Menlo Church Podcasts

Jesus Church: Who is the Church? | Matt Summers

Who is the church? Is it the building, the people, or the values? In week two of our series, Jesus Church, we discuss the power of belonging. We all crave acceptance, but how does a faith community provide that? Join us as we explore what it means to be a Jesus Church, accept God's invitation, and allow people to belong before they believe.

Offer yourself in worship to God or service to one another. This is core to being a faith community.

Menlo Labs are fun, interactive gatherings designed to help us investigate and grow in our understanding of God and his guidance by examining a variety of important topics. Go to http://menlo.church/labs to get all the details and register!

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week: menlo.church/studyguide82221

Jesus Church: What is the Church? | Matt Stephan

There are many kinds of churches, but Menlo Church is determined to be a Jesus church. In this talk we'll explore what that means. Some questions we'll tackle include: Some people say that Christianity is retreating and that church is a mess, so how do we overcome any mess and find the purpose and value? What does Jesus offer when I go to church? Gather with us as we delve into these questions in the first week of the sermon series on what it means to be a Jesus Church!

Come to church four weeks in a row for the whole series!

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week: menlo.church/studyguide81521

One Generation Blesses Another: Giving to Another Generation } Adam Hendrix

The divide between generations can seem impossible to bridge: different lifestyles, different ways of speaking, different approaches to faith. This week, we discuss how to bridge this divide and become givers. To pass down the faith, we need the older generation’s wisdom and empathy. To respect and learn, we need the younger generation’s honor and trust.

Choose something to give to another generation. Give honor to those who have led or inspired you. Give time to a younger person by mentoring them. Give empathy by taking someone to coffee and listening to their struggles.

Keeping our congregation informed about our Senior Pastor Search: https://menlo.church/news/senior-pastor-search

Come spend time with your ministry team, learn the ways to volunteer and hear our vision for the year at our Volunteer Kickoff: https://menlo.church/volunteer-kickoff

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week: menlo.church/studyguide8821

One Generation Blesses Another: Blessing the Next Generation | Frank VanderZwan

Life Hacks: A Better Way to Live - Walking With The Wise | John Crosby

Proverbs asks us to learn from one another, rather than go it alone. In this talk, as we finish our Life Hacks series on wisdom, Pastor John Crosby examines the power of counsel and how to discern who to trust to give godly advice.

Take some time to think about who you lean into for wisdom and counsel. Is there an area of your life that you need others' insight and encouragement to live a life pleasing to God? Also consider if there is an area where you resist counsel and make an effort to break down those barriers.

Life Hacks: A Better Way to Live - The Morality of Wisdom | Matt Summers

The book of Proverbs offers guidance for good living, but we also need to consider what motivates our morality and think about how to define what is good. In this message, we explore what wisdom looks like in our actions, as well as what the difference is between being right and being righteous.

This week take some time to be mindful that righteousness is more than a principle. Remember that when we follow God, we give the world a glimpse of goodness. What tangible thing can you do this week that is a reflection of God's goodness?

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week: http://menlo.church/studyguide71821

Life Hacks: A Better Way to Live - The Wisdom of Work | Matt Summers

Work demands so much of our time and energy that we may begin to define ourselves by it. In an era driven by productivity and efficiency, what can we learn from the ancient wisdom of Proverbs? Together we’ll explore the intent of the text and confront the hard questions: is work a blessing or a curse? Do we have self-worth that is separate from our net worth? How can we practice a healthy work/life balance in a world of perpetual workloads? Join us as we define divine partnership in our work and spiritual lives, and what it means to invest in our souls.

There is a purpose outside of profession, but we only see it when we apply wisdom to our work. How can you work to not become indifferent or idolatrous, but rather to be ready, resourceful, reputable, and risky?

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week: http://menlo.church/studyguide71121

Life Hacks: A Better Way to Live - The Paradoxical Path | Adam Hendrix

The ways of the world appear to be right, logical, and life-giving but often are actually destructive. Paradoxically, the way of Jesus appears to be hard, confusing, and counter cultural. But this way leads to a full life. This week, we explore these paradoxes and how to follow Jesus for a flourishing life.

What is one area of your life you can surrender to experience the full life of Jesus? Maybe you need to delay a pleasure or gratification you indulge in. Do you need to step off the performance ladder and engage in service of others? Or maybe you stop the desire to accumulate “likes” from a big audience and invest in some gritty, authentic relationships. Reflect on this area of your life and take steps to surrender it to Jesus.

We’re so excited to announce Menlo Kids will return to onsite programming on July 18! Now, we'll have three ongoing and engaging ways you can be a part of Menlo Kids: Menlo Kids Onsite, Menlo Kids Online, and Menlo Kids On-Demand. There is something for everyone! Head to http://menlo.church/kids for all the details.

Find a sermon-based study guide for this week: http://menlo.church/studyguide7421

Life Hacks: A Better Way to Live - Choose Between Pride or Humility | Frank VanderZwan

In this message, we explore the choices we make in our search for truth and wisdom and the difference that will make in our lives. Each of us has the choice to be on a path of arrogance and pride, or we can humble ourselves before the wisdom of God. When we come to know God more intimately, we choose the wisdom of God, which we see expressed most wonderfully in Jesus.

This week, intentionally come before God in humility and listen to the voice of God in our lives. Pay special attention to times when you are trying to be in the driver's seat and, instead, read the Bible to access the wisdom of God.

Life Hacks: A Better Way to Live - Wisdom From the Heart | John Crosby

The desire to "guard your heart" is one that many of us have felt at one time or another. But only God can preserve life at its core, so in this talk we explore how following Jesus is the answer to a hurting world.

Make the effort to live 'life in all its fullness' in a hard moment this week. The more you practice that, the more you can live this way in hard seasons and in good times.