1 John 4:7–12 (ESV)

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE HUMAN?

The most important question beneath all our daily decisions is this:

What does it mean to be human?

The Christian answer:

  • To be made in the image and likeness of God
  • To be loved by the One who is Love
  • To be intentionally formed
  • To be destined for purpose
  • To bear the image of a relational God

Human wholeness requires community.

Isolation distorts our design.

You were never meant to be alone.

THE PROBLEM: “OTHERING”

“Othering” is the act of separating people into categories that exclude dignity and belonging.

We see it everywhere:

  • Political divisions
  • Theological camps
  • Cultural and social tensions
  • Immigration debates
  • Ideological hostility

 

When we “other” people:

  • We elevate pride over humility
  • Judgment over mercy
  • Division over love

 

But when we became followers of Jesus, our allegiance shifted.

The law of God is love.

Not hatred.

Not stripping away dignity.

Not division.

THE CURE: THE BELOVED

John writes to the “Beloved” — those who know they are loved by God.

If you have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, you are not defined by your sin or failures.

You are called: “My Beloved.”

When God saved us:

  • He did not isolate us.
  • He placed us in a people.
  • This was not strategic.
  • This was not practical.
  • This was always His design.

FROM BEGINNING TO END: A “ONE ANOTHER” DESIGN

Creation

Genesis 1:26–27

Genesis 2:18

God is relational. We are made in His image.

Covenant

Exodus 19:5–6

God forms a people, not just individuals.

Christ

Mark 3:34–35

Jesus redefines His followers as family.

Church

Acts 2:42–47

The early church embodied shared life, generosity, and devotion.

Consummation

Revelation 21:3–5

Eternity is not solitary — it is shared dwelling with God and His people.

From the beginning to eternity,

you were never made to be alone.

THE GRAMMAR OF CHRISTIANITY IS PLURAL

The New Testament repeatedly commands us to:

  • Love one another (John 13:34–35; John 15:12,17; Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 John 4:7,11–12)
  • Welcome one another (Romans 15:7)
  • Bear with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13)
  • Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
  • Confess to one another (James 5:16)
  • Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
  • Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13)
  • Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21)

You cannot obey half of the New Testament alone.

Christian maturity is irreducibly communal.

WHY IS THIS SO HARD?

  1. We have been formed by a culture of othering.
  2. We have been hurt — sometimes deeply — even by the church.

 

Wounds can cause us to withdraw.

But God’s answer for loneliness, hurt, and division is not isolation.

It is the Beloved.

Jesus saves.

His Beloved heals.

WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

1 John 4:11–12 reminds us:

If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Make the Beloved your priority.

  • prioritize the beloved
    • The average church attendee participates once every six weeks.
    • Do not let that be true of you.
  • Join a small group

 

You were made to be the Beloved.

Together.

1 John 4:9–10

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

Conflict is inevitable.Combat is optional.Growth is possible.Grace is essential.

INTRODUCTION: WHY THIS MATTERS NOW

We are living in a season of constant conflict.Public conflict.Relational conflict.Cultural conflict.Church conflict.The pressure to react is everywhere. Voices are loud. Opinions are strong.And if we are not careful, we don’t choose sides — we get pulled into chaos.Scripture warns us about reacting without understanding.

Proverbs 18:13 (ESV)“If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.”As followers of Jesus, we are not called to mirror the culture.We are called to model something different.

Matthew 5:9 (ESV)“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

1. CONFLICT IS INEVITABLE

Conflict is not a sign that something is wrong.Often, it is a sign that something is growing.

Acts 6:1-7 (ESV)“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose by the Hellenists against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.”The conflict in the early church came from:

  • Growth
  • Cultural differences
  • Limited resources

Conflict did not stop the church.Avoiding conflict would have stopped it.

Proverbs 27:17 (ESV)“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

• Conflict creates friction.Friction creates sharpening.Sharpening creates effectiveness.

Conflict can make us better or bitter.

  • Bitter has an “I” — self at the center
  • Better has an “E” — everyone, empathy, eternity

 

2. COMBAT IS OPTIONAL

Conflict and combat are not the same thing.

  • Conflict means differences exist
  • Combat means relationships are damaged

Scripture calls us to respond wisely.

Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Romans 12:18 (ESV)“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”The Bible does not command us to win arguments.It commands us to pursue peace.Conflict does not require fighting.Combat is a choice.

3. GROWTH IS POSSIBLE

Conflict reveals what is happening inside us before it fixes what is around us.

James 4:1 (ESV)“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?”Many conflicts are fueled by:

  • Poor communication
  • Unfulfilled expectations
  • Despised differences
  • Sinful reactions

Even Jesus grew through difficulty.

Hebrews 5:8 (ESV)“Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.”God uses resistance to form maturity.Opposition becomes an opportunity.

Romans 12:2 (NLT)“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”Growth happens when we let God work in us before we demand change from others.

4. GRACE IS ESSENTIAL

Unresolved conflict never stays contained.Bitterness spreads.

Hebrews 12:15 (ESV)“See to it that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.”Grace stops the spread.

Colossians 3:13 (NLT)“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

Ephesians 4:31–32 (ESV)“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you… forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”What we do not heal, we eventually pass on.Grace breaks the cycle.

COMMUNION REFLECTION

Before we receive Communion, we remember the grace given to us.

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”

Dead people do not need to win arguments.Crucified lives choose grace over pride.

NEXT STEPS

This week, I will:

  • Pause before reacting
  • Seek understanding before responding
  • Invite God into a strained relationship
  • Choose growth instead of avoidance
  • Apply grace where I have withheld it

I will intentionally connect with two or three others to discuss how God is shaping me through conflict.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

 

  1. Where do you see conflict most often in your life right now?
  2. Which part of the statement stood out most to you: inevitable, optional, possible, or essential?
  3. How do unmet expectations contribute to conflict?
  4. What would it look like to handle conflict God’s way this week?
  5. How does remembering God’s grace toward you change how you treat others?

THE REAL ISSUE

Many believers feel stuck or inconsistent in their walk with GodThe problem is not always the heart

  • Often, the problem is the system

You don’t lack love for God — you lack rhythms that carry you to Him.
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CORE TRUTH

Spiritual growth is intentional, not accidentalGod designed us to grow through rhythms and ritualsRituals are not the goal — relationship is the goal

  • Rhythms are the pathway to relationship

If you want to arrive somewhere, you need more than desire — you need a way to get there.

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FAITH BEGINS WITH THE WORD

Romans 10:17“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”Faith is formed by exposure to ScriptureDistance from the Word leads to spiritual drift

  • God’s Word doesn’t just inform us — it forms us

Hebrews 4:12

  • The Word is living, active, and discerning
  • It exposes what’s beneath the surface

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “HEAR”? (THE SHEMA)

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 — “Hear, O Israel…”• “Hear” (Shema) means:ListenReceiveRespondObey
Biblical hearing is never complete until it leads to obedience.

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GOD’S DESIGN FOR GROWTH — TPPP

Every healthy relationship needs four things:TIME

  • What isn’t scheduled doesn’t get sustained
  • Jesus made time with the Father — even when busy or in crisis

PLACEPlace trains expectation

  • God doesn’t need a place — we do

PLAN

  • Vague intentions don’t build strong relationships
  • We need a simple, repeatable plan

PEOPLEGrowth breaks down in isolationScripture constantly says “one another”

  • We grow better together

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THE PLAN — SOAP

SOAP is a simple rhythm for engaging God’s Word:

  • S — Scripture: Read slowly
  • O — Observation: What stands out?
  • A — Application: What is God asking me to do?
  • P — Prayer: Respond honestly to God

SOAP doesn’t just rinse information — it removes residue.

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JESUS’ WARNING & PROMISE

Matthew 7:24–27Both builders hear

  • Only one obeys
  • Storms come to both
  • The foundation makes the difference

Storms don’t reveal your faith — they reveal your foundation.

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FINAL REMINDER

• It’s not always a heart problem• It’s often a system problem• God grows us through:TimePlacePlan (SOAP)PeopleFaithful presence over time always produces transformation.

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NEXT STEPS (VERY PRACTICAL)

This week:1. Choose a Time to meet with God2. Choose a Place where you won’t be rushed3. Get a BibleA paper Bible (underline it, mark it up, write in it), orA Bible app (a great place to start)4. Use SOAP as your plan5. Don’t do this alone Talk about what God is teaching you6. Need help?Visit our websiteGo to Next StepsWe’ll walk with you step by stepNo guilt.No pressure.Just simple rhythms that lead to real relationship.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (GROUPS / FAMILIES)

Which part of TPPP do you struggle with most — Time, Place, Plan, or People?How has your relationship with Scripture been lately?What stood out to you about the biblical meaning of “hearing” (Shema)?Why do you think isolation makes spiritual growth harder?

  1. What is one small rhythm you could start this week?
  2. Who could you invite into your spiritual growth journey?

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Cornerstone Church — Helping people grow through intentional rhythms that lead to real relationship with God.

Seeing the Right Target. Living for the Right Purpose

 

You can hit a target… and still miss your life.
Everyone ends up somewhere

  • Few people end up somewhere on purpose
  • Vision determines the target

WITHOUT VISION, LIFE LOSES DIRECTION

Proverbs 29:18 (ESV)18 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

Key Phrase:A person without vision becomes a slave to their reality.

 

Mark 12:30–31 (ESV)30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

THE RIGHT TARGET — MAN’S CHIEF PURPOSE

Key Statement:Before God ever called us to do anything, He called us to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.Vision starts with relationship, not achievement.

Scripture:Psalm 16:11 (ESV)11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

VISION COMES FROM GOD’S VOICE

1 I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. 2 And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. 3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. 4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.

Key Line:God’s voice is my vision.HOW DO YOU HEAR GOD’S VOICE?

  • Be filled with God’s Word
  • Be near God
  • Lower the noise

Key Phrase:God whispers because He expects you to be close.

VISION MUST BE WRITTEN & WALKED OUT

Habakkuk 2:2 (ESV)2 And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.

Key Truth:Vision works when we walk toward it.CLOSING QUESTION

  • Surrender to God’s voice
  • Surrender to God’s plan
  • Aim for the right target

NEXT STEPS

  • Spend intentional time with God this week
  • Write down what God is stirring in your heart
  • Join a Small Group
  • Serve on the Dream Team

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. What does it look like to “hit the wrong target” in everyday life?
  2. Which of the four purposes do you need to realign with most right now?
  3. What noise do you need to lower to hear God more clearly?
  4. How can vision shape the decisions you’re making right now?
  5. What is one step God is asking you to take this week?

You don’t drift into God-first living

  • You decide daily, deliberately, intentionally, and in your calendar

Scripture: MemorizeMatthew 6:33–34 (ESV)33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Scripture:Matthew 17:14–21 (NASB95)14 When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 “I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” 17 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” 20 And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. 21 “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

JESUS’ DIAGNOSISUnbelief

  • Not doubt or atheism
  • Weak connection to God

Perverse Generation

  • Over-connection to the world
  • Too much noise, distraction, appetite, input

Key Truth:Prayer strengthens  to God

  • Fasting weakens attachment to the 

WHY JESUS SAID “PRAYER AND FASTING”

  • Prayer connects us to God
  • Fasting disconnects us from what competes with God

“Prayer strengthens our connection to God.Fasting weakens our attachment to the world.”

Important Order:

  • Prayer and fasting
  • Not fasting and prayer

WHAT FASTING IS NOT

  • Not starvation
  • Not punishment
  • Not manipulation
  • Not earning God’s favor

 

WHAT FASTING ISFasting is denying the fleshly appetites of the body and re-ordering the desires of the mind, will, and emotions so our spirit becomes more responsive to God.

 

HOW WE ARE MADE1 Thessalonians 5:23 (ESV)23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • Body — appetites
  • Soul — mind, will, emotions
  • Spirit — God-connected

THE GOVERNING PRINCIPLE

  • Whichever part is strongest rules your life

Romans 8:5–6 (ESV)5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Key Phrase:

  • Whatever you feed leads
  • Whatever you starve loses power
  • What you stave you can carve

WHY FASTING PRODUCES

  • Weakens the flesh
  • Quietens the soul
  • Strengthens the spirit
  • Prayer with fasting gives the spirit traction for breakthrough

JESUS EXPECTED FASTING

  • Jesus said  you fast, not if
  • Matthew 6:16–18 (NLT) And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

FASTING IS ALWAYS CONNECTED TO PRAYER

  • Fasting brings clarity, direction, and confirmation

Scripture:

  • Acts 13:2–3

Memorable Line:

  • A diet changes how you look
  • Prayer with fasting changes how you see

WHEN SHOULD WE FAST?

  • At the start of the year
  • Before major decisions
  • During important seasons

HOW SHOULD WE FAST?

  • Complete or total fast
  • Selective fast (what you crave most)
  • Soul fast (media and distractions)

WHAT SHOULD WE FAST FOR?

  • Spiritual breakthrough
  • Victory in spiritual warfare

Scripture:

  • Daniel 10

PRAYING FOR OUR NATION

  • God responds to humility, prayer, and repentance

Scripture:

  • 2 Chronicles 7:14

NEXT STEPS

  • Don’t fast everything
  • Fast intentionally
  • Attach prayer to it

Reminder:

  • Prayer strengthens our connection to God
  • Fasting loosens our attachment to the world

REVIEWPrayer with fasting gives the spirit traction for breakthrough.

  • Prayer strengthens our connection to God
  • Fasting loosens our attachment to the world
  • Together, they create traction where effort alone keeps slipping

 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Where do you feel stuck spiritually right now?
  2. What does “traction” mean in your walk with God?
  3. What might God be inviting you to fast from?
  4. Which part of your life needs to move from accidental to intentional?
  5. How can prayer and fasting help realign your priorities?
  6. Who could you meet with this week to pray or talk this through?

Consider getting together with someone for coffee or tea this week and discussing these questions together.

You don’t drift into God-first living.You decide it — daily and intentionally.

1. THE REALITY

  • New year, new intentions
  • Most people don’t fail from lack of care
  • Life crowds out what matters

Jesus starts with priorities, not goals.

Luke 10:38–42 (ESV)38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

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2. JESUS & ANXIETY (MATTHEW 6)

  • Anxiety =  attention
  • Pulled in many directions
  • Life pressure is real

Jesus doesn’t shame anxiety — He shepherds us through it.

3. WHY ANXIETY GROWS• Life centered on:SurvivalProvisionControlTomorrow

When God isn’t central, anxiety becomes normal.

 

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4. SEEK FIRST

  • Seek = organize life around
  • First = priority, not perfection

Your best year flows from a strong walk with God.

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5. THE ONE-THING SHIFTYou don’t need to fix everything

  • You need one God-first change

Focus beats overload.

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6. MARY & MARTHA (LUKE 10).

Luke 10:38–42 (ESV)38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

  • Martha: busy, distracted, anxious
  • Mary: still, focused, present

Jesus’ words:“One thing is necessary.”

Key phrases:

  • The devil can’t make you bad — just .
  • Good things can crowd out the God thing.
  • Too many first things create .

 

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7. THE CONNECTION

  • Many things → anxiety
  • One thing → peace
  • Seeking first → order

 

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8. HEART CHECKWhere does God need to be first again?

  • Spiritual
  • Marriage
  • Family
  • Physical
  • Work
  • Financial
  • Social
  • Attitude

 

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9. TIME & THE CALENDAR

  • You have time for what you prioritize

Key phrases:

  • If you care — you .
  • Planning shows intention; calendaring shows conviction.

 

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10. PLANS WITH SURRENDERAnchor Statement:We hold tightly to the Lord — and loosely to our plans.

 

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NEXT STEPSChoose one God-first focus

Key phrase:We’re building a rhythm, not chasing a moment.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (FOR THE WEEK)

  1. What was the most meaningful phrase or moment from this message?
  2. Where do you feel the most pressure or anxiety right now?
  3. Which area of life needs God to be first again?
  4. What “good thing” might be crowding out the “best thing”?
  5. What is one God-first change you can make this week?
  6. What needs to move or change on your calendar?
  7. How can prayer help you trust God more with your plans?

Final reflection:What is the one thing Jesus is inviting you to choose?

by Chris Green
Scripture: Joshua 3 – 4

I can face the future with confidence, not because I know what’s ahead, but because I remember what God has already done.

1. Stop and Remember

I stop long enough to recognize what God has .

Joshua 3–4:1 – The crossing of the Jordan

 

Core Ideas:

  • Israel stands at a moment: no longer wandering, not yet settled.
  • God does something unexpected after the miracle—He tells them to , not rush forward.
  • Twelve stones are taken from the middle of the Jordan to mark where God brought them through.
  • The greatest danger at the moment of progress is .
  • Remembering requires intention; if we rush ahead, we risk missing the meaning of what we’ve endured.
  • God calls His people to name what they’ve been through before moving on.

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2. Remember the God-Centered Version

I intentionally remember what has done, not just what I’ve .

  • Joshua 4:2–7, 20–24
  • 1 Samuel 7:12 (Ebenezer – “Till now the LORD has helped us”)

 

Core Ideas:

  • The stones come from the , the place where God acted—not from the wilderness or Moses’ death.
  • This is not nostalgia or denial of pain; it is , God-centered remembrance.
  • Memory must be cultivated; we call this remembering .
  • The point of remembrance is not emotion, but passed on.
  • The truth remembered:
    • God is faithful
    • God acts with power
    • Nothing can stop Him when He purposes to move
  • “The hand of the LORD is mighty” (Joshua 4:24).

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3. Walk in Hope

I walk forward into God’s promises by what I remember about Him.

  • Joshua 4:23–24
  • Lamentations 3:19–24

 

Core Ideas:

  • Biblical hope follows a pattern: past help → present confidence → future hope.
  • The stones are not museum pieces; they are anchors for future battles.
  • Remembering includes God’s faithfulness and our failures—not with shame, but with wisdom.
  • Failure is not a definition; it is a point God uses to shape discernment.
  • Remembered faithfulness prepares God’s people to move forward without fear.
  • Remembering rightly keeps us from guessing who God is—we walk forward knowing what He has already proven.

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Three practical takeaways here:

  1. Stop and
  2. Remember the Version
  3. Walk in

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Christ-Centered Fulfillment

  • Jesus is the greater Joshua who went before us.
  • He stepped into judgment, passed through death, and secured our future.
  • Because He lives, we face the future grounded, not uncertain.
  • Like God’s people throughout history, we raise our Ebenezer and say:“Till now the LORD has helped us.”

 

Pastor Eric Bucci

 

Fear Is Real. Courage Is Chosen.

1. FEAR IS PART OF THE  EXPERIENCE

Life can feel stable… then boom.Fear and anxiety are among the most common human struggles.

  • Scripture repeatedly says, “Do not fear,” because fear is real.

Key Truth:God does not ignore fear — He steps into it.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.” — Isaiah 41:102.

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2. MARY’S WORLD WAS A WORLD OF 

• Nazareth: small, poor, overlooked.• Jewish people lived under Roman occupation:

Heavy taxesNo political powerConstant military presence• Fear was normal — not unusual.

Key Truth:God speaks hope into fearful environments.

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3. MARY’S ENCOUNTER WITH GOD(Luke 1:26–38)

Mary’s Response to God’s Call

  • She was not curious — she was troubled.
  • God did not minimize her fear — He addressed it.

“But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.”— Luke 1:29

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”— Luke 1:30The Cost Mary Understood

  • Pregnancy before marriage
  • Public shame
  • Uncertain future

Her Decision

  • Fear was present.
  • Courage was chosen.

“For nothing will be impossible with God.”And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”— Luke 1:37–38.

 

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4. COURAGE OFTEN COMES BEFORE

  • Mary said yes before Joseph did.
  • Obedience sometimes risks misunderstanding.
  • Courage is obedience in the presence of fear.

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5. JOSEPH & THE COST OF

“And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.”— Matthew 1:19

Key Truth:Faithful obedience may cost reputation, comfort, or control.

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6. COURAGE GROWS IN COMMUNITY

 

(Luke 1:39–45, 56)

  • Mary did not isolate.
  • She ran toward someone who believed God.
  • Faith grows in environments of encouragement.

“And Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country.”— Luke 1:39

“And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”— Luke 1:41

“And Mary remained with her about three months.”— Luke 1:56

 

Key Truth:Isolation feeds fear. Godly community builds courage.What you fear reveals where you trust God least.Fear is an emotion.

 

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7. FEAR VS. (CORE TRUTH)

  • Fear is an emotion.
  • Courage is a decision.
  • What we fear most often reveals where we trust God least.

Mary Built Courage By:

  • Listening to God’s Word
  • Believing God’s promises
  • Obeying despite uncertainty
  • Staying close to faith-filled people

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8. GOD STEPPED OUR FEAR

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)

  • No palace.
  • No throne.
  • A manger.

Key Truth:Jesus entered the world humbly so He could meet us fully.

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9. SAY YES TO JESUS

 

  • Mary received the Word — and life came through it.
  • Salvation is not religion or performance.
  • It is receiving Jesus as Savior and Lord.

“Let it be to me according to your word.” — Luke 1:38

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NEXT STEPS

  • Say yes to Jesus for the first time, or renew your trust in Him.
  • Join 14 Days of Prayer — courage grows in God’s presence.
  • Participate in One Day to Feed the World — faith moves outward in love.
  • Sign up for Jump Start Life to begin the year spiritually strong.
  • Surround yourself with faith-filled community.

 

DISCUSSION & REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. What fears currently feel overwhelming in your life?
  2. Where might God be inviting you to choose courage over comfort?
  3. Who are the “Elizabeths” in your life that help strengthen your faith?
  4. What would obedience look like for you this week — even if fear remains?
  5. How does knowing Jesus stepped into our fear change how you face yours?

 

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Pastor Eric Bucci

 

WHAT IS IN OUR WORLD?Recent tragedies remind us that something deeper is happening in our culture.

  • Mental illness ≠ violence
  • Most people struggling mentally are not dangerous
  • But confusion, fear, and instability are increasing

Key Truth:When confusion becomes normal,  helps us name what’s happening.

 

2. TWO KINDS OF MINDS IN THE BIBLE

A. A Reprobate (Debased)

Romans 1:21–22 , 28 (ESV)21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,…28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

  • People  God but refused to honor Him
  • They stopped giving
  • Their thinking became 
  • Their hearts were 
  • God gave them over to a  mind

B. The Mind of Christ

1 Corinthians 2:16“But we have the mind of Christ.”God does not give His people a reprobate mind —He gives us the mind of Christ.

 

3. GOD DID NOT GIVE YOU FEAR

2 Timothy 1:7“God gave us not a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.”Fear may show up —but fear is not from Godand fear is not your identity.

 

4. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE MEAN BY “THE MIND”?In Scripture:

  • Nous (Greek) — inner governing faculty
  • Lev (Hebrew) — heart / inner person

This is where we:

  • think
  • choose
  • worship
  • decide what rules us

The brain is an organ.The mind is the governor.

 

5. HOW WE ARE MADE (SEE DIAGRAM)We are:

  • Spirit — connects us to God
  • Soul — mind, will, emotions
  • Body — physical expression

The spirit sets .The soul interprets .The body .

 

6. FOUR CONTRIBUTORS TO MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES

  1. Social — isolation, loneliness
  2. Spiritual — identity confusion, oppression
  3. Psychological — trauma, thought patterns
  4. Biological — chemistry, genetics

Important Clarity (Biological)

  • The ancient world had no “chemical imbalance” category
  • The modern church’s mistake: “it’s all spiritual”
  • Your is not your
  • No shame in glasses
  • No shame in medication

Summary:Hospitals often treat biology.Churches often treat spirituality.God cares about the whole person.

 

7. RENEWING THE MINDRomans 12:1–2“Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”

We already have the mind of Christ — but our minds must be .

 

8. TAKING THOUGHTS CAPTIVE2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,“Take every thought captive to obey Christ.”Not every thought is yours.Not every thought is true.But every thought must be examined.

 

9. ANXIETY AND PEACEPhilippians 4:6–7God gives us a process:

  • Pray
  • Be specific
  • Give thanks
  • Receive peace that guards the heart and mind

You can’t heal what you won’t .

 

10. LOVE CASTS OUT FEARI John 4:18–20 (ESV)18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us.

Perfect love casts out fear.Fear shrinks where love is believed.Healing accelerates in community.

1 John 4:20–21 (ESV)20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

 

11. KEY DECLARATIONS

  • I have the mind of Christ
  • God did not give me fear
  • My mind can be renewed
  • Seeking help is not shameful

 

12. DISCUSSION & REFLECTION

  1. Where do you notice fear trying to govern your thoughts?
  2. Which area do you most need to address right now?
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    • Psychological
    • Biological
  3. What would it look like to live from the mind of Christ this week?
  4. Who can walk with you in this process?

Pastor Eric Bucci

December 7, 2025

“What you return first shows who you trust most.”

1. Giving Is a  Issue

  • God is not after your money. He is after your heart.
  • God wants first place, not leftovers.

Acts 20:35 (ESV)

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

(MULTILINE)

 

2. The Rich Young Ruler — Something Else Was 

  • He obeyed the rules, but something else sat on the throne of his heart.

Mark 10:17–22 (ESV)

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

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3. You Cannot Two Masters — God vs. Mammon

  • Jesus is not talking about money itself, but the spirit behind it.

Matthew 6:24 (ESV)

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

  • What is Mammon?
    • Mammon is money when it becomes a master.
    • Mammon is the spirit of greed, fear, and self-reliance.
    • Mammon promises what only God can give.
    • Mammon whispers, “Hold on to everything. You can’t afford to trust God.”
  • How Mammon shows up today:
    • Fear of not having enough
    • Making decisions based on anxiety
    • Never feeling financially secure
    • Trusting money more than God
    • Withholding instead of worshiping
    • Money driving emotions or choices
  • Tithing breaks Mammon’s power
    • Because it declares: “God is first in my life.”

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4. What You Return First Reveals Your 

  • Cain offered leftovers.
  • Abel offered the first and the best.

Genesis 4:3–5 (ESV)

3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.

Key Phrases

“What you thirst for most, you will give to .”

“What you return first shows who you trust most.”

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5. Jesus  Tithing

Matthew 23:23 (NLT)

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens—mint, dill, and cumin—but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.”

 

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6. Firstfruits Is God’s Pattern

Proverbs 3:9–10 (ESV)

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth

 and with the  of all your produce;

 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,

 and your vats will be bursting with wine.

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7. Tithing Before, During, and After the Law

Abraham — Before the Law

Genesis 14:18–20 (ESV)

 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And

  • Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

 

Jacob — Before the Law

Genesis 28:20–22 (ESV)

 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”

 

Under the Law

Leviticus 27:30 (ESV)

 “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.”

 

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8. The Two Financial Cycles

  • The Scarcity Cycle

God supplies → We consume → We lack → We fear → Repeat

  • The Generosity Cycle

God supplies → We return first → God multiplies → Our faith grows → We give again

 

2 Corinthians 9:6–8 (ESV)

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

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9. God Invites Us to  Him

Malachi 3:6–10 (ESV)

6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

 

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What Is the Holy Spirit Saying to Me Today?

Ask Him:

  • What is first in my life?
  • Is something competing with You?
  • Where is Mammon influencing my thinking?
  • What step of trust are You calling me to take?
  • What does returning the first look like for me?
  • Write down what He shows you.

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Next Steps

  1. Put God first this week in priorities, decisions, and finances.
  2. Begin returning the first 10% as an act of trust.
  3. Break the scarcity cycle and step into generosity.
  4. Ask the Holy Spirit to reset your heart around trust, not fear.
  5. Test God’s promise (Malachi 3:10).
  6. Find someone—a friend, spouse, or small group partner—to go through the discussion questions with you.
  7. Surrender fear and choose trust in God.

 

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Discussion Questions

(Use with someone you trust.)

  1. What is competing for first place in your life?
  2. What part of the Rich Young Ruler story spoke to you most?
  3. Where do you feel the pull of Mammon?
  4. Which financial cycle describes your current mindset?
  5. What does it look like for you to return the first?
  6. What step of trust is God asking you to take this week?
  7. How can we pray for each other to trust God more?

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Summary Review — 7 Main Points

  1. God wants first place.
  2. You cannot serve God and Mammon.
  3. What you return first reveals who you trust most.
  4. Jesus said, “You should tithe.”
  5. Firstfruits is God’s pattern throughout Scripture.
  6. Returning the first moves you into generosity.
  7. God invites you to test Him in the tithe.

 

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