October 25, 2026

Exodus 33:2-3 (NIV)

2I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way."

Exodus 33:12-16 (NIV)

12Moses said to the Lord, "You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' 13If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people." 14The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." 15Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"

Don't Mistake the Hand of God For the Heart of God

Don't Leave Your People Behind

Don't Let Your Desires Outrun God's Presence

What makes being in control so appealing, even when we're not really in control?

1. Start your Monday with surrender
2. Identify one thing you are trying to control.
3. Take one step of obedience.

October 18, 2026
The Narrow Way

Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Deuteronomy 30:19b (NIV)

I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live

ENTER IT - Enter It Through the Narrow Gate

Why do we sometimes stay on the wrong road, even when we know we need to turn around?

WALK IT - Small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life

FIND IT - Only a few find it

If the road leads to life, it is worth every hard step.

October 11, 2026

Why is it so easy to notice what is wrong in someone else, but so hard to see it in ourselves?

Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV)

1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Judgement in Scripture:

1 Kings 18: Elijah confronts Ahab over false worship.
Acts 15: Paul confronts teaching that Jesus wasn't enough.
Matthew 7: Jesus says, "Do not throw your pearls to pigs."

The measure you hand out becomes the measure you receive.

Discernment says, "That is wrong."
Judgment says, "And now I have the right to stand over you because of it."

We're wired to spot the speck in someone else and miss the plank in ourselves.

The Golden Rule: "Do to others what you would have them do to you"

DO A PLANK CHECK

1. What is God trying to show me about ME
2. Am I giving them the same grace I want for myself?
3. Do I want to restore them, or do I just want to be right?

October 4, 2026

Why is it so easy to believe that MORE will make us happier?

Matthew 6:19-24 (NIV)

19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

- Your treasure reveals your true master.

- Divided treasure always produces anxiety

- The right treasure, sought first, produces peace.

- What you treasure determines your peace.

September 27, 2026

Why is being seen so important to us?

Matthew 6:1,4b (NIV)

1"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. ...your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

AUDIENCE OF ONE

Give Without The Announcement

Pray Without The Performance

Fast Without The Filter

God rewards what is done for Him, not an audience.

September 20, 2026

Why do you think we're so much better at fixing what people see, instead of dealing with what's happening inside us?

Matthew 5:21-26 (NIV)

21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister , will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,' is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. 25"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

What Is In Your Closet?

Anger: I don't like what you did
Sinful Anger: You hurt me, so now I want to hurt you
Contempt: I don't respect you. I might smile at you, but I hope life gives you exactly what you deserve

Check It

Trace It

Fix It

Righteousness starts in your heart, before it ever shows up in your behavior

September 13, 2026
Pursuing God

September 6, 2026

1 Peter 1:14-16 (NIV)

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

1. Living in the Presence

Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"
Exodus 33:15-16 (NIV)

2. Change the way you think

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

3. Change the way we speak

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
James 3:9-10 (NIV)

The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)

4. Live a life walking in the Spirit

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:16-18 (NIV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 5:22-24 (NIV)

Living in the Spirit isn't living a life of doing more external religious activities and performances. Rather its living submitted and surrounded to the leading of the Holy Spirit