There’s some people that just make us feel uncomfortable and trigger our insecurities. Why is that? It’s because we’re insecure. That’s why we compare and compete. We’re insecure in our identity, our value, and our calling, and so we look around to see what everyone else is doing. And we feel secure as long as we feel like we’re better/richer/smarter/prettier than the rest. When someone who has more shows up, we feel small and separate ourselves from them. It’s a fake kind of security that is easily lost.

But we don’t have to live that way! We are given security in our identity and relationship with God. We are valuable because He says we are, and nothing can change that. Our security is found in Him. Being secure then changes the way we live and the way we interact with others.

If we look at the parable found in Matthew 25:14-30, we see the difference that being secure makes. The man with 1 talent was insecure in his identity and relationship with the master so he failed to fulfill his purpose and missed out on the joy of the master. The men with 2 and 5 talents knew who they were and how good the master was, so they were able to faithfully fulfill their call and rejoice with the master. 

Finding our security in God helps us not live in fear. Being secure in our identity in Christ comes from knowing that our failures don’t take away from our value or position. We won’t be afraid of disappointing people when we don’t need validation from them. We won’t be afraid of failing when we’re secure in our identity because we know that God catches us. 

Finding our security in God stops our criticism of others. When we realize that our value and identity are ultimately found in who God says we are, we don’t need to put other people down to make ourselves feel better. And we don’t focus on other people’s success to make ourselves feel worse.

Finding our security in God opens the door for God to do greater things through us. When we’re secure, it opens the door for God to do greater things through us because we’re not putting a limit on what’s possible. We’re not playing life on defense or running scared from challenges. We’re not wasting our time comparing ourselves to others, instead we hold on to who God is and to who He says we are and we can do and be more than we ever expected. 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What is something you’re insecure about?
2. What does God say in His Word about the thing you’re insecure about?
3. Do you struggle with comparison or competition? What does it look like for you?
4. How can growing more secure help you stop judging others?

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📍 English Worship Jogja | A place to encounter God, grow in community, and walk in purpose.

🔗 Website: ewjogja.com
📸 Instagram: @ewjogja

No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, everyone is welcome!

Our faith is more of a journey than a trip.  While a trip is a planned event with a specific destination, a journey is an adventure focused on experience and transformation.

1. Everyone is called to the journey.  Everyone is on a path of twists and turns, ups and downs.  Social media often shows a “highlight reel”, making it seem like others have it all together, but the truth is everyone has their own struggles.  Just as Jesus called a simple fisherman like Peter to follow him, He calls us all to journey with Him, providing purpose and meaning.

2.  Everyone has challenges on the journey.  Let’s face it… we all have struggles, issues, and moments of doubt, fear, and insecurity.  We often feel pressure to hide our flaws, but Jesus came for the imperfect, welcoming sinners and outcasts.  Everyone brings their past hurts and experiences into community.  One of the biggest is relational challenges, like the misconception of finding “the one”that has confused so many young people.  You are free to date and marry whomever you like, as long as you submit yourself to God’s Word and choose someone within Biblical boundaries.

3.  Everyone can change on the journey.  Change and transformation are possible and not just a myth, but a promise.  The story of the Apostle Peter, who went from a fisherman to an Apostle shows that no one is beyond redemption and your past doesn’t define your future.  This transformation is often a slow and steady process, not a dramatic, one-time event.  The key is to ask, “Can you do it for a day?”

At English Worship Jogja, you are welcome with your messy, struggling, imperfect life, because this is a place where you can be changed.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. LIfe is described as a “journey” rather than a “trip.”  What are the key differences between those two concepts for you spiritually?
2. Social media often shows a “highlight reel” of people’s lives.  How does this “highlight reel” affect your view of your own spiritual journey and the spiritual journey of others?
3. Before the Apostle Peter became a leader in the early church, we see his failures, like his denial of Jesus.  Can you share a time when you experienced a significant challenge or “failure” in your own faith journey?  What did you learn from it?
4. The idea of “waiting for the one” can be confusing and hurtful, and a potentially harmful theological concept.  How have popular ideas about dating and marriage influenced your own expectations, and what kind of biblical perspective should we have?
5. Transformation is described as a “daily” process, not a dramatic one-time event.  What is one small, daily change you can commit to making this week to move forward on your spiritual journey?

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📍 English Worship Jogja | A place to encounter God, grow in community, and walk in purpose.

🔗 Website: ewjogja.com
📸 Instagram: @ewjogja

We are all searching for fulfillment in life. We want to pursue something bigger than ourselves. Whatever it takes as long as it is worth it.

Whether it is by accomplishing through our works, the things that we have, we start to realize that Jesus is inviting us to a deeper calling that goes beyond our comfort zones. We will look at an interaction a man had with Jesus and learn that to follow Jesus means leaving everything behind because He is worth it.

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📍 English Worship Jogja | A place to encounter God, grow in community, and walk in purpose.

🔗 Website: ewjogja.com
📸 Instagram: @ewjogja

Read Acts 1:4-14

It seems like people are always coming in and out of our lives.  Dealing with these transitions can be difficult.  Our issue isn’t the “welcome”, our challenge is the “goodbye.”  How can we have healthy goodbyes?

1. Embrace the season, not just the stay.  Many friendships are seasonal, and it’s important to appreciate people for the specific time they are in our lives.  It’s okay to feel sad and grieve when a friend moves away, but it’s also important to stay connected to community, stay in touch with the person, and create new connections.

2.  Recognize the purpose, not just the person.  Instead of focusing on what a person can do for you, let’s shift our focus to what God is teaching you through that person.  This perspective helps us see God’s purpose in all relationships and prevents bitterness when they end.

3.  Identify with Christ, not just your connections.  While connecting with others is important, your identity should be rooted in Christ.  This provides a firm foundation so you can be confident you are never alone, even when people come and go from your life.  Remember, friendships may be seasonal, our relationship with God is eternal.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. English Worship Jogja is a “river, not a lake.”  Do you resonate with this description based on your own experience with this community?  How does this perspective affect the way you approach new friendships?
2. Good goodbyes take time to grieve.  What are some healthy ways you have processed sadness, loneliness, or anger when a close friend has moved away?
3. Can you think of a past relationship where you now see a specific purpose God had for it, even if the friendship was for a season?
4. There’s a concern that some people may get connected to community but not to Christ.  How can we, as a community, make sure we are helping people find their identity in Christ rather than just in their social circle?
5. Jesus promised the disciples the presence of the Holy Spirit before He left.  How does knowing that the Holy Spirit is with you help you feel secure and not alone when you experience relational changes and goodbyes?

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📍 English Worship Jogja | A place to encounter God, grow in community, and walk in purpose.

🔗 Website: ewjogja.com
📸 Instagram: @ewjogja

Read John 17:6-19

Drawing from Romans 10, we read the Apostle Paul’s four missiological questions that provide a pattern for spreading the Gospel:

1. How can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him?  It’s not enough to simply “know about” Jesus; people need to truly “know Him” to call on His name for salvation.

2.  How can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him?  Faith comes from hearing the truth about Jesus, not from our silence or vague “good vibes.”  We must speak His name clearly.

3.  How can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?  God’s method for spreading the Gospel is through people, not just programs.  Each person is the “someone” who needs to tell others, and their story matters.  Evangelism can be uncomfortable, but opportunities shouldn’t be missed.

4.  How will anyone go and tell without being sent?  All believers are already “sent” by God to their campus, workplaces and among their friends and family.  We are called to live as if we are sent.

The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation and the greatest good we can do is point people to Jesus.  The reality is that billions remain unreached with the Gospel and “the Gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.”  The ultimate call is to embrace the LIVE DEAD life, dying to self so the unreached can live for Jesus.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. There’s a difference between knowing about Jesus and truly knowing Jesus.  In your own journey, what has helped you move from just knowing about Jesus to a deeper, more personal relationship with Him?
2. “Faith doesn’t come from silence - it comes from hearing the truth about Jesus.”  What are some practical ways we can create opportunities for people around us to hear the REAL Gospel, not just “good vibes” or a philosophy?
3. We often feel uncomfortable or scared to share the Gospel.  What are some fears or excuses that hold you back from telling others about Jesus, and how can we overcome them?
4. “You are the SOMEONE.”  Thinking about your daily life - your campus, workplace, friends and family - how can you intentionally live like you’ve been “sent” to share the Good News in those specific places?
5. The LIVE DEAD series challenges us to “die to self so that the unreached might live for Jesus.”  What does “dying to self” look like for you?

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📍 English Worship Jogja | A place to encounter God, grow in community, and walk in purpose.

🔗 Website: ewjogja.com
📸 Instagram: @ewjogja

Read Romans 10:14-15

Drawing from Romans 10, we read the Apostle Paul’s four missiological questions that provide a pattern for spreading the Gospel:

1. How can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him?  It’s not enough to simply “know about” Jesus; people need to truly “know Him” to call on His name for salvation.

2.  How can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him?  Faith comes from hearing the truth about Jesus, not from our silence or vague “good vibes.”  We must speak His name clearly.

3.  How can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?  God’s method for spreading the Gospel is through people, not just programs.  Each person is the “someone” who needs to tell others, and their story matters.  Evangelism can be uncomfortable, but opportunities shouldn’t be missed.

4.  How will anyone go and tell without being sent?  All believers are already “sent” by God to their campus, workplaces and among their friends and family.  We are called to live as if we are sent.

The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation and the greatest good we can do is point people to Jesus.  The reality is that billions remain unreached with the Gospel and “the Gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.”  The ultimate call is to embrace the LIVE DEAD life, dying to self so the unreached can live for Jesus.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. There’s a difference between knowing about Jesus and truly knowing Jesus.  In your own journey, what has helped you move from just knowing about Jesus to a deeper, more personal relationship with Him?
2. “Faith doesn’t come from silence - it comes from hearing the truth about Jesus.”  What are some practical ways we can create opportunities for people around us to hear the REAL Gospel, not just “good vibes” or a philosophy?
3. We often feel uncomfortable or scared to share the Gospel.  What are some fears or excuses that hold you back from telling others about Jesus, and how can we overcome them?
4. “You are the SOMEONE.”  Thinking about your daily life - your campus, workplace, friends and family - how can you intentionally live like you’ve been “sent” to share the Good News in those specific places?
5. The LIVE DEAD series challenges us to “die to self so that the unreached might live for Jesus.”  What does “dying to self” look like for you?

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📍 English Worship Jogja | A place to encounter God, grow in community, and walk in purpose.

🔗 Website: ewjogja.com
📸 Instagram: @ewjogja

How do we prepare our lives to LIVE DEAD?  It begins with understanding God’s perspective.  Just like when climbing to the top of a mountain let’s us see everything around us, God sees the big picture while we often only see what’s only directly in front of us.

Just before the Great Commission, when Jesus sends out his disciples to go and make disciples who make disciples who make disciples… the disciples encounter with Jesus prepares them for the LIVE DEAD life.

1. WHEN WE SHOW UP, GOD SHOWS OFF:  So much of our success in life is simply showing up and fulfilling our commitments.  It’s not about our perfect skills or abundant resources, but our availability and obedience that pave the way for God’s power.  Just as Peter showed up for prayer and God healed a crippled man, or Moses showed up despite feeling inadequate, our willingness to be present and obedient creates the space for God to do incredible things.  Even when it’s hard or unclear, faith sometimes just looks like showing up.

2.  YOUR DOUBT DOESN’T DISQUALIFY YOU:  Even the disciples, in the presence of the risen Jesus, had doubts, yet they still worshiped Him.  Often, our doubt isn’t in God’s goodness or power, but in ourselves - our ability to be used by God.  However, worship doesn’t require perfect faith; it simply requires an open heart.  Jesus doesn’t push doubters away; instead, He draws close to them.

God is calling us to do hard things and go to hard places, but if we just show up, God will show off, and our doubts will not disqualify us from fulfilling His call on our lives.  We are called to “Live Dead” - dying to self so that Christ can live in us and through us for His global plan.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. “When I show up, God shows off.”  Simply showing up, even in small acts like attending church or a small group, can create space for God to work.  What are some practical areas in your life right now - academic, professional, relational, or spiritual - where you feel God is asking you to simply “show up” even if you don’t see the full picture or feel fully equipped?
2. “Doubt doesn’t disqualify us.”  Oftentimes, our doubt isn’t in God’s goodness or power, but in ourselves.  What are some common self-doubts or fears that hold you back from fully stepping into what you believe God is calling you to do?  How might actively worshiping, even with these doubts, help you overcome them?
3. Like standing on top of a mountain on a clear day and being able to see everything from the North to the South, God sees the big picture when all we see is what’s right in front of us.  Can you think of a time in your life when you could only see “what was in front of you,” but looking back, you now recognize God’s bigger plan unfolding?  How does that encourage you for your future?
4. Sometimes we feel insignificant in the big picture and wonder how God could use our limited abilities and resources or past failures.  What specific “limited abilities” or “past failures” do you tend to focus on?  How can the truth that “your part isn’t supposed to be the showstopper, but simply to SHOW UP” challenge that perspective?
5. Sometimes God calls us to the hard places instead of the nice, safe, comfortable ones.  As a young person looking at the future, where do you anticipate God might be leading you to a “hard place” experience, and how can you prepare your heart to embrace the challenge, knowing that if you show up, God will show off?

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📍 English Worship Jogja | A place to encounter God, grow in community, and walk in purpose.

🔗 Website: ewjogja.com
📸 Instagram: @ewjogja

When we think about the call of God, most of us focus on the big giant changes: God telling us what career to pursue, what person to marry, what city to move to. We think the call of God is only for the people who are in ministry or only for the big decisions of life, but the truth is God is always calling. He is always calling us to take a step. He is always inviting us to a deeper and closer relationship with Him. He is always giving us opportunities to trust Him more, even if sometimes we don’t realize it. 

So the question is: when God calls, what is our response?

We learn from Jonah that when God calls us to something, we can say no. Disobedience is always an option, but it takes away our opportunity to live in the fullness of life God wants. We will miss out on God’s best.

We also learn from Jonah that when God calls we can go, but with the wrong attitude. Expecting that God will do what we want or second guessing what He said along the way.

But neither of those are God’s best. So what is the alternative? The Jesus way. 

Jesus answered the call of God in a much different way. He willingly obeyed, laying down his will and his desires to pick up God’s desires for His life. When he fully surrendered, everything changed, and he was able to do the hard things ahead of him with peace and authority.

The full life that Jesus wants to give us is on the other side of a full yes to His call. Let’s be the kind of people that fully commit to the call of God, no matter how big or small.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What is something that you feel God is calling you to do?
2. What is stopping you from fully committing to doing it?
3. How have you seen God provide in the past when you said yes to Him?
4. What is something you could do to take a step of faith this week?

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📍 English Worship Jogja | A place to encounter God, grow in community, and walk in purpose.

🔗 Website: ewjogja.com
📸 Instagram: @ewjogja

When we read John 13, it almost feels like we are “eavesdropping” on Jesus’ conversation with his disciples.  It’s the last time Jesus is with his disciples before he is betrayed, beaten and killed… and he knows it.  And so, in John’s Gospel, Jesus shares his heartfelt, final lessons to his closest friends.

John 13:1-17

In these last moments with his disciples, Jesus knew his hour had come and having full authority, humbly washed his disciples’ feet, even Judas Iscariot’s, who would betray him.  This act was not meant to establish a new ordinance like communion or baptism, but rather to demonstrate the “attitude and actions of a foot washer.”

To be a modern-day foot washer:

1. Know the Time:  Understanding God’s perfect timing for your life, avoiding mistakes that happen when we rush ahead of God’s plan.

2.  Know Your Identity:  Recognize that your mission and ministry flow from knowing who you are in Christ, freeing you to serve anyone, anywhere.

3. Know the Small Things:  Understand that true love and service are often expressed and mean the most in the little acts of faithfulness and kindness.

LIVING DEAD means serving others.

How are you serving your family, community, campus, workplace, and those who have hurt you or are different from you.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Whose feet is God calling you to wash?  How are you “washing the feet” of those around you?
2. It’s important to know the time and avoid mistakes that happen when you rush ahead of God’s timing.  Has there been a time that you waited for God’s timing and saw positive results or rushed ahead and faced difficulties?  What is something that you are waiting on God to fulfill in your life?
3. When you know who you are and whose you are, your mission and ministry will flow from that.  What ministry and mission is God calling you to do?
4. What are some small things you can do this week to show love and humility to those in your daily life?
5. Jesus washed the feet of Judas, who would betray him.  How are you serving someone who has hurt you?  How challenging is this concept for you, and what steps could you take towards serving someone who has caused you pain?

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📍 English Worship Jogja | A place to encounter God, grow in community, and walk in purpose.

🔗 Website: ewjogja.com
📸 Instagram: @ewjogja

2 Timothy 2:15 Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.

Other translations say “work hard”, “do all you can”, “be diligent”, “do your best to present yourself to God as one who is worthy of his approval”. If we are going to live for Jesus, we are going to need to be transformed. That is a process of growth. Of learning and being stretched. Even Jesus himself, when he was on earth, went through this process.

The understanding and authority we had 5 years ago is not enough to face today's problems. The closeness we had with Jesus 2 years ago is not enough to sustain us through the schedule we have this week. We must grow.

But growing is uncomfortable. It takes time and effort, and we enjoy being lazy and comfy. Unfortunately, our addiction to comfort and convenience has robbed us of the full life that Jesus offers. Because Jesus did not die on the cross for us to have a “normal” Christian life. He died for us to have purpose and passion and joy. Full life.

So how do we get it? Discipline

We allow the Lord to discipline us. To correct us when we have settled for a mediocre faith, or when we have stepped into sin. And we discipline ourselves to consistently step out in faith. To pray for people and give generously and speak the truth in love. We work hard, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. As we live this way, we will certainly experience a revival in our hearts as excitement and expectation begin to rise again.

Let’s not settle for less than extraordinary. Let’s not grow so comfortable in our “normal” Christianity that we miss out on the fullness that Jesus wants to give us. There’s so much more to life with God than just going to church and reading our bible, so let’s step out in faith and experience it!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. When was the last time you intentionally stepped out in faith? What happened?
2. Do you feel like your walk with Jesus is mostly exciting or mostly routine? Why?
3. How comfortable are you with being uncomfortable? DO you feel like that is helping or hurting your growth?

What is one thing that you feel God is challenging you to do? What is keeping you from doing it?

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📍 English Worship Jogja | A place to encounter God, grow in community, and walk in purpose.

🔗 Website: ewjogja.com
📸 Instagram: @ewjogja