Embracing God's All-In Love and Redemption

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Goes All In—The Call to Full Commitment

There are some things in life that only work if you go all in, and following Jesus is one of them. Just as Simone Biles must commit fully from her very first step on the vault runway, so too are we invited to go all in with Jesus, who has already gone all in for us. Half-heartedness in our relationships, our work, or our faith leaves us unfulfilled and unable to experience the fullness of what God has for us. Jesus’ journey, beginning in Mark 1, is a story of total commitment—He wades into brokenness, faces opposition, and ultimately lays down His life for us. The invitation is clear: respond to His all-in love by giving your whole self to Him, trusting that He will meet you in every step. [03:55]

Mark 1:9-11 (ESV)
"In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.'"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you’ve been holding back from Jesus? What would it look like to go “all in” with Him in that area today?

Day 2: Jesus Redeems Our “Nazareth” Places

Jesus’ story begins in Nazareth, a place considered insignificant and overlooked—a “nowhere” town. Many of us have seasons or places in our lives that feel like Nazareth: dull, unremarkable, or even disappointing. Yet, Jesus comes from Nazareth to redeem all our Nazareths, bringing unexpected good out of places and seasons we might rather leave behind. If you find yourself in a season that feels ordinary, unfulfilling, or even painful, take heart—Jesus specializes in bringing hope and new life from the most unlikely places. He invites you to keep coming to Him, trusting that He can bring beauty and purpose even from your “Nazareth.” [09:38]

John 1:46 (ESV)
"Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.'"

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel like you’re just “marking time” or stuck in a Nazareth season? Ask Jesus to show you how He might bring unexpected good from that place.

Day 3: Jesus Fulfills All Righteousness—A New Way to Relate

Jesus’ baptism was not just a ritual; it was a declaration that He came to fulfill all righteousness—to live the perfectly right life we were made to live but have failed to live. Righteousness is about rightly relating to God, ourselves, and others, loving the right things in the right ways. We all have regrets from misrelating to people or things, but Jesus offers us His righteousness, washing us clean from our mistakes and leading us into a new way of living. He invites us to receive His forgiveness, to see ourselves as God sees us, and to learn to love others and the world around us in healthy, life-giving ways. [14:04]

Matthew 3:13-15 (ESV)
"Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?' But Jesus answered him, 'Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.' Then he consented."

Reflection: Is there a relationship or area in your life where you sense you’re not relating rightly? How might receiving Jesus’ righteousness help you approach it differently today?

Day 4: You Are Beloved—God’s Voice Over You

Before Jesus performed any miracles or did anything spectacular, the Father declared over Him, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” This same affirmation is spoken over all who are in Christ—not because of what we do, but because of who we are in Him. Many of us live under the weight of “never enough,” striving to prove ourselves to others or even to God. But God’s love is not earned; it is received. When you know you are beloved, you are set free from the need to prove yourself and can live the life you were made to live. Let the Father’s voice quiet the voices of not enough and reorient your heart today. [16:14]

Romans 8:15-17 (ESV)
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

Reflection: What “never enough” messages do you find yourself believing? How can you let God’s declaration of love and delight over you shape your identity today?

Day 5: Jesus Redeems the Wilderness—Hope in Hard Places

After His baptism, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness—a place of testing, trial, and purification. The wilderness is not just a biblical location; it’s a reality we all face through loss, hardship, or seasons of struggle. Sometimes we end up there because of our own mistakes, sometimes because of circumstances beyond our control, and sometimes because God leads us there to shape us. The good news is that Jesus has gone before us into the wilderness and emerged victorious. He redeems even our hardest places, inviting us to hold on to Him and trust that He is at work, even when we can’t see the outcome. [25:11]

Mark 1:12-13 (ESV)
"The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him."

Reflection: Are you in a wilderness season right now? What is one way you can hold on to Jesus and trust Him to bring redemption and hope, even in this hard place?

Sermon Summary

Today’s gathering centers on the astonishing reality that God, in Jesus, goes all in for us from the very start. As we launch into the first chapter of Mark, we see Jesus stepping out of obscurity—out of Nazareth, a place of insignificance and low expectations. This is not just a detail; it’s a declaration that God’s redemption begins in the places we least expect, in the “Nazareths” of our lives—those seasons or situations that feel dull, overlooked, or unremarkable. Jesus’ journey from Nazareth to the Jordan River for baptism is a public act of being all in with God, and it’s an invitation for us to do the same.

Baptism, for Jesus, is not about repentance but about fulfilling all righteousness—rightly relating to God, to self, and to the world. He lives the righteous life we were meant to live, and in doing so, offers us his righteousness in place of our failures and regrets. This is not self-righteousness, but a deep, transformative rightness that reorders our loves and our lives. When we step into Jesus’ story, we are invited to receive this gift, to be washed clean, and to learn from him how to live in right relationship with all things.

As Jesus emerges from the waters, the Father’s voice declares over him, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” This affirmation comes before any miracles, before any public ministry. It is a word of belovedness and enough-ness that is not earned but received. In Christ, this same declaration is spoken over us. We are not defined by our performance or our ability to prove ourselves, but by the love and delight of God.

Yet, the path of belovedness does not mean a life free from hardship. Immediately, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness—a place of testing, trial, and purification. Whether our wilderness comes from our own mistakes, circumstances beyond our control, or even God’s leading, Jesus enters the wilderness to redeem it. He is victorious where we are weak, and his victory is available to us as we hold on to him, especially in seasons of struggle.

At the table of communion, we remember and celebrate this all-in love. Jesus takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary, offering his body and blood for our redemption. The invitation is open: to receive, to trust, to go all in with the One who has gone all in for us.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus goes all in from the start, redeeming even the most overlooked and ordinary places. The story begins in Nazareth—a place of insignificance—reminding us that God’s redemptive work often starts in the “Nazareths” of our own lives, those seasons or situations that feel dull, unremarkable, or disappointing. If you find yourself in such a place, know that Jesus comes to bring unexpected good even there. [07:36]
2. Righteousness is about rightly relating to God, ourselves, and the world—not about self-righteousness or perfectionism. Jesus fulfills all righteousness, living the life we were meant to live and offering us his righteousness in exchange for our failures. Our regrets often stem from misdirected loves or misplaced priorities, but Jesus invites us to reorder our lives around him and receive his cleansing grace. [14:04]
3. The Father’s affirmation—“You are my beloved; with you I am well pleased”—comes before any achievement or performance. In Christ, this same word is spoken over us: we are enough, we are loved, not because of what we do but because of who we are in him. This frees us from the endless striving to prove ourselves and allows us to live from a place of security and joy. [16:14]
4. The wilderness is a place of testing, trial, and transformation, and all of us will spend time there. Sometimes we end up in the wilderness because of our own choices, sometimes because of circumstances beyond our control, and sometimes because God leads us there for our growth. Jesus enters the wilderness to redeem it, and his victory in the wilderness is available to us as we cling to him in our own seasons of struggle. [25:11]
5. Communion is a celebration of Jesus’ all-in sacrifice and an invitation to receive his grace anew. As we take the bread and the cup, we remember that Jesus redeems the ordinary and makes it extraordinary, offering us forgiveness, righteousness, and belovedness. The table is open to all who are ready to go all in with Jesus, to receive his love, and to trust him with every part of their story. [31:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Fall Kickoff and Community Connection
[02:04] - The Gymnastics Vault: All-In Commitment
[03:55] - Life Only Works When You Go All In
[05:06] - Introduction to Mark’s Gospel
[07:36] - Jesus’ Humble Beginnings in Nazareth
[09:38] - Finding God in Our Own “Nazareths”
[11:36] - Jesus’ Baptism and the Meaning of Righteousness
[14:04] - Receiving Jesus’ Righteousness
[16:14] - The Father’s Declaration of Belovedness
[19:00] - Living from God’s Approval, Not for It
[21:10] - The Wilderness: Testing and Transformation
[25:11] - Jesus Redeems the Wilderness
[26:45] - Personal Wilderness Stories
[29:30] - Holding On to Jesus in Hard Seasons
[31:39] - Communion: Remembering Jesus’ All-In Love
[33:00] - Invitation to Prayer and Communion

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Mark 1:9-13 (ESV) — 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.
13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

Observation Questions

What is significant about Jesus coming from Nazareth, according to the sermon? [[07:36]]
What does Jesus’ baptism represent in this passage and in the sermon’s explanation? [[11:36]]
When does the Father declare his love and pleasure over Jesus—before or after Jesus’ public ministry begins? [[16:14]]
What happens to Jesus immediately after his baptism, and how does the sermon describe the meaning of the wilderness? [[25:11]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does the sermon emphasize that Jesus’ story begins in Nazareth, a place of insignificance? What does this suggest about where God’s redemption can begin in our own lives? [[07:36]]
The sermon says Jesus’ baptism is about “fulfilling all righteousness.” What does it mean for Jesus to live the righteous life we were meant to live, and how does that impact our relationship with God? [[14:04]]
The Father’s affirmation—“You are my beloved; with you I am well pleased”—comes before Jesus does any miracles or ministry. What does this teach about how God sees us, and how does it challenge the way we often think about earning approval? [[16:14]]
The wilderness is described as a place of testing and transformation. According to the sermon, what are some reasons we might find ourselves in the wilderness, and how does Jesus’ experience there give us hope? [[25:11]]

Application Questions

The sermon talks about “Nazareth” seasons—times that feel dull, overlooked, or unremarkable. Are you in a Nazareth season right now? If so, what would it look like to trust that Jesus can bring unexpected good even there? [[09:38]]
Jesus’ baptism is described as a public act of being “all in” with God. Is there an area of your life where you feel hesitant to go all in with Jesus? What is holding you back, and what would it look like to take a next step? [[11:36]]
The idea of righteousness in the sermon is about rightly relating to God, ourselves, and the world—not about perfectionism. Where do you see misdirected loves or misplaced priorities in your life? What is one practical way you could begin to reorder your loves this week? [[14:04]]
The Father’s affirmation over Jesus—“You are my beloved; with you I am well pleased”—is said to be true for us in Christ. Do you struggle to believe that you are enough and loved by God apart from your achievements? How does this affect your daily life, and what would change if you really believed it? [[16:14]]
The wilderness is a place of testing, and the sermon mentions that sometimes we end up there because of our own choices, circumstances, or even God’s leading. Are you in a wilderness season? How can you hold on to Jesus and trust his victory in your current struggles? [[25:11]]
Communion is described as a celebration of Jesus’ all-in love, where he takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary. How does this change the way you see the ordinary parts of your life? Is there a simple, everyday area where you need to invite Jesus’ presence and redemption? [[31:39]]
The invitation at the end of the sermon is to receive, to trust, and to go all in with the One who has gone all in for us. What is one specific way you can respond to this invitation this week—whether through prayer, a conversation, an act of service, or another step? [[33:00]]

Sermon Clips

At every turn, what Jesus is going to do is he's going to wade into broken things and make them well. He's going to move towards sick bodies and make them healthy. He's going to go face -to -face and toe -to -toe with spiritual opposition and going to overcome and cast out brokenness. He's going to love like no one else. He's going to teach like no one else. He's going to live like no one else. And then he's going to lay down his life for everyone else as he goes all in for you and for me. And the invitation, of course, in response is that we might then go all in with him. [00:01:07] (34 seconds) #AllInWithJesus

There are some things in life that only work if you go all in. Some things in life only work if you go all in. If you go half into your marriage, it's a marriage that won't make it. You go half into parenting, that's a recipe for your kids needing therapy much later in life. You go half into some opportunities in life, right? Some opportunities require you going all in to leverage that opportunity. Some problems emerge in life, surface in life. All of us have problems in life that some of them require we go all in on fixing them, or we don't fix the problem. [00:04:08] (31 seconds) #GoAllInToHeal

As Mark opens up the story of Jesus, he emphasizes humble beginnings. Jesus comes out of Nazareth in Galilee. Galilee is literally Smallville, Kansas. Like it is completely an irrelevant city throughout the whole Bible. In fact, one Bible scholar famously called Nazareth a poopy place. Very sophisticated analysis there. Nazareth had like a very bad soil, right? So almost all of Israel's farmers, the whole society is agricultural. Nothing grows in Nazareth. So what did Jesus' dad do? What was he? He was a carpenter. So was Jesus, because nothing grew in Nazareth. [00:07:15] (38 seconds) #RedeemingOurNazareths

Almost all of us have some season of Nazareth. Not dynamic, not a place maybe that you would have chosen for yourself. Almost all of us have some season. It's not the worst possible thing. It's just sort of a long, not dynamic, not spectacular place. Nazareth. See, Jesus is writing an all -in redemption story from the beginning. A redemption story where something bad happens, or average happens, or blah happens, and then something good comes out of it unexpectedly through the heroic action, the courageous action of a person or group of people. They somehow bring good and beauty and hope and life from something that looked kind of desolate or like nothing good was going to happen. [00:09:54] (36 seconds) #LookToJesus

Righteousness means rightly relating to all the things. Real righteousness means I'm relating rightly to, correctly to the world, to God, to myself, to the world around me, to the people around me. Righteousness means right relationship in all the right directions. [00:11:36] (16 seconds) #BelovedBeforeAction

If you're ready to go all in on Jesus, that's the next step, to come and say yes to his righteousness, to receive his righteousness, to receive his forgiveness for all the ways you haven't been righteous, and then to walk in the way of Jesus as he teaches us how to live a righteous, not self -righteous, genuinely righteous life. [00:15:41] (18 seconds) #VictoryInTheWilderness

You don't earn god's belovedness you surrender to it you receive it you let it reorient and reorder your life and then you do what jesus did you go live a magnificent life a fruitful life a beautiful life listen jesus does not spend the next three years trying to prove or earn God's love he knows God's love that's what gives him the strength to live the most magnificent life in human history because he knows he's beloved so he's free he already knows he's beloved he already knows he's valuable so he's free to go live a magnificent fruitful life the most impactful life in human history go and live your life not trying to prove anything to anyone but knowing that you are beloved by the Most High God who calls you his child declares over you sings over you you're beloved you're enough as you're found in Christ Jesus as you trust and walk in him and with him. [00:20:25] (56 seconds) #AllInRedemptionJourney

Here's here was my fight all summer long and i didn't always want to do this all summer long my alarm goes off the morning after the latest setback the latest defeat the latest discouragement the latest anaphylactic shock experience all summer long the alarm goes off i drag myself out of bed it's dark outside i sit down on my little chair with my bible and my journal and i'm just gonna fight to hold on to jesus in the wilderness because he's the one that redeems the wilderness because he's the one that's victorious in the wilderness and man i'm not seeing victory anywhere but here's my trust here's my hope here's my prayer jesus is victorious even and especially in the wilderness. [00:28:09] (45 seconds)

God is not the never enough God. Really good news. For some of you, this is why you're here today. Hear the really good news. God sings out over you in Christ Jesus. When you put your life in Christ Jesus' hands, when you are joined with him in baptism, when you walk with him, he sings out over you the same thing he sang over his own son. This is my child. This is my son, my daughter, whom I love. With you, God is well pleased. For those of you who have not enough, never enough, never enough, I'll loop in your heart, in your mind, in your spirit. Good news. This is what sets you free. This is what sets you free to live the life you were designed to live. [00:31:19] (30 seconds)

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