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Pastor Kurt takes a deep dive into 2 Timothy 1 where Paul encourages Timothy to Gas Up the Gift God has placed within him and to Guard the Gospel that has been entrusted to him. Timothy is reminded of his spiritual heritage, his God-given calling, and the power available to him, while also being challenged not to shrink back when faithfulness becomes costly.

Dr. Kimara Ellefson wraps up our time in 1st Timothy by taking a close look at Paul's concluding instructions. Having just warned Timothy of the dangers of false teachers and the desire for wealth, Paul then charges Timothy to flee those things and instead pursue the ways of Christ, which will culminate in taking hold of "that which is truly life." With timeless parallels to our present day, Kimara invites us to examine where we've been drawn into the empty promises of the world around us and to surrender those areas for a fresh pursuit of God. Common to much of Paul's instructions, his closing words of "grace" remind and encourage us that it will be by God's grace that this transformation can take place in our lives.

Pastor Kurt takes a deep dive into 1 Timothy 6:1-10 where Paul contrasts Counterfeit Godliness with Contented Godliness. In verses 1–5, he warns against a distorted faith that produces disrespect, division, unhealthy controversy, and ultimately treats godliness as a means of personal gain; then in verses 6–10, he shows that true godliness is marked by contentment rather than an unhealthy craving for more.

Pastor Kurt takes a deep dive into 1 Timothy 5:17–25, where Paul teaches that the church must do two things well: Honor Faithful Leaders and Hold Leaders Accountable. Faithful elders who lead, preach, and teach well should be respected and appropriately supported, but that honor must never become immunity from examination, correction, or discipline.

Pastor Kurt takes a deep dive in 1 Timothy 5:1–16, where Paul teaches Timothy that healthy church life requires both Relationships Guided by Respect and Resources Guided by Responsibility. Believers are to treat one another like family, with honor, purity, and care, while also ensuring practical support is handled wisely so families fulfill their responsibilities and the church can care for those truly in need.

Uflourish Church Elder, Chad Ellefson, wraps up this year's Following Jesus series with a message on the cost of following Jesus. Just as Jesus invited the crowds around him to lay down all they had to follow him, our call is the same today. Working through the subjects of familial approval, money and possessions, time and talents, comfort and security, Chad helps us examine what things may be driving us, or even at times controlling us. Ultimately, we return to the call to surrender those things, laying it all down for the sake of Christ and his work in and through us. Though it may be a tall order, we're encouraged that we do so with the help of the Holy Spirit, by whom Jesus will pick us up whenever we may stumble or fall.

Pastor Kurt takes a deep dive into John 21:15-25 where Jesus restores Peter after his failure by reaffirming his love, recommissioning him to care for Christ’s people, and calling him again to follow even when discipleship will ultimately cost him his life. Peter then shifts his attention toward John and asks about his future, revealing how easily comparison can distract us from our own calling.

Pastor Kurt takes a deep dive into Luke 7:36–50, where a woman known publicly as a sinner enters the home of Simon the Pharisee and honors Jesus with her tears, kisses, and costly ointment. Simon judges her by her reputation, but Jesus interprets her actions as reverence flowing from a heart that understands forgiveness.

Uflourish Church elder Ed Wade takes us through John 10, where Jesus refers to himself both as the shepherd and the door for the sheep. He challenges us, just like the sheep in Jesus' story, to listen only for his call among the many voices in the world, and to trust that he lays down his life to protect the flock. When we face troubles, we know that we're still surrounded by the protection and promises of God, and he will see us through those things on our way to everlasting life with him in heaven.

Pastor Kurt takes a deep dive in Luke 6:39–49, where Jesus teaches that the heart reveals your character through your words, actions, mercy, and fruit. He then shows that the storm reveals your construction, exposing whether your life is built on merely hearing His words or actually obeying them.

Uflourish welcomes First Baptist Sulphur Springs, who have come in numbers on their annual summer mission trip from Texas up to the Milwaukee area in order to bless and support the ministries of Uflourish and several other churches in the area. Their pastor, Dr. Jeff Gravens, joins us in our Following Jesus series by diving into the portion of Luke 9 where Jesus calls his disciples to pick up their cross daily in order to follow him. In this daily surrender - a daily death to ourselves and the empty promises of the world - we find a lasting hope and purpose in our passionate pursuit of Jesus.

In Luke 6:27–38, Jesus calls His disciples to extend to others what they themselves desire—love, mercy, forgiveness, generosity, and grace—even toward those who do not deserve it. He then closes by making clear that in God’s kingdom, we should expect back what we extend, because the measure we use toward others becomes the measure we live under ourselves.

Uflourish Church elder, Chad Ellefson, walks us through a portion of Mark 5, where the mercy of Jesus comes through in unexpected ways and at unexpected times. As followers of Christ today, we too should act in faith - like Jairus who went to Jesus to heal his daughter, or the woman in the crowd who simply reached out to touch Jesus' garment and was healed - and yet in our call to make big requests of God we also do so while trusting that His answers to our prayers may be different than we desire, but will always be within God's good plans.

Uflourish Church elder, Ed Wade, looks at John 8:12-20, where Jesus describes himself as the light of the world. Ed walks us through similar passages across Scripture and helps us recognize that Jesus doesn't just shine a light on the destination, but he gives us light for each step along the way. Our call then is to receive the light of his direction with a humble posture each day, and while we don't know which way he'll take us, we can trust that his way is the best way.

Pastor Kurt takes a deep dive into Matthew 9:1-13 where Jesus shows His authority not only to heal bodies, but to forgive sins and transform lives. By healing the paralytic, calling Matthew, and eating with sinners, He reveals that He came for the spiritually sick, not the self-righteous. The passage highlights both the power of Christ to pardon and the mercy of Christ to pursue those society overlooks.