Redemption Church Plano Texas
Redemption Church Plano Texas
The Redemption Church Podcast features practical, Bible-centered messages from Pastor Chris Fluitt in Plano, Texas, serving the Dallas area and beyond. Each episode is designed to help you follow Jesus in real life – navigating relationships, finding purpose, handling pressure, and growing a faith that actually works. Whether you are new to church, exploring faith, or looking to go deeper, these messages will meet you where you are and help you take your next step. Redemption Church is a Jesus-centered church in Plano, TX with a mission to help people find and follow Jesus Christ and go change the world.
Episodes
Can I Trust Jesus After Church Hurt? | Valid Faith
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Church hurt is real. But the failure of Christians is not the same thing as the character of Christ. Explore what Jesus says about hypocrisy, healing, forgiveness, and hope. Explore Valid Faith30 Honest Questions An honest question worth investigating What do you do when the people who were supposed to show you Jesus are the ones who hurt you? Church hurt can come through hypocrisy, gossip, spiritual abuse, failed leadership, or a church culture that protects its reputation instead of protecting people. Sometimes the wound is public. Sometimes it is deeply personal. Jesus is aware of this. He has addressed it. Church hurt is real. But do not confuse the failure of Christians with the character of Christ. Watch · Listen · Learn · Download Go deeper with the message. Watch the message, listen to the audio, or use the handout and outline to keep working through the Scripture and ideas from this week. Download Handout Preaching Outline Video and MP3 will be added here when they are available. Apple Podcasts Spotify Three things Jesus shows us about church hurt 1. Jesus confronts it. Jesus confronted religious people who knew the language of faith but neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness. 2. Jesus shows us a better way. Matthew 18 calls us to go directly to one another instead of talking about one another. 3. Jesus can heal what Christians hurt. Healing does not mean pretending it never happened. It means bringing the hurt to Jesus, who never failed you. Jesus confronted religious hypocrisy Matthew 23:23 NIV“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!… you have neglected the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness.” The Greek word hypokritēs was connected to the idea of an actor – someone playing a part. Hypocrisy is not simply failing. We all fail. The deeper problem is learning to play Christian while refusing to let Jesus change how we actually live. Does my life match the God I claim to know? Can we be right and still misrepresent God? John Calvin and Michael Servetus remind us how ugly this can get. People can care more about being right theologically than being like Jesus. They argued over theology, but the people who claimed to defend truth became willing to destroy a man made in the image of God. Their actions contradicted the God they claimed to defend. That is the warning: you can win the theological argument and still lose the character of Christ. We can disagree without dishonoring. Jesus shows us a better way Matthew 18:15 NIV“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you.” Jesus’ instruction is simple: go to them. Not everybody else. Not the comment section. Not the unofficial investigation committee. Give people a chance to hear, explain, repent, and restore. We should not talk about each other. We should talk to each other. When the people closest to Jesus become the obstacle Mark 5:27 NIV“When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak.” The woman had suffered for twelve years. She heard about Jesus and tried to reach Him. Yet the people closest to Jesus were physically between her and the One she desperately needed. The obstacles between her and Jesus are the people closest to Jesus. Our attitude, judgment, gossip, denominational pride, hypocrisy, or need to always be right can make it harder for hurting people to reach Jesus. Our calling is the opposite: do not become the obstacle. Help people get to Jesus. Jesus can heal what Christians hurt Healing does not mean pretending something did not happen. It does not mean calling wrong right, or trusting someone who is unsafe. But the person who hurt you is not Jesus. Do not confuse the failure of Christians with the character of Christ. Galatians 5:22-23 NIV“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Faithfulness to Jesus should show up in the way we treat people. It is possible to go from hurt to healed because of Jesus. A note from Pastor Chris Glad you checked this out. If church hurt is part of your story, I want you to know this: Jesus is still worth reaching for. If you want to ask a question or tell me your story, text me directly. Text Pastor Chris · 469-467-8111 What’s next? Haunted House – The Monsters We Let Live Within A new series about the old monsters we have kept around too long. This October, identify what has been haunting you, learn a strategy to deal with it, and start moving forward. Explore Haunted House
Did Jesus Really Rise From the Dead? | Valid Faith
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1120px)/2 + 24px));top:50%;transform:translateY(-50%);color:#fff}.vf3rp .hero-copy p:not(.meta),.vf3rp .hero-copy .btn,.vf3rp .hero-copy .meta{display:none}.vf3rp .hero-copy:after{content:"What evidence is there that Jesus rose?";display:block;font-size:clamp(18px,2vw,25px);font-weight:700;line-height:1.35;margin-top:16px;text-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,.4)}.vf3rp .hero-art{position:relative}.vf3rp .hero-art:after{content:"";position:absolute;inset:0;background:linear-gradient(90deg,rgba(3,15,39,.9) 0%,rgba(3,15,39,.55) 35%,rgba(3,15,39,.05) 70%)}.vf3rp .hero-art{width:100%;margin:0;border:0;border-radius:0}.vf3rp .hero{width:100%;margin:0}.vf3rp .hero .wrap{max-width:none;padding:0}.vf3rp .hero-art img{width:100%;max-width:none;aspect-ratio:16/9;object-fit:cover;object-position:center center;display:block}.vf3rp .sermon-art{display:none}.vf3rp .sermon-art img{width:100%;border-radius:18px;display:block}.vf3rp .history-note{font-size:15px;color:#607285;margin-top:18px}.vf3rp .history-grid{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr)} .vf3rp .hero img{width:100%;border-radius:22px} @media(max-width:780px){.vf3rp .hero-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}.vf3rp .history-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}.vf3rp .hero-art img{aspect-ratio:4/3;object-position:62% center}.vf3rp .hero-copy{left:22px;top:auto;bottom:28px;transform:none;width:calc(100% - 44px);max-width:520px}.vf3rp .hero-copy h1{font-size:clamp(34px,10vw,52px)}.vf3rp .hero-art:after{background:linear-gradient(0deg,rgba(3,15,39,.92) 0%,rgba(3,15,39,.45) 58%,rgba(3,15,39,.05) 100%)}} VALID FAITH – WEEK 3 Did Jesus Really Rise From the Dead? Christianity makes an enormous claim: a dead man got back up. Instead of asking you to borrow somebody else’s faith, this message asks you to look at the evidence for yourself, including what sources outside the Bible can and cannot tell us about Jesus, His crucifixion, and the earliest Christian resurrection claim. Watch the MessageExamine the Evidence Chris Fluitt – September 20, 2026 – Redemption Church, Plano The question at the center of Christianity Did Jesus really rise from the dead? That is not a small question. Christianity stands or falls on it. So instead of asking you to simply believe what Christians say, let’s look at the evidence. What do historians tell us about Jesus? How early did people claim He was alive again? Who said they saw Him? And what explanation best fits what we know? You do not have to be afraid of the questions. Follow the evidence. Did Jesus really rise from the dead? The resurrection is a question worth examining. Watch + Listen Watch or Listen to the Message Listen to the Message Prefer to listen? Stream the full Valid Faith Week 3 message below. Your browser does not support the audio player.Apple PodcastsSpotify The question underneath the Easter story What evidence is there that Jesus rose? “Of first importance”: Christ died for our sins, was buried, was raised, and appeared to witnesses. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 1. Jesus entered history The message points beyond the New Testament to Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny, Suetonius, and Lucian as references connected to Jesus and early Christianity. 2. Jesus was crucified Tacitus, a Roman historian critical of Christianity, connects Christus, Pontius Pilate, and execution. 3. Christians worshiped the crucified Jesus Pliny reports Christians singing to Christ “as to a god,” while the Alexamenos graffiti mocks worship of a crucified God. 4. Resurrection was proclaimed early Paul says he passed on what he had received. The resurrection claim is presented as early Christian proclamation, not a story added centuries later. 5. Named people claimed they saw Him Peter, the Twelve, more than 500, James, and Paul are named in 1 Corinthians 15:5-8. 6. Frightened followers became public witnesses The disciples move from fear and scattering to publicly proclaiming that God raised Jesus from the dead. History outside the New Testament Is there evidence for Jesus outside the Bible? Yes. The evidence for Jesus does not begin and end with the New Testament. Roman and Jewish historians who were not Christians wrote about Jesus, His crucifixion under Pontius Pilate, the movement that followed Him, the worship of Christ—and even His resurrection. That matters. These are historical witnesses outside Scripture, written by people who were not Christians. They give us historical evidence that can be examined alongside the testimony of the New Testament. History gives us evidence. We investigate that evidence, weigh it honestly, and decide what best explains it. So what evidence do we have for Jesus? What does Tacitus tell us? Tacitus was one of Rome’s important historians—and he was certainly no Christian advocate. Writing around AD 116, he records that Christus suffered the “extreme penalty” during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of Pontius Pilate. That is significant independent testimony to the crucifixion. Anyone who argues that Jesus never died on the cross has a mountain of historical evidence to overcome. The crucifixion isn’t simply something Christians wrote in the Bible; a hostile Roman historian records Christ’s execution under Pilate. What does Josephus tell us? Josephus was a first-century Jewish historian. Writing in Antiquities around AD 93–94, he describes Jesus as a wise man and doer of remarkable works, records His condemnation under Pilate, and writes that “he appeared to them alive again the third day.” Don’t miss that. Josephus includes the resurrection in his historical account. Those who deny the resurrection have this evidence to wrestle with. Those who receive the resurrection can stand on this evidence. The question is what you will do with it. What does Pliny the Younger tell us? Around AD 112, the Roman governor Pliny the Younger wrote to Emperor Trajan because he was dealing with Christians and wanted to know how Rome should handle them. In describing their practices, Pliny reports that Christians gathered on a fixed day and sang hymns to Christ “as to a god.” This is evidence from a Roman official that Christians were worshiping Jesus as God. Almost two thousand years later, we are still doing exactly that—we worship Jesus Christ as Lord. What does the Alexamenos Graffito show us? Someone in ancient Rome scratched a crude picture meant to ridicule a Christian named Alexamenos. It depicts a crucified figure with a donkey’s head and Alexamenos standing before him in worship. The mocker meant it as an insult: Alexamenos worships his god. But look at what the mockery preserves. A Christian is pictured worshiping the crucified Christ, with his hand raised toward Him. What was intended as ridicule became historical evidence of Christian worship. They worshiped the crucified Christ then. We still lift our hands and worship Jesus today. Follow the evidence Tacitus. Josephus. Pliny. The Alexamenos Graffito. Different sources. Different perspectives. None of them Christian Scripture. Yet together they add to a historical case that cannot simply be waved away. And that is the point of Valid Faith. You don’t have to be afraid of the evidence. Investigate it. Ask hard questions. Follow it wherever it leads. The resurrection is not asking you to believe something without evidence. There is evidence. The question is what you will do with it. Further Study Read the historical sources and examine the evidence for yourself. Tacitus, Annals 15.44 Josephus, Antiquities 18 Pliny to Trajan Alexamenos Graffito What best explains it? This is not only history. This is the gospel. Jesus died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again. Because Jesus lives, forgiveness, new life, hope, and eternal life are real, and death does not get the final word. Confess Him Romans 10:9 connects confessing Jesus as Lord with believing that God raised Him from the dead. Take your next step Don’t leave wondering what comes next. Start a conversation and let someone walk with you. Live with Him Talk to Him. Follow Him. Trust Him. Walk with Him. Jesus is alive. Keep investigating 30 Honest Questions Questions about God, science, the Bible, suffering, doubt, church hurt, and more. Explore 30 Honest Questions Week 3 resources Use the sermon resources to keep studying. Download Message Outline (PDF)Download Week 3 Handout (PDF) Valid Faith Hub Continue the full Valid Faith series. Explore the Redemption Valid Faith Hub Related questions Questions people ask about the resurrection Is there evidence for Jesus outside the Bible? Yes. This message examines non-Christian historical references connected to Jesus, His crucifixion, and early Christian worship. Was the resurrection claim added much later? 1 Corinthians 15 presents Paul passing on a resurrection proclamation he had already received, placing the claim early in the Christian movement. Why does the resurrection matter personally? The message does not stop with evidence: if Jesus is alive, forgiveness, new life, hope, and eternal life become a personal invitation to respond. Week 1: Must I Turn Off My Brain to Be a Christian?   ·   Week 2: Can the Bible Be Trusted? Questions are welcome here Talk with Pastor Chris If this message raised a question about Jesus, the resurrection, doubt, or faith, Chris would be glad to hear what you’re thinking. You do not need to have the right words before reaching out. Text Pastor Chris a Question
Valid Faith – 2 – Can I Trust the Bible?
https://youtu.be/451XDwxqyfE?si=X9Sgw4V9nffqfwZ5 Follow along with us! GRAB 30 HONEST QUESTIONS 30 real questions, short/simple answers….God, science, Bible, suffering, doubt, church hurt… Grab one for yourself. Share one with your friends. Intro – Jonathan Hiesberger ME: My name is Jonathan Hiesberger. I’m from Waco, TX. Born and raised. I went to Waco High School. That’s where I met Pastor. School teacher by profession, Year 23 of teaching high school SPED/Math. Pray for our teachers!! My faith is HUGELY important to me. God has done great things in my life. There have been battles. One thing I’ve learned through trials/struggles I NEED THE WORD OF GOD IN MY LIFE. People who haven’t known me very long might be surprised -Dark times -Negative mindsets -Anxiety, Depression…-Worry, fear The only thing that sees me standing? God’s Word. God’s Word has sustained me through all these battles, but I have had to hold on to and not doubt God’s word. Through these storms I had to learn to REALLY trust God’s Word. Maybe today you might be wondering “can I really trust God’s Word? We are living in an age where we are having trouble trusting the voices of authority speaking into our lives. -People no longer trust traditional institutions -Trust in media is at an all time low -AI deepfakes and content that looks real but is not. -Church leaders. People are asking: “Who can I trust?” That distrust reaches the Bible itself. DO AMERICANS TRUST THE BIBLE? -Only 36% of Americans say the Bible is accurate in the principles it teaches. –1 in 5 Americans believe the Bible was written to control or manipulate people. That is a big divide. People are asking questions like: “Has it been changed?” “Who decided what went in it?” “Was it written to control people?” People are basically asking: “Can I trust the Bible?”  TRUST is a BIG ISSUE – That is why I named this message…  Valid Faith Week 2: Can I Trust the Bible? Scriptures and Reliability If you have been struggling with this, you’re not alone. I see many Christians who are wrestling with this topic. Social Media. It’s ok to ask the questions. It’s ok to engage with the evidence. After today, I believe I can show you there is a REASON for your HOPE. 1 Peter 3:15 NIV I want to give you some reasons for your hope. I want to talk to you about why God’s Word is trustworthy.  We know the Bible says that it is reliable The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” – Isaiah 40:8, NIV God’s Word is here and it’s not going anywhere The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” – Jeremiah 1:12, NIV God is active in watching over and superintending His Word.  Luke 1:37, NIV: “For no word from God will ever fail.” Angel Gabriel testifies that God’s word is UNFAILING. What does all this mean? God has declared that His Word is Reliable. Think of things in your life that are reliable.  Whether things or people, You feel like you can put COMPLETE trust in them.  God’s Word is even MORE reliable. God’s Word is Reliable Because of the Preserved Witness of the Early Church The scriptures we have in your New Testament – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, the letters of the apostles including Paul Jesus words, Jesus’ teachings Who witnessed these things? Those who walked with Jesus, saw His miracles, saw His death, burial, and resurrection. Apostles – trusted eyewitnesses wrote gospels and Letters – received in the churches, shared in the churches, copied, copied again They handed this collection of writings down to us and testified that it was really the writings of inspired men of God who Jesus had spoken with and spent time with.  If you want to know what they witnessed, it is written in YOUR bible. They saw the early things that happened in the new testament church and they wanted you to know. God inspired them to write those things for your benefit. We can trust the Bible because of their testimony. God’s Word is reliable because it is preserved in  Greek manuscripts  Ancient versions in different languages Quotations outside the Bible Manuscripts are simply ancient documents (papyrus, parchments) Plants/animal skins                  Scrolls/Books Mentioned copies before Bible original written in ancient Greek Maybe 100? Maybe 500? More than 5,800 Greek New Testament manuscripts exist. These range from small fragments to nearly complete Bibles. 5,800! They wanted to get the WORD to as many people ASAP But not everyone spoke Greek More than 18,000+ additional manuscripts exist in other ancient languages. Old Latin Aramaic Syriac Coptic Armenian Ethiopian Gothic The Early church wanted to bring the saving message to the WHOLE WORLD and we have the manuscripts to prove it. BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! People liked to write about Jesus. They lived in a hostile, pagan world and were defending their faith. Writers outside the Bible provide more than one million quotations from the New Testament. 1,000,000 quotations in the years immediately following the apostles.  Imagine something we hope never happens – imagine all the manuscripts disappear – all the Greek, ancient versions, etc We would still have Bible. Why?  These quotations are so extensive that scholars have argued that virtually the entire New Testament could be reconstructed from them, with fewer than a dozen verses being exceptions. The New Testament Has Extraordinary Historical and Manuscript Evidence large quantity of ancient manuscripts ALSO early date of biblical manuscripts.  We have manuscripts and manuscript fragments go back very close to the time of the original writings- to the life of Jesus and the apostles Compare that to other ancient writings Herodotus’ History – we have 8 manuscripts 1350 years after they were written Julius Cesar’s Gallic Wars – 10 documents 900 years later Tacitus’ Historys and Annals – 9 manuscripts 750 years later New Testament: 5800+ manuscripts Fragment: 30-50 years after original Most of NT: 150 years after original All of NT: 250 years after original The New Testament has far greater manuscript attestation than other ancient literature. If manuscript quantity and age alone disqualified the New Testament, virtually all ancient historical writings would face the same problem. If you don’t have the Bible, you don’t have anything. If you doubt Jesus existed, how can you believe in Julius Ceasar? Modern scholars don’t doubt that Jesus existed.  We have more copies than any other ancient work. PERIOD. What about the 1 in 5 people that manipulate? BUT how do we know it hasn’t changed over time? The fact there is all these manuscripts show it hasn’t changed.  If there was huge changed we would see it in the manuscripts If I had time I could go into detail about the very early fragments,  Very early Greek copies, so autographs are even early Found in different lands from which they are written And they are the same as what is in your Bible! Not the telephone game That’s not how the Bible came to you. Thousands of manuscripts received from the churches they were written to being copied Found in completely different countries and lands With the most Ancient agreeing with the later manuscripts which agree with your Bible What would it take for the Bible to have been changed? Impossible to change all the manuscripts. Geographic diversity, all the versions, quotations, manuscripts not even yet discovered Are you seeing how silly this argument is? Who decided what books to put the Bible in the first place? Canons – early church documents that point to what books were accepted and which books were not This is HUGE – we have the witness from the early church showing which books they considered trustworthy; which books to die for if Roman soldiers showed up Early Christians memorized entire books of the New Testament (Egypt and other places it was a requirement to be in the ministry) Muratorian Canon – AD 170 Perhaps oldest known list of most of books of NT List of “Accepted” books and “Rejected” books All 4, Gospels, Acts, Jude, 1 John, another epistle of John, Revelation, and epistles of Paul accepted Accepted books were written by apostles or people who knew apostles Shows us that Early Christians already had a belief about what WAS and what WAS NOT scripture.  Probably written several hundred years after the apostles?? So the church can figure out how to control people, right??? Wrong! This is still when Christians were being killed for their faith They were trusting on Jesus and depending on His Word just to make it. Muratorian fragment preserved in Milan, Bibliotheca Ambrosiana, Cod. J 101 sup. EARLY CHRISTIANITY DID NOT ACCEPT OTHER BOOKS Only one NT book we don’t know who author is Gospels of Peter and James, 3rd corinthians, epistle to laodocians, etc OLD TESTAMENT We have manuscripts in Hebrew and Aramaic, and also in Greek of the Old Testament. The Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew and Aramaic textual tradition preserved by Jewish scribes called the Masoretes.  We also have the Septuagint, which is the Greek Old Testament. Jews carefully copied and standardized the Hebrew Scriptures. Until recently, The oldest known complete copies of the Hebrew Bible go back to 900-1000 AD. Although Jews were very careful in the copies, one might still try to raise doubt.  UNTIL what is arguably the greatest find in modern archaeology: The Dead Sea Scrolls Support the Reliability of the Old Testament Discovered beginning in 1947 in caves near the Dead Sea at Qumran. 3 Bedouin shepherds discovered ancient scrolls hidden in the caves. 15,000 texts, 40% of which are copies of Biblical texts There is a scholarly consensus on the age of the Dead sea scrolls Paleographical dating, Radiocarbon dating, and archaeological evidence all support a date of these writings that go as far back as the 3rd century BC. Portions of every Old Testament book except Esther were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. What does this all mean? The scriptures found in your Bible are OLD and some of the go back to BEFORE the time of Jesus and the apostles. Before Christianity. “Many of the scrolls are practically identical with the Masoretic text, which thus takes this recension back in history to pre-Christian times” – Encyclopedia Brittanica The Hebrew text is ANCIENT. Among the discoveries was the Great Isaiah Scroll. The source dates it to approximately 125 BC. It contains essentially the complete book of Isaiah. When the Great Isaiah Scroll was compared with the later Masoretic Text: The two were found to be remarkably similar. Word for Word identical in 95% of the text 5% difference were mostly slips of the pen and spelling Isaiah is important because it foretells the birth of the Messiah (Isaiah 7) the suffering of the Messiah (Isaiah 53) and the reign of the messiah (Isaiah 9) BEFORE Jesus was born! The Dead Sea Scrolls pushed surviving Hebrew biblical manuscripts back more than 1000 years. They provide ancient witnesses to the Hebrew Scriptures and support the stability of the textual tradition. Authenticate the OT in YOUR Bible! Your Bible didnt’ just show up yesterday! It is ANCIENT. It is RELIABLE. Your faith is VALID. We’re talking about valid faith, believing in God’s Word is VALID FAITH. God’s Word is reliable for many more reasons! Unique Moral teachings Confirming scientific concepts before science itself did History and archaeology confirms it Fulfilled prophecy If we had more time we could dive in to all those things We know God’s Word is Reliable because of how it changes lives! Grew up without a dad Grandma worked 16 hour doubles at the nursing home to feed us Struggled with unusual anxieties, obsessive worries Fear and insecurity and isolation BUT I read about God in His Word That began a conversation Earnestly prayed that God would be real in my life Don’t wanna just read about You He brought me into contact with people of faith Started going to church That led me to an altar of repentance A place where i could connect with God I didn’t have a fancy prayer I just remember praying God, would you be my Father? That night I had a encounter with God I had an encounter with my Father It started with faith,  you see friends I read about Him in His Word. God gave me His Word He wanted me to know Him. He is my Father and wanted a relationship with Me. And that has changed everything.  And then later when the trials came The dark nights When I lost my way And let anxiety creep And the emotions cloud my thinking and mindset And I didn’t know what to do When I returned to the Word of God And REALLY believed it And REALLY applied to my life That’s when Victory came!! I am not just sermonizing God’s Word has GIVEN ME MY LIFE He has rescued me!! But I had to stand on the Word That’s great Jonathan, but does this have to do with me? What does His Word accomplish in my life? The question what can’t God’s Word do in your life? Do you need wisdom? It has wisdom Do you need hope?  Hope for your family Hope for your finances Hope for your relationships Comfort in the dark times A voice than can push back fear and the lies  That seek to destroy you and those you love God’s Word has all these things for you if you will have faith It’s not just another self-help book Self-help books can claim to do all these things But the Word of God connects you to the ONE who can Fill that God-shaped hole in your soul. It connects you to biggest thing that’s ever going to happen to you And that is an encounter with Jesus Christ Like the encounter an 18 year old boy from Waco Texas had one Wednesday night And a life was saved And a destiny was forever changed It starts with Valid faith We can have faith in God’s Word Would you stand with me? 3 things I want you to do with this message Call To Action – How to rely on God’s Word  God’s Word is not just information—it is meant to transform us. 1. ABSORB Read God’s Word. Take it in. Feed on it. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” God’s Word is spiritual food. Don’t just read it—absorb it. Hide it in your heart. Make a commitment to spend time in God’s Word every day. 2. AGREE Agreement means saying: “God, even when I don’t understand it, I choose to believe what Your Word says.” We agree with God—not with our feelings, our culture, or our limited understanding. Sometimes we want to argue with God. We want to explain why we think our way is better. But agreement brings us to a place of surrender: “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Agreement is powerful because it is part of repentance. It prepares our hearts to change. Before we can live God’s way, we must first decide that God’s way is right. We meet with God every day in prayer and confess that we want His Kingdom to Come and His  will to be done in our lives. Which leads us to the last step 3. ALIGN Alignment means bringing our lives into line with God’s Word. We don’t just hear the truth—we live it. Even when we don’t understand. You see, alignment becomes easier when we have already crossed the bridge of agreement. When the Bible says something like love your enemies, pray for those who despitefully use you And that makes no sense us, but you trust in God and His Word. And we submit that area of our lives to His Will, we can begin to be more like Him. Absorbing God’s Word brings us direction. Agreement to God’s Word prepares the heart.Alignment to God’s Word changes the life. We read God’s Word. We agree with God’s Word. We live out God’s Word. ABSORB. AGREE. ALIGN. Let God’s Word transform you. You can trust God’s Word. It has not changed—what IS changing are people’s lives. He doesn’t change, but He is changing us to conform to the image of His Son. Keep reading. Keep trusting. Keep growing. And as God’s Word transforms you, you will become more and more like Jesus.
Valid Faith – 1 – Must I Turn Off My Brain to be a Christian?
https://youtu.be/NRFfI32X2q0?si=z8U0gQp64SvlXiqX Follow along with us! If faith is TRUE… it should survive investigation. Next few weeks – questions Christians sometimes get nervous about. Real. Reasonable. Can stand under pressure. Series Outline September 13: CAN I TRUST THE BIBLE? September 20: DID JESUS REALLY RISE FROM THE DEAD? September 27: CAN I STILL TRUST JESUS AFTER CHURCH HURT? 3 asks:1. COME WITH QUESTIONS.2. BRING A FRIEND WITH QUESTIONS.3. GRAB 30 HONEST QUESTIONS. 30 real questions… short/simple answers… God, science, Bible, suffering, doubt, church hurt… Grab one for yourself. Share one with your friends. I DO NOT WANT A BORROWED FAITH Pastor… Bible… church most of my life… eventually I have to ask: Do I believe because I was TOLD?Or because I believe it is TRUE? Borrowed faith… from parents… pastors… denomination… culture… Works UNTIL life hits: death… unanswered prayer… hard question… church hurt… NOT WANT A BORROWED FAITH.I want to discover a Valid Faith. What about you? Can you relate? THE QUESTIONS ARE REAL 29% of U.S. adults are now religiously unaffiliated — identifying as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular.”(Pew) 60% of unaffiliated say questioning religious teachings is an extremely or very important reason they are nonreligious. (PEW) 42% of American adults say they have deconstructed the faith of their youth. Among Christians, 37% say they have deconstructed the faith they grew up with. (Barna) DECONSTRUCTION: Taking apart the faith you inherited and reexamining what you believe.   Good and Bad to this…-sometimes good, true beliefs get discarded along with the things that genuinely needed to be questioned.We are dealing with… ANCIENT FAITH IN A MODERN WORLD. People wrestle -science/evolution/evidence… Genesis… miracles… morality… ancient Bible… That is why I am calling this message: Valid Faith Week 1: Must I Turn My Brain Off to Be a Christian? Your questions are real. They deserve DEEPER THOUGHT – not less. There is a tension between Reason & FaithCompartmentalize – Brain vs Heart.Think vs FeelWhat if God’s Word shows us a better way? 1 Peter 3:15 NIV Peter assumes: HOPE… and a REASON for that hope. Think about your Faith!REASON IS NOT THE ENEMY OF FAITH. Connect to the reason you have hope.Hebrews 11:1 NIV HOPE = WHAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO. FAITH = TRUSTING GOD WITH THAT HOPE. Faith = TRUST. So… WHO ARE YOU TRUSTING – AND CAN HE BE TRUSTED? STRIP IT ALL AWAY Christianity makes MANY claims. Not all equally central. Christians disagree:Genesis/age earth…baptism…free will…spiritual gifts…end times…  SECONDARY ISSUES… Important? In varying degrees, YES.The reason for my hope? NO.STRIP THEM AWAY FOR NOW  Strip away denomination… political tribe… worship style… theological labels…  WHAT IS LEFT?Better question… Who is left? JESUS. Who are you trusting and can He be trusted.Christian faith = trusting HIM. IS JESUS TRUSTWORTHY? This leads us to God’s Word..Then let us reason through God’s Word… not panic at questions. REASONING EXERCISE #1 – WHY SOMETHING RATHER THAN NOTHING? Old question. Answer?God created or Big Bang?How did the universe come to be? Hebrews 11:3 NIV Visible world made from what cannot be seen.Visible made from invisible. Faith teaches this… Science teaches this… Modern science: atoms/subatomic realities… invisible building blocks under visible matter. SCRIPTURE REVEALED A TRUTH SCIENCE LATER STUMBLED UPON about 1800 years later. Faith explains how there is a universe.Science explains how there is a universe. But WHY is there a universe? Why matter? energy? laws? universe?WHY PEOPLE? HEARTS? SOULS? DREAMS? Science can describe HOW. (mechanism)Science can’t describe WHY. (purpose) Faith explains HOW & WHY.Mechanism & purpose. REASONING EXERCISE #2 – WHAT MAKES EVIL, EVIL? Child abuse… trafficking… torture… not just “I dislike it.” ACTUALLY WRONG – EVIL.WHY? If we are only matter, chemistry, cells, impulses, and survival instincts… what makes one set of impulses good and another set evil? Science can describe what happens in the brain.Science can describe behavior.Science can describe what helps a species survive.But science by itself does not tell you: CHILD ABUSE IS EVIL.   WHY? FAITH SAYS MORAL TRUTH IS REAL BECAUSE IT IS GROUNDED IN A MORAL GOD. More questions like this?Short. Simple. Start investigating. I saw this pop up on facebook… Jackman: If you put Buddha, Jesus Christ, Socrates, Shakespeare, Arjuna, Krishna at a dinner table together, I can’t see them having an argument. Nice thought… all welcome… acceptance…but THINK DEEPER. JESUS DID NOT COME JUST TO TAKE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. Everyone at table died. Jesus died too… JESUS DIED FOR EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE. And Christianity says HE ROSE. Jesus is different.  NOT JUST A TEACHER. CAN JESUS BE TRUSTED? One follower had to decide that for himself… Thomas Followed Jesus… HOPE.Jesus dies… DISAPPOINTED / hope crushed. Friends: “We saw Him.”Trouble TRUSTING them. “Unless I see…” Thomas investigates. Jesus meets him in it. Jesus shows up… stretches out hands… invites him to investigate. John 20:28 NIV Notice what Jesus does not do…-No lecture.-No guilt trip.-No turning away. Imagine – Jesus standing their… open arms.What do you even do with all of this? PRACTICE 3 STEPS: REASON → TRUST → HOPE 1. COME WITH YOUR QUESTIONS Do not bury them. NAME them. Ask them. 2. INVESTIGATE – DO NOT ASSUME Science disproved faith? Bible changed? Genesis impossible? All religions same? → LOOK CLOSER. 3. KEEP COMING BACK TO JESUS Not every question carries equal weight. Who is Jesus? What did He claim? Is He trustworthy? We want to help you take these steps. What if we stripped everything in religion away until we were just left with Jesus? “Is that all you need?” “YES.” Strip away denomination… politics… labels… possessions… ability to answer everything… WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE HOPE YOU HAVE?  IS IT JESUS? Other questions matter. But underneath it all… JESUS IS THE CENTER. IF THIS IS TRUE… Jesus cannot be one more thing in the cart. JESUS IS NOT SOMETHING I ADD TO MY LIFE. HE BECOMES THE CENTER. He is the center… I follow.…shame loses grip.…I serve others… forgive others. VALID FAITH SHOULD CHANGE THE WAY I LIVE. IS JESUS WORTH TRUSTING?1. If so… PRAY “God, I do not have all the answers, but I believe You are worth the search.” 2. IF so… START A CONVERSATION Connection Card / text me / 30 Honest Questions. Let us reason together. 3. If so… TAKE ONE STEP TOWARD JESUS Investigate 30 honest questions.Come back. Bring a friend. Trust Jesus. Return to Jesus.
Level Up – 3 – Ready Player 2: You Weren’t Meant to Do It Alone
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Check back here for both, or explore the message below. Download the Message Handout If you want to grow spiritually, stay connected to Jesus—and do not try to figure out every next step alone. Real spiritual growth is not just about learning more. It is about receiving life from Jesus, letting Him change you, and becoming someone who helps other people grow too. Your growth is Godward and outward. That means a good next question is not only, “What do I need from God?” It is also, “Who can help me grow—and who might God want me to help?” Why Do I Still Feel Stuck Spiritually? We have more information than ever: Google, YouTube, podcasts, books, AI. But information is not the same as direction. You can listen to a hundred people talk about faith, marriage, parenting, money, or purpose—and still feel unsure about what to do next. Most of us do not only need better information. We need real people: someone to encourage us, challenge us, pray for us, and help us take the next step. We have closed much of the information gap, but we have widened the relationship gap. Spiritual Growth Moves Godward and Outward “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NIV Godward: stay connected to Jesus You do not have to manufacture a better life by yourself. Stay connected to Jesus. Learn from Him. Trust Him. Talk honestly with Him. Let His words reshape your thinking. Let His grace meet you where you are. He is not just part of your growth plan. He is the source of life. Outward: let your growth bless someone else A healthy branch does not exist just to become a stronger branch. It bears fruit. What Jesus is producing in you should eventually bless somebody else. Your growth should not stop with you. You May Be Somebody Else’s Fruit Think about the people who helped you. Somebody prayed for you. Somebody encouraged you. Somebody taught you. Somebody gave you an opportunity. Somebody believed you could become more. Somebody refused to give up on you. You may be somebody else’s fruit. Their faithfulness to Jesus eventually touched your life. Now the question becomes: Who is growing because God has worked in me? Barnabas Became a Bridge Barnabas is one of the most powerful examples of this in Scripture. His real name was Joseph, but the apostles called him Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36). Encouragement became so consistent in his life that it became part of his reputation. Then Saul came to Jerusalem. Before Saul became the Apostle Paul, people knew him as the man who had persecuted Christians. Even after Saul encountered Jesus, the believers were afraid to trust him. “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.” Acts 9:27 NIV Barnabas did not change Saul. Jesus changed Saul. Barnabas did not call Saul. Jesus called Saul. Barnabas did not give Saul his gifts. God did. But Barnabas became a bridge. Other people backed away. Barnabas stepped closer. He used his relationship, credibility, encouragement, and opportunity to help Saul move forward. He saw what Jesus was doing in Saul when others could only see Saul’s past. Sometimes people can become an obstacle to someone else’s next level. Barnabas chose to become a bridge instead. Pick Your Player Two 1. Who is a few steps ahead? Where do you want to grow—marriage, parenting, money, career, faith, leadership, life? Who do you know that is living with wisdom and character in that area? Ask them: “Can I learn from you?” You do not need to make it strange or overly formal. Invite them to coffee. Ask a question. Listen. Learn. 2. Who is a few steps behind? What have you already learned? What have you survived? What has God taught you? You do not have to be an expert. You just have to be willing to help. Maybe someone needs your encouragement, your listening ear, prayer, an introduction, an opportunity, or a reminder that their past is not the end of their story. Mature people use what they have to help somebody else grow. 3. Push Start Do not leave this as a good idea. Name the area where you want to grow. Name the person who is a few steps ahead. Name the person you might be able to help. Then start the conversation. Your next level may start with a text, a coffee, a prayer, or an invitation. Get Unstuck with the Free 21-Day Game Plan The Level Up 21-Day Game Plan is a simple, Scripture-centered guide to help you get unstuck, reconnect with Jesus, make your next move, and help someone else grow. It takes just 5–10 minutes a day. Request My Free Game Plan Explore the full Level Up series Frequently Asked Questions Can I grow spiritually by myself? Your relationship with Jesus is personal, but it was never meant to be isolated. We grow as we receive from Jesus and walk with people who encourage, challenge, and help us keep going. How do I find a Christian mentor? Choose one area where you want to grow. Look for someone whose character you respect. Start simply: ask them to coffee and say, “Can I learn from you?” Do I need a formal mentor? No. A formal program can help, but many of the best mentoring relationships begin with an ordinary conversation and consistent friendship. What if I do not feel qualified to help someone else? You do not have to know everything to help somebody with something. Share what you have learned. Pray. Encourage. Listen. Help them take one next step. Keep Growing with Pastor Chris Pastor Chris Fluitt serves Redemption Church in Plano and helps people take honest next steps toward Jesus. Follow Chris on Facebook Text Chris More Messages on YouTube
Level Up – 2 – Same Moves, Same Level
https://youtu.be/-eLldQOmJBE?si=JjktdUScsMLukx9A Follow along with us! Let me tell you something about me… Before pastor – music I remember working hard at music. Playing a lot. Practicing a lot. Putting in the time. But there were seasons where I was not really getting better. I was mostly playing what I already knew how to play. YOU SHOULD NOT WANT TO HEAR A MUSICIAN PRACTICE. Real practice is going to be riddled with mistakes. A musician who is really practicing pushes to the edge of ability. • Faster than comfortable. • Attempting what you cannot quite do yet. • Pushing the boundaries of error. GROWTH HAPPENS AT THE EDGE OF YOUR ABILITY. If you never make mistakes, maybe you are only repeating what you already know & NOT growing. At some point I had to stop merely playing and start stretching. WE WANT TO GROW, BUT OUR MOVES DON’T ALWAYS MATCH We know where we want to get better. Career. Money. Health. Relationships. Faith. But knowing where you want to go is not the same as making the moves that get you there. Let’s talk CAREER: 30% of workers say they need more education or training to get ahead. Yet 47% of those workers took no additional training in the previous year. They know they need a new level. But nearly half made no new training move. Let’s talk MONEY: For every $100 Americans have after taxes, we are currently saving less than $3. We know homes are expensive.…Emergencies happen.…Retirement is coming. We want a different financial future.But do our financial moves match it? Let’s talk HEALTH:  Only 1 in 4 adults meet both the aerobic and strength-training guidelines, while obesity remains around 4 in 10 adults. These numbers have barely budged over the last 10 years.We have watches, apps, trackers, smart scales, programs… But new tools don’t automatically create new moves.Career. Money. Health. Different areas. Same tension. We know what we want. We may even know what needs to change. But wanting change is not the same as making change. A new level requires a new move. And that is why I want to talk to you today about a message called: SAME MOVES = SAME LEVEL. If I keep making the same moves, I should not be surprised when I keep ending up on the same level. Maybe what needs to change is not the dream.Maybe it is the move. And this is not just a modern problem. The Bible gives us a picture of people who were moving, working, traveling — but still ending up in the same place. Israel had been circling the same territory for a long time. And eventually God stepped into the pattern and said two words that some of us may need to hear today: LONG ENOUGH. Deuteronomy 2:3 NIV“Then the LORD said to me, ‘You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.'” Israel was moving. But they were moving in circles. Then God says: LONG ENOUGH. And then God gives them a new move: NOW TURN NORTH. Not just stop. Change direction. THREE MOVES THAT BREAK THE PATTERN 1. RECOGNIZE THE PATTERN Patterns become normal. “This is just what I do.”  “This is just how it always goes.” Romans 12:2 NIV“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” What pattern keeps producing the same result? You cannot change what you refuse to recognize. If you are stuck… there is a pattern. Do you recognize it? 2. LET GOD RENEW YOUR THINKING Romans 12:2 tells us to RENEW OUR MIND. Different moves often begin with different thinking. • Maybe I can change. • Maybe it is not too late. • Maybe failure is not final. • Maybe God has more for me. THINK NEW THOUGHTS!  BECOME BRAND NEW! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Jesus changes us and makes us brand new. Your old pattern does not have to become your future. 3. MAKE A DIFFERENT MOVE Eventually insight has to become action. James 1:22 NIV“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.“ Not a perfect move. Not a giant move. A next move. A different result may require a different move. Israel had to do this…You have to do this… APPLY IT TO YOUR STUCK PLACE 1. Recognize your pattern – Where are you stuck? Marriage. Career. Business dream. Education. Health. Finances. Faith. Relationships. Name the stuck place. 2. Let God into that place. Do not divide your life into “spiritual” and “everything else.” God can help you with your marriage, your job, your career, your education, your health, and your future. There are people all over this room who can testify: God helped me there. Invite God into the place where you feel stuck. Let Him renew the way you think about it. How? Pray honestly.“God, this is where I’m stuck. Show me what I’m not seeing.” Open Scripture.Ask, “What does God say about this situation, this fear, this habit, this decision?” Get wise people involved.Talk to someone mature who knows God and knows you. Let God renew your thinking by changing what you’re listening to, believing, and repeating. 3. Make a different move this week. • Start the business research. • Call the school. • Schedule the workout. • Have the conversation. • Create the Bible-reading time. • Go to the Connect Group once. • Ask for help. WHAT WILL YOU DO DIFFERENTLY THIS WEEK? A new move does not have to be huge. It just has to stop repeating the move that keeps you stuck. JESUS – THE ORIGINAL PATTERN BREAKER Humanity had a pattern: SIN -> FAILURE -> DEATH. Generation after generation. Under the old covenant there was another repeating pattern: SIN -> SACRIFICE -> RETURN AGAIN. Hebrews 10:3-4 NIV“But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” The repeated sacrifices kept pointing to the same problem. We needed a new move. John 3:16 NIV“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” God made the new move. He sent Jesus. Jesus stepped into the pattern of sin and death. He died. He rose. Hebrews 10:10 NIV“We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” JESUS BROKE THE PATTERN. If you want to break the deepest patterns in your life, start with the One who broke the deepest pattern of all. Believe the gospel. Receive Jesus. Repent – turn toward Him. Take your next step in Him. We do not want church to simply be: hear a good message, feel encouraged, go home, have a nice week. We want to be a church where people actually move. • People come to Jesus. • Marriages get healthier. • You experience success in business, education, and God given calling. • People discover purpose. • People join community. • People step into things that stretch them. • People stop circling the same mountain. THIS IS WHY we are a church that takes next steps. CALL TO ACTION: Stop Circling the Mountain! 1. MAKE YOUR MOVE Where am I stuck? What am I going to do differently this week? Write it down. Make it specific. 2. START A CONVERSATION Use the connection card. Jesus. Baptism. Connect Group. Serving. Help. Next steps. Do not stay stuck trying to figure it out alone. 3. COME PRAY Some patterns are bigger than willpower. Bring the stuck place to God. Let somebody pray with you and stand with you. This does not have to be another lap around the same mountain.
Level Up – 1 – Finding the Courage to Try Again
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You know something needs to change. You may even know your next move. But after a hard season, staying where you are can feel safer than trying again. What if there is more promise & power available than you have walked in? Watch · Listen · Follow Along Choose how you want to jump in. VOLUNTEER: EMBED YOUTUBE SERMON HEREFull message video goes in this space. VOLUNTEER: ADD BLUBRRY / POWERPRESS AUDIO PLAYER HERE Download Pastor Chris Fluitt’s Sermon Outline Download the Finding the Courage to Try Again Follow-Along Handout 21-Day Game Plan Don’t just agree with the message. Make a move. The free LEVEL UP 21-Day Game Plan gives you Scripture, reflection, prayer, and one practical next step each day. Get the Free 21-Day Game Plan Promise vs. Possession There was more promise than possession. God’s promise to Abraham and Israel was bigger than a single moment on a map. Scripture describes the promised territory from several angles — and Joshua was told to move into what God had placed in front of him. Genesis 15:18 “To your descendants I give this land…” The promise stretches from the Wadi of Egypt toward the Euphrates. Joshua 1:3–4 “I will give you every place where you set your foot…” Joshua is told to move into territory stretching from the wilderness and Lebanon toward the Euphrates and the Mediterranean. God had put more in front of them than they had actually walked in. Could there be more of God’s calling, purpose, courage, obedience, and power available than I am presently walking in? The point isn’t the geography. The point is the gap between PROMISE and POSSESSION. For Further Study Six passages that describe the boundaries Genesis 15:18–21 Wadi / River of Egypt to the Euphrates; the peoples of the land are named. Exodus 23:31 Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines; desert toward the Euphrates. Deuteronomy 1:7–8 Hill country, Arabah, lowlands, Negev, coast, Lebanon, and Euphrates. Deuteronomy 11:24 Wilderness to Lebanon; Euphrates toward the western sea. Joshua 1:3–4 Wilderness, Lebanon, Euphrates, land of the Hittites, and Mediterranean. Numbers 34:1–12 A detailed description of Canaan’s allotted boundaries — a narrower, more specific boundary description. These passages describe the promise and the allotted land from different angles. The sermon uses them as a study trail, not as a modern political boundary claim. Promise of Power There may be more power available than I have walked in. Don’t just TRY HARDER. DEPEND DEEPER. PRAY BEFORE YOU PUSH. MOVE WITH GOD, NOT JUST GRIT. Acts 1:8 Jesus tells His followers they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them, and that power will propel their witness outward. What Acts Shows Us Bold witness. People coming to faith. Healing. Deliverance. Transformed lives. Churches planted. Ordinary people empowered by God. Zechariah 4:6 “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.” The question Not whether you can manufacture a stronger version of yourself — but whether you will move with the presence and power God provides. JOSHUA 1 Three moves forward. You don’t need to possess the whole territory today. You need the next faithful move. 01 Move On Joshua 1:2: “Moses my servant is dead.” God is not finished. Stop letting yesterday make today’s decisions. What do you need to leave behind? 02 Get Ready Joshua 1:2: “Get ready to cross the Jordan River.” Someday is not a day on the calendar. Prepare for the move you say you want. Getting ready is already movement. 03 Put Your Foot On It Joshua 1:3: “I will give you every place where you set your foot.” Send the text. Make the call. Apologize. Ask for prayer. Show up. Take one concrete step. “Be strong and courageous… for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9 Quick Self-Check What’s keeping you here? Comfort Fear of People Habits Delay Sin Sometimes we’re not stuck because we don’t know what to do. We’re stuck because we keep saying someday. John 5:1–9 · The Pool of Bethesda Jesus doesn’t leave people stuck. In John 5, Jesus is in Jerusalem near the Pool of Bethesda, where many sick and disabled people gathered. Among them was a man who had been unable to walk for thirty-eight years. John 5:5–6 Jesus sees the man lying there, learns that he has been in that condition for a long time, and asks him a direct question: “Do you want to get well?” Grace doesn’t only meet us where we are. Grace gives us power to move. Why would Jesus ask that? Jesus is not mocking the man or questioning whether his suffering is real. He is confronting a life that has been defined by the same condition for decades. The man explains why nothing has changed: he has no one to help him into the pool, and someone else always gets there first. John 5:8–9 Jesus does not leave the man with only sympathy. He gives him a command: “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” The man gets up and walks. Joshua heard, “Get ready to cross.” The man at Bethesda heard, “Get up and walk.” In both stories, God meets people in a real situation and then calls them toward a next move. Your Move This Week Name it. Move on it. Make Your Move What will you actually do differently this week? Start a Conversation Tell somebody where you need help, prayer, or accountability. Pray Bring your fear, your next move, and your future to God. Keep Leveling Up This is Week 1. Keep going. Explore the rest of LEVEL UP: Get unstuck. Make your next move. Explore the LEVEL UP Series Questions People Ask Quick answers for the road ahead. What does the Bible say about courage? Biblical courage is not the absence of fear. Joshua 1 connects courage to confidence that God goes with us. How do I start again after failure? Start with one faithful step. Failure can teach you without deciding where you stay. How can I stop feeling stuck spiritually? Name where you’re stuck, return to Scripture and prayer, and take a concrete step of obedience. What if I don’t know God’s whole plan? You do not need the whole map before you move. Start with the next faithful step you can see. Meet Pastor Chris A quick note from me. Hi, I’m Chris Fluitt, pastor of Redemption Church. I’m passionate about seeing the Word of God come alive in people and helping them succeed in the calling God has placed on their lives. If this message encouraged you, if you have a question, or if you want to talk about your next step, I’d love to hear from you directly. — Pastor Chris Fluitt Text Pastor Chris Text line: 469-467-8111 Need Prayer or a Next Step? We’d love to connect with you. Have a prayer request, question, or next step you’re ready to take? Fill out the online connection card and let us know how we can walk with you. Fill Out the Connection Card Share This Message Know someone who needs courage to try again? Send this message to a friend who feels stuck or needs a next move. Share on Facebook Share by Text Share by Email Redemption Church Plano You don’t have to stay stuck. We’re a church helping people find and follow Jesus. If you’re in the Plano area, we’d love to meet you. Plan Your Visit Explore LEVEL UP Stay Connected Connect with Redemption Church. Follow along during the week for messages, encouragement, updates, and what’s happening at Redemption. Facebook Instagram YouTube
Sean Alexander – Who is Your God?
https://youtu.be/aTcDz0tbYPQ?si=646GOQiIUi–rn1H Please welcome our guest speaker for today, Sean Alexander!
Who Leading Your Next Move? The Decision Before the Decision
https://youtu.be/GK7UkSHEMYs?si=5C8AUT4tfAAFPaQQ Follow along with us! Back-to-school season is here. At our house… A start date A schedule A supply list A clear destination School comes with a supply list. Life usually doesn’t. It comes as: An opportunity A decision An open door A relationship An unexpected change A question I cannot answer I know what it is to wonder: Is this opportunity from God? Is this a step of faith—or a distraction? Should I move—or wait? What if I choose wrong? Their next is school. But I have a next too—and I don’t always know what it is. DO WE KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT? We all have decisions in front of us. Stay in this job—or take the other one? Move—or remain? Date this person? Marry this person? End this relationship? Go back to school? Start the business? Retire? Step through the door—or wait? We have more options than ever—but more options have not given us more clarity. CHOICES WITHOUT DIRECTION 47% of Americans feel ill-equipped to make the decisions in front of them. 31% delay decisions as long as possible. 33% regret decisions they have made. 47% regret opportunities they failed to take. Source: HSBC, Seizing Uncertainty study (2024), U.S. sample. We are afraid to move because we might choose wrong. We are afraid to stay because we might miss something. We get stuck between the fear of failure, the fear of regret, and the fear of missing out. So we research. Overthink. Ask everyone. Replay every possibility. We pray—and wonder whether we heard God or ourselves. What if I miss God? What if this door closes? What if I waste years? What if I choose the wrong person? What if I end up in the wrong place? So how do we decide what is next? How do we move forward without knowing every outcome? How do we make the next season count? Let’s look to God and His Word. “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew.”  —Matthew 4:18 NIV Peter and Andrew were fishing. Their career Their routine Their income Their plan Then Jesus stepped into their ordinary day. “Come, follow me, and I will make you out to fish for people.”  —Matthew 4:19 NIV Jesus did not give them: A five-year plan A salary guarantee A detailed itinerary Every possible outcome Jesus gave them Himself. They didn’t know what was next. They knew who to follow. The Jesus Game Plan1. “COME, FOLLOW ME” Before Jesus told them what they would do, He settled who they would follow. We want Jesus to tell us: which job, city, person, opportunity, door? Jesus begins with a better question: “Will you follow Me?” “I am the way and the truth and the life.”  —John 14:6 NIV Jesus does not merely point toward a way. Jesus is the way. The first decision is not what we will do.The first decision is who we will follow. Before choosing the job—choose the Lord. Before choosing the relationship—choose the Lord. Before choosing the destination—choose the Lord. Jesus cannot be one option among many. He is the One through whom every other option must be evaluated. 2. “I WILL MAKE YOU” Jesus did not only tell them to follow. He promised: “I will make you.” We ask: “Where am I going?” Jesus also asks: “Who are you becoming?” A new job with the same broken character won’t create a new life. A new relationship with the same patterns won’t create a healthy future. A new city with the same unhealed heart won’t create freedom. Changing where we are will not change who we are. Jesus forms us along the way. That is discipleship. Learning His words Practicing His way Receiving His correction Becoming like Him Allowing Him into every part of life Following Jesus is not one more burden added to an already crowded life. Jesus reshapes every part of life from the inside out. Jesus doesn’t only help you find what’s next.Jesus makes you ready for what’s next. Want to become a better father? Follow Jesus. Want to become a better husband or wife? Follow Jesus. Want to become healthier in body, mind, soul, and spirit? Follow Jesus. Want to become a better leader, employee, friend, or neighbor? Follow Jesus. The greatest thing Jesus may do next is not change where you are.It may be changing who you are. Jesus teaches patience, sacrifice, truth, forgiveness, faithfulness, humility, self-control, rest, community, and purpose. Following Jesus does not guarantee an easy life or that every plan works exactly as expected. Jesus forms us into people who can faithfully face whatever comes next. 3. “FISH FOR PEOPLE” Jesus gave them a purpose bigger than themselves. Culture tells us to choose what gives us more money, comfort, recognition, control, and happiness. Those things are not automatically wrong—but they are not big enough to build a life around. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  —Matthew 6:33 NIV Jesus gives us a better question: “How can this next season serve God’s purpose?” Love God? Grow in faith? Serve others? Help someone find Jesus? Become more like Christ? The job we think is next cannot forgive our sin. The relationship we think is next cannot heal our soul. The success we think is next cannot give us eternal life. The opportunity we think is next cannot promise to stay when life falls apart. Do not become so focused on what is next that you miss Jesus now. The best next step is the most faithful step. JESUS MEETS PETER AGAIN Peter followed Jesus—but Peter also failed. He denied Jesus three times. Jesus was crucified. Jesus rose from the dead. Peter found himself asking again: “What’s next?” Jesus met Peter on the shore. He restored him. He gave him purpose. “Follow me!”  —John 21:19 NIV The first call was: “Follow Me.” After Peter’s greatest failure, the call was still: “Follow Me.” Your past wrong decisions do not disqualify your future with Jesus. The cross paid for our sin. The resurrection proves failure does not get the final word. Jesus can forgive. Jesus can restore. Jesus can redirect. Jesus met him… restored… watch what happens next. “Lord, what about him (John)?”  —John 21:21 NIV “What is that to you? You must follow me.”  —John 21:22 NIV Peter wanted to know someone else’s next. Jesus brought him back to his own discipleship. We will never discover our next by copying someone else’s. Their marriage Their career Their success Their timeline or calling Jesus says: “What is that to you? You follow Me.” “Will you follow Me?” Jesus never answered every question Peter had. He answered the question beneath all the other questions: “Will you follow Me?” Jesus is not asking: Did you enjoy this message? Do you agree with the denomination? Would you like to add a little religion to your life? At some point, listening must become movement. Prayer must become surrender. Faith must become obedience. You may not know the entire plan.But you can decide who you will follow. CALL TO ACTION — WHAT WILL YOU DO NEXT? 1. COME TO JESUS Some of us do not need another plan. We need new life. Your first next step is Jesus. “Jesus, forgive me. Save me. Become Lord of my life. I choose to follow You.” Come receive prayer today. 2. NAME WHAT’S NEXT Take the note card. At the top, write: WHAT’S NEXT FOR ME? Write the decision, question, fear, or season in front of you. Job? Relationship? Health? Family? Calling? A door you’re afraid to walk through? Something you need to leave behind? Name it. Stop allowing it to remain a cloud of anxiety. Put it into words. 3. MOVE TOWARD JESUS On the other side of the card, write: HOW WILL I MOVE CLOSER TO JESUS? Write one clear step: I will pray about this every day. I will read the words of Jesus. I will obey what Jesus has already shown me. I will ask a mature believer for wisdom. I will forgive. I will be baptized. I will get connected. I will serve. I will start a conversation today. Don’t only ask: “What should I do next?” Ask: “How can I follow Jesus next?” Then take that step this week. Bring the card with you. Come to the altar. Let us pray with you.
Rest Mode Activated – 3 – You Need to Rest to Dream Again
https://youtu.be/57iZXKNEbBE?si=MCWIqEWFfPNI9RAx Welcome I have been on vacation in Galveston. And apparently, I can turn a vacation into work. Plan mode:WhatWhenWhere How do we make the most of the day? I am still organizing. Still managing. Still trying to get things done. And while I am doing all of that, I am resisting the temptation to sneak in some church work. Just answer one message. Check on one problem. Get ahead on one thing. It is strange. I can be away from work and still feel guilty for not working. But somewhere between the plans, the ferry, the beach, and everything else, I realized:Sometimes the hardest work of rest is trusting that everything will be okay while I stop. Maybe you know this feeling. You finally sit down, but your mind… You take the day off, but your phone… You go on vacation, but part of you remains at work. VACATION ANXIETY 63% of workers feel anxious when they do not check work-related messages while on vacation. More than half of us cannot even leave work without worrying about what is happening while we are gone. What am I missing? Who needs me? What is piling up? What will I have to deal with when I return? We may not be doing the work. But we are still carrying the work. Because underneath our busyness is a belief we rarely say aloud: If I stop, something may fall apart. We say God is faithful. But we still feel responsible for keeping everything moving. We say God is in control. But releasing control makes us nervous. We say the world does not revolve around us. But sometimes we live like it might stop spinning without us. That is what makes true rest difficult. Rest asks us to trust God with what is happening while we are not watching. With the message we did not answer. With the problem we could not solve. With the person we cannot control. With tomorrow’s work. With the outcome. We do not struggle to rest because we have too much work. We struggle to rest because we have trouble trusting what happens when we stop. This is such a big deal, that is why we are calling this message: YOU NEED TO REST TO DREAM AGAIN God has a lot to say about what happens when we stop, release control, and trust Him with what we cannot manage. And one of the clearest examples is the story of Jacob. Jacob was the grandson of Abraham, the son of Isaac, and the man God would later rename Israel. But when we meet Jacob here, he is running for his life. His brother Esau wants to kill him. He has somewhere to go. He needs to keep moving. But then the sun goes down. “When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set.”—Genesis 28:11 NIV He is running for his life, but he has to stop. Not because he has arrived. Not because the danger is gone. Not because he has a plan. Jacob stops because it is dark, and he cannot keep going. Jacob did not plan to stop there. There was nothing special about the location. No reservation. No shelter. No comfortable bed. No spiritual retreat. It simply became too dark to continue. And that is different from spiritual rest. Sometimes our bodies stop because they are exhausted. Sometimes circumstances stop us. Sometimes sickness stops us. Sometimes darkness falls, and we have no choice but to admit: I cannot do anything else tonight. Jacob had stopped moving. But that did not mean Jacob had stopped carrying everything. His brother was still angry. His future was still uncertain. His family was still broken. The road was still long. The problems did not disappear because he lay down. “Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.”—Genesis 28:11 NIV People sometimes talk about Jacob using a rock as a pillow. But the text is not describing comfort. This was not a relaxing evening. Jacob was not thinking about luxury. He was alone, exposed, exhausted, and uncertain. He could not fix his past. He could not control his future. He could not keep traveling. So Jacob slept. Jacob had his own direction. He was headed toward Harran. He was trying to escape his past. He was trying to figure out his future. WHEN DID JACOB RECEIVE GOD’S DIRECTION? Not while Jacob was making a plan. Not while Jacob was working. Not while Jacob was solving a problem. Not while Jacob was negotiating a deal. Not while Jacob was building his future. Jacob received God’s direction while he slept. And while Jacob could do nothing about his future, God showed him that his future was already in God’s hands. “He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.”—Genesis 28:12 NIV Jacob was inactive. God was not. Jacob had reached his limit. God had not. Jacob could not see the road ahead. God could already see generations. Jacob stopped working. God kept working. That does not mean work is unimportant. God honors effort. God calls us to faithfulness. God created us to work, build, serve, lead, and contribute. But we must never confuse God honoring our effort with God needing our effort. God honors our effort. God does not need our effort. God was working before Jacob woke up. God was working while Jacob was asleep. God was working in places Jacob could not see. God was preparing a future Jacob could never have produced through his own strength. That is the trust underneath real rest. Rest is trusting that God is still working when I am not. We work because God has given us responsibility. We rest because God remains in control. “He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”—Psalm 121:4 NIV When I sleep, God does not sleep. When I stop watching, God does not stop watching. When I reach my limit, God has not reached His. When I have done everything I can do, God is still able to do what only He can do. God does not need my constant supervision. Some of us believe in God. We just keep trying to supervise Him. We pray, and then we keep checking. We surrender, and then we take it back. We say God is in control, but we remain anxious unless we are personally managing every detail. But if God needs me to keep everything together, then God is not God. And if I can keep everything together, then I do not need God. That is the uncomfortable question beneath our inability to rest: DO I NEED GOD OR NOT? Because rest is a declaration. God is God. I am not. God is the provider. I am not. God is the healer. I am not. God is our peace. God is our victory. God is the One who watches over us. These are not abstract religious titles. They become real in the places where we reach our limit. I work hard, but God is my provider. I seek treatment, but God is my healer. I make wise decisions, but God is my peace. I stand faithfully, but God is my victory. I make plans, but God directs my steps. I plant. I water. But God gives the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6–7) I participate in what God is doing. I do not replace God. And this is exactly what God wanted Jacob to understand. Jacob did not need to know every detail of the road ahead. He needed to know who would be with him on that road. So God said: “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go… I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”—Genesis 28:15 NIV God did not hand Jacob a detailed map. God did not answer every question. God did not immediately repair Jacob’s family. God gave Jacob something deeper than a plan. God gave Jacob His presence. “I am with you.” “I will watch over you.” “I will not leave you.” Jacob had been worried about where he was going. God declared: I am already there. Jacob had been worried about what would happen. God declared: I will watch over you. Jacob had been worried about carrying his future. God declared: Your future rests in My hands. And after hearing all of this, Jacob woke up with a completely different understanding of where he was. He had gone to sleep thinking it was just a random place on the road. He woke up realizing God had been there the entire time. “When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.’”—Genesis 28:16 NIV Jacob thought he had stopped at a random place. There was no temple. No altar. No sacred building. No religious sign. It was simply the place where the sun went down. But Jacob woke up and made a declaration: “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”—Genesis 28:17 NIV Jacob called the place Bethel. BETHEL MEANS “HOUSE OF GOD.” Bethel is not meant to be only a specific place—a latitude and longitude. Bethel is a declaration: God is in this place. God was there while Jacob slept. God was there before Jacob noticed. God was there in the uncertainty. God was there on the road. God was there in the dark. God was there at the place Jacob never planned to stop. Jacob then took the stone, set it upright as a pillar, and poured oil on it. The stone that marked his discomfort became a marker of God’s faithfulness. Jacob’s journey was not over. His family was not restored yet. He still had years of struggle ahead of him. But he got up from that place with something he did not have before. He knew he was not alone. REST IS A DECLARATION God is here. God is watching. God is working. God will still be God when I stop. WHAT ARE YOU STILL CARRYING BECAUSE YOU ARE AFRAID TO STOP WATCHING IT? Your family? Your finances? Your career? Your ministry? Someone else’s choices? You can be faithful without being in control. 1. IDENTIFY WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO CONTROL What are you afraid will fall apart if you stop? Name the fear underneath your inability to rest. You are responsible to obey. You are not responsible to be God. 2. DECLARE WHO GOD IS When pressure tells you everything depends on you, answer it with truth: God is my provider. God is my healer. God is my peace. God is my victory. God is with me. These declarations do not excuse laziness. They release us from pretending to be God. 3. PRACTICE STOPPING Choose a real stopping point this week. Turn off the work. Put down the phone. Leave something for tomorrow. PRAYER: God, I have done what I can do today. I trust You with what remains. Then rest. Not because everything is finished. Because God is faithful. Jacob saw a ladder that reached from earth straight to God. So how do we get such a ladder? How do we get to God? Do we need to travel to Bethel and sleep with our head on a rock? No. Jesus tells us exactly what Jacob’s ladder was pointing toward. Listen to how Jesus reveals it: “Very truly I tell you, you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”—John 1:51 NIV Jacob saw a ladder connecting heaven and earth. Jesus declared: I AM THE LADDER. Jesus is the connection between heaven and earth. Jesus is God coming near. Jesus is the presence of God among us. Jacob saw the dream. Nathanael met the fulfillment. Jesus is the dream we receive when we cannot keep going. He is the hope of heaven come to us. Not because we earned it. Not because we worked for it. Not because we climbed high enough. Not because we won God’s approval. God came to us. Jesus lived the life we could not live. Jesus carried the sin we could not remove. Jesus completed the work we could never complete. “It is finished.”—John 19:30 NIV We do not work our way to heaven. Heaven came to us. We do not build the ladder. Jesus is the ladder. Our greatest rest is not found in a vacation. Our greatest rest is found in a Savior. So how do we respond to the God who came down to us in Jesus? We stop trying to climb our way to God, receive what Jesus has done, and trust Him with what remains unfinished. CALL TO ACTION: HOW TO DREAM AGAIN 1. DECLARE JESUS Stop trying to earn what Jesus came to give. Place your trust in Him. Declare Jesus as Savior and Lord. He is the way to the Father. He is the hope of heaven come near. 2. START A CONVERSATION Use the connection card to tell us where you need prayer or what step you are ready to take. You do not have to walk through it alone. 3. LEAVE SOMETHING WITH GOD Choose one thing you have been carrying as though it depends completely on you. Name it. Release it. PRAYER: God, I have done what I can do today. I trust You with what remains.
Sean Alexander – Power in the Hope of Waiting
https://youtu.be/9oSyCc1wrGY?si=L7FeKEkjucR__PkO Please welcome our guest speaker for today, Sean Alexander, as he shows us the power in the hope of wating!
Rest Mode Activated 2: When You Feel Burned Out
Rest Mode Activated — Week 2 When You Feel Burned Out Burnout is more than being tired. It is what happens when life keeps demanding output, but your body and soul are running low. This message continues our Rest Mode Activated series and looks at Elijah’s story in 1 Kings 19. Download the Handout Download the Preaching Outline https://youtu.be/k70meSz4FVM?si=4oEHBM22ujuWSE1T Series Connection Rest Was Built Into Creation In week one, we saw that rest was built into creation before sin broke creation. Rest is not weakness. Rest is part of God’s design. But what happens when we ignore that design? What happens when we keep burning the candle at both ends until we are burned out? That is where Elijah’s story helps us. In 1 Kings 19, Elijah is not spiritually lazy or careless. He is a faithful prophet who has carried too much for too long. Message Summary Elijah’s Burnout Story Is Found in 1 Kings 19 Elijah had just experienced one of the greatest victories of his ministry. Fire fell from heaven. The power of God was on display. But right after that victory, Elijah ran, isolated himself, collapsed under a broom bush, and prayed, “I have had enough.” Sometimes burnout does not come after failure. Sometimes it comes after carrying too much for too long. “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 1 Kings 19:7 NIV How God Restores God Meets Burned-Out People With Grace God cares for Elijah’s body with sleep, food, and water. God meets Elijah’s soul with a gentle whisper. God reconnects Elijah to purpose and people. This is good news for anyone who feels like the journey is too much. God cares about the real needs of your life. Your body matters. Your soul matters. Your connection with God’s people matters. Three Ways God Restores the Burned Out 1. God cares for the body. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is receive care: sleep, food, water, help, and rest. 2. God meets the soul with His whisper. When the noise of life is loud, the whisper of God can reach places nothing else can. 3. God reconnects us to people. Burnout pushes us into isolation, but God restores us through His presence and through His people. The Invitation Receive from Jesus When life is too much, we do not just try harder. We receive from Jesus. Jesus carried what we could not carry. He carried our sin, sorrow, shame, and suffering. He died and rose again so we could receive grace, forgiveness, direction, and His Spirit. Bring your burnout to Jesus. Receive care. Hear His voice. Connect with God’s people. Text Pastor Chris Download the Handout
Rest Mode Activated – 1 – Reset Your Rhythm
https://youtu.be/VsMuQLTBdig?si=WfsVcE1itMTg3VZm Phone acting strange. Slow. Apps freeze. Battery drains. Tap something. Nothing happens. Before you replace it... Before you take it to the store... One simple thing you try. Restart Power it down. Give it a reset. -fixes things you did not even know were running in the background. That is what I think I need. So many tabs open in my mind. Work tabs. Family, Money, Relationship, Church, Regret... Our new series is about a reset… Stop grinding, start growing. This series is not about doing nothing. It is about learning a better rhythm. Resetting the way we live. We need a rest, not just for our bodies, but our souls. Am I the only one in need of a rest and a reset. We are feeling this more and more. Not just physically tired. Soul tired. Mind tired. Emotionally tired. Spiritually worn down. We lie down, but we do not always shut down. Body stops - Mind keeps running. TIRED BUT WIRED STATS 57% of Americans say they would feel better if they got more sleep. Nearly 4 in 10 adults have trouble falling asleep three or more nights a week. 50% adults have trouble staying asleep three or more nights a week. People are projected to spend over $90 billion on sleep aids in 2026. And here is what this means. We are exhausted, and we are having trouble resting. Our bodies are tired. Our minds are wired. Our souls are carrying more than we were created to carry. We are not just staying up too late. We are lying down with too many tabs open in the background. So what do we do? Do we buy a better mattress? Do we take pills to help us sleep? Maybe. Physical things matter. But what if God wants to show us something deeper? What if we do not just need better sleep?What if we need a better rhythm? So let’s look at what God shows us about rest. When Scripture talks about rest, it is not just giving us a sleep tip. It is showing us a way to live. God gives rest as a rhythm, a reminder, and a relationship. This is what I want to show you today. 1. God built a rest rhythm into creation. Genesis 2:2 NIV By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. God rested. Not because He was tired.Not because He was weak.Not because creation drained Him. God rested because He was showing us a rhythm. On day 7 Rest existed… but sin didn’t exist.Before sin, there was rest. Rest was built into creation before sin broke creation. Rest is not weakness.Rest is not laziness.Rest is not failure. Rest is part of God’s design. God built work into creation.God also built rest into creation.We need both. God gives us rhythm. Work. Rest. God built rest into the creation week. Are you building rest into your work week? Not just collapsing when you cannot keep going. Not just stopping when your body forces you to stop. 2. God commanded rest because we forget. Exodus 20:8 NIV Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Notice the first word. Remember. God says remember because He knows… we forget. We forget we are not machines.We forget we are not slaves.We forget we are not the Savior.We forget God is God, and we are not. Israel had been slaves in Egypt. Their lives were measured by production. Make more bricks.Meet the quota.Keep going.No rest.No identity beyond what they could produce. Then God rescued them. And one of the first things God taught them was how to stop. Not because stopping is laziness.Because stopping is freedom. You may think: I am not a slave. True. But a lot of us are not living free. We are not slaves, but we are not living free. We still measure our worth by production. How much did I get done?How many people need me?How much did I handle? But God says: Remember. Remember who you are.Remember you are not a slave.Remember you are loved. 3. Relationship with Jesus gives the rest religion cannot. By the time Jesus comes, some people had turned rest into another burden. They took God’s gift and made it heavy. They took something meant to restore people and turned it into a religious scorecard. Religion can give you rules.Religion can give you pressure.Religion can give you guilt.Religion can give you one more thing to manage. Religion cannot give your soul rest.A relationship with Jesus can.Mark 2:27 NIVThe Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Jesus says rest was made as a gift. Then Jesus goes even deeper. Matthew 11:28 NIV That is the heart of Christ’s message. Jesus does not say:Come to more pressure.Come to more guilt.Come to more pretending.Come to religious performance. Jesus says: Come to me. Tired people are invited.Burdened people are invited.Overwhelmed people are invited.People who look fine but feel worn down are invited. Jesus does not shame tired people. He invites tired people. And He says: I will give you rest. A mattress can help your body.Medication may help your sleep.A day off can help your pace. But only Jesus can give rest to your soul. Because the deepest rest is knowing:I am loved by God.I am forgiven by God.I am held by God.I am led by God.I am not alone. God gives rest as a rhythm, a reminder, and a relationship. So what do you do? Do not just hear a sermon about rest. Practice a reset. 1. Build rest rhythm into your week. Do not wait until you crash.Do not wait until everything is finished.Do not wait until life gets easier. Where can I build rest into my work week? Start where you can start.Not a legalistic rule. 2. Remember what you keep forgetting. God said remember because we forget. What do you need to remember? You are loved.You are not God.You are not a slave.You belong to God. Pick one truth this week.Write it down.Put it somewhere visible. 3. Close one tab with Jesus. What tabs are open in your soul? Work tab.Money tab.Family tab.Fear tab.Regret tab.Control tab.People-pleasing tab. This week: close one tab with Jesus. Name it.Pray it.Release it. What would happen if we became people who lived from rest instead of depletion? Not lazy.Not checked out. But Rested. Present. Peaceful. Homes less frantic. Relationships more present. Church serving from overflow instead of exhaustion. City seeing people who look different from the grind around us. Remember these words from Jesus. Matthew 11:28 NIV Call to Action: Start Your Reset 1. Come pray. Tired? Burdened? Overwhelmed? Aware you need Jesus? Do not carry it out the same way you carried it in. Bring it to Jesus. 2. Start a conversation. Connect cards - Not paperwork… a conversation and a start. 3. Take one reset step this week. Build rest into your week. Remember what you keep forgetting. Close one tab with Jesus. 6Stats source note: Gallup, “Americans Sleeping Less, More Stressed” (Apr. 15, 2024); National Sleep Foundation, 2025 Sleep in America Poll.
God of Fun – 4 – Your Schedule is a Killjoy
https://youtu.be/vKpdkIWx0hE?si=3_9lX6ESvZFjyZra Follow along with us! Welcome Excited - brand new series starting next week: REST MODE ACTIVATED Life gets loud. Schedules get crowded. Souls get tired. Jesus did not create us to live fried, frantic, running on empty. Join us – remember how to…Slow down. Hear God. Recover Live from peace instead of pressure. Great series to invite someone. TODAY – Glad you are here - last week of God of Fun. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I need to confess something to you. I FEEL GUILTY WHEN I’M NOT WORKING I am a workaholic. Trouble saying no. Trouble shutting it down. Trouble not feeling guilty. Even when not working - don’t always feel rested. Feel guilty. Sitting with family - mind still working. Day off - feel behind. Trying enjoy moment - mind building list. Messages. People. Projects. Next thing. Strange part: a lot of it is good. Work hard. Care. Serve. Be faithful. Good things become unhealthy when they never let us rest. Sometimes I do not work because work needs done. Sometimes I work because I feel guilty when I stop. If I feel guilty when I am not working, work has become more than work. It has become my master. Not preaching as someone who has mastered this. Preaching as someone needs Jesus to speak to my schedule. Jesus speak to my guilt. Jesus teach me how to make room. Am I the only one? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I do not think I am the only one. THE PRESSURE TO ALWAYS BE “ON” We live in a world where busyness feels normal. Expected. Admired. Almost required. How are you? Busy. How’s life? Busy. How was your week? Busy. Everybody understands. Because everybody busy. Work follows us home. Phones follow us everywhere. Responsibilities never feel finished. Even free time can feel guilty. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PRESSURE IS REAL STATS This is not just a feeling. It shows up in real numbers. Gallup says: Only 34% of employees worldwide are thriving in their overall lives. 40% experienced significant stress the previous day. 30% of women and 25% of men say they very often or always feel burned out at work. Burnout grows where there is unmanageable workload and unreasonable time pressure. Unmanageable workload means: Too many tasks. Excessive hours. Work that feels endless. Work that feels difficult to do well. Unreasonable time pressure means: Deadlines stack up. One missed deadline pushes everything else behind. Always trying to catch up. That sounds like the world we live in. Earlier in this series - urgent and important. Today just a reminder: Schedules are where urgent usually wins. If joy never gets scheduled - joy keeps getting sacrificed. If worship never gets protected - worship keeps getting bumped. If family connection never gets planned - family gets leftovers. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That is why I have titled today’s message: YOUR SCHEDULE IS A KILLJOY Not because schedules are bad. Calendars help. Plans matter. But unsurrendered schedules can crowd joy out of our lives. Let’s see what God has to say about this problem. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JESUS CLEARS SPACE FOR HIS PEOPLE – Mark 6 Jesus has something to say to busy people. Mark 6. Disciples doing ministry. Serving. Helping. Teaching. Meeting needs. Not laziness. Not rebellion. Not sin. Good work. But listen. Mark 6:31 NIVThen, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:32 NIVSo they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. “So many people were coming and going.” Sounds like life. Coming and going. Coming and going. Coming and going. Work coming and going. Kids... Email & text messages... Bills… Responsibilities... In all that coming and going, they did not even have chance to eat. Jesus sees it. Jesus does not shame them. Does not say push harder. Does not say ignore limits. Does not say keep grinding. Jesus clears space for them. Come with me. By yourselves. Quiet place. Jesus helped them make space. Not space for laziness. Not space for selfishness. Space with Him. Space to breathe. Space to receive. Jesus does not just call us to work. Jesus calls us to make room. Here is the cool part. After this, they feed thousands. More ministry happens because they made space… Not less. Making space did not ruin the mission. It prepared them for greater impact. Sometimes we think: If I slow down, everything will fall apart. But in Mark 6, Jesus shows us something better: Space with Him is not wasted time. It prepares us for what is next. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOD PUTS JOY ON THE CALENDAR – Deuteronomy 16 This is not an isolated verse. God gives rhythms. Feasts. Festivals. Worship. Remembrance. Celebration. Joy. Deuteronomy 16. God commands celebration. Deuteronomy 16:13-15 NIVCelebrate the Festival of Tabernacles... Be joyful at your festival... and your joy will be complete. God tells His people: Stop the normal schedule. Gather together. Eat. Remember. Worship. Celebrate. Be joyful. God put joy on the calendar. Not vague idea. Not “be happier sometime.” Commanded celebration. Why? Because God knows joy gets crowded out. If celebration is not scheduled - work takes over. If worship is not scheduled - worry takes over. If joy is not scheduled - the schedule fills up anyway. If family connection is not scheduled - logistics take over. If friendship is not scheduled - isolation takes over. God commanded celebration because He knew our schedules would become killjoys. Clear proof God is not against fun. God told people to make room for joy. Not optional decoration. Not something extra. Not only if everything else is finished. Celebrate. Be joyful. Joy needs rhythm. This challenges me. I schedule work. Meetings. Appointments. Responsibilities. Do I schedule joy? Worship? Unhurried time with Jesus? Time to enjoy people God placed in my life? If not, those things get crowded out. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BUSY BUT STILL EMPTY – Haggai 1 Haggai gives us another picture. God’s people were active. Working. Building. Trying to get ahead. Taking care of their own houses. But something was off. Haggai 1:5-6 NIV“Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” God tells His people to think carefully about their lives. Planting much - harvesting little. Eating - not satisfied. Drinking - still thirsty. Earning wages - disappears like a bag with holes. Written thousands of years ago… feels relevent! Describes us - busy but empty. Active but unsatisfied. Working but not full. God says: Give careful thought to your ways. Not just work harder. Not just do more. Look at your life… Priorities… Schedule. Sometimes issue is not more time. It is misdirected time. We can be busy building our own lives and still feel empty. Because joy does not come from a full schedule. Joy comes from a surrendered life. “Give careful thought to your ways” (your schedule) When God gets crowded out - joy gets crowded out. When worship gets crowded out - peace gets crowded out. When people get crowded out - connection gets crowded out. God is not asking for a busier life. He is asking for a better ordered life. A life where He is first. A life where joy has room. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAKE ROOM THIS WEEK Do not try to fix your whole life today. Start small. Start honest. Start this week. 1. LOOK AT YOUR CALENDAR Before this week is over, open your calendar. Ask: What is getting the best of me? What keeps getting leftovers? Where is God getting crowded out? Where is joy getting crowded out? 2. FIND ONE THING TO SAY NO TO Not everything is yours to carry. One unnecessary commitment. One habit that eats time. One thing said yes to out of guilt. One thing that does not belong in this season. Make one small no. Make room for a better yes. 3. SCHEDULE ONE JOY-GIVING MOMENT Actually put it on the calendar. Not someday. Not “when things slow down.” This week. No-phone meal. Time with Jesus. Coffee with a friend. Family game night. Quiet morning. Something fun with your kids. 4. PROTECT IT When something tries to steal it, do not immediately surrender it. Protect it like it matters. Because it does. 5. Make It! (The memories won't make themselves) Strong relationship won’t make itself. The vacation won’t make itself. Prayer time won’t make itself. Friendship won’t make itself. Joy won’t make itself. -------------------------------------------------
God of Fun – 3 – Father’s Day: Who Stole the Fun From Our Families?
https://youtu.be/UrZQPomHjsY?si=4yUHR4pH8kXJJ8wj Follow along with us! Happy Father’s Day Honor dads - grandfathers - father figures - spiritual fathers - men who invested Father’s Day can bring different emotions:gratitude - complicated - grief - encouragement - heaviness Not a message to shame dads This is an invitation Jesus didn’t come to shame us Jesus came to bring life - restore joy - bring us back to the Father ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Week 1: God is not the enemy of joy - He is the inventor of it God created joy Week 2: God gave us a real life full of real joy - Don’t settle for a digital substitute Screens - distraction - attention - presence Today - bring it close to home My House Can Be Full... and Still Miss Joy Start honest from my own house There are days my house is full - but it doesn’t feel full of joy Full of people - noise - schedules - laundry - dishes “Where are your shoes?” “Did you do your homework?” “We are late.” “What are we eating?” “Why is this room still a disaster?” Sometimes I realize - I’m doing more correcting than connecting Nobody in my house wakes up: “Let’s drain the joy out of this place today.” It leaks out ---------------------------------------------------------- I don’t think my house is the only house that feels this We know what it’s like - together but not connected Same room - still far apart Somebody stressed - annoyed - tired Somebody keeping everything running Somebody correcting everybody Somebody avoiding everybody House functioning - not always flourishing Schedule works - soul of family feels thin Bills paid - chores assigned - calendar full - meals happening But where did joy go? Where did laughter go? Where did fun go? Not just family issueNot just too busy…Not just struggling with the schedule…Joy is a spiritual issue(Galatians 5:22, Nehemiah 8:10, Romans 14:17) God did not create family to be joyless God did not create home to be only chores - stress - correction - survival God created joy and gives it. So where is it?!Our message today… WHO STOLE THE FUN FROM OUR FAMILY? That is the question today. But I do not want us to ask that question so we can blame somebody. Not dad. Not mom. Not the kids. Not the schedule. Not the phones. Not the stress. The goal is not to find someone to blame. The goal is to find the One who can bring joy back. Because if joy is spiritual, then we don’t just need better schedules.We need Jesus. So let’s take this question to Jesus. How Jesus Brings Joy Back to the House 1. Families Can Run Out of Joy John 2 – Jesus is at a party - wedding at Cana John 2:1-2 NIV“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.” Jesus invited to wedding Not allergic to celebration - Not hiding from joy Jesus present at celebration Wedding = family - friends - food - music - laughter - joy John 2:3 NIV“When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’” Wine ran out Celebration running dry Joy leaking out Party ending early Family embarrassed Mary brings need to Jesus: They have no more wine Simple prayer - no over-explaining Maybe our prayer today: Jesus, we are running dry Our family is running dry My soul is running dry I’ve been trying keep everything going - but I’m running out Families can run out of joy A home can still have love and run low on joy. We run dry when we stop enjoying the people we love.We run dry, not because we stopped loving each other, but because we stopped enjoying each other. We got so busy managing people - stopped enjoying people Focused correcting behavior - forgot connecting hearts Tired from providing - forgot presence Used to surviving - forgot Jesus came to give a complete joy 2. Jesus Brings Joy Back to the House Mary: They have no more wine Jesus responds John 2:6-9 NIV“Nearby stood six stone water jars... Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’; so they filled them to the brim... and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.” Jesus turns water into wine Steps into celebration running dry - brings joy back Not just little joy Not barely enough Abundance - six stone jars - twenty/thirty gallons each Overflowing joy - more-than-enough joy John 2:10 NIV“Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine... but you have saved the best till now.” Jesus didn’t just restore party Jesus made it better Jesus can step into the home we already have and make it better. Maybe we don’t need: new house - new family - new spouse - new kids - perfect schedule We need Jesus to step into home we already have AND MAKE IT BETTER!! Same truth in Luke 15.A son comes home expecting shame.But the father brings compassion, restoration, and celebration.Luke 15:20 NIV“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Father was looking - watching - hoping - loving Not shame first Not lecture first Not “I told you so” first Compassion first - embrace first - love first Luke 15:22-24 NIV“Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet... Let’s have a feast and celebrate... So they began to celebrate.” Robe restores honor Ring restores identity Sandals say: Not servant - son Father brings joy back into the house Bring Joy Back to the House Dads hear this on Father’s Day! Provision - matters Protect - yes Lead - yes Correct - yes But don’t forget joy Food on table Still hungry for joy Rules in house Still missing grace Structure in home Still missing laughter Luke 15 father: Not just order - Joy Not: “Get back to work” But: “Let’s celebrate” What if we were all joy-bringers?3. Joy Helps Us Endure What Love Requires Joy does not mean life is easy and carefree.Life requires endurance.Love requires endurance. Hebrews 12:2 NIV“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross...” For joy set before Him - Jesus endured cross Not because it was easy Cross painful - shameful - costly - real suffering Jesus endured because He could see joy on other side Forgiveness on other side Resurrection on other side Sons and daughters coming home to Father Prodigals restored Shame washed away Death defeated He saw us The joy set before Jesus was a family brought back to the Father. Joy does not mean no pain Joy does not mean no responsibility Joy does not mean no sacrifice Joy does not mean no cross Joy means hard thing is not end of story Joy does not remove the cross. Joy carries us through it. Dads know this Things you endure because you love family Work - pressure - bills - hard conversations - worry Mom - grandparents - single parents - married people - caregivers - followers of Jesus know this Love requires endurance We don’t endure as hopeless people We endure for joy set before us We endure because joy is on the other side of faithfulness. Better question: What joy has God set before me? Restored marriage - healed family - child seeing faith lived out Home with more grace than criticism Can you see the joy set before you?Communion Together Communion is serious Remember cross - body - blood Cross real - suffering real - sacrifice real But Hebrews says Jesus endured it for joy set before Him Cross was not end of joy Cross opened door to joy Body broken - body raised Blood poured out - sins washed away Savior died - walked out of grave Communion is resurrection joy Sin doesn’t get last word Death doesn’t get last word Shame doesn’t get last word Jesus gets last word - His word is life Today respond differently Instead of inviting everyone forward for prayer... Today we invite family and friends to join us in communion Bread reminds us - His body given Cup reminds us - His blood poured out Dads – meaningful Father’s Day moment You can help your family remember Jesus But not only dads Families - friends - whole church family Gather with people near you Church - make room for each other If someone near you is by themselves - invite them in No one should feel uninvited at the Lord’s table Someone in group can guide moment No sermon needed Use questions on screen -What does the bread remind us of?(Jesus gave His body for us.) -What does the cup remind us of? (Jesus poured out His blood to forgive our sins.) -What joy did Jesus make possible for us?(We are brought back to the Father.) Take a moment to pray Blessing over one another. 2 Next Steps #1 Start a Conversation What is your next step? - connection card #2 Bring Joy Home Do not leave joy as sermon idea Bring it home Bring Jesus back to center of table Bring joy back to conversations
God of Fun – 2 – Stop Scrolling Past Your Life, Start Living
https://youtu.be/IJYy0V65xHI?si=RS1QmU-tMFs8hffP Follow along with us! Welcome back to week 2 of our series, God of Fun. Last week we told you… God is not the enemy of joy. He is the inventor of it. God created joy. Jesus came to make our joy complete. Today I want to get practical. “I only meant to check one thing…” I opened my phone to do one thing… Check the weather. Answer one text. Look at one notification. Check the time. Then somehow, 15 minutes later… watching something completely unrelated. Pressure washing video. I only meant to check one thing. But my attention got captured. Scrolling usually does not feel sinful.…rebellious.…dangerous. It just feels like: A break. A minute. A quick look. Nothing. But my minutes add up. Eventually, I am not just scrolling my phone. I am scrolling past my life. I can scroll past: Conversations. Meals. Kids. Spouse. Friendships. Prayer. Worship. Rest. The real gifts God put right in front of us. We are more connected, but less present. Do you agree? This is not just a kid problem. This is not just a teenager problem. This is not a “young people these days” problem. This is an “us” problem. We are… More connected than ever. Less present than ever. More entertained than ever. Not necessarily more joyful. Scrolling Stats: Nearly half of U.S. teens say they are online almost constantly. About one in four teens who spend four or more hours a day on screens recently reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. Adults who use screens before bed have a 33% higher rate of poor sleep quality. This is not just touching our kids. It is touching our homes. Our sleep. Our peace. Our souls. Some of us do not call it scrolling: We call it staying informed. We call it multitasking. We call it relaxing. We call it checking something real quick. Questions: Have we ever been too tired to pray, but not too tired to scroll? Too busy to read Scripture, but had time for videos? In the same room with people we love, but everyone is on a screen? Gone to bed exhausted because we gave the last hour of our day to a glowing rectangle? Our phones may not be evil. But they are forming us. We are not just losing minutes.We are missing moments. We are not just checking phones.We are checking out of real life. So here is the message today: Stop Scrolling Past Your Life. Start Living.God gave you a real life. Don’t settle for a digital substitute. My goal is not to get you to throw away your phone, tv, or Nintendo Switch.The goal is to put the screen back in its proper place… Fully present to God. Fully present to people. Fully awake to the life God has given us. And Jesus shows us a better way.I have 3 ways Jesus shows us how to live real life joy. Jesus shows us real life joy1. Look up (Matthew 6:25-34) Context: Jesus is talking to worried, anxious people. ..worried about life, food, clothing, tomorrow, and things they cannot control. Matthew 6:26 NIV:Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Matthew 6:28 NIV:See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Jesus tells anxious people to: Look. See. Pay attention. Jesus does not say: When you are anxious, numb yourself. When you are worried, distract yourself until you forget your soul. Jesus says: Look at the birds. See the flowers. Pay attention to the real world God made. Here is what Jesus is teaching. Your attention is spiritual. What gets your attention gets your: Affection. Energy. Imagination. Heart. Scrolling is sneaky because: It is not just taking your time. It is training your attention. It is teaching your soul what to look at. It is teaching your heart what to chase. Pay attention - Creation is preaching: Birds. Flowers. Sunrise. Laugh around the table. Child asking you to play. Quiet moment with God. Creation is saying: God is faithful. God is generous. God is present. God is taking care of what He made. And if God cares for birds and flowers, how much more does He care for you?2. Taste & See (Psalm 34:8) Psalm 34:8 NIV:“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” God does not only say:“Think and agree that the Lord is good.” He says:“Taste and see.” Meaning: Experience His goodness. Wake up to His goodness. Receive His goodness. You cannot taste and see while constantly swiping and scrolling. You cannot look at the birds if you never look up. You cannot see the flowers if you never slow down. You cannot hear God in quiet if every quiet moment gets filled with noise. God gave you a real life joy. Don’t settle for a digital substitute. Before we leave today we should seek to taste & see God’s real life joy. 3. Be Here (Exodus 3:14) Scrolling pulls us out of the present. Examples: Body at the table, mind online. Body in worship, heart is somewhere else. Body with family, attention on a notification. Body in today, worry in tomorrow. Regret in yesterday. Attention everywhere but here. But God meets us here. In Exodus 3, Moses is afraid and uncertain about the future, and God reveals His name as I AM, the God who is present with him right now. Exodus 3:14 NIV:“I AM WHO I AM.” God’s name is not: I was. I might be. God reveals Himself as: I AM. God meets us: Here. Today. This moment. Jesus taught us to pray:“Give us today our daily bread.” Emphasis: Today. Daily. Present. God gives grace for today,But many of us are missing today because we are distracted, anxious, and absent. Jesus shows us real life joy1. Look up (Matthew 6:25-34)2. Taste & See (Psalm 34:8)3. Be Here (Exodus 3:14) So what do we do? What real life step do you need to take? The answer is not guilt. The answer is not shame. The answer is not throwing your phone in a lake. The goal is not to hate technology. The goal is to put technology back in its proper place so we can receive the life God gave us. So here is the question: What is one real life step you need to take this week? Not twenty steps or complete digital detox. Just one step where you stop scrolling past your life and start living. Maybe your real life step is: A no-phone dinner. A walk outside. Worship before scrolling. Calling a friend instead of only liking a post. A family game night. A screen-free hour before bed. Ten quiet minutes with God. The action does not have to be impressive. It just has to be real. Some of us do not need more information. -We need more presence. -We need to look up. -We need to taste and see. We need to be here. We need to receive the real life God has placed in front of us. Call to Action: Choose Real Life 1. Bring your real life to God. Come pray. Bring your: Distracted life. Anxious life. Tired life. Real life. Bring your real life to a real God. This is not a place of shame. This is a place of grace. 2. Start a real conversation. Maybe today you need to start a conversation. Maybe you need: Prayer. To talk about baptism. To get connected. Help taking your next step with Jesus. Use the connection card. Start a real conversation. 3. Take one real step. Before this day is over, name your step. Examples: No-phone dinner. Call a friend. Worship before scrolling. Screen-free hour. Family game night. Write it down. Tell someone. Put it on the calendar. God gave you a real life. Don’t settle for a digital substitute. Stop scrolling past your life. Start living. Let’s seek God.
God of Fun – 1 – Who Told You God Was Against Fun?
https://youtu.be/bpmFTp3_4C8?si=ARfmnpFZnW4hZO-d Follow along with us! Have you ever felt guilty for enjoying something good? Not guilty because… you sinned.you hurt someone.you crossed a line. Just guilty because you were having fun. Cedar Creek Reservoir -Family at the lake-Swimming, eating, laughing-Riding the jet ski-Wind, water, sunset, feeling fully alive- “Is God okay with me enjoying this…” Felt guilty, not because of sin, but because of joy. The problem was not… the jet ski.…the lake.…the sunset.…I was having too much fun. The problem was the picture of God I had picked up somewhere along the way. And I do not think I am the only one. Let me ask you something…Which Jesus do we picture? For many of us, this is the Jesus we picture:-Serious Jesus-Concerned Jesus-Disappointed Jesus-“You better get it together” Jesus Don’t get me wrong… Jesus was serious. Jesus told the truth.Jesus confronted sin.Jesus called people to repent.Jesus carried the cross. We do not want a shallow picture of Jesus. But if this is the only Jesus we picture, we may have an incomplete picture. Do we see this kind of Jesus? Jesus also:-Went to parties-Ate and drank with people-Welcomed children-Told stories that captured imagination-Was accused of being a friend of sinners-Was the kind of person people wanted at the table Do we see this kind of Jesus? A Jesus who could… smile.…laugh.…could enjoy a meal with friends. If we cannot picture Jesus with joy,we may struggle to receive joy from Jesus. Maybe we need to let Jesus correct the picture we have been carrying. If we believe God is against joy, we will build a joyless life and call it obedience. We usually call God holy, powerful, loving, just, merciful, and true. But we do not often say, “God is joyful.”We do not often say, “God created fun.”Let’s change our picture of Jesus & joy… Next week: Stop Scrolling and Start Living.Real joy is found in the real life God placed in front of you. June 21 - Father’s Day -Who Stole the Fun from Our Family?Jesus brings life back to the party and joy back into the house. June 28 - Your Schedule Is a KilljoyThe memories won’t make themselves.You must make room for joy. Download The Joy List and practice joy this month.A simple guide to help you practice joy with God, family, and friends. God is not the enemy of joy.He is the inventor of it. Today, we are starting with this question: Who told us God was against fun? I have 3 points to help you rethink your picture of Jesus. 1. God created joy before sin ever entered the story. The Bible does not begin with God taking things away. The Bible begins with God creating. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:31 “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” God Created Very Good Stuff! Light, Sky, OceansLand, Stars, AnimalsFood, Bodies, SensesRelationships, Rest Before there was sin, there was goodness. Before there was shame, there was blessing. Before there was death, there was life.Before God ever said ‘do not,’ He had already said ‘good.’ God did not create a gray world and ask us to endure it.He created a good world and invited us to enjoy it. Creation is evidence that God invented joy. 2. God gives good gifts for us to enjoy. God gave us:Eyes to see beautyEars to hear musicTaste buds to enjoy foodHands to feel a hugMinds to imagine, create, laugh, and wonder 1 Timothy 6:17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth... but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” God richly provides. Not barely. Not reluctantly. Not angrily. This does not mean: All pleasure is good Every desire should be followed Sin is harmless Sin twists joy.Sin cheapens joy.Sin promises joy and then leaves shame & pain. But good joy comes from God.Good food.Good friends.Good laughter.Good rest.Good worship.Good creation.Good memories. James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift comes from above. Joy is not something we sneak past God. Joy is something we receive from God. 3. Jesus came to make our joy complete. When we Christians talk about why Jesus came to Earth…-Die for our sin.-Carry our shame.-Save our souls.All true… but let’s not forget this verse. John 15:11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” Jesus says: “My joy”“In you”“Your joy”“Complete” Jesus did not come to remove joy from our lives. Jesus came to put His joy in our lives. Jesus does not say:“I came so your joy would disappear.”“I came so you would stop enjoying life.”“I came so your personality, laughter, dreams, creativity, and delight would die.” Jesus says His joy can be in us and our joy can be complete – not lacking anything. Jesus does not subtract joy from our lives. Jesus adds His joy to our lives until our joy becomes complete. If we cannot picture Jesus with joy,we may struggle to receive joy from Jesus. But if we can see Him as the Savior who… carries the cross AND ALSO welcomes children,eats with sinners, attends parties AND ALSO restores people… then maybe we can start to receive what He came to give – JOY. God is PRO-JOY.How will we respond? Call to Action – Rethink Joyful Jesus We do not just need to think about joy.We need to respond to God. Some of us have carried a picture of God that Jesus wants to correct today. Here is how we correct our picture. 1. Come pray. You can approach Jesus today.Not a disappointed Jesus waiting to shame.. …the Savior who welcomes you, restores you, and gives complete joy.…And smiling people will pray with you… Come if:You need to surrender your life to JesusYou need to repent of a joyless picture of GodYou are tired, dry, heavy, numb, or disconnectedYou need Jesus to put His joy in you and make your joy complete 2. Fill out your connection card. Maybe you aren’t ready to come…Maybe your next step is something you need to write down and start a conversation. I want to follow Jesus.I need prayer.I want to be baptized.I want to join a group and walk with others.I need help taking my next step. Do not let this just be a sermon you heard. Let this become a next step you take. 3. Practice joy this week. Joy is not just something we believe.Joy is something we practice. This week, receive one good gift from God on purpose. Download The Joy List and choose one simple action God is not against my joy. God is the source of my joy.
30 Days of Purpose – 4 – Busy… but Not Building Anything
https://youtu.be/q9bs_jArVQ0?si=1R8u6nN7BVUDCw-m Welcome to week 4 of 30 Days of Purpose. And today is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost Sunday 50 days after Crucifixion/Passover Acts 2 - The Holy Spirit is poured out Power for world-wide witness The Spirit came with power. But the power was not random, or goosebump feels. In Acts 1 the resurrected Jesus makes His followers a promise. Jesus has defeated death. Jesus has risen from the grave. Jesus is preparing His followers for what comes next. And He says in Acts 1:8: Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses...” Power for what? To be witnesses. Power for mission. Power for purpose. The resurrected Jesus promises power, but He also gives purpose. And that matters because sometimes we ask God for more power, but we have not discovered or surrendered to His purpose. We want God to move. We want Him to strengthen us. We want Him to help us. We want Him to open doors. But if we are honest, we still let distractions lead. That is not just a time management problem. That is a purpose problem. Stephen Covey popularized an idea called the Time Management Matrix. It separates life into what is urgent and what is important. Urgent means it demands attention now. Important means it actually matters. Notice... Important & Urgent Important but NOT Urgent Urgent but NOT Important NOT urgent & NOT Important Here is what I want us to focus on. A lot of the things that matter most are important, but they are not urgent. Your kids are important, but they may not feel urgent until there is a crisis. Your marriage is important, but it may not feel urgent until distance has already grown. Your prayer life is important, but it may not feel urgent until your soul is running on empty. Your health is important, but it may not feel urgent until your body starts breaking down. Your purpose is important, but it may not feel urgent until you wake up one day wondering what your life has been about. Important things rarely scream.Urgent things always scream. Your phone screams. Drama screams. Deadlines scream. Notifications scream. Other people’s expectations scream. But God often whispers. Your soul whispers. Your family whispers. Your body whispers. Your calling whispers. Your purpose whispers. And if you only respond to what screams, you will miss what God is whispering. And that is why I am calling today’s message: Busy... but Not Building Anything. There is a difference between having a full schedule and building a faithful life. There is a difference between doing a lot and doing what matters. There is a difference between being tired because you were faithful and being tired because you were distracted. If you do not define what matters, urgency will define your life for you. And God has a lot to say about this.Let’s look at Nehemiah 6. Nehemiah knew what mattered.Nehemiah 6:1-4 Nehemiah was a Jewish man living far from Jerusalem, serving as cupbearer to the king of Persia. That might sound like a nice royal job, but a cupbearer was basically a poison detector. He tasted the king’s wine before the king drank it. So Nehemiah did not start with a dream job. He did not start in a perfect situation. He was living under a foreign empire, working close to power, but still carrying a lot of pain. One day, Nehemiah heard that Jerusalem was in trouble. The wall was broken down. The gates had been burned. The people were vulnerable. And something broke inside him. He cried.He prayed.He fasted.He asked God for favor. And eventually, God opened the door for him to go back and rebuild the wall. But this was not just a wall. It was restoration.Protection.Identity. Purpose. Nehemiah knew what mattered. And if you have ever felt like God put purpose in you, but you can never find the time to build it, pay attention to Nehemiah. In Nehemiah 6, the wall is almost finished. No gaps are left. Something terribly destructive happens… He gets a note from surrounding leaders who opposed the work send Nehemiah a message… Read these terrible words… Nehemiah 6:2“Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” Doesn’t seem terrible or destructive. Seems friendly and neighborly. They request a meeting. It sounds harmless. Just a meeting. Just a conversation. Just come down for a minute. Nehemiah says they were scheming to harm him. …but I don’t even want to focus on that… I want to point out this… They wanted him to stop what was important and busy himself with something that was urgent but not important. Do you see this? This is more destructive than you realize. They invite him to Ono, and Nehemiah basically says: “Oh no.” I am not coming down. When the urgent tries to steal the important we need to say Oh no. When distraction tries to interrupt obedience Oh no. When people pressure you into something God did not assign you… Oh no. Here is how Nehemiah responded. Nehemiah 6:3“I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down.” Nehemiah knew what mattered. He knew what he was building. He knew the work would stop if he came down. So he refused. Not every invitation is an assignment. Not every opportunity is your opportunity. Not every urgent request deserves your yes. Not every good thing is a God thing. When you know what matters, you can recognize distraction. I am doing something important!And I can’t meet with you at this time. Nehemiah 6:4“Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.” How many times? Four times. The distraction came back.The pressure came back.The invitation came back. Important work is not just about one big decision. Important work is about repeated obedience. Distraction is repetitive, so obedience must become repetitive. The habit was not just building the wall. The habit was also refusing to be distracted. The apostle Paul says like this in Ephesians 5: Ephesians 5:15-16“Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Be careful how you live. Your time matters. Your attention matters. Your yes matters. Your no matters. Your wall matters. So let’s make this practical. What is your wall? Nehemiah had a wall. What is yours? What is the good work God has put in front of you in this season? Not your whole life. Not ten years from now. This season. What matters right now? Your walk with Jesus?Your family?Your marriage?Your kids?Your health?Your calling?Your recovery? Your serving?Your peace?Your obedience? Call to Action: Don’t Let Urgent Steal Important Today, I want you to take three steps.If you do not name what matters, urgency will name it for you. 1. Write it.I’m building ______, so I will not come down for ______. Pray over that answer. Do not just write something down. Ask God, “Is this what You are calling me to build?” Then keep it somewhere you will see it. Put it on your mirror.Put it in your Bible.Put it on your dashboard.Remind yourself of your purpose. 2. Start a conversation about your calling. (fill out a Connection Card) Use your connection card to start a conversation. Give us your prayer request.Learn more about your next step. Turn that card in today. 3. Come pray. Prayer is important. But a lot of us only pray when it becomes urgent. Today, make prayer important before life makes it urgent. If you need God to show you what matters, come pray. If urgency has been running your life, come pray. If you know what matters but need strength to stay faithful, come pray. We have people ready to pray with you. The resurrected Jesus promised power for purpose. Come pray and ask the Holy Spirit for power to build what matters.
30 Days of Purpose – 3 – Are You Running on Empty or Filled for a Purpose?
https://youtu.be/JbwZn68o6tA?si=KaUJV7lc4chmBWDN Follow along with us! 30 Days of Purpose - Make Every Day MatterThere’s a quote often attributed to Mark Twain that says:The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you discover why.I’ve thought about that a lot as a pastor.Some of the hardest phone calls I take are from people who need something.They need rent money.They need a bill paid.They need help with a crisis.They need a relationship fixed.They need a door to open.And I want to help. I have helped.But one painful thing I’ve seen over and over is this:Often they get the thing they asked for… but they are still empty.We don’t just need something to get through the week. We need a reason to live. The money helped, but it did not heal them.The object solved a problem, but it did not give them purpose.The relationship brought comfort for a moment, but it did not become a reason to live.Are You Running on Empty or Filled for a Purpose?Welcome-3rd week of our series 30 Days of Purpose. I have a counterintuitive thought for us today. Meaning grows when your life flows outward.We assume more money, more comfort, more entertainment, more attention, and more convenience would make us more alive.But we are one of the most comfortable, entertained, wealthy cultures in human history… and we are still falling apart.Anxiety is rising.Depression is rising.Loneliness is rising.Meaninglessness is rising.More comfort does not always mean more peace.More entertainment does not always mean more joy.More connection online does not always mean more belonging in real life.Maybe the problem is not that we lack more.Maybe the problem is that too much of life only flows inward.Instead of giving you more statistics and studies for a minute… let me show you one of the most fascinating geographical places on earth. It’s a place where almost nothing lives. No fish. No plant life. Almost nothing survives there. And what’s strange is… it’s not small. It’s not dry. Water constantly flows into it. It is called the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea only flows in. Nothing flows out.The Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea… but nothing flows out. The Dead Sea sits over 1,400 feet below sea level, making it one of the lowest land formations on earth. Water flows in continually… but because it has no outlet, the water evaporates and leaves massive amounts of salt behind. The salt concentration becomes so extreme that almost nothing can survive there. That is why it is called the Dead Sea. It receives… but it never releases. There is a lesson here: What only flows inward eventually becomes lifeless. If life becomes consume, comfort me, entertain me, protect me, serve me, and bless me, eventually something starts dying inside of us.And honestly, church can become that too.If church becomes consume, comfort me, entertain me, protect me, serve me, and bless me, eventually something starts dying inside of us.Nothing that God created to live and flourish can survive We were created to let life flow outward. This is exactly what Jesus taught us.John 7:37-3837 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” Jesus does not give us a pond, pool, or puddle.He gives rivers.Jesus fills you with life, so life can flow through you.He does not fill us so we can become spiritual Dead Seas.Mark 10:45:“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” Jesus did not come to be served… We see Jesus serve others constantly.Followers of Jesus hear me… we are not here to be served, but to serve. The fullest life ever lived was a poured-out life.Jesus healed.Jesus served.Jesus fed the hungry.Jesus protected the abused.Jesus washed feet.Jesus carried the cross.Jesus poured Himself out for us.Every day of his life his life was poured out for others.On the cross water & blood poured from his side. The life of Jesus is known today because he poured himself out for others.Not known for looks, riches, family name…Meaning grows when your life flows outward.What does this mean for you?Even if you are not known for your looks…Even if you are not known for trophies…Even if you are not known for fancy riches…You can be known and meaningful because you are refusing to just receive but to release. Let the life of Jesus flow! Where does your life need to flow outward? Start small. Serve someone. Everybody can do this. Encourage someone.Pray for someone.Help someone.Show up for someone. Start bigger. Start something. Maybe God is calling you to do more than one moment of kindness. Maybe there is something in your heart that needs to begin. A small study.A prayer group.A ministry idea.A community outreach.A way to help people.A place where lonely people belong. Don’t wait until you feel fully ready. Purpose often starts small, but it has a habit of growing when you start flowing. Start huge. Lead something that outlives you. This is where purpose gets powerful. Not just:“What can I accomplish?” But:“What can continue blessing people after me?” Lead a ministry. Disciple people. Build something meaningful. Raise up others. Invest in kids. Develop leaders. Create something that keeps flowing long after you are gone. That’s living water. That’s purpose.Jesus has FILLED you for a purpose, but you must let that purpose FLOW. And let’s be honest about what Jesus is talking about here. When Jesus said: “Rivers of living water will flow from within them…” He was talking about the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God living in people.The Spirit of God flowing through people. Some people have had an experience with God… but nothing has flowed in years. Some people believe in Jesus… but they are spiritually stagnant. Jesus did not say: “Barely survive spiritually.” He said rivers.Flow.Movement.Life.Power. We do not just need the Spirit around us.We need the Spirit flowing through us. Spirit Flow… into our homes.…into our prayers.…into our serving.…into our conversations.…into our leadership.…through our church. We want to be a church full of the Spirit of God and flowing with the Spirit of God. So let’s be that kind of Church.Let’s be those kind of Christians. Come Grow, Come Flow Step 1 – Repent & refuse the world’s pattern Repent of the Dead Sea way of life.Repent of living only to consume. More for me.More comfort.More entertainment.More attention.More control. Repent of that and ask Jesus to help you flow. Step 2 - Make a commitment Start small. Serve someone.Start bigger. Start something.Start huge. Lead something that outlives you. Make a commitment to starting something. Step 3 - Take a faith-filled step Maybe you really need prayer?Maybe you need to come and receiveMaybe you need to fill out a connection card with your prayer need and next steps. Maybe you need to ask God to fill you with His Spirit and surrender yourself to worship. And maybe for some of you… this may be your first real step toward Jesus. Your first faith-filled moment. Jesus is still inviting thirsty people to come and drink. So don’t stay stagnant. Come.
30 Days of Purpose – 2 – When You Feel Like You’re Not Enough
https://youtu.be/ZrrZyYTb9-M?si=d7jwcxayE2DOR4dg Follow along with us! Welcome to Week 2 of 30 Days of Purpose. Last week: Why am I even here? Made on purpose, for God’s purpose. Today is Mother’s Day, and we are talking about a pressure that hits all of us. When You Feel Like You’re Not Enough Personal pressure: pastor, husband, dad, leader, counselor, problem solver, encourager, planner, fixer. Sometimes I can do a lot…and still think: “I don’t know if I’m enough.” Not because I do not care.Not because I am not trying.But because the needs are bigger than me. Mother’s Day can bring that feeling right to the surface. Mother’s Day can be beautiful and complicated For some, today is joyful. For some, today is painful. Some are celebrating their mother. Some are missing their mother. Some are grieving a relationship that was never what it should have been. Some are waiting, wanting, or praying to become a mother. Some are exhausted from invisible work nobody sees. Some are comparing themselves to another woman, another family, another home, another version of life. Culture often responds with a phrase that sounds encouraging: “I am enough.” I am Enough “I am enough” is not just a phrase anymore. It is an industry. Buy it - shirt, mug, bracelet, sticker,…probably a throw pillow, and maybe even a scented candle. I understand why people like it.It can help people push back against shame, comparison, and criticism. “I am enough” sounds encouraging, but it can become exhausting Eventually life will hand you a moment where the mug is lying. You are not enough for every situation. … to fix every person. …to meet every need. …to carry every burden. …to save yourself. You are not enough to be God. And that is not shame. That is grace. The Bible does not say, “You are enough for everything.” The Bible says, “God’s grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) The Bible does not say, “You are the whole body.” The Bible says, “You are a part of the body.” (1 Corinthians 12:27) The Bible does not say, “You are the source of light.” Jesus says, “You are the light of the world,” because your light comes from Him. (Matthew 5:14) The Bible teaches this… Jesus is enough. His grace supplies what I lack. That is freedom. I do not have to be everything. I do not have to fix everything.I do not have to carry everything. I do not have to be God. I just need to be faithful with what God gave me. Scripture Gives Us Something Better 1. You Are Not the Whole Body, but a designed part 1 Corinthians 12 - Paul talks about a Boby.Your 1 body has many parts. It takes a lot of parts to make up 1 body. Paul uses this to talk about the Body of Christ – the Church.The Church is made up of a lot of parts. 1 Corinthians 12:12&14 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.1 Corinthians 12:27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. Paul is saying… You are not the whole body. You are a part. (1 Corinthians 12) That is not an insult. That is freedom. Paul does not say, “You are the whole body of Christ.” He says, “You are a part.” You are not called to be everything. You are called to be faithful with the part God gave you. A mom is not called to be God. A dad is not called to be God. A pastor is not called to be God. A leader is not called to be God. A friend is not called to be God. Needed? Yes.Gifted? Yes.Valuable? Yes.Everything? No. And that is grace. God placed the parts just as He wanted them Your part is not random. Your gift is not an accident. Your role is not a social construct. Your personality is not a product of evolution.It is all created by God… created in you. Your ability to encourage, organize, serve, pray, lead, help, teach, create, give, comfort, or notice what others miss is not random. It is PURPOSE! Purpose begins when you stop trying to be every part and start being faithful with your part. Scripture Gives Us Something Better 1. You Are Not the Whole Body, but a designed part 2. Jesus Calls You Light Is Jesus the light of the world? Yes – John 8:12Are you the light of the world… tempted to say no… But Jesus says yes! Matthew 5:14-1614 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Notice what Jesus does not say: You are the light when your house is clean. You are the light when your kids are perfect. You are the light when your emotions are stable. You are the light when your calendar is under control. You are the light when you finally have it all together. He says: You are the light of the world. Light has one job.Light just has to shine. Light does not have to be loud. Light does not have to be impressive. Light does not have to be what others desire. Light just has to shine. Your light shines through good deeds, not to glorify you, but so people glorify your Father in heaven. We shine in different ways… Serving, forgiving, creating, listening, encouragement…Hospitality, raising children with love, helping, giving…Staying faithful when it feels no one notices. You do not have to be everything. But you do have to shine. God’s design is for you to shine. 3 Steps 1. Name the Script What “not enough” script have you been believing? I am not a good enough mom. I am not spiritual enough. I am not successful enough. I am not organized enough. I am not strong enough. I am not doing enough. Name it, because a lie you never name gets to keep talking. Replace it with truth: I do not have to be enough for everything.Jesus is enough. His grace supplies what I lack. 2. Find Your Part You have a part to play! What has God actually given me? What do people come to me for? What do I notice that others miss? How do I naturally help people? Where do I bring life? What gift has God placed in me? And help others find their part!Your family plays a part… does your family know this? Family Purpose Conversation What is one thing God has made each of us good at? Who around us needs encouragement, help, prayer, or kindness? What is one thing our family can do this week to shine? This week, have a family purpose conversation.We printed slips with these three questions. Grab one on the way out. “What is one thing God has made each of us good at? Who around us needs encouragement, help, prayer, or kindness? What is one thing our family can do this week to shine?” 3. Shine This Week Encourage one person. Pray for one person. Serve one person. Invite one person. Help one person. Tell someone about Jesus. Use one gift on purpose. This week, do not try to be everything.Just be faithful with what God gave you. This body needs you. This world needs you. You are a part of the body of Christ. We need you.We don’t require you to do everything… we just need you to be you. You are the light of the world. This world needs you to shine.Wherever you go – you are needed! What if we accepted the call of Jesus to walk in purpose?What if we stopped comparing gifts and start celebrating them. What if mom’s were not crushed under impossible expectations. Imagine a church where women are honored, men are faithful, children are loved, singles are seen, seniors are valued, and families live on purpose. Lord let us be a place where every person knows they have a purpose. Not everyone has the same gift, role, or story, but everyone matters. The body needs you. The world needs your light. God is glorified when you faithfully shine where He placed you. You are not enough… and that is okJesus is Enough One of the best ways to recognize this is communion. Deacons come – they bring the elements we need to take communion together. All are welcome to take communion with us.Raise your hand if you are needing the elements. The gospel is not: I am enough. The gospel is: Jesus is enough. His grace supplies what I lack. Communion is where we stop pretending to be enough. We do not come to Jesus saying, “Look how strong I am.” We come saying, “Jesus, I need You.” His body was given for us.His blood was shed for us.His grace supplies what we lack. On the night Jesus was betrayed, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said: This is my body, given for you. The body of Jesus was enough for our brokenness. Take and eat. In the same way, after supper He took the cup and said: This cup is the new covenant in my blood. The blood of Jesus was enough for our forgiveness. Take and drink. Jesus, thank You that we do not have to save ourselves. Thank You that Your body was given and Your blood was shed. Thank You that Your grace is enough for tired people, hurting people, striving people, and people who feel like they are not enough. Amen. Communion reminds us: We are not enough to save ourselves, but Jesus paid it all. Not some of it. Not most of it. Not only the part we could not handle. Jesus paid it all. As we sing, this space is open for you. If you need prayer today, come. If you are tired from trying to be enough, come. If you are ready to surrender your life to Jesus, come. I am not enough. Jesus is enough. His grace supplies what I lack.
30 Days of Purpose – 1 – Why Am I Even Here? Made for More
https://youtu.be/-VkPX-_N9V0?si=_CUPOAwJg7AmJANK NEW SERIES - Simple theme - Make Every Day Matter. Stop living on autopilot. Start living with purpose. Series Outline May 10 Mother’s Day: When You Feel Like You’re Not Enough May 17 Running on Empty - Filled for a Purpose - serving from God’s strength. May 24 Busy… but Not Building Anything - Jesus teaches us how to build a life that lasts. May 31 The Cost of Coasting - Grow Up. Go Out. - purpose moves outward into mission. 30 Day Purpose Plan We need a plan! Scan to download. One simple step each day: Scripture, thought, action step, prayer. Three minutes a day. This series is not just something to hear. It is something to live. I have reached the end of my day and thought: I was busy all day, but what did I actually live for? I got things done: Answered messages Handled problems Made decisions Showed up Checked things off the list But underneath: Is this it? Is this what my life is supposed to be? Shows up: Driving home tired Scrolling and losing another hour Full calendar, empty heart Life looks fine outside, but inside you are not ok. This series – not just busyness… stress... bad habits…We are going after the deeper question: Why Am I Even Here? - Made for More We know this question. Wake up behind. Move through day reacting: Phone rings Text comes in Meeting gets added Bill is due Kid needs help Deadline moves closer Schedule changes Problem cannot wait How we describe this…“I’m just putting out fires.” Some fires have to be put out. If all we ever do is put out fires, we never build anything that lasts. If all we do is survive the week, we never ask: What kind of life am I actually building? Most of us are not rebellious. We are not shaking our fist at God. We are busy, tired, distracted, and unsure how to get from the life we have to the life we were made for. This Is a Widespread Problem 57% of Americans wonder at least monthly, “How can I find more meaning and purpose in my life?” More than 1 in 5 wonder that every day. (Lifeway Research) 89% of employees want purpose in their lives, but only 18% feel like work gives them the purpose they are looking for. (McKinsey) Only 59.2% of U.S. adults expected high-quality lives five years from now, the lowest level Gallup has measured in nearly two decades. CDC reports depression rose from 8.2% to 13.1% over about a 10-year span. Among adolescents ages 12-19, the rate was 19.2%. We are so focused on Achievement. Achievement is not bad. But achievement is not the same thing as purpose. Adults chasing achievement and unsure the future will be good. Young people looking at the same race and wondering if it is worth running. Maybe the problem is not that we need to achieve more. Maybe we have been chasing achievement without purpose. Deeper question: not “How do I get more done?” but “Why am I even here?” Why Am I Even Here? - Made for More That is why I named today’s message Why Am I Even Here? But the answer is: You were made for more. If we want to know why something exists, ask the One who made it. Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. This verse answers: What was I made for? God’s Purpose Timeline Present tense – “You are God’s Handiwork Right now. Before you prove, perform, or produce. You are crafted by God. You are given - Giftings, strengths, personality, compassion, creativity, wisdom, encouragement, resilience, influence. God designed you! Everyone is a 10 at something. FIND THAT THING – It is your purpose. God put that thing in you. Past tense: Created in Christ Jesus. Not self-improvement. Not try harder. New creation. Already done. It is finished. God has already restored your purpose. Future: Good works prepared in advance. God created you and has designed your future. Before God created you, He created good work for you to do. Purpose is not: What do I want to do? What will I decide to do? Purpose is: What did God create me to do? Purpose is not invented. Purpose is discovered. When what God placed in you meets what God prepared for you, purpose comes alive. Past, present, future. 360-degree purpose in every direction. We should know what Jesus says about purpose. Matthew 6:33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6: Jesus talks about worry, food, drink, clothes, tomorrow. Stuff we chase, stress over, and think will secure us. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Kingdom is not empty religion: Not denominationalism Not rule-keeping Not sitting in a church building Trying to keep all the religious rules The kingdom is God’s reign in real life. God’s will and purpose as ruling the force in you: Love Hope Peace Plan Purpose When forgiveness beats bitterness - that is kingdom. When generosity beats greed - that is kingdom. When service beats selfishness - that is kingdom. When obedience beats excuses - that is kingdom. When love beats fear - that is kingdom. When you fulfill what God made you to do - that is kingdom. Seek first. Not leftovers. First. All these things will be given. Not earned. Given. Grace. World: Achieve first, then maybe you matter. Jesus: Seek first the kingdom, and let God take care of the rest. Jar, big rocks, small rocks. Small rocks first - big rocks do not fit. Big rocks first - small rocks settle around them. That is Matthew 6:33. Seek first. Big rock - Purpose Faith Parenting Marriage Health Calling Career aligned with purpose Small stones crowd out the big rocks: Achievement chasing Distractions Errands Notifications Noise Pressure Small demands Decide what the big rocks are. Place purposeful things first. So what do you do with this? 3 Steps Toward Purpose 1. Realize you have a purpose We dismiss ourselves too quickly: Not talented enough… Not spiritual Not experienced Not outgoing Too old Too young Too many mistakes Do not know enough Ephesians 2:10 does not say you are God’s handiwork if you feel impressive. It says YOU ARE God’s handiwork. Stop dismissing what God designed. You were not created to do someone else’s good works. Everyone is a 10 at something. Find that thing and use it for God. 2. Notice your design Culture: You can be anything. You can achieve anything. Love the confidence, but not completely true. You were designed to be something specific and unique. LeBron: obvious basketball giftings - height, strength, coordination, durability. He could be anything he wants… not true! World champion horse jockey? That would be ignoring his design. Sometimes we ignore what God placed in us because we chase what looks impressive in someone else. Ask better questions. Want to find your purpose… as these questions. What comes naturally to me that helps others? What breaks my heart or moves me? What do people come to me for? What gives me joy when I do it? ?? Encourager, hospitable, organized, creative, good with kids, good with people, compassionate toward hurting people - that can be purpose. Purpose is using what God placed in you to bless who God placed around you. 3. Prioritize your purpose Purpose cannot stay a nice idea. It has to become first priority. Jesus said, Seek first. Not leftovers, someday, or after everything else. DO NOT JUST PRIORITIZE GETTING THINGS DONE – PRIORITIZE YOUR SPECIFIC PURPOSE Church: We need things done. We do not want to plug you into a hole because something needs doing. We want to help you find what God created you to do. Find Jesus. Follow Purpose. Go Change the World. You may work in an office to pay bills. That matters. But where are you finding and fulfilling your purpose? Life is easier, more enjoyable, and more fruitful when operating in strengths. Easier because you are no longer fighting your design. Tools can help: StrengthsFinder Personality assessments Spiritual gift assessments Prayer Conversation Serving Paying attention to joy People who know you 3. Prioritize your purpose Prioritize it. Make space. Talk about it. Pray about it. Try something. Take the next step. Imagine if we lived on purpose. Imagine if we were not the 57% wondering every month how to find meaning and purpose. Imagine if we could say: I know God made me. I know God placed gifts in me. I know God has good work for me to do. Imagine if we stopped chasing disappointing achievements and started walking in God-designed purpose. Imagine if families asked: What did God put in us, and how can we use it? Imagine if work became a place to carry kingdom purpose, not just pay bills. Church stops being something we attend. It becomes something God does through us. LIVE ON PURPOSE 1. Pray God, show me what You placed in me. What good works have You prepared? Where do You want me to take one step? 2. Start the 30-Day Purpose Plan Scan QR code. Download. Start today. Scripture, thought, action step, prayer. Three minutes a day. Space for what matters. 3. Start a Purpose Conversation Connection card: Purpose conversation. Online: leave a comment - Purpose conversation. We will follow up, pray with you, dream with you, and help you take a next step.
How to Live Again – 4 – When You are Just Going Through the Motions
https://youtu.be/AqsGR_q6_x0?si=KRLPue9hkLMaoer_ Follow along with us! Welcome I’ve had seasons where I worked really hard and felt like I had very little to show for it. When Effort Stops Producing Did the right things Stayed consistent Kept showing up Kept trying Believed it would matter Then… nothing No breakthroughNo momentumNo return That did something in me Stopped expecting Stopped believing Stopped reaching I was tempted to quit… but didn’t quit But I did… Level off. Give less. Believe less That’s stagnation Stagnation = Work without growth Effort without fruit Motion without movement We know all about this, right? We can get stagnant anywhere Career Relationships Health Spiritual Stuck Stats & Silent Drift The American Psychological Association reports that over half of adults feel emotionally disconnected. Doing lifeNot feeling alive Gallup reports only about 3 out of 10 people feel engaged in their work. The strong majority are just going through the motions. We should change right… Change is hard! Change Is Hard It takes about 66 days to build a new habit. That means real change… takes longer than we feel like sticking with it.We try.We don’t see results.We stop and drift right back to what’s familiar. Stagnation = Work without growth Effort without fruit Motion without movement Are you stagnant in an area of life? Are we wasting out time at Church…?Or does Jesus have something to stay for all of us who are stuck? John 21 gives shows us. And it is important, because Jesus does not meet the disciples at their best. He meets them… In an empty night. In a familiar routine. In a moment of stagnation. Here is the story. THE MOST AMAZING THING JUST HAPPENED! JESUS IS ALIVE …but the disciples are not preaching. Even though they had seen Jesus and spoken with him multiple times. The disciples are fishing. Back to what they know.Back to what’s familiar.Back to routine. Because when we don’t know what to do next…we go back to what feels normal. That’s stagnation. It pulls us into the familiar. So here they are—after resurrection, after hope, after everything Jesus has done— in a boat,working hard,getting nowhere. And that’s exactly where Jesus meets them. John 21:3“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. See that last line? That’s stagnation. Working hard.Getting nowhere. Effort… No fruit. Motion… No movement. Doing something… But not progressing. That is where a lot of us live. We’re busy.We’re tired.We’re active. But we’re not fruitful. John 21:4“Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.” Jesus shows up in their empty night. Jesus shows up in their frustration. Jesus shows up when nothing is working. They don’t even know it’s Him yet. But He’s there. That’s good news. Because sometimes Jesus is closer than we realize. John 21:55 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. No. Perhaps they mumbled.But at least they were honest. John 21:6 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. These are professional fishermen…Some guy on the shore suggests… Kind of funny. Almost like… “I should have gotten out on the other side of the bed this morning.” Same boat.Same water.Same nets.Different side? But one small shift… changed everything. Nothing changed around them. They do it.They don’t argue.They don’t analyze.They move. Can you do that? They obey before they recognize Him. The nets fill… too big to haul… The miracle happens before they realize it’s Jesus. Clarity didn’t come first. Obedience did. We want to know first. We want certainty. “Jesus, prove it’s You… then I’ll move.” But a lot of times— Jesus says: “Move and then you’ll know it’s Me.” John 21:7-87 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fishPeter doesn’t hesitate. He doesn’t think it through. He doesn’t stay in the boat. He jumps and heads toward Jesus. Which is not normal. Fishermen don’t do that. -Stay with the boat.-Secure the catch. But Peter? He leaves the fish.He leaves the nets.He leaves the miracle. Knowing it’s Jesus, matters more than what Jesus just did. The miracle was big. But Jesus was better. We get that backwards. We chase what God can do… and we miss God Himself. You’ve been praying for a job..Knowing it is Jesus… more important..Praying for a miracle…Knowing it is Jesus… more important Right now…you may not recognize Jesus in your life. But this week— when you obey… there’s going to be a moment. “That was Jesus.” And when that happens— Don’t stay in the boat. Run toward Him. Lean into it.Act on it.Tell somebody. Call me.Call someone in this church. “Jesus just moved in my life.” So what do we do? Real steps. Break the Stagnation 1. Name where you stopped growing Where did it level off? CareerHealthRelationshipsFaith You can’t change what you won’t name. 2. Stop hiding in routine Have I confused familiar with fruitful? Just because I’m doing something doesn’t mean I’m growing. 3. Pick one act of obedience Not ten things. One. Read, Pray, Move, Call, Join 4. Act quickly They didn’t overthink it. They moved. Delayed obedience keeps us stuck.Action creates momentum. 5. Get comfortable being uncomfortable Growth won’t feel natural at first. The other side of the boat felt strange… But that’s where the breakthrough was. It may not be dramatic. Just a different step. One act of obedience can break stagnation. Now think about what happens if we actually live like this. Career starts growing again Health starts improving Relationships get stronger Faith comes alive We’re not stuck We’re not coasting We’re not just going through the motions We’re moving We’re growing We’re becoming fruitful And as a church— We’re not just attending We’re not just hearing We’re responding… doing what God says. We don’t get there by thinking about it We get there by moving. MAKE A MOVE #1 Do something different today Come receive prayer. Don’t leave the same way. #2 Take a step toward connection Don’t grow alone. #3 Commit to a Next Step (Fill out the connect card) You are one step of obedience from changing everything.
How to Live Again – 3 – When the Relationship is Dead! How to Start Again!
https://youtu.be/-dA9YBUFBAU?si=F0ALBejCy5GZY36K *Handouts*Welcome I have watched relationships die… Slow… Painful Not one big moment Just distance -Texts get shorter-Conversations get colder-Connection fades-Until finally – nothing. Some relationships don’t explode - they slowly lose oxygen. You can be in the same room and still feel miles apart. Some of biggest regrets are dead relationships. Am I the only one? This is not a rare problem.Uh Oh… We Have a Problem 4 in 10 marriages end in divorce. 6 in 10 second marriages don’t make it. Fewer people are getting married. 1 in 3 feel lonely. If you have a relationship problem – YOU ARE NOT ALONE. We don’t just have a divorce problemWe have a dead relationship problem We don’t even try to fix relationships anymore… We know how to block, mute, cut off, move on, unfriend, unfollow, snooze.We don’t know how to repair. When the Relationship Is Dead - How to Start Again God cares about this subject.Jesus shows us how to repair relationships in John 21. Before we read – understand the moment. Third appearance after resurrection Jesus alive, but something still broken Peter: Denied Jesus 3 times. Hides.. Calling? No - Goes back to fishing How will Jesus respond to the denier who went back? Jesus shows up on the shore. Not with a lectureNot with angerWith breakfast Fish on the fireBread readyA seat waiting Jesus creates space for a conversation He’s not coming to cancel PeterHe’s coming to restore him John 21:15-1715 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Curious conversation.Jesus is repeating himself…Peter is repeating himself…What is even going on? 4 THINGS JESUS DOES TO RESURRECT A RELATIONSHIP 1. Jesus made the first move Peter goes back Jesus shows up Before Peter moved toward Jesus.Jesus had already moved toward Peter. Jesus Breakfast – Fish, Bread, FireEffort Dead relationships don’t come back by accidentSomeone makes a move Jesus tries again, and again, and again 2. Jesus chose conversation over conclusion Three times: “Do you love me?” “Work with me… feed my sheep.” “I still want you Peter.” Not: You blew it We’re done You had your chance Jesus keeps talking… reaching… We tend to jump to conclusionsWe assumeWe shut the doorWe end the story We close the caseJesus opens the conversation 3. Jesus meets Peter where he is Peter - No more big talk – overpromise“I’ll never leave you…” Just honesty Remember the strange conversation…? Love Is Often Lost in Translation agapaō = committed, sacrificial love phileō = relational, brotherly love This explains the strange conversation. John 21:15-17 (altered)15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you agapaō me more than these?”“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I phileō you.”Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you agapaō me?”|He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I phileō you.”Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you phileō me?”Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you phileō me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I phileō you.”Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 3. Jesus meets Peter where he is Jesus agapaō - Peter phileō These loves are not the same…Peter could not meet the level of love that Jesus had… These loves are not the same… but HONESTJesus will receive the honest love you can give… and grow you from there None of our love measures up to Jesus… but can we give honest love…? Allow him to grow us. 4. Jesus restores purpose “Feed my sheep” Peter messed upGod’s purpose didn’t. Calling. Gifting. Peter failedbut Peter wasn’t finished Grace is not just “you’re forgiven”Grace is “you still matter” That is how Jesus treated Peter… where do we start? START HERE 1. Make the first move Jesus made the first move, so can you. Do we realize how important making the first move is? Matthew 5:23–24 (NIV)23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Israelites would travel to Jerusalem… Leave your giftGo make it rightThen come back Reconciliation matters so muchJesus says pause worship to fix it Don’t sing like everything is finewhile avoiding what needs to be faced 2. Start up the conversation Stop assuming Stop writing stories in your head You’ve had argumentswith people who weren’t even there We do EVERYTHING BUT have the conversation. Maybe the most spiritual thing you do this week is start the conversation Not to winNot to proveNot to control To open the door Replace your made up story with a actual conversation 3. Restore someone If Jesus restored Peter, we must restore people Someone around you thinks their story is over Call them!Speak lifeOffer gracePoint them forward Don’t treat people like they’re finished Imagine with me… A church that makes the first move A church that starts conversations A church that restores people A church that sees purpose A church that heals relationships People aren’t disposableso relationships shouldn’t be either Maybe your relationship with God feels dead You drifted You failed You went back But Jesus still shows upJesus still starts the conversationJesus still makes room This is the Good news for youJesus died for your sinJesus rose againYour failure is not final This is your day. If you’ve never confessed faith in Jesus, this is your dayIf you’re ready to be free from your past, this is your dayIf you’re ready to walk with Jesus, this is your dayCall to Action 1. Step out and reach out Prayer Salvation Burden Not just new believersAnyone who needs help Don’t hold back if God is calling you forward 2. Start the conversation This week Honestly Humbly 3. Take your next step Use the Connect Card Prayer requestsNext stepStart a conversation with the church
How to Live Again – 2 – When Doubt Won’t Shut Up!
https://youtu.be/V4x5XKVtAtw?si=Ym0n9fghg9tLzCCi *Handout* Welcome! God has spoken to me in clear moments What always followed? Doubt Doubt says: Did God really say that? What if you’re wrong? What if this doesn’t work? Shows up in: College decisions Career Ministry Health Trusting God I am calling this message:When Doubt Won’t Shut Up Because Doubt just does not quit… it: Paralyzes me Robs me of obedience Stalls progress Takes my peace Doubt doesn’t just show up in church.We know that doubt shows up in life. We Have a Doubt Problem 52% of Americans have experienced doubt about their religious beliefs.(Barna – barna.com/research/doubt-faith) Doubt is not rare. It is normal. 85% have low self-worth. Sounds like -“Something is wrong with me.” 70% have impostor syndrome. Sounds like “Eventually, they’re going to realize something is wrong with me.” SELF-DOUBT is a major issue. Research shows that rumination, replaying negative thoughts over and over, is strongly tied to anxiety and depression. In other words – Doubt does NOT just visit – Doubts stays, loops, and will not shut up. The Top Causes for doubting Christianity Suffering – 23% Hypocrisy – 22% Evil/conflict – 19% NOT: Bible translation questions. Textual inconsistency (Mark 16). Not intellectual. INTELLECTUALS YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE. If doubt were primarily intellectual, better arguments would solve it. But that is not the issue. The majority of doubt is NOT intellectual, but: Emotional Relational Experiential Here is what I know… You’ve got a doubt… It keeps coming back. You don’t have an answer. It’s slowing you down. For some… it’s paralyzing you. It’s showing up in: Your faith. Your career. Your future. Your relationships. “Will this ever work out?”“Will I ever succeed?”“Will I ever own a home?”“Will I ever have a happy ending?” You’re not stuck because you don’t care.You’re stuck because doubt is interrupting your next step. If you don’t deal with doubt…doubt will decide your direction. So… What does Jesus do with doubters? Let’s turn to John 20 Read about “doubting” Thomas To be fair… All the disciples had self-doubt at the crucifixion. Questioned themselves. Hid and denied. Not confident. They had self-worth and impostor syndrome. This all changes when Jesus appears in a locked room. “The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord!” KEY DETAIL John 20:24 (NIV)Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. Thomas missed the moment John 20:25 (NIV)So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Others saw Jesus – not Thomas. Doubt gets loud when: You feel left out. Others have the story. You missed your moment. Thomas’ statement - “I need evidence” Sounds: Logical Intellectual Doubt disguises itself as intellect But underneath: Afraid (emotional) Lost Jesus (relational) Trauma, betrayal (experiential) How does Jesus respond to Thomas’ doubt? John 20:26-27 (NIV)A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Jesus shows up again. Speaks directly. Meets him personally. He doesn’t cancel him.He doesn’t replace him.He doesn’t shame him. Jesus comes back for him and meets him… Relationally Experientially Emotionally Did it make a difference? John 20:28 (NIV)Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Doubt → Worship Resistance → Surrender Doubt → Revelation Jesus didn’t win an argument.He restored a man. THE TRUTH - The majority of doubt is NOT intellectual. Doubt is more likely rooted in experience, than ideas. What should you do with your doubt? 1 Unmask the doubt Doubt = disguise Looks like: Logic Reasoning But underneath: Fear (emotion) Disappointment (experience) Hurt (relationship) Theologically deep tv show… Stop arguing with the maskStart naming what’s underneath Unmask the doubt. 2 Bring the real thing to Jesus Thomas didn’t pretend – He was real. Bring the real: I’m afraid. I’m disappointed. I don’t know if I can trust. I don’t know if I have what it takes. The Result – the Real Jesus doesn’t just answer - He meets you 3 Take one step Faith does not mean 100% certain.Faith does not mean zero doubt. Faith is deciding who leads.Does fear lead… or does courage lead? Let faith lead and take one step today: Pray again Trust again Show up again Try again Thomas never got a full explanationHe got Jesus What is your doubt?What is it really?What is under the mask? -Is it fear?-Disappointment?-Something that didn’t work out?-Something or someone you lost?-Something you prayed for… and it didn’t happen? What is under the mask of doubt?Imagine if we didn’t let doubt lead? If you stopped letting doubt lead your faith? You’d pray again. You’d trust God again. You’d actually believe He hears you. If you stopped letting doubt lead your future? You’d take the step. You’d apply for the job. You’d pursue the calling. If you stopped letting doubt lead your relationships? You’d open your heart again. You’d forgive. You’d stop assuming the worst. What if the thing holding you back is not your ability…Not your opportunity…Not your future… …but the voice you’ve been listening to? Action – Unmask your Doubt 1. Come meet Jesus - Pray Doubt is loud Bring it forward Don’t carry it alone And if you’ve never met Jesus… This could be your moment. 2. Be with Jesus – Don’t rush. Worship. Not a song Encounter Jesus Be honest 3. Take your next step – Fill out your Connect Card Not ready? Fill out connect card Ask for help Baptism / follow Jesus
How to Live Again – 1 – When it Feels too Late
https://youtu.be/nzWe9M6kW30?si=9W3WaEUmFv8eo6aC I was racing to the Emergency Room… If you will allow me to be real and transparent, it felt over. I thank God every day that my son was revived. And I also know some families do not get that outcome. I’m sharing this story because I know what it feels like… when it feels too late. Welcome to Easter at Redemption Church. We are glad you are here. You heard one of the darkest stories of my life. I know We all have dark stories. Stories where it felt too late. Your stories may be present… Groceries and gas are up. Paychecks are the same. Debt feels permanent. A lost job, or hours got cut. Unstable. Health is trending the wrong way Relationship disasters A cold marriage Anxiety is constant, and exhaustion is real. Regret is heavy, and self-forgiveness feels impossible. It feels too late. “Too late” starts deciding Too late does not just describe how you feel. It starts deciding what you do. You stop trying.You stop asking for help.You stop praying with expectation.You stop believing anything can change. And that’s the problem with too late - it sounds like a conclusion.The end of the story…“Game over man… game over…” But Easter is not game over…The resurrection shows us that Jesus does not do dead ends. Let’s go to John 20 to learn about the 1st Easter. John 20 says Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She was not headed to Church service, but a tomb.She was not rejoicing, but morning. The first Easter morning - and nobody is expecting a miracle. Nobody woke up thinking today is the day everything changes.Nobody showed up with faith that, Jesus is about to rise. It felt over. Mary was coming to visit a dead body. Mary sees the stone rolled away.“Praise the Lord Jesus is alive…” NopeShe sees the empty tomb.“God is so faithful…” NopeShe even sees two angels sitting where Jesus had been laid.“She cries ‘they stole Jesus’ body.”John 20:11-13 (NIV)11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” NOTICE THIS…Mary is experiencing the Resurrection Story but does even realize it… because “TOO LATE” was making her decisions. Stone rolled away. Empty tomb. Two angels… And she is still in grief. Still confused. Still assuming the worst. The Easter story was not driven by strong faith.It was driven by a strong Savior. This is not a story where everybody believed perfectly and then Jesus rose.Jesus rose while they were still doubting. Still grieving, confused, assuming it was over. So if your faith is shaky today, hear me clearly.You are in the right place. If you came in barely believing, you are in the same story.If you came in worn out, skeptical, disappointed, or numb… Because the resurrection does not start with their faith.It starts with His power. Back to John 20 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. It is starting to get ridiculous.She sees the resurrected Lord… still nothing.15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” So Mary is looking at Jesus… and her best guess is landscaper. The resurrection story had already begun.Mary had a front row seat.But she still thought it was over. God could be moving.Doors could be opening.Hope could be closer than we think. When “too late” has been making your decisions, you do not interpret life through resurrection.You interpret everything through loss. I have a question for us. When does the resurrection start for Mary? Evidence? No.Stone rolled away. Tomb empty. Supernatural? No.Two angels. Here is when the resurrection starts for Mary. John 20:16 (NIV)16 Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, Rabboni (which means Teacher). That’s the moment. Not when the tomb is empty.Not when the angels show up.Not even when Jesus is standing right in front of her. The resurrection becomes real for her when Jesus makes it personal.When He says her name. That is what I want people to hear today. Resurrection is not just an event you hear about.It is a Savior who knows you.And calls you by name. Happy Easter… but here is the truth. You do not need another Easter sermon.You do not need another song.You do not need another religious gathering. You need to hear His voice.Hear His Voice Because the resurrection did not become real to Mary when the tomb was empty.It became real when Jesus called her name. Practice 1: Make roomYou cannot hear a voice you never make space for.This week: Five minutes. One prayer: Jesus, I am listening. Then sit in silence. Practice 2: Get specificGeneral prayers rarely touch specific pain.This week: Name the one place that feels too late. Pray: Jesus, speak life here. Practice 3: Hear Him with peopleGod often uses community to turn the volume up.This week: Don’t carry this alone. Ask for prayer. Get with people. That’s how Jesus brings life back. What if it is NOT TOO LATE?This is what life looks like on the other side of too late. People start hearing Jesus again.-stop pretending they are fine.-stop suffering in silence.-start taking one step at a time toward life. Homes start to change.Anxiety does not get the steering wheel.Debt is faced with wisdom and support.Relationships get honest.Faith comes back online. Resurrection Life can start for you right now. CALL TO ACTION - RESPOND TO HIS VOICE Jesus is alive. Do you feel him reaching out to you? Here’s what we’re asking you to do. 1) COME FOR PRAYER If you need prayer for anything - anxiety, grief, addiction, marriage, finances, health - come forward when we open the response moment.Do not leave carrying it alone. 2) SAY YES TO JESUS If today is your day to follow Jesus - for the first time, or for the first time in a long time - come forward and tell someone on our team. We want to pray with you and help you take the next step. And maybe you are not ready to come forward… 3) TAKE A CLEAR NEXT STEP BEFORE YOU LEAVE If you are not ready to come forward, use the connection card. Check one box before you leave: I want to follow Jesus I want to learn about baptism I need prayer I want a phone call Turn it in today. We will follow up.
Palm Sunday 2026 – When Doesn’t Do it the Way You Wanted
https://youtu.be/QCAHgH8llEI?si=LWFFQBXnrUmhGDCX WELCOMEFollow along with us!Happy Palm Sunday. (Hosanna)We’re really glad you’re here… Palm Sunday Jesus, Jerusalem, Donkey. People shouted, “Hosanna.”OK TO SHOUT IN CHURCH! Celebration – Jesus is King! Collision - (crowd had plans for Jesus). Struggle: Sunday school vs Real world SS - beauty/heavendidn’t always learn disappointment. Real: death/evil/devil/enemies If you were handed a “pretty Jesus” and a “pretty life,” disappointment can feel like betrayal. WHEN GOD DOESN’T DO IT THE WAY YOU WANTED AriaWe had plans, faith, belief Plans: home/family footprint, trips/holidays/ordinary days. Faith assumption: “God is going to heal her.” Prayed/believed/asked. Outcome: brain tumor / she passed. We had plans. We had belief. We had faith. Yet, it didn’t go how we wanted. It doesn’t just break your heart.It changes what hope feels like. Our story isn’t the only story in the room. When God doesn’t do it the way you wanted, you start concluding things. God doesn’t care. God forgot me. God helps other people, but not me.It’s probably me. I’m the problem. It’s probably that I’m a sinner. It’s probably that I’m not worthy. Disappointment doesn’t just hurt - it redefines. It redefines… God, yourself, future. You had plans. You had belief. You had faith.And it still didn’t turn out like you wanted it to. How does God address this in His Word?Let’s look at it together on this Palm Sunday. PALM SUNDAY THROUGH THE LENS OF DISAPPOINTMENT 1) They wanted a King + they were desperate I want to read part of Luke 19. Luke 19:36-38 (NIV) As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road… the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices… ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’ They’re not confused about what they want. They want a King. And they’re shouting “Hosanna.” Hosanna is a pain word that means Save Us. It means: “Save us. Help us. Rescue us.” The tension: they didn’t just want Jesus to save them.They wanted Him to save them their way. 2) They wanted saving their way. Under Rome: wanted overthrow, centurions cut down, Israel free, war + win. They had plans… belief… faith.They assumed Jesus would execute their plan.3) Jesus defines the kind of King He is How did Jesus arrive in this story? (Donkey) Don’t overlook it!Reveals Jesus… fulfills prophecy. Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, Matthew 21:5 says Jesus came “gentle” riding on a donkey. Jesus is making a statement before He ever preaches a sermon. I am King.But I’m not the kind of King you can control. Do we want God’s will to be done?Or do we want God to do our will? …God control my life?…God come under the control of my life? 4) Root problem vs visible problem They want Rome out. VISIBLE PROBLEM.Jesus is going to the root: sin, death, shame, and the powers underneath it all. ROOT PROBLEM. Empires cycle: Babylon → Persia → Greece → Rome. Remove one, another comes. Jesus came to break the cycle at the source. But they had other plans. 5) Did Jesus not care? We think this sometimes… Luke 19:41 (NIV) As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it… Jesus wept. He isn’t cold. He isn’t detached.He sees what is, and He sees what’s coming, and it moves Him. And Jesus says something else in Scripture that shows His heart: Matthew 23:37 (NIV)Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Jesus is saying… “I wanted it different.”“I longed for something else.”“I had plans, belief, faith. Yet, it didn’t go how we wanted.” 6) Jesus knows disappointment. Palm Sunday gives you a King with tears.A Savior with compassion.A God who understands. What do we do with disappointment? What do you do when God doesn’t do it the way you wanted? Practice 1) Talk to God honestly (like Jesus did) Garden prayer - Luke 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” Can you trust God with that? Jesus, here’s what I wanted.Here’s what happened.Here’s what I’m afraid to hope for again.Help me trust You anyway. Don’t edit your prayer. Bring the real thing. The real hurt and disappointment… Practice 2) Ask Jesus to reframe the story (before you finalize the conclusion) Name the default verdicts: I’m not worthy / I’m the problem / God is against me. Disappointment isn’t the whole story. Jesus, reframe my story. Aria reframe: We wanted her home with us. Weeping on a walk in the park… phone call… “God wanted her home too - and God brought her home.” That doesn’t erase grief.It changes the shape of the story. Practice this prayer: “Jesus, show me what You see.” Practice 3) Bring it into the light (don’t do disappointment alone) Silence feels strong, but it usually isn’t healing. TALK TO SOMEONE! trusted friend, pastor, small group, counselor. Resource: Patricia Muller podcast “Life Interrupted.” Grief grows in isolation.Hope grows in community. Imagine the kind of church we could become if we lived this. A place where disappointed people don’t have to fake it. Where grief isn’t treated like weakness. Where questions aren’t treated like rebellion. Where we carry hope for each other until we can carry it again. A church where “Hosanna” isn’t just a word we sing.It’s a cry we can bring. It is ok to cry out… Jesus save me. Jesus save me……not how I want you to save me…save me how YOU want to save me. We had plans…belief…faith. And it still didn’t go how we wanted. So here’s what we’re going to do - not later, not someday - right now.I have 3 responses for you... Respond to King Jesus. Respond to disappointment. Worship team is coming back. We’re making a space for prayer. Here is how to respond… Step 1 - Talk to God honestly. Jesus, here’s what I wanted.Here’s what happened.Here’s what I’m afraid to hope for again.Help me trust You anyway. Don’t edit… get real. Step 2 - Don’t do it alone. Pray.Talk.Counsel. Step 3 - Invite one person to Easter and pray for them. Name the person… Pray for them. MAKE THE DECISION – invite them.
Well Spent – 3 – Do Not Burn Out, Burn Bright
https://youtu.be/nSKmrRFOKNk?si=nr-Lo8SnBetwgZRI Key Scriptures: John 15:1-8, Mark 1:35-39Big Idea: Burn bright comes from abiding, not grinding.. Welcome back to Redemption Church in Plano Tx. My name is Chris Fluitt and I am glad to spend time with everyone in the room and everyone onlone. We are in the final week of our series called Well Spent. Every day we are spending something. We spendour moneyour timeour energy Today we are talking about how we spend our energy. The name of this message is Do Not Burn Out, Burn Bright. I try to get things done. I want to succeed.I want to do what’s right.I want to stay positive.I want to get better, do better, keep moving forward. And when I don’t accomplish it… you know what I do? I work harder. WORK HARDER That’s what we’re taught. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.Work hard. Push through. Don’t quit. We teach it to our kids.We celebrate it in our culture. And there is value in hard work. But I’ve had seasons…where I worked harder…and ended up hurting. Not succeeding.Not thriving.Just exhausted. Because working harder is not always the answer. Sometimes… you don’t need more effort. You need a different source. And this isn’t just me. This is all of us. We’re trying to keep up.Trying to stay ahead.Trying to hold everything together. And we’re running out of energy. We are living without margin. We fill every hour.Answer every notification.Say yes to everything. And then we wonder why we feel empty. Burnout Burden Stats 77% of people say they have experienced burnout at their current job 57% say they feel burned out often or always(https://www.gallup.com/workplace/237059/burnout-symptoms-causes-cures.aspx) That means most people around you are carrying this right now. And it’s hitting the next generation even harder: Nearly 50% of Gen Z says they feel burned out frequently(https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/gen-z-mental-health-the-impact-of-tech-and-social-media) And it’s not just about being tired. Burnout is linked to anxiety, depression, and physical health issues(https://www.apa.org/topics/healthy-workplaces/work-stress) You don’t burn out because you’re weak.You burn out because you’re overloaded and disconnected. We’ve been taught: work harder.Push more.Do more. But there’s a problem: There’s not enough energy to always work harder. God didn’t design you to live at 100% output with 0% connection. If working harder could fix your soul…you’d already be healed by now. Jesus doesn’t offer you a better schedule. He offers you a better source. John 15:5 (NIV) “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you… …you will bear much fruit.” Pause. Because in burnout culture, we fill in that blank. If you work harder…If you do more…If you push yourself… Then you will bear much fruit. But that’s not what Jesus said. John 15:5 (NIV) “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” There are three things Jesus is teaching us here. 1) Fruit comes from connection, not pressure Remain in me. This is where the pressure of religion can get it wrong. You can go to church… and still not connect with Jesus. But Jesus says, apart from me… nothing. Why do we worship?So you can connect with Jesus. Why do we preach about Jesus?Because you need to connect with Him. Why do we pray?Because you need to connect with Jesus. You need to connect with Jesus. He’s the vine.You’re the branches. If a branch is cut off… it withers and dies. Because the life is in the connection. If you’re disconnected from Jesus…you will burn out. 2) Jesus practiced withdrawal before He practiced power This is a secret weapon. It is counter intuitive, but Jesus teaches us this. Mark 1:35 (NIV) Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Very early… Jesus withdrew and prayed.Jesus unplugged. He went somewhere solitary. 3) Jesus practiced withdrawal before He practiced power Let me ask you: Do you have that rhythm? Or are you just running? Running and running and running… Do you ever pause before the next moment? Do you ever bring Jesus into your daybefore the day takes over? Some of you don’t need to charge ahead. You need to withdraw. 4) Staying connected is how you stay alive Jesus didn’t say visit me. He said remain in me. Stay connected. Not once a week.Not occasionally. Remain. Because when you stay connected… Life flows.Strength flows.Peace flows. Disconnect… and you wither. Let me ask you something. You probably know your phone battery percentage right now. You won’t let it hit empty without charging it. But the truth is… You probably don’t know the percentage of your soul. And you let it run all the way downbefore you even think about recharging. Is your phone more important than your soul? Here are three simple moves to recharge your soul. Soul Recharge1) Connect daily You need to connect with Jesus daily. Find a time. Build Him into your life. And we want to help you with that. We’ve got a 5-day challenge for you. It’s going to be right here in the prayer space. Grab one before you leave. It will help you connect with Jesus every day this week. 2) Practice withdrawal Stop charging ahead. Pause. Before the meeting.Before the conversation.Find a solitary space and pray. “Here I am Jesus. It’s just you and me.”“Jesus you are important and I will make time for you.” 3) Stay connected throughout your day Not just a moment… a rhythm. Talk to Him. “Jesus, help me here.”“Jesus, I’m with You.” Remain. And here’s what’s powerful… These three things don’t just work with Jesus. They work in every relationship. You can connect daily with your spouse.Withdraw and give someone your full attention.Stay connected throughout your day. This will strengthen every relationship in your life. And if you’re here and you’re not sure about faith… Try this. Approach Jesus this way. Connect. Pause. Stay aware. See what happens. From Burn Out to Burning BrightCALL TO ACTION Right now, here’s what we’re going to do. #1 Take the 5-Day Challenge Before you leave, go to the prayer space and grab one.Online friends, we will share a link on our livestream – download it. Don’t just hear this message. Practice it this week. #2 If you’re exhausted - recharge Maybe what you need is rest. As we worship… Lift your hands.Open your heart. “Jesus, I want to be close to You.” Just rest in His presence. #3 If you’re disconnected - connect Maybe what you need is connection. You need someone to pray with you. So make the move. Come forward.Let someone stand with you. We’re going to worship right now. And this is your moment. Make the move.
Hattabaughs – Faith Over Fear
https://youtu.be/1EtdSUGAS2A?si=9URmG_CtbSjug4Hu Speakers: Matt and Julie Hattabaugh Scripture Focus: 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 1:7 Overview This message is a powerful testimony of faith, healing, and transformation from Matt and Julie, who have served in Lebanon since 2018. Despite the significant ongoing conflict in the Middle East—including over 800 strikes in a single week and the displacement of a million people—the work of the Gospel is not only continuing but expanding. The core of the message encourages every believer to receive the Word of God as absolute truth and to act as a missionary in their own daily lives. Key Takeaways 1. The Power of Receiving the Word The sermon focuses extensively on 1 Thessalonians 2:13, emphasizing that we must receive God’s Word not as human words, but as divine truth. Action over Evidence: True faith involves believing and acting on God’s promises even when there is no visible evidence. The Example of Abraham: Just as Abraham carried God's promise for 25 years before seeing it fulfilled, we are called to persistent, patient belief. 2. Rejecting the Spirit of Fear In a region marked by violence, Matt describes fear as something that has no place in a believer’s life. A Sound Mind: By claiming 2 Timothy 1:7, believers can replace anxiety with a spirit of love, power, and a sound mind. Peace in the Storm: Like a passenger focused on their destination during a turbulent flight, we can remain calm by trusting in God’s ultimate plan. 3. Personal Evangelism is for Everyone The mission field isn't just in Lebanon; it is in your workplace, grocery store, and neighborhood. The Story of Ali: Matt shared how a simple, prompted invitation to a Starbucks cashier led to a life-changing conversion, proving that God’s power transcends cultural barriers. "Love, Grow, Serve, Go": Every believer is called to be a "vessel" for God’s work, whether locally or internationally. Ministry Milestone Timeline DateEvent / ActivityNotes2018Partnership EstablishedConnection with Redemption Church began.Feb 28School LaunchMinistry training school opened with 21 children.OngoingConflict ResponseMinistry continues despite strikes and displacement.May 2Graduation61 ministry students graduating; 23 already serving.FutureBeirut ExpansionPlans to expand to 4 new locations in Beirut. Scriptural Application ReferenceKey MessageLife Application2 Timothy 1:7Spirit of power and loveRejecting anxiety and fear.Galatians 3Redeemed from the curseWalking in healing and freedom.1 Thess. 2:13Receiving God's TruthFaithful acceptance leads to transformation.2 Cor. 5:17New creation in ChristEmbracing a new identity in Jesus. Final Encouragement The Word of God is alive and powerful. We are invited to identify with these scriptural truths daily—declaring "I am a new creation" and "fear has no place in me"—and to pray for the same transformative power to work in our communities as it is currently working in Lebanon.
Well Spent – 2 – Spend Your Time on What Matters
https://youtu.be/b5rGKjOdcgQ?si=myKP93FOkvv8N090 Follow along with us! Welcome everyone. I’m really glad you’re here today – in the room and online. We are in week three of a series called Well Spent. The idea behind this series is simple but powerful. Every day we are spending something. We spendour moneyour timeour energy The question is not if you’re spending your life. The question is how you’re spending it. We have a Toolkit and 30 challenge to help you reset your money, time, and energy.Download it. Use it. Share it. What you invest in shapes who you become. In week one we talked about money. Today we are talking about something even more valuable than money.Because money can be earned again.But time cannot. So today’s message is called Spend Your Time on What Lasts. And I want to begin with something I have had to admit in my own life. There have been seasons in my life where I was incredibly busy. Running from one thing to the next. And here is the uncomfortable truth. Most of the things I was doing were good things.Important things. Church things.But I started noticing something.Even though I was busy doing good things…Sometimes I was missing the best things.Moments with my family.Time with Jesus.Meaningful conversations.Quiet moments where my soul could breathe.And I had to face a truth that I didn’t want to admit. BIG IDEA: Busy isn’t the same as meaningful. You can fill your life with activity and still miss what matters most. We know what this is like right? The Age of Constant Distraction We live in what could honestly be called the age of constant distraction. The average person checks their phone 96 times a day.(https://www.asurion.com/press-releases/americans-check-their-phones-96-times-a-day/) that means: 672 times per week about 2,880 times per month over 35,000 times per year Over a lifetime, that can easily become millions of interruptions. Now combine that with another reality. The average American spends around 7 hours of screen time every day. (https://www.magnetaba.com/blog/average-screen-time-statistics) That means nearly half of our waking life can disappear into screens. Harvard researchers discovered that 47% of our waking hours are spent thinking about something other than what we are doing.(https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101111141759.htm) Almost half of life… we are mentally somewhere else. Distracted. Fragmented. Pulled in multiple directions. We are busy. But here is the deeper question. If we are so busy… why do so many people still feel like their life lacks meaning? Maybe the issue is not that we are busy. Maybe the issue is what we are busy with. And Jesus speaks directly into this. Luke chapter 10 tells the story of two sisters. Mary and Martha. Jesus comes to their home. Martha immediately begins preparing the house. Cooking. Serving.Getting everything ready. Luke says this. Luke 10:40 (NIV) But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. Notice what the Bible does not say. It does not say Martha was sinning.It says she was distracted.She was doing good things. Important things.But Martha becomes frustrated. And she says to Jesus, Luke 10:40 (NIV) “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Notice something here. Martha’s concern was not that she was too busy.Her concern was that Mary was not busy like she was.Martha did not think she needed to slow down.She thought Mary needed to speed up. That sounds familiar. Sometimes when we feel overwhelmed we don’t question our pace.We question why other people aren’t keeping up.But Jesus answers Martha with incredible tenderness. Luke 10:41 (NIV)“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things… And then Jesus says something that might be one of the most important statements about priorities in the entire Bible. Luke 10:42 “Few things are needed - or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Let’s pause right here. Because this is where the message lands.Jesus says Few things are needed. Indeed only oneSo here is the honest question. Do I believe Jesus?Because if I believe Jesus…my life should reflect what He says. Look at your calendar.Look at your habits.Look at how you spend your time.Does my life look like few things are needed?Or does my life look like everything is needed? Few things are needed. Indeed only one. WHAT IS THE ONE THING? So what is the one thing? At its core, it is this - Being with Jesus.Mary sat at His feet.She listened.She was present.She chose relationship over activity. But this truth expands beyond quiet prayer moments. Because when you are truly with Jesus,you begin to value what Jesus values.You begin to love who Jesus loves.You begin to prioritize what actually matters. And what matters most in life has never been activity. It has always been relationship. WHAT IS THE ONE THING? Being with Jesus. Being with the people you love. Investing in these relationships. Because at the end of your life, you will not wish you answered more emails. You will not wish you attended more meetings. You will not wish you checked your phone more often. You will wish you spent more time with Jesus and with the people you love. Few things are needed. Indeed only one. Choose the better thing. So how do you actually live this out?Let me give you three practical ways to start choosing the better thing. The First 10 Before your phone.Before social media.Before the chaos begins. Spend the first ten minutes of your day with Jesus. Scripture. Prayer. Quiet. Center your heart before the world starts pulling at you. Research shows that couples who share spiritual habits like prayer and Scripture together report stronger marriages and higher relationship satisfaction. People who regularly engage Scripture also report greater peace and resilience in stressful seasons. When you invest time in what matters most, your life begins to reflect that investment. I challenge you to spend the first 10 with Jesus every day this week. The Better Part Block Schedule one protected hour every week. One hour where you intentionally invest in what matters most. A meaningful conversation. Prayer.Family connection.Encouraging someone.Community. This is why things like Connect Groups matter. Because life transformation rarely happens in crowds. It happens in relationships.Mary chose the better part.She slowed down.She sat down.She paid attention to Jesus. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is simply slow down long enough to be present. One Boundary If something matters, protect it.Build a boundary around it.Protect your time with God.Protect your family.Protect worship.Protect your church community. Something always comes up that makes it easy to skip Church and family time. You must build a boundary around what matters most. “Few things are needed. Indeed only one.” Are you ready to live differently?Are you ready to live simply? CALL TO ACTION I want to give you three invitations. Return to the one thing Maybe today you realize you have been running after many things. Busy.Distracted.Fragmented.And today Jesus is inviting you back to the better part.Back to His presence.Back to sitting at His feet again. Rebuild what matters at home Maybe the change you need is relational.Maybe it is time to pray with your spouse.Read Scripture with your family.Start spiritual conversations again.Invest in the relationships that matter most.Spend time on what matters with the people who matter. Reset your boundaries Maybe today you need to draw a line around what matters. Around worship.Around time with Jesus.Around the people you love. Few things are needed. Indeed only one. Choose the better thing. As our music team begins to play, this is a moment to respond. One thing matters right now. Choose it!
WELL SPENT – How to Budget Your Blessing (Biblical Budgeting Guide)
https://youtu.be/qKX64lWUpXQ?si=UcJqFf35WhK80EDh Follow along with us! Struggling with money stress? Living paycheck to paycheck?Wondering what the Bible actually says about budgeting? You’re not alone. Millions of people feel anxious about money — and many Christians quietly wonder how to manage their finances in a way that honors God without creating guilt or pressure. In this message from Redemption Church, we walk through practical biblical budgeting principles that help you: Lead your money instead of being led by it Reduce financial stress Build savings with wisdom Give generously without fear Create a simple plan that reflects your faith If you don’t lead your money, your money will lead you. What Does the Bible Say About Budgeting? The Bible talks about money more than almost any other topic. Not because God needs your money — but because money reveals your heart. Here are four core biblical budgeting principles: 1. Your Money Reveals Your Priorities “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21 Your spending patterns reveal direction. And direction can change. 2. God Entrusts You With Resources In Matthew 25, Jesus describes stewardship as managing what belongs to the Master. Biblical budgeting begins with this mindset shift: You are a steward, not an owner. 3. Faithfulness Starts Small “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” – Luke 16:10 Wealth is built on consistency, not hype. 4. Money Is a Tool — Not a Master “You cannot serve both God and money.” – Matthew 6:24 Money makes a terrible master and an excellent servant. A budget is simply telling your money where to go. A Simple Christian Budget Plan (Give, Save, Live) If you want a biblical starting point, evaluate three areas: 1️⃣ What You Give Giving reveals trust. Start somewhere. Give intentionally — not emotionally. 2️⃣ What You Save Saving reveals wisdom. Emergency savings protect your peace and reduce anxiety. 3️⃣ What You Live On Living reveals priorities. Cancel drift. Review subscriptions. Stop unconscious spending. Drift always costs more than direction. Frequently Asked Questions About Biblical Budgeting Is budgeting biblical?Yes. Scripture consistently teaches stewardship, faithfulness, generosity, and wisdom in managing resources.How do Christians budget money?A simple Christian budget often prioritizes giving, saving, and living — in that order.What does the Bible say about money stress?Jesus teaches that money should not master us (Matthew 6:24). Financial peace grows when we align our money with God’s priorities.How can I stop living paycheck to paycheck?Start by reviewing recurring expenses, creating a simple spending plan, building a small emergency fund, giving intentionally, and avoiding financial drift. RESOURCES FOR YOU Well Spent Series Hub Continue the full Well Spent series here. Download the Well Spent Toolkit We created a free Well Spent Toolkit, including a 30-day Well Spent Challenge, to help you: Get clear on your money, time, and energy Evaluate what you give, save, and live on Build a simple savings and spending plan Audit your calendar and commitments Reset daily rhythms so you don’t burn out Cancel financial drift and take practical next steps Download it here. Printable Sermon Handout (PDF) Follow along or use in your Connect Group. Download the How to Budget Your Blessing sermon handout here. Take Your Next Step at Redemption Church You don’t have to figure this out alone. Whether you’re exploring faith, returning to church, or looking for a way to serve, we’d love to walk with you. Take your next step with serving, groups, outreach, giving, or sharing your story: Start here. Watch the Message Message TranscriptWell Spent 1 - How to Budget Your Blessing - Chris Fluitt at Redemption Church Plano, Tx Learning how to manage money God’s way. Well Spent 1 – How to Budget a Blessing Pastor Chris Fluitt – March 1, 2026Key Scriptures (NIV): Matthew 6:19–21; Luke 16:10–13; Matthew 25:14–30Big Idea: If you don’t lead your money, your money will lead you. Welcome back to Redemption Church. My name is Chris Fluitt, and I’m so glad you’re here.If you’re in the room, we love you.If you’re joining us online, we love you too. Let us know where you’re watching from. We are one church family. Well SpentToday we’re starting a brand new series called Well Spent. Well Spent – Stop wasting. Start investing your time, money, and energy. Every single day, we are spending something.We’re spending money.We’re spending time.We’re spending energy. The question isn’t “Are we spending?”The question is “Are we investing?” Here’s where we’re going this month: Well Spent Outline March 8: Kingdom ROI - how to invest your life in what actually lasts forever instead of what fades by Friday. We will have special guests – Matt & Julie Hattabaugh, missionaries to Lebanon. March 15: Spend Your Time on What Lasts - how to stop being busy and start being meaningful. March 22: Do Not Burn Out, Burn Bright – Learn the rhythm of Jesus that keeps your soul strong instead of running on fumes. Value Add – Well Spent Toolkit Download the free Well Spent Toolkit with a 30-day challenge to reset your money, time, and energy. We built a free Well Spent Toolkit to help you live this out. You can download it today. It will help you with your money, your time, and your energy. Today, we’re starting with money. Today’s message is called: How to Budget a Blessing. Learning how to manage money God’s way. “Where did it all go?Wasn’t there money in this account?How did we spend that much there?” I’ve had tough months.Times where I struggled to get to pay day.Januarys that felt hard because Decembers were expensive. And I can tell you honestly, money stress steals peace. There’s something about financial anxiety that just sits heavy. We know what this is like. Right? We know what it’s like to swipe the card and hope.We know what it’s like to avoid checking the balance.We know what it’s like to think, “If nothing unexpected happens this month, we’ll be okay.” The $truggle Is Real Stats • Around 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.• More than 50% cannot cover a $1,000 emergency without debt.• The average household carries roughly $7,000 in credit card debt.• Nearly 40% of adults have little to no retirement savings.• 66% Americans say money is their number one source of stress. This is not rare. Money is a real problem – and we don’t like to talk about it. But that’s exactly why Jesus did talk about it. Not because He needed their money. Because He knew what money does to the heart. I have 4 quick lessons from Jesus on money and how to stop wasting and start investing. Your spending reveals your heart Matthew 6:21 Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. We cannot compartmentalize our heart and our wallet. They are in the same compartment. If our treasure goes toward comfort, our heart leans toward comfort.If our treasure goes toward the Kingdom, our heart leans toward the Kingdom. We like to say we care about generosity.But if our spending never reflects it, it’s just talk. We like to say we’re disciplined.But if the ledger says otherwise, something’s off. Our bank account is not a verdict.It’s not judging our soul.It’s not saying God doesn’t love us. Our spending is revealing direction.And direction can change. God has put you in charge of His money (stewardship) Matthew 25:14 He entrusted his wealth to them. This is a parable… a story Jesus tells to reveal a spiritual principle. The money in the parable never becomes the servant’s money. It always belongs to the master. The master’s money is entrusted to the servant. God is the master. God has put us in charge of His money. This parable has 3 servants, and they are all given different amounts from the master. The real difference wasn’t the amount.It was what they believed about the master. The 2 faithful servants trusted the master and invested. The one wicked servant (strong language) said - “I was afraid of you,” and buried the money. What we do with our money reveals what we think about God.Fear buries.Trust invests. What do you think about God?Are you burying? Are you investing? Faithfulness starts small and gets practical Luke 16:10 Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much. Wealth is built on boring consistency. Not hype.Not emotion.Consistency. If we can’t manage little, more won’t fix it. Look back at the verse. God is looking for who can be TRUSTED with more. We often pray for MORE.Do we pray to be faithful and trustworthy? More money does not solve our issues.More faithfulness solves our issues. Money is a tool or a master Matthew 6:24 …You cannot serve both God and money Money makes a better servant than a king. You cannot serve both God and money. When money is master, anxiety rules. When God is master, money serves. A budget is telling your money what to do, and how to serve. It’s not punishment.It’s not stewed beans forever. It’s declaring money is not my master. And at the top of that budget should be God. Why?? Because HE is the master who has entrusted us with His money. What does this mean for you? Here’s the question. Is your money well spent? Is your money revealing the heart you want it to reveal? Look at three areas this week: What you give.What you save.What you live on. Giving reveals trust. Saving reveals wisdom. Living reveals priorities. Let’s talk about what you give. As soon as I say that,...
Breaking Chains – 3 – Becoming Free Helping Others Break Free
https://youtu.be/wlkQfejvaJg?si=7o7zLVmAXkLpqBcI I am excited that next Sunday we are launching a brand new series called Well Spent. It is a challenge to stop wasting our time, energy, and money, but investing them in what actually matters. I really want you to be back with us for that, and I want you to start thinking now about who you can invite. But today, I want to welcome you. Welcome back to Redemption Church in Plano Tx. My name is Chris Fluitt and I am happy to see you in the room and everyone watching online. Follow along with us! ME Over the last few weeks we’ve talked about: Naming the chain Breaking shame Replacing lies with truth And some of you have experienced real freedom. But here’s what I know. Some people get free… and drift back. Not because they don’t love Jesus.Not because they weren’t sincere. But because freedom requires maintenance. And some people get free… and stop there. But Jesus never frees someone just to stabilize them. He frees them to mobilize them. I am calling this message:Breaking Free + Helping Others Break Free. Say this with me:Lord, free me.Lord, keep me free.Lord, use me to free others. It is not easy to stay free. We know this right? Relapse Reality Stats Relapse rates for substance use are 40% to 60%.(https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery) Alcohol addiction sees a 50% relapse within the first year(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16771894/) Relapse is likely when post-treatment support and engagement in daily activities were lacking. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10953711/) 75% of smokers relapse within 6 months without structured support(https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8298987/) That tells us something. Freedom is real.But freedom is fragile without support. Now here’s what’s fascinating. The Freedom Multiplier Effect People who actively help others in recovery are significantly more likely to remain sober(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15700515/) Peer Support Groups Improve engagement Increase retention Reduce relapse rates(https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5047716/) In plain language: Helping someone else stay free helps you stay free. That’s not just spiritual language. That’s behavioral science, and it completely aligns with what God says. Let’s look at 3 points about Freedom from God’s Word. 1. Freedom Must Be Maintained Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” The verse says - Stand firm. Freedom isn’t passive. You don’t drift into freedom.You stand in it. You don’t casually hold it.You plant your feet in it. Stand firm in the freedom Christ has given you. And that should remind you of something we talked about last week. John 8:31–32 “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Not visit the truth on Sundays. Not agree with the truth occasionally. Hold to the truth. Stand firm in freedom.Hold to His teaching. And then Galatians comes back and says: “Do not let yourselves be burdened again.” That means you can drift.You can fall back.You can be burdened again. And we know that because we’ve experienced it. We’ve said, “Never again.” And then slowly… we were burdened again.Freedom is the work of Jesus.Maintenance is the walk with Jesus. You stay free by standing firm in freedom,holding to His truth,and walking with His people. 2. Freedom Is Meant To Multiply Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free…” Why were you set free? Not just to feel relief. To live free and to help others walk free. In Mark 2, the paralyzed man did not crawl to Jesus. Four friends carried him, ripped off a roof and lowered him into the house. They were COMMITTED to bring their friend to Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith… the faith of the 4 friends, the man was forgiven and healed. Somebody carried you. Somebody prayed for you.Invited you.Spoke truth to you.Refused to give up on you. Freedom came to you because someone multiplied it. Freedom must be Maintained.Freedom is meant to Multiply. 3. Free People Free People Jesus tells Peter to “strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32) and to “feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). Peter fails.Peter is restored.Peter is commissioned. Freedom restored becomes responsibility assigned. Free people free people. It is not just the pastor’s job to rescue people. Ephesians 4 says pastors equip the saints for the work of ministry. If you have been freed from something,you have been assigned to someone. Freedom must be maintained.Freedom must be multiplied.And Free People Free People! Are there any free people here?Free to worship without shame.Free to pray without fear.Free to lift your hands without apology. Are there any free people here?Free to love again.Free to trust again.Free to try again. If you’re free, act like you’re free.If you’re free, stand firm like you’re free.If you’re free, help somebody else get free. Breaking Free + Helping Others Break Free.So let me ask you: Are you maintaining your freedomor drifting? Are you multiplying your freedomor sitting on it? What if staying free requires stepping up? What if serving in your church helps you keep coming to church? What if being active in a Connect Group keeps you anchored in community? What if helping someone fight the battle you used to fight strengthens your own resolve? Consumers drift.Contributors stay anchored. Freedom that is only enjoyed eventually erodes. Freedom that is maintained and multiplied becomes a lifestyle. It’s a double win. You help someone else stay free.And in the process, you protect your own freedom. Redemption Church… We are not building a church of spectators. We are building a church of carriers. Like the 4 friends who carried their friend to Jesus. Musician Imagine a church where: No one fights alone No lie goes unchallenged No struggler sits unnoticed Free people actively help other people get free That is how chains break in a city. Jesus sets you free so your freedom can be maintained and multiplied. You stay free by walking in truthand walking with people. 1 Bold Call to Action Right now, we’re not going to rush out.I’m not going to give you multiple things to do. If you’re in a small group, I want you to find your group and gather together and pray for one another. If you’re not in a group, find someone near you. Introduce yourself. Pray together. Because freedom is not just a work that happens on a Sunday service. Freedom is a walk that happens in community. Some of you need the work of freedom today. Some of you need the walk of freedom today. You need truth. You need people. You need someone to carry you. And someone needs you to carry them. Let’s pray.
Breaking Chains – 2 – The Lies That Lock Us In
https://youtu.be/QYM3me5Go2w?si=RyyWhsGcXpVmAXbM Before we ever fight a habit, we’re usually fighting a belief. The enemy doesn’t just tempt behavior — he shapes thinking. And if he can shape what we believe, he can shape how we live. In Part 2 of Breaking Chains: Freedom Without Shame, Pastor Chris Fluitt unpacks the lies that quietly lock us in — and the truth that sets us free. If you’ve ever thought: “I’m stuck.” “I’ll never change.” “This is just who I am.” This message is for you. Resources for You If today’s message connects with where you are, we want to make sure you have practical next steps and support. Free Guide – Freedom Without ShameA practical guide rooted in Scripture and neuroscience to help you understand why change is hard and how real freedom begins without shame.👉 Download here: Printable Sermon Handout – Name the Chain, Break the ShameFollow along, take notes, and reflect on how this message applies to your life. Explore the Breaking Chains SeriesFind messages, tools, and support for breaking habits, addiction, and shame. Plan a Visit or Get ConnectedYou don’t have to do this alone. We’d love to walk with you in person or help you connect to a group.👉 Plan a Visit Watch the Message Breaking Chains 2: The Lies that Lock Us InPastor Chris Fluitt, Redemption Church Plano Tx, February 15, 2026 Message Transcript – The Lies that Lock Us In Pastor Chris Fluitt - February 15, 2026Key Scriptures (NIV): Genesis 3:1–5; John 8:31–32, 44; Romans 8:1–3; 2 Corinthians 10:3–5; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Hebrews 4:16Big Idea: We cannot change the way we LIVE until we change what we BELIEVE.The enemy locks us in with lies, but Jesus sets us free with truth. Welcome back to Redemption Church in Plano Tx. My name is Chris Fluitt and I am happy to see you in the room and glad everyone watching online is with us. Need a handout? Follow along with us! Let me make this personal. Before I ever fought a habit, I was fighting a belief. I believed bad things would always happen because I could never be good enough. Like life was a test I kept failing — and God was keeping score. I believed I wasn’t worth loving. Not just that I had done something wrong — but that something was wrong with me. And I believed my level of living was supposed to be low. Supposed to struggle.Supposed to be stressed.Supposed to be behind. When you believe that, you don’t fight chains. You expect them. You build your life around them. The enemy didn’t have to chain my hands. He just had to shape my beliefs. Breaking Chains 2: The Lies That Lock Us In Today’s message is called “The Lies That Lock Us In.” “Belief” is not just spiritual talk. This is real life. This is measurable. Real Life Thought Life Stats People average about 6,000 distinct thoughts per day. Because of negativity bias, the majority of our thoughts are negative.(Thoughts study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-17255-9)(Negativity bias overview: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1037/1089-2680.5.4.323) 19.1% of U.S. adults had an anxiety disorder in the past year. About 1 in 5. (NIMH anxiety stats: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder) 48.7 million Americans age 12+ had a substance use disorder in the past year. 1 in 6.(SAMHSA NSDUH report: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2022-nsduh-annual-national-report) This is a widespread problem. We are talking about our neighbors, our coworkers, our family, and sometimes us. And behind a lot of destructive behavior is a short set of beliefs people replay: “I need this.”“I can’t.”“I’m stuck.”“This is me.” Behavior is the fruit.Belief is the root. We cannot change the way we LIVE until we change what we BELIEVE. Turn to Genesis 3 to see how the enemy works. Genesis 3:1–5 (NIV) NOTICE THIS… The serpent did not get them hooked on drugs.The serpent did not expose them to pornography.The serpent did not teach them violence.The serpent did not hand them a weapon. He handed them a thought. He introduced a new way of thinking about God. Three lies from the snake (Genesis 3:1-5) “Did God really say…?” - attack God’s Word. “You will not certainly die.” - deny consequences. “God knows…” - attack God’s goodness and motives. A new thought changed everything. The enemy still works the same way. Jesus Makes a Massive Claim John 8:31–32 (NIV): That is a massive claim. Jesus doesn’t say religion sets you free.He doesn’t say information sets you free.He says truth — His truth — sets you free. He isn’t offering a philosophy. He’s offering Himself. Then in verse 44, He explains why this matters: John 8:44 (NIV) “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” There are lies that enslave.There is truth that liberates. And the battle is in what you believe. No Condemnation Romans 8:1–3 (NIV): Context: Paul wrote these words to Christians in Rome who lived under pressure, accusation, and shame. Paul says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.” Notice what it does not say. It doesn’t say less condemnation.It doesn’t say temporary condemnation. It says NO condemnation. God condemned sin — not you. Jesus carried what should have crushed you. And Jesus won! If you are in Christ, condemnation is off the table. Freedom is on the table. And here’s the truth - power is also on the table. You may feel like your thoughts control you.But listen to what Paul says next. 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (NIV) We take captive every thought. The enemy tries to take you captive with lies. In Jesus, you don’t just get forgiven. You get authority. You don’t just survive thoughts. You capture them. Freedom is on the table. Power is too. So what thought has been taking you captive — that you need to take captive? THREE LIES THAT LOCK US IN Lie #1 – “This Is Just Who I Am” It sounds self-aware. “I’m just wired anxious.”“I’m just bad with money.”“I’ve always been this way.” Here’s why that’s a lie. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Your struggle may be real.But it is not your identity. Struggle is something you face, not something you are. Lie #2 – “I Will Never Change” This one comes from exhaustion. You tried. You failed. You promised. You fell again. And eventually you start saying, “This is just how it’s going to be.” But Philippians 1:6 says God finishes what He starts. Philippians 1:6 He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Growth may be slow, but slow is not stuck. Transformation is promised. If God started something in you, He intends to finish it. Lie #3 – “God Is Tired of Me” This one sounds humble and spiritual. “I know God loves me, but He’s probably exhausted with me.” That lie keeps people from praying, worshiping, coming forward, asking for help. But Hebrews 4:16 says we can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence. Confidence. Not crawling.Not hiding.Confidence. God is not tired of you. He already dealt with condemnation at the cross. Bold Lies. Bolder Truth! Your addiction makes promises. “This will feel good.”“This will calm you.”“This will fix it.” Maybe for a moment. Then comes shame.Regret.“Why did I do that?” That promise was a lie. Anger promises power - it leaves damage.Isolation promises safety - it leaves loneliness. Here is another major lie we tell ourselves… “I don’t need prayer.”“I’m fine.” You barely survived this week.You lost sleep.You felt the pressure.You almost didn’t come today… You don’t need prayer? That’s a lie. Every time we gather, we make space to pray and seek God. Do not miss your moment. If the enemy works through lies…and if behavior grows from belief… Then what lie has been shaping your life? What Lie Are You Believing? What lie have you been rehearsing? And what lie is driving the behavior of the person you love? Stop fighting behavior. Expose the belief. Pray for truth. Speak truth. When truth replaces the lie, chains break. Three Calls to Action Identify the lie.Name it specifically. Replace it with Truth. (Scripture)Not vibes. Not motivation. Scripture. Respond with action right now.Pray. Come forward. Take communion.Do not sit in agreement with a lie one more Sunday. Jesus did not die so you could live in a mental prison. Truth is here.Freedom is here.Power is here. So let’s stop agreeing with the lie.
Breaking Chains – 1 – Name That Shame, Break the Chain
https://youtu.be/DvnZ49wdr_M?si=nNbeRrRML0XiAAwg In this message from the Breaking Chains series at Redemption Church, Pastor Chris Fluitt explores how real freedom begins by naming the chain and breaking the shame that keeps us stuck. This message is for anyone tired of hiding, tired of pretending, and ready for real change that lasts. Resources for You If today’s message connects with where you are, we want to make sure you have practical next steps and support. Free Guide – Freedom Without ShameA practical guide rooted in Scripture and neuroscience to help you understand why change is hard and how real freedom begins without shame.👉 Download here Printable Sermon Handout – Name the Chain, Break the ShameFollow along, take notes, and reflect on how this message applies to your life. Explore the Breaking Chains Series👉 Find messages, tools, and support for breaking habits, addiction, and shame. Plan a Visit or Get ConnectedYou don’t have to do this alone. We’d love to walk with you in person or help you connect to a group.👉 Plan a Visit Watch the Message Name the Chain, Break the ShameBreaking Chains – Freedom Without ShamePastor Chris Fluitt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvnZ49wdr_M Message Transcript – Name the Chain, Break the Shame Breaking Chains 1: Name the Chain. Break the Shame.Pastor Chris Fluitt, Redemption Church Plano Tx, February 1, 2026 Key Scriptures (NIV): Genesis 2:25, Genesis 3:7-10, John 8:31-36, 2 Timothy 1:16 Big Idea: You cannot heal what you are ashamed to name.Freedom begins when shame loses its power. Welcome to Redemption Church. My name is Chris Fluitt, and I’m really glad you’re here. Our heart as a church is simple: to help people find and follow Jesus. We believe that happens best when we are honest about our struggles and bold about the hope we have in Him. Today we’re starting a new series called Breaking Chains: Freedom Without Shame. Breaking Chains – a sermon series from Redemption Church about addiction, habits, shame, and real freedom. If you feel stuck, tired, or unsure what’s next, I want you to hear this clearly: you are not alone, and you don’t have to stay where you are. If you feel stuck, tired, or unsure what’s next… I have good news for you!You are not alone.You are in the right place.You are in a NO SHAME zone. Before we get into today’s message, here’s where we’re headed this month. No mystery, no guessing. SERIES DIRECTION Feb 8 - Super Bowl Party + Halftime WorshipCommunity on purpose. Invite people who would never come to a normal church service. Feb 15 - Lies That Lock Us InIt’s impossible to LIVE different if you don’t BELIEVE different. Feb 22 - Becoming Free + Helping Others Break FreeFreedom that lasts. Freedom that multiplies. That’s our direction.Mark you calendar. Make plans. Invite your friends! BREAKING CHAINS GUIDE Freedom Without Shame – a free guide from Redemption Church to help you understand addiction, habits, and shame and take next steps toward real change. Alongside this series, we created a short Freedom Without Shame guide. It’s science-informed and Scripture-aligned. It walks through things like: Why willpower alone usually fails How the brain learns patterns and chains Why shame makes change harder, not easier Why environment, identity, and community matter so much You’ll see a QR code on the screen.Download the guide.Take 10 minutes with it this week.Share it with others. We do not just want you inspired on Sunday.We want you equipped for real change. Let’s get into today’s message. We’re calling today: Name the Chain. Break the Shame. Name the Chain, Break the Shame – Week 1 of the Breaking Chains series at Redemption Church. Everyone has a chain.Everyone knows shame. Most people carry both in silence. I want to start by saying this: I know what it is like to have chains and shame. I’ve fought several addictions in my life. And I’m not telling you that for shock value. I’m telling you that because I get it. Fighting habits takes a lot of energy and focus.You can white-knuckle it for a while. You can make promises. You can try harder. But fighting shame is different.Shame doesn’t just say, “You did something wrong.”Shame says, “There’s something wrong with you.” And once shame gets its hooks in, it pushes you into hiding.It convinces you to stay quiet.It tells you you’re the only one.It tells you if people really knew, they’d walk away.And sometimes it even tells you God is done with you. And as long as shame stays in control, chains stay in place. Let’s be real. Most of us are not cruising through life. We’re coping. Get Real Stats 74% of American adults started the year trying to change at least one habit. Most people want to change something. Psychologists estimate about 45% of our daily behavior is habitual. Almost half of what we do runs on autopilot. Habits run our life! National health data shows 1 in 6 people have a substance use disorder. The majority of people experience shame around their struggles and failures. Shame is one of the main reasons people hide instead of ask for help. Confession and communication bring positive effects in the majority of cases. People who honestly talk or write about painful experiences often see measurable improvements compared to people who keep everything inside. Now, it’s easy to hear those numbers and think,“Yeah, that’s the world out there. But we’re Christians. We’re different.” But being in church does not erase this struggle. Followers of Jesus wrestle with habits, addictions, and shame too. So this is not just a “them” problem.It’s an “us” problem. Whether it’s obvious or hidden, each of us is dealing with a chain and a shame. Does God have anything to say about this subject of chains and shame? 1. God’s original design - no shame “Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” (Genesis 2:25) That was God’s design. God created the world and called it GOOD. Adam and Eve were…Fully seen. Fully known. Fully loved.No hiding. No fear. No shame.Shame was not part of God’s original plan. What changed? 2. When sin enters, shame follows. (Genesis 3) The serpent deceives.Adam and Eve disobey.And immediately everything shifts. Genesis 3:7-10 shows the pattern: Their eyes are opened They realize they are naked They sew fig leaves together to cover themselves They hide from God When God calls out, Adam says:“I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” (Genesis 3:10) Sin didn’t just break rules.Sin broke relationship. And shame was the immediate result. Here’s the cycle: Sin leads to shame.Shame leads to hiding.Hiding strengthens chains. And if the enemy can keep you hiding, he can keep you stuck. Fast forward to Jesus in John 8. 3. Jesus names chains without shaming people “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin…So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:31-36) Jesus does not minimize the chain.He names it: slavery. But He does not shame the person wearing the chain. He acknowledges the bondage, then offers freedom. Because Jesus knows something we forget: Freedom begins with honesty, not pretending. Throughout the Gospels we see this NO SHAME pattern: No Shame Pattern Jesus touches the unclean He eats with sinners He defends the woman caught in adultery He restores dignity before He corrects behavior Jesus never shamed broken people.He exposed lies so people could be healed. And on the cross, Jesus carries our shame. Shame didn’t come from Jesus.Freedom did. 4. When people are ashamed, they distance themselves “May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.” (2 Timothy 1:16) In 2 Timothy 1:16, Paul talks about a man named Onesiphorus. Look at Paul’s description of Onesiphorus… He often refreshed me and was NOT ASHAMED OF MY CHAINS. That line matters because it implies something else was happening too. Paul was in jail for “the crime” of telling others about Jesus… Some people were ashamed of Paul’s chains.Some people stayed away.Some people looked the other way.Some people did not want to be associated with him. But Onesiphorus was different. He didn’t pretend the chains weren’t there.He didn’t ghost Paul.He didn’t say, “Call me when you’re doing better.” He showed up. No embarrassment.No distancing.No avoiding. That is a picture of gospel culture. Not shocked.Not judgmental.Not stepping back. Present.Loving.Honest. So let me ask you gently but honestly: What is the chain you have been hiding in shame? Maybe it’s: porn you keep going back to and swearing you’re done with the drinking you keep justifying the weed you keep minimizing the gambling you keep hiding the anger you can’t control the scrolling you can’t stop the spending you keep covering up the secret you hope no one finds out the pattern you promised you’d never repeat the lie you keep believing about yourself or about God “Why do you have to make it awkward Pastor? Naming all of these things is awkward.” Here’s the truth: You cannot heal what you are ashamed to name. Freedom doesn’t begin when you try harder.Freedom begins when you stop hiding. That does not mean you tell everyone everything.It means you refuse to carry it alone. Maybe your first step is to write it down.Maybe it’s to say it to God in a raw, honest prayer.Maybe it’s to share it with a trusted friend, a leader, or a Connect Group. Hiding is not the path to freedom.Confession and Communication is the path. THE CULTURE WE ARE BUILDINGThis is a shame-free place. ...
Find Your Next Step with God | Start Here Week 4
https://youtu.be/qxFUzcOPwtk?si=7kLQyP5YpcJCO4l1 Are you waiting on God to show you the full plan before you move? In this message from our Start Here series at Redemption Church, Pastor Chris Fluitt teaches how God usually leads us one step at a time. Learn how to find your next step with God, walk by faith, and discover real direction for your life. Helpful Links Learn more about the Start Here series! Learn more about our next series Breaking Chains! Join a connect group! Download the Message Notes! Start Here #4 Find Your Next Step: Discover Your Direction Chris Fluitt January 25, 2026Key Scriptures: Matthew 4:18–22; Luke 9:23; Matthew 11:28–30; Psalm 119:105Big Idea: You do not need the full plan to take your next step with God. Welcome to Redemption Church in Plano Tx. Have you ever had someone try to give you directions and they give you way too much information? “You go down this road for ten miles, then you will see a gas station, then a curve, then a big tree, then a red barn, then you turn left, then there is a bridge, then another light…” About halfway through you are already thinking, “I am lost.” In real life, most of us do not actually like full map plans.Too much information makes us hesitate.Too many details make us second guess.We get confused and end up doing nothing. In real life, full maps overwhelm us.BUT LET’S BE HONEST… with God, we insist on having a full map before we move. We say things like:“God, show me how this will work out.”“God, tell me exactly where this is going.”“God, explain the whole plan, then I will obey.” We struggle with direction. Do we need the full plan, or just the next step? Do we need a full map plan?Or do we need a clear next step? A lot of us are living right in that tension. Debt – We know… but we do not know how it is all going to work, so we stay stuck and keep swiping the card. God is calling – We know… but we cannot see how it is going to turn out, so we avoid it and call it “waiting.” Get things right - We feel God nudging us toward a hard conversation, forgiveness, reconciliation, or honesty, but we cannot see the outcome, so we put it off again and again. And we end up frozen, waiting on a level of certainty that God never promised. God operates by faith. We think we require certainty. God operates by faith.We think we require certainty. While we wait for the full plan, we are missing out on the next step. Days turn into weeks.Weeks turn into months.Now the year goes by and we have not taken the next step. Start Here #4: Find Your Next Step: Discover Your Direction Start Here #4: Find Your Next Step – Discover Your Direction So how does Jesus lead people? He gives them a step. One step of obedience changes direction. 1. One step of obedience changes direction.“Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:18–22 Jesus sees Peter and Andrew, James and John doing ordinary fisherman work… and Jesus says “Come follow me…” That is it.No long briefing.No detailed future. Just a step. And they leave their nets and follow. They do not know the whole story.They only know the next move: follow Jesus. One step of obedience changes direction. 2. A simple repeatable step“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 A simple, repeatable step. Following Jesus is not one dramatic moment.It is a daily step. Deny myself today.Pick up my cross today.Follow Him today. You do not need faith for the next twenty years.You need faith for the next step. 3. A step toward peace & rest. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28–30 A step toward peace and rest. Notice the order. Come to me.Learn from me.Then you find rest. Some of us are waiting for life to calm down before we move toward Jesus. Jesus says, “Step toward me first. Walk with me. That is where rest shows up.” 4. A lamp, not a floodlight “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 A lamp, not a floodlight. A lamp does not light the whole road.It gives enough light for the next step. Step, then light.Step, then light. And sometimes, the church makes this harder than it needs to be. People walk in for the first time and we give them the full map. You need to know how to give.You need to serve.You need to get baptized.How were you baptized before?Let’s talk about repentance.The Holy Spirit.The 9 gifts of the Spirit.End times and pre-mid-or post tribulation rapture.Revelation. And they think, “What is all of this?” We are stuck in full map mode, when God is saying, “Help them take the next step.” God has already given enough light for faith. Not twenty-five things.Just the next thing. Step, then light.Step, then light. Lasting change starts today, not someday. So what does that mean for you, right now, at the end of this Start Here series? It means this: You do not need the full plan to take your next step with God. You need to respond to the step God is already putting in front of you. For some of you, your next step is spiritual: To say yes to Jesus as Lord and Savior To be baptized and go public with your faith To start opening Scripture and listening for God’s voice For some of you, your next step is relational: To forgive someone you have been holding bitterness against To reach out and say, “I need prayer. I need help.” To join a Connect Group so you are not walking alone For others, your next step is practical: To start serving instead of sitting on the sidelines To reach out for counseling, recovery, or accountability Here is a helpful question: Where do you sense the Holy Spirit drawing you forward, and at the same time fear is telling you to stay put? That tension is often your next step. The Holy Spirit pulls.Fear resists. You will not get clarity by standing still.You get clarity as you follow. As we close out this Start Here series, let’s make this simple. 3 Direction Steps #1 Name the step.What is the step the Holy Spirit is drawing you toward, even though fear is pushing back?Name it. Be real about it. #2 Tell someone. (accountability)If you are watching on livestream, put it in the chat.Text us this week.Fill out a connection card.Reach out. You do not have to do this alone. #3 Let’s pray.Right now, we are going to take a moment and pray together. Invite God to be right in the center of every next step.Ask God for courage where there is fear, clarity where there is confusion, and faith to obey. And if you have a specific prayer need, go ahead and leave it in the comments.We want to pray with you.We want to believe with you.We want to see God do great things in your life. 3 Direction Steps
Start Here – 3 – Why You Won’t Fail This Year: The Habit Fix
https://youtu.be/aU7DnH-bhDk?si=g9uxEJeSp09gJuTY Welcome to Redemption Church in Plano Tx. My name is Chris Fluitt… That is who I am… but I am really excited about who you are and who God has called you to be. Let me start with a confession. I have failed at change more times than I can count. I have made promises to God that were sincere, and then quietly broken them by Tuesday. I have started strong, felt hopeful, and then drifted right back to old patterns. Not because I did not love God.Not because I did not want to grow. But for other reasons… I failed because my habits were pulling me in a different direction than my prayers. Can you relate? We have good intentions but bad results. Good Intentions but Bad Result Stats Only 9% of Americans actually achieve their New Year resolutions. 27% of adults said lack of willpower was the biggest obstacle. Intentions account for only about 28% of our behavior. In other words, 72% of what we do is shaped by something other than willpower and good intentions. I want to introduce the title of today’s message. Why You Won’t Fail This Year - The Habit Fix. And it is so good that you are here today, because this is one of those messages that really can change how you see yourself and how you move forward. The issue has never been that you are dumb, weak or lazy.It is not that you haven’t read enough books or listened to the right podcast yet. The issue is alignment. And if we work on our alignment today, something changes.We become stronger people.We become healthier people.Our families get better.Our faith gets deeper. Not because we worked harder,but because we aligned our lives with the purpose God already has for us. God has a lot to say about this topic… Jesus was deeply realistic about human weakness. This happens the night before the cross. Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane. He asks His disciples to stay awake and pray with Him. They fall asleep. Jesus comes back and says: (Matthew 26:41, NIV) That is not condemnation.That is compassion.Jesus understands our weakness. Jesus assumes weakness, and then He builds practices around it. He says… “Abide in me.” (John 15:4) “Watch and pray.” (Matthew 26:41) “Follow me.” (Matthew 4:19) He is not telling you, “Summon more willpower.”He is inviting you, “Stay connected.” That is why Jesus used everyday pictures like vines and branches, daily bread, seeds in the soil, a lamp for the next step. He is showing us…Real change happens through slow, ordinary, repeated steps in the same direction. When you keep taking those small steps, something happens to you.You become a faithful person.You become an aligned person. That is alignment. Your heart is pointed toward your goal, and your life is set up to follow. Jesus came to invite you into alignment with Him. Alignment with His peace.Alignment with His presence.Alignment with His love.Alignment with His way of living. That is what Christianity is about. Christianity does not point you to a principle.It points you to a person. Jesus keeps saying, “Follow me.”“Abide in me.”“Come to me.” Not so you can be more religious,but so you can be more alive. And when your life is aligned with Jesus,Strength shows up when you need it.Peace shows up when anxiety hits.Wisdom shows up when decisions get hard. That is alignment. You see this in people like Daniel. Daniel here is Daniel is known for… He prayed regularly. He paid attention to God’s word. He obeyed even when it was costly. He fasted and humbled himself before God. Daniel is a prophet in the Old Testament. He is part of God’s people who were conquered and taken away from their homeland. That is what exile means. He is living in a foreign empire under pressure to fit in, to compromise, and to bow to other gods. In other words, Daniel lives in a crisis. Here is what Crisis Daniel looks like. Crisis Daniel He prayed regularly. He paid attention to God’s word. He obeyed even when it was costly. He fasted and humbled himself before God. Daniel & Crisis Daniel look the same…Daniel had a pattern. But then the crisis intensified. In Daniel 6, a law is passed: you are only allowed to pray to the king, not to God. Super Crisis Daniel (Same ole Daniel!) Daniel keeps praying to God anyway. He is arrested. And as punishment, he is thrown into a den of lions. Literally. A pit where lions are kept. The expectation is that he will not make it out. And this is probably the worst moment of Daniel’s life. So what does Daniel do? Does he say, “Oh my goodness, I need more willpower”?Does he say, “I need to intensify my faith”?Does he say, “I need to work harder, try harder, be stronger right now”? No. Here is what he does.Super Dooper Crisis Daniel He simply stays aligned. As boring as that sounds, that is what he does. He did in the lions den what he had already been doing in ordinary life. And we know about Daniel because he made it through the lions den. God shut the mouths of the lions. Daniel walked out alive. That is what alignment does. Alignment prepares you before the pressure hits.Now bring that into your world. Imagine being the kind of person who does not fall apart when life hits hard. Not because you are tougher than everybody else.Not because you have superhuman faith. But because you already have a pattern. You already have a plan.You already have a system.You already have habits that hold you up when emotions get loud. So when the diagnosis comes, you do not collapse.When the marriage gets strained, you do not drift.When the temptation shows up, you do not get taken out.When the pressure hits at work, you do not self destruct.When anxiety spikes, you do not spiral. Because you are not trying to become strong in the moment. You have been aligning for weeks.For months.For years. And that is what makes you steady when everybody else is scrambling. Life will bring a lions den moment. And what you do in that moment will be shaped by what you have been practicing in the ordinary. So the question becomes, how do we actually live aligned like that? Not in theory.Not in church language. But in real life, on Monday morning, when stress hits and old habits start pulling. Modern habit research has discovered something Jesus has been teaching all along. James Clear (Atomic Habits) describes habits as a simple four part loop. Whether you notice it or not, this loop is shaping your life every day. 1. Cue - What triggers the habit This is the signal. It might be stress, boredom, a certain time of day, a place, or a feeling. 2. Craving - What you want from it Not the habit itself, but the feeling you hope it will give you. Relief.Comfort.Control.Escape.Belonging. The question is not if you crave.The question is what you crave. 3. Response - what you actually do This is the behavior. You scroll.You drink.You snap.You overeat.You avoid God. 4. Reward – The payoff reinforcement This is what keeps the loop going. These are 4 steps to a habit… And here is where most of us mess up. We try to rip out the habit, but we never address the reward. Here is the shift. You do not just break habits.You replace rewards. Jesus offers better rewards. Rest for your soul.Peace that lasts.Joy that is not fragile.A clean conscience.Real connection with God. It is like that song “Your Way’s Better” by Forrest Frank.Listen to it this week. Sing it. Declare it.“Your way’s better.” I hope you start to believe that. Here is the framework we want everyone to use this week.We will put this on the handout so you can write it down.PRACTICAL HABIT FIX When I notice (cue)__________,I will choose (new response)__________,because I want (better reward)__________.To make this easier, I will change my environment by __________. This is not about perfection.It is about alignment. Jesus is inviting you to arrange your life so that following Him becomes normal, not heroic. So here is the invitation today. Not to promise God more.Not to feel guilty about the past. But to build one pattern with God. Before you leave, do these 3 Action Steps Identify one habit you want to change. Write the cue, response, and reward on your handout. Right now - seek God in prayer and worship. New cue. New craving. New response. New environment.
Start Here – 2 – Burned Out on Resolutions? Small Steps, Lasting Change
https://youtu.be/8kvCh8lXkC0?si=zToYXub3_R1o3C-W Burned Out on Resolutions? Small Steps, Lasting Change January starts with big plans, but real life shows up fast. In this Start Here message, Pastor Chris Fluitt teaches how Jesus holds two things together: a big Kingdom vision and a daily plan for today. Through Matthew 6, the mustard seed parable, and the call to be faithful with a few things, you will learn Vision Stacking - a practical way to build lasting change through small, faithful steps at Redemption Church in Plano, Texas. Start Here Resources - Start Here Hub - Learn about the full Start Here series and access resources. - Download the Start Here Journal - A free 21-day, Jesus-centered journal designed to help you stay focused. - Join the Start Here Facebook Group - A private community for encouragement and accountability. Prefer to read or skim instead of watch?Below is the full message manuscript for Start Here Week 2: Burned Out on Resolutions? Small Steps, Lasting Change. Use it for study, notes, or sharing with a friend.If you are short on time, look for the Vision Stacking section - that’s the key framework. Start Here 2: Burned Out on Resolutions? Small Steps, Lasting Change Chris Fluitt January 11, 2026Key Scriptures: Matthew 6:33-34; Matthew 13:31-32; Matthew 25:14-23 (key verse 25:21); Zechariah 4:10; Psalm 37:23; Psalm 90:12Big Idea: Jesus gives us a big vision to live for and a daily plan to live by. God builds lasting change through small, faithful steps.Tagline: Dream in years, plan in months, focus on weeks, live in days. Start Here Week 2 - Burned Out on Resolutions? Small Steps, Lasting Change - Pastor Chris Fluitt Start Here 2: Burned Out on Resolutions? Small Steps, Lasting Change Chris Fluitt - January 11, 2026Key Scriptures: Matthew 6:33-34; Matthew 13:31-32; Matthew 25:14-23 (key verse 25:21); Zechariah 4:10; Psalm 37:23; Psalm 90:12Big Idea: Jesus gives us a big vision to live for and a daily plan to live by. God builds lasting change through small, faithful steps.Tagline: Dream in years, plan in months, focus on weeks, live in days. Welcome to Redemption Church in Plano Tx. My name is Chris Fluitt and I am thankful for everyone in the room and everyone online. January starts with big plans. This is the year I’m going to be consistent.This is the year I’m going to get healthy.This is the year I’m going to get my finances together.This is the year my faith is going to grow. And then real life shows up. The calendar fills up.The pressure comes back.You miss a day. Then two.Then that old feeling hits: I’m behind. I’m failing. I knew I couldn’t do it. Most fail because the plan was too big to live on an ordinary day. We talked about the plans that are too big last week… today let’s talk about the ordinary day. Here is how the Bible talks about ordinary days. Psalm 37:23 The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him. Not the leaps. The steps. Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. God cares about your days.God cares about your steps. Do we care about our steps and days?Or do we just want the end result… and we want it now! We have the desireWe struggle with follow-through. We are tired already… discouraged already… We are all or nothing…We want it all right now… or nothing. All or Nothing Stats Only 31% of Americans say they will make a New Year’s resolution or set a goal for 2026. 57% of Americans say they feel more pessimistic about the world in 2026. U.S. obesity is 40.3%, divorce around 50%, and the average household is about $136,000 in debt. Fewer goals…More pessimism…Growing problems… If you’ve felt stuck, tired, discouraged, or like you tried before and it didn’t work, you’re not crazy.You’re living in the real world. BUT Jesus has something to say about how real change actually happens. Jesus teaches us how to hold two things together that we usually separate: big vision and daily focus. Matthew 6:33 - Big vision“seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness” Jesus says, seek first God’s kingdom. That is not a small target.That’s the biggest vision possible. So what is the Kingdom of God? In simple terms, the Kingdom is God’s rule and reign.God’s ways. God’s will. God’s priorities.Lived out in real life. So Jesus raises the aim. Your goal can be more than, I just want to be better.Don’t you want to be part of something bigger than you?Don’t you want your life to matter in God’s story? That is big vision.Seek first the Kingdom. Matthew 6:34 - Daily focus“do not worry about tomorrow…” Let’s say it clearly.Jesus does not say, don’t worry about today.He says, don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will bring tomorrow’s concerns.Today has enough already.Today has a calling.Today has a next step. So Jesus gives us the balance:Big vision - the Kingdom.Daily focus - today. We need a big vision and a daily plan. But here is a problem…Here is where we often get stuck. We despise small daily things. We do not say it out loud, but we treat small progress like it doesn’t count. You lose five pounds, but you won’t mention it because you’re still thirty away, so five feels small. You read your Bible three days this week, but you wanted seven, so you call it failure. You started something new and get ten followers, but you compare it to a million-follower account, and you feel silly for being excited. You pay off one bill, but the bigger debt problem is still there, so you downplay the progress. When you despise small beginnings, you stop building. That’s why God says this… Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. (Zechariah 4:10 NLT) In context, God’s people had returned from exile and started rebuilding the temple. The people were down… God was excited! We’re not rebuilding a temple, but we are rebuilding lives.We are building something we want to last.Faith. Health. Marriage. Peace. Discipline. Purpose. God is excited about what you are starting! God does not despise small beginnings, and neither should you. Jesus backs this up in Matthew 13. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31-32 NIV) He says God’s Kingdom… the BIG VISION… is like a tiny mustard seed.Small at the start, but it grows into something that becomes a blessing. Small prayers.Small choices.Small habits.Small acts of obedience.Small steps taken consistently. Then Jesus lands this lesson in Matthew 25.. “Well done, good and faithful servant… you have been faithful with a few things.” (Matthew 25:21) So let it land: What if one of your biggest accomplishments this year was that you became faithful with a few things? Not hype. Not talk. Not a perfect streak.Faithful with a few things. And that’s the bridge into the practical. RESEARCH AND REAL LIFE And what’s interesting is that research has caught up to what Jesus is teaching. 1) Daily action plans beat motivation Researchers: when people make a specific plan for the moment, goal achievement improves by about 65%. They call it an if-then plan. It’s simple. If this happens, then I do this. It gives a 65% increase over motivation based plans. Motivation-based: It’s 6 a.m. Do I feel like working out?Daily action: It’s 6 a.m. I work out. That’s what Jesus is teaching in Matthew 6. Big vision, yes. But you live it TODAY. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Stay faithful today. 2) Real change takes longer than you want One major study found it takes about 66 days on average for a new behavior to start feeling more automatic. So if you’re on day 11 and it still feels hard, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re forming. And that connects to Jesus again. Jesus is saying: stop borrowing tomorrow’s pressure. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Take today’s next step. Stay in today long enough for faithfulness to take root. research agreeS with Jesus: big vision, daily plan, small steps, over time. Now let’s take the next step together. Motivation is like a sugar rush. It feels amazing, and then it crashes. Because motivation makes you want to do all the things. New diet. New budget. New workout. New Bible plan. New everything. But we don’t need a hundred new things. We need a simple system we can repeat. I want to show you the most motivating, unrealistic, impossible plan for life I’ve ever seen. Ron Swanson calls it the Pyramid of Greatness. Swanson Pyramid of Greatness video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIoSV-obhu4 The Pyramid of Greatness - a funny picture of motivation overload Alright. Just take a second and look at that. That is an impossible goal. No amount of motivation can push us to achieve this “Pyramid of Greatness.” And that’s why January burns people out. We start with a sugar rush of motivation and we try to do all the things. So we’re going to do something different. We’re going to build a Jesus-centered system that’s actually livable. We have…The big vision: seek first the Kingdom.The daily plan: don’t worry about tomorrow. You live in today, but you’re walking toward tomorrow. This is the system. James Clear talks about this system in his book – Atomic Habits. He calls this system - vision stacking. Vision Stacking Vision Stacking - dream in years, plan in months, focus on weeks, live in days Vision stacking is how you take a big, God-honoring vision and turn it into a daily plan you can actually live. Because here’s the truth:You can’t obey God for the whole year
Stuck Again? How to See and Move Toward Your Future | Start Here – Redemption Church
https://youtu.be/yxzCWzcn_Es?si=a7hLJaggY2CRHRuQ Every new year brings fresh hope, but for many people it also brings a familiar frustration – new calendar, same struggles. In this opening message of the Start Here series, Pastor Chris Fluitt explores what it means to feel stuck and how Jesus offers more than motivation. Through the story of Peter’s empty nets in Luke 5 and Jesus’ teaching on wise foundations in Matthew 7, this message shows how God gives direction, vision, and a new future to people who are ready to follow Him. Start Here Resources Start Here Hub – Learn about the full Start Here series and access resources to help you stay focused this year. Download the Start Here Journal – A free 21-day, Jesus-centered journal designed to help clarify direction.Join the Start Here Facebook Group – A private community for encouragement and accountability. Message Notes Start Here 1: Stuck Again? How to See and Move Toward Your FutureChris Fluitt - January 4, 2026Key Scriptures: Luke 5:1–11; Matthew 7:24, 26; Matthew 4:19Big Idea: A new year doesn’t change your life. Direction does. When a goal has a plan, it becomes vision, and vision gives every area of life a foundation that can actually last. https://youtu.be/TUg9QiuNMS8?si=IcsTPKK_7yQlZgms Looking for a Message Handout? I want you to know where this series is headed. Start Here: Tired of Resolutions? Build a Life that Lasts. Start Here is our January Sunday afternoon series at Redemption Church in Plano with Pastor Chris Fluitt, helping you move past empty resolutions and build habits and vision that last. This series is called Start Here because most people want change, but they don’t know where to begin or how to keep going. These messages build on each other, and I really want you to be here for the whole series. The next weeks: January 11 - Burned Out on Resolutions?Small steps are how lasting change actually happens. January 18 - Why You Won’t Fail This Year: The Habit FixThe right habits remove the pressure to rely on motivation. January 25 - Find Your Next Step: Discover Your DirectionClarity about where you’re headed makes the next step obvious. Start Here Journal & Facebook Group Download the free Start Here Journal and join the 21-Day Journey Facebook Group. To help you walk this out, we’ve created a Start Here Journal and a Facebook group to help you stay focused and accountable this year. Today, I’m calling this message: Stuck Again?: How to See and Move Toward Your Future Start Here – Week 1: Stuck Again? How to See and Move Toward Your Future Every January starts with hope. New year.New goals.New energy. And for a lot of us, it also starts with a quiet thought we don’t say out loud. Here we go again. New calendar. Same patterns.New intentions. Same struggles. If that’s you, hear this clearly. You are not lazy.You are not broken.You are not behind. But you might be stuck. And the question isn’t, “How do I fix everything?”The better question is, “Where do I actually start?” January exposes something about all of us. We want change, but we struggle to sustain it. Stuck Again StatisticsMost New Year’s resolutions fall into a few categories: 79% - health 61% - finances 57% - relationships/emotions 29% - relationship with God (https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/01/29/new-years-resolutions-who-makes-them-and-why/)(https://news.lifeway.com/2021/12/28/new-years-resolutions-focus-on-health-god-and-money/) 88% will abandon their New Year’s resolutions within the first two weeks. (https://www.bcm.edu/news/new-years-resolutions-why-do-we-give-up-on-them-so-quickly) “Quitter’s Day” is the second Friday in January. In 2026, that’s January 9. (https://www.thereisadayforthat.com/holidays/various/quitters-dayhttps://reclaim.ai/blog/quitters-day) Resolutions are not bad. But most resolutions sound like this:Try harder. Push more. Do better. Trying harder doesn’t give you direction. A resolution without a plan is just a wish. You don’t just need effort.You need direction.And you need a way to take steps toward that direction. You don’t just need effort.You need direction.And you need a way to take steps toward that direction. That’s the difference between resolutions and vision. Here is what Jesus says about how to build your life. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”Matthew 7:24 NIV “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.”Matthew 7:26 NIV Jesus describes two people. They heard the same words.They had the same information. You could even say it this way: They both had the same New Year’s resolution. But only one of them acted on it. The difference wasn’t desire.The difference wasn’t knowledge. The difference was whether the words shaped how they lived. Wisdom, according to Jesus, is not just hearing His words.Wisdom is putting His words into practice. Wisdom, according to Jesus, is not just hearing His words.Wisdom is putting His words into practice. And we see this play out in real life with Peter. In Luke 5, Peter has been fishing all night.Same lake. Same nets. Same effort. Nothing to show for it. Empty nets. Jesus tells him to go back out and let down the nets again.Peter obeys, and there’s a miraculous catch. Jesus blesses what Peter was already doing. Jesus wants to bless what you are already trying to do in life. (unless it is sin) Your work Your health Your relationships Your podcast, youtube channel, even a huge project like a movie But He doesn’t stop there. Jesus doesn’t just bless effort.He gives direction. He may bless what you’re doing now,and still invite you into something new. He says this to Peter: “From now on you will fish for people.”Luke 5:10 NIV Jesus doesn’t just bless Peter’s effort.He gives Peter a new direction. Peter’s life doesn’t change because he caught more fish.It changes because Jesus spoke a new future over him. You want more money, promotion, better health, a house, smoother family vibes… You are working HARD for this… but Jesus has even better. This is how Jesus leads. He doesn’t just say, “Try harder.”He says, “Follow me.” “Trust me.” (Mattew 4:19) Jesus does not come with a binder filled with rules and regulations.Jesus comes with an invitation and direction. How YOU can Start Here This is where vision becomes practical. Not everything.Not all at once.Just a place to begin. 1. Clarify your direction Before habits, before plans, ask this: What do I want God to build in me this year? Your faith.Your family.Your health.Your finances.Your relationships. Not all of them.One or two that matter most. Direction comes before discipline. 2. Connect simple, repeatable actions to that direction A goal without a plan is a wish.A goal with a plan becomes vision. This doesn’t mean complex.It doesn’t mean heavy.It doesn’t mean all-encompassing. It means simple, repeatable actions you can actually live with. Small steps aimed in the right direction. 3. Shift from “try harder” to “trust Jesus” Resolutions say, try harder.Jesus says, trust me. This has been my prayer this week: Jesus, I’m going to give You my effort.I’ll show up.I’ll take the steps I can take.But I’m going to trust You with the outcome. I can control my effort.I can’t control the results.But I can trust the One who leads me. musicians Who We Are Becoming This Year Now zoom out for a moment. This isn’t just about what you do.This is about who we are becoming together. We are choosing depth over hype.Direction over drift.Practice over intention. This year, we are becoming a people who: Follow Jesus daily, not occasionally Build our lives intentionally, not accidentally Trust Jesus with our effort and with the outcome We’re not trying to do everything.We’re trying to do the right things, faithfully. And we’re doing it together. How We’re Starting This Year Together Here’s how we’re responding as a church family. #1: Decide your direction. Grab a Start Here Journal.Scan the QR code or pick up a printed copy. #2: Take small, repeatable steps. Join the Facebook group.Find encouragement and accountability. #3: Make a commitment. Sign up for a Connect Group.Start a Bible reading plan. #4: Trust Jesus with the outcome. Pray, Worship and place this year in His hands. You don’t have to have it all figured out.You just have to start here. Next Steps Explore the full Start Here series on the Start Here Hub Download the Start Here JournalJoin the Start Here Facebook Group
The Jesus Playbook – 3 Keys to a Great Year
https://youtu.be/1-6Q1_OkWsM?si=oJIxfxaDCwrdaOrj /* Your CSS code goes here */ p { color: #000000; } This is Redemption Church of Plano, Texas. We worship together on Sunday evening and we are seeing God do great things. My name is Chris Fluitt We are so glad you are here! Follow along with us: https://tinyurl.com/33vpxvrk Next week, we’re starting a brand-new series called Start Here. A lot of people head into a new year with good intentions…but no real plan.They want change, growth, clarity, peace – but they don’t know where to begin. So instead of saying, “Try harder,”we’re asking a better question:Where do I actually start? This series is about learning how to take one small, intentional step at a time and build a life that lasts – spiritually, relationally, and practically – with Jesus at the center. Get out your phones and check out these two resources! To help with that, we’ve created a Start Here eBook that goes along with the series.It’s simple. It’s practical. And it’s designed to help you apply what we’re talking about week by week, not just hear it and forget it. We’ve also created a Start Here Facebook group where people can walk through this together – encouragement, accountability, prayer, and real-life stories. Because growth happens better together than alone. If you want to: Download the free eBook Join the Facebook group Share it! No pressure.No guilt.Just an opportunity. Alright – let’s jump into today. Far scarier than “The Upside down” from Netfix’s Stranger Things… is your Calendar’s “The In-Between” The In-Between Christmas is over.The New Year hasn’t started yet. And most people drift in the in-between. During Christmas to New Year, people slept 24 minutes more per day and sedentary time increased by 12 minutes per day.(https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10928835/) On New Year’s Eve, TV viewers watched 105 billion minutes of programming. The second-most viewed day of the year behind the Super Bowl.(https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2024/tv-usage-rises-in-december-video-gaming-drives-big-gains/) Christmas holidays are a high-risk period for physical inactivity and weight gain, and research shows that people gain about 1 to 2 pounds over the holiday season.(https://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/news/2022/december/active-advent-bmj/) Most people drift in the in-between. But Jesus never invited people to drift.He invited people to follow. Jesus didn’t leave us guessing about what matters most.He gave us a playbook for life. We are calling today’s message The Jesus Playbook: 3 Keys to a Great Year Not complicated.Not overwhelming. Simple. Clear. Life-shaping. Three great priorities that lead to a great year. Why do we need a playbook? Every year, people want the same things. More peace.More purpose.Better relationships.A stronger faith. The problem is not desire.The problem is direction. If you don’t decide what matters most, everything competes. Jesus shows us what to build around. When you read the Gospels, Jesus doesn’t overwhelm people with hundreds of priorities.He keeps bringing them back to what really matters. There are moments where Jesus Himself uses the word great.And there are moments where believers throughout history, looking back, recognized the greatness of what Jesus said and did. So today, we’re going to look at three things Jesus revealed as foundational – things that shape the heart, the mission, and the daily walk of every believer. GREAT #1 – THE GREAT COMMANDMENT(Matthew 22:37-40) In Matthew 22, an expert in the law tried to test Jesus. He asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law.” There are 613 laws in your Old Testament…Ceremonial laws…Civil governing laws…Moral laws…Laws that say DO THIS…Laws that say DO NOT DO THIS…It is complicated… and the question is which is greatest. Jesus doesn’t flinch. Jesus isn’t caught off guard. He says this… “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”“And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”“All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”Matthew 22:37–40 NIV Jesus calls this the greatest commandment. Not two competing commands.One great commandment with two inseparable directions. Love God fully.Love people genuinely. You cannot separate them. You don’t love God deeply while avoiding people.And you don’t truly love people without God shaping your heart. This is why faith was never meant to be lived alone. Growth doesn’t happen best in rows.It happens in circles. You don’t need to know everyone.But you do need to know someone. This is why community matters. When love is real, it moves us outward. GREAT #2 – THE GREAT COMMISSION (Matthew 28:19-20) Jesus had been crucified and buried.Jesus rose from the dead.And now moments before He ascends to Heaven in Matthew 28 he says these great words… “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…Matthew 28:19-20 NIV Jesus doesn’t say, “Sit and observe.”He says, “Go.” Faith that stays private eventually grows weak.Faith that moves outward grows strong – it is fruitful and it multiplies. God did not give you gifts and talents by accident.He gave them on purpose. Not just so you could attend church.But so you could build it. This is where purpose wakes up and faith comes to life! Before Jesus sent people out, He invited them in. GREAT #3 – THE GREAT INVITATION(Matthew 4:19) What does it look like for Jesus to invite you in? Is it complicated or simple? “Come, follow me.” -Matthew 4:19 NIV Not follow rules.Not follow religion. Follow me. Christianity is not behavior modification.It is relationship transformation. Following Jesus is daily.Ordinary.Faithful. Not perfect.Consistent. Prayer.Scripture.Obedience. One step at a time. 3 Greats – Commands to love, to Go serve and share, to follow… As you look toward next year, don’t ask,“What do I want to change?"Ask, “What do I want to commit to?” Because what you commit to shapes who you become. Jesus gives us clarity. Love God and love people Go, serve, and share Follow Jesus daily This is the Jesus Playbook. Notice how simple it is?Let’s stop making things so difficult… Notice that if Jesus calls us to these greats… shouldn’t we do them?What if we build 2026 on what Jesus calls great? (Call to Action) What if this in-between season doesn’t end the way it usually does? What if we don’t drift into the new year?What if we don’t just sit, wait, and hope something changes? What if we decide? Because a great year doesn’t happen by accident.It’s built on decisions. And the number one decision that will shape your faith this yearis whether you do it alone or in community. CONNECT GROUPS – THIS IS THE MOMENT If you want a stronger faith this year,you need people around you. Jesus didn’t form an audience.He formed a group. This semester – January through April – we’re launching Connect Groups with a clear beginning and a clear end. Not forever.Not for life.Just for a semester. And today, we need three kinds of yes: Join a group Host a group Lead a group All three matter. The Great Commandment, the Great Commission, and the Great Invitation are lived out best in community. What’s One Way You’re Deciding Not to Drift? • Join a Connect Group• Lead a Connect Group• Host a Connect Group• Join the Dream Team• Take My Next Step with Jesus• Share My Faith• Give My Gifts to Make a Difference HOW WE’RE RESPONDING TODAY I’m inviting you to move. In the prayer space, there are tables with notecards and pens. When you come forward grab a card & pray. Write: Your name And one decision you’re making so you don’t drift into this year I’m done talking. It’s time to move. It’s time to decide. It’s time to stop drifting and take up the Jesus Playbook. Come.
Messy Beautiful Christmas – 3 – Can I Find Hope in this Mess?
Christmas is often presented as neat, quiet, and resolved. But for many people, December 25th comes and goes, and life is still messy. Problems don’t disappear overnight. Questions remain. Pain lingers. /* Your CSS code goes here */ p { color: #000000; } In week three of our Messy Beautiful Christmas series, we asked a simple but honest question: Can I find hope in this mess? Walking through the early life of Jesus, we see that the mess didn’t disqualify Him - it confirmed Him. God was at work through detours, disruption, and uncertainty, fulfilling His promises in ways no one expected. And that same hope is still available today, right in the middle of whatever you’re walking through. Watch the Message Recap https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Y8JPOqcyQaE Check out our recap. This video offers a brief recap of Sunday’s message and celebration at Redemption Church. We reflected on the baptism we celebrated and the message Can I Find Hope in This Mess? – a reminder that the mess didn’t disqualify Jesus, it confirmed Him. If you’re walking through a season that still feels unresolved, this message is for you. https://youtu.be/GEUXZIZF_PU?si=LpfoVpz_iFrR3rzM Message Overview This message was preached by Chris Fluitt on December 21, 2025, as part three of our Messy Beautiful Christmas series at Redemption Church. As you read through this message, our prayer is that God meets you right where you are and reveals the hope He is already working in your life. Blessings as you study God’s Word. Hope doesn’t wait for life to get cleaned up. God meets us in the middle of the mess. Message Notes /* Your CSS code goes here */ p { color: #000000; } This is Redemption Church of Plano, Texas. We are so glad you are here!It is amazing time of year and we are so glad to spend it with you. Merry Christmas!My name is Chris Fluitt, and I pray blessings on every one of you. Download the Message Handout: https://tinyurl.com/srjm7wxp I am going to start with something real… For most of us… December 25th didn’t fix anything. The calendar turned.The decorations came down.And the situation stayed the same. You were hoping Christmas would bring relief.Instead, it just reminded you how unresolved things still feel. And that leads to a deeper question. Can I find hope in this mess? Can hope still work when nothing has changed?Can hope hold when the story is unfinished?Can faith stay alive when the mess hasn’t moved? Because that’s where many of us are living right now. Hope is Hard to Find For the first time ever, fewer than 30% of Americans say their mental health is “excellent.” (Gallup) https://news.gallup.com/poll/700079/mental-health-ratings-continue-worsen.aspx 49,316 people died by suicide in the U.S. in 2023, about one death every 11 minutes. (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/data.html 45% of Americans say they would rather live in the past than the future. Only 14% chose the future. (Pew Research Center) https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/12/11/far-more-americans-say-theyd-like-to-live-in-the-past-than-in-the-future/ What a mess! If that’s where we are, then maybe the question isn’t, “What’s wrong with us?”Maybe the real question is, “What kind of hope does God offer in a world like this?” Because messed up world is exactly the kind of world the Christmas story was born into. What’s often missed in the Christmas story is this: The mess doesn’t end when Jesus is born. We have very sweet nativity scenes… Jesus is born and everyone is happy. It gives “and they all lived happily ever after vibes.” We picture calm. Peace. Stillness. But the truth is this: The mess doesn’t end when Jesus is born. If anything, the mess multiplies. Let’s walk through 3 messes. Mess #1: Bethlehem Jesus is born in Bethlehem, not because it’s convenient, but because it’s required. Mary and Joseph don’t live there.They’re forced there by a government order. Stressful.Disruptive.Unplanned. A mess. Jesus is born… they are still in Bethlehem. They still have no place to go… there is still no room for them in any inn… and Jospeh, Mary, and Baby Jesus seem to be forced to stay in Bethlehem for several months.- until the magi/wisemen come… Then things get worse… Mess #2: Egypt “King” Herod wants Jesus dead. (We talked about that last week.)So God warns Joseph in a dream. (Matthew 2:14) They become refugees.They leave everything familiar. For this season, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were asylum seekers, fleeing danger to find safety in another nation. This is another mess. Mess after mess.. Finally relief… Herod R.I.P. Now finally, there’s relief. “king” Herod dies. It’s time to go home. But Matthew tells us this: (Matthew 2:22) Archelaus was one of Herod the Great’s sons.Violent. Unstable. So dangerous that Rome eventually removed him from power. Mess #3: Nazareth Another detour.Another disruption.Another mess. Joseph wants to go one way.God redirects him again. And they settle in Nazareth - a small, overlooked town that was never part of the plan. Not important.Not impressive.Not expected. Just messy. Mess after mess, after mess. Bethlehem…Egypt…Nazareth… The Message Hidden in the Mess So… who cares? Life is hard. Things go wrong. They had problems. Big deal. What’s the point of all this mess? Here’s the point. There is a message hidden in the mess. And if you miss it, you miss what God was doing. Let’s walk back through it one more time. Bethlehem. They didn’t choose it. They were forced there. But Scripture had already said: “But you, Bethlehem… out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.” (Micah 5:2) The Bethlehem mess was prophesied hundreds of years in advance. Egypt. They fled in fear. They crossed a border to survive. But God had already spoken: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Hosea 11:1) The Egypt mess was part of God’s message. Again prophesied hundreds of years in advance. Nazareth. Not impressive. Not expected. Not the dream. And Matthew tells us: “So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.” (Matthew 2:23) Matthew is underscoring a Messianic prophecy from Isaiah 11:1. “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” (Isaiah 11:1, NIV) Branch – Netzer – Nazereth The Hebrew word for Branch is netzer. Nazareth is a town that shares the name of that messianic prophesy about the Branch. Three messes. Three detours. YET Three fulfilled promises. What felt random wasn’t random. What felt like chaos wasn’t chaos. The mess wasn’t in the way of God’s plan. The mess was the way God plan was fulfilled. Mary and Joseph couldn’t see it in the moment. But we can see it now. Because they went through the mess… we can see the message. We can trust and believe that Jesus is the messiah and savior of the world. Jesus fulfills 3 of these promises…Born in Behlehem.Drawn out of Egypt.And the Branch from the town of the Branch – Nazareth. And here’s why this matters to you. God usually reveals the meaning after the mess, not during it. The season you’re frustrated with may be the season God is using. You may not understand your mess yet. But that doesn’t mean it’s meaningless. That’s why hope doesn’t come from having answers. Hope comes from trusting the God who’s still writing the story. Here’s the truth. The mess didn’t disqualify Jesus.It confirmed Him. And the mess you’re walking through right now is doing more than you realize. WHEN YOUR MESS BECOMES SOMEONE ELSE’S HOPE Sometimes your mess isn’t just shaping you.It’s showing others that God can be trusted. Your kids learn hope by watching how you handle pressure.Your friends learn hope by watching how you trust God in uncertainty.Your coworkers learn hope by watching how you endure. The financial mess you’re navigating might teach someone else how to depend on God.The season you wish would end might help someone else believe. That’s exactly how Jesus lived. People didn’t find hope because Jesus avoided suffering.They found hope because He entered it. He touched the broken.He ate with sinners.He walked straight into pain. And the cross, the greatest mess, became the greatest hope. And when Jesus rose from the grave, He opened the way for new life. That’s what baptism represents. Going under the water is a picture of death.Coming out of the water is a picture of resurrection. It’s saying, “My old life is buried, and I’m stepping into new life with Jesus.” Not because everything is fixed.Not because the mess is gone. But because hope has a name.And His name is Jesus. And here’s the invitation: You can have this. You don’t have to clean yourself up first.You don’t have to have it all figured out.You don’t have to wait for the mess to be over. God has come to give you new life. Today, Xavier Schniefer has received this hope. And today, in a few minutes, he’s being baptized. His story isn’t perfect.His life isn’t problem-free. But he’s saying, “Jesus, I trust You with my life.” And if God can meet Xavier in his mess,He can meet you in yours. And if you’re here today thinking,“I want that. I need that. I’m ready for that,”you can respond too. Baptism is available.Prayer is available.Hope is available. So where do you need hope today? Not after it’s fixed.Not when it makes sense. Right now. You don’t need answers to have hope.You need trust. Hope grows when you trust God while the story is still being written. AN INVITATION TO HOPE Here’s what I want to invite you to do. 1. Pray that hope is revealed in you, right in the middle of your mess....
Messy Beautiful Christmas – 2 – At War this Christmas-Searching for Peace
https://youtu.be/rSdpUcy4To4?si=1f7MEBcUUHXBrsyi /* Your CSS code goes here */ p { color: #000000; } This is Redemption Church of Plano, Texas. We are so glad you are here! Merry Christmas!My name is Chris Fluitt, and I welcome everyone in the room and everyone online. I come bearing gifts. We put together a simple Christmas Reset eBook. There are over 25 prophecies we highlight. We show the Old Testament prophecy and reveal the New Testament fulfillment. Follow along with us: https://tinyurl.com/4jtps4kd Today we are in the 2nd week of our Christmas series: Messy Beautiful Christmas Some Christmases feel like a Hallmark movie. A big city lawyer. Power suit. No time for love.She flies home for the holidays. Her car breaks down in Small Town, USA.She meets a handsome guy who owns a Christmas tree farm, or a bakery, or both.There’s a snowball fight. A town parade. A misunderstanding.Then one meaningful speech and one kiss later, everything is healed. And the lawyer now wears Plaid. That is one kind of Christmas. But some Christmases feel more like Die Hard.Or a Christmas version of Game of Thrones. Because this season is loud.Pressure. Tension. Schedules. Money. Family. Grief. Anxiety.Work stress that follows you home.And yes, even food stress and weight gain fear. So this Christmas, we need more than holiday vibes. We need something stronger than that. We need peace. Peace is Greater Than a Vibe I want to tell you today that peace is greater than a vibe. We get caught up in the vibe and we miss what is most important. I don’t have to tell you this is a stressful time of year. We already know. The signs are everywhere. Christmas Battlefield Stats 41% of U.S. adults say they expect more holiday stress this year than last year.(https://www.psychiatry.org/News-room/News-Releases/Americans-More-Anxious-About-the-Holidays) 64% of people living with mental illness say the holidays make their condition worse. (https://www.nami.org/Blogs/From-the-CEO/December-2021/The-Most-Difficult-Time-of-The-Year-Mental-Health-During-the-Holidays) 15% overall increase in heart attacks during the winter holidays, with a 37% spike on Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve).(https://newsroom.heart.org/local-news/heart-attack-deaths-spike-during-the-winter-holidays) So if Christmas feels like a battlefield right now, you are not crazy. Our world keeps offering “peace” as a vibe…But a vibe cannot hold up in a battlefield. At War This Christmas? Searching for Peace Let’s dive into what God says about this. Luke 2 starts by naming who’s in charge. “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree…” (Luke 2:1) This is Roman rule. Occupation. Power. Injustice. Rome loved the word peace, but their version was simple.Roman Peace - Kill enough people, crush enough resistance, make everybody surrender, and then call it peace. Aren’t you glad heaven’s peace is not like that? Jesus says He gives peace… but not like the world gives. (John 14:27) But hear this. Heaven’s peace is not a cozy slogan vibe. It’s announced in a time of war because it is a declaration of war. Heaven’s peace is a declaration of war.Not war against people..War against darkness.War against fear.War against sin.War against death. “King” Herod And it was so much a war that when an earthly king named Herod heard about a child born who was called King and Messiah, he treated it like a threat to his throne. He ordered the killing of the baby boys in Bethlehem because he feared another King had arrived. (Matthew 2:16-18) And here’s what’s wild. Instead of Luke taking us to kings going to war, Luke takes us to shepherds working the night shift. Luke 2:10 (NIV) Notice the first words of heaven in this story. Not “try harder.”Not “do better.”Not “get your act together.” It’s: “Do not be afraid.” And Jesus never led with “try harder” either. He did not look at a widow dropping in two tiny coins and say, “Give more. Be wealthier.” He honored her faith. (Mark 12:41-44) He did not look at a man who could not walk and say, “Be stronger.” He moved toward him and raised him up. (John 5:1-9) He did not look at the worn out and broken and say, “Fix yourself.” He said, “Come to me.” (Matthew 11:28) Now listen to the reason they don’t have to be afraid. Luke 2:11 (NIV) “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” That’s the reason.That’s the joy. A Savior.The Messiah.The Lord. A new King has arrived.A new kingdom has arrived. The presence of a King in another kingdom is an act of war. If we reduce Christmas to a vibe, we miss the story. The original Christmas is a rescue invasion. A freedom mission.What if the original Christmas story is a little more like Die Hard?What if it’s a little more like Game of Thrones? Because a new King has arrived.And a new kingdom has arrived. Then the angels say peace, and we have to notice where it’s announced. Not in a palace.Not in the Oval Office or the United Nations.Not in a quiet chapel or a decorated cathedral.Not in a perfectly decorated home with matching pajamas and no problems. Peace is announced in a dark field, to working people, impoverished people, overlooked people, to hearts that are shaking, in a world under occupation and injustice. And then comes a verse that is key for us today. Luke 2:12 (NIV) This is not just information. This is an invitation. You will find. They had to go & find.Meaning they had to move.They had to search.They had to find the Savior for themselves. This Christmas story is a war story.It is not a mistake that your Christmas feels like a battle. So what do you do when you’re at war this Christmas? War Weary Christmas 1) Stop ignoring your fear. Name your fear. If the shepherds were terrified, you can be honest. Name it. Bring it into the light. 2) Receive the good news personally “A Savior has been born to you.” Not to perfect people.To you. 3) Go and find Jesus. Take your next step toward Him. The angels said you will find. The shepherds went and found. So do not just hear this. Move toward the Savior. 4) Make Jesus your King, and go to war against what is killing you. If Jesus is King, you stop making peace with what is destroying you. Time to go to war against depression.Against anxiety and mental illness.Against addiction.Against poverty and hopelessness.Go to war for your marriage.For your mind.For your family. Not with hype. Not with willpower.With a King. With a new kingdom. With a new way of life. One Call: Come and Find Here’s the temptation. To calm down, look at pretty pictures, listen to soft music, and soak up the vibes. But the angels did not show up to calm, cozy people.They showed up to people afraid, confused, in darkness, and without hope. And the answer was not “just relax.”The answer was: go and find. So in a moment we’re going to sing, but we’re not singing to catch a vibe. Before you step back into your schedule, back into work, back into school, back into family chaos - take a moment and go find Jesus and bring Him back into the center of your life. And hear me: this is not “try harder.”This is not “five things to do better this week.”This is not “ten religious tasks to add to your to do list.” This is surrender. We are singing to find a God that is with us and God that is for us. So as we sing: come and find.If you need peace, come and find.If you need prayer, come and find.If you need freedom, come and find.If you need to make Jesus your King, come and find. Because peace is more than a vibe.Peace is the King taking ground in your life.
Messy Beautiful Christmas – 1 – Missing Something or Someone this Year?
https://youtu.be/Z2SKlEWLoMs?si=sGHGZ6htYC8TGXVF /* Your CSS code goes here */ p { color: #000000; } Christmas doesn’t have to be picture-perfect to be powerful. Welcome to Redemption Church of Plano, Texas. Merry Christmas to everyone in the room and everyone joining online. My name is Chris Fluitt, and I am excited about the Christmas season. /* Your CSS code goes here */ p { color: #000000; } Redemption Church Christmas Party We kicked things off Friday night with our Redemption Church Christmas Party - El Norte fajitas, a mariachi band, fun games, and Ricky Nolan rocking in a winter wonderland. Christmas Reset eBook Also, if you have not yet grabbed it, we put together a short Christmas Reset eBook. If you are wondering what Christmas is really about, this little book walks through 25 promises about Jesus and how He really is the Savior of the world. You can download it free and share it. Today we start our Christmas series: Messy Beautiful Christmas Follow along with us: https://tinyurl.com/3hupprtd I do not know how Christmas looks at your house, but mine has never measured up to a Hallmark card or what I see everyone else posting on Instagram. The tree is perfect, the outfits match, everyone is laughing in slow motion, it is snowing but somehow nobody is cold. And then you look at your own life and think, “Yeah… no. That is not us.” There have been years where, if you snapped a picture at 3 p.m., it would look beautiful. But if you could see what happened at 2:59 p.m., you would see me threatening my kids not to hit each other, to stand still, and for Heaven’s sake smile so your mom can have at least one good picture. What is really going on is not so pretty. And if you could see what is happening in people’s hearts, you would see that for a lot of us, Christmas is not just busy - it is painful. THE ACHE OF WHAT IS MISSINGLet’s be honest. A lot of us are walking into this Christmas season with a quiet ache. Some of you are already feeling it and it is only the beginning of December. For some of you, it is grief: Grief Someone you love is gone This is the first Christmas without them Or the second or third, and it still hurts For some of you, it is absence: Absence A parent who never showed up A child who is far from God A friend you are not talking to anymore A spouse who left For others, it is lack: Lack A stable job A certain income A clear sense of calling A healthy body A stronger faith And on top of that, there is a layer of guilt: Guilt "I should be able to handle this.""I should be stronger than this.""It is Christmas, I should be happier than this." If you are really honest, you might even feel unqualified for God right now. Unqualified You might think: "If God is going to show up anywhere, it will be with people whose lives are more together than mine. Not with me. My life is too empty, too chaotic, too complicated." But the first Christmas was not a story about people who had everything they needed. It was a beautiful mess, full of empty places that God chose to fill. Messy Beautiful Christmas: Missing Something or Someone This Christmas? Let’s look at the story with that lens: missing, lacking, emptiness... and a God who shows up unexpectedly. 1. No room, no space, no comfort, no support (Luke 2:6-7) Luke 2:6-7 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Mary and Joseph are doing exactly what they have been told to do. They obey the government census. They obey God. Mary is full-term pregnant. They are carrying the Son of God - and when they arrive, there is no room. No room at the inn. No space that feels dignified. No obvious support system. If you and I were writing the story, this would be the easiest part to fix. “Come on God, just reserve them a room at the Marriott. Put a little ‘Reserved for Messiah’ sign on the door.” Instead: They are away from home. The city is overcrowded. There is no room. The Son of God is born in a place where animals live. From the outside, it looks like they are missing what they most obviously need: a room, a bed, a safe and quiet place. But what they do have is the presence of God in the middle of what looks like lack. And that is the pattern of Christmas: Even when you do not have what you think you need, God still shows up in the empty places. 2. Mary - impossible news in imperfect conditions (Luke 1:26-38) Luke 1 tells us the angel Gabriel shows up to a young woman in a small town, Nazareth. No status. No big platform. No perfect conditions. Luke 1:28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” That sounds like everything is about to get easier, but Mary is “greatly troubled” at his words. Then Gabriel proceeds to drops the news: you will conceive, you will give birth, you will name him Jesus, he will be great, his kingdom will never end. From where Mary is standing, nothing about her life looks ready for this. She is not married yet She will be misunderstood She will face gossip and shame She is missing the Instagram story… stability, respectability, and the neat little story we think we need for God to use us. But God is not apologizing for the timing. He is not waiting for better conditions. He is simply saying, “The Lord is with you.” At the same time Mary’s life gets more complicated, God gets closer. If your life is getting more complicated, it might not be proof that God left. It might be a sign that he is moving closer. 3. Joseph - disappointment, confusion, disrupted plans (Matthew 1:18-25) Matthew 1 says Mary "was found to be pregnant." That is a nice, gentle way of saying Joseph’s world just fell apart. He knows the baby is not his. As a righteous man, he decides to quietly end the engagement instead of publicly shaming her - or worse. In that culture, some could even be put to death for unfaithfulness. Joseph thought he knew how his story was going to go: Plan the wedding Build a home Start a family Now he is missing: Trust Clarity The future he planned His heart is broken. His plans are wrecked. He is getting ready to walk away. Matthew 1:20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Then God gives purpose to the mess: Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” From Joseph’s point of view, he is losing everything he thought he had.From God’s point of view, Joseph is being invited into the center of the greatest story in history. What looked like a disaster was actually a doorway. 4. The truth: God fills empty places with his presence Put it together: No room in the inn No perfect conditions for Mary No clear plan for Joseph Lack.Confusion.Disappointment.Empty places everywhere. And in the middle of all that, God is not absent. God is right there. Christmas is not a story about people who had everything together. Christmas is a story about people who did not have what they needed, did not understand what was happening, and God stepped in anyway. That is the big idea for today: Even when you don’t have what you need or who you need, God still shows up in the places that feel empty. You know who best exemplifies this truth? Jesus does! Everywhere he goes, people are lacking something. A crowd with not enough food. A wedding with not enough wine. Disciples with no way through the storm. Sick and broken people with no power to fix themselves. They do not have what they need - but they do have Jesus. And because Jesus is there, everything changes. Five loaves and two fish become more than enough. Water becomes wine when the party has already run out. The storm goes silent at his word. Bodies are healed, sins are forgiven, the dead are raised. His presence in the middle of lack is the answer. This is the Jesus Pattern! So why are we so surprised when our lives look the same?Why are we shocked when we find ourselves in situations where we clearly do not have enough, but Jesus is inviting us to trust that his presence is still enough? Christmas is not God saying, "Fix what is missing and then come to me."Christmas is God saying, "Come to me with what is missing, and watch what my presence can do." So let’s bring this into your life. Where do you feel the ache of what is missing this Christmas? Where do you feel like Mary?You are facing impossible news in imperfect conditions, and you are thinking, "I do not have what it takes for this." Where do you feel like Joseph?You are staring at disappointment, and the future you planned just got disrupted. Where do you feel like there is "no room" in your life?No support in your life?No room in your schedule, budget, relationships, emotional energy… The Hallmark Instagram pattern is to fix everything yourself… fake it ‘til you make it… None of that has worked for us. Let’s try something different! Bring your lack to God and trust His presence to meet you there. Not when it is fixed. Not when it is neater. Right now. For some of you, this is about faith & salvation. Bring your lack of certainty and watch God’s presence change you. For some of you, this is about time and energy.Bring your lack of margin and watch God’s presence give you rest. For some of you, this is about money....
Thanks in Advance – 5 – What to do When You’re Running on Empty
https://youtu.be/9amByrOY0SM?si=d46wVL0Zzrs7O6lb /* Your CSS code goes here */ p { color: #000000; } Welcome to Redemption Church of Plano, Tx. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. My name is Chris Fluitt and am excited about the season.Our Christmas Series starts Next Sunday.We have a Christmas Party this Friday!We have a brand new eBook to download. Today we are going finish up our Thanks in Advance series. Have you ever hit that moment when you realize… I’m running on empty? Empty energy.Empty motivation.Empty joy.Empty peace.Empty spiritually.Empty emotionally. And it doesn’t usually happen all at once.We leak over time. Today I want to talk to you about:What To Do When Running On Empty If you feel empty today, you are not alone… And you are not disqualified.You are actually perfectly positioned for Jesus. The Middle: Not Empty… Not Full A lot of us walk through life living in the middle: Not completely empty…but definitely not full. Not totally burned out…but not burning bright. Not spiritually dead…but not truly fully alive. Not falling apart…but not thriving. Not hopeless…but not joyful. Not drowning…but barely keeping our head above water. Here’s the real issue: We’ve made “barely getting by” our finish line. We’ve normalized running low.We’ve accepted living thin.We’ve adjusted our expectations to “just enough.”We function… but we don’t flourish. We’re alive…but are we fully alive? Deep down… we know there must be more. If this is how we’ve been living…we’ve got to ask:What does Jesus want for us? Let me show you something from the ministry of Jesus.There is a pattern that appears everywhere: People come empty.Jesus fills.But He never stops at filled.Jesus brings overflow. Watch how consistent this is… 1. Feeding of the 5,000 - overflow (Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–15)They came hungry.Jesus filled them.There were 12 baskets left over.Overflow. 2. The woman at the well - overflow (John 4:1–42)She came thirsty and ashamed.Jesus filled her with living water.She ran to tell her entire village.Overflow. 3. Water into wine - overflow (John 2:1–11)They ran out at the wedding.Jesus filled the jars.The master of the banquet said,“You saved the best for now.”Overflow. 4. The miraculous catch - overflow (Luke 5:1–11; John 21:1–14)All night: empty nets.Jesus filled them.So full the boats nearly sank.Overflow. And Scripture echoes it everywhere: Psalm 23:5 – My cup overflows. John 10:10 – Life more abundantly. John 15:11 – Joy full. Psalm 34:1 – Praise continually in my mouth. Genesis 12:2 – Blessed to be a blessing. John 7:38 – Rivers flowing from within. Psalm 103:1 – Bless the Lord with all that is within me. Scripture sums this up with this powerful prayer. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13) Overflow is not extra.Overflow is the normal Christian life. So let me ask you: Is it in you?And if it is… is it overflowing from you? Hold up the empty cup. “This cup is us.” Pour a little. “We get a little peace…a little hope…a little strength…” Pour more. “Is it filled yet?” Pour more. “Is it filled yet?” Fill to the brim. “To most people, this is full.” Now pour until it spills over. “But in the kingdom of God…you don’t know it’s filled until it’s overflowing.” Overflow looks like: Gratitude overflowing Worship overflowing Generosity overflowing Hope overflowing Testimony overflowing Joy overflowing The Holy Spirit pouring through you Blessing others because you’ve been blessed A filled believer is blessed.An overflowing believer becomes a blessing. What kind of believer are you? ACTS 2 - THE ULTIMATE OVERFLOW In Acts 2, the disciples were empty and waiting.Jesus filled them with the Holy Spirit.But He didn’t stop at filled… It overflowed. They spilled into the streets.Thy spoke in tongues.They preached.They worshiped.They prophesied.Their joy and power couldn’t be contained. And that overflow touched 3,000 people -in one day. That is not barely getting by.That is not filled. That is overflow. Remember the pattern?People come empty.Jesus fills.But He never stops at filled.Jesus brings overflow. Church, listen… There are a lot of places that offer a nice worship service -a little more peace,a little more connection,a little more inspiration. But we are not here for “a little more.”We are here for overflow. You don’t need worship that warms you -you need worship that fills you until it spills out of you. And there are a lot of places offering a nice message -something to help you get through the week. But we are not aiming for “get through the week.”We insist on overflow. That’s why we call you into a prayer space.Because it is not enough to hear the Word - it must overflow from you. Overflow into your home.Overflow into your children.Overflow into your thoughts.Overflow into your relationships.Overflow all week long until you come back and overflow again. God, give us an Acts 2 overflowing of Your presence. Because it’s not enough to feel Him.It’s not enough to hear Him. It must overflow. Let thankfulness overflow.Let gratitude overflow.Let worship overflow.Let generosity overflow.Let compassion overflow.Let the Holy Spirit overflow. What you do when you’re running on empty: 1. Come to Jesus honestlyBring your emptiness.Bring your tired heart. Empty is not a failure.Empty is an invitation. 2. Receive His FillingOpen your heart.Let Him pour in what life drained out. How long has it been since the Spirit of Jesus overflowed in you? Not just enough to feel better…but enough to move you,change you,and call you into something bigger. How long has it beensince His presence stirred you so deeplythat you couldn’t keep it in? If it’s been too long - this is your moment.This is your time.Receive His filling - and let it overflow. 3. Live habits that lead to overflowOverflow is not a moment.It’s a lifestyle. Daily habits that produce overflow: Daily worship Daily gratitude Speaking Scripture Speaking life Praying out loud Serving others Staying connected Inviting the Spirit to guide your day If the Spirit is in you…the Spirit should be overflowing from you. Before we step into this prayer moment,I want us to make a plan for this week. Not a plan to survive…but a plan to overflow. Before we step into this prayer moment, I want us to make a plan for this season. We are heading into Christmas. A season where people get busier, heavier, more distracted, more overwhelmed. A season where it is easy to go through the motions... sing the songs, buy the gifts, attend the events... but stay spiritually dry on the inside. But not us.Not here.Not this year. We are not making a plan to survive this season. We are making a plan to overflow through this season. Plan for His presence. Plan for revival in your home. Plan for an outpouring of the Spirit in your mind, your schedule, and your family. Plan to see lives changed. We serve the God of more than enough - so stop settling for just enough to get by. Let’s plan to live full. Let’s plan to overflow. Let’s plan to carry the presence of God through this entire season. CALL TO ACTION: From Empty → Filled → Overflow 1. Bring your emptinessYour empty cup.Your empty strength.Bring it. 2. Receive His fillingWhatever you need… Let Him pour in peace, joy, strength, hope, Spirit, life, gratitude. 3. Step into the prayer & worship and experience overflowDon’t stay in your seat.Don’t watch from a distance. Come experience God.Come encounter His presence.Come let Him fill you -and not stop at filled -but bring overflow. This is your moment.This is where overflow begins.
Thanks in Advance – 4 – From Bitter to Better
https://youtu.be/nP3Et8oK2Gs?si=nt8_XEE1CCe6N2_Y /* Your CSS code goes here */ p { color: #000000; } Welcome to Redemption Church of Plano, Tx. We have people driving all over the Metroplex to serve and worship here. We also have people tuning via livestream from all over to receive the Word of God. My name is Chris Fluitt and I welcome you all. Follow along with: https://tinyurl.com/4996j9a2 I want to start today with a question.Have you ever had someone do you wrong, and you thought to yourself,I’m not getting over this. Maybe it was a betrayal.Maybe it was someone who lied about you.Maybe someone took advantage of your kindness. Maybe you’re sitting here today thinking of that person right now and your blood pressure just went up a little. I’ve been there.There have been moments in my life where bitterness felt justified and forgiveness felt impossible.Moments where I thought, if I hold onto this anger, at least I’m holding onto something.Because when you’ve been betrayed, something inside you wants to cling to the pain so you never forget it. But here’s what God has been teaching me:Bitterness keeps you in the pit.Gratitude pulls you into your purpose. Today we’re talking about how gratitude can take you from bitter to better. And I need this message.You need this message.And someone you know desperately needs this message. We all know what bitterness feels like. Bitterness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person gets sick.It doesn’t just break relationships. It blocks blessings.It clouds your judgment. It steals your sleep.You replay the hurt over and over, like Netflix asking,“Are you still watching this terrible moment?” Yes, bitterness, I am. And you keep pressing play. We live in a culture that rehearses hurt more than gratitude.We vent more than we thank.We scroll through everyone else’s highlight reel and feel resentful instead of grateful. Before we move on, let me show you how real and widespread this issue is. BITTER HEARTS & BROKEN HEALTH Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that chronic anger and resentment keep your body locked in fight or flight. This raises blood pressure, harms sleep, increases anxiety, and elevates the risk of heart disease. A national survey found that 62% of Americans say they need more forgiveness in their lives. Bitterness is a widespread and growing problem. Bitterness isn’t just an emotion.It’s not just something that happened to me once.Bitterness is a thief.It steals peace, steals joy, and according to the research, it even steals physical health. And here’s the truth:You can’t move forward while staring backward.You can’t step into breakthrough while holding onto bitterness.Something has to shift.Something has to break. And that brings us to one of the greatest turnaround stories in the entire Bible. Let’s talk about Joseph. Who is Joseph? (Genesis 37-50) Lived around 1800 BC One of Jacob’s 12 sons Known for his colorful robe Gifted with God-given dreams Favored by his father Hated by some of his brothers A key figure in the book of Genesis His life shows how God turns pain into purpose If anyone had a reason to be bitter, it was him. Joseph didn’t just have a bad day.He had years where everything went wrong.Betrayed by his brothers, thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused, forgotten in prison.One blow after another.A whole chapter of life filled with hurt. But through all of it, Scripture repeats one phrase: “The Lord was with Joseph.”Genesis 39:2, 21, 23 It doesn’t say Joseph felt good.It doesn’t say the situation was fair.It doesn’t say the pain wasn’t real. It says God was with him. Here’s the revelation: Bitterness says, “If God was with me, none of this would’ve happened.” Gratitude says, “The only reason I survived what happened is because God was with me.” When you’re bitter, all you see is the pit.When you’re grateful, you see the God who never left you in it. Joseph’s story doesn’t end in the pit.God raises him up to the palace.And one day, the same brothers who hurt him stand in front of him needing help. Joseph could have chosen revenge…instead, he chose restoration. He looks at them and says: You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.Genesis 50:20 Said simply: You meant evil.God meant good.You were trying to hurt me.God was always trying to help me. And this is where so many get it twisted.God did not cause the betrayal.God did not cause the tragedy.God does not paint with the brush of sin. The harm that happened in your life…The drunk driver…the abuser…the betrayal…the injustice… That wasn’t God doing something to you.That was sin operating in a broken world. God didn’t write the hurt…but God can rewrite the story. What they meant to destroy you,God can use to develop you. And look at the good that came from Joseph’s pain: It saved others. It saved his family. It preserved the line that led to Jesus. Your breakthrough isn’t just about you.God uses your healing to bless others connected to you. And Joseph’s story points forward to someone greater. Another Son who was rejected by His own people.Another Son who was betrayed for silver.Another Son who was falsely accused.Another Son who was sentenced for crimes He did not commit. But just like Joseph: What people meant for evil,God used for good. Joseph went to the pit.Jesus went to the tomb.Joseph was lifted up to the palace.Jesus was raised to life in God’s glory. Joseph saved nations from hunger.Jesus saves the world from sin. Joseph forgave his brothers.Jesus forgives us. Joseph said,“You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”Jesus said,“Father, forgive them.” (Luke 23:34) And because of Jesus, your story can turn too. Listen to me:It does not matter who is trying to hurt you,what they are planning, what they are saying, or what the enemy is trying to use against you. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) Jesus Christ can work all things for good! If Joseph’s God can redeem betrayal…If Jesus can turn a cross into salvation… Then He can take the worst thing happening in your life and work it for your good and the good of others. Great story right? But what do we do with it? How do we move from bitter to better? Here is your Gratitude Game Plan. The Gratitude Gameplan1. Refuse to replay the hurt. Every time you replay the moment, you relive the bitterness.Gratitude disrupts the replay. 2. Reframe the story.Reframing the story means seeing God in the story.Yes, the bad thing happened… but somehow you found the strength to make it through.Yes, the pain was real… but God put the right people in your life at the right time.Yes, the season was dark… but God kept your mind, kept your heart, and kept you standing.Reframing is choosing to remember that God was quietly helping you even when life was loudly hurting you.3. Respond with charity and grace. Joseph fed the very brothers who betrayed him.Jesus prayed for those who crucified Him.Gratitude frees you to bless what once broke you. When you choose gratitude over bitterness, the same presence that was with Joseph will be with you. Imagine finally letting go of the hurt that has been weighing you down. Imagine your home becoming a place of grace instead of grudges. Imagine your kids growing up where forgiveness is normal and love wins. Imagine peace settling into your heart where bitterness used to live. This is what happens when God takes you from bitter to better.And it can start today. In just a moment, we will have a space of prayer and worship.And today is special. We’re baptizing someone who we didn’t even know two months ago.He did not understand faith and the power of the gospel two months ago.God is already writing a brand-new story in him…and God can start a new story in you today. From bitter to better. And it starts by acting.It starts by doing something.You don’t drift into breakthrough.You step into it. So today, here is Your Bitter to Better Plan. YOUR BITTER TO BETTER PLAN 1. Name the hurt.Don’t be vague. Get specific.Say it honestly to God.“This is what happened. This is what hurt me.”Breakthrough begins with truth and confession. 2. Notice God in your Thanksgiving week.You’ll be around family, memories, people, and conversations.Bring God into your holiday.Look for where He is helping you, guiding you, strengthening you.And the best way to bring God into a roomis to forgive and show grace. 3. Thank God that He is with you in your story.As we worship and pray, pause and thank Him.Thank Him for His presence & help. Thank Him for rewriting your story right now.
Thanks in Advance – 3 – A Breakthrough For Your Disappointment
https://youtu.be/wuXKpPa8LtI?si=EFO14DY_S5FmQI7h /* Your CSS code goes here */ p { color: #000000; } Texts: Luke 17:11–19; Romans 1:21Big Idea: Thankfulness is the key to breakthrough. Gratitude doesn’t just heal you — it restores you. Welcome to Redemption Church of Plano, Tx. My name is Chris Fluitt and I thankful to be in the 3rd week of our series. For the handout mentioned in the message, please use the link below: http://bit.ly/4oJVchz Let’s be honest.Disappointment hits everybody. You thought the relationship was going somewhere.You thought the job was secure.You thought the open door was going to stay open. And then it didn’t. And when disappointment shows up, the first thing to leave is gratitude. You can have blessings in one area and still be disappointed in another.You can get a small victory and not even enjoy it because you are still hurting over what did not happen. And disappointment starts whispering:“God forgot you.Nothing works out for you.Why even try anymore?” But what if the key to breakthrough is not complicated?What if the thing that brings hope back is not money, opportunity, or talent? What if the key to breakthroughis thankfulness? We live in a world starving for gratitude. Starving For Gratitude: Only 22% of employees feel recognized for their work.Source: Gallup and Workhuman. (https://www.gallup.com/workplace/650174/employee-retention-depends-getting-recognition-right.aspx) 64% of people say appreciation is more important now than ever.Source: CoolLeaf Employee Recognition Statistics. (https://www.cooleaf.com/blog/20-employee-recognition-statistics-that-prove-the-power-of-appreciation) People who practice gratitude have about a 9% lower risk of early death.Source: Harvard Health reporting on the Nurses’ Health Study. (https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/gratitude-enhances-health-brings-happiness-and-may-even-lengthen-lives-202409113071) In families/relationships, feeling appreciated predicts commitment, satisfaction, and long-term stability.Source: Gratitude in relationships meta-analysis, Frontiers in Psychology. (https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1243598/full) People do not just want to be thanked.People HURT without gratitude. No wonder disappointment is everywhere. When we do not receive gratitude, we feel invisible. When we do not give gratitude, we become entitled. And when gratitude disappears, disappointment takes over. So let me ask you: Who wants breakthrough?Who wants joy back?Who wants hope back? God shows us how in Luke 17.…And it starts with thankfulness. Luke 17 tells us about ten people with a dreaded disease.Leprosy did not just make you sick.It made you untouchable. You had to live outside the community.You had to shout “Unclean” so people would not get near you.You lost your relationships, your reputation, and often parts of your body. In that isolation, they see Jesus coming. Luke 17:13 They cry out with the last strength they have. Jesus responds: Luke 17:14 Why a priest? Leviticus 14:2–3 Because of an obscure Old Testament law in Leviticus 14 where the priest had to examine a healed leper and confirm restoration. Here is what makes this incredible: We have no biblical or rabbinical record of a Jewish leper ever being healed like this.Nobody ever needed this law.Nobody even hoped for restoration.Until Jesus stepped into the story. Isn’t it great when Jesus steps into the story? Luke 17:14“As they went, they were cleansed.” Healing happened on the way.Sometimes healing happens as you obey God… SO DON’T STOP! Keep going! All Ten were cleansed.But one of them does something different… Luke 17:15-16 (NIV)One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.He threw himself at Jesus’s feet and thanked Him. He was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asks: Luke 17:17“Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” Let’s pause here. Most people never return.Most people never give thanks.Most never come back to worship. Most never pause to say thank you to God or to anyone else. For Example… I asked you the last 3 weeks to make a simple short video thanking God in advance and to post it on your social media… Have you done this? Thankfulness is the minority response. This is why worship matters.Worship is you returning to Jesus. Reading Scripture during the week is not just a religious activity.It is you returning to give thanks. Praying is you returning.Thanking God at work or at home is you returning. Watch what Jesus says to the one who returned. Luke 17:18-19 Now watch the language Luke uses for what happened: katharizō – cleansed v14Cleansed on the outside. iaomai – healed v15Physical healing - A real cure. sozo - made wellRestored, made whole, saved. Ten were cleansed.Ten were healed.And only one was restored. Now think about what restoration means. Leprosy destroyed the body.People lost feeling, lost fingers, lost toes.Skin broke open.Scars covered them. So when Jesus uses the word sozo, He is saying something bigger than healing.He is saying,“I am restoring what was lost.” Could it be that the one who returned walked away with no scars?No deformities?Nothing missing?Nothing broken?Nothing that even looked like leprosy had ever touched him? Ten got better.One got whole. Ten got the miracle.One got the Miracle Worker. Ten got their skin back.One got his life back. And the man who experienced sozo did not have to go show himself to a priest - because the One who restored him was his Priest – Jesus! Gratitude brings restoration.Gratitude brings wholeness.Gratitude opens the door for God to do more than you expected. Some of you have been cleansed.Some have been healed.But God wants to restore you. UNTHANKFULNESS IS SERIOUS - ROMANS 1:21 If you think thankfulness is small, think again. Romans 1 is known for a long list of sin issues that cause destruction… Check out what made the list. Romans 1:21 “Although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him.” A lack of thanks is a sin! A lack of thanks brings destruction. The very first step away from Godwas unthankfulness. Unthankfulness leads to darkness.Thankfulness leads to breakthrough. OUR TURN TO RETURN You and I are that one leper. We were far off.We were unclean.We were lost.And Jesus came near. He did not just forgive your sin.He restored your relationship with God. We have a choice today:Will we keep moving?Or will we return? Breakthrough begins when you return.Restoration begins when you give thanks.Wholeness begins when you fall at the feet of Jesus. Today is our moment to return. YOUR TURN TO RETURN 1. Speak Gratitude Out Loud Say thank you to someone today - let your gratitude be heard. 2. Honor Someone Who Helped You Return to someone who invested in you and thank them. 3. Take a Moment to Return to Jesus Thank Him for what He has done, what He is doing, and in advance for the restoration that is on the way.
Thanks in Advance – 2 – Feeling Drained? Reset, Reboot, Rejoice
https://youtu.be/zf2zuG6HSPU?si=50z0RCF7td07GAjW Welcome to Redemption Church of Plano, Tx. My name is Chris Fluitt and I have so much to be thankful for! We are in the 2nd week of our Thanks In Advance series. Last week we told you that Thanks is a secret weapon. If you missed it be sure to check it out on Youtube, Spotify, Our Redemption Church podcast, or on RedemptionPlano.com. Today I want to know… Have you ever just felt drained? Like you’re running on empty - your joy’s low, your patience is thin, and even small things feel heavy? You’re showing up, doing the right things, serving God, loving your family - but inside, you’re running out of fuel. That’s what today’s message is about. Feel Drained? Reset, Reboot, Rejoice. Sometimes the problem isn’t that you’ve done something wrong - it’s that life has been pulling from you faster than you can refill. And that’s exactly where we find a man named Jehoshaphat. We will talk about him later… first let’s talk about us. The Drain is Real! We live in a world that makes us feel - surrounded, stretched, and spiritually tired. One in four Americans say they’ve already hit burnout before age 30. 52% of workers say they’re burned out right now. 80% bring their work stress home. Half of adults say anxiety and burnout are hurting their mental health. We’re the most connected generation in history - and the most exhausted.We run faster but rest worse.We have more technology and less peace. So, what do you do when you feel surrounded and drained? Jehoshaphat shows us what to do. [Jehoshaphat (873–848 BC) King of Judah (Southern Kingdom after the split of Israel) Son of Asa, known as a good and godly king (2 Chronicles 17–20) Ruled from Jerusalem for 25 years Led spiritual reform – tore down idols and called people back to God Formed alliances with other nations (some good, some costly) Faced overwhelming odds in battle – and won through worship Main story today: 2 Chronicles 20] Let’s step into this story for a minute. Jehoshaphat isn’t just another name buried in your Bible reading plan - he’s a real man with real pressure sitting on his shoulders. He’s the king of Judah, the southern kingdom after Israel split into two.And here’s a key for us today:Jehoshaphat didn’t cause the mess he’s standing in. He inherited it. Generations before him made bad decisions… kings who worshiped idols ignored God’s word led people away from truth. Now Jehoshaphat is doing everything he can to clean up the spiritual mess he didn’t create. PERHAPS YOU CAN RELATE?He’s trying to rebuild a nation’s faith in a time when faith has gone out of style. He’s been trying to: Be a good leader - governing with integrity. Be a godly man - seeking the Lord personally. Bring his nation back to God - tearing down idols, restoring worship. Rebuild trust after generations of failure. And now it looks like all that faithfulness might mean nothing, because he’s surrounded by people who don’t care about God at all. 2 Chronicles 20:1 Three nations form an alliance to destroy Judah. A messenger bursts into the palace shouting… A vast army is coming against you. (2 Chronicles 20:2) Jehoshaphat has no time to prepare, no way to win, no one to call, and no allies to rely on. He’s surrounded - and everyone’s looking to him for answers. -He’s faithful, but frustrated.-Godly, but overwhelmed.-Trying to fix the mess of past generations, but it looks like he might die under the weight of it. And maybe you’ve been there too - doing your best to serve God, but the problems keep stacking up. You can’t control the situation.You can’t stop the armies that are marching toward you.But you can reframe it. You can’t always change what’s coming against you, but you can change your outlook. Jehoshaphat can’t control the battle - but he can control his belief.He can’t fix the army - but he can fix his focus.And that’s exactly what he does.He resets, he reboots, and he rejoices. 1. RESET – Seek God First & Thank Him in Advance What does that look like? (2 Chronicles 20:3) He’s afraid, but instead of spiraling, he thanks God in advance by seeking Him first.He calls the nation to fast and pray.He says, We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You. (2 Chronicles 20:12) That’s the reset.He takes his eyes off the army and fixes them on Almighty God.He doesn’t start with what he can’t do; he starts with what God can do. And Jesus said it like this in Matthew 6:33: (Matthew 6:33) Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Jesus taches us to reset our priority. Gratitude helps you reset because thankfulness pulls your focus back to God’s faithfulness.When life drains you, the first step isn’t to run harder - it’s to thank God first and let your focus reset on Him. 2. REBOOT – Stand Firm on God’s Word As the people are praying, the Spirit of God comes upon a man named Jahaziel - an ordinary Levite from the priestly tribe, not a prophet, not a general - just someone ready to listen to God. He stands up and says, Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15) That’s the reboot.That’s when God interrupts the noise of fear with the truth of faith. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. (v.17) (2 Chronicles 20:15) Jehoshaphat doesn’t have to fix the fight - he just has to stand still and trust. When you hear from God - that’s a reboot.When you receive new truth to build your life on - that’s a reboot. That’s why it’s so important to seek God in prayer, read His Word, and be around others who do the same. Because what happens in those moments - the truth that enters your heart - isn’t just a reset, it’s a complete reboot.It’s something you can now stand on.It’s a foundation you can start again from. It started with a reset, which led to a reboot, and next - it’s going to lead to a rejoice. 3. REJOICE – Let Your Praise Lead the Way Jehoshaphat now makes a bold move.He doesn’t send the warriors out first - he sends the worshipers. “Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:‘Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.’” (2 Chronicles 20:21) They lead with praise.They thank God before the first arrow flies.They rejoice before the results. As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against their enemies. (2 Chronicles 20:21) As they sang, God fought.As they praised, God moved.Their worship became their weapon. By the time they reached the battlefield, the enemy was gone.They spent three days collecting blessings from a battle they never had to fight. Because they gave thanks in advance, they spent more time receiving blessing, than they did fighting. That’s what happens when your praise leads the way - gratitude reframes your battle so God can fight for you. So what do we do when we feel drained?When the battle feels too big and our strength feels too small? Practical Ways to Reset, Reboot, Rejoice Here’s how you put this into practice: Reset your focus with thanks. When work feels chaotic, pause and thank God for the opportunity to work. When your home feels loud or overwhelming, thank Him that you have people who need you. When your day starts stressful, stop and say, “Thank You, Lord - You’re still in control.” And don’t just thank God - thank people.Thank your boss for trusting you.Thank your teacher for caring enough to challenge you.Thank your friends for showing up.Thank your spouse, your kids, your team.When you express thankfulness in a chaotic environment, it reframes the atmosphere.Gratitude resets the situation - it changes the tone, it changes the energy, it changes you.Thankfulness doesn’t just reset your heart - it resets the room. Reboot your response through gratitude. When anxiety or worry rises up, stop and say,“I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on You.”“The battle is not mine; it’s Yours.” When your team at work starts to panic, take a breath and reframe the moment. You might say something like,“Guys, I know this is tough, and we don’t have every answer right now - but I’m so thankful for you on this team. I’m grateful for how hard everyone’s working, and I believe we’ll find a way through this.” That kind of gratitude doesn’t deny reality - it changes it.It turns a tense meeting into a moment of unity.It turns pressure into perspective. Gratitude reboots your thinking from reaction to revelation. Rejoice by letting praise lead your day. Before the outcome, before the breakthrough - praise Him. Play worship music before a tough meeting. Thank Him out loud before that conversation you’re dreading. When your family’s tense, lead with gratitude and watch the tone change. And remember - sometimes the momentum you need in life starts with simple thankfulness.Take time to thank others.Thank your coworkers, your family, your friends.Thank God for what He’s already done.Call out the wins and the victories you’ve already had - say them out loud.That kind of thankfulness creates spiritual & emotional momentum.It moves you from drained to overflowing.Gratitude isn’t just good manners - it’s a power source.When you live like that, your praise doesn’t just follow the victory - it leads you into it. A Thankful Army! Redemption Church, imagine if we lived like this.A people who lead with praise before the problem, who refuse to stay drained because we’ve learned how to reset, reboot, and rejoice. We wouldn’t just survive hard weeks - we’d transform them....
Thanks in Advance – 1 – Your Secret Weapon
https://youtu.be/Ju1EDZvKEtA?si=bBLm-MwxJWjuIDrS Welcome to Redemption Church of Plano, Tx. My name is Chris Fluitt… THANK YOU for being with us - In person and online! We are thankful for you… we do not take you for granted. We’re launching a brand-new 5-week journey called “Thanks in Advance.” It’s not a Thanksgiving series - it’s a transformation series. Every Sunday this month, we’re learning that gratitude isn’t just something you feel - it’s something you fight with - a God-given cheat code that unlocks peace, favor, and breakthrough. Series Outline: Nov 9 - Feel Drained? Reset, Reboot, Rejoice Nov 16 - A Breakthrough for Your Disappointment Nov 23 - From Bitter to Better: The Gratitude Game Plan Nov 30 - REELthanks Worship Experience Don’t miss a single week - each message builds on the last, and by the end of this month you won’t just talk about gratitude… you’ll live it. Let’s practice LIVING thankfulness in advance… Here is what that might look like. He said, “My name is Alex, and I want to give God thanks in advance for…” That’s faith talking.That’s the sound of someone who’s decided gratitude will go first. You’ll have a chance to make your own REELthanks video this month.Just say: “My name is ____, and I want to give God thanks in advance for ____.” We’ll feature some of your stories as reminders that faith is alive in this house. I used to think peace came from having fewer problems.Now I know it comes from having a stronger perspective. And that perspective is gratitude.Gratitude doesn’t ignore reality - it interprets it through faith.It’s not weakness; it’s wisdom.It’s not emotion; it’s a decision. When you live grateful, you don’t shrink your problems - you magnify what’s good. You start to see opportunities instead of obstacles.You notice what’s working instead of what’s broken.Gratitude doesn’t make life perfect, but it pulls your focus toward progress. We are living in one of the most blessed nations on the planet.Even on our worst days, we have advantages that most of the world can only imagine.Blessed but un-thankful? Income: The average American earns $82,769 a year, while the global average is $22,452.(Source: Worldometers & Wikipedia) Clean water: 97.5% of Americans have access to safe drinking water, while around 2.2 billion people worldwide still don’t.(Source: WHO) Education: The typical American expects about 16.6 years of schooling, compared to the global average of 8.7 years.(Source: Global Data Lab & World Economics) Transportation: The average U.S. household owns about 1.9 cars, while in most nations around the world, less than one in three people have access to any car at all.(Source: MoneyGeek & World Bank) We have it good.We have choices, comforts, and conveniences that kings in the ancient world couldn’t dream of. And yet… we still struggle with gratitude. So now let’s make it personal:In this very room, how often are we thankful?And how often are we ungrateful - even upset about our place in the world - when we’re actually landing near the top? That’s why we need this series.Because gratitude doesn’t come naturally; it comes intentionally.It’s not automatic - it’s chosen.And when you learn to choose it, it changes everything. That’s the difference between how we live and how Jesus lived.Where we complain, Jesus gave thanks.Where we worry, Jesus worshiped. Let’s look at how Jesus turned gratitude into a weapon in the middle of impossible moments. Secret Weapon 1. Jesus gave thanks before the miracle. When thousands of people were hungry, the disciples panicked.They saw lack - Jesus saw opportunity. John 6:11 He didn’t wait until after the bread multiplied.He gave thanks before the miracle!That’s gratitude in advance. When you thank God before you see the result, you’re declaring that His supply is greater than your shortage. Jesus gave thanks BEFORE the miracle. 2. Jesus gave thanks before the resurrection. At Lazarus’s tomb, the crowd saw death.But Jesus lifted His eyes and said, John 11:41 Before Lazarus ever walked out of the grave, Jesus thanked His Father as if it was already done.Gratitude declared victory before it appeared. That’s faith in motion - not waiting on the outcome to worship. Jesus gave thanks BEFORE the resurrection. 3. Jesus gave thanks before His suffering. At the Last Supper, just hours before His arrest and crucifixion… the worst moments in the life of Jeus… Luke 22:19 Before the cross - He gave thanks.That’s not normal.That’s supernatural. Three times. Three battles.And in each one, Jesus led with gratitude. Why? Here is why! Thanksgiving shifts the focus from what is uncertain to Who is certain. It’s not positive thinking - it’s power thinking.It’s faith in motion… action. Paul, a follower of Jesus who went through many troubles and persecutions said it like this… Philippians 4:6-7 NIV This is one thing we get wrong. We make our needs known to God… with out thanksgiving. We think we will thank him afterward… Sometimes we even forget to give thanks afterward… Instead, Paul says to GIVE THANKS as you pray about your need. He is giving thanks in advance. Notice this: Gratitude replaces anxiety. Gratitude doesn’t come after peace - it comes before peace.Gratitude builds peace. It guards your heart and mind like armor. That’s why gratitude isn’t weak - it’s warfare. -When you say thank You in the middle of the storm, hell gets confused.-When you praise before you see the answer, the enemy loses his grip.-When you thank God in advance, you’re saying, “I trust Your plan even when I can’t see the proof.” So how do you use it this week? 1. Thank God before you see it. Every prayer starts with: “God, I thank You in advance for …”That statement flips fear into faith. 2. Use gratitude to unlock people and promotion. Maybe you feel taken for granted - by a boss, a spouse, or your kids.Instead of sulking, take charge. Thank the ungrateful boss.Thank the distracted family.Thank the person who doesn’t notice what you do. Gratitude flips the script.It softens hearts, changes the atmosphere, and shifts power back into your hands. Do you want to stand out on the job, in school, or community? Being thankful will make you unforgettable! Operating in thankfulness sets you apart.It’s how you rise above the drama, influence the room, and lead instead of react.When you live thankful, you stop being a victim of your situation and start being a catalyst for change. 3. Give thanks together. (Eucharist) We’re ending today with communion - the Eucharist.That word means Thanksgiving.As you hold the bread and cup, remember: Jesus gave thanks before the cross so we could live after it.We give thanks not just for what He’s done - but for what He’s still doing. We live in one of the most blessed lands in the most blessed time in history.We have freedom, opportunity, and abundance - and yet, gratitude doesn’t come naturally.It’s not automatic. It’s a decision. That’s why Jesus is our model. So what if we were like Jesus and were thankful in advance? -What if we - as a church - decided that gratitude will go first?-What if our homes were marked by thankfulness instead of tension?-What if our workplaces saw believers who lead with gratitude instead of complaint? That’s how we can change the world.That’s how light pushes back the dark.And that’s how we stand out as the people of God - thankful in advance. CALL TO ACTION THREE WAYS TO FIGHT WITH GRATITUDE Thank Him in Advance.Pray daily: “God, thank You in advance for how You’re working.” Thank to Unlock.Thank people who overlook you.Gratitude opens hearts, doors, and promotions. Thank Together - The Eucharist.Communion means Thanksgiving.As we worship and take the bread and cup, we thank Him for what He’s done and for what’s next. COMMUNION MOMENT (Luke 22:19) Take the bread: “Lord, thank You for Your body broken so we could be healed.”Take the cup: “Thank You for Your blood that forgives and makes us new.” Our worship team is going to lead us in song. Take a step towards this prayer space… receive prayer and pray for others… worship God with gratitude.
Facing Fear – 2 – The Pressure is Crushing Me
https://youtu.be/uSPmgP46JdE?si=xy2jw1E3ZmY7Gl0q Welcome to Redemption Church of Plano, Tx. My name is Chris Fluitt… I am supper pumped about this moment, because God is here and you are here. All my fave people are here right now. We started our new message series – Facing Fear – last week. We talked about how the world doesn’t feel safe anymore. We talked about how Love and Fear are fighting for the same space in your heart and mind… but that LOVE drives out all fear. Also remember we have a 31 day action plan to face fear. This week we’re talking about something different. Not fear of what’s around you, but fear of what’s on top of you, and the weight bearing down on you. The Pressure is Crushing Me Have you ever felt like the pressure is so heavy, you might break? You’re trying to be strong, keep the family together, hit the deadlines, keep your faith, stay kind - but it’s getting harder. You put on the smile, but deep down, you’re exhausted.You say, “I’m fine,” but you’re not fine.You’re tired of holding everything up. That’s what pressure does. Pressure makes you believe that if you slip for even a second, everything you love will come crashing down. We all know that feeling. We live in a culture of constant pressure.Pressure to perform. Pressure to provide. Pressure to prove yourself.Pressure that never lets up. Let me show you how real it is. Real Pressure: 61% of Americans say they are living paycheck to paycheck. One unexpected bill could wipe them out. (LendingClub, 2024) Between 2010-20, the number of young people reporting anxiety went up 134%, and depression rose 106%. (Jonathan Haidt, The Anxious Generation, 2024) Emergency room visits for self-harm among teenage girls rose by 188%, and the suicide rate among adolescent girls increased by 167% between 2010 and 2018. (Haidt, The Anxious Generation, citing CDC data) 93% of people feel pressure to compare themselves to others online in various areas of life — their body, success, relationships, and happiness. (Cybersmile Foundation, 2023) We feel the pressure… We are one diagnosis, one pink slip, one betrayal - and the whole thing can feel like it’s about to collapse. We’re not just talking about financial pressure - this is emotional and spiritual pressure. What does God have to say about this?Let’s talk about Jesus. No one faced more pressure than Him.The night before the cross - the moment when Jesus stepped into His final hours, fully aware that betrayal, torture, and death were waiting for Him. At that moment Jesus went to pray at the Garden of Gethsemane. Garden of Gethsemane means – “Oil Press” In the Garden of Gethsemane - which literally means “oil press” - Jesus was pressed. Luke 22:44 Sweating blood has a medical term – hematidrosis – marked by the highest levels of stress and pressure.Jesus was being pressed with everything, everywhere, all at once.The sins of the entire world - past, present, and future - pressing down on Him.Our sin. Our shame. Our brokenness.Every betrayal, every addiction, every injustice, every wound. He prayed three times, asking the Father to take it away.Finally Jesus prayed: “Not my will, but Yours be done.” That’s what came out of Him under pressure - obedience, faith, love, and the power to save the world. When olives are pressed, oil flows out… Because when life squeezes you, what’s inside you comes out.If you’re full of fear, fear comes out.If you’re full of anger, anger comes out.But if you’re filled with God’s Spirit - His peace, His love, His power - then even under pressure, what comes out is something holy. The world keeps asking, “What’s in your wallet?”But God is asking, “What’s in you?” Jesus was pressed like an olive, and what came out was the Holy Spirit poured out for us. Jesus shows us that pressure doesn’t have to destroy you. It can release God’s power through you. And that’s why it matters what’s inside you.When life squeezes you, you don’t want bitterness or fear to come out - you want grace, faith, and peace to flow.Pressure reveals what is inside us.Check out what Paul, a man who faced many pressures, says… 2 Corinthians 4:7–9 It’s not about what’s happening to you - it’s about WHO is living in you. Romans 8:11 1 John 4:4 So when pressure comes, the question isn’t “Can I handle it?”The question is, “What’s in me?” If Christ is in you, you can be hard pressed but not crushed, confused but not hopeless, knocked down but never defeated. This idea of “WHAT IS IN YOU” works in real life. Here is an example from the most successful Olympian… When Michael Phelps trained for the Olympics, his coach would sometimes break his goggles on purpose so that he had to swim blind.Why? To train him for pressure. In the 2008 Olympics, it actually happened. His goggles filled with water, and he couldn’t see.But he kept counting his strokes.He hit the wall - and broke the world record. Pressure didn’t destroy him. It revealed what was in him. Preparation, resolve, and courage were in him. Pressure does not destroy – it reveals. And in the same way, Jesus was filled with preparation, resolve, and courage. The pressure revealed this!Every prayer, every temptation He overcame, every quiet moment in Scripture - it all prepared Him to face the pressure of the cross. You can’t avoid pressure, but you can prepare for it.You can fill yourself with God’s Spirit, so when the squeeze comes, what comes out is strength. Now, imagine something with me. Imagine the next time you feel pressure - instead of snapping and saying something you will regret… something beautiful comes out.Imagine that the next time you feel like you’re being crushed, what comes out of you isn’t fear, it’s faith. Imagine that the next time life squeezes you, the best version of you comes out - because God is in you. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. Pressure does not define you – it can refine you. Pressure will always come, but it doesn’t have to define you.It can refine you – it can reveal greatness. So tonight, I don’t just want you to hear this - I want you to do something with it. I want you to press back on your fear in 3 easy steps. Fear Under Pressure Gameplan Step 1: Write the pressure.Write what’s been weighing on you. We have note cards here in the prayer area.Name it. Don’t hide it.The fear, the weight, the problem, the pain. Step 2: Fill the inside.“God, fill me with _________.”Flip the card over. On the other side, write this prayer:“God, fill me with _________.”Fill in that blank with the things you need!…Your Spirit. …Your peace. …Your power. Step 3: Release it in worship.Lift that card up to Jesus as you pray and worship.Release that pressure to God in worship.The same Jesus who was pressed in the garden is in this room tonight - ready to fill you…
Facing Fear – 1 – I Don’t Feel Safe Anymore
https://youtu.be/fBuzyATigbs?si=v07Pj0STT8_ehA1j Welcome to Redemption Church of Plano, Tx. My name is Chris Fluitt… We’re starting a brand-new series today called Facing Fear: What’s Keeping You Up at Night Let’s be honest - fear is something we all wrestle with. We’re taking four weeks to talk about the real fears that weigh us down most - and how God gives us courage and faith to face them. Series Outline Next week: The Pressure Is Crushing Me.You know that stress, the expectations, and the weight that makes you feel like you can’t breathe. Week 3: Is Evil Winning? Darkness, the Devil, and Death.We’re going to be honest about spiritual darkness, the devil, and death itself - and what it means to live in the victory of Jesus. Week 4: What If Everything Falls Apart?We’ll look at financial collapse, world chaos, and the things we’re most afraid of losing - and what it means to have an unshakable foundation in Christ. Make plans to be here and bring a friend! Along with this series, we’ve put together something extra: a free e-book called the Facing Fear 31-Day Action Plan. Each day, you’ll get a specific fear to face. A powerful scripture to hold on to. A simple action step you can actually do. And a prayer to pray. It’s practical, it’s encouraging, and it’ll help you walk this out every single day in October. And today we start with this fear we’re all feeling: I Don’t Feel Safe Anymore. I’ll be honest with you - sometimes I don’t feel safe anymore. For me, the sharpest version of that fear shows up when I send my kids off to school. Last spring, I got one of those messages from my kid - there were rumors of a gun in the school. They had found evidence that a gun had been brought inside, and everyone was worried. I remember rushing to the school to pick up my middle schooler, and when I pulled up, there was a line of a hundred parents outside. Parents full of fear. Parents pacing. Parents & kids crying. Everybody worried, because when it comes to our kids, we all feel powerless. I check my phone now, not just for work or texts, but to make sure there’s no emergency message from the school. I don’t like to be far away in case my kids need me. And I find myself praying - a lot - that God would protect our schools, protect my kids, and protect my wife at work. That moment reminded me of something I think we all feel: I can’t always be there to protect the people I love. And that’s a fear that hits hard. It is one of the many ways “I don’t feel safe anymore.” And I don’t think I’m the only one. Because the truth is, everywhere you turn, people are carrying that same heavy sense of danger. We don’t feel safe physically. School shootings. Neighborhood crime. Random acts of violence. We don’t feel safe relationally. People have been betrayed, lied to, gossiped about, abandoned. It feels like no one is trustworthy. We don’t feel safe digitally. Hackers, scams, identity theft. Or just the constant risk of saying one wrong thing online and getting attacked. We don’t feel safe politically. Neighbors are turning into enemies because of the sign in their yard or the post they share. We don’t feel safe financially. People are one paycheck away from collapse, worried about rent, bills, debt. We don’t feel safe health-wise. Every ache or cough feels like a diagnosis waiting to happen. Unsafe DataAnd the data backs it up. In 1972, nearly 46% of Americans said “most people can be trusted.” By 2018, that number had dropped to about 34%. (Pew Research Center, 2025). Over 70% of U.S. adults say they feel anxious or extremely anxious about their future or personal safety. (American Psychiatric Association, Annual Anxiety and Mental Health Poll, 2023). Trust is evaporating. We don’t feel safe. When we don’t feel safe, we start to live like everyone and everything is out to get us. We look at the world and see enemies everywhere.We start locking down. Pulling back. Avoiding. Suspecting. It’s exhausting. And maybe that’s exactly where you’ve been living lately. But what does God say into this moment? Today I would like to talk about a safety plan. God’s Safety Plan 1. God’s Presence Is Our Protection Here’s a problem: safety isn’t what we think it is.We might be struggling with fear because we don’t really understand what safety is about - or more importantly, who it is about. Psalm 23:4 Notice this: God doesn’t promise to take away the valley. He promises to be with you in it. Safety isn’t the absence of danger. Safety is the presence of God. That’s why Daniel could face lions. That’s why Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego could face the fire. Not because the danger wasn’t real, but because God was present. And here’s the real challenge for us: when we pray, are we asking God to remove the valley - or are we asking God to walk with us through it? 2. God’s Love Drives Out Fear You can’t feel safe if fear and love are fighting for the same space. 1 John 4:18 Get this! Fear and love can’t coexist in the same heart. One will push the other out. And this is why so many of our relationships feel unsafe: we’re letting fear and love try to occupy the same place. No wonder we’re hot and cold. No wonder we swing back and forth like a pendulum. We love that person, but we’re afraid to be honest with them. We love, but we’re afraid to have that conversation. We love, but we’re afraid they’ll reject us. That constant back-and-forth leaves us confused, guarded, and exhausted. It’s no wonder we don’t feel safe. The enemy wants you to live in fear - because fear keeps love on a leash.But God wants you to live in love - because love sets you free. 3. God Redefines “Neighbor” You’ll never feel safe if you label everyone around you as a threat. Luke 10 shows us something powerful. Jesus explains that loving your neighbor is not just a good idea - it’s an essential truth. It’s what real faith looks like. And right after that, an expert in the law tries to wiggle out of it by asking: “But who is my neighbor?” And Jesus answers with the story of the Good Samaritan. Story: A man is robbed and left for dead… The hero isn’t the priest.The hero isn’t the Levite.The hero isn’t the Jewish religious leader.Instead, it’s a Samaritan. Now, this would have been shocking to Jesus’ audience - because Jews and Samaritans had a long history of religious conflict, cultural division, and even racial prejudice. Jews avoided Samaria altogether. They sneered at Samaritans, dismissed them as half-breeds, unclean, unworthy. And Jesus makes that person - the one everyone thought was the enemy - the hero of the story. That’s not just about being kind. That’s about reconciliation. That’s about tearing down walls of suspicion and prejudice. That’s about saying the people you’ve been told to fear are people God is calling you to love. So what does that mean for us? It means we don’t sneer at people who are from a different culture. It means we don’t look down on people from a different background. It means the person you thought was your enemy might be the person God wants to use to show you love - and the person God wants you to love in return. What would it look like for us to risk our safety and cross the street to show love? Who is the person you’ve been tempted to write off as “the enemy,” but God is whispering to you, “That’s your neighbor. Love them.” Here’s the truth: When you see enemies everywhere, you’ll never feel safe. But when you see neighbors everywhere, you’ll start to live in God’s love. 4. Jesus Is Our True Neighbor You’ll never love your neighbor until you first realize how Jesus loved you. The Good Samaritan ultimately points us to Jesus. Because here’s the truth: We were the ones left for dead. Sin had beaten us down. Religion couldn’t save us. Morality couldn’t save us. Politics couldn’t save us. They merely walked by… But Jesus refused to walk by & came into our mess. He risked it all - and then gave it all - to heal us, to carry us, to pay for us. He went to the cross for sinners like us! He is our true neighbor!And now He looks at us and says: “Go and do likewise.” Jesus Himself makes this crystal clear in John 13:34: That’s the pattern. That’s the standard. It’s only because He loves us that we can love others.That’s also a command: the same love we’ve received from Jesus is the love we are called to give away. And let’s be honest - that’s not easy. That’s a task we’ll be working on for the rest of our lives. But it’s also the most important work we can give ourselves to. So let me ask: Who do you see as unsafe? Who feels like the enemy to you? Is it your neighbor with the different political sign? Is it your coworker who gossips about you? Is it your family member you don’t trust anymore? Is it the immigrant? Is it someone with another color of skin? Is it someone who speaks a different language? Is it someone from a different religion? Or is it just “the world out there” that feels dark and dangerous? Jesus is calling you to something radical. His safety plan for you is radical. God’s safety plan is that you would not run away from fear - but that you would step toward love. So what does it look like to step into God’s safety plan this week? When you pray, don’t just ask God to remove the valley. Ask Him to walk with you in it. When fear rises in your relationships, choose honesty and love instead of silence and avoidance. When you’re tempted to see someone as the enemy, remember what Jesus said: That’s your neighbor. And when you feel overwhelmed by fear, remember Jesus’ love for you - and then give that love away to someone else. Here’s the truth: God’s safety plan isn’t about escaping danger - it’s about embody
Untangled – 3 – What About My Big Doubts?
https://youtu.be/nUD1dRgWJwA?si=8KAS3eUxSzVKo3tt Welcome to Redemption Church in Plano Tx. My name is Chris Fluitt. We are in our message series Untangled.We have asked some big questions.Week 1 – Can I still trust the Church? We talked church hurt…Week 2 – Is the Bible still legit? We hit the major questions about the Bible… isn’t it just a bunch of rules? Does it have contradictions? How can it matter to my life? Today we are going to talk about doubts. What About my Big Doubts? I’ve had those moments where I wanted to believe something so badly, but my brain just wouldn’t let me. I wanted to trust that a relationship could be healed, or that the medical report wouldn’t be the end, or that God was really listening to my prayers. I wanted to believe, but inside I also had some doubt. In church, we don’t always talk about these struggles in a practical way. Instead, we get caught up in what feels like swirly spiritual talk - ideas that sound holy but don’t feel very tangible or helpful.Faith is one of those words.Believing is one of those words. I’ve asked myself many times:Do I believe enough? Do I have real faith? What about my doubts? And maybe you’ve had those same thoughts. We Christians don’t always have a good track record here. We say stuff like… “Don’t ask questions. Just believe harder.” But that doesn’t really help, does it? Because doubt doesn’t go away just because you ignore it. In fact, doubt usually grows in the dark. We continue to silent think the same questions… Do I believe enough? Do I have real faith? What about my doubts? Can we get a little more real?We compartmentalize things. Well, I believe this part of the Bible, but I struggle with that part. If I don’t believe every single word perfectly, am I not a Christian? Am I out? Am I not going to heaven? Is it all or nothing? Can I struggle with some of it and still belong? Those are the questions people are afraid to ask - but they’re the questions we need to bring into the light. These are the questions we need to untangle. Let’s see what God says about this… I want to share 3 powerful Bible stories about doubt and belief. 1. (Doubting) Thomas in John 20.After the resurrection, the other disciples told Thomas… (John 20:25). Now, many people call him Doubting Thomas. But notice what Jesus does. A week later, Jesus shows up and says to Thomas…(John 20:27) Here’s the good news: Jesus didn’t rebuke Thomas for doubting. And He won’t rebuke you either. Instead of rebuke, Jesus invites you to confess your questions and bring them into the open. And when you do, He’ll give you what you need in order to believe. What does that look like? He might answer a prayer you’ve been praying. He might let you feel His presence in a fresh way. He might give you a word from Scripture that speaks right into your situation. He might even surround you with encouragement from another believer at just the right time. Jesus knows what you need. And just like Thomas, He will meet you right where you are. 2 The desperate father in Mark 9.His son is tormented, and he cries out to Jesus… (Mark 9:22-24). Notice again - Jesus does not rebuke this man. He doesn’t shame him for having doubts. But He does lovingly point out the weakness. The man said, “If you can” - and Jesus put His finger right on that phrase. That’s what He’ll do for us too. He’ll expose the fragile places in our faith, not to condemn us, but to strengthen us. And here’s something surprising and freeing: You can have belief and unbelief in the same sentence. You can have faith and doubt side by side. Honestly, I’m not sure we ever have 100% pure faith, because 100% would be knowing. And we don’t live by knowing - we live by faith. So what do you do when you feel both belief and unbelief? You move forward anyway. You act on the part of you that believes. You can pray, even with questions in your heart. You can serve, even if you’re not sure how it will all work out. You can forgive, even if your emotions aren’t there yet. You can open the Word, even if you don’t understand all of it. Faith doesn’t mean you never struggle. Faith means you act on what you do believe. 3 Jacob wrestling with God in Genesis 32.In Genesis 32, Jacob literally wrestles through the night with God. And at the heart of the struggle, Jacob is asking questions. He says, “What is your name? Who are you?” (Genesis 32:29). And here’s the turning point: Jacob won’t let go, God blesses him and gives him a brand-new name. (Genesis 32:28). Do you know what the name Israel means? Israel -struggle with God. That’s not just Jacob’s new identity - that’s the identity of God’s people. We are Israel. We are the people who struggle with God. God values struggle! The people who struggle with God are still God’s people. The ones who don’t let go, even while asking hard questions, are the ones God claims as His own. So don’t be afraid of your questions. Don’t be afraid to struggle with God. He welcomes it. And just like Jacob, you won’t leave the same. You’ll leave blessed. You’ll leave with a new identity. Those are 3 powerful bible stories… but here is the real question we may be asking. How do you grow your faith so it overcomes your doubt? The Bible is clear - faith grows by acting. Faith isn’t measured by what you know but by what you do. And sometimes that doing looks like struggling, asking, questioning, and not letting go until you’ve heard from God. 3 practical ways to grow your faith as you struggle with God: Pray your doubts honestly.Just like the father in Mark 9, don’t fake it. Say, “Lord, I believe - help my unbelief.” That’s struggle. You don’t have to clean up your doubts before you come to Jesus. Prayer is the place where faith starts to rise. Put your faith into practice.Belief isn’t just in your head - it shows up in your hands and feet. Forgive someone. Serve someone. Take a step of obedience, even if you’re still unsure. Every action of obedience is like lifting a weight that strengthens your faith. Stay close to God’s people.Faith grows in community. Thomas was with the disciples when Jesus showed up. Don’t isolate in your doubt. Join a Connect Group, pray with someone, share your questions. Struggle isn’t something you have to do alone. Israel is a people - not just a person. Faith grows when you act. If you want to overcome doubt, don’t just ask, Do I believe enough? Ask, What am I going to do next? What step am I going to take as I struggle with God? IT’S OKAY TO QUESTION, IT’S NOT OKAY TO BE INACTIVE Faith welcomes questions, but faith also requires movement. Thomas had his questions - but he spoke up.The father had unbelief - but he still cried out to Jesus.Jacob struggled with God all night - but he refused to let go. What made the difference wasn’t that they had theological training.It wasn’t that they could quote Scripture.It wasn’t that they had all the answers.What made the difference was that they acted. Doubt held in silence leads to paralysis. Doubt brought into action opens the door for God to move. It’s okay to question - it’s not okay to sit still. DO I HAVE ENOUGH FAITH? Now, some of you might still be asking: But what about my big doubts? How do I know if I really have faith? How do I know if I have enough faith? Let’s look at the examples we just talked about: Thomas speaking up with his doubts - that looks like faith. The father crying, “I believe, help my unbelief” - that looks like faith. Jacob struggling through the night with God, refusing to let go until he had an answer - that looks like faith. Faith isn’t just certainty in your head. It’s showing up, speaking up, and not letting go. (James 2:17; James 2:22; Hebrews 11:6). And if that’s what faith looks like, then look at your own life: You’re here in church today - that looks like faith. (Hebrews 10:25) You lifted your voice in worship - that looks like faith. (Hebrews 13:15) You pray honestly, even with your doubts - that looks like faith. (Philippians 4:6) You open the Bible and start applying it to your life - that looks like faith. (James 1:22) The real question isn’t, Do I believe enough? The real question is, What am I doing with the faith I already have? If you want to know your faith, look at your actions. Look at your life. That’s where your faith shows up. (James 2:18). Are you ready to activate your faith? Three Calls to Action: Pray one honest prayer this week about your doubts. Don’t hide them. Struggle with God in prayer - that looks like faith. Take one faith action this week. Don’t just think about faith - do something with it. This could be your moment to take a bold next step: Confess Jesus openly, maybe for the very first time. Be baptized and go public with your faith. Step up to serve on the Dream Team. Begin giving and trusting God with your finances. Or finally commit to a Connect Group and grow in community. These are the steps where faith stops being information and becomes transformation - that looks like faith. Right Now: Don’t leave without bringing your doubts to Jesus. We’ve opened up a prayer space right here in the front. This is your response moment to struggle honestly with God, to pray “I believe - help my unbelief.” This looks like faith.
Untangled – 2 – Is the Bible Still Legit?
https://youtu.be/ZUu1alr6-hU?si=iN2aqKiYc9d5cihf Let’s Pray TogetherChurch, before we dive into today’s message, I want to pause and acknowledge the heaviness many of us feel. This past week, our nation witnessed the murder of Iryna Zarutska, the refugee who was stabbed on a train and yet another act of political violence with the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Regardless of where you stand politically, moments like this are tragic. They remind us that hatred, division, and violence are not just headlines - they’re wounds in our nation. Scripture tells us in Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”That means as followers of Jesus, we are not just reactors - we are peacemakers. We are not just commentators - we are light in dark times. So before anything else, let’s pray: Welcome back to Redemption Church.My name is Chris Fluitt and we are in week 2 of our Untangled series. Last week we asked the question, Can I still trust the church? This week we’re asking a different but equally important question: Is the Bible still legit? A few months ago, we did a series called Asking for a Friend. The very first question we tackled was Can I trust the Bible? And in that message, we dug into things like ancient manuscripts, historical accuracy, and how the Bible has been preserved more reliably than any other book in human history. That’s important, and if you missed it, you can go back and watch it at www.RedemptionPlano.com (http://bit.ly/4gsEP5I) Is the Bible Still Legit? But today, I want to go a step further. Because here’s the truth: You can believe the Bible is authentic, accurate, and historically reliable, and still leave it closed on your shelf. The real question many of us wrestle with isn’t just, “Can I trust that the Bible is true?” but “Does it even matter in my life right now?”Is this ancient book still relevant in 2025? Let’s look at where we are as a culture. Only 39% of Americans say they read the Bible 3 or 4 times a year on their own. Not weekly. Not even monthly. Just a handful of times in a whole year. Just 44% say the Bible is extremely or very important in their lives, while 37% say it’s not too important or not important at all. And a growing number, 29% of Americans see the Bible as nothing more than a collection of fables, legends, and moral sayings recorded by man. That’s the world we live in. Scripture is drifting further from the center of our culture. But let’s bring it closer to home. Here we are, way past the midpoint of the year. The year’s drawing to a close faster than we think. So let me ask you - how’s your Bible reading plan going? Have you been actively opening Scripture - reading it, talking about it in your Connect Group - or if you’re honest, have you been missing a lot? We’re sitting in church right now, but some of us haven’t cracked open a Bible this past week. That’s not to shame you - it’s to be real. And that leaves us with the real question: If so many people, including some of us, barely touch the Bible anymore, does it really matter for our everyday life? Let’s be honest about this issue.The questions people ask when it comes to the Bible: Isn’t it full of contradictions? Isn’t it just an ancient book, out of touch with modern life? Isn’t it more about rules than about relevance? Those are real questions. And here’s the thing - we’re not here to win a theological debate or score points on social media. The point isn’t to argue people into faith. The point is to find truth that gives life meaning. And we believe you’ll find that meaning when you look in the Word of God. 1. Isn’t it full of contradictions? Matthew 27:5 (NIV)Acts 1:18 (NIV) At first glance, these sound like different stories. But really, they’re two vantage points of the same event. Judas hanged himself in a field, and later, when his body fell or decayed, it burst open. It’s not two competing truths - it’s two perspectives of the one truth. Another example used in a contradiction argument is the resurrection: Matthew 28:2–3, 5 (NIV): “…an angel of the Lord came down… The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.’” John 20:12 (NIV) Matthew describes one angel. John describes two. If there were two, there was also one. Matthew focused on the angel who spoke, John recorded both. Let’s be honest - if you’re reading these stories, you may notice some variation, but it doesn’t really feel like contradiction. The idea of “contradiction” usually comes from people trying to forge an argument rather than find the truth. And when we use Scripture as ammunition for arguments, we’re not using it properly. 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV) Notice - it says Scripture is useful. But if we twist it into arguments, we’re misusing it. Scripture isn’t given to fuel debates - it’s given to form lives. It’s meant to equip us, not divide us. So hear me: Don’t just believe the Bible. Don’t just read the Bible. Learn how to use the Bible.Because the Bible isn’t a weapon to win arguments - it’s a tool to build lives. 2. Isn’t it just an ancient book? Nearly a third of Americans see the Bible as just a book of legends, myths, or outdated history. And maybe you’ve thought the same - How can words written thousands of years ago possibly matter for my life right now? Here’s what’s worth noticing: Much of our modern world is actually built on biblical truth. The idea that every person has value and dignity (Genesis 1:27)This idea is not from Rome or Greece, where people were discarded if they weren’t useful. That comes from Genesis 1:27, where it says we are made in the image of God. The concept of justice & equality - the foundation of modern law in the West - flows straight out of the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus. Even movements that reshaped history, like… The abolition of slavery, were fueled by Christians who pointed back to Scripture So rather than being irrelevant, the Bible actually shaped the very world we live in. But it’s more than history - it still speaks to today’s struggles. Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) If it were just ancient history, it would be static. But the Bible says it is alive and active. It cuts right into the heart of what we’re facing right now. Anxiety? Jesus said in Matthew 6:27: “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Worry doesn’t solve your problem, it just drains you. Instead, Jesus points us to a better answer: trust your Father in heaven. Anxiety shrinks when we put our future in His hands. Relationships? Many of today’s counseling practices - ideas like conflict resolution, forgiveness, and setting healthy boundaries - are pulled straight from the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Identity and purpose? A lot of leadership writings today emphasize discovering your unique design and calling. That idea didn’t start with modern psychology - it started with Scripture. (Ephesians 2:10). And let’s be real - the world is freaking out right now. We just had a political assassination, and people are worried it’s going to spiral into more political violence. Everybody’s got arguments about gun control. Everybody’s got arguments about who’s right and who’s wrong. You know what? I’ve got one verse in the Bible that would answer all of this - if we actually lived it. It’s not even an obscure verse. It’s one Jesus quoted straight out of the Old Testament: Matthew 22:39 (NIV) What would the world look like if we took this verse from this “ancient” text and started to live it in the year 2025? This is why we look to Scripture - but it’s more than looking to it. We have to live it. What if every Christian started living this verse out this week? What would our nation look like? What would our neighborhoods look like? What would Plano look like? That’s not ancient and irrelevant. That’s alive and transformative. 3. Isn’t it more about rules than relevance? A lot of people think the Bible is nothing more than a big list of rules - don’t do this, don’t do that. And if that’s all you see, it can feel restrictive and irrelevant. But here’s the truth: God doesn’t give us commands to crush us - He gives us commands to free us. Think about guardrails on a highway. At first glance, they look like limits. But the guardrails aren’t there to ruin your drive - they’re there to keep you alive. They don’t take away your freedom - they protect your freedom to keep moving forward. That’s how the Bible works. Its commands aren’t about robbing you of joy - they’re about keeping you from destruction. They don’t just say “don’t”; they point you toward a better life. John 10:10 (NIV) Jesus didn’t come to hand you a longer rulebook. He came to bring you life - real, abundant, overflowing life. James 1:25 (NIV) James calls God’s Word a “law that gives freedom.” That doesn’t sound irrelevant. That sounds like the very thing our world is starving for - freedom from anxiety, from shame, from chaos, from emptiness. So if you see the Bible as just a rulebook, you’re missing the point. It’s not about restriction - it’s about direction. It’s not about rules - it’s about life. Big Picture Luke 24:27 (NIV) A lot of people ask, “What is the Bible about?”But the better question is, “Who is the Bible about?” And the answer is twofold: the Bible is about Jesus, and the Bible is about you. It’s about who Jesus is - God’s Son, Savior, Redeemer.And it’s about what Jesus can do in you - how His grace changes your life, how His Spirit gives you strength, how His Word shapes your story. The Bible isn’t just a book of rules. It’s the living Word that points us to Jesus and shows us who we can become in Him. The Bible is not just a rulebook. It’s a story of redemption - His story and your story coming together....