The Sunday Sermon

Is Christianity too narrow? In this message, Pastor Angelo explores Jesus’ words in John 14:6 through a personal story of friendship, wrestling with how faith, grace, and truth meet. Discover how Christianity can be centered on Christ while still wide in its scope for the world—and what that means for how we live and love today.

In this episode on companions, Pastors Angelo and Becca share their thoughts on the end of Isaiah, the importance of remembering (and not remembering) in scripture, and what it means to celebrate a servant who suffers at the hands of his people.

In this week’s message, we wrestle with one of the hardest and most personal questions of faith. Walking through the story of Lazarus in John 11, we explore what Scripture actually says—and doesn’t say—about suffering, grief, and God’s presence.Rather than offering easy answers, this message invites a deeper shift: from asking “God, how could you?” to asking “God, where are you?”—and discovering a God who meets us not from a distance, but in the midst of our pain.If you’ve ever struggled with loss, unanswered prayer, or the silence of God, this conversation is for you.

Isaiah doesn’t let us stay on the surface. In this episode of Companions, we walk through Isaiah 1–48—moving from confrontation in Jerusalem to comfort in exile. Along the way, we explore what it means to trust God in uncertain times, how worship and justice belong together, and why God’s promises still speak in the middle of disruption. If the prophets have been stretching you, this conversation will help you hear—and respond.

“Is there a God?” It’s a simple question with complex layers. This week, we walk through Acts 17 and consider how people have wrestled with this question for centuries—and how the search itself may be pointing us somewhere deeper.

This week on Companions, we step into the Prophets—and discover they’re not nearly what we thought. Far from distant predictors of the future, the prophets speak directly into moments of drift, calling God’s people back to covenant faithfulness, justice, and true worship. We unpack some of the most common misconceptions that keep us from understanding these books and offer practical ways to read them with fresh eyes. If you’ve ever felt confused, intimidated, or disconnected from the prophets, this conversation will help you hear their message with clarity—and maybe even recognize how it’s speaking to your life today.

We’re kicking off a brand new series called Explore God by asking one of the biggest questions people have been asking for centuries: Does life have a purpose? In this opening message, Pastor Angelo creates space for honest exploration, engages how different worldviews answer the question, and offers a deeply rooted Christian perspective—one that reframes purpose not as something we achieve, but something we receive. If you’ve ever wrestled with meaning, direction, or why your life matters, this is a conversation worth leaning into.

What happens when a people slowly drift from the God who formed them?In this episode of Companions, we walk through 1 & 2 Kings, tracing nearly 400 years of Israel’s history—from the height of Solomon’s temple to the devastation of exile. Along the way, we explore the division of the kingdom, the repeated failures of its leaders, and the prophetic voices that refuse to stay silent.Why does the phrase about “the sins of Jeroboam” keep showing up? What does it reveal about patterns we struggle to break? And how do moments like the divine council or Elisha’s vision remind us that there’s more happening than what we can see?We also unpack why the reading plan shifts after 2 Kings—helping us hear the prophets not as isolated voices, but as God’s word spoken right into the middle of collapse.This episode invites us to pay attention—to the warning signs, the patterns, and the ways God might still be speaking today.

Are we there yet?In this Checkpoint Sunday message, Pastor Becca pauses our Bible-in-a-Year journey to reflect on one of Scripture’s most compelling figures: Solomon. A king known for wisdom, success, and influence—yet also a life marked by slow drift and a divided heart.This sermon explores the tension between doing the right things and heading in the wrong direction, reminding us that faith isn’t just about decisions—it’s about direction.As we take stock of where we’ve been and where we’re going, we’re ultimately pointed to Jesus—the true King who doesn’t drift and who holds us steady even when we do.

This week, we hit another checkpoint in our Bible-in-a-year journey—and we’re slowing down to spend some time in the Psalms.Joined by a very special guest (and Pastor Becca's dad!), Paul Detterman, we explore what the Psalms actually are, why they show up alongside the rest of Scripture, and how they give voice to the full range of human experience—from joy and gratitude to grief, anger, and everything in between.Together, we talk through the different types of Psalms, the honesty they model in prayer, and why these ancient words still matter for our lives today. If you’ve ever struggled to find the words to pray—or wondered if you’re “allowed” to be fully honest with God—this conversation is for you.Because the Psalms don’t just teach us what to say…they remind us that nothing we bring before God is off-limits.

This Easter, Pastor Angelo invites us to see the resurrection not just as a moment of celebration, but as a moment of realization. In Matthew 28, the first witnesses arrive at the tomb carrying grief, fear, and uncertainty—and yet they encounter the risen Christ already ahead of them. This message holds space for both loss and hope, reminding us that while loss is real, it is not final. Because Jesus is alive, fear no longer has the final word, and we are invited to follow him from death into life.

This week on Companions, we step into one of the messiest stretches of Scripture yet—where power is complicated, leadership is unpredictable, and the line between faithfulness and failure feels razor thin.From Saul’s unraveling to David’s rise (and fall), this episode wrestles with a central tension: What does it mean that God’s covenant continues through deeply flawed people?We talk about: • Why David’s story is both inspiring and unsettling • How sin doesn’t stay private—it ripples through families and communities • The kind of leadership that builds… and the kind that breaks • And the quiet, steady thread holding it all together: God’s hesed—steadfast, covenant loveThis story doesn’t give us clean heroes. It gives us something better—an honest one.If you’ve ever wondered how God works through broken people—or what it looks like to trust God when things fall apart—this conversation is for you.🎧 Listen now and join us as we keep reading the story together.

This week, Pastor Becca continues our Holy Discontent journey through the Sermon on the Mount with a message titled “Don’t Worry—Really.” In Matthew 6:25–34, Jesus speaks directly to one of the most common struggles we face—worry.But this isn’t a simple command to “just stop.” It’s an invitation to examine what’s shaping our lives and where we’re placing our trust. As Jesus calls us to seek first the Kingdom of God, we begin to see how worry pulls us away from the present—and how trust re-centers us in God’s care.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, anxious about the future, or like everything depends on you, this message offers a better way—the way of trust, presence, and Kingdom living.

This week on Companions, we step into the story of 1 Samuel—a world filled with leadership failure, spiritual confusion, and people grasping for control. From Hannah’s quiet, costly faith to Israel’s demand for a king, we see what happens when trust in God gets replaced with the desire for something more predictable.Along the way, we wrestle with big questions: Why does God sometimes give people what they ask for—even when it’s not what they need? What does faithfulness look like when everything around you feels unstable? And how do we navigate the tension between Saul’s fear-driven leadership and David’s imperfect but trusting heart?This episode is a reminder that God’s work doesn’t always show up in obvious ways. Sometimes it looks like quiet obedience. Sometimes it looks like failure and second chances. But through it all, one truth remains: the lamp of God has not gone out (1 Samuel 3:3).If you’ve ever felt the pull to take control, or wondered whether your small acts of faithfulness really matter, this conversation is for you.

This week, we continue our Holy Discontent journey through the Sermon on the Mount with a message from Matthew 6:1 called “Practicing the Faith.” Jesus offers a surprising warning: it’s possible to do all the right things for the wrong reasons. What happens when our faith becomes more about being seen than being formed? And how do we shift from performing righteousness to actually living it? This message invites us to take an honest look at our motives and rediscover a faith that is grounded, authentic, and rooted in grace.

This week, we step into one of the most unsettling sections of the Bible. The Book of Judges is raw, chaotic, and at times deeply troubling—so much so that listener discretion is advised. But beneath the violence and confusion, there’s a pattern worth paying attention to: a downward spiral where God’s people drift, cry out, are rescued, and then slowly forget again (Judges 2:16–19).Joined by our guest Dawson (St. Mark’s UMC, Raleigh), we explore what this cycle reveals about human nature, leadership, and the subtle compromises that pull us away from God over time. From Gideon’s doubt to Jephthah’s tragic vow to Samson’s unraveling life, we wrestle with a hard truth: just because God works through someone doesn’t mean God approves of everything they do.And yet—right in the middle of all that chaos—we find Ruth. A quiet, beautiful story of loyalty, faithfulness, and everyday obedience that reminds us God is still at work, even when everything else feels out of control.If Judges shows us the danger of drifting, Ruth shows us the power of staying rooted.Listen in and reflect with us. 🎧

What did Jesus really mean when he said, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect”? In this message from Matthew 5:43–48, Pastor Angelo explores Jesus’ command to love our enemies and the surprising way it reshapes how we understand faithfulness. Rather than demanding flawless perfection, Jesus calls his followers to grow into a mature love that is active, intentional, sacrificial, and purposeful—a love that refuses to stop at the borders of friendship.

This week on Companions, we journey through the book of Joshua and reflect on what courage really looks like in the life of faith. When God tells Joshua to “be strong and courageous,” it turns out the courage he’s talking about isn’t primarily about winning battles—it’s about remaining faithful to God’s word. Along the way we explore unexpected characters like Rahab, difficult stories like Achan, the importance of remembering what God has done, and Joshua’s powerful challenge at the end of his life: Choose this day whom you will serve. As the story moves toward the chaos of Judges, we ask what it takes to stay faithful when the path forward isn’t easy. Join us as we keep reading the story together.

In this week’s message from our Holy Discontent Lenten series, Pastor Becca Detterman continues our journey through the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:17–20, Jesus challenges us to move beyond surface-level obedience and into deeper transformation. The life of faith isn’t just about avoiding the wrong things—it’s about allowing God to shape our hearts. As Jesus speaks about fulfilling the law, he invites us into a righteousness that goes deeper than appearances and begins to transform who we are becoming.

This week on Companions, we reach a major milestone: the end of the Torah. After journeying from Genesis through Deuteronomy, we pause to reflect on what this foundational part of Scripture is really trying to do. Along the way we explore how the end of Deuteronomy echoes the beginning of Genesis, wrestle with some of the most challenging laws in the Torah, and consider why, in Jesus’ day, some groups believed these five books were the only Scripture that mattered.As Moses’ final words call Israel to choose between life and death, blessing and curse, we’re reminded that Scripture is never just meant to be heard—it’s meant to shape the way we live. Join us as we reflect on the story so far and prepare to step with Israel into what comes next.

In a world filled with headlines of war, division, and uncertainty, what does it actually mean to follow Jesus? In this week’s message from Matthew 5:13–16, Pastor Angelo explores why Jesus calls ordinary people “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” What does that language mean? Why does it come right after the Beatitudes? And how does a faith shaped on the inside become visible on the outside? If the world is not as it should be, this sermon invites us to consider how steady, faithful presence—distinct and present—might be exactly how the Kingdom shows up.

What does it really mean to listen to God? In this episode, we spend most of our time in Deuteronomy 6 and the Shema—exploring how, in the Hebrew imagination, listening and obedience are inseparable. We talk about the difference between hearing words and responding with our lives, and why Scripture keeps pushing us from passive awareness to embodied faithfulness. If you’ve ever known what’s right but struggled to live it, this conversation is for you.

As we begin Lent, we’re launching a new series called Holy Discontent, rooted in the Sermon on the Mount. After spending the start of the year learning how to read the Bible and committing to read it together, we now ask: What happens when we actually let Scripture shape us?In Matthew 5, Jesus declares blessing over the poor in spirit, the meek, and those who hunger for righteousness. These words are jarring—but they aren’t new. They reveal the heart of God we’ve been reading about all along.What if the discomfort you feel when you read the Bible isn’t a problem—but an invitation? Listen in as we explore how holy discontent might draw us closer to the heart of God.

This week on Companions, we journey through Numbers 14–32 and Psalms 44–50—a stretch of Scripture filled with rebellion, accusation, ritual, and worship. From the wilderness sentence in Numbers 14 to Korah’s rebellion in Numbers 16, from the intensity of Sabbath laws to the mystery of an “eternal covenant of salt,” we wrestle honestly with what feels heavy and confusing.Along the way, we explore embodied Hebrew language (“slow to anger” as “long of nose”), the emotional weight of holiness, the rhythms of Israel’s festivals, and the surprising legacy of the sons of Korah—whose line did not die out.What do we do when understanding feels out of reach? How do cycles of worship and covenant sustain faith in the wilderness?Join us as we look for mercy that lingers—and rhythms that preserve us.

In this message, Pastor Becca Detterman preaches from the Prophet Joel. We invite you to hear these words and remember that what God desires is not empty ritual, but authentic worship.

We hit pause this week for our first Checkpoint Sunday — a live Q&A where we tackled your biggest questions from our Bible reading plan.Is the God of the Old Testament different from the God of the New Testament? What do we do with passages where God strikes people dead? How should Christians understand Levitical laws? Do all Bible translations have an agenda? And how do we keep from reading “the gospel according to me”?In this honest and thoughtful conversation, Angelo and Becca explore what it means to see Scripture as one unfolding story that ultimately leads to Jesus — without flattening its complexity or ignoring its hard edges. We talk about the image of God, why disturbing stories matter, how ancient context shapes interpretation, and why Jesus remains our clearest lens for understanding who God is and what God is about.If you’ve ever felt confused, unsettled, or overwhelmed while reading the Bible — this episode is for you.Let’s check in.

What do we do with the intense language of Leviticus? How do we keep reading when the text feels repetitive or monotonous? In this episode of Companions, we explore Leviticus 20 through Numbers 13 and wrestle with the weighty warnings of Leviticus 26, the rhythms of festivals and census lists, and the purpose behind Israel’s wilderness storytelling. Along the way, we reflect on how the Psalms give voice to the journey, why Hebrew is such an embodied language, and how that shapes even Jesus’ conversation in John 3.If you’ve ever felt stuck, unsettled, or even bored in your Bible reading—this conversation is for you.

What does it really mean to apply the Bible to our lives? In the final sermon of the How to Read the Bible series, Pastor Angelo turns to James 1:22–25 to explore the gap between hearing scripture and living it. This message reflects on why understanding the Bible is not the same as being formed by it, and offers three practical, faithful tools for application: locating ourselves honestly in the story, choosing depth over speed, and trusting that God’s Word works in us over time. A thoughtful invitation to read scripture not just for knowledge, but for transformation.

Leviticus doesn’t ease us in—and neither does faith when God feels distant. In this episode of Companions, Angelo and Becca wrestle with offerings, holiness, purity laws, and atonement, asking what the law was really for and how Jesus fulfills it. From sacrifice and anointing oil to clean and unclean bodies, they explore how God makes a way back into relationship when closeness feels impossible—and what it looks like to stay in the conversation when faith feels heavy or complicated.

What would Jesus do with a difficult passage of Scripture? In this week’s message from our How to Read the Bible series, we introduce the Jesus Filter—a way of reading the Bible that keeps Christ at the center. Drawing from John 5, where Jesus heals on the Sabbath and confronts the religious leaders, this sermon explores why Scripture points beyond itself to Jesus and how reading through his life, cross, and resurrection can deepen faith instead of diminish it.

What do we do when Scripture feels heavy, repetitive, or even troubling? In this episode of Companions, Angelo and Becca reflect on Exodus 19–40 and the Psalms, naming resistance where it shows up—in the text, in the people, and in ourselves. From laws about bulls and bribes to the beauty of the tabernacle, from the Golden Calf to God’s self-revelation as merciful and faithful, this conversation explores how law, worship, failure, and grace shape a people who are learning what it means to live with a holy God. If you’ve ever skimmed a Bible reading or wondered what all these details are really for, this episode is for you.

What is the context—and why does it matter? In this message, we take a deeper look at Jeremiah 29:1–14, one of the most quoted passages in Scripture, and discover what changes when we slow down and read beyond Jeremiah 29:11. Spoken to a people living in exile, this text offers a sturdier kind of hope—one rooted not in quick fixes, but in God’s faithful presence. This teaching-focused sermon invites listeners to read the Bible more carefully, faithfully, and deeply, learning how context transforms not only what we understand, but how we live.

In this episode of Companions, Angelo and Becca return to last week’s lingering question—what feels unresolved?—as they step into the book of Exodus. Together, they explore what happens after salvation: the freedom, the fear, the frustration, and the formation that follows. From Pharaoh’s grip to Israel’s constant complaining, from Sabbath before commandments to shared leadership through Jethro’s wisdom, this conversation names an uncomfortable truth—we can be rescued by God and still struggle to trust. Along the way, they reflect on prayerful honesty in the Psalms, the patience of God, and why formation takes far longer than deliverance. If you’ve ever felt saved but unsettled, this episode is for you.

In this message from our How to Read the Bible series, Pastor Angelo slows down with one of the most beloved passages in Scripture—Psalm 23—to explore why understanding genre matters when we read the Bible. By looking closely at Psalm 23 as Hebrew poetry and contrasting it with other biblical genres like law, narrative, prophecy, letters, and apocalyptic literature, this sermon helps listeners hear familiar words with fresh ears. Rather than rushing to explanation, Psalm 23 invites us into trust, imagination, and the presence of God in the valley. This message is an invitation to read Scripture on its own terms—and to allow it to form us over time.

Genesis doesn’t always give us clear heroes—and this episode leans into that discomfort. Angelo and Becca reflect on Jacob, Joseph, deception, power, and grace, asking what it means to read stories where God is present but the people are deeply flawed. Rather than offering easy answers, this conversation creates space for complexity, invites listeners to pay attention to their reactions, and reminds us that Scripture often forms us by refusing to resolve everything neatly.

When we open the Bible, one of the most important questions we can ask is also one of the simplest: Where are we in the story? In this second message of the How to Read the Bible series, Pastor Angelo zooms out to explore the big, unfolding narrative of Scripture—from creation to new creation—and shows how understanding the larger story helps us read individual passages with greater clarity, depth, and hope. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, confused, or disconnected when reading the Bible, this message offers a practical and life-giving way to engage Scripture more faithfully.

What do we do when Scripture feels confusing, uncomfortable, or even troubling? In this episode of Companions, Pastors Angelo and Becca reflect on the early chapters of Genesis and explore why the Bible’s complexity isn’t a flaw—it’s part of how Scripture forms us. From genealogies and altars to disturbing stories and honest questions, they talk about what we bring with us when we read, why there’s no such thing as a neutral reader, and how God meets us even in the messiness of the text. Along the way, Becca introduces the idea of a hermeneutical self-inventory, offering a helpful tool for reading the Bible with greater awareness, humility, and hope.

What is the Bible? As our church begins reading scripture together, this sermon invites us to slow down and ask a foundational question that shapes everything else. Drawing from 2 Timothy 3:14–17, Pastor Angelo explores what it means to call the Bible “God-breathed,” why scripture exists, and how we are invited to read it—not just for information, but for formation and transformation. Whether you’re just beginning the reading plan or finding your rhythm, this message offers a thoughtful and hopeful starting point for the journey.

A new year, a new season, and a shared journey begins. In this opening episode of Companions, Pastors Angelo and Becca introduce a refreshed podcast and invite listeners into a year-long practice of reading the Bible together using One Story That Leads to Jesus. With an encouraging and grace-filled tone, they talk about how long-form Scripture reading is different from close study, how to stay grounded when life gets busy, and why perfection isn’t the goal—faithful presence is. Reflecting on Genesis 1–3 and Psalm 1, this conversation sets the foundation for a year of intention, rooting ourselves in God’s story so it can shape us, sustain us, and bear fruit in our lives. Whether you’re brand new to Bible reading or returning with fresh eyes, this episode offers a hopeful beginning and an open invitation to walk the journey together.

In this sermon, Pastor Becca teaches on the story of Simeon and Anna, and reminds us that Christmas is not something reserved for just one day (or 12 days) of the calendar year!

A special BONUS Christmas Episode! Today, we are talking about our favorite sermons and series from this past year, the words and themes that have held it all together, and previewing 2026! Listen now

In a world captivated by hero stories and larger-than-life solutions, Christmas offers a surprising kind of good news. In this Christmas Eve message from Luke 2:1–20, Pastor Angelo reflects on our longing for rescue and the unexpected way God responds—not with spectacle or power, but with presence. The birth of Jesus reveals a Savior who meets us in the ordinary rhythms of life and brings peace not by force, but by nearness. Wherever you find yourself this season—hopeful, weary, or somewhere in between—this message invites you to rediscover the embodied promise of God with us.

In this Advent message, Pastor Angelo explores merciful love through the story of the birth of John the Baptist in Luke 1:57–80. Drawing from Zechariah’s prophetic song, this sermon reflects on a God whose mercy moves toward us before we are ready—bringing forgiveness, light, and peace into the ordinary and often difficult places of our lives. As we prepare for the coming of Christ, we’re invited not only to receive God’s tender mercy, but to live in ways that prepare the way for that mercy to be seen and felt by others.

What happens when joy shows up where we least expect it—right in the middle of waiting, grief, or uncertainty? In this episode of Companions, Pastors Angelo and Becca reflect on the kind of joy that doesn’t ignore pain but meets us within it. Drawing from scripture, lived experience, and the realities of the Advent season, this conversation explores how joy can surprise us, sustain us, and gently reorient our hearts toward hope. If you’ve ever wondered whether joy is still possible when life feels heavy, this episode is for you. Listen in and join the journey.

Unexpected Joy (Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11) explores how long seasons of waiting can wear us down and make joy feel out of reach. In this sermon, Pastor Angelo reflects on Isaiah’s vision of restoration, the Year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25, and Jesus’ declaration in Luke 4 that this promise is being fulfilled. Speaking to people living among ruins, Isaiah offers a hope rooted in God’s initiative—not our effort—where ashes are transformed into beauty and mourning gives way to praise. This message invites us to rediscover unexpected joy, the kind that emerges not when everything is fixed, but when God shows up and begins restoring what has been broken. Listen to this week’s Sunday Sermon and be reminded that even after long seasons of waiting, joy is still on the way.

In this week’s episode, Pastors Angelo and Becca sit down with Rev. Julia Hayes to talk Advent peace, John the Baptist’s challenging call to prepare, and how real repentance makes room for joy. We also look ahead to Sunday’s theme of Unexpected Joy and the promise of Jubilee. Tune in and journey with us.

In this week’s message, Rev. Julia Hayes leads us deeper into Advent with a powerful word on Prophetic Peace from Matthew 3:1–12. John the Baptist calls us to prepare the way—and Julia helps us hear that call with fresh ears. What does real peace require of us? And how might God be inviting us to clear space in our hearts for Christ this season? Listen in as we journey toward the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christ together.If you're interested in learning more about Pastor Julia's work in Leland, she would love to hear from you! You can email her directly by clicking the link included with this episode.

Pastors Angelo and Becca dive into the heart of Advent—what it is, why it matters, and how this season invites us to slow down, tell the truth about our lives, and make room for Christ with honesty and hope. Join us for a grounded, thoughtful conversation on approaching Advent authentically this year.

This week on The Sunday Sermon, Pastor Angelo opens our Advent series, Will to Dream, with a message of hope from Isaiah 2:1–5. As we step into the season of waiting, we explore how God’s promised future shapes how we live today—how we walk toward peace, practice reconciliation, and take real steps toward the light of the Lord. Listen in and begin Advent with renewed hope.

On Christ the King Sunday, Pastor Angelo preaches from Colossians 1:15–23, reminding us that in a world full of competing voices and “Jesus-plus” distractions, Christ alone is sufficient. In this message, we explore why Paul wrote to a drifting church, what it means for Jesus to hold all things together, and how keeping Christ at the center anchors us in a fractured world.