PREVIOUS WORSHIP EXPERIENCES

Our mission is to use our resources—both tangible and intangible—to minimize human suffering and enhance human well-being. This is godliness to us..

We live out this mission by faithfully stewarding the Six Holy Currencies—relationships, time/place, gracious leadership, truth, wellness, and money—engaging in a continual cycle of blessings through listening, learning, relating, and sharing so that our collective resources may bring healing, justice, and flourishing to others.

The “Jesus Before Christianity” series addresses the crucial need for clarity about what it truly means to follow Jesus Christ, beyond the label “Christian.”

Luke 12:48

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.”

Uncommon Favor

It is divine visibility, God allowing your name to be spoken in places you have never been.
Uncommon Favor is when God says, “I will put you where you could not put yourself.”
Uncommon Favor is never about ego; it is always about assignment.
It is not given to inflate our image; it is given to advance God’s purpose.
It is not given to make you impressive; it is given to make God unmistakable.
It is not a reward; it is a responsibility. It is not a trophy; it is a tool.
It is not a spotlight; it is a summons.
It is God saying: “I am with you, I am for you, and I am working through you.”

Uncommon Insight

It lets you see around the corner into what is forming, emerging, and unfolding.
It is not about being different; it is about being directed.
It is God giving you sensitivity that protects your steps, shapes your decisions, and prepares your future.
It is the gift that keeps you from walking into traps.
It is a gift that helps you discern people’s intentions.
It is the gift that allows you to read seasons accurately.
It is the gift that positions you for what God is doing next.

Uncommon Relationships

Uncommon Relationships are not random connections, accidental encounters, or convenient friendships.

They are God‑sent alignments, people placed in your path because of where God is taking you, not where you have been.
They are divine partnerships, divine coverings, and divine catalysts.
They are not built on convenience; they are built on assignment.

Uncommon Relationships are God’s way of saying, here is the evidence that God is intentional about your journey, invested in your growth, and committed to your destiny.

God Has Smiled On Me.pdf

Pastors William Green

The Sacredness of Sighing | September 27 | 10 AM (CST)

Our mission is to use our resources—both tangible and intangible—to minimize human suffering and enhance human well-being. This is godliness to us..

We live out this mission by faithfully stewarding the Six Holy Currencies—relationships, time/place, gracious leadership, truth, wellness, and money—engaging in a continual cycle of blessings through listening, learning, relating, and sharing so that our collective resources may bring healing, justice, and flourishing to others.

Here Is What Research Reveals...

The “Jesus Before Christianity” series addresses the crucial need for clarity about what it truly means to follow Jesus Christ, beyond the label “Christian.”

Mark 7:33-35

“After Jesus took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, be opened. At this, the man’s ears were open, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.”

A sigh resets the nervous system.

A sigh expresses what words cannot.

A sigh is a release of accumulated weight.

A sigh is the body’s truth-telling.

A sigh is a protest against what should not be.

The Types of Sighs

Every sigh carries a message. Slow down enough to identify it.

Sigh of exhaustion — “I’m carrying too much.”

Sigh of frustration — “Something is resisting me.”

Sigh of longing — “I want more than what I have.”

Sigh of grief — “I’ve lost something meaningful.”

Sigh of relief — “God brought me through.”

Greenisms

Some of us have lived through things that should have taken our breath away but instead, God gave us breath again.

Some of us have endured seasons that felt endless, but God brought them to a close.

Some of us have walked through valleys that felt suffocating, but God led us out into open space.

What A Sigh of Relief Means:

Release of pressure — the weight you were carrying is no longer crushing you.

Completion of a hard season — something difficult has finally come to an end.

Emergence into safety — you are no longer in danger, fear, or uncertainty.

Transition into newness — the old has passed, and something different, something better has begun.

Return of breath — your body finally exhales after holding tension for too long.

Gratitude without words — the sigh becomes a quiet “thank You” when language is too small.

Recognition of God’s faithfulness and mercy — you realize God carried you through what you thought might break you.

Lessons / Takeaways from the Message:

Some clarity only comes when you step away from what is crowding your life.
Your next chapter may require a different environment.
Mature faith learns to sigh for others, not just for itself.

The Sacredness of Sighing.pdf

Rev. Tony McCrady

The Gift of Being Carried | September 20 | 10 AM (CST)

Our mission is to use our resources—both tangible and intangible—to minimize human suffering and enhance human well-being. This is godliness to us..

We live out this mission by faithfully stewarding the Six Holy Currencies—relationships, time/place, gracious leadership, truth, wellness, and money—engaging in a continual cycle of blessings through listening, learning, relating, and sharing so that our collective resources may bring healing, justice, and flourishing to others.

God Help Me Discern Mat-Carriers, Not Just Companions.. Look for These Traits:

The “Jesus Before Christianity” series addresses the crucial need for clarity about what it truly means to follow Jesus Christ, beyond the label “Christian.”

Luke 5:17-26

“Jesus was still teaching when four people came up, carrying a man on a mat because he could not walk. But because of the crowd, they could not get him to Jesus. So, they made a hole in the roof above him and let the man down in front of everyone. When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the man, “My friend, your sins are forgiven. “Some of the teachers of the Law of Moses were sitting there. They started wondering, “Why would he say such a thing? He must think he is God! Only God can forgive sins.” I will show you that the Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth.” So, Jesus said to the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and go on home.” The man got right up. He picked up his mat and went out while everyone watched in amazement. They praised God and said, “We have never seen anything like this!”

God help me to discern mat‑carriers, not just companions. Not all companions are mat carriers.

Look for people who show up when it’s inconvenient, not just when it’s fun.

Pay attention to who leans in when you’re struggling, not just when you’re shining.

Notice who can hold your doubts without shaming you.

Build small circles, not big crowds. Crowds watch. Circles carry.

You don’t need many people; you need the right ones.

Invest deeply in a handful of relationships where honesty, faith, and mutual care are possible.

Let those relationships be the place where you can say, “I’m on the mat,” and they already know what that means.

Three Characteristics When People Need the Gift of Being Carried:

There are three characteristics when people need the gift of being carried:

1. Unseen — When your presence feels invisible

2. Unheard — When your voice feels muted

3. Uncared for — When your wellbeing feels irrelevant

The Gift of Being Carried Is a Reminder That:

When God has lifted you from places you could not lift yourself — you stop judging people who are still trying to stand.

When God has surrounded you with mat carriers — you learn to be a mat carrier for someone else.

When God has answered prayers, you never prayed — you stop withholding compassion from people who don’t know how to pray yet.

When God has opened doors, you didn’t knock on — you start opening doors for others without waiting to be asked.

When God has given you mercy you didn’t earn — you stop measuring who deserves mercy and who doesn’t.

When God has carried your name through seasons that tried to erase you — you become a defender of those whose names are under attack.

When God has made room for you in places you didn’t qualify for — you start making room for others who have been pushed aside.

The Gift of Being Carried.pdf

Pastor Lisa Beverly

Borrowed Faith: When You Can't Carry Yourself | September 13 | 10 AM (CST)

Our mission is to use our resources—both tangible and intangible—to minimize human suffering and enhance human well-being. This is godliness to us..

We live out this mission by faithfully stewarding the Six Holy Currencies—relationships, time/place, gracious leadership, truth, wellness, and money—engaging in a continual cycle of blessings through listening, learning, relating, and sharing so that our collective resources may bring healing, justice, and flourishing to others.

Why This Matters for Real People

The “Jesus Before Christianity” series addresses the crucial need for clarity about what it truly means to follow Jesus Christ, beyond the label “Christian.”

Luke 5:17-26

“Jesus was still teaching when four people came up, carrying a man on a mat because he could not walk. But because of the crowd, they could not get him to Jesus. So, they made a hole in the roof above him and let the man down in front of everyone. When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the man, “My friend, your sins are forgiven. “Some of the teachers of the Law of Moses were sitting there. They started wondering, “Why would he say such a thing? He must think he is God! Only God can forgive sins.” I will show you that the Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth.” So, Jesus said to the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and go on home.” The man got right up. He picked up his mat and went out while everyone watched in amazement. They praised God and said, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Because life is real. Faith gets tired. Faith gets thin. Faith gets overwhelmed. Faith gets confused. Faith gets bruised by disappointment. When your faith is not strong enough, God does not shame you. God does not penalize you. God does not withdraw healing, help, or hope.

Stop Punishing Yourself. Stop Punishing Others

If Jesus honors the faith of the community, then we must stop:

shaming people for struggling

weaponizing faith against the weak

acting as if God only moves when someone is at full strength

preaching faith as a performance metric

treating doubt as disqualification

God Does Not Limit Our Faith Capacity

God does not limit Himself to our faith capacity

You are not failing God because your faith feels small.

You are not disappointing God because your faith feels shaky.

You are not blocking your blessing because your faith feels inconsistent.

Faith Allows God to Be Sovereign In Your Life

Faith is not telling God what to do. Faith is trusting God with what God chooses to do. Faith is simple: I trust the God who has spoken to me. I trust the God who knows my story. I trust the God who writes my chapters. I trust the God who does not need to repeat Himself to prove Himself.

Borrowing Faith When You Can't Carry Yourself.pdf

Rev. Reginald Bond

The Blessing That Breaks the Rule | September 6 | 10 AM (CST)

Our mission is to use our resources—both tangible and intangible—to minimize human suffering and enhance human well-being. This is godliness to us..

We live out this mission by faithfully stewarding the Six Holy Currencies—relationships, time/place, gracious leadership, truth, wellness, and money—engaging in a continual cycle of blessings through listening, learning, relating, and sharing so that our collective resources may bring healing, justice, and flourishing to others.

This is Why We Must See All of Jesus' Interactions:

The “Jesus Before Christianity” series addresses the crucial need for clarity about what it truly means to follow Jesus Christ, beyond the label “Christian.”

Luke 5:17-26

“Jesus was still teaching when four people came up, carrying a man on a mat because he could not walk. But because of the crowd, they could not get him to Jesus. So, they made a hole in the roof above him and let the man down in front of everyone. When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the man, “My friend, your sins are forgiven. “Some of the teachers of the Law of Moses were sitting there. They started wondering, “Why would he say such a thing? He must think he is God! Only God can forgive sins.” I will show you that the Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth.” So, Jesus said to the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and go on home.” The man got right up. He picked up his mat and went out while everyone watched in amazement. They praised God and said, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Forgivness is Good News

This is good news because there are seasons in life when God has already moved on to forgive us, and we are still wrestling with guilt, shame, or confusion about what God has already released.

God Can...

God can do what God wants to do.

God can forgive in ways that do not fit our categories.
God can bless in ways that do not match our formulas.
God can move in ways that do not align with our religious models.

Some of us have testimonies that do not match the “expected” biblical pattern, yet they are still profoundly biblical because they reveal the God who is sovereign, gracious, and free.

Seeing all of Jesus keeps us from shrinking God down to our comfort zones.
Seeing all of Jesus keeps us from policing how God moves.
Seeing all of Jesus keeps us open to grace that arrives in unexpected ways.

Real Talk...

Is there anyone present who has experienced God’s blessings without conditions?

I have lived a life where grace has shown up unrequested, mercy has arrived unearned, and favor has found me even when I wasn’t looking for it.

That’s why I carry mats. That’s why I lift people. That’s why I show up. Because I know what it feels like to be carried by grace and by community.