Belonging House Fellowship
Christ John Otto is the founder of Belonging House, an international fellowship of artists and creative people. The House of Artisans is our Sunday online worshipping congregation. We are a community called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth.
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To Be Radical in Radical Times
06/30/2025
To Be Radical in Radical Times
Luke 9:58 Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the son of man has no where to lay his head. Luke 9:23 If any man would come after me, let him take up his cross daily, and follow me. --- Today we are going to end this talk with a few prayers. First, I want to break off of you any ways people have made false declarations over you. Some of you have aligned your hearts with these lies and so we may have to renounce them as well. There are many artists who listen to my teaching who have been cursed by their churches. So we are going to break that off. There are many of you who feel like God has called you to do radical things but there is resistance, both inward and outward, to keep you "normal" and to stop you from walking in obedience. We are going to break that off and we are going to pray for you. Some of you may need to turn from this and I am going to ask you to indicate to everyone here your desire to change direction and align with Jesus. And then we are going to go after all the false religious teaching that has kept some of you bound in poverty, lack, sickness, and death. ---- Christ John Otto leads Belonging House International, a fellowship called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth. The heart of Belonging House is our Friday email. You can subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/44964233320d/friday-email-signup Christ John Otto writes at We encourage artists to make the Belonging House commitment: https://belonginghouse.substack.com/p/our-commitment You can support us at You can view Belonging House Books here:
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How to Receive Holy Communion
06/23/2025
How to Receive Holy Communion
This day we remember the Body and Blood. The Body was offered, it was blessed and dedicated, it was broken, and it was give to us. As a young person in the Episcopal church I was taught a deceptively simple rhyme crafted by Queen Elizabeth I: Twas God the Word that spake it. He took the Bread and brake it. And what the word did make it, That I believe, and take it. God the Word made flesh took bread, gave thanks and declared over it a new reality, and in the breaking of that bread, the reality was released to us, and we can receive it. ----- You can get the Belonging House Friday Email at https://mailchi.mp/44964233320d/friday-email-signup Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here:
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Lover, Beloved, and Love
06/16/2025
Lover, Beloved, and Love
The God of the Bible is the Most Relational Being in the Universe. Bishop Robert Barron, once talked about the uniqueness of the Christian God. God is Love. And then he paraphrased St. Augustine's Treatise on the Holy Trinity. The Father is the Lover. The Son is the Beloved. And the Holy Spirit is the bond of Love between them. The Father is the Lover. The Son is the Beloved. And the Holy Spirit is the bond of Love between them. And Jesus says this in this Gospel. Everything I have is from the Father. The Father gives it to me. And the Holy Spirit is going to give it to you. And St. Athanasius said that out of this relationship between the members of the Godhead, there is creativity. It is like a nuclear reaction. The interaction between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is by nature a creative force. ----- You can get the Belonging House Friday Email at https://mailchi.mp/44964233320d/friday-email-signup Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here:
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The Holy Spirit is the Solution.
06/09/2025
The Holy Spirit is the Solution.
Genesis 11:1-9 Exodus 19:3-8, 16-20 Joel 2: 28-32 Acts 2:1-11 John 20:19-23 If you aren't paying attention, Pentecost seems to be the most random event in history. A group of people praying in a room in Jerusalem suddenly see fire on their heads and they begin to speak in various languages. And many people and churches do not understand why Pentecost is important and they call it the birthday of the church. And for people who believe that the Holy Spirit withdrew a generation later, they try to downplay this event and look at it as an anomaly. This is why we read all these lessons each year to show that Pentecost is part of a continuum in Scripture, and also a great restoration of God's original plan. Pentecost is the fulfillment of everything the Messiah said he would do. The Holy Spirit is the author of scripture, and the central character throughout. This is one of the interesting aspects of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit always directs the attention to someone else. You can miss the Holy Spirit in the Bible if you are not looking. The Bible begins with the Holy Spirit hovering over the waters and out of this chaos comes order. The Holy Spirit always brings order out of chaos. Normal Christianity is Charismatic. You can get the Belonging House Friday Email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists You can view Belonging House Books here:
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Why Did Jesus Ascend into Heaven?
06/02/2025
Why Did Jesus Ascend into Heaven?
Simon Sinek once said that great leaders lead from their "why." I once worked for an art company that gave the staff random directions but never told us what we were doing or why we were doing it. And I recall the directions were always in bits, one task at a time. It was very frustrating, and the end goal always suffered because the staff did not know why they were doing it. Eventually I quit. A lot of people think God is like this. That everything is on a need to know basis, and that we are given directions to obey. And if you miss it, well it sucks to be you. Back to being an unhappy Christian trying to make the mean old man in the sky happy. This is not Christianity. God is in relationship with you, and he wants you to know why. ------------ You can get the Belonging House Friday Email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists You can view Belonging House Books here:
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The Holy Spirit Manifests
05/26/2025
The Holy Spirit Manifests
The Father Speaks. The Son does, the Holy Spirit manifests. And so the Father calls a new creation. He sends his Son. And what does the Son do? The son only does what He sees the Father doing. The Father initiates, and the Son administrates. The Son carries out the word of the Father. And so the Son becomes sin for us. The son empties himself and becomes a servant. The Son becomes the word made flesh. The son conquers death and rises from the dead. But these things are limited by the physical reality that Jesus is one person. The Father has spoken, the Son has done his work, but the Holy Spirit must bring it into manifestation. You cannot know God, or the Word without the Holy Spirit. You cannot love Jesus or keep his words without the Holy Spirit. ----- You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists You can view Belonging House Books here:
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You are Character in God's Story
05/19/2025
You are Character in God's Story
This week we share a long form conversation with a member of the Belonging House Community, LaChé Heron. You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists You can view Belonging House Books here:
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The Lamb Will Be Your Shepherd.
05/12/2025
The Lamb Will Be Your Shepherd.
You are not a sinner. Sin is not what defines you. Sin is nothing more than static on your new identity, because Holies do not live in sin. And as you hear the Shepherds voice, and you present your body to the Shepherd, you are more and more transformed into the real you. Jesus tells you who you are. Jesus reminds you of his love. Jesus encourages you to become more and more your true identity in Christ. And everything that sticks to you, with the static cling of sin, will fall away. You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists You can view Belonging House Books here:
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Heaven is in You.
05/05/2025
Heaven is in You.
Revelation This Kingdom is not one of outward appearances, but a kingdom of internal realities. As Jesus said, his body was the temple, and it would be destroyed, and on the third day it would be raised up. On the cross the veil of his temple was torn, his heart was pierced, and out of that temple of his body flowed blood and water. That water, was the Holy Spirit. To be a Christian is to be a little Christ, a temple of the Holy Spirit. You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here:
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Receive the Holy Spirit
04/28/2025
Receive the Holy Spirit
Jesus Christ did not come to start a religion, but rather, he came to establish his Kingdom. And on this eighth day of Easter, we look at the second half of John 20, and what Jesus did first after his victory over death. He gave the ability to forgive sin in the power of the Holy Spirit. You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here:
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Easter Sunday: Jesus did it all for Love.
04/20/2025
Easter Sunday: Jesus did it all for Love.
Follow the Love in John's gospel. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here:
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What Did Jesus Write?
04/07/2025
What Did Jesus Write?
Today we have one of the gospel readings that has captured the imaginations of millions of people. This wild story, where a woman is in the act of adultery, and dragged into the temple precincts, and they are about to stone her. And of course, this episode is a test to see what Jesus will do. They are trying to provoke him so that they have a pretext to claim he is a false prophet, so that they can stone him along with the woman. Lots of people have talked about the obvious facts. No one commits adultery alone. Where is the other party? Was he the married one? And why were all these scribes and pharisees in the right place at the right time? And of course, the real thing, the thing that everyone is confused about. Why did Jesus stop and write on the ground, and what did the writing say? You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here:
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I will Arise and Go to My Father
03/31/2025
I will Arise and Go to My Father
This Sunday is about repentance. As it says in Hosea: Come, let us return to the Lord who has stricken us, and he will heal us, and on the third day he will raise us up. You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here:
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Don't Be Deeply Weird
03/24/2025
Don't Be Deeply Weird
We have to be reminded continually that Jesus Christ did not come to start a religion but rather he came to establish a Kingdom. Our religious grids sometimes keep us from the Kingdom. At the same time, a lot of people think that the Body of Christ is a jelly-fish. All that matters is my relationship with Jesus and everything else is up for grabs. Have you noticed that jellyfish never build anything? The Kingdom as it says in Revelation is taking the world from a wild garden to a city. And cities and kingdoms have order. We see this in Leviticus. There is a very clear order about God's plan for his people. They were first given holidays, then an order for the pattern of worship, and then rules for life. This was about creating a culture. You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: Jay Ayliff's teaching on the word Leitourgeo: Nick Cave's blog: My book Very God is here: https://a.co/d/07LeXYh
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A Cutting from the Glastonbury Thorn
03/17/2025
A Cutting from the Glastonbury Thorn
Legend tells us that Joseph of Arimathea a tin merchant, came to Glastonbury, and put his staff in the ground and it sprouted. This tree blooms twice a year in the spring and on Christmas. And this tree, the Glastonbury Thorn, is the root of Christianity in Britain. And by the way, this tree, genetically linked to the eastern mediterranean, survives through cuttings and still blooms at Christmas. In the undercroft of the York Minster is a tile from the first century, and that tile is inscribed with the monogram of Christ, the Chi-Rho. So we have two bits of evidence that Christianity has been in Britain for two-thousand years. And it is the tree from which Belonging House springs. Belonging House International is a community of artists and creative people called to build Jesus a throne in the earth. In other words, we make disciples who will disciple the nations in the world of creativity. You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse We have a community for those who have made the Belonging House Commitment on Mighty Network. https://belonging-house.mn.co
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We Want to Lead Artists To Jesus
03/11/2025
We Want to Lead Artists To Jesus
Belonging House International is a community of artists and creative people called to build Jesus a throne in the earth. In other words, we make disciples who will disciple the nations in the world of creativity. You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto We have a community for those who have made the Belonging House Commitment on Mighty Network. https://belonging-house.mn.co
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You Can Bear Fruit
03/03/2025
You Can Bear Fruit
Belonging House International is a community of artists and creative people called to build Jesus a throne in the earth. In other words, we make disciples who will disciple the nations in the world of creativity. You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto We have a community for those who have made the Belonging House Commitment on Mighty Network. https://belonging-house.mn.co
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Artists who put others first
02/24/2025
Artists who put others first
From the beginning, I have tried to model a basic ethic of hospitality, and model the "Golden Rule." Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Put other people first. Oddly, some of you have seen this in action, when we have had a few bad apples in our own mix. Folks have interpreted my kindness to the ungrateful as weakness, and sometimes folks try to take advantage of me. These situations do not change reality. In the Kingdom reality is Take up your cross and follow Jesus to his death, and your death. You become a disciple when you do this. And when you choose to be a disciple, you begin to become a master copy of the Icon of the Father, Jesus Christ. And we are promised, that if we share in his suffering we will share in his glory. Christ John Otto is the founder of Belonging House. We are called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth. You can find him at https://x.com/ChristJohnOtto and If this encourages you, support my work at
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Someone needs to hear this today.
02/16/2025
Someone needs to hear this today.
Christ John Otto is the founder of Belonging House. We are called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth. You can find him at https://x.com/ChristJohnOtto and If this encourages you, support my work at
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Put Out into the Deep
02/10/2025
Put Out into the Deep
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Hidden in Plain Sight
02/03/2025
Hidden in Plain Sight
Malachi 3:1-4 Luke 2:22-32 It's hard to believe, but Christmas was forty days ago. This year, the end of the Christmas cycle, The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple falls on a Sunday. We have been talking about how the Kingdom of God is a symbolic Kingdom, and how this relates to the sacramental principle, and the means of grace: God uses physical things and actions to communicate his Presence, Person, and Power. Today we are going to look at the presentation of Jesus and in order to discover how to encounter the Holy Spirit when God is moving. People miss what God is doing, because they are looking at the wrong things. ----- Christ John Otto writes at and If this encourages you, support my work at
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The Sacrament of Scripture
01/26/2025
The Sacrament of Scripture
Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 _________________ When we talk about the means of grace, after the sacraments is the word of God. And the reading and proclamation of the word is a sacrament. It is an act that releases the power and grace of God. And so this week, we are given two readings where we actually see this happen, under the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah and Jesus in the Synagogue. This week I want to look at this passage in Luke from a slightly different angle, and talk about two things: the ancient pathway that never gets old; the way the church has encouraged us to read scripture. And the slippery slope, liberal theology and the authority of scripture. _____ Christ John Otto writes at and If this encourages you, support my work at
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Nothing Changes Water
01/21/2025
Nothing Changes Water
It is a bit shocking that God would use the most common of all elements to be the sign of birth into the Kingdom. And throughout scripture water will be linked to the Holy Spirit. Water is the sign of creation, rebirth of the world, the river of life from the Temple, rivers of living water out of our bellies, washing, cleansing, and blessing. And yes, Paul says water is a symbol of death and resurrection, but that reference is an outlier. Water is more often about life and birth. Jesus is the living water. Water is the most powerful solvent on earth. All things can dissolve in water. Water can become steam and drive engines. Water can freeze and become ice. Water can move mountains through erosion. Up here in New England we have seen whole rock formations collapse because ice got in, expanded and split the rock. Water can evaporate and become clouds. Water can come down as snow. Water is the most powerful force on earth Everything can be changed by water, but nothing changes water. Just like the Holy Spirit. Belonging House is an international fellowship of artists and creative people. Check out our Friday email at
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God's Kingdom is a Symbolic Kingdom
01/13/2025
God's Kingdom is a Symbolic Kingdom
The Kingdom of God is a symbolic kingdom. Symbols are God’s primary language. This is why if you focus too much on the Bible as a written word you miss so much. And this is why Christianity has produced so much visual art, and why this art is full of language and messages that we can read. Christ John Otto writes at and If this encourages you, support my work at Or become a Patron at
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The Kingdom Begins in the House of Bread
01/05/2025
The Kingdom Begins in the House of Bread
Matthew 2:1-10 This isn't about stars and kings and Christmas gifts. This is about the Kingdom of God, and Matthew is showing us that outsiders, pagans, who are paying attention, recognize that the Kingdom of God is being manifested on earth, and those who are supposed to know miss it. He is pointing out what Jesus would say later on: beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. Politics is not the Kingdom, and neither is religion. The Kingdom is about food. It is about being fed by the good Shepherd, and he is bringing bread for the life of the world. He is bread for the life of the world. Christ John Otto writes at and If this encourages you, support my work at Or become a Patron at #magi #epiphany
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After the Angels Leave
12/30/2024
After the Angels Leave
Turn in your Bible to Luke 2:15-21. The Christmas readings often stop at verse 20. And because this story is in Christmas specials sandwiched between Rudolph and ads for Coca-Cola, we think that this story, the one with shepherds and angels is fantastical. These angels are for many of us, just like Santa's elves at the North Pole. Even "evangelicals" have been so influenced by liberal theology that they have accepted that this is in the mythical category. Classical, Catholic and Orthodox Christianity teaches us that these angels are not mythical and that at any moment you might have an encounter with an angel. Hebrews reminds us to welcome the stranger, because you might be meet an "angel unawares." Christ John Otto writes at and If this encourages you, support my work at Or become a Patron at
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Come Back to the Father's Table.
12/15/2024
Come Back to the Father's Table.
The Messiah is coming, and you are not ready. Get ready. We are back to the central theme of scripture: God is a Father looking for bride for his son. The bride is faithless, so the son lays down his life to redeem her, and then we all sit down at the Father's table forever. Christ John Otto writes at and If this encourages you, support my work at Or become a Patron at
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There Will Never Be Another You.
12/09/2024
There Will Never Be Another You.
God is saying today, take the lid off. There are no limitations. With God all things are possible. There is something in you that only you can do. God has given you unique abilities, callings, giftings, and experiences. There will never be another you. It's okay to celebrate that and embrace that. And when you do, when you discover that embrace, you can experience and walk in the flow of God for your life. Christ John Otto writes at and If this encourages you, support my work at Or become a Patron at
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The Root and the Branch
12/02/2024
The Root and the Branch
Jeremiah is being given a promise: the house of David, which seems to be at a very low point, is going to produce a Branch. Isaiah tells us a branch will come from the stump of Jesse. And Zechariah also gives us this image of a righteous branch. In the ancient world, and especially among royalty, the idea of a branch always refers to a royal line. This is the Kingly line. This is the Messianic promise God made to David in II Samuel 7: You will not build me a house, but I will build you a house, and someone will sit on your throne forever. We are looking back, and we are looking forward. Jeremiah in a hopeless situation is promised that a Branch will come forth, and by this branch, We will know the LORD is our righteousness. Christ John Otto writes at and If this encourages you, support my work at Or become a Patron at
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Jim Leach: When We Wait God Acts
11/25/2024
Jim Leach: When We Wait God Acts
Jim Leach, the "Rustic Mystic" shares insights on waiting with God from Isaiah 40. Belonging House is an international fellowship of Christian artists called to build a throne for Jesus in the earth. Jim Leach is co-leader of the Spirit Wind Center in Stonington, Connecticut. You can find out more at Christ John Otto writes at and If this encourages you, support my work at Or become a Patron at
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