9/13/2026 | RELENTLESS

Devotional

Day 1: Relentless Crucifixion of Self

A life surrendered to Christ isn’t about partial commitment but daily crucifying old patterns. Like Paul’s declaration in Galatians, true discipleship means exchanging self-driven agendas for Christ’s indwelling presence. This relentless surrender isn’t a one-time event but a continuous choice to let Jesus govern every decision, relationship, and struggle. When we stop clinging to control, we make space for resurrection power to reshape our habits, desires, and purpose. The cross becomes both the death of our limitations and the birthplace of divine possibility. [39:27]

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
(Galatians 2:20, ESV)

Reflection: What area of your life feels hardest to surrender to Christ’s leadership? How might embracing crucifixion of that specific struggle create space for His resurrection power?

Day 2: The Holy Scavenger Hunt of “Pray for One”

God invites us into a daily adventure: asking Him to highlight one person needing His love. This isn’t about grand gestures but intentional, small acts of grace—a text, a listening ear, a practical help. Every “one” matters because Jesus sees the individual behind the crowd. As we obey, we discover that sharing God’s love transforms not just others but deepens our own dependence on His guidance. The mission field begins where our ordinary lives intersect with divine appointments. [52:17]

“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”
(Acts 20:24, ESV)

Reflection: Who has God recently placed on your heart as your “one”? What simple, tangible step could you take this week to reflect His love to them?

Day 3: Annoying Each Other Into Christlikeness

Authentic community means persistently carrying each other’s burdens, even when it feels inconvenient. Paul’s charge to the Galatians rejects superficial faith, urging believers to interrupt routines with prayerful care. Annoyance becomes holy when it stems from refusing to let isolation or struggle go unchallenged. This relentless love mirrors Jesus’ own interruptions—healing on the Sabbath, stopping for the marginalized, pursuing the lost. A church that “annoys” is a church that refuses to let anyone journey alone. [56:45]

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”
(Galatians 6:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your circle might need you to “annoy” them with intentional care this week? How can you move beyond polite check-ins to burden-bearing love?

Day 4: First Bite of the Day Shapes the Appetite

Just as breakfast cravings follow morning meals, our spiritual hunger follows what we consume first. Starting the day with Jesus—even one verse, one minute of prayer—reorients our cravings toward His presence. This isn’t about lengthy rituals but priming our hearts to seek His kingdom above distractions. Like David’s morning cries in the Psalms, we train our souls to expect God’s voice before the world’s noise begins. A relentless focus on Christ starts with the first moments of daylight. [59:38]

“O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.”
(Psalm 5:3, ESV)

Reflection: What practical adjustment could you make to your morning routine to ensure your “first bite” is time with Jesus? How might this reshape your spiritual hunger today?

Day 5: A Group With a Purpose, Not a Place

The church isn’t a building but a battalion—ordinary people united by Jesus’ extraordinary mission. Crossroads’ vision rejects institutional complacency, choosing instead to relentlessly pursue the “yet” in every unmet neighbor. This purpose demands we see our workplaces, schools, and grocery stores as mission fields. When the church lives as a verb, walls dissolve, and the gospel becomes a contagious force. Our calling isn’t to maintain an organization but to mobilize an invasion of grace. [45:22]

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…’”
(Matthew 28:18-19, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you most struggle to see yourself as part of Christ’s “battalion”? How could embracing your role as a missionary in your daily spaces change your interactions this week?

Sermon Summary

Relentless about Jesus is the vision God has laid before Crossroads. The world offers something, but God has so much more, and that more comes through a life that keeps saying, “Jesus again. More Jesus.” Paul’s words, “I decided that while I was with you, I would forget everything except Jesus Christ,” and “Christ lives in me,” show what this kind of relentless life looks like.

Amazement at Jesus wants Him to do something again, but awe of Jesus simply wants to worship Him. The church needs both, but awe changes the center of everything. Crossroads exists not to look cool, keep people happy, or chase the newest thing. Crossroads exists because a healthy church means hurting and broken people meet Jesus and experience His grace, forgiveness, healing, and redemptive power.

The mission remains the same: reach people for Christ, help them become fully devoted followers of Christ, and see them impact their world. Fully devoted followers are not people who have arrived. Growth means being able to say, “I am not who I want to be, but I am far from who I used to be.” The vision gives direction to that unchanging mission: Crossroads will be a church that is relentless about Jesus.

Relentless about Jesus means refusing to quit, give up, or stop pursuing Him. It means refusing to make church about being right, being judgmental, fighting culture wars, personal opinions, trends, or being the coolest place around. Jesus becomes the filter for celebration, pain, decisions, parenting, serving schools, battling sin, reading the news, and wondering what comes next. Everything becomes Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, and then more Jesus.

Prayer for one becomes the first practical step. God can bring one person each day who needs to experience His love through an encouraging word, practical help, prayer, or an invitation. Reaching a whole county feels overwhelming, but reaching a county starts with one person. God uses that holy scavenger hunt not only to reach others, but also to grow the person He sends.

Prayer for each other becomes the second step. Paul’s example calls believers to share burdens, reject the lie that anybody is too important to help, and become almost annoying with care. A church that constantly asks, “How can I pray for you?” becomes a church that lives the law of Christ.

Starting every day with Jesus becomes the third step. One verse and one minute of prayer can set the appetite of the whole day. Jesus calls His people to seek God’s kingdom above all else, and the first moments of the morning can help keep everything centered on Him.

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Key Takeaways

1. Awe wants Jesus, not just miracles. Amazement can remain focused on what Jesus might do next. Awe bows before who Jesus is, even before the next answer, breakthrough, or provision arrives. A relentless life learns to worship Jesus rather than merely asking Him to perform again. [39:52]
2. Church health serves hurting people. Crossroads does not need success for its own name, comfort, or reputation. A healthy church becomes a place where people meet the holy, redemptive power of Jesus. Kingdom growth matters because people who do not know Jesus yet need His grace, love, and forgiveness. [42:27]
3. Mission stays; vision gives direction. The mission to reach people and form fully devoted followers does not change with circumstances. Vision asks where God is leading His people right now and refuses to confuse personal plans with God’s desire. Relentless about Jesus keeps both mission and future centered on the only One who can transform lives. [47:46]
4. One person can begin kingdom movement. The whole world, a whole county, and a whole community can feel way too big. God often places one person directly in front of a believer and invites simple faithfulness. Sharing God’s love grows both the person receiving it and the person being used to give it. [55:56]
5. First moments shape the whole day. The first thing consumed in the morning often becomes the craving for the rest of the day. One verse and one honest minute with Jesus can turn the heart toward His kingdom before the noise begins. Starting with Jesus does not replace deeper time with God, but it gives Him first place.

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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[38:09] - Relentless About Jesus
[39:27] - Amazed by God or in Awe
[40:17] - Why Crossroads Matters
[44:36] - The Mission of Crossroads
[46:31] - Mission and Vision
[48:01] - A Church Relentless About Jesus
[51:20] - Three Practical Strategies
[52:17] - Pray for One
[56:22] - Annoy Each Other With Prayer
[58:26] - Start Every Day With Jesus
[61:37] - Everything About Jesus
[70:14] - Invitation to Follow Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 2:2
“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” [39:05]

Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” [39:20]

Galatians 6:2-3
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” [57:54]

Matthew 6:33
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” [59:20]

Observation questions

In 1 Corinthians 2:2, what did Paul decide to make the center of his message and ministry?
According to Galatians 2:20, what has happened to the believer’s old self, and who now lives in the believer?
What two actions does Galatians 6:2-3 connect: carrying another person’s burden and humility? [57:54]
What are some of the specific situations in which Jesus is meant to become the filter—such as celebration, pain, decisions, parenting, sin, and reading the news? [50:23]

Interpretation questions

Paul says he wanted to know nothing except “Jesus Christ and him crucified.” What does this suggest believers should keep at the center when other issues, opinions, and distractions compete for attention? [50:02]
If Christ lives in a believer, how should that shape the way the believer responds when facing a hard decision, a personal struggle, or a conflict with someone else? [50:23]
Galatians 6 says that bearing burdens fulfills the law of Christ. What kinds of burdens may be difficult for people to share, and what might make a church community feel safe enough to share them? [57:26]
Jesus says to seek God’s kingdom first. How can beginning the day with Scripture and prayer help a believer put God’s kingdom ahead of the day’s pressures and distractions? [59:37]

Application questions

What has been taking the center of your attention lately—stress, entertainment, politics, work, family concerns, personal opinions, or something else? What would it look like to bring that specific area back under the focus of Jesus? [50:23]
Is there someone God may be placing in front of you this week who needs to experience His love? What is one simple step you could take: offer encouragement, practical help, prayer, or an invitation? [52:17]
Who in this group, church, family, or circle of friends may be carrying a burden right now? How could you move beyond saying, “I’ll pray for you,” and show ongoing care this week? [58:14]
What usually gets your first attention in the morning? What realistic change could help you begin tomorrow with one verse and one honest minute of prayer? [01:00:11]
In what area of your life are you tempted to give up, become discouraged, or stop pursuing Jesus? What would a “Jesus again—more Jesus” response look like in that area this week? [49:04]
Fully devoted followers of Jesus have not arrived; they are growing. Where can you honestly say, “I am not who I want to be, but I am far from who I used to be”? Where do you want to keep growing next? [46:00]

Sermon Clips

53s

#OneStepOneSoul

“If we don't do it, who will? Not gonna lie. That seems a bit overwhelming. Right? Anybody listening to me talk right now being like, woah. I hope somebody else figures that out. Trunk or treat will help. Bring candy. How do we do that? I heard somebody really wise one day said that a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. Reaching our entire county starts with person. Every day as I pray for one person to share God's love with, I'm making a dent.”

39s

#OneMinuteMorning

“But that's not what we're talking about right here. We're talking about the very first thing you do in the morning. Is it and I know it's so hard because you wanna jump you gotta get right into this what's what's going on today? What's where I gotta get ready? What what kids what do they need? I gotta get coffee going. But you know what's been super helpful? Just take one minute. One minute before you start your day. The first thing you do, read one verse and say one prayer. Maybe text one person, how can I pray for you today?”

44s

#LiveInAwe

“And we kicked off this series last week talking about the difference of being amazed by God versus being in awe of God. And how there were thousands of people in these crowds who were amazed by Jesus, but only hundreds actually genuinely followed Jesus. And a big difference was that they learned to be in awe of God, in awe of Jesus. Because we both, we need to be amazed, we also need to be in awe. Because amazed just says, Jesus, do something for me again. Do something for me again. Whereas awe says, I just wanna worship you. Today,”

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9/13/2026 | RELENTLESS - Part 2