Journey Church - Chattanooga

Change is inevitable in us and the world around us. To be a follower of Jesus means that we are being remade in Jesus's image.

We live in a time of ever increasing change...more change than we were created to endure. So how do you navigate change? Step 1...expect it. "Stories: Navigating Change" is now available!

Real hope is based on a solid foundation and not speculation. The resurrection is the foundation for our living hope. Jesus did walk out of the tomb!

Doing what Jesus did means seeking the good of other's around us. It requires us to wake up to the needs and struggles of people that we could just as easily ignore. It also requires getting involved in ways that you are able. "Going Deep (Part 6): Seek the Good of the City" is now available!

Transformation of a person, a people, a nation and a world is really what the good news of Jesus is about. It's not about following rules. It's about seeing the world differently and interacting with each other differently. Jesus described this new way of living as loving God and other people. But it begins with a decision to follow which is the first step in transformation. "Going Deep: Transformational Discipleship" by Student Pastor, Jimmy Davis is now available!

The Bible is the most interesting piece of literature that has ever been created. While it contains inspired stories and principles to help us know God and be better humans, it's also been used as an authority to do some terrible things throughout history in the name of God. How we approach it matters. Jesus not only read scripture, he regularly quoted it. If we are going to do what Jesus did, we have to hold the scriptures as an authority in our lives. But what does that look like? "Going Deep (Part 4): Authority" is now available!

Authenticity is a gift that we give to each other and we receive by truly being ourselves. It causes us to strive to be better than we currently are since we aren't going to try to hide anything. In an authentic community, people choose each other, are vulnerable with each other, overlook each other’s shortcomings, serve each other and point each other to Jesus. "Going Deep (Part 3): Authenticity" is now available!

Christianity was never supposed to be about belief statements, worship services and behavior modification to some codex. Christianity was always supposed to be about experiencing God and His Kingdom. It's not just a different perspective...it's a different world. Going deep means intentionally living out the Kingdom of God no matter where we are or who crosses our paths. "Going Deep (Part 2): Living the Kingdom Now" is now available! *During the video, Pastor Mark will reference a Bible Project video. You can find that video at https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/gospel-kingdom/

There is a part of our faith that is the adventure of a lifetime and there’s a part that we’re committing to live the adventure that Jesus lived…to redeem the world.

Following the way means experiencing the Kingdom of God, being disciplined to train yourself to see the world and each other differently, and the humility to sacrifice your own needs for the needs of others.

Busy, busy, busy...that is the lifestyle of our time and it is one of the ways that we feel value but what if all of this busy-ness is keeping us from something better? If we are going to follow Jesus, we also have to have time to be still and guiet. To reflect and consider. To rest rather than being exhausted.

Everyone worships something, even if we fully believe we are non-religious. It is the thing that we believe will fill our deepest needs and it isn't always bad. Good things can be elevated to a place where they become the most important thing and we will become what we worship. When the right priorities are in the right order in our lives, we can experience eternal life...a quality of life that is available to us now and forevermore.

Much of Christianity is focused on eternal life, but more specifically, what happens when we die. Jesus mentioned this but never made it a focus of his ministry. Instead, we have an opportunity to be restored to a place that is good with God and when we are, we will begin to become more like Jesus, himself. That is eternal life and it is for right now and forevermore.

The story of the Prodigal Son teaches us many lessons...the hopelessness of living selfishly and without God...the hopelessness of moralistic and religious living that misses the whole point of the gospel...the power and expanse of grace...and many more. "Good News: Epilogue or Where does grace end? or How to live a great life." is now available!

The story of the prodigal son is a well told story of the gospel of Jesus Christ and it speaks to the incredible graciousness of God as well as 2 primary groups of people...those who are lost and aren't concerned and those who are trying to do all the right things and expect the same from others. It turns out they are lost, too. The elder brother has much to tell us in the church about what it means to truly know and follow Jesus.

The parable of the Prodigal Son is not just a story of 1 lost son. It's the story of 2 lost sons...1 is uninterested in God and the other feels justified because of what they are doing. In part 2, we find that there is great grace for non-religious people who are in need of a rescue.

Unordinary grace is the mark of Jesus. He demonstrates tremendous grace and generosity to those around him and encourages us to do the same because it is by grace that we are saved which should propel us to good works. "The Art of Being Unordinary: Unordinary Grace" is now available!

Following Jesus isn't about fitting in, it's about striving towards something that is good and meaningful. When we look at Paul's life, we don't see someone who had it all together. Instead, we see a guy that is striving towards something that he can see but hasn't yet attained. Let's be Unordinary, together as we strive towards something better.

You were made to become more in Christ. The Art of Being Unordinary isn't just an act of our will, it is something that God does within us. Sometimes it means picking something up but sometimes it means letting something go. What do you need to let go as God does something profound in you?

One of the greatest gifts of this life is the opportunity to be reborn. To become more than you were yesterday. To grow into something that is good. Or in our case, to return to something that was better. It requires "The Art of Being Unordinary". What is the 'good news', really, and how do we obtain the goal of being conformed to the image of Jesus?