Fixate PHX

Roadmap: Overarching Goal: To learn how to cultivate the gift of patience Definition of Patience Relationship of Patience and Faithfulness and Patience and Persistence Patience modeled by Joseph Neuroscience of Patience The Practicals Definition of Patience: “The ability to accept delays, handle hard times, and stay calm without getting angry and upset (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) Slide 3: Relationship of Patience with Faith and Perseverance Faith (definition found in Heb 11:1) Faith is the seed; patience is what we need to allow the seed to grow Perseverance is the ability to continue moving forward; patience is what we need to move us in the right direction when the roadblocks pop up Joseph A story of betrayal, faith, patience, and perseverance Age 17: 1st betrayal Age 17-30: more delays and betrayal Age 39: Brothers appear before Joseph Takeaway: Faith, Patience, Perseverance Neuroscience & Psychology The location of patience in the brain The power of patience to calm us The Practicals: Prayer Grattiude Worship

Scripture References: Phil 1:27-2:11

How to stay the course when becoming like Jesus is way harder than you thought.

1. The gospel should change how you view resistance; stand firm. Salvation starts as a beautiful invitation to sanctification before it becomes subversive to the whole of our personhood. God forms you differently than you would form yourself. God uses what we would avoid or skip to produce what we could never have built or dreamed, almost always at the cost of self. Sometimes the thing you want God to get you out of is the very thing He's using to get Christ into you deeper. The way of Jesus is downward mobility in a world obsessed with upward mobility… we go low, to climb high.
2. The gospel should change how you view and interact with people; stand together. We clothe ourselves with selflessness, humility, and a commitment to unity, and that's what preserves my faith's fragility on its journey to maturity. Maturity is measured by how little life has to revolve around you. Knowing more about Jesus isn't the goal; becoming more like Jesus is… maturity in God is almost always measured in my humility, selflessness, and unity to the gospel and kingdom that weeds out the pride of self-centered and self-preserving salvation.
3. The gospel should change your view of greatness in life and the world; stoop low... because the faster you can get upside down, the quicker you can find the right side up. As time goes on we tend to fight God at every turn in the journey of faith because we like to profess faith but don't really love the process of what that faith actually does to our souls. If greatness is only about me, and doesn't have a "we," it's going to feel empty. Does the shape of your life look anything like the shape of His? Does it leave an impact on others as He did?

Scripture References: Philippians 1:12-26

HOW TO ENSURE PRISON STILL PRODUCES PROMISES IN YOUR LIFE

1. Prison Redirects Mission.. LEAN INTO IT. (vv. 12–18)- We naturally assume that when we’re confined, delayed, overlooked, or disappointed, God’s work must be on pause. Paul completely dismantles that way of thinking. Instead of seeing prison as an interruption to God’s mission, he realizes prison has become the mission field. The very thing he wished he could escape became the place where God was advancing the gospel in ways Paul never could have orchestrated on his own. Maybe the question isn’t, “God, why am I here?” Maybe it’s, “God, who are you trying to reach or what are you trying to teach me because I’m here?”

2. Prison Reveals Hidden Mindsets.. Submit them. (vv. 19–24)- Prison seasons have a way of exposing what we actually believe. It’s easy to trust God when life is moving forward, doors are opening, and prayers are being answered. But what happens when nothing changes? Paul doesn’t become bitter, anxious, or self-absorbed. His confidence isn’t in being released; it’s in Christ being glorified. That’s why he can honestly say, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Your prison doesn’t create your faith—it reveals where you’ve anchored it.

3. Prison Expands Your Ministry.. Steward the unseen until the seen comes to pass. (vv. 25–26)- By the end of the passage, Paul isn’t thinking about himself anymore. He’s thinking about their progress, their joy, and their faith. Somewhere along the way, prison stopped being about what was happening to him and became about what God wanted to do through him. That’s the invitation for every follower of Jesus. Your hardest season may become someone else’s greatest source of hope because people are rarely changed by our victories—they’re changed by watching us remain faithful in the valley. Don’t underestimate what God can do through a surrendered life that refuses to waste its prison seasons.

Philippians Pt-1; “AM I DOING THIS RIGHT?”

Scripture Reference - Phillippians 1:1-11

HOW TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT TAKING ON WATER EVERYTIME A STORM COMES

1 - My identity must be aligned no matter what my circumstances (good or bad) try to convince me otherwise of. In Paul's first two verses, he introduces himself not as an apostle, deacon, or elder… he says he is a bondservant. This is a major context clue of the calling and identity we take on as a follower of Jesus. If my identity is not aligned with this reality, my freedom feels like drowning, for I'm professing to be a bondservant but not wanting to take seriously the oath that it means to be one: the master, and the master's house, all my days.

2 - The mission of God is not a product we produce, it's a united and partnered people, restoring the kingdom of God in the fallen world. This cannot be done individually and sustained. Jesus models a life of partnership on mission alongside others to restore creation. We don't stop until we see the good work in our lives, and bring others into the good work God has for them, and we embrace everything it takes, through time, circumstance, and cost, for this mission to come to pass. Paul was united to those imprisoned for the gospel, who defended the gospel, confirmed the gospel, and partook in the grace of the gospel, for the gospel was never meant to be carried alone.

3 - Spiritual maturity looks a lot different in Philippians than in 2026. It is love that abounds, knowledge that grows, discernment that is sensitive to the spirit of God, sincerity and blamelessness in how we live, being filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes from a life of proximity to following the ways of Jesus. Does our spiritual maturity reflect a life in which we have nailed our freedoms to the doors of God's house, and then began to model and reflect these things? If not, you may miss the deeper part of storms: they have a way of revealing what our foundation cannot support.

Join us as we hear members of our community share testimonies, advice, and wisdom from their personal walks with God.

Ethan - "How to Keep God as the Priority"

Deborah - "How to Trust God's Steadiness"

Sean - "How Power is made Perfect in Weakness"

Discipleship Pastor - Micah Shaw

John 15:1-17

Galatians 5:22-23

How to Walk in the Fullness of a Fruitful Life:

1. Let Him Tend to the Roots

2. Become Grafted Into Intimacy

3. Receive Nourishment That Satisfies

4. Produce Fruit That Remains

Guest Speaker - Lindsey Bundy

FIXATE & MOVE FORWARD

Joshua 1:1–9 — ESV

Hebrews 11:16 — NKJV

Psalm 27:13 — NKJV

KEEPING OUR EYES ON THE CROSS

Joshua 3:15–17 — NKJV

Deuteronomy 31:6 — NKJV

THIS IS WHO YOU ARE — IDENTITY

Ephesians 5:8 — NKJV

John 10:27 — NKJV

KNOW YOUR IDENTITY — ROOTED BEFORE YOU RISE

Hosea 10:12 — ESV

Joshua 24:13 — ESV

YOUR AUTHORITY IN THE BLOOD

Joshua 1:9 — ESV

Acts 1:8 — ESV

Luke 10:19 — ESV

Luke 4:18 — ESV

James 4:7 — ESV

ARMOR OF GOD — DRESS FOR THE BATTLE

Ephesians 6:10–18 — ESV

DISCERNMENT KEEPS YOU ON THE PATH

Hebrews 5:14 — ESV

LAST & MOST IMPORTANT — FEAR THE LORD, NOT MAN

Joshua 24:14 — ESV

Guest Speaker Jim Tippin shares the beauty of realizing the depth of God "Our Father" and a deeper dive into the portion of the lords prayer.

1. The phrase “Our Father” is rich with theological meaning. Looking at the original Greek and its Jewish background helps explain why Jesus chose these words.

The Greek

The Greek text reads:

Πάτερ ἡμῶν (Pater hēmōn)

Πάτερ (Pater) – “Father.” It is a warm, personal form of address, expressing a close relationship while still conveying respect and honor.

ἡμῶν (hēmōn) – “our.” This is the plural possessive pronoun, meaning “belonging to us.”

Jesus did not teach His disciples to pray, “My Father,” but “Our Father.”

2. Why “Our”?

The word “our” emphasizes several truths:

A shared relationship. Everyone who belongs to God approaches Him together as His children. Prayer is personal, but it is never merely individual.

A spiritual family. When we pray, we remember that we are part of God’s people, not isolated believers.

Concern for others. The entire prayer uses plural pronouns: our, us, we, forgive us, lead us, deliver us. Jesus teaches us to pray with the needs of others in mind.

Why “Father”?

For Jesus’ Jewish audience, calling God “Father” would have recalled passages where God is described as the Father of Israel. Yet Jesus made this relationship more intimate by inviting His disciples to address God directly as Father.

3. Calling God “Father” expresses:

His love and compassion.

His authority and care.

Our dependence on Him.

Our identity as His children through faith.

“In heaven”

Jesus immediately balances intimacy with reverence. God is our Father, but He is also “in heaven”—holy, sovereign, and above all creation. This keeps prayer from becoming either distant or overly casual.

A practical application

Every time you pray “Our Father,” you are acknowledging that:

You belong to God’s family.

Other believers are your brothers and sisters.

God welcomes you as a loving Father.

You approach Him with both confidence and reverence.

This opening phrase sets the tone for the entire Lord’s Prayer: a relationship of loving trust with God, lived out in fellowship with His people.

These names combine Yahweh with another word that reveals a specific work of God.

Elohim — God creates.

Jehovah Jireh. The LORD Will Provide” (Genesis 22:14).

Scripture References

MATTHEW 19:16-22

LUKE 14:16-24

HOW TO MAKE SURE MONEY/POSSESSIONS IS IN A PERIPHERAL PLACE IN OUR MINDS AND NOT THE CENTER FOCUS OF OUR EXISTENCE.

1. POSSESSIONS PROMISE SECURITY THEY CANNOT DELIVER.. The first man says, “I have bought a field.” In the ancient world, land was retirement, inheritance, wealth, and stability all rolled into one. Jesus isn’t condemning ownership; He’s exposing misplaced trust. The Rich Young Ruler had obeyed the commandments, but when Jesus touched his possessions, his true allegiance was revealed. The question is not whether you own things—the question is whether your things have become the place you run for security instead of God.

2. POSSESSIONS DEMAND ATTENTION THEY DO NOT DESERVE.. The Rich Young Ruler wasn’t condemned because he was rich; he walked away because he could not imagine life without what he owned. Notice how both the ruler and the man in Luke 14 are distracted by possessions. One must go inspect a field; the other cannot release his wealth to follow Jesus. It is possible for God to have your affection while possessions have your attention. Whatever constantly occupies your mind will eventually shape the direction of your life.

3. THE KINGDOM REQUIRES SURRENDER, NOT JUST BELIEF.. Both stories involve people who wanted God without releasing control. The Rich Young Ruler wanted eternal life but not at the cost of his possessions. The invited guests wanted the benefits of the feast but prioritized their own agendas when the invitation arrived. Jesus is showing that discipleship is not merely believing the King exists; it is reordering everything beneath His rule. The issue is not how much money you have—it is whether money has a claimed sole focus of your existence.

Submitted and Un-submitted Appetites pt 3: MARSHMALLOWS AND THE CHOICE BETWEEN HEAVENLY AND EARTHLY POWER

Fixate Phx - Pastor Micah Schoeplein June 21st, 2026

Scripture References:

MATTHEW 4:8-11

MARK 10:35-45

1. ALLEGIANCE DETERMINES THE SOURCE OF POWER. The greatest question about power is not what you can do with it, but where you believe it comes from. Jesus was offered the kingdoms of the world, but refused to gain power at the cost of false allegiance. Earthly power tempts us to compromise for quicker results, greater recognition, or more control by asking us to worship fallen things. Heavenly power begins with surrender, trusting God’s timing and God’s ways. Before God entrusts us with influence, He first tests our allegiance… and the worst thing that can happen is when you have influence but do not know where your allegiance is..

2. Earthly power produces pride; humility determines how well we handle power. Throughout Scripture, the temptation of power is ultimately the temptation of pride. Whether it was Satan offering Jesus the world, the disciples debating who would be greatest, or rulers believing they were the source of their own authority.. earthly power consistently feeds pride, self-reliance, and arrogance. Heavenly power works in the opposite direction—it produces surrender, dependence, and humility before God. It recognizes that every position, opportunity, and measure of influence is entrusted by God and ultimately belongs to Him.

3. Trust God’s sovereignty more than human authority. Scripture repeatedly shows that God raises up kings and removes them. Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Babylon, and Rome all seemed permanent, yet every earthly power eventually faded. Our hope is not in who sits on an earthly throne, but in the God who rules over every throne. Power is not just about earthly thrones of others we swear allegiance to, it's also about the thrones we seek to build in hopes people swear allegiance to us.. Submitted power is the recognition that any power I have is borrowed from Jesus.