Messages – New Life Gillette Church

Magic Trick

nlwchurch — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:21:55 +0000

Magic Trick

We often live as if there’s a spiritual magic trick.

We assume we can keep feeding our minds fear, bitterness, lust, outrage, gossip, or compromise — and somehow Jesus will just make the consequences disappear.

But in Matthew 12:33–37, Jesus makes something clear.

“For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

Matthew 12:34

In this final week of World Builders, we looked at Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees. He tells them a tree is recognized by its fruit. Good trees produce good fruit. Bad trees produce bad fruit.

What comes out reveals what’s inside.

If bitterness is coming out, bitterness went in.
If fear is coming out, fear went in.
If lust, anxiety, anger, or division are coming out — they didn’t appear randomly.

There is no magic trick.

Jesus forgives.
Jesus restores.
Jesus cleanses.

But He does not remove our free will.

We don’t get to continually pour unhealthy input into our hearts and expect healthy fruit to grow. The world may help us manage behavior. It may even help us exchange one habit for another.

But the world does not bring transformation.

Only Jesus washes the inside of the cup.
Only Jesus reshapes the heart.
Only Jesus brings real freedom.

The gospel is not behavior management — it is heart transformation.

Jesus lived the life we could not live, died the death we deserved, and rose again to give us new life. Not a trick. Not a shortcut. Not a performance.

A new heart.

Why This Matters

Because you cannot build a different world with a polluted heart.

If your words are building fear, outrage, division, or lust, it’s not just a speech problem — it’s a heart problem.

And there is no magic fix.

Transformation begins by examining what we are feeding our hearts — and surrendering it to Jesus.

Next Step

This week, take inventory.

Ask yourself:

What am I consistently putting into my mind?
What fruit is consistently coming out of my life?
What needs to be removed?
Where do I need to let Jesus transform me?

If you’ve never trusted Jesus, today could be the day you stop trying to manage the outside and let Him change the inside.

Did you like the message, Magic Trick? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

Rotten

nlwchurch — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:43:42 +0000

Rotten

Our words are never neutral. They either build life into people or they slowly decay what God is trying to grow.

In Ephesians 4:29, the Apostle Paul writes:
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

The word translated “unwholesome” literally means rotten—like spoiled fruit or decaying wood. Paul’s point is clear: when our speech is corrupt, it spreads. It weakens trust. It poisons unity. It breaks down what God intends to strengthen.

In this message, CJ Ward challenges us to examine the tone, content, and intent of our words. Are we speaking life? Or are we allowing subtle corruption—gossip, sarcasm, bitterness, complaint—to rot the culture around us?

Jesus said in Matthew 12:34–37 that “out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”
If our words are rotten, something deeper is happening inside.

God is forming us into people who build worlds with grace, truth, and encouragement.

Why This Matters

Words shape culture.
They shape families.
They shape churches.
They shape our own spiritual health.

If we ignore the condition of our speech, we risk slowly eroding the very relationships we’re praying God would strengthen.

Healthy words don’t happen accidentally. They flow from a transformed heart.

Next Step

This week, pause before you speak.

Ask:

Is this building up?
Is this necessary?
Is this rooted in love?

Then intentionally replace one habitual negative pattern with a life-giving one—encouragement instead of criticism, prayer instead of complaint, truth spoken in grace instead of sarcasm.

Words build worlds. Let yours build something healthy.

Did you like the message, Rotten? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

Words Build Worlds

nlwchurch — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:33:20 +0000

Words Build Worlds

Words are powerful. From the very beginning, Scripture tells us that God created the world through His Word. And while our words don’t create universes, they do create worlds—homes, workplaces, friendships, and inner lives that others are invited to live inside.

In this message, we are reminded that what we say and how we say it is never insignificant. James 3 compares the tongue to a small rudder steering a large ship or a spark that can ignite a forest fire. In the same way, our words set direction, shape culture, and reveal what is happening in our hearts.

The people closest to us experience life through the world our words create. Our families live in it. Our coworkers feel it. Even our own souls are shaped by the words we repeatedly speak to ourselves. Jesus invites us to become intentional world builders—using our words to reflect truth, grace, encouragement, and love.

Key Scripture Reference

James 3:1–12 – The tongue’s power to direct, bless, or destroy
Genesis 1:1–3 – God creates through His spoken Word
John 1:1–3 – Jesus as the Word through whom all things were made
Romans 8:38–39 – God’s unchanging words of love spoken over us

Why This Matters

Words shape environments. Over time, repeated language forms culture, identity, and belief. When our words align with the heart of Jesus, they create spaces where people feel safe, known, and loved—and where faith can grow.

Next Step

Pay attention to your words this week. Ask God to show you where your language may be shaping unhealthy worlds and where He is inviting you to speak life, encouragement, and truth.

Did you like the message, Words Build Worlds? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

One Another

nlwchurch — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 17:06:41 +0000

Serve One Another

As followers of Jesus, we are not only called to serve—we are called to become servants. In the final week of the Called: to Serve series, this message invites us to look closely at how Jesus models what it means to love one another through humility, availability, generosity, and community.

In John 13, Jesus gathers with His disciples on the night of the Last Supper. Knowing His time is short, He does something unexpected. He takes the posture of the lowest servant and washes the disciples’ feet. In a moment filled with meaning, Jesus shows that serving one another is not about status, recognition, or convenience—it is about love.

Jesus tells His disciples, “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:15). This was not a command to literally wash feet, but a call to live with the same servant-hearted posture toward one another.

Key Scripture Reference

John 13:1–17 – Jesus washes the disciples’ feet and models humble service
Matthew 22:37–39 – Love God and love your neighbor as yourself
Acts 16:17 – Servants of the Most High God
Revelation 22:3 – God’s people identified as His servants

Characteristics of a Servant

Throughout the message, we see four defining characteristics of a servant of the Most High God:

Humility – Letting go of pride, recognition, and self-importance in order to love others well.
Availability – Making room to be interrupted and intentional with people right in front of us.
Generosity – Serving even when it costs something, motivated by love rather than comfort.
Community – Loving and serving those in our everyday spaces, not treating people as projects but as people.

Why This Matters

We all want to feel seen, known, and loved. When we serve one another the way Jesus served us, we make His love visible in everyday moments. Serving is not just something we do—it is part of who we are becoming as followers of Jesus.

Next Step

Ask God to open your eyes to who He has placed right in front of you this week. Take one intentional step to serve with humility and love—whether that’s joining a Life Group, serving on a team, or meeting a practical need.

Did you like the message, One Another? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

The World

nlwchurch — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:28:18 +0000

The world is full of need—but not all of us notice it.

In The World, Pastor CJ Ward teaches from Luke 5 to show how easily we can grow blind to the brokenness around us. Pain, isolation, addiction, and spiritual lostness become so normal that we stop seeing them as needs at all. Yet in this familiar story of friends lowering a paralyzed man through a roof, we see what happens when ordinary people refuse to look away.

These men didn’t have a strategy. They didn’t have a plan. They simply knew someone who needed Jesus—and they were willing to do whatever it took to get him there.

Jesus responds not to the faith of the paralyzed man, but to the faith of his friends. Their belief, action, and willingness to step into the mess changed someone else’s life.

When we truly see Jesus—not as a good teacher, but as the One who changes everything—we begin to see the world differently. Needs become invitations. Faith becomes active. And serving becomes the natural response to a Savior who is already at work.

Big Idea

When we see Jesus clearly, we begin to notice the needs of the world—and our faith becomes the means God uses to change lives.

Why This Matters

When the needs of the world feel overwhelming, it’s tempting to believe nothing will change—or that God only works through special people. But Scripture shows that ordinary faith, exercised with courage, can transform lives. When we see Jesus clearly, we stop waiting for someone else to act and begin stepping into the work God has placed in front of us.

Key Scripture Reference

Luke 5:17–26 — The healing of the paralyzed man reveals the power of intercessory faith and courageous action.
Genesis 2:18 — God’s design for humanity includes community and shared responsibility.
John 14:6 — Jesus is not merely a teacher, but the way, the truth, and the life.
1 Corinthians 11:23–26 — Communion as a physical reminder of who Jesus is and what He has done.

Next Step

Ask God to help you see both Jesus and the needs around you more clearly this week. Then take one small step of faith—trusting that God can use it to change someone’s life.

Did you like the message, The World? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

Serving Without a Strategy

nlwchurch — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 17:07:29 +0000

Called: to Serve — Loving God Without Leverage or a Strategy

Why do we serve?

For many of us, service can quietly become strategic. We serve faithfully, give generously, and stay committed — often believing, even subconsciously, that our obedience will secure blessing, protection, or favor from God.

In Serving Without a Strategy, Pastor Wes Smith challenges that way of thinking by walking through the story of Job. This message confronts the deeply ingrained belief that God operates on a transactional system: If I do the right things, God will make my life go right.

But the book of Job reveals something far deeper.

Big Idea

We don’t serve God to get something from Him — we serve because His love has already changed us.

God’s love is not strategic, calculated, or conditional. And when that truth reshapes how we see Him, it transforms why and how we serve.

Message Summary

Job begins his story as a righteous, faithful man who seemingly does everything “right.” Yet suffering still comes. When it does, Job’s friends rush to explain it with bad theology — insisting that pain must always be earned and blessing must always be deserved.

When God finally speaks in Job 38–41, He doesn’t explain Job’s suffering or reward his obedience. Instead, He reveals who He is.

God points to wild, untamable parts of creation — creatures that offer Him no advantage, no productivity, and no return. And yet, He delights in them. This revelation dismantles the idea that God’s love is earned or strategic.

When Job truly encounters God’s character, his posture changes. He stops trying to leverage obedience and begins to trust. From that transformation flows a new way of living — marked by humility, generosity, and love.

Serving, then, is no longer about earning favor.
It becomes about becoming the kind of people who love like God loves.

Key Scripture Reference

Job 1:1–5
Job is introduced as righteous and faithful, yet his story immediately challenges the idea that obedience guarantees ease.

Job 2:7–13
Suffering enters Job’s life, exposing the limits of transactional faith.

Job 4–11
Job’s friends express a flawed theology — assuming suffering must be the result of sin.

Job 38–41
God reveals His character, highlighting His love for creation that offers Him no benefit or advantage.

Job 42:1–6
Job’s encounter with God leads to repentance, humility, and transformation.

Job 42:10–17
Restoration follows, but Job’s greatest change is internal — a reoriented understanding of who God is.

Why This Message Matters

If we serve with an agenda, service becomes exhausting.
If we serve to earn, service becomes fragile.

But when we see God clearly — a God who loves freely and without strategy — serving becomes a joyful response, not a spiritual transaction.

The local church isn’t just a place to be useful.
It’s a place where God forms us into people who love without leverage.

Next Step

Don’t let the beauty and power of the local church pass you by.
Step into serving — not because it benefits you, but because it’s shaping who you are becoming.

Did you like the message, Serving Without a Strategy? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

How Do We Change?

nlwchurch — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 16:12:59 +0000

Change is something we all want — but few of us understand.

In the message How Do We Change?, Pastor CJ Ward tackles one of the most important questions every follower of Jesus must wrestle with: what actually causes a person to change? While many of us believe change is possible, we often rely on the wrong methods to produce it.

Through the book of Habakkuk and the teachings of Jesus, this message reveals that real transformation doesn’t come from willpower alone — it comes from encountering God in the right way.

Big Idea

Lasting change happens when we see Jesus for who He really is.

Miracles, crisis, and inspiration all play a role in transformation — but inspiration rooted in a true vision of Jesus is the change-agent God most often uses to reshape our hearts and lives.

Message Summary

Pastor CJ begins by asking a simple but profound question: What causes someone to change? Drawing from Scripture, psychology, and lived experience, he identifies three primary catalysts for transformation:

Miracle — God intervenes directly and powerfully.
Crisis — Pain or rock-bottom moments force change.
Inspiration — Seeing something so compelling that it motivates a new way of living.

While miracles are acts of God and crises are often unavoidable, inspiration is something we can intentionally cultivate. When we place ourselves in positions to truly see Jesus — through worship, Scripture, community, and service — our desires begin to change.

This teaching connects transformation directly to serving. We were created to live beyond ourselves, and yet sin bends us inward. When we stop serving, it’s not a discipline problem — it’s a vision problem. We haven’t seen Jesus clearly.

Habakkuk’s prayer becomes the model response: “I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds. Lord, repeat them in our day.” When we see who God is and what He has done, inspiration leads to action — and action leads to change.

Key Scripture Reference

Habakkuk 3:1–2
Habakkuk reflects on God’s past faithfulness and asks Him to move again. Awe leads to prayer, and prayer leads to change.

Habakkuk 1:12
God sometimes allows crisis as a means of correction, not punishment — always for a redemptive purpose.

Mark 10:45
Jesus models the life we were created for: serving others rather than being served.

Philippians 2:5–8
Seeing Jesus’ humility and sacrifice reframes our selfish ambition and inspires transformation.

Genesis 1:26–28
Humanity was created with purpose, influence, and responsibility — designed to serve and steward God’s world.

Why This Message Matters

If we want to become the people God created us to be, we must stop relying on guilt, pressure, or crisis to produce change. Transformation flows from inspiration — and inspiration flows from seeing Jesus clearly.

When we see Jesus:

Serving becomes natural
Selfishness loses its grip
Worship becomes a response, not an obligation
Change becomes inevitable

Did you like the message, How Do We Change? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

Come and Become

nlwchurch — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:31:51 +0000

Come and Become

A Church Where Anyone Can Come — and Everyone Can Become

What kind of church are we called to be?

In the message Come and Become, Pastor CJ Ward reminds us that following Jesus has always worked the same way: people come to Jesus exactly as they are — and then Jesus begins the lifelong work of transformation.

This message looks at the dramatic conversion of Saul in Acts 9 and reveals a foundational truth about the gospel: no one cleans themselves up before coming to Jesus. Grace always comes first. Change always comes after.

When we forget this, we become a church of judgment.
When we remember it, we become a church of mission.

Big Idea

Jesus invites us to come as we are — and empowers us to become who we were created to be.

Transformation is not about earning God’s love or proving our worth. It’s about trusting the Artist who sees not only who we are, but who we can become.

Key Scripture Reference

Acts 9:1-18

Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. 3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! 8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. 9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. 10 Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. 11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. 12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.” 13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! 14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.” 15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.

Acts 9:1-18

Why This Message Matters

Church was never meant to be a place for people who have it together. It’s meant to be a place where broken people encounter a transforming Savior.

If Saul can come to Jesus, anyone can come.
If Saul can become who he was created to be, anyone can become.

That’s who we are called to be as a church — now and forever.

Come as you are.
Become who God created you to be.

Did you like the message, Come and Become? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

Did You Notice?

nlwchurch — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 16:55:47 +0000

Did You Notice?

Seeing Jesus Clearly Changes Everything

At Christmas, it’s easy for the story of Jesus to feel familiar—so familiar that we stop paying attention. We sing the songs, see the manger scenes, and hear the story again and again. But familiarity has a way of dulling wonder. The message Did You Notice? invites us to slow down and truly look again at who Jesus is and what He has done.

In Philippians 2, the Apostle Paul describes a story that is anything but normal. It’s absurd. Scandalous. Completely unlike anything else in human history. When we actually notice Jesus—who He is, what He gave up, and how far He went for us—it demands a response.

Big Idea

When we truly notice Jesus for who He is, worship becomes the only appropriate response.

Christian faith is not about behavior modification or cultural tradition. Transformation happens when we finally see Jesus clearly. When we notice His humility, His sacrifice, and His love, it changes how we live, how we worship, and how we respond to God.

Key Scripture References

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11

Paul calls believers to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Though Jesus was fully God, He did not use His power for His own advantage. Instead, He willingly laid aside His rights, took on human flesh, became a servant, and obeyed God all the way to death on a cross.

This passage shows us:

Jesus’ humility – God chose limitation, weakness, and vulnerability.
Jesus’ obedience – He willingly endured suffering and death.
Jesus’ exaltation – Because of His sacrifice, God exalted Him above every name, and every knee will bow.

When we notice the depth of this story, worship isn’t forced—it’s inevitable.

Why This Message Matters

We often don’t notice what feels normal. Christmas can become routine. Jesus can become background noise. But there is nothing ordinary about the incarnation—God becoming human, entering suffering, and giving His life to restore what was broken.

When we truly notice Jesus:

Worship stops being about personality or preference.
Faith moves from tradition to transformation.
Our response shifts from indifference to awe.

The story of Jesus is meant to change us. The question is simple: Did you notice?

Did you like the message, Did You Notice? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

Do You Love Jesus?

nlwchurch — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:22:16 +0000

What if the most important question of your life isn’t how good you are — but who you love? Do you love Jesus?

Following Jesus isn’t about trying harder, being better, or earning God’s approval. At the heart of the Christian faith is a far more personal and defining question: Do you love Jesus?

In Week 6 of our Follower series, Pastor CJ Ward walks through one of the most intimate and powerful moments in Peter’s story—his restoration after denying Jesus. Through this encounter, we see that Jesus is not looking for perfect performance, but a surrendered heart that responds to His grace with love.

Big Idea

Spiritual growth is not driven by effort, but by love.
When we truly grasp how much Jesus has forgiven us, our natural response is not obligation—it’s devotion.

Message Summary

After denying Jesus three times, Peter is overwhelmed with guilt and shame. He assumes his failure disqualifies him from following Jesus any further. But when the resurrected Jesus meets Peter on the shore, He doesn’t confront him with anger or condemnation—He invites him into restoration.

Around a charcoal fire—the same setting where Peter denied knowing Jesus—Jesus asks Peter a simple but piercing question three times: “Do you love me?” Each question mirrors Peter’s denial, not to shame him, but to heal him.

This moment reveals a profound truth: Jesus doesn’t restore Peter by reminding him of his failure, but by reminding him of love. Peter’s calling isn’t rebuilt on performance—it’s rebuilt on grace.

This message reminds us that we don’t grow by earning God’s love; we grow by staying connected to it.

Key Scripture References

John 21:1–19
Jesus restores Peter after the resurrection, asking him three times, “Do you love me?” This passage shows that love—not perfection—is the foundation of discipleship and leadership.

Luke 7:36–50
Jesus explains that those who are forgiven much, love much. Our awareness of grace directly shapes our devotion to God.

1 John 4:19
“We love because He first loved us.” Love for God is always a response, never a requirement to earn salvation.

Ephesians 2:1–9
We were dead in our sins and unable to save ourselves. Salvation is a gift of grace—not something we achieve through effort or obedience.

Matthew 11:28–30
Jesus invites us to be yoked to Him, reminding us that He carries the weight we were never meant to bear alone.

Why This Message Matters

Many people believe following Jesus means proving themselves worthy—being good enough, strong enough, or disciplined enough. But the gospel tells a different story. When we stop trying to earn God’s love and start receiving it, real transformation begins.

Jesus isn’t asking if you’re good enough.
He’s asking: Do you love Me?

And when love leads, obedience follows.

Did you like the message, Do You Love Jesus? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

We’re Going To Hell

nlwchurch — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 17:03:00 +0000

What if Jesus didn’t call His Church to stay safe — but to storm the gates of hell with confidence?

In Week 5 of our Follower series, Pastor Mike Wilson teaches through Peter’s powerful confession in Matthew 16. When Peter declares Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus responds with one of the boldest statements in Scripture:

“On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.”

Matthew 16:18

This message — fittingly titled “We’re Going to Hell” — isn’t about shock value. It’s about purpose. Jesus did not envision a Church hiding from darkness, but a movement advancing into the darkest places with the light of Christ.

“We’re Going to Hell” means the Church goes where brokenness lives, where people are hurting, where hope is missing, and where the enemy thinks he has territory. Jesus built His Church to move forward, not back down.

Key Scriptures & Insights

1. The Church is built on the identity of Jesus.

Peter’s confession — “You are the Messiah” — becomes the foundation of God’s movement in the world.

2. Gates don’t attack — they defend.

When Jesus says the “gates of hell” won’t prevail, He’s showing that the Church is moving toward darkness, not retreating from it.
This is the heart of “We’re Going to Hell”: entering hard places with hope.

3. Christianity is not defensive. It’s a mission.

The Church was never meant to play it safe. Jesus empowers His people to advance, influence, and transform.

4. Followers of Jesus carry real authority.

“Whatever you bind… whatever you loose…”
The Church is called to bring spiritual impact right now.

5. Mission requires courage, compassion, and sacrifice.

If we truly believe We’re Going to Hell, it means we willingly run toward brokenness, addiction, despair, and pain — knowing Jesus has already overcome the enemy.

6. Light shines brightest in dark places.

Jesus sends His Church into the world’s deepest needs because that’s where His healing is most needed.

The Big Idea

When we say “We’re Going to Hell,” we’re declaring that the Church is called to push back darkness, confront lies, bring hope, and rescue people who feel far from God.Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail.The movement of Jesus is unstoppable — and every follower has a part to play.

Watch We’re Going to Hell to discover how Jesus calls His Church to courage, mission, and unstoppable kingdom impact.

Did you like the message, We’re Going To Hell? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

Let Jesus Lead

nlwchurch — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 18:09:54 +0000

What does it really look like to Let Jesus Lead?

In Week 4 of our Follower series, Pastor Mike Wilson teaches through all three Gospel accounts of Jesus walking on water. Last week, we focused on Peter stepping out of the boat. But this week, we discover that the deeper point of the story wasn’t Peter’s courage — it was Jesus’ authority.

Across every version of this moment, one truth stays the same:
Everything changes when Jesus gets in the boat.

Whether we relate to Peter’s boldness, the disciples’ fear, or the storm around them, this story invites us to learn how to trust, listen, and ultimately Let Jesus Lead every part of our lives.

Key Scriptures & Insights

1. Hearing God looks different for everyone.

Some hear Him through Scripture.
Some through prayer.
Some through circumstances, wise counsel, or the Holy Spirit’s prompting.
Learning to Let Jesus Lead means learning how to listen.

2. Church is a “huddle” where we say, “Lord, what’s the play?”

We gather to worship, pray, and refocus our attention so we are ready to hear God’s voice and follow His direction.

3. All three Gospel accounts point to one truth: the story is about Jesus’ power.

Mark and John don’t even mention Peter walking on water.
Why?
Because the miracle isn’t about Peter’s ability.
It’s about Jesus’ authority.
When Jesus gets in the boat, the storm calms.

4. Faith is not trusting yourself — it’s trusting Him.

Peter walked on water not because he was skilled, but because his eyes were on Jesus.
When he looked away, he sank.
Jesus didn’t say, “Why did you doubt yourself?”
He said, “Why did you doubt Me?”

5. Letting Jesus Lead requires surrender.

Many of us want Jesus as Savior, but not as Lord.
We want Him in the boat, but not at the wheel.
Mike challenges us to trust Jesus with every part of our lives, even the parts we’re afraid to let Him see.

6. When Jesus leads, He steers and He calms.

Only Jesus brings the peace Scripture calls “beyond understanding.”
We cannot produce it through money, power, control, achievement, or comfort.
Peace comes from His presence — not our performance.

The Big Idea

Spiritual maturity begins when you stop relying on your own strength and choose to Let Jesus Lead.

When Jesus steps into the boat, He brings clarity, direction, transformation, and peace that nothing else in this world can offer.

Watch Let Jesus Lead and learn how to trust Jesus in the storm, listen for His voice, surrender your own agenda, and let Him guide every step of your life.

Did you like the message, Let Jesus Lead? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.