Austin W. Duncan

Crosswalk Church
Brentwood, Tennessee 37027
(615) 373-1590

• Education: Bethel University: Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Theology/Theological Studies (Jan 2022 – Jan 2028) | The Art Institutes: Master of Arts (M.A.), Design and Media Management (Aug 2014 – May 2018) | Villanova University: Advanced Master’s Certification, Strategic Project Management (Oct 2016 – May 2017) | Texas Tech University: Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Studio Art with a concentration in Digital Printmaking and an emphasis in Photography (Aug 2009 – May 2014) |
• Experience: Associate Pastor: New Hope Community Church (Jul 2021 – Present) | Communications Director: New Hope Community Church (May 2018 – Jul 2021) | Project Manager/Digital Strategist: Smooth Fusion (May 2016 – Sep 2017) | Web Developer & Graphic Designer: GriffinWink Advertising (Nov 2014 – Jan 2016) | Graphic Designer: Central Church (Aug 2014 – Nov 2014) | Graphic Design Intern: Central Church (Jun 2013 – Aug 2013)
• Comment to those looking at my sermons: My aim is simple: open the text, explain what it says, show why it matters, and call us to respond to Christ.
• Sermon or series that made a difference: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” — Jonathan Edwards Pressed the weight of judgment and the need for mercy; drove me to Christ, not self-reform. “The Method of Grace” — George Whitefield: New birth and true repentance, preached with urgency. “That’s My King” — S. M. Lockridge: Rapid-fire exaltation of Christ; often quoted. “He Is Precious” — Charles Spurgeon: Christ’s worth from 1 Peter 2:7. “Who Is Jesus?” — Billy Graham: Clear gospel call centered on Christ’s identity. “The Cross” — Billy Graham: Why the cross stands at the center of Christian faith. “Shocking Youth Message” — Paul Washer: Repentance and true conversion; widely discussed. “Don’t Waste Your Life” — John Piper (OneDay 2000): Live for Christ’s glory, not small aims. “Lukewarm and Loving It” — Francis Chan: Revelation 3 and wholehearted discipleship. “But If Not” — Alistair Begg: Daniel 3 and trusting God without guarantees. “Homilies on Matthew” — John Chrysostom: Verse-by-verse preaching with pastoral application. “Sermons on the Psalms” — Augustine: Prayer, praise, and doctrine woven through the Psalms.
• One of my favorite illustrations: 1) Hospital, not country club Hook: “If the church were a country club, what would your membership fee be—and who would get turned away at the door?” Picture: In a country club, you polish your resume and hide your weakness. In a hospital, you tell the truth. You sign in because you’re sick and you want a doctor. Turn to Scripture: Jesus said He came for the sick, not the healthy (Mark 2:17). The Pharisees stood outside judging the waiting room. The tax collectors and sinners sat in the chairs, admitted they needed help, and met the Great Physician. Application: What would change if we greeted people as patients, not prospects? We would expect messes, celebrate progress, and measure health by repentance and faith, not polish. Call: “Admit your need. Receive His care. Then walk with others toward health.” Bridge line: “Hospitals don’t discharge people because they’re still healing; they keep treating them. That’s us—under Christ’s care.” 2) Gardening the heart Hook: “When was the last time you pulled a weed on purpose? Never. They volunteer.” Picture: In a garden, weeds appear without effort. Tomatoes do not. You must plant, water, stake, prune. If you leave the garden alone for a week in July, the weeds own it. Turn to Scripture: “Keep your heart with all vigilance” (Prov. 4:23). Jesus says, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Neglect is not neutral; it’s a decision that lets other things take root. Application: Daily practices are the hoe and the trowel: Word, prayer, fellowship, confession. Name this week’s “weeds” (envy, sloth, lust, worry). What “trellis” will you set up—time, people, plan—to help the fruit grow? Call: “Pull one weed today. Plant one seed today. Ask one person to garden with you.” Bridge line: “Growth is slow, but weeds are fast—so start small, start now.” 3) Chair trust Hook: Hold a chair. “Do you believe this chair will hold you? How do you show it?” Picture: Agreement from a distance looks like faith, but the chair doesn’t serve you until you sit. You can analyze the legs, quote the manufacturer, even defend chair-design history. None of that bears your weight. Turn to Scripture: “By grace…through faith” (Eph. 2:8–9). Faith is leaning your full weight on Christ—His life, death, and resurrection—not balancing on your own effort with a fingertip on the backrest. Application: Where are you half-perched—Jesus plus performance, Jesus plus image, Jesus plus control? The gospel invites you to sit down, rest in Him, and then stand up to obey from security, not for it. Call: “Stop hovering. Sit in Christ. Then rise to serve because you are held.” Bridge line: “Trust is not louder words; it’s transferred weight.” 4) The fake plant Hook: Hold up a fake plant. “Looks alive, right? When will it bear fruit?” Picture: It’s green, symmetric, dust-free. It never wilts. It also never grows. It promises life but produces nothing. If you ‘prune’ it, nothing changes—it’s plastic. Turn to Scripture: Jesus seeks fruit that comes from union with Him (John 15:1–8). Paul names the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–23). External religion can fool the eye, like whitewashed tombs (Matt. 23:27–28), but it can’t produce love, joy, peace. Application: Where am I plastic—smiling in the lobby, hollow at home? Where do I manage appearances instead of meeting Christ? The answer is not “better trimming”; it’s new life. Jesus didn’t come to prune fake leaves; He came to make dead hearts alive, and living branches fruitful. Call: “Trade plastic for planted. Confess the show. Abide in Christ. Ask the Spirit for real fruit that blesses real people.” Bridge line: “Impressive shape cannot feed anyone; real fruit can.”
• Family: Husband to Cassy since 2016.
• What my parents think of my sermons: “In spite of us,” my parents say with a smile. I disagree. God used them in key ways. My mom says she listens and relistens because there’s always more to hear; with so much in each message, the second pass pays off. I’m grateful—they keep me honest and encouraged.
• What my spouse (really) thinks of my sermons: Her words: She enjoys listening and thinks I have a gift for sharing God’s Word. My words: She hears plenty of my rants and mini-sermons at home - so having a time limit in the pulpit is a blessing.
• Best advice given to me about preaching: You won’t please everyone. Trying to do so only frustrates most people. Be faithful to what the Lord has put on your heart and preach the Word.
• Books that have had an impact: The Bible — Daily reading plan + one book studied deeply each quarter. Knowing God — J. I. Packer. Holiness, love, and adoption with clear doctrine. The Holiness of God — R. C. Sproul. God’s holiness and our sin, plainly taught. Mere Christianity — C. S. Lewis. The core claims and their logic. The Reason for God — Tim Keller. Hard questions; patient answers. The Master Plan of Evangelism — Robert Coleman. Jesus’ pattern for discipleship. Life Together — Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Community, confession, and prayer. The Confessions — Augustine. Sin, grace, and a life turned to God. Pilgrim’s Progress — John Bunyan. Christian growth in story form.
• Hobbies: I play guitar - but mostly rock/metal, but I’ll jump in for worship when needed. I read widely in Scripture, theology, spiritual formation, and biography, keeping notes I can use later. I also hike with Cassy on local trails - it's an awesome way to enjoy creation and just simply spend time together without a clock.
• If I could Preach one more time, I would say...: Don’t miss the main things: love the Lord your God with all your heart, love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37–39), and make disciples of Jesus (Matthew 28:18–20). Don’t get lost in details and forget obedience, love, and mission.
• What I want on my tombstone: Loved God. Loved people. Made disciples.

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