Explore every episode of the podcast Centered | Where Faith Meets Everyday Life

In Season 3 Episode 4 of Centered, we explore a question that sits underneath so much of everyday life: What is defining you? Culture gives us plenty of answers through success, parenting, performance, relationships, money, and status. But what happens when those things become the center of our identity?

The conversation builds on this week’s sermon about holiness and the idea that God wants to change our identity before he changes our activity. We talk about idolatry as more than what we worship, but what we allow to shape us. Scripture points us toward a different identity: people made in the image of God and invited to reflect his love, goodness, and character in the world.

Along the way, Meghan shares what happened when her family decided to take a season away from kids’ sports, even when cultural pressure told them they were making the wrong choice. We talk about parenting, fear, shame, busyness, and the sneaky ways good things can become ultimate things. There are also plenty of laughs along the way, including some honest conversation about sports, family priorities, and what it means to put God back at the center.

In Season 3 Episode 3 of Centered, we talk about what it means to live on mission right where we are. What if following Jesus is less about doing something big and visible and more about being present, available, and faithful in the ordinary places of everyday life?

Coming out of the Good News series, we explore the idea that the family Jesus forms is not only gathered together but sent together. Instead of treating mission as pressure to save people or prove our faith, the gospel invites us to participate in what God is already doing. We talk about how identity in Christ frees us from having to find significance through our jobs, platforms, or accomplishments.

Along the way, we share stories about technology that mysteriously responds to Ben’s presence, second-guessing conversations, a softball game that turned into an hour-long conversation about life and faith. We also hear from Mark with Project 127 about what mission can look like through supporting families in crisis.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your everyday life really matters to God, this episode is for you.

In Season 3 Episode 2 of Centered, we explore why the gospel doesn't just reconcile us to God, it also reconciles us to one another. What if Christian community isn't an optional part of following Jesus, but one of the primary ways God brings healing, freedom, and transformation into our lives?

Building on week two of the Good News series, the conversation explores why we're not just saved from something, but saved to something. Along the way, we unpack why healing often feels risky, how control keeps us from experiencing deeper relationships, and why the gospel forms a family instead of simply creating isolated believers.

The conversation also gets practical as we discuss navigating disagreement with humility, creating space for people who struggle with community, and why a healthy church values unity without demanding uniformity. Plus, we share personal stories of finding freedom through honest relationships, holiday weekend adventures, and why the best communities aren't frictionless... they're safe enough to grow together.

In Season 3 Episode 1 of Centered, we ask what happens when the gospel becomes more than something we believe and instead becomes the story we live. What if the good news of Jesus is meant to meet us not only in questions of salvation, but in our identity, relationships, work, and ordinary moments?

Coming out of the Good News series, the conversation explores three invitations Jesus gives us: building our lives on the rock, abiding in the vine, and sowing seeds of the kingdom. Together, they point to a gospel that is received, not achieved, and invite us to trust what Jesus has already done rather than turn faith into another self-improvement project.

The conversation gets personal as the team talks about the subtle ways we build our lives on success, approval, relationships, or other things without realizing it. They also share stories about parenting, difficult conversations, and experiencing God’s presence in ordinary moments, along with plenty of the humor that makes Centered feel like a real conversation.

In Season 2 Episode 26 of Centered, we continue the conversation on false gospels and the subtle ways they shape our lives. What if the greatest threat to your faith isn't walking away from Jesus, but slowly replacing Him with performance, knowledge, or the pursuit of control? In a culture obsessed with achievement, certainty, and self-improvement, we explore how the true gospel offers something far better: freedom rooted in Christ.

Building on this week's sermon from Colossians, we unpack the dangers of legalism, Gnosticism, and asceticism, showing how each promises life while quietly pulling us away from Jesus. Together, we examine why rule-keeping can't transform the human heart, why knowing more isn't the same as knowing Christ, and how the gospel invites us to stop measuring our worth by scorecards and start living from our identity in Him. Throughout the conversation, we discover that spiritual maturity is less about earning God's approval and more about walking with the One who has already secured it.

Along the way, the conversation includes stories from a Sunday where three people came to faith, reflections on how God patiently transforms lives over time, practical questions about recognizing the Holy Spirit's leading, and plenty of lighter moments featuring Wimbledon, movie debates, Footloose confessions, and whether anyone really cried when Wilson floated away in Cast Away.

If you've ever wondered whether you're following Jesus or simply trying to measure up, this episode is for you.

In Season 2 Episode 25 of Centered, we continue the conversation around the church and God's vision for spiritual growth. What if spiritual maturity is not primarily about what we know or accomplish, but about who we are becoming together? In a culture shaped by individualism, self-improvement, and personal preference, we explore why God's design has always been rooted in community.Building on this week's sermon from Colossians, David and Meghan unpack the purpose of the church and why spiritual formation cannot be separated from relationships. They discuss how worship, generosity, service, and meaningful connection shape us into the people God created us to be. The conversation also explores the difference between behavior modification and true heart transformation, and why the gospel calls us into a shared identity rather than a private faith.Along the way, they reflect on Father's Day traditions, the surprising challenges of pickleball for tennis players, a powerful story of a church community learning to love across social barriers, and Tara's sculpture that became a striking picture of God's glory shining through ordinary people. They also tackle some of the biggest threats facing the modern church, including consumerism, conflict avoidance, and the temptation to treat faith as a personal product instead of a communal calling.If you've ever wondered what spiritual growth actually looks like, or struggled to follow Jesus on your own, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Centered, we continue the conversation around the supremacy of Jesus and ask a challenging question: What if our deepest struggle isn't belief, but control? In a culture that prizes autonomy, certainty, and self-determination, the invitation to trust someone greater than ourselves can feel both freeing and frightening. The conversation explores why surrender remains one of the hardest and most transformative parts of following Jesus.

Building on the sermon’s exploration of Colossians 1, David and Ben unpack what it means for Jesus to be more than merely important in our lives. They discuss the difference between Christ being prominent and being preeminent, the beauty and mystery of God's nature, and how the gospel invites us beyond information about God into genuine relationship with Him. Along the way, they reflect on why humans often prefer certainty over trust and why true freedom begins when we relinquish the illusion of control.

The conversation also takes some unexpected turns. The hosts discuss fear, freedom, prison-door-open faith, the dangers of treating knowledge as salvation, and even a lively detour into AI, UFOs, aliens, and humanity’s search for transcendence. Add in a zombie apocalypse debate, reflections on worship music, and a few laughs along the way, and this episode balances theological depth with the personality listeners have come to expect from Centered.

If you've ever struggled to trust God with the parts of life you want to control most, this episode is for you. The invitation is simple: let Jesus be more than prominent. Let Him be preeminent.

In Season 2 Episode 23 of Centered, we begin a new conversation around what holds our lives together. In a world filled with competing voices, constant pressure, and endless demands for our attention, what if stability is not found in working harder or controlling more, but in trusting someone greater than ourselves?

Building on the first week of the Held Together series, Ben and David explore Paul’s opening words in Colossians and his vision of a life centered on Jesus. The conversation unpacks how faith in Christ and love for others grow out of grace, not performance. Together they reflect on how the gospel challenges our tendency to build identity around achievement, approval, control, or success and invites us into a deeper trust that Christ is already holding all things together.

Along the way, they revisit the Stretch Armstrong illustration from Sunday, celebrate the ministry of the Roberts family and their years of faithful service, and laugh through stories about radio voices, podcasting, and the realities of life in church community. The episode balances theological depth with honest reflection about the challenge of discerning God’s voice amid the noise of everyday life.

If you’ve ever felt stretched thin, overwhelmed by competing priorities, or unsure what is holding your life together, this episode is for you.

In Season 2 Episode 22 of Centered, we continue the conversation on forgiveness and healing. What if the things that keep surfacing in our lives are not signs of failure, but invitations to deeper freedom? In a culture that teaches us to move on, stay busy, and hide our pain, how do we confront the wounds that still shape our relationships, identity, and trust?

Building on this week’s sermon from Luke 17, the conversation explores the connection between forgiveness, faith, and the hidden roots beneath our everyday struggles. The team reflects on Jesus’ invitation to forgive, not as a way of excusing harm, but as a pathway to freedom. Together, they discuss how shame, bitterness, self-righteousness, and unresolved pain can quietly take hold beneath the surface, and how the gospel invites us to bring even our deepest wounds into the presence of God.

Along the way, Britt shares how a recent breakthrough helped her finally surrender a painful chapter of her story to Jesus after years of carrying it alone. Michelle reflects on the challenges of slowing down, facing old wounds, and learning to trust God in seasons of uncertainty. The conversation also explores boundaries, healing, friendship, therapy, life groups, and the surprising ways God meets us as we go.

If you've ever struggled to forgive, carried pain that keeps resurfacing, or wondered whether real healing is possible, this episode is for you.

In Season 2 Episode 21 of Centered, we continue the conversation on the parable of the prodigal son and the deeper longing beneath our search for freedom, identity, and belonging. What if the story isn’t mainly about rebellion, but about the many ways we try to build life apart from the Father?

This episode explores the tension between self-righteousness and grace through the lens of Jesus’ most famous parable. Ben and David unpack why the older brother may actually be the center of the story, how both sons were disconnected from the Father’s heart, and why God’s grace is often harder to receive than we realize. Along the way, they discuss wonder, trust, free will, spiritual formation, and how the gospel reshapes our understanding of failure, belonging, and restoration.

The conversation also includes reflections on Pentecost Sunday, Star Wars nostalgia, the challenge of cultivating rest in a distracted world, and why “Maycember” might be the most accurate word ever invented. Plus, David finally disagrees with Freddie, Ben admits he relates most to the older brother, and the guys explore why rehearsing the gospel matters in real life.

If you’ve ever wrestled with shame, self-righteousness, or the fear that you’ve wandered too far from God, this episode is for you.

In Season 2 Episode 20 of Centered, we continue the conversation around healing, identity, and the deeper work Jesus wants to do in our lives. What if our greatest need is not simply relief from pain, but restoration back into relationship with God? In a culture driven by performance, productivity, and self-reliance, this episode explores what happens when our effort runs out and we finally discover the power of surrender.
Building on the story of the woman healed by touching Jesus’ garment in Mark 5, the conversation unpacks themes of desperation, identity, remembrance, and dependence on God.
 David and Ben reflect on why Jesus stopped in the middle of urgency to truly see her, why the word “daughter” changes everything, and how the gospel invites us to live from identity instead of for identity. They also wrestle honestly with spiritual exhaustion, unanswered prayers, rock bottom moments, and the tension between self-sufficiency and trust in Jesus’ power.
Along the way, the episode includes conversations about rainy-day moods, summer anthem playlists, parenting, baseball and tennis season chaos, and the stories and rhythms that shape families spiritually over time. There’s also a deeper look into Mosaic’s vision for spiritual formation through belonging, healing, and equipping environments designed to help people mature in community and experience real transformation.
If you’ve ever felt exhausted trying to hold everything together or wondered whether God still sees you in the middle of your struggle, this episode is for you.

In Season 2 Episode 19 of Centered, we continue the conversation around faith, fear, and the presence of Jesus in the middle of life’s storms. What if the greatest danger in suffering is not the storm itself, but believing you’re alone in it? In a culture shaped by anxiety, distraction, and isolation, this episode explores how faith is formed when we learn to fix our eyes on Christ instead of the waves around us.
Building on the sermon about Peter walking on water in Matthew 14, the conversation unpacks what it really means to trust Jesus when life feels uncertain. David and the team wrestle with the tension between wanting outcomes from God versus wanting God Himself. They explore how spiritual practices are not just religious routines or self-help habits, but rhythms that awaken us to the presence of Jesus. The episode also reframes faith through the lens of Christ’s presence, power, and promises, showing how the gospel invites us to see Jesus as bigger than our fear, shame, disappointment, or suffering.
Along the way, the conversation gets personal and surprisingly funny. The team reflects on parenting teenagers, sermon timing bets from the sound booth, awkward impression games featuring Mike Tyson, Yoda, Batman, and Forrest Gump, and a thoughtful cultural conversation about AI, technology, and human connection. They also share honest moments about loneliness, spiritual dryness, marriage, disappointment, and learning how to pursue relationship with Jesus instead of treating Him like a means to an end.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by fear, struggled to trust God in uncertainty, or wondered whether Jesus is really present in your storm, this episode is for you.

In Season 2 Episode 18 of Centered, we continue the conversation on discipleship with Zachary Winnick. What if spiritual growth is not built through better programming, but through deeper relationships? In a culture shaped by content, performance, and constant distraction, we explore why so many people feel disconnected even while staying busy with spiritual things.
The episode reframes discipleship as something relational, not transactional. Instead of measuring success by attendance or activity, we consider how the gospel invites us into a slower, more intentional process where trust, presence, and consistency shape real transformation over time.
Along the way, we get a behind-the-scenes look at what’s happening in Mosaic Students. From rethinking environments and creating intentional spaces, to launching a relational discipleship model for high school students, the conversation highlights both vision and vulnerability. There are moments of humor, honest reflections on what is not working anymore, and excitement about building something more meaningful for the next generation.
If you have ever felt like faith became routine or wondered how to grow deeper in a distracted world, this episode is for you.

In Season 2 Episode 17 of Centered, we explore the question 'what if we’re missing Jesus, not because He’s absent, but because we’re looking for something else'? In a culture that chases clarity, certainty, and big moments, how do we recognize God in the quiet, ordinary spaces of everyday life?
This episode builds on the Emmaus Road story, where two disciples walk with Jesus without realizing it. We unpack the reality of spiritual blindness and how it often feels like confidence, not confusion. Through Scripture, we see how Jesus reframes everything, not by giving quick answers, but by revealing Himself as the center of the story. Instead of using the Bible for self-improvement or control, we’re invited to encounter a person and see how all of Scripture points to Him.
Along the way, the conversation gets honest and personal. There’s reflection on how easily we chase the spectacular while missing God in the ordinary rhythms of life, and how hindsight often reveals what we couldn’t see in the moment. There are also lighter moments, including behind-the-scenes reflections from Sunday, a few jokes about sermon points left on the cutting room floor, and some playful banter about everyday life.

In this episode of Centered, Ben, David, and guest Tina Ferry pick up where Sunday's sermon left off — exploring what it actually looks like to see people the way Jesus did. In a cultural moment defined by quick judgments and tribal loyalties, the question isn't just theological. It's deeply personal: when we encounter someone who makes us uncomfortable, what drives our response?
The conversation centers on John 4 and the woman at the well — a passage most churchgoers think they know. Tina unpacks how centuries of assumptions have shaped the way this woman has been read, and how those assumptions say more about us than they do about her. The disciples' shocked silence when they found Jesus talking to her isn't just a historical curiosity — it's a mirror. The instinct to manage appearances, avoid association, and protect reputation runs deep, and the gospel names it for what it is: image management dressed up as righteousness. Jesus modeled something entirely different. He moved toward people, stayed curious, and offered dignity before he offered correction.
The table also gets personal. Tina shares the unexpected story of how she met her husband Chris at twelve years old and spent seven years in quiet, strategic pursuit. David recalls a first date at an underground jazz bar in Tempe, a deaf couple feeling the music through the table, and a conversation about God that lasted until four in the morning. Ben rounds it out with his own honest account of being a hot mess that somehow Lauren refused to give up on. The episode closes with three grounded, practical invitations — not formulas, but starting points for anyone who wants to actually practice seeing people differently.
If you've ever caught yourself pulling back from someone because of how it might look, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Centered, we explore a question many of us wrestle with: what do we do when life feels out of control? In a world that values certainty, outcomes, and control, it’s easy to believe that peace comes from holding everything together—but what if true renewal begins when we finally let go?
Building on the launch of The Walk series, this conversation unpacks how spiritual renewal doesn’t come from chasing better behavior, but from making God the goal. Through stories like Moses and the golden calf, we see how easily we replace God with things like control, success, or comfort—and how God gently invites us back to trust Him instead. Even in seasons of chaos or consequence, we’re reminded that God is not absent, but actively at work forming something deeper in us.
Along the way, the team reflects on honest moments from the sermon, explores the tension between consequence and restoration, and shares both humor and real-life insight—from being called “idiots” to ranking chicken sandwiches. It’s a conversation that holds depth and levity together, making space for both reflection and laughter.
If you’ve ever felt the need to control everything or wondered where God is in the middle of the mess, this episode is for you.

In Season 2 Episode 14 of Centered, we begin with a question many of us are quietly asking: what does it look like to trust God when life doesn’t make sense? What if resurrection hope is not just something we celebrate one day a year, but something we learn to live in the tension of everyday life?
Building on the Easter message, this conversation reflects on the women who were last at the cross and first at the tomb. Their story reveals a deep truth: faith is often formed in the “in between,” where grief, confusion, and hope coexist. Through this lens, we explore how Jesus meets people personally, restores dignity, and remains present even when the outcome feels uncertain.
Along the way, the conversation gets personal. The team shares how they process grief differently, what it means to walk through seasons of loss and identity shifts, and the challenge of letting go of things we’ve held onto for security. There are also lighter moments, from Easter traditions to creative outlets, spontaneous fun, and even a few unexpected stories that remind us we’re all still learning how to live this out.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in the tension between what you believe and what you’re experiencing, this episode is for you.

In Season 2 Episode 13 of Centered, we continue the conversation on suffering, grief, and resilience. What if sadness is not something to avoid or fix, but something that can actually lead us to deeper hope?
Building on this week’s sermon, the episode explores the biblical idea of lament as a pathway to healing rather than despair. Drawing from passages like Ephesians 2 and 2 Corinthians 4, the conversation reframes suffering through the lens of eternity, showing how the gospel offers a grounded, confident hope even in the middle of pain. Instead of a thin, wishful optimism, we’re invited into a resilient faith rooted in the finished work of Jesus and the promise of restoration.
Along the way, the team reflects on how many of us were never taught how to process sadness, shares personal stories about learning to face grief instead of suppressing it, and wrestles with how comfort and comparison can distort our perspective. There’s also a lighter moment debating whether words like “rad” and “dope” should make a comeback, adding some humor to an otherwise weighty conversation.
If you’ve ever struggled to understand what to do with pain or how to hold onto hope when life feels heavy, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we explore a question that sits underneath so much of the human experience: what if our struggles are not primarily about information or behavior, but about love? In a culture that tells us to follow our hearts, what happens when the heart itself becomes disordered?
Building on this week’s sermon, David and Ben unpack the ancient Christian idea that sin is not simply rule-breaking but disordered love. Drawing from Romans 12, Augustine, and the language of the heart as the “command center” of our lives, the conversation explores how our affections shape our choices, how the world subtly forms our desires, and why transformation requires more than knowledge or religious practices. Instead, true change happens as our loves are reordered by beholding the beauty of Christ.  
Along the way, the conversation touches on attachment theory, trauma, and the shaping of our desires, the difference between healthy self-awareness and self-absorption, and why simply removing unhealthy loves rarely works without replacing them with a greater love. There is also a lighthearted round of “Worth the Risk,” inspired by David’s Haiti story and Ben’s straight-razor haircut in Honduras.
If you’ve ever wondered why knowing the right things does not always change the way we live, or why our hearts feel pulled in so many directions, this episode invites you to consider a deeper path of transformation.

In Season 2 Episode 11 of Centered, we continue the conversation on repentance. What if repentance is not about proving you’re sorry, but about returning to a God who already wants you? In a culture shaped by performance, shame, and self-improvement, it can be hard to imagine that real change begins with being fully known and still fully loved.
Building on this week’s sermon, the conversation reframes repentance through the lens of relationship, not obligation. Instead of swinging between pride and shame, we explore how the gospel invites us into something deeper: honest confession, restored connection, and freedom. With a clearer picture of God’s heart, repentance becomes less about earning forgiveness and more about walking back into a relationship that was never closed.
Along the way, we get to know Meghan’s story, from a formative season of hardship to creating simple rhythms like Sabbath dinners with her family. The conversation is both thoughtful and personal, with moments of humor, honesty, and practical insight into what it looks like to stop hiding and start living in the light.
If you’ve ever struggled with shame, performance, or feeling like you have to earn your way back to God, this episode is for you.

In Season 2 Episode 10 of Centered, we explore a tension many people feel but rarely name. What if lament is not the opposite of faith but one of its deepest expressions? In a culture that rushes past grief and discomfort, how do we learn to sit honestly before God while still holding onto hope?
Building on the themes from Sunday’s message, this conversation reflects on how Scripture makes space for sorrow, confusion, and longing. From the Psalms of lament to the wilderness experiences of God’s people, the Bible presents faith as something more honest and resilient than simple positivity. Instead of avoiding pain, the gospel invites us to bring our whole lives before God and trust that resurrection hope is still at work.
Along the way, the hosts reflect on why modern culture struggles with grief, how churches sometimes unintentionally skip over lament, and why seasons like Lent help recover a deeper rhythm of faith. The conversation moves between theology and everyday life, including personal stories, moments of humor, and reflections on how community helps carry both joy and sorrow.
If you’ve ever wondered how faith makes space for both grief and hope, this episode is for you.

In Season 2 Episode 9 of Centered, we continue the conversation on generosity by asking a deeper question: What does it mean to share good news in a culture overwhelmed by noise, distraction, and anxiety? What if witness is not about mastering a formula but about becoming the kind of person whose life speaks?
Building on the final week of the Freely Given series, this episode explores the difference between evangelistic gifting and everyday witness. We unpack how humility and anticipation shape the way we move through our relationships and how the cross reshapes our identity, beliefs, practices, and community. Rather than seeing people as projects to fix, we explore what it means to be present, curious, and rooted in a received identity as a royal priesthood sent into the world.
Along the way, we laugh about rainy mornings, forgotten wallets, John Mark Comer quotes, and tennis losses. But beneath the humor is a serious invitation: to pray with expectancy, to pay attention to how we live, and to let our words be seasoned with grace. We share simple, practical ways to begin — from meals to coffee shops to conversations on the sidelines of everyday life.
If you’ve ever felt pressure to say the right thing or fear that you’re getting it wrong, this episode is for you.

In Season 2 Episode 8 of Centered, we continue the conversation on fear, division, and the way of Jesus by asking a deeper question: what if fear is not just an emotional issue, but a spiritual one?

Building on the sermon about open hands and open hearts, David and Ben explore how hyper-individualism shapes the way we read Scripture, how “perfect love casts out fear” speaks to communities not just individuals, and why hostility is more than a political or ideological problem. It may be a spiritual contagion. From enemy love and empathy to the communal nature of the gospel, this episode challenges the idea that faith is private and invites us into a bigger, kingdom-shaped vision of life together.

You’ll also hear a conversation about what it looks like to practice curiosity instead of combativeness, how fear reveals what we truly trust, and why following Jesus means stepping into relationships without needing to win. Plus, a lighthearted round of “Bible Verse or Fortune Cookie” and a practical challenge to create intentional rhythms of connection in your everyday life.

If you’ve ever wrestled with division in culture, fear in your own heart, or how to live faithfully in a fractured world, this episode is for you.

Are you living with clenched fists or open hands?
In Season 2, Episode 7 of the Centered Podcast, Ben and David unpack how the story you believe shapes the posture you live with. If your life is driven by scarcity, fear, or self-protection, generosity will feel reckless. But if you trust the agricultural reality of God’s kingdom, generosity becomes retraining for freedom.
They explore Ananias and Sapphira, the danger of wanting resurrection reputation without cruciform trust, and why spending your life is not the same as investing it. You’ll also hear a powerful conversation about church distrust in our cultural moment and why institutions, though imperfect, still matter in God’s redemptive plan.
If you’ve ever wondered whether generosity is foolish or faith-filled, this episode invites you to reconsider the story you’re living in and the future you’re sowing toward.
Listen now to Centered Season 2, Episode 7.

What does it mean to live “East of Eden”? In this episode, Ben, David, and Michele explore the ache of exile... the deep longing for God’s presence we were made for but often live apart from. Through honest conversation and biblical reflection, they unpack how our attempts to cover ourselves, define our worth through performance, and manage our pain reveal just how far we’ve wandered from the garden life.
You’ll hear personal stories and cultural insights that trace the themes of shame, scarcity, and spiritual hunger back to their origin in Genesis and forward to the invitation Jesus offers us today: to return, not by striving, but by surrender.

In this week’s episode of Centered, Ben and David explore how the earliest lie—“Did God really say?”—still echoes in our lives today. They unpack the subtle progression from delight to distortion, distrust, and desire, tracing how rebellion is often rooted not in defiance but in disordered attempts to find life apart from God.
From pop culture’s fascination with antiheroes to our modern suspicion of boundaries, this episode examines how spiritual deception often begins with twisting what is true. They also reflect on the spiritual impact of shame, the longing to be “naked and unashamed,” and what it really means to trust God with our deepest insecurities.
Whether you’ve questioned God’s goodness or just wondered why trust is so hard, this conversation reframes sin not as rule-breaking but as relational fracture—and offers hope for a better story.

What if rest isn’t the reward for a life well-lived, but the starting point for becoming fully human?
In this episode, David and Ben unpack the radical invitation of Sabbath in Genesis 2. Together they explore the pressure to perform, the discomfort of embracing limits, and why we often resist the very rhythms that are meant to restore us. From cultural hustle to personal identity, they unpack how choosing rest isn’t laziness—it’s resistance. You’ll also hear about how grace disrupts hustle culture, and why “you are not what you produce” might be the most freeing thing you’ll hear this week.

This week, Ben and David are joined by special guest Freddy Williams to explore what Genesis 2 reveals about our identity, our dependence, and the struggle between freedom and control. Together, they dive into the beauty of being made in the image of God, the pain of forgetting who we are, and why we so often choose the comfort of slavery over the risk of hope.
They also unpack the idea of Imago Dei, the way we reflect the Creator through our work, and how understanding pain is essential to living with purpose.
From cultivating sacred space to confronting shame, this episode invites us to stop coping and start creating.

Genesis 2 gives us more than a story about the past. It offers a vision for what it means to be human in the present. In this episode, Ben and David explore how creation is not random space we occupy, but God’s kingdom. It is designed with purpose, governed by love, and filled with both spiritual and physical meaning.
They reflect on what it means to be made of dust and breath, and how boundaries are not a punishment but part of God’s design for flourishing. They also dig into Moralistic Therapeutic Deism and why many modern spiritual beliefs feel thin or disconnected from real life.If you’ve ever felt tension between faith and your body, your work, or your limits, this conversation helps connect it all. Genesis still speaks today.
Watch or listen to more episodes at welcometomosaic.com/centered

Genesis doesn’t open with rules, guilt, or commands—it opens with wonder. In this episode, Ben and David unpack what it means that the Bible begins with a God who forms and fills, who speaks beauty into chaos, and who defines what is good.
They explore how our imaginations have been shrunk by performance and pressure—and how returning to the real beginning helps us live with clarity, trust, and purpose. If your life feels stuck, empty, or uncertain, this conversation invites you to ask: What if God is still forming you? And what might He be getting ready to fill?

🎧 Watch or listen to more episodes at welcometomosaic.com/centered

As Centered wraps its first season, Ben and David look back at how God has been forming Mosaic — and look ahead to who we’re becoming as a church. From the growing vision of being a worshiping, Word-and-Spirit, missional community to the everyday ways God meets us in process, this episode reflects on transformation that happens slowly, honestly, and together.

Then, the conversation turns to how the world is shaping us — through politics, news, and the media we consume. Drawing from Marshall McLuhan’s idea that “the medium is the message,” we explore how attention has become currency, how algorithms disciple our desires, and how followers of Jesus can resist a culture of outrage by living from peace instead of performance.

🎙️ Watch or listen to more episodes at welcometomosaic.com/centered

Religion can be exhausting when it’s fueled by pride and self-sufficiency. But real rest begins when we surrender control. In this episode, Ben and David unpack Luke 20’s parable of the tenants and talk about what happens when God’s authority confronts our false ownership. We explore the difference between judgment and justice, the freedom of stewardship, and why falling on the cornerstone is the only way to truly live free.
If you’ve ever wrestled with control, struggled to let go of outcomes, or wondered how God’s confrontation could actually lead to peace—this conversation will help you see how surrender leads to freedom, how humility brings rest, and how Jesus’ authority restores what pride tries to protect.
🎙️ Watch or listen to more episodes at welcometomosaic.com/centered

Guest pastor Miguel Warren reminded us that Jesus’ authority doesn’t trap, it frees. In this episode, Ben is joined by Mosaic elder Andy Perlman to unpack how that kind of authority shows up in real life, where humility and confidence meet, where influence looks like service, and where grace makes room for everyone at the table.
They also lighten things up with Just for Funsies: “Who’s Really in Charge at Home?” a look at the everyday “authority battles” we all face.
🎙️ Watch or listen to more episodes at welcometomosaic.com/centered. 

When victory comes in… so does joy. But what if life still feels like a battle? In this episode, David and Ben unpack why joy is more than a feeling—it’s the evidence of real victory at work in your life.
They explore what it means to crown Jesus as King instead of just admiring Him from a distance, why true power doesn’t ignore suffering but enters it, and how compassion—not control—is the mark of Kingdom strength.
If you’ve ever struggled to find joy in the middle of pain, this conversation will help you see how Jesus redefines power, peace, and what victory really looks like.
🎙️ Watch or listen to more episodes at welcometomosaic.com/centered

When does real sight begin—after the miracle, or before it? David and Ben walk through Luke 18’s thread of scenes (persistent prayer, humble posture, undivided loyalty, childlike trust) that culminates in a blind beggar who “sees” Jesus before his eyes work and drops his cloak in expectation. We talk about “small but not divided” faith, why believing first tunes our hearts to notice God at work, and the modern “cloaks” we cling to for safety and identity.
In our Cultural Moment segment, we wade into AI and the loneliness epidemic—from frictionless “relationships” to why embodied community (with all its mess) still forms us best. We close with two practical invitations: ask Jesus for mercy and clarity this week, and name one cloak you need to leave on the ground.

When Jesus speaks, healing often happens “on the way.” This week Ben and David unpack why faith requires action, why grace isn’t earned by our gratitude, and why the gospel comforts and confronts us at the same time. We also process the national shock surrounding the assassination of Charlie Kirk , how followers of Jesus can mourn, reject political violence, and practice non-anxious, truth-filled presence in a moment that’s discipling all of us toward outrage.  
We get practical about:

• Stepping out before you see the miracle
• Living the tension: good news that offends our self-rule
• Guarding our words and witness in a hyper-charged culture

This week David sits down with Freddy Williams, returning guest Michele Williams, and Tara Comstock to explore a simple but seismic shift: before we do for God, we receive who we are in God and then we join what He’s already doing in our everyday places. They unpack “identity before activity,” including the counter-cultural move from consume and produce to receive and rest that frees us from performative Christianity.    
You’ll hear how the Spirit (the Paraclete, the One who comes alongside) is already at work in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and schools and why our call isn’t to be Jesus for people but to join Jesus and be good news right where we are.    
Michele shares what it looks like to restore dignity and name the imago Dei in hard places like prisons, while Tara reflects on decades behind the salon chair, practicing presence, listening well, and honoring image-bearers in everyday conversations.    
Practically, the team talks about serving (not saving), the freedom of ordinary faithfulness, and a grounding prayer you can carry into tough meetings, parenting moments, and neighborhood life: “God, help me see what You see and feel what You feel.”    
If you’ve ever wondered how “mission” fits your actual Tuesday, this conversation will help you live your gospel identity with purpose no platform required.

What didn’t make Sunday’s sermon makes it into the pod. We pick up “episode 3” from David’s message—the part that hit the cutting room floor—and talk honestly about why community is hard and why the gospel still insists on we over me. We get practical about doing life with people who don’t share our politics or our theology (unity ≠ uniformity), the danger of idealistic expectations that implode real friendships, and why learning to navigate conflict is not a failure of community but one of its main engines for growth and healing. Plus, in Just for Funsies: the underrated spiritual significance of Life Group snacks (yes, snacks matter). If you’re longing for something deeper than bag-of-marbles proximity and want the Acts-2 kind of belonging, this one’s for you—real stories, workable practices, and a hopeful path toward a gospel-shaped community that can actually hold together when we disagree.

This week at Mosaic, guest speaker Robbie Halleen walked us through Titus 3—and a powerful sequence: Loved → Made New → Adopted → Overflowing. In this episode, Ben & Davidunpack why that order changes everything: how identity precedes effort, why “good works” are overflow rather than entry, and what it could look like to preach the gospel to yourself in everyday rhythms. 
We also reflect on Robbie’s memorable opener (wet shaving, grandfathers, and formation) to explore how small, repeatable habits quietly shape who we’re becoming. 
If you’ve ever treated the Bible like a checklist, this conversation invites you to see it as a story to live in—and to let grace reorder your life from the inside out.

If the Bible isn’t a rulebook to keep but a story to live in, how does that change the way we talk about sin, growth, and real freedom? This week, we unpack why “all brokenness is rooted in an identity issue,” how you can hold all the right positions yet miss the posture of love, joy, peace, and faith, and why a generation that loses its worth inevitably loses its way. We process the recent swirl around public tributes and complicated legacies—not to pile on or play politics, but to ask: how do we name harm and still point to Jesus as Redeemer without leveraging guilt and shame?

From the Golden Rule and servant leadership to forgiveness and universal dignity, our culture loves the way of Jesus while often leaving Jesus out. We explore that tension, the spiritual curiosity we’re seeing in Gen Z, and practical steps to rebuild life on Scripture as a firm foundation when the storms hit—so discipleship moves from behavior modification to life transformation.

In this one, Ben and David zoom in on worship as the place where renewal actually begins—not as an add-on to life, but as a rebirth. We talk about living in the Acts 2 reality right now (the Spirit has been poured out), and why following Jesus is a package deal of faith and the Spirit’s power shaping our identity and freedom. Then we unpack Jesus’ “born again” language as a fresh start—no longer defined by our past but recreated in Christ.      

We also get practical: what corporate worship does that private moments can’t (and why weekly confession historically functioned like a covenant-renewal reset), and two simple “IRL” steps—take inventory and take a risk. That risk might be as small as raising a hand, making an audible response, coming to the altar, or asking for prayer… and no one’s judging; it actually lifts the room and often changes your own heart.          

Plus a light “Just for Funsies” detour on dreams—pizza or prophetic?—and how to pay attention without over-hyping it.   

David hosts while Ben (fresh from the pulpit) unpacks why being “after God’s own heart” isn’t about behavior modification—it’s about life transformation. We talk about the Holy Spirit’s role in reshaping our desires (not just our disciplines), how repentance opens us to real change, and why consequences in the Christian life aren’t payback but God protecting the beauty of His kingdom. 
If you’re stuck trying harder and feeling drier, this conversation reframes discipleship from sin-management to Spirit-led intimacy and growth.

Jonah’s journey has taken him from storm-tossed rebellion to Nineveh’s gates—but his greatest battle waits in chapter 4. Here, the prophet’s anger at God’s mercy exposes two hidden idols: a “small-God” scarcity mindset that treats divine love like a reward to earn, and a divided heart that elevates national identity above the Creator.

In this episode, we weave through Jonah’s story to unearth the red-flag behaviors—self-reliance, pride, resentment—that reveal when we’ve bottled up God’s grace. We pivot to the promise of kingdom abundance: if your well feels dry, don’t settle for empty cisterns. Discover where to find the Living Water of Jesus, how to recognize “small-God syndrome,” and why embracing God’s unshakeable love reshapes our mission and mercy in everyday life.

Listen now and learn to drink deeply from God’s limitless grace.

When we try to go it alone, we miss out on the very power God wants to show through our lives. In Episode 19, David sits down with returning guest Tina Ferry to unpack why our greatest breakthroughs often begin when we admit we’re not enough—and learn to lean on one another. 
They explore how vulnerability invites deeper dependence on Jesus, share real stories of community stepping in when we can’t stand on our own, reveal why God delights in using our weaknesses for His greater purposes, and offer simple rhythms to cultivate openness and mutual support. 
Tune in to discover how your weakness can become God’s showcase of strength.

We welcome back Michele Williams to discover how God’s grace reshapes us when we learn, unlearn, and relearn. From insights gleaned alongside therapy horses to the truth that “we’re all Jonah,” we explore what falling—and rising—through our own rock-bottoms really looks like.  Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at welcometomosaic.com/centered.

Feeling torn between your own plans and God’s? In this episode, we talk about how true repentance is much more than “turning from sin”—it’s an invitation to turn relationally back to God. Along the way, they unpack the dangerous myth of autonomy—why our drive for self-governance so often crowds out God’s calling—and explore what it looks like when a Sovereign, relational God cares more about our hearts than our outcomes. Join us for practical rhythms and heartfelt questions designed to help you hear God’s voice and step fully into the story you were made for.

When you dodge God’s call, you’re not just breaking a rule—you’re abandoning who you were created to be. In this episode of Centered, we unpack Jonah’s epic fish tale to show how every sin springs from an identity crisis. You’ll discover how chasing comfort or cultural approval rewrites your personal narrative and learn to shift from “What do I get?” to “Who am I becoming?” Drawing on GK Chesterton’s insight that faith is “difficult and left untried,” we’ll equip you with practical strategies to spot God’s goodness in everyday challenges and rewire your mindset so His will feels like your greatest good. Tune in and take your next step toward living the purpose you were born for.

A healthy Church needs more than charismatic leaders and gifted speakers. True growth happens when we celebrate the unseen “ligaments” — resilience, compassion, and integrity — that bind bones, brains, and brawn into one body. We explore how to guard against overvaluing flashy gifts at the expense of quiet character, cultivate emotional flexibility and moral courage, and follow God’s agenda instead of our own. Plus, discover practical ways to build deep relationships right here in Littleton: from taking an interest in a neighbor’s hobbies to asking the hard questions that foster genuine empathy and lasting connection.

In this episode, we unpack how hidden choices and secret failures shape our identity and calling. We dive into Samson’s epic saga, and along the way, we explore how sin always costs more than you think, rippling out to impact our relationships, and how cultural cravings can crowd out the calling God has for us. Whether you’re wrestling with secret struggles, craving purpose, or simply love a good biblical hair story, this conversation will challenge and encourage your faith journey.

What if the gospel you believed was incomplete? What if the idols you’ve welcomed in are quietly writing your identity?
This episode explores what it means to be spiritually left-handed — underestimated, unexpected, and yet perfectly positioned for God to use. We unpack David’s first salvation story and a surprising definition of the gospel that moves beyond rescue and into relationship.
We talk identity, idolatry, and why syncretism (blending God with the culture) is more dangerous than we think. From false masters to fake identities, this conversation is a reminder:
You don’t have to prove your worth — you just have to cry out. Jesus breaks the cycle. And He uses left-handed people.