watch the latest message

Episode Description: On Week 4, the finale of What is a Follower of The Way?, host Matt Summers and pastor Phil EuBank sit down to confront an uncomfortable reality: the illusion of control. Building on our year of Reclaiming The Way of Jesus, this final conversation moves from the "junk drawer" to the "spray bottle"—a simple illustration that shifts our perspective on life, time, and stewardship. Phil and Matt unpack James 4 and 5, exploring why we so often try to edit ourselves into the hero of our own stories and how we can stop treating our lives as possessions to be managed, and start seeing them as gifts to be invested. Tune in as they break down: The tension between our drive for ambition and the biblical reality of providence. What it actually means to be a "Sacrificial Developer" on an ordinary Tuesday. The difference between adding a religious disclaimer to our plans and truly holding a decision open before God. Why we should pay attention to the people our lives "run on"—and why attention often costs more than money. Grab your Reclaiming Journal, ask yourself the question: "Who does my life actually run on?" and join us for a conversation on why your life—like a vapor—is meant to be invested well.

Episode Description: On Week 3 of our series through James, Pastor Phil EuBank swaps chairs to sit down with Matt Summers to ask a grounding question: What do your words reveal about the "junk drawer" of your life? Continuing our year dedicated to Reclaiming The Way of Jesus, Phil and Matt unpack what it means to build atmospheres with our words in the fast-paced, highly verbal culture of the Bay Area. Together, they explore the tension between our carefully crafted outward communication and the underlying spiritual formation that actually fuels our daily reactions. This conversation shifts from playful insights on holding onto 2012 charging cables to a deep, diagnostic look at the damage our tongues can do. Tune in as they break down: The difference between simply managing what comes out of our mouths and dealing with what's actually stored in our hearts. How our words act like lightning strikes, starting relational wildfires that create the environments others have to live in. What it means to hold "conviction without contempt" as we head into a politically charged and polarized season. What a "Thoughtful Witness" actually looks like at a Tuesday night dinner table—and how to move past self-surveillance into genuine curiosity. Grab your Reclaiming Journal, write down the question: What did my words create today? and join us for an honest look at recovering the Way of Jesus in the place we actually live. Get Connected We’d love to connect with you and help you get plugged into Menlo Church. Visit http://menlo.church/connect and fill out a quick form so we can reach out. Stay Connected with Menlo Church Kids (Preschool–Grade 5): https://menlo.church/kids Students (Grade 6–12): https://menlo.church/students Explore All Ministries: https://www.menlo.church/ministries Follow Us on Social Media Instagram: @menlo.church Facebook: Menlo Church Website: http://www.menlo.church Musicbed Sync ID: (MB014RCECFXJCWL) Musicbed Sync ID: (MB01EKBUICB4NLC)

Episode Description: Fresh off Vision Sunday and the launch of our new series through James, host Matt Summers sits down with Pastor Phil EuBank to ask a grounding question: What is your life actually becoming? Moving from last series’ focus on researched faith to a year dedicated to reclaimed faith, Matt and Phil unpack what it means to follow Jesus in the real pace, devices, habits, and demands of Bay Area life. Together, they explore the life of James—someone who had extreme proximity to Jesus yet almost missed Him—and wrestle with the tension between spiritual formation and modern fragmentation. This conversation shifts from playful insights on physical journals versus digital overload to a deep, diagnostic look at James 1. Tune in as they break down: The difference between an interruption and a distraction. What it means to be "double-minded" in a culture of endless backup plans. Why staying at the mirror of God's Word long enough transforms us from spiritually educated to spiritually activated. What an "Undivided Follower" actually looks like on a normal Monday—whether you're feeling on autopilot, harbor honest skepticism, or feel spiritually crowded out. Grab your Reclaiming Journal, bend the spine, and join us for an honest look at recovering the Way of Jesus in the place we actually live.