CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH MEMPHIS

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.

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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.

 

He is Good | A Better Gospel | Mark 12:1-12 | Coleton Segars

Sermon Summary: “The Patient Heart of God”

Mark 12:1–12

Introduction: The Gospel That Captivates, Not Terrifies

Coleton began with a story from his childhood — his first time hearing the gospel at a Vacation Bible School in Riverdale, Georgia. The preacher was loud, red-faced, and terrifying. Young Coleton walked down the aisle, not because he loved Jesus or wanted to follow Him, but because he was afraid of hell.

He reflected, “The preacher’s message was true — but it didn’t lead me to turn to Jesus because I was captivated by Him. Jesus wasn’t made beautiful or awesome to me; He was made out to be brutal, angry, mean, and threatening.”

Coleton shared that his goal was to communicate the same truth that preacher did — that rejecting Jesus brings death — but in a completely different way: showing the beauty, patience, and love of God who relentlessly pursues us.

From this parable, Jesus reveals two truths:

1. The patient heart of God.
   
   
2. What we invite into our lives when we reject the Son.
   
   

1. The Patient Heart of God

Mark 12:2–5 – “At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed… He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.”

Coleton explained that this parable paints the long history of Israel’s rejection of God’s prophets. Time and again, God sent messengers calling His people to repentance — and time and again, they refused to listen.

Yet, instead of destroying them, God patiently sent another messenger. And another. And another.

That’s the heart of God: He keeps coming after His people, giving chance after chance.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise… Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9

God’s patience isn’t weakness — it’s love in action. He longs for every person to experience life and repentance.

Coleton said, “This isn’t just about ancient Israel. This is how God pursues each of us. Even when we run, ignore, or push Him away — He keeps sending reminders, people, and moments to get our attention.”

Examples of God’s Patient Pursuit

C.S. Lewis described his conversion as a “chess game with God.” He was an atheist who wanted nothing to do with religion, but God kept making “moves” — awakening a longing in him for beauty and joy that the world couldn’t satisfy.

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” – C.S. Lewis

Lewis later wrote about the night he finally surrendered:

“I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England.” – C.S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy

Similarly, St. Augustine — once consumed by lust and pride — found himself restless and unsatisfied. One day, he heard a voice say, “Take up and read,” and his eyes fell on this verse:

“Not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery… Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 13:13–14

That moment changed him forever. “There was infused in my heart something like the light of full certainty and all the gloom of doubt vanished away.” – St. Augustine, Confessions

Coleton then shared his own story — how God patiently pursued him through emptiness, injury, and unlikely people:

• First, through the emptiness he felt in high school after trying everything to fill the void.
  
  
• Then, through pain, when he tore his knee and began thinking about God.
  
  
• Then, through a person, a man named Mark McClendon, who shared the gentle love of God.
  
  
• Finally, through conviction, one night when he felt God chasing him — even in his brokenness.
  
  

“He is always pursuing us with great patience,” Coleton said. “Because He doesn’t want any to perish.”

Paul wrote the same in Romans 1:19–20:

“What may be known about God is plain… since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen… so that people are without excuse.”

God’s pursuit is relentless. His heart is patient, and His goal is repentance and relationship.

2. Why God Sent the Son

Mark 12:6 – “He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’”

Coleton pointed out the beauty and heartbreak of this verse. The owner of the vineyard — representing God — has one last hope: his beloved son.

Instead of crushing the tenants, he sends his son in love, saying, “Surely they will respect my son.”

God sends Jesus not to condemn, but because He desperately hopes humanity will respond.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son… For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” – John 3:16–17

Even knowing the risk — that the world would reject and kill His Son — the Father sent Him anyway. That’s how deeply God values us.

“Despite our sin, our Creator thinks we are worth experiencing a hellish death for. In fact, it was for the joy of spending eternity with us that Jesus endured the cross.” – Greg Boyd, Present Perfect

Jesus was sent because He was humanity’s best and final chance to respond to God’s love.

The cross is not just proof of our sin — it’s proof of our worth.

3. What We Invite When We Reject the Son

Mark 12:7–9 – “But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him…’ So they took him and killed him… What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”

Coleton explained that rejecting the Son always leads to death and loss — not because God is cruel, but because there is no one else left to send.

God has exhausted every avenue. Jesus is the final messenger, the final offer of grace.

Rejecting Him means rejecting life itself.

Coleton warned that this truth applies both spiritually and practically:

• When we reject Jesus’ words about marriage, we invite destruction into our relationships.
  
  
• When we ignore His words about generosity, we lose joy and peace.
  
  
• When we refuse His words about forgiveness, bitterness eats away at our hearts.
  
  

Jesus’ words are life. To reject them is to invite death.

“To reject the Son is to reject the one person who can bring you to God. To reject the Son is to shut the door to the life He offers.”

Coleton admitted that as a boy, the preacher in Riverdale made it sound like God joyfully “flicked people into hell.” But Scripture paints a different picture:

“God our Savior… wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth… For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.” – 1 Timothy 2:4–6

C.S. Lewis captured the freedom God gives us:

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’” – C.S. Lewis

God’s desire is life and joy, but He will not force it. We choose life or death, acceptance or rejection.

Application: Responding to the Son

Coleton closed with a question: How is God patiently pursuing you — and who is He pursuing through you?

For the believer, this means joining God in His patient pursuit of others:

• Like J.R.R. Tolkien pursued C.S. Lewis through friendship.
  
  
• Like Mark McClendon spoke gently to Coleton.
  
  

For the Christian, it means asking, “What is my response to Jesus’ words?”

For the skeptic, it means asking, “Can I see the ways God has been patiently pursuing me?”

Even the Pharisees, who hated Jesus, could feel that the parable was directed at them (v.12). Coleton asked his listeners, “Do you feel Him speaking to you too?”

He concluded, “If you feel like this is God speaking to you, then this is Him still patiently pursuing you. Don’t reject the Son.”

Discussion Questions

1. How have you personally experienced God’s patience and pursuit in your life?
   
   
2. Why do you think God continues to pursue people who continually reject Him?
   
   
3. What does it mean that Jesus is both the best and the last messenger God sends?
   
   
4. In what ways might we “reject the Son” in daily life — not through unbelief, but by ignoring His words?
   
   
5. Who might God be patiently pursuing through your life right now, and how can you join Him in that pursuit?

He is Good | When Jesus Disagrees with You | Mark 11:27-33 | Coleton Segars

Coleton began with a piercing question:

“How much do you think Jesus agrees with the way you live your life?”

He invited listeners to imagine Jesus observing everything—how they spend time and money, how they treat people, what they watch, post, and prioritize. Would Jesus agree with most of it, or would He find much to challenge and correct?

Coleton quoted author Anne Lamott:

“You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.”

Then he adapted it:

“You can safely assume you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God agrees with everything you do.”

He reminded the congregation that Jesus does disagree with us—and that it’s not a mark of rejection but of love. Since He is infinite, holy, and perfect, and we are finite and sinful, it only makes sense that His view of our lives will often clash with ours.

“Jesus’ disagreement with sin in our lives led to the most loving act anyone could do for another person—to lay down His life for them.”

Coleton emphasized that in our culture, disagreement is often seen as unloving—but Scripture teaches the opposite. Jesus loves us enough to confront what destroys us.

The key question, then, becomes:

“What is your response when Jesus disagrees with you?”

From Mark 11:27–33, Coleton showed three wrong ways to respond when Jesus disagrees with us—and one right one.

1. Questioning Jesus’ Authority (vv. 27–28)

“By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

The religious leaders asked Jesus this because He had just cleansed the temple and publicly called them out as a “den of robbers.” They weren’t questioning because they were curious—they were questioning because He disagreed with them.

Coleton said:

“If Jesus had agreed, they wouldn’t have questioned. They would have used Him to prove their points.”

And we do the same. When a verse affirms our views or lifestyle, we post it, memorize it, and celebrate it. But when Scripture disagrees with us—when it calls out sin, pride, greed, gossip, or unforgiveness—we tend to ignore it, reinterpret it, or go silent.

“We question His authority by avoiding the verses that disagree with us.”

Coleton illustrated this with historical examples of people literally cutting parts out of the Bible:

• Thomas Jefferson’s Bible, which removed miracles and Jesus’ divinity.
  
  
• The “Slave Bible,” edited by slave owners to remove verses about freedom and equality.
  
  
• The Nazi Bible, which stripped out all Jewish references and messages of mercy.
  
  

“They didn’t argue that the verses were untrue—they just silenced them.”

Then he asked a haunting question:

“If a Bible were written based on your life, what would it include—and what would it exclude?”

He called this the “MPT”—My Personal Translation—the version of the Bible where “Jesus agrees with every decision I make.”

Reflection

We may not use scissors like Jefferson, but we do it subtly in our hearts—ignoring passages like:

• “Forgive as you’ve been forgiven.”
  
  
• “Love your enemies.”
  
  
• “Give sacrificially.”
  
  
• “Do not gossip.”
  
  
• “Live at peace with everyone.”
  
  

Coleton challenged listeners to ask:

“Where do you question Jesus by simply silencing verses that disagree with you?”

2. Seeking to Discredit Jesus (v. 28)

Coleton explained that the religious leaders’ question wasn’t sincere—it was a trap.

“They don’t actually want to know. They’re trying to find a reason not to listen.”

William Lane, in his commentary, observes:

“Whatever answer Jesus gives, the conclusion is the same: He must be arrested. If He attests that His authority is from God, the charge is blasphemy. If He claims secular authority, the charge is insurrection.”

Their goal wasn’t truth—it was to discredit Jesus so they wouldn’t have to change.

“They knew they couldn’t disprove Him, so they tried to discredit Him.”

Coleton drew a parallel to how we do the same today—finding reasons why Jesus’ words don’t apply to us:

• The Feels – “That doesn’t feel right.”
  
  
• Your Truth – “That might be true for you, but not for me.”
  
  
• The Snowflake Situation – “My situation is different.”
  
  
• The Cultural Argument – “That was for a different time.”
  
  
• Proof-texting – Quoting a verse out of context to justify sin.
  
  
• Minimizing – “It’s not a big deal; God will forgive me.”
  
  
• Justifying – “They made me do it. I deserve this.”
  
  
• Comparison – “At least I’m not as bad as that person.”
  
  
• Calling the Bible Outdated – “That doesn’t fit in the modern world.”
  
  

He quoted Tim Keller:

“Society makes judgments through what C.S. Lewis called ‘chronological snobbery,’ assuming that whatever has gone out of date is discredited.”

Coleton said:

“All of these are ways we say, ‘I don’t have to do that because…’”

And every time we do, we’re discrediting Jesus’ authority in our lives. We’re finding clever excuses to stay unchanged.

He asked pointedly:

“Where do you say to God’s Word, ‘That doesn’t apply to me because…’?”

3. Refusing to Admit You’re Wrong (vv. 29–33)

When Jesus asks about John’s baptism, the religious leaders discuss it among themselves and say:

“If we say ‘from heaven,’ He’ll ask why we didn’t believe him. If we say ‘of human origin,’ the people will turn on us.”

So they choose neither—they simply say, “We don’t know.”

Coleton summarized:

“They refused to admit they were wrong.”

Their hearts were hardened by pride and self-protection. They cared more about image and position than about truth.

“So they go with, ‘We’re not wrong. We just don’t know.’”

Coleton explained that we often react the same way:

• Some get angry, scaring others away from confronting them.
  
  
• Some get quiet and hurt, shutting down correction.
  
  
• Some deny or deflect, blaming others.
  
  
• Some avoid anyone who might challenge them—skipping counseling, ignoring Scripture, cutting off truth-tellers.
  
  

“If you never admit you’re wrong, you’ll never grow, never change, never heal.”

He pointed out that the story ends abruptly—no one changed, nothing improved—and that’s what happens to us when we refuse correction.

“Places where we’re desperate for change—healing, reconciliation—will stay the same if we refuse to be wrong.”

Whether it’s in marriage, parenting, finances, or character, refusing to be wrong means refusing to be transformed.

Conclusion: Jesus Disagrees Because He Loves You

Coleton closed with a tender image:

“Jesus disagrees with you the way a guardrail disagrees with a car about to go off a cliff.”

Guardrails aren’t there to restrict—they’re there to protect.

“He disagrees with you not to hurt you, but to help you.”

He compared it to fatherhood:

“When my son Teddy was little, I disagreed with his desire to crawl or stay in diapers. Not because I’m cruel—but because I love him and want him to grow.”

That’s how Jesus treats us. He disagrees with our sin because He wants us to mature and flourish.

The cross is the greatest example:

“The cross shows how much He disagrees with sin—someone had to die for it. But it also shows how much He loves us—He took the punishment Himself.”

His disagreement isn’t rejection—it’s redemption. He corrects us not to restrict our joy, but to lead us to real joy.

“There are things He wants to do in your life—things you’ve prayed for—but you and Jesus disagree on how to get there.”

So instead of questioning Him, discrediting Him, or refusing to be wrong—respond with humility.

“Let Him disagree with you. Let Him lead you from something lesser into something better.”

Discussion Questions

1. What areas of your life do you think Jesus would most disagree with, and why do you think those areas are hard to surrender?
   
   
2. Which of the three wrong responses—questioning, discrediting, or refusing to admit wrong—do you most identify with?
   
   
3. Can you think of a time when Jesus’ disagreement actually led to your growth or freedom?
   
   
4. Why is it difficult for us to believe that disagreement and love can coexist—and how does the cross change that perspective?
   
   
5. What practical step could you take this week to respond to Jesus’ correction with humility instead of defensiveness?
   
   

The Imago Dei | Genesis 1:26, Romans 12:6 | Rainey Segars

Introduction – When People Don’t Approve of You

Rainey began her message with a story from her college years — a painful and funny one about rejection. She told how she dated a grad student named Noah who was brilliant, popular, and part of an elite, intellectual friend group. When she went to dinner to meet his friends, she knew she was being evaluated — an “audition dinner.” When asked about Kant’s Critique of Judgment, all she could say was, “I think Kant is really good. Art also, very good. So to sum up, I am pro.” It didn’t go well. Shortly after, Noah broke up with her, saying she “wasn’t smart enough” and that she’d be more comfortable with someone “her speed.”

It was humiliating. She had been evaluated and found lacking.

Rainey then drew the connection: this kind of rejection happens to all of us. We don’t always fit in. Sometimes we’re not chosen, we’re overlooked, or we’re compared unfavorably to others — the sibling the parents brag about, the colleague the students prefer, the church that people leave for.

She said, “There’s no use pretending everyone will love you. That’s not true. The Gospel has to be good news even when people don’t like us.”

If our sense of worth depends on impressing others, we become weak, reactive, and easily crushed. To show how dangerous this is, Rainey turned to Scripture.

⸻

1. The Danger of Insecurity (Matthew 14:1–11)

She read the story of Herod and John the Baptist:

“Herod was greatly distressed, but because of his oath and his dinner guests, he ordered that John be beheaded…” (Matthew 14:9)

Rainey highlighted that Herod didn’t kill John out of hatred. He killed him out of insecurity. He wanted to look strong in front of his guests. He cared more about their approval than what was right.

She said, “If Herod hadn’t been so desperate for them to think he was strong, he’d have been free to ask, ‘What is right?’ Instead, he asked, ‘What do they want to see?’”

That’s what insecurity does. When we tie our worth to others’ opinions, we become unable to do what’s right. We can only do what others want to see. It’s a position of terrible weakness.

Then she brought it home: “If I link my worth to your approval, I can’t be a person who obeys God. I can only be a person who performs for you.”

That’s why we need good news for the insecure heart.

⸻

2. Imago Dei – You Are Made in the Image of God

Rainey’s first idea for finding freedom from insecurity is the biblical truth of the Imago Dei — that every person is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).

She described how all beauty and goodness in creation point to God:

“The heavens declare the glory of God; day after day they pour forth speech.” – Psalm 19:1–2

Mountains, oceans, sunsets — they all reflect something of His glory. But humans are unique because we don’t just reflect His glory — we resemble Him.

She said, “God used His own fingers to carve the lines of your face. He held your cheeks and said, ‘Yes, that’s just right.’”

We are designed to show the world something of what God is like — each of us in a slightly different way. To despise yourself or wish to be someone else is to insult the Artist who made you.

“The one who carved your bones is not wishing you were more like your sister.”

It’s beneath your dignity, Rainey said, to let your worth swing back and forth with every opinion. Your worth is not determined by the crowd — it’s anchored in the Creator.

Then she turned to the Third Commandment, often translated “Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.” She explained that the Hebrew verb nasa means “to carry.” So the command really says:

“Do not carry the name of the Lord your God in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)

In other words: “You carry My name. Represent Me well.”

If we treat people as though they don’t matter, we misrepresent the God who made them. When we devalue others, we carry His name badly — we show the world a false picture of Him.

So, what are we called to show the world?

Rainey told the story of Hagar in Genesis 16 — an abused, pregnant, runaway slave who meets God in the desert. God sees her, comforts her, and promises a future. In response, she names Him:

“You are El Roi — the God Who Sees Me.”

And Rainey said, “That’s who He still is. To people no one else sees, He is the God who sees.”

That’s our calling as image bearers: not to impress others, but to see others as He does. The highest calling is not to be admired — it’s to notice the forgotten, to look into someone’s eyes and say with our presence, ‘God has not forgotten you.’

When we do that — whether as a doctor, teacher, parent, or neighbor — we reveal the God who sees. That’s the stable foundation of our worth: not impressing people, but bearing His image.

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3. The Gospel According to You

Rainey’s second major idea was that God isn’t wishing you were more like anyone else — because He designed you to tell the story of His goodness in a unique way.

She illustrated this through the four Gospels:
    •    Matthew, the tax collector, wrote to show that Jesus fulfilled every prophecy — the precise, orderly Gospel for those who care about facts and fulfillment.
    •    Mark, reflecting Peter’s voice, wrote fast and action-packed — the soldier’s Gospel for people who value power and results.
    •    Luke, the doctor, wrote a polished, reasoned account — the intellectual’s Gospel, highlighting compassion, reason, and human dignity.
    •    John, the emotional “son of thunder,” wrote the love letter Gospel — passionate, personal, and poetic.

Each one tells the same story of Jesus, but from a different angle. None could replace the others. Together, they give us a fuller picture of who Jesus is.

Then Rainey made her point: “To celebrate Him fully, we need all four voices. And to celebrate Him even more fully, we need yours too.”

She said, “The Gospel according to Coleton is that God can save anyone, even the people no one expects. The Gospel according to Rainey is that He’s the reason nature is beautiful and ethics matter. And yours will sound different still — and that’s exactly the point.”

Each of us is meant to tell the world how Jesus has been good news to us.

“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” – Psalm 107:2

God doesn’t need more copies of the same person. He needs each of us to reveal a facet of His beauty that no one else can.

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4. Loaves and Fishes – You Are Enough for God to Use

Finally, Rainey turned to her last idea: You are not enough — but you are enough when given to Jesus.

She said, “Please don’t hear me saying, ‘Believe in yourself because you are enough.’ You aren’t. I’m not either.”

We cannot heal trauma, fix the world, or even make our loved ones wise or successful. We feel inadequate because we are inadequate.

But, she said, “You are enough the way loaves and fishes were enough.”

When a boy handed Jesus his meager lunch, Jesus made it feed thousands. The bread and fish weren’t enough — until they were surrendered.

In the same way, when we offer our homes, our talents, our dinners, our time — however small — Jesus multiplies it into something eternal.

Rainey shared that she often prays before people come to her home for dinner: “Lord, take this lasagna and somehow receive glory from it.”

That’s how our lives work. Not because we’re impressive, but because when we hand what we have to Him, He uses it to show His goodness.

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5. Closing Blessing and Prayer

Rainey ended with this charge and blessing:

“In an ocean of opinions, you do not have to audition for your worth. And don’t make anyone else audition for theirs.”

Walk in the dignity of an image bearer. Tell the Gospel according to you. And when you feel your not-enoughness, hand it to Jesus like loaves and fish — He will make it enough.

She closed by praying that the Spirit would free us from comparison and insecurity, and send us out to be people who see others as God sees them.

“Lord Jesus, thank You that You were unmoved by the crowd’s opinion. Set our faces toward You. Free us from the tyranny of competition, and send us to the lonely, the overlooked, and the left-out — not to compete but to bless.”

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Discussion Questions
    1.    Where are you most tempted to “audition” for approval? What does it look like to find your worth in how others see you?
    2.    How does the truth of being made in the Imago Dei change how you see yourself — and how you treat others?
    3.    Which “Gospel voice” do you most relate to — Matthew’s precision, Mark’s action, Luke’s compassion, or John’s love? What might “the gospel according to you” sound like?
    4.    What “loaves and fishes” could you offer to Jesus this week? (Something small you can surrender for His glory.)
    5.    Who around you might need to be “seen”? How could you bear God’s image to them by communicating, “God sees you”?

He is Good | Power in Prayer | Mark 11:20-25 | Coleton Segars

Coleton began with a story about accidentally cutting himself with his dad’s pocketknife. Just like with the knife, he wants to handle this text carefully because it’s often misunderstood—either leading people to miss out on what Jesus promises or to become disillusioned when prayer doesn’t seem to work.

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1. What Is Jesus Actually Saying?
•    Jesus says: “Truly I tell you…” — a phrase He uses in other places where the words were fulfilled literally (Peter’s denial, eternal life, heaven and earth passing away).
•    Therefore, we should not reinterpret His words about prayer and mountains to mean something symbolic.
•    Jesus also says “anyone” and “whatever you ask,” which expands the promise beyond just the disciples.
•    The phrase “moving mountains” was a common Jewish saying about impossible tasks, showing Jesus meant bold prayers that seem impossible.

Quote:
•    “Moving mountains” became a figure of speech for a task that was considered virtually impossible. — Background Commentary

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2. How Did the Disciples Respond?
•    The disciples didn’t reinterpret Jesus—they prayed boldly in Acts.
•    They spoke directly to mountains (sickness, persecution, demons, even death) and God responded powerfully.
•    Examples: Acts 3 (healing), Acts 9 (raising Tabitha), Acts 16 (casting out spirits), James 5 (prayer of faith heals the sick).
•    The evidence shows they took Jesus at His word and practiced it literally.

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3. Why Don’t We Experience This Today?
•    Many don’t expect God to act powerfully anymore because:
•    Lack of faith (James 4:2)
•    Selfish motives (James 4:3)
•    Broken relationships (1 Peter 3:7)
•    Cherishing sin (Psalm 66:18–19)
•    Lack of persistence (Luke 18)
•    We’ve been taught to reinterpret Jesus, so our expectation for prayer is low.
•    Doubt is a major barrier: doubting that prayer works, that God hears us, or that He will act.

Quote:
•    “Two thousand years of exegesis have successfully explained away texts like these… They have awkwardly suppressed the fact that the Bible clearly presents healing and miracles as something Jesus and the early church practiced and expected…” — Ulrich Luz, paraphrased by Frederick Dale Bruner

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4. How Do We Grow in Faith for Prayer?
•    Fight doubt by deepening trust in God’s character through Scripture and prayer.
•    Ask God to increase your faith.
•    Surround yourself with people of strong faith.
•    Read accounts of powerful prayer in history. (Great book: E.M. Bounds —On Prayer)
•    Seek God’s will for what you’re praying—He will reveal it.

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5. Don’t Settle for Less
    •    Jesus gave His life to give us access to God in prayer—why would He do this if our prayers were powerless?
•    Don’t reinterpret Jesus’ words to fit your experience. Instead, pursue the experience Jesus promised.
•    There is real power in prayer when we remove hindrances, pray in faith, and seek God’s will.

Discussion Questions:
1. What stood out to you from Sundays message?

2. How does looking at the way the disciples prayed in the book of Acts shape your confidence in Jesus’ words about prayer?

3. Of the hindrances to prayer which do you most relate to? Why?

4. Do you think doubt is a bigger struggle with God’s ability or His willingness?

5. Who in your life strengthens your faith when you struggle with doubt?