Community Church Movement Podcasts: Recent Episodes
Venice Church
Have you ever felt lonely? Have you ever wanted true connection, authentic community, but didn’t know where to start? Have you ever run from connection because of fear, or because of old wounds? What makes community so hard? For Week 2 of our series, Living Lightly, we are unpacking 4 things that make meaningful connection so difficult:
- We are mobile.
- We are distracted.
- We are afraid.
- We are busy.
In this message, we will discover how the enemy of our souls tries to keep us from the community we’ve been made for, and how we can instead seek out, embrace, and take a step of faith towards the life God calls us to live.
Have you ever felt weighed down, weary or held back? Life can be heavy. No one knew this better than Jesus. How can we draw closer to Him, and learn from Him how to live lightly? How does Jesus help us trade our wounds for healing, our shame for grace, and our overwhelm for peace? In this message, we kick off our brand new series Living Lightly. For Week 1, we are unpacking how we can trade the heaviness of our shame for the lightness of God’s grace. In this message we will discover God’s lens of our shame, and how we are invited to:
- Get real with God.
- Get real with a trusted person.
- Put our faith in Jesus, not in ourselves.
What is our next right step… right now? Pastor Luke Crosby shares an encouraging “Halftime Report” about all the amazing things God is doing in and through EastLake Church and our Community Church Movement! He encourages us in how we can continue to follow God’s lead, live as we’ve been called to live, and be people helping people find and follow Jesus. Our phrase of the year is “Next Right Step,” and at this close-to-halfway time of the year, we want to celebrate what we’ve witnessed God do, and also look towards the future, and what He’s calling us into next. No matter what kind of season you’re in, you are invited to:
-Talk with God about your situation.
-Remember God’s reputation.
-Follow God’s direction.
-Make God’s Glory your motivation.
What is your next right step? Let’s continue to follow God’s lead and finish 2025 strong!
Why do we sometimes long for what we don’t have? What does it reveal about ourselves when we never feel like we have enough, or nothing ever seems good enough? In a culture where it has become easy and “normalized” to covet, what does God say about the bondage that puts us in, and how can we be free from it? In today’s message, we unpack the 10th commandment– Do not covet. It turns out, at the core of this temptation is our seeking to find our identity and value in what we have and what we produce. In today’s message, we unpack God’s Word to discover a better way to live– a free way to live! When we put our faith in Christ and find our identity in Christ, we will discover we are already free.
Why are we sometimes tempted to lie or to steal? What does that show us about ourselves? What might God want to heal within us? In today’s message, we unpack the 8th and 9th commandments– Do not steal, and do not lie. It turns out, at the core of these temptations are questions of security and significance: “Do I have enough? Am I enough?” In today’s message, we unpack God’s Word to discover who we are in Christ and what we have in Christ. When we know who we are, it will empower us to live more generous and truthful lives… the way free people were created to live.
Why does God call us to be faithful in our marriage? Is it because of something he doesn’t want for us? Or is this because of something greater that he does want for us? In today’s message we unpack the 7th commandment– Do not commit adultery. It turns out it’s about so much more than what not to do, and what God doesn’t want for us. Together we will discover that it’s also about God’s best plan for us, and God’s protection for us. This commandment is about God protecting our hearts, homes, and health. He wants to keep marriages and families together and for them to flourish. And even when we fall short of God’s best… forgiveness and restoration is available to all of us through Jesus Christ.
How Free People Live – Week 6 – What value does God place on human life? In today’s message, we unpack the 6th commandment in the 10 Commandments– do not murder. We may ask ourselves, what about war? What about self-defense? Is this about our heart or our hands? Together we will unpack God’s Word to discover what murder is, and what it isn’t, and discover this truth: All people are created in God’s image, and all life is precious to God.
How Free People Live – Week 5 – We’ve all heard the commandment to honor our parents. Did you know that it applies to children of all ages? In today’s message, we unpack the 5th commandment in the 10 Commandments and what it actually means to respect and honor our relationships with our parents. While honoring our parents doesn’t mean unconditional obedience, we will learn what it means to demonstrate genuine respect for them.
SERIES DESCRIPTION: Sometimes life doesn’t seem fair. We do our best but things still fall apart, go wrong, or otherwise lead to disappointment. In the middle of those difficult times, it’s easy to question or even feel like we’re wrestling with God. But that struggle doesn’t have to lead to even more discouragement; instead, we can find hope and strength for the steps ahead by leaning into the words of scripture to discover how God is working through our hardest seasons. Join us for a three-week series that shines some light in the darkest times as we discover how He’s still got the whole world in His hands.
In the final week of HELP IS HERE, Pastor Kevin McPeak focuses on how the Holy Spirit works THROUGH us, specifically through the gifts that it equips us with and how we can use it for the good of others.
In week two of HELP IS HERE, Pastor Matt Henry walks through Galatians 5 and how having the Holy Spirit inside us is better than having Jesus beside us, as well as practical ways we can live by the Spirit.
SERIES DESCRIPTION: Do you need some help? The bad news is that you probably do. But the good news is that help is available to you – right where you are. In “Help Is Here”, we’ll dig into understanding who the Holy Spirit is and how it brings us help. In this three-week series, we’re diving deep into the truth that we are never alone, because the Holy Spirit is always with us. Help is here – and it’s closer than we think!
In our message GIVE GOD YOUR BEST, Pastor Grant Hedges teaches us about what happens when we surrender, give God our best, and let Him use what passions and abilities we have to serve and impact our church, our city, and California and Baja California.
In the final week of PARTY CRASHERS, Pastor Luke dives into scripture found in the book of Romans, chapter 13. Its timeless principles help believers today to answer the question: Regardless of who wins, how are we as Jesus’ people supposed to live and honor Christ?
In week two of PARTY CRASHERS, Pastor Kevin McPeak emphasizes the need to be more like Jesus than ever before, especially in the political climate we currently find ourselves in. We learn that Jesus redeems our political divide by shifting our focus from the what to the how.
SERIES DESCRIPTION: We’re diving into how Jesus helps us navigate the political tension and to make sure we are staying focused on running our own race. We speak about how Jesus followers can think, participate, and respond with grace during these challenging times. Over the next four weeks, we’ll explore big questions about faith and politics and how to stay rooted in what matters most.
In the final week of TRAVEL PLANS, Pastor Luke examines the fifth chapter of 1 Peter, specifically how every believer is called to be a leader. As Christians we influence people around us every day at the places we live, work, and play. Therefore we should care for the flock that God has entrusted to us, and the apostle Peter has wisdom to share on the subject.
In week three of TRAVEL PLANS, Pastor Luke walks us through more of 1 Peter, highlighting how the apostle Peter encourages believers, and teaches us practical Jesus ways we can live humbly.
In week two of TRAVEL PLANS, Pastor Kevin McPeak dives into 1 Peter chapter 2, where the author is giving encouragement to new Christ followers to grow and mature in their faith so that they can weather the storms of worldly doubt that arise.
SERIES DESCRIPTION: A life oriented to Jesus is one full of hope, peace, and purpose. It’s also one that can stand at odds with our culture and the ways of the world. And this chasm between His way and the world’s way can result in real frustration, disappointment and disorientation as we try to navigate our life with a new map. Fortunately, the Bible is full of folks in this same spot. Join us for “Travel Plans” as we look at the book of 1 Peter and Peter’s direction and encouragement that we can not only live a Jesus way in a foreign land, but thrive on the journey.
In the fourth week of THE TURNAROUND, Pastor Luke examines how the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah dealt with dark times and discouragement by doubling down on his devotion to God, and how we can follow his example to assist us when we inevitably go through tough times in our own faith journey.
In the second week of THE TURNAROUND, Pastor Kevin explains the connection between the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah and Jesus, as well as how their sensitivity to the brokenness around them lead them to speak difficult truths that we still need to hear today.