Section 1

John 4:19–22 captures a powerful moment between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. After Jesus reveals knowledge of her past, she recognizes that He is a prophet and quickly shifts the conversation to a long-standing debate about the proper location of worship. Samaritans worshiped on Mount Gerizim, while the Jews insisted on Jerusalem. Jesus’ response cuts through the rivalry entirely. He declares that a time is coming when worship will not be confined to a mountain or a city. The issue is not geography but authenticity. Salvation is from the Jews in the sense that God revealed Himself through the Scriptures and through the lineage that brought forth the Messiah. Yet worship itself is no longer tied to sacred sites. True worshipers worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Spirit speaks to the inner engagement of the heart, not mechanical ritual. Truth speaks to alignment with God’s revealed Word. Worship is not about walls, shrines, or performance. It is about a person responding to the living God wherever they stand.

Section 2

This teaching emphasizes that people inevitably worship something—location, tradition, theology, culture, or self—but Jesus redirects worship toward the Father as He has revealed Himself. Scripture forms the framework for knowing who God truly is. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob worshiped before Jerusalem existed. Paul reasoned from the Old Testament Scriptures in Acts because they already testified to Christ. Jesus Himself answered Satan by quoting Deuteronomy. The pattern is unmistakable: God reveals Himself through His Word, and worship flows from knowing that revelation. Slick presentation, emotional atmosphere, or architectural grandeur do not create true worship. Engagement with biblical truth does. When two or more gather in His name, He is present. The worshiper becomes the temple because the Spirit indwells the believer. Location becomes secondary; truth becomes central.

Section 3

Luke 18:28–30 adds a deeply personal encouragement. Peter honestly reminds Jesus that the disciples left homes and livelihoods to follow Him. Jesus affirms that no sacrifice made for the kingdom goes unnoticed. Those who leave houses, family, property, or position for the sake of God’s kingdom will receive many times more—both now and in the age to come. The promise carries a “now and later” principle. There are blessings in the present—Psalm 27 speaks of seeing the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living—and there is eternal life with reward in the age to come. Nothing surrendered in obedience is forgotten. God keeps record of every forfeiture made for His name. The message closes with assurance: you cannot outgive God. What is yielded for the kingdom returns in ways both visible and eternal, proving once again that faithful worship and faithful sacrifice never go unseen before Him.

Section 1

This teaching makes it unmistakably clear that ministry is not reserved for someone standing behind a pulpit wearing formal attire. Every believer is called into ministry in some capacity because the Lord has something for each person to do in His kingdom. Not everyone is the pitcher on the team, but everyone has a position that matters. Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:16–20 set the tone: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.” That command was not limited to the original disciples, just as the Great Commission was not limited to them. Ministry places believers in spiritual conflict because proclaiming Jesus Christ as the resurrected Lord challenges the kingdoms of this world. Jesus instructs His followers to be “as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves,” which simply means do not be naïve. Use wisdom. Understand the cultural resistance you will face. Expect opposition, because allegiance to an eternal kingdom inevitably clashes with temporary earthly systems.

Section 2

Jesus does not soften reality. He openly states that believers will face councils, governors, kings, Jews, and Gentiles. Persecution is not theoretical; it is anticipated. If everyone speaks well of you, Scripture issues a warning rather than applause. The Christian message is exclusive in its claim that Jesus Christ alone is the way, the truth, and the life, and that exclusivity will provoke resistance. Yet this confrontation is not about personal ego or aggression. It is about standing firm in the only kingdom that lasts forever. Earthly empires rise and fall—history proves that—but the kingdom of God endures. Ministry therefore becomes spiritual warfare, not through hostility, but through proclamation of truth. The gospel does not need embellishment, and it does not depend on the perfection of the messenger. As Paul teaches in Philippians 1, even when motives are flawed, the gospel itself remains powerful because it is the power of God unto salvation.

Section 3

The most encouraging part of Jesus’ instruction comes in His promise: when believers are confronted, they are not alone. “Do not worry about what to say…for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” This does not eliminate preparation or training, but it anchors confidence in partnership with God. There are moments when words come that surpass personal ability, penetrating hearts in ways no human strategy could accomplish. That is the Holy Spirit working through willing vessels. Ministry will include struggles, setbacks, and misunderstandings, but it will also include divine moments that leave both speaker and listener in awe. The call is simple and strong: be sensitive to the Spirit, less rigid in personal dogmatism, and more dependent on God’s leading. When ministry flows from the Father, through the Son, and by the Spirit, it carries life. And if God is for us, who can truly stand against us?

Section 1

1 Samuel 2 brings one of the most sobering confrontations in Scripture. A prophet delivers a direct message from the Lord to Eli, the high priest of Israel. This is not a vague warning or gentle correction; it is a divine indictment. God accuses Eli of honoring his sons more than Him, allowing corruption to continue under his leadership. The central issue is not simple parental affection, but misplaced priority. The kingdom of God must come first. When leaders elevate family, comfort, reputation, or gain above obedience to God, they distort their calling. The Lord declares a principle that echoes throughout Scripture: “I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be treated lightly.” What had once been a promised priestly lineage would now be cut off. The privilege of service was conditional upon faithfulness, and Eli’s house had failed that condition.

Section 2

The severity of the judgment is staggering. Eli’s descendants would not live to old age. His two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, would die on the same day as confirmation that the word came from God. The message underscores a crucial theological truth: some promises of God are conditional, tied to obedience, while others are unconditional, anchored solely in His sovereign will. In Eli’s case, there was no window for reversal. The corruption had crossed a line. God does not indefinitely tolerate spiritual abuse, especially from those entrusted with shepherding His people. Leaders are permitted to rebuke, correct, and discipline with love, as Hebrews 12 affirms, but exploiting sacred responsibility for personal benefit invites divine justice. Scripture consistently warns that teachers and leaders will face stricter judgment because influence carries weight before heaven.

Section 3

The lesson is not meant to produce fear-driven suspicion, but sober awareness. God does not overlook what leaders do—whether faithful service or destructive compromise. The disciples’ abandonment of Jesus and Peter’s denial were failures, yet they were restored because their hearts were not corrupt. Eli’s sons, however, desecrated worship for personal gain. That distinction matters. Moses himself was barred from entering the Promised Land for disobedience in leadership, demonstrating how seriously God regards those who represent Him. The call is clear for anyone in spiritual influence: lead with humility, surrender, and reverence. Perfection is not required, but integrity is. God’s mercy is abundant, yet His holiness is uncompromising. To handle sacred responsibility carelessly is to invite consequences no one would wish to face.

Section 1

Returning to 1 Corinthians 3, the tone is direct and unapologetic. Paul addresses the believers as brothers, affirming their salvation, yet he calls them infants in Christ because of their behavior. He makes it clear that jealousy and dissension are not minor personality quirks but marks of worldliness. When believers compete, compare, or fracture over loyalties, they are walking “in the way of men” rather than in the Spirit. Paul is not soft in his rebuke. He identifies their division as spiritual immaturity that is stunting their growth. Milk was necessary at first, but they should have moved on to solid food. Instead, they remain stuck because pride and rivalry keep them processing life through a worldly lens. Spiritual growth is hindered not by lack of information but by the presence of jealousy and factionalism.

Section 2

The division takes shape in slogans: “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos.” Paul exposes the absurdity of attaching identity to human leaders instead of Christ. The problem is not appreciation for teachers; it is elevating them into competing banners. The Christian walk was never designed to be an “I” movement but a “we” family. Scripture teaches that we know we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren, not just the brethren in our preferred circle. Differences in eschatology, worship style, church background, or denominational heritage do not nullify the shared gospel. The central question remains simple and biblical: do they believe Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again according to 1 Corinthians 15? If so, they belong to the same redeemed family. Unity does not require uniformity; it requires shared allegiance to Christ and humility toward one another.

Section 3

The message presses forward with urgency and realism. When persecution intensifies, believers will not be checking doctrinal fine print before standing together. The blood of Jesus, not stylistic or secondary differences, defines fellowship. Spiritual gifts, worship approaches, and personal convictions may vary, but the foundation is singular. Moses veiled his face after being in God’s presence, a reminder of the transforming power of closeness with Him. That same transformative presence should shape how believers treat one another. Growth in Christ means moving from rivalry to relationship, from pride to partnership, from “I” to “we.” The Church is called to pray together, rejoice together, weep together, and stand together. That unity is not sentimental; it is rooted in the gospel itself. The issue of fellowship has always been, and will always be, the blood of Jesus Christ.

Section 1

Paul opens 1 Corinthians 3 with striking clarity, addressing the believers in Corinth not as unbelievers, but as brothers. He does not question their salvation; he questions their maturity. Their justification is secure through the blood of Jesus Christ, yet their sanctification—their growth into Christlikeness—is stunted. Scripture presents salvation as a threefold reality: justification removes the penalty of sin, sanctification shapes believers into the image of Jesus, and glorification will one day remove sin’s presence entirely. Paul is not attacking their standing before God; he is confronting their lack of spiritual development. Calling them infants in Christ is not cruelty, but honesty. They belong to Christ, yet they are functioning like spiritual babies, unable to receive deeper instruction because they have not matured beyond foundational truths.

Section 2

The milk-versus-solid-food metaphor reinforces this diagnosis. Babies require milk; adults can handle substance. Paul explains that he gave them milk because they were not ready for meat—and they still are not ready. The problem is not passion, boldness, or personality; it is immaturity expressed through division. Claiming allegiance to Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or even declaring “I am of Christ” as a divisive badge misses the heart of the gospel. Differences among believers—background, tribe, temperament, or theological emphasis—do not justify fragmentation. Just as Israel consisted of twelve tribes yet remained one nation, and just as husband and wife are distinct yet unified, the Church is called to unity without uniformity. Division rooted in preference or pride reflects childish thinking, not spiritual growth.

Section 3

Paul’s correction anticipates his later teaching in 1 Corinthians 13, where maturity is defined by love and the putting away of childish things. As the return of Jesus Christ approaches, Scripture warns that love will grow cold and division will increase. Immaturity fractures fellowship; maturity protects it. Christians are not asked to abandon conviction or identity, but to anchor both in the Word of God and the unity of the Spirit. The Church must resist the temptation to separate over secondary differences or align with cultural pressures that dilute truth. Paul’s message is timeless and urgent: grow up. Move beyond spiritual infancy. Pursue maturity that expresses itself through humility, unity, and love. Salvation is secure, but growth is necessary, and the health of the Church depends upon believers choosing unity over ego and maturity over division.

Section 1

This teaching begins with important clarification regarding Revelation and the three primary millennial views: amillennial, premillennial, and postmillennial. Rather than treating these perspectives as battle lines, the emphasis is on the spiritual value each offers the Church. Amillennialism teaches endurance. Premillennialism cultivates expectancy for the return of Jesus Christ. Postmillennialism encourages kingdom advancement and faithful occupation until He comes. None of these viewpoints overturn the central truth of Revelation: God wins. The goal is not to argue symbols or insist on one narrow framework, but to prepare hearts for faithfulness, readiness, and humility. Calvary is the hill to die on, not the finer mechanics of prophetic imagery.

Section 2

Revelation 9 then describes the locust-like creatures with scorpion-like torment, commanded to harm only those without the seal of God. This detail is striking. Nature is spared in this judgment; humanity bears the brunt. Romans 8 reminds us that creation itself groans for redemption. It did not introduce sin—humanity did. God’s judgments are never random. They are precise, measured, and intentional. Even the five-month period reflects limitation, not chaos. Judgment falls specifically upon those who have rejected Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son, the only mediator between God and man. The imagery of stinging and torment underscores consequence, not cruelty. Just as Egypt’s long oppression of Israel preceded a single day of divine judgment, God’s actions remain proportionate and purposeful. Mercy is still visible in limitation, even within wrath.

Section 3

The seal becomes the defining contrast. One seal represents divine ownership and protection; another mark later identifies rebellion. Those sealed belong to God and are spared. Whether interpreted literally or symbolically, the message is unmistakable: God protects His own. This fuels both comfort and urgency. Comfort, because believers rest in the security of redemption purchased by the blood of Jesus. Urgency, because those without the seal face judgment they cannot escape. The passage motivates prayer, evangelism, and clarity about the true Jesus—not a cultural substitute, but the biblical Savior. Revelation does not exist to provoke speculation alone; it compels faithfulness. Sheep and goats will be separated. The call is to pray, proclaim truth, and trust that God’s sovereignty governs both mercy and judgment with perfect precision.

Section 1

This teaching returns intentionally to Colossians 3:1–2 as a foundational verse for the year, emphasizing its central role in shaping perspective and daily living. Since believers have been raised with Christ, they are commanded to set their hearts and minds on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. That position is not passive; Jesus is actively interceding for His people. To seek the things above is to set the mind there deliberately. Faith becomes the governing lens, echoing 2 Corinthians 5:7: we walk by faith, not by sight. Christianity often feels upside down to the world—believing before seeing, giving to receive, dying to live—but that inversion is the pathway to true life. Limiting vision to the natural world limits solutions to the natural realm. When Jesus is placed in the center of the picture, perspective changes everything.

Section 2

The call to walk by faith is reinforced through 2 Corinthians 4:16–18, which teaches that outward decline is paired with inward renewal. Present troubles are described as light and momentary compared to the eternal glory being prepared. The contrast is dramatic and deliberate. What is seen is temporary; what is unseen is eternal. Fixing our eyes on what cannot yet be seen requires intentional faith, but it prevents discouragement and loss of heart. Hebrews 11 affirms that faithful people welcomed God’s promises from a distance, understanding they were strangers on earth and citizens of a better country. God is not ashamed to be called their God because they lived oriented toward eternity. Storing treasures in heaven, as Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, is not optional spirituality but essential kingdom living.

Section 3

This perspective directly confronts fear. God has not given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind—safe, biblical thinking shaped by truth. When believers operate only from earthly perspective, fear multiplies. When they recalibrate their thinking through Scripture, peace and clarity return. Saving our brains means choosing faith-filled lenses rather than natural-only reasoning. The destination, not merely the journey, defines Christian hope. Eternity with God outweighs every present burden, no matter how heavy it feels. The invitation is urgent and hopeful: reset your focus, set your mind above, trust God’s Word, and live anchored in the unseen reality that will outlast every visible struggle.

Section 1

This message centers on what could be called a personal Armageddon—the war between our ears. The real battle is not primarily political or cultural, but mental and spiritual. Influences of darkness press constantly against the light of truth, and perspective determines which voice gains ground. “Save Our Brains” is not about positive thinking, but about biblical thinking. A sound mind, as described in 2 Timothy 1:7, is safe thinking—thinking rooted in God’s truth rather than emotional reaction or cultural noise. Truth breaks the power of lies, and lies are what place people into bondage. Jesus declared that knowing the truth brings freedom, but that freedom requires continual alignment of our minds with God’s Word and His love.

Section 2

Colossians 3:1–2 provides the corrective lens for distorted perspective: set your heart and mind on things above, not on earthly things. Much of human struggle comes from tunnel vision—focusing on a three-inch corner of a five-by-five painting and mistaking it for the whole picture. Earthly focus magnifies fear, grief, and self-centered interpretation, while heavenly focus reframes everything within eternity. Robo’s call about his cousin Jerry illustrates this shift beautifully. Grief is real and permitted, yet when perspective widens, sorrow is held alongside hope. A believer going home to the Lord is not ultimate loss, but ultimate gain. Being “too heavenly minded” is not a flaw; it is faith in action. When minds are set above, earthly pain is not denied, but it is properly placed within God’s greater story.

Section 3

The conversation underscores that perspective is not automatic; it is chosen. Feelings are valid, but they cannot lead unchecked. Biblical thinking means filtering emotions through truth, remembering that eternity dwarfs temporary suffering. Setting the mind on things above does not remove grief, unemployment, illness, or hardship, but it rescales them. God’s kingdom, Christ seated at the right hand of the Father, and the promise of eternal life become the dominant frame. This is how believers walk in freedom—not by pretending difficulty does not exist, but by refusing to let it define reality. To save our brains is to continually reset them to God’s vantage point, allowing His truth to govern our thoughts, steady our hearts, and keep us anchored in hope that reaches beyond this world.