If Everything Is Smoke, What's Worth Chasing?
When life feels like smoke you can't hold onto, Solomon shows us five heart postures that keep Jesus at the center of everything we do.

Paul Durbin • Lead Pastor
October 4, 2026

5 Minute Read

OVERVIEW 👀

In this message from the Ecclesiastes series, Pastor Paul Durbin walks us through chapters five and six, where Solomon keeps circling back to the Hebrew word hevel—smoke, vapor, something you can see but can't grab. If everything in life slips through our fingers, what's actually worth pursuing? Paul points to the counsel of three older, wiser men—his own 85-year-old dad, missionary C.T. Studd, and Solomon himself—who all land in the same place: live your life to the glory of God with Jesus at the center. From there, Paul unpacks five heart postures from these chapters that help us do exactly that.

181 | If Everything Is Smoke, What's Worth Chasing?

In this message from the Ecclesiastes series, Pastor Paul Durbin walks us through chapters five and six, where Solomon keeps circling back to the Hebrew word hevel—smoke, vapor, something you can see but can't grab. If everything in life slips through our fingers, what's actually worth pursuing? Paul points to the counsel of three older, wiser men—his own 85-year-old dad, missionary C.T. Studd, and Solomon himself—who all land in the same place: live your life to the glory of God with Jesus at the center. From there, Paul unpacks five heart postures from these chapters that help us do exactly that.

Paul Durbin • Last Sunday

TIPS 📌

  • For the greatest impact, invite a few others to go through this study guide with you.
  • You don't need to do every section and question—use what fits your group or season.
  • Let the Spirit highlight where to slow down and engage.


ICEBREAKER(S) 🧊

What's the most "hevel" purchase you've ever made—something that literally turned into smoke, dust, or a dent in the driveway?

BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖

Ecclesiastes 5

Ecclesiastes 6

OBSERVATION 🔎

  1. Solomon uses the word "meaningless" (hevel) over and over in these two chapters. What specific things does he label as hevel, and what pattern do you notice?
  2. Look at Ecclesiastes 5:1-7. What does Solomon say about our mouths, our words, and our posture when we come to God?
  3. In 5:18-20, Solomon shifts tone a bit. What does he say is actually a gift from God, and how is that different from just having wealth?

APPLICATION 👋

  1. When you come to God—in church, in prayer, in the Bible—are you more likely to show up as a learner or as someone who already has God figured out? Paul said we often prefer to imagine what God is like rather than just listen to what He says about Himself.
  2. Where in your life right now are you most tempted to be "wowed by wealth" or by someone else's version of success? This isn't about having money being wrong—it's about noticing where our eyes drift and whose life we're comparing ours to.
  3. What would it look like for you to actually decide to be satisfied this week? Paul mentioned that satisfaction isn't passive—it's a decision we make with God's strength, like Paul in Ephesians learning the secret of contentment.
  4. Think about the biggest blessings in your life right now. Are you holding them with an open hand, or with a tight grip? Paul's story about the 1969 Airstream reminded us that even good gifts can start to own us if we're not careful.
  5. When you feel misunderstood, criticized, or overlooked, what's your default response—explain, defend, go quiet, or something else? Jesus modeled a very different pattern, entrusting Himself to the Father instead of fighting to be heard.
  6. Of the five postures (approach as a learner, refuse to be wowed by wealth, decide to be satisfied, hold blessings lightly, weigh your words wisely), which one does the Lord seem to be putting His finger on in this season of your life? This was the exact question Paul invited us to sit with during communion. Give it some honest time.
  7. If you reached the end of your life today, what would people say you spent it chasing? Would you be okay with that answer? C.T. Studd's line—"Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last"—was Paul's way of reframing the whole question.

LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️

  • Pick one time this week to open your Bible with no agenda except to listen—no commentary, no podcast, no plan. Just read a chapter and ask God what He wants to say.
  • Do something quiet and generous with your money this week that nobody will see—buy someone's coffee, slip cash to a neighbor who's struggling, or increase your giving. Practice refusing to be wowed by wealth.
  • Write down three specific blessings in your life and thank God for each one by name. Then pray, "Lord, I hold these lightly—You gave them, and they're Yours."
  • The next time you feel the urge to defend yourself in a conversation, text, or email, pause for 60 seconds and ask God if He wants to be your defender instead. Try silence as an act of trust.
  • Reach out to someone older than you this week—a parent, a mentor, an older Belay'er—and ask them what they've learned about living for God's glory. Listen more than you talk.

PRAYER 🙏

  • Lord, make me a learner again. Help me stop finishing Your sentences and start listening to who You actually are.
  • Father, loosen the grip that money and success have on my heart. Help me shrug my shoulders at what others have and smile at what You've given me.
  • Jesus, teach me the secret of contentment Paul learned. I want to be satisfied in You alone.
  • God, I hold my blessings open-handed today. Whatever You give, whatever You take away, let my heart stay anchored in You.
  • Lord, be my defender this week. When I'm tempted to fight for my own name, remind me to trust Yours.


WORSHIP 🙌

OUTLINE 📝

Main Idea:

If everything in life is hevel—smoke we can't hold onto—then the only life worth living is one centered on the glory of God.

Approach the Lord as a Learner
  • Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
  • Stop finishing God's sentences
  • Listen to who He says He is, not who we imagine Him to be
Refuse to Be Wowed by Wealth
  • Ecclesiastes 5:8-14
  • Money is always just out of reach
  • Jesus: you cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24)
Decide to Be Satisfied
  • Ecclesiastes 5:15-20
  • Stop running the rat race
  • Paul's learned secret of contentment (Philippians 4)
Hold Your Blessings Lightly
  • Ecclesiastes 6:1-9
  • Satisfaction isn't about a certain level you must maintain
  • Open hands with everything God gives
Weigh Your Words Wisely
  • Ecclesiastes 6:10-12
  • The more words, the less meaning
  • Jesus didn't defend Himself—He entrusted Himself to the Father (1 Peter 2:22-23)
Takeaway:

Only one life, soon to be past—only what's done for Christ will last. So ask the Lord which posture He wants to grow in you this season.

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October 4, 2026 • 6 Minute Read
If Everything Is Smoke, What's Worth Chasing?
OVERVIEW 👀 In this message from the Ecclesiastes series, Pastor Paul Durbin walks us through chapters five and six, where Solomon keeps circling back to the Hebrew word hevel—smoke, vapor, something you can see but can't grab. If everything in life slips through our fingers, what's actually worth pursuing? Paul points to the counsel of three older, wiser men—his own 85-year-old dad, missionary C.T. Studd, and Solomon himself—who all land in the same place: live your life to the glory of God with Jesus at the center. From there, Paul unpacks five heart postures from these chapters that help us do exactly that.smoke TIPS 📌 For the greatest impact, invite a few others to go through this study guide with you. You don't need to do every section and question—use what fits your group or season. Let the Spirit highlight where to slow down and engage. ICEBREAKER(S) 🧊 What's the most "hevel" purchase you've ever made—something that literally turned into smoke, dust, or a dent in the driveway? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Ecclesiastes 5 Ecclesiastes 6 OBSERVATION 🔎 Solomon uses the word "meaningless" (hevel) over and over in these two chapters. What specific things does he label as hevel, and what pattern do you notice? Look at Ecclesiastes 5:1-7. What does Solomon say about our mouths, our words, and our posture when we come to God? In 5:18-20, Solomon shifts tone a bit. What does he say is actually a gift from God, and how is that different from just having wealth? APPLICATION 👋 When you come to God—in church, in prayer, in the Bible—are you more likely to show up as a learner or as someone who already has God figured out? Paul said we often prefer to imagine what God is like rather than just listen to what He says about Himself. Where in your life right now are you most tempted to be "wowed by wealth" or by someone else's version of success? This isn't about having money being wrong—it's about noticing where our eyes drift and whose life we're comparing ours to. What would it look like for you to actually decide to be satisfied this week? Paul mentioned that satisfaction isn't passive—it's a decision we make with God's strength, like Paul in Ephesians learning the secret of contentment. Think about the biggest blessings in your life right now. Are you holding them with an open hand, or with a tight grip? Paul's story about the 1969 Airstream reminded us that even good gifts can start to own us if we're not careful. When you feel misunderstood, criticized, or overlooked, what's your default response—explain, defend, go quiet, or something else? Jesus modeled a very different pattern, entrusting Himself to the Father instead of fighting to be heard. Of the five postures (approach as a learner, refuse to be wowed by wealth, decide to be satisfied, hold blessings lightly, weigh your words wisely), which one does the Lord seem to be putting His finger on in this season of your life? This was the exact question Paul invited us to sit with during communion. Give it some honest time. If you reached the end of your life today, what would people say you spent it chasing? Would you be okay with that answer? C.T. Studd's line—"Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last"—was Paul's way of reframing the whole question. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Pick one time this week to open your Bible with no agenda except to listen—no commentary, no podcast, no plan. Just read a chapter and ask God what He wants to say. Do something quiet and generous with your money this week that nobody will see—buy someone's coffee, slip cash to a neighbor who's struggling, or increase your giving. Practice refusing to be wowed by wealth. Write down three specific blessings in your life and thank God for each one by name. Then pray, "Lord, I hold these lightly—You gave them, and they're Yours." The next time you feel the urge to defend yourself in a conversation, text, or email, pause for 60 seconds and ask God if He wants to be your defender instead. Try silence as an act of trust. Reach out to someone older than you this week—a parent, a mentor, an older Belay'er—and ask them what they've learned about living for God's glory. Listen more than you talk. PRAYER 🙏 Lord, make me a learner again. Help me stop finishing Your sentences and start listening to who You actually are. Father, loosen the grip that money and success have on my heart. Help me shrug my shoulders at what others have and smile at what You've given me. Jesus, teach me the secret of contentment Paul learned. I want to be satisfied in You alone. God, I hold my blessings open-handed today. Whatever You give, whatever You take away, let my heart stay anchored in You. Lord, be my defender this week. When I'm tempted to fight for my own name, remind me to trust Yours. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: If everything in life is hevel—smoke we can't hold onto—then the only life worth living is one centered on the glory of God. Approach the Lord as a Learner Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 Stop finishing God's sentences Listen to who He says He is, not who we imagine Him to be Refuse to Be Wowed by Wealth Ecclesiastes 5:8-14 Money is always just out of reach Jesus: you cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24) Decide to Be Satisfied Ecclesiastes 5:15-20 Stop running the rat race Paul's learned secret of contentment (Philippians 4) Hold Your Blessings Lightly Ecclesiastes 6:1-9 Satisfaction isn't about a certain level you must maintain Open hands with everything God gives Weigh Your Words Wisely Ecclesiastes 6:10-12 The more words, the less meaning Jesus didn't defend Himself—He entrusted Himself to the Father (1 Peter 2:22-23) Takeaway: Only one life, soon to be past—only what's done for Christ will last. So ask the Lord which posture He wants to grow in you this season.

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

September 27, 2026 • 5 Minute Read
What Is in Your Heart?
OVERVIEW 👀 In week two of our Ecclesiastes series, Paul Durbin walks us through chapters three and four, unpacking four things in every human heart: a sense of eternity, a deep craving for justice, a struggle with sin, and a longing for relationship. These inner realities are more than quirks of being human—they're signposts pointing us straight to God. When we stop ignoring them and start following where they lead, we find hope for eternity, justice satisfied in Jesus, freedom from sin, and the relationship our restless hearts were made for.heart TIPS 📌 For the greatest impact, invite a few others to go through this study guide with you. You don't need to do every section and question—use what fits your group or season. Let the Spirit highlight where to slow down and engage. ICEBREAKER(S) 🧊 What's a food or drink trend you just don't get, no matter how hard you try (matcha latte, anyone)? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Ecclesiastes 3 Ecclesiastes 4 OBSERVATION 🔎 In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, what pattern do you notice in the way Solomon lists the "times" and "seasons"? What might he be trying to communicate through that structure? In Ecclesiastes 3:11, what two things does Solomon say God has done, and how do they seem to be in tension with each other? In Ecclesiastes 4:7-12, how does Solomon's thought progress from one person, to two, to three? What does that say to you? APPLICATION 👋 When was the last time you really stopped to think about eternity—not in a scary way, but as something God placed inside you? Most of us get so focused on the next few hours or days that we rarely let eternity shape how we live right now. Where in your life do you sense a deep "that's not right" reaction lately? That internal alarm is often God's law written on your heart doing exactly what it was designed to do. Is there an area where you've been medicating your conscience instead of listening to it? Sometimes we fill our lives with noise, screens, or substances to drown out what God is trying to say. What do you tend to run to when your heart feels restless? Blaise Pascal called it the "infinite abyss" inside us—and nothing but God actually fills it. Who in your life is like that "2nd strand" that keeps the rope from breaking? Think about the person (or people) God has put in your corner—and whether you're being that for someone else. Where have you been trying to live too independently lately? Belay'ers aren't meant to climb alone—both God and good people in your life are part of how you stay roped in. If Jesus walked up next to you today like He did with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, what would you want to tell Him you've been wrestling with? Sometimes just naming it is the first step toward hope. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Reach out to someone this week who seems to be walking alone—grab a coffee, send a text, or invite them over. Be the "third strand" for someone whose rope feels like it's fraying. Pick one area where you've been chasing something that was never going to fill you (success, approval, stuff, scrolling) and intentionally fast from it for a week. Replace that time with prayer or Scripture. Have an honest conversation with someone younger than you about eternity and what you believe. Kids and young adults are often more open to these conversations than we think. Write down three ways God has shown you mercy when justice would have been fair. Then look for one opportunity this week to extend that same mercy to someone else. Invite another Belay'er or a neighbor into something you were already going to do this week—a hike, a meal, a chore. Independence is overrated; shared life is where we grow. PRAYER 🙏 Thank God for putting eternity in your heart and ask Him to renew a childlike faith in you that lives with heaven in view. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you've grown numb to your conscience and bring you back to a place of honest repentance. Thank Jesus for stepping on the scale for you—satisfying justice and crediting His righteousness to your account. Pray for the person God brings to mind who's walking alone right now, and ask Him how you can be part of the answer. Ask God to fill the "infinite abyss" in your heart with Himself, and to help you stop looking for help in places that can't give it. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: There are four things in every human heart that are meant to point us straight to God. Time and Eternity Nature constantly reminds us of time Something in us insists there's more Ecclesiastes 3:11—He has set eternity in our hearts A Deep Sense of Justice Doesn't fit a random-chance universe We know right from wrong even when culture doesn't God writes His law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33, Romans 2:14-15) The Reality of Sin Paul's struggle in Romans 7 Solomon's grief over oppression and envy We store up wrath when we ignore God's kindness A Craving for Relationship One is lonely, two is better, three is strong The "extra man" in the fire and on the road to Emmaus Pascal's infinite abyss, Augustine's restless heart Takeaway: Each longing in your heart is a signpost—follow it all the way home to Jesus, who gives you hope, justice, newness, and relationship.

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

September 20, 2026 • 8 Minute Read
What Do We Do When Life Feels Like Vapor?
OVERVIEW 👀 Greg Seymour kicks off a series through Ecclesiastes by unpacking the Hebrew word hevel—often translated "meaningless," but really closer to vapor, smoke, or breath. Life is real and tangible, yet it slips through our fingers just as quickly as it comes. Greg walks us through the teacher's thought experiments on pleasure, wealth, and wisdom, and honestly shares his own year of wrestling with the hevel of his dad's rapid decline into dementia. In the end, Greg points us to Jesus—the bread of life and living water—who steps into our brokenness and is the only true fulfillment for the deepest longings of our hearts.vapor TIPS 📌 For the greatest impact, invite a few others to go through this study guide with you. You don't need to do every section and question—use what fits your group or season. Let the Spirit highlight where to slow down and engage. ICEBREAKER(S) 🧊 If you had Solomon-level money for one weekend, what's the most ridiculous thing you'd spend it on? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 (NIV) 1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: 2 "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." 3 What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? 4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. 6 The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. 7 All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. 8 All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. 9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. 11 No one remembers the former generations, and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them. 12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 15 What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. 16 I said to myself, "Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge." 17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. 18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 (NIV) 10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. 11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 (NIV) 24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 26 To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. John 6:35 (NIV) 35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." OBSERVATION 🔎 What repeated words, phrases, or images do you notice in Ecclesiastes 1? What effect does the repetition have on you as you read? In Ecclesiastes 1:12-18, what does the teacher pursue, and what does he conclude about it? What surprises you about his conclusion? In John 6:35, what does Jesus claim about himself, and how does that connect (or contrast) with what the teacher observes in Ecclesiastes? APPLICATION 👋 What are the "under the sun" things you've been chasing lately, hoping they'll finally satisfy you? Think about your time, money, energy, and daydreams—what keeps rising to the top? Greg described hevel as vapor: real and tangible, but slipping through your fingers. Where have you experienced that in your own life? Sometimes saying it out loud helps us loosen our grip on it. Have you ever fallen into the trap of treating your walk with God like a bargain—"if I do X, God will do Y"? What did that reveal about what you were actually trusting in? When hevel shows up in your life, how do you tend to respond—anger, apathy, blame, or trust? Greg was honest about wrestling with anger and apathy this past year, and it's worth asking where we land. Greg shared about his dad's dementia and how it feels "so hevel." Is there a situation in your life right now that feels unfair, enigmatic, or like it goes against how the world ought to work? Sometimes just naming it in community is the first step toward healing. Jesus calls himself the bread of life and living water. What would it look like this week to actually feed on him instead of the things you usually run to for comfort? Get practical—what habit, rhythm, or moment could shift? What's one area where you need to stop trying to straighten what's crooked on your own and instead trust that God is still good and still working? This isn't about giving up—it's about surrendering. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Reach out to someone you know who's walking through a hevel season—a diagnosis, a loss, a confusing chapter. Don't try to fix it. Just show up, listen, and remind them they're not alone. Pick one "under the sun" pursuit you've been chasing too hard and intentionally loosen your grip this week. Give away money, say no to an extra work project, or take a Sabbath from the thing you've been idolizing. Share a meal with someone and let it be a small act of worship. Thank God for the food, enjoy the people, and practice receiving joy as a gift instead of chasing it as a goal. Write a short note or send a text to someone whose life has quietly influenced yours—a mentor, a parent, an old friend. Push back against the reality that "no one remembers" by remembering out loud. Invite someone who's wrestling with big questions about meaning, suffering, or God to read Ecclesiastes with you over coffee. It's only 12 chapters and it meets people where they actually are. PRAYER 🙏 Thank God for stepping into the hevel of human existence through Jesus, and ask him to help you truly rest in that today. Confess any way you've been chasing wind—pleasure, wealth, wisdom, or approval—and ask God to reorder your desires around him. Bring the hevel of your own life honestly to God: the losses, the enigmas, the "this isn't how it's supposed to be." Ask him for grace to trust even when you can't see. Pray for someone you know who is suffering right now, that they would sense God's presence and be met by his people. Ask God to make you the kind of person who feeds on Jesus daily—the bread of life and living water—so you have something real to offer a hurting world. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Big Idea: Life under the sun is hevel—vapor and enigma—but Jesus steps into the brokenness and becomes the only lasting fulfillment for our deepest longings. Understanding Hevel Not "meaningless"—more like vapor, smoke, breath Real and tangible, but slips through your fingers An enigma—things that don't work the way we think they should First used as Abel's name in Genesis 4 Life Under the Sun Generations come and go, nothing new Even wise people are eventually forgotten What is crooked cannot be straightened The Teacher's Thought Experiments Pleasure and hedonism—chasing the wind Wealth—never enough, and you leave it behind Wisdom—better than folly, but death still comes The Trap of Using God as a Means to an End Our walk with God isn't a bargain What do we do when the hevel comes? Greg's honest wrestle with his dad's dementia Where Ecclesiastes Leaves Us, the Gospel Picks Us Up Jesus is the bread of life and living water He steps into human suffering, not around it He makes crooked things straight Takeaway: When everything under the sun proves to be vapor, Jesus is the one thing worth holding onto—because he's holding onto you.

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

September 9, 2026 • 6 Minute Read
Are You Loving From the Intersection of Grace and Truth?
OVERVIEW 👀 In this message, Pastor Paul Durbin returns to the relationship series with the one skill he says he left out—love. Drawing from John 1:14, he unpacks what it means that Jesus came "full of grace and truth," and offers a working definition of love: relating to others from the intersection of grace and truth, neither diluted to make room for the other, each expressed to its fullest extent. Using a simple four-quadrant grid, Paul walks through the three counterfeits—legalism, license, and lawlessness—and invites us into the upper-right quadrant where real love actually lives.intersection TIPS 📌 For the greatest impact, invite a few others to go through this study guide with you. You don't need to do every section and question—use what fits your group or season. Let the Spirit highlight where to slow down and engage. ICEBREAKER(S) 🧊 If someone handed you the title "Official Fun Coordinator" for your friend group, would you accept it, run from it, or immediately start a spreadsheet? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 John 1:14 — The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Galatians 5:4-9 — 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough. 1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 6-7 — 1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father's wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have gone into mourning… 6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch. Matthew 24:10-13 — 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 2 Timothy 1:7 — For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. OBSERVATION 🔎 In John 1:14, what does it tell us about Jesus that John specifically pairs the words "grace" and "truth" together rather than choosing just one? In Galatians 5, what does Paul say actually counts in Christ Jesus, and what warning does he give about "a little yeast"? Compare 1 Corinthians 5 and Galatians 5. Both talk about yeast, but they describe two very different problems. What is Paul warning against in each passage? APPLICATION 👋 Paul described John 1:14 getting into his spirit as a 12-year-old and shaping him for decades. What Scripture has stuck with you like that, and what has it taught you? Paul defined love as "relating to others from the intersection of grace and truth, neither diluted to make room for the other, each expressed to its fullest extent." Which half of that do you tend to dilute—grace or truth? Most of us naturally lean one way, and noticing that lean is the first step toward growth. Where in your life do you see the legalism quadrant showing up—expecting perfection and offering little tenderness when people fail? This might show up loudest in marriage, parenting, or the way you talk to yourself. Where might the license quadrant be showing up—letting things slide because you don't want to rock the boat or infringe on someone's freedom? License often disguises itself as being "nice" or "chill." Have you noticed the lawlessness quadrant creeping in—defining love by whatever the culture says today? It's worth honestly asking where you're taking your cues about love from: Scripture, social media, friends, or a mix. Paul said the Holy Spirit gives us "power, love and self-discipline" to live in the upper-right quadrant. Where do you most need the Spirit's help this week to combine grace and truth in a hard relationship? Naming the specific relationship makes it easier to actually pray and act. Think about your relationship with God specifically. Are you more resistant to receiving His truth (correction) or His grace (forgiveness)? Both are gifts, and both take humility to receive. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Pick one relationship this week where you've been leaning legalistic and intentionally lead with tenderness before you lead with a correction. Pick one relationship where you've been leaning toward license and lovingly speak a truth you've been avoiding—drenched in grace, not dropped like a hammer. Write out Paul's definition of love and put it somewhere you'll see it daily (bathroom mirror, phone lock screen, dashboard) for the next 30 days. Reach out to someone who is walking through a hard failure right now and be the person who shows up with first aid instead of questions. Invite one Belay'er into a monthly check-in where you give each other permission to speak grace and truth honestly into each other's lives. PRAYER 🙏 Ask God to help you receive both His truth and His grace—not just the one that's easier for you. Pray for the Spirit's power to love a specific person from the upper-right quadrant this week. Ask God to reveal any "yeast" of legalism or license quietly spreading in your relationships, marriage, or family. Thank Jesus for going to the cross as the ultimate expression of grace and truth meeting. Pray for our Belay family—that our love for one another would stand firm and not grow cold. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: Real love happens at the intersection of grace and truth—each expressed fully, neither diluted for the other. Love Defined by Jesus John 1:14 — full of grace and truth Love as the ultimate expression of both The upper-right quadrant Legalism (Upper Left) Expecting perfection, offering little tenderness Paul's early marriage story Galatians — falling away from grace A little yeast spreads License (Lower Right) No expectation others can change; refusing to speak truth Patty's love of freedom 1 Corinthians — tolerating what even pagans reject A little yeast spreads Lawlessness (Lower Left) "Love is love" — a circular, empty definition Ever-changing standards, zero tolerance Matthew 24 — the love of most grows cold Standing Firm in Real Love The Spirit gives power, love, self-discipline Two questions: your relationship with God, your relationships with others Communion — grace and truth meeting at the cross Takeaway: Move to the upper right—love others the way Jesus loves you, with grace and truth fully alive at the same time.

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

August 26, 2026 • 7 Minute Read
What Heart Adjustments Is God Asking You to Make?
OVERVIEW 👀 In this final message from the book of Jonah, Pastor Paul Durbin walks us through the seven heart adjustments God is inviting each of us to make. Using a backpack illustration from a recent hike near Aspen, Paul shows how the same care we take to fit a pack to our body is the care God takes to shape our hearts. From perspective to mission, this message reminds us that Jonah isn't really a story about a city—it's a story about a patient God shaping one stubborn heart, and it's an invitation for us to let Him do the same in ours.backpack TIPS 📌 For the greatest impact, invite a few others to go through this study guide with you. You don't need to do every section and question—use what fits your group or season. Let the Spirit highlight where to slow down and engage. ICEBREAKER(S) 🧊 Tell us about a time you were absolutely certain you were right—and then found out you were absolutely wrong. BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Jonah 3:10–4:11 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. 1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, "Isn't this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live." 4 But the Lord replied, "Is it right for you to be angry?" 5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live." 9 But God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?" "It is," he said. "And I'm so angry I wish I were dead." 10 But the Lord said, "You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?" OBSERVATION 🔎 What contrast do you notice between God's response to Nineveh's repentance in 3:10 and Jonah's response in 4:1? God asks Jonah the same question twice ("Is it right for you to be angry?"). What does that repetition reveal about the conversation? Trace the word "provided" in verses 6–8. What does God provide, and what might each thing be teaching Jonah? APPLICATION 👋 Where in your life right now are you frustrated or angry, and have you asked God what His perspective on the situation might be? Sometimes anger is a signal that we're viewing life from our own perspective, not God's. This question invites honest reflection about where a shift might be needed. Are you "educated beyond your obedience" in any area of your walk with Jesus? Jonah knew God's character but didn't live like it. Consider one truth about God you believe but haven't fully acted on. What "right" do you tend to defend most fiercely—your place in line, your reputation, your time, your opinion? Jesus didn’t tell His followers to advocate for their rights. This question helps surface the small daily places where we cling instead of lay down. Is there someone in your life you've quietly written off as unable to change? Jonah didn't believe Nineveh could change, and Patty's story reminds us God specializes in the "no hope" cases. Name that person before God. When was the last time you sensed God speaking through a situation rather than words? God spoke to Jonah through a plant, a worm, and a wind. Consider what everyday circumstances might be God's classroom for you right now. What are you most passionate about, and is it truly worth that level of passion? Jonah put all his emotional weight on a plant. This question asks whether your ladder is leaning against the right wall. Do you actually care about the lost people around you, or are you mostly concerned about your own life? The book of Jonah ends with an unanswered question because we're meant to answer it. Sit with that honestly. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Pick one person you've written off and start praying daily that God would meet them—then look for one practical way to bless them this week. Take a "perspective walk" this week. When something frustrates you, pause and ask out loud, "God, what's Your take on this?" before you react. Choose one truth about God (gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love) and intentionally live it out toward one difficult person in your life. Lay down a "right" on purpose—let someone cut in line, give up the last word in an argument, or absorb a small offense without pushing back. Invite a neighbor, coworker, or friend from Boulder into your world this month—coffee, dinner, a hike—with no agenda other than genuine care. PRAYER 🙏 Lord, give me Your perspective on the situation that's frustrating me most right now. Jesus, help me actually live what I already know to be true about You. Father, show me the rights I'm gripping too tightly and give me grace to lay them down. God, help me believe You can change the person I've stopped hoping for. Lord, tune my ears to hear You in the ordinary moments of my day. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: The book of Jonah is really the story of a patient God shaping one stubborn heart—and He wants to do the same in ours through seven key adjustments. Perspective Adjustment Do I view situations from God's perspective or my own? Jonah 4:1 — "But to Jonah, this seemed very wrong." Isaiah 55 — God's thoughts are higher than ours. Knowledge Adjustment Does my knowledge of God actually change how I live? Jonah knew God's character but didn't act on it. James 1:22 — Be doers of the word, not just hearers. Rights Adjustment Do I have a right to my rights? Jesus never told us to advocate for our rights. Matthew 5 — Turn the other cheek, live generously. Expectation Adjustment Do I believe people can really change? Jonah expected Nineveh's destruction, not their redemption. Patty's family story—God redeems what looks impossible. Hearing Adjustment Am I listening for God's heart in everyday situations? God provided the plant, worm, and wind. He often speaks through circumstances, not just words. Passion Adjustment Are my passions truly worth my passion? Jonah wept over a plant he didn't grow. Psalm 1 — Delight in the Lord and be like a tree by water. Mission Adjustment Do I care about those who are still lost? God's final question is left unanswered on purpose. The choose-your-own-adventure ending is ours to write. Takeaway: Don't just hear about the adjustments—invite God to actually make them, and let Him shape you into someone He can use.

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

August 21, 2026 • 6 Minute Read
Which Kind of Upside Down Will You Choose?
OVERVIEW 👀 In week three of the Jonah series, Pastor Paul walks us through Jonah chapter 3 and highlights how God is a speaking God who invites us to respond. He unpacks the Hebrew word הָפַךְ (haphak)—which can mean either "demolished" or "turned upside down"—and shows how Nineveh chose transformation over destruction. Paul reminds us that God gives second chances, reroutes our missteps, and always keeps His word. The invitation is simple but powerful: hear God, respond in faith, and let Him turn your life beautifully upside down.upside TIPS 📌 For the greatest impact, invite a few others to go through this study guide with you. You don't need to do every section and question—use what fits your group or season. Let the Spirit highlight where to slow down and engage. ICEBREAKER(S) 🧊 When was the last time Google Maps told you to reroute, and did you obey right away or stubbornly try your own way? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Jonah 3:1-10 1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day's journey into the city, proclaiming, "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown." 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6 When Jonah's warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. Deuteronomy 30:19 19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. OBSERVATION 🔎 The word of the Lord comes to Jonah "a second time" in verse 1. What does this repeated invitation tell us about how God relates to His people? Look closely at verses 5-8. Who responds to Jonah's message, and how far up and down the social ladder does the repentance spread? In verse 10, what specifically does God "see" before He relents? What does that reveal about what genuine repentance looks like? APPLICATION 👋 When has God clearly asked you to do something, and you ran the other way like Jonah? We all have moments where we know the right next step but hesitate to take it. Getting honest here is the first step toward saying yes. Where in your life do you sense God offering a "second chance" right now? Sometimes we assume we've missed our shot with God. But like Jonah, we're often just one obedient step away from getting back on mission. Pastor Paul described God as the master "re-router"—folding our wrong turns into the recipe of our lives. What wrong turn is God still weaving into something good? Romans 8:28 isn't a promise that everything is good, but that God works everything for good. Where have you seen that play out? Jonah's obedience opened the door for a whole city to hear from God. What "Nineveh" might God be sending you to? Your yes isn't just about you—it's often the doorway for someone else to encounter God. Fasting was described as "praying with your body." Have you ever fasted, and what would it look like to try it in this season? Fasting isn't about earning anything from God; it's about laying down idols and tuning our whole selves toward Him. The king of Nineveh said, "Who knows?"—unsure if God would show mercy. Where are you living in "who knows?" instead of trusting God's promises? God keeps His word. We don't have to roll the dice on His character; we can trust who He's revealed Himself to be. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Pick one "next step" you've been avoiding and take it this week—make the call, have the conversation, send the text, sign up, show up. Try a one-meal or one-day fast and use the hunger as a reminder to pray for someone far from God. Write down one wrong turn from your past and thank God for how He's rerouted or is rerouting it. Share the story with someone who needs hope. Identify one "people group" in your world (coworkers, neighbors, teammates, classmates) and commit to being a consistent, kind presence there for the next 30 days. If you've never been baptized, talk to Paul or a Belay leader this week about taking that step. PRAYER 🙏 Thank God for being a speaking God who still invites you to hear and respond. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any area where you're running the opposite direction from His call. Pray for someone in your life who needs to experience the "good" kind of הָפַךְ (haphak)—transformation, not destruction. Ask God for courage to take one specific next step of obedience this week. Thank God for keeping His word, and rest in the promise that He hears when you cry out. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: God speaks, we respond, and He always keeps His word—so choose to be turned upside down in the best way. God Speaks His Word God is a speaking God from Genesis to Revelation His word is His will and His intention The Word became flesh in Jesus We Respond to His Word Jonah first said no—and it went poorly Jonah then said yes—and a city was reached Nineveh chose repentance over destruction God Keeps His Word The king said "Who knows?"—but God is not a gamble Deuteronomy 30:19—choose life God relents when His people turn Takeaway: Which הָפַךְ (haphak) will you choose today—destruction or transformation?

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

August 13, 2026 • 7 Minute Read
How Do I Escape the Mess I've Created?
OVERVIEW 👀 Pastor Paul Durbin walks us into Jonah chapter 2, where a rebellious prophet finds himself in the belly of a fish—and discovers that the pit is exactly where God does His best work. Using real-life whale stories, a scary swim in the Blue Hole, and honest moments from his own marriage, Paul reminds us that God has power over the deep, is present in the deep, and specializes in rescuing people who've made a mess of things. Whether you're in a valley, on a mountaintop, or just navigating the ordinary, God is there—and the way out starts with prayer, letting go of idols, and putting your full trust in Jesus alone.mess TIPS 📌 For the greatest impact, invite a few others to go through this study guide with you. You don't need to do every section and question—use what fits your group or season. Let the Spirit highlight where to slow down and engage. ICEBREAKER(S) 🧊 What's the scariest body of water you've ever swum in (or refused to swim in)? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Jonah 1:17 — Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 2:1-10 — 1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said: "In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. 3 You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. 4 I said, 'I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.' 5 The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. 7 When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. 8 Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God's love for them. 9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, 'Salvation comes from the Lord.'" 10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. OBSERVATION 🔎 Where does Jonah say he called to the Lord from, and how does he describe that place in verses 2-6? According to verse 8, what happens to people who cling to worthless idols? What does Jonah declare in verse 9, and what does the Lord do immediately after in verse 10? APPLICATION 👋 When you find yourself in a "pit" of your own making, what's your first instinct—hide, fix it, run, or turn to God? Paul admitted that in tough moments he sometimes couldn't even open his lips to pray. It's worth asking honestly where our default reactions actually take us. Paul said the deep isn't scary to God—He speaks light and life into it. What's a "deep" area in your life where you need to hear God say, "Be free"? Sometimes we give power to memories, sins, or regrets that God has already declared powerless. Psalm 42 talks about God being present in the valleys, on the mountaintops, and in the ordinary (Mount Mizar—the "small" places). Which of those three is hardest for you to sense God's presence in right now? A lot of us look for God in the extremes but miss Him in the everyday. Paul confessed that he sometimes thought he had to "get his act together" before praying. Have you ever believed that lie? This mindset can quietly keep us from the exact conversation God is waiting to have with us. What idols might you be clinging to as you try to climb out of a hard season? Idols aren't always statues—they can be identities, relationships, mindsets, or comforts that take up the space God wants. Have you personally made the declaration that Jesus is Lord and Savior of your life, not just a wise teacher you follow at a distance? Paul reminded us there's a difference between admiring Jesus and surrendering to Him. When was the last time you prayed honestly in the middle of a mess instead of after it was cleaned up? Praying in the pit is one of the boldest acts of faith we can practice. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Set a daily prayer alarm this week—especially for the messy moments. When frustration, conflict, or discouragement hits, pause right there and talk to God out loud, even if it's just one sentence. Name one idol and hand it over. Write it on a piece of paper, pray over it, then tear it up or burn it as a physical act of letting go. Reach out to someone you know is in a "pit" right now. Send a text, buy them coffee, or simply sit with them. Be the presence of Jesus in their deep place. Read Jonah 1-4 in one sitting this week. Let the whole story shape you, not just the fish part. Share your story. Tell one person this week about a time God pulled you out of a mess—your testimony might be exactly what someone else needs to hear. PRAYER 🙏 Lord, teach me to pray in the pit, not just on the mountaintop. Meet me right where I am, mess and all. Father, show me the idols I've been clinging to. Give me the courage to lay them down and trust You alone. Jesus, thank You for going into the belly of the earth so I don't have to. Help me live in the freedom You bought for me. Holy Spirit, speak to the deep places in me that I've kept hidden. Bring light, bring life, bring freedom. Lord, help me be present for someone else in their pit this week. Use me to reflect Your rescuing love. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Big Idea: The pit is exactly where God meets us—and the way out is prayer, surrender, and trust in Jesus alone. Jonah's Story Is Real Modern whale-swallowing accounts Scripture records it as history Foreshadows Jesus (Matthew 12:40-41) God Has Power Over the Deep Genesis 1—God speaks light and life into the deep Revelation 20—the deep itself is thrown into the lake of fire He has power over the deep places in you God Is Present in the Deep Psalm 139—no place is hidden from Him Psalm 42—valleys, mountains, and the ordinary Psalm 46—an ever-present help in trouble The Pit Is Where God Finds Us Jesus came for the sick, the lost, the humbled The pit is His specialty Three Steps Out of the Mess Pray—talk to God right in the middle of it Abandon your idols—you can't climb out with full hands Put your trust in God alone—declare Jesus is Lord Takeaway: You don't have to clean yourself up to come to God—call out from the pit, let go of your idols, and declare Jesus as Lord.

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

August 2, 2026 • 7 Minute Read
Are You Running From What God Is Calling You To Do?
OVERVIEW 👀 Pastor Paul Durbin opens a new series in the book of Jonah, walking us through chapter one and the story of a prophet who knew exactly what God wanted him to do—and ran the other way. Paul reminds us that God still invites regular, rebellion-prone people like us to partner with Him in His work, and that saying yes always beats running away. Through Jonah's storm, the sailors' fear, and Peter's contrasting obedience in Acts, we're challenged to stop running, surrender sooner, and trust that God's mercy keeps offering us another chance to say yes.running TIPS 📌 For the greatest impact, invite a few others to go through this study guide with you. You don't need to do every section and question—use what fits your group or season. Let the Spirit highlight where to slow down and engage. ICEBREAKER(S) 🧊 If you had to flee to a random city tomorrow like Jonah fled to Tarshish, where would you pick and why? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Jonah 1:1-16 1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. 4 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish." 7 Then the sailors said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity." They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 So they asked him, "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?" 9 He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." 10 This terrified them and they asked, "What have you done?" (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.) 11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?" 12 "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you." 13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, "Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased." 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him. OBSERVATION 🔎 What does the passage tell us about how Jonah physically responds to God's word—where he goes, what he does, and how he acts on the ship? Notice the sailors in this chapter. How do they change from verse 5 to verse 16, and what causes the change? What details does the text repeat or emphasize about Jonah "running from the Lord" and about the storm? APPLICATION 👋 Where in your life right now do you sense God calling you to something you'd rather not do? Paul talked about how we often know the thing we're supposed to do but resist it. This question is a chance to get honest about where you feel that pull today. What's your version of "buying a ticket to Tarshish"—a choice you've made (or are making) to put distance between you and God's call? Sometimes we don't outright refuse God; we just steer our life in the opposite direction. Think about jobs, relationships, habits, or distractions. Have you ever experienced a season where "the path of running got rougher"? What did that look like? Paul pointed out that Jonah's escape seemed smooth at first, but eventually his world went haywire. Reflect on how God has used discomfort to get your attention. When has fear of what people might think kept you from being honest about your rebellion or struggle? Paul talked about how pride and fear can keep us stuck. Consider whether there's something you've been hiding that God is inviting you to bring into the light. Where in your life have you settled for "empty worship"—saying the right words while your heart is somewhere else? Jonah told the sailors he worshiped the Lord, but his actions said otherwise. This is a chance to check the gap between what you say and how you're living. Who around you might be affected by your obedience—or your rebellion—right now? Paul reminded us that foolish decisions don't just affect the decider. Think about your family, friends, coworkers, and Belay community. What "preferred destiny" do you sense God has for you, and what would it look like to say yes to it this week? Paul used the phrase "preferred destiny" to describe the life God is inviting you into. Dream a little—what might God do if you fully surrendered? LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Identify one area where you've been running from God and confess it out loud to a trusted friend or your house church this week. Reach out to someone God has put on your heart—a text, a call, a coffee—and speak the word of encouragement, apology, or prayer you've been putting off. Ask a Belay'er you trust, "Where do you see me resisting God right now?" and actually listen to their answer without defending yourself. Look for your own "Nineveh" this week—a person or place that's outside your comfort zone—and take one small step toward loving them well. Invite someone who feels far from God to share a meal, a hike, or a Sunday gathering with you, and be ready to share your own story of saying yes. PRAYER 🙏 Ask God to reveal any place in your life where you're running from Him, and give you courage to turn around. Pray for the people your obedience (or disobedience) is affecting—your family, friends, and community—and ask God to bless them through your yes. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you say yes sooner, before the storm gets louder. Pray for the "Ninevehs" in your life—people or places that need the good news—and ask God to send you. Thank God for His mercy that keeps offering another chance, and ask Him to help you receive it today. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: God keeps inviting ordinary, rebellion-prone people to partner with Him—and the wisest thing we can do is stop running and say yes. God Invites Regular People Into His Work The invitation goes back to the garden (Genesis 1:28) Isaiah's "Here am I. Send me." (Isaiah 6:8) Jesus extends the same call (Matthew 28:18-19) Running From God Never Really Works Jonah heads to Tarshish and Joppa Contrast with Paul (from Tarsus) and Peter (sent to Joppa) Saying yes opens doors we couldn't imagine (Acts 11:18) Rebellion Puts Us on a Fool's Errand Empty worship without obedience Foolish choices pile on foolish choices Fear and pride keep us stuck Three Takeaways From Jonah 1 Foolish decisions don't just affect the decider The path of running away doesn't get any smoother (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25) Even in our stubbornness, God keeps giving invitations to surrender

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

July 26, 2026 • 7 Minute Read
Where Will Your Name Appear in the Credits?
OVERVIEW 👀 In this closing message from Colossians, Pastor Paul Durbin walks Belay'ers through the final verses of Paul's letter—the part most of us skip like movie credits. But hidden in those names are seven roles that make a church thrive: testimony teller, unity bringer, relationship restorer, prayer warrior, faithful healer, helpful host, and mission completer. Paul invites us to picture the credits rolling on our own lives and asks the honest question: which of these roles will our name appear beside?credits TIPS 📌 For the greatest impact, invite a few others to go through this study guide with you. You don't need to do every section and question—use what fits your group or season. Let the Spirit highlight where to slow down and engage. ICEBREAKER(S) 🧊 Do you stay for the credits at the movies, or are you out the door the second the screen goes dark? Why? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Colossians 4:7-18 7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here. 10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. 17 Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord." 18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. OBSERVATION 🔎 Paul lists a lot of names here. What descriptive words or phrases does he attach to each person, and what stands out about the way he talks about them? What specific actions or contributions do these people make to Paul's ministry, and how do those contributions differ from one person to the next? In verse 17, Paul sends a direct word to Archippus. What does the wording of that message suggest about Archippus' situation, and why might Paul say it publicly through this letter? APPLICATION 👋 Where in your everyday conversations are you most tempted to slide from testimony into gossip, and what would it look like to catch yourself and turn the corner? This is less about big sins and more about the small tone shifts in our talk about coworkers, family, or other Belay'ers. Onesimus took a huge risk to walk back into a broken relationship. Is there a relationship in your life where you've been "running by geography"—hoping distance will fix it Sometimes we change jobs, churches, or friend groups instead of stepping into the harder work of repair. Who in your life needs someone willing to do a little sleuthing and take initiative to restore a broken relationship? Could that person be you? Restoration rarely happens by accident. It usually takes one person willing to make the first awkward move. When was the last time you said "I'll pray for you" and then didn't? What would change if you swapped that phrase for "Can I pray for you right now?" Praying on the spot feels vulnerable at first, but it turns a polite line into a real moment. Luke stayed. Demas left. In the current season of your life, which one are you more like, and why? Faithfulness is usually tested in the unglamorous middle stretch, not the exciting beginning. What space has God given you—a home, an apartment, a backyard, a lunch table at work—that could become a place where ministry happens? Helpful hosts don't need big houses. They just need open doors and a willingness to make room. Is there a "ministry you have received" that you've set down—a call, a burden, a project, a dream? What would it look like to pick it back up this week? God rarely reassigns something He's clearly put on your heart. Sometimes He's just waiting for you to start again. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Text or call three people this week and share a specific "gold" you see in them—something good God is doing in or through their life. Identify one broken or distant relationship and take one small step toward restoration: a text, a call, a Culver's meet-up. Retire the phrase "I'll pray for you" for the next 30 days and replace it with "Can I pray for you right now?" Open your home (or your table, or your backyard) once this month for a meal, a study, or just hanging out with someone outside your usual circle. Write down the "ministry" or assignment you sense God has given you, and take one concrete step toward it this week—even if it's small. PRAYER 🙏 Ask God to help you become a testimony teller—someone whose words consistently build up rather than tear down. Pray for a specific broken relationship in your life, and ask God to show you your part in the restoration. Ask the Spirit to make you a real prayer warrior, not just someone who says the words. Pray for the Belay'ers around you—that our church would be full of faithful healers, not hurtful deserters. Ask God to remind you of any ministry you've set down, and to give you courage to pick it back up. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: The final verses of Colossians read like movie credits—and hidden in those names are seven roles that help a church thrive. Testimony Tellers (Tychicus) Share the good news, not gossip Look for the gold in people Choose positive talk over negative Unity Bringers (Onesimus) Take risks to build bridges Stop running from conflict Step into painful situations Relationship Restorers (Paul & Mark) Try again when it seems hopeless Sometimes we play the role, sometimes we need someone to play it for us Bury the hatchet, do the hard work of repair Prayer Warriors (Epaphras) Wrestle in prayer for others Stop saying "I'll pray for you"—start praying on the spot Real intercession is hard work Faithful Healers (Luke) Stay close, don't desert Be a healing presence, not a Demas Listen to the Spirit's promptings to reach out Helpful Hosts (Nympha) Open your space for the gospel Use what you have, not what you don't Ministry often happens around a table Mission Completers (Archippus) Don't quit when you get sidetracked Pick back up what God has assigned you Complete the ministry you've received Takeaway: One day the credits will roll on your life—may your name appear beside every one of these seven roles.

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

July 19, 2026 • 6 Minute Read
Are You Keeping Pace With Jesus?
OVERVIEW 👀 In this message, Pastor Paul Durbin walks us through Colossians 4:2-6, unpacking four words that spell out P.A.C.E.—Pray, Act, Converse, and Everyone. Drawing from his recent trip to Morocco and a nail-biting layover in Paris, Paul reminds us that following Jesus takes intentional pace. Just as Jesus resolutely set his face toward Jerusalem, we're called to live with that same sense of purpose—praying devotedly for ourselves and our church, acting wisely toward outsiders, seasoning our conversations with grace and salt, and doing it all on behalf of everyone God places in our path.pace TIPS 📌 For the greatest impact, invite a few others to go through this study guide with you. You don't need to do every section and question—use what fits your group or season. Let the Spirit highlight where to slow down and engage. ICEBREAKER(S) 🧊 What's the most confusing airport, city, or building you've ever tried to navigate—and did you make it out with your dignity intact? If you had to pay for something today using a currency other than money (like salt, buttons, or high-fives), what would you want your currency to be? What's a food that is completely ruined without salt, and what's a food that is completely ruined with too much of it? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Colossians 4:2-6 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. OBSERVATION 🔎 Paul uses four distinct commands in this passage—devote, pray, be wise, and let (your conversation). What does the order of these commands suggest about how they relate to each other? Paul asks the Colossians to pray specifically for two things regarding his ministry. What are those two things, and why might they matter more than a request for release from prison? What does Paul say our conversations should look like toward "outsiders," and what image does he use to describe that kind of speech? APPLICATION 👋 When you pray for yourself, are you honest about the things that trip you up, or do you tend to keep those areas hidden from God? Being watchful in prayer means naming the "XYZ" struggles we all carry. Bringing them into the light with Jesus is where real change begins. How often do you actually pray for Belay and the people who teach and lead here? Paul reminded us that preaching and teaching is a partnership—those who speak need the Spirit's help, and that often comes through the prayers of the church. Who in your life right now would be most surprised (in a good way) if you started praying for them regularly? Sometimes the people we overlook in prayer are the ones God wants to reach through our persistence. Think about how you treat people in everyday interactions—servers, cashiers, drivers on the road. Would they describe you as someone keeping pace with Jesus? Paul told the story of Kwame nearly walking away from faith because of how a pastor treated hotel staff. Our small moments often preach louder than our big ones. Does your conversation add value to the people you talk with, or does it mostly circle back to you? Salty speech, according to Paul, means people walk away feeling like their time with you was worth something. When was the last time your words made someone thirsty for Jesus—or at least curious about the hope you carry? Jesus made people thirsty just by talking with them. Our speech, filled with the Spirit, can do the same. Is there a conversation you've been avoiding because it might require you to lovingly "spur" someone on? Encouragement is part of the picture, but Hebrews reminds us that real community sometimes involves the uncomfortable work of pointing each other back to Jesus. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Set a daily prayer alarm on your phone for one week and use it to pray for Belay—for open doors, clear teaching, and hearts to be reached. Pick one person you interact with regularly (a coworker, neighbor, barista) and commit to adding value to them through your conversation this week. Practice "arrow prayers" throughout your day—short, quick prayers like "Help me, Lord" or "Help her, Lord"—especially when you feel your pace slipping. Invite someone who feels like an "outsider" to coffee or a meal, and let your only agenda be listening well and treating them with the same grace Jesus would. Write a short note or text to someone who teaches, leads, or serves at Belay, letting them know you're praying for them by name. PRAYER 🙏 Lord, help me be honest with you about the things that trip me up, and give me the courage to invite you into those places. Father, open doors for the message of Jesus—through Belay, through me, through conversations I haven't even had yet. Jesus, teach me to talk like you talked—full of grace, seasoned with salt, adding value to everyone I meet. Holy Spirit, help me act wisely toward outsiders, especially when I'm tired, rushed, or annoyed. Lord, quicken my pace. Keep my eyes fixed on you and my heart aimed at the calling you've placed on my life. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: Following Jesus requires an intentional pace—one marked by prayer, wise action, gracious conversation, and a heart for everyone. Pray Devotedly Be watchful—honest with God about what trips you up Be thankful—turn struggles into gratitude Pray for the church and those who teach Act Wisely Be like Jesus—hardest on the religious, gentlest with sinners Make the most of every opportunity Spur one another on, even when it's uncomfortable Converse Gracefully Salty speech is savory—it attracts and delights Salty speech adds value—people leave better Salty speech limits decay—it points toward holiness Salty speech triggers thirst—for Jesus On Behalf of Everyone Not just family, not just church—everyone You're a minister wherever you go Takeaway: Keep pace with Jesus by praying, acting, and speaking in ways that point every person you meet toward him.

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

July 12, 2026 • 5 Minute Read
Can You Trust God in the Pit?
OVERVIEW 👀 In this heartfelt message, Patty Durbin walks us through the life of Joseph and shows how God stays close, shapes character, and works good even in the darkest seasons. Drawing from her own story of growing up as an outsider in a broken home, Patty invites us to expect trouble, trust God's presence, worship through hard work, and adopt a kingdom perspective that sees setbacks as soil for something beautiful. Joseph's journey from pit to prison to palace reminds us that no pain is wasted when God is with us.in the pit TIPS 📌 For the greatest impact, invite a few others to go through this study guide with you. You don't need to do every section and question—use what fits your group or season. Let the Spirit highlight where to slow down and engage. ICEBREAKER(S) 🧊 What's the weirdest dream you've ever had? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Genesis 37:2-36 Genesis 39:1-23 Genesis 40:23-41:57 John 16:33 1 Corinthians 10:13 1 Peter 5:6-10 James 1:2-4 Romans 8:37-39 OBSERVATION 🔎 In Genesis 37, what specific actions and attitudes from both Joseph and his brothers contribute to the family's brokenness? What details stand out? Throughout Genesis 39, the phrase "the Lord was with Joseph" appears multiple times. In what different circumstances does this phrase show up, and what happens as a result? In Genesis 41, how does Joseph respond when Pharaoh asks him to interpret the dreams? What does his answer reveal about how he has changed since chapter 37? APPLICATION 👋 Patty said we live in a time when we think that following Jesus should make life easier, but Jesus told us to expect trouble. Where in your life have you been surprised or discouraged by hardship because you expected the Christian life to be smoother? Joseph came from a deeply broken family, yet God still used him in powerful ways. What parts of your own family story have you assumed disqualified you from being used by God? Sometimes we treat our background as a limit rather than as raw material God can shape. Patty talked about the difference between pain and harm—sometimes pain is actually good for us. Can you think of a painful season that ended up producing growth in you? Or one you're in right now that might be doing the same? This helps us reframe our current struggles instead of only trying to escape them. Joseph "worshiped God in his work"—whether as a slave, a prisoner, or a leader. What would it look like this week for you to treat your everyday tasks as worship rather than just something to get through? Worship isn't just Sunday singing—it's the posture we bring to Monday mornings. Potiphar's wife tempted Joseph day after day, and he eventually ran. What temptation in your life do you need to stop negotiating with and simply flee from? God promises a way out, but sometimes taking it means leaving your coat behind. Joseph was forgotten in prison for two more years after helping the cupbearer. Where does it feel like God has forgotten you or left you waiting? How are you tempted to respond? Waiting is often where our character gets shaped the most. Patty said the 17-year-old privileged, proud Joseph became a humble 30-year-old servant through years of hardship. What is God trying to shape or soften in you right now through your current circumstances? God is more interested in who we're becoming than in how comfortable we are. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Reach out to someone this week who is in a "pit" season—send a text, buy them coffee, or simply sit with them and remind them they're not alone. Pick one job or task you usually dread and intentionally do it as worship this week, giving it your full heart as if you're serving the Lord. Identify one temptation or unhealthy pattern you've been flirting with, and put a real boundary in place—delete the app, change the route, tell a friend. Write down three "negatives" from your story and ask God how He might want to use them for good. Share one with a trusted friend or Belay'er. Invite someone new into your circle this week—someone who might feel like the outsider, the way Patty once did in her small North Dakota town. PRAYER 🙏 Thank God for being with you in every season—the pit, the prison, and the palace. Ask God to shape humility and steadfastness in you through the hard things you're walking through. Pray for someone you know who feels forgotten, discouraged, or overwhelmed by trauma. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you're negotiating with temptation and give you courage to flee. Pray for a kingdom perspective—that God would help you trust His plan even when your circumstances feel absurd. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: God is with us in every pit, prison, and palace—using every hardship to shape us into who He created us to be. Expect Trouble, Pain, and Betrayal Joseph's broken family Brothers' betrayal and the cistern Jesus promised trouble in this world God Is With Us "The Lord was with Joseph" in Potiphar's house The Lord was with Joseph in prison God walks with us in water and fire Worship God in Your Work Fleeing temptation with Potiphar's wife Serving faithfully as a slave and prisoner Every task can be worship Adopt a Kingdom Perspective Forgotten but not abandoned Humble Joseph before Pharaoh God shapes character through difficulty Nothing Is Wasted Manasseh—God made me forget Ephraim—God prospered me in my sorrow God restores, confirms, strengthens, establishes Takeaway: No pit is too deep, no prison too long, and no pain too great for God to redeem—so keep trusting, keep worshiping, and keep walking with the One who is walking with you.

Patty Durbin

July 5, 2026 • 6 Minute Read
What If God Himself Is the Blessing?
OVERVIEW 👀 In this message, Daniel Ziesing walks us through the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 and reframes what it really means to be "blessed." Rather than treating blessing as a Christian buzzword or a list of good things we hope God will hand us, Daniel shows how Jesus is describing the good life—a life of flourishing that flows from being poor in spirit, mournful over sin, gentle, hungry for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemaking, and even willing to be persecuted. The heart of the message is simple and profound: God Himself is our greatest blessing, and every other gift is secondary to knowing Him.God himself TIPS 📌 For the greatest impact, invite a few others to go through this study guide with you. You don't need to do every section and question—use what fits your group or season. Let the Spirit highlight where to slow down and engage. ICEBREAKER(S) 🧊 If you could inherit any one thing on earth (a mountain, a taco truck, an NFL team), what would you pick and why? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Matthew 5:1-12 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." OBSERVATION 🔎 What repeated word or phrase stands out most as you read through the Beatitudes, and what patterns do you notice in how each verse is structured? What kind of people does Jesus describe as "blessed," and how does that list compare to how the world typically defines a blessed or successful person? Look at the second half of each Beatitude (the "for they will…" phrases). What is Jesus promising, and who is the one doing the giving? APPLICATION 👋 When you hear the word "blessing," what usually comes to mind first—God Himself, or the gifts and circumstances He gives? This question gets at the heart of Daniel's message. It helps expose where we might be treating God's gifts as the main thing rather than God Himself. Where in your life are you tempted to trust your own strength or goodness instead of admitting you're "poor in spirit"? Being poor in spirit isn't weakness—it's honesty. Take a minute to consider whether pride is quietly running the show anywhere. Are you more likely to laugh off your sin or genuinely mourn over it? Daniel quoted Richard Wurmbrand: "I hear a whole lot of laughing in America, but very little weeping." True mourning over sin leads us to real comfort and repentance. What "authority ladder" are you climbing right now that God might be asking you to step off of? Meekness is a broken stallion—still strong, but usable. Sometimes God's blessing looks like being freed from a fight that was never worth it. Would you say you're hungering and thirsting more for God's righteousness, or for your own comfort, reputation, or preferences? This isn't about guilt—it's about honestly noticing what you feed on most. What we hunger for shapes who we become. Is there someone in your life right now who needs mercy from you—and how does remembering the mercy you've received change how you approach them? If we've truly received mercy, we tend to give it. Withheld mercy might be a sign we've forgotten our own. Where might God be calling you to be a peacemaker, even if it means people insult or misunderstand you? Peacemaking isn't avoiding conflict—it's bringing people to God, who is our true peace. That will cost something. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Read Matthew 5-7 this week in one sitting and jot down one line that convicts you and one that comforts you. Pick one person you've been withholding mercy from and take a tangible step—text, call, coffee, or forgiveness—to extend it. Share your salvation story (or a moment you felt closest to God) with one non-believing friend or neighbor this week. Practice "poor in spirit" prayer each morning for seven days—start with, "God, I need you today," before asking for anything else. Invite someone who's mourning (a loss, a hard season, their own sin) out for a walk or a meal and simply be present with them. PRAYER 🙏 Thank God for being the greatest blessing—more than anything He gives, He Himself is the gift. Ask the Spirit to soften your heart to genuinely mourn over sin—yours, your community's, and the world's. Pray for meekness—that God would break any wild rebellion in you and use you fully for His will. Ask God to make you merciful in a specific relationship where mercy feels hard. Pray for boldness to be a peacemaker who brings people to Jesus, even when it costs you. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: God Himself is our greatest blessing—every other gift is secondary. What "Blessed" Actually Means Makarios / esher: happy, flourishing, the good life Not what the world calls the good life Jesus is redefining human flourishing The Eight Attitudes of the Blessed Life Poor in spirit — free from pride, receive God's mercy Those who mourn — brokenness over sin leads to true comfort The gentle — broken stallions who inherit through God's will Hunger and thirst for righteousness — satisfied yet still seeking The merciful — full of mercy because they've received mercy Pure in heart — pure devotion, undivided loyalty to God Peacemakers — bring others to God, the source of peace Persecuted — both by inner flesh and outer world The Point Behind the Points Every Beatitude points back to God as the reward Blessings in Scripture are always secondary to knowing God Salvation and spiritual maturity share the same posture Takeaway: Any blessing we receive should help us see God more deeply, turn us to repentance, and move us to share His love with others.

Daniel Ziesing