Exodus 14:1-4 (NLT) Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses: “Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon.
Then Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!’ And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!” So the Israelites camped there as they were told.

✓  NOT EVERY DIFFICULT PLACE IS A WRONG PLACE.
Exodus 14:2 (NLT) “Turn back and camp by the sea…”

✓  FEELING STUCK EXPOSES WHERE WE’RE LOOKING FOR CONTROL.
Exodus 14:10-12 (NLT) As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?
Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”
Psalm 23:1-4 (NIV) The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me...

✓  GOD IS WORKING IN WAYS YOU CAN’T SEE YET.
Exodus 14:21-22 (NLT) Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!


WHEN YOU FEEL STUCK

I. RELEASE WHAT ISN’T YOURS TO CARRY.
I Peter 5:7 (NIV) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

You can care deeply without carrying it personally.

II. CHOOSE STILLNESS OVER STRIVING.
Exodus 14:13-14 (NLT) But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

III. BE FAITHFUL WITH THE NEXT STEP.
Exodus 14:15 (NLT) Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.

Guest Pastor Joey Sarlo

Psalm 91:1 (NKJV)
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

We visit God… we don’t dwell with Him.

Psalm 91:2 (NKJV)
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

Isaiah 35:4 (NIV)
Say to those with fearful hearts,
    “Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
    He will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
    He will come to save you.”

We isolate… we don’t stay connected.


Psalm 91:3 (NKJV)
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.


Psalm 91:4 (NKJV)
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

We hear the Word… we don’t live it out.


Psalm 91:5-7 (NKJV)
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.

We entertain fear… we don’t fight it.


Psalm 91:11-13 (NKJV)
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

We stay in safety… we don’t step out in authority.


Psalm 91:14 (NKJV)
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

We see what’s in front of us… we don’t see what God sees.


Psalm 91:15-16 (NKJV)
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

We carry it ourselves… we don’t call on God.


Jeremiah 33:3 (NLT) Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.

Pastor Wes Morris 

Matthew 25:14-24 (NLT) “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

“The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

“After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’

“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

“The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’

“The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

“Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’”

✓ WE‘VE ALL BEEN GIVEN SOMETHING. 

✓ COMPARISON WILL CAUSE YOU TO MISS WHAT GOD HAS PLACED IN YOUR HANDS.

Matthew 25:18 (NLT) "But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money."


✓ YOUR VIEW OF GOD SHAPES YOUR RESPONSE TO GOD.

Matthew 25:24 (NLT) “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man…’”

DON'T BURY IT

I. SEE GOD IN A NEW WAY.

James 1:17-18 (NLT) Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

God is good.
God gives perfect gifts.
God is the source.
God is our Father.
God is unchanging.
God is steady.
God is truthful.
God deeply values you.


II. DON’T ALLOW FEAR AND FAILURE TO DEFINE YOU.

Isaiah 41:10 (TLB) Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.


III. BE FAITHFUL WITH WHAT’S IN YOUR HAND.

I Corinthians 15:58 (NKJV) Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Pastor Bria Bradshaw

One encounter with Jesus can change the direction of your entire life.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭14‬-‭15‬,19-20 (ESV) “Afterward [Jesus] appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation…So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.”

Acts 1:4-8 (ESV)‬‬ And while staying with them [Jesus] ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

FACE TO FACE WITH POWER

I. RECEIVE HIS POWER.

Thought: We can’t produce by human effort what was meant to be produced by the Holy Spirit.

John 20:19 - 22 (ESV)‬‬ “...Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

II. TRUST HIS POWER.

Thought: Our part is to receive what He’s giving us, and the Holy Spirit’s part is to show up in power!

Zechariah 4:6 (ESV) Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

Pastor Wes Morris 

One encounter with Jesus can change the direction of your entire life.

Luke 19:1-10 (NLT) Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.

When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

√  YOU CAN HAVE A FULL LIFE ON THE OUTSIDE AND STILL BE EMPTY IN YOUR SOUL.

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 (NLT) Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind.

√  YOU CAN GET CLOSE TO JESUS AND STILL KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.

Isaiah 29:13 (NLT) And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules...”

√  JESUS WILL INVITE YOU CLOSER THAN YOU PLANNED.

Luke 19:5 (TLB) When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

FACE TO FACE WITH MERCY

I. BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT’S STILL MISSING IN YOUR LIFE.

Apart from God, nothing in this life can satisfy our deepest desires. Tragically, we keep chasing more, only to end up restless, hurried, anxious, disillusioned, and trapped in a cycle that keeps making the ache worse. 
- John Mark Comer

John 6:35 (NIV) “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

II. MOVE FROM CURIOSITY TO CLOSENESS.

Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

James 4:8 (NLT) Come close to God, and God will come close to you. 

III. LET JESUS INTO THE REAL PLACES OF YOUR LIFE. 

Revelation 3:20 (TLB) Look! I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me.

Learn more about Bay Chapel at baychapel.com

One encounter with Jesus can change the direction of your entire life.

John 4:3-13 (NLT) So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. He had to go through Samaria on the way.  Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 

Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.

The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

√ JESUS MOVES TOWARD THE BROKEN.

John 4:4 (NLT) He had to go through Samaria...

√ JESUS MEETS US IN THE PLACE OF OUR DEEPEST PAIN.

John 4:15-18 (NIV) The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”

“I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

√ JESUS REDEEMS OUR PAIN AND GIVES IT PURPOSE.

John 4:28-30 (NIV) Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

FACE TO FACE WITH GRACE

I. GIVE JESUS THE PLACE IN YOUR LIFE THAT STILL HURTS.

Psalm 34:18 (NLT) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

II. RECEIVE HIS TRUTH AS AN ACT OF GRACE.

Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT) Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

III. LET GOD TURN YOUR PAIN INTO PURPOSE. 

II Corinthians 1:4 (TLB) What a wonderful God we have—he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us.

Face to Face with Jesus

One encounter with Jesus can change the direction of your entire life.

John 3:1-2a (NIV) Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God…

✓ Curiosity

✓ Humility

FACE TO FACE WITH TRUTH

1. Truth: Knowing a lot about God is not the same as knowing God. 

Question:  Where have I grown so familiar with God that I no longer welcome a fresh encounter with Him?

John 3:2-8 (NIV) He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

2. Truth: We can never manufacture what can only be birthed by the Spirit.

Question: Lord, where am I striving to produce something that only Your Spirit can bring to life?

John 3:9-18 (NIV) “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

3. Truth: Jesus came to give life to the dying, not turn bad people good.

Question: Jesus, what in me has been empty or dying because I’ve been looking somewhere else for life?

Pastor Wes Morris

Mark 1:14-15 (NIV) After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Metanoia: a change of mind that results in a change of direction.

√  REALIZATION

Luke 15:17 (NIV) When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 

Proverbs 16:18 (NIV) Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

√  REORIENTATION

Luke 15:18 (NIV) I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

√  REALIGNMENT

Luke 15:20-24 (NIV) So he got up and went to his father.

“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.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate."

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

THE TURNING POINT

I. RETURN TO THE FATHER EVERY DAY.

James 4:7-8 (ESV) Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

II. ALLOW GOD TO RESHAPE YOUR THOUGHTS.

Luke 15:17 (NIV) When he came to his senses...

Colossians 3:1-3 (NIV) Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above…Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

III. LET JESUS BE THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE. 

Isaiah 55:6-7 (MSG) Seek God while he’s here to be found, pray to him while he’s close at hand. Let the wicked abandon their way of life and the evil their way of thinking. Let them come back to God, who is merciful...”

To connect with us visit baychapel.com or email us at info@baychapel.com

Pastor Bria Bradshaw

Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV) Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

“Because the Bible emphasizes healthy relationships so highly, it’s sad that there are so many believers who have hurting or broken relationships. Many Christian homes have been shattered by divorce. Some who stay married are unhappy. Their homes are a tense battle ground, not a loving refuge. Many Christian parents are at odds with their kids and the kids with their parents. On the church level, some bounce from church to church, leaving a trail of damaged relationships behind. I know of Christians who won’t speak to other Christians because of misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and wrongs that have taken place. Sadly, the loving families, genuine friendships, and healthy relationships that we want most out of life often elude us.”
- Commentary on Colossians 3:12-13

Your relationships need a healed you.

Unhealthy: That was so long ago. It doesn't matter now.
Healthy: What happened then impacts what happens now.

Unhealthy: My life is fine. It didn't really bother me.
Healthy: I may not see what God can see.

Unhealthy: I’m a new creation in Christ. I’ve put that all behind me.
Healthy: The old is made new by acknowledging my need for healing not ignoring it.

Mark 8:22-26 (ESV) And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to [Jesus] a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

WE'RE STILL LEARNING TO HEAL

1. Let Jesus lead your healing journey.

Mark 8:23 (ESV) And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village…

Ask the Lord, “Where do you want to lead me?”

2. Let Jesus do what He wants and how He wants.

Mark 8:23-25 (ESV) “...and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again…

Ask the Lord, “Will you do for me what I can’t do for myself?”

3. Let Jesus show you what you haven’t seen in a while.

Mark 8:25 (ESV) …and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

Ask the Lord, “What do you want to restore that I haven’t seen in a while?”

4. Go where Jesus tells you to go next.

Mark 8:26 (ESV)  And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

Ask the Lord, “Where are you sending me from here?”

Pastor Wes Morris

James 1:19-20 (NIV) My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

✓ IT’S TRAINING US TO REACT, NOT REFLECT.

Numbers 20:1-12 (NLT) In the first month of the year, the whole community of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh. There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron. The people blamed Moses and said, “If only we had died in the Lord’s presence with our brothers! Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place?”

Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord said to Moses, “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water." 

So Moses did as he was told. Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!”

✓  IT’S BUILDING IDENTITY AROUND OUTRAGE.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 (NIV) Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

✓  IT CAN STUNT OUR EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

I Peter 2:21-23 (TLB) Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps: He never sinned, never told a lie, never answered back when insulted; when he suffered he did not threaten to get even; he left his case in the hands of God who always judges fairly.

LEARNING TO LISTEN

I. WALK IN HUMILITY.

Humility says: “I might not have the whole story.”

Proverbs 18:13 (NIV) To answer before listening - that is folly and shame.

Proverbs 18:13 (GNT) Listen before you answer. If you don't, you are being stupid and insulting.

II. PRACTICE PATIENCE.

Patience says: “Understanding takes time.”

Proverbs 14:29 (NIV) Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.


III. CHOOSE LOVE.

Love says: “You matter enough for me to slow down.”

Ephesians 4:2 (NLT) Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Pastor Wes Morris 

Psalm 62:1-2 (NIV) Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

√  WE BUILD OUR SECURITY ON TEMPORARY THINGS.

I Corinthians 3:11 (TLB) No one can ever lay any other real foundation than that one we already have—Jesus Christ.

Anything that can be taken from you cannot be your foundation.

√  WE COMPARE OUR JOURNEY TO OTHERS.

Ephesians 6:4-5 (TLB) Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

Comparison makes you doubt what God is doing in your life because you’re distracted by what He’s doing in someone else’s.

√  WE CARRY BURDENS WE WERE MEANT TO SURRENDER.

Psalm 55:22 (NIV) Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

UNSHAKABLE FAITH

I Corinthians 15:58 (NKJV) Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

I. “BE STEADFAST” - ROOT YOUR LIFE IN GOD.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (TLB) But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence. He is like a tree planted along a riverbank, with its roots reaching deep into the water—a tree not bothered by the heat nor worried by long months of drought. Its leaves stay green, and it goes right on producing all its luscious fruit.

II. “IMMOVABLE” - ANCHOR YOUR LIFE IN TRUTH.

Ephesians 4:15-16 (MSG) God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

III. “ALWAYS ABOUNDING” - LIVE FOR SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOURSELF.

1. Do I belong?
2. Am I growing?
3. Am I making a difference?

I Peter 4:10 (CEV) Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well.

Pastor Bria Bradshaw

Luke 2:36-38 (NIV) There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.


√ COMFORT

Comfort and ease will never produce strong & steady faith.

√ FAMILIARITY

FAITH THAT ENDURES

I. RECEIVE OUR STRENGTH FROM GOD

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭28‬-‭31‬ ‭(ESV‬‬) “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Prayer of Dependence - God, I need your strength today. I’m done trying to do this on my own.”

II. REMAIN IN JESUS CHRIST.

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.”

Prayer of Surrender - God, I yield to your plans today. I’m done trying to do this my way.

Pastor Wes Morris

Psalm 9:7-10 (NIV) The Lord reigns forever, executing judgment from his throne. He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness. The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.


√ TRUST GROWS FROM KNOWING GOD, NOT CONTROLLING OUTCOMES.

Exodus 3:13-14 (NIV) Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.”

Proverbs 18:10 (NIV) The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

√ SEEKING GOD IS HOW TRUST BECOMES STEADY.

Jeremiah 29:12-13 (NIV) Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 

Roots grow by staying planted.
Trust grows by staying present.

√ TRUST TAKES TIME.

Psalm 27:13-14 (TLB) I am expecting the Lord to rescue me again, so that once again I will see his goodness to me here in the land of the living.

Don’t be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you! Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait and he will help you.

Trust isn’t built in a moment; it’s built in the middle.

STEADY TRUST

I. PRACTICE DAILY DEPENDENCE ON GOD.

Psalm 9:10 (NIV) Those who know your name trust in you...

You will never truly realize God is all you need until He becomes all you have.  - Corrie Ten Boom

II. RELEASE CONTROL IN ONE SPECIFIC AREA.

Matthew 6:25-27 (NLT) That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?

27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?


III. MAKE ROOM FOR GOD IN THE MIDDLE.

Isaiah 43:2 (NIV) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…

Pastor Wes Morris 

Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.


√  GROWTH HAPPENS BEFORE YOU CAN SEE IT.

Matthew 6:6 (NIV) When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.

Matthew 6:6-13 (MSG) Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need.


√  DEPTH DETERMINES STABILITY.

Matthew 7:24-25 (NIV) Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.


√  WHAT YOU’RE ROOTED IN DETERMINES WHAT YOU PRODUCE.

Psalm 1:3 (ESV) He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

I Corinthians 15:58 (NIRV) My dear brothers and sisters, remain strong in the faith. Don’t let anything move you. Always give yourselves completely to the work of the Lord. Because you belong to the Lord, you know that your work is not worthless.

STRONG ROOTS

I. CREATE SPACE FOR GOD EVERY DAY.

Matthew 6:33 (NLT) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.


II. CHOOSE SPIRITUAL DEPTH OVER DISTRACTIONS.

Psalm 119:37 (NLT) Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.

Psalm 119:37 (TLB) Turn me away from wanting any other plan than yours. Revive my heart toward you.


III. STAY PLANTED IN GOD’S PRESENCE.

Psalm 92:12-14 (TLB) But the godly shall flourish like palm trees and grow tall as the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted into the Lord’s own garden and are under his personal care. Even in old age they will still produce fruit and be vital and green.

December 21, 2025

Pastor Bria Bradshaw

Matthew 1:18–25 (ESV) Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Matthew 1:22-23 (ESV) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

If Us Without God is the greatest devastation, then God With Us is the greatest restoration!

✓ Us without life

✓ Us without power

✓ Us without identity

Simply God With Us

1. Prepare Him Room

We prepare…

• Surrender - Yield to His Power
• Submit to His Authority

Ask the Lord - Where within me is without you as the Source?

2. Receive the King of Heaven

• Give up the throne of our lives

Ask the Lord - Where within me is being ruled by anyone or anything other than you?

Pastor Wes Morris 

II Corinthians 6:3-10 (NLT) We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.

We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.

We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.


√  We don’t know how to make room for both joy and grief.

Psalm 30:5 (NIV) Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

√  We feel pressure to hide the hurt.

Matthew 26:38 (NIV) My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.

√  We believe joy has to wait until the pain is gone.

II Corinthians 6:10 (NLT) Our hearts ache, but we always have joy.

Psalm 42:4-5 (NLT) My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!

LIVING IN THE MIDDLE

I. BE HONEST WITH GOD ABOUT WHAT HURTS.

I Peter 5:7 (NIV) Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

God doesn’t heal what we hide - He heals what we give Him.

Luke 7:48, 50 (NIV) Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven....Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”


II. ANCHOR YOUR HOPE IN WHO GOD IS, NOT WHAT YOU FEEL.

Lamentations 3:21–23 (NIV) Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.


III. MEET GOD IN THE MIDDLE.

Isaiah 43:2 (NIV) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.

Psalm 34:18 (NIV) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What emotion have I been avoiding or suppressing that God is asking me to acknowledge?
   
   
2. What am I grieving right now that I haven’t fully named?
   
   
3. What promise of Scripture do I need to preach to my own heart daily?
   
   
4. What does “joy in the middle” mean for my situation?
   
   

Pastor Bria Bradshaw

Proverbs 11:24 (MSG) The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.

Leviticus 23:22 (ESV) “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”

1. Live well within your boundaries - “Don’t reap your field right up to its edges…”
2. Leave what’s behind for others - “Nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest.”

Deuteronomy 24:19-22 (ESV) “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.

GOD'S PLAN TO CARE FOR THE POOR AND THE MARGINALIZED HAS ALWAYS BEEN HIS PEOPLE.

√  WE ARE MAXED OUT.

√  WE WANT A RETURN.

√  WE FORGET.

Deuteronomy 24:22 (ESV) You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.

WHERE GENEROSITY MOVES

I.  WHERE WE MAKE SPACE

Ask - Lord, where is my life so filled with me that there’s no room for you to move?

II. WHERE WE REMEMBER

Ask - Lord, where have I forgotten what you’ve done in my life?

III. WHERE WE'RE SURRENDERED

Matthew 25:34-40 (ESV) Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.’

Ask - Lord, what part of my life is not surrendered or unavailable to you?

Discussion Questions + Practice

1. Making Space

• Where do you notice our family/life being “filled to the edges” right now?
• What is one practical way we could create more space—time, margin, or resources—so God can move through us?

2. Remembering

• What is something God has done for you that you don’t want to forget?
• How might remembering God’s faithfulness make us more open-handed with others?

3. Surrendering & Generosity

• What area of our lives feels hardest to surrender or give generously—time, money, attention, energy? Why?
• Who around us might be “the least of these” that God is inviting us to see and care for this week?

Pastor Wes Morris 

Proverbs 11:24 (MSG) The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.

√  I NEED TO PROTECT MYSELF.

Proverbs 29:25 (NIV) Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

√  HAVING MORE WILL MAKE ME SECURE.

Mark 10:21–22 (NLT) Jesus looked at him and loved him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he said. “Go and sell all your possessions…then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”

√  WHAT I HAVE DETERMINES WHO I AM.

II Corinthians 8:1-2 (NLT) Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

A LIFE THAT OVERFLOWS

I.  OPEN YOUR HEART TO HEALING.

Luke 10:31-33 (NIV) A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

II.  PLACE YOUR SECURITY IN JESUS.

Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV) I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

III. LIVE WITH ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE.

I Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV) Command them not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

NEXT STEPS

Where is God asking you to show courage this week so your life can overflow - in healing, in trust, or in living with an eternal perspective?

Pastor Wes Morris

Proverbs 11:24 (MSG) The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.

√ WE HOLD ON TRYING TO PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE.

√ WE HAVE A SCARCITY MINDSET.

John 6:8-9 (NLT) Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

Scarcity isn’t the absence of resources; it’s the absence of trust.

John 6:11 (NLT) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted.

Philippians 4:19 (NLT) And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.


√ WE’VE BEEN HURT IN THE PAST.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

OPEN HANDS, FULL HEARTS

I.  PRACTICE DAILY SURRENDER.

John 12:24 (NIV) Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

Romans 12:1 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.


II.  DEVELOP A THANKFUL HEART.

II Corinthians 9:8 (NIV) And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.


III. FIND JOY IN BEING GENEROUS.

Proverbs 11:25 (NIV) A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Group Discussion Questions + Practice

ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS (Pick One)

• If you could have one superpower to help people (not to make your own life easier), what would it be?
• What’s something small someone gave you that meant way more than its actual value?
• If you had to describe your week using only one word of gratitude, what would it be?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Key Verse: “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.”  Proverbs 11:24 (MSG)

1. WE HOLD ON TRYING TO PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE.

• Why do you think our first instinct is often to hold on tightly instead of trusting God?
• How does generosity challenge our desire to stay in control?
  
  

2. WE HAVE A SCARCITY MINDSET.

John 6:9-11 (NLT), Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

“Scarcity isn’t the absence of resources; it’s the absence of trust.”

• When have you felt like you didn’t have enough - time, money, energy, or ability - yet saw God provide?
  
  

3. WE’VE BEEN HURT IN THE PAST.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)

• How can past pain or disappointment cause us to close our hands or hearts?
• What does it look like to let God soften your heart again?
• How might healing and generosity be connected?
  
  

OPEN HANDS, FULL HEARTS

I. PRACTICE DAILY SURRENDER

John 12:24 (NIV), Romans 12:1 (NIV)

• What does surrender practically look like in your everyday life?
• Why is it so hard to let go, even when we know God can do more with what we give Him?
• What’s one area where God might be asking you to take your hands off and trust Him?
  
  

Judge #1: Othniel
Judges 3:7-11 (NLT) The Israelites did evil in the LORD’s sight. They forgot about the LORD their God, and they served the images of Baal and the Asherah poles. Then the LORD burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim. And the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years. 
But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help, the LORD raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge. He went to war against King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram, and the LORD gave Othniel victory over him. So there was peace in the land for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.

LESSON: It’s not enough to be gifted and obedient; we must depend on the Spirit’s power in everything we do.

Judge #2: Ehud

Judges 3:12-7 (NLT) Once again the Israelites did evil in the LORD’s sight, and the LORD gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because of their evil. Eglon enlisted the Ammonites and Amalekites as allies, and then he went out and defeated Israel, taking possession of Jericho, the city of palms. And the Israelites served Eglon of Moab for eighteen years. 
But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help, the LORD again raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin. The Israelites sent Ehud to deliver their tribute money to King Eglon of Moab. So Ehud made a double-edged dagger that was about a foot long, and he strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing. He brought the tribute money to Eglon, who was very fat.

LESSON: Be fully available to God—even when you feel limited or less than capable.

Judge #3: Shamgar

Judges 3:31 (NLT) After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Israel. He once killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad.

LESSON: Stand strong and give what you have, even if there are limited resources.

NEXT STEPS

• Depend Daily - Begin each day this week with a simple prayer: “Holy Spirit, I depend on You today. Lead me, empower me, and help me not to rely on myself.”
• Be Available - Ask God to show you one area where you’ve been holding back because you felt inadequate and say yes to His leading.
• Use What You Have - Identify one resource, relationship, or skill you already have that could serve God or someone in need this week and act on it.

Pastor Wes Morris

Mark 5:2-20 (NIV) When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain.

Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.

Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

When the people came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man begged to go with him. Jesus said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.”

So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

√  HE LABELS YOU BY YOUR BROKENNESS.

The enemy calls you by your past. God calls you by your name.

√  HE TRIES TO MAKE YOU COMFORTABLE IN THE DARK. 

John 8:12 (NIV) I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.

√  HE CONVINCES YOU NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE.

John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

BUILT DIFFERENT: BUILT FOR A BETTER STORY

I. LEAVE THE TOMBS BEHIND.

Ephesians 5:14 (NIV) Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.


II. SEE YOURSELF THE WAY GOD SEES YOU.

Judges 6:11–12 (NIV) The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

II Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.


III. STEP INTO YOUR PURPOSE.

Mark 5:19 (NIV) “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you…”

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Pastor Wes Morris 

II Timothy 1:1-7 (NLT) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

√  DISTRACTION - it divides our focus.

√  SHAME - it kills our confidence.

Romans 8:1 (NLT) So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

√ COMFORT - it weakens our dependence.

Exodus 3:2-4 (NLT) There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”

When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied.

BUILT DIFFERENT: FUELED BY FIRE

I.  POWER: STAY CONNECTED TO THE SOURCE.

Acts 1:8 (NLT) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

II.  LOVE: STAY ROOTED IN RELATIONSHIP.

Romans 5:5 (NLT) ...God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Romans 8:14-16 (GNT) Those who are led by God's Spirit are God's children. For the Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead, the Spirit makes you God's children, and by the Spirit's power we cry out to God, “Father! my Father!” God's Spirit joins himself to our spirits to declare that we are God's children.

III.  SOUND MIND: STAY ANCHORED IN TRUTH.

John 14:16-17 (NIV) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 

Colossians 3:23 (NIV) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:23 (TLB) Let heaven fill your thoughts; don’t spend your time worrying about things down here.

Group Discussion Questions + Practice

• What’s something in your life that helps you “recharge” when you’re feeling drained - physically or spiritually?

READ TOGETHER
II Timothy 1:6–7 (NLT) For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

FIRE KILLERS

√ Distraction – divides our focus
√ Shame – kills our confidence
√ Comfort – weakens our dependence

• Which of these three “fire killers” tends to affect you the most right now?
  What practical steps can you take this week to guard against it?
• Why do you think comfort can be just as dangerous to your faith as fear or shame?

FUELED BY POWER, LOVE AND A SOUND MI

Built Different Pt. 4 | October 5, 2025

Pastor Bria Bradshaw

Matthew 7:24–27 (ESV) “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

John 16:33 (ESV) I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

We can either be deformed by avoiding our pain or be transformed by meeting God in our pain.

“Pain that is not transformed is transmitted." - Richard Rohr

✓ Deny - Deny that you have pain

✓ Detach - Emotionally disconnect from feeling pain

✓ Drug - Numb our pain

I. LEAVE SOME THINGS BEHIND

Matthew 26:36-37 (NIV) Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.

II. NAME IT WITH OTHERS

Matthew 26:38 (NIV) Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 

III. GET REAL WITH GOD

Matthew 26:39a (NIV) Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.

IV. SURRENDER TO HIS WILL

Matthew 26:39b (NIV) “...Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Pastor Wes Morris 

Matthew 7:24–27 (NIV) 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. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 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.

BUILT DIFFERENT: FAMILIES

I.  WE WALK BY FAITH.

Hebrews 11:8 (NIV) By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

Hebrews 10:39 (NIV) But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.  - Elisabeth Elliot

II.  WE SEE GOD IN EVERY SITUATION.

Habakkuk 3:17–18 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

III.  WE DON’T GIVE UP. 

Galatians 6:9 (NIV) Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Group Discussion Questions + Practice

Opening Question

• What’s one of your favorite Christian/Worship songs or artists from when you first started following Jesus?”
  
  

1. We Walk by Faith

• In the first scene, David leaves everything behind in Australia. What’s one time you had to take a step of faith without knowing how it would turn out?
  
  
• What fears usually hold us back from walking by faith as individuals or families?
  
  
• How can we build rhythms in our homes that keep us rooted in faith?
  
  

2. We See God in Every Situation

• Thanksgiving scene: David feels like a failure, but he sees his daughter’s gift and God’s blessing. Why is it so hard to see God in our struggles?
  
  
• Read Habakkuk 3:17–18. How does this passage challenge your perspective on gratitude and worship?
  
  
• What’s one situation in your life right now where you need to intentionally look for God’s hand at work?
  
  

3. We Don’t Give Up

• “Burn the ships” scene: The family chooses perseverance. What’s an area where you’ve been tempted to give up, but God is calling you to press on?
  
  
• Read Galatians 6:9. How do we encourage each other not to grow weary in doing good?
  
  
• What practices or habits help families (or friendships) keep going when life gets hard?

Practice Next Steps

1. Gratitude Challenge: Each day, write down one place you see God’s hand at work in both the highs and the lows.
   
   
2. Encouragement Partner: Commit to checking in with a friend this week to pray specifically for perseverance in one area of life.

Movie Info:

• Copyright holder: Lions Gate Entertainment Inc.
• Year of copyright: 2024
• Distributor: Lionsgate
• Production companies: Kingdom Story Company and Candy Rock Entertainment also have production credits for the film. 

II Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

√  WE FIGHT THE WRONG ENEMY. 

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…

√  WE FIGHT WITH THE WRONG WEAPONS.

I Samuel 17:45 (NIV) You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty.

√  WE FIGHT FOR THE WRONG VICTORY.

Matthew 16:24-26 (NLT) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?

BUILT FOR THE BATTLE

I. PICK UP OUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS.

Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Truth (Belt) - We hold our life together with the truth of God’s Word.
Righteousness (Breastplate) - Right living guards our heart.
Peace (Shoes) - We walk steady with the peace of Christ.
Faith (Shield) - Combat the enemy’s lies through our trust in God.
Salvation (Helmet) - Protect your mind with your identity in Christ.
Word of God (Sword) - Fight back with Scripture.
Prayer - Stay connected to God’s power in the battle.

II. RENEW OUR MINDS DAILY.

II Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) ...we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Colossians 3:2 (NIV) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.


III. RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER.

Galatians 5:22-25 (NLT) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Group Discussion Questions + Practice

Opening Question

• Share about a time when you felt like you were in a battle - maybe at work, in your family, or even in your mind. How did you try to fight that battle?

Part 1– The Battles We Face

1. We fight the wrong enemy (Ephesians 6:12)
   • Why do we often view people as the enemy instead of recognizing the real spiritual battle behind the scenes?
   • How might seeing the “true enemy” change the way you respond to conflict in your life right now?
2. We fight with the wrong weapons (1 Samuel 17:45)
   • What “worldly weapons” are easy for you to pick up when life gets hard (anger, control, avoidance, etc.)?
3. We fight for the wrong victory (Matthew 16:24–26)
   • Jesus warned that it’s possible to “gain the whole world but lose your soul.” What might a “shallow victory” look like in your life?
   • How can we shift our focus from temporary wins to eternal victories?

Pastor Bria Bradshaw

Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV) “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

A life built on the rock is a life built on what God says.

√  Hear what God Said

√  Hear what God is Saying 

“If we are Bible believing people, the most natural activity that we should all lean towards is learning to listen to, discern, and hear God’s voice on a regular basis.” 
- Bob Hamp, Think Differently

BUILT ON THE ROCK

I. LISTEN FOR GOD'S WORDS

Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

II. PUT IT INTO PRACTICE.

Luke 11:27-28 (ESV) As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” 

To learn more about Bay Chapel or to visit us in person, visit baychapel.com

Group Discussion Questions + Practice

1. Looking back at Matthew 7:24–27, what stands out to you most about Jesus’ comparison of the wise and foolish builders? Why do you think He used such a vivid image?
Follow-up prompts: What do the storms represent in real life? Why do you think He talks about the foundation instead of the house itself?

2. Statistics show that Bible engagement in America is at devastating lows, even among Christians. Why do you think so many people struggle to consistently read and hear from God through His Word?
Follow-up prompts: What does hearing God speak through the Bible look like in your own life? What’s the difference between reading words on a page vs. encountering the living God?

3. Building on the rock makes us unshakable in storms. Where in your life right now do you sense God calling you to trust His Word and put it into practice, even when it’s hard?
Follow-up prompts: What “storm” are you facing (or preparing for) that requires faith? What step of obedience could you take to stand firm this week?

4. If hearing God’s Word leads to a life that's "built different", what is one intentional way you could posture yourself to listen more attentively to Him this week?
Follow-up prompts: What practice helps you quiet distractions so you can hear? What would it look like to treat God’s voice as the “foundation” under your week?

Spiritual Practice for the Week:
Daily Listening Prayer: Set aside 5–10 minutes each day to read a short passage of Scripture (maybe from the Sermon on the Mount), sit in silence, and ask: “Lord, what are You saying to me today?” Write down what comes to mind and look back at the end of the week to notice patterns.

Pastor Wes Morris

Exodus 33:12-14 (NIV) Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’

If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

√ PEACE – God’s presence quiets the chaos in my heart and gives me true rest.

Mark 4:39 (NIV) He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Peace isn’t the absence of storms, it’s the presence of Jesus in the storm.

Psalm 4:8 (NIV) In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

√ STRENGTH – When I wait on Him, He renews my strength for what’s ahead.

II Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Isaiah 40:31 (TLB) They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Wait: qavah: to twist or bind together, as in making a rope.

√ IDENTITY – Rest reminds me I am defined by God’s presence, not by my performance.

Luke 15:21-22 (NIV) The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”

22 But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.”

Galatians 2:20 (NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

REST REDIFINED

I. CREATE SPACE FOR PEACE.

Psalm 46:10 (NIV) Be still, and know that I am God.

• Start the day with silence.
• Create a physical space where you meet with God.
• Meditate on scripture.

II. START EACH DAY WALKING IN GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV) Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

“Mercy gave the prodigal son a second chance. Grace gave him a feast.” - Max Lucado

III. REST IN WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE.

1 John 3:1 (NIV) See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

Pastor Bria Bradshaw

Resistance is essential to our spiritual formation. 

Faith turns moments of resistance into stories of resilience.

Mark 5:25-28 (ESV) And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”

√ PEOPLE

√ STRUGGLES

√ TIME PASSED

Lies We Believe

√ I have to get through this myself. - We become self-reliant.

√ My mess is too much for God or people. - We become isolated.

√ It’s too late for me now. - We become hopeless.

Mark 5:29-34 (ESV) And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

PUSHING CLOSER

I. GOD WANTS TO CARRY THIS FOR ME.

Scripture Meditation - Psalm 55

Psalm 55:22 (ESV) Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

II. THERE'S A PLACE FOR ME IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE.

Scripture Meditation - Luke 15

Luke 15:20 (ESV) And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

III. WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

Scripture Meditation - Luke 1

Luke 1:37 (ESV) For nothing will be impossible with God.

To learn more about Bay Chapel visit our website at baychapel.com

Pastor Wes Morris

Joel 2:12-13 (NLT) That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.

√  WE GET COMFORTABLE WHERE WE ARE. 

Revelation 3:16 (MSG) I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot - far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.

√  WE ASSUME WE HAVE MORE TIME. 

Joel 2:12 (NIV) “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart…”

2 Corinthians 6:2 (GNT) Hear what God says: “When the time came for me to show you favor, I heard you; when the day arrived for me to save you, I helped you.” Listen! This is the hour to receive God's favor; today is the day to be saved!

√  WE CARRY THE WEIGHT OF SHAME.

Mark 5:33 (NLT) Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done.

Shame is the fear that if you are fully known, you will be fully rejected. Grace is the promise that you are fully known - and still fully loved.

RETURN TO ME

I. PUSH PAST THE DISTRACTIONS.

Mark 10:48 (MSG) When he heard that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, he began to cry out, “Son of David, Jesus! Mercy, have mercy on me!” Many tried to hush him up, but he yelled all the louder, “Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!”

Hebrews 12:1-2 (TLB) Let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the race that God has set before us.

II. BRING YOUR WHOLE HEART TO GOD. 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT) For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

Prayer is the natural out-gushing of a soul in communion with Jesus. Just as the leaf and the fruit will come out of the vine without any conscious effort on the part of the branch but simply because of its living union with the stem, so prayer buds and blossoms and produces fruit out of souls abiding in Jesus.  - Charles Spurgeon

III. MAKE SEEKING GOD OUR PASSION.

Psalm 63:1 (NLT) O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

Psalm 27:8 (MSG) When my heart whispered, “Seek God,” my whole being replied, “I’m seeking him!”

Sunday, July 27, 2025

Pastor Wes Morris 

Isaiah 6:1-8 (NLT) It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.

Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke. Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

√ GOD’S CALL DOESN’T BEGIN WITH AN ASSIGNMENT - IT BEGINS WITH AN ENCOUNTER. 

Isaiah 6:1 (NLT) ...I saw the Lord.

√ THE CLOSER WE GET TO GOD, THE MORE CLEARLY WE SEE OUR NEED FOR GRACE. 

Isaiah 6:5 (NIV) “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips...”

Luke 5:8 (NIV) When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 

You are more sinful than you ever dared believe, and yet more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than you ever dared hope.

-Tim Keller

√ GRACE DOESN’T JUST COVER OUR PAST - IT CALLS US INTO OUR FUTURE.

Isaiah 6:8 (NLT) Then I heard the Lord asking, “Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

WHEN HEAVEN CALLS

The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.

- Frederick Buechner

I. START WITH SURRENDER.

Romans 12:1-2 (MSG) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.

II. STRETCH OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE. 

II Corinthians 5:14-15 (TLB) He died for all so that all who live—having received eternal life from him—might live no longer for themselves, to please themselves, but to spend their lives pleasing Christ who died and rose again for them.

What makes me feel most alive?

What problems or people do I feel drawn to help? (What breaks my heart?)

How could God use me to make a difference?

III. SAY YES TO THE CALL.

Isaiah 6:8 (NLT) Then I heard the Lord asking, “Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

To learn more about Bay Chapel or to visit us in person, check out baychapel.com

Pastor Wes Morris

Hebrews 11:8-11 (TLB) Abraham trusted God, and when God told him to leave home and go far away to another land that he promised to give him, Abraham obeyed. Away he went, not even knowing where he was going. And even when he reached God’s promised land, he lived in tents like a mere visitor as did Isaac and Jacob, to whom God gave the same promise. 

Abraham did this because he was confidently waiting for God to bring him to that strong heavenly city whose designer and builder is God.

Sarah, too, had faith, and because of this she was able to become a mother in spite of her old age, for she realized that God, who gave her his promise, would certainly do what he said. 

✓ FAITH OBEYS BEFORE IT UNDERSTANDS.

Hebrews 11:8 (NIV) Abraham obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

Luke 5:5 (NIV) “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.”

✓ FAITH ENDURES THE IN-BETWEEN SEASONS.

Hebrews 11:9 (TLB) And even when he reached God’s promised land, he lived in tents like a mere visitor...

✓ FAITH HOLDS ON TO WHAT GOD HAS SAID, EVEN WHEN WE HAVEN’T SEEN IT YET.

Hebrews 11:11 (NLT) It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

II Corinthians 5:7 (ESV) We walk by faith, not by sight.

FAITH STEPS

I. SAY “YES” TO ONE SMALL ACT OF OBEDIENCE. 

John 2:7-8 (NLT) Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.

Psalm 119:60 (GNT) Without delay I hurry to obey your commands.

What is one small act of obedience God is asking of me today?

II. FOCUS ON WHAT GOD IS DOING, NOT WHAT I’M FEELING.

Psalm 42:5 (NLT) Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again - my Savior and my God!

Faith is not a feeling. Faith is not a mood. Faith is a commitment to trust God’s promises regardless of our emotions or circumstances.
- Eugene Peterson

III. SPEAK GOD’S PROMISES OVER MY SITUATION.

Hebrews 10:23 (NLT) Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

Pastor Bria Bradshaw

John 11:17–27 ESV Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

✓ Yesterday’s Disappointments

John 11:21 “Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

John 11:32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

✓ Tomorrow’s Distance

John 11:23-24 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

Key Thought: Jesus doesn’t just want us saved, He wants us ALIVE!

COME ALIVE

1. We Come Alive

"By your Spirit, I will rise from the ashes of defeat. The resurrected King is resurrecting me.”

Galatians 2:20 ESV I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2. The World Comes Alive

Romans 6:4-5 ESV We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Pastor Bria Bradshaw

John 8:12 (ESV) Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Matthew 5:14–16 (ESV) “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

The Problem: We can give off the illusion of light in the way we live, but it is artificial.

Genesis 1:1–5 (ESV) In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Genesis 1:14-19 (ESV) And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night…” 16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars…19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

The more Jesus shines in me, the better He shines through me.

LET THE LIGHT IN

1. Let the light in to transform.

Question: Is there any place within me where God doesn’t have the freedom to shine?

2. Let the light in to reveal the truth.

Question: Where in your life are you telling God, “I’m good. I’ve got this part right.”?

3. Let the light in to lead you.

Question: Are you done leading you?

Pastor Wes Morris

John 10:11-15 (NLT) I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.

I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.

THE WAY HOME

I. WE ALL WANDER.

Isaiah 53:6 (NLT) All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

II. THE FATHER KEEPS CALLING.

John 10:27-28 (NIV) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Isaiah 43:1-3 (TLB) The Lord who created you says: Don’t be afraid, for I have ransomed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up - the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, your Savior.

Romans 5:8 (MSG) God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

III. THE GOOD SHEPHERD LEADS US HOME.

Luke 15:5-6 (NLT) When he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.”

John 10:1-10 (NIV) Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.


✓ OFTENTIMES WE CONFUSE GOD’S PROTECTION WITH RESTRICTION. 

 

✓ WE LIKE THE IDEA OF CONTROL MORE THAN THE POWER OF SURRENDER.

 

✓ WE ALLOW GATES FROM OUR PAST TO REMAIN OPEN.

 

I Peter 5:8 (NLT) Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

 

John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

 

THE GATE
 

I. KNOW HIS VOICE.

John 10:3-4 (MSG) The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice.

Isaiah 43:1 (NLT) Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

John 20:14-16 (NIV) She turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 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.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”

 

II. TRUST HIS PROTECTION.

Psalm 91:1-2 (NLT) Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.

Psalm 23:4 (GNT) Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me.

 

III. WALK IN HIS FREEDOM.

John 10:9 (NIV) I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 

Proverbs 18:10 (NIV) The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Pastor Wes Morris

John 15:1-4 (NLT) I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

√ OUR FAITH FEELS DRY.

√ WE CAN LOOK THE PART BUT WE’RE NOT LIVING THE LIFE.

II Timothy 3:4-5 (TLB) They will betray their friends; they will be hotheaded, puffed up with pride, and prefer good times to worshiping God. They will go to church, yes, but they won’t really believe anything they hear. Don’t be taken in by people like that.

√ WE SEARCH FOR SOMETHING THAT WILL SATISFY.

Psalm 63:1 (NLT) O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. 

As God is exalted to the right place in our lives, a thousand problems are solved all at once. - A.W. Tozer

THE VINE

I. STAY CONNECTED. (ABIDING)

John 15:4 (NLT) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

Matthew 18:19 (NIV) Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

James 5:16 (NIV) Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

II. EMBRACE PAIN. (PRUNING)

John 15:1-2 (NLT) I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.

Romans 5:3 (NLT) We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 

III. BE FRUITFUL. (PRODUCING)

John 15:5 (NLT) Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.

Galatians 5:22-23 (TLB) When the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

John 15:10-11 (NIV) If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Pastor Wes Morris 

John 6:24-35 (NLT) So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you…

They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?” Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 

√  IT'S POSSIBLE TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND HAVE THE WRONG HEART.

John 6:26 (NLT) Jesus replied, “The truth of the matter is that you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you believe in me.

Isaiah 29:13 (NIV) These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

I Samuel 16:7 (NIV) Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

You're at peace even if no one notices.
You obey God even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable.
You serve without needing applause or affirmation.
You can celebrate others without comparison or jealousy.

√ WE FIND OUR DEEPEST SATISFACTION NOT IN WHAT GOD GIVES, BUT IN TRUSTING WHO HE IS.

John 6:29 (NLT) Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

Exodus 33:12-15 (NLT) Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me...14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”

√ THE GREATEST GIFT GOD GIVES US IS HIMSELF.

John 6:35 (NLT) I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

THE BREAD OF LIFE

I. I CHOOSE GOD‘S WORD OVER THE WORLD’S WAYS.

Matthew 4:3-4 (NLT) During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

II. I CHOOSE SURRENDER OVER STRIVING.

Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

III. I CHOOSE LASTING PEACE IN HIS PRESENCE.

Isaiah 26:3

Pastor Bria Bradshaw

John 21:1-3 ESV - After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

✓  WHAT'S FAMILIAR

✓  WHAT'S CONTROLLABLE

I can let the waiting change me, or I can let God change me in the waiting.

AS WE WAIT

John 21:4-8 (ESV) Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

1. WHO WE DEPEND ON CHANGES.

Question - Where is God inviting you to no longer depend on you?

John 21:9-14 (ESV) When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

2. WHERE WE GO SEARCHING CHANGES.

Question - What have you been out searching for?

John 21:15-17 (ESV) When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

3. WHAT WE BELIEVE CHANGES.

Question - What is God saying about it?

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Pastor Wes Morris

Mark 4:26-29 (NIV) He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.

All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

√  WE PLANT. GOD PRODUCES.

26 A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.

I Corinthians 3:6-7 (NIV) I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

√  SPIRITUAL GROWTH ISN’T ALWAYS SEEN.

27 All by itself the soil produces grain...

John 3:8 (GNT) The wind blows wherever it wishes; you hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. It is like that with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

√  YOU CAN’T RUSH THE PROCESS.

27 ...first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel.

James 5:7-8 (MSG) Friends, wait patiently for the Master’s arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. 

GROWING GOD’S WAY

I. COMMIT TO A DAILY PLANTING HABIT.

Psalm 92:12-14 (NIV) The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.

II. CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

John 15:4 (MSG) Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.

III. WORSHIP IN THE WAITING.

Psalm 40:1-3 (MSG) I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn’t slip. He taught me how to sing a new song, a praise song to our God.

Psalm 130:5 (NIV) I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

Pastor Bria Bradshaw

John 20:19-23 ESV - On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

✓ The risen Jesus still meets us where we are!

✓ Nothing can keep Jesus from coming and standing among us.

✓ When Jesus speaks, it is reality.

THE WAY OF LIFE

I. The Way of Life is to receive not produce.

John 20:21-22 ESV - Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Whatever is the source will be the outcome. If you are the source, the outcome will be you. If God is the source, the outcome will be God.

Acts 2:17-18 ESV - And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

Question - Are you receiving or are you too busy producing?

II. The Way of Life is to let go not hold on.

John 20:22-23 ESV - And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Question - What have you been holding on to that the Holy Spirit is prompting you to let go of?

Pastor Wes Morris

Luke 24:1-7 (NLT) But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

√ GOD’S DELAYS ARE NOT HIS DENIALS. 

John 11:4-6 (NLT) When Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus,  he stayed where he was for the next two days.

√ GOD RESPONDS TO OUR REAL AND RAW FAITH. 

John 11:20-22 (NLT) When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died."

√ GOD’S PLAN IS ALWAYS BEST.

John 11:35-44 (NLT) Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”

Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb...“Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”

43-44 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

FROM DEATH TO LIFE

I. RECEIVE NEW MERCY FOR MY MISTAKES.

Psalm 51:10 (NIV) Create a new, clean heart within me. Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please you.

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT) But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!

II. RECEIVE NEW LIFE AND FREEDOM IN CHRIST.

Romans 6:4-5 (NIV) We were buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

John 11:25-26 (NLT) Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this?”

Pastor Wes Morris

Matthew 5:3-12 (NIV) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:6 (NIV) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 

Matthew 5:6 (MSG) You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

Blessed: makarios (μακάριος): A deep, abiding joy that comes from living in God's presence and under His rule. 

√ AVOID LEGALISTIC CHRISTIANITY.

Philippians 3:9 (NLT) I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

Legalism is when greater focus is placed on God’s law and less on His love.

√ AVOID LUKEWARM CHRISTIANITY.

Revelation 3:15-16 (TLB) I know you well—you are neither hot nor cold; I wish you were one or the other! But since you are merely lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth!

When was the last time I felt a deep hunger for God's presence?
In what areas of my spiritual life have I become comfortable or stagnant?

Psalm 63:1 (NIV) You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 

HOLY HUNGER

I. MY WAY - I lean on my own strength.
   THE BLESSED WAY - I daily recognize my need for God.

Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV) Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

PRAYER: God, make me humble.

II. MY WAY - I chase after pleasure and success to feel satisfied.
    THE BLESSED WAY - I find lasting peace and joy through Christ.

Romans 8:5-6 (NLT) Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV) Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

PRAYER: God, make me holy.

III. MY WAY - I compromise to fit in or avoid discomfort.
     THE BLESSED WAY - I hunger for God’s truth and His presence.

John 6:26-27 (TLB) Jesus replied, “The truth of the matter is that you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you believe in me. But you shouldn’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. No, spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I can give you. 

Psalm 42:1-2 (GNT) As a deer longs for a stream of cool water, so

Pastor Wes Morris 

Matthew 5:5 (NIV) Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

√ MY TWISTED THINKING

Matthew 5:43-44 (NIV) You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

√ MY PRIDEFUL HEART

Proverbs 11:2 (NIV) When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

I will always behave in a manner consistent with the way I see myself.

STRONG ENOUGH TO BE MEEK

Meekness isn’t weakness, it’s strength under control. 

I. RELY ON GOD’S JUSTICE, NOT MY OWN.

Exodus 14:10-14 (NIV) As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Romans 12:19 (MSG) Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

Meekness is not about being passive—it’s about living with quiet confidence that God is in control.

II. DEVELOP A SPIRIT OF GENTLENESS.

James 3:13-18 (MSG) Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. Those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

III. FIND STRENGTH IN THE POWER OF GOD. 

Ephesians 3:19-20 (TLB) May you be able to feel and understand how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never fully understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself.

Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. 

LIVING IT OUT

1. When someone wrongs me, do I seek revenge or choose grace?
2. Do I use my influence to serve others or to elevate myself?
3. Am I gentle in my words and actions, even when I’m frustrated?
4. Do I value people for who they are, or for what they can do for me?
5. Am I patient with God’s timing, or do I try to force things to happen?
6. Do I prioritize reconciliation over winning an argument?

Pastor Bria Bradshaw

Matthew 5:3-12 (NIV) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:4 (NIV) Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

John 11:32-35 (NIV) - When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept.

✓ Uncomfortable

✓ Too Vulnerable

✓ Exhausting

✓ Risky

✓ Time-Consuming

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN

Truth: God can’t bring comfort to a loss that we won’t mourn.

Psalm 34:17-18 (NIV) - The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

I. NAME WHAT YOU'VE LOST.

Ask - Is there a loss in my life that I’ve avoided or not given attention to?

II. MOURN WHAT YOU'VE LOST.

Ask - Have I made room to grieve or to express my brokenness to God?

III. RECEIVE FROM THE TRUE COMFORTER.

Ask - Where have I sought out my own version of comfort? How do You want me to make room for true comfort?

Pastor Wes Morris

Matthew 5:3-12 (NIV) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:3 (NIV) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

✓ Spiritual Brokenness - A deep awareness of our need for God.

Matthew 5:3 (NLT) God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

We will never depend on something we don't think we need.

✓ True fulfillment isn’t found through self-sufficiency but in surrender.

✓ When we acknowledge our need for God, we open our hearts to His power.

Psalm 73:26 (NIV) My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26 (MSG) You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth! When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful

BROKEN AND BLESSED

II Corinthians 12:9-10 (NLT) Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I. FIND PURPOSE IN THE PAIN.

I Peter 5:10-11 (MSG) Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

II. FIND INTIMACY WITH GOD.

We enjoy God on the mountaintops, but we get to know Him intimately in the valleys. - Rick Warren

Psalm 51:17 (NLT) The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Psalm 23:4 (NIV) Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

III. FIND HEALING IN SURRENDER.

Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT) Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. God cannot heal what we refuse to surrender.

Pastor Wes Morris 

Matthew 13:31-32 (NLT) Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.

John 10:10 (NIV) I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

√ God loves to take things that seem insignificant and use them for His glory.

√ There is power in staying planted.

Psalm 92:12-14 (NIV) The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.

√ Little is much when God is in it. 

Mark 6:35-44 (NLT) Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.”

But Jesus said, “You feed them.”

“With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!”

“How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.” They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”

Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred.

Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. 

They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed.

MADE FOR MORE

I. LET’S MEET THE NEED. 

Mark 6:34 (NLT) Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

II. LET’S PLAY OUR PART.

I Peter 4:7-10 (NIV) The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Acts 20:24 (NIV) I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

III. LET’S GIVE GOD THE GLORY.

Psalm 115:1  (NIV) Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.

Pastor Wes Morris 

Matthew 18:1-5 (GNT) At that time the disciples came to Jesus, asking, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” So Jesus called a child to come and stand in front of them, and said, “I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. 

The greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven is the one who humbles himself and becomes like this child. And whoever welcomes in my name one such child as this, welcomes me.

√ God’s Kingdom is an upside-down kingdom. 

Matthew 5:3-11 (NIV) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 6:9-10 (NIV) This is how you should pray: ’Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’

√ Praying “Your Kingdom come” is asking God to rule over the world and in my life.

Matthew 16:18-19 (MSG) You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.

And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.

LIKE A CHILD

I. WONDER - Living in the fullness and awe of God’s presence and goodness. 

Colossians 1:27 (MSG) This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it’s out in the open. God wanted everyone to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you.

Hebrews 11:28-29 (NLT) Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a consuming fire.

II. HUMILITY - Laying down my pride and daily surrendering to God’s will.

Psalm 51:17 (MSG) Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.

I Peter 5:6 (NLT) Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

III. TRUST - Depending on God and believing His promises, even when I can’t see the full picture.  

Matthew 6:33 (NLT) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.