Grace Auburn Church Podcast

An Update on Authentic Gospel Communities - January 2025

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000

On this podcast episode, Lee Cadden, Caleb Farrow, and Jeff Hollis discuss the current state of authentic gospel community at Grace Auburn and where we are going from here.

Christ Above All - 1 Corinthians 14 - On Complementarianism

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode, Lee is joined by Jeff Hollis, Caroline Sasnett, and Joel Sasnett to discuss complementarianism, egalitarianism, and trends seen in our culture that impact leadership in the local church and in our homes. While not a primary matter of church belief - like salvation is found in Christ alone - we believe complementary (counterpart) roles of men and women in the local church is Biblical and critical for the overall health of the Church.

Christ Above All Presidents

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Lee has a round table discussion with Patrick Kuhlers, David Green, and Kevin Briggins. All of these men serve our church in a variety of ways, and all are deeply passionate about Christian responsibility to love and serve our community - including through our politics - and how we are to love our neighbors in divisive times. Christ truly is above all, and all presidents have been ordained by God (Romans 13:1); therefore, as his people, the church has a responsibility to never leave our faith at home but always carry our trust in Jesus into every conversation, especially, the difficult ones.

Joyful Generosity - What Holds You Back?

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode, Lee is joined by David Green to discuss our posture toward the Lord when it comes to trusting him with the fullness of our stories and how the things that hold us back are often the places that He intends to grow us.

Joyful Generosity - Freedom in Christ

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode, Lee is joined by Robert Ellis, a member of Grace Auburn Church. He and his wife, Elizabeth have served as community group leaders, Grace Kids Teacher and are actively involved in other areas of our church. Robert shares his journey toward trusting Jesus with everything in his life and how they commitment revolutionized his relationship with giving of his treasure to the Kingdom of God.

Joyful Generosity - We all have something we treasure ...

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Jesus makes it plain and simple when it comes to our hearts and the things we treasure. We can store up treasure in this life - where rust and moth destroy and thieves break in and steal, or we can store up treasure in heaven - where nothing and no one can take what Jesus has secured. So we ask the question today: "What do you treasure?"

Sermon Series (2022) - Now for Then - a Life of Joyful Generosity - Now for Then | Grace Auburn Church

The Divine Conspiracy - Dallas Willard - https://graceauburn.co/conspiracy

Joyful Generosity in Corinth

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Lee introduces a new series of conversations on the topic of joyful generosity. For members of Grace Auburn, our willingness to serve the kingdom of God above the kingdom of self is evidenced by the way we invest our resources and steward the treasure that the Father has entrusted to us. This series will include interviews with members of the church that are growing in the grace of giving and trusting in the faithfulness of God to provide for his children.

Quotes from Paul David Tripp are from this article at Crossway - What Did Jesus Teach about Money? | Crossway Articles

Christ Above All - 1 Corinthians 3 - The Foundation is Laid

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Pastors Lee and Jeff discuss all that God is doing in the life of Grace Auburn Church. We are celebrating growth, life change in and through authentic gospel communities, and believe with absolute certainty that the foundation of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection is our enduring hope and constant source of life. Paul's message to the Corinthians endures to this day: who you build upon matters and what you build with matters for this life and the one to come.

Christ Above All - 1 Corinthians 1 and 2

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode, Executive Pastor, Lee Cadden, introduces the "Christ Above All" series on the podcast. These conversations will include reflections on Sunday's sermon, current events in the life of our church, and reflections on how the gospel, specifically Christ above all things, impacts our current cultural moment.

Operations at Grace Auburn

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the Grace Auburn Church podcast, Lee is joined by Caroline Sasnett to discuss Operations within a church and how does that "behind the scenes" world evolve and grow as a church plant is established within a community. Caroline has recently expanded her role from Communications and is now serving as Operations Director at Grace Auburn.

Why Would You Want to Work for a Church - Trace Pridgen

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode, Lee and Trace Pridgen journey through the last 15 years of life and ministry by way of introducing Trace to our church family and asking him the same question we've asked each member on our staff team: why would you want to work for a church?

Why Would Want to Work for a Church - Raina Lanier's New Role

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Lee Cadden, Caleb Farrow, and Raina Lanier discuss the growth of our college ministry over the past four years and all that we are excited for in Raina's new role on our staff team. As Outreach Director, she will serve a dual role of care and leadership alongside Caleb with our college women and as a bridge for our members to serve with local organizations.

Shepherding the Church - Matt Dean

Fri, 17 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Matt Dean and Lee Cadden discuss the origins of leading our church through a team of Biblically qualified elders, the examples we had in the early days of forming the church, and why leading as both an elder and vocational pastor on our staff team is a unique responsibility.

Now To Him Who Is Able - Skyway Update - May 2024

Wed, 08 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

If you are new to Grace Auburn, on January 25 of 2024, we closed on our Skyway Drive property that will be our future home. We secured the building for $9.5M with a combination of our giving and financing with a Christian private equity group that partners with our church planting network.

The process - from fundraising, rezoning requests, purchase, and now design for a renovation - has been one that we have kept before the church when relevant. Per our request, our architect has provided a master plan for a full conversion of the building – We asked the architect to design this building with all the potential for ministry we could imagine...from the parking lot and green spaces that would provide welcoming experiences, a lobby that could host fellowship gatherings and lingering between services, a simple and beautiful space for worship, offices for our staff, and enough space for kids, students, and our campus ministries to thrive.

In this week's podcast, Lee and Matt reflect on Matt's sermon from Sunday when we shared with the congregation where we are in the process and what its going to require to move into Skyway Drive.

Skyway Update - April 2024

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this short podcast episode, Lee Cadden updates the Grace Auburn family on where we are in the construction design process, introduces our construction team (links below) and how we came about selecting the, and discusses why we are approaching this move with a phased construction approach.

Chambless King Architects - https://shorturl.at/brAEF

Johnson Kreise Construction - https://shorturl.at/awVY6

Shepherding the Church - Jack Sommer

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Lee Cadden and Jack Sommer continue the introductions of our elders. They discuss Jack and Kelly's story in moving back to Auburn in 2017, how their time in Marietta and the influence of elders in their church impacted them deeply as a young married couple starting their family, and why he desires the noble task of serving as an elder at Grace Auburn Church.

Shepherding the Church - Kevin Briggins

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

On this week's podcast, Lee Cadden and Kevin Briggins chat about their calling to move their family from Augusta, Georgia to Auburn for Kevin's work and how the Lord led them to Grace Auburn through prayer and discernment before they arrived. As a faithful servant who's family serves with our college students and hosts a community group, Kevin has been a true gift to our church and the elders since joining that team at the beginning of this year.

Shepherding the Church - Dan Mason

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the Grace Auburn Church Podcast, Lee Cadden and Dan Mason share the Mason's journey into Grace Auburn, the Lord's leading for their family and time in ministry, as well as their being led to Grace Auburn in the earliest days of our church.

Elder Now (The Gospel Coalition) - www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/elder-now/

Shepherding the Church - Dave Meadows

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Lee Cadden and Dave Meadows continue in our series, "Shepherding the Church." This podcast series serves to introduce each of our elders, share some of their stories, and allow each to answer the question, "Why do you desire the noble task of elder at Grace Auburn Church?"

Shepherding the Church - Kerry Bradley

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode, Lee Cadden and Kerry Bradley kick off our series "Shepherding the Church." Each week we are hearing an elder's story, how they got to Grace Auburn, and why they desire the "noble task" of shepherding the church (1 Timothy 3:1).

(Link "Living Through Disappointment" referenced in our discussion of an earlier date where we really thought the Lord was leading us in one direction, and we were seriously disappointed at the time when that wasn't the case).

Shepherding the Church trailer

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this season of the Grace Auburn Church podcast, we are going to be discussing the role and importance of elders in the local church and what makes our team of elders so special. Regardless of the translation of the Bible you prefer, Christ-exalting, honorable men have been chosen by local churches for thousands of years to shepherd communities of faith in adherence to the Word of God. We are thankful for the ones that God has given us since our inception in 2018. This podcast serves as an introduction to the series. In it we will introduce each of the elders, get to know them a little bit more than perhaps you already do, and ask the question, we do you desire the noble task of leading as an elder? (1 Timothy 3)

The Good Way - Authentic Gospel Communities

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

On this Christmas week of 2023, we are concluding our podcast series, "The Good Way," by discussing as pastors how we are shaped through the Holy Spirit in community. As a church we believe authentic gospel communities are integral to the mission God has given us. While spiritual disciplines and His leading in our homes are foundational components of our sanctification, something is missing in our discipleship until our lives are bound to others in the local church.

The Good Way - Everyday Moments

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Over the last few weeks, we've concluded the portion of the Good Way dealing with the ways in which the Spirit shapes us internally and how that impacts how we share the good news. These conversations focused on things that have been traditionally labeled disciplines. In today's podcast, Lee discusses with our pastors' wives April Dean, Chelsea Hollis, and Sarah Farrow ways in which the Holy Spirit shapes us in the everyday moments of life. From first waking, throughout the daily moments with our families, and our bedtime routines, how is the Lord using these holy, everyday moments to make us more like his Son, Jesus?

The Good Way - Evangelism

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, our pastors discuss evangelism - what does it mean to share the gospel with people who do not yet know the Father? Jesus' questions to his disciples are the same for us today - "Who do people say that I am? Who do you say that I am?"

Packer - Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God

The Good Way - Work and Rest

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

On this episode, our pastors round-table a discussion on the relationship between work and rest. How do we, as image bearers of God, fulfill our unique design to work heartily as for the Lord and recognize that we are a limited people who need rest - physical, emotional, and spiritual rest. Again, This conversation is not an exhaustive teaching on the subject but a snapshot into their regular habits that make up the rhythm of meaningful work and restorative rest.

"Keeping the Sabbath is Still Relevant for Christians Today" - https://rebrand.ly/sabbath

The Good Way - Prayer, Silence, and Solitude

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Today, pastors Matt Dean, Jason Ingle, and Lee Cadden resume our series, "The Good Way," by discussing the vital roles that prayer, silence, and solitude play in our lives. As fellow travelers who have been walking the way for some time, the discussion was rich, deeply meaningful, and we hope it will be encouraging to you as we journey through this life together.

Resources mentioned:

O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Gibson

Morning and Evening - Spurgeon

Praying the Bible - Whitney

Every Moment Holy - Liturgies for Life - McKelvey

The Practice of the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence

We Continue to Trust

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

This week's podcast comes on the heels of a roller coaster week before the city zoning commission, their recommendation that will go before our city council in December, and our continued path of trusting in the Father's guidance, provision, and kindness to his bride. All of that comes on the heels of our chatting about the only right way to prepare a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner and mistakes we made while in our younger years.

How Do We Stay True to our DNA

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, pastors Lee Cadden, Jeff Hollis, Jason Ingle, and Caleb Farrow reflect on our first open house on a possible new home for Grace Auburn, what role, if any, does pumpkin flavoring play in Fall cuisine, and they answer a series of questions on how exactly we plan to stay true to who we are regardless of our growth and location.

Joyful Generosity, Our Mission, and Church Planting

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000

On this week's podcast, our pastors discuss joyful generosity, the mission God has given THE Church and our church, and how Grace Auburn has, and always will be, invested heavily in church planting around the world.

"The Lord's Work in the Lord's Way" and other Crossway Short Classics - https://shorturl.at/jvGV0

Our Future Home - https://graceauburn.church/future-home (ways to pray, and ways to give)

Leading with Authenticity

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000

On the podcast this week, Matt, Jeff, Caleb, and Lee discuss the decision to share with our church family where we are on the purchase of a property that could be our next, long-term home. There are many things that could take this opportunity off the table, but in an effort to live authentically as a body, having a Sunday to pray, process, and ask God for his leading and provision was an awesome way to worship together.

The Good Way - At the Fires of Study and Meditation

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, the pastors of Grace Auburn begin discussions on how and why they study the Bible. But at the same time, UFOs somehow made it into this episode. The heart of this episode is linked to a Thomas Watson quote where he implores Christians across time to warm themselves at the fire of meditation. How has our culture abused that word and how can we as faithful followers of Jesus reclaim the ancient practice of studying the Word of God, delighting in it, and being warmed, as King David rejoiced, by the Word day and night?

Habits of Grace (book) - buy at Amazon

Thomas Watson (bio) - at Banner of Truth

The Good Way - Reading the Bible

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In the first of our round table discussions on "The Good Way," Pastors Matt Dean, Caleb Farrow, Jeff Hollis, Jason Ingle, and Lee Cadden discuss where and how each of them begins his day in the Word of God. Whether by listening or reading, having your day saturated with the Word of God must be central to the believer's day...that the "word of Christ" may dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16).

Note: the audio on our new board wasn’t mixed correctly, so thanks for bearing with the low volume on this one.

The Good Way trailer

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode of the podcast, Lee Cadden shares about the upcoming season of the Grace Auburn Church Podcast. Over the rest of the Fall, we will gather in round table format to discuss the means of grace we experience through the Holy Spirit as we journey with Him and one another in being formed into the image of Christ. We believe these habits of grace, habits of the household, and habits in authentic gospel community are truly the ancient practices that lead to deep, spiritual formation.

David Brooks - "How America Got Mean" - https://shorturl.at/aj249

Why Would You Want to Work for a Church?

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode, our Grace Kids leaders share their journey into the life of our church as members and how one yes led to another as the Lord faithfully brought them onto our staff team. Leah serves as Grace Kids Director and Sarah as our Grace Kids Coordinator.

Why Would You Want to Work for a Church?

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000

This week, Lee sits down with John Beatty as he shares his journey into vocational ministry as our most recent addition to the Grace Auburn Church staff team. Please bear with us in this episode: there is a low hum that we could not isolate and/or eliminate from the recording, but the conversation was too rich to try and re-record.

Living Through Disappointment

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Lee and Matt discuss disappointment. How do you live faithfully before a holy God, knowing that even when things do not turn out the way you hoped, He is still sovereign and faithful? He is always trustworthy. With a walkthrough of Philippians 4:5-7, Matt reminds us of who is in control of not only where we worship together but of our very lives.

The Hiding Place - Corrie Ten Boom (https://rb.gy/p59w3)

Why Would You Want to Work for a Church?

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In our final episode of our series on calling into vocational ministry, Matt Dean shares his journey beginning in 1996 when a college pastor asked him one life-altering question. Matt's answer changed everything, and God's faithfulness to call and lead him into pastoral ministry is an incredible story. As Lead Pastor of Grace Auburn Church, Matt provides primary direction for leadership, vision, and preaching.

Why Would You Want to Work for a Church?

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Kari Glemaker shares her calling into vocational ministry and how God in His goodness led her and Dave from Cincy, OH all the way back to Auburn! She's been on staff since 2020 and has served our teams in Kids, Hospitality, and now serves as Women's Ministry Director. She is the primary point of contact for shepherding the women of Grace Auburn Church and oversees women's ministry events.

Why Would You Want to Work for a Church?

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Caleb Farrow shares his story and calling into pastoral ministry. Beginning with more than a decade in student ministry, Caleb provides leadership and oversight of Grace Campus and the many expressions of authentic Gospel communities throughout the church.

Why Would You Want to Work for a Church?

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode, Jarrod Holt shares his journey into vocational ministry. As Creative Arts Director, Jarrod provides leadership and direction for our team of musicians, working alongside our pastors to lead Grace Auburn in a whole-life response in worship of Jesus, as well as media and design oversight for various ministries within the church.

Why Would You Want to Work for a Church?

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000

On this episode of the Grace Auburn Church Podcast, Associate Pastor Jeff Hollis shares his journey of calling into vocational ministry, specifically his calling to be a pastor here at Grace Auburn Church. This is a wonderful conversation of confirmation and affirmation, and also one full of challenge and the faithful response of the Hollis family to say, "Yes!" to the Father's leading in Jeff's life. As Associate Pastor, Jeff provides pastoral care for members of Grace Auburn Church and oversight to our membership process as well as leadership for worship and livestream production teams.

Why Would You Want to Work for a Church?

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000

This week on the podcast, Amy Vaughn shares her family's story of journeying between 4 states all along the Gulf Coast following the call of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amy serves as our Hospitality Director and serves our volunteers, staff, and members in a variety of ways, and we love having her on our staff team.

People are the Mission - Danny Franks - https://rb.gy/k7rw5

Why Would You Want to Work for a Church?

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this week's podcast, Caroline Sasnett shares her story of being called into ministry at an early age and her journey over 15 years of volunteering and serving her local congregations that ultimately led to her first role on a church staff in Washington, D.C. She and her family relocated after the pandemic of 2020 and have been faithful members of Grace Auburn since they arrived on the Plains. We are thrilled to have her serving our church as the Communication and Media Coordinator.

Why Would You Want to Work for a Church?

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Raina Lanier, Grace Students Director, shares her story of coming to faith and calling into ministry. Her experience coming on to our staff team has uniquely equipped her to care for, love, and serve our students and their families. We are honored to have her join our staff team!

Why Would You Want to Work for a Church?

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000

On this week's podcast, we ask the questions again of our newest Associate Pastor, Jason Ingle: 1) In discerning your calling into vocational ministry, was there one voice, or perhaps a few, that confirmed the Lord's calling on your life? 2) Why in the world would you want to work for a church? If you could do anything in the world, why work for Grace Auburn Church?

Why Would You Want to Work for a Church?

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000

The next several months will contain interviews with each of our staff members. In each conversation, we will ask and answer two questions: 1) In your calling into ministry, was there a consistent voice, or voices, that served to confirm and shape your calling? and 2) Why in the world would you want to work for a church? In this first episode of this series, Executive Pastor Lee Cadden will share the direction of our conversations and his own story of being called into pastoral ministry.

Our Mindset Matters

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Lee Cadden and Associate Pastor, Jeff Hollis, go long-form through Jeff and Chelsea's story of returning to the church after many years on their own. In telling their story of joining Grace Auburn as members and eventually as part of the staff team, the conversation points to the Biblical expectation that we would belong to one another as members of a local church. This episode contrasts the mindset of 1st generation church planters and members - "whatever it takes to get the mission done" with that of 2nd generation churchgoers - "I'll do what's asked of me. I'm really here for the coffee and good music." The podcast ends with how serving and giving of your time, your talents, and your money and how those things are really part of a "whole life" response to who Jesus is and all that He has done for us.

Our Mission on Mission

Tue, 30 May 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Lee Cadden and Matt Dean discuss the centrality of our mission - that the city, campus, and nations would know and love Jesus by establishing authentic gospel communities - and how we do this through the "one anothers" of those communities. God has placed each of us exactly where we are - in our city, on our local campus, and among the many nations He has brought to Auburn. Let us be a people who dare not waste such an eternal opportunity and responsibility.

Authentic Gospel Communities

Wed, 24 May 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Executive Pastor, Lee Cadden has a conversation with Kari Glemaker and Caleb Farrow, both long-time staff members and community group leaders at Grace Auburn, on the importance of how and why we establish authentic gospel communities. Why does this phrase matter, and how is it playing out in the city, on Auburn's campus, and among the nations that God has brought to Auburn.

Caleb and Sarah's story from previous podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/graceauburn/episodes/The-New-Normal-Ep-7---Gods-Faithful-Timing-with-Caleb-and-Sarah-Farrow-edc0u0

The Story of Grace Auburn: What Makes Us . . . Us

Wed, 17 May 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this first episode of the Grace Auburn Church Podcast, Lead Pastor, Matt Dean, and Executive Pastor, Lee Cadden tell the story of how it all began. From the beginning of a dream to plant a church in Auburn, we tell the story of how God birthed a new church with a heart for the city, campus, and nations to know and love Jesus. Together we talk about our mission statement, how it came about, and why membership in a local church matters. We finish by taking a flyover of how and why we gather for corporate worship and why each component in our order of worship matters as we orient our lives and hearts toward Jesus.

How He's Forming Us

Tue, 16 May 2023 10:00:00 +0000

A brief introduction to season one of the Grace Auburn Church Podcast. We are excited to spend the next four episodes with leaders from our church on what makes us...well...us. What does the DNA level of a church look like, and why does church membership still matter in our day? Together, we are being formed into His image, both individually as a local expression of His bride. Whether you are new to Grace Auburn or have been with us for years, we hope these conversations are an encouragement!