The Sunday Sermon

In this episode, Pastors Angelo and Becca reflect on last Sunday’s sermon, taking a deeper look at the lies we tell ourselves and how those inner distortions can quietly shape the way we see God, others, and ourselves. Together they unpack what it means to discern the greater truth — the truth that grounds us in grace, reminds us who we are, and reorients us toward the life God desires for us to l...

In this week’s message, Pastors Angelo and Becca take a closer look at one of the most familiar yet challenging passages in Scripture—Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Together, they explore how the devil’s greatest weapon isn’t always an obvious lie, but often a distorted truth. Through honest reflection and practical insight, they invite us to consider the lies we tell ourselves, the ways tem...

"Who’s your Nathan? 👀 In this week’s podcast, Pastors Angelo & Becca talk about why we all need truth-tellers in our lives—those friends who love us enough to call us back when we’ve gone off track. And because it’s us…yes, there are plenty of West Wing references along the way. (Turns out Nathan would’ve made a pretty good member of President Bartlet’s staff.) 🇺🇸

In this week’s message, When Love Goes Sideways, Pastor Angelo continues the Fault Lines series by walking through David’s story with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11. We see how desire can become distorted, how sin multiplies, and how even “a man after God’s own heart” can fall. Yet in Psalm 51 we also discover the hope of repentance and the God whose mercy is deeper than our failure.

In this episode, Pastor Angelo guides you through the Ignatian Examen—a prayerful practice of reflecting on the day that has passed and preparing for the day ahead. This simple but profound method offers a way to quiet our cluttered minds and draw closer to God in the midst of life’s busyness. Listen and pray along—you may find this rhythm of prayer becomes a grounding habit for your own journey.

In this week’s message, Pastor Becca explores what Jesus meant when he said, “I no longer call you servants… I call you friends.” Drawing from John 15:12–17, she reminds us that true friendship isn’t just optional—it’s essential. In a world filled with shallow connections and loneliness, Christian friendship becomes an act of resistance, a way of reordering love and practicing the kind of communit...

Season 2, Episode 2 of Companions on the Journey is all about navigating crisis, division, and hope. Pastors Angelo and Becca reflect on last week’s sermon on the order of love and look ahead to friendship as resistance. Together they wrestle with how Christians can respond to one another in times of upheaval, and what it means to find common ground even with those we see as enemies. If you’ve bee...

In this week’s message, Pastor Angelo preaches from Matthew 22:36–40, where Jesus reminds us that all of Scripture hangs on two hinges: love of God and love of neighbor. In a world that feels constantly shaken by division, violence, and outrage, what spills out of us reveals what’s been filling us. This sermon explores the call to let Christ be what fills our cups, the importance of conviction abo...

Season 2 opens with a hard but hopeful conversation. Pastor Becca and Pastor Angelo wrestle with sin—not just as broken rules but as ruptured relationship—ask how the church can respond to violence, and share honestly how they grieve, pray, and prepare to shepherd their community. They revisit themes from Sunday’s sermon, engage the week’s daily Bible readings, and preview what’s ahead this season...

What comes to mind when you hear the word sin? For many, it’s nothing more than breaking rules. But Scripture paints a deeper, more relational picture. In this first message of our Fault Lines series, Pastor Angelo explores Genesis 3 to show how sin is less about behavior management and more about relational rupture — disconnection, distortion, and disorder. And in Christ, we discover that where s...

In the final message of our Philippians series, Pastor Angelo reflects on Paul’s secret of contentment in Philippians 4:10–23. What does it mean to live with peace that isn’t tied to circumstances? Together we’ll explore how true contentment is learned over time, how Christ strengthens us not to achieve everything but to endure anything, and how the gospel takes root even in surprising places. Pre...

As we wrap up our summer journey through Paul’s letters, we step back to see the bigger picture. Why does context matter when we read Paul? How do we make sense of difficult passages like 1 Timothy 2:11–15, where Paul seems to restrict women, alongside his affirmations of women leaders throughout the church? And what did Paul mean when he said, “All Scripture is God-breathed”? In this episode, Pas...

This week we’re joined by Rev. Elizabeth Miller-Villegas, director of Wingspan Campus Ministry at UNCW, who brings a powerful word from Philippians 4:1–9. She reminds us that life in community isn’t always about making each other happy—it’s about helping each other grow holy. Even in the middle of conflict, Paul points us back to rejoicing in the Lord, praying with hope, and living in God’s peace.

What does it really mean to “rejoice in the Lord always” when life is messy, unpredictable, and often exhausting? In this conversation, Pastor Becca sits down with Rev. Elizabeth Villegas to reflect on Philippians 4 and the joy—and challenge—of living in Christian community with college students. From late-night conversations to moments of deep prayer, they explore how rejoicing becomes more than...

Resurrection isn’t a solo pursuit—it’s a shared journey. In this episode, Pastor Becca explores Paul’s call in Philippians to press on toward the goal together, rooted in grace and shaped by Christ’s resurrection. We’ll unpack why sanctification is a lifelong process, how unity doesn’t require uniformity, and what it means to live as citizens of Christ’s kingdom here and now while holding hope for...

Think of this episode as the SparkNotes for Ephesians—with a bonus detour into Philippians 3. We walk through the big themes, key passages, and why Paul’s words still matter today, touching on unity in Christ, life shaped by grace, and pressing on toward the goal. Along the way, we talk about how different Bible translations can shift our understanding, and why paying attention to the words we rea...

What makes you enough—truly enough—in a world obsessed with performance, credentials, and approval? In this episode, we explore Paul’s powerful testimony about letting go of his spiritual résumé in favor of something far more valuable: being found in Christ. Rev. Dr. Paul Detterman (Pastor Becca's dad) walks us through why righteousness is both our deepest need and our deepest problem—and how Jesu...

This week on Companions on the Journey, Pastor Angelo and Pastor Becca dive into Paul’s most urgent memo yet—Galatians. Why is Paul so fired up? Because a church he planted is trading the wide-open freedom of the gospel for the cramped confines of rule-keeping. In this conversation we unpack his bold defense of grace, explore the clash between law and Spirit, and trace how “faith working through l...

This week, Pastor Angelo continues our journey through Philippians by exploring Paul’s words about two often-overlooked figures—Timothy and Epaphroditus. In a culture that celebrates fame and platform, this message lifts up the quiet power of faithful presence, sacrificial service, and spiritual mentorship. You’ll hear stories from our first-ever Summer Fest and reflections on what it means to bec...

In this episode of Companions, we wrap up our journey through 2 Corinthians with a conversation on chapters 8–13. From Paul’s radical vision of generosity to his vulnerable self-defense and the challenge of managing expectations in ministry, we dig into what it means to lead with both grace and grit. Whether you’ve ever struggled with how to talk about money in church or felt the tension of living...

What does it really mean to “work out” a salvation that’s already a gift? In this episode, Pastor Becca explores Paul’s call to an active, grace-powered faith—one that resists frantic striving on the one hand and passive coasting on the other. Discover how reverent “fear and trembling” fuels obedience, why a grumble-free life shines like stars in a complaining world, and how joy is found when we p...

In this episode of The Companions Podcast, Pastors Angelo and Becca dive deep into Paul’s most personal letter—2 Corinthians. From the pain of conflict to the joy of reconciliation, this conversation explores how Paul leads with vulnerability, defends his ministry with integrity, and casts a vision for gospel-shaped community. Together, we’ll unpack what it means to be “living letters,” why God pu...

What does real victory look like? In this episode, Pastor Angelo explores one of the most powerful passages in the New Testament—a poetic confession of Christ's humility and glory. You'll hear how the early church was formed not just by what they believed about Jesus, but by how they lived like him. With reflections on Paul's call to adopt the mindset of Christ, a striking quote from Pastor Matt C...

What if the church was never meant to be perfect—but instead a place where love is practiced in real time? In this episode of Companions, Pastor Angelo and Pastor Becca take a deep dive into the second half of 1 Corinthians, exploring big themes like freedom, worship, spiritual gifts, love, and resurrection. With 1 Corinthians 13 as our anchor, we’ll reframe the “Love Chapter” not as a wedding rea...

On a weekend when civic pride often takes center stage, Pastor Angelo turns our attention to the apostle Paul’s call to live as citizens of a higher kingdom. Anchored in the Greek verb politeuomai—“conduct your citizenship”—this message challenges us to embody unity, humility, and self-giving love that transcends party lines and social divides. Explore why Paul contrasts “empty praise” (kenodoxia)...