Frontier Church

EASTER // The Veil Is Lifting: Tell the Story

In this Easter message, Christian delves into the profound implications of the resurrection of Jesus, emphasizing its central role in transforming lives and restoring purpose. The resurrection is presented not just as a historical event but as a transformative truth that evokes deep personal encounters with God, enabling believers to find hope amidst suffering and brokenness. The message draws parallels to the biblical figure of Paul, whose dramatic conversion signifies the lifting of a spiritual veil that hinders true understanding of God. This theme of “lifting the veil” suggests that true engagement with God often precedes intellectual acceptance of the resurrection.In looking at modern examples of movements of faith in today's culture, we look at the the emergence of hope and revival across generational lines, especially among young people. You are invited to explore your spiritual journey, encouraging an openness to the divinely transformative experience that Jesus' resurrection offers.

The Test of True vs False Disciples: Do you have a God that can say hard things to you? John 6:60-69

In this message, Christian explores the complexities of faith, discipleship, and the importance of genuine connection with God. He encourages us to engage deeply with the Scriptures and to be open to the challenging words of Jesus, as presented in the Gospel of John. We reflect on the nature of worship and the significance of sacrifice, highlighting that true discipleship is about more than mere belief—it’s about transformation and allowing God to disrupt our false notions of discipleship. We look at the tension between cultural expectations and scriptural truth, urging us to analyze our motives and seek deeper spiritual maturity. The message also addresses the issue of false discipleship and the need for each of us to be honest about our spiritual motivations, ultimately inviting us to a profound engagement with God’s presence.Key Insights- The Cosmic Perspective: Humans worship a God who is intimately engaged with creation despite our insignificance in the universe. This acknowledgment encourages worship as a response to God’s greatness.- Sacrifice and Transformation: The ability to sacrifice for future fulfillment is unique to humans, which sets the stage for understanding the significance of Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice. This tradition of recognizing sacrifice embodies the transformative journey Christians undergo to align with Christ.- The Offense of Discipleship: The idea that many followers often leave when faith is challenged showcases the difficulty of true discipleship. The church must navigate this tension, recognizing that faith may sometimes be uncomfortable.- Cultural vs. Scriptural Alignment: Discipleship isn’t merely about accepting beliefs but involves active engagement with scripture against cultural norms, urging believers to discern their insecurities and dependencies.- The Importance of Heart Alignment: Peter’s heartfelt confession reflects that true belief isn’t just intellectual agreement; it’s a deep acknowledgment of Christ’s authority and life-transforming power, calling believers to align their inner beliefs with their actions.- The Complexity of Faith: A genuine faith journey can involve doubt and questioning, reinforcing that even seasoned believers face challenges in understanding God’s plans and allow emotions to play a role in their spiritual journey.- Embracing Spiritual Practices: Practical engagement in spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, scripture reading, and community, can guide believers through their struggles, exposing their true motives and fostering deeper transformation in their faith journey. Choose 1 to intentionally practice in response to this message.

Just Die Already, Matthew 16:13-23

We often think we know and embrace who Jesus is, but then we are confronted with suffering we aren't ok with. The very minute the Peter understands who Jesus is, Jesus tells him what He is going to do to overcome the evils of our broken world and rescue humanity from itself, “I’m going to have to suffer, I’m going to have to be rejected, I’m going to have to die.” - Satan had already issued to Jesus the promise of the kingdoms of this earth so long as Jesus would bow down and worship him (Matthew 4). - The Father’s way entails that Jesus must endure defeat, shame, and suffering, whereas Satan proposed to give this to Jesus through worldly honor and worldly achievement. - Like Satan’s proposal, Peter’s own ideas of victory and greatness had no room for suffering, humility, or any measure of personal unhappiness/discomfort. - Peter at this stage could not reason (let along imagine) alongside the Father, with “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16; Phil. 2:5–8), and therefore sets his personal beliefs and desires above and in front of that of Jesus. - SO... Peter was not prepared for God’s kingdom to move through him in the same way it did with Jesus, remaining indestructible no matter what difficulty comes his way. - To the extent that we, too, insist that our lives should not be going this or that way, we are subject to the same rebuke.BIG IDEA: LET JESUS EXPOSE YOUR DESIRES AND PUT THEM IN CHECK. Just die already;). Die to the ways of the world. Live for Jesus' eternal kingdom.