May 17th, 2026 - Against The Tide: Part 1 (10:30 AM)

May 17, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Swimming Against the Moon’s Pull

The disciples huddled in a locked room, fear tightening their chests. Then Jesus stood among them, breathing peace into their panic. Like ocean tides pulled by the moon’s gravity, culture constantly tugs believers toward its rhythms. You’ve felt it—the slow drift toward measuring life by possessions, titles, and upgrades while Christ’s voice grows faint. [32:20]

Jesus interrupts our drift. He anchors us in reality: true life isn’t found in what we accumulate but in whom we worship. The culture’s gravitational pull weakens when we fix our eyes on His scars instead of society’s scorecards.

Where is the tide pulling you hardest this week? Is your bank statement, closet, or calendar drifting further from simplicity? Name one area where cultural currents have carried you from shore. Will you let Jesus reset your coordinates today?

“Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’”
(Hebrews 13:5, NLT)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal where you’ve floated toward cultural lies about success.

Challenge: Delete shopping apps from your phone for 24 hours. Notice what cravings surface.

Day 2: Fish Scales and True Riches

Peter stared at his empty nets, then at the miraculous catch Jesus provided. The fisherman-turned-disciple later wrote, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Culture measures gain in carats and car models, but Christ counts riches in surrendered hearts and shared bread. [42:18]

True wealth isn’t passive—it’s pursuing Christlike character through life’s storms. When waves of envy or greed hit, godliness becomes our lifeline. Jesus cares more about your patience during financial stress than your portfolio’s performance.

What “net” have you been straining to fill this month? When you check accounts or wishlists, does gratitude or discontent rise? How might embracing Paul’s “food and clothing” standard free you?

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.”
(1 Timothy 6:6-7, NLT)

Prayer: Confess one possession you’ve treated as a measure of worth.

Challenge: Donate an item you’ve been saving for “someday” to someone in need today.

Day 3: Moths, Rust, and Eternal Vaults

A widow dropped two coins into the temple treasury—her entire livelihood. Jesus saw past the Pharisees’ showy gifts to her eternal investment. Every dollar spent chisels either barns for earthly hoarding or altars for heavenly worship. [53:08]

Treasure stored on earth decays; treasure stored in heaven transforms. When you tip a struggling server generously or fund a child’s meals, you’re trading temporary comfort for eternal dividends. Jesus isn’t anti-wealth—He’s anti-waste of your divine inheritance.

What purchase from last month will still matter in ten years? When you open your wallet next, ask: Is this feeding my comfort or fueling God’s kingdom?

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth… Store your treasures in heaven… Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
(Matthew 6:19-21, NLT)

Prayer: Thank God for three non-material blessings that outvalue possessions.

Challenge: Redirect money meant for a luxury purchase to a local ministry.

Day 4: The Boat Too Heavy to Float

The rich young ruler walked away grieving—his many possessions anchored him to shallow living. Contrast him with Zacchaeus, who lightened his load through radical generosity. Both men met Jesus; only one chose freedom over cargo. [56:54]

Every storage unit and credit card balance testifies to our addiction to “more.” But Christ’s call remains: “Come, follow me.” You can’t swim toward Him while clinging to sinking weights. True contentment isn’t having everything—it’s needing nothing but Him.

What “weight” have you been dragging through life’s currents? What’s one practical step to jettison it this week?

“Then [Jesus] said, ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.’”
(Luke 12:15, NLT)

Prayer: Ask courage to release one possession that’s complicating your walk with Christ.

Challenge: Fill a box with 10 non-essential items. Give it away by Saturday.

Day 5: Nets Full, Hearts Fuller

The disciples hauled 153 fish to shore—a staggering catch. Yet John’s account emphasizes not the bounty, but breakfast with the risen Christ. Like the fisherman who caught enough, our souls find rest when we seek the Giver over the gifts. [59:01]

Contentment isn’t self-denial but Christ-satisfaction. When you stop comparing boats and start communing with the One who walks on waves, you’ll trade upgrade anxiety for awe. The culture says “more”; Jesus says “enough.”

When did you last feel truly content? What if today’s “enough” became your daily bread?

“So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.”
(1 Timothy 6:8, NLT)

Prayer: Praise God for three “enoughs” He’s provided this week.

Challenge: Write “ENOUGH” on your mirror. Thank God aloud each time you see it.

Sermon Summary

We live in a culture that nudges us forward like a tide, and we must choose whether we drift or stand firm. We see the pull in everyday habits that define success by possessions, career status, and comfort. We feel waves of pressure that wear us down until we accept the easy current of more, newer, and bigger. The Bible calls us to a different measure of wealth: godliness paired with contentment. Scripture reframes riches away from material accumulation and toward character, spiritual growth, and a heart aligned with God. We must examine how materialism shows up in our lives: measuring success by what we own, making identity out of income or title, chasing comfort and upgrades, and using money as the default solution to anxiety and need.

We recognize the symptoms around us: high consumer spending, debt-driven living, overflowing storage, and advertising that promises completion through purchase. These patterns reveal a deeper issue, namely misplaced trust and love. God’s call is not to ascetic self-denial for its own sake but to a reorientation of our hearts. We store treasure in heaven when we devote time, gifts, and resources to God’s purposes rather than hoarding for ourselves. Contentment looks ordinary on the surface—food and clothing may suffice—but it runs countercultural because it requires intentional gratitude and refusal to let desire for more rule our decisions.

We also see that godliness is not merely avoiding sin; it is the presence of virtues like patience, love, and sacrifice that reflect Christ. True satisfaction comes not from accumulating but from being satisfied with Christ’s presence and purpose. Practical steps help us fight the tide: simplifying our spending for a season, repurposing resources for kingdom work, and cultivating thankfulness. We can test contentment by choosing less and seeing if our souls grow richer. When we store our treasures in heaven, our desires shift, our time reallocates, and our lives begin to look distinct from a culture that measures worth by weight of possessions. The struggle is real, but the promise remains: God will never fail or abandon us, and the path to freedom runs through godliness and contentment.

Key Takeaways

1. Culture pulls us toward more Our environment exerts steady pressure that reshapes our wants until we accept material gain as the default good. Recognizing the pull lets us evaluate daily decisions and break patterns of unconscious consumption. Intentionally resisting the tide protects our spiritual trajectory and preserves a focus on eternal priorities. [32:20]
2. Godliness plus contentment equals riches Scripture defines real wealth as spiritual maturity together with thankful satisfaction in God’s provision. Pursuing character over accumulation changes our life aims and steadies us in hardship. Valuing godliness reframes success and frees us from the lie that possessions secure significance. [42:18]
3. Our hearts follow our treasure Where we invest time, money, and attention reveals our true loves and trains our desires. Redirecting resources to kingdom purposes rewires longing and clarifies vocation. Treasures placed in heaven reshape daily choices and recalibrate how we measure meaning. [53:08]
4. Practice intentional simplicity now Choosing to live with less for a season tests and builds contentment, freeing capacity for spiritual growth and service. Simplicity exposes wants for what they are and creates margin for prayer, community, and generosity. Small experiments in restraint cultivate habits that resist cultural overconsumption. [59:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[32:20] - Culture as a tidal pull
[33:30] - Waves that knock us back
[34:21] - Swimming against the current
[37:04] - Materialism introduced
[37:31] - How materialism appears
[41:56] - Scripture on true wealth
[44:01] - Godliness and character
[47:05] - Guard against greed
[53:08] - Store treasure in heaven
[55:09] - Cultural stories and emptiness
[59:01] - The fisherman story
[62:11] - Benediction and send-off

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (ESV)
"But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content."

Matthew 6:19-21, 24 (ESV)
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also... No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and money."

Observation questions

According to 1 Timothy 6:6-8, what two qualities does Paul say define "great wealth," and what basic necessities are listed as sufficient for contentment?
In Matthew 6:19-21, what reasons does Jesus give for not storing treasures on earth, and what does He contrast it with?
The sermon shared a story about a fisherman and a businessman ([59:01]). How did their definitions of "enough" differ?

Interpretation questions

Why do you think Paul links godliness and contentment as inseparable qualities for true wealth? How might one without the other fall short?
Jesus says, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." How does investing in "treasures in heaven" actively reshape a person’s priorities and desires over time?
The sermon mentioned Tom Brady’s admission that success and wealth left him empty ([48:19]). How does this illustrate the difference between cultural and biblical definitions of fulfillment?

Application questions

What practical step could you take this week to "test" contentment by intentionally choosing simplicity in one area (e.g., spending, screen time, possessions)? How might this create space for spiritual growth?
Reflect on a recent purchase or upgrade. Did it align with pursuing "godliness with contentment," or did it reflect cultural pressure for "more"? What would it look like to recalibrate?
Jesus warns that we cannot serve both God and money. What habits or routines could help you regularly evaluate where your time, energy, and resources are being invested?
The fisherman’s story ([59:01]) challenges the myth that "more" equals fulfillment. What relationships or practices in your life already reflect "enough," and how can you prioritize them this month?
The sermon warned against using money as a "default solution" to anxiety ([37:31]). When have you turned to material comforts instead of prayer or community? What tangible reminder could help you redirect that impulse?

Sermon Clips

41s

#GodlinessAndContentment

“What does Paul say a Christian should be seeking after? Should it be, you know, that upgraded car, that upgraded house? He says two things make you rich, godliness and contentment. If I if you when you came in today, I gave you a quiz and I said, in the bible, what makes you rich? Probably most of us would not have filled out godliness and contentment. But in scripture, do you see how radically it's defining riches versus our culture? Our culture says, have all these things, and you should feel really good about where you're at. The Bible says, pursue godliness. Let God work in your life, and you should feel really good about where you're at and be content with where you're at. That's the the the definition. And so in your heart, what are you pursuing?”

34s

#LessIsFreedom

“Don't store up treasure here on earth. So if Jesus went to your house, how would he how would he grade you? Right? Like, how are you doing? He went to your storage unit. How are you doing? Are you very different than the world that doesn't have this command? You and I have a unique command here. Right? Don't store up treasure here on earth. The reason this isn't my words too. I wanna make sure you understand this. You could be mad at it right now because of this. I don't like this. But this is the word of the lord because he loves you. He sees you as his child. He wants better for you. And so he knows the way to freedom is not to store up more stuff here on earth, but to actually have less.”

31s

#LiveSimplyChallenge

“So here's your challenge for this week. Try to live more simply. Figure out what things are you spending money on that you really don't don't need. Try it for a week. See what happens. Learn to be content with less, and use that energy and time to pursue things that you know god help you lead to godliness. Right? Spend time in prayer. Spend time with believers. Spend time at praying. And I believe you will be blessed for it because that is the shift. Right? We that's how we need to fight against the the waves of our culture. Let's pray.”

47s

#JoyInSimplicity

“one of the things that surprised me is how emotional I was when I had to sell my car. We had no car. And then we had to give up the rent, our the plate we were renting out an apartment and I had to give up my rent keys, I had no keys in my pocket. For the first time since I was like a young teen, I didn't have a key to anywhere. And it sort of hit me like, I have nothing. Like nothing meaningful to my name. Didn't have a lot in the bank either at that point. And so we literally went overseas. I don't remember exactly how many suitcases we had, but several and that was it. No furniture, nothing else. You know, that was the time I literally had the most joy about my possessions in my life. It wasn't it's not even close. Because when I when I went overseas, I had such a sense like, god, I live for you. My true riches are not in what I own in this world. The only thing I have is what I have with you.”

38s

#PursueJesusNotThings

“But the bible's quite clear. The more you want this, the materialistic things, the less you get this. Because your passion God wants your heart. And he wants your heart to be solely sold out to him. Meaning, are times where, sure, god wants you to enjoy blessing and the things he's given you, but your passion is supposed to be, I want Jesus. I want him working in my life. I wanna be used by him. And when you do that, you get both, in my opinion. But you put this in a rightful place, and it doesn't become something that you're pursuing in a in a healthy way. I wanna look at the last verse of first Timothy six eight. What should we be content with? He says, if we have food and clothing, that we should be content.”

37s

#TitlesDontDefineYou

“If you get enough promotions or you make enough money, now I'm somebody. Right? I feel really good about who I am because look at what I make or what I do. And in the scriptures, again, do you think Jesus is really impressed by somebody who's a CEO versus somebody who's a janitor? Like, does it matter in scripture? Not really. No. Right? You have ability to do more if you have make more money to to influence and use that for good things. But but from a standing before God, you're not right with God because, wow, I have a great job. That doesn't impress God, but it tends to impress us because we live in a culture that praises it. Because more income means you can buy more. Right? We can have more in our garage, more stuff in our house.”

42s

#FaithBeyondComfort

“I lived in The Middle East for eleven years. I pastored a church for nine years where it wasn't safe for a lot of those people to go to church. And I watched as they lost their families and cried at the church and were devastated by the persecution they faced for their faith. And I and I do know in America, many of us would not come to church if it weren't easy, if it weren't comfortable. Right? If this room was sweaty and hot like in Mexicali where we bought air conditioners for a church down there, they were worshiping in terrible heat because they didn't have the money for air conditioning. Would you come? When we look at the New Testament, there's a joy when you come even though it's not easy. There's a joy when you pursue God even though your life's hard and not going the way you want.”

48s

#FightTheCurrent

“I've never been more scared of water in my life. I never thought I might drown until that moment when I felt like I can't go on. And I'm like, I'm so far from the shore too, I don't know if I can float back to the shore even. Like, what am I gonna do? Luckily, adrenaline kicks Right? Adrenaline can be a wonderful thing at times. And just my survival instinct said, okay Joe, however you have to do it, you're gonna make it to that platform. And I instant clawed and I got there. But when I got there, the people who were already there were like, you okay? Because they saw it was not a good situation I was in, but I made it. But the point of that story is this. Culture is a lot like that. Right? It wears you down. You swim and you think, got this. No problem. I could go against the current. But eventually, wave after wave hits you, and you're like, maybe I should just go with the current. It's a lot easier than fighting against it.”

41s

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May 17th, 2026 - Against The Tide: Part 1 (10:30 AM)

Devotional

Day 1: Swimming Against the Moon’s Pull

Day 2: Fish Scales and True Riches

Day 3: Moths, Rust, and Eternal Vaults

Day 4: The Boat Too Heavy to Float

Day 5: Nets Full, Hearts Fuller

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

May 17th, 2026 - Against The Tide: Part 1 (10:30 AM)

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