Jesus' disciples asked, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1-4). Jesus gave them a simple model: "Father, may your name be kept holy. May your kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation."What strikes me about that prayer? It's SIMPLE. No flowery words. No "thee" and "thou." Just straightforward, everyday words, everyday needs. And it's SHORT—about 15 seconds.Prayer is simply a conversation with God, just like you'd talk to a friend.

WHY DID JESUS PRAY?

FIVE REASONS:
TO BUILD RELATIONSHIP - Luke 3: At Jesus' baptism, as He prayed, the Father said "You are my dearly loved Son." Do you just present a list of wants? Or build relationship?

FOR GUIDANCE - Four times Jesus spent ALL NIGHT in prayer before major decisions (choosing the 12, starting public ministry, Gethsemane). Are your big decisions informed by prayer?

TO GIVE THANKS - Luke 10: Jesus stopped mid-day to thank the Father. When you become aware of God's presence, do you stop and thank Him?

FOR PERSONAL STRENGTH - Gethsemane: Jesus was in such agony His sweat fell like drops of blood. An angel came and strengthened Him. When you need strength, do you pray?

FOR OTHERS—INCLUDING ENEMIES - Luke 6: "Pray for those who hurt you." Pray for everyone you contact. If they're not friendly, you DEFINITELY have something to pray for.

HOW SHOULD WE PRAY?
The Lord's Prayer is 15 seconds. It's just a conversation. In John's Gospel, it doesn't say Jesus "prayed" it says He "looked to heaven and said." That's prayer: talking to your friend.Jesus prayed FREQUENTLY but not always in scheduled blocks. The urge to talk to His Father came on Him, and He did it, sometimes in front of crowds, sometimes alone.

TRUE CONFESSION:
I struggle with extended prayer times. My mind wanders. But it hit me: Prayer is a CONVERSATION. I don't schedule times to talk to my wife. I see her and talk. The conversation lasts 3-4 minutes. An hour later, we do it again.That's what I do with God all day long. Driving, someone comes to mind, I pray. It's not a separate 15-minute block—it's CONSTANT.BUT WAIT—
Does that mean we shouldn't have 15-minute prayer times? Of course not! Jesus spent ALL NIGHT in prayer. We need BOTH: extended times AND constant conversation throughout the day. Be bold enough to stop and say, "May I pray for you right now?"FOUR QUESTIONS:
When and how do I pray to build my relationship with God? If you don't, start.

When and how do I pray for guidance and strength? I was taught I can do anything if I try hard enough. I can't. Neither can you. We ALL need strength.

When and how do I thank God? Keep a Thanksgiving journal. Write down what you thank God for. When you get depressed, open it up.

When and how do I pray for others? Friends, enemies—doesn't matter. Pray for those you can influence.

BOTTOM LINE: PRAY.Lord, teach us to pray like You prayed. We need You. We need that relationship. We need Your guidance, Your strength, Your empowerment to bless others.

Jesus looked at 12 ordinary guys and said: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." (Matthew 10:5-8)

Then they DID. Not by their own power, by God's power working through them.

In week 5 of "All That I've Commanded You," Pastor Zach tackles the command we often skip: miracles, healing, and God's supernatural work TODAY.

THE CORE MESSAGE:
I'm not a cessationist (someone who believes miracles stopped after the early church). Why? I don't see that anywhere in my Bible. People all over the world report miracles TODAY.

The Great Commission is self-replicating. YOU have been given authority (by God's power alone) to heal the sick, raise the dead, and drive out demons. Not by YOUR power, by God's.

TWO TRUTHS IN TENSION:
WE PRAY DILIGENTLY AND EXPECT MIRACLES - Jesus healed constantly. "By your faith you have been healed." We should ask boldly.

WHEN MIRACLES DON'T HAPPEN, WE STILL PRAISE GOD - Sometimes God says NO. Jesus in Gethsemane prayed for another way. God said NO—the cross was the only way. Nobody had more faith than Jesus, yet God said no.

THE SHADRACH, MESHACH, ABEDNEGO APPROACH:
"Our God will rescue us from the furnace. And even if He doesn't, we still won't bow. We'll bow to the God of the universe."

God's going to come through. And even if He doesn't, He's still God, He's still good, and I trust Him.

THREE REAL MIRACLE STORIES:
PASTOR TONY SMITH:
Christmas Eve - major heart attack, 5% heart function, total organ failure. Doctors: "We don't know how you're alive." Hundreds praying. Organs restart. Heart climbs from 5% to 30%. Doctors: "We don't understand how this is possible." Two weeks later: eating lunch with pastors, preaching again.

STEVE (Stage 4 Cancer):
Given a year to live. Sees Jesus laughing at the end of his bed. Prays: "Just give me a fighting chance." Specialist uses the EXACT same words. 10 years later: cancer-free, alive, following Jesus. Jesus was laughing because He'd already conquered Steve's death, physically AND spiritually.

COREY (Age 32):
Hodgkin's AND non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Risky surgery. Nurses circle around, pray over him. "I knew God had me. I wasn't afraid." His response: "I believe God will heal me. But if He doesn't, I'm okay going home. My family knows Jesus. Whatever time I have, I'll spend telling everyone about Jesus."

THE D.L. MOODY STORY:
D.L. Moody preached two identical sermons. First service: total apathy. Second service: HUNDREDS saved. What changed? Between services, a bedridden woman locked herself in her room and prayed past midnight.
Was it hundreds praying? Or ONE person on their knees? It takes ONE God and ONE faithful servant.

YOUR ROLE:
Can YOU be that person? Totally sold out to Jesus in prayer?
When you're sick: Don't suffer alone. James says go to your elders, have them anoint you with oil and pray. We don't see that enough.

BOTTOM LINE:
We pray diligently. We expect miracles. And when it doesn't go our way, we trust the God who heals and uses ALL things for good.

Miracles happen. God is still moving. Open your eyes.

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0:00 - Introduction & Series Context
1:00 - Today's Topic: Miracles & Healing
3:00 - Jesus Tells the 12: "Go Do What I Do"
4:00 - I'm Not a Cessationist - Here's Why
6:00 - The Great Commission Is Self-Replicating
7:00 - Why Did They Keep Healing in Acts?
9:00 - "By Your Faith You Have Been Healed"
10:00 - Jesus in Gethsemane - When God Says No
11:00 - God Uses Suffering for Good
12:00 - Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego - "Even If He Doesn't"
14:00 - Tony: 5% Heart Function, Total Organ Failure
15:00 - Mike Wiggin Gets Inside Info
16:00 - Heart Doctor: "He's Going to Die"
18:00 - We Arrive - Tony's Eating a Salad
20:00 - Two Weeks Later: Preaching Again
21:00 - STORY 2: Steve's Stage 4 Cancer
22:00 - Steve Sees Jesus Laughing at His Bed
25:00 - STORY 3: Corey's Lymphoma Diagnosis
26:00 - Age 32 - Hodgkin's & Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
27:00 - Nurses Circle and Pray Before Surgery
28:00 - "Whatever Time I Have, I'll Tell Everyone About Jesus"
29:00 - D.L. Moody Story - Two Services, Two Results
31:00 - Second Service: Hundreds Saved
32:00 - The Bedridden Woman Who Prayed All Night
34:00 - Don't Suffer Alone - Go to Your Elders
35:00 - Closing Prayer
36:00 - Outro

Jesus says "Beware" 14 times in the Gospels. He's warning us about two things:

BEWARE WHO YOU CAN BECOME
Don't be greedy (storing up wealth while ignoring God)
Don't be prideful (practicing righteousness to be seen by others)

BEWARE WHO YOU TRUST
- False prophets come in sheep's clothing
- Bad teaching spreads like yeast
- Don't blindly trust teachers, videos, or even your pastor
Test EVERYTHING by their fruit and against Scripture

THE BEREAN TEST:
When Paul preached, the Bereans didn't just accept it. They went home, checked it against Scripture, then came back and said "You check out." That's supposed to be US with ALL leaders.

In today's cultural chaos, people are being driven away from Christ through either total distrust or angry mob mentality. Neither is discernment.

We stand in the gap. We lead people to Christ. We need JUSTICE, not mobs. We need DISCERNMENT, not fear.

BOTTOM LINE:
Test EVERYTHING against God's Word. Seek truth. The world is getting crazier. We're still called to be here not afraid, standing firm, standing on truth.

📖 Key Scriptures: Matthew 7:15-20, Acts 17:11, Proverbs 25:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:21

My name is Randy, and I'm a worrier. It's been six minutes since my last worry. Sound familiar?

In week 3 of "All That I've Commanded You," Pastor Randy tackles Jesus' command that hits closest to home for most of us: DON'T WORRY. This message is personal, honest, and incredibly practical for anyone who's ever laid awake at 3 AM with their mind racing.

Jesus addresses worry directly in Matthew 6:19-34, but it's more than just "stop worrying." He gets to the ROOT of why we worry in the first place, and what we can do about it.

THE HEART OF THE ISSUE:
The opposite of faith isn't doubt, it's fear. And worry is just another form of fear. Specifically, worry is the fear of a negative outcome. Fear of being forgotten. Fear of abandonment. Fear of losing control.

JESUS' THREE-PART SOLUTION:

EXAMINE THE DRIVING FORCE IN YOUR LIFE
Is it focused on YOU (wealth, prestige, power)? Or is it focused on GOD (worship and service to His children)?

REACH OUT AND HELP SOMEBODY ELSE
Matthew 6:22-23 - Don't have an "evil eye" (stinginess). Be GENEROUS. Give it away.

SET PRIORITIES - SEEK FIRST GOD'S KINGDOM
Matthew 6:25-34 - "Don't worry about these things... Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

Look at the birds. They don't plant, harvest, or store, yet God feeds them. Aren't you more valuable?

Look at the wildflowers. They don't work to make clothing, yet Solomon wasn't dressed as beautifully. If God cares for grass that's here today and gone tomorrow, won't He care for you?

WHEN TO GET PROFESSIONAL HELP:
If worry becomes anxiety with these symptoms: Trouble concentrating, muscle tension (especially mid-back), fatigue, headaches, rapid heartbeat, sweating, irritability affecting relationships, avoidance behaviors, thoughts of self-harm, START WITH YOUR DOCTOR. Counselors are generally as effective as medication and are usually the first step.

PRACTICAL STEPS:
Tonight when worry wakes you at 3 AM:

Ask: What's the driving force of my life? Am I inward-focused or outward-focused?

Ask: Is God and His kingdom truly my priority?
Recognize: God is actually in control (I never was)
Find somebody to talk to and share what you're experiencing

Seek first His kingdom. Everything else will be provided.
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0:00 - Introduction & Series Context
1:00 - "My Name is Randy, and I'm a Worrier"
2:00 - Command: Don't Worry
5:00 - Can We Have Fear and Faith at the Same Time?
7:00 - Luke 12:6-7 - Fear of Being Forgotten
8:00 - Why Do We Worry? (Psychology)
10:00 - Matthew 6:19-21 - Don't Store Up Treasures on Earth
11:00 - The "Evil Eye" - Be Generous, Not Stingy
13:00 - Wealth, Prestige, and Power
14:00 - What's the Driving Force of Your Life?
16:00 - Can Worries Add a Single Moment to Your Life?
18:00 - What Do YOU Worry About? (Church Survey Results)
20:00 - Kids' Worries: School, Friends, Spelling Tests
21:00 - When Worry Becomes Anxiety
22:00 - Warning Signs: Get Professional Help
24:00 - Matthew 6:28-30 - Look at the Wildflowers
26:00 - "Today's Trouble Is Enough for Today"
28:00 - 1. Examine the Driving Force
29:00 - 2. Reach Out and Help Someone
30:00 - Real Story: Separation Anxiety Solution
32:00 - Practical Steps for Tonight
34:00 - Closing Prayer
35:00 - Outro

Jesus says "Follow Me" 18-20 times in the Gospels. But in 2026, who are we actually following? Our politicians? Our favorite influencers? Our denominational heroes? Our pastors?

In this challenging message from the "All That I've Commanded You" series, Pastor Zach confronts one of the most uncomfortable truths in Christianity: following Jesus means giving up everything else.

We're wired to follow. We follow politicians, podcasters, thought leaders, and movements. We click "follow" on social media and consume everything they say. But Jesus makes it clear:

"If you want to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23).

THE HARD TRUTH:
A cross isn't a minor inconvenience, it's an execution device. Following Jesus means everything you were before Him dies. Daily. No exceptions.

KEY PASSAGES EXPLORED:
Luke 9:23 - Take up your cross DAILY
Luke 14:25-35 - Count the cost before you follow
Luke 18:18-27 - The rich young ruler who couldn't let go
1 Corinthians 1 - Stop saying "I follow Paul" or "I follow Apollos"
John 14:6 & Matthew 7:13-14 - The narrow way is as wide as Jesus

THE CHALLENGE:
When you follow someone who's not following Jesus, even if they're "Christ-adjacent," you are NOT following Jesus. The path diverges. Even 30 degrees off course leads you miles away from Him over time.
This applies to:

✓ Your political party
✓ Your favorite Christian authors
✓ Your podcast hosts
✓ Your denominational leaders (Lutheran, Calvinist, Wesleyan, etc.)
✓ Even your own church and pastor

BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP:
Real leaders don't say "follow me." They say what Paul said: "Imitate me as I imitate Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). If they step out of line with Christ, you don't follow, you bring correction. Leaders shepherd you back to Jesus; they don't build their own following.

THE LITMUS TEST:
Are their feet pointing toward Christ or another direction?
Are they humble or egocentric?
Do they point to Jesus or to themselves?
Do they say "He must increase, I must decrease" (John 3:30)?

BOTTOM LINE:
Stop standing behind politicians, influencers, denominations, or movements. Stand behind Jesus. Period. Our citizenship is in heaven. Our King is Christ. Everyone else is just noise.

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💬 Who have you been following instead of Jesus? Be honest in the comments

What does it really mean to believe in Jesus?
Is it just intellectual agreement, or is there something more?

In the first message of our new sermon series "All That I've Commanded You," Pastor Randy unpacks Jesus' command to "believe the gospel" and reveals why belief is so much more than just accepting facts.

Spoiler: Even demons believe the facts about God, and they tremble. So what makes Christian belief different?

Starting with the Great Commission (Matthew 28), Pastor Randy breaks down Jesus' unique commands into five categories and focuses on the very first one: believe.

Drawing from John 14, James 2, and multiple healing miracles, this message challenges us to move from intellectual assent to life-aligning faith.

KEY INSIGHTS:
- The 5 main groupings of Jesus' 74 commands
- Why "believe" and "faith" are the same Greek word
- The difference between believing THAT and believing IN
- What Jesus meant when He said "believe in me"
- Why the opposite of faith isn't doubt, it's fear
- How communion connects us to Christ in a tangible way

MAIN SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 28:18-20 (Great Commission)
Mark 1:14-15 (Repent and believe)
John 14:1-14 (Believe in God, believe in me)
James 2:19 (Even demons believe)
Matthew 8:5-13 & 9:27-30 (Faith brings healing)

THE CHALLENGE:
Has your faith been merely intellectual?
What area of your life needs to come under the Lordship of Jesus?
Spend time with that question this week.

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👍 Like if you're ready to move from belief THAT to belief IN

💬 Comment: What's one area where you need to align your life with Jesus?

0:00 - Introduction & Series Launch
3:00 - Jesus' 74 Unique Commands
4:00 - Five Main Groupings of Commands
6:00 - Command #1: Believe the Gospel
8:00 - James 2:19 - Even Demons Believe
9:00 - Belief Includes Repentance & Action
12:00 - Thomas Asks: "Where Are You Going?"
14:30 - Believe THAT vs. Believe IN
16:00 - Aligning Your Life With Jesus
18:30 - Believing in His Name = Receiving Him
19:00 - Faith and Healing Miracles
21:00 - What Faith Is NOT
22:00 - The Opposite of Faith Is Fear
25:00 - What Does Jesus Mean by "Believe in Me"?
26:00 - Application: How Do I Believe?
32:00 - Outro

#GreenvilleIN #JohnsonCountyIN #IndianapolisChurch #SouthSideIndy #GreaterGreenville #IndianaChurch #BelieveInJesus #AllThatIveCommandedYou #GreatCommission #NewHopeChurch #FaithInAction #ChristianFaith #BelieveTheGospel #SermonSeries #NewTestamentCommands

What did Jesus really mean when He said "On this rock I will build my church"?

In the final message of our Vision Series, Pastor Randy challenges two traditional interpretations and introduces a third that transforms this familiar passage into a battle cry.

Matthew 16:13-20 takes place at Caesarea Philippi, at the foothills of Mount Hermon, a location ancient Jews believed was where Genesis 6 occurred, where fallen angels descended to corrupt humanity. Greek mythology taught that natural springs there were the literal "gates of hell" leading to Hades. This was the center of evil in their world.

And Jesus said: This is where I'll build my church.

The church goes where it's hardest. Always has. From the Black Plague to Nazi Germany, from the slums of Calcutta to closed nations today, the church invades Satan's kingdom at its darkest points. The gates of hell cannot prevail.

This message asks: Where is YOUR Mount Hermon? Where is it hardest for you? That's where you start. That's where it begins.

WHEN: Now
WHERE: The hardest place
WHO: You

What are you waiting for?

Visit becomehope.com to learn more about New Hope Church.

Why does New Hope emphasize small groups so much? And if small groups are where discipleship truly happens, what's the point of Sunday morning services? In this message from our Vision Series, Pastor Randy answers these questions by going back to the early church in Acts.

KEY POINTS:

The early church had BOTH corporate meetings and house gatherings

Why we meet on Sundays

Three purposes of corporate worship from Hebrews 10

Our vision for teaching: Biblical, checkable, transformative

Our vision for outreach: Being the best church FOR the community

Our vision for encouragement: Get involved, don't just attend

The story of why one family chose New Hope

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

Acts 2:46-47

Hebrews 10:19-25

2 Timothy 3:16-17

John 16:33

Whether you're new to New Hope or have been here for years, this message clarifies why we do what we do and invites you to get involved in both small groups AND Sunday gatherings.

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👍 Like if you believe in both small groups and corporate worship

💬 Comment: Are you part of a small group? If not, what's holding you back?

COMPANION PODCASTS:

Daily Devotional: "Let's Find Out Together"

Apologetics: "Salty Saints"

Visit: becomehope.com

Location: South side of Indianapolis

#NewHopeChurch #ChurchVision #SmallGroups #CorporateWorship #SundayMorning #ChurchCommunity #Acts2 #Hebrews10 #BiblicalChurch #ChurchPurpose