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The Word Made Fresh

The Word Made Fresh

By: The Riverside Church NYC
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The Word Made Fresh is a weekly Bible study and sermon prep resource that explores an upcoming narrative lectionary text from a progressive point of view.Copyright The Riverside Church NYC Christianity Spirituality
Episodes
  • How Does Our Garden Grow?

    How Does Our Garden Grow?
    Jun 4 2026
    What does it mean for a church—or a life—to grow? In this episode of The Word Made Fresh, we kick off a new series: “How Our Garden Grows.” Using the metaphor of gardening, we explore what it looks like to plant seeds, tend the soil, and cultivate something meaningful—not just for now, but for generations we may never see. This isn’t strategic planning as usual. It’s something more alive. More flexible. More human. We talk about:
    • Why rigid plans don’t work in a changing world
    • How gardening and parenting teach us adaptability
    • What it means to “use what you’ve got”
    • The role of play, creativity, and curiosity in church life
    • Why the soil—our spiritual grounding—matters more than we think
    This series is rooted in real questions facing real communities:
    How do we grow something lasting in uncertain times?
    What are we planting now—and who is it for? Whether you’re part of a church or just trying to make sense of your own growth, this conversation is for you.
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    34 mins
  • Just As I Am: What Pride Month Means for Everyone (ft. Rev. Brandan Robertson)

    Just As I Am: What Pride Month Means for Everyone (ft. Rev. Brandan Robertson)
    May 28 2026
    This week, Riverside Church welcomes Rev. Brandan Robertson — author, activist, and theologian — for a special Pride Eve conversation ahead of his May 31st sermon, "Just As I Am."

    In this preview, Brandan shares what to expect from his message rooted in Isaiah 56, where the prophet envisions a world where eunuchs — the sexual and gender minorities of the ancient world — are not just welcomed but given "a monument and a name better than sons and daughters." It's a text that reframes Pride Month not just as a celebration for LGBTQ+ people, but as an invitation for everyone to step out of their closets of fear and conformity.

    We talk about:
    • Why conformity is antithetical to the Gospel
    • The surprising connection between Isaiah 56 and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts
    • What it means to show up fully and authentically as a spiritual practice
    • How Brandan writes sermons (spoiler: stream of consciousness)
    • Why Pride Month is for straight and cisgender people too

    Rev. Brandan Robertson is the author of multiple books on faith, sexuality, and justice, and a leading voice in progressive Christianity.

    Join us Sunday, May 31st — Worship at 11AM ET (in-person & online), followed by a conversation on Queer & Christian at 1:30PM ET.

    - - -

    Join Virtual Coffee Hour after Sunday morning worship: http://www.trcnyc.org/vch
    Visit http://www.trcnyc.org for more digital ministry resources to fuel your work for love and justice.
    Download a bulletin: http://www.trcnyc.org/bulletins
    Watch The Word Made Fresh: http://www.trcnyc.org/TheWordMadeFresh
    Watch Bible in a Minute: http://www.trcnyc.org/BibleInAMinute
    Make a donation: http://www.trcnyc.org/donate
    Follow us on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/RiversideNYC
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    Follow us on TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@riversidenyc
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    15 mins
  • The Spirit Doesn’t Ask Permission (Acts 2)

    The Spirit Doesn’t Ask Permission (Acts 2)
    May 21 2026
    Pentecost isn’t quiet. It’s not calm. And it’s definitely not controlled. In Acts 2, the Spirit shows up like fire and wind—loud, disruptive, and impossible to ignore. But what if that’s the point? This week, we explore what it means to be gathered together in all our differences, to be pushed beyond comfort, and to remember that the Spirit doesn’t belong to us—we’re invited to move with it.
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
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