The Cycle of Self-Liberation (Buddhism) | Let's Be Honest | Brett Koerten

In this week's episode, Phil EuBank sits down with Matt Summers to dive into Sunday’s message, The System of Merit. Framing Roman Catholicism as our theological parent in the Christian family tree, they explore how a system built on human merit, sacraments, and tradition can subtly turn faith into a tollbooth or a self-funded spiritual insurance policy. Together, Phil and Matt discuss the core contrasts of the Protestant Reformation, specifically Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) and salvation by grace alone through faith alone. Drawing from Phil's childhood friendship with a local priest named Father Michael, they highlight the vital need to hold deep conviction without losing the humble, loving posture of Jesus. They also turn the mirror on Protestant culture, exposing the invisible performance tolls we often pay when we try to earn God's love or blame ourselves during life's hardships. Listen to the Menlo Midweek Podcast Tune into new episodes released every Wednesday as we break down Sunday’s sermon, share behind-the-scenes insights, and discuss practical ways to live out our faith. Listen now at menlo.church/podcasts. 🎙️ In This Episode The Family Tree: Viewing Catholicism as our theological parent and recognizing shared history while clarifying key Reformation distinctions. Tollbooths vs. Free Gift: Examining how a system of merit and cooperation can turn faith into an anxious attempt to self-fund eternal security. Posture Over Winning: Learning from Phil’s childhood friendship with Father Michael on how to hold firm conviction without losing the humble, loving heart of Jesus. Invisible Tolls We Pay: Uncovering the subtle ways Protestants fall into merit-based thinking, performance loops, and self-condemnation. 💬 Discussion Questions In what ways do you find yourself paying "invisible tolls" by trying to earn God's favor or blaming yourself when difficult circumstances happen? Phil shared how Father Michael showed a Christlike posture even amidst theological differences. How can you practice holding strong conviction while maintaining humility and grace toward others? How does resting in the truth that Scripture is our ultimate authority (Sola Scriptura) and that grace is completely unearned bring peace to your daily walk with God? 📅 Series Schedule Over the summer, we’re taking an honest, respectful look at different worldviews and traditions. Check out the full series schedule below: June 28: Judaism (Available Now) July 5: Islam (Available Now) July 12: Buddhism (Available Now) July 19: Mormonism (Available Now) July 26: Catholicism (Available Now) August 2: The Nones / Agnostics August 9: It is Finished - The Gospel 🎒 Next Steps & Resources Looking to take your faith journey deeper? Here are some great next steps: Watch or Catch Up Watch this episode on our website: http://menlo.church/podcasts Watch the accompanying weekend sermon: https://www.menlo.church/sermons/the-system-of-merit-catholicism Need Prayer or Have Questions? Text us at (650) 600-0402 Support Hope for Everyone Thank you for your generosity! Support Menlo Church’s mission to reach 3% of the Bay Area with the message of hope in Jesus. Learn more or give at: http://www.menlo.church/hope Explore Faith at Alpha Got big questions about life, faith, and meaning? No matter what you believe, or if you don't believe anything at all, you belong here. Alpha is a safe, open space to explore the basics of the Christian faith over a meal and honest conversation with others. Learn more or find a group at: http://menlo.church/alpha Get Connected We’d love to connect with you and help you find your place at 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) | (MB01EKBUICB4NLC)

Catholicism tells us to maintain our salvation through merit. In this message, Lead Pastor Phil EuBank examines the sacramental system and the idea that we must “stay” in a state of grace through our own participation and penance. When faith becomes a system of "maintaining" our status, we lose the joy of our salvation. Instead, we build our lives on the Rock of Christ's finished work, recognizing that the sacraments aren't ways we earn grace, but ways we celebrate the grace already finished on the Cross. Text Our Team (650) 600-0402 | Connect With Us

In this week's episode, host Peter Sherman sits down with Spiritual Formation Pastor Matt Summers to unpack Sunday’s message, The Ladder of Modern Prophets. In the LDS system, salvation is often framed as a partnership where we provide maximum effort and God provides the supplement. But striving to follow laws, ordinances, and temple works to achieve exaltation creates an exhausting, moving finish line. It leaves us trapped in the anxiety of never knowing if we have done enough to qualify for God's presence. Together, Peter and Matt explore the contrast offered by the gospel. Grace is not a top-off to patch up our performance, and the work of Jesus is not a supplement to our effort; it is a total substitute for it. Instead of climbing a spiritual ladder to prove our value, we discover the life-changing freedom of stepping off the performance loop and living from the worth Jesus has already given us. Listen to the Menlo Midweek Podcast Tune into new episodes released every Wednesday as we break down Sunday’s sermon, share behind-the-scenes insights, and discuss practical ways to live out our faith. Listen now at menlo.church/podcasts. 🎙️ In This Episode The "Do" Framework: Exploring the weight of "grace after all we can do" and why striving for exaltation creates an exhausting finish line. The "Done" of Jesus: How Christ's work serves as a complete substitute for our effort rather than just a supplement. Working From Worth: Shifting from working for God's love and approval to living out of the worth He has already granted us. Practical Grace: How to step off personal performance ladders in everyday life and love our neighbors with genuine curiosity and respect. 💬 Discussion Questions Where in your life are you tempted to view grace as a "top-off" for your own efforts rather than a total gift? How does shifting from working for God's love to working from God's love change your daily perspective and peace of mind? What is one practical way you can rest in the "Done" work of Jesus this week instead of trying to prove your worth? 📅 Series Schedule Over the summer, we’re taking an honest, respectful look at different worldviews and traditions. Check out the full series schedule below: June 28: Judaism (Available Now) July 5: Islam (Available Now) July 12: Buddhism (Available Now) July 19: Mormonism (Available Now) July 26: Catholicism August 2: The Nones / Agnostics August 9: It is Finished – The Gospel 🎒 Next Steps & Resources Looking to take your faith journey deeper? Here are some great next steps: Watch or Catch Up Watch this episode on our website: http://menlo.church/podcasts Watch the accompanying weekend sermon: https://www.menlo.church/sermons/the-ladder-of-modern-prophets-mormonism  Need Prayer or Have Questions? Text us at (650) 600-0402 Support Hope for Everyone Thank you for your generosity! Support Menlo Church’s mission to reach 3% of the Bay Area with the message of hope in Jesus. Learn more or give at: http://www.menlo.church/hope Explore Faith at Alpha Got big questions about life, faith, and meaning? No matter what you believe, or if you don't believe anything at all, you belong here. Alpha is a safe, open space to explore the basics of the Christian faith over a meal and honest conversation with others. Learn more or find a group at: http://menlo.church/alpha Get Connected We’d love to connect with you and help you find your place at 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) | (MB01EKBUICB4NLC)

What if grace isn't a reward for climbing a religious ladder, but a gift that meets you right at the bottom? Pastor of Spiritual Formation Matt Summers continues our Let’s Be Honest series by exploring the theology of the Latter-day Saints Church and the idea of grace after all we can do. In a system where salvation is treated as a partnership of human effort and divine supplement, it is easy to get trapped in the anxiety of never knowing if you have done enough. While modern prophets offer frameworks to reach godhood, Christianity points to a God who came down the ladder to reach us. Instead of an endless checklist of requirements, the gospel offers the life-changing freedom of a grace that cannot be earned. We look at the core differences regarding who God is, who Jesus is, and how we are saved, discovering that our worth does not live on the next rung of performance. Join us as we learn to trade striving for the security of a Savior, realizing that when the frameworks falter, Jesus alone is enough. Listen to the Menlo Midweek Podcast Want to dive deeper into this week’s message? Tune into the Menlo Midweek Podcast, released every Wednesday, where we break down the major themes and share behind-the-scenes personal insights that didn’t make it into Sunday’s sermon. Listen now at menlo.church/podcasts. Need Prayer or Have Questions? Text Our Team (650) 600-0402 Connect With Us Follow Us on Social Media Instagram: @menlo.church Facebook: Menlo Church Website: http://www.menlo.church Musicbed Sync ID: (MB014RCECFXJCWL) | (MB01EKBUICB4NLC)  

We are continuing our summer series, Let’s Be Honest, a thoughtful, humble exploration of what it means to navigate faith, culture, and big intellectual questions today. This week, host Matt Summers sits down with Brett Koerten for an honest, deeply respectful look at Buddhism. Instead of relying on easy stereotypes, they start with a deeply human question we all face: why life feels unstable and why even the good things in this world never seem to last. Using the metaphor of two glasses—one empty, one full—they explore how different paths approach this universal ache. While Buddhism focuses on emptying ourselves of cravings to find peace, Christianity offers a completely different hope. You see, Christianity has an emptying too. But instead of that emptying being a requirement by us to receive freedom, in Jesus, God emptied himself to enter our suffering, take it upon himself, and make us whole. 📍 In This Episode: Naming Reality as It Is: Recognizing what Buddhism sees clearly about the heavy reality of human pain, and why Christians shouldn't just "put a smile on" and ignore suffering. The Empty vs. The Full Glass: Unpacking the fundamental fork in the road between a spiritual path aimed at total detachment and a Gospel aimed at relational restoration. The "GLP-1" of Religions: A fun, insightful look at how emptying ourselves can feel like an inoculation from the noise of the world, and where we must have our antennae up regarding "mindfulness syncretism." From Meditation to Relational Prayer: Brett shares practical, next-step coaching on how to transition from solo, self-reliant emptying into conversational prayer with a God who wants to carry your weight. 💬 Discussion Question: If you’ve been practicing mindfulness or meditation, is it pulling you toward trying to empty yourself of anxiety on your own, or is it leading you to cast your cares onto a living Savior who actively wants to carry them with you? #MenloChurch #MenloMidweek #TheCycleOfSelfLiberation #LetsBeHonest #Buddhism #MenloMidweekPodcast 📅 Series Schedule: Over the summer, we’re taking an honest, respectful look at different worldviews and traditions—check out the full series schedule below: June 28: Judaism (Available Now) July 5: Islam (Available Now) July 12: Buddhism (Available Now) July 19: Mormonism July 26: Catholicism August 2: The Nones / Agnostics August 9: It is Finished (The Gospel) 🎒 Next Steps & Resources Looking to take your faith journey deeper? Here are some great next steps: Watch or Catch Up Watch this episode on our website: http://menlo.church/podcasts Watch the accompanying weekend sermon: https://www.menlo.church/sermons/the-cycle-of-self-liberation-buddhism Need Prayer or Have Questions? Text us at (650) 600-0402 Support Hope for Everyone Thank you for your generosity! Support Menlo Church’s mission to reach 3% of the Bay Area with the message of hope in Jesus. Learn more or give at: http://www.menlo.church/hope Explore Faith at Alpha Got big questions about life, faith, and meaning? No matter what you believe—or if you don't believe anything at all—you belong here. Alpha is a safe, open space to explore the basics of the Christian faith over a meal and honest conversation with others. Learn more or find a group at: http://menlo.church/alpha Get Connected We’d love to connect with you and help you find your place at 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) | (MB01EKBUICB4NLC)  

Buddhism identifies suffering as the core human problem and offers the Eightfold Path as the solution. It is a religion of radical self-effort and "emptying" oneself to find peace. This week, we compare the "work" of self-liberation with the "rest" of the Gospel. Text Our Team (650) 600-0402 | Connect With Us

We are kicking off week two of our summer series, Let’s Be Honest, a thoughtful, humble exploration of what it truly means to navigate faith, culture, and big intellectual questions in today's world. Host Matt Summers sits down with Menlo Church Lead Pastor Phil EuBank to take an honest, respectful look at Islam. Together, they discuss the critical importance of engaging with other worldviews on their own terms—seeking to understand the strongest, most intelligent form of what another faith actually teaches rather than knocking down weak, uncharitable caricatures. Phil pulls back the curtain on his own inbox to share the raw, tension-filled feedback he receives from both sides of the conversation, using it to highlight how difficult yet vital it is to thread the needle of truth and love in our local communities. The conversation dives deep into the heart of the weekend message, contrasting two fundamentally different documents: the "report card" of performance versus the "birth certificate" of identity. While the five pillars of Islam demand an admirable, rigorous level of human effort, discipline, and devotion, they ultimately leave even their greatest prophets facing a ledger of profound spiritual uncertainty. Matt and Phil explore how the radical promise of Jesus completely upends the scales of behavior modification. Instead of offering a manual or an oppressive checklist to measure up, the Gospel offers an invitation to abide daily in a living relationship with a Savior who already overcame the grave to secure who we are. 📍 In This Episode: Honesty Over Caricature: Discussing how to represent other faith systems with profound respect, intellectual clarity, and curiosity rather than trying to "own" the other side. Report Card vs. Birth Certificate: Analyzing the foundational difference between a performance-driven faith that evaluates your best efforts and the gospel-driven security of knowing your identity is anchored in Christ. The Admirable Weight of the Pillars: Taking a respectful look at the intense devotion, prayer rhythms, and deep commitment required by the five pillars of Islam, and why structure is so compelling to a confused world. Engaging with Our Neighbors: Practical, warm advice on how to initiate honest, safe, and friendly conversations with the Muslim friends and co-workers in your life without feeling the pressure to "seal the deal." 💬 Discussion Question: Are you treating your daily faith like a report card to be graded on your performance, or are you living out of the security of a birth certificate that defines your identity as a child of God? #MenloChurch #MenloMidweek #TheFivePillarsOfEffort #LetsBeHonest #Islam #MenloMidweekPodcast 📅 Series Schedule: Over the summer, we’re taking an honest, respectful look at different worldviews and traditions—check out the full series schedule below: June 28: Judaism (Available Now) July 5: Islam (Available Now) July 12: Buddhism July 19: Mormonism July 26: Catholicism August 2: The Nones / Agnostics August 9: It is Finished (The Gospel) 🎒 Next Steps & Resources Looking to take your faith journey deeper? Here are some great next steps: Sermon Study Guide Dive into this week's discussion with your small group or family: https://www.menlo.church/resources/2026-07-05-sermon-study-guide-lets-be-honest-week-2-islam Watch or Catch Up Watch this episode on our website: http://menlo.church/podcasts Watch the accompanying weekend sermon: https://www.menlo.church/sermons/the-five-pillars-of-effort-islam Need Prayer or Have Questions? Text us at (650) 600-0402 Support Hope for Everyone Thank you for your generosity! Support Menlo Church’s mission to reach 3% of the Bay Area with the message of hope in Jesus. Learn more or give at: http://www.menlo.church/hope Explore Faith at Alpha Got big questions about life, faith, and meaning? No matter what you believe—or if you don't believe anything at all—you belong here. Alpha is a safe, open space to explore the basics of the Christian faith over a meal and honest conversation with others. Learn more or find a group at: http://menlo.church/alpha Get Connected We’d love to connect with you and help you find your place at 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) | (MB01EKBUICB4NLC)

Islam means "submission," and it offers a clear path of five pillars to please God. But even the most devout lives in uncertainty—will my good deeds outweigh my bad? We explore the exhausting nature of trying to earn the favor of a distant Master. Text Our Team (650) 600-0402 | Connect With Us

Welcome to the Menlo Midweek Podcast! We are kicking off a brand new summer series called Let’s Be Honest, a thoughtful, humble exploration of what it truly means to navigate faith, culture, and big intellectual questions in today's world. Host Matt Summers sits down with Menlo Church Lead Pastor Phil EuBank to lay the groundwork for this series. Together, they tackle how to hold honesty and conviction together, ensuring we can explore what Christianity teaches without becoming dismissive, simplistic, or unfair toward other world views. Phil even shares a deeply personal look into his own story, opening up about how his mother was a first-generation Russian Jew whose discovery of Jesus as the Messiah completely reshaped how he reads and understands the biblical text. To start things off, the discussion begins with the historical and biblical foundations of Judaism under the episode title, "The Burden of the Law." While many view religious rules as a ladder to climb up to God or a checklist to prove they are a "good person," Phil breaks down why the Law was actually intended to function as a mirror rather than a ladder. The conversation dives deep into the central promise that changes everything: Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it perfectly in our place. Whether you are a long-time churchgoer evaluating if you've drifted into trying to earn a gift that is already free, or a curious listener trying to sort through different religious ideas, this episode offers an honest look at why we can stop trying to measure up.   📍 In This Episode: Honesty Over Caricature: Setting the tone for the new series and discussing how to "steel-man" other belief systems with profound respect, intellectual clarity, and curiosity. A Personal Legacy: Phil shares how growing up in a home with a Jewish heritage gave him a unique, second-nature perspective on reading the New Testament through a Jewish lens. The Law as a Thermometer: Moving past the idea of the Law as an oppressive checklist to see how it functions like a thermometer—it tells you the temperature of the soul, but lacks the power of a thermostat to change it. Grace vs. Performance: A challenging look at why even regular churchgoers can accidentally treat faith like a ladder, and how Jesus' fulfillment of the Law sets us free from the burden of performance.   💬 Discussion Question: Are you currently living with the assumption that you need to be good enough, do enough, or measure up to be okay, or are you actively resting in the grace that has already been given to you? #MenloChurch #MenloMidweek #TheBurdenOfTheLaw #LetsBeHonest #Judaism #MenloMidweekPodcast   📅 Series Schedule Over the next several weeks, we’re taking an honest, respectful look at different worldviews and traditions—check out the full series schedule below: June 28: Judaism (Available Now) July 5: Islam July 12: Buddhism July 19: Mormonism July 26: Catholicism August 2: The Nones / Agnostics August 9: It is Finished (The Gospel)   🎒 Get Connected Watch or Catch Up Watch this episode on our website: http://menlo.church/podcasts  Watch the accompanying weekend sermon: https://www.menlo.church/sermons/the-burden-of-the-law-judaism   Get Connected We’d love to connect with you and help you find your place at 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    Music bed Sync ID: (MB014RCECFXJCWL) | (MB01EKBUICB4NLC)  

Many people believe that if they just follow the "rules" (The Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule), they will be right with God. We look at the rich history of Judaism and the 613 laws intended to guide God's people. However, the Law was never meant to be a ladder to heaven; it was meant to be a mirror showing us we can't get there on our own.  Text Our Team: (650) 600-0402 | Connect With Us