No More Circles | Pastor Matt Lacey | 04.26.2026

The text exhorts a decisive shift from stalled patterns into an expectant season of obedience and holy readiness. It opens by anchoring hope in Christ and reminding saints that God dwells with them even in suffering, citing the assurance that there is another in the fire. A vivid conviction surfaces during an ordinary moment at an amusement park where God declares that his people are not meant to go in circles. The call to stop circling links to Joshua chapter three where a new generation prepares to cross the Jordan, and where the ark symbolizes God’s holiness, provision, authority, and mercy leading the way.

Practical steps surface from the Joshua narrative. Direction from God requires distance from distraction so the people could witness God dam the river and step through on dry ground. The text warns that screens and endless scrolling often numb, not nourish, and that attention becomes an environment shaped by algorithms unless people intentionally reclaim it. Consecration follows as necessary preparation. To consecrate means to set apart, to wash and ready the heart so that the coming wonders register as God’s work rather than mistaken for coincidence or human effort.

Scripture anchors the theology of preparation. Ecclesiastes reminds that seasons differ and that God’s timing may call for grief, uprooting, or rebuilding. Revelation condemns lukewarmness and urges wholehearted devotion. Colossians reframes identity: believers already live hidden with Christ in heavenly places, so focus on heavenly realities reshapes priorities, steadies waiting, and empowers faithful endurance. Practical rhythms strengthen readiness: regular church engagement, providential relationships, private disciplines like prayer and fasting, service in personal ministry, and attention to pivotal circumstances create the soil in which God’s wonders grow.

The narrative closes by inviting immediate response. Preparation begins with repentance and trusting Christ, but it also includes small, tangible practices that position people for the miraculous. When distance from distraction and focused consecration align with expectancy, God’s power becomes visible and congregations step from wandering into promised life.

Key Takeaways

• 1. No more circling, move into promise Repeating the same patterns keeps believers trapped in delay and diminishes faith. Recognizing circling as a spiritual problem invites a decisive step of faith into the new season God names. Embrace the posture of forward movement so God’s power, not human effort, defines the outcome. [49:09]
• 2. Create distance from digital distractions Screens fragment attention and cultivate comparison, fear, and restlessness rather than spiritual formation. Intentional distance clarifies God’s direction and preserves time for prayer, Scripture, and face to face relationships. Reclaim attention by scheduling technology, practicing solitude, and valuing conversation over constant consumption. [60:52]
• 3. Consecrate and prepare for God Consecration sets life apart to meet God’s work with readiness and expectancy. Preparation includes confession, discipline, and small practical acts that tune the heart to recognize God’s wonders. When people prepare, they perceive God’s hand and respond with thanksgiving rather than confusion. [72:09]
• 4. Fix gaze on heavenly realities Setting sights on what is hidden with Christ reshapes priorities and strengthens endurance in waiting. Heavenly focus transforms everyday choices and breaks cycles of fear and distraction. Living from identity in Christ enables courageous obedience in the present. [80:24]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [37:24] - Living Hope and Worship
• [38:04] - There is Another in the Fire
• [43:54] - No More Circles It Is Time
• [49:09] - Vision from the Merry Go Round
• [54:25] - Crossing Jordan Context
• [58:02] - Keep Distance to See God
• [60:52] - Technology and Distraction
• [72:09] - Consecrate and Prepare
• [80:24] - Set Sights on Heaven
• [92:07] - Invitation and Response

1. In Joshua 3:3-4, why were the Israelites instructed to keep a distance from the ark as they followed it? How does this relate to the idea of creating space to witness God’s work?
2. What specific symbols were inside the ark of the covenant, and what did they represent (e.g., holiness, provision, authority)? [55:41]
3. According to Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, how do differing seasons of life require different postures of obedience? [51:13]
4. How does Revelation 3:16 describe the consequence of spiritual lukewarmness, and why is this contrasted with God’s call to “no more circles”? [53:16]

1. Why might distractions like constant screen time hinder the ability to discern God’s direction, as illustrated by the command to “keep distance” in Joshua 3:4? [01:00:52]
2. The sermon describes consecration as “setting apart” to recognize God’s wonders. How does neglecting this preparation risk misinterpreting God’s work as coincidence or human effort? [01:14:40]
3. What does it mean practically to “set your sights on the realities of heaven” (Colossians 3:1-4) while navigating earthly challenges like fear or comparison? [01:20:24]
4. How does the metaphor of “circling” (e.g., repetitive sin or stagnation) conflict with the Israelites’ forward movement into the Promised Land? [49:09]

1. Identify one area of your life where you’ve been “circling” (e.g., unresolved conflict, procrastination, or avoidance). What tangible step could you take this week to move forward in faith?
2. What specific distraction (e.g., social media, busyness) most often numbs your spiritual sensitivity? How could you create intentional “distance” from it to prioritize prayer or Scripture? [01:00:52]
3. Consecration involves practical preparation like confession, fasting, or serving. Which of these practices do you feel prompted to adopt, and how might it position you to recognize God’s work? [01:12:09]
4. How does your daily routine reflect a focus on “heavenly realities” versus earthly anxieties? What one habit could you adjust to align your priorities with eternal truths? [01:20:24]
5. The sermon warns against mistaking God’s wonders for coincidence. When have you overlooked His intervention in your life? How can you cultivate greater expectancy for His activity this month?
6. Revelation 3:16 challenges lukewarm faith. What area of your spiritual life feels stagnant or half-hearted? What would wholehearted devotion look like in that area? [53:16]
7. The Israelites crossed the Jordan at flood stage, trusting God’s power over their fear. What “flood-stage” obstacle are you facing? How can you lean into God’s provision rather than self-reliance this week?