Compassion Church's (SJ) Podcast

In Week 3 of our First Epistle of John series Love and Light, we wrestle with a big question:What does it actually mean to know God?John challenges the idea that knowing God is just about information, belief, or even getting all the right answers. Instead, he says knowing God shows up in how we live—how we obey, how we love, and what shapes our desires.We look at how obedience is not about rule-following, but about becoming a certain kind of person—someone who reflects Jesus.We talk about how love for others is not optional, but central. And how hate is not just a feeling, but something that can quietly become a pattern in our lives. And we explore what John means by “the world”—the pull of our desires, what we see, and our need to define life on our own terms.Because the same pattern that led humanity into sin is the same pattern Jesus overcame—and the same pattern we are still invited to resist.

In Week 2 of our First Epistle of John series Love and Light, we move from asking Who is the real Jesus? to asking What does it actually look like to follow Him?John makes a bold claim: God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all.That means faith cannot stay theoretical. Fellowship with God is never separated from how we live.This week we look at what light does—it gives life, it guides, and it reveals. We talk about why John takes sin so seriously, why pretending sin doesn’t matter is actually self-deception, and why Jesus as our advocate means we do not have to stay trapped in darkness.Because we need not do sin, and we need not stay in sin.A God of light expects lives filled with light. 

Week 1 of our new series in First Epistle of John starts with a simple but important question: Will the real Jesus please stand up?There are a lot of versions of Jesus people create—American Jesus, Prosperity Jesus, Soft Jesus, Rulebook Jesus, and more. But John writes to remind us that Jesus is not someone we reshape in our own image.John says, “We have heard Him. We have seen Him. We have touched Him.”This is not rumor, myth, or wishful thinking. This is testimony.In this message, we look at how encountering the real Jesus transforms people, draws us into fellowship with God and one another, and leads us into deep and lasting joy.Because following Jesus is not primarily about mastering information—it’s about encountering a person.

We all know the story of the prodigal son—the one who runs, the one who returns, the one who is welcomed home. But what if the story doesn’t end there?In this final week of The Unfinished Story, we turn to the older brother—the one who stayed, the one who did everything right… and the one who still finds himself outside. Jesus leaves the story unresolved, forcing us to ask a deeper question: not just have we come home, but will we come in?Because the truth is, there’s more than one way to be lost. And the same grace that welcomes the rebellious also confronts the resentful.The invitation is still open.

Easter is a story we think we already know. Jesus is risen. The end… or is it?This week, we stepped into Luke 15—the story of the prodigal son—and found ourselves in a different kind of Easter story. One where coming home doesn’t start with getting it together, but with getting honest. One where grace interrupts our attempts to earn our way back.And maybe most surprising of all… the story isn’t really about a reckless son—it’s about a reckless Father.In this message, we explore how the cross doesn’t just explain forgiveness—it reveals the heart of God: running toward us with extravagant love before we can prove anything.Wherever you are in your story, you’re invited to come home.

In Week 2 of An Unfinished Story, we step into the beginning of a story most of us think we know—the story of the prodigal son. But before anyone comes home, someone has to get lost.We look at how the younger son’s pursuit of freedom—on his own terms—actually leads him into a different kind of captivity. And if we’re honest, it’s not that unfamiliar. Sometimes we wander because we want control. Sometimes we drift because we give in to what we know isn’t good for us. Either way, what feels like freedom can slowly become something else.Jesus tells a story where being lost isn’t the end—but it does matter how we get there, and what it takes to turn back.Because the way home doesn’t begin with having it all figured out…it often begins at the end of ourselves—and a faint memory of what the Father is like.And the story isn’t finished yet.

Some stories wrap up neatly. Others leave you hanging.In Luke 15, Jesus tells what might be His most famous story—but it doesn’t behave the way we expect. Before we ever get to the “prodigal son,” we’re invited into two smaller stories about things that are lost… and then found.A sheep. A coin. Both pursued. Both valued. Both leading to joy.But underneath it all is a deeper tension—because not everyone in the crowd hears these stories the same way. Some feel seen. Others feel challenged.This week we begin An Unfinished Story by asking:Who is this story for?Where am I in it?And what might God be trying to show me right now?

Guest Speaker: Meagan GottcentWe wrapped up our You Will Be: Here, Near, Hard, Far series with guest speaker Meagan Gottcent, who helped us rethink what it means to be a witness.Too often we imagine witnessing as having the right arguments or the perfect words. But Scripture points us toward something different — a witness shaped by love.Drawing from 1 Corinthians 13 and the model of Jesus, the faithful witness, Meagan reminds us that our witness should be patient, kind, humble, and centered on the other person.We also explored the Five Thresholds of faith, a framework that helps us understand the journey many people take before choosing to follow Jesus — from trust, to curiosity, to openness, to seeking, and finally to following.Faith often grows through relationship, conversation, and time. Our role is not to rush the process, but to walk with people in love as they move toward Jesus.

What does it look like to care about people and witness to those who are far from us — culturally, geographically, or spiritually?In Acts 17, Paul shows us that witness doesn’t start with arguments or winning debates. It begins with understanding people, listening to their stories, and helping them see how their story connects to God’s bigger story.Some people believe. Some people want more time. Some say no. And surprisingly, Scripture reminds us that success in witness isn’t universal agreement — it’s faithfulness and love.This week we explore what it means to care about the “far,” why skepticism isn’t the same as rejection, and how we can participate in God’s love for the world right where we are.Next Sunday we wrap up the series with special guest speaker Meagan Gottcent.

Before Paul ever went far, someone had to step into the hard.Saul wasn’t just different — he was dangerous. Feared. Risky. The kind of person the church avoided.But Ananias obeyed when it would have been safer to stay home.Barnabas advocated when it would have been easier to keep distance.Witness takes risk.Witness takes relationship.The gospel reaches the “far” because someone is willing to move toward the hard.Who might be your Paul?

This week we move from “near” to “hard.”In Acts 8, the gospel moves into Samaria—a place of centuries-old hostility—and then into the desert, where Philip meets an Ethiopian eunuch: powerful, devout, and very different from him.The Spirit pushes the early church beyond comfort, beyond tribe, beyond assumptions.What if our biggest barrier to witness isn’t fear… but contempt?What if the Spirit is already at work in the very places we find hardest?Language. Standards. Mercy.They reveal more than we think.And chances are… you’re somebody’s hard.

Witness doesn’t stop where you are. It moves.In Acts 9, Peter travels to nearby towns—not just to convert strangers or non-believers, but to strengthen disciples and restore community. He heals Aeneas. He raises Tabitha. He shows up.And as he does, many come to believe.Because witness isn’t only about what we say. It’s also about how God works in us and through us.Witness—both our words and our deeds—moves near with willingness.Witnessing involves proximity.Witness involves formation.

Jesus doesn’t say, “You should try to be my witnesses.”He says, “You will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8)In this first week of our new series, You Will Be: Here • Near • Hard • Far, we begin where the disciples begin—waiting, wondering, and asking the wrong questions.What does it actually mean to be a witness?Before we apply it, we step into the world of Acts and learn how the people who first heard that word would have understood it. In the Jewish world of the first century, a witness wasn’t an expert or a debater. A witness was someone with proximity—someone who had seen something and was willing to tell the truth about it.Witness carried responsibility—but not control.Credibility—but not perfection.Calling—but not performance.And it started right where they were: Jerusalem. Here.This message invites us to become more aware of what God is already doing around us—and to recognize that witness begins not with going far, but with being present.

What does it really mean to rest—and why does it matter so much?In the final week of Add to Cart, we look at rest not as a rule to follow, but as a way of life rooted in creation, shaped by liberation, and fulfilled in Christ. From Genesis to Jesus, we explore how rest helps untangle our worth from productivity, forms trust in God as our source of security, and invites us into a rhythm that leads toward contentment. This message closes the series by reframing rest as one of the most countercultural ways we practice trusting God with our time, our relationships, and our lives.

What happens when success doesn’t deliver the security it promises? In this message, we look at Saul’s story and Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 to explore how easily our worth becomes tied to achievement, approval, and performance. Together, we’re invited to rediscover a deeper truth: our value is not earned but given, and while purpose can bring meaning to life, it does not determine our worth—prayer helps reorient us back to who God says we are.

oney shapes us—whether we realize it or not.This week in Add to Cart, we talked about how money is like lemons, how it trains our hearts, and how generosity isn’t about being told what to give—but learning to trust God as our source.Generosity doesn’t just help others.-It protects us (think content vs. corrosive)-It serves as a bridge (think community not isolation)-It retrains what we value (think character and cohesion).This message invites us to move from fear and scarcity toward freedom, trust, and faith, freeing us to be generous.

We live in a world that trains us to believe more will finally settle us. More money. More stuff. More control. And without even noticing, those messages start to shape what we trust and how we live.In the first message of Add to the Cart, we look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 and Paul’s reflections on contentment in Philippians 4. We talk about how the things we reach for can quietly become our source of stability—and why they never quite deliver.This message invites us to notice what’s shaping us and begin learning what it means to trust God as our source of “enough.”

Herod responded to the birth of Jesus with fear, control, and violence. But the light still came—and it kept shining. In this final message of our Cranky Christmas series, we reflect on what it means to face the darkness without being consumed by it.As we begin a new year, we're invited to respond not like Herod, but like the others in the Christmas story—people who trusted, followed, waited, and worshiped even when life didn’t go as planned. The light keeps shining.  Hold to the light - that's our story- even in the darkest moments the light is still leading us forward.

Zechariah and Elizabeth aren’t usually featured in nativity sets, but Luke opens the entire Christmas story with their story—a story of waiting, disappointment, and unexpected good news.In this message, we explore what to do when life doesn’t go as planned—even when the news is good. Sometimes the promise comes with silence. Sometimes the answer doesn’t look the way we expected. But God is still at work, still faithful, and still unfolding a plan worth hoping in.

One minute the shepherds were doing their job in the dark. The next, heaven was breaking in. They didn’t understand everything—but they had something. In this episode, we explore how hope doesn’t always explain itself. Sometimes it just invites us to go and see for ourselves.When life leaves you confused or afraid, you don’t need to have it all figured out. You can trust what you've experienced, take a step, share the good news, and rest in the truth that God still uses small, ordinary people to carry His extraordinary message.

What do true mirrors, Jesus’ parable of the two builders, and a blind man in John 9 have to do with reading the Bible? In Week 4 of Unboxing the Bible, Pastor Jessica explores how Scripture is meant to transform us — not just inform us. We look at James’ warning about hearing but not doing, why some people in John 9 could see and yet were spiritually blind, and how a healed man slowly comes to recognize who Jesus truly is. Learn how reading the Bible with an open heart — in different ways, consistently, and in community — leads us into real transformation. 🎧 Listen now on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. And join us this Sunday, in person if you can,for the final message in Unboxing the Bible — it’s going to be a little different than you might expect.

What do The Avengers, Loki, and Keanu Reeves in 47 Ronin have to do with the Bible? This week in Unboxing the Bible: The One Big Story, Pastor Jessica shows how the Bible isn’t a collection of random rules or disconnected tales — it’s one sweeping story of redemption. From creation to Christ to the promise of new creation, God has been writing a story that invites us in.

This week in Unboxing the Bible, Pastor Jessica unpacks what it means to read Scripture in context. Just like an Amazon box filled with packaging, the Bible comes wrapped in culture, language, and history — and sometimes we get lost in the filler instead of what’s inside. Learn how your own background shapes what you notice (and what you miss) in Scripture, and how reading the Bible in context helps us see God’s heart more clearly — not as a list of rules, but as an invitation to relationship.

This week we kicked off our new series, Unboxing the Bible, by asking a big question: What is the Bible actually for? We explored how Scripture isn’t just meant to be studied or quoted — it’s meant to shape us into people who look like Christ. Pastor Jess talks about why a “plain reading” isn’t always so plain, what the New Testament writers say the Word does in us, and why reading the Bible is more like joining a long conversation than following a rulebook.

What if doubt isn’t the opposite of faith, but part of how faith grows stronger? Guest speaker Pastor Wes Coffey unpacks the story of Thomas in John 20 — showing how Jesus meets us in the middle of our questions, not beyond them. In our seasons of uncertainty, Christ offers peace, patience, and an invitation to believe.

Greed isn’t just about money — it’s about a restless heart that never feels like it has enough. In this message, Pastor Jessica untangles the deeper story beneath greed, exploring how it grows, disguises itself, and leaves us empty. Through Scripture and insight, we discover that Jesus isn’t trying to shame us for wanting more — He’s inviting us to find peace in what’s already enough.

In Week 3 of our Untangle series, we dive into one of the hardest emotions to face: hate. We often think of hate as just “anger turned up,” but it’s more complex—and more dangerous. Hate lingers, dehumanizes, and can twist even our deepest values against us. Scripture shows us that while God calls us to hate injustice, dishonesty, empty religion, and evil, He never calls us to hate people. Instead, Jesus commands us to love even our enemies. In this message, we explore how to recognize when dislike, anger, contempt, or disgust are sliding toward hate, and how to redirect those feelings toward God’s purposes—choosing empathy, remembering the image of God in others, and holding tightly to what is good.

In Week 2 of our Untangle series, we take a closer look at anger. From crab leg brawls at buffets to the “tea kettle effect,” we explore how anger often reveals the pressure building beneath the surface. Scripture shows us that God feels anger too—righteous anger directed at injustice, idolatry, and hard hearts. But while anger itself isn’t sin, what we do with it can be. We’ll look at how God and Jesus model anger rightly, how science helps us understand anger as a “secondary emotion” often hiding hurt, fear, or sadness, and how unresolved pain leaks out in unhealthy ways. Finally, we’ll practice simple tools—like asking “What’s underneath my anger?” and pausing with 4-square breathing—to help us invite God into our emotions and respond with wisdom, grace, and strength.

We kicked off our new series Untangle by asking: what do we do with our messy, tangled emotions? Too often, we cope, conceal, or control—but Scripture and even science show us that emotions aren’t a glitch in the system. They’re part of God’s design, one way we reflect His image. In this message, Pastor Jessica explores what the Bible says about God’s emotions, how our brains process feelings, and how Christ wants to transform not just our thoughts and actions but our emotional lives too.

In the final week of Campfire and Clouds: Exodus, we reach the culmination of Israel’s journey in Exodus 40. God’s glory descends and fills the tabernacle, a powerful reminder that His deepest desire has always been to dwell with His people—even when they’ve fallen short. This message explores how God’s presence among Israel points to Christ and finds its fulfillment at Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit makes us living “mini–tabernacles” carrying God’s presence into the world.-----------------------------------------Campfire & Clouds is a summer journey through Exodus — a story of rescue, transformation, and God’s faithful presence in the wilderness.He Rescues. He Transforms. He Stays.

Campfire & Clouds is a summer journey through Exodus — a story of rescue, transformation, and God’s faithful presence in the wilderness.He Rescues. He Transforms. He Stays.

Campfire & Clouds is a summer journey through Exodus — a story of rescue, transformation, and God’s faithful presence in the wilderness.He Rescues. He Transforms. He Stays.

Campfire & Clouds is a summer journey through Exodus — a story of rescue, transformation, and God’s faithful presence in the wilderness.He Rescues. He Transforms. He Stays.

-----------------------------------------Campfire & Clouds is a summer journey through Exodus — a story of rescue, transformation, and God’s faithful presence in the wilderness.He Rescues. He Transforms. He Stays.

What if the laws given at Mount Sinai were never meant to be a burden—but an invitation? This week, we explore Exodus 19 and discover that before God gave the Ten Commandments, He reminded His people who they were: rescued, loved, and chosen for a purpose. As we trace Israel’s call to be a kingdom of priests and God’s treasured possession, we’ll also see how Jesus fulfills that calling—and extends it to us. This isn’t just about ancient rules; it’s about becoming the kind of people who reflect God’s heart to the world.-----------------------------------------Campfire & Clouds is a summer journey through Exodus — a story of rescue, transformation, and God’s faithful presence in the wilderness.He Rescues. He Transforms. He Stays.

After crossing the Red Sea and witnessing God's miraculous rescue, the Israelites burst into spontaneous praise. But just three days later, they’re thirsty, frustrated, and questioning if God is still with them. In this message, we explore the shift from celebration to survival, and how learning to trust God in dry places is often the real work of faith. We reflect on our own hesitations to praise, our fear of disappointment, and the God who patiently provides—again and again. If you've ever wrestled with trusting God between miracles, this one’s for you.-----------------------------------------Campfire & Clouds is a summer journey through Exodus — a story of rescue, transformation, and God’s faithful presence in the wilderness.He Rescues. He Transforms. He Stays.

What do you do when God tells you to turn back… into danger? In this week's message, we walk with the Israelites to the edge of the Red Sea—and into the tension between fear and faith, stillness and movement. God’s deliverance doesn’t always come on our timeline or terms, but it’s always specific, faithful, and meant for more than just us. From mixed crowds to muddy questions, this part of the Exodus story reminds us that God rescues—and stays.-----------------------------------------Campfire & Clouds is a summer journey through Exodus — a story of rescue, transformation, and God’s faithful presence in the wilderness.He Rescues. He Transforms. He Stays.

What if the path to freedom isn’t the fastest, but the one that protects you most? In this message from Exodus 11–13, we explore how God shields His people at Passover, leads them on a longer road through the wilderness, and how Jesus becomes both our covering and our firstborn sacrifice. Sometimes what feels like a delay is actually your deliverance—and even in the detour, God is still with you.-----------------------------------------Campfire & Clouds is a summer journey through Exodus — a story of rescue, transformation, and God’s faithful presence in the wilderness.He Rescues. He Transforms. He Stays.

This week, we step into Pharaoh’s shoes and explore what his resistance reveals about our own hearts. Through plagues, pride, and the pull of false gods, we’re invited to ask: where might we be resisting God’s way—and what would it look like to partner with Him instead?---------------Campfire & Clouds is a summer journey through Exodus — a story of rescue, transformation, and God’s faithful presence in the wilderness.He Rescues. He Transforms. He Stays.

Moses didn’t feel ready. He wasn’t eloquent, confident, or qualified. But God didn’t ask for perfection — just willingness. In Week 2 of Campfire & Clouds, we discover how God uses ordinary people and everyday things — a bush, a stick, a voice — to do extraordinary work. The same God who called Moses still calls us today, not because we have it all together, but because He goes with us.---------------Campfire & Clouds is a summer journey through Exodus — a story of rescue, transformation, and God’s faithful presence in the wilderness.He Rescues. He Transforms. He Stays.

Exodus begins not with miracles, but with names. In Week 1 of Campfire & Clouds, we’re reminded that God sees, God is faithful, and when He sees—He sends.---------------Campfire & Clouds is a summer journey through Exodus — a story of rescue, transformation, and God’s faithful presence in the wilderness. He Rescues. He Transforms. He Stays.

In this stand-alone message from Judges 4–5, we explore the unlikely trio of Deborah, Barak, and Jael. Each of them plays a part in God's deliverance — one listening, one stepping out in faith, and one showing bold courage when the moment called for it. Through their story, we’re reminded that God still calls us to the same kind of trust and obedience today.Key takeaways: – Listen like Deborah. – Step out like Barak. – Be brave like Jael. – Praise like Deborah and Barak.

What if ordinary things — bread, water, oil, us — were actually ways God shows up in our lives?In this new series at Compassion Church, we’re exploring the beauty and mystery of the sacraments — baptism, communion, anointing with oil, and the body of Christ itself.These aren’t just rituals. They’re reminders. Ways we experience the grace of Jesus here and now. Ways we care for one another and are formed into something holy — together.📍Come be part of the journey. 🕊 There’s room for you. 🔗 www.compassionchurchsj.com#SacredMoments #EverydayGrace #Sacraments 

What if ordinary things — bread, water, oil, us — were actually ways God shows up in our lives?In this new series at Compassion Church, we’re exploring the beauty and mystery of the sacraments — baptism, communion, anointing with oil, and the body of Christ itself.These aren’t just rituals. They’re reminders. Ways we experience the grace of Jesus here and now. Ways we care for one another and are formed into something holy — together.📍Come be part of the journey. 🕊 There’s room for you. 🔗 www.compassionchurchsj.com#SacredMoments #EverydayGrace #Sacraments 

What if ordinary things — bread, water, oil, us — were actually ways God shows up in our lives?In this new series at Compassion Church, we’re exploring the beauty and mystery of the sacraments — baptism, communion, anointing with oil, and the body of Christ itself.These aren’t just rituals. They’re reminders. Ways we experience the grace of Jesus here and now. Ways we care for one another and are formed into something holy — together.📍Come be part of the journey. 🕊 There’s room for you. 🔗 www.compassionchurchsj.com#SacredMoments #CompassionChurchSJ #EverydayGrace #Sacraments #ChurchThatCares

Because He is risen, I am made new!Jesus makes seven statements in the gospel of John that have become known as the I AM statements.  These statements are metaphors - a literary device or figure of speech that points to something else (usually an image) to try to explain what something is.  They are like mini snapshots that together show us who Jesus is.So what exactly is Jesus trying to say when He says He is bread, light, a door, a shepherd, life itself, the path, and a grape vine? And what does any of that have to do with us today?  Join us as we find that because of who He is … we can also say some specific “I am …” statements.  Join us as we discover that because of who Jesus is we can find comfort and purpose in a chaotic world.

Because He is the vine, I/we can stop striving.  We can be at rest.Jesus makes seven statements in the gospel of John that have become known as the I AM statements.  These statements are metaphors - a literary device or figure of speech that points to something else (usually an image) to try to explain what something is.  They are like mini snapshots that together show us who Jesus is.So what exactly is Jesus trying to say when He says He is bread, light, a door, a shepherd, life itself, the path, and a grape vine? And what does any of that have to do with us today?  Join us as we find that because of who He is … we can also say some specific “I am …” statements.  Join us as we discover that because of who Jesus is we can find comfort and purpose in a chaotic world.

Because He is the way, the truth, and the life, we can be at peace.Jesus makes seven statements in the gospel of John that have become known as the I AM statements.  These statements are metaphors - a literary device or figure of speech that points to something else (usually an image) to try to explain what something is.  They are like mini snapshots that together show us who Jesus is.So what exactly is Jesus trying to say when He says He is bread, light, a door, a shepherd, life itself, the path, and a grape vine? And what does any of that have to do with us today?  Join us as we find that because of who He is … we can also say some specific “I am …” statements.  Join us as we discover that because of who Jesus is we can find comfort and purpose in a chaotic world.

Because He is the good shepherd, I/we can trust God.Jesus makes seven statements in the gospel of John that have become known as the I AM statements.  These statements are metaphors - a literary device or figure of speech that points to something else (usually an image) to try to explain what something is.  They are like mini snapshots that together show us who Jesus is.So what exactly is Jesus trying to say when He says He is bread, light, a door, a shepherd, life itself, the path, and a grape vine? And what does any of that have to do with us today?  Join us as we find that because of who He is … we can also say some specific “I am …” statements.  Join us as we discover that because of who Jesus is we can find comfort and purpose in a chaotic world.

Because He is the door, I/we have a place to belong.  He is our home.Jesus makes seven statements in the gospel of John that have become known as the I AM statements.  These statements are metaphors - a literary device or figure of speech that points to something else (usually an image) to try to explain what something is.  They are like mini snapshots that together show us who Jesus is.So what exactly is Jesus trying to say when He says He is bread, light, a door, a shepherd, life itself, the path, and a grape vine? And what does any of that have to do with us today?  Join us as we find that because of who He is … we can also say some specific “I am …” statements.  Join us as we discover that because of who Jesus is we can find comfort and purpose in a chaotic world.