Eden Church NJ Podcast

What does Jesus mean by "Take up your cross and follow Him?"  Faith Isn’t a Product — It’s a Practice What do you do when following Jesus gets harder instead of easier? When obedience costs comfort, loss stacks on loss, and you start wondering: Is God mad at me? Did I miss something? In this raw and pastoral message from Matthew 16:21–24, Brandon confronts consumeristic faith head-on. Fa...

Is hell real? And if God is truly good, how could He ever send someone there? These aren’t abstract theology questions. These are deeply personal, emotionally loaded, and often the reason many people decide whether or not they will keep following Christianity. In this episode, Pastor Brandon Cobb speaks directly to the tension so many feel but rarely voice. With honesty, biblical clarity, and past...

What does it really mean to say Jesus is the Messiah? And why does that confession still matter in a culture full of spiritual options, hot takes, and half-hearted faith?  These are questions Jesus handles in Matthew 16:13-21.  In this message, Pastor Brandon Cobb presses into the most important question any person will ever answer: Who is Jesus, really? This teaching challenges the subtle pull of...

What happens when life shakes you? In this message, we confront a hard but freeing truth: what spills out of you reveals what’s already inside you . Leaning on Jesus’ words in Matthew 15:7-11, this sermon exposes the danger of legalism, shallow spirituality, and “doing what looks right” without real heart transformation. If you’ve ever wondered why you keep reacting the same way , why growth feels...

What if I only have a little bit of faith? Does tiny faith accomplish anything? What if I have a lot of faith, but the stress, noise, and pressure of this season is drowning it out? In this Christmas message, we explore how biblical hope, faith in Jesus, and the meaning of Christmas get lost when anxiety, disappointment, and cultural pressure pile up.  Drawing from Matthew 14:24-33 (when Jesus and...

Have you ever stopped to think about where you’re actually sending your hope? And what if the reason you feel worn down lately isn’t failure, but direction? In this message, we have a real conversation about misplaced expectations, quiet disappointment, and the subtle ways we learn to cope instead of believe. Using a familiar Christmas image and a well-known moment from the life of Jesus (Feeding...

In this message from Eden Church, we explore one of Jesus’ most provocative teachings in Matthew 13:44–53, where He compares the Kingdom of God to a hidden treasure and a priceless pearl. At the heart of this sermon is a searching question many of us avoid: What truly has our whole heart? Jesus boldly redefines wealth, joy, and devotion. This teaching invites listeners to reconsider how they asses...

In a world overflowing with noise, notifications, and never-ending demands, staying spiritually focused has never been more complicated. In this week's message, we explore the inner distractions that quietly drain our confidence, clarity, and calling. Not the loud, obvious distractions we typically blame. But the distractions that grow right alongside the good things God planted in us. Throug...

Why is it that some people's faith starts fast, some gets crowded out, and some grows deep enough to change a life? Emmanuel Harley broke down the parable of the sower in Matthew 13 to tackle this question.  If you've ever wondered how spiritual momentum continues or fades, this conversation is for you.  Support the show Pull up on  Sunday, doors open at 10:30 am (11 am start) 📍 Eden Ch...

Jesus didn't speak in parables to confuse you, He spoke in stories because He knows your heart learns in layers. In this message, Pastor Brandon opens  Matthew 13:10-17 to break down why some people hear God clearly while others stay stuck, and how a softer heart can change everything.  If you've ever looked at the Bible or the church and wondered, "Does this make sense? Can this be...

This teaching is for everyone who’s tired of feeling free one week and stuck the next. We went to Matthew 12:43-50 to break down why quick fixes don’t last and what Jesus actually says about real change.  We discussed the 4 Doors evil commonly walks into our lives through and how to close them. If you’re ready for a kind of freedom that holds up in real life, hit play. Support the show Pull up on ...

What if the rules meant to help you grow have quietly started holding you back? We're taking a look at how people responded to the ministry of Jesus in Matthew 12. In this teaching, Pastor Brandon wrestles with what happens when good religion turns into a cage — and how Jesus offers something lighter, freer, and far more powerful. It’s a raw, honest look at grace, holiness, and the weight we...

Just give me a sign and I'll believe. We often think if God would just physically show up then there wouldn't be reason to lack belief in God. But, Jesus is God in the flesh who showed up and people are already struggling to believe Him.  We turned to Matthew 11 to continue our series in Matthew and consider the real reason God won't give you another sign.  Support the show Pull up...

We continued in our Be Forreal sermon series in the Gospel according to Matthew. Today we made it to Matthew 10 where Jesus first commissions His disciples and charges them with some impactful words you need hear.  Support the show Pull up on  Sunday, doors open at 10:30 am (11 am start) 📍 Eden Church NJ (in Sara Tyndall Hall)  345 State Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601  Tithe to fuel the mission  by...

High Schoolers have some INCREDIBLE faith questions. They asked questions like, "How do you defend predestination?" "Is Jesus really the only way to God?" and "How do I break a porn addiction?" These are real questions that deserve honest answers.  Eden Church is privileged to be full of youth. We are a community with many students from K through College. This live re...

What does it mean to be God's child? Legitimate children learn how to operate in their families. This is at the heart of what Jesus meant when he admonished us that the harvest is plenty but the workers are few. The harvest of God is obvious and real around us. Let's talk about how to make sure the harvest doesn't spoil.  Support the show Pull up on  Sunday, doors open at 10:30 am (...

It's time to go deeper! Aaron Carr continues our Be Forreal series in Matthew 8, where Jesus performs miracles. Matthew slows the narrative down to deliver some important words from the King—there is a cost to discipleship. What is it?  Support the show Pull up on  Sunday, doors open at 10:30 am (11 am start) 📍 Eden Church NJ (in Sara Tyndall Hall)  345 State Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601  Ti...

"Make it make sense!" is one of the most popular phrases in the world right now. But what if our desire to make everything make sense is getting in the way of God's power showing up in our lives? We celebrated Eden Church's 1st Birthday with a sermon topic both saints and skeptics have both considered -- Are we supposed to really believe in miracles? How likely are the miracles...

It's time to grow, Eden! We are ultra grateful for all God has done over the first 52 Sundays of Eden Church NJ's existence. So many souls were added to the Kingdom of God.  As our community turns 1 year old, we believe it's time to grow the Garden of God in the Garden State! We continued in our Matthew series (Matthew 8:1-3) where Jesus heals a leper.  Support the show Pull up on ...

In this sermon from our Matthew series, Pastor Brandon unpacks Jesus' warning about false prophets and wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7).  Learn how o recognize fake Christians who have the flare of Jesus but not the fruit of Jesus, and why true discipleship is measured by repentance, obedience, and fruit that lasts. Discover how to guard your heart, follow Jesus faithfully, and liv...

The way of the cross is not left or right, it's up! The audio from this segment was originally posted on Instagram. It was received so well that we are now sharing it here.  Walk with us upward in unity. Eden Church is among the most diverse faith communities in all of New Jersey. We are figuring out how to be people from varying backgrounds, living and worshipping Jesus together. In a world...

When Jesus said "Do not judge," what does that mean? Don't watch me, watch tv? You're not allowed to make any judgments about what I do?  Jesus is landing the plane on the sermon on the mount. And he brings one of the most important principle to know in the Christian faith. We dive in to what God says about judgement in Matthew 7:1-6 at the end of a very judgmental week in Amer...

It's the Great Lock In! People are locking in to discipline this Fall in a unique way. And of course, Eden is here for it! Matthew 6 comes at the perfect time in our series. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus turns to give us specific steps we can take to lock into the heart of faith.  Support the show Pull up on  Sunday, doors open at 10:30 am (11 am start) 📍 Eden Church NJ (in Sara Tyndall...

We turn to one of the most important passages in the Bible to answer one of the most important questions in your faith walk: How should we live as God's children?  In Matthew 5:17-48, Jesus preaches what is known as the Six Antithesis Statements. We walked through them to understand how to read them properly and connect them to the Gospel. Support the show Pull up on  Sunday, doors open at 10...

We talked last week about how clarity doesn't always come. But that doesn't mean God is incoherent. We have clarity on more things than we lack.  One of those things in the standard of Christian living. How should we live as Christians? What are the marks of true Christianity? This is the exact question Jesus answers in the Sermon on the Mount.  Here we start a new section in our Matthew...