Welcome to the Menlo Midweek Podcast! Host Matt Summers sits down with special guest Joey Odom (co-founder of Aro) to talk about the system errors in our modern lives—specifically, our relationship with our phones and technology. In this opening episode, "Digital Thorns," Matt and Joey explore how the constant hum of digital distraction is causing a glitch in the most important parts of our lives, our relationships, and our faith. 📍 In This Episode: The Modern Thorns: We look at Jesus' Parable of the Sower and discuss how the "thorns" that choke out the good seed today often look a lot like our smartphones, social media feeds, and constant notifications. Presence vs. Proximity: Joey shares his personal wake-up calls, highlighting the hard truth that just being in the same room as your family or friends isn't the same thing as being truly present with them. The Psychology of the Scroll: Why is it so hard to put the phone down? We dive into the intentional design behind our devices and why we must be just as intentional about creating boundaries to fix the glitch. Reclaiming Connection: Practical, guilt-free steps to start unplugging, creating healthier rhythms, and opening up the space needed to hear from God and connect deeply with the people right in front of us.

Welcome back to the Menlo Midweek Podcast! This week, Matt Summers and Phil EuBank continue our series, "God, If You’re Real," by stepping into the heart-wrenching and hope-filled story of Jairus and his daughter (Luke 8). When we are in the middle of our most desperate prayers, one of our biggest questions is often: “God, are you even paying attention? And if you are, why are you taking so long?”

Welcome back to the Menlo Midweek Podcast! In this episode, Matt Summers and Phil EuBank unpack the raw, honest, and often desperate place where faith meets our most challenging life circumstances. Following up on this past weekend’s message, "If You’re Real, Help Me," we take a deep dive into the story of the woman with the issue of blood in Luke 8. This conversation is for anyone who has reached the end of their own resources and is ready to move from the armor of cynicism to the vulnerability of faith.

Welcome to the start of a brand-new series at Menlo Church! This week, Matt Summers and Phil EuBank kick things off by leaning into the tension, the doubt, and the honest curiosity that many of us carry. In a world that often demands certainty, we’re starting a conversation titled "God, If You’re Real." This episode focuses on a core value at Menlo: Giving people permission to ask questions. Whether you’ve been a follower of Jesus for decades or you aren’t even sure if God exists, this series is a safe space to bring your "what-ifs" and "how-comes." Join ALPHA: https://www.menlo.church/alpha 📍 In This Episode: Permission to Doubt: Matt and Phil discuss why "I don't know" is a valid spiritual answer and why the church should be the first place people go with their hard questions. The Strength of a Challenged Faith: We dive into the idea that a faith that isn't allowed to be questioned is a faith that cannot grow. Why challenging our own beliefs actually leads to a deeper, more resilient trust in God. Wrestling with the Divine: A look at how some of the most influential figures in the Bible (like Thomas and David) built their relationship with God through honest, raw questioning. Safe Space vs. Echo Chamber: How Menlo strives to be a community where intellectual honesty and spiritual growth go hand-in-hand.

Happy Easter! In this climactic episode of our "I AM" series, we gather to celebrate the most life-changing news in history. But we aren’t just looking at an empty tomb; we’re looking at the God who meets us in the shadows of grief and confusion. Hosts Matt and Phil dive into John 20:1-18, focusing on a moment so personal it changes everything: the moment the resurrected Jesus stands in the garden with Mary Magdalene. 📍 In This Episode: The Darkness of the Morning: We explore why Mary was at the tomb while it was still dark—both physically and emotionally—and why we often miss God when we’re blinded by our own pain. The Turning Point: Why didn't Mary recognize Jesus? We discuss the tension between her expectations and the reality of the Resurrection. "Mary": The core principle of our Easter message. Jesus didn't come back just to prove a point, fulfill a prophecy, or win an argument. He came back to say your name. Personal Resurrection: What it means for us today that the Creator of the universe knows us intimately and calls us out of our "dark" seasons by name.

Welcome to a powerful and timely episode of the Menlo Midweek Podcast. This week, host Matt Summers is joined by special guest Vince Vitale to unpack a message that hits home for anyone feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders. As we continue our "I AM" series, we travel to the Garden of Gethsemane. It’s here we see the ultimate contrast between the crushing weight of human expectation and the sustaining presence of God.