In the architecture of recovery, Step 4 is often described as the "engine" of character transformation. After the internal shifts of admitting powerlessness and surrendering to a Higher Power, the program demands a transition from abstract belief to rigorous, tangible action. Yet, for many, this is where the momentum stalls. We find ourselves standing at the threshold of a "searching and fearless moral inventory," staring into what feels like a dark, cluttered closet of our o

Step Four: We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. If you thought the first three steps were challenging, welcome to where it gets real. Steps one through three are about surrender: I can't, He can, I think I'll let Him. But step four? This is where you actually have to do something. When Jesus Called Zacchaeus Down From the Tree Remember Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)? The tax collector was so short (possibly dealing with dwarfism) that he had to climb a tre

The Runaway Slave and the Debt We Couldn't Pay: A Fresh Look at the Book of Philemon When was the last time you studied the book of Philemon? If you're like most people, probably never. This tiny letter, usually just a page long, often gets skipped over in favor of Paul's weightier writings. But hidden in these verses is one of the most powerful pictures of grace in all of Scripture. The Story Behind the Letter Philemon was a wealthy man living in Colossae (modern-day Turkey)

BEYOND SUNDAY Introduction: The Myth of Absolute Control We are taught to be masters of our own destiny, to fix our problems through sheer willpower. The word "surrender" often feels like weakness—an admission of defeat. In a culture that prizes self-sufficiency, the idea of turning over control to anyone, or anything, can seem irresponsible and a final blow to our pride. But what if this deeply ingrained belief is wrong? In the context of recovery, personal growth, and disci

We're walking through the 12 steps of AA and other recovery programs right now. These steps have been utilized for coming up on 100 years, and there's tremendous validity to them. But here's what I want you to understand: I'm not just talking to addicts or alcoholics. I'm talking to each one of us who has chosen the path of discipleship. Because at the heart of these 12 steps is the message of the gospel. When Nothing Else Works In Mark chapter 5 we meet a woman who was at he

BEYOND SUNDAY Introduction: The Loop We All Get Stuck In We’ve all been there: stuck in a destructive pattern, promising ourselves that this time will be different, only to find ourselves right back where we started. Whether it’s a bad habit, a toxic relationship, or a cycle of negative thinking, we eventually face the humbling reality that sheer willpower isn’t always enough to break free. The 12-Step program is famous as a path for addiction recovery, but its wisdom extends

Exploring the Second Step in Recovery: "We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." Walking on Water, Then Sinking Remember Peter's famous moment on the Sea of Galilee? A storm raged, waves battered the disciples' boat, and then Jesus appeared, walking on the water. Peter, bold as ever, called out, "Lord, if it's you, command me to come to you on the water." And Jesus said, "Come." Peter climbed out of the boat and actually walked on wa

BEYOND SUNDAY The Misunderstood Path to Recovery Our culture is filled with dramatic stories about addiction recovery. We imagine a single, life-shattering "rock bottom" moment or a heroic battle of pure willpower against overwhelming urges. These narratives, while compelling, often miss the quieter, more profound truths at the heart of lasting change. They paint a picture of recovery as an act of force, a head-on collision with a problem that must be wrestled into submission

As we start this new year, many of you are thinking about resolutions and goals. Maybe last year you resolved to lose 10 pounds and now you're thinking, "Great, only 18 to go." Whatever is on your mind today, I hope you'll join us for this new series on the 12 Steps. Why the 12 Steps? Some of you might be wondering why we're going through the 12 steps from Alcoholics Anonymous and similar recovery programs. "I'm not an addict," you're thinking. "Why do I need this?" Here's th

I'm going to lose ten pounds . I'm going to run a 10k. I'm going to work to earn a promotion. I'm going to go back to school for a higher degree. I'm going to quit drinking / smoking / overeating. I'm going to work out 3 days a week. Sound familiar? There's a story I came across while researching for a new sermon series beginning this January. Three frogs were sitting on a log on the shore of the lake one hot summer day. One frog decides to jump in the lake. How many frogs ar

A few years back, my wife Lindsay and I went to Walmart the day before Christmas Eve. If you've ever been there on that day, you know it's absolute chaos. Lindsay and I are very different shoppers. I'm on a mission, I know exactly what I want, where I'm going, and I'm getting in and out. Lindsay likes to browse, checking out the knickknacks and Pioneer Woman plates, even though we weren't there for any of that. I kept having to remind her of our purpose, why we were there in

from the Christmas Candlelight Service, December 21, 2025 For the past month, we've explored miracle births in Scripture: Abraham and Sarah's Isaac, Manoah's Samson, Hannah's Samuel, and Zechariah and Elizabeth's John the Baptist. Tonight, we arrive at the culmination of them all: Jesus. What's in a Name? Names carry profound meaning. The name we know as "Jesus" comes from the Hebrew Yehoshua, or Joshua, meaning "the Lord delivers." Just as Joshua brought Israel into the prom

Every baby is a miracle, a gift from God. But some stories make it undeniable that God had His hand directly involved. Today, we're looking at one of those stories, a reminder that the same God responsible for all the miracle births in Scripture is still at work in our lives today. What's in a Name? His name was John, which means "God is gracious." Every time someone called his name, they were reminded of the God they served. Every time they yelled at him (because let's be ho

I love the holiday season. Halloween through New Year's is just about my favorite time of year. But it's being ruined. People are taking these holidays and completely trampling over their intended purpose. You might think I'm about to bash the consumeristic society, the greedy mega-corporations, or the materialistic masses who would rather trample over people to get a video game system than observe a day of Thanksgiving and gratitude. You may think that Capitalism or the free

From our Miracle Babies series exploring God's promises wrapped in blankets The Five Finger Game Let's start with a game. Put a finger down if: You've ever felt ignored by everyone, including God You've been hurt by dysfunctional family relationships You've desperately wanted something that never worked out You've tried making a deal with God You've had to give up something precious to you If you have no fingers left, you're in good company. That's exactly what Hannah experie

We are now approaching the end of our read through the New Testament. By now we have read three of the Gospels, having experienced the miracles, the teachings, the betrayals, the crucifixion and resurrection mutlitple times. We have read all about the start and spread of the early church. We have wrestled through questions of theology, identity, and community. We have face hardships and persecutions and great victories. Now as the journey through the New Testament draws to a

Part of the "Miracle Babies" series We're continuing our journey through miraculous births in the Bible, and today we're looking at a baby born to a woman who wasn't supposed to have children. Unlike Sarah from last week, this woman isn't even named in Scripture—but I think there's a powerful reason for that beyond simple oversight. The Cycle of Darkness The story of Samson's birth takes place during one of Israel's darkest periods. The book of Judges records a repeating cycl

I developed this method for reading the New Testament in four volumes because I wanted to 1) emphasize the differences in the four Gospels, 2) explore the development of Christianity over the course of the First Century, and 3) encounter the New Testament writings in a more (but not exclusively) chronological order. I hope by now you are beginning to understand the vision and purpose behind this reading plan. Next up we will spend time with Luke, Paul, and the broader Greco-R

When God's Plans Sound Absolutely Absurd What's the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard of an elderly person accomplishing? Running a marathon at 100? Climbing Mount Everest at 80? Going skydiving at 103? Now imagine this: having your first baby at 90. That's the story of Abraham and Sarah – and it's so absurd that their son's name literally means "laughter." Because when God told them the news, they laughed. Not the joyful kind of laughter, but the incredulous kind. The.

After making your way through the writings centered on a Jewish audience and perspective, it's time to move into the next section. [ TL;DR: Mark, Acts 1-12, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Peter ] Volume 2: Ready, Set, Go These next writings focus on the apostle Peter and the rapid spread of the early church. Let's begin with... The Gospel According to Mark While Matthew is the first Gospel account in the biblical order as we know it, Mark's Gospel was likely the first one written