Podcast
Idlewild Presbyterian Church
Hosted by Idlewild Presbyterian Church · EN
The Idlewild podcast is a ministry of Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN. Every podcast includes a weekly sermon that explores scripture and provokes reflection about the mystery of God and what it means to model our lives on the life of Jesus Christ.
18episodes
Episodes
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Sunday Sermon: Resurrected Life - Preparing to Witness
2w ago00:15:49Tap to summarizeThis morning, we will wrap up our Eastertide sermon series, Resurrected Life, by reflecting on what it means to be sent into the world as witnesses to the risen Christ. Our scripture will come from Acts 1:6–14, where the disciples stand between Christ’s ascension and the coming of the Spirit, learning to trust what God will do next. Sermon on Acts 1:6-14, delivered by the Reverend David J. Powers on May 17th, 2026.
Transcribe →Sunday Sermon: Resurrected Life - With You Always
3w ago00:25:13Tap to summarizeThis morning, we continue in the joy of Eastertide and in our sermon series Resurrected Life, exploring what it means to live as people shaped by the presence of the risen Jesus. Our scripture lesson comes from the Gospel of Matthew 28:16–20, where the disciples encounter Christ on the mountain and are sent out into the world with a calling that is both challenging and full of promise. In this passage, we witness the shift from disciples to apostles, from those who follow to those who are sent, and we are invited to consider our place in that same movement. At the heart of it all is Jesus’ promise: “I am with you always,” a word of assurance that meets us in both our faith and our uncertainty. Sermon on Matthew 28:16-20, delivered by the Reverend David J. Powers on May 10th, 2026.
Transcribe →Sunday Sermon: Resurrected Life - Deeper Trust
4w ago00:16:52Tap to summarizeThis morning, we will continue in the joy of Eastertide and in our sermon series Resurrected Life, where we are exploring what it means to live each day shaped by the presence and power of the risen Jesus. Our worship will center on John 21:1–14 as the disciples encounter the risen Christ beside the sea and are invited to cast their nets once more; trusting his guidance into deeper waters. In this tender story, Jesus meets them in their uncertainty and reveals again that life with him is marked not by scarcity, but by unexpected abundance. Together, we’ll reflect on how living a resurrected life means trusting Christ enough to follow where he leads, even when the way forward is not entirely clear. Sermon on John 21:1-14, delivered by the Reverend David J. Powers on May 3rd, 2026.
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Youth Sunday Sermons
Apr 2600:23:49Tap to summarizeThis morning, as we celebrate the second Sunday of Easter, our youth will take on the full work of worship; offering prayers, leading liturgy, reading scripture, and proclaiming the Word. Grounded in the Gospel of John, several of our graduating seniors will share sermons reflecting on what it means to hear and follow Christ's voice in a noisy world. Sermon on John 10:1-6 and John 21:15-19, delivered by Samuel Gilreath, Alex Colley, Ainsley Gale, and Tate Robertson on April 26th, 2026.
Transcribe →Sunday Sermon: Resurrected Life - Witnesses to Wounds
Apr 1900:21:04Tap to summarizeThis morning, we continue in the joy of Eastertide with the second week of our sermon series, Resurrected Life. In our scripture lesson, John 20:24-29, we meet Thomas the Apostle, who longs to see and touch Christ’s wounds before he can believe. In this powerful encounter, Jesus does not reject Thomas’s doubt, but meets him in it, offering peace and inviting him closer through his scars. Together, we will reflect on how our own wounds, spiritual, emotional, and physical, can become the very places where we are most deeply connected to Christ and to one another. Sermon on John 20:24-29, delivered by the Reverend David J. Powers on April 18th, 2026.
Transcribe →Sunday Sermon: Resurrected Life - Holy Spirit
Apr 1200:19:19Tap to summarizeThis morning, as we gather to worship, we'll kick off an Eastertide sermon series entitled Resurrected Life. Over the next six weeks, we'll focus on the teachings and encounters of Christ after the resurrection, reflecting on how hope, courage, forgiveness, and purpose take root in the lives of those who follow Christ. Sermon on John 20:19-23, delivered by the Reverend Mary Newberg Gale on April 12th, 2026.
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Easter Sermon - Proclaiming Resurrection
Apr 500:18:10Tap to summarizeThis Easter morning, we gather for the day at the heart of our faith, when we proclaim that Christ is risen and death no longer has the final word. In John 20:1–18, we encounter Mary Magdalene, who comes to the tomb in grief and leaves with a message of hope: “I have seen the Lord.” It is a story that reminds us that resurrection is not only something we believe, but something we are called to proclaim with our lives. Sermon on John 20:1-18, delivered by the Reverend David J. Powers on April 5th, 2026.
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Sunday Sermon: Marks of a Disciple - Compassion
Mar 2900:30:45Tap to summarizeThis morning as we gather for Palm Sunday we will conclude our Lenten series, Marks of a Disciple, by reflecting on the mark of compassion through Paul’s words in Philippians. As the crowds welcome Jesus with shouts of praise, we are reminded that following him leads us beyond words into lives shaped by generous, shared love. Paul gives thanks for a community that cared for him in his need, revealing a vision of compassion that is both personal and deeply communal. In this final step of our Lenten journey, we will consider how Christ forms us into people who not only receive God’s abundance, but also share it with one another. Sermon on Philippians 4:10-20, delivered by the Reverend David J. Powers on March 29th, 2026.
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Sunday Sermon: Marks of a Disciple - Peace
Mar 2200:22:01Tap to summarizeThis morning we will continue our Lenten series, Marks of a Disciple, by reflecting on the mark of peace through Paul’s words in Philippians 4:4–9. Writing from a place of uncertainty, Paul speaks of a peace that is not dependent on circumstances, but rooted in trust in God’s nearness and care. In a season that invites us to examine what weighs on our hearts, this passage gently calls us to release our anxieties and turn again toward prayer and gratitude. Together, we will consider how the peace of Christ is not something we achieve, but something we receive and learn to live within. As we move closer to the cross, we are invited to become people whose lives reflect that deep and steady peace. Sermon on Philippians 4:4-9, delivered by the Reverend David J. Powers on March 22nd, 2026.
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Sunday Sermon: Marks of a Disciple - Perseverance
Mar 1500:24:40Tap to summarizeThis morning we continue our Lenten series, Marks of a Disciple, by reflecting on the mark of perseverance through Paul’s words in Philippians 3:4b–14. In his epistle, Paul describes the life of faith as a journey in which we let go of what lies behind and press on toward the life God promises in Christ. Rather than relying on his own accomplishments, Paul places his hope entirely in the grace of Christ who has claimed him. His words remind us that discipleship is not about arriving, but about continuing to follow Christ with trust and determination. As we move deeper into Lent, we will consider what it means to keep pressing forward in faith even when the road is long and difficult. Sermon on Philippians 3:4b-14, delivered by the Reverend David J. Powers on March 15th, 2026.
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