One Church LiveStream | October 12, 2025 | 10:45AM

Devotional

Day 1: The Message of the Cross: Foolishness or Power?

The message of the cross stands in stark contrast to the values of the world, appearing as foolishness to those who have not accepted Jesus, but as the very power of God to those who are being transformed by Him. This upside-down way of living—choosing to lose in order to truly win—invites us to stop chasing after the approval of others and the fleeting rewards of this world, and instead to embrace a life that is continually shaped and empowered by God’s Spirit. When we accept this invitation, we experience a transformation that is not a one-time event, but a daily process of becoming more like Christ, even when it seems counterintuitive or difficult. [30:20]

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel pressured to “prove yourself” to others, and how might embracing the message of the cross free you from that striving today?

Day 2: The Fruit of the Spirit: Evidence of Transformation

When we surrender to the way of the cross and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, God produces a transformation that is visible in our character and actions. This transformation is not about striving for good behavior or outward success, but about becoming people marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities are not achieved by our own effort, but are the natural result of living in step with the Spirit, and they stand out as radically different from the world’s way of living. [34:17]

Galatians 5:22-23, 25 (NIV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. … Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit do you most desire to see grow in your life right now, and what is one practical way you can invite the Holy Spirit to cultivate it in you today?

Day 3: Living for the Approval of One

Following Jesus means shifting our focus from seeking the approval of many to living for the approval of One—God Himself. When we make Jesus not just our Savior but also our Lord, we are freed from the exhausting race of comparison and competition, and instead find our identity and worth in God’s love and calling. This new way of living empowers us to use our gifts, opportunities, and resources not for self-promotion, but to glorify God and serve others, trusting that His approval is all that truly matters. [24:29]

Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Reflection: Who’s “court of public opinion” are you most tempted to live for, and how can you intentionally shift your focus to seeking God’s approval in your actions this week?

Day 4: Giving Your Life Away: The Way of Jesus

Jesus won by giving His life away, and He calls His followers to do the same—not by clinging to our own ambitions or achievements, but by serving and loving others sacrificially. This way of living may seem like losing to the world, but it is actually the path to true victory and fulfillment. When we leverage our talents, opportunities, and resources to bless others, we reflect the heart of our King and experience the transforming power of God in our lives and communities. [43:39]

Mark 8:34-35 (NIV)
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.’”

Reflection: What is one specific way you can give your life away for someone else’s good this week, even if it feels inconvenient or unnoticed?

Day 5: The Next Generation Is Watching

The way we live out our faith has a profound impact on those who come after us, especially our children and the next generation. If we claim to follow Jesus but live no differently than the world, we risk passing on a faith that lacks power and authenticity. But when we take the message of the cross seriously—making Jesus both Savior and Lord—our transformed lives become a compelling witness that can inspire others to follow Him. The stakes are high, and our daily choices matter more than we realize. [38:19]

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (NIV)
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Reflection: How might your daily actions and attitudes be shaping the faith of the next generation, and what is one intentional step you can take to model authentic discipleship this week?

Sermon Summary

Today’s focus is on the deep tension so many of us feel: the constant striving to prove ourselves, to be “enough”—whether in our jobs, our families, or even in our faith. This drive to measure up, to win the approval of others, is a race that never ends and leaves us exhausted and discontent. We often find ourselves living for the court of public opinion, chasing after achievements and comparing ourselves to others, only to discover that it’s like chasing the wind—something we can never truly catch.

But the cross of Jesus stands as a radical alternative to this endless striving. In the first century, the cross was not just a symbol of belief, but an invitation to a completely different way of living—one that seems upside down and even foolish to the world. Instead of living for the approval of many, we are called to live for the approval of One: God. The cross calls us to lose our lives in order to find them, to give ourselves away rather than cling to our own ambitions and achievements.

Paul, who once lived by the world’s standards of winning and achievement, encountered Jesus and was transformed. He realized that the message of the cross is “foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” This power is not about outward success, but about the inward transformation that comes from following Jesus daily, not just believing in Him once. The fruit of this life is not measured by what we accumulate or accomplish, but by the character God produces in us—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

This way of living is not intuitive, nor is it easy. It often looks like losing. But it is the very path Jesus walked, giving His life away for others, and it is the path He calls us to follow. When we say yes to the invitation of the cross, we experience the true power of God—not just for ourselves, but for the world around us. Our lives become a testimony that causes others to stop and wonder, and it is this difference that has the power to impact generations. The challenge is to ask: What does it look like for me, with my unique gifts and opportunities, to give my life away for God’s glory this week?

Key Takeaways

1. The endless pursuit of proving ourselves—whether to others or even to God—leads only to exhaustion and discontentment. When we live for the approval of the crowd, we run a race with no finish line, always comparing and never arriving. The cross invites us to step out of this cycle and live for the approval of One, freeing us from the tyranny of comparison and the fear of not being enough. [17:54]
2. The message of the cross is not just about believing in Jesus, but about embracing a radically different way of life. It calls us to lose in the eyes of the world—to give up our rights, our status, and our self-justification—in order to gain the life that truly matters. This upside-down kingdom is difficult and often misunderstood, but it is the only path to true transformation and fulfillment. [19:11]
3. True transformation happens not when we simply accept Jesus as Savior, but when we make Him Lord and follow Him daily. The power of God is experienced as we participate in the kingdom of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to produce in us what we could never achieve on our own. This is not a one-time event, but a continual process of surrender and growth that shapes us into people who reflect Christ to the world. [29:50]
4. The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—is the evidence of a life surrendered to the way of the cross. These qualities are not the result of self-effort or religious performance, but of God’s Spirit working in and through us as we give our lives away. When we live this way, our lives become a powerful witness that cannot be ignored, even if it seems foolish to others. [34:17]
5. The stakes are high: when we claim Christ but live by the world’s standards, we risk losing not only our own experience of God’s power, but also the next generation who are watching to see if our faith is real. The call is to live in such a way that our children and our community see a genuine difference—a life marked by self-giving love, not self-serving ambition. This is how the power of God is made visible and how heaven comes to earth through us. [38:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[10:40] - Guest Introduction and One in Five
[11:34] - Communion and Announcements
[12:08] - Women’s Retreat and Be Rich Initiative
[13:20] - Be Rich Giving Results
[14:11] - Upcoming Serve Day with Emmaus
[15:08] - The Struggle of Never-Enoughness
[17:02] - The Court of Public Opinion
[18:15] - The Cross: Icon of Christianity
[19:11] - The Upside-Down Way of Jesus
[20:43] - Savior vs. Lord: The Cross as a Way of Life
[21:57] - Chasing the Wind and Discontentment
[23:54] - Living for the Approval of One
[25:31] - Paul’s Transformation and the Invitation of the Cross
[27:30] - The Message of the Cross: Foolishness or Power?
[29:50] - Transformation Through Following Jesus
[33:22] - The Fruit of the Spirit
[35:54] - The Danger of One-and-Done Faith
[38:19] - The Next Generation is Watching
[40:04] - The Wisdom of the World vs. The Way of the Cross
[41:33] - The Power of Jesus in Giving His Life Away
[43:39] - Giving Your Life Away: The Way of the Cross
[46:01] - Living Out the Invitation This Week
[48:27] - Communion and Closing Worship

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV) — > For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Galatians 5:22-23, 25 (NIV) — > But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
> Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Observation Questions

According to 1 Corinthians 1:18, how do different groups of people view the message of the cross? What words does Paul use to describe their perspectives?
In Galatians 5:22-23, what are the specific qualities listed as the fruit of the Spirit?
The sermon described the cross as an “invitation to a completely different way of living.” What are some ways this “upside-down” way is described? [[19:11]]
The pastor mentioned that striving to prove ourselves is like “chasing after the wind.” What does this phrase mean in the context of the sermon? [[21:57]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul say the message of the cross seems like “foolishness” to some people? What does this reveal about the difference between God’s values and the world’s values? [[27:30]]
The sermon says that true transformation happens not just by believing in Jesus once, but by following Him daily. What does it mean to “make Jesus Lord” and not just “Savior”? [[20:43]]
The fruit of the Spirit is described as evidence of a life surrendered to the way of the cross. Why do you think these qualities are considered “fruit” and not just “good behavior”? [[34:17]]
The pastor warned that if we claim Christ but live by the world’s standards, we risk losing the next generation. Why is it so important for our faith to look different from the world? [[38:19]]

Application Questions

The sermon asked, “Who are you trying to prove yourself to?” Take a moment to honestly identify the people or groups whose approval you find yourself chasing. How does this affect your daily decisions and sense of worth? [[17:54]]
The cross calls us to “lose our lives in order to find them.” What is one area of your life where you feel called to “give yourself away” this week, even if it feels like losing? [[19:11]]
The fruit of the Spirit is not something we can produce on our own. Choose one aspect of the fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) that you struggle with. What is one practical step you can take this week to invite the Holy Spirit to grow this in you? [[34:17]]
The pastor shared about the temptation to prove himself as a husband, father, pastor, and coach. In what roles do you feel the most pressure to be “enough”? How can you shift your focus from the approval of others to the approval of God? [[16:03]]
The sermon challenged us to consider what it looks like to give our lives away for God’s glory in our unique situations. What is one opportunity, resource, or talent you have that you could use to serve someone else this week? [[46:33]]
The next generation is watching how we live out our faith. If a child or young person observed your life Monday through Saturday, what would they see? Is there anything you want to change so your faith is more visible and real? [[38:19]]
When you think about the “race with no finish line” of trying to be enough, what is one practical way you can step out of that cycle and rest in God’s approval this week? [[17:54]]

Sermon Clips

Who's in your court? Like, who are the people in your life that you have to constantly feel like you have to prove yourself to over and over again? And maybe it's coworkers. Maybe it's friends. Maybe it's family. Maybe it's people at school, whatever it may be. Maybe, actually, sometimes it happens. It could just be a single person in your life. It could be a spouse or an in-law or a boss or whatever. And you're doing whatever you can in life to prove yourself to them that you are enough and you're good enough. And you're spending your time and your energy and your resources to show that. [00:17:11] (31 seconds) #WhoDoYouProveTo

Who are you trying to prove yourself to? Like, who are you actually racing against? Because most of the time, it's against people who don't even know there's a race in them. It's against each other. And so we waste our time and our efforts missing the point of what we're called to do in life. [00:17:54] (18 seconds) #RaceAgainstTheInvisible

The cross wasn't a good luck charm. It was an icon, of a different way of living. It was a way of life. And following Jesus meant you were now going the opposite way in life. And this is what Paul realized. It was an invitation to the Losers Club, that you weren't chasing after victory with might. It makes you right in power over everybody. It was choosing to lose your life in order to actually find it. [00:26:51] (22 seconds) #PowerInTheCross

It's not when we simply just believe in Jesus. It's when we choose to follow Jesus. It's when we choose to participate in the kingdom of God and not the kingdoms of this world. This is where transformation happens. This is what Paul's talking about when he tells them, listen, the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. [00:30:56] (22 seconds) #SpiritOverSelf

Paul's like, when we live by the Spirit, we can't do that. We can't do that. We can't do that. We can't do that. We can't do that. We accept the invitation of the cross. God works in us. His Spirit transforms us. And it's through that. That's the power of God working in us. It gives us a life and a transformation that produces these things. And notice it says fruit. It doesn't say fruits. It's plural. It's singular. This is the culmination of who we become when we follow Jesus. We become more loving, and more peaceful, and more patient, and more kind, and we bring more goodness and faithfulness to the world. We're more gentle. We have more self-control. [00:34:22] (31 seconds) #BeyondOneAndDone

When you think about Jesus, when you think about, if you read the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, which is the four biographical accounts of Jesus's life, when was Jesus most powerful? And then people would like argue like, oh, he's doing miracles. Like he brought a dead person to life. He walked on water. He healed the blind, the lame, and the sick. Like that's pretty powerful. Well, every time he did that, it was for other people. He was giving his life away for others. [00:41:28] (25 seconds) #LiveToGive

My job as a Christian, whether I'm coaching or I'm a pastor or as a husband, as a father, my job is to give my life away. And I didn't realize it, but I've been doing that with these kids and they're seeing it because they're inviting me to be a part of their life more. My job is to point them to Jesus. I pray and hope that one day I get to perform one of their weddings, which means one of those fools got mature enough to have someone marry him. That's my job. And if you follow Jesus, this is your job, give your life away. This is what our King does. That's what he did. [00:45:34] (36 seconds) #MissionOfUpsideDownLife

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