Where is Jesus?

Main Thought

On the morning of the resurrection, Mary Magdalene and a few other women ventured forth to visit the tomb of Jesus. They discovered that the stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty. Thus, the search for Jesus began. Peter, John, and Mary each responded differently as they searched. Peter was puzzled. John paused. Mary was pained. These responses reflect the ways we often approach our own search for Christ.

It can be difficult to see God in moments of confusion, disappointment, or grief. Yet Jesus dealt with the root of sin and suffering through His death and resurrection. Our sins can be forgiven. Our hope is secure. Each person who encountered the risen Jesus was invited to respond in faith. The same invitation stands for us today. As we take new steps toward Him in faith, we discover that life awaits all who believe.

Main Passages

1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

- John 20:1-2, NIV

14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

- John 20:14-18

31But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

- John 20:31, NIV

Discussion Questions

1. Peter was puzzled, John paused, and Mary was pained. Which of these responses do you most relate to in your current season? How does that shape the way you seek Jesus?

2. What do you think it means to find life in God?

3. What is one practical step you can take to know God more?

Worth It? - The Holy Habit of Devotion

Main Thought

In Luke 7 and John 12, we see two powerful moments where women offer extravagant devotion to Jesus. Both brought something costly—perfume of great value—and poured it out at His feet. Their actions didn’t make sense to everyone watching. Some saw waste. It was worship in the eyes of God. These women saw value in Jesus, so they held nothing back.

Grace is free, but devotion is costly. Jesus freely offers forgiveness, restoration, and new life - things we could never earn. Yet understanding the great things we’ve received from God changes how we respond to Him. We love because He first loved us. Loving devotion is costly. Devotion to God inspires us to offer things that are precious to us: not out of obligation, but out of love. When we do, sacrifices that might look like loss or a waste to the world become worship that honors God.

Main Passages

“And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner… brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.”
- Luke 7:37–38

“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”
- John 12:3

“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
- Luke 7:47

Discussion Questions

1. Has there been a time in your life when you had to sacrifice? Did it impact your faith and growth as a believer?

2. Both passages emphasize being at Jesus’ feet. Why is it important to live a life that consistently returns to His feet in humility, worship, and surrender?

3. Following Jesus is a gift, but it also involves sacrifice. What might “costly devotion” look like in your life right now (time, priorities, comfort, resources, etc.)?

What is Truth?

Main Thought

In John 18, Pilate asks Jesus a question that still echoes today: “What is truth?” In our world, truth is often treated as something personal and flexible. Phrases like “true for you, but not for me” communicate this idea. Some truths are relative - especially when it comes to preference or opinion. But we need more than relative truth. If everything is subjective, it becomes difficult to navigate reality, discern right and wrong, or know God.

Another kind (or category) of truth is absolute truth. Absolute truth is simply that which is real. It is not something we decide; it is something we discover. But we can’t discover the answers to life’s greatest questions on our own. We need truth that has been revealed to us. Jesus declared that He came into the world to bear witness to the truth. Through Jesus - and through the Word of God - we are invited to know what is real, what is good, and who God truly is. When we abide in His Word, we come to know the truth. His truth has the power to set us free.

Main Passages

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 

- John 18:33-36

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

- John 18:37-38

“...If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

- John 8:31b-32

Discussion Questions

1. Our culture often talks about “my truth” or “your truth.” What are some examples of relative truth? Why do we need something more than personal opinion when it comes to life, morality, and knowing God?

2. How does knowing the truth - God’s truth - “set us free”?

3. Do any barriers prevent you from reading the Bible consistently? What might be able to help you “abide in the word” a little more?

When God Feels Late

Main Thought

In John 11, a story unfolds in the tension between hope and heartbreak. Lazarus has died. Martha and Mary are grieving. They know Jesus has the power to heal, but it seemed that He arrived too late. Yet God was working while they were waiting. Jesus didn’t delay because of indifference - but to reveal something incredible. God was going to impart faith and inspire worship.

Martha’s response reveals the posture of faith that allows us to meet God in the middle of doubt and uncertainty. She said: “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Faith speaks even before the outcome is visible. In the midst of their grief, Jesus demonstrated that lament and thanksgiving can be forms of worship. He wept with those who mourned, and He thanked the Father. Jesus then called for the stone to be moved before Lazarus walked out of the grave. Breakthrough began when the stone started to move. When we trust in Jesus, we can worship Him honestly - in a way that includes lament and thanksgiving - while believing that God is at work.

Main Passages

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” 

- John 11:21-26

“Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 

- John 11:39-40

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

- Romans 8:28

Discussion Questions

1. In John 11, Jesus delayed going to Lazarus even though He loved the family. Have you ever experienced a season where God seemed late or silent? Looking back, can you see ways God may have been working during that time?

2. Jesus showed us that we can worship when we lament, when we give thanks, and everything in between. When is it easy for you to worship God? When it is hard?

3. Jesus told the people to move the stone before Lazarus came out of the tomb. Why do you think Jesus asked them to participate in this step of faith and trust? What “stone” might God be asking you to move in faith right now?

Hide and Seek

Main Thought

The Bible tells the story of humanity’s long game of hide and seek with God. God created people in His image to enjoy a relationship with Him. Adam and Eve experienced perfect love, joy, and blessing in God’s presence. But when sin entered the world, shame followed. Instead of running toward God, humanity started hiding from Him. Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves with fig leaves. People have been doing the same thing ever since. We use pleasure, possessions, reputation, skepticism, success and more to hide from God and cover our shame.

God did not abandon us in our hiding. He came to seek us. God’s immediate response to sin was to look for those who rejected Him. His search was fully realized in Jesus Christ. Jesus revealed God’s heart, dealt with sin and shame on the cross, and invited us back into a relationship with Him. We no longer need to hide because of what Jesus has done. Now, it’s our turn to seek God. As Jesus told the first disciples, “Come, and you will see.” When we respond to His invitation and pursue Him - by any means - we discover that the God who sought us first is the one we’ve been looking for all along.

Main Passages

6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 

- Genesis 3:6-8

9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 

- Genesis 3:9

…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 

- Hebrews 12:1b-2

Discussion Questions

1. Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves after they sinned. What are some modern “fig leaves” people use to hide shame or insecurity?

2. How have you seen signs of God pursuing people (even yourself), even if we are far from Him?

3. What practical steps help you make space to pursue God in the middle of a busy life?

Kingdom Calculus - The Math Has Changed

Main Thought

In Acts 6, the early church was growing rapidly. This growth was exciting, but it also created new needs. A complaint arose because widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. This could have slowed the church down; instead, it became an opportunity for shared responsibility. The apostles empowered new people to serve and step into Spirit-inspired structure. As a result, the mission did not stall - it accelerated.

God is calling us to move from maintenance to multiplication. We can build spiritual velocity with an attitude of excellence and a commitment to steward that which God has given us. (This can include our relationships, discipleship opportunities, the employment of spiritual gifts through serving, and more.) We can embrace roles that accelerate mission. These things can change our trajectory as we seek to honor God and make disciples.

Main Passages

“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”
- Acts 6:1–7, ESV

“Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.”

- Daniel 6:3-4, ESV

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

- Matthew 25:21

Main Passages

1. Why is protecting priorities essential for sustained purpose? What happens when we lose focus?

2. As Believers, we should aspire to hear God address us with the words of Matthew 25:21: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” What would it take to receive such high commendation from the Lord?

3. Acts 6 ends with multiplication and gospel impact. Take a moment to dream in faith. Where do you believe God could take us in this season - as individuals, families, Life Groups, ministries, or as a church?

Still One House

Main Thought

Throughout Scripture, God describes His Church as something He is personally building. The church is not a human project sustained by effort alone. It is God’s house. It is His family. Jesus Himself is the foundation; therefore, growth and expansion do not threaten our unity. Instead, they reveal the strength of what God has already formed among us.

The mission of God means that change is necessary. Yet we remain one. We are being built by the same Lord, on the same foundation, for the same purpose. Expansion and multiplication are not a loss of closeness. It is an invitation to trust God and connect to each other more deeply as His family grows.

Main Passages

'For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. '

- 1 Corinthians 3:9-11 

'Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. '

- Psalm 127:1-2

‘So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.’

- Ephesians 2:19-22

Discussion Questions

1. Expansion can sometimes feel uncertain or emotional. What fears or concerns can arise during seasons of transition? How do these passages reassure us of God’s faithfulness?

2. Psalm 127 reminds us that effort without God’s presence is empty. What does it look like to trust the Lord as the true builder and protector of our spiritual family?

3. How can we preserve unity, love, and connection during seasons of change and transition?

Carry the Vision

Main Thought

From the beginning, God has invited His people to participate in what He is building. In Exodus, God called Israel to contribute toward the tabernacle. The tabernacle was meant to show God’s glory, share God’s purpose, and create space for people to worship. Giving toward this eternal cause was about more than resources. It was about responding to God’s presence and carrying God’s vision.

God still calls His people to carry His vision by contributing to His Kingdom. We are called to build, recognizing that each of us has a part to play. We are compelled to bring our gifts to God with hearts stirred by gratitude and faith. Finally, we commit to finish - following through in obedience so that what God begins among us is brought to completion. When we give our time, talent, and treasure to God’s purposes, we gain a share in something timeless.

Main Passages

4 Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded. 5 Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord's contribution: gold, silver, and bronze; 6 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; goats' hair, 7 tanned rams' skins, and goatskins; acacia wood, 8 oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 9 and onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breast piece. 10 “Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded… 

- Exodus 35:4-10, ESV

“And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution…”

- Exodus 35:21, ESV

“So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.”

- 2 Corinthians 8:11, ESV

Discussion Questions

1. How do you think generosity changes a person? How can giving help us grow as followers of Jesus? 

2. What fears or hesitations can keep us from giving freely? How might the character of God speak to those concerns?

3. Where do you see opportunities to be part of something meaningful or life-giving in your community right now? How might generosity play a role in that?

Joined and Held Together

Main Thought

Scripture describes the church - the people of God - as a body with Christ as its Head. He alone holds the place of highest honor and authority. Everything we need for spiritual life flows from Him. We’re also united by Him. The Christian life was never meant to be lived independently. We are joined together and sustained by our shared connection to Christ.

In this body, every believer is essential. God has intentionally placed each member where they belong so the whole church can grow in health and strength. Every role is significant. Every person is valuable and necessary. As each part functions in unity, the body is built up toward a single goal: love. We’re made to experience God’s love individually and in community. If we experience His love, then we will also be enabled to extend it.

Main Passages

16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

- Ephesians 4:16

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
- John 15:1,4-5

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” '

- John 13:34-35

Discussion Questions

1. God calls us to experience His love and extend it to others, both within the church and outside it. Which of these things comes most naturally to you?

2. How does knowing that God placed each person in the body shape the way we see our own role and the roles of others?

3. Things like hyper-individualism, pride, comparison, and more can make it hard to love others. What’s one thing that makes it hard for you to love the people around you at times? How can God help you move beyond that limiting factor, so that you can learn to live and love a little more like Christ?

New Wine

Main Thought

In Mark 2, people confronted Jesus because His disciples didn’t follow the same religious rhythms as the Pharisees or the disciples of John. They were clinging to “old wine” - perspectives, practices, and ways of relating to God that had served a purpose but were never meant to last forever. Jesus revealed that it was time for “new wine.” New wine represents the New Covenant: the eternal agreement through which we relate to God based on the finished work of Jesus, not our performance. This new wine brings new life in God and a new way of living with God.

If we want to receive the new wine God has for us, then we must allow Him to transform us and teach us. The ongoing process of transformation that we experience as Christians over time - our “progressive sanctification” - can take different forms. Sometimes, God even redeems seasons that feel crushing to produce something new and life-giving in us, just as grapes are crushed to produce wine. When we partner with God through dependence, repentance, and intentional spiritual growth, we position ourselves to move with Him.

Main Passages

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

- Mark 2:22, ESV

'Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.'

- Psalm 51:10

“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home. And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

- Mark 2:12

Discussion Questions

1. The New Covenant allows people to relate to God based on Jesus’ finished work instead of personal performance. How should we respond to this truth appropriately internally (attitudes) and/or externally (actions)?

2. The Pharisees missed what God was doing because they were focused on preserving what was familiar. What distractions or comforts might cause us to miss what God is doing in our lives?

3. Psalm 51:10 shows David asking God to transform him. How can we partner with God practically for our own spiritual transformation and growth? 

The Church's Mission

Main Thought

Jesus understood that He was sent by the Father, and that clarity shaped His priorities. In John 4, while His disciples were focused on physical food and future plans, Jesus was fully engaged in the mission unfolding right in front of Him. A routine stop in Samaria became a moment of divine urgency. Jesus recognized something others saw as an inconvenience for what it really was: an opportunity to accomplish the Father’s will.

Jesus’ words, “Lift up your eyes,” reveal that participation in God’s mission may require fresh vision and renewed focus. The harvest is not merely a future reality; it is already before us. A harvest is a window of opportunity that eventually closes. Following Jesus includes learning to see as He sees - recognizing the value of people, stewarding our opportunities well, and joining the work God is already doing. We can impact eternity in the rhythms of our everyday lives when we take our place in the church’s mission.

Main Passages

13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

- John 4:13-14

31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

- John 4:31-34

35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

- John 4:35-38

Discussion Questions

1. Jesus was so focused on reaching someone distant from God - a position we’ve all been in at one point - that He ignored His own physical needs. What can that teach us about God’s heart for the mission? What can that teach us about God’s heart for us?

2. Christians often use the phrase “being fed” to describe hearing or learning about God in ways that strengthen our faith (see Matthew 4:4; 5:6; John 21:15–17). While that is accurate, John 4:31–34 shows that serving God and participating in His work also nourishes us spiritually. How does this broaden your understanding of what it means to be spiritually fed? Why is that important for following Jesus?

3. Jesus highlights that some sow and others reap, but all share in the joy of the Lord together. How does this help you remain faithful in seasons when you feel like you are sowing without seeing immediate results?

The Spirit’s Power

Main Thought

After the crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples were afraid. They were unlikely candidates to risk their lives proclaiming the gospel - until something extraordinary happened. The resurrected Jesus appeared to them and made a statement that changed everything. He told them that just as the Father had sent Him, He was now sending them. In what manner did God the Father send Jesus? The answer to that question reveals how Jesus sends us today.

We are sent with God’s pleasure. We do not earn God’s love or approval; we are sent from it. We are sent with God’s purpose. Our mission is clear: to love God, love people, and make disciples. We are sent with God’s people. We are not sent alone, but as part of a Spirit-filled community. And we are sent with God’s presence. The same Spirit who empowered Jesus now dwells in us, going with us as we go in faith.

Main Passages

“So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

- John 20:21-22 NKJV

“When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

- Luke 3:21-22 NKJV

“having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…”

- Ephesians 1:5 NKJV

Discussion Questions

1. Jesus sends His disciples as the Father sent Him. Which aspect of that sending - God’s pleasure, purpose, people, or presence - do you most need to be reminded of right now? Why?

2. When we’re in Christ, God is pleased with us before we do anything for Him. How can that affect the way we see God?

3. Where might God be inviting you to rely more intentionally on the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in your everyday life?

The Son's Sacrifice

Main Thought

God’s mission to restore broken people to Himself is centered on the cross of Jesus Christ. The crucifixion was not an accident or a tragic interruption in God’s plan. It was the turning point of God’s redemptive work in the world. Jesus was deeply troubled by the suffering He was about to endure; still, He willingly embraced the cross because it was the very purpose for which He came. On the cross, God’s perfect justice and steadfast love met as Jesus bore the penalty for our sin in our place. His sacrifice and surrender was transformed into victory. Sin was silenced, death was defeated, and the power of the enemy was broken. Through His sacrifice, Jesus draws people back into a restored relationship with God. He invites His followers to live a cross-shaped life marked by trust, surrender, and fruitful obedience.

Main Passages

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 

- John 12:27-28, ESV

'Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 

- John 12:31-32, ESV

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

- Philippians 2:8

Discussion Questions

1. Jesus was deeply troubled by the cross, yet He still chose obedience. What does this reveal about Jesus’ love for the Father and for us?

2. The cross looked like a dead end, but it became the doorway to new life. Have you ever experienced a situation where something painful or disappointing later produced growth or fruit?

3. Jesus calls His followers into a cross-shaped life—dying to self so that new life can emerge. What might that look like practically in your relationships, decisions, or participation in God’s mission right now?

The Father's Great Love

Main Thought

God’s mission in the world began with love. God was not moved into action because the world was worthy. The world was, and is, marked by darkness. God moved because of the great depth of His love. His love is perfect in quality and infinite in quantity. It is a determined love that culminated in the sending of Jesus into our brokenness to rescue and restore us.

The Father’s great love does not only invite us out of darkness and into eternal life; it also invites us to share in God’s determination and participate in His mission. Throughout church history, those who truly comprehended the love of God were compelled to join the mission of God. We can join with Him - through determined, sacrificial love - to invite others into the great destiny of those who believe. Eternal life, unconditional love, peace, joy, lasting hope and much more await all who believe.

Main Passages

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
- John 3:16

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light…”
- John 3:19

“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
- John 17:3

Discussion Questions

1. Eternal life is described as knowing God, not just life after death. How does that change the way you think about following Jesus right now?

2. God’s love is unconditionally offered but conditionally experienced. (For example, John 3:16 offers a qualifier: “whoever believes in Him.”) What does that mean, and why is this distinction important in faith or mission?

3. The love of God compelled people in Scripture and history into mission. How might God be inviting you to participate in His mission in a practical way right now?

Living in Heaven While on Earth

Main Thought

Jesus did not come merely to bring us to Heaven in the future - He came so that we might experience fullness of life now. The world offers a way of living rooted in self-effort, fear, and survival. Jesus invites us into a different reality: life in Him. Scripture repeatedly reminds us that trouble is unavoidable; however, peace, protection, and purpose are available when we learn to dwell in God’s presence. The Psalms call this the secret place.

Living in heaven while on earth is not about escaping hardship. It is about remaining anchored in God’s presence through hardship. Jesus Himself lived this way. Though fully present in a broken world, He remained continually “in” the Father. He was secure, obedient, and free to love and serve. Because of Christ, we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing and invited to set our minds on what is above. As we learn to abide in Him, we begin to experience heaven’s peace even in the middle of the earth’s problems.

Main Passages

1 He who dwells in the SECRET PLACE of the Most High, Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under his wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and bucker. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor the destruction that lay waste at noonday 7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.

- Psalms 91:1-7 (NKJV)

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
- John 16:33 (NIV)

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me.”
- Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)

Discussion Questions

1. What stood out to you most from this week’s message or the Scriptures we read?

2. Jesus promises both trouble and peace in John 16:33. Why do you think it’s important to hold those truths together?

3. Psalm 91 speaks about dwelling in the “secret place.” What do you think that looks like practically in everyday life?

The Promise Fulfilled

Main Thought

The promise of the coming Messiah began in the Garden of Eden. God used prophets like Isaiah to remind the world of His promise. There was a space between the spoken promise and the fulfillment of it. This delay wasn’t a denial; it was an opportunity for hope to be released and grow. When Jesus came, He did not merely announce peace. He embodied it by revealing truth and grace in full measure. The transformation described in Isaiah - hostility replaced by harmony, fear replaced by trust - reveals the depth of peace Jesus brings. This peace begins in human hearts and will ultimately reshape all creation. Yet the peace God offers must be received in order to be experienced. We receive God’s peace when we believe in Jesus. We can grow in peace when we grow in God.

Main Passages

“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.”

- Isaiah 11:2–3

“With righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth… Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb… and a little child will lead them… The infant will play near the cobra’s den.”

- Isaiah 11:4–8

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.’”

- Luke 2:10–11

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think God often allows time to pass between when a promise is spoken and when it is fulfilled?

2. Isaiah describes peace in radical terms—natural enemies living together. What does that reveal about the kind of peace Jesus brings?

3. How does knowing that Jesus fulfilled God’s promise of peace shape how you approach conflict, fear, or uncertainty today?

The Promise of God's Presence

Main Thought

It’s practically a Christmas tradition to read or hear Isaiah 7:14. God promised to send His Son when the southern kingdom of Judah was at war. The chaos and confusion of this context can correspond to the chaos and confusion we face in our lives. Our immediate needs might not be met on this side of heaven. That isn’t what Jesus came to do. Jesus came to meet our greatest need: freedom from sin, the cause of evil and death. Jesus met this need by dying for us, then rising again to prove everything He said was true. Presently, God is transforming the world by transforming the hearts of people. He’ll meet every need in eternity. 

What are we supposed to do in the meantime? We can unwrap the present of God’s presence. God wants to be with us in our trials. We can feel His faithful love, His resilient joy, and His peace that passes all understanding. It’s simple, like unwrapping a gift. We seek God by faith and take simple steps to experience Him. God’s presence can be like a gift that we experience in every season and situation. 

Main Passages

'Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.'

- Isaiah 7:14, ESV

'“...Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). '

- Matthew 1:20b-23, ESV

'Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”'

- Matthew 11:28-30, ESV

Discussion Questions

1. Why did God choose to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth? Why did Immanuel (a title, not a literal name) come to “be with us”?

2. Have you - or has someone you know - ever experienced God’s presence while persevering through difficulty? How did it make a difference?

3. What actions or attitudes make it hard for you to feel or experience the presence of God? What simple steps of faith allow you to experience God’s presence?

Hold On — The Promise Is Still Alive

Main Thought

The people of Israel lived through centuries of waiting before the Messiah came. Many of us know what it feels like to walk through seasons of silence and delay. We might feel like we’re waiting in the dark because we can’t see if or when our breakthrough will come. Yet darkness cannot cancel a promise if it has been spoken by God. The coming of Jesus Christ proves this. Jesus came at the appointed time - but He arrived in a way that no one expected. Jesus wasn’t wrapped in royalty, but in humility. God often wraps His greatest presents in humble packages. We need to be ready and willing to receive them. Faithful waiting puts us in a position to see God move. Simeon waited faithfully; he served actively, and watched for the Messiah with expectation. Waiting can be frustrating, but it’s also an incredible opportunity to grow in love for God and faith in Him. Christmas reminds us that God is faithful. Faithful waiting isn’t wasted when we wait on God.

Main Passages

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”’

- ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭25‬-‭32‬ ‭NIV

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” ‭‭

- Psalms‬ ‭27‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” - ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think God sent Jesus to be born in a manger, and not in a palace? What can we learn about God’s character and His ways from this fact?

2. Sometimes, God makes promises. At other times, we might make a request or a wish. Our requests may or may not align with God’s promises. How can we discern the difference between God’s promises and our desires?

3. The Bible teaches us that waiting on God is about passionate activity, and not passive inactivity. Is there a promise from God that you’re waiting on? What are you currently doing to position yourself to receive God’s promises?

A Promise in Motion

Main Thought

God is faithful to His promises, and Christmas is the proof. Throughout the Old Testament, God’s people waited generation after generation for Him to act on His covenant promises. He promised to bless His people, multiply them, and - most importantly - to save them. The coming of the Messiah proved that God’s plans were already in motion. He intervened in history out of steadfast love, fulfilling what He declared long before. The birth of Christ shows that God’s timing is perfect, His mercy is intentional, and His covenant love never fails. We can trust God because He has already proven Himself faithful.

Main Passages

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 2 The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

- Psalm 98:1-4

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

- Luke 2:11-14

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

- Matthew 1:22-23

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever seen a promise broken? How did that shape your understanding of trust?

2. Why are promises (especially God’s promises) so meaningful to us?

3. How does knowing that God kept His greatest promise in Jesus bring you healing, freedom, or inspiration for life?

A Healthy Perspective

Main Thought

God has called us to participate in His eternal purpose. We go and make disciples and we give to advance His Kingdom (among other things). Yet our ability to pursue God’s purpose can be limited by our perspective. We need to have a healthy perspective - beginning with how we view God Himself. When we remember God’s holiness, goodness, love, and power, we begin to see the world and our lives with greater clarity. Authentic encounters with God move us to awe and worship, but they also reveal our areas of needed growth and transformation. A healthy inward perspective allows God to change and shape us. Finally, a healthy outward perspective leads us to echo Isaiah the prophet and say ”Here am I, send me!” Remembering God’s mission inspires us to step out in faith and obedience - and a healthy perspective helps us last.

Main Passages

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

- Isaiah 6:1-4

5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

- Isaiah 6:5-7

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

- Isaiah 6:8

Discussion Questions

1. Isaiah begins by saying, “I saw the Lord…” How does a fresh vision of God change the way we see life, challenges, or circumstances?

2. Isaiah’s encounter with God led him to recognize his need for transformation. Is there anything that God is growing, shaping, or transforming in you this season?

3. After being cleansed and restored, Isaiah hears God’s call and responds, “Here am I. Send me!” What step of faith might God be calling you to take in this season and the next? How might that connect to things that God is doing in and through Every Nation Las Vegas?