The Other Side of the Road

The Other Side of the Road

Most of us don’t struggle to come up with reasons not to help someone—we struggle because our reasons sound so reasonable. We’re busy. We’re tired. Someone else will step in. Jesus told one of His most famous stories to expose something deeper than our actions: the excuses we use to justify them. What if loving your neighbor isn’t nearly as complicated as we’ve made it… and what if the biggest obstacle isn’t a lack of opportunity, but the filters we use to avoid it?

The Power of Yes

Our lives are shaped by the series of choices we make throughout the years. Every time we're presented with a decision, we have the opportunity to say yes or no, and that choice impacts what happens next. So how do—or should—we respond when God is leading us into something? Do we respond with a list of questions and scrutiny, or do we simply say, "Here I am"? Today, we'll look at several biblical examples of people who said "yes" to God's call, and we'll also hear from a few people in our own church family who recently said yes to something God was leading them into.

On the Other Side of Excuses

Jesus calls every believer to make disciples in everyday life, but like Moses, we often let fear and excuses hold us back. God's answer isn't an easier path—it's His promise: "I will be with you." Through Jesus, His Spirit lives in us, and the greatest reward of stepping out in faith isn't what we accomplish, but experiencing His presence in deeper ways.

Mission Motivation

Most of us like the idea of God showing compassion—until it’s directed toward someone we don’t think deserves it. The story of Jonah is often remembered for a storm and a fish, but what if those aren’t actually the point? What if this story is really about a God whose love reaches further than we expect—and whose plans are bigger than our preferences?

Citizenship 101

Every nation has its own values, customs, and identity. Spend enough time around people from another country and the differences become obvious. But what about followers of Jesus? If someone spent a week watching your life, what would stand out? In a culture that often encourages us to put ourselves first, Jesus offers a very different way of living. What happens when the values of our King don’t always match the values of the culture around us?