WEEK 1 — “NAMING THE INNER WOUND”

Theme: Understanding                      Primary Text: Psalm 42:5–11

Big Idea: You cannot heal what you continue to hide.

We live in the most mentally exhausted culture in human history.
We have never been: More connected. More informed. More (over)stimulated.
Yet anxiety, depression, loneliness, addiction, panic and despair continue rising.

What if the problem is not simply that our minds are sick… but that our souls are starving?

TENSION QUESTION: Why do I know God loves me; yet still feel overwhelmed, numb, anxious, angry, exhausted, or hopeless?

TEACHING POINT I: YOU CANNOT HEAL A LIFE YOU REFUSE TO NAME

Psalm 32:3–5(v5)
1 Kings 19(v3-5)

Elijah: defeated false prophets, called down fire, witnessed revival

…and immediately collapsed emotionally afterward.

TEACHING POINT II: WHAT YOU BURY CONTROLS YOU

Unprocessed pain never stays buried. It leaks.

John 8:32: “The truth shall make you free.”

Freedom begins when honesty begins.

TEACHING POINT III: JESUS ENTERS THE WOUND, NOT JUST THE SIN

Hebrews 4:15–16

Christ is not detached from suffering.

The Gospel is not: “Jesus helping healthy people.” (Mark 2:17) It is not the healthy who need a doctor

The Gospel is: “God entering human ruin.” (Mark 2:17) but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

TIE IT TOGETHER

A sound mind begins with truth.

Not polished truth. Not curated truth. Actual truth.

Healing starts where hiding ends.

CONCLUSION: God will not heal the version of you that you pretend to be.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This week:

1. Name what hurts.
2. Stop pretending.
3. Tell someone trustworthy.
4. Pray honestly instead of religiously.
5. Begin journaling recurring thought patterns.

Alive Week 6                                    Live It (Joy Sustained)                   Teaching Text: Luke 24:50-53

Opening Reading:  Acts 1:6-11                            Teaching Title: Luke 24:50-53

Big Idea: The risen Jesus did not merely save us from sin. He ascended as reigning King, empowering His people to live as joyful witnesses until He returns.

Tension: How can followers of Jesus live with lasting joy and confidence in a world still filled with: suffering, waiting, uncertainty and opposition?

Transition Statement: The resurrection proved Jesus is alive. The ascension declared Jesus is Lord. And because He reigns; His people can live with joy, purpose, power and hope.

Teaching Movements:

1. Jesus Ascended as Our Reigning King (v50-51)

The Ascension Introduces: Jesus is reigning now, Jesus is interceding now, Jesus is victorious now and Jesus is still working now

2. The Ascension Turned Fearful Followers into Joyful Worshipers (v52)

The same followers who once ran away now bow in worship because resurrection and ascension transformed their understanding of Jesus.

3. The Ascension Launches the Mission of the Church (Acts 1:8)

The Ascension Means: Christ reigns from heaven, The Spirit empowers the church, The Gospel advances to the nations and Witness becomes the calling of every believer

4. Baptism Is a Public Witness to the Reigning Jesus (Romans 6:3-4)

Baptism declares: Jesus died, Jesus rose, Jesus reigns, Jesus saves and Jesus is worth following publicly

5. The Church Lives Between Ascension and Return (Acts 1:11, Luke 24:53)

The church lives in the tension between: Christ’s enthronement and Christ’s return

Bring It All Together: The resurrection tells us: Jesus is alive. The ascension tells us: Jesus is reigning. Pentecost tells us: Jesus is empowering. And the Church exists: to witness to all three.

Conclusion: The Ascended and Reigning Jesus: intercedes for all believers, sends the Holy Spirit, reigns over all things, builds His’ Church and prepares eternity (already/not yet) for His people. 

The ascension is not Christ’s absence. It is Christ’s universal reign.

Invitation: The ascended Christ still saves.

The same Jesus who: died for sin, rose from the grave, ascended in victory and reigns in glory. Now calls people everywhere to repent, believe and follow Him.

And one day, the King who ascended will return again.

“Blessed in the Ordinary”                       Text: Luke 1:46–55             Mother’s Day 2026

Big Idea:
God chooses the humble and ordinary to accomplish His extraordinary redemptive purposes.

Tension Question:
Can God really use my ordinary, overlooked life for something eternal (and bigger than me)?

Transition Statement:
Mary’s song of praise (The Magnificat[1]) reframes everything we think about significance.

Teaching Movements:

1. God Sees What the World Overlooks (v46-48)
• “He took notice of his lowly servant girl…” 1.Young, 2.Female, 3.Poor, 4.From Nazareth
• The Kingdom reverses worldly value systems. Matt. 20:16 “The last will be first…” 
2. True Blessedness Is Rooted in God, Not Circumstance (v49-53)
• “…He is Holy… He has done great things… He shows mercy… He has done tremendous things… He has brought down princes, exalted the humble… He has filled the hungry with good things, sent the rich away empty handed…”
• Joy flows from who God is (at least 11 characteristics here), not what life looks like. 
3. God’s Work THROUGH You Is BIGGER THAN You (v54-55)
• Mary participates in redemption history (Israel, and the world’s) salvation comes from her.
• Faithfulness (see v.38) places us inside God’s larger story (see v.31-33).

Tie It All Together:
Mary doesn’t just carry a child; she carries hope and the promise of salvation.

Conclusion:
Ordinary obedience can carry eternal significance. No moment is too big or too small.

"A mother is a missionary every day in her home." -Elisabeth Elliott

Invitation:

• Trust God with your “ordinary” 
• Surrender your life to His purposes 
• Gospel Thread: The Savior Mary bore is the Savior we need 

[1] from Latin, magnifies, from magnificare to magnify [Mary’s first words, “my soul praises{magnifies} the Lord”]

Alive – The Formation of a Witness     Week 5: Share it (Mission embraced)

Teaching Text: Luke 24:44-49                  Opening Scripture: Romans 1:16-17

Big Idea: The risen Jesus does not simply prove His identity; He interprets reality itself. History, Scripture, sin, forgiveness, mission and power all converge in Him.

Tension: What would it look like for you to fully embrace the mission that Jesus has explicitly stated and challenged each believer to, “to make disciples of all nations”?

Transition: Jesus doesn’t just challenge us to “go and make disciples”, He equips us with the Word and the Spirit to be able to effectively and enthusiastically live a life of obedience. (see v.44-45)

Teaching Movements:

I. The Necessity of the Cross (v. 46)

• “It was written… the Christ should suffer” (see Lk 9:22,44; 17:25; 18:32; etc.)

II. The Reality of the Resurrection (v. 46)

• Victory over death

III. The Call to Repentance and Forgiveness (v. 47)

• Response to the Gospel

IV. The Scope of the Gospel (v. 47)

• All nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (see Romans 1:16)

Bringing It All Together: With the challenge and empowering of Jesus in mind, we cannot sit on the sidelines. (v.48-49) We are called to spread the message of salvation, the offer of hope and a new way of life to any and everyone who will believe.

Conclusion: The life Jesus undertook on this Earth was not random chance; it was a Divinely appointed rescue mission to bring salvation to those who would believe.

Invitation: 1. Come to Jesus; 2. Be Empowered by the Spirit; 3. Embrace the Mission; 4. Live Sent

Alive Week 4 – The Formation of a Witness (Luke 24)                           Theme: Establish Confident Faith

Teaching Text: Luke 24:36-43              Title: “Peace in the Proof”      Opening Reading: 1 Cor. 15:12-14 

Big Idea: The risen Jesus does not demand blind faith. He forms confident witnesses by revealing Himself in ways that confront fear, engage doubt and anchor belief in reality.

Tension Question: What does it actually take for a fearful, doubting person to become a confident witness of the resurrection?

Transitional Statement: Luke 24 shows us that transformation doesn’t begin with what the disciples do for Jesus, but with what the risen Jesus does among them.

The Emancipation Proclamation Reaches Texas (1865)

When Union soldiers arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865; led by General Gordon Granger with General Order Number 3—what we now remember as Juneteenth—they announced that enslaved people were free.

Many did not celebrate immediately .Slavery had been abolished, yet the law had been unenforced in Texas. 

One woman, Susan Merritt, recalled hearing the news and simply standing still:

“When they told us we was free… we didn’t know what to do. We just stood there looking at one another.”

A man named William Green described hearing the announcement but hesitating to accept it:

“Some of us thought maybe they was foolin’ us… it sounded too good.”

George Johnson, another formerly enslaved man, described the varied reactions:

“Some shouted, some cried, and some just stood still like they couldn’t move.”

Teaching Movements:

I. He Brings Peace Into Fear (v. 36-37)

Transition: You don’t think your way into peace; you receive it from a Person.

II. He Engages Their Doubts (v. 38–39)

Transition: Faith grows when doubt is brought into the presence of Jesus—not hidden from it.

III. He Meets Them Where They Are (v. 39–40)

Transition: Jesus does not ask for blind faith; He gives sufficient evidence for surrendered trust.

IV. He Patiently Leads Them Into Joy (v. 41–43)

Transition: Jesus is patient with the process, but persistent in revealing truth.

Why It Matters, Doctrine That Sticks:

Jesus is revealed as – 

-              The crucified yet risen Lord

-              The embodied Son of God

-              The giver of peace

-              The restorer of faith

Conclusion:

Luke 24:36–43 reveals:

-              Fear confronted by presence

-              Doubt answered by evidence

-              Confusion clarified by truth

-              Joy awakened by reality

Invitation:

Step Into the Proof

Three Movements of Response

1. Receive His Peace
Stop trying to resolve everything first.
Let the risen Jesus meet you in your fear.

2. Bring Him Your Doubt
Not polished faith, but honest questions.
He is not threatened by your process.

3. Respond as a Witness
The goal of this moment was not just belief, but commission.

Alive – Week 3    Theme: Understand It (Scripture Illuminated) Text: Luke 24:25–35

Title: “Burning Hearts, Open Eyes”  Opening Reading: Matthew 22:36-40

Big Idea: Real transformation happens when you see Jesus in Scripture and experience Him personally.

1. The Problem: Right Information, Wrong Interpretation (v. 25)

Truth: Partial belief is practical unbelief. You can know Scripture and still miss Jesus.

2. The Key: Suffering Before Glory (v. 26)

They wanted a conquering King. Jesus reveals a suffering Savior who becomes the reigning King.

3. The Revelation: All Scripture Points to Jesus (v. 27)

The Law whispers: “Someone greater is coming.”

The Prophets declare: “He must suffer.”

The Writings show: “This story has always been about Him.”

4. The Thread: One Unified Gospel Story

If you compress the entire Bible into one thread:

God promised a Deliverer who would suffer for sin, defeat death and rise to reign. Ultimately bringing redemption to His people and the nations.

5. The Turning Point: Revelation Becomes Personal (v. 28–31)

Their eyes were opened (v31). Not just through teaching, but through encounter

6. The Transformation: Word + Spirit (v. 32)

Information alone doesn’t change people. Illumination does.

7. The Response: Clarity Produces Movement (v. 33–35)

You cannot truly see Jesus and stay the same direction.

Conclusion: Why This Matters

Jesus is teaching how to read the Bible:

• It’s not just moral lessons
• It’s not just disconnected stories
• It’s a unified story of revelation centered on Christ

The cross is the interpretive key to everything.

Without it:         Scripture feels fragmented

With it:              Everything ignites

Alive – Week 2: Feel it (Process Disappointment)

Open: Luke 8:16-18

Text: Luke 24:13-24

WEEK 1 — Luke 24:1–12

Title: When Hope Feels Buried

Big Idea: God is working even when we cannot see or understand it.

1. Devotion Without Revelation (v.1–3)

• The women are faithful—but confused
• They come prepared for death, not resurrection
• Insight: You can be sincere and still miss what God is doing

Application:
Where have you settled for honoring Jesus… instead of expecting Him?

2. Heaven Interrupts Earth (v.4–7)

• “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
• Angels don’t bring new truth—they remind them of Jesus’ words
• Insight: Revelation often comes as remembrance

Application:
What has God already said that you’ve forgotten?

3. Faith Must Be Received (v.8–12)

• Some remember, others dismiss
• Peter investigates—moves toward the tension
• Insight: Resurrection demands a response

Call to Action:
Move from passive belief → personal pursuit

Gospel Moment:
The empty tomb is not an idea—it is an invitation

Title: “Hosanna In the Heartbreak” TEXT: Matthew 21:1–11Key Verse: “Hosanna… Blessed is He…” (Psalm 118:25–26)1. HOSANNA WITHOUT SURRENDERTruth: Many proclaim, few follow.2. THE GREAT EXCHANGE (TEMPLE CLEANSING)Truth: Jesus overturns what we normalize.3. THE TABLE OF GRACETruth: Jesus serves those who will betray Him. (Luke 22:17-22)4. DENIAL IN THE DARKTruth: Distance leads to denial.5. THE ILLUSION OF CLEAN HANDSTruth: You cannot wash away guilt solely externally.6. THE CROSS: WHERE IT ALL COLLIDESTruth: Jesus carries what we denied.7. WATER → WINE → BLOOD → (LIVING) WATERTruth: The mission comes full circle.8. “IT IS FINISHED” (TETELESTAI)Truth: Not defeat—completion.

“WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT”            Text: John 2:1–11

BIG IDEA: Jesus doesn’t just fill what’s empty—He transforms it into something better than before.

1. WHEN JOY RUNS OUT (v.1–3)

The Setting: A wedding; because the Kingdom begins with joy, not fear.

The Crisis: “They have no more wine.” Not inconvenience, collapse.

• Shame
• Failure
• Emptiness

Biblical Reality
Wine = joy, life, blessing (Psalm 104:15)
When the wine runs out… joy has left.

Human Reality
We all reach this moment:

• Marriage runs dry
• Faith feels mechanical
• Soul feels numb

Mary’s Response: She doesn’t fix it, she brings it to Jesus.

KEY TRUTH: You cannot experience transformation until you admit depletion.

2. WHEN JESUS WORKS IN HIDDEN WAYS (v.4–8)

Jesus’ Perspective
“My hour has not yet come.”
Even here, He sees the cross.

Anchor Statement
“Do whatever He tells you.” → This is discipleship.

The Command
“Fill the jars with water.” (120–180 gallons)

What It Represents

• Ritual → Relationship
• Law → Grace
• External → Internal

The Hidden Miracle: Only the servants knew.

How God Works
Not loud, but:

• Quiet
• Gradual
• Unseen

KEY TRUTH: If you wait to understand before you obey, you will miss the miracle.

3. WHEN GLORY LEADS TO BELIEF (v.9–11)

The Result: Not just wine, the best wine

The Reversal
The world: best is behind you
The Kingdom: best is ahead

The Abundance

• More than needed
• Better than expected
• Later than imagined

The Sign Points To:

• The Cross (“hour”)
• The New Covenant (wine = blood)
• The Bridegroom restoring joy
• The coming Kingdom feast

Outcome: “He revealed His glory… and they believed.”

KEY TRUTH: When you see Jesus rightly, you cannot remain unchanged.

FINAL INVITATION

The Movement
Empty → Overflow
Shame → Joy
Desperation → Faith

The Gospel Thread
At Cana: water → wine
At the cross: death → life

The joy you long for will cost Him everything.

DIRECT CHALLENGE

Where has your wine run out?

• Joy
• Faith
• Passion
• Purpose

Next Steps:

1. Have I brought it to Jesus honestly?
2. Am I obeying what He’s already said?
3. Am I trusting Him in the unseen?

CALL TO ACTION (THIS WEEK)

• Name your empty jar
• Bring it to Jesus in prayer
• Obey one clear step

CLOSING Moment

Jesus doesn’t just refill empty lives, He transforms them into something better than before.