WHAT’S YOUR NEXT MOVE? - Move To One | Week 1 | Tim Birdwell

Aug 30, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When Blindness Becomes Sight Without Vision

Fear paralyzes when uncertainty clouds purpose. Like a hamster spinning on a wheel, frantic motion without direction leaves souls exhausted. Vision rooted in God’s kingdom breaks this cycle, replacing aimless striving with eternal focus. Without clarity from Christ, even busyness becomes a mask for emptiness. True vision sees beyond temporary comforts to the weight of what lasts. [04:11]

Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.
(Proverbs 29:18, ESV)

Reflection: What daily rhythms keep you spinning without progress? How might pausing to seek God’s vision reorient your priorities?

Day 2: Imperfect People, Perfect Love

Shame’s cycle breaks when grace rewrites identity. Jesus’ baptism reveals a Father’s delight given freely, not earned. His declaration—“You are my beloved”—comes before any human effort, dismantling the lie that worth requires performance. To live moved by this love is to walk unshackled from fear, fueled by acceptance deeper than failure. [10:56]

And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
(Mark 1:11, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you still equate God’s approval with your performance? How might embracing His “beloved” label change your choices today?

Day 3: The Vision That Outlives Fox News

Algorithms and headlines shrink souls, but discipleship expands them. Endless scrolling breeds anxiety; intentional following breeds purpose. Jesus’ command to “make disciples” cuts through cultural noise, anchoring vision to eternal multiplication. Every coffee chat, every shared Scripture, every prayer whispers: this is how kingdoms grow. [07:48]

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
(Matthew 28:19–20, ESV)

Reflection: What earthly voices most distort your spiritual focus? What one step could recenter your vision on disciple-making this week?

Day 4: When Mahjong Becomes Holy Ground

Discipleship thrives in ordinary spaces—game nights, lunch breaks, laundry rooms. Jennifer and Ashley’s mahjong tiles became tools for kingdom connection, proving that Christ’s mission needs no stage, only willing hearts. Wherever two gather in His name, eternity interrupts routine. [34:37]

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
(Matthew 18:20, ESV)

Reflection: What mundane moment could you intentionally turn into a discipleship opportunity? Who needs an invitation to your “mahjong table” this week?

Day 5: The Courage to Move Before Knowing

Faith steps forward when outcomes blur. Like the merger that defied logic or the stairwell team formed in chaos, God honors obedience in uncertainty. Trusting His vision means acting before seeing, believing that faithfulness today seeds tomorrow’s harvest. [42:09]

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
(Isaiah 43:19, ESV)

Reflection: What “next move” have you delayed out of fear? How might trusting God’s faithfulness free you to act without full clarity?

Sermon Summary

Uncertainty can paralyze a person medically, relationally, financially, and spiritually. A life without clear vision can become either stuck in fear or busy like a hamster on a wheel, full of acceleration with no direction. A vision shaped by TikTok, political tribes, cultural success, or a bigger 401(k) can move fast toward an endgame that will not matter for eternity.

Jesus Christ gives the church no new secret sauce to discover. The Great Commission gives the never-changing vision: make disciples who make disciples, baptizing and teaching people to obey everything Christ commanded. Phoenix Bible Church exists as imperfect people moved by the perfect love of Jesus, not as people trying to earn love through an exhausting cycle of performance and shame.

The Father’s words over Jesus at His baptism show the foundation of that identity. Christ had not yet preached, healed, died, or risen when the Father declared, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Those who are in Christ receive that same beloved standing, not because of their performance, but because of Christ in them. Perfect love moves first through the cross, resurrection, mercy, and grace, and that love then moves people outward toward others.

God’s vision has always involved imperfect people. Israel complained after deliverance, Peter denied Christ in fear, and the church remains filled with people carrying habits, hurts, hangups, and distractions. Christ knew every failure beforehand and still chose to die for His people and work in them and through them. The church is not Plan B. The church is God’s Plan A for carrying His redemptive mission into the world.

Phoenix Bible Church names that mission as loving Jesus, living like Jesus, and leading others to Jesus. Discipleship means following Jesus and helping others do the same. Gospel identity, biblical framework, deep connection, Spirit reliance, generous stewardship, renewing rest, and missional engagement become ongoing marks of a disciple, not boxes to check off.

Devotion to Jesus, community with one another, and mission to the world create open doors for that discipleship to take root. God has already shown His faithfulness through a growing church, baptisms, missionaries, restored marriages, discipleship relationships, and a coming church plant. The next move may be joining, leading, giving, opening a home, stepping into a study, or simply locking arms with another believer. God moves to people first, and His perfect love calls them to move back to Him and toward others.

Key Takeaways

1. Uncertainty can leave life directionless Uncertainty does not merely create discomfort. Uncertainty can freeze a person in place or drive a person into frantic activity that has no eternal direction. A packed schedule may hide a visionless heart, especially when acceleration replaces obedience. [02:56]
2. Christ’s love ends performance and shame The Father delighted in the Son before Jesus performed public ministry, and Christ gives His people a place in that beloved Son. Gospel identity does not rest on a person’s latest success, failure, discipline, or spiritual mood. Christ’s finished work breaks the cycle of trying to perform for acceptance and then collapsing under shame. [11:46]
3. The church is God’s Plan A God knew Israel would complain, Peter would deny Christ, and modern believers would get distracted by lesser loyalties. Christ still chose imperfect people as the instruments of His kingdom mission. Grace does not excuse passivity, but grace makes broken people useful in the hands of Jesus. [16:27]
4. Discipleship means pouring out truth Discipleship is not collecting more Bible knowledge, attending more events, or admiring a good illustration. Discipleship follows Jesus in a way that helps another person follow Him too. A believer who only receives can become spiritually full without becoming spiritually fruitful. [35:17]
5. Faithfulness begins with a next move God often does not hand over the whole map before calling someone to move. A next step into community, leadership, generosity, or mission can feel small and overwhelming at the same time. God’s faithfulness becomes visible as His people take one obedient step at a time.

## [41:47]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - The Fear of Uncertainty
[02:56] - Acceleration Without Direction
[04:11] - Vision and What Shapes It
[06:13] - Christ’s Commission for Every Believer
[08:46] - Imperfect People Moved by Perfect Love
[10:30] - Freedom From Performance and Shame
[12:35] - God Uses Imperfect People
[17:54] - Love Jesus, Live Like Jesus, Lead Others
[21:50] - The Seven Marks of a Disciple
[24:56] - Devotion, Community, and Mission
[27:35] - Celebrating God’s Faithfulness
[37:36] - From Attending to Participating
[41:24] - What Is Your Next Move?

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 28:19–20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” [07:55] [19:16]

Mark 1:11
“And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’” [10:51]

Proverbs 29:18
“Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.” [04:07]

Observation questions

In Matthew 28:19–20, what are the specific actions Jesus gives His disciples: where they are to go, what they are to do, and what they are to teach?
What kinds of uncertainty were named as especially paralyzing—medical, relational, financial, and political—and what two opposite responses can uncertainty produce? [02:23]
What had Jesus not yet done publicly when the Father declared Him to be His beloved Son in Mark 1:11? [11:11]
What are the three movements that create open doors for discipleship: devotion to Jesus, community with one another, and mission to the world? [25:14]

Interpretation questions

Jesus commands His people to make disciples, baptize, and teach obedience—not merely to gather for services. What does this show about the purpose of the church and the role of every believer in it? [19:36]
The Father’s delight in Jesus came before Jesus began His public ministry. How does this truth address the cycle of trying to earn God’s acceptance through performance and then living under shame after failure? [10:17]
God chose to work through flawed people such as complaining Israel, denying Peter, and imperfect believers today. How can grace make someone useful to Jesus without treating sin or passivity as unimportant? [14:39]
Proverbs 29:18 warns about life without God’s vision. How can a person be very busy, goal-oriented, and successful by cultural standards while still moving in a direction that does not last for eternity? [03:31]

Application questions

Where does uncertainty most often affect your life right now: your health, relationships, finances, work, family, or future? Does it tend to leave you stuck, or does it keep you constantly busy without clear direction? [02:43]
What is shaping your vision of a good life most strongly right now—Scripture, Jesus, social media, political voices, career goals, comfort, or something else? What is one practical way you could give God’s voice more space this week? [04:45]
When you think about God’s view of you, do you usually picture acceptance in Christ or a scorecard based on your latest spiritual performance? How could Mark 1:11 help you receive Christ’s love before trying to do more for Him? [11:31]
Discipleship means following Jesus and helping someone else follow Him too. Who has helped you grow in Christ, and who might God be inviting you to encourage, pray for, meet with, or walk alongside? [18:51]
Which of the ongoing marks of a disciple most needs attention in your life right now: gospel identity, biblical framework, deep connection, Spirit reliance, generous stewardship, renewing rest, or missional engagement? What would one small next step look like? [21:36]
Are you primarily receiving from the church, or are you also finding ways to pour into others? What gift, story, experience, home, time, or resource could you offer to help another person take a step toward Jesus? [35:17]
What is your next move toward devotion, community, or mission? It may be joining a group, inviting someone to coffee, serving on a team, giving generously, opening your home, or beginning a spiritual conversation. What makes that step feel difficult, and how can this group support you in taking it? [38:25]

Sermon Clips

32s

#ChurchIsPlanA

“And yet he said, yeah, I want all those people. I wanna die for those people. I wanna give my life, not just say I love them. Wanna show it through the cross, through humiliation. And I wanna rise again and overcome all of those things. And I wanna work in these people, but I wanna work through them. And there's no plan b. This is plan a, and it's called the church of Jesus Christ. Aren't you glad? Aren't you thankful this morning for Jesus Christ?”

53s

#BelovedInChrist

“And I remember reading that and I looked up at the number and it said one, like Mark one. And I thought, why is this not Mark 16? It's the end of the book. What? Jesus, he hasn't performed any miracles yet. He hasn't preached any sermons yet. He hasn't done the very thing he came to earth to do. Down the cross, rise again. He hasn't done that yet. How do you look at him and say, this is my beloved son with whom I'm well pleased with? And he began to rock me and wreck me to see as I'm in Jesus Christ, I'm in Christ, that God looks at me and says, this is my son, my beloved son, and I'm well pleased with you. Not because of you, but because of Christ in you.”

26s

#JoinTheStory

“This is a group of imperfect people who are moving by the perfect love of Jesus through devotion, through community, through mission to to become disciples, who make disciples of Jesus, who participate in this redemptive story that started over two thousand years ago. You're a part of that. God wants you a part of that. He knew, like, well, I don't know. He knew that. I've done too much. He knew that. He said, come on. Come on. Let's be a part of this thing. And some of you, you need to to move.”

37s

#StepByFaith

“How is God calling you to move? What would God do if you moved? Again, red carpet picture, that was one of the most overwhelming, confusing, stressful times in my entire life. Twelve years ago, I had no idea what God was gonna do. I felt completely inadequate. God moved and we moved one step at a time. Nothing crazy. One step at a time. Faith to move. Trust God. And he is faithful. Won't he do it? Church,”

42s

#SavedForMission

“For some of you, it's that. For many of us, it's it's so many other things. And I would submit to you, if you're a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, he did not just save you to punch your ticket to heaven. He saved you to commission you to a vision that he has for your life. And you need to listen to him and fix your eyes on him. And we need to consume ourselves with him to know, are we headed towards his vision? Or ultimately, are we just hamsters on a wheel? Are we paralyzed in fear? Are we going somewhere that will not matter at all for eternity?”

49s

#GodsVisionNotYours

“And yet, we're like a hamster on a wheel. A lot of acceleration with no direction. We're not moving anywhere. We're just doing a lot of things because we don't have a certain vision in our lives. And yet many of us, you'd one up me and say, well, Tim, you don't you don't know me. Like, I got a journal. I got a spreadsheet. I got my personal mission in life, my vision in life, my goals in life. And I know exactly where I'm going, and you're working very hard to get there, and you have acceleration and direction. Here's the problem. Your vision and your endgame is not God's. It's just a promotion. It's just success according to our culture. It's just numbers in your four zero one k. And you're going fast and you're going somewhere that at the end of the day will not matter. Will not matter.”

44s

#PourOutNotIn

“And he's telling us all about it. And he he said, you know, I was convicted because I I knew a lot of the Bible. And I and somebody else discipled me. But if I'm honest, I was just, fat as a Christian. Like, I was just getting fed and fed and fed. I was just getting poured into, but I never poured out. And I got convicted, and I was like, man, I gotta do that. So he's meeting with Tim, and it's changed his life. And so he meets with these other guys who are also in their seventies, who also know the Bible. And he brought it to them, and he said, guys, I'm convicted. You should be convicted. We should all be pouring out and not complaining about the volume of music. We should be disseminating all this biblical truth and life change that God has poured into us. It's amazing. And Dell emailed us just to tell us. I love these emails.”

33s

#GodRestoresMarriage

“There's a couple who showed up to our church, and I got to meet them. We talked about marriage, and they said, hey, I want you to know, God really does. He can do anything. He can do the impossible, And he did that with our marriage. We were divorced for nineteen and a half years. Divorced. God reconciled our marriage. And they said, now we help other couples who are having marriage problems, who think they're too far gone. And we help them see God's reconciliation. Isn't God good? Isn't God faithful?”

32s

#LeadOrJoin

“I'll open up my home. And people could gather there, we could go through the sermon notes. I I would do that. And you need to stay. We have an hour meeting right after the service in the North Building. And some of you, God, you know you've been sitting too long, being fed too long, poured into too long without pouring out, and you need to step out and move. And I I just the people that are doing that currently, they are not miserable. They are some of the the most joyful people I've ever met in my life, cause they're operating as God has designed them to operate. Some of you need to lead, some of you need to join.”

36s

#GrowInGenerosity

“You're meant to read through it with another person who's empowered by the spirit of God and say, hey, where do I need to grow? Maybe it's generous stewardship. As I just mentioned, y'all tithe and 10%, you're like, does everybody do that here? I don't I don't do that. You're like, man, maybe we need to go on a journey together to talk about generosity. And how it does start with God giving us his son and for God so loved the world, he gave us his son. The the best way we can look like God in a a world that's selfish is be good stewards and be generous. And he gave us his son. We should give everything.”

36s

#IdentityInExile

“But if you're like, man, how what in Daniel, Old Testament? How's that work in the New Testament? How's that work for me today to be in like, have an identity in exile? That's the name of the series. Like, how how do I do that? How do I actually follow Jesus in a corrupt society, in a government that doesn't get it right all the time? That's the understatement of the century. Okay? If you're doing that, you're wrestling with that, with other people, that's the ticket. That that's that's a good sermon. Okay? But I hope everything and in worship and all and it is. I don't just hope it is. It's all part of our discipleship. This is the entire umbrella of what we're called to do here at PBC.”

30s

#LoveLiveLead

“I don't wanna do that. I hope you're taking this home. And how do I follow Jesus and help other people follow Jesus? Love, live, lead with what you learn today from God's word. If you get a great sermon we're gonna be in Daniel in a few weeks. If you get great sermons in Daniel and you have some fun facts to impress your friends at the next party, I don't know how you roll. And you're like, oh, that illustration was great and that was funny. That's a fail. Okay?”

50s

#KingdomFirst

“He knew you would get caught up in political ideologies in 2026 and forget that you're a kingdom citizen over and above an American citizen. He knew that you would listen to Fox News and CNN more than you read your Bible. He knew. He knew you'd come to church once a month if brunch wasn't happening or the golf course was too full. He knew you'd come to college and get involved in a lot of things and be really excited and forget that your main mission in college is to set up for your your mission in life, which is to lead your family and to to make an impact for the kingdom of God. And he knew you'd get sidetracked with fraternities and sororities and your GPA and what people think of you on Instagram.”

38s

#KnownAndLoved

“God had a vision that there would be people like that, and he would say, yeah, but I'm gonna build my church through you. And God knew you would come. And God knew you would show up on the scene. Do you think he didn't know? He knew what he was getting with you at the cross. He knew all your habits and hurts and hangups. Praise God. He knew. And he still came for you. He knew how you would sin, even though you knew it was sin, and it would bring destruction in your life, and in your marriage, and your family. It would hurt you. It hurt it would hurt other people, and he knew you would look at that and do it anyway.”

27s

#GodUsesPeople

“And there was a few certain realities from the very beginning about this vision. The vision was that God was gonna use people. Read the Bible. God was gonna use people, not a political institution, not a military regime. May have been more effective, may have been faster, but God had a vision. I'm gonna move through people.”

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