Calvary Palisades Podcast

Matthew 4 shows us that temptation often begins with a subtle question: do you really trust God? Jesus refuses every shortcut offered to him because he knows who he is and trusts the Father completely. The passage teaches us how a secure identity protects us when pressure comes.

Ecclesiastes gives language to a question people often feel but rarely admit: what if the things we are chasing do not actually satisfy us? The book looks honestly at success, pleasure, work, and ambition and concludes that life only makes sense when it is lived in relationship with God.

Samson is one of the strongest men in the Bible and one of its clearest examples of wasted potential. His life warns us that talent, intelligence, athletic ability, and influence cannot substitute for character. Real strength is the ability to govern yourself faithfully before God. Pastor Justin teaches out of Judges 13–16.

God’s people are enslaved, oppressed, and powerless. Pharaoh appears to control the future, but God has not forgotten his people. God sees their suffering, hears their cries, and acts on their behalf. Moses feels inadequate, but God’s calling is grounded in God’s presence. Deliverance begins because God is faithful.

This is an introduction—yes, to the Bible, but really to Jesus. And getting introduced to Jesus is less like meeting a new acquaintance and more like discovering gravity: everything else only makes sense in relation to Him. So ask what it means for your life—but start with what it reveals about Him. That is the gospel center: the Bible does not finally hand you a mirror; it hands you Christ. Read...

Do you believe God is generous? Jesus says, “Ask, seek, knock,” not because God is reluctant, but because he is good. This Sunday, we’ll close The Good Life by looking at beauty not as something we achieve or manufacture, but as a gift from a generous Father who delights to give good gifts to his children. There is more than self-made success—there is a beautiful life received with trust, joy, and...

We spend hours a day online—scrolling, posting, reacting—without always realizing how deeply technology is shaping us. This Sunday, we’ll look at what Jesus means when he calls his people salt and light, and what it could look like for our digital lives to reflect his truth, clarity, and presence. There is more than distraction, outrage, and influence-chasing. Join us as we consider a more intenti...

We live in one of the wealthiest cities in the world, so why does it still never feel like enough? This Sunday, we’ll look at what Jesus says about money, treasure, and the way our hearts are shaped by what we value most. No one wants to hear about money in church, but I promise, there is more than accumulation, and this message is for anyone who wants a freer, wiser, more grounded way to think ab...

Work is competitive. Your reputation matters. Your peers and competitors cut corners. But what if Christians worked differently? This Sunday, we’ll look at what Jesus says about retaliation, integrity, and the kind of character that should shape our ambition. There is more than climbing the ladder, and this message is for anyone who wants to work with conviction, strength, and a deeper sense of pu...

Ever feel like your spiritual life is inconsistent or shallow (or basically non-existent)? Jesus didn’t just call people to believe the right things—he invited them into a deeper life with God. This Sunday, we’ll look at the Lord’s Prayer as a pathway into real spiritual depth, deeper trust, and a more grounded relationship with God. There is more than surface spirituality, and this message is for...

Single in LA? It can feel exhausting—the pressure, the apps, the comparison, and the constant question of whether singleness is just a waiting room. This Sunday, we’ll look at how Jesus and the whole Bible paint a bigger, better picture of love, identity, purpose, romance, and intimacy. Whether you’re single or married and wanting to grow in romance and deeper connection, this message will offer c...

We want more from relationships — more passion, more connection, more happiness. But instead we often get more conflict, more distance, more quitting. Jesus talks about anger, lust, and divorce — not to restrict love, but to protect it. There is more than surface-level romance.

Parents feel it every day — the pressure to do more, give more, protect more. But what if all that anxiety is pointing to something deeper? Jesus says, “Do not worry.” Not because parenting is easy — but because your Father is good. If you’ve ever felt the weight of not being enough as a parent, this Sunday is for you. There is more than fear-driven parenting. Join us at 10:00 am as pastor Justin...

Everyone believes, everyone hopes, and everyone doubts. The question is where will you place your faith. Pastor Justin challenges us to question why we choose to trust some things with no evidence while at times dismissing well documented facts. Did Jesus really rise from the dead, this Easter we are challenged to doubt our doubts. Join us for Easter Sunday at 9 am as Justin teaches on the Resurre...

This Sunday in Mark 8:22–38 , Jesus heals a man in a way that’s strangely gradual—then immediately asks a question that’s still the big one: Who do you think I am? What follows is not religious fluff; it’s Jesus challenging our obsession with control, comfort, and image, and offering a different kind of life that actually holds up. If you’re curious about Jesus but allergic to churchy talk, come t...

This Sunday in Mark 6:14–29 , the story turns dark—power, image-management, guilt, and a leader so afraid of looking weak that he makes a decision he can’t take back. It’s a brutal, surprisingly modern look at what happens when fear runs your life and truth becomes negotiable. If you’ve ever wondered whether Christianity can handle the real world (not just the inspirational parts), come to Calvary...

In Mark 6:1–13, Jesus is rejected in his hometown because people think they already know him, and their familiarity keeps them from faith. He then sends the disciples out with simple instructions to preach repentance, cast out demons, and heal—showing that God works through ordinary people who depend on him.

Most of us treat life like an endless scroll—lots of information, very little clarity. In Mark 4:21–25 , Jesus says two sharp things: you don’t light a lamp to hide it , and what you pay attention to is what grows in you —and if you ignore the important stuff, you don’t stay the same, you slowly lose it. If you’d like your life to feel less reactive and more grounded, come to Calvary this Sunday a...

Jesus meets two kinds of pressure every parent knows: the public kind where you’re supposed to keep it together, and the private kind you don’t talk about. A respected leader—used to being the competent one—has to admit he can’t fix what’s happening to his daughter, and he risks his reputation to ask Jesus for help. At the same time, a woman who’s been quietly losing for years reaches out in despe...

This week Kyle Osland takes us through Mark 6:45-52. Jesus goes up on the mountaintop to pray after feeding the five thousand, while the disciples begin rowing for Bethsaida. The Sea of Galilee sits in a rift valley, where wind storms can quickly arise, a frequent challenge for local fishermen. Only the bigger fear this time, is that Jesus comes to them walking on the sea.

God always provides for His children, yet it demands eyes of faith to discern His unwavering faithfulness amid the shadows of dark times. True understanding blooms not in abundance alone, but in the subtle grace that sustains us through every trial. Join us as guest preacher Markel Croston shares from Mark 6:30-44, Mark 8:1-21.

Love is great, necessary even, but love without power is merely sentiment. On the other hand, power without love is the stuff of nightmares. In this week’s passage, we see Jesus’ terrifying power unleashed on both the natural and supernatural world. But rather than it just being a demonstration of raw power, Jesus uses his power to overcome evil for those he loves. That’s the kind of King we need,...

This week Pastor Justin dives into the idea of an inaugurated Kingdom (Already/Not Yet). We will look at what we know about it theologically then quickly hone in on what it means for us practically. We can taste the Kingdom, but it will always disappoint in its partialness?!

This week, we’re skipping ahead to an interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees in Mark 7. The first four weeks of the series is about the nature of the Kingdom and this text gives us a key piece. Namely, that sin, and therefore sin’s solution, works inside out. So too is the Kingdom of God an inside out Kingdom.

Why does Jesus talk about seeds so much, and what in the world does that have to do with the Kingdom of God? It’s a great question, and one that Pastor Justin will answer this week as we continue our series in the Gospel of Mark.