Simple Thought: Jesus wants Kingdom People who will surrender control and trust him as king.

1. Kingdom People must surrender control and say “Lord, your will be done.” 

- John 11:46 

 “but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them,... you do not understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 

2. Kingdom People live for a kingdom that is not of this world. 

- John 6:15  V15 “Jesus perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, withdrew again to the mountains.” 

With the holidays coming up, we are all reminded there is no perfect family on this side of heaven. In today's episode, Richard Rieves, Artez Henderson, Kelsie Ellison, and Adrianna Steele talk about how our families shape us, and how to process some of the dysfunction we may have experienced growing up. Stay tuned for part 2 where we'll discuss how to set healthy boundaries!

With the holidays coming up, we are all reminded there is no perfect family on this side of heaven. In today's episode, Richard Rieves, Artez Henderson, Kelsie Ellison, and Adrianna Steele discuss some of the unique joys and pains that come with setting boundaries with family and what they have learned along the way.

Today's Scripture: John 18:15-27

“My most common prayer request these days is that God would give me consistent, uninterrupted sleep, because in the middle of almost every night, I lay awake for several hours wrestling. I wrestle with preoccupation, with self-doubt, with the dissatisfaction of unmet expectations and unrealized goals and dreams, with pressure that I put on myself or that I fear others will put on me, with the burdens of the day behind me and the day ahead of me, and with the sense that my work is never going to be satisfactory or complete. In other words, I wrestle over the unique calling of leadership—which is both an unspeakable privilege and a burden that must be carried, often alone...” Scott Sauls

Main Idea: Jesus uses our sin and betrayal to draw us deeper into His love. Jesus doesn’t abandon us in our betrayals, He actually uses them for His glory and our good.

I. Sin exposes in us the object of our real and authentic trust.

(Jeremiah 17:9-10)

(John 13:36-38)

(Romans 1:16-17)

(Hebrews 11:1, 17-19)

II. Sin is always an issue of identity. 

(Galatians 2:11-14)

(Galatians 5:14-15)

III. Jesus is the way to and the essence of acceptance and love!

(John 6:38)

(John 3:35)

(John 5:20)

(John 10:17)

(John 15:9)

(John 17:24)

Big Idea: We must trust Christ in our dark and chaotic days because He’s still in complete control and cares for us.

Today's Scripture: John 18:1-14

#1 Christ is prepared to handle all of our adversities because he knows all things. (vv.1-4)

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”

#2 Christ is Lord and has complete authority over all things. (vv.5-7)

5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

#3 Christ will preserve His disciples by His promises and love. (vv.8-9)

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”

#4  Christ’s obedience on His darkest day secured eternal comfort for all of our days. (vv.10-11)

10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant[a] and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

With the holidays coming up, we are all reminded there is no perfect family on this side of heaven. In today's episode, Richard Rieves, Artez Henderson, Kelsie Ellison, and Adrianna Steele talk about how our families shape us, and how to process some of the dysfunction we may have experienced growing up. Stay tuned for part 2 where we'll discuss how to set healthy boundaries!

Main Idea: The church is to be unified, so God may be glorified, and the world sanctified.

Main Application: We are to pray and work to be one as God’s children so we can complete the work God has given us.

I.Protection … “Don’t take them out of the world but protect them from the evil one. V. John 17:15-18

15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.[a] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

II. Unity… “Father, allow them to be ONE, so the world may see you and believe” John 17:11b, 20-23

11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. ...20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

III. A Family Reunion… “Father, allow them to be with me in my eternal glory.”  John 17:24

24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Big Idea: Jesus came to fulfill His promise so that we will live victoriously. 

1. Jesus came to fulfill His promise, so that we will have direct access to God the Father vv.25-28

25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.[a] 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

2. Jesus came to fulfill His promise so that we will know why we believe vv.29-31

29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?

3. Jesus came to fulfill His promise so that we will have peace vv.32-33

29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?

In today’s episode, DC Staff continue their conversation with Jacky Gatliff of New Hope Grief Care and share their personal stories around grief. Learn more about Jacky and find more resources at new hope grief care.org.

Main Idea: Joy is rooted in God, not dependent on our circumstances, and is an inevitable fruit of living by faith in the Christian Gospel.

I. Christian joy does not ignore grief, pain, and sorrow.

Process of Healing Pain:

"Time and distance do not fool an emotional system. " - Ronald Richardson

II. Christian joy overwhelms, doesn't ignore the pain

(John 16:21)

III. Christian joy is rooted in seeing and experiencing Jesus

(John 14:19)

(John 16:17)

Final Thought: The Spirit is Jesus' presence to and in us, and we meet the holy Spirit in His Word, prayer, worship, and community.