Row the Boat Together: Follow the Resurrected Jesus

Jul 05, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Gratitude for Gospel Partnerships

The weight of shared purpose lingers like the echo of hands clapping in unison. Nine years of baptisms, meals, and hard conversations become holy when bound by Christ’s mission. Paul’s letter to the Philippians pulses with this truth: gospel work thrives not in solo heroics but in the messy, joyful collaboration of ordinary people. What began as a prayer and a U-Haul truck full of folding chairs became a testament to God stitching lives together. [14:33]

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 1:3-6, NIV)

Reflection: Where do you see the fingerprints of others’ partnership shaping your faith journey? How might you intentionally celebrate someone’s role in God’s work this week?

Day 2: The Church is God’s Poem, Not Ours

A poem isn’t written in frantic edits but in the poet’s deliberate rhythm. Ephesians 2:10 reframes the church’s story: not a project to control but a stanza God has been composing since before the first “Amen.” The $50,000 surprise, the baptisms, the late-night doubts—all syllables in a divine epic. Leadership changes and uncertain budgets become less terrifying when we remember the Author keeps writing. [19:32]

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
(Ephesians 2:10, NIV)

Reflection: What line of your life’s “poem” feels unfinished or confusing? How might this verse reshape your view of God’s authorship?

Day 3: When Worry Meets God’s Faithfulness

The Butler Farm Show panic attack—two months’ funds left, sweat on a financial report—mirrors our own “what if” spirals. Yet the $50,000 miracle didn’t just balance a budget; it exposed the lie that our anxiety fuels God’s work. Jesus’ words about sparrows and grass whisper a disruptive truth: faithfulness thrives when we stop white-knuckling outcomes. [22:56]

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
(Matthew 6:25-26, NIV)

Reflection: What practical responsibility have you confused with a burden you must carry alone? How can you physically release that worry today—a note in a journal, a hands-open prayer?

Day 4: Investing in People is Worth the Pain

The backyard party with the Scott Township neighbors—kids laughing, adults conspiring—cost Danielle and the pastor time, energy, and eventually tears. Yet Jesus’ command to love neighbors isn’t a transaction but an invitation to let others carve grooves in your heart. Every casserole delivered, every soccer game attended, writes “image of God” across ordinary moments. [30:51]

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
(John 13:34-35, NIV)

Reflection: Who has loved you in a way that made Christ’s nearness undeniable? What relational risk might God be asking you to take despite potential goodbye pain?

Day 5: Rowing the Boat Together Toward Eternity

The Viking chant echoes in a Pennsylvania church—row together, sweat together, sing together. Baptismal waters and communion cups become oars in the hands of a community. Unity isn’t uniformity; it’s the messy harmony of fishermen, tax collectors, and kids holding mini-oars, pulling in rhythm with the resurrected Captain. [40:53]

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.”
(1 Corinthians 12:12-14, NIV)

Reflection: What “rowing” habit—prayer, service, vulnerability—have you neglected? How can you grab your oar this week to strengthen the church’s forward motion?

Sermon Summary

Gospel partnership sets the tone with Philippians 1:3-6, where gratitude and confidence in God’s ongoing work anchor the moment. The mission to work as one comes into view as a long obedience in the same direction: helping people who feel far from church and far from God learn to follow Jesus, together. The church as God’s possession clarifies identity and pace. The big C church will not fail because Jesus said hell’s gates won’t hold; the little c churches will change, adapt, hand off, and start again, because the mission never changes and God writes fresh chapters.

Confidence in completion steadies the room. The promise that he who began a good work will finish it applies to long-timers, brand-new believers, and the whole congregation. Ephesians 2:10 names this vocation plainly: you are God’s handiwork, his poem in Christ Jesus, created for good works prepared ahead of time. That poem keeps being written in ordinary meetings, surprising friendships, and in stories that end in the water.

Providence cuts the legs out from under anxiety. “God’s got this” is not wishful thinking but lived memory: panic over budgets meets unlooked-for provision, and fear gives way to trust. The sadness of leaving doesn’t vanish, but it sits under the larger reality that God guards and guides his people.

The resurrection of Jesus takes center stage as the non-negotiable. If he didn’t rise, nothing else matters. Because he did, everything matters. Ministry that drifts toward projects, arguments, or personalities needs to re-center on worshiping the resurrected King of the universe.

Neighbor love proves itself in presence. Time, inconvenience, and shared life are worth it, even when goodbye hurts. Perseverance names the hardship honestly: leadership can be lonely, some people drift, and “who you start with is not who you finish with,” yet the good far outweighs the bad, so the race is worth running.

Intercession for leaders matters because the burden is heavy. Questions should be brought directly, ideas offered with sleeves rolled up to help, and grace given freely. Togetherness turns impact into movement. The image is simple and sticky: row the boat together. When everybody rows, the boat moves farther and faster, here and in Wisconsin, in the same kingdom tide. Communion and baptisms seal the point: it’s about Jesus, and about people publicly owning that Jesus is Lord.

Key Takeaways

1. Make it all about the resurrection The center is not a program, personality, or preference but a historical, earth-shaking event. If Christ didn’t rise, nothing else holds. Because he rose, everything in life and ministry suddenly carries weight and hope. Keep decisions and worship tethered to the empty tomb. [26:52]
2. Remember the church belongs to God Ownership sets posture. God stewards the big C church that cannot fail, while little c churches shift and adapt as seasons change. Peace grows when identity rests in his hands rather than in leaders, plans, or models. Let permanence belong to the gospel and flexibility belong to methods. [16:18]
3. Live as God’s poem for works Ephesians 2:10 names a calling that is personal and prepared. God is already writing lines that fit each person’s grace and season, in Christ. The invitation is to walk into good works that were queued long before anyone saw them. Trust the Author, then take the next faithful step. [19:32]
4. Name the hardship and stay faithful It’s okay to admit the work can be lonely, disappointing, and slow. Honest lament is not unbelief; it is the doorway to resilient obedience. The good really does outweigh the bad, and endurance becomes a testimony that outlives quick wins. Keep running the race set before you. [33:10]
5. Row the boat together, relentlessly Impact grows into movement when everybody rows. Partnership looks like prayer for leaders, direct conversations, ideas offered with hands to help, and neighbor-love lived in place. Shared oars move the mission farther and faster because unity becomes horsepower. Keep rowing in the same direction. [40:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[12:22] - Last Sunday and gospel gratitude
[15:30] - Together from the start
[16:18] - God’s church: big C and little c
[18:07] - God completes what he starts
[19:32] - God’s poem, prepared good works
[21:57] - God’s got this: provision over worry
[24:07] - Sad to leave, trusting God
[26:17] - It’s all about the resurrection
[29:17] - Invest in people, be present
[32:01] - Name the hard, stay faithful
[35:57] - Pray for and partner with leaders
[39:37] - Row the boat together
[45:10] - Communion: remember Jesus
[47:56] - Baptisms and celebration

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV)
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

1 Corinthians 15:14 (NIV)
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

Observation questions

In Philippians 1:3-6, what specific reasons does Paul give for his gratitude toward the Philippian church? How does this mirror the pastor’s reflections on partnership in the gospel? [14:33]
The sermon describes believers as “God’s poem” (Ephesians 2:10). What imagery does this metaphor evoke about our purpose and God’s creativity?
According to the sermon, why is the resurrection of Jesus the “non-negotiable” center of faith and ministry? How does 1 Corinthians 15:14 reinforce this? [26:52]

Interpretation questions

Paul says God will “carry [His work] to completion” (Philippians 1:6). Why might this promise be especially meaningful for a church experiencing leadership changes or uncertainty?
Ephesians 2:10 says God prepared good works for us “in advance.” How does this truth challenge the idea that our efforts for God depend solely on our own plans or abilities?
The sermon argues that “if [the resurrection] doesn’t happen, nothing else matters” [26:52]. How does this claim shape how we prioritize our time, relationships, and decisions?

Application questions

The pastor shared a story about financial anxiety and God’s unexpected provision [22:18]. Where are you tempted to worry instead of trusting God’s faithfulness? What practical step could you take to surrender that fear?
“Investing in people is worth it, even when goodbye hurts” [29:17]. Is there a relationship or opportunity you’ve avoided because of potential pain? How could you lean into it this week?
The sermon urges believers to “row the boat together” through prayer, direct communication, and shared effort [40:53]. What is one way you could actively support your church leaders or community this month?
“God’s poem keeps being written in ordinary meetings” [19:32]. How might your perspective on daily routines (work, errands, chores) change if you saw them as part of God’s intentional story?
The pastor admitted ministry can be lonely and disappointing [32:01]. When have you felt discouraged in your faith? How can you practice “honest lament” while still choosing obedience?

Sermon Clips

61s

#GodsChurchUnstoppable

“This is God's church. Don't forget it. And God decides what happens to his church. And to be very clear, his big c church, here's what's gonna happen. Nothing because nothing's gonna stop it. Jesus promised the gates of hell will not stop God's church. So I promise you, God's church will not stop. But when it comes to his little c church, things happen. Things change. The little c church will always change. There will be new churches starting, and there will be some churches that end. There will be leadership changes, and there will be people that change, and there will be plans that change, and there's models of how church is done, and that will change over time. God's little c church will adapt with the times but his big c church will not fail and we as one church get the privilege of changing and adapting as God sees And, we as God's church adapt with that change because the mission never changes.”

48s

#ResurrectedJesus

“``And so, first and foremost, here is what I've learned more than ever before as a lead pastor. It's all about the resurrected Jesus. Everything done in ministry, everything done in faith, needs to be rooted in this one moment, in this one event, in this one truth that Jesus died and he resurrected him. So often, we get so messed up with with worries and and the world and theological arguments and all these different things, but our faith and our ministry and our lives is rooted in a moment. And that's the moment that Jesus resurrected from the dead. If that doesn't happen, nothing else matters. But because that happened, everything else matters.”

76s

#GodFinishesWhatHeStarts

“We change so we can stay on mission. This has and always will be about helping others know and follow Jesus. A group of followers of Jesus together who are saved by the grace of Jesus together helping others know that same truth. And, God will continue that mission and here's what's amazing. God will continue that good work that he started in you. I want you guys who have been here since the start to think about this for a moment, think about where you were nine years ago to where you are now. I bet you you're able to look at the work that God has done. And, for you who have come along in the past nine years, maybe you heard the gospel for the first time because of one church or maybe you gave your life to Jesus because of your connection to one church, or maybe a friend invited you, or however it was, God started something in you in that. And, I promise you because Paul promises us this in scripture that he, God, who started a good work in you, he will see it to completion. And so, when God started one church nine years ago with a few people and we just built from there, he will complete this good work to wherever it needs to be.”

59s

#RowTogether

“And the one thing is it's my last one thing with you. Continue the mission of one church together. Together. And the mission is the work is one to help you will follow Jesus. And the mission gets lived out when you make sure it's all about the resurrected Jesus, and you are with people, and you stay on mission even when it's hard, and you pray for those leading this whole thing, and you do all of this together. So let's make a promise. Okay? You row the boat here. We'll row the boat in Wisconsin. And the kingdom of God continues to get built together because we row together. And together, a movement will continue that's been going on for two thousand years in the name of Jesus and and people helping others follow the resurrected Jesus.”

49s

#TogetherCreatesMovement

“Do all of this together. You see, the difference between impact and a movement is how many people are actually doing what's needed. How many people are doing what God calls them to do? If it's just a few of you doing these things, impact's gonna get made, I promise. When all of you do this, whether you are a part of one church or not, a movement takes place in our community. all of you do these things, a movement will happen because together is better. The church is not a group of individuals. It's a collection of people called out to live on mission together. And the mission is to work as one to help people follow Jesus. This isn't just the pastors. This isn't just the leaders. This is everybody.”

50s

#YouAreGodsPoem

“And, this is such an amazing little piece of scripture and it takes a little work to understand why it's so amazing. But, when Paul says, we're God's handiwork, the word translated best from the Greek is, you are God's poem. God is writing your story. You are God's work, that he is writing your purpose and preparing you for what you were supposed to do. And, you are his poem because you are in Christ Jesus. All of this is in and through Jesus Christ that God sent his son to come teach and show us and usher in the kingdom of God, but he showed us reconciliation and forgiveness through his death and resurrection. And, for those of us who put our faith in Jesus, we are in Christ Jesus. And because of that, God is writing out his work in us because of Jesus Christ.”

53s

#StayFaithfulThroughChange

“And, here's the kicker, as you look around this room right now, and I'm going be really negative but honest with you, you won't finish the race with all these people. Life will take you in different places. Jobs change. Churches, you you move to a different church because we have to move to Wisconsin because God made us. Just blame him for this whole thing. happens and it will bring a change in people, bring a change in relationships. Who you start with is not who you finish with, but that does not negate the goodness that God has used those people with. And, you've been a blessing to me and my family. So, it's hard. It's okay to admit it, but stay faithful.”

67s

#TrustJesusInvestInPeople

“So, your life, if you wonder what faith is all about, it's this and nothing else. If you could land and and follow and trust the resurrected Jesus, I promise you, you're gonna be okay. So do them. But then after that, invest in people. Spend time with people. Put forth the effort, use your resources, and deal with any inconvenience that may get in the way of spending time with people. Invest in friendships and get to know your neighbors, coach the teams, volunteer the time, speak out in conversation, meet people where they're at. It's worth it. And I say it's worth it as I am brokenhearted to leave all of you right now. But it's worth it. Invest in the people because they're amazing and they're created in the image of God and God loves them dearly so much that Jesus died for them.”

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Row the Boat Together: Follow the Resurrected Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Gratitude for Gospel Partnerships

Day 2: The Church is God’s Poem, Not Ours

Day 3: When Worry Meets God’s Faithfulness

Day 4: Investing in People is Worth the Pain

Day 5: Rowing the Boat Together Toward Eternity

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Row the Boat Together: Follow the Resurrected Jesus

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