journeyfirstnlr's Podcast

📖 Know What You Believe | Chapter 3: Jesus Christ Tonight we continued our study of Know What You Believe by Paul Little with Chapter 3 and a good old-fashioned Bible study centered around one essential question: Who is Jesus Christ? If we are going to say we believe in Jesus, we need to know what we believe, why we believe it, and be grounded enough in the Word to share that truth with others. One of the biggest themes of our discussion was identity. Jesus knew exactly who He was. He knew His relationship with the Father, His assignment, His purpose, and His mission—and circumstances never changed His identity. That challenged us to consider our own: If I don’t know who I am in Christ, whose business am I really about? Throughout Scripture, we see Jesus revealed as the Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the promised Messiah, and the One who is united with the Father. We walked through passages in John, Daniel, Matthew, Romans, Colossians, Hebrews, and Philippians to see how Scripture continually points us toward His identity. But knowing Jesus isn’t simply about collecting information. Faith has to be cultivated. Romans 10:17 reminds us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” We don’t study Scripture just to check a box. We study because the more deeply our roots grow in the Word, the more confidently we can recognize who Jesus is, trust Him, and live according to what He says. We spent time in Colossians 2:6-12 and landed on another powerful reminder: ❤️ You are complete in Him. Failure does not get to become your identity. Your past does not get to redefine what Christ says about you. If we have received Christ, we are called to continue walking in Him—letting our roots grow deeper and building our lives upon Him. So this week, remind yourself: I am complete in Christ. I know who Jesus is. I can trust what He has said. I will continue growing my faith through His Word. And then—Go and Do. If you missed tonight, listen back on the podcast and catch up on Chapter 3. Then join us next week as we continue working through Know What You Believe together. Come ready to read, ask questions, challenge what you know, and grow deeper in your understanding of what—and Who—you believe. ❤️

📖 Know What You Believe | Chapter 2: GOD This week we continued our study of Know What You Believe by Paul Little with Chapter 2, focusing on who God is and what His character means for our relationship with Him. One of the biggest questions of the night was: Is God still good when life doesn’t feel good? As a class, we described God’s goodness as faithful, loving, trustworthy, kind, just, merciful, protective, peaceful, and righteous. We were reminded that God’s goodness isn’t determined by whether He answers our prayers the way we expect or gives us what we want. Goodness is part of who He is. Sometimes the process we want God to remove is the very process He is using to transform us. We also talked about God’s incredible faithfulness. Even when our faith gets shaky, He remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). His character doesn’t change because our circumstances do. And He isn’t a distant God. Through Psalm 139, we were reminded that God is fully present with us wherever we go—in the big moments, the ordinary moments, the blessings, and the difficult seasons. So we challenged ourselves with a few questions: What am I basing my view of God on—His character and His Word or my current circumstances? Would I still follow Him if He didn’t give me the “stuff” I wanted? Where have I personally seen His faithfulness? Ultimately, knowing about God isn’t the same as knowing God for yourself. The more we know His character, the more we learn to trust Him—even when we don’t understand what He’s doing. ❤️ “He is the one you praise; He is your God.” — Deuteronomy 10:21 If you missed this week, listen back on the podcast and catch up on Chapter 2. Then come join us next week as we continue Know What You Believe together! 📖 Keep reading. Keep asking questions. Keep seeking Him.

Tonight we began our new study of Know What You Believe by Paul Little, starting with Chapter 1: The Bible. We opened with a personal question: What does the Bible mean to you? Some described it as truth, a guidebook for living, a map, a manual, a source of grounding, and the center that keeps us anchored. Others shared how personal the Bible has become to them and how God has entrusted us with His Word. The Bible is available in different languages, translations, and formats, yet every page ultimately points us back to God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. It is not merely a book of rules or historical information. It is alive, powerful, personal, and able to transform every part of our lives. We were reminded that Scripture did not originate in the imagination or personal interpretation of human beings: “For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” — 2 Peter 1:21 The Bible originated in the mind of God. Through the Holy Spirit, He guided its writers so that they communicated the truth He intended His people to receive. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” — 2 Timothy 3:16 The words “God-breathed” remind us that Scripture comes from the very mouth of God. It is trustworthy, purposeful, and useful for shaping us into the people He created us to become. From the beginning of creation, we see the power of God’s Word. In Genesis 1, when God spoke, something happened. Light appeared. Order came from chaos. Life began. Whenever God speaks, His Word produces something. That same Word continues to create faith within us: “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” — Romans 10:17 We first come to believe through faith, but our faith grows deeper as we continue reading, studying, hearing, and applying the Word. Scripture changes us first, and as we allow it to work within us, God becomes the center of our decisions, relationships, homes, careers, and futures. We were challenged not only to read the Bible but to store it in our hearts: “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” — Psalm 119:11 The illustration was shared that an empty jar is simply a jar, but when cookies are placed inside, it becomes a cookie jar. In the same way, we must continually put the Word inside us so that the Holy Spirit can bring it back to our minds when we need wisdom, strength, direction, correction, or encouragement. We may not immediately understand everything we read, but that does not mean it is being wasted. We are storing truth for the future. In the right season, God will reveal its meaning and show us how to apply it. “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” — Psalm 119:105 The Bible may not always give us a detailed, step-by-step answer for every situation, but it gives us the principles, wisdom, and truth we need to navigate anything life places before us. We also discussed the importance of writing down what God reveals. We write in school, growth groups, step studies, and journals because writing helps move information toward comprehension and application. When God shows us something through His Word, writing it down helps us remember, revisit, and recognize how He is growing us. Several people shared powerful testimonies of how Scripture has transformed their lives. Some grew up in church but have recently developed a more personal relationship with God through studying the Bible for themselves. As their knowledge of Scripture has grown, so has their confidence in speaking God’s Word, recognizing His promises, and sharing Christ with others. There is a difference between simply saying we are Christians and building our relationship with God upon the truth of His Word. As Scripture takes root, it begins to grow—like a plant placed on “miracle grow.” Eventually, God’s Word becomes so deeply planted within us that it naturally comes out in our conversations, prayers, decisions, and responses to life. This week, we were challenged to: 📖 Read and meditate on God’s Word until it creates a desire to know more 📝 Write down what God reveals and revisit it regularly ❤️ Apply Scripture personally instead of reading it only for someone else 🗣️ Speak God’s promises over our children, families, homes, careers, and circumstances 🙏 Ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand and live what we read God is not finished writing your story. Life’s trials may sometimes be the very thing He uses to bring you back to His Word, strengthen your faith, and prepare you to minister to someone else. Take time this week to reflect: How is God using His Word to transform me—and how might He use what He is teaching me to encourage others? If you were unable to join us, we encourage you to listen back on the podcast and begin reading Chapter 1 of Know What You Believe. ❤️ Get the Word inside of you. Let it change you, guide you, and make you more like Christ. God is preparing to use you in an amazing way!

Tonight we were so blessed by guest speaker Mrs. Carolyn Dokes, who so beautifully walked us through Psalm 23 and reminded us of a truth that anchors our hearts in every season: The Lord is our Shepherd. In every moment of life—whether calm or chaotic, joyful or heavy—God is not distant or unaware. He is near. He is present. He is actively guiding, providing, protecting, restoring, and walking with us step by step. Even when we feel uncertain, overwhelmed, or weary, we are never alone. Our Shepherd never abandons His sheep. He gently refreshes our souls when life feels exhausting. He leads us into places of peace when the world feels loud and overwhelming. He cares for every detail of our lives with intentional love—nothing is too small for His attention, and nothing is ever overlooked. We were lovingly reminded to: 🙏 Draw near to God daily through prayer, worship, and His Word—because closeness to the Shepherd brings peace, clarity, and strength ❤️ Extend forgiveness quickly and love others with the same grace Christ has freely given us 🌿 Trust Him fully in every valley and every victory, knowing He remains faithful in every season of life Even in the darkest valleys, we are not without hope. God is with us. His presence does not remove every challenge, but it assures us that we will never walk through them alone. And what a beautiful promise we hold onto: God’s goodness and unfailing love are not passive—they are actively pursuing us every single day. If you were unable to join us tonight, we encourage you to listen back on the podcast and allow these truths to settle deeply in your heart once again. 📅 Join us next week as we begin our new book series: “Know What You Believe” by Paul Little. ❤️ The Lord is our Shepherd—He leads us with love, restores us with care, and holds us securely so that we will never be let go.

Tonight we were honored to welcome guest speaker Javita Nelson as she challenged us using 2 Peter 1:3-11, she introduced the idea of a “K-shaped faith.” Much like today’s economy, where some people continue to grow while others fall further behind, our spiritual lives can move in one of two directions. None of us remain spiritually neutral—we are either intentionally growing closer to Christ or slowly drifting away. The incredible news is that God has already given us everything we need for a godly life. Through His divine power and His precious promises, we have access to His nature and the ability to become more like Him. The question is not whether God has provided—it is whether we will respond. We spent time unpacking Peter’s challenge to “make every effort” to grow in our faith by intentionally developing: • Moral excellence (virtue) • Knowledge • Self-control • Perseverance (patient endurance) • Godliness • Brotherly affection • Love These are not random character traits—they are the evidence of a life being transformed by Jesus. One of the biggest takeaways from the night was that spiritual maturity doesn’t happen accidentally. It requires diligence. Reading God’s Word. Studying His promises. Memorizing Scripture. Speaking His promises over our lives. Applying what we learn instead of simply collecting information. A statement that stayed with many of us was: “Your nature determines your appetite.” When Christ gives us a new nature, our desires begin to change. We no longer simply want what the world offers—we begin to hunger for the things of God. We were also reminded that God’s promises are not empty words. They are anchors that sustain us, produce hope, and shape our future. As we grow in Him, our lives become more fruitful, stable, effective, and confident—not because of our own strength, but because of His divine power at work within us. If you missed tonight, we encourage you to catch the podcast replay. Whether you’ve walked with Jesus for decades or you’re just beginning your journey, Peter’s words remind us that there is always another step of growth waiting for us. This week, ask yourself: Am I intentionally growing in my faith, or simply hoping growth will happen on its own? Let’s continue pursuing Jesus together—one promise, one step of obedience, and one day at a time. ❤️

📖 Tonight we welcomed guest speaker Derick Brooks for a message that challenged us with one simple question: “Are you accepting things in life that you never ordered?” He began by sharing a story about receiving the wrong meal at a restaurant. Instead of sending it back, he simply accepted it. In that moment, the Holy Spirit convicted him with a deeper question: “Why are you eating something you didn’t order?” That simple moment became a powerful illustration for our spiritual lives. How often do we settle for fear, disappointment, distraction, or complacency simply because they’re placed in front of us? Together we explored Jeremiah 29:11, Habakkuk 2:2-3, and John 14:13-17, discovering that God has already established His plans and promises for His people—but He also invites us to participate by seeking Him, writing the vision, praying boldly, and faithfully walking it out. One of the biggest reminders from tonight was: 📝 The vision isn’t real until it’s written down. Many of us spend hours building someone else’s vision while never taking time to write, pray over, or revisit the vision God has placed on our own hearts. Fear, past disappointments, comparison, and comfort often cause us to “order small” when God is inviting us to trust Him for more. We reflected on several challenging questions: • What have I accepted that God never intended for my life? • Am I living by God’s design or simply by default? • What fear has kept me from asking God boldly? • If I revisited God’s vision for my life today, what would it say? One practical exercise challenged us to think of our lives like placing an order: 🍽️ Appetizers – The small joys and daily blessings we’re asking God for. 🥩 Main Course – The bigger dreams, healing, purpose, freedom, relationships, and breakthroughs we’re believing for. 🍰 Dessert – The unexpected blessings, miracles, and divine appointments only God could orchestrate. 🥗 Sides – The disciplines, wisdom, mentors, healing, and growth we need along the journey. 🚫 Allergies – The things we’re no longer willing to accept: fear, shame, procrastination, doubt, toxic influences, and settling for less than God’s best. One statement summed up the night beautifully: “Prayer is how you place the order. Faith is how you wait for it. Obedience is how you prepare to receive it.” If you missed tonight, we encourage you to catch the podcast replay. Our prayer is that this week you would spend intentional time with God, write the vision He has placed on your heart, and stop settling for what you never ordered. ❤️ God has already set the menu. The question is… will you ask, believe, and faithfully pursue what He has prepared for you?

📖 Tonight we gathered around a simple but challenging truth: You can’t pour from an empty cup. As we discussed what it means to love others well. We were reminded that God never intended us to serve from exhaustion—He calls us to serve from the overflow of His presence. We centered our conversation around John 15, where Jesus reminds us that He is the Vine and we are the branches. “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” That one verse shaped the entire evening. Together we reflected on questions like: 🔹 What fills my cup? 🔹 What continually drains my cup? 🔹 Am I trading an activity with abiding with God? 🔹What boundaries do I need to put in place? We looked at the example of Jesus, who continually withdrew to spend time with the Father, even when crowds were waiting, needs were great, and ministry opportunities were everywhere. If Jesus made time to be filled, how much more do we need to remain connected to our Source? One of the biggest reminders from tonight was this: You cannot give what you are not receiving. Serving others is a beautiful calling, but it was never meant to replace our relationship with God. Prayer isn’t another task on the list—it’s where our strength is renewed. When we prioritize God everything falls into place not according to our plan but God’s —it’s where our hearts are transformed and we reset spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally. Rest isn’t laziness—it’s trusting God enough to know He is still working even when we pause. If you weren’t able to join us, we encourage you to listen to the podcast and continue the conversation with us. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, ministry leader, friend, spouse, or simply walking through a busy season, we pray you’re reminded this week that your first calling is to remain connected to Jesus. Everything else flows from there. ❤️ Stay connected to the Vine. Let Him fill your cup. Then watch what God does through the overflow.

📖 Tonight we welcomed guest speaker Pastor Timothy Espejo as we explored what it means to have a true servant’s heart through John 13. We opened the night with a simple question: If money wasn’t an object, what is one thing you would collect? From books and vinyl records to passport stamps, sneakers, rocks, and even dogs, it reminded us that our hearts naturally pursue what we value. That question prepared us for an even greater one: What do we value enough to give our lives away for? In John 13, Jesus is in the final hours before the cross. Rather than defending Himself, preparing for a battle, or seeking comfort, He kneels down with a towel around His waist and washes the feet of His disciples—the lowest servant’s job in the house. He washed all twelve disciples’ feet… including Judas’. Afterward, Jesus asked, “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He wasn’t simply teaching an act of service—He was revealing the heart of His Kingdom. Jesus doesn’t just want us to do servant-like things; He wants us to become servants from the inside out. Together we unpacked five characteristics of a servant’s heart: 🔹 Be Secure – Know who you are and whose you are. Jesus served from a place of confidence in His identity, not a need for recognition. Our identity is found in Christ. 🔹 Be Intentional – Look for opportunities to serve every day. A servant’s heart doesn’t happen by accident; it chooses to notice and meet the needs of others. 🔹 Be Humble – Jesus, our Master and Messiah, willingly took the lowest position. We are called to serve everyone—even those who disagree with us, frustrate us, or are difficult to love. 🔹 Be Available – Slow down enough to truly see people. Ask questions. Listen well. Be willing to let God interrupt your plans so you can be part of His. 🔹 Be Filled (Stay Connected) – You cannot pour from an empty cup. Stay connected to the Source. Our ability to serve others flows directly from our relationship with God. Without abiding in Him, burnout is inevitable. One of the strongest reminders from tonight was that serving everyone is only possible when these five qualities are growing together in our lives. We closed by challenging ourselves to remember these five words this week: Secure. Intentional. Humble. Available. Filled. May they shape how we love our families, coworkers, neighbors, friends, and even strangers. Our prayer this week is simple: “Lord, give me a servant’s heart, and give me opportunities to put that servant’s heart on display.” If you weren’t able to join us, we encourage you to catch the podcast and continue the conversation with us. We hope to see you next week as we continue growing together in God’s Word and becoming more like Jesus. ❤️ Who can you intentionally serve this week?

Tonight we welcomed guest speaker Pastor Kane Dorsey for a powerful discussion: “No Rivals Besides Him: What Have I Placed Beside Jesus?” We began with a simple illustration that challenged us more than we expected. When people were offered a healthier option, they overwhelmingly said they wanted it—but when fruit was placed beside fries, the fries won almost every time. The question became… Do our choices reflect what we say we want? Many of us say we want Jesus, peace, and a deeper relationship with God. Yet every day life places something beside Him that competes for our attention, affection, and obedience. Together we unpacked Luke 10:38-42, looking at Mary and Martha. Both loved Jesus. Both welcomed Him into their home. Both had access to Him. The difference wasn’t their love—it was their response. Martha wasn’t doing anything sinful. She was serving, preparing, and caring for others. Yet even good things can become distractions when they pull us away from the Main Thing. We discussed some of the biggest rivals that quietly compete with Jesus in our lives: • Worry — making tomorrow feel bigger than God’s presence today. • Comparison — taking our eyes off Jesus and placing them on someone else’s assignment. • Good things — family, work, ministry, hobbies, serving, and responsibilities that can slowly become ultimate things. • Technology and noise — the constant stream of notifications, entertainment, and information that keeps us from hearing God’s still, small voice. One statement that stayed with many of us was: “Anything that consistently pulls my attention, affection, or obedience away from Jesus has become a rival beside Him.” We ended our discussion asking ourselves: ➡️ What has become too loud? ➡️ What gets my attention before Jesus? ➡️ What helps redirect my focus back to Him? P. Kane shared how he redirects his focus through worship, intentional time in God’s Word, praying Scripture, and allowing the Holy Spirit to renew his mind. He shared key verses and songs that he uses to continually bring him back to the feet of Jesus. May this week be one where we intentionally choose His presence over distraction and make our prayer and actions show Jesus is the center of our life. If you weren’t able to join us, we encourage you to catch the podcast and continue studying alongside us. We’d love to have you with us next week as we continue growing together in God’s Word.

📖 Questions Series: “Could You Not Watch With Me One Hour?” Matthew 26:40-46 Tonight we stepped into one of the most powerful and vulnerable moments in Scripture—the Garden of Gethsemane. As Jesus faced the cross, He didn’t run from the pressure, fear, or suffering ahead. Instead, He went to the Father in prayer. Meanwhile, the disciples, despite their love for Jesus and best intentions, fell asleep. Jesus asked Peter a question that still challenges us today: “Could you not watch with Me one hour?” As a group, we discussed how easy it is to have willing spirits but weak flesh. We often want to do the right thing, spend time with God, pray more, trust more, and stay connected—but life, distractions, exhaustion, and circumstances can pull us away. We reflected on several questions: 🔹 Where do I go first when life gets hard—God or something else? 🔹 Am I preparing spiritually before the battle, or only seeking God once the battle begins? 🔹 Am I stewarding the opportunities He has given me? One of the biggest takeaways from tonight was that Jesus wasn’t simply preparing for suffering—He was surrendering Himself completely to the Father’s will. “Not My will, but Yours be done.” We also saw the beauty of God’s grace. Even though Peter slept, denied Jesus, and failed, Jesus wasn’t finished with him. Failure wasn’t the end of Peter’s story, and it isn’t the end of ours either. The challenge for all of us this week is simple: 🙏 Watch and Pray. 🙏 Stay connected to the Vine. 🙏 Spend intentional time with God before the crisis comes. 🙏 Trust God’s will even when you don’t understand His timing. The more we learn who God is, the more we learn to trust Him before, during, and after every battle. Go and do and Be who God has called you to be in this season. If you missed it, be sure to catch the podcast replay and join us next week as we will have a guest speaker. We will be starting discussing the book Know What you Believe by Paul Little in August. We have book available for purchase in class for $10 if you would like to start reading. #JourneyFam #QuestionsSeries #WatchAndPray #Matthew26 #FaithInTheProcess #NotMyWillButYours #GrowingTogether