In the midst of a world heavy with violence, anxiety, and relentless noise, there is an invitation to root ourselves in something deeper and truer than the chaos around us. The events of recent weeks—tragedies, shootings, and the ever-present swirl of anger and fear—remind us that there are spiritual realities at play, and that as followers of Jesus, we are called to respond not just with opinions or withdrawal, but with prayer, compassion, and a willingness to be agents of peace. We grieve with those who grieve, and we ask God to replace our anger and anxiety with faith, hope, love, wisdom, courage, and especially His peace.

In a culture that demands we be “all in” on every cause, every outrage, and every anxiety, there is a better way: to go all in with Jesus, who went all in for us. Anger, anxiety, and escapism are all tempting responses to the world’s brokenness, but none of them can bear the weight of our souls. Jesus alone can teach us how to be angry without being consumed, how to live with courage instead of anxiety, and how to engage the world rather than retreat from it. He calls us to follow Him, to let Him reorder our lives, and to trust that His way leads to true life.

When Jesus announces, “The kingdom of God has come near,” He is declaring that God’s wisdom, truth, beauty, goodness, righteousness, and love are available to us right now. The kingdom is not just a future hope, but a present reality that can transform our hearts, our relationships, and our world. Entering this kingdom is not about religious performance or earning our way in; it is about repentance—clearing the decks, letting go of what fills our hands and hearts—and belief, stepping onto the plane that Jesus has already paid for, even if we don’t know where it will take us.

Jesus sees us as we truly are—our potential, our brokenness, our hidden places—and He calls us to follow Him. Like the first disciples, we are invited to leave behind our “nets”—the things that entangle us, whether they are good, bad, or simply familiar—and to build our identity on being a child of God, a follower of Jesus. Every other identity will eventually fade, but this one endures. The invitation is to drop whatever holds us back, to go all in, and to experience the freedom, peace, and purpose that come from living in the kingdom of God.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The world’s cycles of violence, anger, and anxiety are not just social or political problems, but spiritual realities that require spiritual responses. We are called to pray, to grieve with those who grieve, and to ask God to replace our anger and anxiety with His peace, wisdom, and love. This is not escapism, but a courageous engagement with the world’s pain, rooted in the power and authority of Jesus. [02:53]
• 2. In a culture that demands total allegiance to every cause or outrage, the invitation is to be all in with Jesus, not with our anger, anxiety, or desire to escape. Jesus alone can redeem our anger, set us free from anxiety, and call us out of retreat into meaningful engagement with the world. Going all in with Jesus means letting Him set the agenda for our lives, rather than being swept along by the noise around us. [08:33]
• 3. The kingdom of God is not just a distant hope, but a present reality that brings God’s wisdom, truth, beauty, goodness, righteousness, and love into our lives. Entering the kingdom is not about earning or deserving, but about repentance—clearing out what fills our hands—and belief—trusting Jesus enough to step into the unknown. The kingdom reorders our hearts and relationships, offering a way of life that is truly good and fruitful. [16:45]
• 4. Jesus sees us as we truly are—our potential, our wounds, our hidden places—and He calls us to follow Him. He sees what others miss, and He invites us to ask Him to reveal who we really are and what needs to change or grow. This openness to Jesus’ vision for our lives is the beginning of transformation and freedom. [25:21]
• 5. To follow Jesus fully, we must be willing to “drop our nets”—to let go of whatever entangles us, whether it’s an old identity, a need for control, unhealthy relationships, or even good things that have become ultimate things. Only by traveling light can we experience the fullness of life Jesus offers and build our identity on what will last: being a child of God, a follower of Jesus. Every other identity will eventually fade, but this one endures into eternity. [29:59]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:53] - Praying for a Broken World
• [05:18] - The Challenge of Being “All In”
• [06:54] - Anger, Anxiety, and Escapism
• [08:33] - Going All In with Jesus
• [09:37] - The Call to Engage, Not Retreat
• [12:11] - Jesus Announces the Kingdom
• [13:55] - Disruptive Power of the Kingdom
• [15:12] - Kairos Moments and God’s Invitation
• [16:45] - The Goodness of God’s Kingdom
• [18:26] - Wisdom for Messy Relationships
• [20:35] - Repentance and Belief: Entering the Kingdom
• [22:05] - Trusting Jesus with the Unknown
• [23:08] - Jesus Sees and Calls the Unlikely
• [25:21] - What Does Jesus See in You?
• [27:13] - Pack Light: Leaving Nets Behind
• [29:59] - Dropping Our Nets and Old Identities
• [31:41] - Building Your Life on What Lasts
• [33:15] - A Prayer of Surrender and Commitment
• [37:46] - All In: Following Jesus Wherever He Leads

Bible Reading

Mark 1:14-20 (ESV) — 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

---

## Observation Questions

1. What does Jesus announce as his message when he begins his ministry in Galilee? (Mark 1:14-15)
2. What are the first disciples doing when Jesus calls them, and how do they respond? (Mark 1:16-20)
3. According to the sermon, what are some of the “nets” the first disciples had to leave behind to follow Jesus? [27:13]
4. In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the difference between the world’s way of responding to chaos and Jesus’ invitation? [06:54]

---

## Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus starts his ministry by saying, “The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel”? What does this say about what he wants from his followers? (Mark 1:15)
2. The disciples left their nets “immediately” to follow Jesus. What might this say about the urgency or importance of Jesus’ call? (Mark 1:18, 20)
3. The sermon talks about “nets” as things that can entangle us—sometimes even good things. Why might Jesus ask us to let go of things that seem good or familiar? [29:59]
4. The pastor says that Jesus “sees us as we truly are—our potential, our wounds, our hidden places.” How is this different from how we or others might see ourselves? [25:21]

---

## Application Questions

1. The sermon describes a world full of violence, anxiety, and noise. When you look at your own life, what are the main sources of “noise” or anxiety for you right now? How do you usually respond—anger, anxiety, or retreat? [06:54]
2. The pastor invites us to “go all in with Jesus” instead of going all in on anger, anxiety, or escapism. What would it look like for you to go all in with Jesus this week, especially in a situation that usually makes you angry or anxious? [08:33]
3. Jesus calls his followers to “repent and believe”—to clear out what fills our hands and step into the unknown with him. Is there something in your life (a “net”) that you sense Jesus might be asking you to let go of? What would it take for you to actually lay it down? [29:59]
4. The sermon says that entering the kingdom is not about religious performance but about trusting Jesus enough to step onto the “plane” he’s already paid for. Are there areas where you’re still trying to earn God’s approval instead of trusting him? What would it look like to trust him more? [20:35]
5. The pastor encourages us to ask Jesus, “What do you see in me?” Are you willing to pray that prayer this week? What do you hope or fear Jesus might show you? [25:21]
6. The sermon mentions that every other identity will eventually fade, but being a child of God and a follower of Jesus endures. What identities or roles do you tend to build your life around? How might your life look different if your primary identity was as a follower of Jesus? [31:41]
7. The pastor led the congregation in a prayer with three movements: hands out (showing what’s in our hands), hands down (laying it down), and hands over the heart (saying “I’m all in”). Would you be willing to try this prayer practice this week? What do you think might happen if you did? [33:15]

---

Closing Thought: — Jesus’ invitation is not just to believe something, but to follow him—leaving behind whatever holds us back, and stepping into a new way of life marked by his peace, wisdom, and love. What is your next step in going “all in” with Jesus?