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.

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 /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/35305890

Put Out into the Deep 02/10/2025

Put Out into the Deep Christ John Otto writes at and If this encourages you, support my work at /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/35223085

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 /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/35126735

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 /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/35019135

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 /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/34938490

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 /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/34835000

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 /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/34727885

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 /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/34654005

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 /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/34459480

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 /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/34354840

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 /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/34228665

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 /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/34134416

The Kingdom is about the King 11/18/2024

The Kingdom is about the King If you have spent any time among conservative types of churches, this topic can become a real turnoff, because there is a cottage industry around the rapture and end-times prophecy. And honestly, it seems like the second coming takes a back seat to the tribulation, and the whole thing is completely disconnected from reality. Let's go back to our main thesis: Jesus Christ did not come to start a religion, he came to establish a Kingdom. The whole Bible from beginning to end is about this Kingdom. It is not about religion. And when you try to understand the second coming from a religious grid, things get weird. And it is really important for artists and creative people. Because if you try to fit your life into the religious grid, you produce bad art. If you are an artist for the Kingdom there is a lot of freedom. Christ John Otto writes at and If this encourages you, support my work at Or become a Patron at /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/33969822

Free Your Mind from Poverty 11/11/2024

Free Your Mind from Poverty I Kings 17:9-16 If you have one take away today, it is this: We are characters in God's story, God is not a character in our story. When you get this right, your thinking will begin to change. The second important takeaway is this: you have to let go and release if you are going to receive. Christ John Otto writes at and If this encourages you, support my work at Or become a Patron at My new book is Artists at a Shift in Time. https:// tinyurl.com/3etazb6s /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/33876737

How to Be Blessed 11/04/2024

How to Be Blessed Matthew 5:1-9 The Kingdom is always advancing. This teaching is the heart of all that Jesus said. Go low, let the Holy Spirit fill you. Let your inner life determine your creative output. And as you do, the blessing of God, the enlargement of the Kingdom is going to manifest in you. And yes, that is going to result in resistance, but that resistance is the proof you are going in the right direction. Christ John Otto writes at and If this encourages you, support my work at Or become a Patron at My new book is Artists at a Shift in Time. beatitudes blessing /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/33772017

Freedom from Curses 10/28/2024

Freedom from Curses Jesus Christ, as it says in Galatians 3:13-14, became a curse for us on the cross. He took upon himself our curses. And when he did, he made a way for us to be free. The process of getting free from a curse, because Jesus did the hard part, is relatively simple. Christ John Otto writes at and If this encourages you, support my work at Or become a Patron at My new book is Artists at a Shift in Time. The audio book comes out November 1. /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/33638702

The Nature of Witchcraft 10/21/2024

The Nature of Witchcraft And finally, all spiritual warfare comes back down to basic discipleship. Listen to the Lord and do what he tells you. Pray. Know your Bible. Receive the Eucharist weekly. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. And be normal. Satan loves weird Christians who don't do these things and run from one trend to another. The slow steady walk with Jesus has so much power that Satan will do anything to keep you from it. Belonging House is an international fellowship of artists and creative people, who since 2006, have been raising up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth. You can receive Christ (rhymes with "wrist") John Otto's Friday email at If these messages encourage you, share them with your friends. /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/33545887

On Spiritual Warfare 10/14/2024

On Spiritual Warfare One of the topics that comes up in our community is the subject of spiritual warfare. It is very clear when you walk into the world of the arts that there is a spiritual battle going on for the cultures of the world. So for the next three weeks I am going to talk about spiritual warfare. This week will be a foundation, next week will be about the nature of witchcraft, and the last week will be on blessing and cursing. Each week Christ John Otto teaches at Beth Charashim, the House of Artisans, on Zoom. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://belonginghouse.org He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #belonginghouse #spiritualwarfare /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/33445882

5785: The Death of Jezebel 10/07/2024

5785: The Death of Jezebel A special message for the start of the new Hebrew calendar year. Christ John Otto shares insights on God's prophetic rhythm, and the a teaching on II Kings 9, and the death of Jezebel You can find out more at belonginghouse.org /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/33354977

How to Make Open Space in Your Life. 09/30/2024

How to Make Open Space in Your Life. You cannot preach deny yourself, and leave an empty hole. And you cannot preach sanctity without the Power of the Holy Spirit. It's sham theology. We all have needs. If you don't fill the void with the Holy Spirit, you will go after money, sex, and power. That's a cheap imitation of Provision, Wholeness, and Anointing. And it costs a lot to get those things. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #faith /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/33258112

How to Be Great Like God 09/23/2024

How to Be Great Like God You don't climb your way up in the Kingdom. That's the world's thinking. The Kingdom is built on the foundation of a Lamb who was slain. The law of the universe is the law of death and resurrection. You choose to die to something, and the greatest death is to your pride. And when you choose this, the resurrection life of Jesus the power of the Holy Spirit, cannot resist. The Holy Spirit loves the humble. The Holy Spirit loves those who choose to go low, and not advance themselves. This is what listening to God and doing what God says is all about. It is not my way, but yours Jesus. It is not my way, but yours Jesus. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/33165582

How to Think Like God. 09/16/2024

How to Think Like God. I once found the best description of discipleship, in all places, on Wikipedia. A disciple in the ancient world was a person who followed a master teacher and tried in every way to become like them, in dress, in speech, and in learning. As I put it a few years ago, A disciple is a master copy of the original. Jesus is the Icon of the Father, and a disciple is a copy of the Icon. A disciple is a walking work of conceptual art. A disciple is the ultimate method actor, playing the role of Jesus for all the world to see: responding like Jesus, motivated by the Father, just like Jesus. And as Jesus says in many places, and in this gospel lesson from Mark 8, if you want to be my disciple, you must take up your cross and follow me. This chapter is the heart of discipleship. 1. You must confess that Jesus is the Christ. 2. You must think like God, not humanity. 3. You must take up your cross, deny yourself and follow Jesus. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #faith /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/33069357

Do Not Be Afraid 09/09/2024

Do Not Be Afraid This week Christ John Otto teaches from Isaiah 35:4-7. The phrase "Fear not" or it's variants "be not afraid" "do not be afraid' appears well over five hundred times in the Bible. "Be of good courage" appears 56 times. "Be strong and courageous" appears 49 times. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #faith /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/32968597

Bezalel the Teacher 09/02/2024

Bezalel the Teacher You don't have to stop being artistic if you want to function as an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher. God uses artistic people to release his glory in the earth. When we talk about the Five-fold ministry, the personality and unique qualities of the artist are going to manifest in particular ways. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #faith /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/32860482

Eating and Drinking Life 08/19/2024

Eating and Drinking Life Of all the stories and miracles in the New Testament, there is only one that is repeated in all the gospels. There is only one miracle that Jesus stopped and explained. And there is only one miracle that is referenced again and again throughout the early church fathers. And this miracle is the feeding of the five thousand. And now, we are coming to the climax of this discussion. And if you read Greek, a number of threads in the teaching of Jesus, threads in the New Testament, and threads in our practical experience as Christians all come together. We are back to signs, and this massive conceptual art piece that we call the Incarnation, coming into sharp focus. Christ John Otto leads a community of Artists and Creative People called Belonging House. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/32634317

The Scandal of Seeing 08/12/2024

The Scandal of Seeing Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published In this week's reading, Jesus draws a connection between seeing him as the one who is revealing the Father, and seeing him as the bread of life. And most important of all, He connects eating the bread seeing him and receiving eternal life. You cannot receive eternal life unless you see correctly. Seeing correctly, and eternal life are related. /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/32539492

Signs 08/05/2024

Signs Of all the stories and miracles in the New Testament, there is only one that is repeated in all the gospels. There is only one miracle that Jesus stopped and explained. And there is only one miracle that is referenced again and again throughout the early church fathers. And this miracle is the feeding of the five thousand. This week we continue with an encounter in a synagogue about signs and bread. Christ John Otto leads a community of Artists and Creative People called Belonging House. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/32438287

Not about food: Feeding the 5000 07/29/2024

Not about food: Feeding the 5000 Of all the stories and miracles in the New Testament, there is only one that is repeated in all the gospels. There is only one miracle that Jesus stopped and explained. And there is only one miracle that is referenced again and again throughout the early church fathers. And this miracle is the feeding of the five thousand. Christ John Otto leads a community of Artists and Creative People called Belonging House. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #pastor /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/32328442

Pastors 07/23/2024

Pastors Christ John Otto leads a community of Artists and Creative People called Belonging House. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #evangelists /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/32254512

Evangelists 07/15/2024

Evangelists The Evangelist serves a very important job, they expand and send out "tendrils" of growth in the body. They are the reproductive system, they cause the body to increase. They are the feet the go to new people and places. And they are the ones who get the message out. Christ John Otto leads a community of Artists and Creative People called Belonging House. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #evangelists /episode/index/show/belonginghouse/id/32135682

Belonging House Fellowship

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