The Cross Leaves No Room for Pride | Finding Unity and Humility in 1 Corinthians 1

Do You Really Know Christ? | Philippians 3

Many people know about Jesus but have never truly encountered Him in a way that transforms their identity and direction. In Philippians 3:1–10, Paul shows that a real encounter with Christ reorders our values, replaces self-righteousness with surrender, and reshapes how we live. It is possible to be familiar with Jesus and still be distant from Him. In Philippians 3:1–10, Paul shares his testimony and reveals the difference between knowing about Christ and truly knowing Christ. Writing from prison, Paul reflects on his dramatic encounter with Jesus in Acts 9 and shows how one real encounter changed everything. You can know information without interaction. You can be religious without being transformed. But an encounter with Christ leaves a mark. It shifts your values, exposes your pride, and redirects your trajectory. In this message, we walk through Paul’s powerful words and discover: • Why repetition of the gospel protects our faith • How religious confidence can quietly replace dependence on Christ • What happens when Christ reorders what we value • Why knowing Christ becomes our greatest pursuit • The difference between self-righteousness and surrender • How resurrection power reshapes daily living Paul had the perfect religious résumé. Heritage, training, zeal, discipline. Yet he counted it all loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. If religion could save him, he would not have needed Jesus. But encounter revealed grace. Our discipleship pathway is simple and clear: Christ Community Cultivate Commission An encounter leads to repentance. Salvation leads to surrender. Baptism leads to rejoicing. To stand firm in Christ, we must move from confidence in the flesh to confidence in Him. When we are found in Christ, everything changes. Our identity shifts. Our pursuit deepens. Our lives begin to reflect resurrection power. One real encounter with Jesus can redirect a life and create a ripple effect for generations. Scripture: Philippians 3:1–10 NKJV ABOUT FRONTLINE CHURCH Frontline Church is a family of believers Devoted to Jesus, United in community, and Sent on mission. Our heart comes from Acts 2:42-47, where the early church was marked by devotion to the Word, genuine fellowship, prayer, generosity, worship, and a bold witness to the world around them. That is the kind of church we are becoming. We believe church is more than a place to attend. It is a people to belong to, a family to grow with, and a mission to live for. Find videos and more about us at https://www.myfrontline.church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myfrontlinesikeston Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfrontlinesikeston Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@myfrontlinechurch

Are You Spiritually Mature? | 1 Corinthians 2 and 3

Many believers understand the gospel but remain spiritually immature, divided, and flesh-led in how they think and build their lives. In 1 Corinthians 2 and 3, Paul shows that having the mind of Christ means growing in spiritual maturity, depending on the Spirit, and building carefully on the foundation of Jesus. If we truly have the mind of Christ, why do so many believers still think, live, and build like the world? In 1 Corinthians 2 and 3, Paul moves from theology to application. The cross dismantles pride, but now he asks a deeper question: If Christ is our wisdom, how should that shape how we think, grow, and build? Paul reminds the Corinthians that he did not come as a philosopher or performer, but as a witness. His message was simple: Jesus Christ and Him crucified. His method was weakness and dependence on the Holy Spirit. His goal was not to build fans but to build faith that rests on the power of God. In chapter 2, we see that: • God’s wisdom is revealed by the Spirit, not discovered by human brilliance • Spiritual truths require spiritual revelation • Believers have been given the mind of Christ But Paul makes it clear that having the mind of Christ is not the finish line. It is the starting point. In chapter 3, he confronts spiritual immaturity: • Jealousy and division reveal flesh-led living • Spiritual babies live on milk and avoid growth • Leaders are servants, not saviors • God brings the growth, but we are responsible for how we build Paul uses the powerful image of a foundation. Jesus Christ is the only foundation. Every believer is building on that foundation, and one day the quality of the work will be tested. Gold, silver, and costly stones endure. Wood, hay, and straw do not. The issue is not visibility but quality. He also reminds the church that they are God’s temple. The Spirit dwells among His people. This is sacred. This is serious. When Christ is the center, everything else finds its proper place. When the Spirit leads, maturity follows. When the foundation is secure, the structure will stand. You have the mind of Christ. Now build like it. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2–3 NLT ABOUT FRONTLINE CHURCH Frontline Church is a family of believers Devoted to Jesus, United in community, and Sent on mission. Our heart comes from Acts 2:42-47, where the early church was marked by devotion to the Word, genuine fellowship, prayer, generosity, worship, and a bold witness to the world around them. That is the kind of church we are becoming. We believe church is more than a place to attend. It is a people to belong to, a family to grow with, and a mission to live for. Find videos and more about us at https://www.myfrontline.church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myfrontlinesikeston Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfrontlinesikeston Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@myfrontlinechurch

Heaven Come Down | Week 5

Are you living like a candle when God designed you to burn like a campfire? In this message from Acts 4:23–31, Pastor Justin shows how the early church prayed for boldness, was refilled with the Holy Spirit, and carried a fire that changed communities. In Acts, we see that believers are saved to shine and built to burn. Candles are safe, controlled, and decorative. Campfires bring heat, demand attention, and change the atmosphere. Many believers still believe, still attend, and still serve, but somewhere along the way the fire faded. This sermon walks through Acts 1–4 to show what spiritual fire does in people, in churches, and in cities. First, we learn to wait on the Spirit. Before the mission came empowerment. Jesus promised the Advocate. The Great Commission required power. Acts 1:8 reminds us that we are witnesses who need the Spirit, not just information. Then the fire falls. In Acts 2, God filled what had been prepared through unity, alignment, and expectancy. The fire was explained through bold preaching, stewarded through fellowship and prayer, and multiplied as thousands were cut to the heart and responded in repentance. Next, the fire spreads. Through simple obedience, Peter and John became vessels for transformation. Spectators became witnesses. Testimony stayed centered on Jesus, not on human applause. But fire meets resistance. Opposition clarified allegiance. The early believers refused to soften the message. They were ordinary men recognized for one thing: they had been with Jesus. When threatened, they did not pray for safety. They prayed for greater boldness. Acts 4:23–31 shows us that true believers interpret opposition through the lens of God’s sovereignty. After they prayed, the place shook and they were filled again with the Holy Spirit. Refilling follows expenditure. God does not refill unused vessels. We are called to be continuously filled. Pastor Justin closes with a practical picture of how to keep the fire burning: Clear the ashes of old mindsets. Build with proper spiritual airflow through God’s presence. Feed the fire with the Word and daily surrender. Tend it without taming it. Send it into your home, workplace, and community. If your fire feels faded, soaked, or smothered, this message is an invitation to surrender again and burn with fresh boldness. ABOUT FRONTLINE CHURCH Frontline Church is a family of believers Devoted to Jesus, United in community, and Sent on mission. Our heart comes from Acts 2:42-47, where the early church was marked by devotion to the Word, genuine fellowship, prayer, generosity, worship, and a bold witness to the world around them. That is the kind of church we are becoming. We believe church is more than a place to attend. It is a people to belong to, a family to grow with, and a mission to live for. Find videos and more about us at https://www.myfrontline.church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myfrontlinesikeston Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfrontlinesikeston Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@myfrontlinechurch

The Cross Leaves No Room for Pride | Finding Unity and Humility in 1 Corinthians 1

Pride fractures our identity, divides our churches, and keeps us centered on ourselves instead of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul shows that the cross dismantles pride and redirects all confidence, unity, and boasting to Jesus alone. In a culture fueled by status, platforms, opinions, and personal branding, pride can quietly shape how we see ourselves, our leaders, and even the church. Corinth struggled with the same issue, and 1 Corinthians 1 reveals how the cross confronts pride at every level. Before Paul corrects behavior, he settles identity. Before he addresses division, he reminds them of grace. Before he exposes misplaced allegiance, he magnifies Christ. The cross leaves no room for pride because it removes confidence in leaders, performance, gifting, self-reliance, and worldly wisdom. In this message, we walk verse by verse through 1 Corinthians 1 and discover: • How God settles your identity before He confronts your behavior • Why spiritual gifting does not equal spiritual maturity • How misplaced loyalty creates division in the church • Why the cross is either foolishness or the power of God • How God intentionally chooses the overlooked to display His glory • What it means to boast in the Lord alone The message of the cross redefines power, wisdom, and victory. It confronts both religious pride and intellectual pride. It exposes our divided loyalties and calls us back to Christ as the only foundation. Everything we try to produce through effort, God provides through Jesus. If pride divides, the cross unites. If pride elevates self, the cross exalts Christ. If pride boasts in strength, the cross boasts in grace. Check your confidence. Cut divided loyalties. Choose humility. “The Cross Leaves No Room for Pride” establishes the theological lens not only for 1 Corinthians, but for how we live as the church today. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-31 ABOUT FRONTLINE CHURCH Frontline Church is a family of believers Devoted to Jesus, United in community, and Sent on mission. Our heart comes from Acts 2:42-47, where the early church was marked by devotion to the Word, genuine fellowship, prayer, generosity, worship, and a bold witness to the world around them. That is the kind of church we are becoming. We believe church is more than a place to attend. It is a people to belong to, a family to grow with, and a mission to live for. Find videos and more about us at https://www.myfrontline.church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myfrontlinesikeston Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfrontlinesikeston Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@myfrontlinechurch

Heaven Come Down | Week 4

Are you feeling spiritually stuck or frustrated with stagnation? In this message from Pastor Justin, discover how abiding in Christ leads to real spiritual growth, lasting fruit, and Spirit-led formation through John 15:1-8. Have you ever felt like you are trying harder but going nowhere? When growth feels slow, we are tempted to either push harder or give up completely. Pastor Justin challenges us to consider a deeper issue. You can hit a target and still miss the point. Effort is not the same as alignment. Activity is not the same as direction. In John 15, Jesus reveals that true spiritual life is not about striving but abiding. He is the Vine. We are the branches. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. Connection is the source. Formation determines capacity. And fruit is the visible result of received life, not forced effort. This sermon explores what Jesus teaches in the vineyard: • Abiding is relational placement. It is about remaining, not performing. • Disconnection often looks like independence and slow drift. • Fruit is Christ’s character made visible for the benefit of others and the glory of God. • Pruning is the loving care of the Father, shaping us for greater fruitfulness. • Life flows internally before fruit appears externally. Hidden seasons shape capacity. Pastor Justin also unpacks what this means for us today: • Connection is greater than activity. • Character comes before influence. • Unformed power produces instability. • Faithfulness is the true goal of the Spirit’s work. You do not grow by grit. You grow by abiding. Through daily connection, weekly formation, serving from wholeness, and trusting God’s timing, we become people who can carry the power God gives. Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to form you as deeply as He empowers you? Scripture: John 15:1-8 ABOUT FRONTLINE CHURCH Frontline Church is a family of believers Devoted to Jesus, United in community, and Sent on mission. Our heart comes from Acts 2:42-47, where the early church was marked by devotion to the Word, genuine fellowship, prayer, generosity, worship, and a bold witness to the world around them. That is the kind of church we are becoming. We believe church is more than a place to attend. It is a people to belong to, a family to grow with, and a mission to live for. Find videos and more about us at https://www.myfrontline.church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myfrontlinesikeston Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfrontlinesikeston Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@myfrontlinechurch