Genesis Costa Mesa

October 11 at Genesis | Why Would Jesus Save Me?

In Colossians 1, Paul writes to a small church we know almost nothing about and tells them the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world. It's the language of Genesis 1: be fruitful and multiply. So how does the gospel bear fruit in us? Picking up from last week, Kai walks through Luke 4, where Jesus reads Isaiah 61 in his hometown synagogue, rolls up the scroll, and tells everyone it's about him. He was anointed by the Spirit to bring good news to the poor, the prisoners, the blind, and the oppressed, and most of us fit somewhere on that list. In Acts 2 and Acts 5 we see what happens when people take that news seriously. A repentant people isn't a perfect people. They turn around. They wrestle with God and still choose him. They keep going when it costs them. The gospel bears fruit through a repentant people with an unrelenting devotion to Christ and his kingdom.

Scripture & Themes

Themes: The gospel, fruitfulness, repentance, the anointing of the Spirit, the kingdom of God, good news, grace, confession, wrestling with God, suffering and perseverance, the resurrection, devotion to Christ, mission

About Genesis Costa Mesa

Week 5 | Where Is Jesus Now?

Most tellings of the gospel stop at the empty tomb. Peter's sermon in Acts 2 keeps going. Jesus was raised, and then he was exalted to the right hand of God, which means he is somewhere doing something right now. Nick Fox continues our series on the gospel by asking what that means in an ordinary week, especially one where fear, addiction, injustice, death, or your own story feels bigger than Jesus does. Those things are real. The question is who sits above them. And the throne isn't where Jesus goes to get away from us. It's where he sends help from. He pours out the Holy Spirit so we aren't left as orphans, and so we have power to be his witnesses. You don't have to be whole before God uses you. Sometimes you get whole as you go.

Scripture & Themes

Themes: The gospel, the ascension, Jesus on the throne, the lordship of Jesus, the finished work of the cross, the Holy Spirit, Pentecost, fear, suffering, no longer orphans, wholeness, power to witness, the Great Commission

About Genesis Costa Mesa

What does the resurrection actually mean for us? In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul reminds us that the gospel stands on the reality that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised from the dead. This message explores the evidence for the resurrection and what it means for our lives today. Through the stories of Emmaus, Thomas, and Peter, we see that the risen Jesus meets us in disappointment, renews our faith when we struggle to believe, and restores us to our true calling. The resurrection is not only something we believe happened—it is the hope that Jesus still reveals Himself, renews us, and restores us.

📖 Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1–15, Luke 24:13–35, John 20:24–29, John 21:1–19

✨ Themes: The resurrection, the gospel, evidence for the resurrection, faith, doubt, disappointment, Jesus revealing Himself, renewing our faith, restoration, calling, hope, the risen Christ

We are a Jesus-centered community on mission, shaped by the table, worship, prayer, story, and mission. Together we seek to bring the gospel to the nations, raise up leaders, and plant new Jesus-communities—living as the church both locally and globally. We hold fast to Scripture, the presence of the Spirit, and the call to join God’s work of renewal in the world.

What makes the cross so central to the Christian faith? In The Elegance of the Cross, Jonah walks through the story of sacrifice—from the Old Testament offerings to Jesus, the fully God and fully human Son who willingly gave Himself for us. Through the language of sacrifice, the Lamb, atonement, and the once-for-all offering of Christ, we’re invited to see the cross not simply as an event in history, but as the clearest picture of God’s love, presence, and purpose. The question is ultimately personal: Where is Jesus in your story, and how is the cross shaping the way you live?

📖 Scripture: Genesis 3:15, John 1:1–18, Leviticus 17:11, Leviticus 1:3, Leviticus 4:33, Exodus 29:38–39, Hebrews 10:1–7, Numbers 15:30, Matthew 27:46, Isaiah 53:5–6, Hebrews 7:26–27, John 10:18, Revelation 5:6, Mark 2:5–7, Matthew 27:51, Galatians 6:14

✨ Themes: The elegance of the cross, Jesus fully God and fully human, the incarnation, sacrifice and atonement, Jesus as the Lamb, substitution, the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, the blood and life, forgiveness of sins, Jesus’ willing sacrifice, God dwelling among us, the centrality of the cross, grace and redemption, the presence of God, responding to Jesus, self-righteousness and self-glorification, boasting in the cross

We are a Jesus-centered community on mission, shaped by the table, worship, prayer, story, and mission. Together we seek to bring the gospel to the nations, raise up leaders, and plant new Jesus-communities—living as the church both locally and globally. We hold fast to Scripture, the presence of the Spirit, and the call to join God’s work of renewal in the world.

As we continue our 8-week series exploring the gospel of Jesus, Chris takes us back to the beginning to ask what kind of Savior we actually need. In Genesis 3, humanity’s rebellion brings shame, fear, blame, and distance from God—but even there, God points toward a coming Savior. John 1 reveals that this Savior is Jesus: fully God and fully human, the Word who became flesh and made His dwelling among us. Through the stories of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, we see a Jesus who not only has the power to save, but who enters into the pain and reality of human life. The gospel is the story of God coming near—bringing grace, truth, comfort, and ultimately salvation through Christ.

📖 Scripture: Genesis 3:15, John 1:1–18, Matthew 1:1–17, John 11, Isaiah 52:14, Isaiah 53:4–5, John 3:16

✨ Themes: The gospel, salvation, Jesus fully God and fully human, the incarnation, Genesis 3, the promise of a Savior, sin and rebellion, grace and truth, God dwelling among us, Emmanuel, shame, fear, blame, relational rupture, suffering, compassion, Martha and Mary, Lazarus, the suffering servant, redemption, God's love

We are a Jesus-centered community on mission, shaped by the table, worship, prayer, story, and mission. Together we seek to bring the gospel to the nations, raise up leaders, and plant new Jesus-communities—living as the church both locally and globally. We hold fast to Scripture, the presence of the Spirit, and the call to join God’s work of renewal in the world.

Learn more at: https://www.genesiscostamesa.com/

As we begin our 8-week series exploring the gospel of Jesus, Chris asks a foundational question: Why would Jesus save me? Looking at the story of humanity’s rebellion in Genesis 3, we see how doubt, self-rule, shame, fear, blame, and relational distance entered the story. But the gospel tells us that this is not where the story ends. In the face of our rebellion and brokenness, God moves toward us with love. Through Jesus, we are offered a Savior who enters our story, bears our sin, and brings redemption where we could never save ourselves.

📖 Scripture: Genesis 3:1–15, Revelation 12:9, Isaiah 52:14, Isaiah 53:4–5, John 3:16

✨ Themes: The gospel, salvation, sin and rebellion, doubt, self-rule, idolatry, shame, fear, blame, relational rupture, God's love, human brokenness, the need for a Savior, Jesus as Redeemer, the suffering servant, grace, redemption, the story of Scripture

We are a Jesus-centered community on mission, shaped by the table, worship, prayer, story, and mission. Together we seek to bring the gospel to the nations, raise up leaders, and plant new Jesus-communities—living as the church both locally and globally. We hold fast to Scripture, the presence of the Spirit, and the call to join God’s work of renewal in the world.

Learn more at: https://www.genesiscostamesa.com/

As we continue our Strengthening the Stakes series, we turn to Storytelling and the powerful way stories shape how we understand our lives, our past, and our future. The Bible tells the story of God unfolding through the stories of men and women, ultimately centered around the redemption of Christ. Through 1 Peter 1, we’re reminded that the gospel gives us a new birth and a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus. Our old story doesn’t have to define us—because in Christ, we are given a new beginning, a new identity, and a new story. As we find our story in Him, we discover a hope that is anchored in what Jesus has done, present in the life He gives us, and secure in what is still to come.

📖 Scripture: Psalm 95:1–7, 1 Peter 1:3, Romans 7:24–25, 1 John 3:1

✨ Themes: Storytelling, the story of God, finding our story in Christ, new birth, living hope, redemption, identity, grace, human narrative, the resurrection of Jesus, God's mercy, worship, gratitude, freedom from our old story, hope for the future

We are a Jesus-centered community on mission, shaped by the table, worship, prayer, story, and mission. Together we seek to bring the gospel to the nations, raise up leaders, and plant new Jesus-communities—living as the church both locally and globally. We hold fast to Scripture, the presence of the Spirit, and the call to join God’s work of renewal in the world.

Learn more at: https://www.genesiscostamesa.com/

This week at Genesis, Kai and David tag-teamed a message on what it means to live a life on mission. Kai began by laying the foundation for our calling as followers of Jesus—reminding us that we have been called to follow Him, equipped with everything we need for a godly life, and sent to make disciples of all nations. Our mission isn't something separate from our everyday lives; it is the invitation to live faithfully as people who have been blessed to be a blessing.

David then took the message from theology to practice, sharing practical ways we can live out that mission both locally and globally. As we strengthen our stakes, we are anchoring ourselves in the call to bring the gospel to the nations, raise up leaders, plant new Jesus-communities, and live as the church wherever God has placed us.

📖 Scripture: Matthew 28:18–20, Matthew 4:19, Matthew 11:28–30, 2 Peter 1:3–11, Genesis 12:1–3, Romans 10:13–15, Revelation 7:9–12

✨ Themes: A life on mission, following Jesus, the Great Commission, being equipped for a godly life, blessing the nations, making disciples, living sent, local and global mission, planting Jesus-communities

We are a Jesus-centered community on mission, shaped by the table, worship, prayer, story, and mission. Together we seek to bring the gospel to the nations, raise up leaders, and plant new Jesus-communities—living as the church both locally and globally. We hold fast to Scripture, the presence of the Spirit, and the call to join God’s work of renewal in the world. Learn more at: https://www.genesiscostamesa.com/

This week in our Strengthening the Stakes series, we turned our attention to Prayer—exploring what it looks like to become a people who keep showing up before God and refuse to lose heart. Through Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18, we were reminded that persistence in prayer is an expression of enduring trust in the character of God, especially when we face delay, opposition, or disappointment. Chris was joined by Mattie for an honest conversation about prayer, personal dissatisfaction, and the ways God has shaped her through seasons of contemplative prayer, fasting, and breakthrough. We were challenged to embrace a deeper, even costly kind of prayer—travailing prayer that longs to see renewal in the church, revival among the lost, and ultimately the restoration of all things. Because when the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth?

📖 Scripture: Luke 18:1–8, Hebrews 4:14–16

✨ Themes: Prayer, persistence, faith, travailing prayer, renewal, revival, restoration, the Kingdom of God, perseverance, God's character, waiting on God, spiritual breakthrough, Jesus our High Priest, mercy, grace, hope, intercession, not losing heart.

We are a Jesus-centered community on mission, shaped by the table, worship, prayer, story, and mission. Together we seek to bring the gospel to the nations, raise up leaders, and plant new Jesus-communities—living as the church both locally and globally. We hold fast to Scripture, the presence of the Spirit, and the call to join God’s work of renewal in the world.

Learn more at: https://www.genesiscostamesa.com/

This week in our Strengthening the Stakes series, we explored Worship—not simply as something we do on Sundays, but as the natural response to the gospel. Looking at Isaiah 54 alongside passages throughout Scripture, we were reminded that God desires to dwell among His people, and that worship flows from hearts transformed by His grace. Chris was joined by a panel featuring Keri, who has faithfully led worship for over 15 years, and Tula, an experienced worship leader from South Africa. Together, they shared stories and insights about cultivating a life of worship, leading God's people with humility, and responding to His faithfulness with gratitude and praise.

📖 Scripture: Isaiah 54:1–3, Exodus 29:46, Psalm 13:5

✨ Themes: Worship, God's presence, gratitude, the gospel, praise, God's faithfulness, dwelling with God, spiritual formation, responding to grace, joy, reverence, the gathered church, discipleship, worship leadership.

We are a Jesus-centered community on mission, shaped by the table, worship, prayer, story, and mission. Together we seek to bring the gospel to the nations, raise up leaders, and plant new Jesus-communities—living as the church both locally and globally. We hold fast to Scripture, the presence of the Spirit, and the call to join God's work of renewal in the world.

Learn more at: https://www.genesiscostamesa.com/