Sunday Morning First Service | Back on Course #5 | Pastor Rob Thomas

Aug 30, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Following Jesus in the Company of the Committed

The Christian life was never designed as a lone pursuit. Like a boat untethered in choppy waters, isolation leaves us vulnerable to drifting. Scripture insists believers are interconnected limbs of one body, each needing the others to function. Jesus modeled this by gathering disciples, and Paul compared the church to a human body where every part matters. Resilient faith grows when we lock arms with those who refuse to let us hide or quit. [53:25]

"For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Romans 12:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you tried to “go solo” in your faith? What practical step could anchor you to others this week?

Day 2: Love That Outs Your Discipleship

Jesus didn’t say the world would recognize His followers by their quiet prayers or personal piety. He said love for one another would be their glaring identifier. This love isn’t theoretical—it’s the grit of showing up, staying honest, and choosing forgiveness when others grate against you. Underground churches thrive not because of secrecy, but because their radical love amid persecution shouts louder than fear. [55:02]

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35, ESV)

Reflection: Does your love for others feel more like a quiet habit or a disruptive witness? Who needs to experience it tangibly today?

Day 3: Daily Doses of Courage in Community

Sin hardens hearts in silence. Hebrews urges believers to disrupt this cycle with daily encouragement—not polished sermons, but raw reminders of truth. Like soldiers in trenches, we need comrades who hand us ammunition when doubt creeps in. Persecuted believers survive by whispering Scripture in basements; we survive Monday mornings by texting a friend, “Keep going—He sees you.” [01:01:39]

"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews 3:13, ESV)

Reflection: Who speaks courage into your “todays”? Who’s waiting for you to do the same for them?

Day 4: Truth-Tellers Who Keep You Tied to the Body

Growth requires more than cheerleaders—it demands wound-makers. The young man battling shame didn’t need a gentle encourager; he needed a truth-teller who’d grab his shoulders and say, “You’re better than this.” Paul called this “speaking the truth in love,” the gritty work of holding up mirrors so others see their blind spots. Real community risks awkwardness to keep each other tethered to Christ. [01:03:50]

"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." (Ephesians 4:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: Who has permission to confront your compromises? How can you cultivate that kind of trust?

Day 5: Shared Journeys Make Drifting Harder

Drifting happens in unnoticed inches—a skipped prayer, a bitter thought, a secret compromise. But connected believers act like anchor lines. They notice when your laughter sounds forced or your Bible stays closed. Like underground church networks, they create accountability that makes wandering costly. Faith was never meant to be a solo hike; it’s a group expedition where someone always has a flashlight. [01:05:03]

"And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: Who would spot your drift before you did? What step strengthens that safeguard this week?

Sermon Summary

Matthew 6:33 sets the course plainly: seek first the kingdom of God, live righteously, and trust God to provide what is needed. Jesus places the first two responsibilities in the hands of His followers, while God remains faithful to do what only He can do. The Christian life gets off course when people drift, isolate, or settle for a short burst of obedience instead of walking it out day after day.

Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo project. Paul describes believers as one body in Christ and “individual members of one another,” which means belonging to one another is not optional language. Jesus makes love for one another the visible mark that tells the world who His disciples are. Private spirituality cannot carry that command out, because love has to be practiced, seen, and walked out around real people.

Isolation makes drift easier because sin grows stronger when it stays hidden. Adam and Eve hid after they sinned, and that same default still shows up when people begin to get off course. Persecuted believers throughout history have often struggled deeply when cut off from other Christians, while hidden churches have endured and grown by sticking together. Connection makes believers resilient, even when circumstances are brutal.

Hebrews 3:13 calls believers to encourage one another daily so that sin’s deception does not harden the heart. Community provides more than kind words; healthy community tells the truth, sees through the mask, and gives a needed kick in the rear end when someone is slipping. Ephesians describes maturity as the body being joined together, with every part doing its work and building itself up in love.

Healthy community notices hurt that people try to hide. Healthy community sees drift that a person may be blind to, carries weakness, celebrates faithfulness, and makes it harder to quietly disappear. Church attendance alone can leave a person unknown for years, but a few people who know the real person can turn Christianity from a solo performance into a shared journey. Jesus calls His people to stay on course together.

Key Takeaways

1. Following Jesus is not a solo project. Paul’s picture of the body leaves no room for detached Christianity. Believers belong to Christ, but they also belong to one another in a real and practical way. Love, correction, service, and endurance all require people close enough to know the real condition of the heart. [53:02]
2. Isolation makes spiritual drift easier. Isolation often feels safer because it keeps struggle hidden from other people. Sin’s deception gains ground when nobody is close enough to ask hard questions or notice the warning signs. Connection does not remove every battle, but it makes quiet surrender much harder. [61:04]
3. Truthful community protects the heart. Encouragement is not mere reassurance that everything is fine. Godly encouragement includes speaking truth in love, calling out the bull, and refusing to let a brother or sister settle into destructive patterns. Love that never confronts may feel easier, but it cannot produce maturity. [62:22]
4. Every part of Christ’s body matters. Ephesians pictures growth happening as every supporting ligament and every part does its work. Nobody is meant to ride the bench, and nobody is meant to carry the whole load alone. Christ strengthens His people through the steady, ordinary faithfulness of connected believers.

## [64:33]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[47:58] - Greeting the 9AM Service
[48:40] - Back on Course Series Recap
[50:17] - Resetting Direction and Avoiding Isolation
[51:18] - Seek First the Kingdom
[52:11] - The Christian Life Is a Team Sport
[53:02] - Following Jesus Is Not Solo
[54:31] - Love Identifies Christ’s Disciples
[56:32] - Isolation and Persecuted Believers
[57:57] - Hidden Churches and Resilient Faith
[60:15] - Rejecting Solo Christianity
[61:04] - Community Protects and Strengthens
[61:39] - Encourage One Another Daily
[62:22] - Truth, Accountability, and Growth
[65:26] - Being Truly Known in Community

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:33
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
[50:17] [51:18] [52:11]

Romans 12:4-5
“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”
[54:03]

John 13:34-35
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
[54:49]

Hebrews 3:13
“But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
[01:01:39]

Ephesians 4:15-16
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
[01:04:33]

Observation questions

In Matthew 6:33, what does Jesus tell His followers to pursue first, and what does He promise God will provide?
According to Romans 12:4-5, what two things are true about believers: their different functions and their relationship to one another? [54:03]
In John 13:34-35, what does Jesus say will show the world that people are His disciples? [54:49]
What does Hebrews 3:13 say daily encouragement protects believers from, and why might sin be described as deceptive? [01:01:39]

Interpretation questions

Matthew 6:33 gives believers responsibilities—seeking God’s kingdom and living righteously—while God promises to provide what is needed. What is the difference between faithfully pursuing God and trying to control every outcome?
Romans 12 says believers are “members of one another.” What does that phrase suggest about whether Christians can live faithfully while staying detached from other believers? [01:00:15]
Jesus says love for one another is the visible mark of His disciples. What kinds of love can only be practiced when believers are close enough to know and serve one another? [56:08]
Hebrews 3:13 and Ephesians 4:15-16 connect encouragement, truth, love, and maturity. Why is simple reassurance sometimes not enough when someone is drifting into sin or making harmful choices? [01:03:29]

Application questions

Where have you noticed spiritual drift becoming easier in your own life—such as in prayer, church involvement, purity, forgiveness, generosity, or time in God’s Word? What usually happens just before you begin to pull away? [50:40]
Are there a few believers who know the real condition of your heart, not just the version of you that appears on a Sunday morning? If not, what makes being truly known difficult or uncomfortable? [01:05:42]
When you are struggling, do you tend to hide, withdraw, stay busy, or tell people that you are “fine”? What would it look like to take one honest step toward trusted Christian community this week? [50:49]
Who has earned the right to speak truth into your life when you need it? How can you tell the difference between a person who merely criticizes and a person who lovingly helps you stay on course? [01:04:11]
Is there an area of temptation, hurt, fear, or discouragement that has stayed hidden too long? What kind of support would actually help: prayer, regular check-ins, a mentor, confession, practical help, or someone asking hard questions? [01:02:51]
Ephesians says every part of the body has work to do. What gifts, encouragement, experience, or practical help might God want you to bring to strengthen others in this group or church family? [01:04:50]
Think of one person who may be hurting, drifting, or quietly disappearing. What is one specific way you could encourage them today instead of waiting for a more convenient time? [01:01:39]

Sermon Clips

35s

#FaithIsNotSolo

“not a biblical pattern, and it is not the will of God in any form or fashion. So that's my thing I want you to understand right now. If listen. If your version of following Jesus requires nobody else, it's almost certainly not the version that Jesus intended. your version of being a Christian, a Christ follower, doesn't involve anybody else, it's probably not what God intended for you. Following Jesus is never meant to be a solo project. Number two,”

40s

#FaithIsNotPrivate

“Number one, following Jesus was never meant to be a solo project. Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo project. Now listen, one of the quiet lies that has settled into modern day Christianity, especially in America, is this idea that living for Jesus is primarily a private individual project. It's a lie. Well, it's just me and God. All I need is God. The Bible says, brother, God is more than enough. He is all in all.”

40s

#CommunityBuildsUs

“growth happens as the body works together. Speaking the truth and love is an example that's given here. Every part doing its work, the body building itself up. None of that happens when we remain disconnected. Healthy community does something powerful in our lives. Healthy community, if you're really in healthy community, it notices when you're hurting. It notices no matter what you say or how good a mask you put on the outside. It notices when you're beginning to drift. It sees it.”

38s

#UnityUnderPersecution

“They're growing the fastest now in those areas. Iran, China, there's places. They're exploding. The church of Jesus Christ is exploding. How can that be? Because they are sticking together. They're enduring because they're they're they're meeting together in small groups. They're relying on one another. The presence of other believers strengthens their resolve regardless of the circumstances. Isolation makes them vulnerable. Connection makes them resilient to the persecution that they're facing.”

37s

#VisibleFaith

“And here's the deal, if the distinguishing mark of a disciple of a Christ follower is is what is described here, then we can be assured that it's it's not about private spirituality. I asked people, I've asked you before, if they know Jesus and they're like, well I'm spiritual. Well, good for you. Whatever in the world that means. This is not about private spirituality. This is about a visible, practiced, walked out love for other people.”

36s

#AskForHelp

“I had a young adult guy in here, a part of our church that you all would know that came to me a few weeks ago and he like many other young, Christian young men and I'm finding more often young ladies, had struggled significantly with sexual sin. And I had walked with him for a period of time, a good period of time, a couple of years ago through this. And he came to me a few weeks ago here in service and said I'm struggling again. I need some help.”

26s

#AccountabilityMatters

“And I said, man, said, you need to you need to get a you need to get a mentor. We need to get you hooked up with somebody that's gonna check-in on you each day. And and somebody who's gonna gonna read through the bull when you say I'm good, I'm doing fine, and is gonna is gonna dig deeper. And he said he said, that's what I thought. He said, I need a mentor. I need somebody, you know, to to speak into my life. And he said, I was thinking about asking this person.”

27s

#ChooseTruthTellers

“And he told me who it was, and y'all all would know and all loved the person. And I said and I I thought for a second, and I said I said, no. I said, that's a that person is a is a is a great person, but they're primarily an encourager. I said, you need somebody that's gonna tell you the truth even when you don't wanna hear it and is gonna give you a swift kick in the rear end and when when you need it.”

42s

#ToughLoveMatters

“And how many of you know the people that we need the most in our lives are we're not necessarily gonna feel like we like them all the time. Sometimes we're gonna wonder if they like us, they'll like us, and I promise you at some point they're gonna hurt your feelings. Some of you had godly parents, and your parents were like that in your life. Yeah. Nobody wants to say it. But if they're the right person, you will also know that they do love you.”

26s

#LoveThatCallsOut

“But if they're the right person, you will also know that they do love you. And they love you enough to shoot it straight. They love you enough to see through the bull and to call it out. They love you enough to encourage you and tell that you tell you that you are more than enough and that you've got this.”

38s

#HardLoveHeals

“Some of you had godly parents, and your parents were like that in your life. Yeah. Nobody wants to say it. But if they're the right person, you will also know that they do love you. And they love you enough to shoot it straight. They love you enough to see through the bull and to call it out. They love you enough to encourage you and tell that you tell you that you are more than enough and that you've got this.”

36s

#GatheredForPower

“how do you know that that David was a mighty man and a man after god's own heart and a and a mighty warrior god called him, but he was always surrounded by his mighty men. And, you know, Jesus even had a team of 12 and even many more beyond that that was a part of his regular community. And then interesting is the as the more spirit filled church, we we love to talk about the day of Pentecost, but isn't it interesting that the Holy Spirit first fell in Acts chapter two on a gathered group of Christ followers? One is an individual, it's a gathered group.”

42s

#LoveOneAnother

“Guys, we belong to one another and this is not optional language. This is a command. Paul is describing here what the normal Christian life is supposed to look like. Jesus made the same point. The night before he went to the cross in John chapter 13, here's what he said. Again, one of those scriptures that Aaron hijacked this morning. A new command I give to you. If Jesus on the last night before he's crucified, he comes to you and says, I got one last command, one new command I wanna give you. Your ears better perk up. Right? It's important,”

35s

#IsolationWeakensFaith

“During times of intense persecution and even again in more recent centuries, believe what they found was believers who are cut off from other Christians often struggle deeply because they're cut off. Some were able to hold on. I mean, you know, the Lord is more than enough and he will sustain he he will sustain you in those moments if you lean into him. But what they found is that many began to lose their their clarity of mind, they began to lose courage and some began to lose their faith.”

32s

#UndergroundChurchGrowth

“In contrast, they found that those who remain connected even in small hidden groups, things like underground churches. Everybody know what underground churches are? They're not usually underground. K. They're called that because they're hidden. We're talking about countries and places in the world where Christianity is outlawed. Do you know those are the areas where the church of Jesus Christ is growing the fastest right now in the world today? The place where you can get executed for being a follower of Jesus?”

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