Tornado sirens, shredded roofs, dark streets without power.

If you live around here, you don’t need anyone to paint the picture. You’ve driven it. You’ve felt it.

And when you drive past the destruction after singing, “You’ll never fail,” it raises honest questions:

- How do I trust God when my house is gone?  
- How do I say “hallowed be your name” when our community is in pieces?  
- How do I keep going when the “storms” aren’t just in the sky but in my heart, my family, my job?

In this season, our church walked through Daniel 3—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—and paired it with the story of King David, to ask this:

What does real faithfulness look like when life is on fire?

This isn’t just about surviving crises. It’s about learning to live as people of conviction, humility, and influence in *every* season—storm, furnace, or quiet Tuesday afternoon.



1. Faithfulness Before the Fire

Most people know the fiery furnace story in Daniel 3:

- A prideful king (Nebuchadnezzar) builds a giant golden statue.  
- Everyone is commanded to bow down when the music plays.  
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse.  
- They’re thrown into a blazing furnace.  
- God meets them there; there’s a “fourth man in the fire.”  
- They walk out unsinged. Nebuchadnezzar is stunned.

It’s epic.

But Daniel 3 doesn’t make sense until you read Daniel 1.

In Daniel 1, these same young men have already been:

- **Exiled** from their home.  
- Given **new names** by a pagan empire (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah become Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego).  
- Pressured to **assimilate**—new language, new culture, new worship.

Just that name change is quietly brutal. Imagine your boss deciding, “I don’t like your name. I’ll call you something else.” Now imagine that isn’t just a nickname; it’s forced erasure of your identity, your heritage, your God.

Yet when their names are changed, they don’t revolt.  
They accept certain changes. They endure personal disrespect.  

But then comes a line they will not cross.

They’re ordered to eat food God has forbidden them to eat. And here, Daniel steps up and proposes a test:

“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.” (Daniel 1:12)

At the end of ten days, they’re healthier than anyone else. And this sets a pattern:

Faithfulness → Obedience → Fruitfulness

Before they ever face a furnace, these men are already practicing day-by-day obedience in much smaller choices.

They don’t become faithful *in* the fire.  
They bring their faithfulness *into* the fire.

If you want a Daniel 3 kind of courage, you need a Daniel 1 kind of life.


2. Faith That Says “Even If”

When they’re finally dragged in front of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3 and given one last chance to bow, they respond with one of the most powerful statements in Scripture:

 “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us…  
 But even if** he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set

​

Day 1: The Weight We Were Never Meant to Carry
Reading: 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 11:28-30
Devotional:
God never designed you to carry the crushing weight of anxiety, fear, and worry alone. When Peter writes "cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you," the word "cast" means to throw upon—a decisive, complete action, not a gentle laying down. This isn't partial surrender where you give God 70% and white-knuckle the rest. Jesus invites you to bring everything—the financial pressure, the family conflict, the fear about the future, the feeling of unworthiness. He doesn't just want to lighten your load; He wants to carry it entirely. Today, identify one specific burden you've been carrying. Don't just acknowledge it—physically open your hands and release it to God. Trust that the One who died for all your sins can handle all your anxieties.


Reflection: What specific anxiety am I still carrying that God has invited me to release?


Day 2: Suffering That Produces Holiness
Reading: 1 Peter 4:12-19; Romans 5:3-5
Devotional:
Suffering isn't random or meaningless in the Christian life—it's purposeful. Peter reminds persecuted believers that suffering for righteousness produces holiness and maturity. This doesn't mean God causes our pain, but He uses it to refine us, strengthen us, and make us more like Christ. When you endure hardship while maintaining obedience to God, showing love to others, and refusing worldly reactions, you're suffering like Christ. The key isn't avoiding suffering but trusting God through it. Your suffering here is temporary; eternity is forever. When you hit that wall—whether in running, relationships, or faith—you have a choice: stop or push through trusting God knows the finish line. Remember, God doesn't just take your burdens; He makes you stronger when you give them to Him.

Reflection: How has past suffering shaped my faith? What am I learning through current struggles?




Day 3: Clothed in Humility
Reading: 1 Peter 5:5-6; John 13:1-17
Devotional:
The phrase "clothe yourselves in humility" literally means to tie on a servant's apron. This was Jesus' final lesson before the cross—washing His disciples' filthy feet, including Judas, who would betray Him, and Peter, who would deny Him. Pride whispers, "I've got this. I can handle it. I don't need help." But humility confesses, "God, I need You for everything." This posture changes how you engage suffering, anxiety, and the world itself. Humility isn't weakness; it's the strength to acknowledge your limitations and God's limitless power. When you humble yourself under God's mighty hand, you position yourself for Him to lift you up. You can't live a holy life while holding onto everything, especially yourself. Today, practice servant-hearted humility—tie on that apron and serve someone without expecting recognition.

Reflection: Where is pride keeping me from fully surrendering to God?




Day 4: Standing Firm in Spiritual Warfare
Reading: 1 Peter 5:8-9; Ephesians 6:10-18
Devotional:
Whether you believe it or not, you're in a war. Your adversary prowls like a lion, using fear, isolation, distraction, and discouragement to devour you. His strategy is deception—making you believe lies about yourself, your worth, and God's faithfulness. When you're overwhelmed with anxiety and carrying a divided mind, you're more vulnerable to attack. That's why casting your anxiety isn't just emotional health; it's spiritual warfare. You don't overcome the enemy by trying harder in your own strength. You overcome by standing on God's truth, remaining rooted in faith, and pushing back darkness. Be sober-minded. Be watchful. Know that believers worldwide face the same struggles. You're not alone. Resist the devil by being firm in your faith, replacing lies with truth, and remembering your identity as a child of the King.

Reflection: What lies has the enemy been telling me? What truth from God's Word counters those lies?





Day 5: Practicing Daily Surrender
Reading: Colossians 2:6-7; Lamentations 3:22-23
Devotional:
Trusting God isn't a one-time decision; it's a daily lifestyle. Just as you received Christ, continue to live in Him—rooted, built up, strengthened, and overflowing with thankfulness. You can't remove anxiety without replacing it with something holy. When anxiety says, "What if everything falls apart?" truth responds, "God is faithful—He's always been faithful." This requires practice. You can't win the championship without respecting practice. Be honest about what you're carrying. Intentionally release it to God through prayer, worship, journaling, or physical exercise. Replace anxiety with Scripture, fellowship, and service. Make it real with authentic daily moments with God. Your roots must grow deep, or you'll crumble when storms come. God's mercies are new every morning, which means you get to cast your burdens fresh each day. Stop pretending everything's fine. Walk the walk, practice daily, and let God transform your heart and mind.
​
Reflection: What daily practice will help me release anxiety and grow deeper roots in God?





Closing Prayer:
Abba Father, thank You for caring deeply about our anxiety and suffering. Help us release what we were never meant to carry. Strengthen us through our struggles, clothe us in humility, protect us in spiritual warfare, and teach us to practice daily surrender. May we live as people who truly believe You can handle all of it. In Jesus' name, amen.

​

5-Day Devotional: Formed by the Presence of Jesus​

Day 1: Called for This Moment

Reading: 1 Peter 4:1-3; Acts 4:13
Devotional: You are not here by accident. Out of all of human history, God ordained this specific moment for your life. Like Peter—overlooked by religious institutions yet transformed by Jesus' presence—you have been called to make a difference right where you are. The religious leaders could only explain Peter's transformation one way: he had been with Jesus. What will people say about your life? The invitation still stands today: come follow Jesus. Your workplace, your school, your neighborhood—these are your mission fields. Stop waiting for perfect circumstances or better qualifications. You've been equipped by the One who calls you. The question isn't whether you're capable, but whether you'll respond to the calling. History is waiting for your answer.

Day 2: Breaking the Cycle 
Reading: 1 Peter 4:3-4; Romans 12:1-2

Devotional: "You have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do." These words cut through our excuses. We live in an attention economy where algorithms compete for your 168 weekly hours, shaping how you think without you realizing it. Debauchery begins with passive absorption—like a sponge soaking up the evil around you. Then comes lust, drunkenness, and detestable idolatry. But here's the good news: Jesus' church is full of people who used to fit this list. You can make the decision today to stop living like this. Evaluate your life with Jesus. What forms you—your social media feed or the presence of Christ? Take a 168-hour fast from the noise. Read actual Scripture instead of scrolling. Let Jesus transform you through intentional time in His presence, not passive consumption of culture's values.

Day 3: Alert and Sober-Minded
Reading: 1 Peter 4:7-8; Ephesians 5:15-17
Devotional: Three times in this short letter, Peter urges: "Be alert and sober-minded." In a world of mindless scrolling and distracted living, this is revolutionary. Society trivializes sin and mocks holiness, calling dedicated Christians "super-religious." But we're called to something different. Imagine ending each day with Jesus in conversation: How did you treat people? Did you steal time from your employer? What consumed your attention? This isn't about perfection—it's about awareness. We live in a time when people walk into traffic staring at phones, oblivious to danger. Don't let that be your spiritual life. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Stay awake. Pray one more hour. Don't squander the calling God has placed on your life by giving your attention to what doesn't matter eternally.

Day 4: Serving Without Grumbling

Reading: 1 Peter 4:9-11; John 13:1-17
Devotional: Following Jesus is like playing tennis—it doesn't work until you know how to serve. You've been given gifts, resources, time, and skills. These aren't for building your own kingdom but for stewarding God's. Hospitality without grumbling. Service with joy. Speaking with grace. This is how we change culture—not through arguments we win, but through love that transforms. When the world asks why you show compassion and kindness, your answer isn't how good you are—it's what Jesus has done in you. Don't lose your relevance in society by needing to be right about every argument. Add value to your community. Earn the right to share the gospel by actually caring about people as humans made in God's image. Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care. Serve sacrificially today.


Day 5: Suffering for Good
Reading: 1 Peter 4:12-19; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Devotional: Peter's final encouragement is sobering: you will suffer for doing good. In the West, we experience soft annoyance more than true persecution, but isolated incidents are increasing. The question isn't if suffering comes, but how you'll respond when it does. Will you have the resolve to endure? Schindler's tragic realization haunts us: "I could have done more." Don't reach the end of your life wishing you'd rescued more, loved more, sacrificed more for Jesus' kingdom. We're in this world but not of it. We engage culture without compromising our convictions. Fix your eyes on Jesus and the coming day of judgment. Let that eternal perspective fuel your endurance. You're called to be a priest for this generation—creating thin places where heaven meets earth. Out of all of human history, God chose you for this moment. Don't waste it.

1. Marriage Is Under Attack… and So Are Our HeartsYou don’t have to look very far to see that marriage, family, and commitment are under pressure in our culture. But the Bible doesn’t just say, “Try harder” or “Find the right person.” It asks a deeper question:
Are you becoming the kind of person the person you’re looking for is looking for?
That’s not just a dating question.
It’s a married question.
It’s a single question.
It’s a parent and teenager question.
Whether you’re single, newly married, married for decades, or not sure marriage is for you at all, God is far more interested in who you are becoming than in what “stage” you’re in.
Dinner Table Questions:

• For the whole family:
  
  • In one sentence, how would you describe “the kind of person” you want to become?
  • What’s one word you hope people would use to describe you 10 years from now?
• For couples and older kids:
  
  • Do you think our culture focuses more on “finding the right person” or on “becoming the right person”? Why?

2. Promises vs. PreparationAt weddings we make big promises: “for better or worse, for richer or poorer…” But those words alone don’t prepare anyone for:

• job loss
• sickness
• conflict
• temptation
• parenting
• disappointment

Rings and vows don’t magically fix selfishness, bad money habits, or a lack of self-control. They often expose what was already there.
The truth is:
Promises don’t change us. Preparation does.
The same is true for following Jesus. Saying, “I want to follow Jesus,” is a promise. But preparing means:

• choosing how we spend our time
• deciding how we handle our money
• learning how to handle our emotions and sexuality
• letting the Holy Spirit confront habits and attitudes that don’t look like Jesus

Dinner Table Questions:

• What’s something in life you couldn’t do well just by promising—you had to prepare? (Sports, music, exams, work, etc.)
• What’s one small way our family could better “prepare” to love each other well—rather than just promising we will?

For adults/teens:

• In the last 5–10 years, do you think you’ve become more like Jesus or less like Jesus with:
  • your time?
  • your money?
  • your screen/phone use?
  • your reactions when you’re angry?

3. What Does “Submit” Really Mean?1 Peter 3 uses a word our culture doesn’t like very much: submit.
In the New Testament, “submit” appears about 31 times and means:
to arrange yourself under someone’s authority; to willingly place yourself under for their good.
Jesus Himself modeled this:

• As a child, sinless Jesus submitted to sinful Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:51).
• Demons submitted to the authority of Jesus’ disciples in His name (Luke 10:17).
• Christians are told to submit to government authorities, even when those authorities weren’t perfect (Romans 13).
• James says, “Submit yourselves to God” (James 4:7).
• Peter later says, “younger, submit yourselves to your elders” (1 Peter 5:5).
• And Paul says, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21).

Biblically, submission is not:

• “I’m worthless, you’re important.”
• “You control me and I have no voice.”
• “I ignore abuse or sin to keep the peace.”

Biblical submission is:

• choosing to trust God’s order
• choosing to serve instead of dominate
• choosing love, humility, and respect—like Jesus did

In marriage, Scripture calls:

• wives to submit to their husbands
• husbands to love and sacrificially serve their wives “as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her”

In other words:
Both husband and wife are called to submit to Jesus—and to out-serve one another.
Dinner Table Questions:

• How would you describe “submission” in your own words (without using the word “submit”)?
• When have you seen someone willingly put another person first in a beautiful way? What did that look like?

For couples:

• In our marriage, what would it look like if we both tried to “out-serve” each other this week?

4. Sporks, Fine China, and How We Treat PeopleOne of the pictures from the sermon is simple but powerful:

• A plastic fork/spork is convenient and disposable. You use it and throw it away.
• Fine china is precious. You protect it, handle it carefully, store it safely.

Some people live and date as if others are sporks: useful, but disposable.
Scripture says every person you meet is more like fine china: created in the image of God, precious, and worthy of honor.
Peter calls wives the “weaker partner” not as “less valuable,” but more like something valuable you protect carefully—not a cheap, throwaway utensil.
And that means:

• Husbands: use your strength (physical, emotional, spiritual, financial) to protect, not control; to honor, not belittle.
• Wives: expect to be treated like fine china, not like a spork.
• Singles and students: don’t treat people as disposable, and don’t stay in relationships where you are treated as disposable.

Dinner Table Questions:

• Think about how we talk to each other in this house. Do we treat one another more like sporks or like fine china? Why?
• What’s one change we could make in how we speak or listen that would better show each other’s value?

For teens/young adults:

• In your friendships or dating relationships, are people generally treated as precious or disposable? What examples come to mind?

5. Wise vs. Foolish: Paying Attention to Your PathProverbs 14:8 says:
“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
but the folly of fools is deception.”
A wise (prudent) person:

• pauses to examine their behavior
• asks, “Is this helping me become more like Christ?”
• makes changes when something is off

A foolish person:

• drifts
• never evaluates
• keeps repeating the same mistakes and then acts surprised by the results

In relationships—family, friendships, dating, marriage—wisdom means:

• Looking at patterns, not just promises
• Asking, “How have I treated people in the past? What does that say about who I’m becoming?”
• Letting the Holy Spirit show you where you need to repent and grow

Dinner Table Questions:

• Is our family better at “just going with the flow” or at stopping to think about our habits?
• What is one habit we do well as a family that we should keep?
• What is one habit we should reconsider?

For adults/older teens:

• Is there a relationship in your life where you need to stop, repent, and change how you’ve been acting?

6. For Singles, Married, and ParentsA few brief takeaways for each group:
If you’re single:

• You are not “less than.” Jesus was single, and fully complete.
• Don’t just hope for a godly spouse. Prepare to be a godly spouse (if God calls you to marriage).
• Ask: Am I becoming the kind of person the person I’m looking for is looking for?

If you’re married:

• Go back to your vows and ask: Am I preparing—today—to actually live these out?
• Work on yourself first. Let the Holy Spirit shape you into someone who reflects Jesus at home.
• Try one simple goal this week: out-serve your spouse.

If you’re a parent:

• Talk to your kids early and kindly about relationships, sexuality, and God’s design.
• Teach them that marriage, biblically, is one man and one woman—and also teach them that every person, regardless of their choices or struggles, bears God’s image and must be treated with dignity, not as a target for our anger.
• Model confession and change. Let them see you say, “I was wrong. I’m sorry. God is still working on me.”

1. Marriage Is Under Attack… and So Are Our Hearts.
You don’t have to look very far to see that marriage, family, and commitment are under pressure in our culture. But the Bible doesn’t just say, “Try harder” or “Find the right person.” It asks a deeper question:
Are you becoming the kind of person the person you’re looking for is looking for?
That’s not just a dating question.
It’s a married question.
It’s a single question.
It’s a parent and teenager question.
Whether you’re single, newly married, married for decades, or not sure marriage is for you at all, God is far more interested in who you are becoming than in what “stage” you’re in.
Dinner Table Questions:

• For the whole family:
  • In one sentence, how would you describe “the kind of person” you want to become?
  • What’s one word you hope people would use to describe you 10 years from now?
• For couples and older kids:
  • Do you think our culture focuses more on “finding the right person” or on “becoming the right person”? Why?

2. Promises vs. Preparation
At weddings we make big promises: “for better or worse, for richer or poorer…” But those words alone don’t prepare anyone for:

• job loss
• sickness
• conflict
• temptation
• parenting
• disappointment

Rings and vows don’t magically fix selfishness, bad money habits, or a lack of self-control. They often expose what was already there.
The truth is:
Promises don’t change us. Preparation does.
The same is true for following Jesus. Saying, “I want to follow Jesus,” is a promise. But preparing means:

• choosing how we spend our time
• deciding how we handle our money
• learning how to handle our emotions and sexuality
• letting the Holy Spirit confront habits and attitudes that don’t look like Jesus

Dinner Table Questions:

• What’s something in life you couldn’t do well just by promising—you had to prepare? (Sports, music, exams, work, etc.)
• What’s one small way our family could better “prepare” to love each other well—rather than just promising we will?

For adults/teens:

• In the last 5–10 years, do you think you’ve become more like Jesus or less like Jesus with:
  • your time?
  • your money?
  • your screen/phone use?
  • your reactions when you’re angry?

3. What Does “Submit” Really Mean?
1 Peter 3 uses a word our culture doesn’t like very much: submit.
In the New Testament, “submit” appears about 31 times and means:
to arrange yourself under someone’s authority; to willingly place yourself under for their good.
Jesus Himself modeled this:

• As a child, sinless Jesus submitted to sinful Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:51).
• Demons submitted to the authority of Jesus’ disciples in His name (Luke 10:17).
• Christians are told to submit to government authorities, even when those authorities weren’t perfect (Romans 13).
• James says, “Submit yourselves to God” (James 4:7).
• Peter later says, “younger, submit yourselves to your elders” (1 Peter 5:5).
• And Paul says, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21).

Biblically, submission is not:

• “I’m worthless, you’re important.”
• “You control me and I have no voice.”
• “I ignore abuse or sin to keep the peace.”

Biblical submission is:

• choosing to trust God’s order
• choosing to serve instead of dominate
• choosing love, humility, and respect—like Jesus did

In marriage, Scripture calls:

• wives to submit to their husbands
• husbands to love and sacrificially serve their wives “as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her”

In other words:
Both husband and wife are called to submit to Jesus—and to out-serve one another.
Dinner Table Questions:

• How would you describe “submission” in your own words (without using the word “submit”)?
• When have you seen someone willingly put another person first in a beautiful way? What did that look like?

For couples:

• In our marriage, what would it look like if we both tried to “out-serve” each other this week?

4. Sporks, Fine China, and How We Treat People

One of the pictures from the sermon is simple but powerful:

• A plastic fork/spork is convenient and disposable. You use it and throw it away.
• Fine china is precious. You protect it, handle it carefully, store it safely.

Some people live and date as if others are sporks: useful, but disposable.
Scripture says every person you meet is more like fine china: created in the image of God, precious, and worthy of honor.
Peter calls wives the “weaker partner” not as “less valuable,” but more like something valuable you protect carefully—not a cheap, throwaway utensil.
And that means:

• Husbands: use your strength (physical, emotional, spiritual, financial) to protect, not control; to honor, not belittle.
• Wives: expect to be treated like fine china, not like a spork.
• Singles and students: don’t treat people as disposable, and don’t stay in relationships where you are treated as disposable.

Dinner Table Questions:

• Think about how we talk to each other in this house. Do we treat one another more like sporks or like fine china? Why?
• What’s one change we could make in how we speak or listen that would better show each other’s value?

For teens/young adults:

• In your friendships or dating relationships, are people generally treated as precious or disposable? What examples come to mind?

5. Wise vs. Foolish: Paying Attention to Your Path.

Proverbs 14:8 says:
“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
but the folly of fools is deception.”
A wise (prudent) person:

• pauses to examine their behavior
• asks, “Is this helping me become more like Christ?”
• makes changes when something is off

A foolish person:

• drifts
• never evaluates
• keeps repeating the same mistakes and then acts surprised by the results

In relationships—family, friendships, dating, marriage—wisdom means:

• Looking at patterns, not just promises
• Asking, “How have I treated people in the past? What does that say about who I’m becoming?”
• Letting the Holy Spirit show you where you need to repent and grow

Dinner Table Questions:

• Is our family better at “just going with the flow” or at stopping to think about our habits?
• What is one habit we do well as a family that we should keep?
• What is one habit we should reconsider?

For adults/older teens:

• Is there a relationship in your life where you need to stop, repent, and change how you’ve been acting?

6. For Singles, Married, and Parents
A few brief takeaways for each group:
If you’re single:

• You are not “less than.” Jesus was single, and fully complete.
• Don’t just hope for a godly spouse. Prepare to be a godly spouse (if God calls you to marriage).
• Ask: Am I becoming the kind of person the person I’m looking for is looking for?

If you’re married:

• Go back to your vows and ask: Am I preparing—today—to actually live these out?
• Work on yourself first. Let the Holy Spirit shape you into someone who reflects Jesus at home.
• Try one simple goal this week: out-serve your spouse.

If you’re a parent:

• Talk to your kids early and kindly about relationships, sexuality, and God’s design.
• Teach them that marriage, biblically, is one man and one woman—and also teach them that every person, regardless of their choices or struggles, bears God’s image and must be treated with dignity, not as a target for our anger.
• Model confession and change. Let them see you say, “I was wrong. I’m sorry. God is still working on me.”

Dinner Table Closing Question (for everyone):

• Based on everything we’ve talked about tonight, what is ONE small step you want to take this week to become more like Jesus in how you treat others?

You might end your dinner by praying something like:

Last year I was convicted by God to sit down and develop a discipleship plan for the people of RE.THINK. 

After researching and praying, I am confident about this plan. In the next few emails, I'd love to share the 6 questions each follower of Jesus should answer. 

Our goal at RE.THINK Church to help people follow Jesus. Following Jesus is how we experience the best life possible. Following Jesus implies movement and action, not passive observation. 

The first of these questions deal with Scripture. The Bible is a collection of books, letters, poems, genres of literature. It is God-inspired and authoritative. The Bible is one united narrative the points to Jesus. 

Here's the first question we should work through on our own. How will I learn God's word? 

• How will I plan to read God's word? There are several helpful resources for us to understand God's word. 
• How will I learn to memorize it? Jesus says out of the overflow of our hearts, our mouth will speak. What we put into our lives affects how we live our lives. 
• How will I learn God's word with others? RE.THINK Church wants to encourage you to choose a community with others to help you learn with others. 
• How will I learn God's Word from others? This question is a touchy one. We need to be aware that there are false teachers of the Bible; there are immature teachers of the Bible as well. I am not perfect. I do hope you are willing to learn from me on Sunday mornings or even by joining our Leadership Community. Paul writes in several of his letters to local churches how to test and discern a false teacher from an authentic teacher. 

Knowledge should lead to transformation. 

The method we encourage people to use when reading the Bible is the SOAP method. Scripture Observation Application and Prayer. I hope that we each sit down and develop a plan to learn God's word in 2020. We will experience Jesus in life-giving ways. 


The second question we should work through is: How will I fuel my affections for Jesus? 


I said 'Yes' to Heather over 17 years ago. I find myself more in love with her today than I was in college when we're dating. When she walks in the room, I suck in my gut, my attention and focus is on her. We recently took a trip to spend time together. That was the goal. We just wanted to be with each other. I had no agenda; I had no plans other than to be with her. 


Life happens to us all, doesn't it? It's so easy to get busy and lose focus on the crucial things in life. If we aren't careful, we'll become part of the machine of life and forget Jesus. He'll become a side portion of our life, but not our foundation. 


We were created to worship Jesus. Worship is a Biblical word that means to assign worth to. Another explanation of worship is our enjoyment of God. 


Our aim isn't to gain more knowledge about Jesus, it should be to love Jesus more. 


How will I worship? Will you worship as Jesus did? Jesus sabbathed, and in practicing the Sabbath, He worshiped the Father. 


Do we see our work as worship? God has assigned you to that job to that company or organization as His ambassador. How you perform your job responsibilities is an act of worship. 


Do you see your generosity as an act of worship? Some of us might tithe, meaning we give 10% of our income to RE.THINK. That is an act of worship. Do we see our tithing as an act of worship? 


Each Sunday (except) the last Sunday of each year, we gather together at 10:30. This gathering isn't just to go through the motions. It's to declare our WANT for Jesus. 


Declaring our WANT for Jesus fuels our affections of Jesus. 


Now the temptation you find in "Churchianity" is staying here. Jesus and his early followers don't line up with 'Churchianity.' They understood the importance of the next question: Who will I disciple? 


The purpose of the first followers of Jesus wasn't to get people to sit in a church pew. The purpose of the followers of Jesus was to model what Jesus did over and over again. 


Jesus spent time with His Father. He was constantly getting away from people to connect with His Father. We can describe that movement as UP. He then would spend time with His disciples. He found a community that he could belong in. He connected with these 12 disciples, they experienced life together. They ate meals together, prayed together, walked the land together. We could describe this movement as IN. Jesus and his disciples then would go out and meet crowds. These crowds didn't know the Kingdom of Heaven yet. They didn't know Jesus as the Messiah. Some of the people in these crowds were blind, sick, crippled, even dead. After they encountered Jesus, they walked away from the crowd changed. We can describe this movement as OUT. 



Passionate spirituality leads to an authentic relationship in a community. A community of believers should serve others who are outside the community. We could use Mark 9 as an example of this. Jesus spends time UP on the mountain connecting with His Father. He then comes down from that mountain and spends time with the community of disciples. Jesus and His disciples serve those outside the community. 
Answering the following questions might help you work through this issue: 

-Who doesn't know Jesus in my life? 

-How will I partner with God to spread the gospel? 

-When will I create time to share the gospel with them? A simple way to do this is to follow the BLESS rhythm. Begin with prayer. Listen. Don't talk, just listen to their story of pain, transitions, joy, celebration. Mourn with those who mourn, celebrate with those who celebrate! Eat. We have 21 opportunities to turn a normal meal into a divine appointment to bless someone. Serve them. After listening to a person, God will reveal to you how to best serve them. Story. Tell your story of following Jesus. 


People who grew up in 'Churchianity' will always ask why. Why should we make disciples? Here's the simple answer, someone shared the gospel with me. Besides, it's the last thing Jesus told his disciples to do before ascending to Heaven 2,000 years ago. Jesus saved me from sin and death with a purpose. I hope we never become so arrogant that we don't share Jesus with others. 



4. How will I show God's love in my local Church? 

I'm not ignorant to the fact that the best sermons and worship songs are a few clicks away. It could be easier to stay at home and consume sermons. I believe that online content is a great starting point for most people. In fact, most of the people of RE.THINK checked us out online before stepping in our doors. 


We are creating a movement that blesses Merrillville for generations to come. That vision is more significant than online content. That's why we served our community before we held services. While online content is great, it doesn't replace the mission that Jesus has sent us on. 


As we bless Merrillville, we will continue to make disciples of Jesus. Here are a few questions to work through: 

-Is R|C the Church you can join to make disciples? 

-Will I join the mission and submit to the authority of the leadership of R|C? 

-What role will I play in making disciples? 


It's impossible to make disciples outside the relationship with a local church. Not to be clear, 'church' doesn't have to look like what we are used to in 2020 in North America. 


One of the most fascinating aspects of following Jesus is that we are part of a family. Our family goes beyond racial barriers, nationality barriers. This question we need to work through is: How will I spread God's glory among all the nations and people of the world? 


I grew up thinking that missionaries were kind of navy seals. Only the elite could live like this. I believed that my role was to work a regular job and send the elite Christians money so they could live like this. Then I read the Bible. I saw a man who studied the Bible, made tents like a normal person, tell others about Jesus. I saw fishermen follow Jesus and then tell others about Jesus. Jesus specializes in using ordinary men and women to do extraordinary accomplishments. 


Jesus is creating a generation of priests who will represent Jesus to the nations on this earth. According to Paul (2 Corinthians 5), we are Christ's ambassadors on this earth. 


We should work through the following questions: 

• How will I pray for people? If you're like me, you might not realize what issues our brothers and sister around the world face. A great resource to help with that is http://www.operationworld.org/ . 

As an organization RE.THINK wants to help you live generously. The Bible describes two significant categories of giving. A tithe (meant for a local church like RE.THINK) and offerings are above and beyond our tithes. 


RE.THINK Church wouldn't exist without Christians around the world giving offerings. There are a few topics to keep in mind when discussing offerings. 


We can give to provide the physical needs of brothers and sisters around the world. Kind of like buying coffee from HOPE Coffee or Destiny Rescue to free victims of sex trafficking.


We can also give to provide the spiritual needs of non-Christians around the world. The purpose of giving like this is to provide an opportunity to encounter Jesus. For example, what other believers gave toward the mission of RE.THINK Church. 


We also need to work through the issue of going. We need to pray about going on a short-term mission trip for a week or so. After going on a short term missions trip, we could consider going on a midterm trip for 6 months to a year. Some of us might have a call for long term missions as well like 18 months and beyond. 


The harsh reality national borders might close to 'Christians.' They will open for business leaders. While I worked at Denso Manufacturing, I saw this in action. We had plants in Indonesia, India, China, Myanmar. I would meet virtually with associates from these plants weekly. I met in person with them as we collaborated on a project in our Michigan plant. I was talking with a guy from Indonesia (where it's illegal to be a Christian) about our faith. He is also a Christian and was blown away at how easy it is to follow Jesus here in America. The original plan was for me to travel to his plant in Indonesia to complete the project. I transitioned to another job within that company before that took place. Business leaders could travel to other countries as engineers, teachers, bankers. While doing their job to be Christ's ambassadors in those countries. 


The question we need to answer honestly is this, does God have a blank check with my life? Can God do anything and everything with my life that He wants to. 


The last question we need to work through is how I will make disciple-makers among a few? 


Jesus' strategy is fascinating to me. He gathers crowds of several thousand. He then invests and trains up a group of 72 disciples. He spends most of this time with a smaller group we refer to as the 12 apostles. Did you know that Jesus played favorites too? If we look at Mark 9 again, we can see that Jesus took 3 disciples up to this mountain top. Imagine the tension between Andrew and his brother Peter. Peter was invited to go with Jesus, but Andrew wasn't. 


While you might not be able to make disciples among multitudes, could you disciple a few? As Andy Stanley says, "do for a few what you wish you could do for everyone." ​

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This isn't meant to a complete picture of our strategy of making disciples, but it's a launching point. We want to help you follow Jesus and experience the joy He has for each of us. 

Yesterday, I was sitting on the couch having a conversation with my wife.  As we talked, a text message came in on both our phones. We both glanced at our phones and kept the conversation going. Heather put her phone down, but I kept looking through mine. 

She said some important things as I kept looking through my emails.  She kindly asked, "You didn't hear a word I said, did you?" My reply was simple, "I'm still listening to you." 

Now we all know this to be accurate, listening and hearing are so different. We can listen to things but not hear them. 

Mobile smartphones are only making this more and more evident in our society. The issue isn't only how we interact with each other.  It's also affecting how we interact with God. 

Currently, I'm studying the Gospel of Matthew for our church. We will be studying Matthew for the next several months as a community. 

I reread the parable of the soils a few weeks ago in Matthew 13.  I won't get into the fantastic truths about this parable and how explosive Jesus' words are here.  I'll save that for our Sunday teachings. 

Jesus gave us the secret to the Kingdom of Heaven.  It's a two-part reality. Hearing the truth of Jesus and executing these truths in life. 

Allow me to nerd out on something for a minute.  Jesus would have spoken Hebrew. When the authors of the Gospels wrote the teachings and events of Jesus, they wrote in Greek. 

Jesus being a devout Jew, would have prayed the Shema every day.  The Shema starts out, "Hear o Israel..." Listening and hearing are not the same. This concept is central to being a Jew.

God doesn't want us to listen.  He wants us to hear God. There is no word that means “to obey” in the Hebrew language. Shema is used for both the meanings “to obey” and “to hear”.  Hearing something implies we'll obey. A disciple of Jesus is someone who hears and obeys Jesus. 

Every human was born with a God-sized, God-given dream. God is on the move to rescue and redeem humanity. Part of the rescue mission is unleashing the God-sized and God-given dreams in humanity. 

There is a theme all throughout the Bible that God speaks the truth and humans hear that word from God. Now the challenging part comes to act on that truth. 

Human nature is that we want to know the answers to our questions. We want a detailed description of the plan.  God doesn't usually give us those details. The secret to the way of Jesus is that we listen and do. In the doing, we'll grasp understanding. 

This is what exercising our faith looks like. If we understood the plan or understood the details and went from step 1 to step 2, how much faith does that need?  Following Jesus isn't a paint by numbers event. It's a faith-filled journey. 

Just to clarify, working out our faith doesn’t earn our salvation, it’s simply working our faith out.  Jesus freely offers salvation, we simply need to accept it.  

People are willing to receive a word from God, but we tend to avoid work for God. 

How many God-sized, God-given dreams go unleashed?  Not because God didn't reveal them, but because people were unwilling to put in the work. 

​Photo by Ross Sokolovski on Unsplash

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I have a 15-year-old son.  He’s starting to learn how to drive.  As I’ve taught him a few of the basics of driving it’s been fun to watch him slowly grasp the concept of driving.  

One of the basics my wife and I have taught him is the principal of the review mirrors.
If you’ve spent any amount of time driving you may know what I’m about to say is basic.  In order to make informed decisions moving forward, a driver should glance in her review mirror.  If you don’t you have a high risk of making a stupid decision that will end in someone getting hurt.  

Now a driver can’t dwell in the past or we’ll end up crashing as well.  There is a fine balance between glancing and dwelling. Not looking at all and dwelling are equally as bad as we drive forward.  

As we move forward as a church I’ve taken a lesson from this simple, elementary truth from driving.  Looking into the review mirror of history in order to make informed decisions moving into our future.  We can’t ignore what God has done in the past, we also can’t dwell on it either.

There have been times throughout history that God has supernaturally moved in specific areas throughout history.  God’s spirit has been poured out, miracles have taken place, people have been healed, marriages restored, thousands of people have found salvation in Jesus.  These revivals have transformed individual, family and community legacies.

As I’ve studied these revivals throughout history there are a few common themes throughout each one.  Starting with the first revival in Acts 2 a group of young people got together and started praying. They waited until God moved.  The Great Awakening, the Second Awakening, Asuza Street Revival in 1906 each have an origin story of young people getting together praying seeking God.  Waiting for God to move. That sounds simple enough.

Until.

I had a moment of honesty with myself.  

True confession time.  I struggle at praying. I know people who spend hours praying, and to them, it seems like a few seconds.  I spend a few seconds praying and it seems like it’s been hours.

I’m learning to pray.  I know I should have this mastered, but I don’t.  Maybe you do, but I don’t. Like Jesus’ original disciples I find myself asking Jesus, teach me to pray.

Here is where I REALLY struggle.  I have a tendency to pry doors open. I don’t like to wait.  So as I ask Jesus to teach me to pray I want to pry doors open.  Pastor Kevin Queen has a brilliant statement, he’d rather pray a door open than pry a door open.   
I’m learning this.  Jesus, teach me to pray.   

I repeat this statement over and over and over again throughout my day.  I’m glad I’m not the only one who needed help learning how to pray. Jesus’ original disciples asked Jesus this.  

Jesus taught them how to pray.  His response is documented in Matthew 6 and Luke 11.  These are the same events, simply documented by 2 different people.  

Jesus doesn’t shy away from questions.  He doesn’t laugh and demand his disciples know the right answers.  He models it for these high school age guys. So often I feel like I should have these things mastered, and know all the right answers.  I am comforted knowing that Jesus teachings us.

I’m pretty sure Jesus realized that 70% of knowledge is learned through experience.  He didn’t just model prayer in these examples Jesus prayed often throughout the gospels.  The authors of the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke & John continually mention that Jesus would pull away from crowds and pray.  He longed for the time with His father.

As we walk through this season we are asking followers of Jesus to pray throughout Merrillville.  We don’t have a catchy slogan like Awaken the ‘Ville yet, but we are asking people to pray as we drive.  If you don’t know what to pray, simply ask, Jesus, teach me to pray.  

In the coming weeks, you’ll notice a few maps of the streets in Merrillville in our lobby.  We are asking people the people of RE.THINK Church to pray as we drive, walk, travel throughout Merrillville.  As you pray remember where you’ve driven and highlighted the maps on Sundays when you enter our building.
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In the next few days, we’ll post another blog and send another email with suggested prayers.  I’m still learning how to pray. I still ask Jesus, teach me to pray.  

​Photo by Matthew LeJune on Unsplash