Podcast
Hello Pastor Mike!
Hosted by ChristianPodcast LLC · EN
Say "Hello Pastor Mike!" As a Pastor (since 1986) and Police Chaplain (since 1995), I am often invited to join people on their life journey. I´m the lead pastor of Palm Harvest Church in Costa Mesa, CA.
If you are interested in growing spiritually, in your relationship with God as well as with those in your world, I encourage you to dive into some of my video conversations.
Download my App:
https://www.palmharvest.com
23episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The "Small Thinking" Trap: Why New Ideas Offend Small Minds
1w ago00:31:37Tap to summarizeThe "Small Thinking" Trap: Why New Ideas Offend Small MindsIn this episode, Pastor Mike Decker explores a powerful story from Mark 6 where Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth—only to be met with surprising skepticism and rejection.Why do the people who know us best sometimes have the hardest time seeing our growth? Pastor Mike breaks down five key truths about how God transforms our lives and how we can navigate the "small-mindedness" that tries to keep us anchored to our past.What you’ll learn in this message:Transformation is Inevitable: When Jesus is active in your life, change is the natural result.The "Circus Elephant" Analogy: How to identify if you are being held back by past experiences and "small thinking."Navigating Rejection: Why growth often offends others and how to stay focused on your mission regardless.Strategic Influence: Learning when to move on and invest your energy where it is most valued.The message concludes with two intentional prayers: a Discernment Prayer to help you distinguish truth from falsehood, and an Encourager Prayer to help you see the God-given potential in others.Connect with HelloPastorMike: If this sermon spoke to you, be sure to follow the podcast for more weekly encouragement. You can also join our community on YouTube for the full video experience: https://youtu.be/_wdBiusKWAA#Faith #SpiritualGrowth #Mark6 #PastorMikeDecker #Sermon #Podcast #EncouragementEpisode Description
Transcribe →When Life Hits Twice: Finding Faith in a Crisis
2w ago00:28:42Tap to summarizePastor Mike breaks down five core truths about how crisis impacts our relationship with God:Perspective: Crisis shifts us from being critics to seekers. Jairus, a religious leader, set aside his status to plead at Jesus's feet.Action: Desperation drives us to bold steps. The woman who suffered for 12 years pushed through a crowd just to touch Jesus’s robe.Outlook: In the face of bad news, Jesus encourages us to "not be afraid, just have faith."Faith: Crisis often pushes us into "miracle territory," where our faith is forged and strengthened rather than broken.Community: Jesus was selective about who entered the room for the miracle, reminding us that crisis filters our friends and highlights the need for supportive companions.00:00 - Introduction: Two Different Crises 02:11 - Jairus: The Crisis of a Dying Child 03:39 - Truth 1: Personal Crisis Shapes My Perspective 09:10 - The Woman with a 12-Year Crisis 10:43 - Truth 2: Personal Crisis Drives My Actions 15:15 - Truth 3: Personal Crisis Influences My Outlook 19:29 - Truth 4: Personal Crisis Forges My Faith 22:04 - A Trust Prayer: Seeking Your Miracle 24:19 - Truth 5: Personal Crisis Filters My Friends 27:18 - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Transcribe →The Man No One Could Tame: What Jesus Does With Our Messiest Parts
3w ago00:31:23Tap to summarizeEver felt like you were 'up against the wall' or just too banged up for a comeback? In this episode, we’re looking at a guy from the Gospel of Mark who was so far gone that people literally tried to chain him up in a cemetery. But here’s the big idea: Jesus is an advocate for the underdog. Whether you’re dealing with a mess in your marriage, drowning in debt, or just fighting a habit you can't kick—restoration is on the move. Let’s talk about how Jesus 'moves the chains' in our lives even when the situation looks hopeless."
Transcribe →Small Seeds, Big Momentum: Finding Faith in the Storm
Jun 100:34:43Tap to summarizeEpisode Summary: Do you ever feel like the "storms" of life—financial stress, health issues, or spiritual burnout—are too big for your faith to handle? In this episode, Pastor Mike dives into the Parable of the Mustard Seed from Mark 4 to show us that God’s Kingdom doesn't always start with a roar; it starts with a seed.Join us as we explore "Mustard Seed Momentum" and learn three foundational truths about how God works incrementally in our lives, how our growth becomes a shelter for others, and why no storm can halt the momentum God has set in motion.In this episode, you’ll discover:Why "small" starts are the secret to massive spiritual impact.The difference between life's "gunk" and the Fruit of the Spirit.How to speak peace to the chaos in your life using Jesus' example.A practical "physical anchor" exercise to help you stay grounded in trust all week long.Key Scripture: Mark 4:30-41Connect with HelloPastorMike: If this message encouraged you, please follow the podcast and share it with someone who needs to hear a word of peace today. You can also find the full video version of this teaching on our YouTube channel, HelloPastorMike.“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’” — Mark 4:39
Transcribe →The 4 Hearts: Diagnosing Your Spiritual Vitality (Mark 4)
May 2600:24:42Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dr. Mike Decker explores the powerful "Parable of the Sower" from Mark 4, identifying the four types of hearts we can have when encountering the Word of God. Through this teaching, you’ll learn to recognize the signs of a hard, shallow, or overcrowded heart and discover how to cultivate a "Growing Heart" that experiences true spiritual vitality and fruitfulness.It’s time for a spiritual reset. Ask yourself: "What kind of heart does the Holy Spirit encounter in me today?"✨ Connect with Us:Official Website: Visit www.palmharvest.com for more resources, event updates, and to join our community.Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to our channel for the full video sermons and more content: HelloPastorMike on YouTube📖 Inside This Episode:The Mirror of God's WordThe Hard Heart vs. The Growing HeartOvercoming an "Overcrowded" lifeA guided prayer for a spiritual resetIf this message blessed you, please consider sharing it with a friend or leaving a review to help us reach more people with the Word of God.#HelloPastorMike #PalmHarvestChurch #ParableOfTheSower #SpiritualGrowth #BibleStudy #ChristianPodcast #FaithJourney
Transcribe →Jesus’s Kingdom Activity: People Over Tradition (Mark 3)
Apr 2800:34:51Tap to summarizeHow does God’s kingdom work challenge our traditions and invite us into something deeper?In this episode, Pastor Mike Decker explores the powerful story of Jesus healing the man with the deformed hand on the Sabbath from Mark 3. This message, "Jesus's Kingdom Activity," reveals how God often pushes against our comfortable traditions to prioritize what matters most: changing lives and valuing people.Pastor Mike breaks down four life-changing truths:Attracted to Spiritual Hunger: Discover why God is drawn to those who are actively seeking Him.Welcomes Our Participation: Hear how Jesus invites us to step out in faith and participate in our own restoration.Exposes Our Hearts: Learn how our response to God’s work reveals our true motives.Demonstrates God’s Priorities: A reminder that God values people over legalism and tradition.This episode also features a special guest, Kirk Bower-Meister, who shares a personal testimony of stepping out in faith. To help you apply these truths, Pastor Mike leads two powerful guided prayers: the "Spiritually Hungry Prayer" and the "Miracle Territory Prayer."Connect with us: Visit our community online at http://www.palmharvest.com to learn more and find additional resources.
Transcribe →Choosing Mercy Over Rules: A Deep Dive into Relationship vs Religion
Apr 2200:33:24Tap to summarizeAre you feeling weighed down by religious expectations? In this episode, Pastor Mike dives into one of the most provocative questions of faith: Did Jesus prioritize rules or people?Using the powerful biblical story of David and the showbread, we explore the concept of "spiritual flexibility"—the idea that true growth isn't found in rigid legalism, but in a dynamic, grace-filled relationship with God. Whether you're struggling with long-standing traditions or looking for a more authentic way to live out your faith, this teaching offers a fresh perspective on why Jesus often challenged the religious "status quo" to reach the heart of the matter.In this episode, we discuss:The difference between "Sabbath rules" and "Sabbath rest."How to identify when tradition is getting in the way of spiritual growth.Actionable steps to choose relationship over religion in your daily life.Join us for this deep dive and discover the freedom that comes when we prioritize mercy over rules.Connect with HelloPastorMike:Subscribe for more spiritual insights and life lessons.Join the conversation: If you’re leaning into flexibility this week, reach out and let us know!http://www.hellopastormike.com
Transcribe →Blessed Without Seeing: The Power of Believing
Apr 700:26:48Tap to summarizeWhat does it mean to believe in something you can’t see? In this Easter Sunday message, Pastor Mike explores the profound promises of the resurrection through the eyes of those who stood at the foot of the cross and the "doubting" Apostle Thomas.Discover three life-changing truths:Jesus Forgives: How a repentant heart on a cross found immediate grace.Jesus Pokes: Understanding how the Holy Spirit "pokes" our conscience to guide us toward a better life.Jesus Applauds: Why Jesus celebrates your desire to grow in faith, even in the midst of questions.Whether you’re a long-time believer or someone wrestling with doubt, this episode offers a "resurrection prayer" for renewal and the strength to live with purpose.
Transcribe →Stop Being a Spectator: Finding Your True Kingdom Purpose
Mar 3100:30:27Tap to summarize¿Qué hay realmente detrás del impacto masivo del Padre Arturo Cornejo en las redes sociales? En este episodio de Christian Podcast Latino, analizamos el fenómeno de "Bendito Corazón" y cómo un sacerdote de Guadalajara ha logrado conectar con millones de personas a través del cine y la fe.Más allá de las cifras y la viralidad, compartimos una historia profundamente personal: un testimonio de fe familiar y un milagro vinculado al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús que cambió nuestras vidas.En este episodio exploramos:¿Quién es el Padre Arturo Cornejo y por qué su mensaje es tan disruptivo?El éxito detrás de la película "Bendito Corazón".Reflexiones sobre la fe, los milagros y la importancia de la oración en tiempos modernos.Nuestra experiencia personal y el milagro que vivimos en Guadalajara.Acompáñanos en esta charla sincera sobre la verdad, la devoción y el poder transformador de un encuentro real con Dios.¡Suscríbete y comparte este episodio con alguien que necesite renovar su fe!
Transcribe →Your Greatest Need Isn't What You Think: Spiritual Healing in Mark 2
Mar 2500:30:48Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Pastor Mike Decker explores a powerful encounter from Mark chapter 2: the healing of the paralyzed man. We often come to God asking Him to change our circumstances—to "fix" our physical or financial situations. But as we see in this story, Jesus has a different priority.Discover why Jesus addressed the man’s "spiritual handicap" before his physical one, and what it means for the "mats" we all carry today. Whether you are seeking healing, searching for purpose, or needing to hear the words "you are forgiven," this message is for you.Key Takeaways from this Episode:Visible Faith: How the actions of four friends changed a man's life forever.The Priority of Forgiveness: Why our deepest need is spiritual, not circumstantial.Carry Your Mat: Understanding that your past doesn't define you—it becomes part of your story of grace.A New Identity: How to walk in the freedom of being a forgiven child of God.Connect with HelloPastorMike: If this message spoke to you, please consider following the podcast and sharing it with someone who needs to hear about the healing power of Jesus.Find more resources and join our community at https://www.palmharvest.com
Transcribe →