Sunday Encouragement

What happens when our ambitions or our causes begin to shape us more than Jesus does? In this final episode exploring Eugene Peterson’s The Jesus Way, Pastor Daniel Harding reflects on Josephus and the Zealots as examples of two familiar temptations: pursuing our own advancement and becoming consumed by a cause. Both can distract us from recognizing and participating in God’s work. Jesus calls us into a life of self-denial, lived for the Father’s glory. Following Him means allowing His ways to shape both our goals and how we pursue them.

When does practicing our faith become an attempt to prove ourselves? Continuing our discussion of Eugene Peterson’s The Jesus Way, Pastor Daniel Harding explores two temptations: controlling others and withdrawing from them. Through the examples of Caiaphas and the Essenes, we consider how religious performance can crowd out our trust in Jesus. Jesus shows us a way of prayer, presence, and compassion that calls us to trust Him while remaining engaged with the people around us.

Can we pursue Christian goals while abandoning the way of Jesus? In this episode, we contrast Herod’s pursuit of power, position, and success with Jesus’ life of trust, surrender, and personal relationships. We consider how our desire to make things happen can draw us toward manipulation—and how following Jesus invites us to participate faithfully in what God is doing, even in small and ordinary places.

Good news can change how we see everything. In this episode of The Jesus Way, Pastor Daniel Harding explores Isaiah’s announcement that God reigns and is already at work, even when our circumstances seem overwhelming. Drawing from Scripture and Eugene Peterson’s book, we consider how Jesus fulfills God’s promise of salvation and calls us to follow His way of humble service. How will we carry His good news into the lives of others?

What does it mean to follow Jesus when we feel unseen or out of place? In this episode of The Jesus Way, Pastor Daniel Harding looks at Elijah’s life and his trust in God while living on the margins. Drawing from Scripture and Eugene Peterson’s book, we consider how easily we shape our idea of God around our own desires—and how God calls us to know and follow Him. Elijah reminds us that even in hidden places, God is present and at work.

How could David be called a man after God’s own heart when his life included such grave sins? Drawing from Eugene Peterson’s The Jesus Way, Pastor Daniel Harding explores David’s honest prayers, confession, and trust in God’s presence. His story invites us to bring our failures, fears, and needs to God—and find hope in the forgiveness only He can give.

Our words reveal the way we follow Jesus.Moses moved from “I cannot speak” to boldly declaring God’s faithfulness.In this episode, we explore how surrender transforms our language—and how our words can invite others to recognize God’s presence and join His work.

What is the difference between doing our duty and living in obedience? Continuing our journey through Eugene Peterson’s The Jesus Way, we look at Abraham’s journey to Mount Moriah and how a lifetime of learning to trust God prepared him for a moment of extraordinary testing. Sacrificial obedience moves beyond religious performance and engages our whole lives—our bodies, emotions, possessions, decisions, and relationships. Following Jesus as the Way means learning to trust and obey God not only when it is easy to understand, but also when faithfulness costs us something.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” But what if we have reduced “the way” to simply what Jesus can get us—salvation, a better life, a stronger church, or even good results? Drawing from Eugene Peterson’s The Jesus Way, this episode considers a deeper truth: with Jesus, the means ultimately becomes the end. How we follow Jesus matters because the journey itself is shaping who we are becoming. The Jesus way rejects manipulation, power, anger, and self-promotion—even when they might seem capable of producing a good result—and invites us instead into a life increasingly formed by the character and way of Jesus.

Humility is often lived out in moments that seem too small to matter. In this final conversation from Humble Roots by Hannah Anderson, we consider how humility changes the value we place on our time, energy, and everyday interactions. From a stranded starfish to Admiral William McRaven’s challenge to “make your bed,” we’re reminded that faithfulness does not have to be impressive to be important. The simple choice to be present, available, and willing to serve can make a difference—even if it only makes a difference for one.