Hold Fast

Why does church often feel crowded… but lonely?

So many people long for real relationships in the church, yet struggle to find authentic community. We tend to blame programming, small groups, or leadership — but what if the biggest factor is our mindset and intentionality?

🎙️ In this episode of Hold Fast, I talk about:

• Why church isn’t a product to consume but a family to belong to

• Simple, practical ways to build genuine relationships

• The difference between superficial community and biblical fellowship

• How small mindset shifts can lead to deep, lasting connections

MissionWay has recently launched two new discipleship groups, which raises an important question: Why join a group at all?

In this episode, we talk through what a discipleship group is (and what it isn’t), why joining one doesn’t make you a “better” Christian, and yet why the New Testament vision of fellowship, care, and growth is often best lived out in smaller, committed communities. We’ll explore how discipleship groups foster real relationships, shared rhythms of faith, multi-generational encouragement, and ongoing application of God’s Word beyond Sunday mornings.

We close with a simple but challenging invitation: if we say the church is our family, what are we doing to live like it, and what might we need to give up to experience deeper fellowship? Would you be willing to try it for 8–12 weeks?

In this special extra episode of Hold Fast, Kenny talks through the recent controversy at Bethel Church and the lessons we can take away from it.

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For Mike Winger's video, go here: https://youtu.be/GH05S53QlY0?si=PExHAUDzYrf_TWEx

For John Coopers response video, go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI-OF3OhwVI

In this episode, we step back from specific headlines to ask a bigger question: How should Christians think and speak about politics in a way that honors Christ?

This is a biblical starter guide for engaging political conversations with courage, wisdom, and love—without retreating from hard truths or tying our allegiance to any political party. We’ll explore why faith and politics cannot be separated, how Scripture shapes how we think (not just what we think), and how to respond to news and cultural pressure in a God-honoring way.

Most importantly, this episode reminds us that the goal is not political victory or public approval, but the glory of God and the proclamation of the Gospel. In a world increasingly hostile to biblical truth, Christians are still called to stand firm, love well, and trust that God’s Word is sufficient.

In this episode, Kenny spends some time recapping his sermon series so far in Matthew 24 where Jesus speaks of the destruction of the Jewish Temple in 70AD. Many people believe these words of Jesus to refer primarily to the end times and His second coming, but Kenny walks through the Scripture to make the case that chapter 24 primarily deals with 70AD and the fall of Jerusalem.

This is a recap of much of what has already been said in the following sermon series: https://www.missionwaychurch.org/watch?sapurl=LytoeTJ6L2xiL21zLytyd3F5ZmN5P2VtYmVkPXRydWUmcmVjZW50Um91dGU9YXBwLndlYi1hcHAubGlicmFyeS5saXN0JnJlY2VudFJvdXRlU2x1Zz0lMkI1cWM1ajN6

At MissionWay Church, one of our core values is Worship as a Response. We love to sing loudly together—but if you were observing our church, you might not describe our worship as especially “expressive.” In this episode, we talk about why that is, and whether outward expression in worship is something to be encouraged, avoided, or simply misunderstood.

Walking through passages like John 4, Colossians 3, 2 Samuel 6, and a wide range of Psalms, we explore what Scripture actually teaches about worship—both inward and outward. We’ll address hand-raising, clapping, singing loudly, and even dancing, while also drawing clear biblical boundaries about order, reverence, doctrine, and heart posture.

This episode is meant to encourage those who worship more outwardly and those who worship more reservedly, reminding us that true worship is defined by Spirit and truth, not volume or visibility. Most importantly, we’ll consider what it means to worship not just as individuals, but as the gathered people of God—unified, charitable, and joyful in Christ.

Many of us start the year with good intentions to read the Bible only to feel discouraged, overwhelmed, or unsure where to begin. In this episode, we slow things down and refocus on what Bible reading is really about: communion with God, not checklist completion. You’ll hear biblical encouragement, guiding principles to shape a healthy approach, and practical steps you can actually implement. Whether you’re starting fresh, restarting after discouragement, or trying to grow in consistency. Don’t feel pressure to do everything mentioned; take one or two things that resonate, and faithfully run with them.

Is it possible to enjoy Christmas without guilt—and even worship Jesus through the lights, gifts, traditions, and celebrations of the season?

In this episode, Pastor Kenny explores a better way to enjoy Christmas—one that doesn’t unnecessarily divide the “spiritual” from the "ordinary," but sees every good gift as coming from the hand of God. Drawing from James 1:17, the Christmas story, and everyday traditions, we’re reminded that the birth of Christ is what gives meaning to all the joy and beauty of the season.

Whether your Christmas feels full of blessings or painfully lacking, this episode points us to the unchanging truth that the greatest gift can never be taken away—Christ was born for you.

Listen in and be encouraged to delight in God’s good gifts while keeping your heart fixed on the Giver Himself.

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Christmas is not Pagan Graphic: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a21fbb649fc2b2179ec1ac4/6d1cd157-1064-42ca-91a0-497b845ba806/Screen+Shot+2023-12-13+at+11.45.35+AM.png?format=2500w

One of the most common reasons people give for leaving a church is a lack of community—but the solution isn’t as simple as wishing for deeper fellowship. In this episode, Pastor Kenny tackles two essential questions every believer should ask when longing for greater connection in their local church. Before getting there, he offers practical, down-to-earth steps anyone can take right now to build meaningful relationships: showing up early, staying late, giving deeper answers, initiating discipleship, and pushing through the awkwardness that real community often requires.

Kenny then explores what kind of community we’re actually looking for—social, hobby-based connection or a Christ-centered, discipleship-shaped fellowship like the one described in Acts 2. Finally, he challenges listeners to consider how they themselves are cultivating community rather than waiting for better programs or perfect circumstances. If you’ve been struggling to feel connected at your church, these two questions just might change the way you pursue biblical fellowship.

In this episode, we’re talking about something all of us wrestle with: learning when to say no—not just to the bad stuff, but sometimes even to the good and urgent things that pull us away from what’s essential. I share a personal struggle in this area and the simple but life-changing exercise a fellow pastor challenged me to do: writing out my “vocations” or callings. Understanding your greater and lesser callings doesn’t mean loving some people more than others—it’s about recognizing the order God built into your responsibilities so you can love everyone more faithfully.

We’ll walk through practical steps like mapping out your vocations, planning an “ideal” week, thinking before giving an answer, and learning that a blank calendar doesn’t automatically mean a new “yes.” We’ll also explore why margin matters, how every “yes” is also a “no,” and why clarifying expectations with your spouse, kids, boss, and church leadership is crucial.

Whether you feel stuck in the rat race or simply want to steward your time more intentionally, this episode will help you slow down, evaluate, and make God-honoring decisions rooted in wisdom, purpose, and calling.