Menlo Church Podcasts

You Were Made For This: Intimacy | John Crosby

In this talk, we explore how God intended us to live "without masks," to share much more than the image we present to the world, especially with those we are close to. That is the beginning of intimacy, the safety to disclose our secrets, even in a "cancel culture." Intimacy is not meant for every relationship, but every person is made for intimacy with others. We'll look at the biblical root of living without a mask. Take some time to assess your closest relationships and consider what fears you have that cause you to put up the mask. Consider who is in your life who you feel does not know the "real you," who you really are when not impressive.  At the end of the sermon, we will take communion.

In this talk, we explore how God intended us to live "without masks," to share much more than the image we present to the world, especially with those we are close to. That is the beginning of intimacy, the safety to disclose our secrets, even in a "cancel culture." Intimacy is not meant for every relationship, but every person is made for intimacy with others. We'll look at the biblical root of living without a mask. Take some time to assess your closest relationships and consider what fears you have that cause you to put up the mask. Consider who is in your life who you feel does not know the "real you," who you really are when not impressive. Join us for a unique and soul-shaping experience! Follow our "You Were Made For This" reading plan through Genesis 1-2 at http://menlo.church/genesis or by texting "readgenesis" to 94000

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week here: http://menlo.church/studyguide020622

You Were Made For This: What if Loneliness is Your Super Power | Cheryl Fletcher

God made us for relationship, according to Genesis 1-2. So why do we often experience loneliness, even with groups of friends or in a marriage? What if fighting loneliness isn’t the path to a life together but actually leveraging loneliness can be your super power? Join us to explore how God redeems everything for his people, to live a life of love that can crush our despair and expand our influence. This week, we hope you intentionally practice seeing your loneliness as an invitation to love others and receive the love of God.

Join us for a unique and soul-shaping experience! Follow our "You Were Made For This" reading plan through Genesis 1-2 at http://menlo.church/genesis or by texting "readgenesis" to 94000

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week: http://menlo.church/studyguide013022

You Were Made For This: Work That is Meaningful and Life Giving | Adam Hendrix

For some of us, work is a soul-crushing obstacle in the way of leisure and fun. For others, work is our life—we are defined by what we do. What if God designed work to be something better than either of these options? What if work could be meaningful and purposeful, while not our primary identity? In this talk, we explore how God has given us a different vision for our work. When we work with God and we work for God, our work reflects God. Join us to think about how this vision has the power to change the way we do our jobs and tasks; how this vision can transform our work into a symbol of the loving kingdom of Jesus.

Join us for a unique and soul-shaping experience! Follow our "You Were Made For This" reading plan through Genesis 1-2 at http://menlo.church/genesis or by texting "readgenesis" to 94000

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week: http://menlo.church/studyguide12322

You Were Made For This: Made to Mirror God’s Glory | Laura Crosby

This week, join us as we explore Genesis 1:26-27 and consider how it impacts our relationship with God, others, and the world. We will look at each of these implications and ask, if sin has distorted the image of God in us, how do we repair it? And we will delve into the phrase "Let us make man in our image" and look at its crucial practical implications for our faith.

Every day this week, meditate on how your life would change if you saw yourself as part of God’s story. Ask God to dwell within you today.

Join us for a unique and soul-shaping experience! Follow our "You Were Made For This" reading plan through Genesis 1-2 at http://menlo.church/genesis or by texting "readgenesis" to 94000

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week: http://menlo.church/studyguide011622

You Were Made for This: Knowing Our Destiny Through Our Beginning | John Crosby

Setting the stage for our series, “You Were Made For This”, we examine the very beginning of the beginning, creation itself. A study of the first chapter of the Bible offers HUGE opportunities to learn about the nature of God and humankind, the purpose of what ‘dominion’ means, as well as where the Story of God and God’s people is heading. The essence of human value derives from being made by our Creator ‘in the image of God', and the exploration of what we were intended to become is the path to true freedom and meaning.

Join us for a unique and soul-shaping experience! Follow our "You Were Made For This" reading plan through Genesis 1-2 at http://menlo.church/readgenesis or by texting "readgenesis" to 94000

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week: menlo.church/studyguide010922

Beginning the Year in Faith | Keith Riley

At this time of year, when many people start thinking of making goals, we often focus on making goals actions that we have to accomplish, like “I’m going to get a new job," or "I'm going read the whole Bible this year!” But Jesus reveals to his disciples that our goal is to know God and true everlasting life. In this sermon, we explore what it would look like to set living in union with God as our ultimate goal.

Spend some time with God in prayer each day, using Hebrews 12:1-2 as a guide. Read the passage and then think about what is weighing on you today. Offer it to God and ask for vision, healing or guidance. Think of the people who help you with perseverance, and offer a prayer of thanks for them. Picture Jesus, smiling and happy, with you. Sit for a few minutes knowing that God loves you.

The Wonder of Advent: Love | Adam Hendrix

We all love the idea of love. But the word is overused, and the real power of love has been diluted in our culture, so we can become desensitized to it. In this sermon, we go on a journey of rediscovering the wonder of God’s love that extends to people who are thought of as unacceptable, unlovable, and unqualified.

Spend some moments this week reflecting on a love that is so great that it is bigger than mistakes and flaws.

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week here: http://menlo.church/studyguide121921

This holiday season, we are filled with joy to come together as a church family! We’ll sing along to modern Christmas carols, enjoy hot cocoa with treats, and hear an inspiring message on how we can experience peace this Christmas. Get service times and all other details at our website http://menlo.church

In this advent season, it is so important to start our day focused on Jesus. Join us for Season 2 of our Menlo Meditations podcast as we journey through the Advent season. These 3-4 minute daily meditations will release Monday-Friday until Christmas Day and coincide with our Sunday sermon series. Go to http://menlo.church/meditations

The Wonder of Advent: Joy | John Crosby

The chaos of the Christmas season can squeeze out the promise of ‘joy that will last’. In this talk, we explore Mary’s decision to ‘treasure all this in her heart’ and how that decision led to a season of JOY to the whole world. We also look at how we can find that joy that will last, even in the midst of stress.

This week think re-read the Christmas story through new eyes and consider where you need a sense of hope that leads to Joy unquenchable.

This holiday season, we are filled with joy to come together as a church family! We’ll sing along to modern Christmas carols, enjoy hot cocoa with treats, and hear an inspiring message on how we can experience peace this Christmas. Get service times and all other details at our website http://menlo.church

In this advent season, it is so important to start our day focused on Jesus. Join us for Season 2 of our Menlo Meditations podcast as we journey through the Advent season. These 3-4 minute daily meditations will release Monday-Friday until Christmas Day and coincide with our Sunday sermon series. Go to http://menlo.church/meditations

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week here: http://menlo.church/studygiude121221

The Wonder of Advent: Hope | Samantha Littlefield

In today's message, we explore a traditional Advent theme: Hope. At Christmastime, we celebrate that with Jesus's birth, he brought light to our weary world. He also brought a vision for a different kind of life, a vision that continues to bring hope to each of us.

Ask God to show you areas in your life where you’ve lost vision and need more hope. As you become aware of those areas, ask him to bring his light so you can cultivate hope.

This holiday season, we are filled with joy to come together as a church family! We’ll sing along to modern Christmas carols, enjoy hot cocoa with treats, and hear an inspiring message on how we can experience peace this Christmas. Get service times and all other details at our website http://menlo.church

In this advent season, it is so important to start our day focused on Jesus. Join us for Season 2 of our Menlo Meditations podcast as we journey through the Advent season. These 3-4 minute daily meditations will release Monday-Friday until Christmas Day and coincide with our Sunday sermon series. Go to http://menlo.church/meditations

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week: menlo.church/studyguide12521

 

The Wonder of Advent: Incarnation | Matt Stephan

Christmas is a splendid and wondrous thing. But what if we’re missing out on the best part? What if there was a shocking, knock-you-off-your-feet element to Christmas that could change our lives and even make you feel like you have more time? This weekend we begin the month-long journey towards Christmas day, and you won’t want to miss learning about the mindset that will change everything.

This week, make an effort to ignore the bustle and change what you pay attention to. Intentionally make space for wonder and listen to the daily meditations we’ve prepared on the Menlo Meditations Podcast. Go to http://menlo.church/meditations to listen starting Monday November 29

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week: menlo.church/studyguide112821