Saddleback Church Weekend Messages

This past weekend, Pastor Andy continued our Jesus on the Move series by exploring the authority of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark. Many of us try to control our lives and circumstances, but underneath that struggle is a deeper question: who is really in charge of our lives? In Mark 1 and 2, Jesus teaches with authority and demonstrates it by confronting evil, healing the sick, and forgiving sins. These moments reveal that His authority brings freedom, healing, and forgiveness. Scripture reminds us that pride and rebellion place us outside of God’s authority, while humility and surrender open the door to His grace and peace. As we surrender our lives to Jesus and allow Him to lead, we begin to experience the peace that comes from trusting Him.

In a culture where people are searching for their calling, Jesus offers something deeper. In Mark 1, Jesus invites ordinary fishermen with simple words: “Follow me.” Their calling did not begin with a career or plan. It began with a relationship. First, Jesus calls us to relationship with Him. Following Jesus is not about rules or religion. It is about letting Him lead our lives. Our lives are defined not by what we do, but by who we follow. Second, Jesus calls us to transformation. The disciples came as ordinary fishermen, but as they followed Him, He changed them. Jesus meets us where we are, but He does not leave us there. Third, Jesus calls us to make a difference. Jesus told His disciples He would make them fishers of people. Their decision to follow Him changed the world, and God still uses ordinary people to reach others with His love.

Before any healings or miracles, Jesus’ ministry begins with a declaration of identity. In Mark 1, as Jesus rises from the water, God the Father declares: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” This past weekend we kicked off Jesus on the Move, exploring the life and ministry of Jesus through the Gospel of Mark. Pastor Andy walked through Jesus’ identity revealed, the kingdom of heaven inaugurated, and His obedience tested in the wilderness. We’re challenged to reflect on our own identity. Everything we do flows from who we believe we are. Because of Jesus, we are given a new identity as children of God, invited into His mission and strengthened for our own wilderness seasons.

This past weekend marked a season of celebration, calling, and renewal. We looked back with gratitude at all God did through The Return Gathering and heard stories of salvation and life change. Pastor Andy reminded us what we experienced at The Return Gathering was not just a moment, but a movement. Through the story of John the Baptist, we saw how preparation always precedes what God wants to do next. God has each of us in a season of preparation. Every season prepares us for something. The question is not whether we are preparing, but how we will respond. We can ignore it, reject it, or embrace it. This is a season of preparation. Join us as we prepare our hearts, homes, church, and community ready for what God has in store for us.

From the Garden of Eden until now, Scripture tells one story: God’s constant desire to dwell with His people. This past weekend, guest speaker Luke LeFevre called us to be a generation that seeks the face and glory of God. Throughout the Bible we see God pursuing nearness, from the Tabernacle to Jesus to the Church today. We also see how God raised up and walked with people like David, who sought God’s glory and nearness in their lives. But what is God’s glory and how do we experience it? God’s glory is His presence among His people, and Luke asked a piercing question: Are we content to live without His presence? Like David, who longed to dwell in the house of the Lord, we are invited to seek God above all else. As we look ahead to The Return Gathering and what God has next, may we be a church that longs for His glory and seeks His face.