Did Jesus really mean anyone could follow Him?  This week we look at the many times Jesus went to the spiritual and social outcasts of His day to call His followers. He’s still calling to Himself broken, unworthy men and women who you would never guess could be used by God.

Whether Jesus was speaking to large crowds or small groups, He made sure everyone was clear on what it meant to follow Him. From his own statements, we derive that Jesus is NOT looking for fans… He’s looking for followers. “Not a Fan” will call you to consider the demands and rewards of being a true disciple, and invite you to live the way Jesus lived, love the way he loved, pray the way he prayed, and never give up living for the One who gave his all for you.

"Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them" Matthew 5:10 (NIrV). Would you see the depth of His love if He didn't show it to you in the deepest waters? God beckons us to leave the safety of the shore and venture into the depths, where there's no choice but to cling to Him.

"Blessed are the pure in heart..." (Matthew 5:8 NLT). Everything in our sinful nature says we can save ourselves, justify ourselves, control our lives, take the wheel--perform. But our sovereign Father wants us to rest knowing the wheel is better left to the One who knows what is best.

"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you (Matthew 5:4 MSG). Our dreams offer the world but deliver nothing. But the Lord longs to comfort us with the only sure anchor, the hope of life through Christ.

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule" (Matthew 5:3 MSG). Only Jesus can give us life. If you try a “Do it Yourself” approach, instead of being blessed you’ll find that that you are tired and frustrated. But those who realize they need Him, who reach with the desperation of a victim for a life preserver, they are truly blessed.

Shouldn’t it be normal for churches to be a place of excitement and enthusiasm? Shouldn’t it be normal for churches to be a place where people can feel a real connection with God? Shouldn’t it be normal for churches to be positively shaping our communities and neighborhoods? Unfortunately, that’s not the case for most churches. So what can you do to make all that a normal part of your church environment? How can you be a part of what God is doing through Next Level Church?

What do you do, when you’re in the middle of the fire? It could be a financial fire.  It could be a health-related fire.  It could be a relational fire.  The story of the three Hebrew children helps us to know what to do when facing a fire. In fact, there is a way, as you endure these trials, that they can show the quality and the depth of your faith.

This week’s message is a great message of hope.  In fact, if you’ve been praying and believing, and you still haven’t seen any results -  you’ve been praying for a breakthrough to overcome depression, or a financial breakthrough, maybe a relational breakthrough, or praying for a miracle in your marriage, or praying for a physical healing.  Whatever it is, if you’ve been believing God for a long time for something significant, and you still haven’t seen results, this message will speak right to you.

In this message we talk about standing strong, and we look at Daniel in the lion’s den. Through this story we are going to learn how to handle opposition, and maybe more importantly, how do we stand strong in the middle of severe opposition.