Journey Church - Maine: Recent Episodes
Journey Church
Every generation of Jesus followers is responsible to ensure the news of the Christian faith stays true to the original. So are you good news? What if you’re the only news someone gets?
The original message of Jesus was so compelling that everyone who heard it wanted it to be true. Maybe the version you’ve heard isn’t as captivating. If Jesus truly came with an invitation that left no one out, wouldn’t you believe it was really good news?
People close to Jesus were convinced they met good personified. So they documented the story. They were convinced it wasn’t just for a nation or for a generation, but for all nations and every generation. This was good news, great joy, for all people—perhaps especially for those of us who aren’t all that good.
It’s tradition. The Christmas movies we watch every year bring us back to the joy and hope and laughter we long for. Join us as we view some of our favorite Christmas movies through the lens of the greatest story ever told.
Being grateful for someone is an emotion we can all relate to. But gratitude is not just an attitude, it's something that needs to be expressed.
Everyone likes to win. After all, that’s why we play games. But how do we win the games of life? In this conversation, we’ll explore all the games we play and how to ensure we win the most important game of all.
Hurting someone because they hurt you doesn't end the cycle. It perpetuates it. And it makes you look like the person you dislike.
Last week we focused on not giving in to the temptations of this world to rectify the struggle we face in this world. What should we do in light of not giving in? We can run away from temptations, but can we run to?
We all hate to wait. That’s why, in part, we struggle with heaven. Sure, it sounds great, but that isn’t helping our life be great, especially when it isn’t going well here. What should we do when we aren’t sure we can wait? The apostle Paul has an idea.
It’s all too easy to be frustrated with the world around us. We tend to blame people and organizations for all our negative emotions, but the real problem is brokenness. The world is broken. We are broken. What’s worse is that we can’t fix it. Where can we place our hope when everything feels hopeless? The Apostle Paul seemed to know.
You never know what's coming. So how do you prepare? How do you keep your soul when it feels like everyone around you is losing theirs?
The person you are has been shaped by those who have loved you and those who have hurt you. Maybe it was your mom or your dad or your coach or a teacher. Others' behavior toward us has a lasting impact. And Jesus understood this so well that his most urgent command to his disciples was about how they should treat each other. Yet it seems Jesus' concern with how we behave has been distorted over time into a debate about what we believe.
Looking for loopholes comes naturally. Whether it's eating all of our vegetables or being home by curfew, no one has to teach us that there is a difference between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. In a Jewish culture where rules trumped reason, Jesus had a new perspective on rules and loopholes.
Jesus embodied the tension between grace and truth. Churches and Christians should too, but they tend to swing toward one or the other. It's easy to be a church of truth or a church of grace - to be conservative or liberal. But when churches take either of those routes, we can sense that something is wrong, something's missing.
The early Christians in Rome did not have it easy. They were persecuted, blamed for crimes they didn't commit, even fed to lions. Yet Jesus painted an encouraging picture of their circumstances; he said they were "the salt of the earth," and "the light of the world." While they were simply trying to stay alive, Jesus was saying that they had been strategically placed by God. Could this be true of your life and your circumstances too?
Without intending to, Christianity won the West. It toppled the Roman Empire. And it did so without raising a sword. What was the secret of the early church's influence? And where did we go wrong? Discover the secret and a lesson about judging others. This may be exactly where the church has gone wrong. . .
The words used to describe Christians today often bear no resemblance to the one word Jesus wanted his followers to be known for. What would it look like if, for one day, we got it right? What if we as Christians embodied this one word? What if our behavior was so consistent with this word that folks around us were drawn to us - and to God.
"Christian" is a brand that can be good, bad, attractive or repelling. It's a loaded label no matter whom you ask. But where did the word come from? And did it come with instructions?
Church can seem full of traditions. While those traditions are important, the meaning sometimes gets lost in the symbolism. In this message, we’ll look at a church tradition that goes back thousands of years and talk about why we believe a public declaration of a private decision is still relevant today. We’ll also hear stories of people who have declared that they’ve decided to follow Jesus…which changes everything.
If there's a gap between where you are and where you wish you were, this simple principle can close that gap.
When it comes to getting from where you are in life to where you want to be, this one thing can set you on the right course.
God's wishes for our lives can cause a fight-or-flight response in us. But this one thing can help us break through our fears and live life to the full.
Do you ever ask yourself the question: "If God really is good, shouldn't things be getting... better?" So what do we do when they aren't?
Does it ever feel like it's just one thing after another? For a lot of us, it feels like the hits keep on coming. How do you keep your faith in the midst of it? Discover how you can defeat discouragement in this season and the ones to follow.
While we have different styles, it’s vitally important that we appreciate each others’ style so we grow in unity and not division. Our unity gives the message of Jesus credibility to the world and shows that God loves us all and is for all of us no matter our style, no matter our story. We are better together!
The Bible says there is one way to God and that’s through the person of Jesus. Because it is so important to connect with God. There are a few staples for connecting with God, one of which is Scripture. In the Bible, Paul says that the word of God should live abundantly in us. Sean encouraged us to publicly expose ourselves to the word and privately give it time to soak in. We can interact publicly, privately, and personally with the word of God!
More often than not, we are too connected to connect with God. This world keeps us from spending time with Him, but we need to connect with Him. Talking to God in prayer is a vital way we can grow a relationship with God, just like you need to talk to your friends in order to invest in your friendships. In Luke, God teaches us that there are four main principles for good prayer life: disconnect to connect with God, pray personally, pray persistently, and pray expectantly. God gave us these suggestions instead of a script to remind us that there is not a formula to pray the perfect prayer.
In Gary Thomas' book, Sacred Pathways, the nine spiritual styles discussed. It is important that we understand our spiritual temperament, because knowing how God has wired us could actually help us more effectively draw near to God. We hope that through this series, you can get a clearer picture of God’s unique design in your life and how that allows you to draw near to Him.
Sometimes you think you can’t make a dent in the problems the world is facing. And besides, you feel like you barely have enough to live on yourself. As a result, many of us often feel indifferent toward the situation others face, and our response is usually a response of inaction. Is there another way? Can something make a difference?
We all want to win. After all, winning is better than not winning. In a game a win is defined, but life is not a game. And winning in the most important areas of our lives isn’t always clear. So, how do we win?
"Stop Going to Church"—and start being the Church. This one-week message from Craig Groeschel will lovingly but boldly urge people to become involved in their church by serving, giving, being in a LifeGroup, etc. It's so important to the health of the Church that we be people who are plugged in to God and community, so use this message to engage your church in stronger biblical community.
When Jesus died, hope died along with him. No one was planning to keep this new movement going, because, after all, it seemed Jesus wasn’t who he had claimed to be. Immediately following the crucifixion, there were no Christians, because there was no Christ. But then something happened.
We all have embarrassing moments we can laugh about—later. There are shameful moments that we would give anything to undo. But while our pasts remind us, they don’t have to define us.
Many times, our faith deteriorates as our circumstances deteriorate. When that happens, our faith is quickly overcome by fear, and the future looks dark. The apostle Peter experienced this, and he temporarily fled his faith in Jesus.
From an early age, we learn quickly to look for loopholes in the rules. We try to figure out what we can get away with and still be okay. We tend to take this same mindset into our relationship with God, but it doesn’t work. When we opt for loopholes and workarounds, we find ourselves in a category no one wants to be in: hypocrites. Jesus calls us to move beyond loophole religion.
Whether it’s school, sports, or religion, when we focus only on the rules, it can be difficult to remember the overall purpose of something. Jesus reminds us that when we focus so much on the letter of the law, we may forget why the law was written in the first place.
Jesus ignored certain religious protocols. He claimed to have authority to forgive sin. He was uncomfortably comfortable with unrepentant sinners. In this message, we hear about three encounters that showed Jesus came to reverse the order of things.
Change isn’t easy, but it isn’t impossible, either. Starting a few small Habits can change how you see yourself today and transform you into the person you want to be tomorrow.
Many times we read the Bible for application, inspiration, or direction. However, there are times when the author wants to simply point the reader to a big idea, an idea that fits together with God's grand story. In the gospel of Mark, we read about Peter's experience with Jesus that led Peter to believe in one big idea: the kingdom of God is near, and everyone is invited to participate.
We often read the Bible for application, inspiration, or direction. However, there are times when the author wants to simply point the reader to a big idea—an idea that fits with God's grand story. In the Gospel of Mark, we read about Peter's experience with Jesus that led Peter to believe in one big idea: the kingdom of God is near, and everyone is invited to participate.
What if our faith was characterized by fearlessness, humility, confidence in Jesus, and love of others? Imagine how that would change the world around us.
We see daily news reports about violence and terrorism. The world can feel like a dangerous place. Surrounded by uncertainty, it's difficult not to be afraid. But Jesus offers us another option.
If you have ever volunteered to do something for which you felt totally unqualified, then you already know what an experience like that can do for your faith. One of the primary ways God grows our faith is through personal ministry.
Prayer is just talking to God...right? Maybe prayer is more than just us "talking"; more than persuading God to give us what we want...
Life is too precious to just sit around. Every day we have a decision to make about how we are going to spend our time. For many of us, time never seems to slow down. We have no idea how we’ll fit it all in. What if there was one thing you could do every morning that would affect everything else? What if there was one thing you could do that would be time well spent?
When we see someone we care about make bad decisions, we can either confront them about it or hope someone else does. Many times we opt for the latter, under the guise of being kind, not wanting to interfere, or waiting for them to ask for our input. But we should ask ourselves: are we really being kind, or are we letting fear, discomfort, or indifference be the boss of us?
All of us walk through life with occasional fear. And it’s not always a bad thing. Fear is a byproduct of our ability to think about what might happen in the future, and it can protect us from harm. However, living with too much fear can cause us to be self-absorbed, distracted, and overly protective. But the good news is this: You don’t have to be afraid even when there’s something to be afraid of.
When we feel anger, our emotions tell us it’s 100 percent someone else’s fault. But James, the brother of Jesus, has something different to say. When we take a step back and acknowledge what the problem really is, anger will no longer be the boss of us.
Envy causes us to compare and compete with others in an unhealthy way. It brings arrogance when we’re winning and discouragement when we’re not. It robs us of contentment and causes us to feel like—as an ancient king put it—we’re chasing after the wind. But envy doesn’t have to be the boss.
When it comes to guilt, many of us naturally lean in one of two ways: we wallow in it by reliving the past, or we deny it by making excuses. In either instance, guilt is causing us to be out of balance. The apostle Paul reminds us that, because of Jesus, guilt is not the boss of us.
I can’t believe I said that. Why did I do that? Where did that come from? Emotions can get the best of us. If we’re not careful, things like anger, lust, greed, fear, and envy can shape our actions much more than we want them to. Monitoring our behavior is not enough. We need to monitor our hearts.
After the resurrection, the disciples were completely different people. They boldly spread the message of the gospel, even in the face of death. As Christians, we have the exact same Spirit of God in our lives, so why don’t our lives look more like Peter or John’s?
We tend to think God was involved in the beginning, Jesus came later, and the Holy Spirit followed. But that isn’t the case. From the beginning, the Holy Spirit brought order to chaos and light to the darkness. That was true in creation, and that can be true in your life too.
Most of us know something about God, and we know a little more about Jesus. But what—or who—is the Holy Spirit? Is it a ghost? Is it a force? Is it even an “it”? The Holy Spirit is a mysterious part of our faith. In this message, we’ll remove some of the mystery and in doing so, we’ll discover the path to a fulfilling life in an empty world.
It can be easy to see someone else self-destruct and think to ourselves, "I would never do that." But truth be told, we’re all capable of ending up where we don’t want to be. Even Solomon's son—the heir to the throne of Israel—blatantly ignored a principle that we should all pay close attention to.
We can talk ourselves into anything. Our internal narratives justify our beliefs as well as our actions. But when those narratives are not true, they lead to destructive thoughts and behaviors. We can choose to carry around false but comfortable narratives—or we can look to destroy them.
We all face dilemmas in which circumstances point us in one direction, but our consciences point us in a different direction. At times, we ignore the tug of our consciences and sell ourselves on a questionable decision. King David found himself in such a position, and his example can help us navigate our own dilemmas.
People sometimes use religion to justify positions, especially around social and political topics. But Christianity was never intended to try and win arguments. In fact, it’s just the opposite.
Have you ever replaced an appliance, a piece of furniture, or even a car, and felt the excitement that comes with owning something new? When something is new to us, we treat it differently and it makes us feel different about ourselves. The old item gets tossed, forgotten, or abandoned and the new item is given a place of honor and treated as something more valuable than the thing it replaced. This principle is evident in so many areas of our lives, even in our faith.
We all have something sitting around the house that we just can’t throw away. We haven’t worn it, looked at it, listened to it, or used it in years, but we hang on to it. Why? We talk about spring cleaning, tidying up, and purging to get rid of the old, but there’s always something we just can’t part with. We need to ask ourselves why we are keeping this thing—what difference does it make, and is it time to let it go?
Have you ever asked someone you cared about, “How are we doing?” It’s an important question. It defines the relationship. Until we answer it, our relationship stalls. What would God say if you asked him, “How are we doing?”
Prayer can be challenging. The idea of talking to an invisible God can seem weird to some of us. It seems important though. We feel like we should pray, but we’re not sure we’re getting the words right. But what if our perception of prayer is inaccurate? What if the way we’ve been taught to pray or figured out how to pray over the years is misguided? What if there’s a better way? After watching Jesus for some time, his disciples went to him and said, “Teach us how to pray.” And he taught them. What he said about prayer may surprise you.
Regardless of the area of life, when something becomes personal, it matters more to us. In fact, when something isn’t personal, it rarely keeps our attention, affection, or passion. If this is the case, how do we make faith personal in order to make it last and make the most of it? The good news is that Jesus described the kind of relationship he wants with us, and he was clear—it’s personal.
Becoming a Christian is easy. It won't cost you anything. But Jesus never invited anyone to become a Christian. He invites us to follow.
Our political views are shaped by a number of variables: our backgrounds, education, and personal experiences to name a few. It’s easy to feel like our view is the right one, but the person beside you is more precious to God than your political view.
Your favorite candidate will win or lose based on how our country votes this November. However, the church will win or lose based on our behavior between now and then.
There is more to your circumstances than meets the eye. Your current circumstances are a chapter. They are not the full story.
While we don't always choose our circumstances, we do have the ability to choose our responses. But the response that has the potential to reverse the natural course of things isn't natural at all.
For many of us, there's something we wish we'd been doing all along to prepare for what is happening now. Whatever lessons we’re learning, now is the time to start putting them into practice.
Christians have never believed in a God who doesn’t allow bad things to happen to good people. Christians believe the worst possible thing happened to the best possible person.
What do you do when fear and anxiety impact your faith? t’s going to get worse before it gets better. This is not the time for faith in faith or hope in hope. We need more than tired platitudes or uninformed optimism. We need…well, Jesus knew what we would need. Fortunately, he didn’t just tell us. He showed us. We’ve all heard the story, but perhaps we missed the point.
Have you ever noticed that God seems to get our attention more during the bumps of life than when things are going smoothly? During times of national crisis, church attendance skyrockets. During times of personal crisis, the same is true for us; we turn to God.
Life is full of uncertainties; ups and downs that can impact our jobs, our finances, even our relationships. For many of us today, debt, stress, and uncertainty are ruling our lives. And in the midst of this mess, we often find ourselves wondering, "Where is God?" Is it possible to maintain faith in God when there is no evidence of his activity in our lives?
Following Jesus’s crucifixion, his followers expected what anyone expects after someone dies—that they would remain that way. But one of Jesus’s followers, John, gave an eyewitness account that summarized the main event surrounding Christianity: Jesus rose from the dead. In this seventh and final sign John documents, he makes the case that Jesus is exactly who he claimed to be.
There are many products we buy, use, and put our confidence in without having all the information or fully understanding how they work. In the Gospel of John, we see a man begin to follow Jesus based on limited information. This man, who was born blind, said he only knew one main thing—and that one thing was enough to make him curious about who Jesus really was.
Perhaps one of the most famous signs performed by Jesus is feeding over 5000+ people with five loaves of bread and two fish. Those that followed Jesus thought he was finally getting to the point of what he could do for them. They were more enamored with the signs instead of what the signs were pointing to.
Just outside of Jerusalem, Jesus performed a miracle that changed a man’s life forever. For 38 years, this man was unable to walk. But when Jesus said, “Get up,” the man was healed. However, it’s what Jesus said next that made this miracle a clear sign of who Jesus really was.
In order to demonstrate who he was, Jesus performed a number of miracles—which the apostle John referred to as “signs.” The first of those signs was at a joyous occasion where Jesus turned water into wine. The second sign was in the midst of a heartbreaking circumstance in which a father desperately asks Jesus to heal his dying son.
For years people have tried to predict or understand behavior in an attempt to strengthen communication. One of the best keys to better communication is to understand the four temperaments.
Since the beginning of time, humans have offered their crops, their animals, even their children as sacrifices to God.
Until...Two thousand years ago—in a shocking reversal—God offered a sacrifice to us.
The Church is remarkable. And against all odds, it changed the world. There is still a great deal that needs changing. By God’s grace and with your help, perhaps we can be a small part of bringing about that change.
It’s easier to keep track of something than to catch up with it. That’s especially true of our money. If our money could talk, it would say, “I’m easy to track but lose track of me and you will lose your peace of mind."
Are you mastering your money or being mastered by it? Maybe it’s time to flip the script. Instead of striving to have enough money to satisfy a me-first appetite, Jesus encouraged his listeners to have an others-first approach.
If our money could talk, what would it tell us? You might be shocked to find out that what our money would say is pretty close to what Jesus did say—and what we should still consider today. Does our money add meaning to our lives or is it the meaning of our lives?
Many of us want this year to be better than last year. We start off with good intentions by making a commitment to improve but inevitably end up not following through. There’s got to be a better way, right? A perfect year may be impossible. But a better year is possible.
When God's strength consistently meets our weakness, we grow. By admitting your weakness and asking God for help, this year can be better.
God’s grace to us is an invitation to be amazing. It’s our chance to extend to others what God has freely extended to us. But while most of us are full of something . . . it’s usually not grace. So what are you full of? And what would it take for you to give someone what they don’t expect? Or deserve?
We are the church . . . every day . . . everywhere. And we are most appealing—the church is most appealing—when grace is most apparent. Grace is our greatest opportunity to be like our Father in heaven.
The kingdom of God is characterized by unsettling generosity —the kind of generosity that gives the undeserving what they don’t deserve and regardless of how unright we’ve been, makes us right with God. So what do we do when we’re faced with this math that doesn’t add up? And how do we respond to this unfair, unsettling system that Jesus came to invite us into?
From our perspective, the kingdom of God will always appear upside down. We naturally compare ourselves to standards, but grace doesn’t compare. Grace is married to truth and the truth is that we all fall short of God’s standard. This week, write “GRACE > FAIR” somewhere you’ll see it to remind you of what Jesus came to do for you—and for everyone you meet.
There is an unsettling solution for just about everything, and we can sum it up in one word — grace. It’s the undeserved, unearned, unearnable favor that Jesus came to offer us. So why wouldn’t we want Christianity to be true? And where should you start if it’s a word that was never part of the equation for you?
Like life, grace is not fair. Over and over Jesus leaned into and toward unrepentant sinners. He leaned toward guilty people. It was a new category. It was grace. In the person of Jesus, there was a new covenant maker in town.
Gratitude is definitely more than an attitude. While we all have much to be grateful for, gratitude doesn’t always fill our hearts. Gratitude is a good goal, but not the best goal. So what is greater than gratitude? Jesus tells us in a parable he taught his disciples.
At some point, we all face a choice of whether to remain in the shallows of faith or journey to the depths. The truth is we can’t do both. We either settle for the shallows or take the plunge to grow deeper. In the final message of this series, we’ll discuss the one choice required to deepen our faith.
Moving out of the shallows starts with feeding ourselves spiritually. But if we stop at that first step, we’ll be left spiritually fat rather than spiritually fit. How do we prevent that from happening? The next step involves a spiritual workout that’s unique for each of us.
No one strives to be shallow. We all want something real and relationships with depth. But how do we grow deeper spiritually? The journey starts with a step that each of us can only take for ourselves.
Life is full of noise. It’s everywhere, all the time. Sometimes we just want to escape, to control the noise by drowning it out with other distractions. But too often, the noise you control is masking the noise that is controlling you. If you’re willing to turn down the white noise, you might be surprised by what you’ll hear.
Most of the emotional stuff we cover up and refuse to deal with revolves around loss. We all struggle with expectations that went unmet, goals we failed to achieve, or dreams that were broken. How we handle our loss matters. It impacts the quality of our lives. If we bury those negative emotions alive, they will come back to haunt us . . . and the people we love.
Establishing healthy habits will benefit the relationships you care most about. Others will reap from the emotional habits you sow.
Many of us learned from an early age to hide what we were feeling from other people. We got the message that showing our emotions made us look weak. In time, we became so skilled at hiding what we feel, we even learned to hide our emotions from ourselves. But hiding isn’t a sign of courage or strength. If we want to grow, we have to stop saying, “It’s fine,” and start being honest—with ourselves and others—about what’s going on inside.
The best way to predict your future is to pay attention to where you’re headed. But sometimes it’s easy to get distracted by what’s on the path. The appeal of money, acceptance, or security can lower your defenses and lead you away from the path you want to be on. So is there a way back? How do we change course when we realize that we’ve chosen a path that leads us to what’s appealing instead of what’s ultimately satisfying?
The path to be avoided is always paved with strong emotional appeal. Your heavenly father hopes that you’ll opt for satisfying over appealing. Will you choose to give in to that internal nudge? Choose to say no to you and follow Jesus, who loves you, who gave his life for you, and who rose from the dead to punctuate that claim.
We all start-out life with great intentions. But our intentions aren’t good indicators of our destinations. In fact, our direction trumps our intention every time. That’s why we all need to follow someone we trust. Someone who can make our lives better and make us better at life. We all have a decision to make. If not Jesus, then who? And if not Christianity, then what?
Following Jesus is not easy, but following Jesus is better. Surrender to his direction and trust him with your destination. He knows where you should go.
Nobody gets lost on purpose. But we often find ourselves in places we never intended. If there’s a disconnect between what you hope to be true in the future and the direction you’re headed now, maybe it’s time to take a closer look at your path. Our direction, not our intention, will determine our destination.
Direction will always trump intention. If you’re willing to trade what seems easy and fun now for what will be satisfying later, you will arrive at your desired destination. After all, the path you choose makes all the difference.
We’re all going to end up somewhere in life, but often there’s a disconnect between where we want to end up and the path we choose. So how can we avoid choosing a path that’s guaranteed to get us where we don’t want to be?
Wise people understand that life is connected and that a person’s direction is the best indicator of their ultimate destination. If you want to end up somewhere on purpose, follow Jesus. You will end up somewhere on purpose with purpose.
We all believe exercise is good for us, but we don't always head to the gym or go on a run. To actually get in shape, we have to exercise. We have to get off the couch and do it. And isn't it easier when we have someone to keep us accountable? The same is true of our faith—we can only get so far on our own.
A hero sees what everyone sees, but is not content to do what everyone does. Nobody ever feels like a hero. But what separates heroes from the rest of us is choice. Heroes don’t accept the status quo. Heroes take action . . . even when the problem is too big for one person to solve. Heroes leverage what they have and who they are on behalf of other people.
A hero sees what everyone sees, but is not content to do what everyone does. A hero doesn’t let his or her fear stand in the way of saving the day. One of the things we most admire about heroes is their willingness to sacrifice on behalf of others. But that’s also one of the biggest things that gets in the way of us seizing opportunities to be heroes.
“Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. It’s Superman!” A hero sees what everyone sees, but is not content to do what everyone does. A hero saves the day. Even though that may sound lofty and unattainable, hero status is accessible to all of us. But just like Superman is vulnerable to Kryptonite, there’s a common weakness we must overcome if we’re going to be heroes.
A hero is someone that saves the day. If you believe Hollywood, a hero is someone that saves the planet. That makes heroism seem inaccessible to most of us. But with a single question, Jesus made hero status available to us all. He also took away our excuses for not accessing our heroic potential. Maybe we really can be heroes.
Faster than an speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! There’s something about hero blockbusters in the summertime. We can’t get enough of them. Saving the world and rescuing the weak resonates with us. But what does it look like to be a hero in real life? Maybe we need a new definition of what it means to be a hero.
This Sunday we celebrate the 2nd Annual Journey Sports Camp. Mike DeVito, former NFL player, speaks on Defending the Faith: An Apologetics Playbook.
Only one person can ensure that we end up somewhere on purpose. And that person isn’t in the House of Representatives or the White House. They’re in our house. In fact, we look at that person in the mirror every morning. The reality is that we face our greatest leadership challenge every morning when we face ourselves.
What goes around often comes around. The powerless often find themselves in a position of power and the people who hurt us may someday need us. In the moments when we’ve got those people right where we want ‘em, what we say will say as much about us as anything else. If our words are stones, will we choose to throw them, or use them to pave the way forward?
Our big mouths can be destructive, but they also have the power to build others up. What we say can impact the quality, and even the direction, of the lives of the people around us. How can we use this power for good?
Like a small spark that has the potential to scorch an entire green forest, our tongues are untamable, with the power to control our whole bodies. We have a tool that can be used to build up those around us or tear them down in just a few words. What do we do with that kind of power? We can’t lock it away. But we can, by God’s grace, learn to control it.
We all know what it’s like to be hurt by someone who just couldn’t listen long enough to understand us. Maybe in their attempt to be right, they damaged a relationship that could have been saved with a little patience and curiosity. You’ve probably been on the other side of that coin too. What if we didn’t settle for being right, but tried to make things right instead? The longer we listen, the more we learn, and the better chance we have of protecting ourselves from our own big mouths.
There are a lot of options for how to spend your time this summer. What if we told you that Journey has your family covered? We believe this can be your best summer ever and it starts by watching this special message from Jim.
We all have wish lists. But what if there are some wishes that, if we keep front and center, will make our lives better, our relationships richer and our faith journeys more exciting?
Our lives move so quickly we often prioritize being right or seeking the applause of others over pausing to love them well. But what if we spent our short time on Earth getting to know Jesus, who is immensely patient with us and moves closer even when we mess up? Even better, what if we could point others toward Jesus by demonstrating the same love and patience he has shown to us?
While Christianity draws many roots from the Old Testament, the early days of the New Testament church were marked by radical decisions that would set it on a new trajectory. These decisions continue to shape and challenge the church today.
Jesus was irresistible. People from all different backgrounds were drawn to him. But as the early church was forming, there was a tendency to go back to their familiar old religious traditions rather than live by Jesus’ new covenant. Sometimes we do the same.
If you think Jesus was a great leader and teacher, but find it hard to believe in his resurrection, you’re in good company. Even his disciples were skeptical. But those same followers were the ones who would later become the spokesmen of a new movement: the church. They would maintain faith in the midst of incredible suffering. Many died still claiming that Jesus was their Savior. So what do we make of this defining event—the one that became the foundation of their faith . . . and of ours?
At Passover, Jesus gathered his followers and spelled out a new relational arrangement between God and humankind: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” But Jesus wasn’t celebratory. He seemed troubled. Initiating this new covenant with God would require sacrifice. What came next would confuse his followers and send them scattering.
Jesus didn’t come to initiate Judaism 2.0. He came to offer something entirely new to the world: a new covenant that would forever change humankind’s relationship with God. And with that new covenant came a new ethic—one that insisted that the greatest choose the back of the line.
The words “unlimited” and “unconditional” make us suspicious. Whether those words describe an insurance policy, cellphone agreement, or meal plan for a college student, we assume unlimited is really limited and unconditional has some conditions. That suspicion extends to our relationship with God. Unconditional love? Unlimited forgiveness? There must be a catch. But what if there isn’t?
We all have a working definition of what it means to be great. It probably includes power, prosperity, or popularity. As we journey through the life of Jesus, we can't help but stop and look at how he redefined greatness. Don't miss this message!
Jesus claimed to be greater than the temple. He made the temple obsolete. Most of his followers assumed his end game was to declare himself king. The more discerning among them sensed something else was going on. Jesus spoke with authority but refused to take charge. He wielded extraordinary power, but never for himself. What was he up to?
We surround ourselves with people who like us. We surround ourselves with people who are like us. But Jesus calls us to maintain relationships with those who disagree with us. How do we do that?
We all have a natural tendency to surround ourselves with people who like us. Whether we’re geeks, jocks, hipsters, Democrats, or Republicans, we surround ourselves with people who are like us. But what is the cost of isolating ourselves from those who are different?
If you aren’t religious or you gave up religion, you probably had good reason to walk away or stay away. You’re a reasonable person, and there are plenty of good reasons to reject religion. But reconsider Jesus. He wasn’t an extension of the old religion. He came to introduce something brand new.
Something in us is tempted to believe God loves his Law more than his people. We’re tempted to prioritize rules over people. Maybe you left church because somebody prioritized the Bible over your divorced mother or gay brother. But Jesus came to offer us a life greater than keeping religious rules.
When you read the Gospels, two things are abundantly clear. Being a sinner doesn’t disqualify you from following Jesus. And being an unbeliever doesn’t disqualify you from following Jesus. So, what does that mean for you?
“Might makes right” is the default setting for the world. Those with wealth and power write the rules, and they usually write them to favor themselves. That was true in Jesus’ time as well. But he came to turn everything upside down.
Jesus didn't come to extend an old religion. He didn't come to just clarify old truths. He didn't come to just preach sermons and offer wise teachings. From the angel’s announcement to Mary that she would give birth to a son whose "kingdom would never end," it was clear: Jesus would do something new for the world.
This is the season of self-improvement. We challenge ourselves to get slimmer, stronger, and smarter. But if you want to become a better person, focus less on yourself and more on doing something to make the world a better place. The challenge is that making the world a better place requires giving up some part of our lives—time, money, or opportunities. It will cost you some life. We don’t want to give up some life. We want to preserve our lives. But Jesus said that the only way to live a life of purpose and meaning is to give our lives away.
This is the time of year when we become painfully aware of where we are not, who we are not, and what we need to do differently. Traditionally, it’s a season of self-absorption. We wonder how to get slimmer, stronger, and smarter. We wonder how to get out of debt. We wonder how to become better people. If you really want to become a better person, do something this year to make the world a better place. But how do you determine what you should do?
This is that time of year when we become painfully aware of where we are not, who we are not, and what we need to do differently. Traditionally, the new year is a season of self-absorption. It’s all about what we can do to make ourselves better people. The result is that churches, health clubs, debt counselors, and vitamin shops do a booming business.
But we tend to forget that the people we respect the most didn’t devote their lives to becoming the best version of themselves. They devoted their lives to making a difference in the world . . . or in someone’s world.
We all wonder. When we fix our eyes somewhere other than on God, wonder leads to wander. If you’ve wandered from the faith or are looking for the door, it’s not because of Jesus. You may think Christianity requires mind-numbing, experience-denying faith, but what if that’s not true?
We wonder because our frame of reference doesn’t provide us with all of the answers. Every version of religion works for children. But then life happens. We experience challenging circumstances that sow doubt in our childhood faith. Tragedy causes us to question if God is good and loving. Sin leads to guilt and shame. We wonder if God can really love us. Is there such a thing as a frame of reference that can accomodate a grown-up faith?
We wonder because our frame of reference doesn’t provide us with all of the answers. As our frame of reference changes or expands, some mysteries are solved. Some remain mysterious. So what do you do with the big mysteries in life—the mysteries that won't resolve no matter how much we explore them? What do you do with your unanswered questions?
Do you know the feeling? The feeling when you attempt to convince people they have to try something you’ve experienced? An experience like you’ve never had before? And the more you try to explain, the more you realize some things are simply beyond explanation.
What are we talking about? Well, you’ll just have to . . . come and see.
Dissatisfaction with what we have and what we can afford can lead to discontentment. We live in a culture that tells us newer and shinier is better. So, what do you do when you're no longer content with what you wear, drive, or live in?
Gratitude isn't just an emotion. It's relational. It's not enough to feel grateful. You have to express your gratitude.
Discovering the path to living life fully alive is the first step, but learning to remain fully alive is equally important. How can we ensure our experience remains full?
We can’t experience a fully alive life if we’re partially dead. On the surface, it seems we each have different reasons for living less than fully alive, but by digging deeper, we discover we suffer from the same malady. In this message, we’ll discover what’s robbing us of living lives to the full.
We all want to live fully alive. Unfortunately, there’s only one path that leads us from seeking a fully alive life to experiencing a fully alive life. Most people spend their entire lives looking for it. But how do we discover the path that allows us to exchange looking for living?
Your past is a problem when it creates fear for your future. It limits your potential and gets in the way of a deeper relationship with God.
As a society, we have more anxiety now than we ever have before. We carry it around like a software virus. It slows us down and quietly keeps us from operating at our full potential.
Fear is an emotion caused by belief in a looming potential loss. It’s based in the future. The source of our fears is usually something we’re going to lose or we’re afraid we won’t have in the future. Since we can never really know what’s the around the corner, is it even possible to live without fear?
Sometimes you know what’s coming next—graduation, wedding, new baby, new job, retirement. But there’s no correlation between knowing what’s next and being prepared for what’s next. So, how do you prepare for the next season when you can't see what’s coming?
We’re all headed somewhere. We’re all moving toward a new season. And none of us has been where we’re going. Yet it’s up to us to figure out what we need to pack in our bags so that we’re prepared for that coming season. But how can you know what you’ll need when the coming season is a mystery? How can you know what you don’t know?
We’re all headed somewhere. Arriving at our new destinations requires change. For most of us, change creates stress. Just like when we travel on a boat, plane, or in a car, traveling through life can give us motion sickness. We’re knocked off balance. The ground beneath our feet doesn’t feel solid. So how do you prepare for what’s next when the anxiety of transition has you fighting motion sickness?
Life is full of change. Transitions can be both exciting and stressful. That’s because we can’t see into the future. We can’t tell what comes next. But what if there was a way to prepare for the next season? What if you could do something now to influence where you end up then?
Plans are great. Reality is greater. Reality wins. Things don’t always go as planned. Some dreams don’t come true. So what do you do when you discover your dream can’t come true?
Few things are as repulsive as a leader, parent, boss, or politician who leverages influence for his or her benefit to the neglect of those he or she is responsible for. Few things are as inspiring as a leader who says no to himself or herself in order to say yes to those for whom he or she is responsible. So how can we lead well when authority is placed in our hands?
The way of God isn't appealing when we have been wronged by someone else. Our natural urge is to try to get even. We want to wrong the people who wrong us as a way of getting payback. That seems just. It seems fair. But does it solve anything? Maybe there’s a better way.
The way of God is most unappealing when we are angry, isolated, or afraid. That’s when we consider things we would never otherwise consider. It's when we feel compelled to do something . . . anything. But maybe there's a better way.
David went from humble shepherd to national hero to great king. But he wasn't great because of his reputation or military prowess. He was great because of where he'd learned to place his hope.
Special guest, Mike DeVito, retired player for the Kansas City Chiefs, concludes our series. Mike shares four practical ways that we can all use to begin helping the next-gen win.
Think about the people who have made a difference in your life. Don't you want to do that for the next generation? There’s an easy first step.
This generation is the first that doesn’t need adults for information. But they do need adults for interpretation. What can we do to help the next generation to see the world in a way that sets them up for success?
The Greatest Generation. Baby Boomers. Generation X. Millennials. Generation Z. Each generation is distinct from those that came before and those that come after. They have different priorities and different experiences. They see the world differently. It’s easy for the generations to live in conflict and competition. But what is our responsibility to the generations that come after us?
Are we making a point or making a difference? It's easier to make a point; to adopt a policy; to put up a billboard or hand out a pamphlet. Making a difference is messier. It requires relating to people with whom you may not agree. But that is what Jesus modeled. In this message, Jim shows us why relational evangelism - despite being more complicated and despite looking inconsistent at times - is what we were called to as a church.
In part learn the secret to begin becoming a good neighbor. It's not at all what you might think.
We were made for relationships, but we have set up our lives and homes to isolate us. What if the best way to build relationships was to open our homes and lives with our neighbors? What if, all along, this was actually God's plan to change the world?
The power and genius of The Great Commandment is that it’s so simple and yet extremely powerful when acted on. The smartest thing that we can do collectively to impact our city is to actually live out Jesus’ command to love our neighbors.
The conclusion of Timeless uncovers God's plan for our finances and how his plan has the ability to change our entire family tree.
In a trendy world, the best things in life are timeless. This timeless principle is the best financial advice. That when applied, Jesus promises, provides a blessing not only in this life but throughout eternity.
In a trendy world, the best things in life are timeless. Discover the truth about the most timeless thing there is Heaven. And how knowing the truth about heaven will not just impact your life in the distant future. But has the power to change your life now.
It’s vital to erect guardrails around our hearts because an unguarded heart can overpower our most guarded behavior.
When it comes to our finances, it’s easy to cross the line into the danger zone. That’s why it’s essential to establish guardrails against greed.
Guardrails keep vehicles from straying into dangerous or off-limit areas. We need personal guardrails so we don’t stray into areas of life that can harm us or the people we love. If there’s one area in which personal guardrails are most needed but also most resisted, it’s in our relationships.
Have you ever met someone that later you wish you’d never met? Is there a person you wish your husband, wife, son, or daughter had never met? Sometimes people are our greatest regrets because they influence us to ignore our guardrails and step into the danger zone.
Guardrails are designed to keep vehicles from straying into dangerous or off-limit areas. They minimize damage by keeping us in the safety zone. But the highway isn’t the only place we need guardrails.
Do you sometimes wonder how anyone could believe Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose from the dead, and was seen?