Rooted in Christ: Discovering Our True Identity

Scripture References

• 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Introduction

• The study launched the new “Built Different” series by opening Paul’s first letter to the troubled church in Corinth, where he begins not with rebuke but with a sweeping reminder of who the believers already are in Christ.
• Every struggle in Corinth–then and now–traces back to a foggy sense of identity: until we remember we are called, forgiven, enriched, secure, and kept by God, efforts to “do better” stay shallow.
• We normally lead with jobs, family, or hobbies, but Paul starts with “called, sanctified, enriched.” Identity, not shame, is the engine of transformation.

Fighting the Good Fight: Becoming a Disciple of Christ

Scripture References

• 2 Timothy 1:1-5
• 2 Timothy 1:7
• 2 Timothy 2:9
• 2 Timothy 4:6-8
• Genesis 2-3
• Acts 14-16
• Revelation 12:17
• Romans 6:23

Introduction

• Pastor celebrated 4,000 first-time decisions for Christ during the recent “At the Movies” series and called new believers to their next step: water baptism–“the starting line, not the finish line.”
• Launches “Fight the Good Fight,” a nine-week verse-by-verse walk through 2 Timothy, shifting the church from “reaching wide” to “growing deep”–the church is “not in the crowd business but in the disciple business,” and disciples love the Word of God.
• Today’s text, 2 Timothy 1:1-5, opens Paul’s final letter, written from the Mamertine Prison in Rome to his “dear son” Timothy.
• Big idea: to one day say “I have fought the good fight,” we must walk as disciples–taking concrete steps, rooted in mentoring relationships, family faith, and the secure love of our heavenly Father.

Standing Firm in Spiritual Battle: Fighting From Victory in Christ

Scripture References

• Ephesians 6:11-12
• 1 Peter 5:8-9
• Colossians 1:13-14
• 2 Corinthians 2:11
• John 8:44
• John 8:32
• Matthew 4:3
• 1 John 2:16
• 2 Corinthians 4:4
• Matthew 13:19
• John 10:10
• James 4:7
• 1 John 4:4
• Joshua 1:9
• Philippians 4:13

Introduction

Using the true-life film “Captain Phillips,” this week’s message likened Somali pirates boarding a cargo ship to Satan’s attempts to commandeer our lives. Scripture teaches that two realms exist–physical and spiritual–and the battles that matter most are fought in the unseen realm. When a person trusts Christ, God transfers them from darkness to light, but the devil then declares war on them. The message exposed the enemy’s primary strategies, showed how believers can resist, and reminded hearers that Christ has already secured the decisive victory: every follower of Jesus lives in an unseen spiritual war, but because Christ has already won, we fight from victory–so we must stay alert, stand firm, and be strong. The message also set up the upcoming series “Fight the Good Fight,” a verse-by-verse study of 2 Timothy on fighting the battles that matter most as disciples of Jesus.

Faith to Finish: The Perseverance God Honors

Scripture References

• Matthew 17:20
• Luke 16:10
• Zechariah 4:10
• Romans 5:3-4
• 1 John 3:13
• John 16:33
• Galatians 6:9
• Isaiah 43:2
• Revelation 21:4
• John 8:12
• Philippians 1:6
• Lamentations 3:22-23
• Ephesians 6:13

Introduction

In 1926, a young American swimmer named Trudy Ederle waded into the frigid water at Cape Gris-Nez, France, and started swimming toward England. Twenty-one miles of open sea, riptides, jellyfish, and fog lay between her and a finish line no woman had ever reached. Week 3 of “At the Movies” used her story, told in the film “Young Woman and the Sea,” as a living parable of Jesus’ words in Matthew 17:20: faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. But mountains don’t move in a moment. The speaker traced a consistent pattern in Scripture: before God entrusts anyone with something great, He first watches how they handle something small–and then He asks them to keep going when everything in them wants to quit. To move mountains for God’s glory, you will need four kinds of faith: faith to start small, faith to face opposition, faith to endure when it hurts, and faith to finish what God started.

Faith Over Fear: Embracing God's Purpose Through Life's Storms

Scripture References

• John 16:33
• Psalm 139:16
• James 1:2-4
• 2 Timothy 1:7
• Joshua 1:9
• Isaiah 43:18-19
• Philippians 3:13-14
• Psalm 56:3-4

Introduction

• Week 2 of “At the Movies” uses the tornado-chasing film “Twisters” as a parable of courage: Kate’s literal storms mirror the emotional, relational, and spiritual storms we all encounter.
• Big idea: God never promised a storm-free life, but He does promise His presence and victory as we face our fears, heal from our past, and move forward in faith.
• Jesus warned that trouble is unavoidable, yet He remains with us and has overcome every storm; our calling is not to run from danger but to walk into it with purpose.
• Scripture shows three clear moves: confront fear head-on, let God heal old wounds, and trust Him enough to step forward even while afraid.
• The message ends with a call to personal decision–both for believers needing fresh courage and for those ready to give their lives to Christ.

Start Your Engines: Humility Across Generations

Scripture References

• Proverbs 20:29
• 1 Peter 5:5
• Mark 10
• Psalm 92:14
• Proverbs 16:31
• 1 Timothy 4:12
• Hebrews 12:1-2

Introduction

• Launching an “At the Movies” series, the speaker treats the unreleased Formula-1 film “F1” as a modern parable.
• Big idea: God pairs the strength of the young with the wisdom of the old, but only humility lets every generation win the race He has marked out for us.
• The movie’s two reluctant teammates–rookie sensation Joshua Pearce and long-retired veteran Sonny Hayes–mirror the tension Scripture describes between youthful energy and seasoned experience.
• Both men are driven by the same toxic blend of pride and insecurity, and their rivalry keeps their team in last place until humility and mutual honor replace the fight for position.
• Drawing on Proverbs, Peter, Mark and other texts, the message calls every listener–young or old–to lay down pride, serve like Jesus, seek godly mentors, and invest in the next generation.
• The sermon ends with a gospel invitation and a challenge to run our race with eyes fixed on Christ.

Ignited by God's Call: Discovering Your Divine Purpose

Scripture References

• Exodus 3
• Exodus 2:23-25
• Ephesians 2:10
• 1 Corinthians 1:27

Introduction

• Wrapping up the “En Fuego” series, the message goes to Exodus 3–the Bible’s “Mount Everest” of fire passages–where God meets 80-year-old Moses in a flaming bush.
• Israel’s 400 years of prayers move heaven; heaven moves Moses; Moses will move Pharaoh.
• Every Christian has a divine assignment, no matter age or past failures. Our call becomes clear at the intersection of what breaks our hearts (affinity), what we’re gifted to do (ability), and the doors God opens (opportunity).
• Big idea: God ignites every believer with a specific calling; when affinity, ability, and opportunity meet, step out–because the great “I AM” is with you.

Is God Worth It? Faithfulness in the Silence

Scripture References

• Malachi 3
• Malachi 4
• Matthew 12
• Psalm 74
• Revelation 21

Introduction

• The study closed the “Completely” series in Malachi by merging the final two lessons into one question: “Is following God even worth it when life doesn’t seem to pay off?”
• Malachi 3:13-4:6 exposes Israel’s cynical complaints, contrasts them with a small faithful remnant, and then lifts the group’s eyes to the coming “day when I act,” when God will separate the righteous from the wicked and bring healing.
• The night pressed us to examine our own temptations to treat God transactionally and to remember that His apparent silence never equals His absence.

Refined by Fire: Trusting God Through Life's Trials

Scripture References

• Daniel 3
• Daniel 1
• Daniel 4
• Proverbs 18:10

Introduction

• Fire comes to every life. Drawing from Daniel 3, the message shows how God uses that heat to expose impurities, set us free, and reveal His own reflection in us.
• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s refusal to bow, their “if ___, then God” faith, and the Fourth Man who met them in the furnace form a pattern for handling our own unexpected trials.
• Whether God delivers us from, through, or by the fire, He is always good–“even better on the bad days.”
• This talk closes a four-week run in the “En Fuego” series. Previous weeks dealt with anger and with Elijah’s Mount Carmel showdown. Tonight’s focus: how God refines character when the heat is turned up.

Trusting God With Our Resources and Obedience

Scripture References

• Malachi 3
• Leviticus 27
• Deuteronomy 27
• Deuteronomy 28
• Isaiah 45

Introduction

• The group explored Malachi 3, where God accuses His people of “robbing” Him by withholding the tithe.
• Through lively stories about grandparents who lived through the Great Depression and modern habits of excess, the conversation pressed one core issue: our willingness to trust God with the first tenth of everything reveals whether we actually believe He is our Provider.
• Malachi promises either a curse or an overflow of blessing, and the men wrestled honestly with whether such consequences still apply under Christ.
• The study opened with light banter about volunteering at the church’s upcoming “At the Movies” outreach, then shifted to a question: “If your grandparents walked into your house today, what would they say you waste the most?” Answers–time on phones, eating out, bottled water, oversized houses–set the stage for a deeper look at stewardship.