Rethink & Return with Jason Shepperd

Jason Shepperd
  • 4.9 (70)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Daily

ABOUT PODCAST //Rethink & Return invites followers of Jesus to reimagine the modern church and rediscover the simplicity of the New Testament. Each week, we open God’s Word and have real conversations about what it means to follow Jesus, shepherd His people, and live out the ways of the New Testament. Through honest conversations and biblical teaching, we challenge assumptions, explore decentralized leadership, and return to Christ’s design for His Church.ABOUT HOST //Jason Shepperd is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Church Project, a growing movement of House Churches across cities, states, and nations. With decades of ministry and church-planting experience, Jason has championed a decentralized model of leadership that equips ordinary believers to shepherd local communities in simple, biblical ways.

  1. 4d ago

    Through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:15-17)

    This episode covers Colossians 1:15-17 and the supremacy of Jesus over all creation. Paul gives us one of Scripture’s clearest pictures of who Jesus really is—not simply a good teacher, prophet, or spiritual guide, but the visible image of the invisible God, the Creator of everything, and the One who holds all things together. What does it mean that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God” and “the firstborn over all creation”? We explore why seeing Jesus is seeing God, why Jesus didn’t begin at His birth, and why understanding His eternal nature changes the way we understand Christianity altogether. Jesus is co-eternal, co-equal, and co-existing with the Father—God in the flesh. Colossians also tells us that everything in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, was created through Jesus and for Jesus. That includes more than what we can see or fully understand. While we may not have answers for everything about the physical and spiritual worlds, we can have faith beyond our best understanding. Everything exists for His glory—and that includes us. We were made for Him, and our fullest selves are found in Him. Finally, Paul reminds us that Jesus doesn’t create and abandon. “In him all things hold together.” When it feels like everything in life is falling apart, Jesus is still holding it all together. Instead of pulling away when life becomes uncertain, we can get closer to Him. The more clearly we see who Jesus is, the more our response becomes awe, worship, and wonder. Jesus was before us, He is beyond us, and everything ultimately depends on Him. Additional Resources Watch or listen to Past SermonsStart With 7 (Daily Audio Devotionals)GOOD.GOD.GOSPEL. (How to Have Conversations Toward Salvation)Learn about Church Project Network and follow our NEW Instagram (@churchprojectofficial)Read this book by Jason: “A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”Website

    Through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:15-17)

  2. Aug 31

    How to Know God's Will (Colossians 1:9-14)

    This episode covers Colossians 1:9-14, where Paul gives us a powerful picture of what it looks like to follow Jesus and how we should pray for ourselves and others. As the gospel continues to move and grow, Paul reminds the church that gospel participation requires the power and protection of prayer to persevere. We’ll explore why one of our greatest desires should be to know the will of God and how spiritual wisdom and understanding come from walking by the Spirit. We’ll also look at what it means to live a life worthy of the Lord—not because we could ever earn His grace, but because honoring His name becomes our aim. This passage challenges us to consider whether our lives are ultimately being lived to please ourselves, others, or the Lord. We’ll talk about how the same grace that saved us continues to sanctify us and how good works are not a way to earn salvation, but the visible fruit of a life transformed by the gospel. The conversation also explores what it means to continually grow in the knowledge of God and become stronger in His strength. God’s goal is not for us to remain the same, but to grow in endurance and patience so we can keep going and wait for Him to work. Finally, we’ll celebrate the joyful reality at the heart of the gospel: we were disqualified, but Jesus has qualified us. He rescued us from the dominion of darkness, brought us into His kingdom, and gave us redemption. This is why we pray, why we care about those who are far from God, and why we step into the lives of others with the message of salvation. Join us as we discover what it means to become people who pray, grow, endure, give thanks, do good works, and live fully for Jesus. Additional Resources Watch or listen to Past SermonsStart With 7 (Daily Audio Devotionals)GOOD.GOD.GOSPEL. (How to Have Conversations Toward Salvation)Learn about Church Project Network and follow our NEW Instagram (@churchprojectofficial)Read this book by Jason: “A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”Website

    How to Know God's Will (Colossians 1:9-14)

  3. Aug 25

    We Live Here So Others Hear (Colossians 1:3-8)

    This episode covers Colossians 1:3-8 and what it looks like when the Gospel takes root in a church, transforms individual lives, and continues to grow through people who faithfully share it. Paul begins by thanking God for the Colossian church and praying for them. His example reminds us that praying for our church should become normal—not casually, but always, often, passionately, and with faith. We are in a spiritual war, and prayer is part of the work God has called His people to do. The Colossians were known for their faith in Christ Jesus and their love for God’s people. But that faith and love didn’t originate within themselves. They sprang from the hope stored up for them in heaven. The Gospel leads to salvation, salvation leads to the giving of the Spirit, and the Spirit becomes a source that is continually flowing and growing in the life of a believer. Jesus remains the ongoing source of our faith and love. We also see that the Gospel is meant to be heard. People hear the Gospel from other people, and there are still people around us who have never heard its true message. As the Gospel goes throughout the world, it bears fruit, changes lives, produces holiness, and invites every believer to participate in its growth. Finally, we look at Epaphras—a faithful servant who carried the Gospel to others—and ask a personal question: Who has heard the Gospel from you? Sharing Jesus isn’t pressure; it’s a privilege, a purpose, a passion, and a deep pleasure. Additional Resources Watch or listen to Past SermonsStart With 7 (Daily Audio Devotionals)GOOD.GOD.GOSPEL. (How to Have Conversations Toward Salvation)Learn about Church Project Network and follow our NEW Instagram (@churchprojectofficial)Read this book by Jason: “A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”Website

    We Live Here So Others Hear (Colossians 1:3-8)

  4. Aug 18

    You Were Made For More (Colossians 1:1-2)

    This episode covers Colossians 1:1-2 and the powerful truths found in the opening words of Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae. Though only two verses, they reveal what it means to be changed by Jesus, called according to God’s will, committed to His mission, connected to His Church, and growing in grace and peace. Paul begins by identifying himself as “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.” His story is a reminder that you are no longer what you were. Paul went from opposing Jesus and persecuting His followers to becoming an apostle proclaiming the Gospel. Salvation by Jesus changes people—He forgives, reconciles, gives His Spirit, and makes us new. Jesus always moves us in the direction of grace, not guilt. We also explore what it means to live according to the will of God. God calls, gifts, and places people for His purposes, and Jesus is the reason for our calling—not our own satisfaction. The question we should ask first and most is, “What does God want?” Paul’s mention of Timothy shows us how the mission moves forward: everybody uses their gifts, no one sees themselves as lesser by comparison, and we bring other people into the mission with us. Finally, Paul addresses God’s holy people—the Church. The Church is not a common community and cannot be treated commonly. It is spiritual family, a people God is making holy together. As we grow in Christ, we walk toward giving more grace, receiving more grace, receiving more peace, and making more peace. These two verses challenge us to leave behind our old identity, pursue God’s will, use what He has given us, value His Church, and live as people transformed by Jesus. Additional Resources Watch or listen to Past SermonsStart With 7 (Daily Audio Devotionals)GOOD.GOD.GOSPEL. (How to Have Conversations Toward Salvation)Learn about Church Project Network and follow our NEW Instagram (@churchprojectofficial)Read this book by Jason: “A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”Website

    You Were Made For More (Colossians 1:1-2)

  5. Mar 24

    Remembering The Way Of God // Sermon Conversations

    This episode covers 2 Peter 3:1-9 and Peter’s urgent call to remember the way of God. We talk about how Peter, near the end of his life, writes to stir up wholesome thinking by reminding us of the words of the prophets and the commands of Jesus through the apostles. We look at the scoffers who mock the promise of Christ’s return, deliberately forgetting God’s power in creation, the flood, and the coming judgment by fire. At the heart of it is God’s patience: He is not slow, but patient, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. We also discuss what it means to be people of the Word, hiding Scripture in our hearts, praying it back to God, and using it to disciple others in everyday life. If you need a fresh reminder to trust God’s timing and keep your mind fixed on Him, this episode is for you. Additional Resources Watch or listen to Past SermonsStart With 7 (Daily Audio Devotionals)GOOD.GOD.GOSPEL. (How to Have Conversations Toward Salvation)Learn about Church Project Network and follow our NEW Instagram (@churchprojectofficial)Read this book by Jason: “A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”Website

    Remembering The Way Of God // Sermon Conversations

  6. Mar 17

    False Teachers, God’s Vengeance and the Dog’s Vomit // Sermon Conversations

    This episode covers the raw warning in 2 Peter 2:13-22 about false teachers infiltrating the church, God’s certain payback for the harm they cause, and the shocking reality of those who taste the gospel but return to sin. We unpack how these teachers carouse in broad daylight, seduce the unstable with greed and adultery, promise freedom while enslaved to depravity, and why leaving the straight path leads to worse destruction than never knowing the way at all. You’ll see the powerful progression of moral decay, the truth that vengeance belongs to the Lord alone, and the sobering Proverbs Peter uses—a dog returning to its vomit and a washed pig wallowing back in the mud—to show that real transformation only happens when we fully submit to Jesus’ lordship. If you’re studying 2 Peter, wrestling with discernment in the church today, or want to protect the purity of the gospel, this deep dive will sharpen your faith and help you spot the fake by knowing the real Jesus. Perfect for anyone doing Bible study on false teaching, gospel protection, or Christian leadership. Additional Resources Watch or listen to Past SermonsStart With 7 (Daily Audio Devotionals)GOOD.GOD.GOSPEL. (How to Have Conversations Toward Salvation)Learn about Church Project Network and follow our NEW Instagram (@churchprojectofficial)Read this book by Jason: “A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”Website

    False Teachers, God’s Vengeance and the Dog’s Vomit // Sermon Conversations

  7. Mar 10

    2 Peter 2:4-12 // Sermon Conversations

    This episodes covers 2 Peter 2:4–12 and explores the sobering reality that God is both the righteous Judge and the faithful Rescuer. The passage walks through examples of divine judgment—from angels who sinned, to the ancient world destroyed by the flood, to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah—to show that no one ultimately escapes God’s justice.  At the same time, Scripture highlights God’s pattern of rescuing the righteous, as seen in the lives of Noah and Lot, reminding us that His heart moves toward redemption even while He judges sin. The episode wrestles with how we approach difficult truths about hell, condemnation, and God’s sovereign authority over righteousness and judgment. It also challenges listeners to examine whether they approach Scripture through humility and trust in God’s Word or through a predisposed lens that questions the Judge Himself.  The conversation contrasts those who humbly live under God’s righteousness with those who arrogantly follow their own desires, reject authority, and speak against what they do not understand. Ultimately, the episode points listeners back to the hope of rescue found in Jesus—the One whose righteousness covers us and secures our salvation even in a world still awaiting final judgment. Additional Resources Watch or listen to Past SermonsStart With 7 (Daily Audio Devotionals)GOOD.GOD.GOSPEL. (How to Have Conversations Toward Salvation)Learn about Church Project Network and follow our NEW Instagram (@churchprojectofficial)Read this book by Jason: “A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”Website

    2 Peter 2:4-12 // Sermon Conversations

  8. Mar 3

    How to Recognize False Teaching and Heretics // Sermon Conversations

    This episode covers 2 Peter chapter 2 and the reality of false teachers among the people of God. We talk about what actually qualifies as heresy, the difference between disputable matters and gospel essentials, and why denying the lordship of Jesus crosses a line. The covenant changed, but the human condition did not. That means false teaching did not disappear either. We also wrestle with the danger of saying a whole lot without ever saying the whole thing, and how to examine what we hear without becoming heretic hunters. This is a needed conversation for anyone who wants to love the gospel, protect the gospel, and live with both conviction and humility. Additional Resources Watch or listen to Past SermonsStart With 7 (Daily Audio Devotionals)GOOD.GOD.GOSPEL. (How to Have Conversations Toward Salvation)Learn about Church Project Network and follow our NEW Instagram (@churchprojectofficial)Read this book by Jason: “A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”Website

    How to Recognize False Teaching and Heretics // Sermon Conversations
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About

ABOUT PODCAST //Rethink & Return invites followers of Jesus to reimagine the modern church and rediscover the simplicity of the New Testament. Each week, we open God’s Word and have real conversations about what it means to follow Jesus, shepherd His people, and live out the ways of the New Testament. Through honest conversations and biblical teaching, we challenge assumptions, explore decentralized leadership, and return to Christ’s design for His Church.ABOUT HOST //Jason Shepperd is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Church Project, a growing movement of House Churches across cities, states, and nations. With decades of ministry and church-planting experience, Jason has championed a decentralized model of leadership that equips ordinary believers to shepherd local communities in simple, biblical ways.

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