January 11, 2026 - Serve with Compassion: Matthew 3:13–17

``So when Jesus stepped into the water, it shocked everyone Because he was not an outsider. He was not broken. He was not cut off from God. In fact, he was a God among them. And yet he chose to stand exactly where the broken stood. He entered the water not because he needed to change. Hear this. Jesus entered the water not because he needed to change, but because he wanted to make a way so that we could. [00:40:40] (46 seconds)  #JesusWithTheBroken

God is not watching us from a distance. God is active in every moment, ready to be a part of our lives, ready to be a part of our families, ready to be a part of our work, ready to be a part of whatever's happening for the purpose. Are you ready for this purpose? God is making all things new. [00:42:20] (27 seconds)  #GodIsActiveInLife

Death is not the desire of God. Murder is not the desire of God. Fear for your life because you feel like projectiles are coming at you is not the desire of God. Defining people based on their political opinion, or their job description, or any part by the color of their skin, or the place where they were born, or the side of the tracks that they were on. That is not of God. [00:43:23] (35 seconds)  #GodIsForLifeAndUnity

But do you know what is? The God of the universe putting on skin and coming into what feels like the most broken place that looks public to some, private to others, and saying, I am with you, and I will enter the darkness and the brokenness with you, so that through it, I may bring light to the darkness, transform it, and make something new of hope, and of wholeness, and of a new day, and a new life, and of a new way. That is the way of Jesus Christ. [00:43:59] (39 seconds)  #IncarnateBringsLight

So here's my question today. Where are we in this? Where are we in this story? For some of us, it feels like the chaotic waters of Genesis. Life feels unfinished and unsettled, like things are spinning faster and we can't quite keep up. May feel like we're trying to hold things together, family or work, finances or health, and it still feels overwhelming. We may not even know what to pray for anymore. We just know that things aren't quite right and that's Genesis water. But here's the good news. That's where the spirit of God has always hovered to bring newness. [00:47:47] (70 seconds)  #SpiritOverChaos

For some of us today, it might feel like the exodus waters. We finally stepped from something that was hurting us, a toxic relationship, an unhealthy pattern, a season that was draining the life out of us. But now, we feel trapped. We're invited to leave what we know behind, and in front of us is uncertainty, and the fear is loud. And in that space, hear this good news. God still makes a way through places that look impossible. [00:49:15] (38 seconds)  #GodMakesAWayThrough

And for some of us, it might feel like we're at the the Jordan River with Jesus and those getting baptized. You know, something in our life needs to change. We're tired of pretending that everything is fine. We're ready for forgiveness, for healing, for a new beginning, and we aren't looking for more explanations. We simply need grace and a new start, and that, my beloved, is the Jordan water. And here's the good news. That's where Jesus stepped in. [00:51:18] (39 seconds)  #JordanWaterNewStart

The spirit has not stopped moving. Right here, right now in real lives, in deep water moments, when prayer rises before action, when listening comes before speaking, when people share meals instead of walls, when service replaces self protection, when love is shared freely. The spirit of God is moving, still creating, still freeing, still calling people across the water. [00:52:18] (37 seconds)  #SpiritStillMoves