The College Ave Podcast is a ministry of College Ave Church in San Diego. We are a community of people seeking to know, love, and follow the real Jesus, pastored by Chris Hilken. Through conversations, teachings, and stories, this podcast extends the mission of College Ave Church beyond Sundays, exploring what it means to follow Jesus in everyday life with honesty, depth, and practical insight.
Why is it so difficult to hear the truth about ourselves, even when it comes from someone who loves us? Pastor Chris Hilken builds on Sunday's sermon from Ecclesiastes 6 and 7, exploring the contrast between wisdom and foolishness and why genuine spiritual growth often requires uncomfortable conversations. Join us as we examine how our culture's pursuit of comfort has influenced the way we receive correction, why our instinct is to defend ourselves against criticism, and what it really means to "fire the lawyer" living inside our heads. This conversation challenges us to move beyond defensiveness and embrace godly mentorship and correction.
Resources
Watch the full sermon series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3mcj4zQkVQ&list=PLCGl3Xc_ZvH1Aq-7tXTsAi3A8LeeoPl98&index=5)
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7 Oct 2026
A Biblical Perspective on Money & Wealth
Pastor Chris Hilken tackles one of the most avoided and misunderstood topics in the church: money. Continuing in our study of Ecclesiastes, this conversation unpacks why Scripture ties the love of money to "all kinds of evil," what it means to hold our finances with an open hand, and how to know how much is truly "enough." We explore the difference between owning our money and seeing ourselves as stewards of what belongs to God, while pushing back against both the prosperity gospel and the idea that enjoying what God has given you is somehow unspiritual. Join us as we take a thoughtful and honest look at faith and finances.
Resources
Watch the full sermon series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teUdPzFm3U0&list=PLCGl3Xc_ZvH1Aq-7tXTsAi3A8LeeoPl98&index=6)
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3 Oct 2026
How Do We Fear God?
Is fearing the Lord simply another way of saying we should revere Him, or is there something deeper that Christians have missed? Pastor Chris Hilken breaks down the different kinds of fear found throughout Scripture and explains how Christians can simultaneously know God as a loving Father while still trembling at His power and holiness. As part of our ongoing study of Ecclesiastes, this conversation looks at what is at stake when the fear of God fades from our faith, how it shapes obedience and evangelism, and why so many churches shy away from the topic today. If you've wrestled with what it means to rightly fear God, or just want to go deeper on this often-overlooked command, check out this episode!
Resources
Watch the full sermon series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXph4Gz3nH8&list=PLCGl3Xc_ZvH1Aq-7tXTsAi3A8LeeoPl98&index=7)
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13 Aug 2026
What Happens When You Die? Heaven, Hell, & Purgatory
What really happens the moment you die? In this episode, Pastor Chris Hilken breaks down what the Bible actually says about life after death; what it means to be "with the Lord" without a physical body, and why heaven looks less like harps and clouds and more like a renewed, physical earth. Walking though Hebrews 10 verse-by-verse, Chris explains why the Catholic doctrine of purgatory doesn't hold up under biblical scrutiny and what Scripture says happens to the soul immediately after death. The episode closes with one of Christianity's toughest questions: how can a loving God send anyone to hell?
Resources
Watch the full sermon series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DciDIfoMo40&list=PLCGl3Xc_ZvH1Aq-7tXTsAi3A8LeeoPl98&index=8)
Connect With Us
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6 Aug 2026
The balance of the Christian mentality
Ever wonder how to make decisions the Bible doesn't spell out? In this episode of the College Ave Podcast, Pastor Chris Hilken breaks down a practical framework for navigating gray areas as Christians: green light issues (clear biblical commands), red light issues (clear biblical prohibitions), and yellow light issues – the gray areas scripture doesn't directly address, like technology use, dating, or business decisions. Pastor Chris walks through how personal conviction, mentorship, and concern for others' faith should shape decisions in that yellow-light space.
Resources
Watch the full sermon series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBmuoizU2IU&list=PLCGl3Xc_ZvH1Aq-7tXTsAi3A8LeeoPl98&index=11)
Connect With Us
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30 Jul 2026
The unbreakable Christian mentality
In this episode, Pastor Chris Hilken explains what it means to live "bulletproof" and unoffendable in a culture built on outrage and reactivity. Drawing on the Sermon on the Mount, Romans 12, and the example of Daniel's resolve in Babylon, Chris unpacks the idea of "predeciding" - choosing ahead of time how we will respond to disappointment, insult, and hardship, rather than being at the mercy of our circumstances. An unbreakable mentality isn't about denying pain or pretending life is easy. It's about facing a broken world already decided that nothing can steal our joy and hope found in Christ.
Resources
Watch the full sermon series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBmuoizU2IU&list=PLCGl3Xc_ZvH1Aq-7tXTsAi3A8LeeoPl98&index=10)
Connect With Us
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24 Jul 2026
Can money bring happiness?
In this episode Pastor Chris Hilken digs into everything the Sunday sermon didn't have time for - picking up where the Ecclesiastes series left off on the question "can money bring happiness?" This conversation explores whether money is a good servant or a bad master, and whether faithful giving guarantees financial blessing. Pastor Chris shares a personal experience that taught him what real generosity looks like and how first-fruits giving reshaped his understanding of trust and obedience. Whether you're wrestling with what Ecclesiastes means by "everything is vanity" or just want a practical framework for handling money as a Christian, check out this episode for wisdom and biblical insight.
Resources
Watch the full sermon series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEYjuuHKGXI&list=PLCGl3Xc_ZvH1Aq-7tXTsAi3A8LeeoPl98&index=11)
Connect With Us
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/collegeave.podcast) • Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/collegeave.church) • collegeave.church (https://www.collegeave.church/)
16 Jul 2026
What is wisdom?
Does more knowledge always lead to a better life, or can it leave us feeling more burdened than before? In this episode, Pastor Chris Hilken continues our Ecclesiastes series by exploring one of the book's most surprising truths: "With much wisdom comes much sorrow." This conversation discusses why growing in wisdom often means becoming more aware of the brokenness in ourselves and the world around us. From the constant noise of social media to the reality of human sin, we unpack why wisdom can feel heavy and why that doesn't have to lead us to despair. If you've ever wrestled with discouragement, information overload, or wondered how to read the Bible with greater confidence, this conversation offers honest insight and practical encouragement.
Resources
Watch the full sermon series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3ezV2b1jEY&list=PLCGl3Xc_ZvH1Aq-7tXTsAi3A8LeeoPl98&index=12)
Connect With Us
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9 Jul 2026
Is everything meaningless?
Why does life still leave us wanting more, even when we have everything we thought we needed? In this episode, Pastor Chris Hilken and Clinton Norris begin our Ecclesiastes series by exploring one of Scripture's most honest books. Together, they unpack Solomon's search for meaning, why life "under the sun" can never fully satisfy, and how Ecclesiastes ultimately points us to the lasting hope and purpose found in Jesus.
Resources
Watch the full sermon series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGweobh5rEM&list=PLCGl3Xc_ZvH1Aq-7tXTsAi3A8LeeoPl98&index=13)
Connect With Us
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3 Jul 2026
Are Christians or Catholics more faithful to the Gospel?
What do Christians and Catholics have in common, and where do they fundamentally differ? In this episode, Pastor Chris Hilken continues the conversation by exploring the central question at the heart of the Protestant Reformation: What is the final authority for the Christian life? Together, we examine where Protestants and Catholics share common ground, where they diverge on Scripture, church tradition, and authority, and why those differences shape beliefs about repentance, salvation, and the gospel itself. Whether you're exploring Christianity, coming from a Catholic background, or simply seeking to better understand these important distinctions, this conversation aims to bring biblical clarity with both conviction and grace.
Resources
Watch the full sermon series (https://www.youtube.com/watchv=Z1jyMe91b_s&list=PLCGl3Xc_ZvH0rDe2cY5KCApXBUerbMmEA)
Connect With Us
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/collegeave.podcast) • Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/collegeave.church) • collegeave.church (https://www.collegeave.church/)
25 Jun 2026
Is Christianity unique among the religions of the world?
How is Christianity utterly unique among the religions of the world, and what sets it apart? In this episode, we explore the five solas of the Protestant Reformation, the foundational truths that summarize the gospel: salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed in Scripture alone, to God's glory alone. Join us as we discuss why these truths matter and how they help us distinguish Christianity from every other religion.
Resources
Watch the full sermon series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qt6uTxMp_o&list=PLCGl3Xc_ZvH0rDe2cY5KCApXBUerbMmEA&index=2)
Connect With Us
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/collegeave.podcast) • Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/collegeave.church) • collegeave.church (https://www.collegeave.church/)
16 Jun 2026
Is the Bible reliable?
Is the Bible a divinely inspired and historically reliable revelation of God? In our previous episode, we explored whether we have the original words of the biblical authors. In this episode, we build on that conversation by examining why scholars and historians consider those writings to be reliable. This discussion is based on the second part of Pastor Chris Hilken’s "Questions" series at College Ave Church.
Resources
Watch the full sermon series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4Qtf7S3urE&list=PLCGl3Xc_ZvH0rDe2cY5KCApXBUerbMmEA&index=3)
Connect With Us
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10 Jun 2026
Can we trust the Bible?
Is there good reason to trust the reliability of the Bible? Can we trust that it hasn’t been corrupted and that the events in the scriptures actually happened? In this episode, we unpack Pastor Chris Hilken’s sermon from the "Questions" series at College Ave Church. Many people assume the biblical text was changed as it was passed down through the centuries, but the historical evidence tells a different story. In this episode we explore how historians measure the reliability of ancient documents and consider whether Scripture can be trusted as a faithful record of what it claims to reveal.
Resources
Watch the full sermon series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAZoj3Zo6bs&list=PLCGl3Xc_ZvH0rDe2cY5KCApXBUerbMmEA&index=4)
Connect With Us
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/collegeave.podcast) • Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/collegeave.church) • collegeave.church (https://www.collegeave.church/)
1 Jun 2026
Why does an all-sufficient God create?
If God is truly loving, just, and self-sufficient, why would He create people with a sinful nature they didn’t choose—only to hold them eternally accountable for not overcoming it? In this episode, we break down Pastor Chris Hilken’s sermon from the "Questions" series at College Ave Church. We explore the complex intersection of God’s justice, His self-sufficiency, and the reality of the human condition.
Resources
Watch the full sermon series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V_tPEH-YLQ&list=PLCGl3Xc_ZvH0rDe2cY5KCApXBUerbMmEA&index=6)
Connect With Us
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/collegeave.podcast) • Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/collegeave.church) • collegeave.church (https://www.collegeave.church)
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