Menlo Church Podcasts

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

Meditations Season 2 Coming SOON!

Daily Meditations to anchor your mind in Jesus’ presence. Tune your mind to Christ each morning and find a better way to think, feel and live. Season two centers on journeying through the Advent season.

Extravagant Generosity: The Fruits of Contentment | Gary Haugen

International Justice Mission founder and CEO Gary Haugen joins us to celebrate that Menlo Church has donated $1 million over 17 years to the global organization, which protects people in poverty from violence. For the past 24 years, International Justice Mission has fought human trafficking, uncovering civil rights abuses in Thailand, Ghana, Cambodia and beyond. This talk will be a true testimony of faith and generosity, and how those lead to joy.

Join us to protect those living in poverty from violence. Sign up to connect with an IJM staff member to make this vision a reality: http://www.ijm.org/menlo

Throughout November and December, join us to offer meals, support people in need, and help make wishes come true! There will be opportunities for all ages, skill levels, and interests. We can’t wait to build a strong community by serving together. Register here: http://menlo.church/serveyourcity

This month, we invite you to give to our Thanksgiving Offering, which will support Serve Your City events and mission initiatives in the Bay Area throughout 2022. If you would like to ensure we can continue to support our neighbors in need in this next year, we invite you to give to the Thanksgiving Offering today. Visit our website http://menlo.church/give to partner with us this holiday season.

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week: http://menlo.church/studyguide112121

Extravagant Generosity: Enemies of Generosity | Scott Palmbush

We all want to be generous but, as you know, it is harder than we think it should be. Generosity exposes your fears and hidden motivations. Through a parable about greed, Jesus reminds us that God will provide and invites us to be a part of blessing the world. Watch this week's sermon to explore how we can live the “life that is truly life.”

Make a list of God’s provision in your life, ask friends to pray for you, and take one intentional step of generosity and see how he meets you.

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week: menlo.church/studyguide111421

Extravagant Generosity: Roots of Generosity | John Crosby

This week we discuss how to reject our consumer culture and have lasting contentment by becoming generous right now, not later. We explore the knowledge that we are content only when we view what we have as a gift from God, including our background, abilities, and current circumstances. To experience contentment, we delve into the importance of thanking God for gifts, rather than thinking "I deserve this and more.”

As you look at the relative abundance of your life, what would make you more content and more able to joyously share God’s blessings with others?

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week: menlo.church/studyguide11721