The Journey Church Houston Podcast

What does it mean to finish well in the Christian life? In this episode, we explore Jacob’s final moments in Genesis 48–49—moments filled with faith, prophetic vision, and deep hope in God’s promises. Jacob “graduates” from his lifelong school of faith by: • Adopting and blessing Joseph’s sons, trusting God’s surprising ways. • Speaking prophetic blessings over his children, looking ahead to their...

The story of Scripture reaches its climax in the arrival of the long-awaited King! In this episode of The Grand Story of Scripture, Pastor Steven Hiller unpacks how the birth and presentation of Jesus in the Gospels fulfill the promises made to Abraham and David, bringing God’s redemptive plan to its most thrilling turning point. From the Garden to the manger, from the covenants to Christ, every t...

Have you ever noticed how promises change the way we live? In Genesis 46–47, we find Jacob near the end of his life, finally learning to rest in God’s promises. What seems like a backward move to Egypt is actually God advancing His plan, to make Israel a great nation, to go with them, and ultimately to bring them home. Jacob’s hope points forward to Jesus Christ, who went down into the grave for o...

Have you ever felt like life didn’t live up to your expectations? Israel knew that feeling deeply. In this episode of The Grand Story of Scripture, we explore the rising action of God’s redemptive story through the Exile and Hopeful Return. From Ezekiel’s vision of God’s departing glory to Daniel’s assurance of God’s sovereignty, from the rebuilding efforts under Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah to...

Do you ever feel like life is just a never-ending to-do list? Like you’re constantly juggling responsibilities, worries, and expectations without a moment to catch your breath? In this second session from our Rest in the Lord Women’s Retreat, Jennifer Perez, Deaconess of Ministry to Women at The Journey Church Houston, helps us take a deeper look at the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38–42. T...

What if the pain you’re walking through is actually part of something bigger? In Genesis 45, Joseph finally reveals himself to the brothers who sold him into slavery. But instead of bitterness, he responds with grace because he’s learned to see God’s plan through his suffering. In this message, Pastor Steven Hiller unpacks how the perspective of God’s plan changes everything: it frees us from guil...

Do you ever feel like life is moving too fast ... juggling responsibilities, running from one task to the next, trying to do it all for everyone? In this first session from our Rest in the Lord Women’s Retreat, Jennifer Perez, Deaconess of Ministry to Women at The Journey Church, leads us through the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38–42). Through Martha’s busyness and Mary’s stillness, Jesus of...

In this episode of The Grand Story of Scripture, we follow the dramatic rise and heartbreaking fall of Israel’s kingdom. From David’s victories to Solomon’s wisdom, the Garden Kingdom seems finally restored until pride, idolatry, and disobedience lead to division, exile, and ruin. Yet through every failure, God’s faithfulness remains. The prophets warn of judgment but also point to a coming New Co...

In Genesis 44, Judah, the brother who once sold Joseph into slavery, offers himself as a substitute for Benjamin. It’s one of the most moving redemption stories in the Old Testament and a powerful preview of the gospel: the selfish becomes sacrificial, and the guilty becomes a substitute for the innocent. In this message, Pastor Mace Perez unpacks how God transforms hardened hearts into hearts tha...

In this episode of The Grand Story of Scripture, Pastor Mace Perez explores the rising action of God’s redemptive story through Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, the Psalms, and the Wisdom Books. The question driving this part of the story is: The Kingdom is here… or is it? We’ll see how Ruth’s quiet faith leads to David—the king after God’s own heart—and how the Davidic Covenant raises our hopes for a last...

What if the hardest seasons in your life were actually God’s mercy in disguise? In Genesis 42–43, Joseph puts his brothers to the test—not to condemn them, but to expose their hearts and lead them toward repentance and restoration. In the same way, God graciously uses testing to reveal what’s really inside us so that He can bring healing, not harm. Whether you’re walking through a season of hardsh...

n this episode, Pastor Steven Hiller takes us through the dramatic rise and fall of Israel’s early Kingdom, from the triumphs of Joshua to the chaos of Judges. Israel finally enters the Promised Land, but the victory doesn’t last long. Through stories like Rahab’s redemption, the fall of Jericho, and the tragic cycles of disobedience in Judges, we see a sobering truth: God’s people can’t keep His...

What do you do when life doesn’t go according to plan, maybe even painfully so? In Genesis 41, Joseph’s story pivots “from the prison to the palace.” After years of waiting, God’s sovereign timing finally unfolds. What Joseph couldn’t see in the pit, God was perfectly orchestrating all along, for His glory and Joseph’s good. In this message, Pastor Mace Perez shows how God’s providence, His wise a...

The Grand Story of Scripture – Session 4: God Calls Out and Constitutes His Kingdom People (Exodus–Deuteronomy) In this episode of The Grand Story of Scripture, Pastor Mace Perez help us trace the next movement in God’s Kingdom story—from Abraham’s family in Egypt to a nation called out, rescued, and set apart to live under God’s good rule. Through the drama of the Exodus, the giving of the Law, a...

What do you do when it feels like God has forgotten you? In Genesis 40, Joseph sits unjustly imprisoned, waiting for God to act. Forgotten by people—but never forgotten by God. In this episode, Pastor Steven Hiller explores Joseph’s time in the dungeon and the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker. We see that even in the waiting, God is still at work, weaving His purposes for His glory and our...

The Bible is not a random collection of stories—it’s one unified narrative, the true story of the world. In this episode of The Grand Story of Scripture, Pastor Steven Hiller unpacks the Rising Action: God Promises His Kingdom (Genesis 4–50). From Cain and Abel to Noah, from Babel to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, we trace the battle between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent. W...

Where do we find strength and courage when life feels overwhelming? In Genesis 39, Joseph is betrayed, enslaved, falsely accused, and imprisoned—yet Scripture repeats a powerful truth: “The Lord was with Joseph.” In this episode, Pastor Mace Perez helps us explore how God’s presence: Strengthens us in temptation Sustains us in suffering Advances His plan of salvation through Christ The greatest bl...

In this second session of The Grand Story of Scripture, we dive into the Garden Kingdom and its Fall (Genesis 1–3). These opening chapters aren’t just the beginning of the Bible—they’re the exposition of the true story of the world, the story that explains who we are, why we’re here, what went wrong, and where our hope lies. Pastor Steven Hiller helps us unpack the Bible’s plot structure—expositio...

Life gets messy. Maybe you’ve made a bad financial decision, lost your temper with someone you love, or looked for comfort in the wrong places. In Genesis 38, we meet Judah and Tamar in one of the messiest stories in the Bible—and yet it’s here that God’s sovereign grace shines through. This sermon, Pastor Mace Perez shows how God preserved His promise of the coming Savior through scandal and fail...

Have you ever wondered if the Bible is just a collection of books—or if it all points to one big story? In this first session of The Grand Story of Scripture, we explore how God’s Kingdom unfolds from creation to fall, from the life and resurrection of Jesus to the Church’s mission today. We’ll talk about: Why we all live by stories and how they shape our decisions The movements of a story—from ex...

Our world is broken—filled with jealousy, anger, betrayal, and violence. In moments like these, we ask: Where is God? What happens to His purposes when evil seems to win? In this episode, Pastor Mace Perez explores the story of Joseph in Genesis 37—the beloved son rejected by his brothers, betrayed for silver, and handed over to the nations. Even through their sin, God was working sovereignly behi...

Parenting can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. 💛 In this episode, we dive into the heart of Family Worship—a simple, regular time for families to gather to worship God through Bible reading, prayer, and singing. You’ll learn: Why family worship is the best starting point for building Christ-centered rhythms at home Practical ways to read Scripture with your kids How music and...

Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them? Our culture loves reimagined villains and flawed heroes, but Genesis 36 gives us a better story. In this episode, Pastor Mace Perez walks us through the “villain origin story” of Esau and the nation of Edom. Their story represents the seed of the serpent in rebellion against God’s promises. And yet, the good news of the Bible is...

In Genesis 35, we see the torch of God’s promises and blessings passed from one generation to the next, despite sin, suffering, and loss. This passage invites us to cling to God’s promises in Christ as we await their final fulfillment at His return. 👉 If this episode encouraged you, don’t forget to like, rate, review, and share. It helps others discover the hope we have in Christ. 🙌 And if you’r...

We live in a world where injustice is all around us—on the news, in our neighborhoods, and even in our closest relationships. How do we respond when wrongs are done to us or to those we love? In this episode, Pastor Mace Perez walks through Genesis 34, the hard story of Dinah and the responses of her father Jacob and her brothers. This passage forces us to wrestle with our own hearts: will we resp...