Dunwoody Baptist

In week 2 of the Easter series,"The Road that leads home," Jimmy Carter challenges us to "Make Room for Miracles." Drawing from a personal story about a cluttered basement that attracted pests, Jimmy uses the biblical account of Jesus clearing the temple in Mark 11 to illustrate how a "cluttered heart" can obstruct one's connection to God. He challenges the congregation to simplify their lives by prioritizing prayer and forgiveness, arguing that these spiritual disciplines create the necessary space for God to perform transformative works. Jimmy concludes with a call to action, inviting the church to move past mere religious activity and expect genuine, miraculous encounters with the Holy Spirit during their weekly worship.

In Week 1 of the Easter series titled, "The Road That Leads Home," Pastor Jimmy Carter speaks on, "You Are What You Love," emphasizing that our identity and direction in life are defined by our deepest affections. Drawing from the biblical account in John 12, Jimmy contrasts the radical, costly generosity of Mary—who anointed Jesus's feet with expensive perfume—with the prideful greed of Judas, illustrating that proximity to religious life does not guarantee a transformed heart. He argues that human desires are naturally "disordered" and deceitful, acting like a broken compass that points toward selfish idols rather than God. Jimmy concludes that Jesus does not just offer forgiveness but seeks to reorder our hearts through the practice of generosity and humility, urging the congregation to ensure their lives are marked by personal sacrifice rather than outward performance.

In Week 6 concluding the series, "The Life of Peter," Brian by examining the apostle’s final letters in Second Peter. He emphasizes that Peter, a "regular person" who experienced both miraculous faith and deep failure, wrote these instructions as his final legacy to ensure believers would lead impactful, fruitful lives. Brian uses the analogy of a failing pecan tree in his own yard—which looks healthy but produces hollow fruit due to poor roots—to illustrate that spiritual fruitfulness is not achieved by focusing on results, but by tending to the "roots" of faith. He challenges the congregation to cultivate their spiritual lives through a specific progression of qualities: supplementing faith with goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. Ultimately, Brian argues that by focusing on these fundamental disciplines and putting trust in God's divine power, believers can avoid a "useless" faith and instead build a lasting legacy of impact.

In Week 5 of "The Life of Peter," Brian bridges the conclusion of The WKND with the ongoing "Life of Peter" sermon series to explore how to build a lasting spiritual legacy. Reflecting on Peter’s journey from a common fisherman to a bold apostle, Brian highlights that while faith often includes moments of failure and denial—much like Peter’s heartbreaking experience in the high priest's courtyard—failure does not disqualify someone from following Jesus. Drawing from Psalm 1, he argues that a legacy isn't built on isolated emotional moments but on the daily "proximity" of surrounding oneself with the right influences and the "practice" of consistent spiritual habits. Brian illustrates this transformation by showing how a once-fearful Peter, after being filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 4, stood fearlessly before the same authorities he once fled, proving that a life rooted in Christ can move beyond temporary experiences into a transformative, lifelong mission.

In Week 4 of "The Life of Peter" series, Brian Smith reflects on the life of the Apostle Peter to illustrate how personal failure does not disqualify someone from their divine purpose. Brian connects his own recent vulnerability—recovering from a lost voice after a family trip—to Peter’s "soul-crushing" public denial of Jesus. He emphasizes that while the "sifting" process of life often brings us to our lowest points, Jesus is never surprised by our failures and proactively seeks to restore us. By highlighting the parallel between Peter’s initial calling at the Sea of Galilee and his restoration breakfast with the resurrected Christ, Brian argues that the invitation to follow Jesus remains open even after we mess up. Ultimately, he encourages the congregation to leave their past mistakes behind, reminding them that God's grace is larger than any failure and that their story is far from over.

In Week 3 of "The Life of Peter" series, Brian explores the theme of identity and purpose through the life of Simon Peter, specifically focusing on the moment Simon recognizes Jesus as the true Messiah. Drawing a comparison to counterfeit products—like a "knockoff" soccer jersey with missing details—Brian warns that following a "counterfeit Jesus" (such as a self-help version, a mascot for personal beliefs, or a "vending machine" for desires) inevitably leads to a counterfeit identity and unfulfilled purpose. He highlights how Peter’s clarity didn't come from personal cleverness but from an authentic relationship and time spent with the real Jesus, who far surpasses the "shadows" of great prophets like John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah. Brian concludes that just as Simon was renamed Peter and given a foundational role in the church after professing his faith, we can only discover our own God-given purpose by looking past cultural counterfeits to see and follow the real Jesus, no matter the cost.

Brian Smith continues the series on the life of Peter from Matthew 14. He emphasizes Peter’s relatability as an ordinary person who, despite his flaws, was willing to follow Jesus even at a high cost. Brian draws a parallel between physical hurricanes and the "personal storms" of life—such as illness, job loss, or broken relationships—noting that these trials are sometimes assignments from God or consequences of our own choices. Using the imagery of Job’s longing for a mediator and the "anchor for the soul" from Hebrews, Brian explains that Jesus is the only one capable of walking on the waves to meet us in our chaos. He concludes by urging the church to respond to life’s storms by gathering together, listening to God’s word, and choosing to worship, while inviting those who feel they are sinking to echo Peter’s desperate prayer: "Lord, save me."

Pastor Jimmy Carter uses the metaphor of "drifting" versus "running" to challenge believers to pursue an intentional faith. Drawing from Hebrews 12:1–3, he reflects on his own return to his home church after a decade away, warning that spiritual drift is often subtle and unintentional, much like being pulled by an ocean current while distracted. To combat this, he outlines three essential actions: following the faithful by surrounding oneself with godly mentors and peers, burying the baggage by confessing sin and discarding "hindrances" that slow spiritual progress, and considering the cross by keeping one's focus entirely on Jesus. Through personal anecdotes about surfing with his daughter and cycling with pro-athlete George Hincapie, Carter emphasizes that a life of endurance requires laying aside everything that weighs us down to finish the race God has set before us.

Student Pastor Brian Smith begins our new series on The Life of Peter. The Life of Peter is the story of an ordinary man who encountered an extraordinary Savior. From fishing boats to stormy seas, from bold faith to bitter failure, and from shame to restoration, Peter’s journey reminds us that God does not give up on broken people. This series explores how Jesus calls us, meets us in our weakness, restores us with grace, and shapes us into faithful followers who live with courage and purpose.

In the Q&A portion of "Rekindle" with Kevin and Kerri Scarbrough, a wide range of topics related to prayer and spiritual life, beginning with a discussion on a potential longer, multi-day seminar to further develop a culture of prayer at the local church, moving beyond it being a mere "add-on" to services. The speakers and attendees emphasized that a life of prayer involves inviting God into all decisions, even seemingly small ones like putting gas in a car, to avoid operating in one's own strength and instead allow the Lord to be central. This was connected to living out the fruit of the Spirit and great commandment, stressing that one must first experience God's love and character—not just have a mental knowledge—to pour it out to others. A key question addressed teaching the Holy Spirit to children and new believers with language barriers, asserting that adults shouldn't withhold difficult concepts, as children are receptive and the Holy Spirit is the true teacher; they also shared a testimony about the power of teaching a child to ask the Holy Spirit directly for patience. Finally, the role of corporate prayer was discussed as essential for unity and clarity in the church, contrasting it with self-focused "outer court" prayer requests, and attendees were encouraged to be individually prepared to intercede for and serve others in the corporate setting, maintaining a slowed-down, listening posture to hear God's voice.