The Compass Teaching Podcast

The Humble King | Matthew 21:1-11 & 20: 29-34 | Chris Harrell

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:42:10 -0500

On Palm Sunday, Jesus enters Jerusalem not as a conquering ruler but as a humble King riding on a donkey. This message explores how His kingdom flips our expectations of power, calling us to choose the way of humility, service, and sacrificial love. As we begin Holy Week, we’re invited to consider Jesus’ question to us: “What do you want me to do for you?”

From Illness to Resurrection | John 11:1-44 | Ashleigh Givens

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:54:03 -0500

This message explores the story of Lazarus to reveal Jesus as the one who loves us deeply and meets us in our brokenness. While we are "ill" because of sin, honest faith opens us to God’s healing, power, and ongoing work of transformation in our lives.

John 11:1-44

The Word Became Flesh | John 1:1-18 & Revelation 1:9–18 | Chris Harrell

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:41:13 -0500

What does it mean to truly see Jesus for who He is? Through John 1, this message reveals Jesus as the eternal Son of God, the light who enters our darkness and the Savior who steps into the pit of our brokenness to lead us out.

John 1:1-18

Revelation 1:9-18

Back to the Source | 1 John 4:8 & Colossians 1:15-17 | Dan Reeves

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:53:54 -0500

When faith becomes confusing, we often either walk away or become combative. In this message, we look back to the Nicene Creed and the early church to rediscover a historic foundation for what Christians believe about God. What if returning to the source could help us become people marked not by division, but by love?

We Believe In | Ephesians 2:8–22 | Chris Harrell

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 13:36:24 -0600

In a world flooded with noise and opinions, this message invites us to anchor our lives in words that truly matter. By exploring the meaning of “We believe in” from the Nicene creed, we’re reminded that faith isn’t meant to be individualistic or rooted in certainty but shared together and centered on Jesus. As we prepare for Easter, we’re called to cling to Christ, and let Him lead us home.

Ephesians 2:8–22

Find Your People (Part 2) | Proverbs 13:20, Acts 9, & 2 Samuel 12 | Chris Harrell

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:47:05 -0600

Who you run with shapes who you become, and you may be just one friendship away from changing the course of your life. Through the stories of Saul of Tarsus, Ananias of Damascus, Barnabas, and King David, this sermon explores the three friends we all need: one who makes us better, one who strengthens our faith, and one who tells us the truth. Don’t settle for relational poverty—ask God for the courage to pursue deep, Christ-centered friendships and to become that kind of friend for others. Proverbs 13:20 Acts 9 2 Samuel 12 DG Guide Give to Compass

Find Your People | Proverbs 13:20, 17:17 & Hebrews 10:24-25 | Chris Harrell

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:42:27 -0600

This Sunday, we started a short two-week sermon series called “Find Your People” on friendships. We live in a lonely, disconnected, and digital age. What does Scripture have to say about our relationships and friendships? Join for a foundational word about becoming and developing the kinds of friendships that last.

Called to Compassion | Jonah 4:5-11 | Chris Harrell

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 15:51:32 -0600

In this final message from Jonah, God reveals His relentless compassion while confronting Jonah’s anger toward mercy he didn’t think others deserved. Through Nineveh’s repentance and the plant, we’re challenged to examine our hearts and follow Jesus into a life shaped by compassion in a divided world.

Jonah 4

Relentless Mercy | Jonah 3:10-4:4 | Ashleigh Givens

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:25:09 -0600

In this message from Jonah 4, we wrestle with the scandal of God’s mercy, especially when it’s extended to people we think don’t deserve it. Jonah’s anger reveals how easily our sense of justice can be shaped by fear, harm, and power rather than by God’s relentless love. This sermon invites us to examine our hearts and learn how mercy becomes the way God restores the world.

Jonah 4

Grace at Rock Bottom | Jonah 1:17-2:10 | Chris Harrell

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:26:15 -0600

In Jonah 2, we move beyond debates about the fish and into the heart of the story: God’s severe mercy meeting Jonah at rock bottom. From the depths of rebellion and despair, Jonah discovers that God is not absent in suffering but closer than ever, using storms and even a fish as a vehicle of salvation. This message invites us to wrestle honestly with our own running, our resistance to grace, and the greater hope found in Jesus, who calls us home. Jonah 2 DG Guide Give to Compass

Lesser Loyalties | Jonah 1:4-16 | Chris Harrell

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 12:45:51 -0600

In this second message from Jonah, we watch a reluctant prophet try to outrun God and discover that God’s mercy is far more persistent than Jonah’s resistance. As a storm exposes Jonah’s misplaced identity and sleeping faith, we’re confronted with our own tendency to run, disengage, or let lesser loyalties shape who we are. This sermon invites us to wake up, receive God’s mercy for ourselves, and trust the better Jonah—Jesus—who calms the storm and calls us home.

Jonah 1:4-16

Where Are You Headed? | Jonah 1:1-3 & Matthew 12:38-41 | Chris Harrell

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:00:26 -0600

This message introduces the book of Jonah by inviting listeners to move beyond the familiar story of the fish and instead wrestle with a big God whose grace extends even to enemies. Jonah runs because he resents God’s mercy, and in his story we see a mirror of our own tendency to flee God’s call when it challenges our vision of the good life. As the new year begins, the message calls the church to stop running, trust God’s compassionate purposes, and step into the fuller life He is offering.

Jonah 1

Matthew 12

Jonah 1:1-3 Group Guide

The Way of the King | Matthew 2 | Chris Harrell

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 13:58:10 -0600

From Matthew 2, this message contrasts the kingdom of Herod built on power and fear with the kingdom of Jesus marked by peace and humility. Through the story of the Magi, we’re invited to see how God makes it clear that Jesus is King and to choose which way and which King we will follow.

Matthew 2

Expectant Joy | Isaiah 35 Matthew 11:2-11 | Chris Harrell

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 15:33:11 -0600

In this third Advent teaching, we’re invited to hold expectation without illusion and to rediscover joy in the midst of waiting. Drawing from Isaiah 35, the message contrasts lives shaped by despair with the hope of God’s renewing presence in the wilderness. Advent calls us home to a joy that doesn’t deny hardship, but trusts that God is already at work. Isaiah 35 Matthew 11 Give to Compass

Hope in the Wilderness | Isaiah 11 & Matthew 3 | Chris Harrell

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:44:09 -0600

This message contrasts Isaiah’s hopeful vision of peace with the harsh realities of life, inviting us to see the wilderness as the place where God begins renewal. Through repentance and turning toward Christ, we discover that God brings new life from what feels lifeless. In this Advent season, we’re called to slow down and let Jesus meet us in the quiet spaces where transformation begins.

The Teachable Heart (Advent #1) | Isaiah 2 + Matthew 24 | Ashleigh Givens

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 14:05:32 -0600

This message explores our deep discomfort with uncertainty, using the “mystery box” lesson to show how easily we grasp for answers instead of trusting God in the unknown. In Advent, we’re invited to move beyond the “guessing game” and the “knowing game” and instead cultivate a teachable heart—one that meets Jesus in the ordinary moments of life. With humility and openness, we learn to release our need for control and discover that our good Teacher is with us, guiding us day by day.

Practicing Gratitude | Philippians 4:1-8 | Dan Reeves

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:14:32 -0600

This message explores gratitude as one essential ingredient for a meaningful, joy-filled life—especially in the tension of hardship, anxiety, and the “already/not yet” reality of faith. Through Philippians 4, we’re invited to practice rejoicing, cultivate a non-anxious presence, and continually set our minds on the nearness of God.

Philippians 4

Hidden in Christ: Conclusion | Colossians 4:7-18 | Graeme Gastineau

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 14:33:28 -0600

As we finish the book of Colossians, we discover how Paul’s final greetings paint a vivid picture of authentic Christian community—one rooted in encouragement, shared suffering, reconciliation, and prayer. This sermon calls us to become a “hidden in Christ” people who sow the seeds of real, grace-filled relationships.

Colossians 4

New Creation Engagement | Colossians 4:2-6 | Chris Harrell

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 15:42:59 -0600

In a world chasing happiness, the Apostle Paul calls us to something deeper — a life rooted in prayer, gratitude, and grace. From Colossians 4:2–6, we’re reminded that our witness begins not with our words, but with hearts transformed through prayer and compassion. Join us as we explore how to live wisely, love deeply, and walk with others through both joy and sorrow.

Colossians 4

New Creation Living | Colossians 3:12-4:1 | Chris Harrell

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 16:16:51 -0600

What does it really mean to live out a new identity in Christ? In this message from Colossians 3, we explore how compassion, kindness, humility, and forgiveness form the foundation of a Christ-shaped community. These qualities, nurtured through gratitude and worship, shape us to reflect the love and peace of Jesus in a broken world.

Colossians 3

Be New People | Colossians 3:1-11 | Chris Harrell

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 13:15:00 -0500

In this message from Colossians 3:1–11, we're called to put off our old selves and live a new life hidden with Christ. True freedom and renewal come when we let go of the ways of the world to embrace the life Jesus offers. What are you willing to give up to gain the treasure of life in Christ?

Colossians 3:1-11

Already Complete | Colossians 2:8-23 | Graeme Gastineau

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 16:57:03 -0500

Paul reminds us in Colossians 2 that true fullness and freedom are found only in Christ. He warns against being taken captive by empty philosophies and cultural pressures. In Jesus, the fullness of God in bodily form, we are made complete, our sins forgiven, and every power that stood against us defeated. Staying rooted in Him gives us a firm foundation that no human effort or ideology can replace.

Colossians 2:8-23

Note: We experienced video feed issues during the livestream, so the quality may vary at times.

Find it in Christ | Colossians 2:1-7 | Chris Harrell

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:14:21 -0500

In a world that constantly pulls us in every direction—politics, power, and self-made identities—Paul reminds us that real truth and lasting peace are found in Jesus alone. This message from Colossians 2 calls us to be rooted, built up, and strengthened in Christ, not swayed by cultural noise. Jesus alone is the firm foundation that never fails.

Colossians 2:1-7

The Mystery Revealed | Colossians 1:15-19 | Ashleigh Givens

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:31:29 -0500

This message from Colossians 1:15–19 proclaims the supremacy of Christ and the transforming truth that “Christ is in you, the hope of glory.” It calls believers to align every part of their lives with Christ’s reign, growing in spiritual maturity through the struggles and stages of life. Join us as we walk together in this journey, supporting one another as they embody God’s kingdom on earth.

Colossians 1

Christ Over All | Colossians 1:15-23 | Chris Harrell

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:00:47 -0500

In this message from Colossians 1, we unpack Paul’s vision of Jesus as the image of the invisible God and the one who holds all things together. Against the backdrop of empire, idols, and competing worldviews, we’re reminded that Jesus is supreme, sufficient, and our true north. Wherever you find yourself—searching, weary, or uncertain—this is an invitation to experience the hope, peace, and security that are found in Christ alone.

Colossians 1

A Life Worthy | Colossians 1 | Chris Harrell

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 17:02:51 -0500

In this message, we unpack Paul’s prayer for the Colossians, asking God to fill us with wisdom, strengthen us by His power, and inspire hearts of gratitude. We explore how to walk worthy of the Lord, rely on the Holy Spirit, and grow in faith and patience amidst life’s challenges. We are invited to pray intentionally, embrace God’s guidance, and experience the rescue and inheritance we have in Christ.

Colossians 1

The Way Forward | Luke 2:25-40 & Romans 6:1-14 | Chris Harrell

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:34:03 -0500

This sermon explores the story of Simeon and Anna in Luke 2, showing how prayer is powerful, particular, and persistent. We’re reminded that true prayer aligns us with God’s will and helps us trust His timing. As Compass marks its 8th anniversary, we’re called to lean into prayer, lift up future generations, and join God’s work with faith and expectancy.

Luke 2:25-40: https://shorturl.at/EjDWm

Romans 6:1-14: https://shorturl.at/gr3Co

Give to Compass: https://shorturl.at/QNYjJ

Prayer as Participation | Acts 17:1-9 & 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 | Chris Harrell

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 16:18:05 -0500

In this message, we unpack Paul’s words in Acts 17 and 1 Thessalonians 5, showing how prayer is more than a ritual—it’s participation in the life and mission of God. The early church discovered joy, constant prayer, and gratitude not by willpower but through the Spirit’s work in their lives. We are invited into that same reality today, learning to pray with confidence, pass faith to the next generation, and take simple next steps of trust. Prayer transforms us from the inside out and sends us into the world with love, faith, and hope. Give to Compass Discipleship Gathering Acts 17:1-9 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

The Father Hears | Luke 11:9-13 & Mark 11:24–25 | Chris Harrell

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:19:06 -0500

In this week’s sermon, we’re reminded that prayer often doesn’t go the way we expect, but God is still present in the middle of it. This message wrestles with why it sometimes feels like God doesn’t answer our prayers, the weight of broken relationships, and the struggles we face in life. Even in disappointment, we are invited to trust that God is working and worthy of our worship.