January 4, 2026 Service - "Focus 2026: Connect, Dig, Impact

Because if we fail to do that, the world will disciple our children. And so we have incredible people who lead in teaching our children of the way of Jesus. We we've even brought our children and our youth upstairs. We've invited them to worship with us because they can learn from us, and we can learn from them. They need to see the body of Christ worshiping Jesus together. [00:52:54] (30 seconds)  #TeachKidsFaithTogether

It is simple, but it is not always easy. Believers are to do good. They are to embody what is right. They are to employ mercy and to deploy Christ's light into the dark places and spaces, not for our glory, but for God's glory and for the goodness of the people around us. You see, our do gooding is not to eclipse God, rather it is to reflect his good love to those around us. [00:56:58] (32 seconds)  #ServeForHisGlory

And that is an option that all of us are faced with every day. It's a choice. We can choose not to remain. We've all been in conversations with individuals or with people. We've probably all been in a conversation that may be a bit heated or there is an argument or a disagreement or a frustration. And finally, someone in frustration says, alright. I'm done. I'm leaving. Right? I'm stepping out of this. You see, we're all presented with that opportunity, with that challenge to either stay and remain in and with Christ or to step away. [00:41:03] (44 seconds)  #ChooseToRemain

I'm fascinated with the idea that the loving father was out looking for his son, which I wonder if is an is an invitation even in his action. He wasn't just sitting at home griping, but he was out looking for his son. As the scripture say that when you saw him a long distance off, he ran to him. [00:28:33] (29 seconds)  #FatherRanForYou

this prayer is inviting me that regardless of what all is happening, regardless of my to do list, regardless of the message that I need to prepare, regardless of the phone conversations that need to be had or the different things that need to be accomplished, to say the one thing as I'm sitting in my recliner next to my pellet stove waiting for the coffee to brew quickly. What I'm saying is the first thing that I need is to dwell in the house, in the presence of God, to behold his beauty. [00:33:14] (39 seconds)  #DwellFirst

Honestly, if we sit and we contemplate that truth and that prayer and those words, I think it would be fascinating to see what it is our little old hearts actually long for. As I'm praying that prayer, I'm thinking of all these are the things that I want that I need, water and food and coffee, and I gotta finish this to do list to feel good about myself, and I've gotta provide, all these sorts of things. Yet, this little bitty prayer is simply reminding my soul what I long for, is to dwell in the house of the Lord, to behold his beauty and his glory. [00:33:52] (38 seconds)  #SoulLongsForGod

I I sit down sometimes in my recliner in the mornings, and as I'm reading or, sometimes just sitting, I find myself with just this, this little string of anxiety floating through me like, okay, Lord. Can we please get through this? Come on. Come on. Let's let's come on. Let's go. I've got stuff to do, Lord. You do you know what I'm saying? Like, the moment you're just kinda sitting quietly and your mind is just trailing and think of all that needs to be done, and all the while, Jesus, I'm imagining and picturing is just saying, sit with me, man. [00:39:57] (31 seconds)  #SitWithJesus

What does it look like for our church and for our people to remain, to abide, to begin practicing and creating these rhythms of abiding and remaining in him. It's fascinating that Jesus also says, those who remain in me, which leads me to believe there is an option to not remain. [00:40:40] (23 seconds)  #AbideDeliberately