Oasis: College & Young Adult Ministry

46. You Need Friends with Jake Thurston

Jake Thurston joins the podcast today to talk about one of his favorite topics, friendship! We are people specifically designed to be in community, yet so many of us experience loneliness and isolation. As college students and young adults, our communities are constantly changing. Yet, what is friendship is more than just satisfying ourselves, but a key way God is inviting us into discipleship? Spiritual friendship is a key spiritual discipline, an avenue in which God transforms us and uses us to help transform others. If you're someone who is struggling with community or looking how to build intentional relationships, we highly encourage checking out Jake's book, You Need Friends!

MESSAGE: Sabbath

In our series, Practicing the Way, we look at core spiritual disciplines that keep us connected with God. Tonight, Brennen digs into the ancient practice of Sabbath. Sabbath is an invitation from God to stop, rest, delight, and worship for one day each week. As crazy as that sounds, we can trust God that he will provide us with everything we need to follow him in this way. While it might be difficult, Sabbath is a worthwhile, life-changing practice. 

Message Delivered: 3/23/25

45. Comparison

Your 20s are a season full of unique and exciting timelines. Some are stepping into marriage and family life, others are pursuing education, and many are navigating a path somewhere in between. While it’s natural to notice where others are in their journey, this can sometimes lead us to compare our lives in ways that either build pride or stir insecurity. At its core, comparison often reveals deeper struggles—like discontentment or misaligned desires. Join us today as we explore how to shift our focus from comparison to contentment, learning to align our hearts with God’s perfect timing and desires.

MESSAGE: Scripture

In our new series, Practicing the Way, we are looking at core spiritual disciplines that keep us connected in relationship with God. Tonight, Brennen digs into the practice of reading and meditating on scripture. God's Word is a source of life for Christians and invites us to live in his blessing. As you hear this message on how to consistently engage with scripture, you'll be encouraged with three things. First, start small. Start with a few minutes a day and grow from there. Second, think subtraction before addition. Rather than adding another thing to our plate, where can we cut to give ourselves more time to be with God. Lastly, change comes through diligent repetition.

Message Delivered: 3/23/25

44. What We're Learning

In today's episode, we’re getting real about failures, growth, and what Jesus is teaching us! Emily is learning to rest well, realizing that tiredness is an invitation to be filled (John 4). Brennen is reflecting on longevity in faith and life, learning to count the cost (Luke 14) and run with perseverance (Hebrews 12). We’re sharing our journeys to encourage you in yours, knowing that we’re all continually growing. So, what is Jesus teaching you?

MESSAGE: The Global Church

Pastor and missionary Carl Gilles shares what God is doing in the French speaking countries of the world. The gospel is being proclaimed, lives are being transformed, and Carl has a front row seat in helping people around the world find and follow Jesus. Yet, this isn't just a calling for Carl. All of us are called to make disciples, and some of us, are called to make the glory of God known all around the world. As Carl shares, you'll hear that God loves all of his people, and plans to use his people to make his glory known!

Message Delivered: 3/16/25

43. Slowing Down in a Hurried World

If you could describe Jesus in one word, what would it be? For Dallas Willard, pastor and author, this word is relaxed. Jesus lives slow and relaxed, much different from our hurried and anxiety driven world. Hurry is the greatest threat to our spiritual growth. It hinders our ability to hear from God, build deep connections with friends, and eventually leads to a dry and exhausted soul. Join us as we look at how we can step into the unhurried and relaxed pace of Jesus!

MESSAGE: Is Christianity True?

Does truth exist? Does God exist? If so, who is He? These are the big questions Brennan explores as we close our series on God’s healing. Our ability to think critically comes with responsibility, yet many struggle to believe that Christianity is true. Jesus was a real person who lived, was crucified, and rose from the dead. This isn’t just a claim in Scripture—it’s backed by eyewitness accounts from the first century. Because Jesus is true, everything He says is true. So what does this mean for us? It means we keep pursuing health and, most importantly, keep pursuing the One who brings our healing.

Message Delivered: 3/2/25

42. Flourishing with Social Media

It's incredibly well known that social media has been one of the leading causes for our generation's mental health crisis. But it's also this incredibly powerful tool that allows us to share the gospel, encourage others, and stay connected with our friends. Join us as we wrestle with this tension and look at practical ways we can use social media well!

MESSAGE: The Call of Forgiveness

What if our wounds from others are places where God can reveal his transformative power? Pastor Aaron reveals that forgiveness is one of the main ways in which God redeems and restores us. Forgiveness is not forget, weakness, or immediate trust. Rather, forgiveness is releasing the offense and choosing to walk in love. It is costly and it is difficult, but forgiveness stops cycles of evil and represents the power of the gospel.

Message Delivered: 2/23/25

41. Following Jesus on Campus with Laura and Ellie

Today, we’re joined by two incredible guests, Laura Bogue and Ellie Colbeck! As students at SDSU, they exemplify what it means to live out their faith—both by being poured into and by pouring into others. In this episode, they share where they’ve seen God move on campus and where they’re praying expectantly for His Spirit to break out. No matter where you are in your journey, remember—you’re not walking alone!

MESSAGE: The Prince of Peace

Our generation has grown extremely calloused to our mental health crisis. We settle for managing symptoms because we don't believe that full healing is possible. Yet in Luke 10, we see that Jesus offers emotional wholeness to Martha. Martha is anxious and worried about many things, but she is invited to sit at the feet of Christ and receive what the world can't give her. The peace Jesus brings isn't just the absence of chaos, but the total and complete restoring of who we are as people.

Message Delivered: 2/16/25

40. Purity in a Distorted World

To follow the design God has for sex can feel like swimming upstream, all alone. We are constantly surrounded by shows, books, and media that claims we don't need to adhere to God's design for sex. This attitude is slowly killing our discipleship to Jesus and slowly harming our generation from the inside out. It's time we redefine what it means to follow Jesus when it comes to sex. To follow him and trust him with our bodies is more than blind obedience to a few rules, but a way of life that offers true redemption.

39. The Challenges of Being Single

Being a single young adult is anything but easy. But it's a season of witnessing God do incredible things. As Jaena and Emily share some of their real life experiences of being single, you'll hear that it's a journey full of ups and downs. Singleness allows to partner with God in ways that others can't. It's a season to lean into not run away from. Join us as we discuss ways we can participate with God through the gift of being single!

MESSAGE: Why the Physical Matters

God values our bodies and trusts each one of us with a body. But most of us struggle to understand why our physical body really matters. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul reveals Jesus became like us that he might redeem all of who we are. As our bodies eventually break down, we cling to the hope that Jesus is powerful even over death. There is nothing our physical body experiences that can't be healed by the power of Jesus.

Message Delivered: 2/2/25

38. Longevity in Marriage

There's something so amazing about marriages that last a lifetime! But what makes them last? To answer this question, we have to start with why God created marriage. In Genesis 2, we see that God creates marriage for the purpose of friendship, working together, sexuality, and family. When sin enters the world, the marriage relationship becomes even harder, yet we see God using this relationship to transform his people into his image. How we practically do this will look different for all of us. But for all of us, we're invited to cling to God's beautiful design for his people.

MESSAGE: Our History and Hiddenness

How do we become and remain healthy followers of Jesus? This is the key question we're answering in our series, Out of the Ashes. Brennen starts this series by examining Luke 5 by examining our history and hiddenness. First, the gathering of God's people has always been the gathering of broken people. All of us have been or will experience hurt in the church. Yet it is God's redemptive power that calls the church beautiful and can redeem our history with the church. Secondly, Jesus calls out the places of ourselves we try to hide. We walk in the light by acknowledging our sin and confessing to God. In confession, God invites us to walk in his light of freedom.

Message Delivered: 1/26/25

37. The Holy Spirit

Understanding who God is directly influences how we see the world. But God in his holiness can be hard for us to understand. He is three persons in one. He is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, united together by perfect love. Today we're talking about one of the persons of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. Join us as we talk about who the Holy Spirit is and what he does in us and the world!

MESSAGE: The Power of the Gospel

Mark 5 is a powerful text revealing the power of Jesus and the opening of the gospel for all people. Jesus crosses physical and cultural borders to redeem a man who is alone and tormented by demons. From just getting out of the boat, the power and authority of Jesus is revealed. This text is a reminder that the gospel has power. The enemy will discourage us by reminding us of our limitations, but we cling to the power of Jesus and the truth of what he's done for us.

Message Delivered: 1/19/25

36. Forgiving Others

Forgiveness is a command for every follower of Jesus. No matter who has hurt us or how, we are commanded to forgive. But what does this actually look like? Forgiveness is releasing someone from the debt of their wrongdoing. It is a beautiful demonstration of the gospel message in which we extend what Jesus has freely given us. Forgiveness is not excusing habitual behaviors or letting someone off the hook. It is a beautiful and oftentimes challenging invitation for us to trust that God will bring about justice in his time and his way. Join us as we look at how we can be a community that forgives others!

35. How Jesus Models Friendship

What does it look like to grow our intentionality in our friendships? This is one of the main questions we're answering on the podcast today. The life of Jesus reveals the layers of intentionality. Jesus has the 3, the 12, and the 72. These spheres of influence invite different levels of healthy boundaries and roles as a friend. Yet in all of these relationships, Jesus shows characteristics of love, service, presence, and prayer for those he is in community with. Jesus' life reveals to us how we can take continual steps in growing our friendships.

34. Redeeming the Body

Our body is intentionally included in God's redemptive plan. The whole life of Jesus reveals the goodness of our bodies. From conception, to death, to his resurrection, he gives dignity to the human body. As he rises and ascends into the heaven, he makes it possible for our bodies to be temples of the Holy Spirit. Though we experience the frailty of what it means to be human, his resurrection points to the good news that God redeems all things. Join us as we discuss how we can steward our bodies for God's purpose!

33. What is Grace?

Grace is a word that we use a lot, it's even in our church's name and mission statement. But what does it actually mean? On a basic level, grace is the undeserved kindness of God that empowers his people to live holy lives. But the beauty of grace is that it is a gift that is seen across our entire lives. Grace is at work to prepare our hearts to receive the good news of Jesus. Grace empowers us to believe and take steps in our faith journey. And grace transforms us as we continue to follow Jesus. Wherever you're at, grace is at work in your life right now. Join us as we look at how we can participate in God's grace!

MESSAGE: The Parable of Belief

How well are you at waiting? As followers of Jesus, we live in his victory through his death and resurrection, yet we are still waiting for him to redeem all things. In Jesus' parable of the talents, he reveals two different behaviors that come in seasons of waiting. Jesus reveals that how we wait matters, because how we wait is directly tied to our belief in the one we're waiting on. Our belief directly influences our behavior and our actions. The reward is not just greater responsibility, but a relationship with the master himself.

Message Delivered: 12/8/24

32. Faithful in Finances with Devan Schaeffer

Devan Schaeffer, a financial planner, joins us to discuss how he's seen money be a tool that can build the kingdom. How we manage our finances directly reveals the condition of our hearts. It reveals who we trust and what we value. As college students and young adults, we might not have much right now. But Devan joins us to share how we can be faithful with the little we have and set ourselves up for future generosity.

MESSAGE: The Kingdom of Grace

In Matthew 22, Jesus is teaching one of his last parables about a wedding banquet. This banquet is a feast of grace. The invitation to join is freely given, but to stay, guests have to put on the right garments. Jesus uses this teaching to proclaim the arrival of a kingdom of grace against the systems of works and complacency the religious leaders have built. Yes, grace is freely given to all. But God gives each person to make the daily choice of how they will respond to his grace.

Message Delivered: 12/1/24

31. The Art of Celebration

Celebration is a practice of honoring God for what he has done and is doing in our lives. It's not just noticing his grace, but it's noticing the one who has poured out his grace on us. Celebration is a powerful practice that involves our past, present, and our future. It starts with recalling God's works, even the ones that were not always the most positive. In the present, we position ourselves to see how God is continuing to work in our lives, and we are then encouraged in our faith for the future. No matter who you are or what you're week has entailed, we invite you to join us as we celebrate what God has been doing this semester!

MESSAGE: The Parable of the Faithful

Parables are stories that reveal deep, spiritual truths. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus frequently used parables to illustrate the mystery of his kingdom. In Luke 18, Jesus tells the story of a a faithful widow to illustrate the power of prayer. Day after day, this widow comes to an untrustworthy judge to voice her request for justice, until one day, the judge is so annoyed, he grants her the request. If this is how a poor judge reacts, then what about the Father? Jesus uses this parable to reveal the power of bringing our requests to the Father. Even if it's been years of unanswered prayer, the Father is listening and is working in our prayers.

Message Delivered: 11/24/24

30. The Purpose of Sunday Part 2

Last week, we looked at what happens during the Sunday service and why. This week, we're looking at how we can participate in the service a devoted worshippers. As you listen, you'll hear that our participation is a balance of giving and receiving. We give our worship to God first, then we receive what he has for us. The quality of Sunday worship isn't based on how great something sounded or what we got from the message. The quality of Sunday comes from what we bring as a pleasing offering of worship.

MESSAGE: Faithfulness in the Flood

The story of Noah and the flood is more than a fairytale with cute graphics. Genesis 5-9 is an inside look into the character of God and the state of humanity. Since Adam and Eve's sin, humanity continued to live according to their sinful desires. God's grief over the brokenness of creation led him to cleansing the earth through the flood. But God spared Noah and his family because of Noah's faithfulness. Noah's obedience is fuel for our obedience. Wherever we are, we have the opportunity to walk faithfully with God, even when it feels like we're alone.

Message Delivered: 11/17/24