This Holy Week has most definitely been unlike any I’ve ever experienced.
As we approached the most sacred days of our faith—the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus—we were met with a trial of our own. A fire broke out in our church building. It was significant. Rooms we’ve prayed in, served in, and celebrated in were damaged. Walls were blackened. Equipment has been lost. We’re going to be a bit disjointed for a while.
But make no mistake: this fire will not have the final word.
Because we serve a God who specializes in resurrection.
The truth of Easter isn’t just a story we tell. It’s a power we live by. When Jesus stepped out of the grave, He proved that death doesn’t win. Despair doesn’t win. Devastation doesn’t win. The worst thing is never the last thing.
So yes, our building took a hit. But the church is not a building. The Church is a people. A people of resurrection. A people of hope. A people who believe in the God who makes beauty from ashes.
Isaiah 61:3 promises that God will give “a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” That’s our prayer and our posture in this season. We are not alone. We are not defeated. We are not without purpose.
This Easter, as we remember the stone rolled away and the Savior risen, we’re clinging to that same truth for ourselves: we too will rise.
It may take time to rebuild. It may be messy. But grace is already showing up in big ways—from the firefighters who contained the flames quickly, to the neighbors and church family rallying in prayer and clean up efforts, to the Spirit of God reminding us: this is not the end of the story.
One thing we hold very dear is that we meet people in the messiness of life. Well, this community has turned the tables and met us right in our own messiness and we can’t thank you enough! Friends, we’re in this together and we’re so glad we have you walking with us!
Jesus rose from the grave. We will rise from these ashes.
We are blessed, even in brokenness. And we’re moving forward together—renewed, refined, and ready for what God will do next.
“You do you.” “Live your truth.” “Follow your heart.”
These all sound empowering, right? It’s the self-esteem gospel of our generation. The problem? It’s killing us.
Let’s call it what it is: A beautiful-sounding lie.
And it’s everywhere. We see it in Disney movies, Instagram captions, graduation speeches, and TikTok reels. The message is always the same: The path to peace is found by looking inward.
But here’s the harsh reality is: Your heart is not a compass—it’s a disaster.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” — Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV)
That verse doesn’t make for a great Hallmark card. I know! But it does explain a lot.
The Myth of Self-Discovery
We’ve been told that the ultimate goal in life is to “discover who you are” and “authentically live that out.” Sounds noble. Except it doesn’t work. Why?
Because who we are without Jesus is broken. We’re born into sin, bent toward selfishness, prone to pride, and wired to seek validation from anywhere but God.
Hustle culture says, “Be your best self.” Jesus says, “Die to yourself.” (Luke 9:23)
Influencers say, “Chase your dreams.” Jesus says, “Follow me.” (Matthew 4:19)
Culture says, “You are enough.” Jesus says, “I am enough.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
When “You Be You” Goes Off the Rails
We’ve never had more self-expression and less identity. More personalization and less peace. More curated profiles and fewer real relationships.
You be you has morphed into a license for chaos. When “living my truth” overrides the truth, everything collapses.
Marriage gets redefined. Gender gets deconstructed. Truth gets relativized. And people get more confused, more anxious, and more spiritually lost than ever before.
And all the while, Jesus is still whispering the same thing He’s said for 2,000 years:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 (ESV)
The Way Out
But there is good news. You weren’t created to “be you.” You were created to be His.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Jesus doesn’t want to upgrade the old you—He wants to transform you.
Not into a fake church version of yourself. Not into a robotic rule-follower. But into someone fully alive in grace, truth, freedom, and purpose.
You don’t have to invent your identity. You can receive it—from the One who made you.
So What Now?
If you’re tired of chasing your tail trying to “find yourself,” here are a few ways to get real:
1. Get Honest
Admit that “you be you” hasn’t delivered. The hustle for identity is exhausting. Name it. Own it. And bring it to Jesus.
2. Open the Word
God doesn’t leave your identity to guesswork. Start with Ephesians 1. See what God says is already true of you in Christ.
3. Join a Community That’s After Truth
Stop surrounding yourself with echo chambers and empty slogans. Find people who point you to Jesus, even when it’s uncomfortable. Find people who can speak hard truth into your life. You don’t have to like it but you absolutely need it.
4. Ask Better Questions
Instead of “Who am I?” ask, “Whose am I?” Instead of “What do I want to be?” ask, “Who is God calling me to become?”
Jesus didn’t come to help you “find yourself.” He came to help you lose your life—and find something better. Not fake. Not filtered. Not fragile.
Real identity. Real purpose. Real peace.
So let’s stop settling for slogans and start chasing truth.
If you’re ready to trade “you be you” for something deeper, come check out what God is doing around here. No filters. No pretending. Just real people becoming who Jesus made us to be.
You can teach someone how to lead. You can teach them all the buzzwords, all the strategies, and every “effective leadership” trick in the book. But there’s one thing you can’t teach, no matter how many seminars you sign up for, no matter how many management books you read. You can’t teach character.
Integrity isn’t some trendy leadership trait either. It’s not a skill you can pick up after a weekend retreat. It’s either there or it’s not. You either have it, or you don’t. Integrity is the thing that makes you who you are when nobody’s looking. It’s what separates “leaders” from “pretenders.”
Too many people in leadership positions today are nothing short of impostors. They’ve learned how to talk the talk, they’ve mastered the art of the smooth presentation, but when the heat is on? They crumble.
They make excuses. They throw others under the bus.
You don’t need another “motivational” speaker who gives you a catchy quote. You need someone who leads by example, someone who doesn’t just say the right things but does the right things—no matter what. Leadership isn’t about keeping up appearances. It’s about being the real deal, even when it costs you something. Even if it costs you next to everything.
Unfortunately some people need to be reminded that Character can’t be faked. You can plaster a smile on your face, write the perfect speeches, or fake it ’til you make it. But when the stuff hits the fan in life, those tactics will fall apart faster than you can say “leader of the year.”
You want people to follow you? They need to know you’ll stand firm when the chips are down. If you’re in it for the glory, the recognition, or the power trip, you’ll show your true colors when the pressure mounts.
People aren’t stupid! They can tell when you’re full of crap. They can sense when you’re just saying the right things to get ahead. They can smell a rat when they see one. And the moment they realize you’re not in it for them, or worse, that you’ll throw them under the bus to save your own skin? They’re gone. And don’t think you’ll ever get that trust back. It’s like glass: once it shatters, it’s nearly impossible to put back together.
So, what does integrity look like in leadership? It’s standing tall when everyone else is bending the rules. It’s making the hard call, even when it costs you. It’s taking responsibility when you screw up—and you will screw up. It’s telling the truth even when a lie will make you look better in the moment. It’s showing up day in and day out and doing what you promised, even when there’s no applause, no fanfare, not even a pat on the back.
Want to know when your true character shows? It’s when you’re in the trenches, when everything’s falling apart, and when the easy option is to save face or deflect. That’s when you’ll either step up or sell out. Will you take the high road, or will you fold like a cheap tent? Will you take the heat, or will you toss someone else into the fire to save yourself?
Leadership without integrity isn’t leadership. It’s manipulation.
That’s the kind of stuff that gets exposed when the pressure’s on. Real leaders are in it for the people they serve, not for the power or the perks. They’re in it for the mission, not the personal gain. If that doesn’t resonate with you, then maybe it’s time to reevaluate why you’re in the game at all.
Leadership that’s built on integrity isn’t flashy. It’s not about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s not about winning popularity contests. It’s about being the rock when everyone else is losing their grip. It’s about doing the right thing, even when nobody’s watching, and especially when it’s inconvenient. It’s about taking responsibility and leading with consistency, not just when it’s easy but especially when it’s hard.
So, here’s the bottom line: you can be trained in all the leadership techniques in the world, but if you don’t have integrity, none of it matters. You can’t fake character. You can’t hide it. You either have it, or you don’t. If you’re in a leadership position and you’re not leading with integrity, you’re just taking up space. You’re not leading anyone—you’re just using people to get ahead.
Don’t let that be your legacy. The world doesn’t need more pretenders. It needs leaders who can stand firm, who can own up, and who will lead with integrity when it matters most. That’s the kind of leadership that lasts.
Warning – unpopular topic: A lot of church is boring.
Not just “I didn’t like the music” boring. Not just “the sermon went too long” boring. I’m talking soul-numbing, mind-wandering, when-is-lunch boring.
And people—young and old—are done pretending otherwise. But here’s the kicker: It’s not Jesus’ fault.
Jesus is anything but boring. I mean check this out.
He turned water into wine at a party (John 2:1–11). He walked on water (Mark 6:48–50). He told off the religious elite and made friends with the people they hated (Luke 7:34). He rose from the dead (Matthew 28:6). Jesus lived the most electric, revolutionary life in history.
So why does following Him sometimes feel like sitting through a committee meeting?
Here’s the truth most churches don’t want to admit: Church is boring when it stops looking like Jesus.
The Early Church Was Anything But Dull
Read the book of Acts. The early church wasn’t a weekly religious event—it was a movement. People sold their stuff to take care of each other. Healings broke out. Prison doors swung open. Thousands came to faith in a day. They gathered daily and couldn’t get enough.
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers… And awe came upon every soul.” — Acts 2:42–43 (ESV)
Did you see that? It’s about Awe. Not apathy.
Something has gone terribly wrong.
So What’s Making Church Boring?
Predictable routines. Same songs. Same words or phrases sung ad nauseam Same format. Same surface-level sermons. We do the same thing the same way and often forget why we’re even doing it.
Performance over participation. People watch, but don’t engage. When you look at it honestly, worship is mostly people observing what one dude does from an elevated platform for about an hour. That’s a performance even if we call it Divine Service.
Safe topics. We avoid hard questions, real pain, and messy issues. So much of what is taught in churches today is vanilla at best. We tend to tow the party line or blend in with culture. That’s not the way of Jesus by the way.
Disconnected community. You can attend for months and never be known. When all we do is sit and watch then leave for lunch, we’ve missed the whole point of what God designed worship to look like.
And while churches argue about traditions, people are walking away—because they’re starving for something real. And they’re finding it anywhere but the church!
What Do We Do About It?
It’s time to be done playing church. We need to be the church. That means making some changes:
1. Authentic Worship
No more karaoke-style singing. We want worship that invites the heart, not just the voice. So let’s choose songs with depth, passion, and space for people to connect with God—not just perform for Him.
2. Sermons That Punch
If Jesus confronted culture, challenged religious systems, and offered hope to the hopeless, our preaching should too. We don’t preach to fill 25 minutes—we preach to spark life change.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword…” — Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
3. Participation Over Performance
NO more spectators. We want soldiers. We’re building teams, creating space for stories, and asking people to serve, speak, and show up.
4. Messy Conversations
Life’s not clean, so church shouldn’t pretend to be. It’s ok to talk about addiction, anxiety, doubt, divorce, and purpose—because God meets us in the middle of our mess.
5. Relentless Mission
Church shouldn’t just be a holy huddle. It’s time to get out in the community serving, giving, inviting, and loving people toward Jesus.
Your Move
If church has bored you, I get it. But don’t give up on Jesus because His people got boring. Don’t settle for stale religion when there’s a wildfire kind of faith available.
Here’s what you can do:
Re-engage. Don’t just attend—join a team, ask questions, show up early, stay late. Try something we call worship + 2. In addition to sitting in worship, join 1 group that allows you to grow in your faith. Then jump onto 1 team to serve and live it out in real time.
Be honest. Talk to a leader or a pastor. Tell someone what’s missing for you. What about worship feels dull? Maybe there’s a way to meet that need. Maybe there’s a ministry that can be started to move the needle a little.
Pray dangerous prayers. Ask God to shake things up. He will. If your prayers are things you can make happen, then they’re not prayers! It’s vocalizing your wish list. Pray bold prayers. Experience bold moves of God.
Invite someone. It’s amazing how church changes when you’re on mission, not just maintenance mode. When you invite someone to join you, you take ownership not just of the church to which you belong but the faith you say you have.
Jesus didn’t die to make church safe. He died to make people alive.
So let’s build churches that reflect Him—bold, real, powerful, alive.
Jesus isn’t safe. And the longer we keep trying to make Him safe, the further we get from who He really is.
We’ve created a sanitized version of Jesus—a gentle motivational speaker who sprinkles feel-good wisdom into our week, stays politically neutral, avoids conflict, and mostly wants us to be nice people. That’s Tinker Bell. It’s NOT Jesus!
That Jesus doesn’t exist. And frankly, if he did He’s not worth following.
The real Jesus flips tables (Matthew 21:12–13). He calls religious leaders snakes and hypocrites (Matthew 23:33). He casts demons into pigs (Mark 5:1–13). He tells rich, successful people to give it all up (Mark 10:21). He demands total allegiance—even over your own family (Luke 14:26).
The real Jesus is dangerous. Not because He harms, but because He disrupts. He shakes kingdoms, flips power structures, and demands your entire life. He doesn’t ask for your Sunday morning. He wants you.
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” — Luke 9:23 (ESV)
That’s not a self-help plan. That’s a call to die. To your pride. To your control. To your idols.
The Jesus of Scripture walks into storms, not away from them. He embraces outcasts, welcomes prostitutes, eats with corrupt tax collectors, and calls cowards to become courageous.
When people saw Him coming, they either ran toward Him or plotted to kill Him. No one stayed neutral. That’s how you know you’re meeting the real Jesus—not the sanitized one.
The Safe Jesus Keeps You Comfortable.
The Real Jesus Sets You Free.
The sanitized Jesus is a reflection of us. He never offends. Never challenges. Never transforms. He fits neatly into our political parties, lifestyle choices, and Instagram aesthetic.
But the real Jesus? He doesn’t fit anywhere but the throne.
He’s not your homeboy. He’s not your mascot. He’s not even the man upstairs. He’s the King of Kings who walked out of a tomb and claimed authority over your story.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” — Matthew 28:18 (ESV)
We keep asking Jesus to bless our plans. He keeps asking us to drop everything and follow Him.
So What Do We Do With a Jesus Like This?
You’ve only got two options.
Keep following the sanitized version. He’ll let you stay the same. He’ll even keep you safe for a while. But ultimately, he’ll fail you—because he’s just a mirror of your comfort zone.
Or follow the real Jesus. He’ll stretch you. Challenge you. Lead you into places you never thought you’d go. But you’ll never be alone. And you’ll never be the same.
“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” — John 10:10 (ESV)
Ready for the Bold Life?
If you’re tired of safe religion… If you want more than churchy routines and feel-good platitudes… If you’re ready to go all-in on the dangerous, beautiful, real Jesus—then now’s the time.
Here’s your move: Get a Bible. Read the Gospels (I start with John—it’s fast and raw and shows exactly who Jesus is). Ask Jesus, “What are you calling me to leave behind?” Then leave it…right there…right then.
Don’t settle for a safe Jesus. Follow the One who walks on water, calms storms, and calls dead men out of graves. That Jesus is worth everything.
Want more of this bold journey with Jesus? Shoot me a message or come visit us this Sunday. We don’t do sanitized religion—we follow a Savior who changes lives.
We live in an age where busyness is worn like a badge of honor. If you’re not busy, you’re lazy. If you’re not hustling, you’re falling behind. But somewhere between the endless notifications, the back-to-back meetings, and the scroll-induced insomnia, many followers of Jesus have lost something far more important than productivity—we’ve lost depth.
The Tyranny of the Urgent
Jesus warned about this exact problem. In the parable of the sower, He describes a group of people who hear the Word, but then “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (Mark 4:19, ESV). Sound familiar? We claim to want intimacy with God, yet we schedule everything else first and then toss Him our leftovers.
We blame our schedules, our kids’ activities, or our jobs, but let’s be honest: we make time for what we value. If we can binge-watch Netflix or check social media for hours each week, we have time for prayer. If we can wake up early for a flight or a workout, we can wake up early to be in the Word.
The Cost of Shallow Christianity
The result of all this distraction? A generation of believers who know church but don’t know Christ deeply. We attend services, maybe even serve, but when the storms come, our roots are shallow. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their outward religiosity but lack of true relationship with God, quoting Isaiah: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8, ESV). Ouch.
If we don’t fight for spiritual depth, the world will gladly keep us busy with everything else. The enemy doesn’t need to destroy you; he just needs to distract you.
Reclaiming Spiritual Depth in a Fast-Paced World
So how do we push back against the busyness that suffocates our faith? Here are three non-negotiables:
1. Prioritize the Secret Place
Jesus Himself—God in the flesh—regularly withdrew to be alone with the Father (Luke 5:16). If He needed that, how much more do we? The early church was devoted to “the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42, ESV). Spiritual depth doesn’t happen by accident; it happens by devotion.
Set an appointment with God and keep it. If your boss called a meeting, you’d show up. If your phone dings, you check it. Give God more priority than your notifications.
2. Sabbath Like You Mean It
Sabbath isn’t a suggestion—it’s a command. God Himself rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2). Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27, ESV). Yet many of us treat rest like a luxury instead of a biblical necessity.
Turn off the noise. Stop idolizing productivity. Make space for worship, reflection, and simply being with God.
3. Say No to Lesser Things
Not everything that demands your attention deserves it. Paul warns, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV). That means learning to say no.
No to unnecessary meetings. No to mindless scrolling. No to overcommitment. Every “yes” you give to distractions is a “no” to your spiritual growth.
The Call to Depth
Jesus never said, “Come, be busy for Me.” He said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4, ESV).
Spiritual depth isn’t about adding more to your schedule. It’s about removing what doesn’t matter so you can abide in what does. The question isn’t, “Do you have time for God?” The question is, “Is He truly your priority?”
Let’s be honest—being a biblically faithful Christian today feels like trying to stand still on a surfboard in the ocean. Culture is shifting rapidly, and with every new wave of societal expectation, believers face a decision: adapt or fight. But the question is, how do we engage a world that’s constantly redefining truth while remaining unwavering in our faith?
The Tension
To be accepted by culture the demand is that Christians “evolve.” If you don’t, you’re labeled intolerant, irrelevant, or worse. The pressure is real. The temptation to compromise can be strong. Some churches have adjusted their theology to stay palatable, watering down biblical truth to fit societal norms. Others have doubled down, becoming so combative that they drive people away rather than invite them to Jesus.
Neither extreme is the answer. Jesus never compromised truth, but He also never used truth as a weapon to bludgeon people. He engaged culture with love, but He never let culture redefine righteousness. That’s the tension we must navigate.
The Call
Paul’s words to the Romans couldn’t be more relevant:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, ESV)
We are called to be transformed—not to conform. That means we don’t bend biblical truth to fit cultural trends. But it also means we don’t isolate ourselves in a Christian bubble, screaming judgment at the world with our fists flailing about from behind the safety of our church walls. Jesus sent His disciples into the world, not away from it (John 17:18). Our mission isn’t to withdraw—it’s to engage with wisdom and courage and humility.
The Challenge
So how do we actually do this? How do we live as faithful Christians in a culture that increasingly rejects biblical truth? Here are three essential principles:
Know the Word Better Than the World Too many Christians crumble under cultural pressure because they don’t actually know what the Bible teaches. They follow feelings rather than Scripture. But Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31, ESV). If you don’t know God’s truth, how can you stand firm in it? A biblically illiterate Christian is a culture-driven Christian. Know the Word. Live the Word.
Love People Without Affirming Sin Culture tells us that to love someone, we must affirm every choice they make. But that’s a lie. Jesus loved sinners deeply, but He never left them in their sin. He called them to repentance (Mark 1:15). Real love tells the truth. Real love cares about someone’s eternity more than their temporary approval. Can we have hard conversations yet maintain grace? Can we show compassion without compromising truth? That’s the challenge with which we must wrestle.
Expect Rejection—and Rejoice in the Midst of It Let’s not be surprised when standing for biblical truth makes us unpopular. Jesus promised it would: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18, ESV). The early church didn’t win the world by being liked—they won the world by being faithful. Christianity was countercultural then, and it still is today. If you’re standing firm and facing pushback, take heart—you’re in good company.
The Mission
The world is going to keep shifting. Morality will keep evolving. But God’s truth does not change. Our job isn’t to keep up with culture—it’s to stand firm in Christ while loving people fiercely. That means embracing the tension, speaking truth boldly, and showing the world that real freedom isn’t found in following every new cultural wave—it’s found in following Jesus.
So, friend, are you ready? The culture is moving. Will you move with it, or will you stand firm on unchanging truth?
Every pastor hears it. The joke. The jab. The wild assumption that preaching a 25-minute sermon on Sunday is the entire workload.
Eh, we usually smile. Maybe laugh. But if we’re being honest? That question stings a little—not because it’s mean-spirited, but because it’s so far from reality.
The truth is, most pastors juggle more roles than people realize. One article claimed pastors carry the weight of 16 different jobs. That’s cute, but I stopped counting after 25.
Yes, we preach. We teach. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the Sunday morning platform is a whole world of behind-the-scenes work—most of it unseen, and a good chunk of it unexpected.
We’re spiritual counselors and crisis responders. We walk with people through death, divorce, depression, and diagnosis. We field phone calls at midnight. We hold babies and bury parents. We lead when things go well… and we absorb the blame when they don’t.
But that’s just the obvious stuff.
Here are a few less glamorous roles that end up on the pastoral plate:
Graphic Designer. Someone’s got to make the sermon slides, flyers, Instagram posts, and event graphics. And no, we didn’t go to art school—we just Googled how to use Canva and hoped for the best.
Tech Support. Why isn’t the livestream working? Why is the mic cutting out? Why did the ProPresenter file disappear? Ask the pastor. Apparently, preaching and IT now go hand-in-hand.
Janitor. Overflowing toilet in the kids’ room? Trash left after the potluck? Glitter explosion from Sunday school? Guess who’s got the keys—and the gloves. I recently was seen taking out the trash and one of our members said wow you’re the garbage man too?
Crisis Communications. Someone offended, a staff conflict brewing, or a sensitive issue threatening to divide the room? Welcome to the world of emotional landmines and leadership triage.
Mediator. When tensions rise between team members, families, or committees, pastors often become the calm in the chaos. It’s less about choosing sides and more about shepherding hearts—without losing our own in the process.
Social Worker. We help people navigate food insecurity, job loss, eviction, addiction, and broken relationships—not with all the answers, but with presence, prayer, and a Rolodex of local contacts. For you younger folks that’s a paper version of the contact list in your iPhone.
So yeah—pastoring is beautifully sacred work. But it’s also messy, heavy, and relentless. It doesn’t clock out at 5 p.m. It rarely fits in a tidy job description. And no, it’s not just “Sunday morning stuff.”
It’s real-life soul work. It’s administrative chaos and sacred silence. It’s wearing 10 hats before lunch and still needing to write a sermon.
But What If You Didn’t Have to Carry It Alone?
If you’re a pastor, you’ve probably asked the question—either quietly or in exhaustion: “Does it really have to be this heavy?”
The answer? Not if you’re willing to build the right team.
But let’s be real. Most churches can’t afford to hire a full staff. Budget constraints are real, and for many pastors, the idea of bringing on communications, operations, or donor development professionals feels like a distant dream.
But what if you actually had access to this kind of support—and so much more—through the right partnerships?
That’s what we found in the FiveTwo Network.
As pastors, we know the Gospel. We know how to do Sunday morning. But what I found in FiveTwo was the ability to better organize and manage the rest of the workload—the part that often gets overwhelming.
Through this partnership, we gained:
Laser-focused ministry strategy that helped us work smarter, not just harder.
Organizational gurus who cleared the clutter and streamlined some of how we operate.
A communications team that didn’t just tell us what to do—they gave us practical, field-tested best practices.
A donor development team that helped us see what we were missing—opportunities for growth, generosity, and long-term sustainability.
Bringing on staff is great if you can do it. But if you can’t, you don’t have to grind yourself into the ground doing it all alone. There are people and networks designed to come alongside pastorsand churches and bring clarity to the chaos.
Because here’s the truth: Ministry done alone is exhausting. Ministry done together? Now that’s unstoppable.
If you’re a pastor or leader feeling the weight of it all—maybe it’s time to ask: Who could stand beside me in this?
I found that answer in FiveTwo. If you’re looking for the same kind of support, I’d love to share more about how this partnership changed the way I lead.
“Prayer flows naturally from a heart of humility and faith—it’s the honest recognition that we can’t do it on our own and the confident trust that God is ready and willing to help.”
Let’s talk about something we don’t often admit out loud in church: A lot of us struggle to pray.
We say things like, “I know I should pray more,” or “Life’s been so busy I just haven’t had time even to pray.” But underneath the excuses is a deeper issue. A spiritual one. One we don’t always see or name:
Prayerlessness isn’t just a discipline problem—it’s a gospel problem.
In Luke 11, Jesus’ disciples came to Him with a request: “Lord, teach us to pray.” That request tells us something about prayer – it isn’t automatic. Even for people who followed Jesus every day, they had to learn how to do it.
And so do we.
Let’s be real with ourselves for a moment. Most of us don’t stop praying because we don’t care. We stop praying because we forget who God really is. And we forget who we really are.
The Real Reason We Don’t Pray
Let’s be honest: If we truly believed we were helpless without God—and if we really trusted that God was eager to help—we wouldn’t hesitate to pray.
We’d run to Him. All the time. But we don’t.
We try to carry it all ourselves. We worry. We stress. We plot and plan and problem-solve… and somewhere along the way, we forget to pray.
Here’s the truth:
Prayerlessness is not about God being distant. It’s about us misunderstanding the gospel.
The gospel tells us two things:
We are desperately in need. (John 15:5 – “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.”)
God is more willing to help than we are willing to ask. (Romans 8:32)
If you’ve drifted from prayer, it’s not because God has changed—it’s because something in your heart has. But the good news? Jesus gives us a way back.
Let’s walk through the prayer He taught His disciples—not as a script to recite, but as a framework for a deep, honest, vibrant prayer life.
“Father, hallowed be your name.”
In Luke 11, Jesus starts where we should start: with relationship.
We don’t pray to a distant force or man behind a curtain. We’re not sending words into the void. We’re coming to our Father—a perfect, holy, personal God who wants to be known.
You are not a stranger in the throne room. You’re a child coming home.
Romans 8:15 says we’ve received the Spirit of adoption, and we cry out, “Abba, Father.” That’s intimate. That’s the language of love.
But He’s not just Father. He’s holy. Set apart. Worthy of worship. And before we ask for anything, Jesus teaches us to remember who God is and why His name matters.
Try this: Before you bring your needs to God, stop and worship Him. Speak His names: Provider. Shepherd. Healer. Savior. King. Worship shifts the focus from your problems to His power.
“Your kingdom come.”
This is a dangerous prayer. It means surrender.
It means laying down our agendas and picking up His.
“Your kingdom come” is not asking God to bless what we’re already doing. It’s asking Him to interrupt our plans with His greater purpose.
This is about living under God’s reign, not just believing in His existence.
Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the kingdom of God…” Not second. Not when it’s convenient. First.
Try this: Ask God where His kingdom needs to come more fully in your life—in your family, in your decisions, in your heart. And then… be ready to obey.
“Give us each day our daily bread.”
This might sound like the least spiritual part of the prayer, but it’s deeply holy. Because it’s about dependence.
We live in a culture that idolizes self-sufficiency. We’re told to hustle, grind, plan, and build a life where we don’t need anyone.
And then Jesus teaches us to pray:
“Father, I need You today.”
This echoes back to the wilderness, when God gave Israel manna—just enough for each day. If they tried to hoard it, it went bad. Why? Because God was teaching them to trust. And this prayer is all about us trusting God with even the smallest piece of our day, something like a cracker!
Try this: Each morning, ask God:
“What do I need today?”
“Where am I weak?”
“What am I trying to carry alone?”
And then release it to Him. Trust Him to provide enough grace for today.
“Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.”
Prayer isn’t just about changing our circumstances—it’s about healing our relationships.
This part of the prayer reminds us that we’re still in need of grace. And that God’s grace isn’t meant to stop with us—it’s meant to flow through us.
Did you see what Jesus said there? For we also forgive everyone who sins against us. But do we? Do we really forgive everyone? That’s what this part of the prayer is saying. Forgive us just like we have forgiven others.
The more we understand how deeply we’ve been forgiven, the more we become willing to forgive others.
1 John 1:9 promises that when we confess, God is faithful to forgive. But Jesus ties that forgiveness to our willingness to let go of bitterness toward others. That’s bold. That’s hard. But it’s necessary.
Try this: Ask God to search your heart.
Where do you need to confess?
Who are you holding a grudge against? Forgiveness isn’t forgetting. But it is releasing. And it will set your soul free.
“And lead us not into temptation.”
We all have weak spots. We all have patterns we fall into. And left on our own, we’ll keep walking straight into the same mess again and again.
This final petition is a cry for guidance and strength.
“God, I know I’m prone to wander. I know where I’m vulnerable. Please lead me away from the edge of my own struggles.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 promises that God always provides a way out of temptation. But we have to want it. We have to ask for it. He doesn’t prevent the temptation from happening. He doesn’t just zap us out of those moments. He provides a way out and then we have to use it to escape. If we find ourselves trapped in a temptation, it’s likely because we refused to follow God’s escape plan.
Try this: Be honest with God about your temptations. Name them. Ask for help before you fall. Invite the Holy Spirit to lead you toward holiness, not just rescue you from regret.
The Real Reward of Prayer
After teaching this prayer, Jesus tells a story about persistence. He says to ask, seek, knock—because your Father is listening.
And then He ends with this promise:
“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13)
Did you catch that?
The greatest gift God gives in prayer… is Himself. Not just provision. Not just protection. His presence.
So What Now?
If prayerlessness has crept into your life, don’t just promise to try harder. Let the gospel reshape your view of God.
You are more in need than you realize.
God is more ready to help than you imagine.
Prayer is not a burden. It’s a lifeline.
So start small. Start where Jesus started. Let the Lord’s Prayer be more than words—let it be the heartbeat of your spiritual life.
Want to take this deeper?
Try one of these:
Pray the Lord’s Prayer slowly every morning this week. Pause after each line. Let it guide your conversation with God.
Write the Lord’s Prayer in your words. What would it sound like if you said it from your life?
Pair up with someone to pray together once a week. Prayer doesn’t grow well in isolation. It flourishes in community.
Let’s not settle for a life where we say we believe in God but live like we don’t need Him. Let’s become people of prayer—not out of guilt, but because we’ve rediscovered how good our Father really is.
Imagine walking into your favorite worship service: the lights dim, the audio swells as the band begins a movingly beautiful version of “Gratitude.” To use a phrase from my teenage daughter the vibe is on point. You raise your hands. You feel it. You really feel close to God.
But here’s the haunting question: Were you worshiping God—or just enjoying the atmosphere?
Don’t get me wrong—worship is meant to be beautiful. Emotional. Immersive. But too often in the modern church, we’ve slipped into something dangerous: worshiping the feeling of worship rather than the One we’re supposed to be worshiping.
It’s spiritual consumerism with a Jesus sticker on it.
The Golden Calf Got an Upgrade
Let’s not kid ourselves—we’re not the first to get this wrong. In Exodus 32, the Israelites got impatient and created a golden calf. But catch this: they still called it worship.
“Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” – Exodus 32:5
They used God’s name but shaped worship in a way that pleased them.
Fast forward to today—how different is that from the church that obsesses over the perfect setlist, fog machine, or the emotional arc of a worship service?
When our attention shifts from God’s presence to our preferences, we’ve made an idol—even if it’s dressed in beautifully moving harmonies.
But before you start shaking your fist at all those modern worship folks with your derogatory comments about “co-wo” (short for contemporary worship). The traditional camp can fall into the same trap when it comes to worship.
When Tradition Becomes the Golden Calf
Worship can become just as hollow when we cling to rituals and styles more than the Savior they’re supposed to point us to.
Jesus warned the Pharisees about this very thing:
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” – Matthew 15:8–9
It’s possible to sing hymns with perfect four-part harmony, recite the liturgy by memory, and still completely miss the heart of God.
When our posture becomes, “We’ve always done it this way,” we need to ask: Are we preserving reverence—or just protecting our preferences?
Reverence is beautiful. But repetition without heart is just noise.
What the Bible Actually Says About Worship
Worship in Scripture has little to do with music and everything to do with surrender.
“Therefore, I urge you… to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” – Romans 12:1
Real worship costs something. It requires sacrifice. It often feels more like obedience in the mundane than a spiritual high on a Sunday.
David got this too:
“I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” – 2 Samuel 24:24
Modern translation? “I won’t just show up and sing if my heart isn’t submitted.”
3 Ways the Church Can Reclaim Authentic Worship
1. Teach Worship as Lifestyle, Not Just Music We must preach and model that worship isn’t a genre. It’s a posture. It’s how you treat your spouse. How you handle your money. How you speak to the barista. Sunday morning is just the overflow.
2. De-Platform the Stage It’s time to stop building celebrity culture around worship leaders. They aren’t rockstars; they’re humans. This goes for the ones in skinny jeans and the ones in robes. Their role is to point people to Jesus, not themselves. Let’s start emphasizing participation over performance.
3. Get Uncomfortable on Purpose If worship always feels good, it’s probably not deep enough. Introduce silence. Challenge people to sing unfamiliar songs with lyrics that have some depth. Create moments that stretch people beyond emotional highs into true reverence.
So… What If the Music Stopped?
Would we still worship if the lights stayed on and the guitar was out of tune? If the lyrics were scribbled on a chalkboard and there was no click track in our ears? Would we worship if there was no organ, no robe, and the doxology didn’t make the cut?
Because God hasn’t changed. He is still holy, still near, and still worthy.
The truth is: Jesus doesn’t need a vibe – or a vintage – to be adored.
Let’s not confuse the atmosphere for the Almighty.
Let’s not mistake tradition for truth.
Let’s be a church that loves the Giver more than the gift.
Let’s worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24)—not just in sound and stagecraft or stained glass and stoles.
