Discussion Questions:

1. Where do you tend to “box in” the Holy Spirit?

2. What kind of church will we be at the end of Acts?

This sermon launches a new extended series and season through the book of Acts, framing it not merely as a study of ancient church history but as a living invitation for believers today to carry on the mission of Jesus. Mike draws on the image of a relay race baton to illustrate how Jesus passed his purpose, power, and practices to his disciples, and how that same baton is now extended to every follower of Christ today. Emphasizing that God uses ordinary, unschooled, and imperfect people, the sermon calls the congregation to move beyond spectating and step into active, Spirit-empowered participation in the mission of Jesus. The message warns that fear of picking up the baton is natural, but regret from never running is far worse. The sermon also introduces the rhythms of Jesus as practices meant to be lived out in community, grounding the series in both personal spiritual formation and outward, missional engagement.

Drawing from Jesus's final prayer in John 17, this sermon challenges believers to move beyond the safety and comfort of the "locker room" of gathered worship and into active engagement with the world. Mike frames the Upper Room as a place of preparation, not permanent residence, and argues that God's primary goal for believers is not to keep them safe from hardship but to send them into the world as salt and light. Using Jesus's intercessory prayer, the sermon unpacks four things Jesus prays for his followers: protection from the evil one, sanctification through truth, being sent into the world, and unity among believers so that the world might see Christ. The central tension of the message is the difference between being outnumbered by life's challenges and being outmatched, and the sermon concludes that with Jesus, believers are never outmatched. The call to response is full surrender, inviting believers to stop compartmentalizing their lives and give every area fully to Christ.

Read John 17:14-15

Jesus did not pray that the Father would remove you from the world. He prayed that you would be protected within it. There is a profound difference between being outnumbered and being outmatched. Life will bring seasons where the odds feel impossibly stacked against you — broken relationships, financial strain, failing health, unanswered questions. In those moments, the temptation is to look at the size of the problem rather than the power of the One standing with you. Jesus has already overcome the world. That victory is yours to stand in. Today, name the thing that is outnumbering you, and surrender it to the One who cannot be outmatched.

Where in your life have you confused being outnumbered with being defeated?

Write down one specific challenge you are facing. Beside it, write the words: "Outnumbered. Never outmatched." Return to it every time fear rises today.

Discussion Questions:

-The sermon draws a distinction between being outnumbered and being outmatched -- in what area of your life do you feel outnumbered right now, and what would it look like practically to trust that Jesus makes you outmatched in that situation?

-Jesus prays in John 17 not that the Father would take his followers out of the world, but that he would protect them while they remain in it -- how does this reframe the way you think about your calling in your workplace, neighborhood, or school?

-Jesus prays for unity among his followers so that the world would take notice, not of the church, but of him -- how does division within the church damage the testimony of Jesus, and what is one step you could take to pursue unity across lines of difference?

In this sermon, Jeff explores the meaning of the word "glory" and what it means to glorify God, arguing that most people carry a misunderstood definition of the term. Drawing from John 17 and Exodus 33-34, he builds the case that glory is not about fame, achievement, or spectacle, but rather about the goodness of God made visible. God's glory, Jeff contends, is cross-shaped -- it is compassion, mercy, justice, and self-sacrificial love revealed most fully in the death and resurrection of Jesus. From this foundation, Jeff addresses two universal human experiences: the search for purpose and the ache of dissatisfaction. He concludes that every human being exists to make the goodness of God visible through the way they live, and that when they do, not only do they experience life as it was meant to be lived, but the people around them get to taste eternal life through knowing God.

Read Exodus 33:18-23; Exodus 34:5-8

Moses made one of the boldest requests in all of Scripture — show me your glory. What God revealed in response was not power or spectacle, but his own goodness, compassion, and character. This reframes everything. Glory is not about grandeur or fame. It is about the visible revelation of who God truly is. Before you can make God's goodness visible to others, you must first see it yourself. Sit with this question today: When you picture God's glory, what do you see? Ask God to replace every distorted image with the truth of his character revealed in Exodus 34. What false ideas about God's glory have shaped the way you relate to him?

Write down three words that describe God's character as revealed in Exodus 34:6-7. Carry those words with you throughout the day as a reminder of who you are representing.

Discussion Questions:

-Jeff describes God's glory as 'cross-shaped' -- in what practical ways does the self-sacrificial nature of the cross challenge or reshape how you think about what it means to reflect God's character to others?

-Jeff asks the question, 'What do people learn about God when they watch how you live?' -- which relationships or areas of your life feel most misaligned with making God's goodness visible, and why?

-In John 17:3, Jesus defines eternal life as knowing God -- how does understanding eternal life as a present, relational experience rather than simply a future destination affect the way you pursue your faith right now?

Drawing from John 16:16-33, this sermon explores what it means to live faithfully in seasons of waiting, uncertainty, and unresolved pain. Using the metaphor of "in-between spaces" -- places where we are no longer where we were but not yet where we are going -- Jake walks through Jesus's final words to his disciples before the cross. Jesus does not promise his followers an escape from trouble, but he does promise peace located in himself, courage rooted in his victory, and a horizon beyond present grief. The central verse, John 16:33, serves as the sermon's capstone: Jesus has told his disciples these things so that in him they may have peace, and though trouble is guaranteed in this world, they can take heart because he has overcome the world. The sermon calls believers to stop seeking peace through circumstances, outcomes, or control, and instead to locate their peace, courage, and hope entirely in the person of Jesus Christ.

Read John 16:16-20 — Jesus tells his disciples that in a little while they will no longer see him, and then after a little while they will see him again, leaving them confused and asking questions among themselves.

There are seasons when God speaks and we simply do not understand. The disciples heard Jesus clearly and still walked away confused. If his closest friends struggled to grasp what he was doing in the moment, you are in good company when you find yourself saying, God, I do not understand what you are doing right now. The in-between is not a sign of abandoned faith. It is often the very place where faith is being formed. Jesus did not rebuke the disciples for their confusion. He met them in it. He is meeting you in yours. The invitation today is not to have all the answers. It is to trust the one who does. Bring your confusion to him honestly and let him meet you there.

Discussion Questions:

-The sermon draws a distinction between demanding explanations from God and choosing to trust him — in what areas of your life are you most tempted to demand an explanation rather than surrender to trust?

-Jake notes that throughout scripture, figures like Abraham, David, and Joseph all lived in extended seasons of waiting between promise and fulfillment — how does their example reshape your expectations about how God typically works in a human life?

-Jake describes 'in-between spaces' as seasons where we are no longer where we were but not yet where we are going — what in-between space are you currently living in, and how has it shaped your understanding of God's timing?

Drawing from John 15 and 16, this sermon confronts what Jesus identifies as the greatest spiritual danger facing his followers: the slow drift away from allegiance to him. Using the Greek root of the phrase "fall away" -- skandalizo, from which the English word "scandal" derives -- Mike teaches that the true scandal of the Christian life is not found in cultural or political controversies, but in the subtle, incremental process by which a believer exchanges the values of Jesus for the values of the world. The sermon challenges listeners to examine their personal values and assess whether those values align with Christ or with the world's system. It emphasizes that the Holy Spirit serves as both advocate and guide, working to convince the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, while also protecting believers from the snares that lead to spiritual compromise. The sermon closes with a call to communal prayer and mutual encouragement as a means of resisting spiritual drift.

Read John 15:13-17

Jesus redefined friendship not as convenience but as covenant. He told his disciples that the greatest expression of love is laying down one's life for a friend. This kind of friendship demands loyalty, not just affection. Consider the values guiding your daily decisions. Are they rooted in the character of Jesus or shaped by the approval of the world around you? True friendship with Jesus means aligning your heart with his words, even when that alignment costs you something. Today, ask yourself honestly: whose friendship am I most loyal to when no one is watching? What is one area of your life where your values may be more shaped by the world than by Jesus? Write down your top three values and compare them honestly against the words and character of Jesus. Surrender any misalignment to him in prayer today.

Discussion Questions:

-The sermon drew a sharp contrast between the value systems of the world and the values of Jesus -- when you look honestly at how you spend your time, money, and energy, which value system do your choices most reflect?

-The sermon suggests that the enemy does not need to convince you Jesus is not real, only that he is not good -- have you ever experienced a season where unanswered prayer or suffering caused you to quietly doubt God's goodness, and how did you navigate that?

-The sermon described how a slow drift away from Jesus often begins with small, incremental substitutions of worldly values for his values -- what relationships in your life help you detect that kind of drift before it becomes a full departure?

In this message, Mike explores one of the most striking moments in Jesus' final hours with his disciples -- his deliberate choice to redefine their relationship from servants to friends. Drawing from John 15, the sermon unpacks what it means that Jesus, the Lord of all creation, extended the title of "friend" to his followers. Mike challenges the congregation to move beyond a purely transactional or performance-based faith and into the deep, loyal, and sacrificial friendship that Jesus modeled through his death. Using the biblical definition of love from 1 Corinthians 13 as the foundation, the sermon argues that true friendship with Jesus requires choosing his value system over the world's, holding fast to conviction while remaining relationally engaged with those who do not yet know him.

Read John 15:12-17

Jesus does not merely tolerate your presence -- he chooses you. In John 15, he draws a striking line between servants and friends, and then deliberately places you on the friend side of that line. A servant follows orders without understanding the master's heart. A friend is brought into confidence, trusted with purpose, and loved with loyalty. This was not a casual invitation. It was spoken on the eve of the cross, which means it cost something. Sit with this today: the God who spoke the universe into existence looked at you and said, you are my friend. Receive that.

What would change in your daily walk with God if you approached him as a friend rather than a distant authority? Set aside ten minutes today not to make requests of God, but simply to be present with him. Practice the kind of friendship that does not always need something fixed.

Discussion Questions:

-Jesus deliberately shifted the relationship with his disciples from servants to friends -- what personal barriers, whether rooted in legalism, past wounds, or a sense of unworthiness, prevent you from truly seeing yourself as a friend of God rather than merely a servant?

-The sermon describes friendship as never neutral but always formative, shaping who we become -- in what ways have your closest friendships either drawn you toward or pulled you away from a deeper walk with Jesus?

-Jesus warned his disciples that choosing friendship with him would mean the world would hate them, just as it hated him first -- where in your life are you most tempted to compromise your convictions in order to maintain the approval of the world?

Emma leads the congregation through John 15:1-11, exploring what it means to truly abide in Jesus as the true vine. Rather than treating spiritual fruit as a personal achievement or to-do list, she emphasizes that genuine, lasting fruit grows naturally from a deep, intentional connection to Christ. Drawing on the imagery of vineyards, root systems, and the gardener's care, she presents abiding not as a passive state but as an active, daily practice of seeking and acknowledging God's presence. She also highlights the essential role of the church community in sustaining and deepening that abiding life, concluding with a guided time of corporate scripture meditation to move the congregation from hearing about abiding to actually practicing it together.

Read John 15:1-11

Jesus does not invite us to try harder. He invites us to stay closer. In this passage, he makes a striking claim: apart from him, we can produce nothing of lasting value. The branch does not strain to grow fruit. It simply stays connected to the vine and fruit becomes the natural result. The same is true for us. Patience, gentleness, love, and peace are not disciplines we master through sheer willpower. They are the overflow of a life rooted in Jesus. Today, resist the urge to manufacture fruit on your own. Simply remain.

Where in your life are you straining to produce fruit through your own effort?

What would it look like to release that area to Jesus today? Choose one moment today to pause, put your hands open at your sides, and simply acknowledge that you need Jesus. Let that posture become a prayer.

Discussion Questions:

-Jesus describes himself as the vine and his Father as the gardener in John 15:1-2, where the gardener both removes unfruitful branches and prunes fruitful ones to produce even more fruit -- what does this tell us about the nature of God's involvement in our lives, and how does it change the way you respond to seasons of loss or pruning?

-Emma described abiding as intentionally seeking and acknowledging God's presence in every moment and allowing that presence to change you from the inside out -- in what areas of your daily life do you find it most difficult to maintain that kind of intentional awareness of God?

-The sermon draws a distinction between striving to produce the fruits of the Spirit through personal effort versus naturally bearing fruit as a result of remaining in Jesus -- where in your own life have you noticed the difference between manufactured fruit and fruit that grew out of genuine connection with God?

This sermon explores Jesus's final words to His disciples in the Upper Room, focusing on His promise not to leave them as orphans. The central message addresses how believers often struggle with an "orphan spirit"—a mindset of living as though we are abandoned, unprotected, and forced to survive on our own, rather than as beloved sons and daughters of God. Through the promised Holy Spirit (the Paraclete), believers receive not just God's presence but His power, advocacy, and constant affirmation of their identity in Christ. The sermon challenges the congregation to stop confusing God's silence with His absence and to transition from trying to earn God's love through performance to resting in the security of being permanently adopted into His family. The key is learning to approach God's Word not as a legal obligation or audit of performance, but as a love letter from a Father who speaks life-giving promises over His children.

Read John 14:15-18

Jesus promised He would not leave us as orphans. In your moments of silence from God, remember that silence does not equal absence. The disciples faced their greatest fear—abandonment by the One who gave them identity and purpose. Yet Jesus assured them of the Holy Spirit's coming. Today, examine where you've confused God's silence with His absence. Are there unanswered prayers causing you to doubt His faithfulness? The Spirit of God stands with His arm around you, silencing every accusation. You are not forgotten. You are not abandoned. His presence is with you forever—no conditions, no clauses, just unwavering commitment to remain with you always.

Discussion Questions:

-In what ways have you confused God's silence with God's absence in your own life, and how might understanding the difference transform your relationship with Him?

-How does viewing God's Word as a love letter rather than a rulebook change the way you approach Scripture and obedience?

-Which of the promises listed in the sermon (forgiven, loved, chosen, blameless, complete, etc.) do you struggle most to believe about yourself, and why?

This sermon explores John 14:1-14, examining Jesus's words to His disciples in the Upper Room after announcing His betrayal and departure. Jake addresses how Jesus comforts troubled hearts not by changing circumstances or providing explanations, but by offering Himself as the answer. The message emphasizes that when life falls apart and we don't know which way is up, Jesus doesn't wait for our pain to be resolved before sitting with us in it. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—not just information about God, but the very presence of God with us in our darkest moments. The sermon challenges believers to stop shelving their pain and instead bring their unresolved grief, disappointment, and confusion directly to Jesus, who understands troubled hearts because He Himself was troubled.

Read John 14:1-4

Jesus speaks His most comforting words in the most painful moments. When the disciples' world was collapsing, He didn't offer explanations—He offered Himself. Notice that Jesus doesn't deny the reality of their circumstances or pretend their fear isn't valid. Instead, He acknowledges their troubled hearts while pointing them toward something greater than their circumstances. The God we serve doesn't comfort us by pretending our suffering isn't real. He enters into it with us. Today, whatever has stolen the air from your room, know that Jesus isn't waiting for you to understand it before He sits with you in it. His presence is the promise.

What circumstance are you waiting to understand before you bring it to Jesus?

Discussion Questions:

-When have you experienced a moment where the air felt like it was sucked out of the room, and how did that affect your faith in God's presence during that time?

-The pastor mentioned that we often shelve our pain and keep following God without knowing what to do with our grief or disappointment. What have you placed on the shelf, and what would it look like to bring that before Jesus today?

-Philip asks to see the Father while looking directly at Jesus. In what ways might you be asking God to reveal himself while missing his presence that is already with you?

-Jesus tells his failing, doubting disciples that they will do greater works, not because of their competency but because of his presence. How does this challenge your belief about needing to have it all together before God can use you?