Christianity 101 l Propel Church

Devotional

Day 1: The Unshakable Foundation of God's Word

A life built on anything other than the truth of Scripture is destined to crumble when storms arrive. The rains will fall, the floods will come, and the winds will beat against every life. The difference is not in the severity of the storm, but in the substance of the foundation. A life constructed on the shifting sands of personal ambition, cultural trends, or popular opinion cannot stand. Only a life built upon the solid rock of God's Word will remain secure, offering peace and stability that transcends any circumstance. [49:30]

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock." (Matthew 7:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life—perhaps a relationship, a career decision, or a personal goal—where you have been building on a foundation other than the clear principles of Scripture? What would it look like this week to begin re-laying that foundation according to God's Word?

Day 2: The Divine Origin and Purpose of Scripture

All Scripture finds its source in God Himself, breathed out by His Spirit to guide and shape His people. It is not a collection of human ideas or opinions, but a divinely inspired text written across centuries, cultures, and authors, yet telling one unified story. Because of its divine origin, its purpose is profoundly practical: it is profitable and advantageous for our lives. It is given not merely for information, but for transformation, designed to equip us thoroughly for the good works God has prepared for us. [51:48]

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: When you face a difficult decision or a personal challenge, what is your default source for guidance? How might you intentionally make Scripture your first and final authority in that process this week, trusting in its divine profitability?

Day 3: The Active Response to God's Word

Hearing the truth of God's Word is only the beginning; the true benefit is realized when it is combined with active, living faith. Scripture functions like a mirror, revealing both the character of God and the true state of our own hearts. Simply looking and walking away changes nothing. The transformation occurs when we see what the mirror shows us and then take steps, by faith, to align our lives with that reflection. This is the difference between a hearer and a doer of the Word. [01:04:10]

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like." (James 1:22-24, ESV)

Reflection: As you read the Bible, what is one specific instruction or conviction you have recently "seen in the mirror" but have yet to act upon? What is one practical, faith-filled step you can take to move from hearing to doing?

Day 4: The Constant Need for Course Correction

The Christian life is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of realignment. Like a pilot constantly adjusting the flight path to reach the intended destination, we must allow Scripture to continually straighten our course. Our natural tendency is to drift toward self-reliance, cultural conformity, or sin. God's Word serves as our divine navigation system, providing the correction needed to get us back on track and moving toward righteousness and intimacy with Him. [01:11:46]

"Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it." (Hebrews 2:1, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific area of your thoughts, habits, or relationships have you noticed a subtle drift away from God's intended path? How can you use a specific passage of Scripture this week to recalibrate and correct your course?

Day 5: The Process of Spiritual Training and Growth

Becoming more like Christ is a process that requires intentional training and discipline, much like physical training. Spiritual maturity is not instantaneous; it is developed over time through consistent engagement with Scripture. We start with the spiritual "milk" of basic truths, and as we grow, we develop a taste for the "solid food" of deeper doctrine. This training in righteousness shapes our discernment and equips us to fully participate in the good works God has prepared for us. [01:13:20]

"Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good." (1 Peter 2:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Considering your current spiritual diet, are you primarily consuming "milk" or "solid food"? What is one new spiritual discipline—like a structured reading plan or memorizing a verse—that you could adopt to actively train yourself for greater growth in godliness?

Sermon Summary

The sermon opens with a candid confrontation of a recent, racially offensive public post and moves quickly into a clear call for moral responsibility, cultural unity, and biblical fidelity. The speaker insists leaders must own what their platforms publish and cannot hide behind excuses; responsibility flows upward and loyalty to a person must never override allegiance to truth and love. That moment becomes the launchpad for a larger theological claim: Christianity is either all-important or meaningless, and the only durable foundation for life is God's word. Drawing on Jesus' house-on-the-rock parable, the address presses that daily choices build a life, and the foundation—what is ultimately trusted—determines whether a life stands in storm.

The core exegesis centers on 2 Timothy 3:16–17. Scripture is affirmed as God-breathed, fully inspired, and therefore authoritative for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. Rather than a static book of rules, scripture functions like a mirror that exposes the heart, produces conviction when joined with living faith, and retrains the mind and actions over time. The preacher emphasizes that reading alone is insufficient: the Bible must be combined with faith that moves into obedience. Spiritual growth is a disciplined process—milk for new believers, solid food for the mature—requiring repeated recalibration like a pilot correcting a flight path.

Practical application threads throughout: when facing moral dilemmas, start with Scripture; make God and his Word first, not an ideology, career, or comfort. True maturity is not absence of trouble but completeness in the soul—peace and wisdom to navigate suffering—because the person is grounded in divine truth and trained for good works. The closing invitation is pastoral and urgent: examine priorities, confess where loyalty to anything but God has the upper hand, and recommit to a life shaped and corrected by Scripture so that love, conviction, and obedience become the church’s testimony to a watching world.

Key Takeaways

1. Leaders must assume full responsibility Leaders cannot outsource moral accountability; authority carries custody of consequences. When something harmful is published or permitted, leadership must model confession, correction, and repair rather than deflection. This discipline protects the flock and preserves witness. [38:35]
2. Love above political loyalty Christian identity must be evident primarily in sacrificial love, not partisan allegiance. When loyalty to a person eclipses care for the marginalized or denial of wrongdoing, the church betrays its calling. Love reshapes judgment and guides corrective action without excusing sin. [43:19]
3. All Scripture is God-breathed Scripture’s unity, endurance, and coherence point beyond human authorship to divine inspiration. Treating any portion as optional undermines the foundation upon which faith is built; the Bible demands a posture of submission, study, and trust. Its authority forms the compass for discernment and doctrine. [60:09]
4. Scripture shapes conviction and practice The Bible functions as mirror, evidence, and training ground: it exposes, convinces, and retrains. True spiritual change occurs when reading is paired with faith that acts—habitual obedience forms maturity, not mere information. Recalibration through Scripture enables steadiness amid storms. [63:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[36:05] - Response to a racist post and leadership
[43:19] - Called to love above politics
[45:16] - Prayer for comfort and unity
[47:22] - Christianity 101: introduction
[48:49] - Parable: house on the rock
[51:28] - Reading: 2 Timothy 3:16–17
[60:09] - All Scripture is God-breathed
[63:13] - Scripture as mirror and action
[72:01] - Training in righteousness
[82:00] - Make Scripture the foundation
[88:40] - Closing prayer and invitation

Bible Study Guide

Based on the sermon summary and transcript, the primary biblical text is 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The sermon also heavily alludes to the parable of the two builders in Matthew 7:24-27.

Bible Reading
* 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV): All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
* Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV): Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

Observation questions

According to 2 Timothy 3:16, what are the four specific things that Scripture is profitable for?
In the parable from Matthew 7, what is the one key difference between the wise and foolish builders that determined the outcome when the storm hit? [49:54]
What does the passage in 2 Timothy 3:17 say is the ultimate purpose of Scripture's work in a person's life?
The sermon described Scripture as functioning like a mirror. What does a mirror do, and what is our responsibility after looking into one? [01:04:10]

Interpretation questions

The phrase "breathed out by God" is unique. What does this imply about the origin and authority of the entire Bible, including the parts that might be difficult to understand or accept? [52:10]
Why is it significant that both builders in Jesus' story *hear* His words, but only one is considered wise? What does this reveal about the relationship between hearing and true faith?
The process described in 2 Timothy involves teaching, reproof, correction, and training. Why is this described as a process rather than a one-time event? What does this suggest about the typical journey of spiritual growth? [01:13:20]
How does building a life on the foundation of God's Word provide "completeness" (2 Tim 3:17) that is different from simply having a life without problems? [01:15:47]

Application questions

When a difficult situation or moral dilemma arises, what is your automatic, first response? How can you practically make God's Word your starting point instead of your own understanding, culture, or feelings? [01:24:23]
Loyalty to a person or ideology can sometimes override our call to love and truth. Is there an area in your life—perhaps in politics, family, or work—where your loyalty to someone or something might be causing you to excuse something you know is wrong? What would it look like to let love and Scripture reshape your judgment there? [42:19]
Reading the Bible is one thing; combining it with faith that leads to action is another. What is one specific truth from Scripture you have recently heard that you know you need to *do*, not just agree with? What is a simple, tangible step of obedience you can take this week? [01:03:32]
The Christian life requires constant recalibration, like a pilot adjusting a flight path. What is one area of your life (e.g., thought life, speech, habits) where you feel you have drifted off course? What Scripture can you use to help "straighten up again" and get back on track? [01:11:46]
Are you primarily feeding on spiritual "milk" or "solid food"? What does that look like in your current Bible reading habits? What is one step you could take to move toward a more mature, solid diet of allowing God's Word to train you? [01:18:16]
Examine the foundation you are building your life on. If you are honest, what other things (success, providing for family, comfort, a relationship) subtly compete with God's Word for the ultimate place of authority? What would it look like this week to intentionally dethrone that thing and put God's Word first in that area? [50:51]

Sermon Clips

And I wanted to start with this quote from CS Lewis. I I absolutely love CS Lewis and his writings. They they really, really, like, speak to me. He said this. He said, Christianity, if false, is of no importance. And if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important. In other words, if Christianity is not true, if if none of this is is real and we're all mistaken, then we end up living, you know, disciplined, good, moral lives. If it if it is true, then there is no other thing in this life that is more important than our faith and our our walk with Christ. But what it cannot be is somewhere in the middle. [00:47:45] (51 seconds) #FaithOrNothing

The difference is not the makeup of the houses. It's not it's not your temple and my temple. My temple not having as much intellectual capacity as Cayuse temple having intellectual capacity doesn't disqualify me from building a house on a rock. But that's what we think. Oh, that's just a pastor. That's just this guy. That's just that guy. That that's this woman. That's her that woman. No. It's not it's not about the houses. It it it it's it's about the foundation on which they were built. [01:22:11] (31 seconds) #FoundationOverLabels

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Christianity 101 l Propel Church

Devotional

Day 1: The Unshakable Foundation of God's Word

Day 2: The Divine Origin and Purpose of Scripture

Day 3: The Active Response to God's Word

Day 4: The Constant Need for Course Correction

Day 5: The Process of Spiritual Training and Growth

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Christianity 101 l Propel Church

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