Neighborhood Church Podcast

What does it mean to live boldly for your faith, even when the cost is high? In the final installment of our Stories series, Forrest Jenan explores the story of three ordinary men—Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, and George Blaurock—who stood against religious norms to embrace a deeper allegiance to Jesus. In a time when church and state were inseparable, these pioneers risked everything to follow a fai...

How do you follow Jesus when the world around you is broken and unjust? Martin Luther King Jr.’s life offers a powerful answer. King didn’t just dream of a better world–he lived and ultimately, died for a better world. Rooted in his trust in Jesus and Scripture’s call to justice, mercy, and love, he confronted hate with non-violence and he face fear with bold faith. In Part 3 of Stories, Forrest J...

What makes a hero? Is it their extraordinary accomplishments, or is it the quiet, hidden steps they take along the way? In Part 2 of our series Stories, Stephanie Benthin shares the story of Amy Carmichael. Her story stands as a reminder that even the smallest, most ordinary acts of faithfulness—praying, showing kindness, saying “yes” to God’s call—can have ripple effects far beyond what we can im...

As we begin a new year, we often feel the pressure to dream big, change the world, or leave a lasting legacy. But what if true impact is found not in striving for fame or grandeur but in the small, faithful acts of love that shape our daily lives? In Part 1 of STORIES, Jordan Brokaw shares the story of Thérèse of Lisieux and her “Little Way,” a way of life to remind us that following Jesus doesn’t...

From Jesus’ declaration as the “Bread of Life” to His birth in Bethlehem—the "House of Bread"—the details of the Christmas story reveal a deeper truth. The Savior of the world, born in a feeding trough, came not only to sustain us physically but to satisfy the deepest hunger in our souls. What does it mean that the Bread of Life was born in such a humble way, in a town steeped in the symbolism of...

When God chose to announce the birth of Jesus, He didn’t choose kings, religious elites, or the powerful. He chose humble shepherds, overlooked by society. In Part 3 of our series Birth Announcement, Darrin Cantrell invites us to see the shepherds as mirrors of our own lives. Just as God knew their struggles and significance, He knows ours. Whether you're walking through joy or pain this season, t...

What if God is trying to communicate with you—but you’ve been missing the message? In Part 2 of our Christmas series, Birth Announcement, Brian Ross dives into the incredible stories of angels in the Christmas narrative, reminding us that God is constantly reaching out in ways we may not recognize. Through the experiences of Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds, we see how divine messages often arrive...

The arrival of Jesus wasn’t just the beginning of a story; it was the culmination of a 2,000-year promise, a declaration of hope in the midst of darkness. Through centuries of waiting and trials, the promise of a Savior was whispered, anticipated, and finally fulfilled. In Part 1 of our series, Birth Announcement, we explore how the Christmas story is more than an event in history. It’s a challeng...

We all have hidden potential—gifts and purposes waiting to be unlocked. What’s holding us back? For many of us, we’re trapped by things like comparison, competition, and a need to be perfect. In our final installment of Becoming Yourself, we explore how Jesus offers us the kind of grace that invites us to grow, flourish, and thrive. How does grace make space for you to grow and open the door to be...

Ever notice how society celebrates the extraordinary? We’re mesmerized by stories of people who push beyond human limits. It can leave us with an exhausting message: that to matter, we must be extraordinary. In Part 4 of Becoming Yourself, we explore the relentless pursuit to do more, achieve more, and be more. In that pursuit, we often find ourselves living marginless, stressed-out lives, constan...

You are God’s masterpiece in the making. It’s a wild concept to grasp, especially when our inner world is filled with tension, self-doubt, and that nagging feeling we’ll never measure up. But what if everything you believed about you and your worth came down this one extraordinary truth? In Part 3 of Becoming Yourself, we’re diving into the reality that God is crafting each of us with purpose, eve...

We all know the feeling of shame—the instinct to hide our flaws and failures. But what if God’s response to our mess isn’t what we expect? In this message, we explore how grace calls us out of hiding and into a life of freedom. Join us as we dive into the radical truth that you are fully known, fully loved, and never too broken for God’s love. YOUTUBE LINK: https://youtu.be/yit8MGnh7BE YOUVERSION...

What do you do when the loudest voice in your mind is the one telling you, “You’re not good enough”? Most everyone knows that sinking feeling all too well—the weight of self-doubt, shame, or fear of not measuring up. It’s the inner critic running the show, convincing us that our worth is tied to our performance, looks, or achievements. But what if that voice isn’t telling the truth? In Part 1 of B...

What if the goal of faith isn’t just about following rules or staying out of trouble until you die? In the final message of our Note To Self series, Forrest Jenan explores a new way of thinking about faith, one that pushes beyond a checklist of dos and don’ts and into something deeper––building the kind of character that reflects love, inside and out. Are you stuck asking “What do I need to do to...

St. Peter, writing nearly 2,000 years ago, urged his readers to build their character by adding mutual affection to their faith—a type of affection rooted in deep, meaningful, and life-sustaining relationships. But here’s the problem: we’re losing the art of friendship. In our world today, we’re more isolated, invisible, and disconnected than ever before. In this teaching Forrest dives into mutual...

Have you ever wondered how to connect with something bigger? Have you ever craved a deeper experience of faith that transcends the day-to-day struggles? In Part 5 of our Note To Self series, Brian Ross explores how godliness isn’t about becoming perfect or checking religious boxes. It’s about choosing spiritual practices that allow the goodness of God to flow through you. If you’re tired of the st...

We all face trials and hardship, and the temptation to give up when life gets hard is all too real. But what if the challenges we encounter aren’t just obstacles to overcome but opportunities for our faith to grow stronger? In Part 4 of Note To Self, Forrest Jenan explores the idea of perseverance and how it’s not merely about surviving tough times–it’s about learning how to thrive in them. Could...

Everywhere we turn, we're encouraged to indulge and satisfy our every desire. There's a different path to consider - one where self-control is not just an outdated virtue but a gateway to spiritual growth and connection. In Part 3 of our Note To Self series, Brian Ross explores how our cravings and impulses might be holding us back from a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God. Could it...

We live in a world that celebrates knowledge–science, reason, and human achievement–but what if we’re missing something deeper? In the second part of Note To Self, we explore Peter’s letter, where he calls us to add knowledge to our faith. Not just any knowledge, but a king that goes beyond the physical world and opens our eyes to spiritual reality happening all around us. How do we break free fro...

It’s easy to lose focus on what truly matters. The same way we need reminders to run an errand or make that appointment, we need spiritual reminders to keep out hearts aligned with Jesus. Peter’s letter to early followers of Jesus speaks directly to this challenge, reminding them–and us–that following Jesus requires intentional growth and daily reminders of who we are called to be. What does it lo...

Pain is the last place we want to be but when we can push through by following His lead, pain can lead to freedom.

When Jesus launched his new Kingdom, he turned the world's understanding of greatness on its head—power was found in weakness, and leaders were called to serve, not dominate. So why, today, do so many Christians get caught up in the pursuit of political influence as though it holds the key to saving our nation?  In this message, Forrest Jenan explores how Jesus transcends our current politica...

In a world that seems more divided than ever, how do we bridge the gaps that politics create?  In this message, we’ll wrestle with how our faith calls us to move beyond the blame game and instead become a force for unity in a fractured world. Is it possible to disagree politically and still love unconditionally? Can we truly get along despite our deep differences? Let’s explore the posture Je...

Is there such a thing as a Christian political party? As we explore the intersections of Jesus’ teachings with modern political ideologies, we’ll discover that the values of the Kingdom of God often challenge the partisan lines we draw. Are we willing to submit our political leanings to the lordship of Jesus?

Was the United States founded as a Christian nation? Can any nation be a Christian nation? These questions spark debate and division, especially now with the rise of Christian Nationalism in America. We’re often caught in a tug-of-war between two perspectives. How do the teachings of Jesus challenge our understanding of political power and engagement? And how to we avoid the pitfalls of division a...