Celebration Church Podcast

Pastor Mike is back from Nicaragua, and the conversation picks up right where Week 4 of The Forgiveness Cycle left off. Jennifer, Mike, and Melissa unpack why this series has resonated so deeply — the way forgiveness reframes everything from how we see ourselves to how we treat the people around us.From Ephesians 4, Mike reminded us that being forgiven leaves no room for comparison. So why is comparison still so loud in our culture, and even inside the church? The conversation moves into honest territory: the trap of ranking sins, the pressure to look like we have it all together, and what authentic community actually looks like when we're still in the middle of our own struggles.The reminder underneath it all: we are the fragrance of Christ Monday through Saturday, not just Sunday morning. If you missed the sermon, watch here.

Discipleship Pastor Jennifer Davis sits down with Pastor Mike Day and Associate Pastor Melissa Perry this week to continue The Forgiveness Cycle with a look at what's often the hardest part of all — forgiving others. Together they work through Matthew 18:15–35, where Jesus lays out what life together actually looks like in this new community of faith. The conversation starts with the posture we're called to bring into every relationship: the humility of a child, arms open rather than crossed, with the dignity of each person held in view. That posture changes everything when conflict comes — and conflict will come anytime more than one person is in the room.Together they wrestle with the harder questions. What does it look like to actually go to a brother or sister in private, without rehashing the hurt to three other friends first? Melissa shares a picture from her own family — her son calling it "broken hands" when something's come between them — and the way reconciliation begins long before the conversation does, with prayer and a heart already softened toward the other person. Mike addresses the question many of us are afraid to ask out loud: does forgiving someone mean the relationship has to be restored to what it was? The Greek word for forgiveness means releasing — letting go of the bitterness that would otherwise destroy us — and that's not the same as pretending nothing happened. If you missed the sermon, watch here.

Pastor Mike Day continued The Forgiveness Cycle this week with a closer look at the graced life — what it means to live as someone who's received the grace of Christ while still walking through a fallen world. Discipleship Pastor Jennifer Davis and Associate Pastor Melissa Perry join Mike to dig into the story of David in 2 Samuel 11–12 and the raw honesty of Psalm 51. The conversation opens with a question that hits close to home: how does a man after God's own heart end up this far off course? Sin rarely shows up as one big moment — it's the gradual misstep, the slow degree off the path. And introspection isn't a solo act. We need people in our lives with permission to say, something sounds different in your voice today.Together they unpack why confession is so hard — the image we're trying to protect, and the shame waiting on the other side of being known. The group pushes back on the checklist mentality we bring to forgiveness, the sense that we have to earn what's already been freely given. They discuss the Japanese art of Kintsugi — pottery put back together with gold in the cracks, where the broken places become the most valuable part. We're not meant to project an image of being unshattered. We're people being put back together by graceIf you missed the sermon, watch here.

Pastor Mike Day kicked off a brand-new sermon series — The Forgiveness Cycle — and this week's conversation digs into the story of Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10. Discipleship Pastor Jennifer Davis and Associate Pastor Melissa Perry join Mike to unpack the cultural and religious context behind Peter's rooftop vision, and why it mattered so much for a devout Jewish man to be told that what he'd always considered unclean was now welcome. The group talks about what it looks like when God disrupts our fixed way of seeing things — and how easy it is to miss what He's doing when we're holding too tightly to the way we think it's supposed to work. Mike shares a gripping real-life story of a mother in Iran who was given the legal right to decide whether her son's killer would live or die — and the Christ-like moment that changed the course of that young man's life. The conversation lands on Acts 11:18 and the idea of "repentance that leads to life" — not just eternal life someday, but a real, present quality of life that comes from turning away from guilt, shame, and the need for retribution, and turning toward the grace God has already offered. Whether you've messed up in ways the world notices or in the quieter ways only you carry, this episode is a reminder: forgiveness is for everyone, and it's meant to be lived right now.If you missed the sermon, watch here. 

He Is Risen — And That Changes EverythingThe crowd at the tomb that first Easter morning left with fear and great joy — and honestly, that tension feels pretty familiar. In this week's episode, Discipleship Pastor Jennifer Davis sits down with Pastor Mike Day and Associate Pastor Melissa Perry to reflect on the resurrection and why it's still the hinge point of everything we believe.They talk about the women who showed up at the tomb, why their presence matters more than we might realize, and what it means that Jesus entrusted the greatest news in history to them first. From there, the conversation turns to why the crucifixion and resurrection have to be held together — and how the resurrection isn't just our hope for eternity, but the catalyst for real life change now.They close with a refreshingly honest conversation about sharing your faith.If Easter left you full, this episode will help you carry it forward.

Day 47 of Lent: Luke 24:1-12Today's Easter devotion was written by Rick Hutcheson and is read for you by Pastor Mike Day. 

Day 46 of Lent: Luke 23:50-56Today's devotion was written by Meg Shinn and is read for you by Melissa Perry. 

Day 45 of Lent: Luke 23:44-49Today's devotion was written by Victor Lewis and is read for you by Zac Martin. 

Day 44 of Lent: Luke 23:26-43Today's devotion was written by Sheryl Benzinger and is read for you by Jolie Sims.

In this Palm Sunday conversation, Discipleship Pastor Jennifer Davis sits down with Pastor Mike Day and Associate Pastor Melissa Perry to reflect on Matthew 21 and what the triumphal entry and temple cleansing reveal about who Jesus truly is. Together, they explore the question the crowd asked that day — "Who is this?" — and why the answer still challenges and surprises us.The conversation digs into the tension between the Jesus people want and the Jesus revealed in scripture, and how cultural noise, polarizing issues, and busy lives can pull us away from discovering Him for ourselves. They also unpack the parables of the talents and the sheep and goats, and what it actually looks like to follow Jesus when there's no margin left in your day — offering a practical, grace-filled perspective on awareness, family ministry, and making room for what matters most.Whether you're a longtime believer or still figuring out who Jesus is, this episode is an honest and grounding conversation as we step into Holy Week with fresh eyes on the One we're following toward Easter.

Day 43 of Lent: Luke 23:1-25Today's devotion was written by Howard Moody and is read for you by Ryan Nelson. 

Day 42 of Lent: Luke 22:63-71Today's devotion was written by Debi Miller and is read for you by Jennifer Davis.

Day 41 of Lent: Luke 22:47-53Today's devotion was written by Tony Dye and is read for you by Pastor Mike Day. 

Day 40 of Lent: Luke 22:39-46Today's devotion was written by Sandra Jones and is read for you by Kelly Fons.

Day 39 of Lent: Luke 22:31-34, 54-62Today's devotion was written by Andy Hollums and is read for you by Bobby Ivey.

Day 38 of Lent: Luke 22:24-30Today's devotion was written by Amanda Priewe and is read for you by Melissa Perry. 

Day 37 of Lent: Luke 22:7-23Today's devotion was written by Jonathan Kendrick and is read for you by Zac Martin.

In this week's Lent conversation, Discipleship Pastor Jennifer Davis sits down with Pastor Mike Day and Associate Pastor Melissa Perry to reflect on John 11 and the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Together, they explore the raw, relatable cry of Mary and Martha — "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" — and how that same lament shows up in our own lives when faith meets hardship.The conversation gets personal as each reflects on the tension between trusting God for the "big" things while struggling to believe He can intervene in situations that feel too far gone — and why Jesus wept even knowing the miracle He was about to perform. They also discuss the importance of sharing stories of God's faithfulness and how hearing what He has done in others' lives stirs hope for what He can do in ours.Whether you're in a season of grief, wrestling with unanswered prayers, or tempted to put limits on what God can do, this episode offers honest reflection and resurrection hope as we continue the journey toward Easter.

Day 36 of Lent: Luke 21:25-38Today's devotion was written by Connie Cowden and is read for you by Jolie Sims.

Day 35 of Lent: Luke 21:5-24Today's devotion was written by Jose Doyague and is read for you by Ryan Nelson.

Day 34 of Lent: Luke 21:1-4Today's devotion was written by Sydney Brass and is read for you by Jennifer Davis.

Day 33 of Lent: Luke 20:27-47Today's devotion was written by Paul Koeshall and is read for you by Pastor Mike Day.

Day 32 of Lent: John 6:60-71Today's devotion was written by Michelle Matus and is read for you by Kelly Fons.

Day 31 of Lent: Luke 19:28-40Today's devotion was written by Brad Christensen and is read for you by Bobby Ivey.

Day 30 of Lent: Luke 19:11-27Today's devotion was written by Mandy Collins and is read for you by Melissa Perry.

In this week’s Lent conversation, Discipleship Pastor Jennifer Davis sits down with Pastor Mike Day and Associate Pastor Melissa Perry to reflect on John 9 and the story of Jesus healing the man born blind. Together, they explore why people are so quick to assign blame when tragedy strikes, how pride can keep us spiritually blind, and what it means to truly see God at work beyond our assumptions.The conversation gets personal as each shares ways pride has shaped their own faith journey—and how God has been teaching them through community, silence, solitude, Scripture, and grace. They also talk about the danger of putting God in a box and how often we may miss His miracles because they don’t happen the way we expect.Whether you’re wrestling with hard questions, learning to receive grace, or just beginning your faith journey, this episode offers honest reflection and practical encouragement to keep following Jesus one step at a time.

Day 29 of Lent: Luke 18:18-30Today's devotion was written by James Gilman and is read for you by Zac Martin.

Day 28 of Lent: Luke 18:9-17Today's devotion was written by Fran Terry and is read for you by Jolie Sims.

Day 27 of Lent: Luke 17:20-37Today's devotion was written by Tyler Perry and is read for you by Ryan Nelson.

Day 26 of Lent: Luke 17:11-19Today's devotion was written by Karen Capes and is read for you by Linda Boushelle.

Day 25 of Lent: Luke 16:19-31Today's devotion was written by Keith Gray and is read for you by Pastor Mike Day. 

Day 24 of Lent: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32Today's devotion was written by Brooklee Lightsey and is read for you by Jennifer Davis. 

Day 23 of Lent: Luke 15:1-10Today's devotion was written by Glenna Maney and is read for you by Kelly Fons.

Day 22 of Lent: Luke 14:25-35Today's devotion was written by Jon Terry and is read for you by Zac Martin.

In this third week of Lent, Discipleship Pastor Jennifer Davis is joined again by Pastors Mike Day and Melissa Perry to revisit the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well—this time challenging some of the long‑held assumptions we bring to the text. Was she really a “notorious sinner,” or have we read more into her story than Scripture actually says?Together they unpack how Jesus crosses deep social, religious, and cultural divides—Jew and Samaritan, man and woman—to reveal that He came not to condemn the world, but to save it. The conversation explores how we often “put God in a box,” limiting who we think He can love or use, and how our narrow lenses can keep us from seeing the wide reach of the gospel.As they imagine what a “painting” of Jesus and His Church might look like today, they name both the grief of a distracted, divided church and the hope of repentance, renewal, and fresh awe of God. This episode invites us to examine where we’ve drawn boundaries Jesus never drew, and to stay engaged with His mission to share His love with the whole world.

Day 15 of Lent: Luke 14:12-24Today's devotion was written by Mackenzie Knowles and is read for you by Melissa Perry. 

Day 20 of Lent: Luke 13:22-35Today's devotion was written by Phillip Hardin and is read for you by Bobby Ivey.

Day 19 of Lent: Luke 13:1-9Today's devotion was written by Heather Banks and is read for you by Jolie Sims.

Day 18 of Lent: Luke 12:49-59Today’s devotion was written and is read for you by Jennifer Davis.

Day 17 of Lent: Luke 11:1-13Today's devotion was written by Chloe Davis and is read for you by Linda Boushelle.

Day 16 of Lent: Luke 10:25-37Today's devotion was written by Ken Sticher and is read for you by Pastor Mike Day.

In this second week of Lent, Pastors Jennifer Davis and Melissa Perry move from talking about their Lenten sacrifices (ice cream and Chai) to John 3 and Nicodemus’s struggle to understand being “born again.” They explore how Jesus uses paradox (losing life to find it, blessed are those who mourn) to move us from mere head knowledge to experiential faith, and why belief can feel hard in a dark world marked by war, violence, and personal pain. The conversation centers on surrender, repentance, and trusting Jesus even with “mustard seed” faith, reminding us that Lent is ultimately less about what we give up and more about learning to believe and receive what Christ has already done.

Day 15 of Lent: Luke 10:1-12, 17-20Today's devotion was written by Sean Blair and is read for you by Ryan Nelson.

Day 14 of Lent: Luke 9:57-62Today's devotion was written by Tim Hall and is read for you by Bobby Ivey.

Day 13 of Lent: Luke 9:18-36Today's devotion was written by Lisa Culver and is read for you by Jennifer Davis.

Day 12 of Lent: Luke 8:22-39Today's devotion was written by Jordan Shenefield and is read for you by Zac Martin.

Day 11 of Lent: Luke 8:4-15Today's devotion was written by Amy Fricks and is read for you by Kelly Fons.

Day 10 of Lent: Luke 7:36-50Today's devotion was written by Odessa Hancock and is read for you by Melissa Perry.

Day 9 of Lent: Luke 7:18-35Today's devotion was written by Bryan Grissom and is read for you by Pastor Mike Day. 

In this week’s podcast, Jennifer Davis is joined by Pastor Mike Day and Associate Pastor Melissa Perry to reflect on the start of Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday and moving into the Week 1 sermon on the temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4). They talk about what Lent is, why the Church sets aside these 40 days (excluding Sundays), and how this season helps us prepare our hearts for Easter by going deeper with Christ.The conversation also explores the purpose of fasting—not as an act of willpower or religious performance, but as a way to intentionally make space for prayer, Scripture, and reflection. Pastor Mike shares practical ideas for fasting, while Melissa highlights how Lent becomes especially meaningful when we pair fasting with time alone with Jesus rather than simply “giving something up.”As they discuss Jesus’ temptation, the group discusses how temptation is often normalized in everyday life, especially through things like social media and constant access through our phones. They emphasize that Jesus’ response gives us hope: He recognized lies, trusted the Father, and held to the truth. The episode closes with encouragement for anyone struggling—reminding listeners that God’s grace, forgiveness, and redemption are always available, even when we fail—and an invitation to join the church’s daily Lent devotions on the podcast, written by church family members and read by staff.