HOTLCAST

Send us Fan Mail One of the most common questions skeptics ask about the Bible — and one that Christians sometimes struggle to answer. In this episode, we dig into Genesis to tackle the question head-on: If Adam and Eve were the first people, who exactly did Cain marry? We explore what Scripture actually says, the leading theories among Biblical scholars, the genetics behind why God later prohibit...

Send us Fan Mail Cyle, Ryan, Matt, and Mark, kick things off with a laugh about Mark's fading pink hair from a recent student challenge, then take a detour into the lost art of chain letters (and whether it's time to bring them back). Cyle shares his excitement over a Kickstarter board game called The Game Makers — a worker-placement game about building iconic board games — sparking a co...

Send us Fan Mail Life doesn't always go according to plan — and that's okay. In this message, Pastor Cyle uses the movie Solo Mio as a jumping-off point to explore what happens when life's "altar moments" don't go the way we expected. From being stood up at the wedding to the stories of Joseph, Moses, Naomi, and the disciples, we see a pattern: God specializes in rewr...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the HOTLCast, Cyle, Cody, Ryan, and Mark reunite to recap Sunday's sermon from the Holla Woods series, inspired by the movie GOAT . The crew kicks things off with a lively debate about who deserves the Greatest of All Time title — from Michael Jordan and Lionel Messi to the Apostle Paul — before diving into the real heart of the message: dreaming big God&ap...

Send us Fan Mail What does a basketball-playing goat have to do with your life's purpose? In this week's message from our HOTLWOOD sermon series — where we find God's truth in the movies — we dive into the animated film Goat and discover that the biggest life isn't built by chasing your dreams. It's built by surrendering to God. Will the Goat wasn't supposed to be a r...

Send us Fan Mail In this Father's Day message, Pastor Ryan — a Marine combat veteran and new pastor at Heart o' the Lakes Church — delivers a raw and personal sermon on the difference between being good and looking good . Drawing from his own years of brokenness after returning from Iraq, he unpacks how people develop "rackets" — heart-level strategies to manage their image and...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's HOTLCast, Pastor Matt is joined by Pastor Mark and Sarah — the Brooklyn Campus's new secretary — for a special introductory episode. They kick off with exciting campus updates, including major waterproofing work at the Jackson campus that's reclaiming thousands of square feet of basement space, and the nearly-complete restroom renovation at the Brookl...

Send us Fan Mail In this sermon from Philippians 4, Pastor Cyle explores the biblical antidote to anxiety — a topic more relevant than ever in our screen-saturated, news-saturated world. Drawing on Paul's words written from prison, he unpacks three transformative truths: that joy is not the absence of problems but the presence of Christ; that peace is not the absence of storms but the presenc...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the HOTLCast, Pastor Matt sits down with Ryan and Carver to unpack the previous Sunday's sermon on treasure from the Book of Philippians. The conversation digs into what we truly value — from sentimental keepsakes to family and faith — and how the way we spend our time reveals what we actually treasure most. The guys also celebrate the transformative power...

Send us Fan Mail In this message from Philippians 3, Pastor Cyle Young of Heart o' the Lakes Church asks a simple but piercing question: Are you knowing about Christ, or do you actually know Him? Using everything from a $4,000 board game to Michigan championship rings, Pastor Cyle unpacks Paul's radical declaration that all our earthly treasure is rubbish compared to knowing Jesus. He ch...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the HOTLCast, Cyle, Ryan, Matt, and Mark dig into Philippians 2 and the concept of the "mind of Christ" — what it really means to put others first in a culture that constantly tells us to put ourselves first. They get practical about what selfless living looks like day-to-day: guarding your time less, being intentional in your hobbies and communities,...

Send us Fan Mail In this message from Heart o' the Lakes Church, we dive into Philippians 2 and the countercultural concept of humility. In a world that constantly tells us to climb higher, earn more, and build our own brand, Jesus modeled a completely different path — going down the ladder to serve. Through Paul's words and the example of Christ, we explore what it truly means to have t...

Send us Fan Mail Is masturbation a sin? It's one of the most avoided questions in the church — but Cyle, Cody, and Ryan tackle it head-on on this episode of HOTLCast. They walk through what Scripture actually says about lust, self-control, and sexual immorality, and why the "lesser sin" argument doesn't hold up biblically. They also get real about the shame cycle many people ar...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Cody, Ryan, and Mark talk about Cyle's new series through the book of Philippians — one of the most joyful letters in all of Scripture, written by Paul from prison . The guys explore the difference between joy and happiness, why gratitude is the birthplace of real joy, and what it looks like to choose peace in the middle of chaos. Plus, they celebrate Ryan&ap...

Send us Fan Mail • In this message from Philippians 1, Pastor Cyle explores one of the most counterintuitive truths in Scripture: the gospel travels well in chains. Writing from house arrest in Rome, Paul didn't just survive hardship — he used it. The guards assigned to watch him heard the gospel. His imprisonment emboldened other believers. What looked like a setback became a setup. • Pastor...

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to be clear about what you believe? In this message, Pastor Cyle Young of Heart o' the Lakes Church dives into one small but powerful word — viz. — found in the church's statement of faith. This Latin abbreviation meaning "namely" or "that is to say" leads into a rich conversation about the Christian ordinances of baptism, communion,...

Send us Fan Mail Is getting a tattoo a sin? Cyle, Cody, and Ryan tackle one of the church's most debated questions on this episode of Faith Questions. From Leviticus 19:28 to Paul's letters on Christian freedom, they dig into what the Old and New Testaments actually say — and what it means to live that out today. Cody shares his personal framework for making thoughtful decisions about ta...

Send us Fan Mail Cyle, Cody, Ryan, and Mark wrap up the Side Quest sermon series by tackling the ultimate Main Quest — knowing Christ and making Him known. After a fun detour into video games, card games, and the future of nursing homes, the crew gets into the real stuff: what it means to pursue Jesus with intention, why so many Christians get lost chasing shiny distractions, and how to bring your...

Send us Fan Mail In this concluding message of the "Side Quest" series, the speaker uses the world of video games as a lens to examine life's ultimate purpose. Drawing from John 17:3, Matthew 28, Philippians 3:8, and Ephesians 2:8–9, he challenges listeners to move beyond the busyness of everyday "side quests" — achievements, sports, entertainment, and success — and pursue...

Send us Fan Mail Do dogs go to heaven? It's one of the most personal questions people ask about faith — and in this episode of Faith Questions , we dig into what the Bible actually says. We explore the difference between humans and animals in scripture, what Isaiah 11 tells us about the millennial kingdom, and whether your specific pet will be waiting for you in eternity. We give our honest t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the HOTLCast, Cyle, Matt, Ryan, and Mark dive deep into the "Side Quest Life" series — exploring how the people around us (your real-life NPCs) are never just background characters. From Salvation Army bell ringers to card game tournaments, they unpack what it looks like to live non-transactionally, invest in people without expecting a return, and watc...

Send us Fan Mail In this third installment of the Side Quest Life series, Pastor Cyle uses the concept of non-playable characters (NPCs) from video games to challenge listeners to stop treating people like background noise. Drawing from Matthew 9:35–38, Proverbs 27:17, and Luke 19:10, the message reveals that the people we rush past are not interruptions — they are God's divine appointments a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the HOTLCast, hosts Cyle, Ryan, Carver, and Mark celebrate some exciting church milestones — new leadership roles, a booming youth ministry, and a bold hair-dye dare — before diving deep into their series Side Quest Life . Drawing from gaming culture and Scripture, the crew unpacks how to tell the difference between life's distractions and what God is truly...

Send us Fan Mail Pastor Cyle uses the video game metaphor of a "quest line" to challenge believers to stop wandering through life's side quests — hobbies, distractions, and self-directed living — and intentionally return to following Jesus as the one true path. Drawing from Psalm 119:105, John 8:12, and John 14:6, he calls the church to renewed obedience through Scripture, prayer, a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the HOTLCast, Matt, Ryan, Cody, and Mark, unpack the concept of "Side Quest Life" — the tendency to get so distracted by life's detours that we lose sight of what truly matters. From Skyrim analogies to therapy culture and social media traps, this conversation is honest, funny, and deeply practical. If you've ever felt off-track, overwhelmed,...