Direction Church

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we take up a challenge of adopting the exercise of the daily Examen.

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we lean a little more into repentance.

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we review this past Sunday and look further at Jesus' proclamation of the good news (i.e. gospel).

Sunday, April 13, 2025 Text: Matthew 4.12-17 John the Baptist is in prison, Rome is in charge, and people are still being marginalized and mistreated. God’s people (and the whole world) are desperate for some good news in the middle of their own wilderness season. This is the backdrop as Jesus emerges from the wilderness and begins proclaiming His message. In a world full of tension and conflict b...

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we take time to reflect on where we've been together this week, and think of some ways we can begin to put it into practice as we allow the lessons of Jesus permeate all of our being.

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we once again take a look at the phrase "the ends justify the means", as we read two passages from the book of 1 Samuel and ask the question "How can you relate to Saul in these stories?"

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we take up a challenge of adopting an exercise that will help us become better at surrender and resisting the Kingdom of Control.

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we lean a little more into the struggle with "control" and talk about the discipline of "surrender" as we take a look at Acts 2.

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we review this past Sunday, the concept of the Kingdom of Control, and how Jesus resisted the temptation of the Kingdom of Control, trusting God's "means/methods" of arrivin...

Sunday, April 6, 2025 Matthew 4.8-11 Today we finish our look at Jesus' confrontation with the tempter in the wilderness, as He overcomes the third temptation to lure Him away from being faithful to God. How is this temptation often manifested with us? By way of the Kingdom of Control.

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we take time to reflect on where we've been together this week, and think of some ways we can begin to put it into practice as we allow the lessons of Jesus permeate all of our being.

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we take a look at a few other passages from the New Testament, discussing the virtue of humility and how it helps fight against the kingdoms of insecurity and presumption in our lives.

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we take up a challenge of extending grace when we feel like we've been wronged and treated unfairly.

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we lean a little more into Deuteronomy 6. Not only did Jesus quote verse 16 from this chapter, but He also draws our attention to a critical piece of the Scripture that was a cornerstone text for the...

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we review this past Sunday, where we've been (i.e. what is a kingdom?), and think a little deeper in connection with with a text later in the book of Matthew.

We continue our look at the second temptation the devil tempted Jesus with during His time in the wilderness found in Matthew 4.5-7. The questions for today are: 1. Have you ever personally heard Scripture used against God or what He’s called us to do? What and how was it used? How could you tell it was a misrepresentation of God’s intention behind the text? 2. What are some helpful steps you can...

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we take time to reflect on where we've been together this week, and think of some ways we can begin to put it into practice as we allow the lessons of Jesus permeate all of our being.

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we take a look at one other New Testament passage and see the connections between Jesus' encounter with the devil here in the wilderness and His encounter with mockers as He hung on t...

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we (continue to) take up the challenge of being vulnerable and honest with one another, while walking with one another further into Christlikeness.

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we lean a little more into the concept of building our "own kingdom". On Sunday we touched briefly on how in Jesus' resisting the devil with this first temptation, He shows...

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. This week's verse for memory: Matthew 4.4 New Thought: Where am I settling when God has more?

Sunday, March 23, 2025 Today we take a look at Matthew 4.2-4 and the first temptation that Jesus faces after spending 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness without any food. How do Jesus' actions connect with the greater story arch of Scripture and how do they provide an example and guiding principle for our lives as we journey beyond the wilderness? Today's Discussion Questions: How doe...

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we take time to reflect on where we've been together this week, and think of some ways we can begin to put it into practice as we allow the lessons of Jesus permeate all of our being.

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we take a look at one other New Testament passage and read an excerpt from a Lewis Smedes classic "Shame & Grace", and shed some light of the deceitful strategy of our enemy to lure us into focus...

Here's a follow-up to our conversation this past Sunday together. Each day we'll continue the conversation and move toward a deeper understanding and application of what we're learning together. Today we take up the challenge of digging deeper to hear what God truly thinks about us, and to look a little at why understanding and experiencing the love of God is the highest form of motiva...