Compass City Church

Life often tempts us to seek the easiest, most comfortable path, but true spiritual growth is found in doing the next hard thing God places before us. Just as a climber must maintain three points of contact to ascend safely, our journey with God requires us to hold fast to three spiritual disciplines: engaging deeply with Scripture, serving others sacrificially, and practicing radical generosity. These are not always easy or convenient, but they are the footholds and handholds that keep us moving upward in faith.

Scripture is our first point of contact. It is not just another book, but the living word of God that teaches us to hear His voice, discern truth from falsehood, and navigate a world full of competing claims and shifting values. Immersing ourselves in the Bible grounds us in what is real and right, providing clarity and direction when the world’s noise grows loud.

The second point of contact is service. Jesus redefined greatness by becoming a servant, showing us that the path to spiritual maturity is not about self-promotion but about giving our time and talents for the sake of others. Serving is often inconvenient and rarely glamorous, but it is in these acts of humble obedience—whether on a mission trip or simply stacking chairs after church—that we are shaped into the likeness of Christ.

The third point of contact is generosity. This is often the most challenging step, requiring us to trust God with our resources, especially when life feels uncertain or expensive. Generosity is not about the amount, but about dependence—letting go of what we value most and trusting God to provide. Whether it’s tithing faithfully or giving above and beyond, each act of generosity is a step of faith that deepens our reliance on God.

Spiritual growth is not a microwave process; it is slow, intentional, and often uncomfortable. But it is in the struggle, in the hard steps, that we encounter God most profoundly. The question is not whether the path will be difficult, but whether we will trust God enough to take the next hard spiritual step He sets before us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Scripture as the Foundation for Spiritual Growth Engaging with the Bible is not just a religious exercise but the primary way to hear God’s voice and discern truth in a world full of conflicting messages. The Scriptures provide clarity, direction, and a standard against which all other voices and feelings must be measured. When we immerse ourselves in God’s word, we are equipped to recognize deception and align our lives with His will. [35:18]
• 2. Service as the Pathway to Christlikeness True greatness in God’s kingdom is found not in self-promotion but in humble service to others. Serving is often inconvenient and stretches us beyond our comfort zones, but it is precisely in these moments of obedience that we are transformed. The call to serve is a call to lay down our own interests and embrace the way of Jesus, who led by serving rather than by demanding to be served. [44:13]
• 3. Generosity as an Act of Dependence and Faith Giving sacrificially is not about the amount, but about trusting God with what we value most. Generosity requires us to step out in faith, especially when resources are tight or the future feels uncertain. Each act of giving is a declaration that our security is in God, not in our possessions, and it is in this dependence that we experience His provision and faithfulness. [50:59]
• 4. Spiritual Growth Requires Doing the Next Hard Thing Growth in faith is not achieved through comfort or ease, but by consistently choosing to do the next hard spiritual thing God places before us. Whether it’s starting a new spiritual discipline, having a difficult conversation, or stepping out in service or generosity, these challenges are invitations to deeper trust and transformation. The journey is slow and often uncomfortable, but it is in the struggle that we meet God most intimately. [56:23]
• 5. Obedience Over Emotion in the Spiritual Journey Spiritual maturity is often less about emotional highs and more about steady, faithful obedience in the mundane and difficult moments. Sometimes, the most significant spiritual growth happens not in moments of inspiration, but in the quiet, repeated acts of faithfulness—reading Scripture, serving, giving—when we least feel like it. God honors these choices, using them to shape us into people who follow Him regardless of circumstances. [48:18]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [29:11] - The Challenge of Doing Hard Things
• [30:36] - Spiritual Growth: The Next Hard Step
• [32:41] - Three Points of Spiritual Contact
• [33:32] - The Power of Scripture
• [35:59] - Hearing God’s Voice Through the Bible
• [37:35] - Scripture as the Source of Truth
• [41:33] - The Call to Service
• [44:13] - Redefining Greatness: Serving Others
• [45:09] - The Cost and Joy of Serving
• [47:24] - Faith That Costs Something
• [48:51] - Generosity: The Third Point of Contact
• [50:59] - Trusting God With Our Resources
• [54:44] - Jesus’ Call to Radical Discipleship
• [56:23] - What’s Your Next Hard Spiritual Step?
• [58:04] - Prayer and Response

Bible Reading

Matthew 4:4 (ESV) — > But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 20:25-28 (ESV) — > But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 12:41-44 (ESV) — > And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Observation Questions

1. In Matthew 4:4, how does Jesus respond to temptation, and what does this reveal about the role of Scripture in His life? [34:29]
2. According to Matthew 20:25-28, how does Jesus redefine greatness and leadership among His followers? [41:43]
3. In Mark 12:41-44, what is significant about the widow’s offering compared to the offerings of the wealthy? [48:51]
4. The sermon uses the image of a climber needing three points of contact. What are the three “spiritual points of contact” the pastor identifies, and why are they important? [32:41]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus use Scripture to respond to Satan’s lies, and what does this teach about how believers should handle competing voices and temptations in their own lives? [34:29]
2. What does it mean for service to be “inconvenient and rarely glamorous,” and why might God use these moments to shape us more into the likeness of Christ? [46:16]
3. The widow’s act of giving “all she had to live on” is highlighted by Jesus. What does this say about the kind of faith and dependence God values? [49:09]
4. The pastor says, “Spiritual growth is not a microwave process; it is slow, intentional, and often uncomfortable.” Why might God design spiritual growth to be this way instead of quick and easy? [32:05]

Application Questions

1. The pastor challenges us to “do the next hard spiritual thing in front of you.” What is one hard spiritual step you sense God might be asking you to take right now? (Examples: starting a Bible reading habit, serving in a new way, giving sacrificially, having a difficult conversation.) [31:24]
2. When was the last time you made a decision based on what you read in Scripture, even if it went against your feelings or what others were saying? What was the outcome? [40:31]
3. Serving others can be inconvenient or unnoticed, like stacking chairs after church. Is there a way you could serve this week that stretches you beyond your comfort zone? What holds you back from saying yes to these opportunities? [46:25]
4. The sermon says, “Generosity is not about the amount, but about dependence—letting go of what we value most and trusting God to provide.” Is there something you’re holding onto tightly (money, time, resources) that God might be asking you to trust Him with? [50:59]
5. The pastor mentions that sometimes spiritual growth feels more like obedience than inspiration. Are there any spiritual habits (reading, serving, giving) you need to keep doing even when you don’t feel like it? How can you stay faithful in these moments? [48:18]
6. Think about the “three points of contact” (Scripture, service, generosity). Which one is the weakest in your life right now? What is one practical step you could take this week to strengthen that area? [54:32]
7. The pastor says, “If your faith doesn’t cost you today, you may not have the right faith.” What is one way your faith is costing you right now—or what would it look like for your faith to cost you something this month? [47:24]