Who's Paying Your Ransom?
Why the cross is the rescue you could never buy yourself.

Paul Durbin • Lead Pastor
November 10, 2026

7 Minute Read

OVERVIEW 👀

In this opening message of the Thankful for the Cross series, Pastor Paul Durbin walks us through the first of four reasons we can be deeply thankful Jesus went to the cross—He paid our ransom. Using the heartbreaking story of the Chibok girls taken by Boko Haram, Paul paints a vivid picture of what captivity really looks like and why no personal payment is ever enough to set us free. He unpacks five realities every Belay'er needs to grasp: without Christ we are captives, no personal payment is sufficient, Jesus Himself became our ransom, love for the captive (not the captor) drove the payment, and we must choose to walk free. This message is a warm, honest invitation to stop loving our captivity and start walking in the freedom Jesus already purchased.

185 | Who's Paying Your Ransom?

In this opening message of the Thankful for the Cross series, Pastor Paul Durbin walks us through the first of four reasons we can be deeply thankful Jesus went to the cross—He paid our ransom. Using the heartbreaking story of the Chibok girls taken by Boko Haram, Paul paints a vivid picture of what captivity really looks like and why no personal payment is ever enough to set us free. He unpacks five realities every Belay'er needs to grasp: without Christ we are captives, no personal payment is sufficient, Jesus Himself became our ransom, love for the captive (not the captor) drove the payment, and we must choose to walk free. This message is a warm, honest invitation to stop loving our captivity and start walking in the freedom Jesus already purchased.

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) 🧊

Who in a movie or book do you think makes the best rescuer, and what makes their rescue so satisfying?

BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖

Matthew 20:28

1 Timothy 2:5-6

Romans 7:18-19

Luke 4:18

OBSERVATION 🔎

  1. In 1 Timothy 2:5-6, how does Paul describe both the role of Jesus and the scope of who the ransom is for?
  2. Read Romans 7:18-19. What specific words does Paul use to describe his inner struggle, and what does that reveal about the nature of captivity to sin?
  3. In Luke 4:18, what are the specific things Jesus says He was anointed and sent to do?

APPLICATION 👋

  1. Paul described being "captive" to sin as feeling like a habit you don't want, an addiction you can't shake, or a bitterness that's eating you alive. Where in your life right now does captivity feel most real?
  2. Think about how our culture tells us we can fix almost anything by trying harder, paying more, or finding a loophole. How has that mindset shaped the way you think about your own spiritual life?
  3. Paul said some of the Chibok girls stayed behind because they had grown accustomed to captivity. Are there areas in your life where you've grown so used to captivity that freedom actually feels uncomfortable?
  4. The sermon pointed out that one reason people doubt the devil is a very real strategy to keep us captive. How seriously do you take the idea of a personal spiritual enemy, and how does that affect your daily choices?
  5. Paul emphasized that Jesus didn't just pay the ransom, He became the ransom. How does that distinction change the way you view the cross and your relationship with Jesus?
  6. The sermon said the ransom wasn't paid out of respect for the captor, but out of love for the captive. What would shift in your life if you really believed God paid that price specifically out of love for you?
  7. Paul invited anyone who felt stirred to pray a prayer of receiving Jesus as their ransom. Was there anything in that moment that stirred in you, and what might your next step look like?

LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️

  • Reach out this week to someone you know is stuck in something hard—an addiction, grief, anxiety, bitterness—and simply listen without trying to fix them. Remind them they're not alone.
  • Share the story of the Chibok girls and the ransom with a friend or coworker who doesn't follow Jesus, and use it as a doorway to talk about what Jesus did on the cross.
  • Identify one "captivity" in your own life this week—a habit, mindset, or relationship pattern—and tell a trusted Belay'er about it so you can walk toward freedom together.
  • Write a short note or text to someone who recently made a decision to follow Jesus, encouraging them that the price has been paid and they really are free.
  • Spend one evening this week unplugged from screens and in prayer, specifically thanking Jesus for being your ransom and asking Him to show you anyone else who needs to hear that good news.

PRAYER 🙏

  • Thank Jesus for not just paying your ransom, but becoming your ransom.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any area where you've grown comfortable with captivity, and give you courage to walk free.
  • Pray for someone you love who's still captive to sin, addiction, or deception—that their eyes would be opened.
  • Ask God for a deeper awareness of the enemy's schemes so you're not outwitted by sin or temptation this week.
  • Pray that Belay would be a community where captives find freedom and the ransomed know they are deeply loved.

WORSHIP 🙌

OUTLINE 📝

Main Idea:

Jesus didn't just pay our ransom on the cross—He became the ransom payment itself, out of pure love for us, the captives.

Opening Illustration:

The 2014 kidnapping of 276 girls in Chibok, Nigeria by Boko Haram, and the estimated $3.7 million ransom allegedly paid to secure the release of most of the girls. The terrorists didn't deserve the money—but the girls were loved.

Series Setup:

Thankful for the Cross—a four-week series answering why we should be deeply thankful Jesus went to the cross.

The four reasons:
  1. Jesus paid our ransom,
  2. Jesus became our king,
  3. Jesus took our punishment,
  4. Jesus gives us an example.
Today's focus:

Jesus paid our ransom.

Defining Ransom:

A sum of money or payment demanded or paid for the release of a captive.

Historical note:

The ransom view was the dominant way of describing the cross for the first thousand years of Christianity (Origen, Gregory, Augustine).

Without Christ, we are captives.
  • Captive to sin (Romans 7:18-19, Acts 8:23).
  • Captive to the devil, who is a very real captor (John 8:44, 2 Timothy 2:26, 1 Peter 5:8).
  • Denying the devil's reality makes his deception easier (2 Corinthians 2:10-11).
No personal payment is sufficient.
  • Our culture says try harder, pay more, find a loophole—but that doesn't work spiritually.
  • Psalm 49:7-8: no one can redeem the life of another.
  • Our captors are simply too strong for us, just like the Chibok parents couldn't storm a terrorist compound.
Jesus became our ransom.
  • He didn't just pay the price—He was the price (1 Peter 1:18-19, Hebrews 10:5-10).
  • Illustration: The alleged mediators and Swiss diplomats who drove into the Nigerian forest with duffel bags of euros, risking their lives.
  • Deeper illustration: Aslan in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe—the willing victim on the stone table, and the "deeper magic" that predates the law.
It's love for the captives, not respect for the captor, that prompted the ransom.
  • The ransom wasn't paid because the terrorists were loved—it was paid because the girls were loved.
  • John 3:16-17: God so loved the world.
  • Ephesians 2:1-5: because of His great love for us, God made us alive with Christ.
We must choose to walk free.
  • Roughly 80-90 of the Chibok girls stayed behind—not because the ransom wasn't paid, but because they'd grown accustomed to captivity.
  • We too can fall in love with our sin, our image, our old way of life.
  • Luke 4:18: Jesus came to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind.
Takeaway:

If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36)—so stop loving your captivity and walk out of the compound.

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November 10, 2026 • 7 Minute Read
Who's Paying Your Ransom?
OVERVIEW 👀 In this opening message of the Thankful for the Cross series, Pastor Paul Durbin walks us through the first of four reasons we can be deeply thankful Jesus went to the cross—He paid our ransom. Using the heartbreaking story of the Chibok girls taken by Boko Haram, Paul paints a vivid picture of what captivity really looks like and why no personal payment is ever enough to set us free. He unpacks five realities every Belay'er needs to grasp: without Christ we are captives, no personal payment is sufficient, Jesus Himself became our ransom, love for the captive (not the captor) drove the payment, and we must choose to walk free. This message is a warm, honest invitation to stop loving our captivity and start walking in the freedom Jesus already purchased.ransom 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) 🧊 Who in a movie or book do you think makes the best rescuer, and what makes their rescue so satisfying? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Matthew 20:28 1 Timothy 2:5-6 Romans 7:18-19 Luke 4:18 OBSERVATION 🔎 In 1 Timothy 2:5-6, how does Paul describe both the role of Jesus and the scope of who the ransom is for? Read Romans 7:18-19. What specific words does Paul use to describe his inner struggle, and what does that reveal about the nature of captivity to sin? In Luke 4:18, what are the specific things Jesus says He was anointed and sent to do? APPLICATION 👋 Paul described being "captive" to sin as feeling like a habit you don't want, an addiction you can't shake, or a bitterness that's eating you alive. Where in your life right now does captivity feel most real? Think about how our culture tells us we can fix almost anything by trying harder, paying more, or finding a loophole. How has that mindset shaped the way you think about your own spiritual life? Paul said some of the Chibok girls stayed behind because they had grown accustomed to captivity. Are there areas in your life where you've grown so used to captivity that freedom actually feels uncomfortable? The sermon pointed out that one reason people doubt the devil is a very real strategy to keep us captive. How seriously do you take the idea of a personal spiritual enemy, and how does that affect your daily choices? Paul emphasized that Jesus didn't just pay the ransom, He became the ransom. How does that distinction change the way you view the cross and your relationship with Jesus? The sermon said the ransom wasn't paid out of respect for the captor, but out of love for the captive. What would shift in your life if you really believed God paid that price specifically out of love for you? Paul invited anyone who felt stirred to pray a prayer of receiving Jesus as their ransom. Was there anything in that moment that stirred in you, and what might your next step look like? LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Reach out this week to someone you know is stuck in something hard—an addiction, grief, anxiety, bitterness—and simply listen without trying to fix them. Remind them they're not alone. Share the story of the Chibok girls and the ransom with a friend or coworker who doesn't follow Jesus, and use it as a doorway to talk about what Jesus did on the cross. Identify one "captivity" in your own life this week—a habit, mindset, or relationship pattern—and tell a trusted Belay'er about it so you can walk toward freedom together. Write a short note or text to someone who recently made a decision to follow Jesus, encouraging them that the price has been paid and they really are free. Spend one evening this week unplugged from screens and in prayer, specifically thanking Jesus for being your ransom and asking Him to show you anyone else who needs to hear that good news. PRAYER 🙏 Thank Jesus for not just paying your ransom, but becoming your ransom. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any area where you've grown comfortable with captivity, and give you courage to walk free. Pray for someone you love who's still captive to sin, addiction, or deception—that their eyes would be opened. Ask God for a deeper awareness of the enemy's schemes so you're not outwitted by sin or temptation this week. Pray that Belay would be a community where captives find freedom and the ransomed know they are deeply loved. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: Jesus didn't just pay our ransom on the cross—He became the ransom payment itself, out of pure love for us, the captives. Opening Illustration: The 2014 kidnapping of 276 girls in Chibok, Nigeria by Boko Haram, and the estimated $3.7 million ransom allegedly paid to secure the release of most of the girls. The terrorists didn't deserve the money—but the girls were loved. Series Setup: Thankful for the Cross—a four-week series answering why we should be deeply thankful Jesus went to the cross. The four reasons: Jesus paid our ransom, Jesus became our king, Jesus took our punishment, Jesus gives us an example. Today's focus: Jesus paid our ransom. Defining Ransom: A sum of money or payment demanded or paid for the release of a captive. Historical note: The ransom view was the dominant way of describing the cross for the first thousand years of Christianity (Origen, Gregory, Augustine). Without Christ, we are captives. Captive to sin (Romans 7:18-19, Acts 8:23). Captive to the devil, who is a very real captor (John 8:44, 2 Timothy 2:26, 1 Peter 5:8). Denying the devil's reality makes his deception easier (2 Corinthians 2:10-11). No personal payment is sufficient. Our culture says try harder, pay more, find a loophole—but that doesn't work spiritually. Psalm 49:7-8: no one can redeem the life of another. Our captors are simply too strong for us, just like the Chibok parents couldn't storm a terrorist compound. Jesus became our ransom. He didn't just pay the price—He was the price (1 Peter 1:18-19, Hebrews 10:5-10). Illustration: The alleged mediators and Swiss diplomats who drove into the Nigerian forest with duffel bags of euros, risking their lives. Deeper illustration: Aslan in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe—the willing victim on the stone table, and the "deeper magic" that predates the law. It's love for the captives, not respect for the captor, that prompted the ransom. The ransom wasn't paid because the terrorists were loved—it was paid because the girls were loved. John 3:16-17: God so loved the world. Ephesians 2:1-5: because of His great love for us, God made us alive with Christ. We must choose to walk free. Roughly 80-90 of the Chibok girls stayed behind—not because the ransom wasn't paid, but because they'd grown accustomed to captivity. We too can fall in love with our sin, our image, our old way of life. Luke 4:18: Jesus came to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind. Takeaway: If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36)—so stop loving your captivity and walk out of the compound.

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

November 4, 2026 • 6 Minute Read
What Would You Do If You Knew Time Was Short?
OVERVIEW 👀 In this closing message of the Life Under the Sun series, Pastor Paul Durbin walks us through Ecclesiastes 11-12 and unpacks Solomon's four final words of wisdom: just ship it, invest early, savor the poetry, and fear God. With honesty, humor, and real-life stories, Paul reminds us that God has placed something unique in each of us that the world needs, that saying yes to Jesus early changes everything, that growing older is a gift worth embracing, and that a healthy reverence for God quiets every other fear. It's a call to stop waiting for perfect conditions and start living fully alive to the One who made us. 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 go back and give your 20-year-old self one piece of financial or life advice, what would it be? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Ecclesiastes 11:1-10 Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 Luke 9:23-25 Hebrews 9:27-28 OBSERVATION 🔎 In Ecclesiastes 11:1-6, what repeated themes or images does Solomon use to describe stepping out in faith despite uncertainty? In Ecclesiastes 12:1-7, what poetic images does Solomon use to describe aging, and what do they communicate about how he views growing older? How does Solomon's conclusion in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 tie together everything he has been teaching throughout the book? APPLICATION 👋 What is something God has placed in you that you've been holding back from "shipping"? Paul shared how a professor once told him he didn't have what it takes, but he went anyway. Think about a time when you let someone else's doubt hold you back from stepping out in faith. Where in your life are you "watching the wind" or "looking at the clouds"—waiting for perfect conditions before you obey God? Solomon says those who wait for ideal circumstances will never plant and never reap. Consider what "perfect conditions" you might be waiting on. If the days of your life are currency, how are you currently spending them? Paul reminded us that time is one of the most valuable things God has given us. Reflect on whether your calendar matches what you say you value most. What does it look like for you, in this season, to "invest early" in Jesus rather than later? Whether you're 18 or 68, "early" simply means now. Think about one surrender you've been postponing. How do you honestly feel about growing older, and how might God be inviting you to "savor the poetry" of this stage of life? Our culture often pushes us to fight aging rather than embrace it. Consider what it would look like to receive it as a gift instead. What would change in your daily life if your fear of God truly dwarfed every other fear you carry? Paul described the fear of God as deep reverence that aligns our life with His Word. Think about a specific fear that loses its grip when God gets bigger. Are you looking to Jesus for salvation, or are you quietly gambling that you'll figure it out later? Paul closed with a direct invitation to put our trust in Christ now, not someday. This is a chance to answer that question honestly. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Take one concrete step this week toward the dream or calling God has put in you—send the email, make the call, start the project, write the first page. Sit down with your calendar and bank account and ask, "Am I investing my days and dollars in things that matter for eternity?" Make one adjustment. Reach out to an older Belay'er this week and ask them to share a story or lesson from their walk with Jesus—then thank them for it. Share a piece of wisdom or encouragement God has given you with someone younger who could use it. Invite someone who doesn't yet know Jesus to coffee, a meal, or a Sunday at Belay—don't wait for the perfect moment. PRAYER 🙏 Lord, give me the courage to step out in faith and "ship" what You've placed in me. Jesus, help me invest my life—my time, energy, and resources—into Your kingdom instead of my own. Father, teach me to embrace the season of life I'm in and savor the gift of each day. God, grow in me a healthy fear of You that quiets every other fear. Jesus, I put my trust in You today—be my Savior, my King, and my rescue. OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: Solomon's final words of wisdom call us to step out in faith, surrender our life to Jesus early, embrace the gift of aging, and walk in a reverent fear of God. Just Ship It (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6) You are a one-of-a-kind result of God's creativity, and He's placed things in you that the world needs. Les Brown quote about the graveyard being the richest place on earth—full of unshipped dreams. Paul and Patty's story: van-life ministry after Bible college, moving to China with four kids, planting Belay in Boulder. "Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap." Stop waiting for perfect conditions—plant the seed, trust God, try again if you fall. Invest Early (Ecclesiastes 11:7-10, Luke 9:23-25) The compound interest illustration: the investor who starts at 25 ends up with more than the one who starts at 35, even investing less. The days of your life are currency—invest them in what lasts. Jesus: whoever loses their life for His sake will save it. Say yes to Jesus now, not "right before you die." Enjoy your youth, but know there's a payoff for every investment you make. Savor the Poetry (Ecclesiastes 12:1-8, Proverbs 16:31) Solomon writes three verses to the young and eight poetic verses to the old—he's tender with aging. Paul's story of seeing the back of his balding head on the big screen in Beijing. The poetic imagery of aging: trembling hands, dim eyes, fading hearing, fear of heights. Gray hair is a crown of glory—don't fight it, embrace it, share your wisdom. Not everyone gets to grow old; it's a gift. Fear God (Ecclesiastes 12:9-14, Hebrews 9:27-28) Paul's hamper jump-scare story—that's not the fear of God. The fear of God is deep reverence that aligns our life with His Word and His ways. A fear of God dwarfs every other fear—opinions, risk, the world. Solomon's final word points to a coming day of judgment. The answer to judgment: Jesus, sacrificed once, returning for those who are waiting for Him. Takeaway: Don't gamble your life—ship what God has put in you, invest early in Jesus, savor the season you're in, and let a reverent fear of God lead you home.

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

October 25, 2026 • 7 Minute Read
What Are You Holding That You Can't Keep?
OVERVIEW 👀 In this message from the Life Under the Sun series in Ecclesiastes 9–10, Pastor Paul Durbin walks us through Solomon's honest look at life on planet earth—where no one escapes death, hard work doesn't always win the day, and a little folly can spoil a whole lot of good. Paul reminds us that life is hevel, a vapor we can't grasp, and the wisest thing we can do is trade what we can't keep for what we can never lose. Along the way, he shares the stories of Officer Eric Talley, Philip Henry, and Jim Elliot, and lands on three takeaways: work as an act of worship, live like purity is worth it, and move forward with a sharp ax. TOPICS wisdom, work & vocation, holiness, rest & sabbath, calling & purpose 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 were given a brand new ax and told to chop wood all day, would you be the "swing harder" person or the "sharpen first" person? Be honest. What's the strangest food combo you've actually enjoyed? (Bonus points if it would make a Boulder Black Bear Breakfast Brownie jealous.) If someone put up a historical plaque about your life 100 years from now, what single sentence would you want on it? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Ecclesiastes 9:1-18 Ecclesiastes 10:1-20 OBSERVATION 🔎 In Ecclesiastes 9:1-6, how does Solomon describe the shared destiny of all people, and what does he say sets the living apart from the dead? Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 shifts from the reality of death to instructions about how to live. What specific things does Solomon tell us to do, and what tone do you notice? In Ecclesiastes 10:1 and 10:10, Solomon uses two vivid pictures—dead flies in perfume and a dull ax. What point is he making with each image? APPLICATION 👋 Paul opened by sharing about Officer Eric Talley, saying that in the grand scheme of things, Eric didn't lose. Where in your life right now are you tempted to measure "winning" and "losing" the way the world does instead of the way Jesus does? Think about this quote: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." What's one thing you're gripping tightly that you honestly can't keep anyway? Paul said God actually takes pleasure in your pleasure—sunsets, carrot cake, marriage, color. Where have you believed the lie that enjoying life is somehow unspiritual? This isn't about ignoring God's boundaries; it's about receiving His good gifts with gratitude. Paul challenged the idea that giving Jesus your all must mean becoming a pastor or missionary. If God has called you to be a teacher, entrepreneur, parent, or tradesperson, how are you doing at seeing that work as worship? Many of us compartmentalize Sunday from Monday without realizing it. "As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor." What's the "scoop of scat" in your life right now—the small, hidden sin you've convinced yourself isn't a big deal? This question isn't meant to shame you; it's meant to free you. Paul said sometimes we can't discern God's will because we're holding onto something we won't lay down. Is there a decision you've been praying about where the clarity might come from surrender rather than more information? The older lumberjack won because he sharpened his ax. What does "sharpening your ax" need to look like in this season—rest, Sabbath, time with Jesus, time off, counseling, prayer? Many of us keep swinging a dull blade and calling it faithfulness. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Pick one everyday task this week—answering emails, folding laundry, writing a report, driving carpool—and silently offer it to Jesus before you start. Notice what changes in how you do it. Reach out to someone in a "regular" job (teacher, nurse, tradesperson, barista) and encourage them that what they do matters to God and to the people they serve. Name one small compromise you've been carrying and confess it to a trusted Belay'er this week. Light kills what darkness feeds. Block out one real Sabbath window on your calendar in the next seven days—no work, no hustle. Use the time to pray, walk, rest, or simply enjoy what God has given you. Think of one person in your orbit who feels forgotten or unseen. Do something small and specific for them this week—a note, a coffee, a meal—just like the poor wise man who saved the city. PRAYER 🙏 Jesus, help me loosen my grip on what I can't keep so I can receive what I can never lose. Father, show me where I've been treating my work as drudgery instead of worship, and give me new eyes for it. Lord, surface the hidden things in my life. Give me courage to lay them down fully, not partially. Spirit, teach me how to sharpen my ax—how to rest, abide, and work from strength instead of fumes. Jesus, make me the kind of person who quietly makes a difference, even if no one remembers my name. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: The wisest way to live under the sun is to trade what we cannot keep for what we cannot lose. Opening Stories Officer Eric Talley—faith, family, and a sacrifice that saved lives at King Soopers Philip Henry (300 years ago) and Jim Elliot (1949): "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose" The Hebrew word hevel—vapor, breath, smoke—we can't grasp it Peter's reminder that our inheritance can never perish, spoil, or fade (1 Peter 1:3-4) Setting the Context Life Under the Sun series in Ecclesiastes Solomon isn't describing how life should be, but how life actually is Reading through Ecclesiastes 9 and 10 together Observations from the Text Nobody escapes death—100% terminal But the living have hope—we can still choose, still surrender "God has already approved what you do"—God takes pleasure in your pleasure The race isn't always to the swift—God gives abilities, opens doors, goes before us The poor wise man who saved the city—our accomplishments are easily forgotten Dead flies in perfume—a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor Money "answers everything"—Solomon describing reality, not endorsing it Work as an Act of Worship We tend to split "spiritual life" from "work life" Ecclesiastes 9:10—whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 and Colossians 3:17, 23-24 If God has called you to be a king, don't stoop to be a pastor Turn the world upside down in the realm God has placed you Live Like Purity Is Worth It Shared destiny can tempt us to shrug off holiness Dead flies in perfume—Boulder Black Bear Breakfast Brownies illustration Jesus never called us to partial surrender (Matthew 16:24-26) Romans 12:1-2—offer your bodies as a living sacrifice Clarity about God's will often follows surrender, not precedes it Move Forward with a Sharp Ax Ecclesiastes 10:10—skill brings success The lumberjack story—"I was sharpening my ax" Jesus withdrew to lonely places (Luke 5:16) Matthew 11:28-30—come to Me and I will give you rest Rest and reliance on Jesus are also acts of worship Takeaway: Give what you can't keep. Live pure. Keep your ax sharp. And trust Jesus with the rest.

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

October 11, 2026 • 5 Minute Read
Are You Living Today Like You'll Be Remembered Tomorrow?
OVERVIEW 👀 In this message from our Ecclesiastes series, Greg Seymour walks us through chapters 7 and 8, exploring three honest realities about life under the sun: death is certain, no one is truly righteous, and no one can fully grasp what God is doing. He invites us to live life backwards—letting the certainty of death shape how we live right now, letting go of our schemes to earn our way to God, and humbling ourselves to trust the Artist who sees the whole picture. The teaching lands squarely at the cross, where Jesus steps into our hevel world and offers the righteousness, perspective, and eternal life we could never get on our own.greg 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) 🧊 Have you ever tried to assemble something (IKEA furniture, a puzzle, a recipe) and been convinced it was broken, only to realize later you were just looking at it wrong? What was it? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Ecclesiastes 7:1-29 Ecclesiastes 8:1-17 OBSERVATION 🔎 In Ecclesiastes 7:1-4, what contrasts does the teacher draw between mourning and merrymaking, and what does he say each one does for the heart? In Ecclesiastes 7:15-20, what two warnings does the teacher give, and what reason does he give in verse 20 for why no one can earn their way to righteousness? In Ecclesiastes 8:16-17, what does the teacher conclude after all his searching, and what does that tell us about the limits of human understanding? APPLICATION 👋 If you went to your own funeral tomorrow, what would people honestly say about your life, and what would you wish they could say? This question isn't meant to be morbid—it's meant to be clarifying. The teacher says funerals do something for the heart that parties can't. Where in your life are you currently waiting for some "future version" of yourself to finally get serious about following Jesus? Greg talked about college students always pushing God off until later. We all have our own version of "later." What's one scheme you tend to run—one way you try to define good and evil on your own terms or earn your way into God's good graces? Schemes aren't always obvious. Sometimes they look like performance, people-pleasing, or quiet self-righteousness. Who in your life is hard for you to see as made in the image of God, and what would it look like to treat them like the "king" or "immortal" C.S. Lewis describes? Lewis says there are no ordinary people. That changes how we treat the barista, the coworker, the family member who drives us crazy. Where are you currently wearing yourself out trying to figure out what God is doing? Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is stop trying to explain everything and start trusting the Artist. When you look at a hard season from your past or present, can you name one place where what looked "bent" might actually be part of a bigger picture God is painting? This isn't about pretending pain doesn't hurt. It's about trusting that God is still at work in the mess. What would it look like this week to live in the present—not stuck in the past or chasing the future—as someone who knows Jesus has already won? Pascal said we almost never actually live. We just hope to live. Jesus invites us into right now. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Write out the kind of eulogy you'd want someone to give at your funeral, then pick one thing from it to start living into this week. Reach out to someone who recently lost a loved one—send a text, drop off a meal, or just sit with them. Let their mourning soften your own heart. Pick one person this week who is easy for you to overlook, and intentionally treat them like someone made in the image of God—learn their name, ask them a real question, see them. Identify one "scheme" you've been running to earn God's approval, name it out loud to a trusted friend, and ask them to pray with you about letting it go. In the next hard moment this week, instead of trying to figure out why, pause and pray a one-line prayer: "I trust the Artist." PRAYER 🙏 Thank God for the gift of today—for the present moment that is actually yours. Confess the schemes you've been running to try to save yourself, and receive the righteousness Jesus freely offers. Ask God to open your eyes to see the image of God in the people around you this week. Pray for the courage to stop putting your walk with Jesus on hold for some imagined future. Thank God that even what looks bent is being worked for good, and ask for the humility to trust the Artist. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: Because death is certain, righteousness is impossible on our own, and God's ways are beyond us, our only real hope is to humble ourselves and trust the Artist—Jesus—right now. Death Is Certain Funerals teach the heart more than feasts We're meant to live life backwards We only get to follow God in the present No One Is Truly Righteous (And We Love To Scheme) Made upright in God's image The fall and the first scheme—defining good and evil for ourselves Even our best righteousness falls short No One Can Fully Comprehend What God Is Doing What looks bent to us is straight to God The anamorphic art picture—perspective changes everything Two responses: Macbeth's nihilism or the Creature's trust Takeaway: Stop scheming, stop stalling, stop trying to figure it all out—humble yourself and trust the Artist who already conquered sin, death, and the grave.

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

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