Why would anyone choose to follow Jesus publicly today—when it’s misunderstood, costly, and often resisted?

This Vision Sunday message launches Charge the Hill, a series that confronts a tension many Christians feel but rarely say out loud: Is engaging the world really worth it anymore? In a cultural moment shaped by fear, outrage, and withdrawal, Jesus offers a radically different way forward.

Rooted in the final words of Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel, this sermon explores courage, doubt, authority, and presence—and why the church was never meant to retreat, dominate, or play it safe. It wrestles honestly with hesitation, failure, and exhaustion, while pointing toward a deeper motivation than fear or power.

Whether you’re skeptical of organized religion, burned by church culture, or wondering if faith still matters in the real world, this message invites you to consider a bigger question:

What if the church exists not to protect itself—but to bring life to a broken world?