Menlo Church Podcasts

Jonah wasn’t just running from a mission; he was running from feeling. He was numb to Nineveh, bitter toward mercy, and disengaged from his calling. In this four-week series, we’ll trace Jonah’s emotional and spiritual journey as a mirror for our own: a warning against apathy, a call to compassion, and a God who keeps pursuing even when we shut down. Connect with Us | Text Us: (650)600-0402

This week Alisha is back, and Troy Patterson Jr. makes his first appearance to help us unpack what it means to have a strong foundation, how to battle with doubt, and look ahead to what's coming next! Connect with Us | Text Us: (650)600-0402

We close with a vision of faith rebuilt on Jesus, not on cultural scaffolding. Isaiah 61 reminds us that God brings beauty from ashes—and Jude 1:22 calls us to be merciful to those who doubt. This is not a return to where we were—it’s the beginning of where God is taking us. Connect with Us | Text Us: (650)600-0402

This week Jessica Morgan, our Menlo Park Associate Family Pastor, sits down with us to further lean into what it means to dive into doubt both personally, and for the kids and students in our life.  Connect with Us | Text Us: (650)600-0402

Mark 9:24 is the anthem of our generation: “I believe; help my unbelief.” This message explores the paradox of trusting Jesus while not having all the answers. The renewal we long for begins with a remnant learning to stand in uncertainty with conviction, not anxiety. Certainty often comes by blending things we think we can control with the mysteries we can’t, but curiosity leads to something much...

This week the Reverend Doctor Scott Palmbush joins us to walkthrough what it means to doubt our faiths, ask and answer questions of doubt well, and encourages us that this is, indeed, a normal and shared experience. If you struggle with doubt, or have a questions about faith deepens your doubt, text our team and we will chat about this on the next podcast! Connect with Us | Text Us: (650)600-0402

We live in an age of unraveling—where inherited faith is being deconstructed, institutions are distrusted, and certainty is rare. But maybe doubt isn’t a detour from discipleship. Maybe it’s the door. Benefit of the Doubt invites us into the tension of belief and uncertainty. We’ll learn how doubt can purify faith rather than destroy it—and why resilient discipleship in a secular age requires dept...

This week we dive deeper into how to bring peace in a time where there is so much division around us. Matt and Junior help lay out some practical steps to take this week to lead ourselves and those around us to hope bring hope and peace. See you this Friday at San Mateo for the Worship Night ! Connect with Us | Text Us: (650)600-0402

In this special episode of the podcast, Phil and Dawn walk us through some of the big picture questions around the Annual Congregational Meeting that happened in services today, as well as answer the questions that were submitted to us to help inform voting and strategy.  To vote, or see anything mentioned in this podcast around Bylaw Updates, Elders, or strategy click HERE .

In this message, we dive into the increasing polarization of our world, the loss of our cultural “third places,” and the way outrage has become a business model. Drawing inspiration from C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, we explore how the real battle is not right vs. left, but darkness vs. light — and how followers of Jesus are called to wage peace instead of war. This weekend at Menlo Church, w...

Phil and Mark close out our series by circling around the importance of having deep roots, even if that means for a short time - and how we can only expect fruit if the roots are present. And, if you are listening to this when it comes out, see you at our Annual Congregational Meeting this weekend (9/21) in services!  Text Us: (650)600-0402 | Connect with Us

In a world that’s always looking for the next best thing—next job, next city, next community—God invites His people to plant themselves. In Jeremiah 29, God speaks to His people in exile, not with a plan for escape, but with a call to invest deeply in the place they find themselves. Even in discomfort, God calls us to build, plant, and pray. This message will challenge us to resist the cultural pu...

On Sept 21, Covenant Partners will be able to vote in our new prospective elders! Janie has her roots at Mountain View, San Jose and most recently our Saratoga Campus. Kevin serves as a kids volunteer at our San Mateo Campus and is part of our search committee for our next permanent location for his campus. Maddie also serves with kids at our Menlo Park Campus. Find out more information around our...

This week Sam Talbert joins us to discus what it means to have hospitality in all spaces of our lives, and how that can translate into forming relationships that open up opportunities to talk about Jesus (in not a weird way).  Connect with Us | Text Us: (650)600-0402

Jesus' ministry was defined by the table. He made outsiders insiders and used meals to teach grace. We’ll explore Luke 14:12–24 and the radical hospitality of the kingdom. Opening our homes is a spiritual discipline, not a social luxury. When we understand our homes as extensions of God’s grace in our lives, then we aren’t letting people into our space, we are making space for people in God’s grac...

Welcome to the Markcast, where Mark and Mark dive into our Art of Showing Up series by defining what it means to be present with those around us, have better relationships with our neighbors and explore the power of presence. Connect with us | Text Us: (650)600-0402 Connect with Us | Text Us: (650)600-0402

Jesus never seemed in a hurry, even when crowds demanded His attention. Drawing from the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37), we’ll unpack how formation happens in our margins—not our schedules. Living a Spirit-led life means being interruptible. One of our kingdom qualities is being an unhurried friend, and this passage challenges us to consider who our friend is, the same way that Jesus challenged fi...

This week the Morinishi's team up to chat through what it means to show up, talk the challenges of community, and have an intervention with Phil! Connect with Us | Text Us: (650)600-0402

The most powerful way to reflect the heart of Jesus isn't through grand gestures—it's through presence. This series walks through key moments in Scripture where Jesus or His followers simply showed up—with compassion, intentionality, and courage. In a culture of disconnection and self-focus, we’ll learn what it means to take the risk of proximity, live interruptible lives, and make room at our tab...

How do we let God take the lead in times of trouble or unknown? We further unpack this questions giving some practical tips around things that help us remember God's faithfulness, and how to start the Fall season well! Connect with Us | Text Us: (650)600-0402

Before Israel ever faced the Red Sea, God made His presence and leadership unmistakable. In the wilderness, a pillar of cloud guided them by day and a pillar of fire by night—an unmissable reminder that they weren’t navigating life alone. The cloud didn’t give them a full map, just the next step. Sometimes it stayed for a day, sometimes for months, but Israel moved only when God moved. In our own...

This week Mette, our Next Gen Intern, joins us to join into the conversation around rest, sabbath, pace and perspective - and how when we rest well we can actually perform better! Connect with Us | Text Us: (650)600-0402

In the wilderness, Israel grumbled, rebelled, and doubted—but God still provided manna. This week reminds us that failure isn’t final. God meets us with grace in the midst of our wandering and invites us to start fresh. No matter how far we’ve gone, it’s never too late to return to the One who provides. Connect with Us | Text Us: (650)600-0402

This week Matt and Harold chime in on Matt's over use of alliteration, the Prince of Egypt soundtrack, and give practical take aways for how to better listen and lead. Connect with Us | Text Us: (650)600-0402

While Moses is meeting with God, Israel panics and builds the golden calf. We all know what it feels like to get tired of waiting—for answers, direction, or hope. When we take leadership into our own hands, we risk making something shiny that isn’t sacred. This message invites us to ask: what golden calves are we tempted to worship? Connect with Us | Text Us: (650)600-0402