There are few questions that unsettle us more than the one that surfaces in the quiet of the night: What happens when it’s over? Whether it’s sparked by a childhood prayer, a funeral, or visiting a hospital room, the thought of death leaves us wondering what comes next and if anything lies beyond the silence.

This week in Staring at the Ceiling, we’ll listen closely to how Jesus spoke about life beyond this one. His words don’t remove every mystery, but they offer a vision of presence, renewal, and love that can steady us in the face of the unknown and give us courage to live with hope now.

YOUTUBE LINK: https://youtu.be/1ASwoK6P_Lk

YOUVERSION NOTES: http://bible.com/events/49484691

At some point, most of us find ourselves staring at the ceiling, wondering if our lives really matter. We get caught in endless routines, distracted by busyness or numbing out with screens, but deep down we long to know that our days add up to something bigger than ourselves. That quiet question … Why am I here? …isn’t just about existence, it’s about significance.

This week in Staring at the Ceiling, we’ll look at a moment from Jesus’ life where he uncovered what gets in the way of living with purpose. What if the meaning you’re searching for isn’t found in what you gain, but in the way your life flows outward into the lives of others? Ordinary choices like our words, our time, even the small ways we show up can leave a lasting mark and build a legacy that matters.

YOUTUBE LINK: https://youtu.be/T1CeW_iGcAs

YOUVERSION NOTES: http://bible.com/events/49482340

You try to live a good life. You want to make choices you can feel proud of. But the more voices you hear, the harder it gets to know what “doing the right thing” actually means. That tension of wanting to live well but feeling overwhelmed by competing voices can leave you lying awake at night asking, Am I doing the right thing?

In Part 2 of our series Staring at the Ceiling, Jordan Brokaw talks about the simple but profound answer Jesus gave to one of life’s most complicated questions. It’s not a checklist, and it’s not a loophole. It’s a way of living that can guide every decision, even in life’s grey areas.

You don’t have to have the whole map. You just need a compass. And if what Jesus said is true, that compass always points in one direction: love.

YOUVERSION NOTES: http://bible.com/events/49477734

Regret has a way of keeping us up at night—eyes locked on the ceiling, replaying the past like it might finally give us a different ending. But it never does. Instead, the weight just sits there, asking quietly but relentlessly: How did I get here?

In the story of Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends, we see that regret doesn’t have to be the end of the story. There’s a place where the past can remind you, but it doesn’t have to define you—and that place is closer than you think.

In Part 1 of Staring at the Ceiling, Forrest Jenan helps us look at what to do with the kind of regret that lingers. Not by pretending it doesn’t hurt, but by taking it somewhere safe—somewhere it can be met with grace, healing, and even a new assignment for your life.

Sometimes the danger isn’t in doing the wrong thing. It’s doing nothing at all. Or worse, filling our lives with busyness that distracts us from what actually matters.

Sloth isn’t just laziness; it’s the quiet decision to check out when something meaningful demands our attention. It can look like avoidance, apathy, distraction, or even hiding behind productivity. Either way, it slowly robs us of purpose, connection, and growth.

But what if there’s a more intentional, more awake way of being human?

In this message, Brian Ross unpacks the deeper meaning of sloth and explores how Jesus invites us to trade passivity for purpose. Whether you’re wired to chill or driven to hustle, you’ll walk away challenged and encouraged to re-engage with the life you were made for.

YOUTUBE LINK: https://youtu.be/ODwdRRvmhbg

Special Guest: Brian Ross.

You don’t need to turn green and smash things to know what it feels like to lose control. Maybe your outbursts aren’t epic, but they’ve left dents in your relationships and in your peace. Or maybe your wrath stays quiet, simmering just below the surface.

Either way, the result is the same: emotional shrapnel and a nagging sense that your anger is shaping your life more than you’d like to admit.

What if there’s a way to break the cycle? In a world addicted to outrage, there’s a way to feel anger without becoming it.

In Part 6 of our series, Seven Deadly Sins, Forrest Jenan explores how Jesus actually tackles this head-on, not with guilt or shame, but with clarity and an invitation to wholeness.

YOUTUBE LINK: https://youtu.be/VEWTRviGjoY

You’ve probably never plotted to steal a first-class seat from a stranger. But have you ever felt that twinge when someone else got what you wanted—a job, a relationship, an opportunity—and you wondered why it wasn’t you?

Envy rarely shows up with fangs and a villain’s laugh. It hides behind our comparisons, our scrolling, and our silent resentment. And unlike other destructive habits, envy never gives us even a moment of satisfaction.

YOUTUBE LINK: https://youtu.be/-c8UFnY9KHQ

We are FOR Visalia. To find out more about Neighborhood Church, out the links below.

http://ncvisalia.com

When you think of gluttony, you might imagine massive meals or exaggerated appetites. The hunger we carry often goes far beyond food. Many of us live with a quiet, persistent ache we try to soothe in all kinds of ways: another snack, another drink, another purchase, another scroll. Underneath it all, we’re searching for comfort, peace of mind, or even just a moment of relief.

This week, we’re looking at the deeper meaning behind Gluttony, one of the Seven Deadly Sins. In this message, Jordan Brokaw explores what our patterns of consumption reveal about our desires and how our bodies and souls are more connected than we realize.

What might it look like to live with intention, gratitude, and presence?

Watch Sunday’s message below, then continue the conversation with the reading plan and resources.

YOUTUBE LINK: https://youtu.be/XN-kH5SQMDo

YOUVERSION NOTES: http://bible.com/events/49460578

Sex is everywhere. It’s on our screens, in our headlines, and in the stories people tell. But with all the noise, it's easy to feel lost about what love, desire, and connection are really supposed to look like. The messages are loud, but they rarely lead to peace.

This week in our Seven Deadly Sins series, we’re talking about lust. Not to point fingers, but to help us pause and think honestly about how our desires are forming us. Jordan Brokaw offers a fresh vision of sexuality rooted in love, dignity, and the kind of intimacy Jesus invites us into.

YOUTUBE LINK: https://youtu.be/CbV9Hep8bqk

YOUVERSION NOTES: https://bible.com/events/49458561

Greed doesn’t always look like luxury cars and swimming pools full of gold coins. It’s actually more subtle. It can hide behind packed schedules, careful planning, or a desire to be “smart” with our resources. But underneath it all, there’s a question gnawing at us: Will I have enough?

In Part 2 of Seven Deadly Sins, Stephanie Benthin unpacks how greed quietly steals our peace and convinces us to hold on tighter, even when Jesus is inviting us to let go. This isn’t just about money. The invitation to follow Jesus might mean carrying less... so you can receive more from God who provides rest, peace, and purpose.

YOUTUBE LINK: https://youtu.be/nxDEEJV6sPM

YOUVERSION NOTES: http://bible.com/events/49455339