Front doors, our assumptions and how to have a KNOCK mindset

Everyone puts up a front door, some are welcoming, some are scary, some are utilitarian. Connection primer helps leaders first learn the biblical mindset, observe a model conversation, practice one-on-one across perceived differences, and receive specific coaching. The desired outcome is not simply understanding welcome. It is demonstrating curiosity, dignity, mutuality, and continued connection.

Connection Primer: Tell, Show, Let, Coach

Session outcome

By the end of the session, each leader will be able to:

• Recognize assumptions created by appearances.
• Approach someone without pity, envy, favoritism, or superiority.
• Conduct a one-on-one conversation using the KNOCK mindset.
• Identify something to receive from the other person.
• Make a specific commitment to continue the relationship.

Ask:

“If these doors represented people, which would you approach first? Which would you avoid? What story have you already created about the person behind each door?”

Explain:

“The doors represent how people show up, not what they are worth. We naturally rank people by appearance, condition, influence, education, confidence, and usefulness. The gospel teaches us to cross the sidewalk without ranking the person behind the door.”

Biblical foundation

James 1:9–11: Status is reversed

• The person in humble circumstances has a high position in Christ.
• The wealthy person must remember their low position before God.
• Visible circumstances are real, but they do not determine eternal worth.
• Both people need an identity that circumstances cannot provide.

Romans 5:8: Love initiates

“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Christ did not wait for us to become presentable before moving toward us.

Romans 15:7: Welcome reproduces grace

“Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.”

We extend the kind of welcome we have already received.

Define belonging before belief

“Belonging before belief means relational welcome before agreement. It does not mean agreement is unnecessary, truth is unimportant, or boundaries disappear. It means dignity, attention, and relationship are not rewards people must earn by becoming like us.”

Teach the KNOCK mindset

• K: Kill the ranking. Place neither person above the other.
• N: Notice assumptions. Separate what you know from what you inferred.
• O: Offer welcome. Communicate interest without requiring performance.
• C: Come ready to receive. Believe the other person carries something you need.
• K: Keep showing up. Move from a pleasant encounter to a continuing relationship.

Show Model conversation

Leader:
“Thanks for taking a few minutes with me. I realized that I know what you do, but I do not know much about what has shaped you. What has been significant in your life recently?”

Other person:
“Most people assume everything is going well. Work has gone well, but caring for my father has been difficult.”

Leader:
“I would not have known that. What has that season been teaching you?”

Other person:
“It has been teaching me that I cannot control everything. I have had to ask for help.”

Leader:
“That challenges an assumption I had. I thought you were probably the person everyone else depended on. What kind of support would be meaningful to you?”

Other person:
“Honestly, having someone check in without asking me to solve another problem would help.”

Leader:
“I can do that. I would also like to learn more about what you are discovering. Would it be all right if I checked in next week?”
Observation questions


Ask the group:

• Where did the leader avoid ranking?
• What assumption was corrected?
• Which question invited honesty?
• What did the leader receive?
• How did the conversation create a next step?

Behaviors to notice

Mindset ->Observable behavior

• Kill the ranking -> Speaks as an equal
• Notice assumptions -> Admits an incomplete perception
• Offer welcome -> Expresses sincere interest
• Come ready to receive -> Asks what the experience is teaching
• Keep showing up -> Establishes a specific follow-up

3. Let: Practice one-on-one

Time: 10 minutes
Purpose: Let leaders exercise the mindset together in a real conversation.

Pair leaders with someone they know less well. If possible, pair people who differ in age, personality, professional background, culture, life stage, or visible circumstances.

 

Step 1: Name the door

Before beginning, each person privately selects the door that best represents how they currently feel they are showing up. They may explain their choice, but they are not required to disclose anything they wish to keep private.

Step 2: Begin with curiosity

The initiating leader may use one of these questions:
“What is something people might assume about you that is incomplete?”
“What experience is shaping you right now?”
“Where have you experienced unexpected encouragement?”
“What is God teaching you through your present circumstances?”
“What do you wish people would ask instead of assuming?”
“What strength has God developed in you that others may not immediately see?”

Step 3: Listen for the gift

The initiator must identify something they can receive from the other person:
Wisdom
Perspective
Encouragement
Correction
Experience
Prayer
A different way of seeing the situation

This keeps the conversation reciprocal. The other person is not treated as a problem, project, or ministry assignment.

Step 4: Reflect what you heard

Use this pattern:


“What I hear you saying is…”
“Something I respect in your story is…”
“Something I can learn from you is…”

The other person may clarify or correct the reflection.

Step 5: Create a next step

Close with one question:

“What would meaningful connection after today look like?”

Possible next steps include:

• A follow-up conversation
• A prayer check-in
• Sharing a meal
• Attending something important to the person
• Introducing them to another leader
• Serving together
• Practice boundaries

Leaders should not:

• Give advice unless it is requested.
• Correct theology during the exercise.
• Compare the story to their own too quickly.
• Ask for traumatic details.
• Promise confidentiality they cannot maintain.
• Turn the conversation into recruitment or problem-solving.

4. Coach: Reflect and improve

Time: 3 minute
Purpose: Convert experience into repeatable leadership behavior.

Partners first coach each other using the following questions.
Peer-coaching questions

• When did you feel most heard?
• Which question helped you open up?
• Did anything feel assumed, rushed, or overly directive?
• Did the conversation feel mutual?
• What should the leader repeat?
• What is one adjustment that would improve the next conversation?

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Shepherding through group dynamics, aiming for kingdom culture

It's been an incredible week of ministry preparation for September small groups. 

• Last Wednesday I received Rooted Leadership training. The big takeaway was to create an environment of belonging, hospitality and connection. Rooted is built on three things: the foundation of the faith, the formation of a man, and the essential truths of what we believe. It walks through who Jesus is, what it means to have Christ living in you, and the everyday habits that grow a man: the Word, prayer, purity, sharing your faith, and standing firm when life gets hard. I'm doing this online Saturday at 8:00 a.m. CDT. Just specify you want to be in Ben Lorence's group here: https://atgrace.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/3892/responses/new 
• On Monday my friend Becky at Grace Church aligned that Spanish translation of Rooted would take a few weeks to modify the materials and ensure a high quality product. We aligned on developing an online Community to host Rooted Bible study participants. The platform will account for the goals belonging, connection, prayer support and life change in the context of daily Bible study. This morning I saw my idea to fix/simplify Spanish lectures with youtube went into production at grace.church/spanish
• Thursday was the BSF Leadership Workshop for the Roman's study year. We focused on our hearts, identifying where we're working in step with the Lord vs getting away from our calling. 
• Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the Alpha Leadership training at Substance church with my TC friends and family. I received prayer to call additional leaders into the Portland house Alpha opportunity as this will be my last year of serving as the primary leader. Prayer on Thursday will continue. 
• We've also been praying for our own family dynamics, health issues and living situations. 

I'm like the Kook-aid guy crashing into the room with unreasonable expectations for myself and others. 

Alpha leader is not responsible for controlling the conversation or producing the “right” spiritual outcome. The leader creates a hospitable environment where people can honestly explore, while trusting the Holy Spirit to work. "Evangelism is joining a conversation the Holy Spirit is already having with another person." - Darrell Johnson

Jesus life models the "Kingdom Culture" for us, he made disciples in the marketplace and at synagogue. He modeled a life on mission, helping people everywhere learn about forgiveness, prayer, healing, hope and eternal life. He was fully integrated moving with people from their felt needs into trusting God with their whole lives. We however tend to lean into one or two of the areas that turns into striving, selfishness or shallowness - we call this "missing the mark." We do all these trainings to remind ourselves that we are witnesses of God working in other peoples lives - not "doing witnessing" as an activity or manipulation. 

The most useful strategic distinction is that Incubate → Implement → Increase → Influence describes organizational adoption, while Curriculum → Program → Ministry → Culture describes organizational transformation. A church can therefore measure not just "How many Alphas are we running?" but "How much has the Alpha posture changed how we engage people?"

How do we engage people coming from various perspectives:

• Skeptic: questions Christianity or its claims.
• Seeker: spiritually interested and actively exploring.
• Starter / re-starter: beginning faith or returning after time away.
• Struggler: wrestling with faith, circumstances, doubts, or behavior.
• Sampler: curious and willing to experience Alpha without necessarily committing.
• Server: already inclined toward faith and contributing to others.

The important implication is that people are not all starting from the same place, so leaders should not expect them to respond the same way.

What difficult group dynamics should leaders anticipate?

• Dominant guest
• Eager Christian who overshares
• Quiet guest
• Quiet group
• Chaotic group
• Guest dealing with significant personal problems

These are better understood as situations to shepherd rather than people to fix.

The “6 Ways to be Mindful” provide the leadership response:

Principle	Leadership behavior	What it protects
1. Recognize your own bias	Notice the assumptions you bring into the conversation	The guest from being judged through the leader's experience
2. Respect various perspectives	Make room for disagreement and different experiences	Psychological and relational safety
3. Model curiosity	Ask rather than immediately explain or correct	Discovery and authentic conversation
4. Absorb hostility	Remain gracious when challenged	The group from becoming defensive or adversarial
5. Lead carefully and confidently	Intervene when needed without dominating	Healthy boundaries and participation
6. Trust the Holy Spirit to be the Guide	Resist trying to manufacture spiritual outcomes	God's agency and the guest's freedom

There is an important progression here:

Self-awareness → hospitality toward others → curiosity → resilience → leadership → dependence on God.

The strongest leadership principle may be #6 because it changes how the other five are practiced. If the leader believes conversion or agreement depends primarily upon the leader's persuasive ability, curiosity easily becomes interrogation, confidence becomes control, and disagreement becomes something that must be defeated.

useful leadership framework emerges from the slides:

Receive → Explore → Shepherd → Release

Receive: “You are welcome here as you are.”

Explore: “Tell me more. What makes you think that?”

Shepherd: “Let's make sure we hear from some other people too.”

Release: “I don't have to force the conclusion. The Holy Spirit is the Guide.”

That produces a simple diagnostic question for an Alpha leader:

“What does this person need from me right now: space, curiosity, encouragement, a boundary, or nothing?”

That is especially powerful because the same behavior should not be applied uniformly. The dominant guest probably needs a boundary. The quiet guest probably needs space and invitation. The skeptic often needs curiosity. The struggler may need empathy. The eager Christian may need coaching. The personal-problems guest may need care beyond the group meeting.

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Pointing out flaws or keeping it to ourselves (Acts 20:10-30)

[you know] how I did not shrink back in fear from telling you anything that was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public meetings, and from house to house, solemnly [and wholeheartedly] testifying to both Jews and Greeks, urging them to turn in repentance to God and [to have] faith in our Lord Jesus Christ [for salvation]. And now, compelled by the Spirit and obligated by my convictions, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly [and emphatically] affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me. But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life].

“And now, listen carefully: I know that none of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will see me again. For that reason I testify to you on this [our parting] day that I am innocent of the blood of all people. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose and plan of God. Take care and be on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd (tend, feed, guide) the church of God which He bought with His own blood. I know that after I am gone, [false teachers like] ferocious wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; even from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse and distorted things, to draw away the disciples after themselves [as their followers]. - Acts 20:10-30 AMP

I enjoyed our church series on Acts this summer, ending with the Apostle Paul's long farewell. My paster closed the series with a reference to a quote by Spurgeon regarding the church: "The church is not perfect, but woe to the man who finds pleasure in pointing out her imperfections" (30:50 - 30:59). This quote relates to the passage in Acts 20:28, which describes the church as being obtained by Christ with his own blood.

The Bible does not teach, "Never point out faults in a church." Instead, it holds two principles in tension. Believers should avoid a critical, self-righteous spirit, but they are also called to lovingly confront sin, protect sound doctrine, and help restore one another. 

Verses that caution against a fault-finding attitude include:

• Matthew 7:1-5: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." Jesus is condemning hypocritical judgment. He continues by telling us to remove the plank from our own eye first, "then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
• Romans 14:10-13: Paul warns believers not to judge one another over disputable matters.
• James 4:11-12: "Do not speak evil against one another." James warns against slander and assuming God's role as Judge.

Verses that instruct believers to address problems in the church include:

• Matthew 18:15-17: "If your brother sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you." This is Jesus' prescribed process for confronting sin privately before involving others.
• Galatians 6:1: "If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently."
• Ephesians 5:11: "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."
• 1 Corinthians 5:1-13: Paul rebukes the church for tolerating open, unrepentant sin. He asks, "Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?"
• Titus 1:13 and 2:15: Church leaders are instructed to rebuke false teaching and sin.
• 1 Timothy 5:19-20: Elders who persist in sin are to be rebuked publicly after proper evidence is established.
• 2 Timothy 4:2: "Preach the word... correct, rebuke and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction."

The New Testament also records Jesus correcting churches directly. In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, Jesus commends churches for what they are doing well, but also identifies their faults and calls them to repent.

Taken together, the biblical pattern is:

• Do not be hypocritical, harsh, or divisive.
• Examine yourself first.
• Address genuine sin and doctrinal error.
• Confront privately when possible.
• Seek restoration rather than condemnation.
• Protect the purity and health of the church when serious sin or false teaching persists.

A helpful summary is that the Bible forbids a judgmental spirit, but it commands loving, truthful correction when it is motivated by restoration and faithfulness to Christ.

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Friendship with God as taught in the Psalms

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion (choice) forever. Psalm 73:25–26

I like to listen to sermons and walk during lunch hour and thought this was an incredible sermon that explains Christianity in terms everyone can understand. He argues that while modern secular culture often seeks a vague sense of 'spirituality' without the demands of religion, the Bible offers a profound intimacy with God that actually embraces truth, discipleship, and sacrifice. The full sermon is worth a listen here:  Let the Psalms Teach You to Pray. 

As I was listening I came to walk with my friend Nitin and we had a wonderful visit. Later in the day I had a Psalm 1 experience walking back to my after a work event (listening to the Gospel shaped life) preparing for Alpha Prayer with other friends and family. 

Modern life is full of spirituality. Bookstores overflow with it. Social media is saturated with it. People light candles, practice mindfulness, curate aesthetics of transcendence, all while keeping God at arm's length. We want the feeling of connection without the demands of relationship.

The Bible refuses that bargain. What Scripture offers isn't a vague spiritual atmosphere. It's a friendship — specific, costly, and more intimate than anything we could engineer on our own.

Tim Keller argues this is exactly what the Psalms are about. And to understand why that friendship is even possible, we have to start where most people don't: with God's own nature.

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Why friendship with God is possible at all

The ancient philosopher Aristotle said friendship requires similarity. You can't be friends with someone too far above you. The gap is too wide. By that logic, friendship between a human being and the God of the universe is simply impossible.

But Keller points out that the Bible changes the equation three ways.

• First, the Trinity. God doesn't exist in isolation. He exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — a triune relationship of love (1 John 4:8; John 17:24). Friendship isn't foreign to God's nature. It's fundamental to it. Before creation, before time, God was already a community of love.
• Second, the image of God. Because we're made in the image of a relational God (Gen 1:26–27), our hunger for deep connection isn't a flaw or a weakness. It's a clue. The longing itself — that relentless ache described in Psalm 42 ("As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God") — points us toward the One we were made for.
• Third, redemption. Through the Incarnation and the Atonement, God didn't just invite us to friendship from a safe distance. He entered our suffering. He became vulnerable. He laid down his life (John 15:13; Phil 2:6–8; Heb 4:15). The history of salvation isn't just a legal transaction — it's a cosmic act of friendship.

The gap Aristotle worried about? Jesus crossed it. That's the whole point.

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Five ways to deepen the friendship

Knowing friendship with God is possible is one thing. Cultivating it is another. Keller draws from the Psalms to outline five practices that grow this relationship.

1. Obedience

• Jesus is direct: "You are my friends if you do what I command" (John 15:14). That sounds transactional at first — like friendship is something you earn. But Keller flips it. Obedience isn't how you qualify for friendship; it's how friendship actually works.
• When you genuinely love someone, you take their reality seriously. You don't try to reshape them into what's convenient for you. Obedience is what it looks like to honor who God actually is, rather than who we'd prefer him to be. It's the path to becoming more like him — and Psalm 119:2 calls that the blessed life. (Blessed are those who keep his statutes, and seek him with all their heart)

2. Justification by faith alone

• Here's where a lot of religious effort quietly breaks down. Without a firm grasp of grace, our relationship with God curdles into something transactional. We start performing. We keep score. We treat God like an employer whose approval we're constantly trying to secure.
• But Keller argues that this is the opposite of friendship. A friend doesn't relate to you through a ledger. Friendship is a response to love already given — not a bid to earn it (Eph 2:8–9; Rom 5:1). Psalm 32 begins with the cry of someone who has been forgiven: "Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven." That's not a person who worked their way to blessing. It's someone who received it.
• Until we understand justification, our devotional life will always be tinged with anxiety. Grace alone makes friendship possible.

3. Dynamic two-way communication

• A friendship without real conversation isn't much of a friendship. For Keller, this means prayer must be rooted in Scripture — not just our feelings, impressions, or internal monologue.
• We read the Bible to hear God's voice (Heb 3:15). We let the Word shape and expose us (Heb 4:12). Then we respond — honestly, specifically, from the gut, the way the Psalms do (Ps 62:8). This is what makes prayer different from talking to yourself. Psalm 19 calls the Word of God soul-reviving (v. 7–8). Hebrews 4:12 calls it alive and active. When Scripture is the soil prayer grows in, the conversation has two real participants.

4. Seeking his face

• This one is easy to skip over in more theologically-careful circles. But Keller doesn't skip it. He draws on Psalm 27:4 — David's famous declaration that the one thing he desires is to dwell in the house of the Lord and gaze upon his beauty — and Psalm 34:8 — "Taste and see that the Lord is good."
• There's an experiential dimension to friendship with God. Not just intellectual assent, not just moral compliance, but an actual savoring of his presence. Keller calls this "seeking his face" — using the Word not just as information but as a guide for our hearts to move toward what is beautiful and good. Psalm 63 captures it: "My soul thirsts for you... in a dry and parched land." Not performing religion. Wanting God himself.

5. Meditating on the cross

• The fifth practice is the one that sustains all the others. Keller calls Jesus's death the ultimate act of friendship — a demonstration of what he means by "candor and constancy." Jesus remained vulnerable to us, all the way to the end, even when we turned away. Psalm 22 — the psalm Jesus quotes from the cross — moves from "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" to confident praise. Abandonment endured for friendship's sake.
• Galatians 2:20 puts it in personal terms: "He loved me and gave himself for me." Romans 5:8 makes it even starker: "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This isn't the story of a God who waited until we got our act together. It's the story of a friend who moved toward us at the moment we had the least to offer.
• Regular reflection on the cross keeps us from drifting back into the transactional posture. It anchors us in love that cost something.

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The friend we've always been looking for

Keller ends the sermon with an observation that lands hard: every human being is searching for an ultimate friend. Someone whose knowledge of you is complete — who knows everything and loves anyway. Someone whose acceptance finally, definitively, answers the question of whether you matter.

We look for that person in romance, in achievement, in community, in online validation. None of it satisfies. Not for long.

John 15:15 records the moment Jesus told his disciples they were no longer servants but friends. And Psalm 73:25–26 — one of the most honest verses in the Psalter — captures what it looks like when someone finally finds that friend: "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

That's not religion as duty. That's someone who found what they were looking for.

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The friendship is possible. The path is real. And the One at the other end already moved toward you first.

...this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

“‘In the last days, God says,

    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

    your young men will see visions,

    your old men will dream dreams.

Even on my servants, both men and women,

    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

    and they will prophesy.

I will show wonders in the heavens above

    and signs on the earth below,

    blood and fire and billows of smoke.

The sun will be turned to darkness

    and the moon to blood

    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. (Acts 2:16-21)

And everyone who calls

    on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

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Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord (Isaiah 40:31) The Sovereign Lord is my strength (Habakkuk 3:19)

Prayer of complaint: "How long, O Lord?" (Habakkuk 1:2-4); prayer of faith and worship despite circumstances (Habakkuk 3:17-19) Habakkuk rejoices in God's coming salvation and judgement

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. Habakkuk 3:17-19

True faith grows when circumstances contradict God’s promises (Romans 4:18–21). We trust His unseen work (Hebrews 11:1).

"Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord" is the opening lyric to the popular worship song "Everlasting God" by Brenton Brown, which is directly inspired by Isaiah 40:31. This Bible verse promises that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, soar like eagles, run without wearing out, and walk without fainting.  

Key Bible Verses on Strength:

• Isaiah 40:31 (NIV): "...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint".
• Isaiah 40:29 (NIV): "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak".
• Philippians 4:13 (NIV): "I can do all this through him who gives me strength".
• Psalm 28:7 (NIV): "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me". 

The theme of these verses is that human strength is limited, but relying on God provides renewed, divine energy to overcome challenges.

• Exodus 15:2 "The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation."
• Nehemiah 8:10 "The joy of the Lord is your strength." 
• Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
• Psalm 73:26 "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
• 2 Corinthians 12:9-10  "My power is made perfect in weakness... For when I am weak, then I am strong."
• Ephesians 6:10 "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." (Not willpower — sourced strength.)

Praying for my friends with failing health, may the Lord meet you in this moment and bless your soul. 

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The Discipline of Daily Repentance (Hebrews 3:13)

The verse "as long as it is called today" comes from Hebrews 3:13, which urges believers to encourage one another daily to prevent hearts from being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. It emphasizes immediate, daily action in faith, as "today" represents the current opportunity to follow God before it's too late. 

• Key Verse (NIV): "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness".
• Context: The passage warns against repeating the rebellion of Israel in the wilderness (Hebrews 3:12-15).
• Key Phrase: "As long as it is called 'Today'" highlights the urgency of faith and obedience while there is still time (or opportunity). 

Common Translations of Hebrews 3:13:

• NIV/NLT: "encourage one another daily," "warn each other every day".
• KJV/ESV: "exhort one another daily".
• AMP: "continually encourage one another every day".

Daily repentance keeps the heart soft before God. Scripture presents repentance as a continual returning, not a one-time event. Jesus teaches His disciples to pray "forgive us our sins" as part of daily communion with the Father in Matthew 6:12. The very structure of the Lord's Prayer assumes ongoing need for confession, placing it alongside daily bread as a fundamental rhythm of kingdom life.

Paul urges believers to "put to death" the deeds of the flesh in Romans 8:13, which assumes a rhythm of honest self-evaluation. This is present-tense, continuous action—not a past accomplishment but a daily practice. Similarly, in Colossians 3:5-10, Paul instructs believers to "put to death" and "put off" the old self while "putting on" the new self, using language that implies regular, repeated action.

David models continual repentance in Psalm 139:23-24 when he asks God to search him, expose any offensive way, and lead him in the way everlasting. This prayer becomes even more powerful when placed alongside Psalm 19:12-14, where David asks, "Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins." David recognizes both known and unknown sin, both conscious rebellion and unconscious offense. His response is not despair but invitation, asking God to do the searching work the human heart cannot do alone.

First John 1:9 frames confession and forgiveness as an ongoing relational practice: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." The conditional "if" paired with the present tense "confess" establishes confession as a continuing practice for believers who walk in relationship with a faithful God.

Repentance is the steady turning that keeps a disciple aligned with Christ. Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us that God's mercies "are new every morning," which implies the need for daily grace and daily return. Jesus calls His followers to deny themselves and take up their cross daily in Luke 9:23, establishing the rhythm of death to self as a daily spiritual discipline. Proverbs 4:18 describes the path of the righteous as "like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day"—a progressive journey requiring daily realignment toward the light.

The prophets consistently call God's people to return. Hosea 6:1 says, "Come, let us return to the LORD," and Hosea 14:1 echoes, "Return, Israel, to the LORD your God." Joel 2:12-13 calls for return "with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Jeremiah 3:22 offers the invitation and the promise: "Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding." God never tires of the returning heart.

Confession as Spiritual Hygiene

Confession functions like regular cleansing that keeps the inner life healthy. The Psalms show the consequences of withholding confession. Psalm 32:3-5 describes David wasting away in silence until he confessed his transgressions and found release: "When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long... Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity... and you forgave the guilt of my sin." Physical deterioration accompanied spiritual concealment. Relief came through honest speech.

Psalm 51, David's great confession after Nathan confronted him about Bathsheba, reveals the comprehensive nature of true confession. David doesn't minimize ("I have sinned against the LORD," 2 Samuel 12:13) or deflect. Instead, he asks for thorough cleansing: "Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" (v. 7). He recognizes sin's deep roots: "Surely I was sinful at birth" (v. 5). He asks for internal transformation: "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (v. 10). Confession becomes the gateway to comprehensive renewal. "Create In Me" from Rend Collective

James 5:16 instructs believers to confess sins to one another so they may be healed, connecting confession with communal health and restored relationships. This assumes a community of grace where confession is safe, not weaponized. It also recognizes that hidden sin festers while exposed sin can be addressed and healed.

Hebrews 4:16 shows that confession thrives in a culture of bold access to the throne of grace: "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." The context (Hebrews 4:12-13) reminds us that God already sees everything: "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Since God already knows, confession is not informing Him but agreeing with Him about reality.

Confession removes what corrodes intimacy with God. First John 1:7 says, "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." Walking in the light, living with transparency before God and others, maintains fellowship. Verse 6 warns that claiming fellowship while walking in darkness makes us liars. Verse 8 warns against claiming to be without sin. Verse 10 warns against claiming we have not sinned. The entire passage establishes that healthy relationship with God requires honest acknowledgment of sin combined with confidence in Christ's cleansing.

Confession restores clarity. It prevents the gradual buildup of compromise that blinds the conscience. Hebrews 3:13 warns believers to "encourage one another daily... so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." Sin deceives. It promises what it cannot deliver and conceals its true cost. Regular confession exposes deception and maintains spiritual sensitivity. Ephesians 4:17-19 describes what happens when conscience becomes dulled: people become "darkened in their understanding," "separated from the life of God," "having lost all sensitivity," and given over to "sensuality." Confession prevents this progressive hardening.

Staying Mission-Ready

A repentant, cleansed heart is ready for the mission Christ gives His people. Isaiah's commissioning shows the pattern. Isaiah experiences cleansing ("your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for," Isaiah 6:7) before he hears God's call and responds, "Here am I. Send me!" in Isaiah 6:8. The sequence matters: conviction of sin (v. 5), cleansing (v. 7), commission (v. 8). Isaiah could not bear the mission while carrying unaddressed guilt.

This pattern repeats throughout Scripture. When Joshua prepared to lead Israel into the Promised Land, God commanded him to circumcise the people at Gilboa, symbolically removing "the reproach of Egypt" before the conquest began (Joshua 5:2-9). The people had to be consecrated before they could advance.

3 Days, 21 Days, 40 Days, 7 years, 49 years

Before Pentecost, the disciples waited in prayer for ten days (Acts 1:14). This period of preparation preceded the outpouring of the Spirit and the launch of the church's mission. Jesus had told them to wait in Jerusalem until they received power (Acts 1:4-5). Spiritual readiness preceded mission effectiveness.

The Old Testament priesthood required ritual cleansing before service. Exodus 29:4 describes Aaron and his sons being washed with water before being clothed and anointed for service. Leviticus 16:4 requires the high priest to bathe before putting on sacred garments to enter the Most Holy Place. These physical cleansings pointed to the spiritual reality that those who serve God must be cleansed.

Jesus ties purity of heart to clarity of vision in Matthew 5:8: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Purity enables perception. Sin clouds spiritual sight. First Timothy 1:5 identifies "a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith" as the goal of Paul's instruction. Second Timothy 2:22 tells Timothy to "flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

Paul tells Timothy to "cleanse yourself from what is dishonorable" so that you will be a vessel "useful to the Master and prepared for every good work" in 2 Timothy 2:21. The image is of household vessels, some for noble purposes, some for common use. The difference is cleanliness. A cleansed vessel is ready for the Master's use.

Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:22, "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for one another, love one another deeply, from the heart." Purification enables authentic love. Sin undermines genuine fellowship and ministry effectiveness.

Spiritual readiness grows when sin is not ignored but addressed quickly. Ephesians 4:26-27 warns, "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Unresolved sin creates openings for the enemy. Quick confession and repentance close those gaps. Hebrews 12:1 instructs believers to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles" before running the race marked out for them. You cannot run well while entangled.

Biblical perspective on Active Listening (Luke 6:27-49, 8:8,18)

Discovering the Light of listening and being Salt (Luke 8-14)

Restoration Versus Condemnation

God's goal in repentance is restoration, not shame. Condemnation is the enemy's counterfeit. Romans 8:1 states emphatically, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." This follows Paul's honest struggle with sin in Romans 7 and precedes his description of life in the Spirit in Romans 8. Conviction of sin leads to confession and restoration. Condemnation leads to despair and hiding.

Revelation 12:10 identifies Satan as "the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night." His voice condemns. God's voice convicts and restores. John 10:10 contrasts the thief who "comes only to steal and kill and destroy" with Jesus who came that "they may have life, and have it to the full." Condemnation steals joy, kills hope, and destroys purpose. Conviction leads to abundant life.

Jesus restores Peter after failure, not by rehearsing his sin, but by reaffirming his calling in John 21:15-19. Three times Peter denied Jesus. Three times Jesus asks, "Do you love me?" and gives Peter mission: "Feed my sheep." The conversation happens over breakfast, an intimate, nourishing moment, not a courtroom interrogation. Restoration leads to renewed mission.

The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 reveals the Father's heart. The son returns prepared to confess and ask only for servant status (vv. 18-19). The father runs to him, embraces him, kisses him, and interrupts his confession to restore him fully as a son (vv. 20-24). The father throws a party. He gives a robe, a ring, shoes - symbols of full restoration, not probationary status. This is God's response to repentance.

Second Corinthians 7:10 separates godly sorrow, which produces repentance leading to salvation and leaves no regret, from worldly sorrow, which produces death. Godly sorrow acknowledges sin, turns from it, and receives forgiveness. Worldly sorrow wallows in guilt without turning to God. Judas experienced worldly sorrow and hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5). Peter experienced godly sorrow and was restored to leadership.

Condemnation locks people into regret and fear. First John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." God's love casts out the fear that condemnation produces.

God's pattern is always restorative discipline, as taught in Hebrews 12:5-11. Verse 6 says, "The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son." Verse 10 explains that "God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness." Verse 11 acknowledges that "no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." His correction reestablishes relationship and strengthens endurance.

Joel 2:25 promises restoration: "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten." Even when sin has brought devastating consequences, God's heart is to restore. Psalm 103:10-12 declares, "He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

When Jesus encounters the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11, He refuses to condemn: "Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin" (v. 11). He offers both grace ("neither do I condemn you") and truth ("leave your life of sin"). This is the gospel pattern, full forgiveness paired with a call to transformation.

Condemnation is never God's voice. Romans 2:4 asks, "Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" It is God's kindness, not His condemnation, that draws us to repentance. His goodness melts hard hearts. His mercy creates space for honest confession. His faithfulness guarantees forgiveness. His love completes restoration.

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Epaphras: The Prayer Warrior (Colossians 4:12) and Results (Colossians 1:3-8)

I started a new Bible study group with my church called Rooted. I recognized a few guys from ministry in 56 street (wave) and Vertical Endeavor, out of 32 guys we had less than 50% attending. Paul, Ryan, Ben, Jacob, Hunter, Harlen, Juan, Chris, Wayne, Ethan, Jasen, Todd, Jacob and Nick were there with another late-comer who didn't have a name tag. I joined the group to have a Saturday fellowship time and focus on the Lord in community. We had a Bible saturated double lesson on Obedience from Love, Character that radiates resulting in glory to God and a time of WAR (Worship, Admit, Request). It's a fun group based on honesty and encouragement to live out what we believe, "not by our power but Christ in me, by his Spirit." I'm still learning and Discovering the Light of listening and being Salt (Luke 8-14)

Epaphras: The Prayer Warrior

Why it matters: Epaphras appears in only three verses, yet Paul immortalizes him for one thing—how he prayed. This church planter's legacy is warfare intercession.

The bottom line: Epaphras models what it looks like to pray like a soldier: strategic, intense, persistent, and focused on spiritual victory.

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The Wrestling Prayer

Colossians 4:12: "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God."

The Greek word agōnizomenos: Wrestling. Agonizing. Contending. The same root word describes:

• Jesus' agony in Gethsemane (Luke 22:44)
• Paul's striving in ministry (Colossians 1:29)
• Athletic competition requiring full exertion (1 Corinthians 9:25)

This isn't casual prayer. Epaphras treated intercession as hand-to-hand combat.

The pattern: He was in Rome with Paul (Philemon 1:23), separated from his churches by hundreds of miles. He couldn't preach to them. Couldn't visit. Couldn't fix their problems personally. So he fought for them on his knees.

Geographic distance didn't stop strategic engagement. Prayer became his primary weapon.

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What He Prayed For: The Soldier's Objectives

Epaphras didn't pray for comfort, health, or circumstances. He prayed for spiritual victory.

Colossians 4:12 specifies three targets:

1. "Stand mature"

Greek teleioi: Complete, mature, fully developed. The opposite of spiritual infancy (Hebrews 5:13-14) or instability (Ephesians 4:14).

Why this matters: The Colossian church faced false teaching—asceticism, angel worship, legalism (Colossians 2:8-23). Immature believers get swept away by "every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14).

Epaphras prayed for maturity because mature soldiers don't abandon their posts.

2. "Fully assured"

Greek peplērophorēmenoi: Fully convinced, completely certain, lacking nothing in conviction.

The target: Settled confidence in God's will. Not wavering (James 1:6-8). Not double-minded. Anchored.

Why pray for assurance? Because uncertainty paralyzes. Soldiers who doubt their orders don't engage effectively. Colossians 2:2 emphasizes "full assurance of understanding."

Epaphras knew doctrinal confusion breeds spiritual defeat.

3. "In all the will of God"

Not selective obedience. Not partial commitment. All of God's will.

This echoes:

• Romans 12:2: "Discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect"
• Ephesians 5:17: "Understand what the will of the Lord is"
• 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you"

The comprehensive scope: Epaphras prayed for total alignment with God's purposes across every area of life.

Notice what's absent: No prayer for comfort, prosperity, ease, or popularity. Only spiritual readiness for battle.

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How He Prayed: The Soldier's Discipline

Colossians 4:12 reveals Epaphras's prayer posture: "always struggling on your behalf."

"Always"

Greek pantote: At all times, constantly, continuously.

This matches the soldier's call:

• Ephesians 6:18: "Praying at all times"
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17: "Pray without ceasing"
• Romans 12:12: "Be constant in prayer"

Epaphras maintained continuous intercession. Not just during designated prayer times. Not only when he felt inspired. Always.

The FBI model in action:

• Frequent: Regular, repeated intercession
• Brief: Likely quick prayers throughout the day alongside extended sessions
• Intense: The "wrestling" language shows maximum exertion

"Struggling"

The intensity level: This is combat prayer, not comfortable petition.

Biblical precedent for wrestling prayer:

Jacob at Peniel (Genesis 32:24-30): Wrestled with God until daybreak. "I will not let you go unless you bless me." Physical and spiritual struggle merged.

Elijah after Carmel (1 Kings 18:42-45): "Bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees." Seven times sending his servant to look. Persistent, agonizing intercession until breakthrough.

Jesus in Gethsemane (Luke 22:44): "Being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood." Ultimate wrestling prayer.

Paul's request (Romans 15:30): "Strive together with me in your prayers to God." Striving (synagōnizō)—joint combat in intercession.

The pattern: Effective prayer often requires spiritual exertion, not passive wishing.

"On your behalf"

Greek hyper hymōn: For you, in your place, as your representative.

Epaphras stood in the gap (Ezekiel 22:30). He positioned himself between his churches and spiritual danger.

This is priestly intercession:

• Moses interceding for Israel (Exodus 32:11-14, 30-32)
• Samuel refusing to stop praying for Israel (1 Samuel 12:23)
• Job praying for his friends (Job 42:8-10)
• Christ's ongoing intercession (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34)

The soldier fights for others, not just himself.

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The Scope of His Ministry

Colossians 4:13: "For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis."

Paul's testimony: "I bear witness" (martyrō)—solemn attestation to Epaphras's labor.

"Worked hard" (Greek echei polun ponon): Has much labor, toil, painful effort.

Three cities: Colossae, Laodicea, Hierapolis—the Lycus Valley churches. Epaphras planted and pastored all three regions (Colossians 1:7).

The strategic vision: Not just one congregation. Multiple churches. Regional gospel advance.

His prayer matched his mission: Wrestling for spiritual maturity across every community he'd evangelized.

Application: A soldier doesn't pray narrow, selfish prayers. He intercedes for the advance of the kingdom.

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The Relationship: Fellow Prisoner in the Fight

Philemon 1:23: "Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you."

"Fellow prisoner" (Greek synaichmalōtos): Captured together, imprisoned alongside.

Two possibilities:

1. Literal imprisonment: Epaphras may have been arrested with Paul in Rome
2. Spiritual captivity: Both were "prisoners of Christ" (Ephesians 3:1; 4:1)—bound by gospel calling

Either way, the imagery is military:

• Prisoners of war don't choose comfort
• They remain under orders even in captivity
• Their allegiance doesn't shift based on circumstances

The pattern: Epaphras kept fighting through prayer even when circumstances restricted physical ministry.

2 Timothy 2:9: "I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!"

The soldier's reality: External limitations don't stop spiritual warfare. Prayer transcends prison walls.

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The Titles: Identity Shapes Ministry

Paul describes Epaphras with three military-grade identities:

1. "Faithful minister of Christ" (Colossians 1:7)

"Minister" (Greek diakonos): Servant, deacon, one who executes another's commands.

"Faithful" (Greek pistos): Trustworthy, reliable, loyal.

Military parallel: The dependable soldier who executes orders precisely. No freelancing. No abandoning the post.

1 Corinthians 4:2: "It is required of stewards that they be found faithful."

2. "Dear fellow servant" (Colossians 1:7)

"Fellow servant" (Greek syndoulos): Co-slave, joint bondslave.

The relationship: Paul and Epaphras served the same Master, fought the same fight, carried the same yoke.

Philippians 1:1: Paul identifies himself as "a servant [doulos—slave] of Christ Jesus."

The soldier's allegiance: Total ownership by the Commander. No divided loyalty.

3. "Bondslave of Jesus Christ" (Colossians 4:12)

"Bondslave" (Greek doulos): Owned slave with no rights, total submission to master.

Old Testament background: Exodus 21:5-6 describes the slave who loves his master and chooses permanent servitude. Ear pierced, permanently marked.

Epaphras's identity: Voluntarily enslaved to Christ. Gladly surrendered. Permanently marked.

Romans 1:1: "Paul, a servant [doulos] of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle."

The pattern: Those who pray like soldiers first identify as servants. No personal agenda. Just orders from the King.

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The Report: What Prayer Produced

Colossians 1:3-8: Paul thanks God after hearing from Epaphras about the Colossian church's:

1. Faith in Christ Jesus (v. 4)
2. Love for all the saints (v. 4)
3. Hope laid up in heaven (v. 5)
4. Gospel fruit and growth (v. 6)

The connection: Epaphras's wrestling prayer produced measurable spiritual results. His intercession wasn't vague or general. It targeted specific outcomes and saw them manifest.

Prayer as strategic warfare works.

The testimony (v. 7-8): "As you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit."

The cycle:

1. Epaphras taught the gospel (evangelism)
2. Epaphras prayed for maturity (intercession)
3. The church grew in faith, hope, and love (fruit)
4. Epaphras reported results to Paul (accountability)
5. Paul wrote to strengthen them further (partnership)

The soldier's effectiveness: He fought on multiple fronts—preaching, praying, reporting, coordinating with other leaders.

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Application: Praying Like Epaphras

1. Pray with wrestling intensity

Don't settle for casual, comfortable prayer.

Ask: Does my intercession cost me anything? Am I exerting spiritual energy or just reciting wishes?

The model: Elijah bent down, face between knees (1 Kings 18:42). Jesus sweat blood (Luke 22:44). Epaphras wrestled always (Colossians 4:12).

Practice: Set aside time for focused, uninterrupted, intense intercession. Not rushed. Not distracted. Engaged.

2. Pray strategic prayers

Target spiritual outcomes, not just circumstantial relief.

Epaphras prayed for:

• Maturity (depth of character)
• Assurance (doctrinal stability)
• Alignment with God's will (comprehensive obedience)

Not:

• Comfort
• Ease
• Popularity
• Prosperity

Your intercession: Are you praying for people to be comfortable or Christlike? For ease or endurance? For blessings or battle-readiness?

Adjust your targets.

3. Pray continuously

"Always struggling" (Colossians 4:12) means sustained engagement, not one-time efforts.

The FBI model:

• Frequent: Multiple daily check-ins for those you're interceding for
• Brief: Quick prayers throughout the day ("Lord, strengthen them")
• Intense: Extended wrestling sessions when needed

Daniel prayed three times daily under death threat (Daniel 6:10). Epaphras prayed continuously while imprisoned. Circumstances don't determine prayer commitment.

Your calendar: Schedule specific intercession times. Set reminders. Build the rhythm.

4. Pray for multiple fronts

Epaphras wrestled for Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis (Colossians 4:13). Three cities. Multiple congregations. Regional vision.

Think strategically:

• Family members (different spiritual battles)
• Church leaders (under unique attacks)
• Missionaries (facing frontline opposition)
• Cities/regions (spiritual strongholds)

Don't pray narrow prayers. Soldiers intercede for the advance of the kingdom, not just personal comfort.

5. Pray from proper identity

Epaphras was:

• Faithful minister (reliable servant)
• Fellow servant (joint bondslave)
• Bondslave of Christ (total ownership)

Your foundation: You can't pray with authority until you pray from submission. The soldier who won't obey orders can't execute the mission.

Check your allegiance: Is your prayer life reflecting total surrender to Christ's Lordship? Or are you negotiating terms?

Childlike dependence + mature confidence (Mark 10:15; Hebrews 4:16): "I'm completely dependent on You, and I belong here because of Christ."

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The Legacy: Three Verses, Eternal Impact

Epaphras appears in three verses:

• Colossians 1:7-8
• Colossians 4:12-13
• Philemon 1:23

That's it. No sermons recorded. No miracles documented. No extensive missionary journeys detailed.

But his prayer life changed churches across a region.

The principle: Faithful, wrestling, strategic intercession leaves a legacy that outlasts platforms, programs, and popularity.

Matthew 6:6: "When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

Epaphras prayed in secret. Paul made his warfare public. The churches experienced the fruit. God received the glory.

The bottom line: You don't need a platform to fight like a soldier. You need a prayer closet, a commitment to wrestle, and a willingness to let God turn your intercession into spiritual victory.

Pray like Epaphras. Fight like a soldier. Watch God work.

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Jesus gives new power to walk differently - Mark 2:11

“Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” Mark 2:11

I had a wonderful time at Vertical Endeavors Prayer Summit this weekend. Yesterday I got to share my testimony with the world via the Vertical Endeavor Men’s Choir  

Setting aside intentional, uninterrupted time with the Lord deepens our relationship with Him and aligns our hearts with His will. God invites us to draw near, promising that when we seek Him, He will meet us and speak to us personally (James 4:8; Jeremiah 29:13). In pure worship without agenda or time pressure, we respond to His worthiness and experience renewal as He creates a clean heart and restores our spirit (Psalm 51:10; John 4:23–24). These moments are not confined to a place or event but can be carried back into daily life and the local church, as God desires ongoing communion with His people (Psalm 27:4). Shared worship with other believers strengthens unity and joy in His presence (Hebrews 10:24–25; Psalm 133:1). Above all, God longs for us to love Him, receive His love, and give Him our time and devotion, for He alone is worthy in these days (Mark 12:30; Revelation 4:11).

Grace Church Chapel shared a powerful service centered on worship, testimony, and truth.
The music set the tone. The orchestra opened with “God of Our Fathers,” followed by the Vertical Endeavor Men’s Choir, born from a gathering of 426 men seeking God together in prayer, Scripture, and worship. The congregation joined in classic hymns celebrating God’s greatness and power.

A testimony grounded the moment. Jesse shared how God met men who came with burdens and left with freedom in Christ. The message connected his story to Mark 2, reminding us that Jesus gives new power to walk differently:

This past weekend, I had the privilege of joining over 400 employees men behind me from across our area for a time of worship that was uniquely powerful and transformative.

We gather together with no agenda. Other than to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Our worship alternating between scripture, prayer, and song with no instruments, just our voices as you heard in the video. Right here in the chapel. From there, we scattered throughout the campus and spent about an hour individually in silence.

It gave me the space to ask God. For more information about the convictions, the Holy Spirit had been placing on my heart during our time of corporate worship. It was a time of deep personal reflection. And preparation for our small group breakouts. In Mark 2, we read about a crippled man on a mat. 

Whose friends were so determined to get him to Jesus that they dug through a roof to lower him down. This weekend, we did exactly that for our brothers. We carried our mat for the for our brothers, lifting each man before the Lord. In our small groups, we chose to be vulnerable. 

Laying down our pride to share the heavy burdens we've been carrying. Whether a man needed physical healing encouragement in their faith. Needed to confess in or just ask for strength to keep going. We each lifted him up before the Lord together. I want you to know that God worked powerfully in each room, each small group. 

We saw men find freedom from long-standing struggles. Receive healing for broken Spirits. And exchange their heavy burdens for the peace that only Jesus provides. We didn't just talk about our faith. We experienced victory in Christ. Amen. 

The sermon then widened the lens. Troy addressed Minnesota’s cultural tensions with clarity and compassion. He urged people to think clearly, not react emotionally, and to pray for leaders while remembering our ultimate hope rests in Jesus... this was on my heart coming into the weekend. 

Stephen’s story in Acts 6 offered a sobering reminder. He was full of faith, grace, and power, yet still faced false accusations and fierce opposition. His life teaches three truths: speak with the Spirit’s wisdom, expect resistance to godliness, and keep the bigger picture in view. Stephen’s suffering helped spark Saul’s transformation.

The call was clear. Faithfulness is not measured by easy outcomes. It is measured by courage, grace, and a life that reflects Jesus: God’s call is always present-tense

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