Teach Us To Pray: And Fast For Spiritual Guidance | Bridgette Poag

Nehemiah: Beyond The Walls | Taking Ownership | Brian Smith

In week 2 of the series, "Nehemiah: Beyond The Walls," Brian Smith emphasizes that while identifying brokenness and problems is easy, true transformation requires taking personal ownership. He illustrates this by sharing a lighthearted story about his own broken trash can, a real-life update on launching a new young adult ministry at his church, and a tragic account of a drowning in California where numerous bystanders failed to intervene because everyone assumed someone else would act. Turning to Nehemiah chapter two, Brian explains how Nehemiah, a trusted cupbearer to the King of Persia, risked his comfortable position and even his life by taking ownership of the brokenness of Jerusalem. Despite having no construction experience, Nehemiah spent four months fasting and praying before boldly requesting the king's permission, protection, and provisions to rebuild the city's ruined walls. Brian challenges the congregation to embrace the costly but necessary nature of ownership, reminding them that God equips those He calls, and ultimately points to Jesus Christ as the ultimate example of leaving a heavenly palace to bear a cup of suffering for a broken humanity.

Nehemiah: Beyond The Walls | Burdened For The Broken | Jimmy Carter

In Week 1 of the series,"Nehemiah: Beyond The Walls" Pastor Jimmy uses the biblical story of Nehemiah to challenge the congregation of Dunwoody Baptist Church to move from passive observers of societal brokenness to active, empathetic burden bearers. Sharing personal illustrations—ranging from a sobering military simulation at Fort Knox that revealed the true weight of responsibility, to his family’s experience moving into a predominantly Black church to foster genuine racial reconciliation—Jimmy highlights the importance of identifying deeply with the broken rather than judging them from a distance. He emphasizes that Nehemiah’s first response to the devastation of Jerusalem was to weep, fast, and pray the promises of God, confessing his own connection to the community's sins. Ultimately, Jimmy points the congregation to Jesus Christ as the ultimate burden bearer who carried humanity's sins to the cross, urging believers to rely on His grace to courageously engage with, pray over, and support those suffering within their families, schools, and broader communities.

Teach Us To Pray: And Fast For Spiritual Guidance | Bridgette Poag

In Week 5 of the series, "Teach Us To Pray," Bridgette highlights the transformative power of combining prayer with fasting to seek Spiritual guidance, using the biblical story of Esther as a primary example. She explains how Esther and Mordecai transitioned from panic to purposeful action through communal fasting, eventually aligning with God’s plan to save the Jewish people from annihilation. Sharing personal anecdotes—including a breakthrough in ministry planning and finding peace during a difficult jury duty—Bridgette emphasizes that fasting is not merely skipping meals but an intentional act of humbling oneself to gain spiritual clarity and courage. She concludes by encouraging the congregation to embrace fasting as a tool to discern their own "such a time as this" moments, moving past fear to boldly follow God's calling.

Teach Us To Pray: For Our Enemies | Jimmy Carter

In Week 4 of the series titled "Teach Us to Pray," Pastor Jimmy shares a vulnerable account of his own spiritual transformation, moving from a place of deep personal resentment toward a college teammate to understanding the radical requirements of Christian grace. Drawing from Luke 6:27–36, Jimmy explains that loving those who mistreat us is not a call to endure abuse, but a mandate to reflect the character of God, who was merciful to us while we were still His enemies. He challenges the congregation to view difficult people through the lens of the "Great Exchange"—remembering that because Christ stands between us and others, our responses should be governed by the grace we have received rather than the hurt we have felt. By sharing the moving story of his former rival Jeremy’s eventually conversion and untimely death, Jimmy emphasizes that a believer’s decision to offer mercy instead of retaliation can quite literally change the trajectory of someone’s eternity.

Teach Us To Pray: With Faith Like A Child | Jimmy Carter

In week 3 of the series,"Teach Us To Pray", Using the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6 as a guide, Pastor Jimmy Carter outlined three pillars for a healthy spiritual life: childlike affection (approaching God as a loving "Abba" or Father), Christ-centered direction (surrendering one's will and relying on Him for daily needs), and Holy Spirit protection (seeking grace to resist temptation and evil). He concluded by urging the church to abandon divided hearts and "babbling" cliches, inviting them instead to enjoy the simple, profound privilege of talking to a Father who deeply loves them.