CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH MEMPHIS

Forgiveness | 1 Samuel 16:6-7 | Rainey Segars

Rainey’s message centered on the biblical call to forgiveness, respect, and seeing people the way Jesus sees them. Using 1 Samuel 16:7 as her foundation — “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” — she challenged listeners to rethink how they view difficult people, enemies, and those who have caused pain.

She began with a story about her son being stung by a jellyfish at the beach. Even after being hurt, he was willing to go back into the ocean once the warning flag was removed. Rainey used this image to illustrate an important spiritual truth: believers are called to remain humble enough to “look again” at people and situations, even after experiencing hurt. She connected this to the word “respect,” explaining its roots mean “to look again.” Respect, therefore, is not merely politeness, but the willingness to believe someone’s story or future may be more than we first assumed.

Throughout the message, Rainey emphasized that Jesus modeled this perfectly. While others saw Zacchaeus as a corrupt traitor or the woman at the well as immoral and shameful, Jesus saw dignity, value, and possibility. His compassion and willingness to engage people respectfully became transformational. Rainey pointed out that for the woman at the well, “the respect was the miracle.” Jesus did not simply tolerate people — He restored them through compassion.

The core of the message focused on forgiveness. Rainey argued that modern Christianity often reduces faith to “going to heaven,” while the New Testament emphasizes becoming transformed into people who love enemies, forgive deeply, and reflect the character of Christ. She explained that forgiveness is not optional for Christians because forgiveness is part of the culture of God’s kingdom.

She carefully addressed several “falsehoods” about forgiveness. First, she challenged the idea that unforgiveness is simply “protecting your peace.” While boundaries are sometimes necessary, bitterness disguised as self-care is still bitterness. Jesus Himself did not “protect His peace” when He entered human suffering, served difficult people, and continued loving others despite pain.

Second, Rainey clarified that forgiveness does not mean remaining in abusive situations. Jesus taught confrontation, accountability, and involving community when someone is harmful. Forgiveness does not excuse evil or deny wounds, but it does refuse hatred and keeps the heart open to the possibility of healing and reconciliation.

Another major point was that Christians forgive because they themselves have been forgiven. Using Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant, she explained that believers cannot receive God’s mercy while refusing to extend mercy to others. Forgiveness is evidence of belonging to God’s kingdom and becoming like Christ.

Rainey also stressed that forgiveness is often an act of obedience before it becomes a feeling. Like Ananias reluctantly welcoming Saul, believers sometimes must “do as they are told” even when emotions lag behind. Christian maturity means choosing love and mercy even when it feels unnatural.

She concluded by reminding listeners that forgiveness does not minimize suffering. God fully sees injustice and pain. Yet unforgiveness ultimately poisons the heart and prevents spiritual transformation. Followers of Jesus are called to participate in the life of heaven now by becoming people marked by mercy, humility, and hope. Rainey challenged the church to become a place where respect and forgiveness are normal, and where even small acts of compassion might become miracles in someone’s life.

Discussion Questions

1. Who in your life do you struggle to “look at again” with dignity or hope?

2. What is the difference between healthy boundaries and unforgiveness?

3. Why do you think forgiveness is so difficult, even for Christians?

4. How does remembering God’s forgiveness toward you affect your ability to forgive others?

5. Are there relationships in your life where God may be calling you to take a step toward reconciliation?

6. What does it practically look like to “love your enemies” in everyday life?

7. Rainey said, “Respect was the miracle.” When has someone’s compassion or respect changed your life?

Teach Us to Pray | On Earth as it is in Heaven | Matthew 6:10 | Coleton Segars

Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done

Introduction

In this message, Coleton walks through one of the most important lines in the Lord’s Prayer:

“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:10

Jesus is not giving His followers empty religious words to repeat. He is teaching them how to partner with God in the renewal of the world. This prayer is not passive resignation. It is an invitation into participation with God.

Coleton structures the sermon around three major questions:

1. What is Jesus telling us to ask for?
2. Why doesn’t God just do it without our prayers?
3. What does this mean for our prayers practically?

Throughout the message, Coleton emphasizes a central truth: prayer matters because God has chosen to work through the prayers of His people.

1. What Is Jesus Telling Us to Ask For?

We Are Asking for God’s Kingdom and God’s Will

Coleton explains that Jesus teaches us to pray for two connected realities:

• God’s Kingdom to come
• God’s will to be done

These cannot be separated. God’s Kingdom is the place where God’s will is actually happening.

Coleton uses a quote from Dallas Willard to explain this idea clearly:

“God’s own ‘kingdom,’ or ‘rule,’ is the range of His effective will, where what He wants done is done.” — Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy

The sermon explains that every person has a small “kingdom” — a sphere where their choices shape reality. God’s Kingdom is the sphere where His desires, purposes, goodness, and authority reign completely.

So when Jesus teaches us to pray, “Your kingdom come,” He is teaching us to pray:

• Let more of what God wants happen here.
• Let more of heaven invade earth.
• Let the qualities of God’s reign spread into places where they are absent.

Coleton says we see the qualities of God’s Kingdom most clearly in Jesus.

When Jesus walked the earth, He announced:

“The Kingdom of God has come upon you.”

Then He demonstrated what that Kingdom looked like.

Coleton walks through example after example from the Gospels:

Abundance Where There Was Scarcity

• John 2
• Mark 6

Jesus multiplies provision and turns lack into overflowing abundance.

Truth Where There Was Hypocrisy

• John 3
• Matthew 23

Jesus exposes false religion and reveals truth that leads to life.

Freedom Where There Was Bondage

• Mark 5

Jesus delivers people oppressed by evil and restores them to wholeness.

Healing Where There Was Disease

• Matthew 8
• Mark 5

The Kingdom of God pushes back sickness and brokenness.

Restoration Where There Was Alienation

• John 4

Jesus restores dignity and relationship to the Samaritan woman.

Hospitality Where There Was Hatred

• Luke 19

Jesus welcomes Zacchaeus when everyone else rejected him.

Life Where There Was Death

• John 11

Jesus raises Lazarus and reveals that death does not get the final word.

Hope Where There Was Despair

• Mark 5

Jesus enters impossible situations and brings hope again.

Love Where There Was Hatred

• Acts 9

The Gospel transforms persecutors into followers of Jesus.

Justice Where There Was Oppression

• Acts 16

God breaks chains and overturns systems of darkness.

Coleton repeatedly reminds the church:

When Jesus extended the Kingdom, He extended these qualities into people’s lives.

So praying “Your Kingdom come” means praying:

• Bring freedom here.
• Bring healing here.
• Bring justice here.
• Bring peace here.
• Bring restoration here.
• Bring hope here.

This prayer is asking for the realities of heaven to invade earth.

2. Why Doesn’t God Just Do It Without Our Prayers?

This becomes the heart of the sermon.

Coleton addresses a question many people quietly wrestle with:

“If God is sovereign, why does prayer matter at all?”

His answer is simple and profound:

Because God has sovereignly chosen to work through people.

God Has Always Worked Through Human Partnership

Coleton goes back to Genesis.

God did not need Adam and Eve to tend the garden. He could have done everything Himself. Yet He intentionally gave humanity responsibility, authority, and participation.

God chose partnership.

Coleton quotes Dallas Willard again:

“We are meant to exercise our ‘rule’ only in union with God, as He acts with us.”

Human beings were designed to work alongside God in stewarding creation.

Prayer is part of that design.

Prayer Is Not an Afterthought — It Is Part of the Way God Ordered the World

Coleton strongly emphasizes:

God does not need intercessors.
He chooses intercessors.

He quotes Tyler Staton:

“Prayer is the means by which we push back the curse that’s infected the world and infected us.”

This is one of the central ideas of the sermon:

Prayer is how God has chosen for His Kingdom to advance.

Coleton gives practical analogies:

• God could have nourished us without food — but He chose food.
• God could have sustained life without oxygen and blood — but He chose those means.
• God could have worked without prayer — but He chose prayer.

Prayer is not magic.
Prayer is partnership.

Your Prayers Actually Matter

Coleton passionately confronts the idea that prayer changes nothing.

He says believing prayer does not matter fundamentally misunderstands how God designed the world.

He points to passages showing the consequences of prayerlessness:

We Miss Things When We Don’t Pray

• 2 Chronicles 16:9

We Make Bad Decisions Without Seeking God

• Joshua 9:14

Some Things Do Not Happen Apart From Prayer

• Mark 9:29

Coleton makes an important clarification:

This is not because God is angry or withholding.
It is because this is the structure God established.

He quotes Charles Spurgeon:

“If you may have everything by asking, and nothing without asking, I beg you to see how absolutely vital prayer is.”

Even Jesus intercedes now for believers.

If prayer did not matter, Jesus would not still be praying.

3. What This Means for Our Prayers

There Is Power in Your Praying

Coleton wants believers to leave with confidence.

Not confidence in themselves.
Not confidence in perfect wording.

Confidence that God has chosen to work through prayer.

He says:

Prayer works powerfully because God has set it up that way.

Coleton quotes Skye Jethani:

“We are active participants with God in the writing, directing, design, and action that unfolds.”

Prayer is participation in God’s work in the world.

Because of that, believers should actually expect God to move when they pray.

Leonard Ravenhill’s quote drives this home:

“You cannot estimate the power of prayer… because He has committed Himself to answer it.”

4. Practical Ways to Pray “Your Kingdom Come”

Coleton closes the sermon with deeply practical guidance.

Pray for Kingdom Qualities Where They Are Missing

He encourages believers to look for brokenness and pray specifically for God’s Kingdom to invade those places.

Tyler Staton’s quote summarizes this beautifully:

“Ask for Jesus to come anywhere and everywhere you know God’s kingdom of love and peace is lacking.”

Examples:

• Pray for friends who do not know Jesus.
• Pray for healing.
• Pray for Memphis.
• Pray for injustice.
• Pray for broken families.
• Pray for mental and emotional struggles.

Coleton encourages practices like:

• Prayer walks
• Prayer drives
• People watching and praying
• Using reminders like a “Pray for Memphis” hat

Prayer becomes a lifestyle of seeing the world through the eyes of God’s Kingdom.

Pray the Promises of God

Coleton teaches believers to pray Scripture because God is faithful to His promises.

He quotes John Wesley:

“The best we can say to God in prayer is, what he hath said to us.”

He then walks through promises believers can pray confidently:

Comfort

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” — Matthew 5:4

Freedom and New Life

“If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

Peace

Philippians 4:6–7

Greater Works

John 14:12

Rest

Matthew 11:28–29

Provision

Matthew 6:33
Philippians 4:19
Malachi 3:10

Wisdom

James 1:5

Restoration

Joel 2:25–26
Isaiah 61:3–4

Strength

2 Corinthians 12:9
Isaiah 40:31

Coleton encourages believers to pray these promises boldly because they reveal God’s heart and His Kingdom.

Pray for the Things Jesus Did

Coleton says the Gospels reveal what the Kingdom of God looks like.

So believers should read about Jesus:

• healing,
• restoring,
• forgiving,
• freeing,
• reconciling,

and pray for those same Kingdom realities to happen around them today.

Trust God When Prayers Aren’t Answered the Way You Want

Coleton ends with honesty and pastoral wisdom.

Not every prayer is answered the way we expect.

Paul prayed for the “thorn in the flesh” to leave, but God said:

“My grace is sufficient for you.”

Sometimes God’s Kingdom advances through weakness rather than the removal of suffering.

Coleton reminds the church:

• The apostles experienced miracles.
• The apostles also experienced tragedy.
• Yet they never stopped believing in prayer.

The call of the believer is not to understand everything perfectly, but to trust God in the mystery.

Final Challenge

Coleton closes by bringing everything back to one foundational truth:

Prayer has power because this is how God designed the world to function.

Just as:

• food satisfies hunger,
• water quenches thirst,
• oxygen sustains life,

God has chosen prayer as one of the primary ways His Kingdom advances in the earth.

Jesus teaches His followers to pray because prayer truly matters.

Discipleship Group Questions

1. When you hear the phrase “Your Kingdom come,” what do you naturally think about, and how did this message expand your understanding of it?
2. Which “Kingdom quality” from Jesus’ ministry (healing, restoration, justice, freedom, hope, etc.) do you most long to see break into your own life or your community right now?
3. Why do you think God chose to work through human partnership and prayer instead of simply doing everything Himself?
4. What keeps you from believing your prayers truly matter, and how did this sermon challenge that mindset?
5. What is one practical way you can begin intentionally praying for God’s Kingdom to come in Memphis, your family, your workplace, or your neighborhood this week?

Culture of Gospel

Share this with someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus

What if prayer is not about escaping the world, but partnering with God to heal it? Jesus taught that God’s Kingdom brings hope where there is despair, healing where there is brokenness, and love where there is hatred—and He invites ordinary people to become part of that renewal.

 

Teach Us to Pray | Hallowed be Your Name | Matthew 6:9 | Coleton Segars

Hallowed Be Your Name

Learning to Pray with Wonder, Confidence, and Peace

Jesus does something deeply intentional in the Lord’s Prayer. Before He teaches His followers to ask God for anything, He teaches them to remember who God is. Prayer is not meant to begin with panic, requests, or anxiety—it begins with worship. Coleton explains that when Jesus says, “Hallowed be Your name,” He is teaching us to fill our minds and hearts with the greatness, faithfulness, and power of God before we ever bring Him our needs.

This message is an invitation to become people who truly pray—not mechanically, not cautiously, but with boldness, awe, confidence, and trust.

“Our Father in Heaven” — Remember Who You’re Talking To

Matthew 6:9–13

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name…’”

Coleton begins by reminding the church why this prayer series matters so much to him personally. About ten years ago, he began pursuing a deeper prayer life because he wanted prayer to become more than a religious duty—he wanted to love it. During that journey, one quote changed the way he viewed prayer forever.

Quote

“Satan dreads nothing but prayer. His one concern is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, he mocks our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.” — Samuel Chadwick

That quote helped Coleton realize why prayer often feels difficult. The enemy is not intimidated by human strength, intelligence, or activity. He trembles at the power of God accessed through prayer. Prayer matters because God moves through it.

Last week’s focus in the series was the phrase “Our Father in heaven.” Jesus first teaches us that prayer begins by remembering who we are talking to: not a distant force, but a loving Father who welcomes His children.

Now Jesus takes us one step further.

“Hallowed Be Your Name” — Prayer Begins with Worship

Coleton explains that “hallowed” means to treat God’s name as holy, weighty, glorious, and worthy of worship.

Quote

“‘Hallowed be your name’ means ‘let [your name] be regarded as holy.’ It is not so much a petition as an act of worship; the speaker, by his words, exalts the holiness of God.” — Tremper Longman III

Quote

“Hallowing is an active kind of praying—honoring, adoring, and naming the greatness of God. While ‘Our Father’ is a reminder of God’s intimacy; ‘hallowed’ is a reminder of His incomprehensible greatness.” — Tyler Staton

Coleton explains that hallowing God’s name looks like:

• Saying what is true about God
• Remembering what He has done
• Repeating what He has promised
• Declaring what is possible with Him

This kind of prayer fills the heart with worship before requests are ever made.

The Psalms Show Us What Hallowing Looks Like

Psalm 44 — Remembering God’s Power

Scripture

“With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors… it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face…” — Psalm 44:2–3

The psalmist spends enormous time recounting God’s past faithfulness. He talks about victories God gave, enemies God defeated, and promises God fulfilled.

Coleton points out something fascinating: much of this prayer is telling God things He already knows.

Why?

Not because God needs reminding—but because we do.

We forget who He is. We forget what He has done. We forget His power, His promises, and His faithfulness. Hallowing God’s name recenters the soul.

1. Hallowing His Name Expands Our Vision of What Is Possible

One of the main effects of worshipful prayer is that it stretches our faith.

Quote

“The wonderful thing about praying is that you leave a world of not being able to do something and enter into God’s realm where everything is possible. He specializes in the impossible.” — Corrie ten Boom

Coleton says many Christians pray extremely safe prayers:

• “Keep them safe.”
• “Help them have a good day.”
• “Bless this meal.”

Those prayers are not wrong—but if we truly believe we are speaking to the God of the impossible, why do we so rarely ask Him for impossible things?

Hallowing His name enlarges our imagination for what God can do.

Hezekiah’s Prayer — Worship Before Deliverance

Scripture

2 Kings 19:14–19

King Hezekiah is surrounded by an enormous Assyrian army. Humanly speaking, defeat seems certain.

But notice how he prays:

“Lord, the God of Israel… you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth…”

Before asking for rescue, Hezekiah hallows God’s name. He reminds himself that Assyria may be powerful, but God rules every kingdom on earth.

Only after worship does he ask for deliverance.

Coleton explains that worship gave Hezekiah courage to pray boldly in an impossible situation.

The Apostles in Acts 4 — Worship Produces Boldness

Scripture

Acts 4:24–30

After Peter and John are arrested and threatened, the disciples gather to pray.

What is shocking is what they don’t pray for.

They do not pray for safety.
They do not pray for persecution to stop.

Instead they pray:

“Enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders…”

Why?

Because they began by hallowing God’s name. They remembered that God is sovereign, powerful, and able to use evil for good. Worship gave them courage.

Even Jesus Prayed This Way

Scripture

Mark 14:36

“Abba, Father… everything is possible for you.”

In Gethsemane, Jesus Himself begins by declaring what is true about the Father: everything is possible for Him.

Coleton emphasizes that hallowing God’s name even led Jesus to pray honestly and boldly.

Hallowing Changes the Way We Pray

Coleton gives vivid examples of what this can look like in everyday life.

Instead of praying weak, hopeless prayers, we pray with remembrance:

• “You are the God who split the Red Sea—make a way for me.”
• “You heard Hannah’s prayer after years of waiting—hear mine too.”
• “You turned Saul into Paul—change this person’s heart.”
• “You used evil for Joseph’s good—redeem this painful situation.”

Hallowing God’s name teaches us to pray according to God’s character and history.

Asking Big Things Honors God

Quote

“Our God is so good, gracious, and powerful that we can never ask or assume too much of him. We don’t offend Him with large requests; we offend Him with small ones!” — J.D. Greear

Coleton shares the story of Alexander the Great generously granting a soldier’s extravagant request because the request honored both his wealth and generosity.

In the same way, bold prayer honors God because it assumes He is both powerful and good.

2. Hallowing His Name Produces Peace, Rest, and Confidence

Hallowing God’s name does not only increase boldness—it also calms fear.

Psalm 46 — Worship Leads to Fearlessness

Scripture

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” — Psalm 46:1

Then comes the result:

“Therefore we will not fear…” — Psalm 46:2

The psalmist’s peace flows from remembering who God is.

Coleton explains that worship anchors the soul in unstable moments.

Psalm 23 — David’s Confidence Came from God’s Character

Scripture

“The Lord is my shepherd…”

Outcome:

“I lack nothing.”

Scripture

“You are with me…”

Outcome:

“I will fear no evil.”

David’s peace was connected to his remembrance of God’s presence and care.

Coleton and Rainey’s Story of Fear and Faith

Coleton shares a deeply personal moment when someone falsely accused him and tried to get him fired.

Sitting in the car devastated, he and Rainey began hallowing God’s name together. They remembered:

• God sustaining their long-distance relationship
• God healing their relationship during difficult seasons
• God opening ministry doors unexpectedly
• God never once failing them

As they remembered God’s faithfulness, peace slowly replaced fear.

Their conclusion became:
“If God has been faithful before, He will be faithful again.”

And God ultimately took care of them.

Hallowing God’s Name in Real Life

Coleton gives practical examples of how worship reshapes fear:

When Facing Enemies

God used Saul’s attacks to prepare David for kingship. No enemy can stop God’s plan.

When Struggling with Sin

God promises grace greater than our failures.

Scripture

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

When Worried About Provision

Jesus said the Father cares for birds and flowers—and values His children far more.

When Life Feels Chaotic

God still reigns over nations and history.

When Facing Death

Jesus transformed death from ultimate loss into the doorway to eternal life.

Hallowing His name teaches believers to trust God in every circumstance.

Jesus Prepares Us Before We Ask

Coleton points out something powerful in the Lord’s Prayer:

Jesus has not told us to ask for anything yet.

Before requests come:

• We remember He is Father.
• We remember He is holy.
• We remember His power.
• We remember His faithfulness.

Only then are we prepared to pray boldly and trustingly.

Practical Ways to Practice Hallowing His Name

1. Begin Prayer with Worship

Coleton encourages using worship music to shape the heart before praying.

Songs mentioned:

• “Good Plans” — Red Rocks Worship
• “Same God” — Elevation Worship
• “Won’t Stop Now” — Elevation Worship
• “Do It Again” — Elevation Worship
• “I Believe” — Charity Gayle
• “The Truth” — Megan Woods
• “Don’t Fight Alone” — Jon Reddick

2. Remember God’s Promises in Scripture

The Bible teaches us what God has done before so we can trust what He will do again.

Coleton emphasizes that Scripture fuels confident prayer.

3. Remember God’s Faithfulness in Your Own Life

Reflect on:

• Ways God provided
• Times He protected
• Seasons He healed
• Moments He restored

Remembering past faithfulness strengthens present trust.

4. Practice Gratitude

Coleton references One Thousand Gifts and how gratitude journals helped cultivate trust in God’s faithfulness.

The more we notice God’s goodness, the easier it becomes to trust Him for impossible things.

Closing Challenge

Quote

“Powerful prayer begins with adoration.” — Tyler Staton

The heart of this sermon is simple but transformative:

Jesus wants His people to pray with power.

And powerful prayer begins by hallowing the name of God—remembering who He is, what He has done, and what is still possible with Him.

Discipleship Group Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus teaches us to worship before asking for things in prayer? How could that reshape your prayer life?
2. What are some “safe prayers” you tend to pray? What impossible or faith-filled prayers might God be inviting you to begin praying?
3. Which story or example from this sermon encouraged you the most personally, and why?
4. Where have you seen God’s faithfulness in your own past? How can remembering those moments strengthen your trust in your current season?
5. What practical step can you take this week to begin “hallowing His name” more intentionally in prayer?

Culture of Gospel

Share this with someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus

Christianity is not about pretending to be strong—it’s about discovering that there is a God so loving, powerful, and faithful that you can bring Him your impossible situations and your deepest fears. Jesus teaches us that prayer is not talking into the dark, but speaking to a Father who hears, cares, and still changes lives today.

 

Teach Us to Pray | Father In Heaven | Matthew 6:9-13 | Coleton Segars

Teach Us To Pray — “Father In Heaven”

Introduction: Why We Need to Learn to Pray

Coleton begins with a simple but relatable picture: his son Teddy not enjoying golf because he doesn’t know how to play. “I’d enjoy it more if I knew how to hit it.” That insight becomes the doorway into the entire series—many people don’t enjoy prayer because they don’t know how to do it.

The goal of this teaching is not just to inform people about prayer, but to help them experience joy in it. Coleton introduces the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13) as the foundation—a short, 31-word prayer in its original language, yet deep enough to shape a lifetime of communion with God.

Key Quote:

• “The Lord’s prayer is simple enough to be memorized by small children and yet profound enough to sustain a whole lifetime of prayer.” — Justin Welby

Coleton explains that this prayer is both:

• A pattern (Matthew: “pray like this”)
• A prayer to be repeated (Luke 11:2: “when you pray, say…”)

Key Quote:

• “We can either use each phrase as a handrail… or pray exactly these words thoughtfully.” — Frederick Dale Bruner

This series will walk through the prayer line by line, beginning with the first phrase: “Our Father in heaven.”

1. Remember Who You’re Talking To (Matthew 6:9)

Coleton emphasizes that Jesus begins prayer by reshaping our understanding of God. Before anything else, we must remember: we are speaking to a Father.

A Radical Shift in Prayer

Jesus adapts a traditional Jewish prayer (the Kaddish), which begins by magnifying God’s name—but instead of starting there, Jesus begins with relationship: Father.

This is intentional. Jesus is not removing God’s holiness—He is making Him personally accessible.

Key Quote:

• “Pray to God more intimately than you think you’re allowed.” — Tyler Staton

The word Abba reflects deep closeness—not childish, but deeply personal. Coleton illustrates this with his son calling him “pop-pop”—a name that reflects relationship, not just title.

Why This Matters

How we perceive God determines how we pray:

• If we think He’s angry → we become guarded
• If we think He’s disappointed → we withdraw
• If we think He’s distant → we disengage

Key Quote:

• “Most people’s biggest problem with prayer is God Himself… scowling, perpetually disapproving…” — Pete Greig

Jesus corrects this: you are approaching the safest, most loving presence you’ve ever known.

If we don’t start here, we won’t pray freely, consistently, or joyfully.

2. Because He is Father — It Shapes How We Talk to God

Coleton addresses a common barrier: “I don’t know what to say.”

Through a deeply personal story about his son’s speech delay, he reveals a powerful truth: a father doesn’t care how polished the words are—he just wants to hear his child’s voice.

That becomes the central image Jesus wants us to carry into prayer.

Freedom Over Formula

While tools like A.C.T.S. or P.R.A.Y. can help, Coleton warns against turning prayer into a rigid system.

We don’t talk to people we love using formulas—so why would we do that with God?

Prayer is meant to be:

• Natural
• Relational
• Honest
• Free

You can:

• Talk about your day
• Share your highs and lows
• Express frustration or confusion
• Sit in silence

Even biblical examples support this:

• The Psalms are full of raw emotion
• Job questions and wrestles with God

Coleton makes a key distinction:

• Complaining to God is prayer
• Complaining about God is grumbling

God desires the first.

3. Because He is Father — It Shapes What We Expect from God

Coleton then shifts from how we speak to what we expect.

Expectation #1: We Should Expect More

Scripture:

• “How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” — Matthew 7:9–11

Jesus teaches that God’s generosity surpasses even the best human parents.

Coleton challenges a common hesitation: feeling guilty for asking God for things. Many people hold back because they think their needs are too small or too selfish.

But a loving father doesn’t shame his child for asking.

He shares a powerful story of rock climbing with his dad—choosing independence over accepting help. Instead of pride, it brought hurt. Why? Because relationship invites dependence.

Key Quote:

• “Jesus is trying to bring us… to the Father with hands out.” — C.H. Dodd

Not asking isn’t humility—it can actually be distance.

Expectation #2: We Should Expect “No”

A good Father doesn’t give everything His children ask for.

God’s “no” is not rejection—it is protection and love.

• He sees what we don’t
• He knows what will harm or shape us
• He gives both yes and no as gifts

Coleton reminds us: don’t let unanswered prayers convince you God doesn’t care. Sometimes His refusal is His deeper kindness.

4. Practicing Prayer as Children of the Father

Coleton ends with practical application: What does it actually look like to pray this way?

You can:

• Pray the Lord’s Prayer word-for-word
• Or use it as a starting point

But most importantly, relate to God as a Father.

Practical Ways to Pray

• Talk to Him about your day (even though He already knows)
• Share what you’re thinking and feeling
• Bring your worries and desires
• Celebrate what’s good and process what’s hard
• Sit quietly with Him
• Even fall asleep while talking to Him

Coleton uses the image of his son talking as he falls asleep—what some might feel is “bad prayer,” a father sees as a gift.

That’s how God sees you.

Key Quote:

• “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” — A.W. Tozer

If we see Him as Father, we will move toward Him—not away.

Conclusion

Coleton brings the message full circle: prayer begins not with technique, but with identity and relationship.

When Jesus teaches us to pray “Our Father,” He is inviting us into:

• Freedom instead of fear
• Relationship instead of ritual
• Trust instead of hesitation

God is not waiting for perfect prayers—He is waiting for His children.

Discipleship Group Questions

1. When you think about God, what is your immediate emotional response—and how does that affect your prayer life?
2. Why do you think Jesus chose to begin prayer with “Father” instead of focusing first on God’s holiness or power?
3. What tends to hold you back from praying honestly and freely with God?
4. Which is harder for you to accept: that God wants to give you more, or that He lovingly says “no”? Why?
5. What is one practical way you can begin relating to God more like a Father this week?

Culture of Gospel

Share this with someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus

What if God isn’t distant or disappointed in you—but actually wants a real relationship with you like a loving Father who enjoys hearing your voice? Jesus teaches that prayer isn’t about getting it right—it’s about coming home to Someone who already wants you.

Teach Us to Pray | Three things to Know about Prayer | Matthew 6:5-8 | Coleton Segars

Learning to Pray

Introduction:

Coleton begins by sharing personally that 10 years ago he didn’t know how to pray—and honestly didn’t think it mattered. But everything shifted when he encountered people who genuinely loved prayer and believed this simple truth:

People who pray will experience more from God and with God than people who don’t.

That statement reframed everything. Coleton points out that prayer is not something we naturally know how to do—it must be learned. But the encouraging truth is: it can be learned.

He highlights something powerful from the Gospels: the disciples never asked Jesus to teach them how to preach, perform miracles, or lead—but they did ask Him to teach them how to pray. Why? Because they saw something in Jesus’ relationship with the Father that they wanted.

Over the past 10 years, Coleton shares that he has experienced more of God than in the previous 29 years of his life—and he attributes that largely to learning to pray.

Quote:

“The greatest undiscovered area in the resources of God is in the place of prayer… you cannot estimate the power of prayer. Prayer is as vast as God because God is behind it.” — Leonard Ravenhill

This sets up the main idea: Jesus wants to teach us how to pray, and in doing so, invite us into a deeper experience with God.

1. God Wants to Actually Meet with You

Coleton’s first point is simple but profound: Prayer is about relationship, not performance.

Main Idea

God is not distant or disinterested—He is eager to meet with you anytime you intentionally turn your attention toward Him.

Bible Passage

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen…” — Matthew 6:6

Coleton explains that Jesus is not giving a rigid rule about location but emphasizing intentionality. The “room” and “closed door” represent focused, personal connection.

Key Insight:

God gives His attention to any place of intention.

Any moment you intentionally turn toward God—whether in a quiet room, your car, during chores, or even a quick pause in a stressful meeting—He meets you there.

Coleton illustrates this with real-life examples, including stepping away during a difficult meeting just to “steal a moment” with God. Even a few seconds becomes sacred when it’s intentional.

He also shares the story of Susanna Wesley, who used her apron over her head as a “prayer closet” while raising 19 children—showing that the “secret place” is less about location and more about focus.

Quote:

“The Father has a special affinity for ‘the secret place’… He is continuously watching there.” — Frederick Dale Bruner

Takeaway

You don’t have to go somewhere special to meet with God.
Any place becomes sacred when you choose to seek Him.

2. Your Prayers Can Be Very Short

The second thing Jesus teaches is deeply freeing: Prayer does not need to be long to be effective.

Bible Passage

“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans…” — Matthew 6:7–8

Main Idea

You don’t have to earn God’s attention with long, impressive prayers—you already have it.

Coleton contrasts Jesus’ teaching with pagan beliefs of the time, where people thought they had to “fatigue the gods” with long prayers to be heard.

Quote:

“The pagan rule to get your prayer heard is ‘much.’” — Frederick Dale Bruner

Jesus completely dismantles this idea. God is not reluctant—He is a loving Father who is already attentive.

Key Insight

Because God already hears you, prayer can be as simple as:

• “Help.”
• “Thank you.”
• “I’m sorry.”
• “I need you.”

Coleton shares a relatable analogy: if every phone call with a friend required an hour, you’d hesitate to answer—but if it could be brief, you’d engage more often. Prayer works the same way.

When we realize prayer doesn’t require long stretches of time, we actually pray more.

Quote:

“It is a relief to know that the Father… is not a reluctant listener.” — Frederick Dale Bruner
“Much prayer is not the mediator to God; Jesus is.”

Coleton also addresses persistence in prayer, clarifying:

• Persistence is powerful
• But persistence is not required to be heard

We persist because we are heard—not to be heard.

Takeaway

You always have God’s attention.
Pray anytime, with whatever you have.

3. He Knows How to Help You the Most

The third truth Jesus gives is deeply comforting: God knows exactly what you need.

Bible Passage

“Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” — Matthew 6:8

Main Idea

God’s knowledge of your needs is not a reason to stop praying—it’s the reason you should run to Him.

Coleton explains that we are drawn to people who understand us without needing long explanations. He shares a powerful story about his sister, who struggled to find comfort after losing her husband because people cared—but didn’t truly understand what she needed.

Everything changed when she met others who had experienced the same loss. They understood—and because they understood, they could actually help.

That’s who God is.

He doesn’t just care—He understands.

Key Insight

Because God knows what you need:

• He knows how to help you
• He is the best person to go to
• You can trust Him even when you don’t know what to ask for

This is why Jesus later teaches us to pray for “daily bread”—a simple, even vague request—because God already knows what’s behind the request.

Takeaway

You don’t have to figure everything out before you pray.
Go to the One who already knows—and knows how to help.

Application: How to Respond

Coleton closes with clear, practical steps:

1. Choose intentional moments with God

Set aside time—but also take advantage of small, everyday moments to turn your attention toward Him.

2. Pray what you’ve got

Don’t overthink it. Don’t try to impress God. Just talk.

3. Remind yourself who God is

He is attentive, loving, and fully aware of your needs. Pray with confidence in His character.

Final Encouragement

People who pray will experience more from God and with God than people who don’t.

So start simple:

“Lord, I need You.”

Discipleship Group Questions

1. What has your personal experience with prayer been like, and how has this message challenged or encouraged that?
2. What keeps you from intentionally creating space to meet with God, and how can you overcome that this week?
3. How does knowing that God already has your attention change the way you approach prayer?
4. Why do you think short, simple prayers might actually lead to a more consistent prayer life?
5. In what area of your life do you most need to trust that God already knows what you need and can help you?

Culture of Gospel

Share this with someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus

What if God isn’t distant or waiting for you to prove yourself—but is actually a loving Father who already knows you, hears you, and wants to meet with you anytime you reach out?

 

God Given Resources | Psalm 24:1 | Shannon Plate

From our April 12, 2026 service. 

He is Good | The Resurrection | Mark 16:1-20 | Coleton Segars

Sermon Summary: The Resurrection Changes Everything
1. A Case for the Resurrection
Coleton begins by challenging the assumption that belief in Jesus’ resurrection requires blind faith. Instead, he invites us to consider the evidence—to think critically and honestly about why the resurrection of Jesus has endured throughout history.
He introduces a fascinating comparison: the Roman emperor Nero. Nero was powerful, widely known, and ruled the known world—yet today, almost no one has heard of any “resurrection story” about him. In contrast, Jesus was a poor, obscure Jewish carpenter with a short ministry, no political power, and no army—yet His resurrection is known worldwide.
Coleton’s point is simple but profound:
If false resurrection stories fade into obscurity (like Nero’s), why has Jesus’ resurrection endured and spread across the globe?
This forces an honest question:
Is it possible that the reason we still talk about Jesus’ resurrection… is because it actually happened?
He emphasizes that Jesus does not call people to blind faith. In fact, Jesus rebukes His own disciples—not for lacking blind belief—but for refusing to believe credible eyewitness testimony.
Key Scripture:
“He rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.” (Mark 16:14)
Jesus expected them to weigh the evidence.
Coleton connects this to how faith grows:
Supporting Scripture:
“Consider the lilies of the field… consider the birds of the air…” (Matthew 6)
Faith is not anti-thinking—it is formed through considering. Jesus invites us to look at evidence, reflect, and respond.
Key Quote:
“The question we should all consider is why we’ve ever heard of Jesus… Christianity rose from the dead because Christ did.” – Glen Scrivener
Main takeaway:
Faith in the resurrection is not a leap into the dark—it’s a step toward the light based on compelling evidence.
2. What the Resurrection Inaugurated in the World
Coleton shifts from proving the resurrection to explaining its meaning.
He points to a prophetic vision of the world found in Isaiah—a future where everything broken is restored:
Key Scripture:
“The wolf will live with the lamb… they will neither harm nor destroy… for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:6–9)
This is a picture of a restored world—like Eden renewed:
● No injustice
● No violence
● No sickness
● No chaos
Key Insight:
The resurrection of Jesus is not just proof of life after death—it is the beginning of that restored world breaking into our current one.
When Jesus speaks after His resurrection, He uses similar imagery:
Key Scripture:
“These signs will accompany those who believe… they will drive out demons… speak in new tongues… place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mark 16:17–18)
Jesus is describing a reality where:
● Evil is pushed back
● Healing happens
● Restoration begins
Key Quote:
“A fresh, wise, healing, restorative order had come to birth.” – N.T. Wright
Coleton’s main idea here:
The resurrection didn’t just promise a future heaven—it launched a new reality now. Those who follow Jesus begin to experience glimpses of that future restoration in their present lives.
He points to examples:
● The early church sharing resources so no one was in need
● Social barriers breaking down (rich/poor, male/female, slave/free)
● People being healed, freed, and transformed
Even today, lives are changed—addictions broken, identities restored, relationships healed.
Main takeaway:
The resurrection means the future kingdom of God is already breaking into the present—and believers can experience it now.
3. How We Should Respond: Expect and Pursue Restoration
If the resurrection inaugurated a new reality, then our lives should reflect that.
A. Pray with Expectation
Jesus taught us to pray for God’s kingdom to come “on earth as it is in heaven.” That means we should:
● Pray for healing
● Pray for restoration
● Pray expecting God to move
We are not working against God’s will—we are stepping into what He already started through the resurrection.
B. Share the Gospel with Expectation
Key Scripture:
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel…” (Mark 16:15)
Coleton highlights something striking:
The disciples were told to share the resurrection even when they themselves struggled to believe it at first.
This reminds us:
● Our job is not to convince—just to share
● Some will reject it
● But those who believe can experience transformation
Main takeaway:
The message of Jesus carries power—when people believe it, their lives can truly change.
4. Don’t Just Believe in Jesus—Follow Him
This is one of Coleton’s most important points.
Many people believe in Jesus—but don’t experience transformation. Why?
Because belief without obedience does not lead to change.
He describes three paths:
1. The Way of Sin → Deformation
Sin slowly destroys life:
● The prodigal son loses everything
● Judas and others experience devastation
2. The Way of Jesus → Transformation
Those who follow Jesus:
● Matthew leaves everything and is changed
● The blind man obeys and is healed
● Lepers follow instructions and are cleansed
3. The Middle Ground → No Transformation
Some believe—but don’t follow:
● Like the rich young ruler
● Morally good, but unchanged
Key Insight:
You can believe in Jesus—and still miss the life He offers if you refuse to follow Him.
Coleton challenges:
● Following your own way in relationships, money, forgiveness, or lifestyle will limit transformation
● Jesus’ power is experienced when His words are acted on
Key Quote:
“The horizon of possibility completely opened… all because they said yes to following Jesus.” – Jon Tyson
Main takeaway:
Transformation happens when belief turns into obedience.
5. Final Call: Step Into What the Resurrection Offers
Coleton closes with two invitations:
1. Consider the Evidence and Believe
● Jesus is alive
● He can be known personally
● He can change your life
2. Follow Him Fully
● Not just belief—but surrender
● Not just salvation—but transformation
● Not just future hope—but present experience
Big Idea:
The resurrection didn’t just secure your eternity—it opened the door to a transformed life right now.
Discipleship Group Questions
1. What evidence for the resurrection stood out most to you, and why does it matter for your faith?
2. Where in your life have you seen “glimpses” of God’s restored world breaking in? Where do you want to see more?
3. What is one area where you believe in Jesus—but struggle to fully follow Him?
4. How does understanding the resurrection as a present reality (not just a future hope) change how you live daily?
5. Who in your life needs to hear the gospel, and how can you begin sharing it with expectation this week?
Culture of Gospel
Share this with someone in your life who doesn’t know
Because Jesus rose from the dead, hope isn’t just wishful thinking—it’s a reality breaking into our world right now, offering healing, purpose, and new life to anyone who’s willing to step into it.

He is Good | The Death of Jesus | Mark 15:16-47 | Coleton Segars

The Death of Jesus

Coleton begins by grounding this moment in something deeply human: watching someone die changes you. He shares the memory of watching his grandfather pass away—the sights, the sounds, the emotions—and how it stayed with him. That kind of moment doesn’t fade; it marks you.

That’s exactly what happens to the Roman centurion in this passage. He watches Jesus die, and it changes everything. For the first time in the Gospel account, a human being—an unlikely one at that—declares:

“Surely this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39)

Up to this point, only God Himself has called Jesus His Son. Now a hardened Roman soldier sees it—and worships.

Coleton’s main idea: we are meant to be marked by the death of Jesus in the same way.
And to help us see that, he draws out three realities revealed in Jesus’ death.

1. God is Demonstrating His Love for Us

What We See in the Text

Coleton points to verses 16–32, where Jesus is:

• Mocked
• Beaten
• Spit on
• Lied about
• Crucified
• Insulted even while dying

And who is doing this?

• Religious leaders (hypocrites)
• Soldiers (abusers)
• Criminals (rebels)
• Bystanders (mockers)
• His own executioners

These are the people Jesus is dying for.

“Christ died for the ungodly… While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6–8)

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

Coleton’s Main Point

This is not just Jesus being loving—this is God demonstrating His love.

God is showing, in the clearest possible way, what He feels about sinners—not after they clean themselves up, but while they are still broken, rebellious, and undeserving.

Application

• You do not have to earn God’s love.
• His love is not based on your behavior—it cannot be, or the cross makes no sense.
• He already loves you at your worst.

Coleton presses into a common lie:
We often believe God doesn’t really love us.

He traces this lie through Scripture:

• Genesis – The serpent convinces Adam and Eve that God is holding out on them.
• Numbers – Israel believes God is trying to harm them, not bless them.
• The Rich Young Ruler – He walks away from Jesus, not trusting His love.

In every case, distrusting God’s love leads to missing life.

Key Insight

The cross is meant to be a permanent marker in your life:

God loves you this much.

So when God leads, commands, or corrects—it is always coming from love, not control or cruelty.

2. God is Being Incredibly Merciful to Us

What We See in the Text (vv. 33–37)

• Darkness covers the land
• Jesus cries out:
  “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
• Jesus breathes His last

These are not random მოვლენ—they are loaded with meaning.

Coleton Connects This to the Bigger Story

1. Exile from God’s Presence

• In Genesis, sin leads to exile.
• Here, Jesus experiences that exile:
  “Why have you forsaken me?”

2. Judgment Through Darkness

• In Exodus, darkness was a plague of judgment.
• Now darkness falls again—this time as Jesus bears judgment.

3. The Bronze Serpent (Numbers 21:6–9)

• People sinned → were bitten → dying
• God said: Look at the symbol of judgment lifted up, and live

Jesus connects this to Himself:

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake… so the Son of Man must be lifted up…” (John 3:14–18)

Coleton’s Main Point

Jesus is taking the full judgment and punishment for sin.

Not part of it. Not most of it.
All of it.

Application

Most Christians say:

“Jesus died for my sins.”

But Coleton challenges: we don’t live like we believe that.

We still think:

• “God is punishing me for that mistake.”
• “This bad thing happened because I sinned.”
• “I’m not sure God will forgive me this time.”

But Coleton makes it clear:

God already punished sin—fully—in Jesus.

There is nothing left for you to pay.

Quotes to Drive This Home

“He lives for this… When you come to Christ for mercy… you are going with the flow of His deepest wishes.” — Dane Ortlund

“I am a sinner… but my Savior has died for all my sins… His blood is sufficient.” — (Martin Luther, paraphrased)

Key Insight

Jesus is not reluctant to forgive you.

He is eager.
He went to the cross for this exact purpose.

Coming to Him for forgiveness isn’t bothering Him—it’s receiving what He paid for.

3. God is Inviting Us Back Into His Presence

What We See in the Text (vv. 37–38)

“The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”

What This Means

That curtain represented separation:

• In Genesis, humanity is shut out of Eden
• In the Temple, God’s presence is restricted behind a veil
• Only the high priest could enter—once a year

But now?

God tears the curtain Himself.

“This was God’s way of saying… the way is now open to approach Me.” — Timothy Keller

Coleton’s Main Point

Through Jesus’ death, God is inviting us back into His presence.

The barrier is gone.
The separation is over.
The relationship is restored.

Why This Matters

Coleton explains: what we’re really looking for in life is God Himself.

He uses Blaise Pascal’s insight:

“All men seek happiness… but the infinite abyss can only be filled by God Himself.”

We chase:

• Success
• Relationships
• Comfort
• Pleasure

But none of it satisfies—because we were made for God’s presence.

Key Insight

The torn curtain is God saying:

“Everything you’ve been searching for is found in Me.”

Conclusion: What Will You Do With This?

Coleton brings it home with three diagnostic questions:

• Do you struggle to believe God truly loves you?
• Do you doubt that He could fully forgive you?
• Are you still trying to find life apart from Him?

The cross answers all three:

• You are deeply loved
• You are fully forgiven
• You are invited in

Now the question is: Will you receive it?

Discipleship Group Questions

1. Why do you think it’s so hard for people (including yourself) to truly believe that God loves them?
2. In what ways do you still act like you have to “pay” for your sin instead of trusting that Jesus already did?
3. Which of the three truths (God’s love, God’s mercy, God’s invitation) do you struggle to live in the most—and why?
4. How does the image of the curtain being torn change the way you think about approaching God?
5. What would it practically look like this week to “live marked” by the death of Jesus?

Culture of Gospel

Share this with someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus

At the cross, Jesus willingly took the punishment we deserve and offered us the love we’ve been searching for our whole lives—proving that God isn’t against us, but closer than we ever imagined.

 

He is Good | The Visible Gospel | Mark 15:1-15 | Coleton Segars

The Visible Gospel

Text: Mark 15:1–15

1. The Great Exchange: Jesus Takes the Place of the Guilty

Coleton begins by grounding the message in a simple but powerful idea: the gospel is not abstract—it’s visible in this moment.

Through the story of Jesus and Barabbas, we see something unforgettable:
the innocent is condemned so the guilty can go free.

Coleton illustrates this with a personal story (Sandra and Sam at Memphis Pizza), showing how this truth isn’t just theological—it’s deeply personal. At the core of his faith is this belief:

“I believe that Jesus was condemned so that guilty sinners like me could be set free.”

He then walks us through the scene:

• Jesus is falsely accused of being an insurrectionist.
• Barabbas is actually guilty of that exact crime.
• Yet Jesus takes Barabbas’ place.

Even more striking:

• Barabbas’ name means “son of the father.”
• Jesus is the true Son of God the Father.

So what we see is this:

The true Son of the Father takes the place of a guilty “son of the father.”

This is not just history—it’s a picture of what Jesus wants to do for us.

Scripture

• Mark 15:1–15

Key Idea

The innocent was condemned so that the guilty could go free.

2. For Those Who Know They Are Guilty and Struggle with Sin

Coleton turns to those who feel stuck—people who are painfully aware of their sin and can’t seem to break free from it.

He describes the internal cycle:

• You keep falling into the same sin.
• You feel guilt and frustration.
• You begin to wonder: “Will God really forgive me again?”

He points us to Barabbas.

Barabbas deserved:

• punishment
• condemnation
• judgment

But he received none of it—because of Jesus.

And that’s the truth for us:

Because of Jesus, we will never be treated as our sins deserve.

Coleton addresses a subtle but common lie:
We believe God forgives… until we sin again.

Then we start to feel like:

• “This time He’s done with me.”
• “His grace has limits.”

But Coleton reminds us:

“Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.”

Jesus was treated as our sin deserves—so we never have to be.

Quote

“He will always side with you against your sin, not against you because of your sin.” — Dane Ortlund

Key Idea

Jesus will never turn against you because of your sin—He always moves toward you with mercy.

3. For Those Living in the Wreckage of Their Sin

Next, Coleton speaks to those whose lives bear the consequences of their choices.

This is deeper than guilt—it’s damage:

• broken relationships
• lost opportunities
• shattered trust
• emotional and spiritual fallout

He describes the honest realization:

“I did this. My sin caused this.”

Barabbas knew that reality too. His life was wrecked by his own decisions—and it landed him in prison.

But then something unexpected happens:

Jesus brings life where only death was ahead.

Coleton shares a powerful insight from a friend who had experienced this personally:

“People may still see Barabbas as a criminal… but he is still walking in a new life and identity because of what Jesus did.”

This is crucial:

• Jesus doesn’t always erase consequences.
• But He does bring new life in the middle of them.

Coleton connects this to the story of the Prodigal Son:

• The son wrecks his life.
• He returns expecting rejection.
• Instead, the father restores him fully.

God’s heart is not to leave you in the mess—He meets you in it and brings life.

Key Idea

Jesus doesn’t abandon you to your past—He brings life even in the places you’ve ruined.

4. For Those Questioning Jesus and Christianity

Coleton then turns outward—to skeptics and seekers.

He makes this clear:

The story of Barabbas is not just about forgiveness—it’s about transformation.

Jesus doesn’t just:

• remove guilt
  He also:
• change lives

Coleton shares a historical challenge from Hugh Price Hughes to atheist Charles Bradlaugh:

Bring even one life changed for the better by atheism, and I’ll debate you.
Hughes would bring 100 lives transformed by Jesus.

Bradlaugh declined.

The point is simple:

The gospel doesn’t just make claims—it changes people.

Coleton then shares the story of actor Pietro Sarubbi (who played Barabbas in The Passion of the Christ).

During filming, Sarubbi locked eyes with the actor portraying Jesus—and something unexpected happened:

“When looking at me, his eyes had no hate… only mercy and love.”

That moment led to his conversion.

Coleton uses this to show:

An encounter with Jesus changes everything.

Scripture

• John 1:12 — “To all who did receive him… he gave the right to become children of God.”
• John 5 — “They have crossed over from death to life.”

Key Idea

Jesus offers both forgiveness and a completely new life—and all we must do is receive it.

5. The Invitation: Receive What Jesus Has Done

Coleton closes by returning to Barabbas.

Barabbas did nothing to earn his freedom.

He didn’t:

• clean up his life
• prove himself
• repay Jesus

He simply walked out of the prison.

All he had to do was receive it.

And Coleton makes it personal:

• To the struggling: Confess and trust His mercy.
• To the broken: Bring Him your wreckage.
• To the skeptic: Open the door and receive Him.

Jesus stands ready—not to condemn—but to free, restore, and transform.

Discipleship Group Questions

1. Where do you most feel the tension of ongoing sin in your life, and how does this passage challenge your view of God’s patience and grace toward you?
2. In what ways are you currently experiencing the “wreckage” of past decisions? What would it look like to invite Jesus into those specific areas?
3. Why do you think it’s hard for people to believe that God won’t treat them as their sins deserve?
4. How does the story of Barabbas reshape your understanding of what Jesus actually accomplished on the cross?
5. Who in your life is questioning or skeptical about Jesus? How could this message help you have a meaningful conversation with them?

Culture of Gospel

Share this with someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus

Jesus doesn’t ask you to fix yourself before coming to Him—He steps into your place, takes your guilt, and offers you a completely new life you could never earn.

 

He is Good | Dangers of Sin | Mark 14:66-72 | Coleton Segars

The Dangers of Sin

Mark 14:53–54; 66–72

Culture of Gospel

Share this with someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus

Every person is chasing something they believe will give them life—peace, approval, success, love—but many of the paths we take slowly lead us somewhere we never intended to go. Jesus offers a different way: a life where our deepest thirst is actually satisfied instead of slowly destroying us.

Introduction: The Danger We Often Don’t Notice

In this passage, we see one of the most heartbreaking moments in the life of Peter. Just hours earlier, Peter had passionately promised Jesus he would never deny Him—even if it meant death.

Mark 14:30–31

“Today—before the rooster crows twice—you will disown me three times.”
But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”

Peter truly believed those words. He loved Jesus and meant what he said. Yet only a short time later, he denies even knowing Him.

Coleton explains that this story reveals two serious dangers about sin that every follower of Jesus must understand. These dangers are not just about Peter’s failure—they reveal how sin works in all of our lives.

1. Sin Is Deceptive

The first thing we see in this passage is that sin rarely announces itself loudly. Instead, it sneaks in quietly and gradually.

Peter does not wake up that morning planning to deny Jesus. In fact, he has the exact opposite intention. He is trying to stay close to Jesus. Mark even tells us he followed Him into the courtyard of the high priest.

Mark 14:54

“Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.”

Peter wants to stay nearby in case there is a moment when he can help Jesus. But in the process, something subtle begins to happen.

The First Denial

A servant girl recognizes him.

Mark 14:67–68

“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about.”

Notice what happens here. Peter doesn’t panic or collapse emotionally. It barely registers with him that he has just done the very thing he promised he would never do.

Sin often works exactly like this—it slips under the radar.

The Second Denial

When the accusation comes again, Peter denies it again. Still, he does not seem to recognize what is happening. In his mind, he may be rationalizing it: I’m not denying Jesus to the authorities. I’m just saying I don’t know what this girl is talking about.

But compromise has already begun.

The Third Denial

The third denial is stronger and more aggressive.

Mark 14:71–72

“He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know this man you’re talking about.’ Immediately the rooster crowed… Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken… and he broke down and wept.”

In that moment, Peter wakes up to what he has done.

He likely thinks: How did I get here? How did I become the person who did this?

Coleton explains that this is exactly how sin works. It rarely pulls people into massive, dramatic failure immediately. Instead, it leads people there through small compromises that seem harmless.

C.S. Lewis famously described this strategy:

“The safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
—C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Sin doesn’t start with catastrophic decisions. It begins with small steps:

• Not an affair, but hiding a texting conversation.
• Not addiction, but scrolling endlessly for comfort.
• Not hating your spouse, but constantly focusing on their flaws.
• Not deep bitterness, but refusing to forgive a small offense.

These small compromises slowly move our hearts away from God.

Peter later warns the church about this very danger:

1 Peter 5:8

“Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Peter writes those words as someone who has experienced exactly how deception works.

2. Sin Cannot Give Us What We Actually Desire

The second danger is that sin promises fulfillment but never delivers it.

Peter is trying to protect his ability to stay near Jesus. His lies are meant to help him remain close and ready to act if the moment comes.

But sin does not work that way.

Instead of helping Peter accomplish his goal, sin leads him somewhere far worse—publicly denying the person he loves most.

Coleton illustrates this with a powerful story about Olympic runner and World War II veteran Louis Zamperini, who survived a plane crash and drifted in the Pacific Ocean for 47 days.

He was surrounded by water, desperately thirsty. But he could not drink the saltwater.

Drinking it would only make things worse—causing dehydration, sickness, and eventually death.

Steve Hoppe describes this reality:

“Louie was dying of thirst, yet surrounded by water. The saltwater looked refreshing. It looked like the very thing that would satisfy him, but if he drank the saltwater it would leave him thirstier than before… Sin works like that. It looks refreshing. It looks just like what you need. But the more you press in, the more it hurts you.”
—Steve Hoppe, Sipping Saltwater

Sin always works this way. It looks like the solution to our problems:

• Lying looks like it will bring peace
• Overspending looks like it will bring happiness
• Social media approval looks like it will bring worth
• Holding a grudge looks like justice

But instead of bringing life, it produces something worse.

Scripture consistently tells us this truth:

Sin promises fulfillment—but pays us in death.

Coleton shares a tragic example of a girl whose mother constantly shamed her about her weight in order to “help” her succeed in acting and pageants. The pressure worked in one sense—she became extremely thin.

But it nearly killed her.

She dropped from 103 pounds to 61 pounds and had to spend years recovering from the damage.

What looked like success actually became destruction.

Sin often appears to produce results—but those results ultimately destroy us.

How Should We Respond?

Recognizing these dangers should change how we live.

1. Believe That Sin’s Dangers Are Real

God is not withholding joy from us when He warns us about sin. He is protecting us.

His commands are not cruelty—they are kindness.

They keep us away from roads that lead to destruction.

2. Be Watchful and Resist the Enemy

Peter eventually echoes Jesus’ warning:

1 Peter 5:8–9

“Be sober-minded and watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion… Resist him, standing firm in your faith.”

Practical ways to do this include:

Pray for God to Search Your Heart

Psalm 139:23–24

“Search me, God, and know my heart… See if there is any offensive way in me.”

Prayer invites God to reveal areas where sin is quietly gaining ground.

Respond Quickly to Conviction

The Holy Spirit convicts us not to shame us but to rescue us.

Conviction is a gift—like pain in the body warning us that something is wrong.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer captured this idea well:

“Nothing can be more cruel than the leniency which abandons others to their sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than the severe reprimand which calls another back from the path of sin.”

Don’t Isolate Yourself

Peter was alone when he failed. Spiritual isolation makes people vulnerable.

Trusted Christian community helps us see things we might miss.

Give Sin No Ground

The apostle Paul warns believers not to give the devil a “foothold.”

The Greek word refers to giving territory or land.

Just as Israel was commanded not to leave enemy nations in the land, believers must not allow sin even small spaces in their lives.

Small compromises are the beginning of the most dangerous roads.

The Hope of the Gospel: Jesus Can Change a Life

Peter’s story does not end in failure.

Jesus later forgives and restores him.

And the next time Peter stands before the same kind of religious authorities, everything is different.

Acts 4:8–12

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…
‘It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead… Salvation is found in no one else.’”

The man who once denied being with Jesus is now recognized for being with Him.

Acts 4:13

“They took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

Jesus transformed Peter into the person he always wanted to be.

And that same transformation is available to anyone who turns to Christ.

Peter himself says it clearly:

“Salvation is found in no one else.”

Jesus is the only one who can rescue us from sin’s deception and finally satisfy the thirst of our souls.

Discipleship Group Questions

1. Why do you think Peter did not initially realize he was denying Jesus? What does this teach us about how sin works in our own lives?
2. What are some “small compromises” that can slowly lead people away from God?
3. The sermon compares sin to drinking saltwater. What are some examples where something promised fulfillment but actually made life worse?
4. Peter later warns believers to be watchful because the devil seeks to devour people. What practical habits help us stay spiritually alert?
5. Peter’s life was radically changed after Jesus restored him. How does his story encourage you about the possibility of transformation in your own life?