Midweek at The Compass

Season 3 Episode 18 - Jeff Griffin walks us through the PEARL strategy.For more resources on how to use the PEARL method with your neighbors, check out our PEARL Resources page.Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncard If you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

Season 3 Ep 17. Mark Lennox.Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncard If you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

Season 3 Ep 16Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncard If you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

Season 3 Ep 15Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncard If you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

In this powerful message, Jake is joined by guests Rick and Ann Smith from Trauma Free World, as they discuss how to find hope when it is hard to find. They share practical advice on how to spiritually heal from trauma and rebuild trust. They discuss how trauma shapes our behaviors and how it can impact trust. They share how hope can help us in our journey through despair.If you're struggling with despair and the effects of trauma, or know someone who is, this message is for you. Rick and Ann provide insight and guidance on how to find hope in the midst of darkness. They offer practical advice on how to spiritually heal and rebuild trust. To learn more about Trauma Free World, click here: https://traumafreeworld.org/ Want to learn more? Join us for a training on July 11-13 at our Naperville campus.  Details here: https://traumafreeworld.org/product/advanced-trauma-competent-care-naperville-il/Use the coupon code TCC20 to attend the course for 20% off! Registration includes printed materials, lunch, and snacks.Questions? Contact Ann at annsmith@traumafreeworld.org Timestamps:Intro1:02 - Rick & Ann Smith Intro2:00 - Their connection to the Compass3:20 - What is trauma? 3:59 - Examples of Trauma, different kinds of trauma5:18 - What happens biologically & physiologically as a result of trauma?8:09 - the effects in the Frontal Lobe / Executive Functioning9:25 - Survival Behaviors9:50 - Are "behavioral problems" always a sign of trauma?11:00 - Over 70% of adults worldwide have experienced trauma12:00 - Timing of trauma and its lasting effects13:01 - Coping mechanisms14:15 - What hapens psychologically from unresolved trauma?15:48 - Trauma in the context of relationships17:46 - How to begin to trust again19:15 - Reminders to parents20:32 - Spiritual practices that are helpful for healing22:01 - Positive effects of being thankful23:24 - Benefits of Lamenting25:10 - God isn't afraid of our feelings25:29 - What we need most to heal26:25 - Next steps28:55 - Parting words; Heal from the root31:00 - Where you can find info on Trauma Free World#trauma #healing #spiritual #parenting #trust #survival #psychology Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncard If you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

Join Jake and Cassie as they chat about what Bluey can teach us about faith & parenting.If you're a parent of a young child, you've probably heard of the Disney show Bluey. It's the story of a young family of Australian sheep dogs in everyday scenarios. Bandit, the dad in the story, turns everything into a game as he and his wife teach their kids life lessons. Jake and Cassie talk through the following: What are the lessons behind the lessons that we can learn from Bluey?How does it relate to our faith? How can we avoid or combat #DadGuilt and #MomGuilt?How can we model forgiveness for our kids?Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/prayerIf you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/giveMidweek at the Compass | Season 3 Episode 13#bluey #disney+ #parenting #condemnation #grace #faith #family Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncard If you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

Can we be a true Christian and still experience anxiety? In our current Jackpot weekend series, we're exploring the mind-blowing benefits of following Jesus, and this week, Jeff spoke about Peace. But what happens when we're experiencing Chaos or Anxiety? What might that feel like for us? What causes those feelings? How do we reconcile that with the knowledge that we have access to Christ's peace?Join us for a conversation with Biblical counselor, MicKenzie Crowley, as we take a look at anxiety through a biblical lens.Timestamps:2:05 - What is anxiety?2:50 - Clinical Anxiety -vs- everyday anxiety3:45 - What are common reasons people are struggling with anxiety right now? 4:21 - Three categories of sin that can create anxiety6:30 - The effects of Social Media on anxiety7:57 - Common symptoms of anxiety9:51 - How do we believe what's true while experiencing anxiety?10:33 - Unpacking Philippians 4:6 11:20 - Physical versus spiritual causes of anxiety15:10 - Tangible steps to overcome anxiety17:35 - The interplay between faith & anxiety19:30 - How people pursue relief for anxiety 21:20 - Healthy, biblical coping mechanisms for anxiety relief23:00 - Stories of people overcoming anxiety25:30 - First steps for people realizing you're experiencing anxiety27:33 - We need community28:25 - Where to find the Biblical Counseling CenterScriptural references:Philippians 4:6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:8: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.Listen to the corresponding weekend message here or search "Peace | Jackpot" wherever you listen to your podcasts. Learn more about MicKenzie Crowley and the Biblical Counseling Center at https://biblicalcounselingcenter.org/.Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncard If you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

Join Jake & Jeff for a Behind the Scenes look at our Deconstruction series. Listen as they answer the following...- Why did we choose this particular topic? - What would have been covered if we had more time? - Do you have to go through Deconstruction to grow in your faith? In addition, Jeff has a message for Young Adults who are growing in and deconstructing their faith. We'll also get a sneak peek at our Good Friday & Easter services. Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncard If you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

Deconstruction can carry a negative connotation, however it's so important in conversion experiences and in healthy grounding of what's important about our faith. Greg works with college students to help them pull everything back to Jesus, to better understand who He is - not some suburban, urban, or rural version of Him, but the actual character of Jesus, which ultimately strengths our faith foundation.If all we have is "Veggie Tales" faith - AKA "you should just be kind" - then what happens when we experience failure? Doubt? Faith is so much more than being a "good person" - for example, if we are perfect, how can we learn God's grace? Tune in to today's episode of Midweek at The Compass with Greg Jao as he explains his experiences witnessing college students deconstruct and reconstruct their faith. Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncard If you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

Deconstruction can carry a negative connotation, however it's so important in conversion experiences and in healthy grounding of what's important about our faith. Greg works with college students to help them pull everything back to Jesus, to better understand who He is - not some suburban, urban, or rural version of Him, but the actual character of Jesus, which ultimately strengths our faith foundation.If all we have is "Veggie Tales" faith - AKA "you should just be kind" - then what happens when we experience failure? Doubt? Faith is so much more than being a "good person" - for example, if we are perfect, how can we learn God's grace? Tune in to today's episode of Midweek at The Compass with Greg Jao as he explains his experiences witnessing college students deconstruct and reconstruct their faith. Season 3 Episode 9

Join us for this episode as Greg talks about recognizing the pain in the world while still worshipping a good God. Next week and the following, we'll be diving deeper into the concept of Deconstruction with Greg, exploring why our young adults are deconstructing their faith: what causes it, and what can we do about it? You won't want to miss it!This original message was preached last summer at the Compass.

Have you ever struggled in your faith journey? We're in a new series called "Deconstruction: A Doubter's Journey" where we unpack what it looks like to wrestle with our questions and doubts in a way that increases our hope and deepens our relationship with God. Join us for the first week of our companion podcast, Midweek at the Compass, as Jake shares his personal experiences with the following:➡️Church Hurt➡️Christian Hypocrisy➡️Personal Failure➡️Life Disappointment➡️Countercultural WaysHere at the Compass, we want to support you as you seek answers to your questions about faith, the Bible, and God. If you'd like to connect with a pastor, fill out a connection card here: https://www.thecompass.net/ContactUs Check out the full weekend message, Why Faith Falls Apart, on the Compass Church Podcast.

Jeff joins us to discuss all things Chicago Cubs... and of course, The Chase! How did this series impact him? Where did the construct come from? What does it mean about evangelism? We'll also dive into a preview of our next series, Deconstruction.Timestamps::30 - Let's talk about the Chicago Cubs!1:30 - Expectations for this season's Cubbies2:13 - the spiritual truths found in baseball2:39 - What was the Chase series all about?4:42 - What resonated with Jeff as he prepared for this series5:22 - Evangelism can be scary - who is the primary Evangelist?7:00 - the PEARL: a relational evangelism strategy8:25 - Intentionally joining God in His pursuit of the people around you8:36 - Dovetailing The Chase with the Pearl concept8:57 - Relational Evangelism in an oppositional culture10:26 - The topic did we not quite get to: God's sovereignty conveyed in Nebuchadnezzar's dream11:43 - the prophecies of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, validated13:06 - God humbles the proud14:49 - Nebuchadnezzar's shift of focus14:58 - Where is our focus?16:47 - the study of our current culture17:12 - How did you land on Deconstruction for our next series? What can we expect?17:51 - Jeff's deconstruction experience19:49 - Deconstructing as a result of culture20:27- Jake's deconstruction experience21:48 - the Cubs & deconstruction23:10 - Scripture we'll look at this series24:10 - Goals of the Deconstruction series

Darrell Cloud our executive Pastor guest hosts and talks with our ministry partner from Sheridan Correctional Facility and they discuss prison ministry.

Today, Jake interviews worship leader Jane Hoshell & Campus Pastor Adam Gascho about the dreams - God-given or otherwise - they've pursued in their life. Listen to learn some ways to discern whether a dream is your own or God-given, how to persist in pursuing your dream amidst adversity, and God's primary objective in giving us dreams. 

Have you ever wondered what the bible says about taking care of our bodies? In our conversation with Pete Sutton this week, we use Daniel chapter 1 as a starting point to break down some misconceptions about how Daniel and his friends ate in Daniel 1 and what we can learn from it. Spoilers: it's not to eat only vegetables and water!Far from being a conversation solely around caring for our physical bodies, Jake and Pete also dive into how God is the main character of every story, the purpose of Scripture, dependence upon God, how work has changed since the writing of the Bible, unity and diversity, why the Bible doesn't talk much about exercise, how to deal with shame and guilt, and so much more. Join us for this rich conversation that will give you a new perspective on the relationship between yourself, your body, and your God.Episode notes:Who is our guest, Pete Sutton?Context of Daniel Chapter 1Origins of the Daniel DietWhat can we learn from the Daniel diet?God is the main character of every storyScripture is the revelation of GodAre fad diets biblical?How does the Bible describe our bodies?How the Trinity reflects unity & diversityOur appetites allow us to experience the fullness of GodHow our needs force us to depend upon GodSabbath restthe result of the Fall on parentingHow are body and work tied together?How can we care well for our mind & body?Functional joyDealing with shame and guiltBalancing life & familyStruggling with body image? 

Jeff wraps up our Angels series with some bonus information about Angels that didn't fit into any of the messages. Listen in to hear all the highlights including friendly banter between Jeff & Jake, the kinds of angels that didn't make it into a weekend message, and how there's always more to the story. Also: Jeff apologizes for not letting Jake know he was going to Ottawa (Jake's hometown).Timestamps: 1:02 - Highlights from Christmas service2:23 - Jake gets a flat tire in the worst storm of the winter3:59 - "Peace on Earth" Original Christmas song 4:49 - Silk snow makes you cough

This week, Jake interviews retired Angelology Professor Fred Dickason. Fred studied Electrical engineering in the Navy, taught at Moody Bible Institute, and has spent 52 years studying about, teaching, and counseling on angels. Fred has written several books on angels, including Angels Elect & Evil.Join us as Fred shares his insights on the history of angels, the role of angels in our everyday life, Satan, spiritual warfare, and more.From understanding who angels are and what they do to overcoming spiritual warfare, this is a conversation that will give you a deep understanding of angels and their role in your life. 

Our pastors encourage us to slow down and participate in Advent during December - but who has time for that? December is one of the busiest months of the year for almost everyone. So how can we create time for the "reason for the season"? How can we implement some spiritual practices that will ground us in the goodness, peace, and love we're promised through Jesus Christ?Tune in for a rich conversation between Jake and Spiritual Director Dre Nell about some simple spiritual practices we can use to connect with our Prince of Peace this Christmas season.

We all know that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is... Singing loud for all to hear!!Do you create a Christmas ambience by playing your favorite Christmas music at home? Join Jake & Rachael as they talk through their favorite Christmas songs: Past, present, and future! Head over to our Socials and share what your favorite Christmas songs are!Christmas Songs 2022

Do you have any fun Christmas traditions? Does your family have meaningful Christmas traditions?Join Jake, Durmomo Gary, and Edgardo Escobar for a conversation about the traditions & customs of Christmas in South Sudan & Colombia! 

Jeff sits down with Jake and recaps our Egypt series. Get a glimpse into where the series idea came from (hint: Jeff mentions his favorite movie!) and learn more about the relationship between Egypt, Christianity, history, and archaeology. From King Tut to the pyramids, Jeff Griffin digs deep into the fascinating history of ancient Egypt in this conversation.Plus, Jake quizzes Jeff on his Christmas service history and takes a look ahead at Christmas at The Compass 2022. The Gold Pyramid house in Wadsworth, IL: http://www.goldpyramid.com/?fbclid=IwAR0K5lU1xdnSvPKCrZBEwFWbHN4I1W6XT7hbaenT3MzqjDrOLORpY8emLP4

What's your dream job? Have you ever thought you were in the perfect job, but then things shifted and took you in an unexpected direction? In today's podcast, AnnaMaria shares her story of being obedient to God's prompting to leave her "dream job" only to find that God had much better things in store for her. Join us to hear her journey of how God stirred in her heart and moved her to risk financial security, safety, and comfort to step into a new season of surrender, pursuing her passion, and serving at-risk children.Safe Families is a non profit motivated by radical hospitality, disruptive generosity, and intentional compassion to keep children safe and families together. To learn more, go to https://safe-families.org/ or call: 773-653-2200. #SafeFamilies #SaveOurChildren #BlessedtobeaBlessing #FosterCareStatisticsTo get in contact with AnnaMaria, email amattey@safefamilies.net.

In this week's episode of Midweek at The Compass, Cassie & Jake talk about following God with all we are. They talk discuss growing in faith, how self-care can be spiritual, discovering new ways to live out age-old spiritual practices, and putting honor and love of God at the center of our lives. When we hear words like confession, fasting, and communion, it's easy to think they are outdated. When you hear "Sabbath", you might think that means attending church on Sunday. Jake & Cassie explore how these age-old practices are applicable in our modern, every-day life, and help us find and follow God.Have a comment or story idea? Let us know. Email us at online@thecompass.net

We are called to steward the gifts we're given in a way that honors God. Often times when we think about stewardship, we think only about financial stewardship. However, there are other ways we can steward the gifts God has given us, and we get to dive into that during this discussion.Today we're going to be talking with Monika Wagner, the Disability ministry Coordinator for CompassKids. She's going to be sharing how one of our church members is stewarding his gifts to serve our community.To take a spiritual gift assessment and find out your gifts go to thecompass.net/serve.To talk with someone about your gifts and how you can get involved email online@thecompass.net.

Jake sits down with Derrick Jackson, lead pastor of Wheaton Christian Center Church Aurora Campus. Derrick was an all-state athlete in two sports (baseball & basketball) in high school.  After being drafted into the Texas Rangers, he passed up the fame and fortune of a professional athletic career in order to serve Jesus.

Jake chats with Steve Gillen about what it looks like to lead and survive through a crisis. Steve has held many interim positions and helped lead churches and teams through change. He shares with us how we can connect with God and grow even in a time of change or crisis.

Jake and Cindy continue the conversation about all things here, near and far.To download the Here Near and Far Report and to learn about upcoming mission trips, head over to thecompass.net/compassglobal.

Jeff shares his stories of how he connected with The Compass Church and how our church's history inspires him.

Mike DiSanto served as an elder of The Compass Church from 2013-2022. He saw our church grow from one campus to five! He was also on the board as The Compass Church brought on our current senior pastor Jeff Griffin. Mike shares those stories and gives a little behind the scenes of how the elder board operates.

Eric Fornelli shares some stories of his time as the Three Rivers Church Lead Pastor as well as what it was like growing up at The Compass Church.

Dale Hummel sits down with Jake and reminisces about his time as Senior Pastor of The Compass Church.

Jake sits down with former senior pastor Lee Iseley to hear some of the history of The Compass Church - Naperville Campus in the 1990s.

Jeff sits down to talk about Shattered and the upcoming Summer at The Compass!

Jake sits down with Bolingbrook Campus Pastor, Mark Lennox, to talk about friendship.

Jake sits down with Dave Griffin, Wheaton Pastor of Student Ministries, to talk about our enemy in spiritual hardship.

Jake sits down with our senior pastor, Jeff Griffin, to talk all about Who Do You Think You Are.

Jake sits down with Peter Williams, the president of Tyndale House at Cambridge University in the U.K. to dig into just how smart Jesus was in his storytelling.

Jake sits down with Darcy Ruscitti the Executive Director of Central Ministries here at The Compass to talk about adoption as God's children. Darcy has a unique perspective as she was adopted as an infant into her family.

In his interview with Jake, Durmomo Gary from our Wheaton Campus shares  how he came to know Christ, how he had to flee Sudan due to a warrant for his arrest, his time as a refugee, and how being a refugee and immigrant has shaped his views and thoughts on Heaven. Don't miss this almost unreal true story of one of our most joyful staff members!

Jana Dukes the worship director of our Wheaton Campus sits down with Jake to talk about our identity and who we are in Christ.

We wrapped up David - The Making of a King this last weekend. Let's recap with Jeff how the series went. In this video Jeff discusses his pursuit and desire for our church to chase after God's heart, to find opportunities to obey God 24/7, and how a few significant events at our church were divinely interwoven into our series including a season of exploration with Three Rivers Church and the completion of our Rise Up campaign.

This week during our weekend services we learned how David respected the authority of King Saul. Today, Jake interviews one of our  missionary partners Ritch Sandford about the role of biblical authority. Ritch describes the three spheres of authority: home, church, and state, and how the sphere of influence for each of those is described in the Bible. Using his experiences in the military, as a pastor, and as a father, he describes how these spheres function. He also discusses a critical point of contention between Christians and the Mormon church and their stance on the authority of Jesus Christ.

In week 6 of our David: The Making of a King series, we talked about how David was a continual learner. This conversation will be a way for us to do the same by learning about some of the cool things that God is doing in other local churches and in their ministry areas. This week Jake McNamara  has a conversation with other online pastors Stetson Butler (Chapelstreet Church) and Denis Beausejour (Willow Creek) as they learn together how to navigate the changing ministry landscape.

In this interview, Jeanne Lunde, our Adult Ministries director at our South Naperville Campus, talked about how she has had to obey God through difficult times. Specifically, how she wrestled with a cancer diagnosis and still feeling called back in to ministry, leading her to where she is today.

Eric Liechty joins us as we talk about some of the ways this capital campaign has been a success outside of the final dollar amount, focusing specifically on generosity, unity and legacy.

This weekend we talked about how David was a musical prodigy... which got us thinking about many of the amazing musicians at The Compass!What does it look like to be a prodigy and follow your passion? How can you use that to serve God and others? And how can times of looking back at the faithfulness of God help you lead moving forward? We get to hear from Tyvon Dukes this week on our Midweek podcast about how God used his musical talent and his circumstances to do all of that and more.

Kicking off our new series, David: The Making of a King, we start with our student's pastor Pete Sutton and an overview of David's early years, focusing on using imagination to fill in the “white spaces” of these stories. In this week's episode Pete provides ways to help try and think through what would the battle with Goliath actually have looked like, or being a shepherd, etc to illuminate your experience studying these well-known stories. 

Let's get a series wrap up with our Senior Pastor Jeff Griffin, where we will hear stories of why we landed on this study, the goal, what stuck out to him, and maybe even what is something that he wanted to talk about, but ended up on the cutting room floor.