Sermon Summary:
On Palm Sunday, we explored the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem from John 12:12-19. This pivotal event, recorded in all four gospels, reveals profound truths about our hope and expectations. As Jesus entered Jerusalem during Passover, the city was bursting with Jews who had traveled there to celebrate. The crowds welcomed him with palm branches (symbols of national victory) and shouts of "Hosanna!" (meaning "save us now"), revealing their hope for a nationalist Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule.
However, Jesus intentionally chose to ride a young donkey, fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy about a humble king who would bring peace to all nations. This deliberate choice contradicted the crowd's nationalistic expectations. While they wanted a warrior-king like David, Jesus was demonstrating that his kingdom transcended national boundaries.
We highlighted two key lessons from this passage. First, nationalism doesn't belong in the church. When we confuse patriotism with our faith or believe our hope comes from human leaders rather than Christ, we risk missing God's work among us. Our Savior doesn't reside in government buildings but is often found among the marginalized.
Second, we must be vigilant not to miss God's presence right before us. The religious leaders of Jesus' day knew Scripture intimately yet failed to recognize God incarnate walking among them. In Luke's account, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem because they "did not recognize the time of God's coming."
As we approach Easter, we should examine where we're placing our hope—in finances, family, nation, or the living God? We're challenged to tangibly meet a neighbor's needs this week, following Jesus' example of service and remaining attentive to how God is moving in our midst today.

Discussion Questions:

1. The sermon described how the crowds misinterpreted Jesus' identity and mission. What areas of your life might you be misinterpreting who Jesus is or what He wants to do?
2. How do you distinguish between healthy patriotism and the nationalism that the sermon warns against? Where have you seen these boundaries blurred in Christian communities?
3. The religious leaders missed God "right in front of them" despite their biblical knowledge. What practices or attitudes help you remain attentive to God's presence in everyday life?
4. The sermon mentions Isaiah 43:19: "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" What "new things" might God be doing in our community that we're at risk of missing?
5. Jesus chose a donkey instead of a war horse, showing his kingdom was about peace, not power. In what ways do you find yourself gravitating toward worldly power rather than Christ-like humility?
6. The sermon challenged us to meet a tangible need for a neighbor this week. What specific need have you noticed in your community that you could address, and what's one step you can take toward meeting it?

Sermon Summary:
We just wrapped up our "Unstuck" series exploring the 12 steps, but a question remains: why do we get stuck in the first place? Why do we believe the right things yet live like they're not true? The gap between intellectual belief and lived experience is where we often find ourselves stuck. We position ourselves as observers of truth rather than participants in it.

In 3 John 1:3-4, we see joy not in believers having correct theology, but in people walking in the truth. C.S. Lewis captures this distinction in his essay "Reflections in a Tool Shed," where he differentiates between looking at a beam of light versus looking along it. Looking at something is examination; looking along it is experience.
Like a couple in love who experiences reality differently than a biologist analyzing their brain chemistry, there's a profound difference between analyzing truth and experiencing it. The most important truths can't be accessed from the outside – you must step inside them.

Our problem? We're running on a secular operating system while trying to install kingdom beliefs. Romans 12:2 calls us to "be transformed by the renewing of your minds" – making our mental patterns new again and again. This isn't just reciting facts but transforming our imagination.

Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as "the substantiating of things hoped for" – making future realities feel substantial now. The heroes of faith didn't just intellectually believe; they vividly envisioned God's promises, which transformed how they lived.
When we get inside truths like Romans 8:18 – that present sufferings aren't worth comparing to coming glory – it changes everything. It expands our frame of reference, making current problems more manageable and giving hope in suffering.
Our task is to regularly imagine eternity, not just believe in it theoretically. Let's be disciples of our minds, allowing truth to get inside us so we live as eternal beings in a temporary world.

Discussion Questions:

1. In what areas of your life do you find the biggest gap between what you intellectually believe and how you actually live? What might be causing that disconnect?
2. The sermon used C.S. Lewis's illustration of "looking at" versus "looking along" a beam of light. Can you share an example from your own life where you moved from examining a truth to experiencing it? How did that shift change you?
3. The sermon suggested that many of us operate on a "secular mental narrative" even while holding Christian beliefs. What aspects of secular thinking do you notice influencing your daily decisions and reactions?
4. How might your life look different if you truly lived as though Romans 8:18 were real – that present sufferings aren't worth comparing to future glory? What specific situations would you approach differently?
5. The sermon emphasized the role of imagination in transforming belief into lived experience. What practices might help you develop a "sanctified imagination" that envisions eternal realities more vividly?
6. If someone asked you tomorrow, "What difference does believing in eternity make in how you live today?", what would be your honest answer? What's one step you could take toward living more consistently with your eternal perspective?

Sermon Summary:
In John 3, we explore the transformative encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, a respected Pharisee who sought Jesus under cover of darkness. Nicodemus approached Jesus as a teacher, but Jesus immediately challenged his understanding by declaring the necessity of being born again. This conversation introduces us to one of Christianity's most fundamental concepts: spiritual rebirth.

We see how Nicodemus, despite his extensive religious knowledge and status, struggled to grasp Jesus's spiritual teachings. Through this interaction, we learn that religious knowledge alone isn't enough – true faith requires a complete spiritual transformation. Jesus uses this moment to deliver the famous John 3:16, connecting it to the Old Testament story of Abraham and Isaac to help Nicodemus understand God's sacrificial love.

The sermon unpacks how Jesus didn't just come to be a great moral teacher but came as God incarnate on a rescue mission. Unlike other religious paths that suggest we can climb our way to heaven, Christianity uniquely presents God descending to save us. We discover that believing in Jesus isn't merely intellectual agreement but complete trust and surrender – like jumping from a burning building into a firefighter's arms.

The story concludes with Nicodemus's eventual transformation, shown later in John's gospel when he helps bury Jesus, breaking religious laws he once strictly observed. This demonstrates how true faith moves us from rule-following to relationship, from religious obligation to loving surrender.

Discussion Questions:

1. What similarities do you see between Nicodemus's approach to Jesus and how people approach faith today?
2. How has your understanding of being "born again" evolved over time?
3. What religious rules or traditions might be preventing you from experiencing a deeper relationship with Jesus?
4. Why do you think Jesus chose to use the analogy of birth to explain spiritual transformation?
5. How does understanding God's descent to us (rather than our ascent to Him) change your view of faith?
6. In what areas of your life are you still trying to "climb the mountain" instead of accepting Jesus's rescue?

Sermon Summary:
In this New Year's message, we explore the profound metaphor of spiritual clothing and how our heavenly Father clothes us. Drawing from Ephesians 6's armor of God passage, we examine how spiritual warfare manifests in our daily lives - from marriage struggles to personal faith challenges. The sermon weaves together imagery of animal molting, new wineskins, and the prodigal son's story to illustrate how God transforms us through seasons of uncomfortable growth. We learn that just as animals must undergo vulnerable periods of shedding to grow, we too must allow ourselves to be stripped of old patterns and ways of thinking to receive the new garments God has for us. The message emphasizes that this transformation isn't about self-improvement but about surrendering to God's work in our lives. Through personal stories of parenting, marriage challenges, and spiritual dry seasons, we see how God continues to clothe us with truth, righteousness, and grace - even when we feel most unqualified or uncomfortable. The sermon concludes with a powerful reminder that Jesus runs toward us with a ring and robe, eager to clothe us in our true identity as His children.

Discussion Questions:

1. What "old clothes" (habits, thought patterns, behaviors) do you feel God calling you to shed in this season?
2. How has spiritual warfare manifested in your life recently, and how have you responded to it?
3. When have you experienced a season of "molting" - painful but necessary growth in your spiritual life?
4. How does viewing Jesus as both High Priest and loving Father change your approach to spiritual transformation?
5. What piece of the armor of God do you most need to intentionally "put on" right now?
6. How can we maintain hope and perseverance during seasons when our "new skin" feels uncomfortable?

Sermon Summary:
In this sermon, we explore the book of Ezekiel, focusing on the prophet's extraordinary vision by the Kebar River in Babylon. We delve into Ezekiel's background as a priest, accustomed to the structured worship in Jerusalem's temple, and how his exile to Babylon shattered his understanding of God's presence. The sermon highlights how God sometimes bypasses our rational mind to speak directly to our hearts, especially in times of great suffering or confusion. We examine the vivid imagery in Ezekiel's vision, interpreting it as God's way of communicating His omnipresence and power, even in foreign lands dominated by other deities. The message emphasizes that some spiritual truths can only be learned through difficult experiences, like exile. We are challenged to recognize God's presence in unexpected places and everyday situations, moving beyond the tendency to localize the Divine to specific geographic locations or circumstances. Ultimately, the sermon encourages us to remain open to encountering God in new and profound ways, even amidst life's most challenging moments.

Discussion Questions:

1. How has your understanding of God's presence evolved through difficult life experiences?
2. In what unexpected places or situations have you encountered God recently?
3. How might our tendency to "localize" God limit our spiritual growth and understanding?
4. Discuss a time when you felt God spoke directly to your heart, bypassing your rational mind. What was that experience like?
5. How can we cultivate a greater awareness of God's presence in our daily lives and routines?

Sermon Summary:
n this sermon, we explore the unstoppable nature of God's kingdom, drawing parallels between historical events and biblical teachings. We begin by examining the fall of Soviet communism, highlighting a pivotal moment when Pope John Paul II visited Poland in 1979. This leads us to consider Jesus' parables about the kingdom of God, comparing it to yeast and a mustard seed - always growing and expanding. We challenge the misconception that the world is destined to worsen until Christ's return, instead asserting that we're living in an era of unprecedented growth for Christianity globally. The sermon delves into Philippians 2, contrasting the shame associated with the cross (crux) in Roman culture with God's act of exalting Christ. This paradox serves as a powerful reminder that our current struggles don't have the final say. We're encouraged to adopt a mindset (phronesis) that sees beyond immediate circumstances to the reality of God's advancing kingdom. The message concludes with a call to participate actively in this kingdom's growth and to remember, through communion, that Christ has the last word in our lives.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does the idea of God's kingdom as "always expanding" challenge or encourage your view of the world?
2. In what ways have you seen evidence of God's kingdom growing, either globally or in your personal life?
3. How might adopting the "mindset of Christ" (Philippians 2) change the way you approach challenges or suffering?
4. What are some practical ways we can actively participate in the advancement of God's kingdom in our daily lives?
5. How does the transformation of the cross from a symbol of shame to one of victory inspire hope in your current struggles?
6. In what areas of your life do you need to be reminded that your circumstances don't have the "last word"?
   
   

Embody the Message:​

1. Crux to Crown Journaling: Keep a weekly journal where you reflect on a personal struggle and reframe it in light of God's ultimate victory. This exercise will help cultivate a mindset that sees beyond immediate circumstances.
2. Kingdom Building Act: Commit to one specific action each week that contributes to expanding God's kingdom (e.g., acts of service, sharing your faith, supporting missions). This practical step allows you to actively participate in the growth we've discussed.