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?

You’re doing the right things. Church, small group, Bible reading. But something still feels off.

It’s possible to be around Jesus without actually being close to Him.

In Mark 2, a man is carried to Jesus but ends up stuck on the roof. So near, yet still not face to face. That’s where many of us find ourselves. Surrounded by faith activity but still longing for real connection.

Jesus isn’t asking for perfection. He’s inviting you to come closer.

Don’t settle for almost. There’s more.

-In what ways have you mistaken activity for intimacy with Jesus, and how can you identify when you're experiencing that 'low-grade ache' in your faith?

-Which of the eight false forms of discipleship (consumer, individualistic, performance, intellectual, institutional, self-powered, comfort-driven, or selective) resonates most with your current spiritual journey, and why?

-In what ways have you settled for 'roof living' rather than being lowered directly into the presence of Jesus, and what would it take to change that?

There’s a kind of transformation that won’t come through pressure, punishment or performance. It happens when we walk with one another and let the Spirit shape us, not shame us. Mike invites us into a way of dealing with sin that starts at the root: identity. When we stop managing behaviour and start discerning what’s broken beneath, we begin the long, beautiful journey toward freedom. Together, step by step.

We all feel the tug-of-war between who we want to be and what keeps pulling us off course. Mike names it plainly: the cycle of sin, shame, and striving that leaves us worn out and wondering if real change is even possible. But what if freedom isn't about fixing ourselves, but learning how to walk with the Spirit? This isn’t about sin management. It's about coming home to love that disarms fear and reshapes desire, from the inside out.

Imagine your life like a sailboat. You have two options: keep the sails down and row endlessly in your own strength, or raise the sail of surrender and let the wind of the Spirit move you forward.

We all do it. We hide behind the veils of effort, performance, or spiritual perfectionism. We put on a brave face, act like we’ve got it together, and manage our image like it’s part of our faith. But deep down, many of us are exhausted.

Spiritually speaking, it’s like we’re in a boat, rowing hard in our own strength to get where only God can take us. And it’s not working.

But what if the very thing you’ve been using, your striving, your perfectionism, your need to look strong, could become the way the Spirit moves you forward?

That’s the invitation. Turn the veil into a sail.

We’ve become experts at image, but strangers to intimacy.

And so, the Spirit comes, not to decorate our dysfunction, but to shatter the mirror of self, and replace it with His own reflection.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn the world upside down? Mike shares how the early church wasn't just a holy huddle, but a holy force that transformed their culture through bold faith and genuine community. Drawing from Acts 17, he reveals how authentic Christian fellowship isn't an optional add-on but the very anatomy of Christ's body—where we grow, encourage, and empower each other to share Jesus wherever we go. From classrooms to living rooms, this message inspires us to move beyond spectating to active participation in God's movement, challenging us to invite, invest, and inspire others through shared life, learning, and mission. Ready to be part of something bigger? Watch now to discover how community becomes the catalyst for kingdom impact.

Some promises are like mirages, glimmering with hope, only to leave you empty. But when Jesus speaks, the promises hold. Mike unfolds the difference between living for God's favor and living from God's favor. When God's approval rests on you, striving gives way to rest. In a world flooded with noise, fear, and false hope, this message dares you to anchor your life in what doesn’t shake: God’s favor, God’s presence, God’s promises.

On Sunday, Pastor Mike shared how he was asking a simple question: “Lord, how do I respond as a pastor to everything happening right now?” What followed was a clear word from the Lord that led him to Exodus 17—a moment where God’s people were under pressure, under attack, and spiritually dry. In that passage, Moses lifted his hands toward heaven as the battle raged, and victory came when hands were lifted—not in striving, but in surrender. From that passage, Mike heard God say, “The time for striking rocks is over. The time for touching thrones has begun.”

This message is an invitation to shift our posture. To stop reacting and start abiding. To respond not with outrage, but with trust. And to step into a rhythm of prayer that brings renewal, unity, and life. Below is a prayer guide you can use as you respond this week:

Prayer Guide:

1. Praise: Honoring God’s Faithfulness and Outpouring of His Spirit

Heavenly Father, we lift our hands to You in awe and gratitude. You are faithful, and Your Spirit continues to move in our lives and in our generation. We praise You for Your presence, Your provision, and Your power that sustains us.

Pray for:

• Thank God for His faithfulness in every season, acknowledging that nothing in heaven or earth can thwart His plans.

• Praise God for the outpouring of His Spirit, awakening hearts to new hunger and deeper intimacy with Him.

• Declare God’s victory over every Amalek attack, trusting His authority to protect, restore, and advance His Kingdom.

• Celebrate the ways God has revealed Himself in past battles, remembering His power and mercy.

• Invite God’s presence to fill every room, heart, and community, allowing His life to flow freely.

2. Confession: Surrendering Striving, Distrust, and Conflict

Lord, we confess the times we have not abided in You, striving in our own strength, doubting Your provision, and wrestling with anger or contention toward others. We recognize where we have partnered with thoughts that oppose Your will and disrupt Your peace.

Pray for:

• Confess personal striving instead of resting in God’s timing and authority.

• Confess distrust, doubt, or anxiety that limits our faith and hinders intimacy with You.

• Ask for forgiveness for anger, quarreling, or holding bitterness toward others.

• Renounce any agreements with pride, ego, or grumbling.

• Pray for healing, humility, and restored alignment with God, so we walk fully in His presence and purpose.

3. Intercession: Lifted Hands for Each Other and Our Broken World

Father, we lift our hands in intercession, covering one another’s vulnerabilities, lifting the burdens of our families, communities, and the world. We declare Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Pray for:

• Pray for those around you, asking God to meet their deepest needs and protect their hearts.

• Pray for comfort and hope in our relationships, families, communities, and country.

• Ask God to pour out His presence in communities, awakening hunger for His presence and truth.

• Pray for the defeat of the Amalek spirit and every force that seeks to steal joy, kill hope, or destroy destiny.

• Declare healing, restoration, and unity, trusting God’s authority and power to transform brokenness into new life.