This weekend we write the final chapter in our Awakening story! It takes us to ancient burying grounds on Cape Cod and famous hill tops in Boston. It's the story of legacy—and it doesn't end how you think it does. That's the lesson of legacy. Awakening, God do it again! First time listening to our podcast? We'd like to get to know you! Head over to…

Our best memories are marked by feelings, emotions, and the inner experience that marks the moment—joy, relief, hope, peace... all of them and more. The testimony of the Cape Cod Awakening is found in the words of those who experienced something so surprising that they had to share it... with everyone. Awakening is tangible, definable, and explaina…

The great Cape Cod Awakening would change the story of Cape Cod for generations. Even today, landmarks and monuments born from that moment remind us of the awakening. This weekend, we meet the Cape Cod leaders whose decisions shaped their towns—and cost them. Awakening comes with a cost, a personal one. That's why awakening is rare. The story of aw…

The best stories are full of surprises. The story of the Cape Cod Awakening is just getting started, and it's about to take a surprising twist. It all comes together to remind us that what we believe matters. Our actions and sense of urgency are all built on a foundation of beliefs—but what if we didn't know? What if we had it wrong? Changing cours…

In 1809 on Monday, April 24, a young man named Barnabas Bates came to Falmouth. The sermon he preached would spark a remarkable awakening. But it wasn't just in Falmouth: God was about to stir up revival in Sandwich, Mashpee, Barnstable, and on Martha's Vineyard... It's a story you have to hear. History may not always repeat itself, but it does ten…

We pray for a reason… we want. Wanting has a negative stereotype, but in prayer; it's invited. It's the way of the people who follow Jesus. Wanting declares we want something more—we need something more. "I want" is the cry of couples, parents, the hurting, addicts, and the anxious. What we want is an awakening, a revival of something in us and may…

What do you want? That's the question Jesus asked a man named Bartemeus—and it's the question he asks us. The answer to the question is often so personal we can barely whisper our response. Our deepest desires, our greatest fears… we dare not say them out loud. But out loud is exactly what Jesus asks for; "What do you want?" Out loud is humbling, f…

"What do you want?" That's how Jesus started a conversation and it remains an important question, "What do you want?" What does it look like to have a bold faith? It begins here, with a prayer. Not a casual, convenient, comfortable prayer—a bold, audacious, persistent prayer. So, what do you want? First time listening to our podcast? We'd like to g…

The chair of discovery, the chair of belonging, and the chair of serving—these are the three chairs in the Church. Here is what we know about these chairs: each one is where stories are written, and I love these stories! The stories from the third chair are stories of purpose, of finding people, and of faith that makes life full. The past weekend, …

Last weekend, we began a new series asking, "What does the church look like?"—the unchanging pieces like Jesus, good stories, and the Spirit. This Sunday, we've got three chairs. They represent people you meet each week. People like you... actually, you. Together, these three chairs tell the story of what God is doing at Cape Cod Church and how you…

This weekend, we had a "Back to School" Bash to have fun with kids, celebrate with parents, and encourage teachers—like I said, a party! We also kicked off a short new series, talking about this thing we do together each week called church: what it is, why it matters, and the one critical piece that often goes missing. Here's my promise: when we're…

What's the point of my "low points"? Looking back over a life of legacy, Peter counted more than a few low points. They would not define him—at least, the "low" part wouldn't. Life's low points can be defining, but with God, we get to write the definition. Peter's final chapter shows us how, and it's a great finish to the "Peter Process." Live Full…

What does it look like to confidently share our faith? Most of us wish we could. The problem is, we don't always know how. Over the course of this series, we've been taking lessons from the life of Peter. For the most part, he's been a pretty relatable guy: impulsive, outspoken, and frequently in the wrong! But this week we meet Peter on the other …

We love a comeback story, but we often forget that their story—our story—begins with pain, failure, and a step (or many) back. Peter's story turns on his worst moment, preserved for all of history to see. Like a wreck on the side of the road, it's hard to look away. Then comes the comeback: glorious, redemptive, and satisfying. There are good, life…

This weekend is Intern Sunday at Cape Cod Church! Over the past 10 weeks, our summer interns have served in ministries all across the church. This weekend, they took the stage to share what they've learned, led us in worship, and premiered a special message. Pastor Ben had the chance to sit with them last week as we planned the service together, an…

Peter is popular, and we love him. Why? We can relate to him, we resonate with his failings, we love a comeback story, and who doesn't love an outspoken friend! Peter was undoubtedly outspoken. He often asked the question everyone was thinking but was afraid to voice. Sometimes this made him the hero, and sometimes it got him in trouble. Either way…

The education of Peter shows up in a two-question test. Sounds easy, right? The problem with a two-question test… there's room for error. Thankfully, in this story, there is a retake… with some private tutoring… that's how we see it. Your view of Jesus transforms how you worship, pray, and think about your day-to-day life. Sharpen your view and add…

This weekend, we continue in the Peter Process with a famous and formative moment in Peter's early life: a walk on the water. We all have formative moments, both good and bad. They have become part of our story and how we became who we are. Do you remember any formative moments in your life? It could be an event, an interaction, a success, a season…

We think we can spot them, but we can't. We are confident that we know the predictors of success and the signs of greatness, but the truth is, we don't. "Better" doesn't just happen; it becomes. Better is not an accident; it's a process. No one's life better reveals the power of process than Peter's. Jesus saw it in him, called it out, and then let…

What is authentic Christianity, and am I an authentic Christian? That might sound like the start of a guilt trip, but it's not. Christianity is meant to be a way of living with Christ (it was literally called "The Way" by early believers!). This way is not just for a "super spiritual" few, it's not an end to fun and freedom, and it's not a theologi…

The drive to be extraordinary is exhausting. No one wants to be ordinary—that's not much of a compliment, nor an epitaph for a life. "They were ordinary" won't win any prizes. But is that true? The After + Math is the story of ordinary people changed by Jesus. They remained ordinary, but what they did was extra-ordinary. There's a lesson here for t…

During Jesus' life with us, He performed miracles – and in the After + Math, they continue. God is at work in our world! Acts recounts the story of the first miracle in the After + Math, and it offers us a lesson on how to ask for a miracle. God invites us to make bold, expectant, faith-filled prayers. This is how. First time listening to our podca…

Someone recently visited Europe. When we heard his travel plans, we offered (unsolicited) advice on sites to see, including a few notable churches—or more specifically, church buildings. These were beautiful ones with architecture and history. Here's the thing. These buildings are largely relics, beautiful reminders of storied pasts. The churches w…

We love history; we didn't always, but we do now. Mostly, we strive to make connections between the old and the new—how a thing started and how we can still see pieces of it today. Acts is the story of the "After + Math," the beginning of the Jesus movement we are now a part of. The core pieces of what we do now—the gathering, the worship, the teac…

In the After + Math of the Resurrection, there is a strange, wonderful, often misunderstood power at work in us—the Holy Spirit. Undeniably real, unexplainably powerful, and intensely personal, the Spirit's work in our world, our church, and our lives defines our age. And it's the key to the lives and faith we long for. But where is it, what or who…

The period between the resurrection and ascension is brief, lasting only 40 days. This short moment marks the beginning of people's realization of the profound changes in the world. The ascension highlights that change and leaves us with three gifts that give us full lives and new hope. They are reminders of who Jesus is and what he has done for us…