The Central Peninsula Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Welcome to the Central Peninsula Church Podcast. Central Peninsula Church is a community in the heart of Silicon Valley that exists to make and mature more followers of Christ. We are a non-denominational church, dependent on the Word of God, gathering for weekly worship in Foster City, California, as well as online. For more than 50 years, we have been cultivating authentic relationships and welcoming people from all backgrounds into our community of faith, where we seek to support one another and compassionately engage the world around us as we live life side-by-side.
On this week's CPC Together Podcast, Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel recount a chaotic 48-hour attempt to get home from Newark after United’s system outage, thunderstorms, a seven-and-a-half-hour tarmac delay, a canceled flight, lost access to checked bags, no available rental cars, a broken-down Amtrak in Delaware, and a taxi driver using a breathalyzer en route to a successful flight out of DC. They also share a humorous, dramatic story about a pickleball tournament where a calf injury ended Brandon's play while his partner won with a replacement. The conversation then shifts to John 6 and Jesus’ “hard teaching,” exploring how people reject teachings they understand but don’t want to accept, the call to wholehearted trust rather than lukewarm faith, and a communion framework—take, bless, break, give—describing Jesus receiving what we bring, affirming belovedness, bearing brokenness, and giving his life to believers.
Recorded backstage at Mount Hermon during family camp, Brandon, Sandy, and first-time guest Darcie swap Mount Hermon stories, reflect on “thin places,” and dig deeper into Sandy’s John 6 message, “Bread for the Journey.” They talk about how immediate appetites can numb deeper needs, why Jesus doesn’t just fix circumstances but offers himself as the Bread of Life, and what it looks like to trust God for “daily bread” through abiding, silence, and surrender. The conversation closes with a challenge for longtime Christians: familiarity with church isn’t the same as intimacy with God—spiritual formation is learning to receive life from Jesus.
In this CPC Together podcast, Brandon, Rachel, Nico, and Josh trade “see it to believe it” stories before discussing Josh’s sermon on John 5 at the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus heals a man who couldn’t walk. They explore how the passage functions as a legal narrative in John, describing movements of crime, accusation, and deposition, and how the Jewish leaders’ fixation on Sabbath law blinds them to the miracle. Josh revisits Jesus’ warning to “stop sinning,” frames it as a call to repentance rather than blaming disability on sin, and reflects on how believers can miss God’s activity, using hindsight, daily reflection, and examples of believing before seeing throughout Scripture.
On this episode of the CPC Together Podcast, Kevin, Brandon, Rachel, and Nico debate whether a baguette or floppy naan can be thrown farther and plan to test it, then discuss feeling misled by “sugar-free” Tic Tacs due to labeling loopholes. They play a “Name That Gospel” trivia game using ChatGPT-sourced questions, with many “only gospel” answers pointing to John, and they talk about synoptic gospels and differences in the passion narratives. The conversation shifts to faith and doubt, noting how some church cultures treat doubt as taboo and portray faith as a currency tied to blessing, echoing prosperity-gospel themes. Kevin outlines faith as three “load-bearing walls”: it begins with reason, develops through trust and volition (chair/tightrope examples), and matures through suffering, with reflections on empiricism, presuppositions, and how hardship can deepen a relationship with God.
Central Peninsula Church’s CPC Together podcast welcomes Kevin Sneed, Rachel, and mission partner Bobi (Boban) Jakimovski from North Macedonia to reflect on the recent team visit and the church’s ongoing partnership through an annual family camp that includes believers and spiritually open friends. Bobi explains how meeting Christians from another culture prompts honest conversations about Jesus, and the group discusses the woman at the well, emphasizing Jesus’ boundary-crossing welcome and how shame isolates people from God and community. Kevin unpacks the sermon theme that happiness isn’t found in realizing desires, citing Tolstoy, David Foster Wallace, Camus, and C.S. Lewis to argue that misordered desires and worship of anything but God “eat you alive.” They close with Bobi describing how his family and church practice open-door hospitality as a witness in a shame-influenced culture.
In this CPC Together episode from Central Peninsula Church, Kevin and Brandon banter about favorite nuts, then discuss one host’s appendicitis surgery experience and a detailed “Chomper” dental update involving a difficult root canal, an extra tooth canal, and a buildup after a crown wouldn’t fit. The conversation shifts to spiritual health, using dental avoidance as an analogy for ignoring deeper issues, and explores what “born again” means by letting Jesus define it in John 3 with Nicodemus. They explain the Greek anothen as both “again” and “from above,” connect being born again with repentance and surrender, note the American cultural and political connotations of the term, and consider how Jesus’ teachings confront false visions of the good life, calling for transformed loves and longings through prayer and renewed attention to God.
On this episode of the CPC Together Podcast, Brandon, Rachel, and Sandy share experiences of being invited into things they wouldn’t have chosen. The conversation then shifts to Sandy’s sermon theme that people both desire and fear being fully known, tracing how insecurity and the need to fit in often start in junior high and show up through bullying, achievement, or hiding perceived flaws. They discuss finding rest in being known and loved by God, releasing pressure to be everything, bringing hardship to church, practicing confession, and living from Christ’s verdict rather than performance, using John the Baptist and Jesus’ interactions with Nathanael and Peter as examples.
On CPC Together, Brandon, Rachelm and Josh—dubbed the “mystery man”—talk about his ideal 24-hour day: waking at 4 a.m. in London with Tif, spending quiet time praying and reading, taking a long walk, sailing or fishing, enjoying great meals (minus blood sausage), and even watching a dramatic Oakland A’s win before dinner and late-night hanging out. The conversation turns to why the question “Who are you?” matters, arguing that identity is often wrongly built on accomplishments, roles, or vices rather than on being a child of God, which can lead to aimlessness and destructive substitutes. They discuss John’s Gospel as distinct from the synoptics due to its broader audience in Asia Minor, its use of Greek concepts like logos, and its emphasis on belief as trust and relationship, concluding with practical “come and see” steps toward deeper trust in God.
Odd Truths, Exile, and Faithful Presence (Separatism vs. Syncretism) | CPC Together In this CPC Together episode from Central Peninsula Church, the Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel share light updates and odd personal habits: root canal recovery, eating condensed chicken noodle soup straight from the can, taking multiple “recreational” showers a day, bringing an open coffee mug in the car, and reheating In-N-Out after showering, before shifting to a discussion about living as Christians in “exile.” They unpack two unhealthy responses to culture: separatism (withdrawing into an insular Christian subculture) and syncretism (blending in and losing distinctiveness), and argue for faithful presence rooted in Jeremiah 29 and exemplified by Daniel: maintain practices that shape identity while contributing to the flourishing of the city. They emphasize seeking shalom and praying for the city, bearing witness through ordinary work, hospitality, and non-performative faith rather than treating people as projects.
In this CPC Together podcast episode, Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel talk about root canals, then swap light Sunday-night “detox” habits like watching SB Mowing lawn-cleanup videos and discuss small life changes such as making the bed, cleanliness, top sheets, and starting a simple skincare routine. The conversation shifts to David Brooks’ “Two Mountains” framework: the first mountain centers on achievement and consumption, while the second focuses on inner transformation, character, and a life of contribution rooted in Jesus’ way of love. They explore knowing God beyond head knowledge, how inner work fuels outer work, and three obstacles to growth—distraction, fragmentation, and avoidance—ending with reflections on becoming the kind of person who can live in God’s presence.
In this CPC Together episode from Central Peninsula Church, the Brandon, Kevin, Rachel, and Nico banter about “podcast voice,” family game nights, and games like Categories, Balderdash, and a Christmas Story Monopoly, before shifting to reflections on a six-week church series through Lamentations leading into Easter. They discuss whether lament is harder for some personalities, how pop culture and some churches avoid lament, and how preaching Lamentations felt weighty but provided people permission and language for grief, including a family whose husband died as the series began. The conversation explores how lament applies to both catastrophic and everyday suffering, how grief can deepen faith, and why pastoral care often means presence rather than fixing. They explain the temple’s destruction as devastating in the Old Testament imagination and close by revisiting three communal prayers from Lamentations 5: “Remember, Lord,” “You, Lord, reign forever,” and “Restore us to yourself, Lord,” emphasizing community support through suffering.
On this week's CPC Together Podcast, Brandon and Sandy welcome Sandy’s longtime friend Alexandra, who’s from New Zealand and recently spent two years in the Philippines running an orphanage with 31 kids. The conversation shifts to the sermon on Lamentations, contrasting communal lament with the personal lament of chapter three, where the writer remembers both grief and God, finding hope without pretending pain is fixed. They discuss how suffering can cause people to step back from faith, why churches often discourage hard questions, and how prayer and lament invite raw honesty, surrender, waiting, and deeper relationship with God.
Grandpa Chats: Losing a Tooth, Lament as Protest, and Hope in Lamentations Kevin and Brandon riff on “grandpa chats,” including stories about Turkish old men drinking tea and playing chess, a desire to grow old with a familiar café routine, and a humorous incident where one loses a front tooth while swimming and searches the pool to retrieve it. The conversation then shifts to a discussion of lament as more than weak complaining, distinguishing inconvenience from deep suffering and arguing that lament is an active way to name injustice and brokenness, bear witness for others, and ask God to intervene. They contrast secular approaches that treat suffering as an obstacle to happiness with a Christian framework in which love entails the possibility of suffering and God can redeem brokenness. They overview Lamentations as structured acrostic poetry centered on hope in chapter 3, discuss the trauma of the exile and temple’s fall, and end with a four-step practice: turn to God, voice complaint, ask boldly, and choose trust.
CPC Together Podcast opens with Brandon’s stressful “Chomper update” after a rainy swim leads to a missing front veneer, a frantic search along the pool floor, and a debate about dentist repair versus DIY fixes. The conversation then turns to Sandy’s experience preparing to preach Revelation, unlearning common out-of-context takes on Laodicea’s “lukewarm” warning and “I stand at the door and knock,” and highlighting how Jesus introduces himself as the final word, true witness, and rightful king to a comfortable, self-sufficient church. They discuss how faith can become manageable and self-deceived rather than dependent on God, why Bay Area discipleship requires authenticity, and how real restoration cannot be coerced—Jesus knocks to restore communion with individuals and the gathered church.
In this episode of CPC Together, Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel discuss the importance of community, vulnerability, and embracing weakness. They emphasize the significance of confession, the role of alternative community, and how to endure hardships patiently while exploring themes of trust, suffering, and the Kingdom of God.
On this episode of the CPC Podcast, Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel delve into the themes of complacency and self-deception within the context of faith and personal growth. Through humorous anecdotes and deep reflections, the hosts of CPC Together discuss practical ways to cultivate awareness, remembrance, and repentance.
In this episode of CPC Together, Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel engage in a fun nostalgic discussion about childhood TV shows and share personal stories of their upbringing. The conversation then shifts to a profound reflection on suffering, the meaning of persecution versus disagreement, and the essence of living a faithful Christian life in the modern world.
In this episode, Kevin, Brandon, Rachel, and Nico discuss the nostalgic practice of recording personal voicemail greetings, share amusing anecdotes about their experiences with this, and pivot into a deep conversation about the spiritual themes in the Book of Revelation. They explore the concepts of loveless orthodoxy, the importance of repentance, and the need for a genuine relationship with God, paralleled with the authenticity found in recovery communities.
In this episode, the Brandon, Sandy, Rachel, and Nico dive into the origins and evolution of their podcast, discussing behind-the-scenes roles, potential for monetization, and the importance of humility and unity in both personal growth and church leadership. Listen as they cover everything from cobbler stories and production roles to the deeper implications of choosing humility every day.
In this episode of CPC Together, Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel share personal experiences from a trip to Japan and thrilling roller coaster rides, exploring themes of self-perception, vulnerability, and the transformative power of God's unconditional love. Through anecdotes and theological discussion, they reflect on the importance of understanding God's love beyond our own flawed perceptions and experiences.
In this episode of CPC Together, the Brandon, Rachel, and Josh discuss their hectic schedules leading up to Thanksgiving, share travel stories, and reflect on finding joy and faith amidst life's challenges. They also explore topics like the importance of gratitude, handling adversity, and how personal experiences shape one's faith journey.
In this episode of CPC Together Podcast, Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel from Central Peninsula Church in the San Francisco Bay Area delve into the concept of 'loud budgeting', discussing generational differences in financial transparency and budgeting practices. They also explore how our views on money are shaped by cultural norms and personal experiences, and propose practical steps to foster a spirit of generosity.
Join us in this episode of CPC Together Podcast, we delve into the concept of 'cruciform' living — conforming to the image of the crucified Christ. We discuss real-life examples, from classroom settings to corporate offices, and explore how everyday actions can embody and reflect the self-sacrificial love of Jesus.
In this episode of CPC Together, the Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel reminisce about childhood fantasies of wealth, humorous anecdotes, and delve into deeper discussions on the importance of gratitude, the spiritual significance of work, and the dangers of making idols out of our accomplishments and possessions. Through rich storytelling and thoughtful reflections, they explore how living with a posture of gratitude and recognizing God's grace can transform our daily lives.
In this engaging episode of the CPC Together Podcast, Josh, Brandon, and Rachel share their most awkward work experiences, discuss the intersection of faith and professional life, and explore theological perspectives on work. They delve into the importance of bringing order, beauty, and peace into the workplace while considering how one's job aligns with Christian values.
In this episode of CPC Together, produced by Central Peninsula Church in the San Francisco Bay area, the Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel discuss dream jobs, the cultural view of work, and how faith intersects with vocation. They delve into deep theological concepts, explore historical perspectives on work, and discuss practical applications like openhandedness and contribution in everyday life.
The Kevin and Brandon, host of CPC Together, a podcast from Central Peninsula Church, dive into how to navigate small talk in various social settings. They then discuss personal experiences with hearing challenges before moving into a deeper conversation about the significance of the Sermon on the Mount, apprenticeship, and the practical implications of Jesus' teachings in modern life.
Join us in this candid episode of CPC Together, where Josh and Brandon from Central Peninsula Church discuss personal anecdotes on scams and explore the deeper implications of genuine faith and integrity. They delve into the challenges of discernment, the importance of expository preaching, and the necessity of aligning good works with vibrant faith.
In this episode of CPC Together, Kevin, Brandon, Rachel, and special guest Dr. Lindsey Sneed discuss the prevalence of anxiety, sharing personal stories and practical tips for managing it, including the importance of exercise, mindful eating, and spiritual practices. They also explore how Jesus' teachings offer a holistic approach to dealing with worry and anxiety.
In this episode of CPC Together Podcast, the Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel discuss the dilemmas of choosing between a perpetually clean house, an unlimited clothing budget, or extra hours in the day. They explore deeper themes of generosity, the trappings of wealth, and how these choices reflect our devotion to God and influence our daily lives. Examples from personal experiences and scripture provide insights into how to live more abundantly and contentedly.
In this episode of CPC Together, the Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel dive into a wide-ranging discussion starting with a light-hearted conversation about favorite beverages and salads, before shifting to address listener questions focused on the teachings of Jesus. The topics include understanding Jesus' approach to anger and its relation to Exodus 34, complexities around divorce and remarriage, the challenge of praying for enemies when you don't feel like it, and the ways to confront Satan through love. They also emphasize the importance of focusing on internal transformation towards becoming a person of love, and how this can crowd out evil. The discussion is framed within the context of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and aims to provide practical steps for living out these challenging teachings.
In this thought-provoking episode of CPC Together Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel discuss responses to listeners' questions from their Sermon on the Mount series. The conversation delves into personal anecdotes of 'arch enemies' from childhood, explores the principles of nonviolent resistance as taught by Jesus, and touches on contemporary examples and implications for living out these teachings in today's world.
On this episode of CPC Together from Central Peninsula Church, the Kevin, Brandon, Rachel, and Nico dive into a series of fun and insightful relationship-based games before transitioning into a deeper and nuanced discussion on marriage, divorce, and the church's role in handling these complex issues. The conversation includes reflections on foundational views of self and marriage, personal stories of marital challenges and reconciliation, and the importance of continuous commitment.
In this episode of CPC Together, the team from Central Peninsula Church discusses the complex issues surrounding sexuality, purity culture, and the integration of sexuality and spirituality. They explore the broader implications of sexual ethics, the importance of community, and practical steps for transforming one's heart and cultivating deeper love.
In this powerful episode of CPC Together, Brandon sits down with Janet Trites, our Pastor of Women's Ministry, to discuss the complexities of anger and the importance of reconciliation. They explore personal stories, biblical insights, and practical steps to root out anger and foster forgiveness in our lives.
In this episode of CPC Together, the Kevin, Brandon, and Sandy from Central Peninsula Church discuss the profound lessons of Jesus' Beatitudes. Through personal anecdotes and thoughtful insights, they explore how these teachings impact our daily lives, relationships, and spiritual growth.
Join the pastoral team from Central Peninsula Church as they navigate topics ranging from sermon preparation and Jesus' brilliance to personal anecdotes and the deep questions of faith. In this episode, they discuss how to live out the teachings of Jesus, the role of miracles in His ministry, and the importance of recognizing Jesus as a master teacher of reality.
In this episode of CPC Together, Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel discuss a variety of topics ranging from memories of old hymns and brain science, to the deeper questions of how Christians are called to live differently. The conversation also delves into the dynamics of living out one's faith authentically in a secular world, examining both internal practices within the church community and external acts of justice and love.
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Join Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel as they navigate a lively conversation touching on everything from nostalgic worship songs and humorous family anecdotes to deep reflections on the gospel and its implications for evangelism. Discover how the concept of witnessing, dealing with sin, and living out the gospel in tangible ways can lead to profound personal and communal transformation.
In this episode, the Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel recount personal experiences and discuss the narrative of the Bible, focusing on the themes of evangelism, hospitality, and the true meaning of the gospel. They explore concepts such as the overlap of heaven and earth, the importance of intentional spiritual practices, and how these ideas form the basis of their church's vision and community life.
In this episode of CPC Together, the hosts explore moments that have left them entirely baffled or surprised, from the unexpected challenges of parenting and marriage to personal stories of growing up. They also explore the deeper meanings of Easter and resurrection and how these concepts shape faith and everyday life.
In this episode of CPC Together, Brandon and Josh discuss topics ranging from their passion for smoked meats to deep discussions on finding true peace. They explore personal anecdotes, the nature of Jesus as both a political figure and a king, and insights on seeking fulfillment beyond worldly desires, all while preparing for the upcoming Easter celebrations.
Join the hosts of 'CPC Together' as they navigate a fun and insightful conversation, touching on everything from staff foosball tournaments to deep theological discourse. In this episode, discover the profound concepts of covenant and love through the lens of biblical teachings, the relatable analogies of marriage, and the faithfulness of God. Perfect for anyone eager to explore spirituality, human relationships, and divine commitment in a light-hearted yet thought-provoking manner.
In this episode of the CPC Together Podcast, Kevin, Josh, and Brandon discuss the complexities of God's character, focusing on His compassion and graciousness. Through light-hearted banter and deep theological insights, they explore how our perception of God shapes our understanding and relationship with Him.
In this episode of CPC Together, the hosts engage in a heartfelt discussion with special guest Jacob Habash, a devoted member of Central Peninsula Church for almost 30 years. Throughout the conversation, they explore topics ranging from integrating faith in daily activities like construction work to the transformative power of non-discipleship, highlighting the challenge of living out spirituality in every facet of life.
Exploring Lent: Common Prayer Season 5 Series Preview
In this special teaser episode, we explore the significance of Lent and discuss the launch of our Common Prayer series. Join us as we explore the history, practices, and spiritual benefits of preparing for Easter through daily devotionals and guided prayers. You can find our Common Prayer Podcast on the CPC App or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts!
In this episode of CPC Together, hosts Brandon and Kevin navigate a wide range of topics—from childhood dreams and American Gladiators to deep theological discussions about spiritual transformation and the role of the Holy Spirit. They also delve into how spiritual practices can help in becoming more like Christ, emphasizing the importance of yielding to God's presence in everyday life.
In this episode of CPC Together, the hosts dive into the concept of the 'Dark Night of the Soul', sharing personal stories of struggle, perseverance, and spiritual growth. They explore the subtle difference between seeking God's glory and witnessing His goodness, emphasizing the importance of patience, rest, and maintaining commitment during trying times.
In this episode, the hosts discuss a range of topics, from Lindsey winning a podcast award to personal stories of broken trust. They explore deeper spiritual concepts such as desire, sin, and trust structures, recommending ways to engage in personal growth and healing through community and counseling.
In this episode, the group engages in a detailed discussion about the concept of Sabbath, exploring personal stories and reflections about rest, work, and the challenges of practicing Sabbath in a contemporary context. They emphasize the importance of intentional rest over leisure, and how practicing Sabbath can reshape one's approach to productivity and provide a deeper, more fulfilling sense of rest.
Discovering True Power and Love: The Church's Role in a Broken WorldIn this episode of CPC Together, the hosts dive into an engaging discussion about the unique type of power and love described in Ephesians, contrasting it with the world's perspective. They also reflect on the church as the hope of the world, sharing personal stories and experiences that highlight the beauty and brokenness within their community.
From sacred spaces to life’s miracles, discover the overlap of heaven and earth on the latest CPC Together episode. Find out how small moments can create divine encounters! 📿🌟
In this episode of CPC Together, the podcast team from Central Peninsula Church in the San Francisco Bay Area returns after a long hiatus to discuss various personal experiences and church activities over the past six weeks. They reflect on significant moments from 2024, such as trips, transformative events, and milestones at CPC. They also share their excitement for upcoming initiatives in 2025, including new ministry practices focused on hospitality and vocation, partnerships with local schools, and continued growth in church programs. Highlights include a dentist visit, a cross-country road trip, worship nights, and the impactful partnership with LEAD Elementary. The episode features conversations about transformation, resilience, and future church plans while noting changes to the podcast team.
Join CPC Together as they discuss personal stories, rollercoasters, and the powerful concept of liminal spaces in spiritual growth.
Join CPC Together as we explore trust structures, fears, and idolatry in our spiritual journey. Discover how reflecting on our anxieties can reveal deeper truths and lead to a more authentic faith.
Dive into childhood TV memories and the transformative power of faith-filled hospitality in everyday life
Dive into Mario Kart memories, God's love, communion's significance, and life's blessings in this heartfelt CPC podcast episode.
Join the CPC Together podcast as the hosts dive into hospitality, awkward dinners, and Jesus' inclusive meals. Expect humor, practical tips, and stories of social anxiety in this light yet insightful episode.
Confront the challenges of true hospitality, uncover the battle against loneliness, and reignite the spark of modern neighborly love in this thrilling episode.
Join the CPC Together Podcast as hosts blend humor about cobblers and comic villains with a deep dive into societal extremes, polarization, nonviolence, and the teachings of Jesus, exploring early Christian distinctiveness and faith beyond politics.
Join CPC Together as they decode Gen Z slang like 'Sigma' and 'Riz,' tackle culture wars and political divides, and explore the Kingdom of God versus the world. The episode blends humor with deep reflections on living faithfully in today’s society.
Join a candid discussion as hosts explore the balance between faith and politics, personal anecdotes, the essence of discipleship, and engaging in a politically charged society while upholding Christian values.
Join Central Peninsula Church staff as they discuss Olympic sports, the unique dream of becoming a cobbler, and living out faith authentically.
Join the CPC Together team as they delve into life's simple joys, the rugged journey of faith, and daily provisions that shape us.
Join the CPC Together podcast produced by Central Peninsula Church in the San Francisco Bay Area, where hosts Rachel, Kevin, Brandon, and Nico discuss their memorable experiences from June. From unforgettable croissants in Australia to soul-searching moments in Macedonia, the conversation dives deep into food, faith, and reflections from their journeys. The hosts also explore the theological implications of the plagues in Exodus, emphasizing the themes of God's mercy and justice. Whether you're here for the culinary tips or the spiritual insights, this episode promises a delightful mix of light-hearted banter and meaningful discussion. 00:00 Introduction and Jingle Talk00:49 Macedonia Trip Highlights01:21 Nut Preferences and Ice Cream02:52 June Highlights: Best Moments11:13 Discussing God and Biblical Themes18:07 Facing the Impossible Task19:06 Moses' Unique Relationship with Pharaoh20:26 The Plagues Begin21:01 The Decreation Theme in the Plagues28:24 The Seventh Plague and Pharaoh's Hardened Heart31:00 The Final Plagues and God's Justice33:25 Mercy and Justice in God's Actions38:25 The Mystery of Pharaoh's Hardened Heart39:38 The Innocent Suffering for the Guilty
Dive into the latest CPC Together podcast! From parenting in the studio to deep dives into faith, and a special Taylor Swift vs. Lamentations game! Join us for an engaging and fun discussion this week.
Special guest alert! We're thrilled to have Mark Mitchell on CPC Together. Dive into his mission with the Bay Area School of Ministry and learn how he's training future leaders.
Featuring insightful anecdotes and a deep dive into deliverance, the conversation blends personal narratives, biblical references, and the faith community's journey towards freedom.
In this episode of the CPC Together podcast, hosts chat about their funny life hacks like car seat coolers, loving neighbors with different views, and how the Holy Spirit guides understanding of scripture. They dive into personal biases, growing spiritually, critical scripture analysis, Jesus' humanity, and the Holy Spirit's influence on reading scripture. From light-hearted banter to deep reflections, they explore living out Jesus' teachings in today's world, balancing modern challenges with timeless love for God and others.
In our latest podcast episode, we explore how everyday chaos, like mismanaged Tupperware, reflects larger truths in life and faith. It’s a blend of humor, life hacks, and spiritual insights perfect for starting thoughtful conversations.
In the 100th episode, the podcast crew reminisces about their journey, sharing memorable moments and personal stories. Interviews with each member's parents add a heartfelt and funny touch, diving into their childhoods, musical talents, and how they ended up on the podcast.
From the hilarious to the profound, we explore how language and narrative influence who we become. Tune in for a blend of education, entertainment, and thought-provoking discussion.
Featuring a mix of humor, personal anecdotes, and spiritual insights, the hosts explore the importance of forming intentional habits and engaging with the Bible beyond mere information towards genuine transformation.
In this episode of 'CPC Together', hosts start with a laugh-inducing dentist nightmare song before delving into theology. They explore the significance of the resurrection, its impact on believers, and how scripture shapes life in God's new world. Through humor, personal anecdotes, and theological depth, this episode reveals how faith influences daily life.
CPC Together podcast dives deep into diverse topics, from El Niño's effects to deep theological debates. They dissect Jesus' Messianic role, ponder society's tech-driven progress, and journey from questioning God in suffering to finding praise. It's a rich tapestry of faith, scripture, and modern life.
This episode of CPC Together Podcast delves into personal stories and theological discussions focusing on suffering, grace, and wisdom against the backdrop of the Book of Job.
From discussions on tiny chompers to the mystical ways in which suffering can transform us, this episode is packed with laughter, candid reflections, and a closer look at how spirituality shapes our understanding of life's ups and downs. Join in for a mix of light-hearted banter and deep, thought-provoking conversations, all wrapped up in the warmth of community and faith.
This CPC Together episode is packed with funny personal stories, chats about dental veneer adventures, discussions on the not-so-glamorous side of long flights, and deep dives into scripture, happiness, contentment, and the challenge of figuring out God's justice in the midst of tough times. It's a mix of laughs, insights, and some real talk!
In this episode, we tackle deep subjects such as the complexity of the world and how the principles we establish might fall short in explaining it. Through a fascinating discussion around the concept of the retribution principle, we explore the idea of God's role in our suffering and prosperity. Driven by powerful personal stories, humor, and stationery-related revelations, we delicately navigate through topics that question our understanding of divine justice.
Dive into our exploration of the Book of Job as we discuss the beauty of commitment and conviction in the midst of suffering.
Come and be a part of the CPC Together Podcast where we will be conversing about personal weaknesses, the importance of a community, spiritual beliefs, and much more!
Listen in as the CPC Together Podcast Crew take some time to talk about Colossians and the feeling of isolation!
In this podcast, hosts exchange viewpoints on unusual and everyday topics, from interpretations of cannibalistic terms to understanding how we define our identity, the role of faith, and debunking life's myths.
Conversations on faith and modern life don't have to be complex! In our latest podcast, we delve into the reality of alienation and how we can find reconciliation by yielding, confessing, and repenting.
Special returning guest, Pastor Dan Reid, delves into deeper matters of faith by discussing the idea of a 'saint', the principles of discerning God's will, the importance of prayer, the significance of grace and peace, and remembering to focus on eternity in Christian living.
Dive into the meaning of Advent this season with our latest CPC Podcast episode: 'Peace in Strife.' We explore the Christmas narrative's richness and depth, the challenge of external and internal strife, and the presence of peace in Jesus.
In this episode of the CPC Together Podcast, speakers engage in a lively conversation, react to a recent sermon by Brandon, and welcome a new guest, Daniel Grunwald. This podcast promises to provide listeners with dynamic conversations and unique insights.
Join us on the CPC Together podcast for a special episode featuring Fred and Anastasia Naff, our very first mission partners! Hear their incredible journey and how they've impacted lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Don't miss this inspiring conversation!
Kevin, Brandon, Rachel, and Nico share stories from Mark 15 and how it impacts our lives.
Brandon, Sandy, Rachel, and Nico share their fight or flight stories and talk about last week's sermon being thankful that Jesus stood alone so we don't have to!
Fasting is one of those spiritual disciplines that can feel daunting to approach. Sit with Kevin, Brandon, Nico, and Rachel for this week's podcast as they examine the importance of fasting, Jesus' example, and the struggles of being hangry.
Kevin, Brandon, Rachel, and Nico have all kinds of things to say this week about the Church, Jesus, and renewing our minds!
Kevin and Brandon keep the CPC Podcast going in Portland, Oregon! Listen in as they continue exploring the vision for CPC as it aligns with scripture and how becoming transformed people transforming the peninsula starts with the renewing of our own minds in Christ.
Listen in as Kevin, Rachel, Brandon, and Nico process last week's sermon and walk us through the vision for CPC.
Sandy joins the podcast after a moving sermon looking at the Last Supper. Listen in as Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel join her in exploring the significance of the table in the story and in our lives.
Kevin, Rachel and Brandon introduce the newest member of the podcast, Nico. The four of them explore this past week's sermon and the story of the woman who anointed Jesus.
On this week's podcast, Kevin, Rachel, and Brandon take a look at what it means to follow the greatest commandments: loving God with your whole heart, and loving your neighbor as you love yourself.
Brandon, Kevin, and Rachel reflect on what it means to grow in the fruit of the spirit, and how we can shape our lives around the spirit of God.
Kevin, Rachel, and Brandon talk about this past week's sermon, Pizza, Burgers, and explore the parable of the Cornerstone.
Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel sit with Dan as he talks through his challenging message this past Sunday and how what can look like Jesus' interference is actually for our benefit.
James 3:12 - My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Listen in to this week's episode of the CPC Together Podcast where Kevin, Rachel, and Brandon reflect on last week's impactful message reflecting on where the Church is today, the general view of Christianity, and how we can pursue forgiveness and reconciliation in our own lives.
This week, we've got a special missions highlight with the Jakimovsky family as they sit down with Kevin, Rachel, and Brandon to share their experiences serving the Lord in North Macedonia.
Nobody writes the story where the hero dies in the end. But that's precisely the image of love and sacrifice we get when we look at the story arc of Christ. Take a listen as Rachel, Kevin, and Brandon reflect on last week's message and examine the difference between the love we've seen modeled and the love Christ showed.
Today's CPC Podcast has a special guest: Charley Pasion. Join Brandon, Kevin, and Charley to hear about faith from the eyes of a child.
This is a very special edition of CPC Together where Kevin and Brandon sit down with various mission partners who have done incredible work in Thailand and the local mission group that grew as a result of that work.
What does late onset nerddom have to do with this past week's sermon? Take a listen as Kevin and Brandon make the connection and dig a little deeper into Sunday's message.
Learn about the ministry our Mission Partner Vince Costa is doing in Italy with church planting, refugees, and more!
Listen to this week's podcast as Kevin, Rachel, and Brandon talk about the gift of experience, the gift of sabbath, and the gift of community in Christ.
Listen in as Kevin, Brandon, Rachel, and Sandy talk about our faith being shaped at the foot of the mountain on this episode of the CPC Podcast.
As we enter into our Sabbath series, Brandon, Kevin, and Rachel sit down for an incredible and timely conversation with A. J. Swoboda, PhD. They break down the scriptural precedent for sabbath as well as the need for sabbath. Especially in a time where it can feel like we’re bombarded with information without space to process it. A. J. also shares some practical tips to make space for sabbath using anecdotes from his own life.
Highlights
The Importance of Sabbath - 02:42
- What veterans can teach us about Sabbath
- Sabbath as a necessity rather than a reward.
Sabbath as a Rule vs. Sabbath as a Gift - 25:34
- The difference between Sabbath and a day off.
- How A.J. practices Sabbath in his own life.
- Finding the sweetness in rest.
Recap - 53:23
- Brandon, Kevin, and Rachel recap the highlights from their conversation.
- How CPC can carry this conversation into our own practice of Sabbath.
Resources & References
- AJ’s Website
- Subversive Sabbath by A.J. Swoboda
- 24/6 by Matthew Sleeth
- The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Pete Scazzero
- Emotionally Healthy Leadership Podcast
- An Unhurried Life by Alan Fadling
Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel joke about Episode 51 and will talk about Mark 9:1-13 and the Glory of God!
Join Brandon and Rachel with special guest Liz McQuiston as they talk about giving up control.
Kevin, Brandon, Brandon, and Rachel talk about how we as disciples have to un-learn things that have formed us.
Listen to the last CPC Together Podcast of 2022 as Brandon and Kevin talk about happiness!
Brandon, Kevin, and Dan dive back into the Gospel of Mark and talk about how we are all sent into the world to serve.
Kevin Sneed and Brandon Pasion dive into silence! Check out the "Silent Sermon at this link!
This week, author and spiritual director Ruth Haley Barton sat down with Brandon, Kevin, Rachel, and Liz (one of our volunteers) to have a conversation around silence, solitude, and navigating spiritual disciplines. Ruth opens up about her journey through spiritual direction into solitude and silence and offers practical tips around how to engage with God’s invitation into that discipline. Ruth also shared about her new book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again.
If you’re interested in diving a little deeper into the practice of silence and solitude, you can join us for a four week Practice Lab on October 30 from 1:30-3:00 pm. You can register here.
Guest Bio
Ruth Haley Barton (Doctor of Divinity, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the founder of the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to strengthening the souls of pastors, Christian leaders, and the congregations and organizations they serve. A sought-after teacher, retreat leader, and trained spiritual director, Ruth is the author of numerous books and articles on spiritual life.
Educated at Northern Seminary, the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, and Loyola University Chicago Institute for Pastoral Studies, she has served on the pastoral staff of several churches including Willow Creek Community Church, and is a Professor of Spiritual Transformation at Northern Seminary.
Highlights
Introducing: Ruth Haley Barton - 3:06
- How Ruth Haley Barton cultivated the practice of silence and solitude in her own life.
- Moving towards becoming an author and spiritual director.
- The invitation to silence and solitude.
A structure for intimacy - 19:26
- Navigating the push-pull phenomenon of integrating the spiritual disciplines.
- What engaging with silence and solitude can look like across different life stages.
- Talking through preconceived notions around silence and solitude.
Silence and Solitude in real-time - 37:00
- Processing the counterbalance of mountain and valley experiences in our own faith journeys.
- The reimagined definition of productivity and success.
- Ruth shares a little about her new book.
- Practical applications to try out in your own time (including a guided minute of silence)
- Kevin, Brandon, Rachel, and Liz debrief about their conversation.
Resources
- Ruth Haley Barton’s Website
- The Transforming Center
- Invitation to Silence and Solitude by Ruth Haley Barton
- 1 Kings 19 - The Story of Elijiah
- Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again by Ruth Haley Barton
- The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)
Quotes
- “...whatever we're experiencing in the early parts of our journey into solitude and silence, it's pretty normal. And that it's not a quick fix: discipline, solitude, and silence are not the quick fix. It is a long obedience in the same direction. And then we begin to see the results eventually.” - Ruth Haley Barton
- “If you're feeling the push-pull, then you know you wanna press through. And it's not so much about should, as much as it's about touching the deepest desire of your heart, which is to have a real relationship with this person and to keep doing the things that help you to cultivate a real relationship. So you wanna drop down to the deepest desire that you have in this relationship and towards this person. You're not gonna press through because of "ought and should", you're gonna press through because you know it's gonna be good for your relationship if you go ahead and push through. And that's really different than odds and shoulds.” - Ruth Haley Barton
Join Kevin, Brandon, and Rachel on the podcast as they revisit last week’s sermon and process what it means to remain. They also talk through the importance of slowing down and letting go of the overreliance on efficiency in our fast-paced world.
Highlights
There’s no shortcut for the formation of the soul - 8:33
- The myth of easy everywhere.
- The god of efficiency.
Remaining - 16:47
- Mutual indwelling with Christ
- What it means to remain in him.
How do we know if we’re abiding? - 26:40
- Discipline joins desire.
- Practicing the presence of God.
- Digging into the Rule of Life.
Quotables
“Some things are worth work, are worth effort that are harder to get to. I think that transition statement I used in there was just like,there's no way to short circuit the formation of our souls. And when we map that myth of technology onto spiritual formation, we come up drastically short. But it just takes time. Like there's just, there's no shortcut for the formation of a soul.”
Resources & References
- Last week’s sermon at CPC
- A Turkish sausage dish (for anyone wanting to try one)
- Tech Wise Family by Andy Crouch
- Amana Colonies - Amana, IA
- John 15:5
- The Cultivated Life by Susan S. Philips
- Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
When you hear the word community, what do you think of? The popular TV show? Your neighborhood? Your church? This week, Dan is back on the podcast as he expands on Sunday’s message, and explores what a community in Christ looks like with Kevin and Brandon.
Highlights
Exclusion & Inclusion - 2:27
- Kevin and Brandon look back on middle school.
- The Apostle Paul’s take on inclusion
- Examining the dynamic of early Jews and Gentiles.
Breaking down the walls of hostility - 13:53
- Where is our identity coming from?
- How the TV show Lost illustrates our identity shift.
- Discovering your uniqueness in Christ.
Looking at community through the lens of new creation - 29:44
- Why do we sometimes resist community?
- Discipling from a private faith towards faith in community.
- A new family in Christ, and why we should ‘lean in’.
Quotables
- “I think Paul is trying to say that you're gonna always have this hostility and this separation, and as many good intentioned people, secular people who are trying to, you know, tear down those walls. It's the gospel that tears down those walls. That's where the unity is found under Christ…” - Dan
- “The gospel allows a way to work through all layers of sin. The individual that needs that transformation uproot the ways in which we base our identity on walls of hostility…” - Kevin
- “…Jesus comes in and he creates a new humanity. I think sometimes we think we have to completely get rid of who we were. You know, we use some of Paul's language, you know, the old self we're like, ‘Oh no, I'm not that person anymore’. But in reality, like what you guys are talking about, this is us bringing who God created us to be, those pieces of, of who we are and bringing them into alignment with God's new humanity”. - Brandon
- “…what we're being discipled toward here with this becoming the people of God, is that it isn't private. It's public, it's community. We cannot grow, uh, unless we are in community.” - Dan
Resources & References
- Ephesians 2:11-13
- 1 Samuel 8 - Israel asks for a King
- Lost (TV Show)
- Alone (TV Show)
- Seinfeld (TV Show)
- MAS*H (TV Show)
- S.H.A.P.E Test (example)
- Philippians 2
What do you want? This may be a question you’ve asked yourself or have been asked before. Sandy, Rachel, and Brandon sit down to process what this question means as they reflect on week two of the Becoming Series.
Highlights
What do we think we want? - 1:50
- Sandy, Rachel, and Brandon explore their answers to Kevin’s question this past week.
- Examining how Jesus asked others this question.
Our heart’s true desire - 15:14
- Is God’s presence enough?
- Our strongest desire vs. Our deepest desire.
- How our thoughts play into our desires.
Identity shift - 25:00
- How false narratives can shape us
- What it can look like to open ourselves up to the dimensions of the Holy Spirit.
- An invitation to rest.
Quotables
- “We see the crossing of the Red Sea. The whole idea of leaving Egypt and watching that happen. And we see God in the midst of all of this, his presence changing Pharaoh's hearts, all of that. And yet I still don't think Moses gets it after the Lord says, ‘My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.' And I think that is a very interesting idea to think about in the sense. Is God's presence enough? And can we rest in that? Because if God's presence is enough, we're fully trusting that, and we're not worrying about, well, how am I gonna cross the Red Sea? - Sandy (16:31)
- "You need to curate your heart. You need to worship well. Because you are what you love and you worship what you love" - James K.A. Smith
- "To follow Jesus is not the impossible task. It's, the easy or light way". - Kevin
Resources & References
- Hatchimals
- An encyclopedia
- Gushers Fruit Snacks
- The On Purpose Person by Kevin W. McCarthy
- John 1:38
- Exodus 33
- You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K.A. Smith
- Life of the Beloved - Henri Nouwen
FULL Transcript
Intro/Outro: You're listening to CPC Together, a podcast by Central Peninsula Church in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Brandon: Hey everybody. Welcome to CPC Together. We have a different episode today because we kicked Kevin out of the room.
Sandy: Kevin? Kevin. Where is Kevin?
Rachel: Bye Kevin.
Brandon: I think, um, I don't know actually. Do you guys know where he is? Are we supposed to say? Probably not.
Sandy: Probably not. He's at a conference.
Rachel: Kevin's off at a week at the spa.
Brandon: He deserves it man. He's been putting in the hours, dude.
Sandy: I know he has.
Brandon: The only person who puts in more than Kevin lately is you.
Sandy: Well, as I was explaining to Rachel yesterday, my job depends on everyone else getting their job done.
Brandon: Isn't that a fun place to be? Yesterday's sermon was all around. What do we want? And as we're in this kind of vision series, talking about what we're gonna do as a church and how do we. Um, okay, what's the word? not belong. What is the, What is the become? Become. Thank you, . I was gonna go a few more B words before I was gonna go beyond.
It's become, um, as we're in this series that we're calling Become and it's really about becoming the people of God and what does that mean for us? He asked us in this, uh, third week, right?
Sandy: Second week.
Rachel: Oh yeah, it's the second week. I was like, Yeah, it's third and the second week.
Sandy: The third week is on Sunday.
Rachel: Yeah.
Brandon: Thank you. Um, still in Iowa time.
Sandy: That's okay.
Brandon: In Iowa. It's the third week. They're ahead. Um, anyway, so he asked this question that, uh, that I think is really kind of, you can go as deep with it as you want, but what is it- what do we think we want? Or- Or what do you want? And you said, Jesus is all huge on this question. So before we go deep into that question, I wanna ask you guys, looking through your life, is there anything that you were super convinced that you wanted? You were like, I know I want this. I know this is gonna be like whether there's a material thing or whether it's food or a house, or whatever it might be. Um, a job, whatever that you thought would, you know, bring something and then when you got it, it just totally let you down?
Rachel: I, Okay, this is kind of exposing, but have you guys ever heard of Hatchimals?
Brandon: Yes.
Sandy: Yeah.
Rachel: So, yes. I think I was like a sophomore in high school. No, a sophomore in college when I found out that Hatchimals were a thing and every year my parents like to do like stocking stuffers for Christmas. And like Christmas gifts and they always ask us what we want, like, I don't know, like Chapstick or something. But for years in a row I would ask for Hatchimals cause I just wanted to like see what would happen.
Brandon: So this was back like in 2020?
Rachel: Yeah. Yeah. Last year. And then last year a friend finally got me Hatchimals cuz they found I'd been asking about them forever. And then I looked to the packet. And I didn't actually open it. I like wanted it for so long, but then when I finally had it, I wasn't, weren't excited about it. There was a new best thing.
Brandon: So I, if I remember right, cuz I think that Charlie was super . I think Charlie was super into these, uh, listener by the way. Charlie is eight. Um, anyway,
Sandy: And don't bring Rachel Hatchimals. (laughs)
Brandon: But it was a, isn't it an egg, like a giant egg?
Rachel: They have different sizes. Yeah.
Brandon: And then what does it do? Like how does it, How does it, do you have to do something to it to get it to hatch, or what does it,
Rachel: There's some that you put in water, I think.
Brandon: Oh, okay.
Rachel: Um, but then over time it just like hatches an animal.
Sandy: And it's, How does that work? Rachel? You gotta explain this. I think we need to get a Hatchimal just to understand how this works.
Rachel: I still have the unopen box.
Brandon: Oh, you never opened it?
Rachel: No.
Brandon: How did you know you didn't want it?
Rachel: I got it and I think I was just like so happy that I had it, that I just, it was so thoughtful that they got it for me. That was enough in itself. (laughs)
Sandy: Do they, do they know you've never opened it?
Rachel: No.
Sandy: Cause now they're gonna know.
Brandon: You know what? I think we need to, Sorry, . I think we need to have an opening party. Yeah, maybe. Yeah. That'd be kind of anticlimactic to do that on a podcast, but-
Rachel: Cause you can't see the hatching, but you could hear it maybe.
Brandon: So it didn't really deliver-
Rachel: like second childhood-
Brandon: no, but you don't really know. I feel like, Rachel, I don't wanna like, I don't wanna shame you for your choice here, but. But I feel like you don't even know if you wanna hatch 'em all cuz you didn't actually open it. Yeah. What if it would bring you such great joy and satisfaction?
Rachel: I, I guess I'll never know until next week. We can do a party.
Sandy: You know, I always thought I wanted to be a teacher, so I go to college, do the college thing. That's what I'm gonna do. Be a teacher. And I fooled around too much in college that I didn't get into their credential program, so I was in big trouble.
Rachel: Oh, no.
Sandy: So I took an internship at a church for youth ministry, but then I had the opportunity to go teach at a high school here on the peninsula, which will remain nameless and I taught there for a year, probably one of the hardest jobs I've ever had in my life. But it did not, It was like, Oh, this is not cracked up.
What it, what I thought it would be. Yeah. I'd rather hang out with kids over a Coke than grade their paper or confront them about plagiarism, Oh gosh. From this thing called an encyclopedia. Uh, you guys probably don't even know what that is,
Rachel: Pre Wikipedia.
Sandy: So I was pretty disappointed in, in your idea of being a teacher.
Yeah. You know, it builds up in your mind and just, Nope.
Brandon: There are some things that I just can't relate to, and that is people, I mean, my wife's a teacher. Yes, she is. I can't, I just can't imagine it. I mean, youth pastor think
Sandy: can, I think it's one of the hardest jobs on the planet .
Brandon: Oh my gosh. And I think now after having- watching my wife teach for, I don't know what, 10 or 12 years or whatever she's been teaching for. I realized it's not really the students that are the biggest challenge. It is the parents. It's the parents. And I imagine maybe youth ministry might sometimes be the same way too.
Rachel: Oh gosh.
Sandy: Sometimes.
Brandon: One year for Christmas, I was super obsessed as I- when I grew up, I always wanted, uh, Gushers, like their marketing, the Gushers fruit snacks. It worked on me like this flavor, you know, the flavor burst would burst. Yeah. Whatever. And, and my parents just didn't, you know, they would never buy that kind of stuff. . And so as I got older, I was like, I want, I would, I want to go buy myself some gushers, whatever.
And I, I went through these little, this little phase, which is kind of like my MO. I'm, I'm always on a phase with something. Um, and I went through Gushers phase and so one Christmas. I just told my whole family, I said, All I want for Christmas is Gushers. And, and people get so mad, like, What? That's all you want? Is like, seriously, don't gimme anything else. I just want gushers. I got just boxes and boxes and boxes of gushers and made myself so sick.
Rachel: Oh no! Yeah. Were you gushing ?
Sandy: Gushing. Oh, that's good. That's good.
Brandon: Oh God. I think it, it brings up, you know, the point that like what we want, Kevin was kind of saying this like, what we think we want isn't always what we want. Mm-hmm. , Right? Like Sandy, you were talking a little bit about this. , uh, journey, uh, about soul care. Mm-hmm. . Um, and you've been, you've been realizing this for yourself, like when you were confronted with that question.
Tell, tell us a little bit about that.
Sandy: Yeah, so I had the opportunity to be in a cohort with about 30 other pastors in the Bay Area, uh, during Covid. And so we met outside in Livermore in this barn. Some days it was hot, some days it was freezing cold. But the very first question we get asked is, what do you want?
And it's a haunting question. Yeah. I mean, Jesus asked that several times in the gospels, but the one I'm thinking of is in John one, where John's disciples start following him, start following Jesus. And Jesus asks them, What do you want? And I, I. To Kevin's point on Sunday, we don't always know what we want.
And I went down a journey for almost a year and a half trying to answer that question because there's all kinds of things I want. Yeah. I want a cabin in Tahoe, you know, I want a nice house on the peninsula, you know, all the comforts of the peninsula life, you know. . Those are all things I want, but that's not what Jesus was really asking.
And, and as I was going through spiritual direction during the, that year, you know, my spiritual director would, would often say those things aren't bad. Those are, those are desires. That's okay. Yeah. But it's trying to figure out the core of what
Brandon: you want. That is a profound question. I just, now, as you were talking, I just remembered this thing that I did with, with Katie when we were first, we were first dating and we were trying to get to know each other.
And this gives you an insight of how, how annoying it would've been to date me . But like I had just talked with, uh, , this kind of, I don't know, I guess he was like some kind of a business guru. And he gave me this book that was big back then called The On Purpose Person. Have you ever heard of this book?
Sandy: No. Uhuh.
Brandon: So The On Purpose person, it's one of those, um, cheesy business books that's written. In like a story form, you know, where it'll have like a guy and he goes through and the story teaches you all these business principles mm-hmm. Or whatever. Mm-hmm. and I guess for whatever this guy was saying, and, you know, I got to think I was like 22 at the time, and, um, He was saying like, you need to make sure that you're doing things on purpose and you need to figure out what you really want.
I don't think, to my knowledge, I don't think he was a Christian. Hmm. Um, and so I read this book anyway, long story short, it basically says like, every time you go into a room and you slip, uh, turn on a light switch, You ask yourself, that's supposed to be the thing that you ask yourself, Am I doing this on purpose?
Hmm. And is it an alignment with what I want? Hmm. Um, and so at the end of the book, basically what they make you do is they make you list in like the five major categories, you know, like education, um, what finance career. Spirituality and relationships. I think that's the main five. And they make you just list out, I wish I could find this stuff.
List out everything you want. Mm-hmm. , like what you talked about, Sandy, like Yeah. All of your desires, Right. In each category. Right. So in finance, it might be like, I wanna be a millionaire by the time I'm 30. Right. You know? Yeah, I already missed that boat. . Maybe 40. I'm gonna be 40 next year.
Sandy: Maybe 60 .
Rachel: Okay.
Brandon: Anyway, um, you list all of them out. Okay. So just imagine, and you're supposed to like, it's, it's crazy how hard it is to really get in touch just with this like superficial level, what do I really, what do I want? Like what are all the things I want? If you could just dream big. Yeah. List them all out. And then in each category you do like, um, a tennis tournament.
So you say, Oh, interesting. Okay. If two of my financial desires are one, I wanna be a millionaire before I'm 30 and one, I wanna have enough money to buy a Ferrari well, Like you can decide like which, which one you want. If I'm a millionaire, I might be able to buy Ferrari, but if I have enough money to buy a Ferrari, I might not still be a millionaire, so maybe I'll choose millionaire.
You know? So that one wins in that case. Mm. And this whole process takes quite a while. Yeah. And it comes down, you know, and eventually you start turn, you start tennis tournament in the categories. Interesting. Spirituality, relationships, you know, that kind of thing. Yeah. And the idea is that there's no judgment in this whole thing.
Mm-hmm there is- what- in the ideas you get down to, what do you absolutely want the most? Yeah, so I do this whole thing. Katie and I have been dating for like, you know, three months or something, and I was like, Katie, I, I really need you to fill out the what I want survey. And she's like, What is this? I'm like, We need to decide if you're an on purpose person or not, and you need to fill out this whole thing and see if our core wants are you know-
Sandy: are the same-
Brandon: what we actually want.
Rachel: Oh God.
Brandon: But it was this huge long exercise to figure out what you really, really want. I don't know how effective it was or whatever, but it was certainly really interesting. I just, I just randomly thought about.
So Rachel, what is it like when Jesus is asking like, what, what is it that we want? Why do you think that- to you, why does that seem like such an important question? Like what is the thing that Jesus is getting at and why does he seem to ask people this question over and over again in scripture?
Rachel: Hmm. Yeah. It's interesting that that's how he chooses to encounter so many people, even when it seems like what their answer is going to be is . Obvious cause it might not be as obvious to that person like I even think of when he asks, um, the blind man, like, What do you want? And in my mind I'm like, Well, of course he wants to see. Yeah. Like why would you ask that question? I think it's something that he's maybe confronting even at like a deeper level of what do you want? And even, I guess in a way, like are you living in alignment with what you want or act? Are you actually desiring what you say you want or is it something you've maybe just said for so long?
Brandon: Yeah. You mentioned Sandy, something that'll like Exodus, that, that gives us maybe a little bit of an insight if we were really gonna get after what, what our heart's true desire is.
Mm-hmm. without doing a giant tennis tournament of everything we want in the world. Yeah. um, What is, what was that?
Sandy: Well, um, it's a, it's the piece in Exodus, uh, I think it's thir- 37. Is that it? 37. 33. 33, yeah. Exodus 33. And Moses is having this conversation with the Lord in the tent of meeting. And you know, Moses keeps, keeps asking, Who are you gonna send with me?
Who are you gonna send with me? You know, these are your people. Who are you gonna send with me to? In all of this. And the Lord replies, My presence will go with you and I will give you rest. And you know, I, I find it fascinating for Moses being in a place where he didn't feel he could do what God was asking.
But I'm not so sure he thought God was gonna actually be there for him. Mm. Even prior to this, we see the crossing of the Red Sea. The whole idea of leaving Egypt and watching that happen. And we see God in the midst of all of this, his presence changing Pharaoh's hearts, all of that. Hmm. And yet I still don't think Moses gets it after the Lord says, "My presence will go with you and I will give you rest".
And I think that is a very interesting idea to think about in the sense. Is God's presence enough? Yeah. And can we rest in that? Because if God's presence is enough, we're, we're fully trusting that, and we're not worrying about, well, how am I gonna cross the Red Sea? Mm-hmm. .
Brandon: Yeah. I see that, um, that particular thing about Moses and, and really like so much of the Old Testament is us saying, God, this is what we want. This is what we want, this is what we want. And God's saying, No, it's not. I mean, it's not what you want. And in some cases, God gives it to people, you know? Yeah. Like I think about, was it Malachi where they wanted the king and they're like, God, we need a king. We need a king. It's like, I'm your king, right? , right? Like, No, no. We need like a real king. A real king. Give us a real king. And he is like, Okay, I mean, guys isn't gonna bring you what you think you want.
Sandy: But even, even in our scripture towards the very beginning of God's story with his people, he's talking about this idea of rest. And then Kevin again talked about, you know, come all ye who are weary. Yeah. And I will give you rest. Yeah. Yeah. My yoke is easy. My burden is light. Hmm. So this whole idea of I think really answering and struggling and going after that question, what do I really want? Hmm. There's a piece of that. When we wrestle that down, I think there's some rest in that.
If, If we really are honest about our core desire. Yeah, yeah. You know, and I think we all have, Oh, I want this or I want that, but, Hmm. But there's this piece of God's presence and this piece of when we're in his presence, when we're fully trusting him, when we're allowing the Holy Spirit to do the Holy Spirit's job in our life, there's rest in that. We don't have to worry about what's coming on Sunday.
Brandon: That's what are you worried about, Sandy? (laughter)
Sandy: What's coming on Sunday?
Rachel: Yeah. I feel like it does tie in with trust, cuz I even think of, maybe it's a silly example, but I went to. Joanne's fabrics with like my cousin and her two year old daughter.
Brandon: That store's my worst nightmare, by the way.
Rachel: Yeah, there's a lot in there. . It's, yeah. Yeah. Very creative space. But she saw this toy that she really wanted and her mom said no, and I thought that was gonna be like the end of the conversation.
And her mom then stopped to like get down at eye level and have this really long conversation with her. At least it felt long maybe in my like, not so kid, but like kid. And she said, I know you really want that toy, but I need you to trust me that I know what you need. Yeah. And that I know what you want, but that you don't need that right now.
Mm-hmm. And it's like, it is so much to do with trust, I think of even knowing that the like strongest versus deepest desire, like God knows our strong desire mm-hmm. , but he knows our deeper one. Mm-hmm. and sometimes we don't even realize like what that deeper one
Brandon: is. It gets really confusing. Like I was even thinking about the story with, um, Jacob and Esau in the Bible.
Hmm. Uh, when, when Jacob goes out to hunt, Oh no. Esau goes out to hunt and Jacob is back at home and Esau comes back, he gets lost in the woods and he's like absolutely starving. And he comes back and. You know, Jacob gets all sneaky and it's like, I'll gimme your birthright. I'll just give you this. If you, if you, you know, gimme your birthright, I'll give you this stew that I'm making.
And like none of us reading that story, all of us are gonna be like, Don't give that up for soup, or whatever gross thing he's making. Like, what are you thinking? But in that moment, like his most immediate, strongest desire is to eat. Mm-hmm. And so he's willing to trade almost anything, anything for it, for that.
And I, I feel like that's such a good picture of how we, if we are not intentional about, about what we love, but what we really love and what we want to really love. We are just kind of, we kind of become victims of our. Of our desires and our immediate desires. Yeah. And we, we can wander. I mean, I certainly resonate with the idea that you could just wander through life chasing things that you think you want.
And there's so many people, um, that live their life that way. Um, I think, and it relates to the what Kevin said, um, and I'm curious how it struck you guys that we're not primarily thinking things. , we're loving things. Hmm. Which is interesting because I think we like to think of ourselves as thinking beans.
Mm-hmm. ,
Sandy: right? Well, yeah. We're in one of the, this population, in this little patch of land we call a peninsulas, probably one of the smartest, most influential group of people where knowledge is God. Thinking is God. Yeah. Yeah. And where we live and that shapes us and forms us and forms our identity in such huge ways.
Yeah. That we, we don't even know
Brandon: it. And because we think that thought is the most important mm-hmm. thing, we don't consider what we love, or like the question that we're asking, we don't really consider. What do you really want? Yeah. Hmm. Like knowledge becomes the top thing. But if we're primarily loving things, uh, we really kinda start paying attention.
Yeah. To what we love. Yeah. So what do we do then? Let's say, let's say, and I love his analogy that he used about, um, you know, if you wanna become a musician, you know, you can't. Say, I wanna become a piano player one day, and then suddenly you can, You can play like where I wanna love how to, I don't know.
That's a bad example. I wanna love something. You can't just come out and just make yourself love something, right? Mm. Um, so what are we supposed to do, like let's say, let's say, Rachel, that I want to, Well, let's just say that I wanna sign up for this thing, You know, I wanna sign up for what God is saying.
I wanna love God. Okay. to me, waking up tomorrow and saying, Okay, God, I love you now. Like, that's not really the answer. So how, how would you describe, you know, what's like the next step for me? Hmm.
Rachel: Yeah. I think the way that, I think it was James K. Smith, his quote about curating our hearts, where he acknowledged that discipleship or following Jesus and becoming like Jesus is a matter of hungering and thirsting more than knowing and believing. So just changing what you know or believe about God might not be the next step, but I think being open, um, Kevin had that dimension or the chart of the dimensions, and it's opening every aspect of who we are to God and to the work of the spirit.
Um, and that does include our mind. It does include our thinking. Like we still, we still do think about things, but it's opening every dimension. So our, our social lives, our body, our mind, and then our spirit, which is at heart and our will. But I think the first step even is just being willing to be open.
Cause even when you think of, Okay, what does it mean to open my mind to the spirit, it's still that reality of, okay. Intentionally allowing, not myself, but allowing the Holy Spirit to kind of show me areas of my heart where I desperately need Jesus and areas of my heart where I'm seeking after the things I think I want but don't really want.
Sandy: I think it goes along those lines of those false narratives that we believe about ourselves or those false narratives that have shaped us in who we are and what we do and how we react. And in that sense of when we're opening ourselves up to the Holy Spirit for that kind of like heart work, mind work, life work that's like, that's huge.
It's massive because you're, you're, you're moving your identity away from the things that have shaped you from the world and hoping that God's gonna show you. No, no. You're, you're, you're my beloved. Good old now. And, um, Rachel and I have been reading Henri Nouwen reading Henry, a lot of Henry now in these last few months.
Yeah. But coming back to, I'm a child of God. Hmm. I am loved. I am a beloved child of God. And when we start believing that and thinking that that changes our whole, those false narratives get rewired into something new. God redeeming that stuff.
Rachel: Hmm.
Brandon: Yeah. Saying,
Sandy: saying yes to that is, It's a big deal. It's a big deal because it changes everything.
Brandon: And I would dare to say that at the risk of offending, uh, people that may be listening to this. I think that it's actually pretty easy to exist pretty, on a pretty deep level in the church, in church world, and not really have to say yes in this way. Yeah. Um, and I say that maybe this is me just, you know, projecting onto everybody. It might just, it might just be me, but you know, you're talking to a guy who is a pastor's kid who was raised in the church, who has existed in the church, who started working for a church when I was pretty young. And, um, I, I was telling you guys earlier, it's like, it's kind of embarrassing how far I've been able to come without really having to confront myself with that question. Do I want to say yes to the Holy Spirit for me saying yes was when I prayed, you know, the-
Sandy: Prayed the Sinner's prayer-
Brandon: Prayed the sinner's prayer at East Iowa Bible camp
Sandy: 10 times to your, your whole middle school and high school school years.
Brandon: Yeah. There was a lot of re dedications and that kinda stuff. And I don't wanna minimize the moment where you-
Sandy: Yeah. Cuz those are all touch points in your faith journey.
Brandon: Yeah, yeah. They're, yeah, they're mountain tops and there are moments where I wanted to, you know, follow Jo follow. Jesus and I, I would usually, in an emotional moment. Yeah. I would say, God, yes, I wanna follow you. Yeah. Yes. God. You know, I'll, I'll give you, I'll, I'll try to love you with my heart, soul and mind, you know?
Hmm. Um, but I feel like, I feel like there's another step when you, when you're like, kind of opening yourself up to God and be like, What is there in me? What do you see in me that's different? Mm-hmm. , you know, if I. , uh, Sandy, I wanna learn what you do and, and learn the communications world. You'd say, Oh, that's cool.
Let's set up a meeting and be like, Yeah, let's do that. And then a year later I say, Sandy, you know what I'm gonna, I, I realize I never really did anything with that. I wanna rededicate myself to following you In the communications world, it would mean so much. It would be so much different for you. If I finally came to you and said, Sandy, I want you to look at what I do.
Yeah, in the communications world, I'm probably stretching this . Show me what I need to do. to, uh, like, what am I doing that is actively fighting against being a communications? Yeah. Well, first of all, Brandon, you don't use computers. Oh, . Okay. Well, I need to start doing that. You know what I mean? Like, so one, like the heart is there in the first one, Right?
But the second one is like, Okay, here's here's me, God. Yeah. And that que- I mean, have you guys, I know that you, I, I know both of you. I know that you've been here, but I'm wondering if, if either of you have any, any story from your past where that you'd be willing to share, um, of maybe when you've had to do that, maybe when you've kind of got to a moment where you're like, I don't wanna surrender this part of my life to you, or, or this dream to you, or this job, or whatever it might be. Do you guys have anything? I can edit out the silence while you think.
Sandy: And a hush fell over the crowd.
Rachel: I think in general, like with my relationship with God, it had always been so safe that I don't think I ever gave God like the opportunity. Not that he needed my permission. Yeah. But like the opportunity to have those touch points. So even in like my quiet time with him, it would be like just a little bit of journaling, a little bit of reading, and then maybe some silence, but more just me like, I don't know, again, trying to talk at God.
Hmm. But then I think the more that I allowed him to, like when things would come up, when he'd bring to mind something that I didn't want him to touch. And when I finally like sat in that or brought that to someone else and they're like, Yeah. That's probably something to give a little bit more thought to.
Um, I think when I finally allowed God to touch it, it wasn't as safe anymore and I didn't like that . Sometimes I still don't, but it felt a lot more freeing because then I wasn't trying to like keep it for myself or, yeah. Once God like started to work in those areas mm-hmm. , um, it was painful, but it was moving me more in line with what he wanted for me. Even if it wasn't safe in my mind.
Brandon: Yeah. So how do we open ourselves up to, to the dimensions of the holy? How do, how do we open up all the dimensions of ourself up to the Holy Spirit? How do, how do we, how do we start that journey?
Sandy: I think, I mean, just even for my own self in these last couple years, I think it, it comes down to being truly honest with yourself and saying, Do I wanna go on this journey? Do I really wanna go on this journey? Mm. Am I gonna say yes to this journey of what Jesus might show me? What the Holy Spirit might open up in my life? Because that's kind of a scary thing. If, if, if we as believers say, Yeah, I open my, I've got open, open handedness with my life, Lord, do as you please.
That's scary. Hmm. If, if we, if that is truly our heart's desire, this, that's what we, we say, we, we might say we want it, but do we really want it? Yeah. Hmm. And I, and I think that, that is, struggling with that question is a start and, and doing it not just by yourself, but with people who know you. community and, and it comes back to being authentic with your community, I think in without judgment as well from your community.
Because I think when we wrestle through these hard things, we, we go through all kinds of emotions and thoughts until, you know, God's working in us. It's a process. It doesn't happen. overnight, and it's, if we're honest, a lifelong process. Hmm. So I, I think wrestling with that question first is a, is a next step truly, truly being able to answer that question, not just the good old Jesus answer.
Yeah.
Brandon: Hmm.
Sandy: What do you want? Yeah. Yeah. My heart's desire is to have what Jesus wants. We can say that, but-
Brandon: which by the way, when I did my tennis tournament, that was mine and I felt very... righteous and holy after I did that.
Rachel: Yeah, of course.
Brandon: Yeah, of course. I had to, I had to tennis tournament a lot of other ones. Yeah.
You know? Mm-hmm. , I, I remember someone talking about, um, saying, That's really good, Sandy, and saying, saying that like you're, There's a few, there's a few ways that you can get insight into what you want, because like you said, we're not always aware, right? Um, however, there are people in our life. Yes, there are, but there's
Sandy: no question they would love to point those things out to you.
Brandon: Especially I will tell you both if you have. They will tell you what they think is most important to you. Yes, yes. Um, but even if you don't have children, I've heard it said like what your calendar, your calendar has a lot to say. Mm-hmm. about what you are saying that you want. Yeah. What your life says that you want, you know?
Yeah. Because like in the case of my tennis tournament, my core desire really was Jesus. And I believe that was real and authentic, but my life didn't really reflect that at that time. So like, what does your calendar say? What does your wallet say? Mm-hmm. , you know, the things that you spend your money on and the things that you spend your time on.
Um, and that's a, Yeah, we probably all have someone who will tell us honestly, and it's whether or not we want to ask that question.
Sandy: Well, and that's, and I think that's, that is where all of this, I mean, this. . I'm really excited about where we're going because I'm hoping, and part of my prayer is that we as a, a church body are gonna do this in community.
Brandon: Yeah.
Sandy: And that, you know, there will be authenticity happening. Intentional authenticity happening, and vulnerability. Not my favorite thing to do. Hmm. But, I- I would guess that's not a lot of people's favorite thing to do either. Yeah. But we have a real cool opportunity to open our lives up in a very different way to the Lord and to our community in this. And it's gonna revolve around authenticity.
Rachel: Yeah.
Sandy: Authenticity to the Lord. Authenticity to our community, Authenticity to our family and friends. That's not easy.
Rachel: No.
Brandon: Yeah. No, that takes a special kind of commitment. Like you're willing to kind of, you're willing to do the work. Um, and I love where, where Kevin, speaking of doing the work, I love where he ends. Well, he ends with this idea of, of delighting in the, in the Lord. Mm-hmm. and he says, "To follow Jesus is not the impossible task. It's, it's the easy or light way". Yeah. I mean, and when we think about all these things, there's a, there's a real, there's something that happens in my soul that's probably the same thing that happens when I think about like, okay, um, I really need to get into physical shape. You know, like, all I can think about is the pain of what I'm going to have to do, all the changes I'm gonna have to make. Hmm. Um, all the sacrifices I have to do. Um, and it can be a little bit overbear or over, what am I thinking of? Not overbearing. Overwhelming, overwhelming, overwhelming. Um, and let's, let's talk to that person right now that's listening a little bit.
You know, the person that's listening to this and being like, How do I unravel what I want? Hmm. How do I start chasing what I know is my soul's desire? Like they're looking at the road ahead and like, how do I even do this? Um, what, what did we learn from Sunday that would change, Um, maybe the paradigm of how we're looking at this.
Sandy: Hmm.
Rachel: I think even just that encouragement, that that reminder that Sandy gave a little bit of go if, like, this is a, a long journey, it takes. and even what Kevin was talking about with love, like learning to love God or learning to love anything, but especially learning to love God takes practice. And I like hate what we brought up that quote again about like, grace isn't opposed to, um, earning? No. Is it-
Brandon: it's not supposed to. Efforts earning. It's a, It's not oppos to effort. It's opposed to earning.
Rachel: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. He said it's not about earning, but effort is still involved. and I think even just acknowledging that God is faithful and that the spirit, the spirit's work in our life is Sure. I just even think of, um, something that was in the curriculum too, but Kevin had written that, um, that the wind shouldn't be considered a random act like when you're talking about the sailboat example of how the captain still has to hoist the sail and, and have everything in place, but it's not the captain's job to make the wind blow.
Um, it's just for the sail to catch the wind when it does. And what it says here is the wind shouldn't be considered a random act for as certain as the wind blows. So too, can we be certain that the Holy Spirit will also move? So I think there's encouragement in the fact that it's a partnership, like we're not doing it alone, and that it is a journey and it is practice. We probably, we'll have times where it's really hard, um, but we're not doing it on our own.
Brandon: I mean, I don't wanna dismiss that it, that there is probably gonna be pain and discomfort because Yeah. You know, depending on where you're at, like turning from the way you've been doing your life, your whole life, like turning from that, like, I don't wanna minimize that. That's a big deal.
Sandy: Yeah.
Brandon: You know?
Sandy: I mean, when we, when we talk about silence and solitude, when we talk about Sabbath, I mean that's gonna poke at everything, the Peninsula values. Hmm. And when we talk about how am I going to arrange my calendar around that? Mm. I mean, that is, I struggle with that every week-
Brandon: Yeah. Yeah.
Sandy: -doing that. , it's a struggle and it's like, but it's also an invitation. Mm. It's an invitation to this rest that God talks with Moses about. It's this invitation to rest that Jesus tells us about, and when we're obedient in those things, that rest is real. And it is so comforting. And it honestly shapes your mind in a different direction if we're willing to go there.
Rachel: Yeah.
Brandon: Hmm. Yeah. I, I, I think, like, you know, Kevin says, when, when Jesus talks about my yolk mm-hmm. is easy in my burden is light. I love when you went into this whole thing, um, that yoke is that it means a set of teaching. Mm-hmm. . , that, that, that word, that root word is, is the same as disciple. Is that right?
Rachel: For learn? Yeah. Mm-hmm. the word for learn.
Brandon: Which means it's an interactivity. Um, and it's a learning not just on knowledge, which is what we talked about. Cause we're not primarily thinking things. Right. But it's a learning based on doing, on walking. Yeah. On interacting with your teacher. Yeah. With your rabbi Jesus.
Yeah. Who by the way, is gentle, and is humble. Yeah. And like what you said, Sandy, that's where we find our rest. Mm-hmm. . So I think the, as we look at this, you know, even use the, the exercise analogy, like to think about what it would be like, um, to align ourselves with the principles of being healthy. You know, like mm-hmm. not think about the pain it's gonna take to get me to a place where I have to go, where I wanna run five miles, but think about. , what's it gonna be when I walk up a set of stairs and don't want to throw up ? Yeah. Yeah. Or like in, in the Jesus thing. Like what's it, what is it gonna be like when our desires are more aligned with his mm-hmm. And how much more rest is our soul gonna have? Mm-hmm. . Yeah. How much more can we really delight in the Lord? I mean, when we come in and we sing worship songs, how much more is that gonna light us on fire when we're really worshiping and we're not just coming in tired and worn out and just doing church.
Sandy: Yeah. You know? Yeah. And how much is that gonna change people who look at us? What is gonna be different about us? Hmm. In our authenticity as we are doing these things. Hmm. And allowing God to change our souls. Yeah. And our spirits. What's, what is, I mean, it it's that whole idea coming back transformed people transforming the peninsula.
Brandon: Yeah. Otherwise, we're just offering them ourselves.
Sandy: Yeah. And it, and it's not a list of, Oh, I gotta do this, I gotta do that to be transformed. That's, that's not what Jesus is inviting us into. He's inviting us into, "You're my beloved. My yoke is easy, my burden is light'. And when you experience you're gonna change, you're gonna be changed because of that. Uh, because of him, Because of Jesus. I was gonna say because of me, but I didn't, That sounded weird. . I meant Jesus. You know? Yeah. And that's, there's something irresistible about that. Hmm. Something very irresistible.
Rachel: Yeah. And it's cool because the more that he changes us, it's not that it's something that we have to manufacture. Yeah. On our own. Um, Kevin was talking about how it becomes habituated into our very way of being. Mm-hmm. , like I even think of the blessing, those who curse you. Example of like when someone cuts me off on the 101. Yeah. Maybe this is a silly example, but-
Brandon: That never happens to me.
Rachel: You just straight bless them all the time? You never cursed them? (laughter) But yeah, it's cool that yeah, we're not left to our own devices and that as Jesus works in us, it, it starts to become something. Is naturally part of mm-hmm. , How we live.
Brandon: Yeah. Habituated. I, I think about, um, you know, not, not being able to leave the house before you brush your teeth. Mm. Like the, it feels like something's wrong. Mm-hmm. if you leave the house before doing that, you know, because it's so ingrained. Yeah. Um, your whole body's oriented around a person. that brushes their teeth and ultimately, hopefully has good oral hygiene.
Yeah. Well, I wanna leave as we kind of wrap this up. . Our, our hope really is that you engage this with us as we continue to go, um, all on this journey together. Um, if you're not in a small group, like now's the time. I was just talking to a friend who's like, Hey, how do we get a sign up for a small group? And they send to the website like:
Sandy: cpc.org/community .
Brandon: Exactly. Um, I just told him to go to the website. That's right. I didn't have the, the, uh, you know, community part. I'm sure he'll find it. Um, But seriously, this is not just, you know, like a shameless plug for groups. It's not like we have, The reason we want you to get in a group is because we change together.
This is something that, you know, it's more potent, it's more powerful, um, to have other voices speaking into your life. And so we don't want you to live and try to do this, um, in, in isolation. But, but as we consider what we're talking today, I just hope you'll consider, um, as you're listening to this and as you go through the rest of your week, And, um, as we go through this series together, really engage this question.
Like, get in there, like, ask the people that you know will be honest, be brave. Just be brave to ask the question. We're not even asking you to do anything about it yet. Just what do I want? And if you don't know, maybe ask some people that are close to you, Hey, what does it look like? What does it seem like is the most important thing to me?
Hmm. Um, which by the. is also a way of saying, what are you worshiping? Yeah. Um, and the other question that I want you to consider after, maybe you get through that whole, or, you know, it may, it may take a year and a half to get through that question, but as you, as you start realizing, well, here's some of the things that I'm following.
Here's some of the narratives that I think, um, I want, uh, are you willing to open that up to the Holy Spirit? Are you willing to open that up to God? And as you spend some time, um, With God. Did you start thinking about that? Maybe you're starting your own practices of silence and solitude. Start. Start just engaging.
Am I willing to open up these pieces of myself, these elements of of my humanity to Jesus and allow him to start shaping it? Let's just start there. Don't even start with, what do I have to do? Just start there. Am I willing to start that journey and let the Holy Spirit enter in that process?
I, like you Sandy, I'm so pumped at where this is going and, um, it's, it's weird, but I've never been in a church where we've decided in this way, let's follow Jesus together.
Sandy: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know we opened up with that, that phrase from John. But you know, when Jesus asks them what you want and then they, there's a little dialogue and then Jesus says, "Come and see. Come see. Come hang out with me".
Brandon: I feel like we should end with the, uh, Spice Girls. Tell me what you want.
Sandy: Want what you really, really want.
Rachel: I'll tell you what I want. (laughter)
This past weekend, Kevin kicked off our upcoming series Becoming: Apprenticeship to Jesus. Today, Kevin and Brandon talk through what that apprenticeship looks like in our modern context, and how we can allow the countercultural ways of Jesus to transform us.
Highlights
How’s the water? - 1:24
- How the things we’re unaware of shape our reality.
- Perception of the good life vs. the reality of the good life.
- Intentional and unintentional spiritual formation.
What it means to follow - 17:45
- Jesus had a formation experience too.
- Take up your cross, give up your allegiances.
The goal of apprenticeship - 27:33
- Be present with the person who is discipling you and participate with him in what he is doing.
- Why are we starting with silence and solitude as our first spiritual discipline?
- Touching on the role of the 3 other spiritual disciplines.
Quotables
- “We absorb, we swim in waters, that project a good life, but they're doing something to us and there has to be a different way to live.”
- “...Any movement towards the way of Jesus is not it's, it's actually a counter formation. We're counter-forming against the way the world is forming us.”
- “It's in following Jesus, we are revoking or at least diminishing all other of our identities, not to where they don't exist. Cause God created us with the particularities that we have as men or women or whatever ethnicity we come from, heritage, all of that's important for sure. It doesn't diminish or flatten that. But it does move all of those things to say, like, we now have a new fundamental allegiance in identity. It's not in being male or female. It's not in being American. It's not in being you know, a CEO it's not in any of those things. It's now what matters is this in this that we are in the family of God, that is first and fundamentally our primary allegiance. And if anything else bumps its head against that. It has to be dealt with.”
Resources & References
- David Foster Wallace - Kenyon College Commencement Speech (full transcript available here)
For this episode of the CPC Life Together Podcast, Brandon, Kevin, and Rachel are sitting in the discomfort of how Jesus calls us to live versus what is in our human nature. Take a listen as they discuss last week’s sermon and how we can bring our discomfort to God.
Highlights
Understanding evil in a modern context - 8:20
- Processing the problem of evil.
- How do we interact with people who are acting in line with evil?
- The myth of redemptive violence
“The world is more complex than that” - 19:41
- How people attempt to create simple solutions for complex issues?
- The challenges of mob mentality.
Jesus as a disruptive force for good - 27:04
- How Jesus disrupted the life of contemporaries.
- How we can respond to Jesus’ disruptions in our own lives?
- How Jesus meets the broken and hurting.
Quotables
- “We have to understand the difference between someone who disagrees with us, and someone who may be actually doing evil. And, and sometimes, we can actually be under the influence, uh, and so engrossed in a particular cultural issue or whatnot, where we view the other side as evil.”
- If we try to live in his reality, it's disruptive to our current status. I feel like that's such a massive thing. I feel like embracing, following Jesus, if we really wanna become apprentices of Jesus, we have to be ready for that disruption.
- “On Sunday, you worded it as both scary and a beautiful thing. Cause I think you said if your will is bent away from the way of Jesus, he'll give you what you will, but it's beautiful because he'll always welcome you back.”
Resources & References
- Matthew 4:24
- Dallas Willard - The Cost of Non-Discipleship
- Romans 12:2
This week, we’re turning the tables! Our Communications Pastor Sandy Hughes normally helps put together the CPC Real Life Together Podcast from behind the scenes. But this week, she’s joining us in front of the mic! Take a listen as Sandy, Kevin, and Rachel dig a little deeper into last week’s sermon, the best road trip snacks, and how we can build our faith in Jesus even in the midst of our storms.
Highlights
What Hume Lake and the Sea of Galilee have in common - 6:25
- Sandy shares her story of being in the middle of a storm.
- The symbolism of the sea for Jewish people.
- The tension between fear and confidence for the disciples.
Following Jesus in the midst of storms - 17:36
- Who do we run to when things are hard?
- I am bringing God in the full human experience and His response to us.
Building faith to endure the storms - 25:56
- Building faith and family within our community.
- What do our gut responses in the midst of storms reveal about us?
- Encouragement to those feeling the weight of a storm.
Quotables
- “The sea came to symbolize for them the dark power of evil. Yeah. Threatening to destroy god's good creation, God's people, and God's purposes.”
- “Following Jesus does not mean that the storms will never come. It isn't God removing us from circumstances.
- “I, I think the big, the big thing is we know who to run to in the middle of it. Yeah. I mean, we may not understand why, but eventually, you see God at work doing something in your own life, in your own soul. Yeah. And he has this for a reason.”
- I think about my life, in the middle of the storms. I really don't believe we're meant to go through those by ourselves. We can. We can choose to. But I think there's a piece of community that is so important.
- “If there's anything I've learned about Jesus being Lord over the storm, he loves us. He's in it with us. He's big enough to handle your grief, your anger, and whatever emotions you're feeling. And if there's anything I've learned in my life, I can trust him.”
Resources & References
- Gardettos - Kevin’s go to road trip snack.
- Burnt Peanuts and Bugles - Sandy’s go to road trip snack.
- Hot Cheetos and Gummy Bears - Rachel (and Kaciny’s) go to road trip snack.
- Mark 4:35-41 - Jesus and the disciples at the Sea of Galilee
- Psalm 107 -
Jesus’ presence on Earth impacted the trajectory of life as we know it by virtue of how countercultural he was. Join Kevin and Brandon as they talk through the various ways that Christ's kingdom countered the ways of the world.
Highlights
Defining the Kingdom of God - 10:00
- Start with what the kingdom of God is not.
- God as the ultimate reconciler.
- The Kingdom of God versus the Kingdom of Me
The Counter-Culture of Christ - 20:00
- The difference between Jesus’ way and our way.
- The transformative power of Christ in our lives.
- What is “The Good Life?”
Quotables
- “ if you're just feeling like Jesus just always agrees with you I'm like your will like, oh yeah, my will is always just kind of Jesus' will it's always out. There's a chance that you're getting it wrong.”
- “...We can't employ means that are counter to the kingdom of God to then live into its reality.”
Resources & References
- Psalm 23
Kevin and Brandon sit down with Daniel Grunewald and Glendy Martin from the CPCKids Team.
What do alien sounds and hearing the Gospel have in common? Join Kevin and Brandon for this episode of the CPC Real Life Together Podcast to find out as they talk through last week’s sermon and the weight of what it is to truly hear the Gospel.
Highlights
The Good News - 10:58
- Brandon and Kevin process the idea that the Gospel is not good news for everybody.
- From building our lives around broken systems to reorienting our lives around Christ.
Wrestling with the Old Creation Dynamic - 16:53
- Peter’s struggle with the Gospel.
- The alternative logic of Kingdom dynamics.
- Becoming a student of the Kingdom.
How Do We Unlearn? - 23:20
- The importance of changing our habits.
- Becoming the kind of person who loves their enemies.
- Jesus puts the ball in our court to change.
- Unlearning the worries of this life.
Resources & References
- Endel - Soundscape App
- Build My Life - Housefires (ft. Pat Barrett)
- Mark 4 through Mark 8 - Scripture referenced in this episode
- The Divine Conspiracy - a book by Dallas Willard
- The Power of Habit - a book by Charles Duhigg
- Matthew 5:38-42
- Luke 18:18-26 - The parable of the Rich Young Ruler
Quotables
- “...If you build your life around a system that is broken. Yeah. Um, it's gonna be painful to try to rip that system down.” - Brandon
- “I think that's the difference between... um, those who say they wanna follow Jesus and those who, who resist is the follower of Jesus, whether or not they figure it out and get there it's their deepest desire at their core saying, no, I want to follow this. Jesus. Wow. And then it's how do we get these strong desires in alignment with your deep desire?” - Kevin
To get in touch with us, you can email us at communications@cpc.org, leave a comment on our PodBean website, or leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or anywhere else you listen to podcasts)
Dan is back on the podcast this week as Brandon and Kevin talk with him about what it means to be a fan or follower of Jesus. Join us as we learn more about how Dan came to faith and the difference between being a fan of Jesus and a follower of Jesus.
Highlights
Icebreaker - 0:46
- What is a sword drill?
- Dan shares a bit about his faith journey.
Fans vs Followers - 10:20
- What do a fan and a follower look like in our world and our faith?
- Jesus’ invitation to discipleship.
- What does it mean to be an apprentice?
Being With Jesus - 27:26
- Figuring out the balance between doing and simply being with Jesus.
- How Jesus modeled being in the presence of the Lord for us.
- The kind of people Jesus kept community with.
Quotables
-
(13:27) “A fan doesn't have skin in the game. There isn't a real impact on whether or not they continue being a quote fan of Jesus versus… you know, followers. They've got skin in the game… you know, you look at the disciples. They dropped their nets. They left everything. They left their old way of living to enter into a new one. And that radically changes their perspective on what it means to follow Jesus.”
-
(28:32) “It begins with this relationship with him. And what emanates out of that relationship is the service that we do, you know, loving God and loving others, you know, and how that manifests itself using our gifts.”
Resources & References
- Dan’s Wallet Pen
- CPC Hot Ones
- Not a Fan - Book by Kyle Idleman
- John 10:10
- To get in touch with us, you can email us at communications@cpc.org, leave a comment on our PodBean website, or leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever else you listen to podcasts.
On today’s episode of the CPC Podcast, Kevin and Brandon explore the role of Sabbath in the Christian life. They reflect on this past week’s sermon and discuss how we can find healthier rhythms of rest and work in our own lives.
Highlights
The god of efficiency - 9:12
- How over-prioritizing efficiency can be harmful in the long run
- Living in a state of soul fatigue
Sabbath in real-life - 22:23
- The origins of Sabbath in scripture
- Brandon reflects on his experience finding a rhythm of rest.
- What Sabbath is and is not.
- The gift that God gives us through sabbath
Resources & References
- Genesis 2
- Kitchen Table Talks - Brandon Pasion
- Shout out to Travis at the San Mateo Zoo
Quotes
- “Sabbath is about reconstituting yourself. It's about bringing yourself the ways you've been frayed by your busy week saying, ‘Okay. Who, who am I again? Who am I in connection with God and who does God say I am?’”.
This week, Brandon sits down with Dan Reid as they reflect on last week’s sermon. They discuss Jesus’ approach to engaging with people who were on the outside edges of society and how that can influence the way we engage with people today.
Highlights
How Jesus Exposed Religion - 5:20
- What the gospel says about how to find freedom.
- How Jesus relates to those on the outskirts of society.
- From “Are you good enough?” to “Are you bad enough?”
How We Can Live Out Christ’s Example - 20:01
- How can we be like the Pharisees in our thinking?
- Who can we invite into our lives that we may not have ordinarily walked alongside?
- How does Jesus view the world and do we view it the same way?
Quotables
- “Don’t let your tool become a rule.”
- “How much of your story is time spent with sinners?”
- “When it comes to relationships [disgust] was not something on Jesus’ radar… Jesus didn’t apply that to people. Jesus was there in the dirt, in the lowest of lows with the people society would say ‘I’m disgusted by you.’”
- There’s a big difference between being offended by behaviors and being disgusted by people.
Resources & References
- Arby’s
- Arbeit macht frei (German) - Work sets you free - found at the entrance of various concentration camps during the Holocaust.
Sam Abel, CPC's Middle School Ministry Director, joins Kevin and Brandon for this week's episode. Listen as they talk through Sam's sermon last Sunday and the impact of Jesus' ability to bring restoration in scripture and our lives.
Highlights
Introduction - 0:17
- A little about Sam Abel, Middle School Ministry Director.
Jesus’ Restoration in Scripture - 12:25
- Jesus takes personal responsibility for the lepers’ restoration.
- Mark demonstrates the kingdom of God through Christ’s restoration.
- The physical and spiritual need for restoration
Jesus’ Restoration in Our Lives - 22:03
- Who have we banished?
- How can we move toward people the way Jesus did?
- What areas do we avoid in our lives and how do we learn to face it head-on?
Resources & References
- He Is Able - The Maranantha! Singers
- God of this City - Chris Tomlin
- Rivulose - marked with irregular, narrow, sinuous, or crooked lines
- GoFundMe for Sam’s Dish Gloves
- Sozo (greek) - to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction.
- “People are hard to hate up close. Move in.” from Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown (researcher, speaker, & author)
- John 5 - The man healed at the Pool of Bethesda
CPC’s Vision Director Rachel Almeida joins Kevin and Brandon to talk through this past Sunday’s sermon. They explore what it looks like to practice the kingdom and find connection with God in a world constantly competing for our attention.
Highlights
Silence, Solitude, and Hurry-Sickness - 5:40
- The importance of silence and solitude in modern life.
- How can we move out of hurrying and into the presence of God?
Disconnect to Connect with God - 18:10
- Eremos: How Jesus practiced the Kingdom.
- The role of prayer in connecting us to God.
What does this look like in real life? - 26:50
- The practice of prayer and teaching our brains to tune in.
- Engaging with Jesus versus performing for Jesus.
Quotables
- “Can you ever really imagine Jesus busy? When you think about the life of Jesus, you can’t ever really imagine him rushing around.”
- “Solitude affords us that opportunity to unplug to both assess our life as well as become comfortable with inefficiency.”
- “If we want the life of Jesus, we have to take on the lifestyle of Jesus” - Dallas Willard
- “The more I’m connected with God, the more I have his perspective and his priorities… from that flows everything else.”
Resources & References
- The Difference between Busy and Hurry (article)
- Eremos meaning
- Dallas Willard - theologian and philosopher
Brandon and Kevin sit down with Stephen Petiti after last weekend’s sermon. They talk through the importance of Jesus’ role as the messiah and how his life was the fulfillment of the old testament.
Highlights
Jesus: The Messiah - 7:09
- Jesus wasn’t the only one who claimed to be messiah.
- How the book of Isaiah revealed Christ and his holiness.
- Holiness in a secular age.
Where does Jesus reside for us? - 18:20
- What will we let master us?
- What does surrendering to Jesus look like in this day and age?
Quotables
- “When things get really hard, that’s where His Lordship is revealed.”
Resources & References
- American Gladiators
- Thrice - American band formed in Irvine, California.
- A Secular Age - book by Charles Taylor
- James 2:19 (NIV) - “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:12 (NASB) - “All things are permitted for me, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”
This episode was recorded before the Uvalde shootings.
Brandon and Kevin bring a little humor and a lot of thought to this week’s episode of the CPC podcast. Listen in as they reflect on last Sunday’s sermon and how the book of Mark shows us that the Gospel is truly centered around the Kingdom of God.
Highlights
Jesus’ Thesis - 4:41
- The kingdom of God: how we’ve come to understand it today and what we may be missing.
- What does it actually mean to be an evangelical?
- New creation dynamics vs old creation dynamics
Misconceptions about the Kingdom of God - 22:38
- Differences in the way we think about heaven
- Understand repentance
- What are the nets that we need to let go of?
Resources & References
- Kairos - According to Strong’s Greek Concordance, kairos means time or season, and it is a noun used to represent a fitting season or opportunity, an occasion.
- Evangelion - According to Merriam Webster: Late Greek euangelion, from Greek, good news, gospel.
- The Evangelical Quadrilateral by David W. Bebbington
- Metanoeo (or Metanoia) - to change one’s mind
General Info
- Recording Date: 5-16-22
- Release Date: 5-20-22
- Hosts: Kevin Sneed and Brandon Pasion
- Episode 16 Reimagine
- Guest: McKenna Mitchell Takech
Podcast Summary
Brandon and Kevin sit down with McKenna Mitchell Takach to reflect on the service from this past week. They break down what it means to reimagine royalty. They also take a deep dive to examine our relationship to Jesus and how that impacts our relationship with each other.
Highlights
Impressions of Jesus - 4:26
- Culture’s impact on how we see Jesus.
- Getting to know the Jesus of the scriptures.
Reimagining Royalty - 13:10
- Jesus, Mother Teresa, and Princess Diana: The intersection between them
- Recognizing the legacy of the people who came before us
- Determining the life we want to live as Christ-followers.
Walking in Right Relationship - 25:44
- What we can learn from how Jesus related to God.
- What blocks are we putting on our relationship with God?
- Creating a culture of honor in our relationships with each other.
Quotables
- We have a truncated impression of love and we extend that to Jesus.
- We don’t compromise Christlikeness to imitate Christ
Resources & References
- John 10:10
- Princess Diana
- Mother Teresa
- The Meaning of Marriage - Tim Keller
General Info
- Wilderness
- Release Date: Friday, May 13
- Hosts: Brandon Pasion, Kevin Sneed
- Guests: Dan Reid
- Episode 15
Podcast Summary
Dan Reid joins Kevin and Brandon as they delve into last week’s sermon and how John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. They also talk through the significance of the metaphor of the wilderness.
Highlights
Who Is Jesus? - 5:38
- Dan’s bullet points about Mark.
- The importance of John the Baptist’s role.
Navigating The Wilderness - 11:18
- Calling Israel back to the wilderness.
- The parallels between where religion took people in the bible versus where religion is taking us now.
- Navigating our own personal wilderness seasons.
Resources & References
- Matthew 3:4 - John the Baptist ate locusts and wild honey
- Beef Tartare
- From the Inside Out by Ryan Kuja
General Info
- Release Date: April 29, 2022
- Hosts: Brandon Pasion, Kevin Sneed
- Guests: Rachel Almeida and Stephen Petiti
- Episode 14
Podcast Summary
Brandon and Kevin give a behind the scenes look at what we’re talking about in the coming weeks as we journey through the gospel of Mark. Rachel Almeida and Stephen Petiti guest star in this episode to share their perspective.
Highlights
The Gospel of Mark - 5:14
- Where we’ve been in the past couple of years and how that leads us into the book of Mark.
- How we can read through the gospels.
To Know and to Follow Jesus - 18:16
- Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament.
- The three questions to break down in this series.
- What makes Jesus so compelling?
Resources & References
- Picanha - Rachel’s favorite cut of steak
- Fogo de Chao - Brazilian steakhouse
- Darkwing Duck, Rugrats, and Spongebob
- The Gospel of Thomas
- The Gospel of Mark
- Long Obedience in the Same Direction - Eugene Peterson
- 2 Thessalonians 3:13
- John 10:7
- King of Glory - Third Day
- This I Believe (The Creed) - Hillsong Worship
- Wonderful Cross - Chris Tomlin
General Info
- Date: April 17, 2022
- Release Date: April 22, 2022
- Hosts: Brandon Pasion and Kevin Sneed
- Episode 13 - Resurrection
Podcast Summary
On today’s episode of the CPC podcast, Kevin and Brandon take some time to debrief this past week’s service and dig a little deeper into resurrection.
Highlights
Easter is about resurrection, not resuscitation - 4:30
- Jesus was resurrected not resuscitated
- Lazarus still died again
- Life, death, burial, and resurrection
Present Age and the Age to Come - 6:15
- Present Age: Human Evil, Natural disasters, Spiritual evil
- The Age to Come: the new creation, all evil is dealt with, God has healed all that was broken
- The age to come has started in the present and one day will be fully consummated in the future when all of that evil is done with.
- We live in that tension between those two kingdoms
Folk Theology - 14:15
- We take them at full value without diving into it
- Michael Angelo paintings
- Heaven is God’s space, being in the presence of God
- Adam and Eve and the Garden
- Separation of Heaven and Earth
- Revelation 21
- What’s true of Jesus in the resurrection is true of us in the resurrection
Groaning and Labor Pains - 23:10
- Anticipation of new creation
- Winston the Sneed dog
- Groaning Posture
Praying the Magic Prayer - 28:08
- The Resurrection reshapes everything
- Ordering our lives around the reality of the resurrection of Jesus
- Repentance means “rethink”
- It gives us meaning as Jesus trains us as we live in the reality of the Kingdom of God
- Reorders our social relationships
Resources & References
- East of Eden, John Steinbeck
- Revelation 21
- Winston the Sneed Dog
- April 17, 2022 CPC Sermon: A Surprising Hope
- Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy
General Info
- Recording Date: April 11, 2022
- Release Date: April 15, 2022
- Hosts: Brandon Pasion and Kevin Sneed
- Episode 12 - Known
Podcast Summary
On today’s episode of the CPC podcast, Kevin and Brandon take some time to debrief this past week’s service and dig a little deeper into being known.
Highlights
Easy Going Relativism - 4:30
- Guilt still persists
- No framework for guilt
- Freedom was the ability to say no to our desires
- Freedom in boundaries
Check Engine Light - 10:15
- When we feel guilty we move toward repentance
- It starts with confession
- Renouncing our sin
- Embrace God’s Forgiveness
- It’s the framework to deal with our guilt
Avoidance - 12:15
- Humility vs. Humiliation
- Bringing our real selves. Opening ourselves up.
- Being known by God
Barriers to being known - 21:48
- Privacy
- Privacy hinders intimacy
- God is inescapably big
- There is no privacy between you and God
Being Fully Known- 27:09
- Recognize that you are known
- We want to be known, loved, and we want to be changed
- Search Me O God
- It’s an invitation to know yourself
Quotables
- “Being your own God isn’t as life-giving as we hoped.”
Resources & References
- Velveteen Rabbit
- A.W. Toser
- Joni and Friends
- April 10, 2022 CPC Sermon: The Inescapable God
- Psalm 139
General Info
- Recording Date: April 4, 2022
- Release Date: April 8, 2022
- Hosts: Brandon Pasion and Kevin Sneed
- Guest: Dan Reid
- Episode 11 - Guilt
Podcast Summary
On today’s episode of the CPC podcast, Kevin and Brandon take some time to debrief this past week’s service and dig a little deeper into the role of guilt with Pastor Dan Reid.
Highlights
Why People Go Into Ministry - 5:00
- Dan tells his story
- Motivation for going into full-time Christian ministry
- Kevin tells his story
- Brandon tells his story
Underwater - 10:03
- Depths of our sin
- Crushed with guilt
Lent - 17:05
- Grieving and sacrifice
- Reflect on the uncomfortable
- Easter is COMING
- From death comes light
Reverence - 21:48
- Have we completely gotten rid of reverence?
- Reverent fear
- A high view of God
- Understanding our times
Waiting on God- 27:00
- Trusting Him
- Will I believe His promises or not?
- Reverence leads to service
- The awe of who God is and what He has done.
- What Christ did for me
Quotables
- “Without feeling the shadow side, we can’t experience the joy.”
Resources & References
- Wisconsin Cheese
- Trader Joe’s Plain Yogurt
- John Wesley
- April 3, 2022 CPC Sermon on Hope for the Guilty
- InterVarsity
- William Jessup University
- Abba
- Inside Out
- Psalm 130
General Info
- Recording Date: March 27, 2022
- Release Date: April 1, 2022
- Hosts: Brandon Pasion and Kevin Sneed
- Episode 10 - Self-Deception
Podcast Summary
On today’s episode of the CPC podcast, Kevin and Brandon take some time to debrief this past week’s service and dig a little deeper into the role of self-deception.
Highlights
Self Preservation Mode - 7:03
- Minimizing-think of our actions in small ways
- Relativize-everybody else is doing it
- Trivialize-our actions don’t really bring about any harm
Renouncing Sin - 14:06
- Renouncing sin strips sin of its power
- Through renouncing sin change happens
Restoration Process at CPC - 16:18
- Exposing Sin - is it something they want to change in their life.
- Repenting of Sin
- Realigning your way with Jesus
Do you want to get well? - 20:44
- When you are in self-deception mode, you will always find people to agree with you
- Where do you find your joy?
- How do we shape our loves?
Pay attention to the story you are telling yourself - 29:42
- Find your Nathan
- You have permission to speak into my life
Four Stages of Purgation - 33:05
Quotables
- “Sometimes we want our sin, more than we want God.”
Resources & References
- Nutribullet
- March 27, 2022, CPC Sermon on The Process of Confession
- The Spirituality of the Psalms - Walter Bruggeman
- Psalm 51
- John 5:1-15
- Create In My Clean Heart
- John 10:10
- McDonald's Chicken Nuggets
- Invitation To A Journey by Robert Mulholland
Contact us at communications@cpc.org or visit our website at cpc.org.
General Info
- Recording Date: March 21, 2022
- Release Date: March 25, 2022
- Hosts: Brandon Pasion and Kevin Sneed
- Episode 9 - Confession
Podcast Summary
On today’s episode of the CPC podcast, Kevin and Brandon take some time to debrief this past week’s service and dig a little deeper into the role of limitlessness and confession in our faith.
Highlights
The Myth of Limitlessness - 2:11
- Every industry is trying to overcome limitations.
- The doctrine of progress.
- Our heroes that seem to defy limits.
Examples of Limitlessness - 6:40
- Time
- Workaholics
- Consumerism
- Social media
The Solution to our Problem is Confession - 12:02
- Confession is a way we bring those problems to light.
- We tend to think of sin as only disobedience.
- The forgiveness God has to offer.
- Does forgiveness happen without confession?
Three Acts of Confession - 26:20
- Acknowledge sin and brokenness within me
- Don’t cover it up.
- Confess - name it as a problem and ask God for help and forgiveness. Confess with others in community.
What do you need to bring to God - 31:16
- Where are you operating out of a place of limitlessness?
- Where do you need rest?
- Where do you need to realign with Jesus?
- We can’t always see it, so ask some trusted people!
Quotables
- “Time holds us back from being limitless.”
- “The pursuit of limitlessness leads us to restlessness.”
- Augustine - “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”
Resources & References
- Twinkies
- March 20, 2022 CPC Sermon on Confession
- The Spirituality of the Psalms - Walter Bruggeman
- Psalm 51
General Info
- Recording Date: Mar 14, 2022
- Release Date: Mar 19, 2022
- Hosts: Brandon Pasion and Kevin Sneed
- Episode 8 - Lament
Podcast Summary
On today’s episode of the CPC podcast, Kevin and Brandon take some time to debrief after this past week’s service and dig a little deeper into the role of lament in our faith.
Highlights
Seasons of Faith - 1:10
- How do we create a faith that encompasses the whole human experience?
- Is there room for grief and lament in our faith?
- The three seasons of faith.
The Purpose of Lament in the Christian Walk - 9:43
- Can lament be productive?
- How can we invite God into our lament?
Lament in Real-Time - 15:28
- The framework of lament.
- How we can use lament to connect with God.
Quotables
- “Lament done well is naming the brokenness in the world. And so in that act of prayer, it isn’t a passive withdrawal. But it actually gives us a footing to say “no, this is calling out what’s wrong and calling something broken that is broken”.
- Every great movement that we know of started with this… Holy discontent where you see what God intended and you see what is, and there’s something that wells up in our soul that says “This is not right and this will not stand”.
- It’s an act of realism to say “The world’s broken, but God we trust you”.
Resources & References
- The Spirituality of the Psalms - Walter Bruggeman
- Kevin’s Sermon
- The Framework of Lament references Psalm 13
On today’s episode of the CPC podcast, Kevin Sneed and Brandon Pasion sit down and chat about Lent. Often misunderstood, Kevin and Brandon take a little time to talk through the tradition and purpose of Lent and how we can enter into the story of God through this tradition.
Highlights
What Exactly is Lent? - 2:08
- Kevin & Brandon talk about the purpose and origins of Lent. They also discuss the traditional Church calendar and the largest season in that calendar: Ordinary time.
Advent & Lent (The difference is more than just candy) - 11:01
- What are the similarities and differences between Advent and Lent?
- Light and Shadow: The themes and mood surrounding the two seasons.
How do We Celebrate Lent in 2022? - 15:54
- What are the practices associated with Lent and why do we do them?
- How can we integrate those practices into our modern way of life?
- The purpose and beauty of sacrifice during Lent.
Being More Intentional this Lent - 27:11
- How can we as individuals be more intentional this Lenten season?
- Three questions you can ask yourself to establish a practice.
- How will we as CPC celebrate Lent together?
Quotables
- 14:07 - “To experience resurrection, which is where Easter takes us, you can’t do that without death. You can’t be resurrected from life. You’re resurrected out of death.”
- 15:54 - “In some ways, Lent just provides you the opportunity to take up any sort of practice that attunes your heart more towards Christ”.
- 17:04 - “We take something, we take a set season… we set aside something or we set up a practice where that then allows us to become more keenly aware of what God is doing in our lives.”
- 24:04 - “I think Lent is the moment that… when we intentionally try to find a way of self denial, we join with Christ in his own self denial in that moment: not my will, but Yours be done. And in Lent, we ask that same prayer.”
Resources & References (links to scripture & books mentioned, websites, etc)
- Matthew 6:16 - Sermon on the Mount (discussed at 18:54)
- Living the Christian Year by Bobby Gross (referenced at 20:36)
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg (referenced at 31:45)
- Airheads Candy
In Episode 6 of CPC's Real Life, Together Podcast Mark Mitchell and Brandon Pasion discuss whether or not we are in the end times as we live through COVID-19.
On today's show, we interview Michelle Anderson, CPC's Middle School Director and co-host of the Middle School Ministry Podcast. We talk about anxiety in isolation with teens and some encouragement and tips for parents.
Brandon Pasion and Mark Mitchell talk about what new habits they will keep as we move into the "new normal" with COVID-19.
Listen in as Janet Trites and Sandy Hughes discuss their personal battles in combating loneliness and isolation during COVID-19.
Mark Mitchell and Brandon Pasion talk about how to have hope in the middle of COVID-19.