Collective Church Podcast

Pastor Ryan Smith continues in our series, "More: Waiting on the Holy Spirit," looking at 1 Corinthians 12:1-12 and the myriad of ways the Spirit works in and through the Church.

From the series "More, Part 01: Waiting on the Holy Spirit" with Pastor Ryan Smith. Psalm 84

From the series "More, Part 01: Waiting on the Holy Spirit" with Pastor Ryan Smith. Psalm 103 As we continue in part one of our teaching series, "More" Pastor Ryan Smith looks at the pattern of renewal in Psalm 103. Through David's song, we find a paradigm for God's work of renewal that begins in our personal discontent with the status quo and and in revival that reaches the ends of the earth.

From the series "More, Part 01: Waiting on the Holy Spirit" with Pastor Ryan Smith. Ephesians 1:13–23, 3:16–21, 4:30, 5:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:19 As we continue in our new series, Ryan Smith looks at the biblical idea of being "filled with the Holy Spirit."

From the series "More, Part 01: Waiting on the Holy Spirit" with Pastor Ryan Smith. Acts 1:4-8, 12-14; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Do you ever feel like your life of faith or experience of the church is just going through the motions? Could the culprit be a lack of ongoing relationship with the empowering presence and person of God - the Holy Spirit and his work in and through you? Pastor Ryan Smith kicks off our new series with an invitation to hunger and thirst for a greater experience of God’s promised means of working through his Church.

From the series "I Am" with Pastor Ryan Smith. John 11:17-27

From the series "I Am" with Pastor Lorenzo Smith. John 15:1-8

From the series "I Am" with Pastor Ryan Smith. John 14:1-14

From the series "I Am" with Pastor Ryan Smith. John 10:11-18 Pastor Ryan Smith explores how Jesus identifies himself with one of the Bible's great themes while bringing it to new heights. Jesus is not just the Good Shepherd, he's come to seek and save those who have been snatched up and scattered away. Through his sacrificial love, our enemy has been defeated and the flock has been reunited.

From the series "I Am" with Guest Pastor, Chris Marlin. John 10:1-10 As part of our series, "I AM: The Identity of Jesus in John's Gospel," Pastor Chris Marlin from City Church OTR teaches that Jesus is the gate, providing selfless protection against anything that comes our way. He not only offers protection from external forces but also a better life within. The sermon delves into the profound meaning behind Jesus' simple shepherding imagery.

From the series "I Am" with Pastor Ryan Smith. John 8:12-20, John 9:1-41 Pastor Ryan Smith teaches on Jesus' declaration, "I Am the Light of the World," in our series on the "I Am" statements of John's gospel. To a world wandering in darkness, Jesus offers himself as the guide and source to this world and our lives in it, yet in the surrounding story we are warned that the same light that graciously opens eyes to give sight can also cause others to close their eyes and become blind. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "I Am" with Pastor Ryan Smith. John 6:22-68 Sermon Notes Here

From the series "I Am". John 8:31-59 Pastor Ryan Smith begins our series looking at the "I Am" statements of Jesus in John's Gospel. In each of these statements, we are invited not only into Jesus' understanding of himself, but his perspective on us. We begin with one of Jesus' greatest claims of himself and the backlash that ensues. Through the heated conversation, we are forced into a life-altering decision about Jesus' identity and our own. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "The Sabbath". Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 16:23-30, Exodus 20:8-11 Sabbath isn’t just a day to stop, rest, and throw a feast in community. Ultimately, it’s a holy day, set apart for and dedicated to God himself. Early Christians called it “the Lord’s day.” It’s a weekly day of worship by which we cultivate a spirit of worship all week long. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "The Sabbath". Genesis 1:31-2:3, Isaiah 58:13-14 Sabbath is not an onerous day for dour religious duty but a life-giving day of delight — a weekly party. It’s a full day set aside to celebrate our life with God in his world. And it’s designed to be done in community, not alone. Few things are more provocative in the modern world than communities of joy. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "The Sabbath". Genesis 2:1-3, Deuteronomy 5:12-15 We hear about Sabbath rest and we imagine sleeping or taking a day off to chill. But Sabbath rest is a form of resistance. There are powerful forces, both external and internal that war against a Sabbath spirituality. To sabbath will require that we resist. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "The Sabbath". Matthew 11:28-30, Genesis 2:1-3, Exodus 20:8-11 The word “sabbath” means “to stop.” In Genesis, God worked for six days but then he rested on the seventh. In doing so, he built a rhythm into the fabric of creation. When we live in alignment with this ancient rhythm, we find peace and joy, but when we fight it, we fracture our souls. Sermon Notes Here

Philippians 3:10-4:1 As we begin a new year, we consider a collective resolution from Paul's words in Phillipians 3:10-4:1. Pastor Ryan Smith looks at the vision, intention, and means of the Christian life as framework for the next twelve months as Collective Church. Sermon Notes Here

Matthew 1:18-25, 2:13-18 Pastor Ryan Smith closes out our Advent series looking at how we can find and experience the peace or shalom of God by looking at the life of Joseph. Often we consider peace to be non-confrontational, fragile and only available outside of the boundaries of "ordinary life". But as we look to life of Joseph, we find a peace that breaks and challenges each of those assumptions. Sermon Notes Here

Luke 2:8-20 As we continue in our Advent series, Pastor Ryan Smith examines the centrality of joy and happiness in the story and purpose of Christmas. To a world wrapped in fear, the birth and life of Jesus has brought a new way to live. Sermon Notes Here

1 John 4:7-21 As the children of God, we enter into the season of Advent as a time to revel in the love of God, abiding in it, and letting it warm our hearts. And as the self-giving love of God reaches our deepest selves, we discover that it's our call to embody it as well. Guest Pastor Brook Mosser teaches on the love of Advent and how we can share it.

Psalm 130, Luke 2:25-32 Pastor Ryan Smith begins our Advent 2022 series by examining the theme of hope. In this season, we imagine ourselves in the story of Israel awaiting the birth of Jesus – not only so we can celebrate his first coming, but as a prompt to set our eyes on the horizon for his second. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Church of the Good Shepherd". Psalm 23, Genesis 28:10-22 Pastor Ryan Smith closes our time in Psalm 23 looking at the climatic finish of the Shepherd song. Though all of his leading, what is the final destination that finally awaits us and how has God ensured we make it there? Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Church of the Good Shepherd" with Pastor Isaac Brickner. Psalm 23, Luke 22:14-23

From the series "Church of the Good Shepherd" with Pastor Ryan Smith. Psalm 23, Psalm 42 Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Church of the Good Shepherd". Psalm 23, Luke 15:1-7 As we move into the third verse of Psalm 23, we consider how our lives of lack are due to our wandering from the Shepherd who has all we need. Pastor Ryan Smith details the gracious renewal found in Jesus and his guidance into a life of righteousness for the sake of others. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Church of the Good Shepherd". Psalm 23, Psalm 62:5-8 As we continue in our series, "Church of the Good Shepherd: A Vision Series in Psalm 23", Pastor Lorenzo Smith leads us to consider the second verse of Psalm 23 and the sort of rest that is provided through our Shepherd.

From the series "Church of the Good Shepherd". Exodus 33:12-23, Psalm 23 As we celebrate the beginning of our seventh year as Collective Church, Pastor Ryan Smith begins a six-week series titled, "Church of the Good Shepherd: A Vision Series from Psalm 23". The most important "vision" in the life of any church is not a plan for what we'll do, but a revelation of who God is. As we begin this new series, we look at the first verse of Psalm 23 and the significance of seeing God as our Shepherd and the sort of life this opens up before us. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "How to Read the Bible". Matthew 7:24-27, James 1:22–25, 2 Timothy 3:15-17 As we close out the series, "How to Read the Bible: Navigating the Library of Scripture" Pastor Ryan Smith offers a reflection on the Bible as Jesus' provided means of spiritual formation in the way of Wisdom and the practice of memorizing Scripture. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "How to Read the Bible". Psalm 1 For followers of Jesus, we believe that the Bible is not simply a source of information about God but communion with him. Pastor Ryan Smith continues in our Fall Series, "How to Read the Bible" by looking at Psalm 1, the prayerful meditation of Scripture, and the ancient practice of Lectio Divina.

From the series "How to Read the Bible". Psalm 104 Pastor Ryan Smith continues our Fall Series, "How to Read the Bible: Navigating the Library of Scripture" by looking at how to read the Bible as ancient literature. The Bible wasn't written in a cultural vacuum and so we need to take steps to read the Bible in light of the shaping languages and cultures that went into its authorship if we are to understand how to apply it to our Angeleno context. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "How to Read the Bible". Exodus 17:14, Exodus 24:3-4, 1 Timothy 4:13 How are we to receive and read the Scripture? For many raised in the American church we imagine bible-reading to predominantly be something we do alone and apart from others. Guest preacher Pastor Ryan MacDonald guides us into the Bible's communal nature – that is, the Bible was written and designed to be read and studied within a community that is learning to live by its story.

From the series "How to Read the Bible". Luke 24:44-47 Who is the Bible about? As we continue in "How to Read the Bible," Pastor Ryan Smith teaches on how the story of the Bible and all of its main themes come to their fulfillment in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and the gift of the Spirit. Once we understand Jesus' own way of reading the Bible for ourselves, every story, psalm, page will take us deeper into the person and work of Jesus. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "How to Read the Bible" with Pastor Ryan Smith. 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 Sermon Notes Here

From the series "How to Read the Bible". 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:20–21, 1 Corinthians 2:12–13 As we move into our second week in "How to Read the Bible", Pastor Ryan Smith teaches on the authorship of the Bible as inspired, both a human and divine word. If the Bible is a human word, what does this mean for its authenticity? And if the Bible is a Divine word, what does that mean for its authority in our lives? Sermon Notes Here

From the series "How to Read the Bible". Matthew 4:1-11 Pastor Ryan Smith begins our Fall Series, "How to Read the Bible: Navigating the Library of Scripture." Central to learning how to read the Bible is understanding what this "book" is to begin with. Looking at Matthew 4:1-11, we study Jesus' paradigm for reading Scripture as the library of ancient writings, both divine and human, that tell a unified story, leading us to Jesus and forming us as his people. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Endure". 2 Timothy 4:9-22 To conclude our series, "Endure", Pastor and Professor Gerry Breshears looks at the closing words of Paul in 2 Timothy 4:9-22 and his final example for a life of endurance.

From the series "Endure". 2 Timothy 4:1-5 As Paul continues to guide Timothy in the Way of Endurance, Pastor Ryan Smith looks at 2 Timothy 4:1-5 and the importance of sound teaching in the enduring life of the Church. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Endure". 2 Timothy 4:6-8 As Paul looks back on his life, he invites Timothy and us to look forward at ours as the fourth way of endurance. Pastor Isaac Brickner looks into 2 Timothy 4:6-8 and the invitation to reverse-engineer our lives.

From the series "Endure". 2 Timothy 3:10-17 Turning into the final movement of Paul's second letter to Timothy, the Apostle begins to provide practical instructions for constructing a life of endurance. As Pastor Ryan Smith unpacks 2 Timothy 3:10-17, we find the strength for endurance which comes as we remember those who have faithfully gone before us and receive the Scriptures as God's formational tool for our endurance. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Endure". 2 Timothy 3:1-9 When we consider the greatest obstacles to an enduring faith, our propensity is to list out genuine but largely external barriers. However, in 2 Timothy 3:1-9 Pastor Ryan Smith looks at Paul's warning to Timothy of the great obstacles which arise from within our hearts and church community. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Endure". 2 Timothy 2:14-26 As we continue in our series, "Endure," Pastor Ryan Smith looks at 2 Timothy 2:14-26 and the obstacles to our endurance. In this passage, Paul details a particular false teaching present in Ephesus which provides us with an opportunity to consider our own perception of Jesus and the Gospel. Are we enduring in right belief – orthodoxy? Or have we swerved from the truth?

From the series "Endure". 2 Timothy 2:8-13

From the series "Endure". 2 Timothy 2:1-7 Pastor Ryan Smith continues in our summer series, "Endure" by looking at 2 Timothy 2:1-7 and the purpose, pattern, and power of both faithful pastors and faithful church communities.

From the series "Endure". 2 Timothy 1:8-18 Pastor Isaac Brickner continues our summer series, "Endure: The Letter of 2 Timothy." How can we be sure that all the challenges we endure as followers of Jesus are meaningful? Paul offers his young protege Timothy a paradigm shift for understanding suffering so he won't give up even as everyone around him seems to be.

From the series "Endure". 2 Timothy 1:1-7 Guest Pastor Mike Portland from Reality LA joins us as we kick off our summer series: "Endure: The Letter of 2 Timothy." In the opening of the Apostle Paul's final letter, we find both an invitation and instruction in the way of a resilient faith.

From the series "Peculiar". 1 Thessalonians 1:1-7 Pastor Ryan Smith closes out our "Peculiar" series on the six distinctives of the early Church looking at 1 Thessalonians 1:1-7 and the peculiar way of Resilient Hope. Despite suffering and struggles the earliest Christians had a hope which weathered it all. As we live our lives in an increasingly chaotic and chaotic age, how can we recapture this final distinctive? Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Peculiar". 1 Corinthians 6:12-7:9 As we continue in our "Peculiar" series on the six distinctives of the early church, Pastor Ryan Smith teaches on 1 Corinthians 6:12–7:9 and the Sexual Revolution the first Christians led. In an age like ours that believed sex and our bodies were about rights, appetites, and were insignificant, the Ethics of Easter brought a declaration of the cosmic significance of each person's body and every disciple's sexuality. Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Peculiar". Genesis 1:26-31, Psalm 139:13-17, Proverbs 31:8-9 Pastor Ryan Smith continues in our latest series, "Peculiar: The People of God & the Ethics of Easter" by examining the early church's practical and holistic commitment to the sanctity of life. Though this took a myriad of forms – they were most known for their response to abortion, infanticide, and exposure. In a cultural moment where this issue is the center of attention, how can we think Christianly about the issues and embody a culture of life? Sermon Notes Here

From the series "Peculiar". Romans 12:14–21, Romans 5:6-11, 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 As we continue in our "Peculiar" series recapturing the distinctives of the early Church, Pastor Ryan Smith examines what Romans called "obstinate foolishness." Though Christians were often excluded, criticized, persecuted, and even killed, they taught forgiveness, withheld retaliation, and loved their enemies. In this teaching we investigate this enemy-love, where it came from, and how we can carry it out today. Sermon Notes Here