VCLA Podcast

Are you projecting a clean, put-together life on the outside while keeping your real struggles hidden behind closed doors? In this powerful sermon from our series in the Gospel of Mark, we dive into Mark chapter 7 to explore how Jesus deals with our hidden messes.
Whether we act like the religious Pharisees who focus on external appearance, the Syrophoenician woman who comes with deep humility and faith, or the deaf and mute man waiting for a touch of divine restoration—Jesus doesn’t run from our mess; He runs directly to it and through it.
Learn how to step away from behavioral modification and religious performance, surrender to the Holy Spirit, and experience true spiritual transformation from the inside out.

What is the real process of spiritual transformation? In this message, Pastor Josh dives into Mark 3:13-15 to reveal how Jesus turns passive observers into active followers. From working as a 1950s-themed diner server to leading a church in Los Angeles, Josh breaks down the three essential stages of true life change: Encounter, Formation, and Mission.
Discover how gathering weekly, building daily spiritual rhythms like MANNA Groups, and living out your faith locally and globally can redefine your purpose and identity.

Are you feeling physically and emotionally exhausted by the pressure to prove yourself?
In a world that constant whispers "keep going", it is easy to let what we do define who we are. Work is a good gift, but it makes a terrible God.
In this Labor Day weekend message, we explore the deep relationship between work, rest, worth, and the way of Jesus. By comparing Matthew 11:28-30 and Colossians 3:23-24, we discover how trading the oppressive yoke of cultural expectation for the well-fitted yoke of Christ restores our soul and transforms our ordinary, daily work into holy worship.

Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or completely out of control? In this powerful sermon on Mark chapter 6, we dive deep into two of Jesus's most famous miracles: Feeding the 5,000 and Walking on Water.
Discover why Jesus deliberately places His disciples—and us—in situations where we lack resources and power. It isn't to punish us, but to form us, test our faith, and reveal who He truly is as our Good Shepherd. If you feel like you're stuck in a storm and God is taking His time to answer, this message is a reminder that you are in the exact place needed for spiritual transformation.

Are you ready to discover what it really costs to follow Jesus?
In this powerful sermon on Mark chapter 6, Pastor Josh breaks down the "Markan Sandwich" literary device—explaining how Mark weaves together the bold sending out of the 12 disciples, the shocking martyrdom of John the Baptist, and the triumphant, joyful return of Jesus' followers.
Walking in the power and authority of God isn't about passive comfort, safety, or prosperity. It’s a radical call to action that requires counting the cost in our everyday lives, jobs, families, and communities.
Listen to learn why stepping out in faith—even when faced with opposition or rejection—leads to deep, everlasting joy.

In this sermon on Mark chapter 5, we explore how Jesus responds to our deepest desperation. Facing the great equalizers of disease and death, both a powerful synagogue leader named Jairus and a long-suffering, isolated woman find that status and wealth mean nothing when life falls apart.
Discover how Jesus reveals His supreme authority over sickness and death, demonstrating His relentless desire to draw near to you—whether you have the strength to reach out or need Him to reach down and grab your hand.

Are you facing overwhelming life storms or struggling to understand where God is in the middle of chaos? In this powerful message from Mark 4 and 5, we explore the difference between macro suffering (the massive injustice and broken systems of our world) and micro suffering (the deeply personal, daily struggles like disease, anxiety, and broken relationships).
When a furious squall threatened to sink their boat, the disciples panicked while Jesus was asleep on a cushion. Crying out, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?", they witnessed Him command the wind and waves to be quiet and still. Yet, after Jesus calmed the cosmic storm and delivered a man tormented by a legion of evil spirits in the tombs, the surrounding community didn't celebrate—they were terrified and begged Jesus to leave.
Why do so many of us want what Jesus can give us, but don't actually want Jesus Himself?
Discover why God’s ultimate mercy might mean withholding an immediate fix so that we run closer to Him rather than walking away once our circumstances improve.

Are you feeling stuck in your faith, overwhelmed by life’s chaos, or wondering if God is still moving in your heart? In this powerful sermon from Mark Chapter 4, guest speaker Sean pulls back the veil on the "Secrets of the Kingdom."
We explore three profound mysteries of Jesus’s ministry:
1. The Mystery of the Upside-Down Kingdom: Why Jesus chooses internal soul transformation over external political power.
2. The Mystery of the Hidden Hero: Why you don't need public attention or high follower counts to make a eternal impact.
3. The Mystery of the Wasteful Sower: How God generously scatters His love and truth on every type of heart—even when we are cynical, exhausted, or choked by life's worries.
Whether your spiritual soil currently feels hard, shallow, rocky, or overgrown with weeds, Jesus isn't walking away. He willingly spends His grace on you, inviting you to take a simple mustard-seed step of faith today.

Are you approaching Jesus with a list of demands, or are you approaching Him with delight?
In this powerful sermon on Mark 3, we dive into three distinct groups of people who encountered Jesus: the crowd who tried to use Him for miracles, the Pharisees who tried to silence Him through attack, and His own family who tried to control His ministry.
Discover how moving from demanding to delighting completely transforms your relationship with God. Learn what it truly means to "be with Him" and fulfill the will of God without slipping into transactional religion.

Have you ever tried to be the perfect "Super Christian" for a day, only to fail miserably by sunset? 🙋‍♂️ In this powerful and vulnerable message, Pastor Josh walks us through Mark chapters 2 and 3 to show how Jesus systematically dismantles human religion, dos, and duties to give us something infinitely better: His nearness and rest.
Whether you've been crushed by the weight of religious expectations, or you’ve unconsciously become the person judging everyone else’s holiness, Jesus has a radical invitation for you today. It’s not about checking off 19 spiritual boxes a week. It’s about arriving in absolute vulnerability—messy, exhausted, and real.
Join us as we dive into three distinct stories from the Gospel of Mark where Jesus proves that He didn't come for the self-righteous; He came to break the rules of religion to restore the dignity of the broken.