Oasis: College Ministry Podcast

As Jesus ascends to heaven, the disciples stand staring at the sky—until they’re reminded to go and share the good news. Acts 1 marks the moment the Church is called to align with God’s mission. Empowered by the Spirit, we’re sent to make more followers of Jesus. So what does it look like for you to partner with God in His work of restoration? Message Delivered: 4/20/25

Have you ever felt like God was silent? Like your prayers were hitting a wall or your faith was just… dry? In this episode, we’re talking about spiritually dry seasons—the ones where it feels like nothing is growing, and yet, something deeper might be happening beneath the surface. We’ll unpack the symptoms of these seasons, explore what God might be doing in the silence, and offer practical ways to stay rooted when your soul feels weary. Whether you’re in a dry season or walking alongside someone who is, this episode is for you.

All of us have influence! No matter how many people you know or the number of followers you have, you have influence! Whether it’s the group chat, the walk to class, or those late-night heart-to-hearts, your presence and consistency matter more than you think. In this episode, we’ll unpack what influence really is and help you spot the everyday spaces where God’s already using you!

Beneath the surface of our lives lies an iceberg of unspoken dreams, buried hopes, quiet disappointments, and hidden struggles. Over time, we’ve become skilled at concealing what’s really going on inside. But in the life of Jesus, we see a different way—through the practice of solitude. Solitude is where Jesus faces his pain honestly, brings his emotions before the Father, and surrenders His desires for the will of God. In the same way, solitude invites us to meet with a Father who sees us fully, hears us deeply, and brings healing to the hidden places within. Message Delivered: 4/13/25

Feeling overwhelmed by all the spiritual disciplines out there? You’re not alone! In our Practicing the Way series, we’ve explored four key disciplines— scripture, sabbath, solitude, and fasting. But knowing them isn’t the same as living them. Join us as we dive into real, practical ways to build lasting rhythms that challenge, transform, and lead to a lifetime of fruit with God!

Fasting is a way we offer our bodies to God, setting aside food and drink to make space for Him. As we step away from instant comforts, the Spirit gently uncovers what’s hidden in us—and meets us there with healing, freedom, and truth. Through fasting, we see God’s heart more clearly: a heart that longs for all people to know His redemption. And we’re reminded—sin is already defeated. Jesus has won. Fasting doesn’t transform us because we get it right, but because God’s grace always does. Message Delivered: 4/6/25

Jake Thurston joins the podcast today to talk about one of his favorite topics, friendship! We are people specifically designed to be in community, yet so many of us experience loneliness and isolation. As college students and young adults, our communities are constantly changing. Yet, what is friendship is more than just satisfying ourselves, but a key way God is inviting us into discipleship? Spiritual friendship is a key spiritual discipline, an avenue in which God transforms us and uses us to help transform others. If you're someone who is struggling with community or looking how to build intentional relationships, we highly encourage checking out Jake's book, You Need Friends!

In our series, Practicing the Way, we look at core spiritual disciplines that keep us connected with God. Tonight, Brennen digs into the ancient practice of Sabbath. Sabbath is an invitation from God to stop, rest, delight, and worship for one day each week. As crazy as that sounds, we can trust God that he will provide us with everything we need to follow him in this way. While it might be difficult, Sabbath is a worthwhile, life-changing practice.  Message Delivered: 3/23/25

Your 20s are a season full of unique and exciting timelines. Some are stepping into marriage and family life, others are pursuing education, and many are navigating a path somewhere in between. While it’s natural to notice where others are in their journey, this can sometimes lead us to compare our lives in ways that either build pride or stir insecurity. At its core, comparison often reveals deeper struggles—like discontentment or misaligned desires. Join us today as we explore how to shift our focus from comparison to contentment, learning to align our hearts with God’s perfect timing and desires.

In our new series, Practicing the Way, we are looking at core spiritual disciplines that keep us connected in relationship with God. Tonight, Brennen digs into the practice of reading and meditating on scripture. God's Word is a source of life for Christians and invites us to live in his blessing. As you hear this message on how to consistently engage with scripture, you'll be encouraged with three things. First, start small. Start with a few minutes a day and grow from there. Second, think subtraction before addition. Rather than adding another thing to our plate, where can we cut to give ourselves more time to be with God. Lastly, change comes through diligent repetition. Message Delivered: 3/23/25

In today's episode, we’re getting real about failures, growth, and what Jesus is teaching us! Emily is learning to rest well, realizing that tiredness is an invitation to be filled (John 4). Brennen is reflecting on longevity in faith and life, learning to count the cost (Luke 14) and run with perseverance (Hebrews 12). We’re sharing our journeys to encourage you in yours, knowing that we’re all continually growing. So, what is Jesus teaching you?

Pastor and missionary Carl Gilles shares what God is doing in the French speaking countries of the world. The gospel is being proclaimed, lives are being transformed, and Carl has a front row seat in helping people around the world find and follow Jesus. Yet, this isn't just a calling for Carl. All of us are called to make disciples, and some of us, are called to make the glory of God known all around the world. As Carl shares, you'll hear that God loves all of his people, and plans to use his people to make his glory known! Message Delivered: 3/16/25

If you could describe Jesus in one word, what would it be? For Dallas Willard, pastor and author, this word is relaxed. Jesus lives slow and relaxed, much different from our hurried and anxiety driven world. Hurry is the greatest threat to our spiritual growth. It hinders our ability to hear from God, build deep connections with friends, and eventually leads to a dry and exhausted soul. Join us as we look at how we can step into the unhurried and relaxed pace of Jesus!

Does truth exist? Does God exist? If so, who is He? These are the big questions Brennan explores as we close our series on God’s healing. Our ability to think critically comes with responsibility, yet many struggle to believe that Christianity is true. Jesus was a real person who lived, was crucified, and rose from the dead. This isn’t just a claim in Scripture—it’s backed by eyewitness accounts from the first century. Because Jesus is true, everything He says is true. So what does this mean for us? It means we keep pursuing health and, most importantly, keep pursuing the One who brings our healing. Message Delivered: 3/2/25

It's incredibly well known that social media has been one of the leading causes for our generation's mental health crisis. But it's also this incredibly powerful tool that allows us to share the gospel, encourage others, and stay connected with our friends. Join us as we wrestle with this tension and look at practical ways we can use social media well!

What if our wounds from others are places where God can reveal his transformative power? Pastor Aaron reveals that forgiveness is one of the main ways in which God redeems and restores us. Forgiveness is not forget, weakness, or immediate trust. Rather, forgiveness is releasing the offense and choosing to walk in love. It is costly and it is difficult, but forgiveness stops cycles of evil and represents the power of the gospel. Message Delivered: 2/23/25

Today, we’re joined by two incredible guests, Laura Bogue and Ellie Colbeck! As students at SDSU, they exemplify what it means to live out their faith—both by being poured into and by pouring into others. In this episode, they share where they’ve seen God move on campus and where they’re praying expectantly for His Spirit to break out. No matter where you are in your journey, remember—you’re not walking alone!

Our generation has grown extremely calloused to our mental health crisis. We settle for managing symptoms because we don't believe that full healing is possible. Yet in Luke 10, we see that Jesus offers emotional wholeness to Martha. Martha is anxious and worried about many things, but she is invited to sit at the feet of Christ and receive what the world can't give her. The peace Jesus brings isn't just the absence of chaos, but the total and complete restoring of who we are as people. Message Delivered: 2/16/25

To follow the design God has for sex can feel like swimming upstream, all alone. We are constantly surrounded by shows, books, and media that claims we don't need to adhere to God's design for sex. This attitude is slowly killing our discipleship to Jesus and slowly harming our generation from the inside out. It's time we redefine what it means to follow Jesus when it comes to sex. To follow him and trust him with our bodies is more than blind obedience to a few rules, but a way of life that offers true redemption.

Being a single young adult is anything but easy. But it's a season of witnessing God do incredible things. As Jaena and Emily share some of their real life experiences of being single, you'll hear that it's a journey full of ups and downs. Singleness allows to partner with God in ways that others can't. It's a season to lean into not run away from. Join us as we discuss ways we can participate with God through the gift of being single!