Cape Cod Church Podcast

Paul, one of history's most influential figures, embarked on three epic journeys, spreading the story and example of Jesus across numerous cities. Over years of travel, he sowed seeds of faith that blossomed into vibrant communities. The power lay not in Paul, but in the message of Jesus. This weekend, we explore three ways to plant those same seeds.   First time listening to our podcast? We'd lik...

We admit it--we may bit addicted to the Olympics. We watched a badminton gold medal match between Denmark and Thailand! The modern Olympics began in 1896, but what makes the Olympic Games truly fascinating is their ancient origins. They originally ran for over 1,000 years (796 BC - 393 AD) and were even part of Paul's story. In the next chapter of our road trip with Paul, we find him using the pop...

It's Intern Sunday at Cape Cod Church! Our summer interns take the stage to share what they've learned; lead us in worship; and premier some special projects. With our young leaders at the helm, we continue our 'Road Trip' series! We've followed the Apostle Paul through a lot already: diverse cities, intense opposition, and hard conversations. We venture further into the unknown as Paul teaches us...

We've been following Paul's journey, and this week we find him at a pivotal moment: in the middle of a fight, middle-aged, and mid-journey. A lot has changed for him: new friends, a revamped work strategy, and a broadened perspective. There's a lot we can learn from a man in the middle–both good and bad. Some of the lessons may just surprise you!   First time listening to our podcast? We'd like to...

People are fickle; one day they're with you, the next day the crowd has moved on. Or worse, moved against you.   The inevitable result is conflict.   Conflict begins within us but doesn't always stay there, and perhaps it shouldn't. Paul's story is a lesson in crowds and conflict. He teaches us what to watch for, what to fight for, and how to do it Jesus' way.   First time listening to our podcast...

Our "Road Trip" through Paul's life has just begun, but the tension is real and rising.   If you typically feel that pain, resistance, and struggle are signs of failure—a warning to turn back or to change course—you may miss out on some of life's richest rewards. God often sees a hero where we see a zero. Our indicators for failure are not His indicators.   Let's view it from a different perspecti...

"Life is a highway," they say. (Yes, Lyrics is back for summer 2024.) Life is a journey, and we're all heading somewhere.   That journey can sometimes feel random, or even worse. Is God at work in your story? Does He have a plan for your road, a destination, a calling for your life?   Paul's epic road trip is about to begin, and it offers answers to all those questions.   First time listening to o...

No one likes packing for a road trip. We may look forward to the trip, but packing is part of the process, not the joy. Getting the packing list right can make all the difference in a trip. Paul is beginning one of the great journeys in history, but he has some packing to do—a season of preparation. Along the way, we will find the kind of people we all need around us, and we'll discover the best m...

Summer, road trips, and biographies – three of our favorite things that make a perfect combination. This summer, we're embarking on a road trip through the life of one of history's most influential figures: Paul. He was also known as Saul, or simply "The Apostle." Let's begin with the two events that transformed his life. Instead of stale stories from the 1st century, we'll discover how God used a...

We're almost done with the valley series, and we want to end with a reminder of how beautiful valleys can be.   This may sound impossible or even offensive, depending on how deep your current valley is. But it's true: as painful as the valley can be, it's also a place of beauty.   We often recognize this in hindsight. However, you don't have to wait. You can see the beauty while still in the valle...

We've been in the valley, the 'Valley of Vision.' Now, we're discovering a paradox: it's in the hard, hemmed-in places that we gain a clear view of how God works.  But how do we hone our vision? In this sermon, we explore how to clearly discern God in the valley and find peace. It's a path of paradox, but it's a path accessible to both you and me. First time listening to our podcast? We'd like to...

Remember when you were little? Do you recall what you were afraid of? When did that change? When did you exchange one set of fears for another? Oh yes, that's what we did—we exchanged old ones for new ones.   Our point is that old fears lost their power over us. They may even seem silly now.   Valley Vision is a new way of looking at valleys, and it's a new way of looking at fears. First time list...

How do you handle valleys? You know what we mean: how do you deal with hard times and hurt? How is it working for you? We don't mean strategically, like "Are you winning?" How is your soul, your joy, in the valley? A surprising amount of the Bible is devoted to addressing anxiety and how to overcome it. This reflects an ancient yet modern problem: how to navigate life's valleys. The surprising sol...

Each of us comes out of the womb trying to make sense of the world around us. The sights, sounds, and sensations—what do they mean, and what do we do with that information? To whom or where do we go to receive guidance? And when our role is to be the guide, how do we encourage another person to develop an 'ear to hear' what the LORD is saying? This weekend, we are talking about spiritual conversat...

Nothing beats a good recommendation from a local. Best Mother's Day brunch? Favorite ice cream stand, top hike with your dog? The hidden gem that most people aren't aware of, but should be? (This last one is a personal favorite.) This is how good news spreads... and it's also how the story of Jesus has been shared around the world. I know there may be some one-star reviews out there, but the true...

I've been a pastor for over 30 years now,  so it won't surprise you that I've heard a few stinging criticisms of Christianity. You know why they're stinging... because they're true, at least to some extent. That's the part that really hurts. What do we do with the baggage of Christianity, the stuff done in the name of Jesus throughout history, and yes– in more recent times?  If we want to tell the...

"Jesus is a well-loved teacher," that's hardly a controversial statement. "Jesus is "The Only Way" - these are outrageous words.  In a pluralistic and even secular society, exclusive claims are the most egregious. You may even cringe when you hear it said aloud. As we continue with the series 'Jesus Among the Gods', we'll explore how the exclusive claims of Christ and Christianity fit into plurali...

According to ChatGTP, Jesus is the most famous person in the world. But He's also the most controversial. We may agree that He's a big deal, but exactly what His deal is… not so much. As we kick off our series, we'll look at Jesus among the gods: How does Jesus compare to other religious icons, and is he an exclusive kind of guy? We'll talk about the bad stuff done in Jesus' name and how to share...

The Secret Life of Confident People… a finale! Paul has made his case, laid out a theology, encouraged us with strong and memorable promises, and filled us with lasting security. That seems to be part of the goal—an enduring confidence not shaken by circumstances, not subject to the whims of our emotions, grounded in the most unshakable truth of all. "Secure" is not a strong enough word, but it's...

How do we follow Easter? We do so by celebrating faith and the story of Jesus at work in people's lives, and we call it baptism—this is going to be good! As we continue the series, "Secret Life of Confident People," we will be back in Romans 8, answering the question, "How do we stand tall when it seems like the people around us have rocks?" You see, the secret life of confident people offers us a...

As we celebrate Easter, we remember the most discussed moment in all of human history, and we will do it with a few thousand of our friends and neighbors on Cape Cod. In fact, over 2 billion people worldwide will join the celebration! Why? Well, to start with, it's true, it happened. And… it's for you… and it changes destinies. That's worth celebrating. First time listening to our podcast? We'd li...

Holy Week begins here... Palm Sunday. We have matched our journey through Romans 8 with this moment in mind. There is a lesson here in the lead-up: a lesson about waiting, a lesson about crying, and an unexpected source of comfort. Sometimes, perhaps many times, pain is so complex and so deep that we don't know the way out we want or what to ask for. Life is like that—complicated and overwhelming....

"I thought when I became a Christian, life would get better."   "I've tried to pray, but I get nothing."   "Where is God? Why me?"   Life is hard. Sometimes, it feels unexpectedly hard or even unfair. So, what's the point of being a Christian?    As we continue our series, "Secret Life of Confident People," we explore the topic of faltering confidence. Those are the moments that shake us to the co...

And that's a wrap for the Thrive Conference 2024!   It was a weekend we'll never forget! People from 40 churches and groups all across Cape Cod came together to listen, learn, and see what good things God might want us to do next. We had a lot of fun and learned a lot about how to make our churches and communities better.   With the help of the Holy Spirit, we'll continue to foster great unity and...

The peace and confidence you're looking for is right in Romans 8. But let's not fool ourselves–it's also elusive. It's not easy to develop something invisible. Mental fortitude, the presence of the Spirit, a deep inner peace—we see their effects, so we know they're powerful. But how to get them? Sometimes, it can feel like grasping at a vapor! As we continue our series, "Secret Life of Confident P...