Downtown Community Church

In this message, Pastor Nate walks us through a passage in Luke chapter 6 WHEN Jesus appoints the Twelve . Following the designation of the 12 apostles, Jesus now focuses on the identity and character of those who belong to this new community of God's people. Pastor Nate walks us through the importance of making disciples and what that means for us as christians.

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Where in your life could you reach the lost? We live in a time where we are surrounded by people who do not yet know Jesus. Throughout these passages, Jesus repeatedly challenges the expectations of the religious leaders. He calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him, shares a meal with people considered sinners, and questions traditions surrounding fasting and the Sabbath. While the religious leaders focus on appearances, rules, and who should be excluded, Jesus reveals a kingdom marked by grace, restoration, and transformed lives.

This message invites listeners to consider whether they are truly following Jesus or simply trying to meet religious expectations. Jesus did not come for people who believe they already have everything together. He came to seek, heal, and restore those who recognize their need for Him. Following Jesus means receiving that grace and extending it to others, even those whom society or religion may overlook. Join Pastor Ben Kaempfer as he analyzes what it means to extend grace to those around us and how to invite them to sit at your table.

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When we begin stepping out in faith, discouragement is often one of the first obstacles we face. The opinions of others, or even our own feelings of inadequacy, can make us question whether the work is worthwhile or whether we are capable of completing it.
Nehemiah’s confidence did not come from having an easy path or gaining everyone’s approval. He knew God, trusted His character, and understood the purpose God had placed on his life. His example reminds us that obedience is not rooted in our own strength. We can continue moving forward because the One who called us is faithful. Join our Next Gen Director, Gage Skivingtion as he teaches on Nehemiah 1.

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What do followers of Jesus do?
They get alone with God and pray. They meet in each other's homes. They touch the outcasts and welcome them in. They desperately take others to the feet of Jesus and they carry one another until Jesus can heal them. 
Join Pastor Nate Schaidt as he analyzes what Luke 5 tells us when it comes to following Jesus and becoming more like Him.

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When we realize we are in the presence of a God who fully knows us, deeply cares for us, and willingly died for us, we are invited to surrender our old lives and live completely for Him. Jesus does not cast us aside or declare us unworthy. Through His death and resurrection, He has broken the power of sin and death and calls us into a new life of following Him. The exercise of faith is not the absence of opposition; it is the decision to trust God in the midst of opposition. Like Simon Peter, every follower of Jesus must consider the question: What has Jesus called you to leave so you can follow Him? Join Pastor Ben Kaempfer as he continues our Followers series through Luke!

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How do we trust a God who has the power to help but doesn’t always respond in the way, or within the timing, we hope He will?

When prayers appear unanswered or circumstances remain unchanged, it can be difficult to understand what God is doing. But this passage reminds us that our trust is not built only on what we see happening in the present. We can trust what God is doing because of what He has already done. His faithfulness in the past gives us confidence in His character, even when we cannot yet see or understand His plan.

Join as Pastor Ben Kaempfer continues our series, Followers, with this message from Luke 4!

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To continue our series, Followers, a study through Luke, Pastor Ben Kaempfer teaches on the different expectations we have of Jesus and what those can mean for us when we’re following Him. Pastor Ben left us with some key questions to consider as we go into our week continuing our walk with Him.

• In what ways have your expectations of Jesus differed from your experiences with Jesus?
• In what ways have those expectations caused you to reject Jesus?

When we have our own expectations of Jesus and what he is like and it’s easy to then reject him when he shows up in an unexpected way. Yet, there is good news! We get to love a God that forgives us and loves us anyway.

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Pastor Ben Kaempfer launched our new series, Followers, with a message from Luke 4. This passage follows Jesus into the wilderness, where He is tempted by the enemy. With every attempt to deceive Him, Jesus stands firm by answering with the truth of Scripture.
Throughout the message, Pastor Ben emphasized a powerful reality: God’s truth confronts the enemy’s lies and reveals them for what they are.
We can easily overlook the seriousness of sin or assume we are prepared to resist temptation through our own strength. But when we fail to take temptation seriously, we leave ourselves vulnerable to the enemy’s deception. Jesus offers a different example, one of knowing God’s Word, trusting His character, and relying on His strength.

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So often, Christians stay on the sidelines because they feel they need one more piece of information or one more tool before they can make a difference. But God's Word reveals that spiritual practices aren't reserved for mature Christians, but rather, those very practices are the means by which Christians become mature. Join Pastor Ben Kaempfer as we read through Hebrews 5 as he explains that it isn’t simply about the amount of information we gain, but what we do with that information that matters. The act of practicing is what separates a spectator and someone who is on the team.  

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This Sunday, as part of his farewell to DCC, Nolan Cannon spoke on taking up your cross and what Christ has called us to in order to do so. The call to be a disciple of Jesus, and not merely a believer in Him, is one that we can opt out of, consciously or unconsciously. To opt in, we say yes to disciple, death and being transformed. Jesus invites us to deny ourselves, he is inviting us to discipline the identity we have constructed for ourselves. The call to take up our cross is a call to death to our flesh and the call to follow Jesus is a call to being transformed. As you go through your week, reflect on these key questions from Sundays Message:

• What parts of your life have you opted out of following Jesus in?How is God inviting you to surrender?
• How is God inviting you into surrender to him and to his Kingdom?
• Where does your Flesh rule your life?
• How is God working new life in you in this season of your life?
• In what part of your life is God gently reminding you to remember your place?

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