In Gospel of John 12:20–26, Greek seekers ask to see Jesus, and God uses Philip and Andrew—ordinary men from Bethsaida—as bridges between cultures and the Savior. This message reminds us that there’s no watered-down gospel: the path to life requires surrender, and God calls us to be living bridges so others can truly see Christ.

In Matthew 25’s Parable of the Talents, Jesus reveals that stewardship is ultimately about how we see God—whether as a generous master who invites partnership or a harsh taskmaster who produces fear. Faithfulness isn’t about accumulating more, but about trusting Him with everything we’ve been given and entering into the joy of participating in His work.

Acts 2 reveals that the filling of the Holy Spirit is not reserved for dramatic moments but for everyday faithfulness. The Spirit empowers ordinary people to live out their God-given callings—whether serving, building, teaching, or encouraging. From Joel’s prophecy to the lives of Stephen and Bezalel, Scripture shows that the Holy Spirit strengthens us not to become someone else, but to faithfully use the gifts God has already placed within us. When we understand the Spirit this way, we discover that mission-minded obedience often begins in the quiet, practical acts of everyday life.

In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit came not through hype or human effort, but through simple, faithful obedience as the disciples prayed and waited on God. Pentecost reminds us that powerful encounters with God happen when we genuinely seek His presence—and the same Spirit is still moving today, inviting us to be part of His ongoing story.

Mission Minded — our word for 2026 — invites us to rediscover God’s heart for the world through the example of the early church. In a time when following Jesus was costly and culture was often hostile, ordinary believers lived with extraordinary purpose—seeing their lives, their cities, and the world as their mission field. This series explores how the church in the first centuries carried the gospel with courage, compassion, and conviction, and how God is calling our church to live sent lives today—on mission together, right where God has placed us.