Jesus at the Center: Finding Freedom and Completion

Today, we gathered in the presence of God, believing that where Jesus is, the impossible becomes possible. We celebrated the truth that Jesus is not just with us, but He is greater than us—greater than our struggles, our pride, our failures, and even our best efforts. I shared how, like John the Baptist, our purpose is to point to Jesus, to make Him the center, and to step back so He can be seen more clearly in our lives. This is not always easy, especially when life feels incomplete, when our missions seem never-ending, and when anxiety and frustration creep in. But the secret to growth is not in striving harder, but in letting Jesus become greater and ourselves become less.

We explored how easy it is to put ourselves at the center—whether in ministry, family, or work—and how that leads to pride and pressure. But when Jesus is the center, we find freedom from the burden of having to complete everything ourselves. Prayer and praise are the practical ways we shift the focus from ourselves to Him. Honest, unceasing prayer and sacrificial praise—even when life is hard—are how we invite Jesus to move in our situations.

I shared my own story of brokenness and addiction, and how Jesus completed what I could not. He filled the emptiness that nothing else could satisfy. Jesus doesn’t want to erase who we are; He wants to complete us, to fill the gaps and heal the wounds that we cannot fix on our own. Even when we don’t see the answers we want—like praying for healing and not seeing it immediately—Jesus is still working, still completing, still healing in His way and timing.

But there’s more: Jesus is greater than me, but when Jesus is with me, we become unstoppable. The “power of we”—Jesus plus us, the body of Christ together—is greater than anything we could ever do alone. We are called to fight together, to support one another, and to rely on both the Holy Spirit and each other. When we surrender our pride and ask for help, we experience the fullness of God’s grace and the victory that comes from unity in Christ. Today, many made the decision to step into that victory by giving their lives to Jesus, and we celebrate new beginnings, new hope, and new life.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus must become greater, and we must become less. When we put ourselves at the center, we operate out of pride and anxiety, feeling the pressure to make everything work. But when Jesus is the center, we find rest and freedom, knowing that He is the one who brings completion and purpose to our lives. [41:02]
• 2. Honest, unceasing prayer and sacrificial praise are the ways we keep Jesus at the center. Prayer is not just a ritual, but a continual, honest conversation with God, inviting Him into every moment. Praise, even through tears and doubts, is an act of faith that shifts our focus from our problems to God’s power and goodness. [43:05]
• 3. Jesus completes what we cannot. No matter how hard we try, there are places in our hearts and lives that only Jesus can fill and heal. Our brokenness, addictions, and failures are not the end of our story—Jesus steps in to finish what we cannot, bringing true transformation and wholeness. [47:23]
• 4. The “power of we” is greater than anything we can do alone. When we join with Jesus and with each other, we become part of something unstoppable. The kingdom of God is within us, and together, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can do even greater things than we could ever imagine. [62:17]
• 5. Surrendering pride and asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. We were never meant to fight alone. God’s grace is made perfect in our weakness, and when we lean on both Him and the community He’s given us, we experience victory, healing, and the fullness of life He promises. [67:23]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Honoring the Church Family
• [03:45] - Introduction to John the Baptist (JB)
• [07:20] - Greater Than Me: The Central Theme
• [10:55] - The Struggle of Incompletion
• [15:30] - Jesus is the Center, Not Me
• [20:40] - The Trap of Pride and Self-Centric Living
• [25:15] - Prayer and Praise: Shifting the Focus
• [30:50] - Jesus Completes What I Can’t
• [39:53] - Testimony: From Addiction to Wholeness
• [47:23] - Wrestling with Unanswered Prayers
• [53:10] - The Power of We: Jesus Plus Me
• [61:31] - The Upside-Down Kingdom
• [67:23] - Surrendering Pride and Asking for Help
• [68:57] - Responding to Jesus: Salvation and New Beginnings

Bible Reading

John 3:26-30 (NASB) — > 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.”
> 27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.
> 28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’
> 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.
> 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Observation Questions

1. In John 3:27-28, how does John the Baptist describe his own role compared to Jesus?
2. What does John mean when he says, “He must increase, but I must decrease”? How does this attitude show up in his response to his disciples?
3. According to the sermon, what are some ways people (including the pastor) tend to put themselves at the center instead of Jesus? [[41:02]]
4. What practical actions did the pastor mention for shifting the focus from ourselves to Jesus? [[43:05]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think it’s so hard for people to “decrease” and let Jesus “increase” in their lives, even when they know it’s the right thing? [[41:02]]
2. The pastor shared about feeling incomplete and anxious because his “mission” never feels finished. How does putting Jesus at the center change the way we handle feelings of incompletion or pressure? [[41:02]]
3. The sermon said, “Jesus doesn’t want to erase who we are; He wants to complete us.” What does it mean for Jesus to “complete” us, and how is that different from just trying harder on our own? [[47:23]]
4. The pastor talked about the “power of we”—Jesus plus us, the body of Christ together. How does this idea challenge the way we usually think about faith as an individual journey? [[01:02:17]]

Application Questions

1. The pastor admitted that pride and self-focus can sneak in, even in good things like ministry or family. Where do you see yourself putting “I” at the center of your life? What’s one area where you need to let Jesus become greater? [[41:02]]
2. Honest, unceasing prayer and sacrificial praise were described as ways to keep Jesus at the center. What does “honest prayer” look like for you? Is there something you need to be more real with God about this week? [[43:05]]
3. The pastor shared his story of addiction and brokenness, and how Jesus filled the emptiness he couldn’t fix. Is there a place in your life where you feel incomplete or stuck? What would it look like to invite Jesus to “complete what you can’t”? [[47:23]]
4. Sometimes we pray for things—like healing—and don’t see the answer we want. How do you respond when God’s timing or answer is different than your expectations? How can you keep trusting that Jesus is still working? [[47:23]]
5. The “power of we” means we need each other, not just Jesus. Is there an area where you need to ask for help or let others support you? What’s holding you back from reaching out? [[01:07:23]]
6. The sermon said that surrendering pride and asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Who is someone in your life you could be more honest with about your struggles? What’s one step you can take this week to let someone in? [[01:07:23]]
7. The pastor celebrated people making new beginnings with Jesus. If you’ve already made that decision, what’s one way you can support or encourage someone else who is just starting their journey? If you haven’t, what’s holding you back from taking that step? [[01:08:57]]