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The Unedited Genealogy of Jesus | Matthew 1:1-16 | Coleton Segars

The Unedited Genealogy of Jesus

“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah…” — Matthew 1:1

We are accustomed to telling our stories selectively. We polish the edges, omit the failures, and highlight the moments that make us appear respectable. Scripture itself records that genealogies were often written this way—compressed, edited, and curated. Yet when Matthew opens his Gospel, he does something startling. He edits, yes—but not the way we would expect. He leaves the shame in.

The family line of Jesus Christ is not a showcase of uninterrupted virtue. It is a record of sinners, scandals, and severe moral collapse. Judah and Tamar. Rahab the prostitute. Ruth the outsider. David and “the wife of Uriah.” Kings who shed innocent blood and led God’s people into darkness. Matthew does not blur these names into obscurity; he underlines them. He insists that we see the Messiah standing at the end of a long, broken line.

This is not carelessness—it is purposeful. God is telling us something essential about the heart of redemption.

If Jesus were ashamed of broken people, He would have edited them out of His own family tree. But He did not. The people we would hide are the very people God highlights. The people we would disqualify are the people God deliberately includes. From the beginning, the incarnation declares that Jesus did not come from sanitized humanity, but from real humanity—and therefore He has come for it.

Here is the first truth we must face: anyone can belong to His family. Not because sin does not matter, but because grace matters more. The genealogy preaches before Jesus ever speaks. It announces that doubt, failure, addiction, and disgrace do not place you beyond reach—they place you precisely within the kind of reach Christ came to extend. The bloodline of Jesus says to the least and the lost, “There is room.”

But Matthew presses us further. This family tree also reveals that God redeems what we assume is ruined. David’s greatest failure is not erased; it is transformed. From a union marked by adultery and death comes Solomon—and through Solomon, the promises of God move forward. Redemption does not deny the damage of sin, but it refuses to let sin have the final word.

God takes what we are most ashamed of and makes it the very place where His life breaks through. What we call disqualifying, He calls redeemable. What we bury, He resurrects.

Do not ask whether Jesus can handle your past. Look at His genealogy. Do not wonder if your worst mistake is too far gone. Look at the cross, where the Son of God was hung on a tree, covered in the full weight of human shame, so that shame would no longer own us.

The question is not whether He can redeem—it is whether you will hand Him what needs redeeming. Bring it into the light. Invite Him into the place you avoid. He is not embarrassed by your story. He entered history precisely to transform it.

Let Him.

Good New of Great Joy | Luke 2:8-11 | Coleton Segars

Good News of Great Joy

Culture of Gospel

Share this with someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus
 Christmas announces that God didn’t step into the world to shame us or control us, but to rescue us from what’s destroying us, heal what’s broken inside us, and give us the life we’ve been longing for. If that kind of hope exists, it’s worth taking a serious look at Jesus.

Sermon Summary

Introduction: The Eucatastrophe of Christmas

Coleton begins with the angelic announcement in Luke 2:8–11, where shepherds—ordinary, overlooked people—are met by the glory of God in the middle of the night.

“There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby… An angel of the Lord appeared to them… ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.’” (Luke 2:8–11)

Coleton introduces the idea of eucatastrophe, a term coined by J.R.R. Tolkien, meaning “an unexpected breaking in of goodness that changes everything.” A catastrophe is an unexpected disaster that alters life for the worse; a eucatastrophe is the opposite—unexpected goodness that permanently alters reality for the better.

That, Coleton says, is exactly what the angels are announcing. Christmas is not sentimental nostalgia—it is the declaration that something has happened that changes everything. And the angel insists this news is meant to produce great joy.

Coleton then asks the central question of the message:
 Why should the birth of Jesus cause great joy?

He gives three reasons.

1. Jesus Came to Rescue Us from Sin

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.” (Luke 2:11)

The first word the angel uses to describe Jesus is Savior. Coleton emphasizes that this is not accidental—this is the core announcement of Christmas: a rescuer has come to you.

Matthew clarifies what kind of rescue Jesus brings:

“He will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

Coleton explains that many in Israel expected a rescuer from Roman oppression, but God identified a deeper enemy. From God’s perspective, sin is a greater threat than any external circumstance. Sin is not just rule-breaking; it is a destructive power that poisons life from the inside out.

Scripture says:

“The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)

Sin always pays out in destruction—relationally, emotionally, spiritually.

Coleton illustrates this with a personal story from a home renovation: exposed live wires in the wall when his son Teddy was three years old. He wanted Teddy to obey him—but not simply because “I said so.” The deeper reason was that touching the wire would cause serious harm or even death.

In the same way, God’s commands are not arbitrary. Sin is dangerous. God forbids it because it kills us.

The problem is not just that sin is harmful—it’s that we are drawn to it. Coleton traces this reality through Scripture:

• Adam and Eve fixated on the one forbidden tree.
  
  
• Genesis 6:5 describes humanity’s hearts as bent toward evil.
  
  
• Romans 7 shows Paul describing sin like an addiction he wants to resist but can’t.
  
  

“Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (Romans 7:24)

Coleton names experiences we all recognize:

• Wanting to stop being angry but feeling trapped
  
  
• Wanting to forgive but being unable
  
  
• Wanting to stop fearing, lusting, worrying, or discontentment
  
  

He quotes John Piper:

“Sin is the suicidal abandonment of joy.”

This is why Christmas is good news: Jesus has come to rescue us from the addictive desire to do what destroys us.

Paul answers his own question:

“Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25)

Through the cross, sin’s power is broken.

“Our old self was crucified with him… that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” (Romans 6:6)

Coleton quotes Jackie Hill Perry:

“When Jesus died and rose, He gave you power to defeat sin… You are not a slave. You are free. You just have to believe that and walk in it.”
 — Jackie Hill Perry, Gay Girl, Good God

Jesus doesn’t just forgive sin—He breaks its authority and reshapes our desires.

2. Jesus Came to Give Us an Abundant Kind of Life

The angel also calls Jesus the Messiah—His job reminder, not just His title.

Coleton walks through Isaiah 61, the Messiah’s job description:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me… to proclaim good news to the poor… bind up the brokenhearted… proclaim freedom for the captives… bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes…” (Isaiah 61:1–3)

This describes a life transformed—not patched up, but renewed.

Jesus explicitly claims this mission in Luke 4, declaring that Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in Him.

Coleton shows how Jesus lived this out:

• The paralytic who believed nothing could change
  
  
• Jairus’ daughter, declared hopeless and dead
  
  
• The woman with the issue of blood
  
  
• Lepers, demoniacs, the blind, the broken
  
  

Every encounter demonstrates the same truth: when people come to Jesus, His job description becomes their lived experience.

Coleton makes a bold claim:
 If this kind of transformation has never begun in someone’s life, they may know about Jesus without truly knowing Him.

He shares his own story—how his life changed dramatically after coming to faith. His friends loved the change but resisted the source. They wanted transformation without surrender.

He quotes A.W. Tozer:

“We treat Jesus the way Saul treated David. We want him to fight our battles for us… but we don’t want him to be our king.”

Coleton explains that who you believe your Messiah is will shape your life.

• If the world is your messiah, the world will form you—and it is broken.
  
  
• If Jesus is your Messiah, He will form you into His image—and He is full of life.
  
  

Jesus doesn’t offer occasional help; He offers fullness of life under His leadership.

3. Jesus Came to Remove Our Shame

The angel calls Jesus Lord—God Himself with us.

Coleton defines shame:

“Shame is not guilt. Guilt is ‘I did something wrong.’ Shame is ‘there is something wrong with me.’”
 — Jon Tyson & Jeff Bethke, Fighting Shadows

In Genesis, Moses repeatedly says Adam and Eve were “naked and unashamed.” Their identity, value, and security came from God’s presence.

Coleton quotes Donald Miller:

“All of the glory, all of the security, all of the value that came from God was gone… and for the first time ever, they were pining for something to tell them they were okay.”

That’s when they hid.

God’s question—“Who told you that you were naked?” (Genesis 3:11)—reveals the source: shame.

Coleton shows how humanity has been trying to silence shame ever since:

• Relationships
  
  
• Success
  
  
• Approval
  
  
• Humor
  
  
• Anger
  
  
• Perfectionism
  
  
• Underperforming
  
  
• Substances
  
  
• Money, appearance, status
  
  

All of it is an attempt to quiet the whisper: something is wrong with me.

Christmas declares something different: Immanuel—God with us.
 Through Jesus, we are welcomed back into God’s presence.

“Come to me… and I will give you rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28)

Coleton ends by pointing to the cross:

• Jesus chose not to save Himself to save us
  
  
• He was broken so we could be made whole
  
  
• He was crucified naked and shamed to carry the shame of the garden—and remove ours
  
  

Jesus is the ultimate eucatastrophe—the unexpected goodness that changes everything.

Questions for Reflection

1. Which of the three reasons—rescue from sin, abundant life, or removal of shame—do you most need to experience right now, and why?
   
   
2. In what ways do you see sin acting more like an addiction than just bad behavior in your own life?
   
   
3. Where are you tempted to want the benefits of Jesus without surrendering to Him as King?
   
   
4. What are some ways you’ve tried to silence shame apart from God’s presence? How have those strategies fallen short?
   
   
5. What would it look like practically this week to trust Jesus to fulfill His “job description” in your life?

He Is Good | The Widow's Offering | Mark 12:41-44 | Coleton Segars

THE WIDOW’S OFFERING

Mark 12:41–44

Culture of Gospel

Share this with someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus:
Jesus sees value where the world sees insignificance. The God who notices a poor widow’s two pennies is the same God who sees you and knows you.

SERMON SUMMARY

Jesus sits in the temple, watching people give their offerings. In a surprising move, He draws His disciples’ attention—not to the wealthy, powerful, or impressive, but to a poor widow who drops in two tiny coins. Her gift, seemingly worthless, becomes one of the most famous moments of worship in all of Scripture.

Coleton teaches that Jesus uses this woman as an object lesson to form His disciples—and us. The heart of the message is this: Jesus highlights this woman because He wants His followers to live with her kind of obedience, sacrifice, and trust.

Coleton explores three reasons Jesus focuses our attention on this woman’s life.

1. Be Obedient With the Seemingly Insignificant Stuff

Mark 12:41–42

“Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.”

Jesus watches people give. Many contribute large sums, but a poor widow drops in two lepta—the smallest coins in circulation.

Mark Strauss writes:

“Two lepta could almost purchase a handful of flour… less than one penny today.”

In other words, her gift can’t pay for anything. If we watched her give, most of us would be tempted to say, “Ma’am, please keep it. It won’t help.”

But she gives anyway. She does not give based on outcomes or impact—she gives out of obedience.

This is the first lesson:
Obedience is not about impact. It’s about faithfulness.

Christians often fall into disobedience because we think:

• What difference will forgiving them make?
  
  
• What difference will praying make?
  
  
• What difference will reading my Bible make?
  
  
• What difference does kindness make?
  
  

But Coleton reminds us: Nearly everything God calls His people to do looks insignificant in the moment—but God loves to use small acts to unleash enormous outcomes.

Examples from Scripture:

• Moses: “Raise your staff over the sea.”
  
  
• Joshua: “March around Jericho.”
  
  
• Samuel: “Anoint the youngest son, the shepherd boy.”
  And the results? A sea split, walls fell, and David became Israel’s greatest king.
  
  

Examples from Jesus’ ministry:

• “Fill the jars with water.”
  
  
• “Bring me what bread you have.”
  
  
• “Go show yourself to the priest.”
  
  

Again and again, God works through small acts of obedience.

Coleton then shares the story of David Wilkerson, the small-town pastor who obeyed a tiny, strange prompting: stop watching TV at night and pray instead. That insignificant act eventually led him to New York City, to ministry among gang members, to founding Teen Challenge, and to beginning Times Square Church—now influencing 140 nations.

What began with giving up TV changed lives worldwide.

Coleton also shares from his own life:

• A simple prayer to surrender his life to Jesus
  
  
• Reading Scripture daily
  
  
• Going to counseling
  
  
• Turning the other cheek
  
  
• Fasting and praying
  
  

None of these felt dramatic in the moment. All of them changed his life.

Point:
God delights to work through the small things. Jesus points to this woman because she obeys God even in the places that seem insignificant.

2. Be Obedient Even When It Costs You

Mark 12:44

“They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

The widow’s obedience isn’t just small—it’s costly. She gives all she has. Literally, she “lays down her whole life.”

James R. Edwards paraphrases the Greek:

“She lay down her whole life.”

This is the second reason Jesus points to her:
Jesus wants followers who obey even when obedience costs them something.

Coleton notes that Western Christians often prefer convenient obedience. But true discipleship requires sacrifice. C.S. Lewis wrote:

“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give… The only safe rule is to give more than we can spare… If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small.”

This doesn’t apply only to money. It applies to:

• Forgiveness — which costs us comfort and pride
  
  
• Confession — which costs our image
  
  
• Serving the poor — which costs our time and resources
  
  
• Living within our means — which costs our wants
  
  
• Marriage and parenting — which cost our preferences and independence
  
  

Coleton gives honest, vulnerable examples:

• In marriage, he could “win” arguments by being bigger and louder—but that would crush intimacy.
  
  
• As a father, he could refuse to sacrifice his time—but Teddy would pay the price.
  
  
• In friendships, refusing to risk or be selfless leads to loneliness.
  
  

We want life on our terms but still want the fruits of obedience. But we cannot have both.

Then Coleton shares a story about Teddy getting stuck in a playground structure—terrified and refusing help because doing it “Dad’s way” felt worse than being stuck. That posture, he says, is all of us:
We would rather stay stuck than trust Jesus when His way feels costly.

Jesus points to the woman because her costly obedience leads to life. Jesus doesn’t ask for sacrifice to harm us but to heal and free us.

3. Trust Him Even When It Doesn’t Make Sense

This widow doesn’t just obey—she trusts God with her entire life. Jesus celebrates her because she trusts God beyond her understanding.

Coleton illustrates this with one of the most powerful stories of trust ever recorded: Charles Blondin, the tightrope walker who crossed Niagara Falls.

After crossing the falls multiple daring ways, Blondin decided to cross with another person on his back. His manager, Harry Colcord, was the one who climbed onto him. Before stepping onto the rope, Blondin told him:

“Don’t look down. Look up… You must be one with me. If I sway, sway with me. Do not attempt to do any balancing yourself. If you do, we will both go to our death.”

Harry later said:

“I learned more religion on that wire than in all my life.”

Solomon says the same thing in Proverbs 3:5–6:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.”

Jesus calls us to trust Him because He wants to lead us into places we could never reach on our own.

Coleton names the hard questions:

• Why trust Jesus when it doesn’t make sense to surrender?
  
  
• Why trust when prayer feels pointless?
  
  
• Why forgive enemies?
  
  
• Why give sacrificially?
  
  
• Why wait on God?
  
  
• Why believe He can use suffering for good?
  
  

Jesus is not dismissing the tension—He’s saying:
“Stop trying to balance yourself. Let Me carry you.”

The widow shows us what that kind of trust looks like.

FINAL CHALLENGE

Jesus points to this woman because:

1. She obeys God in the insignificant things.
   
   
2. She obeys God even when it costs her.
   
   
3. She trusts God even when it makes no sense.
   
   

And Jesus wants the same kind of life in us—not to burden us, but to lead us into freedom, joy, and the abundant life He promises.

He has already proven His love by giving everything for us.
Therefore, we can entrust everything to Him.

Discipleship Group Questions

1. Where in your life does obedience feel insignificant or pointless? What might God be asking you to do anyway?
   
   
2. What is one area where following Jesus currently costs you? How might obedience in that area lead to greater freedom?
   
   
3. Which of Jesus’ commands do you struggle to trust because it doesn’t make sense to you?
   
   
4. How have you seen God work through something small or seemingly insignificant in your life?
   
   
5. What would it look like this week to “sway with God” instead of trying to balance your own life?

God's Voice In Images | Isaiah 8:18 | Larry Ray

In his sermon, Larry explores the central idea that God communicates His most important truths not primarily through words, but through pictures, signs, and especially people. Beginning with the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words,” Larry explains that some realities are simply too deep to express with language alone. This is why God filled Scripture with vivid symbols—trees, rainbows, the Passover, the Red Sea, the tabernacle, baptism, bread, and wine—because these images convey what words often cannot.

 

He then shows that God’s favorite picture—His clearest sign—has always been people themselves. The lives of biblical figures communicated divine messages more powerfully than their speeches. Prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Hosea lived out symbolic actions that illustrated God’s heart: Isaiah naming his sons “Destruction is coming” and “The remnant will return”; Jeremiah burying and retrieving a ruined loincloth; Hosea marrying an unfaithful woman to embody God’s relentless love; Ezekiel being commanded not to mourn his wife to display the depth of coming national sorrow.

 

These people’s lives were the message.

Larry emphasizes that Jesus is the ultimate sign and picture of God. Jesus’ life, not only His teachings, reveals what God is like—His compassion, His priorities, His character. Jesus embodied the fullness of the Old Testament and made the invisible God visible, fulfilling humanity’s original calling to be God’s image-bearers. Our first vocation was not gardening, Larry notes, but image-bearing—making visible the invisible qualities of God in everyday life.

 

Christians today carry that same calling. People around us cannot see God’s patience, forgiveness, mercy, or truthfulness—but they can see those qualities expressed through the lives of God’s people. December, Larry points out, is a uniquely open-hearted season. In conversations, stores, gatherings, and family events, believers have an opportunity not to push opinions on politics or morality but to embody God’s goodness, becoming His “light and salt” in the world.

 

Larry applies this especially to parenting and grandparenting. The most powerful influence we have on the next generation isn’t nagging, lecturing, or pushing principles—it’s showing a superior, joyful life, one that demonstrates God’s character rather than merely describing it. Children and grandchildren learn less from what we say and more from what we consistently live. To illustrate this, Larry recalls his father’s transformation and the unforgettable picture of obedience he displayed when God called him to reconcile with someone he deeply disliked.

 

That image shaped Larry more than any speech his father ever gave.

Ultimately, Larry calls believers to embrace their identity as God’s image-bearers, empowered by grace to make the invisible God visible wherever they go.

---

Discussion Questions for Putting the Message into Practice

1. Visibility of God:
   What invisible qualities of God (grace, truth, patience, forgiveness, courage, generosity) do you feel called to “make visible” this month?

2. December Opportunities:
   Where is God sending you this month—stores, workplaces, gatherings—where you could intentionally embody His character?

3. Influence Through Example:
   Think of someone in your life who watched your actions more than your words (a child, coworker, friend). What picture are you currently painting for them?

4. Obedience Promptings:
   When was the last time God nudged you to do something uncomfortable? What might obedience look like now, even if you don’t want to do it?

5. Life as a Symbol:
   If someone could only see your life—not hear your beliefs—what would they conclude about what God is like?

He Is Good | Jesus is Better | Mark 12:35-40 | Coleton Segars

JESUS IS BETTER

Mark 12:35–40

Culture of Gospel

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

If corruption, hypocrisy, and abuse inside the church have ever made you question Jesus, let this sink in: Jesus condemned those things even more fiercely than you do. What you hate about religion is often the very reason you might love Jesus — because He exposes that darkness and stands against it.

Sermon Summary

In this message, Coleton walks deeply into one of Jesus’ sharpest public confrontations with religious leaders. Drawing from Mark 12:35–40, he exposes three behaviors of the teachers of the law that still plague the church today — behaviors that cause people to lose trust, walk away, or become disgusted with religion altogether. But instead of letting these failings push us from Jesus, Coleton argues they should push us closer to Him, because Jesus Himself condemns these very abuses more clearly, more passionately, and more fiercely than we ever could.

What follows is Coleton’s three-point framework, each grounded in Scripture, history, and modern examples, ultimately leading us toward a posture of repentance, discernment, and deeper intimacy with Jesus.

1. Hypocritical Lifestyle — Appearing Righteous (vv. 38, 40)

Scripture:

“Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect… and for a show make lengthy prayers.” — Mark 12:38, 40

Historical Note (Mark Strauss):

“Teachers of the law wore long white linen robes… These garments imitated the robes worn by priests and so ‘signified’ religious devotion.”

Jesus’ critique:
  They projected holiness to gain admiration, honor, and spiritual credibility, but inside they were spiritually dead.

Coleton highlights Jesus’ words from Matthew where He calls them “whitewashed tombs” — clean and impressive on the outside, but hiding decay beneath. He describes Bryn Gilet’s painting of the Pharisee and tax collector, showing a beautifully posed, self-righteous Pharisee whose “worship” is nothing more than polished emptiness.

Modern Example:

Coleton shares his disillusionment with a once-admired pastor whose hidden lifestyle contradicted everything he preached. The fallout devastated a church, wounded countless people, and embodied this exact hypocrisy Jesus condemned.

Main Idea:

Hypocrisy in spiritual leaders makes people question everything — the church, the message, even Jesus Himself.
  But Jesus is not soft on hypocrisy. He hates it.
  He exposes it, condemns it, and warns His followers to stay alert to it.

2. Using God to Get Better Treatment & Better Stuff (vv. 38–39)

Scripture:

“They like to… be greeted with respect… and have the most important seats… and the places of honor at banquets.” — Mark 12:38–39

Commentary (David Guzik):

“They taught that teachers were to be respected almost as much as God… The greatest act someone could do was to give money to a teacher… Of course, it was the teachers themselves who taught this.”

What’s happening here?

These leaders used Scripture as a tool to extract honor, wealth, and privilege for themselves. They weren’t shepherds — they were spiritual opportunists.

Modern Examples:

Coleton highlights real stories we all see far too often:

• Pastors who demand honorific treatment.
   
• Churches where members must publicly declare their tithes.
   
• Preachers who use the pulpit to justify private jets or lavish lifestyles.
   
• Leaders who shame people into financial giving.
   

He tells of a man who built a multi-million-dollar home for a pastor and said simply, “This is why I don’t trust the church.”
  He didn’t know Scripture — he just knew something felt wrong.

Main Idea:

When spiritual authority becomes a platform for personal gain, the world sees right through it — and they should.
  Jesus Himself calls out this manipulation long before modern critics ever did.

3. Using Power to Prey on the Weak (v. 40)

Scripture:

“They devour widows’ houses…” — Mark 12:40

Commentary (David L. McKenna):

“Scribes served as consultants in estate planning for widows… They convinced lonely and susceptible women that their money should be given to the scribe… There is no better way to assure the confidence of widows than by a show of spirituality….”

What Jesus is condemning:

Religious leaders using spiritual authority to exploit and financially drain vulnerable people — particularly widows.

Modern Examples (summarized):

Coleton cites a heartbreaking list:

• Southern Baptist Convention’s report documenting 700 abusers in a decade and systemic cover-ups.
   
• Prosperity preachers promising healing in exchange for “seed money.”
   
• Stories of people dying from illness after being taught to give instead of seek treatment.
   
• “Miracle cash cards,” “resurrection seeds,” “holy water,” and other manipulative schemes.

Coleton notes how reading these cases was “brutal.”
  Comments under these articles echoed the same cry:

“This is why I want nothing to do with God or the church.”

Main Idea:

Spiritual abuse is real. It is evil. And Jesus does not tolerate it.
  Jesus says those who do this will receive greater condemnation — a warning stronger than any critique we could offer.

A Turning Point: Why These Failings Should Draw You Closer to Jesus

Coleton makes a stunning and deeply pastoral turn:

If church corruption disgusts you, you have more in common with Jesus than you think.
  Jesus agrees with you.
  Jesus condemns what you condemn — and even more strongly.

He uses the opening verses of the text (Mark 12:35–37) to show that Jesus distance Himself from corrupt religious leaders by proving they don’t truly understand Scripture nor the identity of the Messiah.

“David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?” — Mark 12:37

Jesus is saying:
  “They don’t know Me. So don’t confuse them with Me.”

Their failures do not represent Him.

What This Means for Us — Applications

1. Fight the Temptation to Look Good on the Outside

We all want to hide flaws, curate an image, and appear righteous.
  But image-based faith is like Banksy’s graffiti-cleaner artwork — adding paint on top of paint, looking busy but doing nothing real.

2. Watch Out — Guard Your Heart

Church hurt is real, but Jesus warns:
  “Watch out.”
  Don’t let the sins of others lead you to cynicism, bitterness, or disobedience.
  Be discerning — not hardened.

3. Know Jesus So Well You Can Spot Counterfeits

Coleton shares an Anne Graham Lotz story:
  A Scotland Yard expert studied real money so intensely that counterfeits were obvious.

Likewise:
 Know the real Jesus deeply, so when someone distorts Him, you can see it — and not walk away from Him because of someone else’s misrepresentation.

Closing Gospel Picture — Jesus Is Not Like Them

Coleton ends with three contrasts showing why Jesus is worth drawing near to:

• Jesus didn’t just appear righteous; He was righteous — and took our place on a cross.
   
• Jesus didn’t use His position to gain luxury; He gave up heaven’s throne to rescue us.
   
• Jesus didn’t abuse power; He submitted to humiliation so that we could experience God’s blessing.
   

Jesus is nothing like the corrupt leaders who misuse His name.
  So draw near to Him.

He Is Good | The Greatest Command | Mark 12:28-34| Coleton Segars

The Greatest Command — Mark 12:28–34

Culture of Gospel

One of the things we want as a church is to grow in our ability to share about Jesus with those who don’t know Jesus. Use this summary statement to share with someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus:

“Jesus isn’t inviting you into cold religion or a list of demands—He’s inviting you into the kind of love that reshapes your life from the inside out. The God of the universe doesn’t want your performance; He wants your heart.

Sermon Summary

Introduction

Coleton opens by naming the central question every follower of Jesus must answer: What matters most to God?
 Not: What matters most to Christians, churches, or religious culture… but what matters most to God Himself.

Jesus answers that question directly in Mark 12. And Coleton’s goal is simple:

1. To show what God values most.
   
   
2. To show why it matters.
   
   
3. To show what this means for our church and for each person individually.
   
   

1. What Matters Most to God?

Mark 12:29–30

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”

The most important thing to God is that you love Him.
 Not that you serve Him. Not that you behave correctly. Not that you meet moral standards. Not that you avoid sin. Love is the highest command.

What Most People Think Matters Most to God

Coleton names the most common assumptions Christians carry:

• “God mostly wants me to get saved.”
  
  
• “God mostly wants me to stop sinning.”
  
  
• “God mostly wants me to pray more, read more, go to church more.”
  
  
• “God mostly wants me to serve the poor, give money, volunteer, or be more missional.”
  
  

All important. But not most important.

Jesus’ Rebuke of Ephesus—Proof That Good Works ≠ Love

Revelation 2:2–5

“I know your deeds… Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first… Repent.”

This church was doctrinally strong. Morally clean. Active in service. Enduring hardship. Doing everything “right.”
 And Jesus still says: You do not love Me anymore.
 And failing to love Him is so serious that Jesus warns:

“If you do not repent, I will remove your lampstand.”

God cares more about your affection for Him than the actions you perform in His name.

Key Point

Doing things for God is not the same as loving God.

2. Why This Matters: Love for God Shapes Who You Become

One of the main reasons this is the greatest command is because love is what transforms you.

God wants His people to be:

• Compassionate
  
  
• Generous
  
  
• Sacrificial
  
  
• Humble
  
  
• Pure
  
  
• Joyful
  
  
• Loving toward neighbor and enemy
  
  

But these things don’t come from effort or trying harder. They grow naturally out of love.

Illustration: Coleton and Rainey’s Early Relationship

When they were dating long-distance:

• He drove 8 hours overnight just to spend a few hours with her.
  
  
• He wrote letters daily.
  
  
• He spent money he didn’t have to buy her meals and gifts.
  
  
• He thought about her constantly.
  
  

Why?
 Not because she handed him a list of rules.
 Because he loved her.

Love makes sacrifice a joy.
 Love makes devotion natural.
 Love makes obedience a delight.

This Is What God Wants With You

When you love Him…

• Spending time with Him becomes natural.
  
  
• Sacrificing for Him becomes joy.
  
  
• Worship becomes expression, not obligation.
  
  
• Caring for the poor flows from His heart in yours.
  
  
• Sin loses its power because your love is captured elsewhere.
  
  

Spurgeon Quote (used by Coleton)

“Jesus loved you when you lived carelessly… when you were hiding your every sin… even when you were at hell’s gate… Think of His great love towards you… and your love will grow.”

Why Other Commands Aren’t “Most Important”

Because all of them grow out of the soil of love for God.
 Love is the tree—everything else is fruit.

3. What This Means for Our Church

Coleton gives a strong pastoral warning:
 Churches die not because culture changes or neighborhoods shift.
 Churches die when they stop loving Jesus.

Revelation 2 Revisited

Jesus says to Ephesus:

“If you do not repent, I will remove your lampstand.”

Meaning: I will remove your church.
 Not Satan. Not culture.
 Jesus Himself.

Why?
 Because a church that doesn’t love Jesus can’t represent Jesus.

A church that doesn’t love Him…

• Won’t love people the way He does.
  
  
• Won’t reflect His character.
  
  
• Won’t look like Him.
  
  
• Won’t be shaped into His image.
  
  
• Won’t show the world what God is like.
  
  

Coleton’s Burden

He described visiting dying churches—churches with excuses:

• “The neighborhood changed.”
  
  
• “Young people don’t want church.”
  
  
• “Culture is too secular.”
  
  

No.
 The lampstand was removed.

He says: “I do not want us to be a church He removes.”
 We cannot simply be a church that does many things for God.
 We must be a church that loves God.

4. How Do We Grow in Love for God?

Jesus tells Ephesus:

“Do the things you did at first.” — Revelation 2:5

Coleton’s Example: Relearning Love

Three years into their relationship, he and Rainey “fell out of love.”
 Counselor’s advice:

“Go do the things you did at first.”

Jesus says the same:
 Return to:

• The places you prayed.
  
  
• The songs that once moved you.
  
  
• The Scriptures that once awakened your heart.
  
  
• The memories of grace that once fueled your love.
  
  
• The habits you had when your heart was alive.
  
  

What Were You Doing When You First Loved Him?

Coleton gave examples:

• Marveling that He forgave you.
  
  
• Tears during worship songs.
  
  
• Hours in Scripture.
  
  
• Memorizing verses.
  
  
• Sharing the gospel with everyone.
  
  
• Private prayer retreats.
  
  
• Celebrating your spiritual birthday.
  
  
• Teaching or serving with joy.
  
  
• Returning to the place where you first believed.
  
  

Biblical Foundation

1 John 4:19

“We love because He first loved us.”

Love grows by remembering His love toward you.

Conclusion

The most important thing to God is not that you serve Him, work for Him, or perform for Him.
 He wants your heart. He wants your love.

Ask Him:

• “Remind me of who I was when You saved me.”
  
  
• “Help me love You again the way I once did.”
  
  
• “Grow my love for You this year more than last year.”
  
  

And as love grows, life follows.

Discipleship Group Questions

1. When you think about what God wants most from you, what is your instinctive answer—and how does Jesus’ teaching challenge that?
   
   
2. Can you identify a time in your life when your love for God felt stronger or more alive? What were you doing in that season?
   
   
3. Which “good works” in your life are you tempted to mistake for love? How can you reorder them so they flow from affection instead of obligation?
   
   
4. What first steps can you take this week to “do the things you did at first”?
   
   
5. How would our church change if our primary goal became loving Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength?

He Is Good | The Resurrection Life | Mark 12:18-27 | Coleton Segars

Sermon Summary: “The Resurrection Life” (Mark 12:18–27)

Preached by Coleton Segars

Introduction: You Can Learn a Lot from an Argument

Coleton began with a story about a moment of conflict in his front yard—when someone yelled at his wife, and he immediately stepped in to defend her. His point was simple but powerful: you can learn a lot from an argument.

That’s true in life, and it’s true in Scripture. The argument between Jesus and the Sadducees in Mark 12 shows us a lot—not just about them, but about how our own beliefs about the resurrection shape the way we live today.

In this passage, the Sadducees—religious leaders who didn’t believe in resurrection—try to trap Jesus with a clever theological puzzle. They present an absurd story of a woman who marries seven brothers (following the Levirate law in Deuteronomy). Each brother dies without leaving children, and then they ask:

“At the resurrection, whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” (Mark 12:23)

They aren’t sincerely curious. They’re mocking the idea of resurrection.

But Jesus’ response reveals two deep truths about life after death—and why those truths matter more than we realize.

1. How We View the Resurrection Shapes How We Live

“Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?” — Mark 12:24

Coleton explained that the Sadducees’ disbelief in the resurrection shaped everything about their lives. Verse 18 says they were known as “those who say there is no resurrection.”

Because they believed this life was all there is, they lived for this life only: chasing after wealth, status, and power. They looked down on others. They thought Jesus was foolish for believing in something beyond the grave.

Jesus told them they were badly mistaken—but their mistake wasn’t just intellectual. It was moral and spiritual. Their disbelief formed the foundation of how they lived.

Coleton showed that this is always true:
 What we believe about life after death determines how we live this life.

He illustrated it with examples from history and world religions:

Vikings believed dying bravely in battle led to glory in Valhalla—so they lived without fear.

Certain Islamic traditions taught that dying in holy war brought heavenly rewards.

Hinduism believe reincarnation depends on one’s karma—so kindness and duty matter deeply in this life.

Even for us, our view of the afterlife quietly directs how we spend our time, our money, and our energy.

Coleton then described four common ways people misunderstand or misbelieve the resurrection today:

“Never think about it” – Like the Sadducees, we live as if this world is all there is. “You only live once,” so grab what you can.

“Think about it too much” – Some see this world as disposable and stop caring about God’s purposes to renew it.

“It won’t be better” – Fear of the unknown or of death keeps us from living courageously like Paul, who said, “To live is Christ and to die is gain.”

“Everyone goes to the same afterlife” – This leads to apathy about the gospel and the Great Commission.

Coleton’s conclusion was sobering:

“Our current life is shaped by how we view the life to come.”

So how should we view it?

2. Life After Death Is True for Everyone—Whether They Believe It or Not

“‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!” — Mark 12:26–27

The Sadducees didn’t believe in resurrection, angels, or spirits. They only accepted the first five books of Moses as authoritative. So Jesus met them on their own ground—quoting from Exodus, one of Moses’ books—to prove that even there, resurrection is implied.

When God said, “I am the God of Abraham…”, He used the present tense. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had been dead for centuries—but God said He is their God, not was. That means they are alive to Him even now.

Jesus’ argument is brilliant—and undeniable:
 Resurrection life is real, and it’s true for everyone, believer or not.

Coleton tied this to John 5:24–29, where Jesus says that one day all the dead will rise—some to eternal life, others to judgment. There is no “sleep of nothingness.” Everyone will live again.

That truth should stir two responses in us:

Urgency to share Jesus.

 “If you truly believe everyone will rise—either to life or judgment—you’ll want to tell people about Jesus.”

 Coleton asked, “Do you have people in your life who don’t know Him?” If we believe in a real resurrection, we can’t stay silent.

A call to make Jesus compelling.

 “Is the way you follow Jesus making Him beautiful or unappealing?”

 He warned that if Christians live joyless, judgmental, bitter lives, our witness turns people away from Jesus. Paul, though suffering, radiated peace and joy that made others want to know his Savior.

 The question Coleton pressed was:
 “Is your life a reason people would want to know Jesus—or a reason they’d want to reject Him?”

3. Life After Death Will Be Better Than We Can Imagine

“When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.” — Mark 12:25

The Sadducees mocked the idea of resurrection by pointing out how complicated relationships would become. But Jesus’ response essentially says: “You’re assuming heaven works like earth—but it doesn’t.”

Coleton explained that Jesus isn’t attacking marriage. He’s saying that in the resurrection, all the brokenness and limitations of this life—our relationships, bodies, and systems—will be transformed.

He quoted several theologians to help make the point:

Mark Strauss:

 “Jesus does not claim that the intimacy of earthly relationships will be discontinued in eternity. He only says there will be no need for the institution of marriage… all relationships will exist on an even higher plane.”

D.A. Carson:

 “The greatness of the changes at the resurrection will make the wife of seven brothers capable of loving them all… like a mother loves all her children.”

Jesus’ main point:
 You think you’ll face problems in the life to come—but you won’t. It will be better than you can possibly imagine.

Coleton addressed the common fears people have about eternity:

The fear of forever (apeirophobia)

The fear of boredom (thinking heaven will be dull or repetitive)

The fear of losing relationships

But Jesus says we’ll be “like the angels”—not in form, but in fulfillment. Angels are fully satisfied in God. They sing not because they must, but because they want to. They’ve found the source of joy, meaning, and love—and they never tire of it.

Coleton quoted David Guzik:

“If it seems that life in the resurrection doesn’t include some pleasures of life on earth, it’s only because the satisfactions of heaven far surpass what we know here. No one will be disappointed with the arrangements.”

And Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:9:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things God has prepared for those who love Him.”

CS Lewis put it beautifully:

“This life is only the cover and title page. Now begins Chapter One of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read, which goes on forever, in which every chapter is better than the one before.”

Coleton then told the story of the Christians during the plagues in ancient Rome. While the rich fled the cities, Christians stayed to care for the sick—even though many died doing so.

Why? Because they believed in the resurrection. They knew death wasn’t the end—it was the doorway.

“This belief freed them,” Coleton said. “They didn’t pursue death, but they weren’t enslaved by fear of it either.”

If we lived with that same confidence in the resurrection—believing the next life is better than we can imagine—we would live with joy, courage, and resilience in this one.

Conclusion: The Resurrection That Changes Everything

Everything Coleton said comes back to this:
 How you view life after death will shape how you live right now.

If you believe there is no resurrection, you’ll live for this life only.

If you believe there is one—but forget it’s better—you’ll live in fear.

But if you believe in the resurrection Jesus promised—real, physical, glorious, and eternal—you’ll live with purpose, peace, and courage.

Jesus has accomplished this for us in His death and resurrection.

“If Christ has not been raised, our faith is useless… But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.” — 1 Corinthians 15:17–23

Because He lives, so will we.

Discussion Questions

How does your current view of life after death shape the way you live right now—your priorities, goals, and fears?

Which of the four modern “views” of the afterlife that Coleton described do you relate to most? Why?

How could believing that the resurrection is true for everyone change how you share your faith and how you live before others?

When you think about eternity, what fears or doubts arise—and how do Jesus’ words in Mark 12:24–27 address them?

If you truly believed that the life to come is “better than you can imagine,” what would change in the way you approach suffering, relationships, and daily life?

He Is Good | God & Caesar | Mark 12:13-17 | Coleton Segars

Sermon Summary: God & Caesar

Mark 12:13–17

“Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words…”

Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.’ And they were amazed at him.”

– Mark 12:13–17

Introduction: When Our Allegiance Shifts

Coleton began by connecting the ancient tension of Jesus’ words to a very modern moment.

He recalled the tragic event of September 10, 2025, when Charlie Kirk, a political activist, was shot and killed. What followed, Coleton said, was not just mourning, but division. Some celebrated, others grieved, and soon churches became battlefields of political expectation. In some congregations, people even walked out of worship services because their pastor didn’t mention Charlie Kirk by name.

Coleton made this sobering observation:

“They didn’t leave because Jesus wasn’t worshiped.

They didn’t leave because the gospel wasn’t preached.

They left because another man’s name wasn’t mentioned.”

And in doing so, Coleton said, “They rendered unto Caesar that which was God’s.”

They gave their allegiance — something meant for God alone — to another.

We live in a time where the church wrestles to understand and live obediently to what Jesus says in this passage.

Coleton gave background, teaching from Jesus, and challenges we face in obeying Jesus.

1. The Background: A Trap Disguised as a Question

Coleton explained that this was no innocent question. The Pharisees and Herodians were political enemies — the Pharisees hated Roman control; the Herodians supported it. But they joined forces to trap Jesus.

They asked, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?”

If Jesus said yes, He’d lose favor with His Jewish followers.

If He said no, He’d be accused of rebellion against Rome.

Either way, they thought they had Him.

The Tax and Its Offense

Coleton quoted historian Mark Strauss to give context:

“The coin bore the image of Tiberius Caesar with the words ‘Son of the divine Augustus.’ This was idolatry — a direct violation of the first and second commandments.”

For Jews, paying this tax wasn’t just about money — it was about worship.

Would they honor God or bow to Caesar?

Coleton summarized it like this:

“The Pharisees and Herodians are forcing Jesus to pick a side. But Jesus refuses their categories — and instead shows that His kingdom transcends them.”

2. What We Learn from Jesus’ Answer

When Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s,” He wasn’t being clever — He was being clear. Coleton said Jesus’ words teach two essential truths.

A. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” — Obedience without Idolatry

Jesus acknowledges the legitimacy of human governments.

Coleton quoted Mark Strauss again:

“Jesus affirmed that Caesar has a legitimate claim, and so does God. Civil obedience does not contradict the obedience due to God — so long as God’s rights are safeguarded.”

That means we can pay taxes, show respect, obey laws, and honor leaders — as long as it doesn’t lead us into disobedience to God.

Coleton drew from Romans 13:1–7, where Paul commands believers to be subject to governing authorities because “there is no authority except that which God has established.”

He reminded listeners:

“You’re not obeying Caesar because he deserves it — you’re obeying God because He commands it.”

The Egyptian Church Story

Coleton shared a story from Pete Greig about the persecuted Coptic Christians in Egypt. When their churches were closed for nine years, they didn’t riot. Instead, they turned every home into a church. When the ruler later walked the streets, he heard worship from every house and lifted the ban.

“They gave Caesar the building, but they gave God their hearts,” Coleton said.

“They rendered to Caesar what was Caesar’s — but they never stopped giving to God what was God’s.”

That, he said, is true obedience: submission that never compromises worship.

B. “Give to God what is God’s” — Full Allegiance and Love

“God gets the first and the most,” Coleton said.

“Our heart, our mind, our strength, our time, our devotion — He gets it all first.”

He reminded the church that even when rulers oppose God’s ways, our loyalty remains fixed on Him. The early Christians refused to call Caesar “Lord,” even if it cost them their lives.

Coleton quoted Bruce Shelley:

“Had the Christians been willing to burn that pinch of incense and say ‘Caesar is Lord,’ they could have worshiped Jesus freely. But they would not compromise.”

“They would not render to Caesar what belonged to God,” Coleton emphasized.

“Even if it cost them everything.”

3. The Challenge: When We Mix These Up

Coleton said this is the heart of the problem today — we mix up what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God.

A. When We Don’t Like Caesar

When we dislike our leaders, we justify disobedience.

We dishonor, refuse to pray, or speak with contempt — forgetting that Scripture commands us to pray for all in authority.

“Paul told Timothy to pray and give thanks for kings — and he wrote that while Nero was emperor, lighting Christians on fire for dinner parties,” Coleton said.

1 Timothy 2:1–4:

“Pray for kings and all those in authority… This pleases God our Savior.”

We don’t do this because leaders deserve it.

“We do it because God deserves our obedience,” Coleton said.

“We render to Caesar out of allegiance to God.”

B. When We Like Caesar Too Much

But Coleton warned that a greater danger is when we like Caesar too much.

When we admire a political figure or government so deeply that we defend them even when they oppose God’s Word.

“We give Caesar what belongs to God,” he said.

“And it looks spiritual because we think we’re defending good values — but our loyalty has shifted.”

Coleton gave examples:

• Evangelism: When we share more about politics than about Jesus.
  
  
• Loyalty: When we defend a politician more fiercely than we defend Christ.
  
  
• Apologetics: When we can argue politics better than we can explain the gospel.
  
  
• Time and Attention: When we consume more news than Scripture.
  
  
• Discipleship: When parents disciple kids politically, not spiritually.
  
  
• Identity: When we look more American than Christian.
  
  
• Faith and Hope: When we trust a government more than God’s kingdom.
  
  

“When that happens,” Coleton said,

“We stop being Christians who live in America and become Americans who call themselves Christian.”

4. Implications: You Won’t Fit Neatly Anywhere

Coleton said if you truly follow Jesus, you won’t fit perfectly in any political party.

“Jesus didn’t fit neatly with the conservatives or the liberals,” he said.

“So neither will His followers.”

He pointed out that the Pharisees (religious conservatives) and the Herodians (political progressives) both opposed Jesus — a sign that His kingdom doesn’t conform to human categories.

He quoted Rich Villodas:

“If you are completely comfortable in any earthly political party, it’s because you don’t know who you are as a citizen in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

And Tim Keller, who wrote:

“Neither party embodies the full breadth of biblical ethics. Conservatives emphasize personal morality, liberals emphasize social justice — but the Bible calls for both. So Christians should not idolize one party or demonize the other.”

Coleton summarized:

“Our ultimate allegiance isn’t to the right or the left — but to Jesus, and His kingdom alone.”

5. The Call: Give God What Is His

Coleton closed with a reflective invitation.

He asked listeners to pray and consider:

• Do you struggle to obey or respect leaders you dislike?
  
  
• Have you given more allegiance to political identity than to Jesus?
  
  
• Have you rendered unto Caesar what belongs to God — your hope, attention, loyalty, or love?
  
  

He encouraged repentance — to re-center allegiance on God alone.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus refused to side with either the Pharisees or Herodians? What does that reveal about His kingdom?
   
   
2. In what ways might modern Christians “render to Caesar what belongs to God”?
   
   
3. What does healthy submission to governing authorities look like for believers today (Romans 13:1–7; 1 Timothy 2:1–4)?
   
   
4. Where in your own life are you tempted to give more attention, hope, or loyalty to politics than to Jesus?
   
   
5. How can our church model a better way — giving God our full allegiance while honoring human authorities appropriately?

He Is Good | Jesus the Cornerstone | Mark 12:10-11 | Coleton Segars

Sermon Summary: “Jesus the Cornerstone” (Mark 12:10–11)

“‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’” — Mark 12:10–11

Introduction: A Title That Tells a Story

Coleton opened by recalling a childhood nickname—“The Master of Disaster”—a title that summed up his habit of breaking things and then turning to his brother’s belongings for replacements. He explained how nicknames often tell us something true about who a person is.

In this passage, Jesus gives Himself a title drawn from Psalm 118—the Cornerstone. This name, Coleton explained, reveals how Jesus wants to operate in our lives: as the foundation and guide upon which everything else depends.

Coleton invited the church to explore two key characteristics of a cornerstone—and how they reveal what Jesus wants to be for us.

1. The Cornerstone Was the First Stone Laid

A cornerstone was always the first and most important stone in ancient construction. It determined the direction, shape, and alignment of every other stone that followed. Builders would measure every subsequent piece against it.

“Whatever the cornerstone looked like, the other stones would look like.”

Coleton said that’s what Jesus wants to be for us: the one who shapes our lives, directs our paths, and forms our character.

He’s not trying to control us—He’s trying to lead and form us into His likeness.

Coleton then painted a vivid contrast between our human tendencies and Christ’s character:

We Are	Jesus Is
Impatient	Long-suffering
Selfish	Selfless
Proud	Humble
Discontent	Trusting
Fearful	Courageous
Worried	Peaceful
Busy & stressed	Unhurried
Afraid of rejection	Secure in the Father’s love
Lustful	Self-controlled
Unforgiving	Infinitely forgiving
Empty	Full and overflowing

“The virtues we’re searching for,” Coleton said, “are not found apart from Him—they are found in Him.”

Therefore, whatever or whoever is your cornerstone will shape your life into its image.

Reflection Questions Coleton Posed:

• What is shaping your anger, your spending, your relationships?
  
  
• Who decides how you treat your spouse, raise your kids, or forgive others?
  
  
• What dictates your habits—Jesus or your desires?
  
  

Coleton challenged listeners: If Jesus isn’t the one shaping your decisions, then something else is. That “something else” has become your cornerstone.

2. The Cornerstone Was the Strongest Stone

The cornerstone wasn’t just first—it was also the strongest. It had to bear the weight of the entire structure and withstand storms. If it crumbled, the whole building collapsed.

Coleton used this to illustrate why Jesus is the only foundation that won’t fail:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be shaken.” — Isaiah 28:16

Everything else in life—success, relationships, money, career, beauty, reputation—is fragile. If those things fall apart, so will we. But Jesus is the only foundation that can never be shaken.

Coleton shared personally about how, early in his life, his relationship with Rainey was his cornerstone. When things were good, he felt secure. When they weren’t, he was crushed. Later, as a pastor, his cornerstone often shifted to his church’s success or how well his sermon went. When those things faltered, his peace faltered too.

He said, “I can turn even my ministry into my cornerstone instead of Jesus.”

To reorient his heart, Coleton often stares at Rembrandt’s painting “Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee.”
 He sees himself among the disciples, frantically trying to steady the ship—the church—while Jesus calmly rests amid chaos.

Then he remembers Jesus’ question:

“Why are you so afraid?” (Mark 4:40)

Coleton said, “If He’s not worried, why should I be? If He’s not shaken, why should I be?”

That truth reshapes everything.

He invited listeners to apply that same faith to their own circumstances:

• If your job is shaking—Jesus still promises to provide.
  
  
• If the government is shaking—Jesus still reigns.
  
  
• If your children are struggling—Jesus loves them more than you do.
  
  
• If your health is declining—Jesus has already conquered death.
  
  

Coleton said, “Whatever shakes your life reveals your cornerstone.”
 But when Jesus is your cornerstone, even the fiercest storm can’t topple your soul.

3. How to Make Jesus Your Cornerstone

Coleton closed by teaching from Matthew 7:24–27, where Jesus says that the wise builder is the one who hears His words and puts them into practice.

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock… The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew… yet it did not fall.”

Simply calling Jesus “Lord” isn’t enough. Obedience is what builds a life on Him.

Coleton said, “There are people walking around calling Jesus their cornerstone while not doing what He says—and then wondering why their life is falling apart. It’s not the cornerstone’s fault.”

He illustrated this with his son Teddy’s LEGO set. Without following the instructions, the pieces might form something, but not what it was designed to be. Likewise, our lives can “look like something” without being what God designed.

To make Jesus your cornerstone:

1. Put His words into practice.
    Don’t just listen—live them.
   
   
2. Spend more time with Him.
    “You become like who you’re around.” The more time you spend with Jesus—in Scripture, prayer, and reflection—the more you’ll begin to resemble Him.
   
   
3. Make alignment adjustments.
    When the Spirit convicts you of areas where Jesus isn’t shaping you, repent. Realignment isn’t punishment—it’s protection.

He ended with a simple call: Make Jesus your cornerstone—because only He can carry the weight of your life.

Discussion Questions

1. What are some “cornerstones” that have shaped your decisions, emotions, or identity besides Jesus?
   
   
2. How does Jesus being the first and strongest stone reshape your understanding of what it means to follow Him daily?
   
   
3. When was the last time your life felt like it was “shaking”? What did that reveal about your foundation?
   
   
4. What’s one area of your life where you need to realign with Jesus’ words this week?
   
   
5. What habits or practices could help you spend more time with Jesus so that your life increasingly reflects His image?
   
   

Key Takeaway:

Your life will be shaped by whatever your cornerstone is. Only Jesus can bear that weight and make your life stand firm.