Discussion Questions:

-In what ways might you be trying to follow Jesus through your own strength rather than relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, and how can you recognize the difference?

-What areas of your life feel like a 'wilderness' right now, and could the Holy Spirit actually be leading you through this barren season for a purpose?

-In what ways have you tried to measure spiritual maturity through behavior modification rather than the fruit of the Spirit, and how might this approach be limiting God's work in your life?

-What 'noise' or distractions in your life are preventing you from hearing God's voice clearly, and what would it look like to create more space for the Holy Spirit to speak?

In this week's message Mike points to a truth many of us feel but rarely name: we stay plugged in, busy, and committed but often to the wrong things. At the center of Jesus' call is a rhythm most would avoid: dying to self. Not as an idea, but as a daily posture. What feels like loss becomes the soil where something eternal takes root. Devotion begins where self-preservation ends.

Discussion Questions:

-In what areas of your life have you tried to negotiate with Jesus rather than fully surrendering, and what might it look like to stop negotiating and start dying to those things?

-How might viewing difficult people in your life as accomplices to the cross rather than enemies change the way you respond to conflict and friction in relationships?

-If dying to self means dethroning your preferences and comforts, what is one preference or comfort God might be asking you to place on the altar right now?

-Peter said to Jesus, 'Where else can I go? You have the words of life.' What would it take for you to have that same conviction when Jesus asks you to do something uncomfortable or confusing?

That invitation is still open, but it reorders everything. Mike walks through a vision of discipleship rooted in devotion to a person, not a program. It’s about living close enough to Jesus to notice how he moves, how he loves, how he leads. When formation replaces information, and practice replaces theory, ordinary lives begin to multiply into something eternal.

Discussion Questions:

-When you think about the early disciples who wanted to be covered in the 'dust of their rabbi,' how closely are you following Jesus in your daily rhythms and decisions?

-What would 'messy obedience' look like for you this week as you step out in faith to practice one of the formational rhythms Jesus modeled?

-How does the concept of 'come follow me' versus 'come balance me' challenge your current approach to discipleship and devotion to Christ?

-Why do you think Western Christianity has emphasized information over formation, and how can you personally shift toward practicing what you learn rather than just hearing it?

Mike unpacks the deeper meaning of "resolution" as more than goal-setting. It's about untangling the soul until one clear allegiance remains. At the heart of this message is a call to holy narrowing, where Jesus is not just added to life but becomes the center of it. Not divided. Devoted.

Discussion Questions:

-In what ways have you found yourself living a 'double-minded' life, divided between devotion to Jesus and devotion to other things competing for your allegiance?

-What is the difference between being a 'believer' who takes notes and a 'disciple' who takes steps, and which one best describes your current relationship with Jesus?

-How does the concept of 'holy narrowing'—focusing more intentionally on fewer things centered on Jesus—challenge the cultural value of balance and multitasking?

-Which of the four chairs (curious/conflicted, convinced/cautious, committed/conformed, or courageous/contagious) best represents where you are in your discipleship journey, and what would help you move forward?

This Christmas message invites us to reconsider what peace truly means in our lives. Drawing from Isaiah 9:6, we explore the profound title given to Jesus: Prince of Peace, or in Hebrew, 'Sar Shalom.' This isn't the fairy-tale prince we might imagine, but a warrior-commander who brings a peace that runs deeper than circumstances. The contrast between shallow peace and shalom peace is striking—shallow peace depends on everything going right externally, while shalom peace is an inner restoration that holds firm even in chaos. We see this contrast beautifully illustrated in Matthew 2, where the wise men traveled for up to two years pursuing peace and found it in worshiping Jesus, while King Herod, representing self-reliance, was disturbed by the very same news. The paradox of Christmas is that Silent Night required a Violent Night—Jesus paid the ultimate price on the cross so we could experience true reconciliation with God. The world's peace plan is escapism, but Christ's peace plan is arrival—He steps into our darkness rather than helping us run from it. This Christmas, we're challenged to stop pursuing peace through endless scrolling, distractions, or self-help, and instead receive the Light that came into the world. When we believe and receive what Christ has done, His peace becomes an internal reality that's greater than any external chaos we face.

The sermon explores the prophetic name "Everlasting Father" given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, revealing how Christ came to restore our relationship with God the Father. Mike talks about the church's number one issue: the orphan spirit that prevents believers from experiencing God's fatherhood. Through Jesus, we see a complete revelation of the Father's character—protective, providing, pursuing, and partnering with His children.

Discussion Questions:

-In what specific ways do you recognize the 'orphan reflex' operating in your own life, and how does it affect your relationship with God?

-How does viewing God primarily as Father rather than as Judge or distant Creator change the way you approach prayer, confession, and daily decisions?

-What are the practical differences between living as a 'servant first' versus living as a 'son or daughter first' in your spiritual life and ministry?

-How does understanding Jesus' mission as revealing the Father's heart change your perspective on evangelism and sharing your faith with others?

This season, it’s easy to get swept up in the noise, the nostalgia, and the never-ending to-do lists. But have you ever paused long enough to wonder why, in such a secular world, the story of Christmas still holds power?

The answer may surprise you.

Discussion Questions:

-How does understanding Jesus as 'El Gibor' (the warrior deliverer God) change your perception of what true strength and power look like in the Christian life?

-In what areas of your life have you stopped believing that God is fighting for you, and what would change if you trusted He hasn't given up?

-The mighty God redefines power through humility, vulnerability, and sacrificial love rather than domination—how does this challenge cultural or personal definitions of strength?

-Where does darkness feel closest to you right now—internally, in relationships, or in hidden sin habits—and how might the mighty God step into that specific darkness?

What if Christmas isn't just about a peaceful nativity scene, but actually represents the greatest spiritual battle ever waged? This message radically reframes our understanding of Jesus as Wonderful Counselor by revealing that His arrival 2,000 years ago was an act of spiritual warfare. Drawing from Isaiah 9:6, we discover that when the prophecy declared 'He shall be called Wonderful Counselor,' it wasn't describing someone who simply offers therapeutic advice—it was announcing a supernatural strategic advisor who brings the wisdom of heaven's throne room into our darkest battles. The Hebrew word for 'wonderful' means full of wonder and awe, referring to miraculous things only God can do, while 'counselor' describes a king's war strategist whose counsel determines victory or defeat. This transforms how we see our own struggles: we're not just dealing with personal issues, we're engaged in warfare where the enemy deploys lies, deception, and pain to hold us captive as prisoners of war. But Jesus offers us a different POW—a Plan of War, Provision of War, Promise of War, and Presence of War. Through examining ten common lies the enemy uses (like 'you're alone in this' or 'you're too broken to be used'), we're invited to exchange these deceptions for divine truth. The message culminates in a powerful communion experience where we literally surrender our pain points and lies we've believed, receiving instead the healing and freedom Jesus purchased through His death and resurrection. This isn't about quick fixes—it's about daily micro-wisdoms that build our capacity to hear His strategic counsel in both small and life-altering decisions.

Discussion Questions:

-How can the truth that 'Christ in you is greater than the chaos around you' become more than just a statement and instead a lived reality in the midst of your current struggles?

-In what ways have you been living under the 'wisdom of the world' rather than seeking divine counsel, and what has been the cost of that choice?

-Reflecting on the list of what healing is NOT, which misconception about healing have you been holding onto, and how does releasing that misconception open you to what true healing might look like?

-What is your current 'pain point,' and which path toward healing from the sermon's list do you sense the Wonderful Counselor is inviting you to walk right now?

We find ourselves in a season where the darkness feels particularly heavy—where gloom creates fog in our decision-making, fractures in our relationships, fear about the future, and fragility in our souls. This message draws us into Isaiah 9, a prophecy written hundreds of years before Christ's birth, speaking directly into a divided kingdom experiencing distress and despair. The people were walking in deep darkness, yet the prophet proclaimed that a great light would dawn. What makes this passage so powerful is its relevance to our modern chaos: divided nations, broken families, anxiety that buzzes in our bones like an alarm that never stops ringing. But here's the transformative truth—Christ in us is greater than the chaos around us. The four names of Jesus revealed in Isaiah 9:6—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace—aren't just ancient titles; they're present realities addressing our specific struggles today. When we feel lost in the fog, Jesus reveals what chaos conceals. When relationships fracture, He brings awe-inspiring restoration. When fear grips us, His might steadies us. When we feel fragile, His everlasting arms hold us together. The sermon beautifully illustrates this through the image of sunflowers planted in radioactive soil near Fukushima—plants that absorb toxins and bring beauty to contaminated ground. This is precisely what Jesus does: He absorbed our sin, our pain, our chaos on the cross so we could absorb His peace, hope, and joy. Our hardship isn't a tomb; it's a womb where God is birthing something new.

Discussion Questions:

-Pull up the ‘What a season of gloom feels like’ lists and identify with your group which feels most familiar - now, or in the past. 

-Which of the four names of Jesus—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, or Prince of Peace—do you need to experience most deeply in your life right now, and why?

-When have you mistaken God's peace and rest for Him 'sleeping on the job' during a storm in your life, and how might that perspective shift change your faith?

-How can you cultivate the ability to experience Christ's peace internally even when the chaos around you remains unchanged?

This powerful message centers on 1 Peter 3:15, challenging us to examine a fundamental question: How's our Jesus? Where does He rank in our lives? The sermon unpacks Peter's instruction to revere Christ as Lord in our hearts and always be prepared to give an answer for the hope we have—with gentleness and respect. We're reminded that hope isn't just wishful thinking; it's a confident assurance rooted in Christ that becomes visible especially during seasons of suffering. The message illustrates how our faith becomes most compelling when people watch us navigate difficulties with unexplainable peace. Through vivid stories from baseball ministry—including a divine appointment where God prepared the way for a gospel presentation to hostile listeners, and a beautiful baptism where one player baptized another—we see what happens when Christ truly becomes Lord. The relay race metaphor captures discipleship perfectly: we're called to carry both a Bible and a baton, running our race while passing faith to the next generation. This isn't about perfection but progress, taking one giant step closer to making Jesus truly number one, not just 'also receiving votes' in our priority rankings.

Questions:

-If you were to honestly rank where Jesus falls in your life's priorities right now, what number would He be, and what specific steps could move Him closer to number one?

-What does it mean practically for Christ to be 'Lord of your heart' rather than just occupying space in your mind, and how does that distinction affect your daily decisions?

-When was the last time someone asked you about the hope you have, and were you prepared to give an answer that pointed them to Jesus rather than to your own strength?

-In what areas of your life are you still trying to earn God's approval through performance rather than resting in the free gift of salvation He's already given you?