Here in the opening scene of Jesus’ public ministry, we see him introduce a method that may challenge how we think things should be done. But (go figure) it is the most powerful and effective.

There is a pervasive and insidious lie out there: “You can be whoever you want to be, do whatever you want to do.” But what does this really mean? “Your life doesn’t matter. You don’t matter. So yeah, do whatever you want, be whoever and whatever you want to be.” The TRUTH? “You matter. Your life matters. So be who God meant you to be and you will turn the world upside down.”

Our faith cannot be something we plan on getting to once the kids are out of the house. There is an urgency!

The key to everything Paul is talking about, the witness that the Thessalonians gave, flows not from just doing “the right things,” but from giving their very selves.

What is the greatest challenge we face as followers of Jesus? What is the greatest threat to a life of love? I’ll give you a hint: if you don’t have time to listen, or you’re too busy to find out…

What is goal of Christian preparation? How do we measure our progress? What does this look like? This is a notoriously difficult question to answer, but in this series we’ll tackle just that. Because at the end of the day, whatever the answer, the result of our response to faith in Jesus is the same: “It is turning the world upside down.”

“Is it easier or harder to become a saint these days?” That’s a fair question, but it’s also a question that betrays a mindset that does not come from God. When we see as God sees, see and understand like the Apostle Paul, everything changes. And the true question is: “Do I know that I will be given the strength for all things, regardless of the circumstance?”

As we read through Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we can easily track with him, and even agree with him! “Yeah, maybe I do need to have this change of mind!” But then Paul says something so ridiculous he risks losing us: “Have no anxiety at all.” What is going on? How can Paul say this? And how can I live this?

What are those assumptions we carry with us, that we use to analyze our life and the world around us? And are those from a gospel worldview, or does it come from somewhere else? And what do we do about it?