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May 12, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
The Cure for a Self-Absorbed Heart
What if the cure for a self-absorbed heart is a generous one? When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he'd just spent fifteen chapters (of 1 Corinthians) confronting some serious mess—lawsuits, immorality, even doubts about the resurrection. And then, almost out of nowhere, he pivots in chapter 16 and starts talking about… a collection. For people a thousand miles away. People the Corinthians would never meet, never hear from, never get a thank-you note from. I don't think that pivot was random. I think Paul knew something we forget: one of the surest ways out of our own stuff is to start paying attention to someone else's. Generosity has a way of breaking the gravitational pull of self. It reorients our hearts. It reminds us we're part of something bigger than our own bank accounts and our own backyard. I remember the first time Patty and I gave away money I really wanted to keep. It was guitar money—mine—and the Lord nudged me to give it to a friend so he could buy a bass. It hurt a little. But when I saw his face the next day, something cracked open in me. Money lost a little bit of its grip, and joy moved in. That's what missional giving does. It loosens what's tight in us and makes room for God to work. If you want to hear more, listen to the full sermon or dig into the study guide—and ask Him where He might be inviting you to look beyond yourself this week.View Media
May 10, 2026 • 6 Minute Read
Is There a Standard for Giving?
OVERVIEW 👀 In this message, Pastor Paul Durbin walks us through 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 and uncovers six surprisingly practical standards for giving. Drawing from Paul's words to a self-absorbed Corinthian church, he shows how generosity pulls us out of ourselves and into God's mission. With honesty, humor, and stories from his own life, Paul invites Belay'ers to see giving not as a burden, but as a beautiful habit that breaks money's grip and shapes us into people who live "on belay."View Media 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 a "silver dollar," would you actually check to see if it was real silver, or just toss it in a drawer and forget about it? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, Now about the collection for the Lord's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. OBSERVATION 🔎 Who is the offering in 1 Corinthians 16 intended for, and what does that tell us about Paul's vision for the Corinthian believers? Paul instructs giving to happen "on the first day of every week." What specific details does he give about how and when this should be done? In 2 Corinthians 9, what kind of giver does God love, and what promise follows that kind of giving? APPLICATION 👋 Paul redirected the Corinthians from their own problems to a need 1,000 miles away. Where in your own life have you been so self-focused that you've lost sight of the needs of others? It's easy for our prayers, our energy, and our money to circle around our own world. Pastor Paul shared the story of giving away his guitar money so his friend could buy a bass. When was the last time giving cost you something you actually wanted? Sometimes the most formative giving moments aren't the easy ones. If giving is a normal practice for followers of Jesus, why do you think it's the one church practice people push back on most? Jesus warned that we can't serve both God and money—so our resistance often reveals something deeper about who has our heart. Paul says to give on the first day of the week, before we know what's coming. How does your current giving rhythm compare to that? Many of us wait until the end of the month to see what's "left over," which often means little or nothing is left. Have you ever sat down and made an actual plan for your generosity—a budget for giving? Without a plan, giving tends to be reactive instead of intentional, and we miss the joy of being ready when needs arise. Pastor Paul described how he and Patty consider 20% of their income as "not theirs"—designated for God, for others, and for blessing kids. What percentage feels honest for where you are right now, and what would it look like to grow from there? This isn't about hitting a number—it's about training your heart. What would it look like for you to have "margin" in your finances so you could give freely when the Spirit prompts you? Margin is what turns generosity from a struggle into a joy. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Set up a zero-based budget this week (using an app or just a notebook) and give every dollar a job—including a line item for generosity. Identify one missional need outside your immediate circle—a missionary, a ministry, a neighbor in another country—and give toward it this month. Make giving the first line in your budget instead of the last. Try it for 30 days and see what shifts in your heart. Surprise someone with a gift this week—a meal, a tank of gas, a coffee, an unexpected check—and don't tell anyone you did it. Talk with your spouse, a roommate, or a trusted Belay'er about your giving plan. Generosity grows best in community. PRAYER 🙏 Ask God to show you any way money has become your master instead of your servant. Pray for a missional vision—eyes that see needs beyond your own household and scope. Ask the Spirit to help you trust Him with the first of your income, not just the leftovers. Pray for joy in giving, that it would become a habit you look forward to instead of one you avoid. Pray that Belay would continue to be a church marked by generosity, margin, and missional giving. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: God's Word gives followers of Jesus a clear standard for generosity—six simple practices found in just two verses. Text: 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 1) Giving is missional a. A vision for needs beyond our own scope b. Paul points Corinth toward Jerusalem, a thousand miles away 2) Giving is normal a. It's simply what the church does, like prayer and worship b. Resistance to giving reveals who our true master is (Luke 16) 3) Giving happens first a. Give before you know what the week holds b. Abel's firstborn vs. Cain's "in the course of time" 4) Giving is habitual a. Not when we feel like it, but a regular rhythm b. Like exercise, food, and sleep—built into our lives 5) Giving is proportionate a. "In keeping with your income"—no set price tag b. Examples from Jacob (a tenth) to the early church (everything) 6) Giving creates margin a. A plan creates freedom to give when needs arise b. True for individuals and for Belay as a church Takeaway: Build a plan for generosity, and let God shape you into a cheerful, missional giver.
May 3, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
The Book of Acts Ends on an Adverb
The book of Acts ends on an adverb. Seriously. Luke—one of the most careful, polished writers in the early church—stops his story mid-sentence on the word "unhindered." Paul is under house arrest, the verdict is unclear, the churches are scattered, and Luke just… puts the pen down. It feels like a mistake. But I think it's actually the point. The story wasn't over when Luke stopped writing. It still isn't. The Spirit who came at Pentecost, the gospel that cut three thousand people to the heart, the unnamed men and women from Cyprus who just started talking about Jesus to their neighbors—that whole movement keeps going. And somewhere in the middle of it is you and me. I think a lot of us read the Bible like it's a closed book about people who lived a long time ago. But Acts refuses to let us do that. It hands us the pen. It says: keep writing. Keep walking. Keep telling people about Jesus in your kitchen, on your hike, at the coffee shop, in the carpool line. You don't need a title or a platform. The gospel reached the Gentiles because of people Luke didn't even bother to name. That's encouraging to me. The story of Jesus at work in the world has always moved forward on the backs of regular people who simply stayed devoted and stayed available. So—where are you in the story right now? Name it. Tell someone. And then take the next small step. This thought is based on this recent sermon by Kevan Ho:View Media
May 3, 2026 • 9 Minute Read
Where Are You in the Story God Is Still Writing?
In this message, Kevan Ho walks us through a sweeping survey of the first half of the book of Acts, showing how the early church was born, shaped, and scattered—all in the rhythm of God's mission. From the confrontation of the gospel to a community marked by devotion, from facing real problems to being sent out by unnamed everyday people, Kevan invites us to find ourselves in this ongoing story. The book of Acts ends mid-sentence on purpose, because the story of Jesus at work through His people is still being written—and we're part of it.View Media 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 describe yourself as a "devoted fan" of something (a sport, a snack, a TV show, a hobby), what would it be and how embarrassing is the level of devotion? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Acts 1:8 — But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 2:1-4 — When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:36-38 — Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:42-47 — And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 8:1-4 — And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Acts 11:19-21 — Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. Acts 28:30-31 — He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. OBSERVATION 🔎 In Acts 1:8, what does Jesus connect the power of the Holy Spirit to? Notice the geographic progression—what does it suggest about the scope of God's mission? In Acts 2:42-47, what four things were the early believers devoted to, and what specific behaviors flowed out of that devotion? In Acts 8:1-4 and 11:19-21, who is actually doing the preaching as the gospel spreads? What do you notice about how God uses the scattering? APPLICATION 👋 Kevan said the Christian message is sometimes comforting and sometimes deeply confrontational. Where in your life right now do you sense God comforting you, and where might He be confronting you? This question helps us recognize that a healthy walk with Jesus includes both being held and being challenged. Kevan reminded us that confrontation isn't shaming—it's like a doctor honestly telling us the diagnosis so we can be healed. When the crowd was "cut to the heart," they asked, "What shall we do?" Is there an area of your life where the Spirit has cut you to the heart but you haven't yet responded with repentance or change? Repentance simply means turning around—stepping down as king of your own life so Jesus can take the throne. Kevan shared his own story of being fourteen and hearing the gospel for the first time as the song his heart had been humming all along. The early church was marked by devotion—to teaching, prayer, fellowship, and one another. What are you actually devoted to right now (be honest), and what would it look like to grow in devotion to Jesus and His people? Kevan pointed out that devoted people can spot casual fans a mile away. Devotion shows up in how we spend our time, our money, and our attention. Ananias and Sapphira's sin wasn't a lack of generosity—it was wanting to appear more than they were. Where do you feel the pull to "image manage" in your spiritual life? This is the gap between who we are and who we want to appear to be. Kevan said the church should be a safe place to bring our honest selves in search of grace. When you see problems in the church (any church, including Belay), what's your default reaction—withdraw, complain quietly, or humbly bring it forward in a way that seeks solutions? The early church had real problems—neglect, deception, persecution—and they didn't pretend otherwise. Kevan highlighted that truthful, humble complaints brought to leadership actually moved the mission forward. Looking back at painful or disorienting seasons in your life, can you see places where God was writing a bigger story than the one you were feeling in the moment? Kevan reminded us that the scattering of the early church looked like loss but was actually the spread of the gospel. Our pain isn't wasted in the hands of a redeeming God. The gospel went to the Gentiles because of unnamed people from Cyprus and Cyrene who just started talking about Jesus. Who in your life right now might God be inviting you to simply have a conversation with? You don't need a title, a degree, or an official role to live on mission. Kevan shared how his family came to Colorado with one simple motto: "We're going to make friends for Jesus." LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Pick one person this week who doesn't know Jesus and pray for them daily by name. Then look for one natural opportunity to invite them into your life—coffee, a meal, a walk, a hike. Practice radical honesty with one trusted person this week. Share something real you've been hiding or managing, and let them speak grace and truth back to you. Identify one rhythm of devotion (Scripture, prayer, fellowship, generosity) that's been slipping, and rebuild it this week in a concrete way—even if it's small. Look for an "unnamed" act of kindness or witness you can offer someone this week. No platform, no spotlight—just a quiet conversation, a meal delivered, a need met. If you've been carrying a complaint or concern about something in the church, bring it forward humbly and truthfully to a leader or a Belay'er you trust, with a heart for solutions. PRAYER 🙏 Ask the Spirit to show you where you are in the Acts story right now—and to give you courage to name it honestly. Pray for someone in your life who needs to hear the gospel. Ask God to soften their heart and to give you the words and the moments. Pray for Belay to be a community marked by devotion, honesty, and joy—not image management or casual faith. If you're in a season of pain, loss, or disorientation, ask God to show you the bigger story He's writing, even when you can't see it. Pray for the unnamed Belay'ers quietly living on mission—at work, in neighborhoods, in schools, in homes. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE Kevan opens by setting up the strange ending of Acts—Luke stops mid-story on the word "unhindered." The Great Commission in Acts 1:8 becomes the table of contents for the whole book: Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, the ends of the earth. Pentecost in Acts 2: the Spirit comes communally and propels the disciples into mission. Peter's sermon confronts the crowd with both their sin and God's love—they are cut to the heart and respond with repentance and baptism. Kevan shares his own fourteen-year-old story of hearing the gospel for the first time. Acts 2:42-47: the early church is marked by deep devotion—to teaching, prayer, fellowship, generosity, and one another. Ananias and Sapphira: the sin of image management and deception, and the call to radical honesty in community. Acts 6: real problems of neglect in the church, and the model of truthful complaint, humble leadership, and faithful problem-solving. Acts 7-8: persecution, the scattering, and the bigger story God writes in the midst of pain and loss. Acts 11: unnamed men and women from Cyprus and Cyrene take the gospel to the Gentiles—shifting the center of gravity to Antioch. Kevan ties it back to his own family's move to Colorado and the everyday mission of making friends for Jesus. The book ends "unhindered" because the story keeps going—through us. Where are you in the arc?
