Resurrection Sunday // 4.5.26 || Sermon by Cody & Tirsha Thornbury || Worship by Zoe, Jeff & Andi

Jesus emerges as the central, decisive figure whose every word and action carried intentionality toward the cross. The narrative traces practical church life—connection groups, a hybrid homeschool called Limitless Academy, and a community screening of a documentary—before pivoting to the theological center: Christ’s steady movement toward Jerusalem and the cost of discipleship. The transfiguration moment frames Jesus’ mission as both glorious and grim; Moses and Elijah speak of his departure, and Jesus “sets his face” toward what must be accomplished. That focus reveals a pattern for followers: an invitation that demands a counted, costly yes rather than emotional impulse or divided priorities.

Three brief encounters on the road expose common barriers to following: attraction to comfort, fixation on future security or inheritance, and attachment to the past. These vignettes reframe cultural assumptions about righteousness, family responsibility, and timing—Jesus does not abolish familial duties but requires proper ordering of ultimate allegiance. Counting the cost becomes a spiritual discipline: commitment before convenience, obedience before preservation, forward movement before lingering in yesterday’s comforts or regrets. The account of a young believer whose baptism catalyzed family conversions illustrates how concrete acts of obedience ripple outward, reshaping ordinary relationships and communities.

Practical invitations close the teaching: join a connection group, engage in formation, reserve a place for community events, and let decisive commitment translate into daily discipleship. The call centers less on emotional highs and more on sustained, obedient movement toward Christ’s mission—an allegiance that endures suffering, renounces delayed obedience, and breaks the paralysis of past wounds. The text challenges immediate choices and highlights how small acts of faithfulness, taken now, change lives and shift spiritual trajectories.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Christ's decisive focus calls response A revealed Christ pursues the purpose of redemption with unflinching resolve, and that revelation forces a choice: align life around that purpose or retreat to comfort. Discipleship requires adopting the same intentionality—seeking clarity about vocation and refusing distractions that dilute mission. Persistent focus, not mere enthusiasm, produces endurance when trials come. [47:45]
• 2. Count the cost before committing Genuine commitment begins with sober appraisal, not emotional impulse; counting the cost prepares the heart for hardship rather than abandoning faith when discomfort arrives. Rituals and experiences without costable commitment risk becoming temporary sentiments rather than life-shaping loyalties. Baptism and public vows make visible a prior inward reckoning. [53:17]
• 3. Obstacles: comfort, future, past The three roadside encounters map common spiritual obstructions: the lure of present comfort, clinging to future security, and a haunted past that prevents forward motion. Each temptation calls for a different response—renunciation, re-ordering of priorities, and grieving with release—so fidelity can advance. Recognizing which obstacle dominates permits targeted repentance and healthier obedience. [51:50]
• 4. Obedience transforms ordinary lives Simple, tangible acts of obedience catalyze wider transformation; one person stepping into baptism shifted family trajectories and set new patterns of faith in motion. Obedience reframes identity from private belief to public reality, creating testimony that invites others into change. Small, faithful choices accumulate into communal renewal. [83:06]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [17:11] - Limitless Academy introduction
• [17:45] - Project-based learning model
• [43:01] - Documentary screening announcement
• [44:27] - Yearly focus: Jesus revealed
• [45:23] - Christ’s intentional ministry
• [47:57] - Transfiguration and mission framed
• [51:50] - Roadside invitations to follow
• [53:17] - Counting the cost of discipleship
• [56:09] - Family, priority, and vocation
• [83:06] - Baptism testimony and impact

1. What three different responses did Jesus receive from people on the road to Jerusalem, and what was his reply to each one?
2. What does the phrase "he set his face to go to Jerusalem" tell us about Jesus' state of mind and determination? [47:00]
3. What are the specific obstacles or excuses presented by the individuals who encountered Jesus in this passage?
4. How does the context of the culture help us understand what the man meant by "let me first go and bury my father"? [56:56]

1. Why would Jesus respond to a zealous volunteer by highlighting the discomfort and lack of security in following him, rather than simply welcoming him? [53:17]
2. Jesus tells one man to "leave the dead to bury their own dead." How does this command reorder our understanding of ultimate priorities without negating the importance of family responsibilities? [56:09]
3. The third man wanted to say farewell to his family, but Jesus warned against looking back. What does this reveal about the nature of wholehearted commitment and the danger of a divided heart? [58:47]
4. How does Jesus' own "steadfast" focus on Jerusalem provide a model for what he asks of his followers? [49:05]

1. The first obstacle was an attraction to comfort. Where in your own life are you most tempted to choose comfort and convenience over obediently following what you know Jesus has asked you to do? [54:29]
2. The second obstacle was a fixation on future security or inheritance, leading to delayed obedience. Is there an area where you have told God "yes, but first let me..."? What would it look like to give him your unconditional "yes" today instead of waiting for a future condition to be met? [58:09]
3. The third obstacle was an attachment to the past. What past success, failure, pain, or regret are you most prone to look back at, and how does that looking back prevent you from moving forward into what God has for you now? [59:18]
4. Counting the cost is a spiritual discipline that prepares the heart for hardship. What is one specific, practical step you can take this week to "count the cost" of a commitment you feel God is inviting you to make?
5. Simple acts of obedience can have a ripple effect, transforming ordinary relationships. Who is one person in your life that might be impacted by your choice to obey God in a specific area? [01:23:06]
6. Jesus' focus was not on emotional highs but on sustained, obedient movement toward his mission. How can you build routines or habits into your life that foster this kind of persistent focus, especially for when difficult times come? [47:25]