Collective Church Podcast

From the series "Endure". 2 Timothy 2:8-13

From the series "Endure". 2 Timothy 2:1-7 Pastor Ryan Smith continues in our summer series, "Endure" by looking at 2 Timothy 2:1-7 and the purpose, pattern, and power of both faithful pastors and faithful church communities.

From the series "Endure". 2 Timothy 1:8-18 Pastor Isaac Brickner continues our summer series, "Endure: The Letter of 2 Timothy." How can we be sure that all the challenges we endure as followers of Jesus are meaningful? Paul offers his young protege Timothy a paradigm shift for understanding suffering so he won't give up even as everyone around him seems to be.

From the series "Endure". 2 Timothy 1:1-7 Guest Pastor Mike Portland from Reality LA joins us as we kick off our summer series: "Endure: The Letter of 2 Timothy." In the opening of the Apostle Paul's final letter, we find both an invitation and instruction in the way of a resilient faith.

From the series "Peculiar". 1 Thessalonians 1:1-7 Pastor Ryan Smith closes out our "Peculiar" series on the six distinctives of the early Church looking at 1 Thessalonians 1:1-7 and the peculiar way of Resilient Hope. Despite suffering and struggles the earliest Christians had a hope which weathered it all. As we live our lives in an increasingly chaotic and chaotic age, how can we recapture this...

From the series "Peculiar". 1 Corinthians 6:12-7:9 As we continue in our "Peculiar" series on the six distinctives of the early church, Pastor Ryan Smith teaches on 1 Corinthians 6:12–7:9 and the Sexual Revolution the first Christians led. In an age like ours that believed sex and our bodies were about rights, appetites, and were insignificant, the Ethics of Easter brought a declaration of the cos...

From the series "Peculiar". Genesis 1:26-31, Psalm 139:13-17, Proverbs 31:8-9 Pastor Ryan Smith continues in our latest series, "Peculiar: The People of God & the Ethics of Easter" by examining the early church's practical and holistic commitment to the sanctity of life. Though this took a myriad of forms – they were most known for their response to abortion, infanticide, and exposure. In a cultur...

From the series "Peculiar". Romans 12:14–21, Romans 5:6-11, 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 As we continue in our "Peculiar" series recapturing the distinctives of the early Church, Pastor Ryan Smith examines what Romans called "obstinate foolishness." Though Christians were often excluded, criticized, persecuted, and even killed, they taught forgiveness, withheld retaliation, and loved their enemies. In thi...

From the series "Peculiar". 1 John 3:16-18; 2 Corinthians 8:9 Pastor Ryan Smith continues in "Peculiar: The People of God & the Ethics of Easter" by looking at the radical charity and generosity of the early church, its basis in the heart of the Gospel, and practical steps for recapturing this distinctive. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Peculiar". Ephesians 2:11-22; Galatians 3:26-28 Pastor Ryan Smith continues in our latest series, "Peculiar: The People of God & the Ethics of Easter" by examining the diversity of the early Church. In a world which categorized and divided people into varying layers of value and privilege, the diversity and unity of Christians shook the world so much so that they were described as...

From the series "Peculiar". 1 Peter 2:9-12; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 28:16-20 Pastor Ryan Smith begins our new series, "Peculiar: The People of God and the Ethics of Easter." How can Christians not just survive, but thrive in a world that views them as stupid, irrelevant, and dangerous all at the same time? Is the Church and our church destined to a sort of subsistence-spirituality at best or is it...

Reflecting on John 20:1-18, Pastor Ryan Smith investigates what it means to begin to realize the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Smoke & Mirrors". Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14 Pastor Ryan Smith closes out our spring series, "Smoke & Mirrors: Deconstructing Los Angeles with the Book of Ecclesiastes." What is the good life in the land of smoke and mirrors? Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Smoke & Mirrors". Ecclesiastes 9:1-11:6 Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Smoke & Mirrors". Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, 8:2-17 As we continue in the book of Ecclesiastes, the Deconstructor shifts his attention to our relationship to God. Over our series so far, we've looked at the foolishness in believing humans can control time and tame nature. Pastor Ryan Smith unpacks the similar foolishness in believing we can control God and the proper posture for those wh...

From the series "Smoke & Mirrors". Ecclesiastes 6:10-8:1 As we move into the back half of the book of Ecclesiastes, we begin to examine how we should live in a world and city where "all is vanity." Pastor Ryan Smith looks at the Deconstructor's offering of wisdom as the better way of life before ultimately finding that wisdom too is vanity, smoke and mirrors. The world is too chaotic, wisdom is to...

From the series "Smoke & Mirrors". Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:9 Pastor Ryan Smith continues in our Spring series, "Smoke & Mirrors: Deconstructing Los Angeles with the Book of Ecclesiastes." At the middle of the book we find the Deconstructor's darkest and sharpest words in relationship to wealth, money, and possessions. In a city shaped by consumerism and materialism, we must come to terms with their van...

From the series "Smoke & Mirrors". Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16 Pastor Ryan Smith continues our series, "Smoke & Mirrors: Deconstructing Los Angeles with the Book of Ecclesiastes" looking at the brutality and loneliness of the jungle that is Los Angeles. Where do these things come from and where is the better life found? Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Smoke & Mirrors". Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 The Deconstructor examines how time is not a resource we possess to spend, save, or waste. Time is a current and we have no control over its turns. In light of this, we need to humble ourselves and receive each season as it comes and trust that the end of time is moving toward resurrection. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Smoke & Mirrors". Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26 Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Smoke & Mirrors". Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 Pastor Ryan Smith begins our next series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deconstructing Los Angeles with the Book of Ecclesiastes. Los Angeles is a city where nothing is lasting, significant or satisfying. Rather, it's all "smoke and mirrors." How can we find a life of substance in our lives "under the sun?" Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Blessed". Numbers 6:22-27; Ephesians 2:11-22 Pastor Isaac Brickner closes out "Blessed" our series in the Priestly Blessing of Numbers 6:22-27, looking at the final pillar of the blessed life: receiving and making peace. When you think of peace, what sort of images come to mind? Most likely it's the absence or acceptance of conflict and chaos. In the Bible, peace is a larger idea...

From the series "Blessed". Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 4 As we continue in our "Blessed" series in the Priestly Blessing of Numbers 6:22-27, Pastor Ryan Smith teaches on the blessing of God "lifting up his countenance upon you." What in the world does that even mean?! And in our age of digital distraction, could undivided attention be one of the greatest gifts we could receive from God and give to othe...

From the series "Blessed". Numbers 6:22-27; Ephesians 2:8; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Ephesians 1:7; Exodus 34:6-7 Pastor & Professor Dr. Gerry Breshears from Grace Community Church & Western Seminary in Portland joins us for a look at the grace of God as we continue in our "Blessed" series.

From the series "Blessed". Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 80; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, 4:6 Pastor Ryan Smith continues our series, "Blessed" in the Priestly Blessing of Numbers 6:22-27. If you were to picture Jesus looking at you, what face would he be making? Disappointment? Anger? Apathy? In the third pillar of the blessed life, we are invited to contemplate the shining or smiling face of God. What would...