Cape Cod Church Podcast

The walk away is never one thing. It's questions. It's the push of disappointment with people. And it's the pull of something new, comfortable, and appealing. The allure of ascent. But it can also be something else: that confidence in being good enough without God that asks, "Who needs this?" After all, Christianity doesn't have a corner on the market for being good. We finish Barnabas Bates' stor...

When I talk with people who have walked away from church, or even from faith altogether, there's often a common thread: disappointment. With God, yes, sometimes, but almost always with people. The often-used term deconstruction is frequently accompanied by the phrase "church hurt." Like a handle carrying the baggage of a generation of grievances, "church hurt" has become an umbrella term for a lon...

We've got questions, and we want answers! Sometimes, the walk away is a walk full of questions—unanswered ones. Life, at its best, is full of the unknown and the uncertain, and our unanswered questions can leave us with nowhere to go but away. This weekend, we're talking about the walk away—about doubt and questions, and why God wants to be part of your journey through uncertainty. Doubt doesn't h...

Why do we walk away? The answer isn't always shocking, angry, or scandalous. Sometimes it's quiet, busy, and well-meaning. Sometimes it's new, exciting, and popular. The allure of success carries a danger: as we climb the mountain of success and comfort, as we feel the applause of a new crowd, we may walk away from the things that matter most. Barnabas Bates' story took a turn in Rhode Island when...

The Awakening series is back… a second season, or maybe just the rest of the story. In 2025, we told the untold story of the Cape Cod Awakening, which came like a fire in April 1809. From Falmouth's village green to the crowd of 400 gathered at the ocean's edge to witness a baptism. From the militia company on its knees in the church aisle to Henry Lincoln and five other pastors across the region...

Over the past month, we've been following the story of Nehemiah and his effort to rebuild the wall. It's rich with life lessons: how to build a meaningful legacy, how to respond to criticism, and how to find friends for the journey. After 52 days, the wall is finally complete. But we have one more lesson to learn from Nehemiah. It turns out the work isn't finished when the wall is up! This week, w...

Readers of Nehemiah's story often skip over chapter 3. It's a list of names—hard-to-pronounce names. The people who showed up and why they showed up. You can tell the story without their names. But you couldn't have written the story without them. More than ever, we know this: we want people in our lives—people to win with, laugh with, stress with, and even shed a tear with. Nehemiah got his name...

Ouch…that stings! Criticism shows up like an unwelcome stranger poking at our deepest insecurities. It can be true, partly true, or mostly false, and the soul-effect is the same. Pain.  How do we respond to life's critics, to the Vision Vandal's intent on dismantle?  The story of Nehemiah is rich in real-life application even after 2500 years. Look closely, and you'll see a surprisingly powerful w...

A few years ago, I received a puzzle as a gift. I assume the gift giver was a puzzle person. I am not. But I tried. Somewhere in our house is a box full of puzzle pieces—evidence of my lack of motivation, skill, or both. Life is a puzzle, and putting the pieces together to create an impressive picture can be daunting. The story of Nehemiah and his wall is a story of how we put the puzzle together...

This Sunday, we're throwing a party—a back-to-school bash cheering on students and teachers! And we're finishing our "Way to Be" series with that final quality of the good life: self-control. What if the path to self-control involved less self? What if the path to a better you had a powerful guide that made better decisions possible? That's the final piece to our story about the way to be.   First...

What does strong look like? That question is harder than it seems. We don't measure biceps or bank accounts to get the true answer. The true answer is hidden behind a surprising door—the door of gentleness. Strength is measured in lots of ways (physical, financial, emotional), but the surest sign of a strong person is the one I almost never think of. That's surprising, because it's the first thing...

Nine qualities for the good life. These are the kind of things you want in the people you surround yourself with. In fact, if you look for good friends, this is a solid checklist. And of course, they're a great list for ourselves… The Way to Be.  At the top of every wish list for people is faithfulness. It's the indelible attribute that is never earned quickly, and it's a powerful foundation for b...

Is it good? A simple question that covers so much territory. Everyone wants to be known as good… but what does good actually mean? Who gets to decide? Can we even agree on what is good? Good is the Way to Be, and this weekend we're digging into a definition that may change the way you see goodness—and what you label as good.    First time listening to our podcast?  We'd like to get to know you! Do...

Get ready for Sports Camp Sunday! This weekend, we're taking a break from normal programming to welcome some very special guests to Cape Cod Church: our sports campers! They've been learning new skills on the field, and this Sunday we're celebrating their achievements with applause, video features, and homemade chipwiches. (Yes, adults get one, too.) Plus, I'm excited to welcome WBZ-TV Sports Dire...

Everyone loves kindness. You might have heard the phrase "acts of kindness," or maybe you've seen bumper stickers that say "Be Kind." Everyone seems to agree that there is something special about kindness! But being kind is easier said than done. This week, we're going to explore what true kindness looks like and how God empowers us to cultivate it.   First time listening to our podcast? We'd like...

"Wait for it"... but really, in the age of fast-forward, who wants to wait? We all wait, but while we wait is what matters. Our seasons of waiting often are the seasons of bad decisions, regrettable words, and long, dark nights of the soul.  It doesn't have to be the way. In fact, it's not the way it's meant to be. God's work in our lives is the gift of learning to live well—even while we wait. Ar...

The term was so fitting that it instantly caught on: The Anxious Generation . Anxiety has always been a part of our lives, but it seems to have skyrocketed in recent years. Where does anxiety come from, and what can we do about it? This third quality of Peace is not a mythical attribute reserved for Stoics and Cynics. The full life God wants to give you is a life of peace—the kind you don't have t...

"How are you doing?" It's such a simple question, but the answer often takes a moment of inventory. The answer may be complicated—some good, some bad, overall… okay. The elusive attribute of happy people… Lasting joy. This weekend, we'll explore what joy is and where to consistently find it. And you'll discover the fake joy you should avoid.   First time listening to our podcast? We'd like to get...

This summer, we're taking a trip to the good life—the way we were meant to be. These nine qualities describe what it looks like to follow Jesus—authentic Christianity. They're not just a list. They're a pathway to the good life. The news gets better. This isn't a guilt-driven, "do-better" collection of rules. Instead, it is a new way of thinking about yourself and God's work in you that unlocks so...

In Conclusion… this is how we wrap it up.  For the past month, we've imagined together what heaven will be like and why it matters. The vision of heaven we have discovered is not only about what is to come, but also what is meant to be—now.  Forever really does start now! When we imagine heaven well, we find three meaningful gifts for living fuller lives.   First time listening to our podcast?  We...

It's hard to imagine… Heaven can feel unknowable, and the unknowable isn't very attractive. But the life of Jesus and the teachings of Scripture have a surprising amount to say about life after this life: About our surroundings About activity and work About relationships Sharpen your view of Heaven, and you may discover strength and joy that were missing. That's the story of Revelation, Heaven, an...

Heaven… you've got questions! What starts out as a cloudy mystery quickly becomes a compelling curiosity. What does the Bible tell us about Heaven? A lot, it turns out—and it matters. You see, what we believe about life after death affects how we live before death. This weekend, we're answering some of the big questions about what comes next and how it gives us hope.   First time listening to our...

Everyone wants to go to heaven, but not yet. Hidden behind this common reality is a fear: Death. Death may not consume your mind, but if suddenly faced with our own mortality, it can be gripping. The truth about heaven is meant to transform how we think about death, and then how we feel, and finally what we fear. This is the story of the day death died and how that helps us live confidently.   Fir...

Clouds. Harps. Endless church. If that's your picture of heaven, I've got good news: it's even better than that.  Heaven isn't just a plan for someday—it's the answer to what we're longing for today. Our hearts know something is missing, and in the book of Revelation, at the end of the story, we find it. This weekend, we're kicking off a five-week journey on Revelation, Heaven, and Hope.   First t...

The enduring hopefulness of Christianity is grace. And by Christianity, I don't mean systems, theories, books, and buildings—no, I mean Christ… Jesus the Christ. If we're not careful, we will reduce grace to a cliché that fits on a bumper, a verse posted on social media, or a happy (but fleeting) feeling. Do that, and you will miss out on the enduring hopefulness you were meant to have. And who do...