Motion Church

It began on a quiet hillside —

“Unless you take up your cross…”

The people looked at each other —

Centuries later,

Because the words of Jesus were never meant to soothe the surface —

This is Week Three

Where we wrestle with the hard edges of His message,

Welcome… to Motion Church.

Where the brave listen.

This week we continue our series Scary Things Jesus Said—the kind of red-letter moments we usually skim past or get defensive about. Last week we sat with Jesus’ warning that we’ll be judged for every careless word, and it stretched us. This week’s message is called “Nearly Scary.” Why “nearly”? Because Jesus names a danger that can look almost right: lips that praise Him while hearts drift far away.

Starting in Matthew 15:1–8, Jesus confronts people who prized tradition over truth—more concerned with appearing clean than being clean. It’s a sobering mirror for any of us who love the show of faith but resist the substance of it. Pastor unpacks four simple, heart-level practices that keep us near to God so our worship isn’t just words:

Know to be near — Consistent time in Scripture forms our heart and reveals God’s.

Pray close, stay close — Prayer is access; it moves truth from information to transformation.

Be near, O God — Worship removes the distance we’ve created and invites real impartation.

Near together — Community both draws us closer to God and reveals whether we’re actually getting closer (because love for God shows up as love for people).

If you’ve ever felt the tension of saying the right things while struggling to become the right person, this conversation is for you. Let’s trade performative religion for a sincere heart—grace and truth in Jesus.

Listen in, lean in, and let’s grow together.

Reflection prompts:

Where am I tempted to value appearance over authenticity?

Which rhythm (Word, prayer, worship, community) needs fresh attention in my week?

How is my love for people evidencing my nearness to Jesus?

Welcome back to the Motion Church Podcast.

See, we’ve grown comfortable with a Jesus who makes us feel good,

In this opening week, we remember that Jesus was not divided—

So lean in.

“Welcome to the Motion Church Podcast. Today’s message is something a little different—because this week, we’re stepping off the usual three points and a closing thought, and instead we’re leaning into Tales from the Trail.

For the past three weeks, we’ve been traveling down Ol’ Dusty Trail, exploring what it means to follow Christ in the rough and rugged places of life. And today, woven into the message, we pause to celebrate a milestone—our 14th birthday as a church family.

What began as a step of faith has now become fourteen years of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and provision. In a world where so many church plants don’t make it past their early years, we stand here today as living testimony to His grace. And so, we celebrate—not just survival, but the thriving of a community knit together in Christ.

So join us as we share tales from the trail, as we give thanks for the road behind us, and as we look forward with hope to the journey ahead. This is Week Three of Ol’ Dusty Trail. This is Motion Church’s 14th birthday. And this is only the beginning.”

🎙️ Podcast Introduction – Week 2: Ol’ Dusty Trail

Welcome back to the Motion Church Podcast and to Week Two of our series, Ol’ Dusty Trail.

Last week, we set our boots on the path, exploring the dusty road of faith and the challenges it brings. But this week, we turn our eyes to the travelers who walk beside us — the characters who make every story rich and every journey unforgettable.

Because no trail is walked alone. The story of faith is never just about the hero — it’s about the people encountered along the way: the friends who encourage us, the mentors who shape us, the challengers who test us, and the companions who remind us who we’re called to be.

Today’s message is called “Characters on the Trail.” It’s not a new revelation or a complex insight — it’s a timely reminder. Sometimes we don’t need something brand new; we just need to remember what we already know but may have forgotten to live out.

So join us as we lean into the lessons of the trail — not only asking what do I get from this journey, but also what do I give to those walking it with me.

This is Ol’ Dusty Trail, Week Two: Characters on the Trail.

There comes a moment… when the dust rises behind you, the horizon stretches before you, and you hear that quiet whisper: It’s time to move.

The old dusty trail.

And now, it’s our turn.

Because following Jesus has never been about standing still. It’s motion. It’s risk. It’s obedience in the face of the unknown. It’s a journey that costs us something — but leads us to everything.

So today, as we begin Week One of The Ol’ Dusty Trail, I invite you to imagine the weight of your boots on that dirt road, the sun setting low, the Spirit calling you onward. This is no ordinary trail — this is the path of discipleship. A trail that demands faith, courage, and a heart willing to follow.

The question is simple…

This is week 1 of the Ol Dusty Trail Series, Titled Ol' Dusty Trial. 

Welcome to the Motion Church Podcast. Today, we gather around a message that isn’t easy to hear — but one that carries the power of truth, healing, and redemption.

Our guest pastor Chris Johnson begins with honesty: not every word in Scripture is lighthearted or easy. Sometimes God calls us into the deep places — the places of pain, loss, and struggle. And today, that call is clear: the topic is Broken.

What does it mean to live in brokenness, and yet discover that God is still present? How do we face the parts of our lives that feel shattered, and trust that the pieces are not wasted in His hands? This is not a comfortable conversation, but it is a necessary one — because in the breaking, God often begins His greatest work of restoration.

So lean in with us today. May you find that even in the hard truths, there is hope. May you hear the voice of God calling you beyond comfort, and into transformation.

This is the Motion Church Podcast — and here is today’s message: Broken.

Welcome to the Motion Church podcast.

Each week, we’ve explored what it means to finish well: not just ending conversations, but completing seasons of life with grace, courage, and clarity. And now, in this last chapter, we lean into the ultimate question—what do we say when it’s truly time to sign off?

From everyday goodbyes to the weight of final words, we are reminded that endings are not just conclusions—they are opportunities to leave a legacy, to speak life, and to anchor hope in Christ.

So lean in, open your heart, and let God speak through this moment of closing. Because while this may be a sign-off, it is also a reminder that in Him… every ending is the beginning of something eternal.

This is Signing Off: Week Four.

This week, the story continues.

Last week, we witnessed something powerful… Baptism Sunday. Twenty-one lives declared new beginnings. Forty-plus this year who have chosen to rise, to leave the old behind, and step boldly into the waters of grace. Each one a testimony, each one a reminder that God is moving here, among us, in this house.

Even through the heat, through the sweat, through every challenge — we pressed on. Because what God is doing is greater than any obstacle.

So today, as we open our hearts to Week 3 of Signing Off, we are not just hearing another message. We are being invited into transformation. Into courage. Into choosing what must be signed off — so that something new, something eternal, can begin.

Welcome… to the Motion Church Podcast.

Welcome back to the Motion Church Podcast.

Last week we asked: What if you had one final chance to leave something behind?

In Week 2, we lean into that question even deeper.

The Apostle Paul once faced this very moment—writing to a church in Corinth that was messy, broken, and all too human.

Today, as we step into this message, may we hear not just Paul’s sign-off… but God’s invitation for how we are called to live, love, and finish well.

This is Signing Off, Week 2.