Welcome to the very first Director’s Cut — the podcast that takes you behind the scenes of our At the Movies series. Think of it like the bonus features: a place for extra conversation and untold insights you won’t hear on Sunday. Week 1 begins with Gran Turismo, as Pastor Chris is joined by Pastor Jeremy to take you behind the curtain of the message and the movie.

In the finale of Upside-Down Summer, we’re exploring how the Beatitudes are more than just words to make us better people—they’re a call to become better servants. From living as salt and light to loving and discipling others, it’s about letting what God is doing in us flow outward into the world around us. The real question is: what needs to change in you today so others can see Him through you?

In part ten of Upside-Down Summer, we asked a simple question: if nothing is changing in your life, is Jesus really guiding your life? Following Him isn’t about believing something new—it’s about becoming someone new. So what if the change you’ve been waiting for starts with the choice you make today?

In part nine of Upside-Down Summer, we looked at what happens when culture says “go” but God says “no.” Persecution isn’t proof you’re failing—it’s proof you’re following. But the real question is: when the fire comes, will it break your faith or build it?

In part eight of our Upside-Down Summer series, we redefined peace—not as the absence of problems, but as the presence that steadies you in the middle of them. Could it be that the biggest threat to your peace isn’t what’s happening around you, but what’s happening within you?

In part seven of Upside-Down Summer, we flipped the script on purity—and let’s just say, not everything that looks appealing is worth pouring into your life. Jesus said the pure in heart will see God, but a clear view of Him starts with a clean heart. We learn that what’s in the cup matters more than how it’s served.

In part six of Upside Down Summer, we flipped the script on mourning—not as weakness or despair, but as a sign that God is at work in us. Whether it’s grief over our own sin, the brokenness around us, or the pain we carry, Jesus promises comfort—and a deeper compassion on the other side.

In part five of Upside Down Summer, we flipped the script on what strength really looks like. It’s not about power plays or proving your worth—it’s about quiet confidence, surrendered hearts, and the kind of strength that knows when to hold back. Because in God’s kingdom, strength isn’t about control—it’s about surrender.

In part four of "Upside Down Summer", we flip the script on what it means to be “good enough.” Culture says perform, religion says pretend, but Jesus offers a righteousness that’s already been paid for.