Sermon Outline
Focus: God’s grace is greaterthan our past, and true freedom comes
when we surrender our past(including oursin and mistakes)toHim.

I. Being Altar’d
       Bravely approach the Altar
       Make room for God through surrender
       God’s grace transforms
II. Jacob: The “Deceiver”
       A life of deception, trickery, and thievery
       A haunting past
       Come to Jesus moment: wrestling with God
III. Grace 101
       GRACE > sin
       GRACE > past
       Grace is available ONLY because of the Cross
IV. Be Altar’d
       Surrender ALL of the past to God
       Allow God’s GRACE room
       God transforms the death of the past to a new eternal life through the cross

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 In this episode of Kingdom Conversations, Pastor Jared and Pastor Robby explore what it means to build an altar of thanksgiving in our lives. As part of the Altar’d series, this conversation challenges us to move beyond worry and self-reliance and instead surrender our hearts in gratitude to God. Discover how thankfulness becomes a powerful act of worship that realigns our perspective, deepens our faith, and reminds us of God’s ongoing provision and faithfulness. 

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Sermon Outline

Focus: God calls us to surrender our thanks so we can receive His
peace. Praise restores peace with God and with one another.

I. Gratitude Restores Peace with God
        Before building their future in the Promised Land, Joshua built an altar.
        Burnt offerings showed dedication to God; peace offerings celebrated fellowship
        w/Him.
        Gratitude does not wait for perfect circumstances; it recognizes God’s faithfulness
        during the journey.
II. Gratitude Restores Peace with One Another
        All Israel gathered – men, women, children, and foreigners – to hear the Law  of God.
        Remembering God’s grace creates unity among God’s people.
        Gratitude softens hearts and helps us extend grace to others.
III. The Greatest Reason for Gratitude Is the Cross
        Hebrews 10:4 reminds us that animal sacrifices could never remove sin.
        Animal sacrifices were shadows pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus.
        The Gospel in 4 words (JD Greear)
        Bad: Sin broke our peace with God.
        Worse: We cannot fix it ourselves.
        Good: Jesus lived the perfect life.
        Best: Jesus became the sacrifice so we could have peace with God.
IV.   The Cross Paid Our Debt in Full
        The peace offerings in Joshua pointed forward to Calvary.
        Jesus paid the full price for our sin once and for all.
        Because of the cross, we live with a debt canceled and a relationship restored.

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Surrendering Worry | Elijah’s Altar | Kingdom Conversations

Why do we worry—even when we say we trust God?

In this episode of Kingdom Conversations, Pastor Robby and Pastor Jared continue the Altar’d Lenten series by exploring Elijah’s altar in 1 Kings 18. On Mount Carmel, Elijah challenges the people of Israel with a powerful question: “How long will you waver between two opinions?” (1 Kings 18:21).

This moment reveals more than a dramatic showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. It exposes the deeper issue of divided allegiance—when we trust God but still look to other things for our security.

Together, Pastor Robby and Pastor Jared unpack how modern “idols” often disguise themselves as good things—money, success, control, approval, or status—yet they ultimately increase our worry rather than remove it. When our hope is divided between God and these substitutes, anxiety often follows.

In this conversation, they explore:

• What it really means to waver between God and modern idols
• Why we often try to trust Jesus “plus” something else
• How false sources of security create more pressure and anxiety
• Practical ways to identify the idols fueling our worry
• How Christian community helps reveal blind spots in our faith
• Why even powerful spiritual moments—like Elijah’s victory in chapter 18—can be followed by emotional struggle in chapter 19

Ultimately, this episode reminds us that surrendering our worry begins with surrendering our allegiance. When God becomes our everything instead of one option among many, we discover the peace we were actually looking for all along.

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Sermon Outline
Focus: God calls us to surrender our worry and place Him first. We may want everything, but God must be our only thing. 

I.       Divided Loyalty Creates a Soul Drought 
             Elijah asks: “How long will you waver between two opinions?” 
             To “waver” means to limp—trying to follow two gods at once. 
             When God is not our only security, we look for other saviors, but false gods 
                 cannot carry the weight of our souls, leading to anxiety and spiritual 
                 drought. 

!!.      False Gods Produce Paralyzing Worry 
             Baal worship required constant effort to earn favor, but the Living God is a
                covenant God who makes promises. 
         False gods leave us alone with anxiety, but the Living God meets us in 
             uncertainty  and brings peace. 
         Stephan’s battle for his life 

III. Renewal Begins When the Altar Is Repaired 
         Revival begins not with spectacle—but with returning to the altar. 
         The grain offering symbolized: dependence on God and trust in God’s 
             provision 
         A grain offering is an offering of worry surrendered to God. 

IV. The Living God sends Living Water 
        Elijah’s altar points to a greater altar. At Mount Calvary, the fire of God’s 
                 judgment fell on Jesus for us. 
        Where false gods leave us dry, Jesus gives living water and lasting peace. 

V. Where is worry dividing your heart?

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Today’s Kingdom Conversation podcast with Pastor Jared and Pastor Robby, we are highlighting our Lenten sermon series, Altar’d.

As we study the altars found throughout Scripture, we are reminded of our call to surrender to God. In surrendering, we create space for Him to transform us from the inside out.

Join Pastor Jared and Pastor Robby as they unpack this week’s message on surrendering control and trusting God more deeply.

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Sermon Outline
Focus: In this most challenging story in the Bible, Abraham is asked to do
the unthinkable and sacrifice Isaac on an altar. Faith in God entails moving
forward even when our knees are knocking in fear due to the belief that God
will indeed provide and save us. God not only provided a lamb for Abraham
but through God’s son Jesus provides for the whole world.

I) Recoiling in horror at the trial this week in Iowa of Matthew Schleier
        Strangled his five-year-old son Jack

II) The Promise Threatened: How Could God ask Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on an altar?
        We know it is a test, but Abraham doesn’t!
        God has spared Hagar and Ishmael (chapter 21) why demand this of Isaac?
        Context of Molech… Background of Hell. 2 Kings 16:3
               Do you trust me as your neighbors trust Molech?
               Can God build his salvation story on Abraham?

III) How did Early Christians view this story?
        A) Part of a larger salvation story - the sacrifice of a son on Mount Moriah
               Abraham as a metaphor of what God experienced on Calvary
               Isaac carries the wood on his back up the mountain
               God will provide a lamb. Agnus Dei
        B) God will test us… not tempt us.
              Not entrapment nor enticement but challenge (James 1:2)
              Tests come after blessings: Easy to serve God when things are going well.
              Tests build confidence and character: The Marine Crucible
              Brueggemann: “God tests to identify his people, to discern who is serious                     about faith and to know in whose lives he will be fully God”

IV) God Provides What He Requires
         A new name for God after Moriah: Jehovah Jirah “Our God provides”
        At the cross – on that same mountain – God provided His Son as our sacrifice.
        “…but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be                     able to endure it.” I Corinthians 10:13
        Walking forward in surrender even when our knees knock trusting that our                God provides

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Today's podcast launches our Lent sermon series Altar'd: The Transforming Power of Surrender.  Join Pastor Jared and Pastor Robby as we kick off this series, discussing surrender, sacrifice and what they're giving up for Lent!

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Sermon Outline

Focus: God calls us to make space to surrender so we can experience the power of
transformation. A new life requires space and surrender.

I. Noah’s New Beginning
        Humanity had turned from God (Genesis 6)
        God preserved Noah – “a righteous man” who walked with Him.
        After months of waiting in the ark, God said, “Go out…”
        Noah stepped into a brand-new world—and built an altar.
        Before he built his future, he consecrated his heart.
II. A New Season Begins with God’s Word
        Noah did not leave when the ground looked dry—he left when God spoke.
        Dry ground ≠ Divine direction
        Opportunity ≠ Calling
        Relief ≠ Release
        Transformation is not triggered by changed circumstances, but by responding to God’s voice.

        Reflection: Where do I need to slow down and listen before I move forward?
III. New Life Requires Space and Surrender
        The flood changed the world—but not automatically Noah’s heart.
        External resets do not produce internal renewal.
        Before construction came consecration.
        Before building came bowing.
        Reflection: Where am I trying to build before I’ve bowed?
IV. Surrender Expresses Itself in Worship
        “Then Noah built an altar to the LORD…” (v. 20)
        The altar represents: Acknowledgment – Surrender – Substitution
        Noah offered what was valuable.
        Worship that costs nothing transforms nothing.
        When grace grips the heart, surrender becomes the response.
        Reflection: What would it look like for me to build an altar this week?

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Today’s podcast brings our first Kingdom-themed series to a close with a focus on the Sermon on the Mount. Join Pastor Jared and Pastor Robby as they wrap up this series and reflect on Jesus’ most famous sermon—exploring what it means to live with Kingdom attitudes, Kingdom righteousness, Kingdom habits, Kingdom priorities, and Kingdom fruit. 

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