Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor

103 episodes listed below

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Measured sermons for resilient faith.

The gist

Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor is a sermon feed shaped by scripture, pastoral reflection, and ordinary-life examples. Its messages move from biblical passages into questions about discipleship, suffering, memory, power, friendship with God, and the practices that help people endure.

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About Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor

Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor is a sermon-centered feed with a warm, analytical style. It teaches slowly. The messages usually start with a concrete image from ordinary life, then follow that image into scripture, theology, and moral reflection. A garden soil test becomes a way to think about testing and integrity. Stones become carriers of memory, grief, resilience, and spiritual survival. A hacked-down hedge becomes an image for seasons when life is cut back before it can grow again. The show is especially attentive to wilderness as a biblical and personal category. Hard stretches are not treated as lessons God cruelly assigns, but as places where presence, endurance, and unexpected provision can still be found. That pastoral distinction matters here. The sermons return often to the idea that God is with people in hardship without needing to be blamed for the harm itself. They also press Christian identity beyond labels. In a message about being Christian, being Christian is framed as a way of life, not merely a doctrinal badge or public claim. The teaching is willing to name empire, greed, violence, scapegoating, and accusation as spiritual forces that deform people and communities. It does so in a church voice, not a cable-news voice. There is humor, too, especially in small asides about old concerts, yard work, church words, and the strange usefulness of biblical nerdiness. The Leviticus material shows the feed at its most distinctive: ancient rituals and purity laws are made legible as symbolic practices connected to harm alleviation and empathy. The pace remains measured even when the ideas are large. Guided silence and prayer often close the sermons, giving the teaching a contemplative landing rather than a hard stop. Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor is best for listeners who want Christian teaching that is scriptural, attentive in moral concern, patient with complexity, and deeply interested in how faith forms people over time.

Made for: For listeners seeking Christian sermons that connect scripture with hardship, empathy, and daily spiritual formation. It will especially suit people drawn to pastoral teaching that gives room to memory, endurance, and repair.

What sets it apart: The show stands out by pairing close biblical reading with tactile, everyday images: rocks, gardens, hedges, ravens, friendships, and wilderness survival. Its theology is careful about suffering, resisting easy claims that God causes harm in order to teach people.

In their own words

Weekly messages and seasonal series from Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor

Why you'd press play

Biblical dragons crawl out of the sea, and your Sunday-school margins suddenly need more room.

Press play if you want

  • close reading that connects Leviathan's Hebrew names to the Bible's dragon-sized questions about chaos and harm
  • faith for hard seasons that makes room for survival, dependence, and grace rather than blaming God for pain
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
Lenten wilderness imageryChristian discipleshipmemory and resilienceGod's presence in hardshipEpiphany and Jesus' ministryGideon and friendship with GodLeviticus and harm alleviationresisting accusation and scapegoating

Talks about

Best episodes of Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor

Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.

29 Mar 20206 | Treasures From the Wilderness: Testing, Testing

A gardening reflection opens into a measured reading of Jesus' wilderness tests and the slow work of faithful leadership.

The sermon reads Luke 4 as a test of the leadership Jesus will refuse and the leadership he will practice. It opens with spring gardening frustrations, using soil, sunlight, drainage, and acidity to frame the question of what can actually thrive.

15 Mar 2026 | Treasures From the Wilderness: Count the Ravens

A chainsaw, a drying wadi, and ravens make dependence feel practical, humbling, and close to home.

Elijah at the wadi Cherith becomes a quiet study of what happens when familiar supports are cut away. The episode begins with the strange pull of Alone during 2020, then shifts to a hedge taken down by chainsaw before it can bud.

01 Mar 2026 | Treasures From the Wilderness: Survival Wisdom

A Lenten sermon finds survival wisdom in memory, Joseph's hardship, and grace for the skills hardship leaves behind.

Hardship is treated as a place where spiritual memory and practical survival skills take shape. The sermon gives that idea something tangible through rocks placed in gold bowls during the prior service, with each stone holding an experience with God, a loved one who helped…

07 Apr 2024 | Safety from Harm

A Leviticus sermon that treats ritual as public meaning and closes in prayerful quiet.

Emily Swan introduces Ken Wilson, Blue Ocean's pastor emeritus, and he returns to Blue Ocean by turning to Leviticus, ritual purity, and food laws as a theological question.

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Episodes

  1. 1

    02 Jun 2024 | Oh Goodness: On Bears and Vampire Creatures

    ·31m
  2. 2

    08 Mar 2026 | Treasures From the Wilderness: God Was in This Place

    ·20m
  3. 3

    22 Mar 2026 | Treasures From the Wilderness: What’s Mine to Carry?

    ·23m
  4. 4

    08 Feb 2026 | Gideon: Trusting God

    ·24m
  5. 5

    01 Feb 2026 | Gideon: When God Waits On Us

    ·30m
  6. 6

    25 Jan 2026 | God Lets Gideon Ask Questions

    ·23m
  7. 7

    22 Feb 2026 | Treasures From the Wilderness: Memory

    A pastor introduces a Lent sermon series called 'Treasures from the Wilderness' using a personal story about rocks from Ireland to illustrate how objects hold memories.

    ·24m
  8. 8

    17 Nov 2024 | Reading the Bible: Tools for Interpretation

    ·29m
  9. 9

    11 Jan 2026 | Nuance and Compassion: The Story of Ruth

    ·23m
  10. 10

    21 Dec 2025 | Keeping Watch: Shepherd Sentinels

    ·21m
  11. 11

    14 Dec 2025 | Keeping Watch: Watchmen Find Joy in the Waiting

    ·22m
  12. 12

    07 Dec 2025 | Keeping Watch: Watchmen Warn the City

    ·21m
  13. 13

    30 Nov 2025 | Keeping Watch: Watchmen Wait in the Night

    ·21m
  14. 14

    23 Nov 2025 | Thoughts on Gratitude

    ·23m
  15. 15

    16 Nov 2025 | Sermon on the Mount: Which Story to Trust?

    ·24m
  16. 16

    09 Nov 2025 | Sermon On the Mount: Judge Not

    ·28m
  17. 17

    02 Nov 2025 | Sermon On the Mount: Don’t Worry ’Bout a Thing

    ·29m
  18. 18

    26 Oct 2025 | Sermon on the Mount: The Lord’s Prayer

    ·23m
  19. 19

    19 Oct 2025 | Sermon On the Mount: Spiritual Practices

    ·24m
  20. 20

    12 Oct 2025 | Sermon On the Mount: Love Even Your Enemies

    ·24m
  21. 21

    05 Oct 2025 | Sermon On the Mount: Heart Stuff

    ·25m
  22. 22

    28 Sep 2025 | Sermon On the Mount: Salt, Light, Deeds

    ·23m
  23. 23

    21 Sep 2025 | Sermon On the Mount: The Beatitudes

    ·22m
  24. 24

    14 Sep 2025 | Sermon On the Mount: Let Us Begin

    ·26m
  25. 25

    07 Sep 2025 | The Theological Revolution Will Not Be Televised

    ·37m
  26. 26

    31 Aug 2025 | The Sacred Practice of Supported Struggle

    ·24m
  27. 27

    24 Aug 2025 | What Can the Bible and History Teach Us About Money and Debt?

    ·34m
  28. 28

    17 Aug 2025 | Psalm 82: A Prayer of Resistance

    ·31m
  29. 29

    10 Aug 2025 | Masculinity in Crisis and the Reactionary Assault on Empathy

    ·29m
  30. 30

    27 Jul 2025 | Tonight Your Soul is Required

    ·22m
  31. 31

    13 Jul 2025 | Renewed Day by Day: Aging as a Spiritual Practice

    ·23m
  32. 32

    29 Jun 2025 | Men (and Masculinity) in Crisis: Surprising Aspects of Masculinity in the Bible

    ·28m
  33. 33

    22 Jun 2025 | What Sheep Can Teach Ewe—from Farmers Reflecting on Sheep and Scripture

    ·21m
  34. 34

    08 Jun 2025 | The Impact of a Trusted Adult

    ·30m
  35. 35

    01 Jun 2025 | Dragon Slayers: Jesus the Dragon Slayer

    ·22m
  36. 36

    25 May 2025 | Dragon Slayers: Jael and the Ordinary People Who Slay the Dragon

    ·29m
  37. 37

    18 May 2025 | Dragon Slayers: Moses and the Serpent King

    ·35m
  38. 38

    04 May 2025 | Welcome Pastor Daniel

    ·46m
  39. 39

    13 Apr 2025 | Resilient Faith: Embracing Joy and Celebration

    ·23m
  40. 40

    06 Apr 2025 | Resilient Faith: Holding Space for Grief in the Beloved Community

    ·26m
  41. 41

    30 Mar 2025 | Resilient Faith: Sabbath Rhythm

    ·27m
  42. 42

    23 Mar 2025 | Resilient Faith: Communion—For a Sturdy, Resilient, and Convictional Faith

    ·24m
  43. 43

    10 Nov 2024 | Reading the Bible: For Pleasure and Comfort

    ·29m
  44. 44

    16 Mar 2025 | Resilient Faith: Baptism

    ·31m
  45. 45

    09 Mar 2025 | Resilient Faith: Acts of Service

    ·29m
  46. 46

    02 Mar 2025 | Resilient Faith: Pilgrimage of the Heart

    ·28m
  47. 47

    23 Feb 2025 | The Heart of the Matter: Discerning Our Role

    ·24m
  48. 48

    16 Feb 2025 | The Heart of the Matter: Love with Abandon

    ·19m
  49. 49

    09 Feb 2025 | The Heart of the Matter: The Cost of Corruption

    ·22m
  50. 50

    02 Feb 2025 | Custodians of Treasures

    ·38m
  51. 51

    26 Jan 2025 | The Heart of the Matter: Psalm of Courage

    ·24m
  52. 52

    19 Jan 2025 | The Heart of the Matter: Character Under Pressure

    ·25m
  53. 53

    12 Jan 2025 | The Heart of the Matter: Have Faith & Be You

    ·22m
  54. 54

    05 Jan 2025 | Epiphany: At Home In God

    ·22m
  55. 55

    22 Dec 2024 | Advent: The Love of God Transforms Us

    ·19m
  56. 56

    15 Dec 2024 | Advent: The Weary World Rejoices

    ·22m
  57. 57

    08 Dec 2024 | Advent: The Peace of God When Life is Busy

    ·23m
  58. 58

    01 Dec 2024 | The Practice of Advent—Hope

    ·30m
  59. 59

    03 Nov 2024 | We Are Not Alone

    ·22m
  60. 60

    23 Jun 2024 | Oh Goodness: East of Eden

    ·23m
  61. 61

    24 Nov 2024 | Reading the Bible: Guardrails for Interpretation

    ·21m
  62. 62

    27 Oct 2024 | Live At Peace With Others, As Much As You’re Able

    ·37m
  63. 63

    20 Oct 2024 | Why Blue Ocean?

    ·36m
  64. 64

    13 Oct 2024 | We Need Connection More Than We Need Answers

    ·21m
  65. 65

    06 Oct 2024 | Justice for the Poor: The Ways of Wisdom

    ·24m
  66. 66

    29 Sep 2024 | The Heart and the Body: The Ways of Wisdom

    ·29m
  67. 67

    22 Sep 2024 | Be Wary of Extremes: The Ways of Wisdom

    ·19m
  68. 68

    15 Sep 2024 | God Inspired, Human Approved: The Ways of Wisdom

    ·23m
  69. 69

    08 Sep 2024 | In Riddles: The Ways of Wisdom

    ·18m
  70. 70

    01 Sep 2024 | Upsides & Downsides: The Ways of Wisdom

    ·24m
  71. 71

    25 Aug 2024 | Character Matters: The Ways of Wisdom

    ·22m
  72. 72

    18 Aug 2024 | Avoiding Unnecessary Drama: The Ways of Wisdom

    ·24m
  73. 73

    11 Aug 2024 | A Stitch In Time: The Ways of Wisdom

    ·18m
  74. 74

    28 Jul 2024 | Anchored In God’s Goodness: The Witness of Habakkuk

    ·22m
  75. 75

    21 Jul 2024 | Getting It Right is More Important than Being Right

    ·24m
  76. 76

    14 Jul 2024 | On Belonging: We Are the Many in One

    ·21m
  77. 77

    30 Jun 2024 | Oh Goodness: Choose Life

    ·19m
  78. 78

    16 Jun 2024 | Oh Goodness: A Beastly Reflection

    ·22m
  79. 79

    05 Apr 2026 | Treasures From the Wilderness: Resurrection Power

    ·19m
  80. 80

    26 May 2024 | Oh Goodness! Return to Me and I Will Return to You

    ·18m
  81. 81

    19 May 2024 | Oh Goodness: Water of Life

    ·22m
  82. 82

    12 May 2024 | Oh Goodness: A Garden of Delights

    ·22m
  83. 83

    05 May 2024 | Oh Goodness: Death is Overcome

    ·21m
  84. 84

    28 Apr 2024 | Oh Goodness! Original Sin Fails Us

    ·23m
  85. 85

    21 Apr 2024 | Oh Goodness: Our Incredible Potentiality

    ·19m
  86. 86

    14 Apr 2024 | On the Apostle Paul: Love Does No Harm

    ·23m
  87. 87

    31 Mar 2024 | Easter: A Time to Embrace New Narratives

    ·17m
  88. 88

    24 Mar 2024 | American Idol: Peace Through Justice

    ·21m
  89. 89

    10 Mar 2024 |  American Idol: Rejecting Warrior Jesus

    ·23m
  90. 90

    01 Mar 2026 | Treasures From the Wilderness: Survival Wisdom

    Hidden gem

    Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor's 1 March 2026 sermon uses Joseph's story in Genesis to examine “survival wisdom” formed during hardship.

    ·27m·1 clip
  91. 91

    15 Mar 2026 | Treasures From the Wilderness: Count the Ravens

    Hidden gem

    Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor’s 15 Mar 2026 sermon uses the History Channel show Alone and Elijah’s time at Wadi Cherith to examine how people endure metaphorical wilderness seasons.

    ·24m·1 clip
  92. 92

    17 Mar 2024 | American Idol: Becoming a People of Hope, Not Fear

    Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor's March 17, 2024 sermon connects “American Idol” with becoming a people of hope, not fear.

    ·20m·1 clip
  93. 93

    29 Mar 20206 | Treasures From the Wilderness: Testing, Testing

    Hidden gem

    Jesus faces three wilderness tests: bread, kingdoms, and a temple jump.

    ·24m·1 clip
  94. 94

    27 Apr 2025 | Feed My Sheep

    ·28m
  95. 95

    11 May 2025 | Dragon Slayers: Variations on a Theme

    Hidden gem

    Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor opens the Dragon Slayers series by reading Genesis through ancient Near Eastern dragon imagery and the question of how humans create chaos or human thriving.

    ·24m·1 clip
  96. 96

    07 Apr 2024 | Safety from Harm

    Ken Wilson, pastor emeritus of Blue Ocean Church, delivers a sermon on developing a harm alleviation ethic from scripture.

    ·28m·2 clips
  97. 97

    04 Jan 2026 | Remembering Epiphany

    A sermon explaining the Christian seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, focusing on the story of Jesus' birth and its significance.

    ·22m
  98. 98

    15 Feb 2026 | The Cost of Discipleship: A Bonhoeffer Redux

    A sermon exploring the meaning of being a Christian, tracing the term from its origins as a nickname to a call to live like Jesus.

    ·22m
  99. 99

    18 Jan 2026 | Gideon: Becoming God’s Friend

    A pastor introduces a new sermon series on the story of Gideon, exploring friendship with God through biblical narrative.

    ·25m
  100. 100

    20 Apr 2025 | Resilient Faith: Practicing Resurrection

    This Easter sermon from Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor concludes a Lenten series on resilient faith by exploring the practice of resurrection.

    ·21m·2 clips
  101. 101

    Blue Ocean Kids—Word of the Week | Episode 26: Walking on Water

    Sep 13, 2020·9m
  102. 102

    Blue Ocean Kids—Word of the Week | Episode 25: What About Worry?

    Sep 6, 2020·8m
  103. 103

    Daily Prayer | Saturday, Sep 05, 2020

    Sep 5, 2020·14m