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Speaker: Rob Berreth Scripture: Matthew 12:15-21 Episode Overview: Jesus possesses unmatched power and authority, yet he exercises that power with extraordinary gentleness toward the wounded, the weary, and the weak. Matthew points us to Isaiah’s prophecy of God’s chosen Servant, revealing a Savior who does not break bruised reeds or extinguish faintly burning wicks. He welcomes those who feel fragile, insignificant, or beyond repair, meeting our brokenness not with condemnation but with compassion. Yet this gentleness is no sign of weakness. Jesus is both the gentle Lamb and the conquering Lion, faithfully bringing God's justice and establishing his kingdom. And as those who have received his mercy, we are called to extend that same gentleness to one another, becoming a community where bruised reeds are welcomed, cared for, and restored. Key Highlights: • Jesus' strength is displayed not only in his authority but in his extraordinary gentleness toward those who are hurting. • Isaiah's prophecy reveals the character of God's chosen Servant: humble, approachable, compassionate, and faithful. • The imagery of bruised reeds and faintly burning wicks reminds us that Jesus does not discard the wounded or extinguish those whose faith is barely flickering. He restores them. • Jesus is both lowly and gentle and formidable and faithful. He will not abandon his purposes until justice is established and his kingdom comes. • The cross reveals the depth of Christ's compassion: he bore our sins and suffering so that we could be forgiven, healed, and restored. • The church is called to reflect the character of Jesus, becoming a community that welcomes the weary, bears with the struggling, and refuses to break those who are already bruised. Call to Action: Consider how you see God seeing you. When you feel wounded, weary, or spiritually fragile, look again at Jesus and the compassion he extends to those who come to him. And as you receive his gentleness, extend it to others. Be patient with the struggling, gracious toward those who stumble, and make room for the broken. May our church become a place where bruised reeds find healing rather than another reason to break. Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Rob Berreth Scripture: Matthew 12:1-14 Episode Overview: Passionate faith can have a dark side. In Matthew 12:1-14, Jesus confronts religious leaders whose zeal for God's commands has led them to miss the heart of God himself. Through two Sabbath controversies, Jesus exposes the danger of adding human rules to God's Word and the devastating consequences of sacrificing mercy in the name of faithfulness. The Pharisees were serious about obedience, but their rigid standards blinded them to the purpose of God's law and the compassion of the One who gave it. Jesus declares that he is Lord of the Sabbath and demonstrates what that means by healing a man whose suffering mattered less to the religious leaders than their rules. Ultimately, this passage reveals a fundamental truth about the character of Jesus: mercy is not a compromise of faithfulness but an essential expression of it. The same Jesus who takes sin seriously willingly gives himself so that guilty people might receive the mercy and rest they desperately need. Key Highlights: • The Danger of Adding to God's Word: Discover how personal convictions and human-made rules can take on the authority of Scripture, leading us to judge others by standards God never established. • The Heart of God's Law: Understand why love for God and love for others must remain central to our obedience, and why religious rituals must never displace mercy. • The Death of Mercy in the Name of Faithfulness: Consider how sincere spiritual zeal can become harsh legalism when protecting rules becomes more important than caring for people. • Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath: See how Jesus' authority and his healing of a suffering man reveal God's priorities and the compassion at the heart of his kingdom. • The Gospel of Extravagant Mercy: Reflect on how Jesus, who perfectly upholds God's holiness, willingly bears the judgment of sinners so that we can receive forgiveness, welcome, and rest. Call to Action: Examine your own convictions and the standards by which you evaluate others. Are there rules, expectations, or ideas about what a faithful Christian should look like that you've elevated beyond what God actually commands? Ask the Lord to reveal where your zeal for obedience may have made you less compassionate toward those who are struggling. Then take a practical step toward extending the kind of mercy Jesus has shown you: offer patience instead of condemnation, welcome instead of exclusion, and help instead of judgment. Faithfulness to Jesus should never make us indifferent to the people who need his mercy most. Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Rob Berreth Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30 Episode Overview: What is Jesus really like? In Matthew 11:25-30, Jesus reveals something remarkable about His heart: He is gentle and lowly. For those who are weary, burdened, and exhausted from trying to measure up, this is an invitation to discover a Savior who welcomes us with grace rather than demanding that we earn His approval. Our salvation depends not on our wisdom, goodness, or performance, but on the gracious work of God. Jesus invites us to come to Him as we are, find rest for our souls, and learn a new way of living under His kind and life-giving leadership. Key Highlights: • Salvation Is All of Grace: We don't come to God because we're wise enough to figure Him out or good enough to deserve His favor. We come because of His grace. • The Heart of Jesus: Jesus describes Himself as gentle and lowly, revealing a Savior who is approachable, compassionate, and eager to welcome those who come to Him. • From Performance to Rest: The Christian life isn't about working hard enough to earn God's acceptance. Through Christ, we can live from the assurance of His grace rather than striving for approval. • An Invitation to the Weary: Jesus doesn't ask us to get our lives together before approaching Him. He invites the burdened and exhausted to come to Him and receive rest. • New Way to Live: Jesus offers an easy yoke and a light burden, inviting us to exchange the exhausting weight of self-reliance and performance for His wisdom, strength, and guidance. Call to Action: Where are you striving to prove yourself, earn approval, or carry burdens Jesus never intended you to bear? Take an honest look at the ways performance and self-reliance have shaped your relationship with God. Instead of waiting until you have everything together, come to Jesus as you are. Spend time reflecting on His gentleness, bring Him the burdens you're carrying, and learn to live each day from the assurance that His grace is enough. The heart of Jesus is not one you must earn your way into; it is a place of lasting rest for all who come to Him. Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Rob Berreth Scripture: Matthew 11:1-24 Episode Overview: What do you do when Jesus doesn’t seem to be doing what you expected? Even faithful believers can struggle with doubt when God’s promises seem out of step with their lived experience. In Matthew 11:1–24, John the Baptist finds himself in prison, wondering whether Jesus truly is the promised Savior-King. Jesus responds with compassion, pointing John back to the evidence of His ministry and inviting him to trust God’s unfolding plan. Through John’s questions and the varied responses of the crowds, we’re reminded that God’s timing may not match our expectations, but His promises remain sure. The King who brings healing and grace will also bring justice and judgment. Until that day, Jesus meets struggling saints and confused seekers with patience, truth, and an invitation to keep trusting Him. Key Highlights: • The tender space between faith and unbelief: Why even faithful believers can experience doubt, especially amid suffering and disappointment. • Jesus’ compassionate response to doubt: How Jesus directs John back to the evidence of His ministry and the fulfillment of God’s promises. • The ninth beatitude: The blessing of refusing to stumble over Jesus when His plans and timing differ from our expectations. • The danger of a resistant heart: Why people find fault with both John’s call to repentance and Jesus’ invitation to grace. • The good news of the Savior-King: Why we need both repentance and grace, and how Jesus accomplishes what we could never achieve on our own. Call to Action: Where have disappointment, unanswered questions, or unmet expectations made it difficult to trust Jesus? Bring those struggles honestly to Him rather than hiding them or assuming your doubts disqualify you from faith. Return to what He has revealed about Himself, remain open to His purposes even when you cannot see the whole picture, and rest in the promise that His work is not finished. The story that seems confusing now will one day be brought to completion by the Savior-King who is both compassionate toward our weakness and faithful to every promise. Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Rob Berreth Scripture: Matthew 10:16-42 Episode Overview: Sharing the good news of Jesus can be deeply rewarding, but it can also bring rejection, opposition, and heartache—especially when those who reject the gospel are people we love. In Matthew 10:16–42, Jesus prepares His disciples for the cost of following Him and making Him known. He calls His people to be wise and innocent, to remain faithful when facing opposition, and to value allegiance to Him above the approval of others. Yet we do not face these challenges alone. God gives wisdom, His Spirit supplies help when we need it, and our heavenly Father knows and cares for us intimately. Even when the response to the gospel is painful or uncertain, we can press on with confidence that some will receive the message of grace and that our faithful service will not go unrewarded. Key Highlights: • The hard and heartache of evangelism: Why sharing the gospel can invite opposition, strain relationships, and bring deep sorrow when those we love reject the good news. • The cost of following Jesus: What it means to put Christ above the approval of family, friends, and the surrounding culture. • Wisdom and innocence: How to speak about Jesus with courage and discernment without creating unnecessary conflict through our own words or behavior. • The help of God: How the Spirit equips us to speak when we are put on the spot and how confidence in our Father's care frees us from the fear of people. • The hope of evangelism: Why we can continue sharing the gospel even when some reject it, trusting that others will receive it and that God will reward our faithful service. Call to Action: Consider one person in your life who needs to hear and experience the good news of Jesus. Ask God for wisdom to know when and how to speak, courage to remain faithful when it is uncomfortable, and genuine love for that person regardless of their response. Then take one intentional step toward a meaningful conversation, an invitation, an act of service, or a renewed expression of grace. Leave the outcome in God's hands, trusting His care and remembering that faithfulness is never wasted. Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Dane Burgess Scripture: Matthew 9:35-10:15 Episode Overview: Jesus sees people who are harassed and helpless and responds with compassion. In Matthew 9:35–10:15, we see that the work of evangelism begins not with our ability, confidence, or effort, but with God’s work. Jesus is already at work as the Lord of the harvest, and he calls his people first to pray and then to go. We are not the rescuers—we are witnesses to the great Rescuer. The passage then gives us a picture of what it means to participate in Jesus’ mission. Evangelism is a shared work, not a performance reserved for a few gifted people. We are called to compassionately go toward people, accurately proclaim the good news of what God has done in Jesus, tangibly serve those around us, and faithfully trust God with the results. We cannot make someone believe or manufacture the harvest; our calling is to be faithful to the opportunities Jesus puts in front of us. Key Highlights: • Jesus sees people in their helplessness and responds with compassion. • The first work is God’s work; salvation belongs to Christ, not to us. • Jesus calls his people to pray to the Lord of the harvest and to be willing to become the laborers he sends. • Evangelism is a team effort, and every Christian is called to participate in Jesus’ mission. • We are called to compassionately move toward people rather than simply observe their need. • We proclaim the gospel accurately: what God has done through Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and call to repent and believe. • We tangibly serve people as an expression of the King’s compassion. • We faithfully trust God with the results, knowing that we cannot save anyone but Christ can. Call to Action: Begin where Jesus begins: pray. Ask the Lord of the harvest to open the hearts of people around you, to send laborers, and to make you willing to be one of them. Then pay attention to the people God has already placed in your life. Pray for them, pursue them, listen to them, invite them into your life, look for ways to serve them, and when an opportunity comes, be willing to tell them why Jesus means so much to you. Your responsibility is faithfulness; the results belong to God. Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Claude Atcho Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35 Episode Overview: Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness begins with Peter’s practical question: how many times must we forgive someone who sins against us? Jesus’ answer moves forgiveness beyond calculation altogether. Through the parable of the unforgiving servant, Jesus reveals the astonishing contrast between the immeasurable debt God has forgiven us and the comparatively small debts we are tempted to hold against others. The forgiveness we receive from God is not meant to remain abstract; it reshapes how we live with our families, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and the church. Key Highlights: • Jesus calls his people to a forgiveness that cannot be reduced to tally marks or limits. • The enormous debt forgiven by the king illustrates the overwhelming mercy God gives us in Christ. • Our understanding of forgiveness begins with recognizing both our need for forgiveness and the reality that God has forgiven us fully. • The grace we receive from God is meant to flow outward into our relationships with others. • Forgiveness is not denial. It acknowledges that a real wrong has occurred while releasing the desire for revenge. • Forgiveness does not automatically restore trust or remove the need for wisdom, boundaries, or a process of reconciliation. • Christian forgiveness is not primarily a self-help strategy or a way to improve our own emotional well-being. It is the fruit of having received the mercy of God. • Jesus forms his people to practice forgiveness in the ordinary and often difficult relationships of life. Call to Action: Consider where you have begun keeping a tally of someone else’s wrongs. Bring that relationship honestly before Jesus in prayer. Ask him to deepen your awareness of the mercy you have received and to form you into someone who extends that same mercy to others. Where forgiveness is complicated, painful, or requires wisdom, don't pretend the complexity isn't there—seek prayer, wise counsel, and the patient work of Christ as you learn what forgiveness looks like in that particular relationship. Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Rob Berreth Scripture: Matthew 9:35-10:15 Episode Overview: What happens when the good news of Jesus takes root deeply enough in us that we want others to know it too? In Matthew 9:35-10:15, Jesus moves His disciples from seeing the need to joining Him in the work. Evangelism isn't reserved for a few especially gifted Christians, nor does it require us to have every answer or carry the responsibility for the results. It begins with remembering what we have received from Christ and letting the grace of the gospel move us toward people who need that same good news. Jesus gives His disciples a pattern for this work: pray earnestly for laborers, go where God has placed you, faithfully proclaim the gospel, tangibly serve people in ways that reflect the coming kingdom, and trust God with the response. Evangelism is a team sport, and every Christian has a part to play. Whether our mission field is across the world or across the street, Jesus calls us to move toward people with the hope we have received. Key Highlights: • A deeper understanding of the gospel produces a desire to see others experience its grace. • Evangelism is not a solo endeavor; the whole church participates in reaching those who are far from God. • Jesus tells His disciples to begin with earnest, dependent prayer for workers. • Christians are called to actually go—to pursue relationships and opportunities wherever God has placed them. • We proclaim the same good news we have received: acceptance with God comes through Christ, not through our own obedience. • Gospel mission includes tangible acts of service that reflect the reality of Christ's coming kingdom. • Our responsibility is faithfulness; the response and results ultimately belong to God. Call to Action: Ask God to deepen your gratitude for what He has done for you in Christ and to give you a heart that wants others to know Him. Pray specifically for the people God has already placed around you. Then take a step toward someone who is far from God: start a conversation, pursue a friendship, meet a practical need, or find a natural opportunity to tell them what Jesus has done for you. You don't have to force a response or know exactly where the conversation will lead. Pray, go, proclaim, serve, and trust God with the results. Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Rob Berreth Scripture: Matthew 9:35-36 Episode Overview: Jesus does not look upon harassed and helpless people with indifference. In Matthew 9:35–36, we see the heart of the Good Shepherd who sees human suffering, is moved with deep compassion, and comes to rescue. The Gospel is not good advice about what we must do to save ourselves; it is Good News about what Jesus has already done through His life, death, and resurrection. The same Jesus who proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom also came to heal, restore, and ultimately lay down His life for His sheep. Key Highlights: • The Gospel is Good News, not Good Advice—it announces what Jesus has already accomplished to rescue sinners. • Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom and demonstrated the coming restoration of all things through His ministry of healing. • Jesus sees people in their weariness, trouble, weakness, and helplessness with deep compassion. • The image of sheep without a shepherd points to humanity’s need for a true Shepherd and exposes the failure of shepherds who burden rather than care for God’s people. • Jesus is the Good Shepherd who seeks His sheep, cares for them, and ultimately lays down His life for them. • At the cross, the compassion of Jesus becomes sacrificial action: He suffers for His sheep so that harassed and helpless people can be rescued. Call to Action: Consider where you have believed a smaller or harsher version of who Jesus is. Bring your weariness, sin, suffering, and helplessness honestly to the Good Shepherd rather than trying to rescue yourself through your own efforts. Receive the Good News of what Christ has done, and allow His compassion toward you to reshape the way you see and respond to the weary and hurting people around you. Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Rob Berreth Scripture: Matthew 9:18-34 Episode Overview: Life can bring circumstances that leave us hurting, helpless, and wondering where hope can be found. In Matthew 9:18-34, Jesus meets people facing death, chronic suffering, blindness, and spiritual oppression—and their response is to bring their need to Him with a hope that reaches beyond their circumstances. This passage shows us the difference between ordinary hope, which depends on circumstances and good odds, and deep hope, which rests in the person and promises of Jesus. Because Jesus is the Messiah and Savior, the miracles in this passage point beyond themselves to the day when He will finally defeat death, sickness, sorrow, darkness, and evil forever. Key Highlights: • Hope begins in the midst of hurt. The people Jesus encounters are not insulated from suffering; they are hurting and helpless, with no ability to solve their problems on their own. • Bring your hurt to Jesus. The ruler, the suffering woman, the blind men, and those who brought the demon-oppressed man all demonstrate what it looks like to turn toward Jesus rather than give up. • Deep hope is different from ordinary hope. Christian hope isn't ultimately based on circumstances, probabilities, or the likelihood that things will turn out the way we want. It rests in the character and promises of Jesus. • God is able to intervene. Jesus still has authority over sickness, suffering, spiritual oppression, and death. At the same time, when God does not answer a prayer in the way we hoped, we can still trust Him. • The miracles point to something greater. Jesus' works in Matthew 9 offer a glimpse of what His kingdom will ultimately bring: a world where death is defeated, sickness is gone, evil is overcome, and sorrow gives way to lasting joy. • Our hope is secured by the Gospel. Jesus not only gives life to others; He willingly gives His own life so that resurrection and final restoration can become our hope. • Look up and look forward. We cultivate hope by turning our eyes toward Jesus, holding onto His promises, and looking toward the future He has promised to make new. Call to Action: When life hurts and you feel helpless, don't let your circumstances become the final word. Bring your need honestly to Jesus. Look up by filling your mind with His Word, remembering His promises, and fixing your attention on who He is. Then look forward to the future He has promised—a day when tears, sickness, death, sorrow, and evil will finally come to an end. You may not know whether God will answer a particular prayer with a yes, no, or not yet. But you can know the One to whom you are praying. Trust Him with what you cannot control, keep bringing your hurts to Him, and refuse to let today's darkness convince you that the darkness will have the final word. Our hope is not merely that things might get better. Our hope is Jesus, and because He saves, everything will ultimately be made right.

Speaker: Rob Berreth Scripture: Matthew 9:14-17 Episode Overview: Jesus confronts a deeply rooted misunderstanding about the Christian life: the idea that God’s acceptance rises and falls with our spiritual performance. In Matthew 9:14-17, He reveals that His coming brings something radically new—a life grounded not in religious achievement, but in grace. As the Bridegroom, Jesus invites His people into the joy of knowing Him rather than striving to earn what He freely gives. This does not mean that practices like prayer, fasting, Scripture reading, worship, and serving have no place in the Christian life. When rightly understood, they become means of grace—ways of placing ourselves before God to know Him, enjoy Him, and grow in Christlikeness. The difference is found in why we do them: not to secure God's favor, but because we already belong to Christ. Key Highlights: • Why religious performance can never make us right with God • What Jesus means when He identifies Himself as the Bridegroom • The difference between “I obey, therefore I’m accepted” and “I’m accepted, therefore I obey” • Why the gospel frees us from both pride on our good days and despair on our bad days • How spiritual practices can deepen our joy in Christ without becoming legalism • Why the ultimate purpose of every spiritual discipline is knowing and enjoying Jesus Call to Action: Take an honest look at the spiritual practices in your life. Are you using them to prove yourself to God, or are you receiving them as gifts that draw you closer to Christ? Whether you pray, read Scripture, fast, serve, or worship, come with empty hands. Rest in the grace already given to you in Jesus, and then gladly place yourself in the pathways where you can know and enjoy Him more. Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Rob Berreth Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13 Episode Overview: Overview: Jesus’ call of Matthew reveals the foundation of our relationship with God: we are not accepted because of our performance, but because Jesus obeyed. Matthew was not pursuing Jesus or presenting a life worthy of His attention. He was sitting at his tax booth when Jesus came to him and said, “Follow me.” Jesus then welcomed Matthew and other sinners to His table, exposing the radically different ways people understand belonging, acceptance, and mercy. Key Highlights: • God makes the first move. Matthew was uninterested in Jesus, yet Jesus pursued him. Our relationship with God begins not with our effort, but with His grace and initiative. • Jesus welcomes the undeserving. Matthew’s past and reputation did not prevent Jesus from calling him to follow. • The gospel confronts two competing foundations: “I obey, therefore I’m accepted” versus “I’m accepted because Jesus obeyed.” • Jesus calls His people to mercy rather than self-righteous judgment. “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice” challenges us to remember that the church is a community of sinners who have received grace. • Communion reminds us of this foundation: we come because we cannot obey perfectly, but Jesus has obeyed, lived, died, and risen for us. • The glory of God is displayed in Christ’s willingness to pursue and befriend sinners. Jesus makes clear that this is what He desires and why He came. Call to Action: Remember the foundation of your own faith. Resist the temptation to measure your standing with God—or someone else’s standing—with performance. Receive the mercy you could never earn, and then extend that same mercy to the people you are most tempted to judge, avoid, or consider unworthy of belonging. Let remembering who you were when Christ called you produce humility, gratitude, tenderness, and a willingness to welcome others as Jesus has welcomed you. Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Dane Burgess Scripture: Matthew 9:1-8 Episode Overview: Jesus looks beyond the need everyone can see to the deeper need that only He can fully know. When a paralyzed man is brought before Him, Jesus first speaks words of forgiveness: “Take heart, my son. Your sins are forgiven.” The healing that follows is not merely an act of compassion or a demonstration of power—it is visible proof that Jesus, the Son of Man, has authority on earth to forgive sins. Matthew invites us to consider not simply what Jesus can do, but who He is, and to find courage in the One whose authority can be trusted. Key Highlights: • Jesus sees deeper than we do. The paralytic’s physical condition was obvious, but Jesus addressed the deeper need of forgiveness. • “Take heart” is more than “cheer up.” Jesus speaks courage in the middle of real suffering—not by pretending the storm is absent, but because of who He is. • The healing proves the invisible claim. Jesus heals the man so that everyone can know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins. • Forgiveness is the greater miracle. Physical healing is a preview of the restoration Christ will ultimately bring, but forgiveness reconciles sinners to God. • Jesus’ authority points to the cross. The forgiveness Jesus freely gives is not cheap; the One who forgives sins will give His own blood for the forgiveness of sins. • The right question is, “Who is this man?” Matthew calls us beyond amazement toward faith in Jesus Christ as the One who has authority to forgive sins. Call to Action: Whatever storm you are carrying—whether it is visible to everyone around you or known only to you—bring it honestly to Christ. You may not know how or when every circumstance will change, but you can know who is speaking into it. Take heart because Jesus sees what you cannot see, knows what you cannot know, and has authority to forgive your sins. If you have trusted Him, consider who in your life needs a friend who will patiently bring them closer to Jesus rather than treating them like a project. And if you are still uncertain about Christ, take the invitation seriously: open Matthew and examine Jesus for yourself. The question is not merely what He can do, but who He is. Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Dane Burgess Scripture: Matthew 8:23–34 Episode Overview: Fear has a way of exposing how little control we really have. In Matthew 8:23–34, Jesus meets His disciples in the middle of a terrifying storm, confronts the powers of evil, and then reveals something equally important about the human heart: we can want Jesus to rescue us without wanting Him to rule us. Yet throughout the passage, one truth becomes unmistakable—Jesus is the Victor. The winds and waves obey Him. Demons recognize His authority and submit to His command. And ultimately, He will enter into death itself and emerge victorious. For those who belong to Him, the victory does not depend on the strength of our faith, the certainty of our understanding, or our ability to save ourselves. Christ has our life, and wonderfully, we belong to Him. Key Highlights: • Following Jesus does not mean we will never encounter storms, but it does mean we are not alone in them. • Even when our faith feels painfully small, we can bring our fear to a Savior who is greater than what frightens us. • Jesus has absolute authority over the powers of evil; Satan and the demons are not His equals, but defeated enemies whose final judgment is certain. • Evil dehumanizes, isolates, and destroys, while Jesus comes to set the helpless free. • We can easily desire Jesus' help while resisting His authority in particular areas of our lives. • The gospel is not an invitation to become strong enough to save ourselves. A Savior, King, and Victor has come. • Through His death and resurrection, Jesus defeated the powers of evil and broke the bondage of the fear of death. • Our ultimate comfort is not that we understand everything or can control what happens tomorrow, but that Christ has our life. Call to Action: Bring your fear to Jesus rather than trying to control what you cannot control. Bring Him the sin, temptation, anxiety, resentment, shame, or other areas of your life that have gained a stronger hold than you want to admit. Don't protect the places where you most need His grace. Let Jesus come near and be King there too. You do not have to save yourself. Entrust your life to the One who has already conquered sin, evil, and death—and remember that your confidence rests not in the size of your faith, but in the greatness of your Savior. Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Luke Brandon Scripture: Matthew 8:18-22 Episode Overview: Jesus' words in Matthew 8:18-22 challenge the assumptions we often bring to discipleship. While many are eager to follow Him, Jesus makes it clear that following Him is not built on comfort, convenience, or delayed commitment. This message explores the cost of discipleship, the surpassing worth of Christ, and the freedom that comes when we surrender lesser priorities to follow the One who gave everything for us. Rather than calling believers to earn God's favor, Jesus invites His people into the joyful privilege of walking with Him and participating in His eternal purposes. Key Highlights • Why Jesus responds so unexpectedly to two would-be disciples. • The difference between admiring Jesus and truly following Him. • What it means that the Son of Man had "nowhere to lay His head." • Why Jesus calls for wholehearted allegiance above every competing priority. • How the gospel transforms discipleship from a burden into a gift. • The surpassing joy of laying aside self and sin to follow Christ. • Living with an eternal perspective instead of being shaped by temporary comforts and ambitions. Call to Action Take time to honestly consider what may be competing with your devotion to Christ. Ask the Lord to reveal where comfort, security, or "later" has become an obstacle to faithful obedience. Trust that whatever Jesus calls you to leave behind is far outweighed by the life, hope, and purpose found in following Him each day. Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org