A Closer Look

In this episode of A Closer Look, Jason Smith and David Wojnicki go deeper into Luke 23, reflecting on the sobering reality of Jesus’ journey to the cross and the significance of His suffering. They discuss why slowing down to examine the details of the crucifixion matters, how Jesus’ words reveal both warning and compassion, and what His prayer of forgiveness truly means. As the conversation buil...

In this episode, the team dives deeper into Sunday’s message on “Consider the Lilies” and God’s solution to worry. They explore the difference between healthy concern and sinful anxiety, how fear reveals our desire for control, and what it means to trust God’s sovereignty in real-life struggles. Through personal stories and biblical insight, they offer practical ways to “talk back” to anxious thou...

In this episode of A Closer Look, Jason and David reflect on Luke 22—Jesus’ betrayal, Peter’s denial, and the suffering surrounding His arrest and trial. They discuss the powerful image of the rooster’s crow as a reminder of both failure and forgiveness, and challenge the common idea that the crowds suddenly turned on Jesus. With a closer look at the timeline, they show how much of Jesus’ trial ha...

In this episode of Closer Look from Valley Center Community Church, Pastors Jason Smith and David Wojnicki discuss Luke 22, focusing on Jesus praying in the garden, prayer as a weapon against temptation, and how to cultivate a disciplined prayer life. They also explore Jesus' emotional anguish, the tension of his dual nature, and how obedience to the Father overcomes feeling-driven actions. The co...

This week on A Closer Look, we welcome David Baker—newly installed elder and now part of the pastoral staff at VCCC. Dave shares his story (corporate finance to ministry), his heart for serving the church, and what he hopes people will remember most. Then we dig into Sunday’s sermon follow-up: How do we actually fight temptation daily? Is the Lord’s Prayer meant to be repeated word-for-word—or is...

On A Closer Look, Pastors Jason Smith and David Wojnicki unpack the disciples’ dispute over “who is the greatest” in Luke 22. They discuss how self-exaltation shows up in everyday life, what it means to serve without needing recognition, and how God graciously rewards the good works He empowers in His people. Plus, a preview of part two: Peter’s coming denial and the hope of restoring grace.

Jason and David unpack Sunday’s sermon on the Passover: the meaning of unleavened bread, why Jesus chose bread for communion, and how the Lord’s Supper points forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The episode also includes a personal moment of vulnerability—sharing a family diagnosis and the relief found in corporate prayer and faithful worship—followed by a look ahead to Jesus’ final hours,...

In this episode of A Closer Look, Pastors Jason and David talk through Luke 21 and the destruction of the temple—why it was both judgment for rejecting Christ and mercy to end the sacrificial system and point clearly to Jesus. They discuss how God dismantles idols, how to identify what you’re really trusting for security, and warning signs that you’re being consumed by the world (including spiritu...

In this episode, Pastors Jason and David talk through Jesus’ words in Luke 21 and why they matter for the church today. The conversation focuses on how to read passages about judgment, suffering, and the future without speculation or fear. Along the way, they reflect on how Jesus calls His people to trust, endurance, and faithfulness as history unfolds.

In the first episode of 2026, Jason Smith sits down with Pastor David to reflect on Sunday’s sermon from Psalm 1—a timely “reset” after the holidays and a season of sickness. David explains why Psalm 1 presents two ways to live: to live and thrive or to wither and die, a theme that runs throughout the whole Bible. They walk through key takeaways from the message: the blessed life begins with being...

Pastor David Wojnicki returns from sabbatical and joins Jason Smith for a conversation around his Advent message in the “Why Jesus Came” series: Jesus came to reveal the truth (John 18). They unpack what Jesus means by “My kingdom is not of this world,” why Christ’s kingship is not geopolitical yet rules over all, and how Jesus wisely engages Pilate’s limited categories. The episode closes with pr...

In this episode of A Closer Look, Jason Smith is joined by elder and Pastor of Congregational Care, John Walters, to reflect on Sunday’s Advent sermon in the series Why Jesus Came. John shares his journey into ministry, his heart for pastoral care, and the central theme of his message: Jesus came to deliver us from darkness. Together, they explore what it means to see the light, believe in the lig...

In this Advent kickoff episode, Jason Smith sits down with John Wojnicki to unpack the first message in our series, Why Jesus Came. John preached on Christ’s purpose “to do the Father’s will,” leading to a rich discussion about obedience, adoption, and what it means to live faithfully between Jesus’ first and second comings. Together they explore how obedience shapes our joy, why God’s commands br...

In this third week of our In Christ series, Pastor Paul and Pastor Jason talk through what it really means to be holy in Christ. They unpack sanctification, our “set-apart” identity, and how we grow in holiness even though we’re already fully united to Christ. They also clarify a key statement from Sunday’s sermon about bringing Jesus “into our sin,” explore biblical discipline as an expression of...

In this episode, Pastors Jason Smith and Paul Behneman dive deeper into what it truly means to be new in Christ. Building on Paul’s sermon from Romans 6:1–4, they discuss the believer’s identity as a saint rather than a sinner, the daily struggle against sin, and how God’s Word renews our minds. From confronting imposter syndrome to understanding sanctification and holiness, this conversation remi...

In this episode of A Closer Look, Pastor Jason Smith sits down with Pastor Paul Behneman to reflect on Paul’s message from Ephesians 1:3–14, “Blessed in Christ.” Together they discuss what it means to be “in Christ”—that what is true of Christ is true of believers spiritually—and how that reality changes how we live each day. Paul shares about God’s sovereignty in the midst of fear, how our failur...

In this episode of A Closer Look, Pastor Jason Smith and Pastor Paul Behnamen reflect on Jason’s recent series through Luke 20 and how God has worked through both the text and Jason’s ongoing physical suffering. They discuss what it means to be “worthy” of the resurrection, the danger of seeking man’s approval, and how even good desires can distract from our ultimate treasure—Christ Himself. The c...

In this episode of A Closer Look, Jason Smith and Paul Behnamen discuss Luke 20:9–26 — exploring what it means to build your life on Jesus as the cornerstone, how to worship God daily beyond Sunday mornings, and how believers can faithfully engage the world while reflecting God’s image. They also talk candidly about motives, relationships, and living for God’s kingdom instead of our own.

Pastors Jason Smith and Paul Behneman explore Luke 20:1-8, examining Jesus' response to questions about authority, the role of John the Baptist, and what it means to live under Christ's authority. They discuss freedom in Christ versus self-centered living, practical ways to share the gospel, and how to prioritize loving God above all relationships in daily life.

Pastor Jason sits down with Pastor David to reflect on baptisms, sabbatical rest, and the sermon from Luke 19:28–48. Together they discuss the triumphal entry, the disciples’ growing recognition of Jesus as King, and what it truly means to receive Christ as the King we need—not the one we might imagine. Pastor David also shares about his upcoming sabbatical, the grace of rest in ministry, and the...

Pastors Jason and David unpack Luke 19:11–27—how Jesus resets messianic expectations, what faithful “business” looks like, how to think about heavenly rewards, and how his promised return shapes our hope today. Plus: a quick word on why church membership matters.

In this episode, we take a closer look at Luke 19:1–10 and Zacchaeus’s encounter with Jesus. Pastor David unpacks why Zacchaeus’s restitution is fruit of salvation—not a way to earn it—showing how grace, not law, truly changes people from the inside out. We also clarify two common questions from the text: what “small in stature” likely means (both literally and socially) and how to read Zacchaeus’...

This week on A Closer Look, Pastors Jason and David reflect on Luke 18 and the healing of the blind man. They discuss how the gospel writers emphasize different details without contradiction, why the blind man’s cry of “Son of David” is so significant, and how physical healing points to the greater spiritual healing Jesus brings. The conversation also looks at the blind man’s response of worship,...

In this episode of the Valley Center Community Church podcast, Jason Smith and Pastor David reflect on the Fall Kickoff Sunday under the tent—a time of worship, fellowship, and celebration of God’s faithfulness. They discuss why the church pauses to “celebrate what God has done,” how numbers reflect lives transformed by grace, and the biblical mission of being witnesses—both in word and in life. T...

In this episode of A Closer Look, Pastor Jason and Pastor David reflect on Luke 18:18–30 and the story of the rich ruler. They unpack the meaning of eternal zoe—true life as God intended—and contrast the “ladder” of religion with the gift of the cross of Christ. Along the way, they share personal reflections from Sunday’s worship, highlight how grace shapes our parenting and relationships, and poi...