy work, but she is learning to rely on the Holy Spirit to help her be faithful. 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.

Jimmy’s uncle Bobby died from complications of COVID-19 on Sunday, April 5th, 2020. As Jimmy wrestled with his grief and sorrow God comforted him through friends, family, and music. Through tears, Jimmy finds solace in worship and his hope in Jesus. 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.

Pastor Ross Lester kicks off a sermon series called “Times Like These.” Teaching from Hebrews 10:35-39, Ross explores God’s call for His people to persevere in the midst of difficult circumstances.

In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, believers around the world are striving to be faithful to Jesus and love their neighbors. “Alone Together” is a series of stories about how the people of The Austin Stone are living faithfully in uncertain times. We’ve all been called to be faithful in this season, but in many different ways. Today, across Austin and around the world, doctors and nurses, restaurant owners and delivery drivers, singles and students, moms and dads, artists and accountants, and more, are loving God, their church, their city, and the nations in the midst of this season. We might be spending our days apart, but in Jesus the church will always be united. These are stories of God’s people—alone, together. 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.

Matt Carter preaches on Easter Sunday from Matthew 12:38-42, explaining how Jesus is greater than anyone or anything that has come before or since. Matt unpacks Jesus’ authority and power to shepherd and save even the most unbelieving hearts.

Please note, this story is for mature audiences as it references heavily sexual themes, including pornography and sexual assault. When Hannah Mae was sexually abused at five-years-old, she only remembered feeling confused. Confusion developed into shame, self-loathing, and loneliness that haunted her for years. She became addicted to masturbation and started working in the pornography industry, thinking that these things would make her feel valued. But deep down, Hannah Mae knew that they wouldn’t save her, and she cried out to God for help. He answered—through a slow, patient process of recovery. Hannah Mae learned that God’s forgiveness is eternal, that she is no more a sinner today than yesterday and tomorrow. She clings to the truth that God calls her His bride, holy and pure. She is His beloved, always and forever. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Isaiah thought that he didn’t deserve God’s love and always had to earn it. To numb his feelings of guilt and unworthiness, he turned to sex, drugs, and alcohol. Yet with his marriage and sanity on the line, he recognized that only God could change his heart posture. In this ongoing process of healing, Isaiah knows that he can trust God to give him good things simply because he’s His child. Because, as Isaiah has learned, God gives His love freely. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Judy believed that her purpose in this world was to achieve perfection, and she worked hard at it for years. But her obsession with it led her to spiral into heavy substance abuse, escalating to a point where she came to God in desperation. During her recovery journey, Judy realized how her need for perfection overruled her need for God. She knows now that her purpose in this world is to serve God as His ambassador, loving His people and sharing the gift of compassion. Jesus, her perfect Savior, will always be enough for her. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Ross Lester continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew as he teaches on the power of words from Matthew 12:33-37.

Matt Carter continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew as he teaches about the one unforgivable sin and how, even in learning there is an unforgivable sin, there is still good news to be heard from Matthew 12:22-32.

Matt’s desire to control his life led him to develop deeper roots in sexual sin and pornography, which he kept hidden because he wanted to become the perfect version of himself. Through a series of wake-up calls, God worked in Matt’s heart to show him it was time to stop hiding and believing that he held the power to save himself. Since then, Matt has witnessed how God steps in to intercede for him as Protector, Deliverer, and Conqueror. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Andre Grey continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew by teaching that Jesus instructs and invites us to embrace regular rest as a sign of our trust in His finished work for us from Matthew 12:15-21.

Naomi and Hector, a married couple, both dealt with mental illness and slowly awakened to their need for healing. They realized the importance of walking through their struggle together, and they experienced how God moves through His church to encourage His people. Most importantly, Naomi and Hector learned to run to Christ and not lose heart in the midst of darkness. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Ross Lester continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew by teaching that Jesus instructs and invites us to embrace regular rest as a sign of our trust in His finished work for us from Matthew 12:1-14.

Sarah realized the depths of her anger towards God when she saw how it strained her marriage. In her desire to maintain control over her life, it was difficult to admit that she needed help. Once she learned to surrender her heart to Christ, He revealed the incredible peace and rest she could find only in Him. Instead of viewing herself as her own savior, she learned to run to God for restoration. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Matt Carter continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew by teaching on what it means to rest in Jesus from Matthew 11:25-30.

Please note, this story is for mature audiences as it references pornography and sexual assault. For a long time, Laura stayed in the dark with her struggles and secrets, thinking that she was too far from God for help. The pain of it overwhelmed her. But when she reached out for help and embarked on a journey to recovery, she realized that she could truly heal from her trauma, and the only way was through Christ. Because of His salvation, she feels free to walk in the light and experience the fullness of His joy. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Recovery features stories of those who found hope and healing in Christ while recovering from the fallout of addiction, anger, abuse, depression, trauma, and more. Join us to hear seven true stories of gospel transformation.Click here to subscribe and listen to the Recovery trailer now! You can also subscribe to the Stories from The Austin Stone podcast in your favorite podcast player.

Halim Suh continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew by teaching on Jesus' threatening grace from Matthew 11:20-24.

Matt Carter continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew by teaching on cynicism and apathy towards God from Matthew 11:12-24.

Halim Suh resumes our series in the Gospel of Matthew by teaching on John's doubting and Jesus' answer from Matthew 11:1-11.

Tyler David concludes our God Loves series by teaching how God loves singleness, dating, and marriage from Proverbs 1:7.

Ross Lester continues our God Loves series by teaching how God loves family from Genesis 1:26-28.

Matt Carter continues our God Loves series by teaching how God loves your neighbor from Luke 10:25-37.

Matt Carter continues our God Loves series by teaching how God loves life from Psalm 139.

Andre Grey kicks off our God Loves series by teaching on how God loves you from 1 John 4:7-12.

Tyler David continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew by teaching on Christmas, family, and the way Jesus changes all of those dynamics from Matthew 10:34-42.

Tyler David continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew by teaching on not fearing others from Matthew 10:26-33.

Halim Suh continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew by teaching on the warning and encouragement from Matthew 10:16-25.

Halim Suh continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew by teaching on Jesus sending out the twelve apostles from Matthew 10:1-15.

Matt Carter resumes our series in the Gospel of Matthew by teaching on Jesus' power and compassion from Matthew 9:35-38.

Tyler David concludes our Fathom series by teaching on what it means to have faith in Jesus from Matthew 9:27-34.

Ross Lester continues our Fathom series by teaching on not just what Jesus does, but how He does it, because of who He is from Matthew 9:18-26.

Halim Suh continues our Fathom series by teaching on the calling of Matthew from Matthew 9:9-13.

Matt Carter continues our Fathom series by teaching on Jesus forgiving and healing a paralyzed man from Matthew 9:1-8.

Matt Carter continues our Fathom series by teaching on Jesus restoring two demon-posessed men from Matthew 8:28-34.

Halim Suh continues our Fathom series by teaching on Jesus calming the storm from Matthew 8:23-27.

Ross Lester continues our Fathom series by teaching on the call to follow Jesus from Matthew 8:18-22.

Tyler David continues our Fathom series by teaching on Jesus' ability to heal from Matthew 8:1-17.

Ross Lester kicks off our Fathom series by teaching on the demonstration of the power of God's kingdom from Matthew 9:35.

Matt Carter leads a special "Story Sunday" where we present stories of God's faithfulness in our body.

Halim Suh continues our series about our mission by teaching on our call to love the nations from Matthew 28:18-20.

Tyler David continues our series about our mission by teaching on our call to love the city from Jeremiah 29:4-7.

Matt Carter kicks off our series about our mission by teaching on our call to be lovers of God from Ephesians 4:15-16.

Tyler David continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew by teaching on false teachers from Matthew 7:15-27.

“How can you, in the midst of a trial, experience joy? What does that really look like?” After Matt Carter preached a sermon on 1 Peter, Seth and Brynn began to evaluate their faith. Could they trust in Jesus in the midst of a storm? In the last episode of Expectant, Seth and Brynn share their story of trusting Jesus even through suffering—even when they lost what was precious.

Tyler David continues our series in the Gospel of Matthew by teaching on treating others the way you want to be treated from Matthew 7:12.

“The ultrasounds, the heartbeats, and all the testing came back normal … I could feel her hiccup all the time.” As parents of two young boys, Brian and Taylor were excited to find out they were pregnant with a baby girl. Then at 37 weeks of pregnancy, the unexpected happened, and Brian and Taylor had to trust God and His purposes more than ever before.

John Onwuchekwa teaches on what we should do when what God does doesn't line up with who He claims to be from Habakkuk 1:1-17.

“We were so excited and planning and dreaming of a life with three babies that we didn’t hear the gravity of the situation—and even if we had, it wouldn’t have changed anything.” Sarah and Will always dreamt of having a large family, but they had no idea about the long, difficult road ahead of them. Through the journey, Sarah and Will learned how to trust God’s heart, even in the midst of immense, unexpected suffering.