A Closer Look

Ep 68 | The Bread and the Cup: Jesus Redefines the Passover (Luke 21)

Jason and David unpack Sunday’s sermon on the Passover: the meaning of unleavened bread, why Jesus chose bread for communion, and how the Lord’s Supper points forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb.The episode also includes a personal moment of vulnerability—sharing a family diagnosis and the relief found in corporate prayer and faithful worship—followed by a look ahead to Jesus’ final hours, Judas and Peter, and the road to the cross.

Ep 67 | No Temple Needed: Jesus Is Enough (Luke 21:25-38)

In this episode of A Closer Look, Pastors Jason and David talk through Luke 21 and the destruction of the temple—why it was both judgment for rejecting Christ and mercy to end the sacrificial system and point clearly to Jesus. They discuss how God dismantles idols, how to identify what you’re really trusting for security, and warning signs that you’re being consumed by the world (including spiritual lethargy and resistance to loving correction). David also explains why he avoided taking a hard stance on end-times timelines from the pulpit: the text is clear that Jesus will return, Christians will suffer, and our hope is not escape but Christ’s presence and the coming redemption of all things.

Ep 66 | The Temple, the End, and Faithful Living (Luke 21:5-24)

In this episode, Pastors Jason and David talk through Jesus’ words in Luke 21 and why they matter for the church today. The conversation focuses on how to read passages about judgment, suffering, and the future without speculation or fear. Along the way, they reflect on how Jesus calls His people to trust, endurance, and faithfulness as history unfolds.

Ep 65 | Two Paths: Living and Thriving in Psalm 1

In the first episode of 2026, Jason Smith sits down with Pastor David to reflect on Sunday’s sermon from Psalm 1—a timely “reset” after the holidays and a season of sickness. David explains why Psalm 1 presents two ways to live: to live and thrive or to wither and die, a theme that runs throughout the whole Bible.
They walk through key takeaways from the message: the blessed life begins with being known by God (belonging to Him by grace), and it includes a serious, active fight against sin—what David calls a posture of “zero tolerance,” not perfectionism, but purposeful guardrails and accountability. The conversation also clarifies Psalm 23’s phrase “I shall not want”—not a promise of health-and-wealth ease, but confidence that the Shepherd provides what we need to endure every season, even valleys and enemies, all the way to glory.
Finally, they emphasize the necessity of being satisfied in and engaged with God’s Word—delighting in it, meditating on it, and applying it personally (no shortcuts). The episode closes with a preview of Sunday’s return to Luke, including a “lower-shelf” approach to Luke 21 so the congregation hears Jesus’ clear, comforting point rather than getting lost in end-times speculation.

Ep 64 | Why Jesus Came: To Reveal the Truth (John 18) — Christ the King

Pastor David Wojnicki returns from sabbatical and joins Jason Smith for a conversation around his Advent message in the “Why Jesus Came” series: Jesus came to reveal the truth (John 18). They unpack what Jesus means by “My kingdom is not of this world,” why Christ’s kingship is not geopolitical yet rules over all, and how Jesus wisely engages Pilate’s limited categories. The episode closes with practical ways to live with Jesus as King—repenting of false kings, aligning our calendars and resources toward Christ, and recognizing anxiety, anger, bitterness, and dissatisfaction as warning signs that something other than Jesus is ruling our hearts.

Ep 63 | Why Jesus Came: Delivered from Darkness

In this episode of A Closer Look, Jason Smith is joined by elder and Pastor of Congregational Care, John Walters, to reflect on Sunday’s Advent sermon in the series Why Jesus Came. John shares his journey into ministry, his heart for pastoral care, and the central theme of his message: Jesus came to deliver us from darkness.
Together, they explore what it means to see the light, believe in the light, and walk in the light—and how these truths shape the daily life of the believer. The conversation addresses common struggles Christians face, including suffering, chronic illness, discouragement, and seasons of darkness, while offering biblical encouragement and hope rooted in Christ.
This episode also highlights the richness of the Gospel of John, the unity of Scripture, and the beauty of Christ as the fulfillment of God’s redemptive story.

Ep 62 | Why Jesus Came: Obedience, Adoption, and the Hope of Advent

In this Advent kickoff episode, Jason Smith sits down with John Wojnicki to unpack the first message in our series, Why Jesus Came. John preached on Christ’s purpose “to do the Father’s will,” leading to a rich discussion about obedience, adoption, and what it means to live faithfully between Jesus’ first and second comings.
Together they explore how obedience shapes our joy, why God’s commands bring freedom rather than restriction, and how trusting the Father produces a “no problem” heart. They also reflect on family worship, suffering, hope, and a few fun Thanksgiving favorites.

Ep 61 | Holy in Christ: Growing in Our Set-Apart Identity (Romans 12:1-2)

In this third week of our In Christ series, Pastor Paul and Pastor Jason talk through what it really means to be holy in Christ. They unpack sanctification, our “set-apart” identity, and how we grow in holiness even though we’re already fully united to Christ. They also clarify a key statement from Sunday’s sermon about bringing Jesus “into our sin,” explore biblical discipline as an expression of God’s love, and discuss why love—not guilt or fear—is the deepest motivation for obedience.

Ep 60 | Saints or Sinners: Your New Identity in Christ (Romans 6:1–4)

In this episode, Pastors Jason Smith and Paul Behneman dive deeper into what it truly means to be new in Christ. Building on Paul’s sermon from Romans 6:1–4, they discuss the believer’s identity as a saint rather than a sinner, the daily struggle against sin, and how God’s Word renews our minds. From confronting imposter syndrome to understanding sanctification and holiness, this conversation reminds us that through Christ, we are no longer defined by our sin but by our Savior.

Ep 59 | Blessed in Christ: Identity and Assurance (Ephesians 1:3-14)

In this episode of A Closer Look, Pastor Jason Smith sits down with Pastor Paul Behneman to reflect on Paul’s message from Ephesians 1:3–14, “Blessed in Christ.” Together they discuss what it means to be “in Christ”—that what is true of Christ is true of believers spiritually—and how that reality changes how we live each day. Paul shares about God’s sovereignty in the midst of fear, how our failures can’t derail His purposes, and why knowing our identity in Christ brings freedom and assurance. They also talk about how worship and preaching often align under God’s providence and preview next week’s sermon, “New in Christ,” from 2 Corinthians 5:17.