https://zoecenter.us Welcome to the podcast of Zoe Center of Whittier led by Dr. Joshua Smith. To learn more about Zoe, visit our website at zoecenter.us or download our app Mon, 04 May 2026 21:38:33 +0000 en-US Zoe Center hourly 1 no Religion & Spirituality https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/themes/mychurchwebsite/images/feed.jpg https://zoecenter.us Zoe Center SermonsZoe Centerinfo@zoecenter.usZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/ready-to-build-with-ricky-lopez https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37424 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0700 This message emphasizes that true spiritual “building” begins with God as the foundation, not human effort, drawing from Psalms 127 and 1 Corinthians 3 to show that Jesus Christ is the only secure foundation and that believers must build carefully on it. It highlights the importance of having the right plans, being adaptable, and covering […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/fast-track-pt-3 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37416 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0700 This message presents fasting as far more than abstaining from food—it is a spiritual “yes” to God that positions believers for breakthrough, intimacy, wisdom, power, and obedience. It emphasizes that biblical fasting prepares us for ministry, spiritual warfare, repentance, and worship, while drawing us into the greatest reward: God Himself. Through scriptures on revelation and […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/fast-track-pt-2 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37413 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0700 This message teaches that every believer functions as a priest, called to draw people closer to God while living in a way that reflects His holiness. In the Old Testament, approaching God required intentional consecration—setting oneself apart through physical and spiritual preparation—not because ordinary activities were sinful, but to create focused devotion and honor toward […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/fast-track-pt-1 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37410 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0700 This message emphasizes that every believer is called to be an active participant in God’s work, not just a passive listener. Drawing from 1 Peter 2:5, it highlights that Christians are “living stones” forming a spiritual house and a holy priesthood, called to offer their lives in service to God. The notes stress that ministry […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/easter-service-proclaim-the-good-news https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37408 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0700 This message challenges the listener to approach Easter differently by moving beyond familiarity into genuine spiritual responsiveness, emphasizing that faith must be lived out through action, not just heard. Using the story of Exodus, it frames the Gospel as God delivering His people not just for freedom, but to form them into a “kingdom of […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/not-of-this-world-pt-5 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37402 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0700 This message teaches that submission is a central, often overlooked spiritual power in the Christian life, rooted in the teachings of Ephesians 5–6. It explains that submission applies to all relationships—marriage, family, and work—and is not about weakness but about reflecting Christ’s character through humility, love, and mutual respect. Husbands are called to sacrificial love, […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/not-of-this-world-pt-4 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37401 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0700 This message teaches that believers in Jesus Christ should live with the mindset that they are “Not of This World,” because through salvation they now belong to God’s kingdom rather than the broken systems of earth. Using Paul’s letter to the Ephesians as a guide, the speaker presents the Christian life as similar to a […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/not-of-this-world-pt-3 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37396 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0700 This message teaches that when a person commits their life to Jesus, their identity and source of power shift from this world to the kingdom of God, meaning they still live on earth but are meant to think and act from a higher, supernatural reality. Using the book of Ephesians as a roadmap, the message […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/not-of-this-world-pt-1-2 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37395 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0800 This message explains that believers are part of God’s ongoing work of building a spiritual community—an “Under Construction” project—where Christians are the living stones being formed into a holy people who represent God to the world. Drawing from 1 Peter and Ephesians, it emphasizes that believers are chosen and part of God’s rescue strategy, not […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/not-of-this-world-pt-1 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37390 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0800 This teaching explains that although Christians belong to a spiritual reality “Not of This World,” they still live and work together in a broken world and must learn to function as a unified team. Drawing from Ephesians 4, the message emphasizes that believers have been given spiritual gifts and abilities through Christ’s victory, but those […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/we-are-a-family-of-supers-pt-3-2 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37383 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0800 This message continues the “We Are a Family of Supers” series by showing from Ephesians 2–3 that our Christian life is rooted in supernatural identity, origin, and mission. Ephesians 2 reminds us of the bad news of our past—alienated, without covenant, hope, or access to God—but celebrates the good news that through Christ’s blood, Jews […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/we-are-a-family-of-supers-pt-3 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37376 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0800 This message from Epistle to the Ephesians 2:1–10 explains humanity’s spiritual origin story: we were not merely people who committed sins, but were spiritually dead—born with a sinful nature that made us “children of wrath.” Spiritual death is separation from God, shaped by three dominant influences: the world (which normalizes evil), Satan (who blinds minds), […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/we-are-a-family-of-supers-pt-2 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37375 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 08 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0800 This message presents a cohesive theological framework for understanding the structure of Ephesians as a movement from identity to action—belief before behavior, status before conduct, God’s power before human decision-making. The first three chapters are rightly framed as establishing who we are in Christ (our “super identity”) and our position in the heavenly realm, while […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/we-are-a-family-of-supers-pt-1 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37370 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0800 “We are a Family of Supers” Part 1 emphasizes that in God’s kingdom, belief always precedes behavior: we are first called to faith in Jesus, who is the object, foundation, and perfecter of our faith, and from that faith flows transformed living by grace. Scripture teaches that believers are chosen, sanctified “living stones” and a […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/under-construction-pt-4 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37367 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0800 In “Under Construction” Part 4, Dr. Joshua shares how God qualifies ordinary, often hesitant, people to do His work by His presence and calling, not by their credentials. Scripture shows two mindsets when facing what God is building—some mourn what was lost while others rejoice in what God is doing now — yet God uses […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/under-construction-pt-e https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37362 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0800 This message presents a sobering call to reexamine church streaming by distinguishing between legitimate use and lifestyle substitution, arguing that habitual absence from in-person gatherings is a symptom of spiritual lukewarmness rather than mere convenience. While statistics show younger generations attending church slightly more often than older ones, Scripture emphasizes that longevity in faith carries […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/under-construction-pt-2 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37361 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0800 Last week launched a new series and a new theme in a sobering new context—where the world is more evil, tools are more powerful, and the irony is that we are living at the height of human achievement and the height of human self-destruction at the same time, exactly as Scripture predicted (2 Timothy 3). […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/under-construction-pt-1 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37350 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0800 This sermon reflects on last year’s journey through themes of unity, humility, God’s ways, spiritual leadership, generosity, honor, prayer, conflict resolution, vision, and gathering, showing how God has been shaping us into a “we” people with a shared identity and purpose. Drawing from Jesus’ warnings about the last days in Matthew 24–25, the message calls […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/one-hope-one-light-christmas-service https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37347 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0800 This message traces the story of Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s ancient promise, revealing Him as the true Light and our blessed Hope in a dark world. From Genesis to the Gospels, it shows how Scripture points to a Messiah who would come through the woman, arrive marked by divine light, suffer for our […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/beef-part-3 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37341 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0800 ]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/the-gathering-part-5 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37338 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0800 This message concludes the series “The Gathering”, emphasizing why regularly meeting with other believers is essential and why neglecting church gatherings—whether for bad reasons like offense or indifference, or for seemingly “good” reasons like work, money, education, sports, or busyness—is spiritually dangerous. Scripture teaches that isolation makes believers vulnerable to the enemy, that the cares […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/the-gathering-part-4 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37314 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 30 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0800 In Part 4 of The Gathering, Dr. Smith teaches on what it truly means for the church to function as “ecclesia”, a Congress of heaven placed on earth to carry out the work of God’s kingdom. This message focuses on how gathering is not a cultural habit but a spiritual remedy that stirs believers toward […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/the-gathering-part-3 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37313 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0800 In this message from The Gathering series, Dr. Joshua teaches that church is not something we attend but something we are. Using the picture of a State of the Union and a joint session of Congress, he shows how our gatherings are the Congress of Jesus, where we welcome the King, receive his counsel, and […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center https://zoecenter.us/sermon/the-gathering-part-2 https://zoecenter.us/?post_type=sermon&p=37311 https://zoecenter.us/wp-content/uploads/Zoe-Generic-YT-thumbnail.webp Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0800 In this message, Dr. Smith continues “The Gathering” by calling us out of a consumer mindset and into our true identity as the church, the ecclesia, the gathered Congress of King Jesus. He warns against “creative disobedience” in giving, shows how God takes our motives seriously, and then walks through Scripture to show that church […]]]> info@zoecenter.us (Zoe Center)noZoe Center