Pastor Goforth

O Jogo Bonita – the Beautiful Game

July 7th, 2026
Pelé made the term popular when playing for Brazil and then in the USA.

We have certainly seen it in this round of hosting the World Cup in North America. Sadly, some Americans just can’t get it, but it is a Beautiful Game, and it’s been a beautiful expression of the world here in USA, Canada, and Mexico.

It is beautiful for many reasons:
1. The skill, artistry, athleticism are just where it starts. The ability to control a ball, the ball flight, the height, the curvature, no it’s not easy, nor is a beautiful work of art easy to create, but that’s what makes it beautiful.
2. It’s beautiful because it is a worldwide sport that has been part of culture all over the world for 3,000 years.
3. It is beautiful because it can be played with many different balls or substitutes for balls. It can be played with great equipment or no equipment. It can be played by young and old, tall and short, rich and poor, and when unable to participate it can be enjoyed for the beauty of it.
4. Americans have struggled to grasp it for many reasons. Americans tend to like short term rewards, a hit, a walk, a strikeout, a homerun. a First Down, the Ability to bang into one another and physically block, or take down a player, a Touchdown, and Interception, we want it to come quickly. High scores are enjoyed by American fans, when a basket wasn’t good enough, we wanted a three-point shot. When a layup wasn’t enough, we liked a Slam-dunk. When a goal wasn’t good enough on ice, we wanted to see a fight. When a wrestling match was over too fast, too unpredictable, someone wanted to create a “soap-opera” in a choreographed athletic event and call it “pro-wrestling”.
5. Futbol, Football, or Soccer is a Beautiful Game because it is much more like life. Anyone can compete. We must work together, think proactively, get in position, pay attention, be patient, stay at it when you are tired, just like life. An American Football game has 60 minutes on the clock, has commercials and all that may last over Three Hours to complete – and yet, action is only about 11-12 minutes, but a Futbol/Soccer game, 90 minutes of Play – and that might be with only a goal or two scored. Just like life, we stay at it, and get successes in short opportunities but it’s the doing that is Life.
Soccer / Futbol is a beautiful game – because it is a love of the game and a love of your team, and in World Cup, it is a Love for your Country. One of the Most Beautiful Things in this last month and with still another week to go has been the national expressions of pride, as well as appreciation for the other country’s pride.

The singing of National Anthems has been unlike any other sport expression. I love to have the opportunity to sing our National Anthem at sporting and community events, but that is a performance. You go to a baseball game or other sporting event, when the national anthem is sung, people are respectful, generally, but they aren’t participating. In the World Cup – just music is played and the Team and the Fans Sing their Hearts Out for their Country. It is loud, it is proud, it is Visceral!

I would add one other thing from my own experience. Yes, I played soccer as a boy and young man. Pelé came on the USA scene when I was at that age, and I wore his Adidas, NASL White Cleats with Red Studs on the bottom. As an Adult, I continued to play, coached a couple dozen teams as my sons were growing up. But I’m 61 years old, and I’ve been on Four Continents as a Tourist but also on short and long-term mission work and do you know what has been a common denominator as well as a vehicle to relate, but also to create opportunities to share my faith? The Beautiful Game. I’ve played it on Beautiful “Pitches” as well as on Dirt Fields with Large Rocks Protruding. I’ve played it in streets, inside buildings. I’ve talked about it and shifted to talking about the Greatest Game – Life – and what is available in Jesus Christ.

If you haven’t played, or watched, put down your flippant statements, and give it a watch, if for no other reason than to know what’s got the world so transfixed, and be able to have a conversation with someone from somewhere else.

It IS a Beautiful Game

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people (CSB
Caught Up

June 25th, 2026

He is NOT a Thief, who steals away what he already owns; He is but an owner, a warrior to rescue, taking his goods back home; And So comes Christ , …
Caught Up
But You Are – 1 Peter 2:9

June 23rd, 2026
Those without Christ, apart from Christ, lay their own path. But, because of Christ, the child of God finds Christ to be Source and Strength, Path and

Purpose, Instigation and Destination.

He is the Why, the How, and the Where.

In Peter’s first letter, he writes to those chosen, living as exiles – paradidemos = sojourner; temporary residents in a strange place.

We hear a lot about “foreigners, aliens”, but in Christ, whether politically, positionally, actually, or relationally, we are just on a journey in this world.

Peter writes to followers of Christ in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. He tells them that God knew already that they would become his. As they have become his, the Spirit is at work sanctifying them. That word, hagiasmos = making them holy.

Paul speaks in Romans 4:29+ that these God forknew, he had destined them to be conformed to the image of Christ, and he had called… justified… and glorified. All of those are listed in the past tense in that they are completed work of God, even before we experience them. Then Paul continues… if God is for us, who can be against us?

God will finish the work, Praise the Lord, but between the justification and glorification Peter speaks of the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient… That’s the day-to-day lifelong process of becoming who we are remade to be.

1 Peter 1:3 says because of mercy he has given us a new birth into living hope… v4 into inheritance… and as you read on he says, be holy because I am holy.

Well now I want to Preach 1 Peter… but that’s for another time.

Let me get back to where I started in 1 Peter 2:9… Peter says, But You Are….

That means there is a negative opposite experience. 2:1 says, Therefore, rid yourselves of…

What?
- Malice – kakia = wickedness, evil, malice
- Deceit – dolos = not just lying but deceit with intent = deceit, treachery, cunning
- Hypocracy = hypocrisis = a playcating answer
- Envy – phthonos = envy, jealousy – i.e. I want what you have and I hate you for having it
- All Slander – katalalia = evil speech, slander, not necessarily lying, but seeking to destroy by truth, and false implication
- GET RID – apotithemi = to lay aside, take off – Take Off these filthy, nasty, clothes…
Why?
- v2b so that you may grow up into your salvation – not to receive salvation, but to grow into the salvation you have already received
Peter confesses, yes, you may be rejected by people, but you are CHOSEN and Honored by God.

I have struggled much in life and continue to try and be accepted, be good enough, be honored… but Peter tells us that in Christ, we are Known – prognosis, Chosen – eklektos, and Honored – entimos = valued, precious, highly regarded

Come on Now Somebody…

Honor will come to all who believe, but the Unbelieving he says, they stumble – proskopto = strike against… because they disobey – and just as God knowns who will be his, and has chosen them for great things, he also knows those without him, and because of their refusal, he has destined them to stumble

and fall.

But YOU are…

When he tells us who we are, and tells us to put aside the clothing that doesn’t match the holiness we are, and are becoming, who we will be, he gives us the biggest…

Why
- You are Somebody – a Chosen Race – genos = nation, people, class
You are part of a somebody in a group. Not somebody by yourself out there. You are part of a bigger Somebody, a Chosen People Class.
- For Something – a Royal Priesthood – a people called to serve in the holy worship of the king
- Into Something – a holy nation – hagio ethnos – a set apart spiritual ethnicity
- To Him – a people for his possession – peripoiesis – comes from the word poieo = to make – he has making us into a treasured possession
- To Be Something Outward – so that you may Proclaim the Praises – exangello = an angelic proclamation – Tell out arete = the excellence of his character. Go Tell somebody about the the one who called you OUT of Darkness, INTO Marvelous Light. Tell Them that ONCE you were not anything… but now you are a people, once had not mercy, but now have received mercy…
Well that’s a lot – then you go and read the rest of the chapter, and the rest of the letter based on understanding who you are. It affects then how you lie, how you act, toward people, toward the government, at work, in relationships…

v21 – for you were called to this…

It all comes back to living according to who you are, who we serve, why he saved us, as you are Growing Up Into the Great Salvation we have received.

Yeah we have a way to go, like a kid walking in Dad’s Shoes… but grow up into it!
No Greater Love… Lay Down His Life – John 15:13

June 16th, 2026
No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. You are MY friends if you do what I command you (John 15:13-14 CSB)

John 15 is so full – so powerful. Jesus is squeezing so much teaching in this night before his crucifixion.

In John 13:34-35, he has already said, A new commandment I give you… love one another… as I have loved you… by this all will know you are my disciples…

Now, he has talked about “abiding in him” 15:5 that’s where life and fruitfulness exist for the “branches” The Vine is the source, the Branch gets life from the Vine.

Then you get down to verse 13, and we often read this looking back and knowing what Jesus died for us, but I’ve often pointed that Jesus didn’t just “show up” and die, no, he came and LIVED, gave up his LIFE, not just his death.

So, is he calling us to consider how we live? Is he saying we should live lives surrendered to the better FOR someone else?

Yes

Oh wait, my greatest love is laying down my life, for my friends. philos = beloved, dear one – Ok, I can do that – live surrendered to my friend…

That’s the problem, when we pick and choose verses.

Laying down your life for your friends, got it…

Wait

v14 you are MY friends if you do what I command you…

uh-oh – What has he commanded? Back up to all of this chapter, but even if you take a few verses…

v9 as the Father has loved me, I have loved you (1) Remain in my Love – if you keep my commands you will remain in my love…

Is he saying that when I do not do what he says I’m NOT staying in his love?

He continues, Just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in HIS love… Well… go to John 5:19 and Jesus said he was unable to do anything on his own… only what the Father does… the Son does…

Then in John 15:11 says there is Joy in this… that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete…

Joy comes in knowing and doing what Jesus says, what the Father says

(2) v12 this is my command, love one another, as I have loved you…

Well, he keeps saying this doesn’t he?

Romans 5:8, Paul teaches us that Jesus demonstrated / proved his love in that while we were sinners, separated from God, he died for us.

1 John 3:16 this is how we know what love is: He laid down his life for us… we should lay down our lives for our brothers…

Well Now… this is more clear and more hard… but I still can just do it for my “friend” right?

Well… sort of… Jesus said, you are MY friends IF you do what I have commanded…

What did he command? Love one another and remain in my love…

Jesus’ disciples had come a long way here in John’s Gospel. From chapter one as seekers, to followers, to followers, to disciples, to servants, and now toward friendship.

v15 I have called you friends… have made known to you what I heard from my Father. 16 you did not choose me, I chose you.

I’ve always thought, as someone who had been picked LAST sometimes on the playground, blessed to know, Jesus picked me FIRST.

So, when I choose to obey, to love, to show love, do love, then feel love… it is not about me, and not even about those… it is about being a Friend of Jesus!

You are my beloved, dear one, friend if you do (poieo = to make, fashion, do, accomplish) what I command you

Yes, Lord, I love you, I am grateful for the opportunity to be more than a servant, but a friend.

This is Love – lay down your living life (psyche = soul, breath, life)

Oswald Chambers in speaking on this
- “we are not made for brillant moments, but we have to walk in the light of them in ordinary ways”
- “If I am a friend of Jesus, I have deliberately and carefully to lay down my life for him”
- “Salvation is ‘easy’ because it costs God so much, but the manifestation of it in my life is difficult
Alright then, child of God, Servant of God, Let’s grow into Friend of God.
Decision making – If you go left, I will go right… Genesis 13:9

May 27th, 2026
“Isn’t the whole land before you? Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

What do we fight over? Who do we trust? If you have heard from God, go. He is our hope, not what we see in front of us.

Now we must remember that Abram, Lot, et al… didn’t have all that we have in scripture and in testimony, but they did have word from God.

Abram had been following the Lord for some time now. Remember in Genesis 12:1, God said, “Go… to the land I will show you… I will make you into a great nations… I will bless… I will make your name great… all the people on earth will be blessed by you…”

v4 So Abram went… But remember in the instructions, Abram was supposed to leave… his …relatives from his father’s house… but it says Lot went with him. I don’t know if that was Lot’s idea, but Abram let him go.

So, the journey was to many places… but he went as the Lord led, through Canaan, eventually he went to Egypt during a famine, and then back through the Negev, and to Bethel where he had worshiped God in Genesis 12:7 and God again would tell him that God would give this land to he and his family.

God blessed them with money, people, herds, but where they were couldn’t support all of them together on the same land. Then 13:7 there was quarreling between the herdsmen.

So, Abram said, “Let’s not have quarreling…”

Now, Abram was the lead, he could have looked at the land and said, “I’ll take this, and you take that…” But he said, “Separate… if you go left… I’ll go right…” or visa versa.

Why? hmmm

Abram’s trust was in the Word of God, not in the things he saw…

So, here in Genesis 13, when Abram told Lot to make a decision…

Lot LOOKED out and saw… basically it looked like the Garden of the Lord… So lot chose the entire plain of Jordan and set up his tent near Sodom. v13 tells us something “parenthetically” (now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning immensely against the Lord) v12 says Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived in the cities on the plain.

This doesn’t say there is anything wrong with cities… but what I was asking today is, How do we Make Decisions? What’s your process? Where do you look? What information shapes your decisions?

Lot Looked… Chose… Journeyed

Abram had already learned some important lessons…
- 12:1 The Lord spoke and Abram went.
- 12:7 the Lord Appeared and said… Abram build an altar
- Abram built an Altar and worshiped the name of the Lord
- There was a famine, so the left and went to Egypt… It’s interesting to me that it doesn’t say that God TOLD him to “go” to Egypt, but the bigger issue was then he started overthinking… He said to his wife, you are beautiful… they will kill me (for you)… say you are my sister. After that whole incident, Abram went back to Canaan again.
There was a constant learning curve for Abram… but here’s my entire point – when we make decisions, don’t go first with what you see / feel, but by what God Says.
- Abram wasn’t going to fight over land, because he was just “passing through”. What does the “Hall of Fame of Faith” say in Hebrews 11? vv8-10 by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out… even though he didn’t know where he was going 9 … stayed as a foreigner… living in tents 10 he was looking forward to a city whose Architect and builder is God
- Abram put his Trust in God. Whichever way Lot chose, Abram was trusting God
- Abram heard from God – he was going wherever God led – his trust was in God, not in what he could see or decide on his own.
- v14 After Lot separated, the Lord said to Abram, Look from the place where you stand… north… south… east… west… I will give you and your offspring forever all the land you see… will make your offspring like dust… (countless)… walk around… I will give it to you. (we can see why this area has been something Israel has always fought for)
- So Abram moved his tents to live near the oaks of Mamre… where he built an altar to the Lord
In Decision-Making…
- Go to God First
- Trust God
- When you’ve heard God – settle there
This morning before I was looking at this verse, I was reading a poem written about the men who built the Panama Canal. That was an unbelievable, and multiple times attempted and failed by others. It was an awful endeavor. It was hard, dangerous, deadly… but they DID it. Berton Braley wrote a refrain from their words… this was their “song”

Don’t send us back to a life that is flat again

We have shattered a continent’s spine

Office work – Lord, we couldn’t do that again!

Haven’t you got something that’s more in OUR line?

Got any river they say isn’t crossable?

Got any mountains that can’t be cut through?

We specialize in the wholly impossible,

Doing things, nobody ever could do!

Doing the hard things, is not hard if we’ve heard from the Lord and go with him.
To You Who Listen… Luke 6:27

May 20th, 2026
“But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you…

Here in Luke 6 is Luke’s rendering of the beatitudes. I like the CSB translation here. Many translations say “hearing” but this is not passive, “I heard that” but it is akouousin = hear, listen to… but it’s in the present ACTIVE tense and is a “participle”.

That means it’s a “verbal adjective”… it describes what you are doing, not what you are. It describes the verb not the noun. You DO it, but you are ONE WHO Does it. The NLT renders it “willing to listen”

So, like a parent that says, “are you listening?” Jesus says, “I know you can hear, but if you actively listen, you will be doing something WITH what you hear.

Do What Lord? look at vv27+ and tell me what
- Love your Enemies
- Bless those who curse you
- Give to those who ask
- Do as you would like done to you
- Go outside the Easy (anyone can do for those do do for you)
- Love your Enemies, do what is good, lend, expecting nothing in return…
v35 Then Your Reward will be great and you will be CHILDREN of the Most High for he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. 36 be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful…

Are we living up to the Family Way? Are we following our spiritual genotype?

It’s sort of what John says in 1 John 3… if you do not love, how can the love of God be in you. If we have his blood, we should follow his nature.

Then Jesus continues v37
- do not judge, do not condemn, forgive, give and it will be given…
all of those are acts of Gracious Giving… so whether those are actions or are fiscal monetary acts…
- give and it will be given… a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over… it will be poured into your lap
You can’t outgive God… But you can hinder him from giving… with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you…

Love, Doing, Lending – all expecting nothing back…

THEN – back there in v 35 THEN… it’s Conditional then your reward will be great…

It is THEN that we show the Family Resemblance. I’m not saying that any lending expecting a return, a payback, is wrong or out of place, but we are talking here about the purpose behind it when God leads us to it.

antimetreo — anti=against that… against what we do, is the measure that is given back to us… hold it up and see…

To Those Who Listened… Jesus made some great promises…

Francis of Assisi said, “They are truly peacemakers who, amidst all they suffer in this world, maintain peace in soul and body, for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s seek to Imitate the Father, children.
Do The Dance – 2 Peter 1:5

May 12th, 2026

for this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness… with knowledge… self-control… endurance… godliness… brotherly affection… love…

I’ve always been encouraged and challenged by 2 Peter 1:3-10 – so much discipleship depth in there. I’ve preached it, taught it, and just talked about it so many times. But this morning, I was struck by a couple of “bookend” in this passage.

In v12 Peter says, I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in truth.

Then in v5, For this very reason… What Reason? The understanding from vv3-4 that his divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness. That he, by his own glory and goodness, has given us what we need to live life and be godly. His grace has provided all we need for reconciliation with God, for salvation from the penalty of sin… to be free from bondage… So, for THIS very reason…

How should I, one indwelt by the Spirit of God, sone set free from sin, with access to the divine nature living in me, how should I live? What should be my practices? Should I be simply grateful to be “saved”, now go do what I want?

NO – there is more.

Make every effort – those three words are literally, “apply with all eagerness and diligence”.

To my salvation, which only God can do, has done, let me apply with all eager diligence…

to SUPPLEMENT your faith…

v12 – even though you know… are established in truth… and then v13 I think it is right as long as I am in this bodily tent, to wake you up with a reminder… WOW… Paul says, I have to do this, I will do this, I will poke you every time I see you, write you, talk to you, gonna send you a daily text message…

to supplement your faith… Yes, I’m “saved”, made alive in Christ, that’s completed… but

DO THE DANCE – Act like you are listening to the Spirit’s music.

Where did I get THAT?

supplement – epichoregeo = supply, provide, give – and that Greek word comes from the root, choros = a dance, dancing.

Let that sit in for a second…

And supplement is a verb (action) in “aorist” tense – which means it is a present action, a “snapshot” that summarizes things as they are… like this picture of a sunset… It’s a single picture, but you can see the sunsetting, but also the waves are rolling and crashing, a bird is flying, so much happening… and supplement is in the “imperative” tense – DO IT, NOW, you MUST.

HELLO – Wow – that really spoke to me today… “Hey Goforth! If you know Jesus, if you have a divine nature within you…

“DO THE DANCE!”

You ever see someone, no music playing, no headphones on, but they have a little head bob happening, shoulders shimmying, a groove going on?

I saw someone like that awhile back and asked, “hey, what music is playing in your head?” They smiled and told me, like, “oops he caught me”.

Faith and the Indwelling of God is something I put in my pocket, in the drawer at home, or in my safe… No – I should “groove” according TO it, applying with all eagerness, applying it…

Doing the Dance

goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love

It’s much like Paul’s description of the “fruit of the Spirit”. Those are not separate things, they are one individual thing that is the result of having the Spirit.

Sometimes people look at a list like this and say, “that’s not my thing”, “I like this or that”, but “that’s not my gift”, or “I struggle with that”

Nope… if we couldn’t do those things, we wouldn’t be told to do them… but we can, if we will. Yes, some may take work, but listen to the music of the Spirit, surrender to the groove, and

DO THE DANCE
Do You Pursue Great Things For Yourself? Jeremiah 45:5

April 28th, 2026

Sometimes we have on blinders or aren’t processing information with a full picture of reality or proper perspective… then, I saw this verse today, “Do you pursue great things for yourself?”, and I thought, “I’m supposed to right?”

Well, not necessarily… I need to First, pursue God, pursue his will, pursue his purpose, pursue his Kingdom… Matthew 6:33 immediately comes to mind… but I get ahead of myself…

Back there in Jeremiah 45, just a very short chapter between other statements, pronouncements, regarding the wickedness of Judah, in the midst of a time of judgment that is coming for their failure to follow and worship the Lord. There are long chapters and declarations from God, but only five verses right here in 45.

In the previous chapter, it talks about their false worship of idols and buring incense (prayers) to “the Queen of Heaven” which was a false goddess, Ishtar or Ashtarte. It also corrects the husbands for ignoring this and failing to lead their families correctly.

Jeremiah 44:22 The Lord can no longer bear your evil deeds and the detestable acts you have committed.

Then, the Lord comes to Jeremiah’s scribe – Baruch. In verse 1 we see that Jeremiah, as was his practice, was dictating the Word of the Lord to Baruch. Imagine this, as Baruch is writing down, right to left, just whatever Jeremiah says. So, Jeremiah is speaking, Baruch is writing, This is what the Lord says… to Baruch 3 You have said, “woe to me, because the Lord has added misery to my pain! I am worn out with groanings and have found no rest.”

Jeremiah is saying this, v1 says, he is dictating it to Baruch… and it’s ABOUT Baruch…

I wonder if Baruch is thinking, while he writes… “is he talking to me, about me? No, must be about Judah…”

But Jeremiah is speaking from God about Baruch’s private nightly weeping and crying over all that is happening. Perhaps Baruch had been praying from Psalm 6:6 “I’m weary from my groaning; with my tears I dampen my bed and drench my couch every night.”

v4, This is what you are to say to HIM: ‘this is what the Lord says: “what I have built I am about to demolish and what I have planted I am about to uproot – the whole land.

“Wait, is God speaking to Me?” (Baruch)

Then v5 But as for you… “oh he is talking to me” uh-oh

Do you pursue great things for yourself? “Is this a loaded question? Is this a trick question? I’m supposed to right?”

Then the Lord says, through Jeremiah, TO Baruch – Stop Pursuing! – This word means “to discover, attempt to do, possess, demand, require, search, request“. The Lord says, “Stop that!”

We need to know when and what God is saying. What do you seek?

Remember then Jesus in the “Sermon on the Mount” Matthew 6:25+ he says, Don’t worry about your life… what you eat… what you will wear… Consider the birds of the sky… Observe the wildflowers of the field… God clothes the grass… don’t worry… your heavenly Father knows that you need them… BUT Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things (the stuff we worry about) will be provided for you… therefore do not worry about tomorrow… tomorrow will worry about itself…

Back to Baruch – he was shedding tears, groaning, and it seems wanting to take things into his own hands… Pursuing Great Things for himself… and God says, Stop Pursuing…

Seeking to achieve great things is not wrong or bad, but it can be useless if you don’t know what God is doing, and where things are heading. God says, “I am about to bring disaster on humanity… but I will grant you your life, protected like ‘spoils of war’ wherever you go.”

I got a picture in my head just know of trying to fix and lay out the most beautiful meal, or encampment, right next to the seashore where waves are crashing and tide is coming in, it might look good, but in a minute, it’s going to be washed away…

We need to pursue God first, his kingdom, and do what he says without fear, but don’t be caught in needless efforts stacking up “great things” where God may be about to send / allow a storm to wipe it all away.

He was telling Baruch… things are about to get tough, so don’t waste your energy in the wrong things, but know I’ve got you in the midst of it all.
Expectations for the Child of God – 1 Corinthians 3:1-15

March 24th, 2026
- Grow
- Live unlike “mere humanity”
- Team Oneness / Unity
- God’s Coworkers
- God’s Field
- God’s Building
That’s what I wrote down yesterday morning as reading this passage in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian Church.

Before this, in 1 Corinthians 2:14 Paul said, the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually 15 the spiritual person however, can… 16 … we have the mind of Christ

Paul is setting expectations for the Child of God, reborn through God’s grace, received by faith.

Paul then states in 3:1, I’m not able to speak as spiritual but as flesh, (not because they aren’t spiritual, but) because you are babies in Christ.

Praise God they are IN Christ, as that IS the Hope of Glory (Colossians 1:27)

But Paul has expectations, or he wouldn’t write. Their condition was worldly – sarkiko = physical, material… and their state is evident since there is envy and strife. James 3:14 spoke similarly – if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart… Bitterness and Selfishness lead to Envy and Strife – the result of misplaced ambition. That’s why Paul told Titus, avoid foolish debates… disputes… they are unprofitable and worthless (Titus 3:9)

Ok – Paul has expectations – Maybe you have said to your children, or your parents said to you, “In THIS house, we don’t do that…” or “Grow up”.

Paul says, are you not worldly and behaving like mere humans. I like this CSB rendering, “behaving” is peripeteo = to walk about in a manner of … All men may act a certain way, but there are greater expectations for the People of God – the Children of God… not mere humans.

I’m thinking of much of the social media climate for Christians today… So Paul gives several instructions… let me offer them up for a minute and move on…
- Grow Up – they in v4 had been boasting over who their salvation “father” was – Apollos or Paul… are you not acting like mere humans? Again, there is an expectation – a lot longtime, learned, leading Christians even need still to Grow Up, Stop acting like “the world” – “mere humans” and be more Spiritual / Truly Godly
- Live Differently – not like “mere humanity”. If our reactions are “natural” we need to check WHICH nature it comes from… flesh or spirit. Think of Paul in Romans 7, or 2 Corinthians 10:5 – take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.
- Team Oneness / Unity of Purpose – what is Apollo? What is Paul? they are just servants (diakonos = servants ministers). That means they work FOR someone else, they just serve. They are not the END for following, just a means to the end of the gospel. Don’t misplace “ownership” – I belong to…Apollos/Paul. No we belong to Christ and his service. v5 each has the role the Lord has given.
  - I planted
  - Apollos watered
  - Neither is ANYTHING – Only God gave Growth
  - he who plants / waters are ONE = equal in status, one in purpose
We all have a purpose, a position, but on this team, if my name is on the back of the jersey, it doesn’t really matter, what matters is what’s on the Front. We can’t all have the same job or position, but together we have the purpose of the work of Christ, in that we are ONE. We all have the Grace Gift of Salvation, which we don’t deserve… and then we all have the Grace Positions given by God in the work… and don’t worry each will receive reward
- Team Purpose
  - God’s Co-workers – together we work
  - God’s Field – that word means cultivated land
  - God’s Building – house, building, edification
We are part of a team, to work together. If I’m not working, fulfilling my expectation, the team suffers

If my field is not broken, planted, prepared, I cannot produce; and production is the purpose of the field

If there is not building going up… I’m not living up to the expectations. What is the purpose of a building? Protection, Provision, Postured for People.

I COULD go on and one, but notice
- One Lays a foundation
- another builds on it
- each one is careful – blepo = see, look, notice
- guarding how – what we do DOES matter
- as builders – Only ONE foundation – Jesus Christ – it must be authentically Christ. Paul scolds them in 2 Corinthians 11:4 for allowing preaching another Jesus… different spirit… different gospel… what we do does matter
- As Farmers – I may plant, another may water, but GOD makes it pay off
- Give Care to How… use good material vv12-15 because we get what we put in… it will be revealed by fire … receive reward for what survives
Let’s Get to It… For Christ… Together for God’s Glory
Those Who Followed Were Afraid Mark 10:32

March 17th, 2026

As I read this morning, this caught my attention. So, I backtracked and across the page on my digital reader was v28 – Peter began to tell him, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you’.

Look – it’s a word I’ve seen a lot as I finished preaching The Revelation. It is

in Revelation as Jesus says, “look, I am coming soon…” It is also in 2 Corinthians 5:17 when it states that In Christ… a new creation… old has passed away, SEE (look) all things are new. It’s a word, idou that means to behold, pay attention, and here, Peter is using that word as he talks to Jesus.

Often times, we look at our experiences through jaded perspective and think that perhaps God doesn’t see it as he should.

Jesus had just encountered the “Rich Young Ruler”, in Mark 10, and then explained to his 12 Students, how hard it is for those with wealth to enter the Kingdom. He told them it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

Really? Well, understand he is referring to a small sheep gate, just big enough for a sheep to pass through, and though not impossible for a camel, was difficult. And the disciples reply, then who can be saved.

Jesus replies… all things ARE possible with God.

That’s when Peter began to TELL him… It’s always funny when we want to tell God stuff – but to Peter’s defense – this word – lego – does mean to “agree” – So, Peter was just sort making an affirmation – “yes Lord, you are right” and of course “we are on the GOD-side.

But it strikes me that he says, Look – idou – pay attention. Lord we have LEFT – aphiemi = leave, forgive – “we have turned around” – from all and followed – akoloutheo = take a road – “we have made a 180 and taken your road Lord.

And then Jesus says, Truly – AMEN – those who aphiemi – left – anything for MY SAKE and for the SAKE of the gospel…

“For the Sake” – heneken = on account of – I do think it is important that we always check our reasons for the big sacrifices we make… but be SURE – Don’t Worry – God keeps a good “ledger”, and his return is always greater profit.

v30 – will receive 100 times more… NOW… with persecution… wait what?… and eternal life in the age to come

v31 but many who are first will be last, and the last first…

God’s accounting is different than ours, but always to eternal overflow.

All of that, and THEN for me, v32 is what caught my eye to start this today. They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples (the 12) were astonished, but those who followed (other followers) were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside, he began to tell them the things that would happen to him.

Here we are, in 2026, a few weeks away from Celebrating his Death. So, too was Jesus heading Up to Jerusalem to Die for Our Sins.

Fear and Astonishment

Jesus tells them that he will be handed over, mocked, flogged, killed, and will rise after three days. I believe Jesus is always telling us that “Following me is Amazing and Frightening”

We have plans… and he says, it will be better than you can imagine, and more difficult than you assumed.

Then immediately, James and John are asking for favored status in his Kingdom. Jesus tells them “you have know idea what you are asking”. Then think they do, and he affirms, yep you WILL go through much of what I’m going through… but…

Then he redirects their desires, big plans, and aspirations.

v44 whoever wants to be first among you, will be slave to all

v45 even the Son of Man did not come to BE served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for all

Refocus our Ambition.

Jesus was heading up to Jerusalem to die, and he was leading them, knowing what he was about to face. Knowing all we will face, he still is in the lead. Be amazed, be not afraid, lead others, always knowing that we are just following him.

Jesus was going to Jerusalem, fully committed, not trailing sadly behind, but leading triumphantly in front.

The Reality is Frightening…

…but the Return is Forever in our Favor