The Journey Church Podcast

What if some of the things we've believed about God look nothing like Jesus?

For seven weeks, we've explored what it means to live an uncommon life. But what if the secret to uncommon living isn't trying harder, but seeing God more clearly?

In this powerful conclusion to our UNCOMMON series, Pastor Chris reveals the extraordinary character of a God who became human, chose a towel over a throne of earthly power, and died for His enemies rather than destroying them.

Through the life of Jesus, we discover that God's greatness is revealed through humility, His authority through service, and His victory through self-giving love.

We become like the God we worship. Let's make sure the God we're worshiping looks like Jesus!

We live in a world that constantly tells us to pick a side. Us versus them. Right versus left. People who think like us versus people who don't.

But what happens when our loyalty to a side becomes greater than our willingness to love like Jesus?

In Week 7 of UNCOMMON, Pastor Kim unpacks the story of Jonah and challenges us to confront something that's become all too common: tribalism.

Jonah didn't just run from God's assignment. He ran from the possibility that God might show mercy to people he believed didn't deserve it.

And if we're willing to be honest, sometimes we're not so different.

Through Jonah's story, we discover how tribalism builds walls, damages relationships, and causes us to demand judgment for others while expecting mercy for ourselves.

But Jesus shows us a better way. He didn't come to reinforce the lines we've drawn. He came to break down the walls that separate us.

The question isn't whether God is willing to love the people on the other side of our lines. It's whether we're willing to love them too.

What happens when what you want conflicts with who God is calling you to become?

In Week 6 of UNCOMMON, Pastor Chris walks through the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife in Genesis 39 to explore what sexual integrity really looks like.

Sexual integrity is about more than a list of things we shouldn't do. It's about identity, the convictions that guide our decisions, the boundaries we establish, and how we honor the people around us.

Joseph faced temptation, pressure, and ultimately injustice, but he refused to allow his circumstances or desires to determine his character.

And here's the good news: integrity isn't about perfection, and our past mistakes don't have to determine our future.

Jesus didn't come simply to give us a better list of rules. He came to transform who we are.

The question is: Are your desires shaping your convictions, or are your convictions guiding your desires?

Does doing the right thing still matter when nobody notices?

In Week 5 of UNCOMMON, Pastor Rob explores the often-overlooked story of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, and the extraordinary impact of ordinary faithfulness.

Joseph wasn't a king, a religious leader, or a man of great influence. He was a craftsman who chose obedience over reputation, courage over comfort, and faithfulness even when it came at a personal cost.

Through Joseph's story, we discover that character isn't just about what we do when people are watching. It's about what's happening in our hearts when nobody is looking.

And sometimes, the greatest legacy we leave isn't what we accomplish, but what others accomplish because of our influence.

What if your quiet faithfulness today is shaping something far greater than you'll ever see?

When you think about power, you probably think about presidents, CEOs, billionaires, or people with titles and authority. But what if you have more power than you realize?

In Week 4 of UNCOMMON, Pastor Chris walks through the story of Ruth and Boaz to challenge the way we think about power. Boaz wasn't a king and didn't command an army. He simply had a field. But within that field, he had the ability to determine how people were treated, whether the vulnerable were protected, and whether someone like Ruth could flourish.

Every one of us has a field. Our homes, workplaces, marriages, friendships, classrooms, and communities are places where our words, decisions, resources, and influence affect the lives of others.

And ultimately, Jesus shows us what power is for. The One with all authority didn't use His power to climb over people. He bent down to serve them.

So maybe the question isn't, “How much power do I have?” Maybe the better question is: What’s happening to the people in my field because I’m there?

What if being right isn’t enough?

In Week 3 of UNCOMMON, Pastor Kim walks through the story of Abigail, David, and Nabal in 1 Samuel 25 and explores what it looks like to speak truth without using truth as a weapon.

When David is insulted by Nabal, his anger nearly leads him to make a decision that could have followed him into his future. But Abigail steps into the conflict with courage, wisdom, and honor. She doesn't ignore what is wrong, but she also refuses to use truth to destroy someone.

Her story reminds us that being right doesn't automatically mean we're responding rightly. Sometimes we need the courage to speak truth, and sometimes we need the humility to receive it.

Jesus shows us that we don't have to choose between truth and love. We can speak honestly without cruelty, confront what is wrong without stripping someone of their dignity, and seek transformation instead of simply winning the confrontation.

The question isn't simply whether we're telling the truth. It's whether the way we're telling it reflects the One who IS Truth.

What do you do when the people who hurt you are the people who were supposed to love you?

In Week 2 of UNCOMMON, Tara Schwartz walks through the story of Joseph and the betrayal, injustice, and pain that shaped his journey. Joseph had every reason to become bitter, and eventually, he had the power to get even. Instead, he chose something uncommon: forgiveness.

This message explores what forgiveness really looks like, why healing and reconciliation aren't always the same thing, and how God can redeem even the wounds we thought would destroy us.

Because bitterness keeps us holding the pain, hoping somehow it will punish the person who hurt us. But in the end, it only imprisons us.

Joseph's story reminds us that the pit may not be punishment. It may be preparation. And the pain we've carried may become the very wisdom God uses to bring healing to someone else.

How do you live faithfully in a world that is constantly trying to form you?

Daniel never chose Babylon. Babylon happened to him. He was taken from everything familiar and forced to build a life inside a culture that didn’t share his faith. Yet Daniel shows us another way to live. He didn’t isolate himself from Babylon, and he didn’t allow Babylon to determine who he became.

In Week 1 of UNCOMMON, Pastor Chris explores what Daniel’s story teaches us about identity, conviction, courage, and allegiance. Uncommon faith isn’t always loud or confrontational. Sometimes it simply means knowing who you are, knowing whose you are, and remaining standing when everyone else bows.

Jesus hasn’t called us to run from the world, hate the world, or fear the world. He sends us into it.

You can live in Babylon without letting Babylon live in you.

Sometimes we don’t walk away from Jesus. We simply begin following Him from a distance.

In this message, Pastor Kim Hoyt walks through Peter’s journey from the charcoal fire where he denied Jesus to the charcoal fire where the risen Jesus prepared him breakfast. Peter came carrying failure, regret, and shame, but Jesus didn’t make him earn his way back. The meal was already prepared.

Through Hebrews 10 and John 21, Come Back to the Table reminds us that Jesus is still inviting us to draw near, receive grace, find strength in community, and allow Him to redeem even the places we thought would forever remind us of our failures.

The table isn’t a reward for people who got everything right. It’s a place Jesus prepares for people He’s still restoring.

There’s still a place for you. Come back to the table.

What if the invitation has already been sent, the table is already set, and the only question left is whether we’ll actually come?

In the final week of our True Fiction series, Tara Schwartz unpacks one of Jesus’ more challenging parables: The Wedding Banquet in Matthew 22:1–14. What begins as a story about a king throwing a celebration quickly becomes a picture of God’s invitation into His Kingdom.

The invitation goes wider than anyone expected. The servants are told to go into the streets and invite everyone they can find, “good and bad alike.” As Tara puts it, “Now the banquet is open for all. And all means all. Everyone.”

But Jesus doesn’t stop with the invitation. Tara explores the strange detail of the wedding garment and what it means not simply to come to the banquet, but to “put on Christ” and allow His love, mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and character to reshape who we are.

The invitation is open. The table is ready. The question is: Will we simply show up, or will we allow Jesus to transform what we’re wearing when we get there?

Join us as we close out True Fiction: The Parables of Jesus with Week 10, Kingdom Invitation.