Gateway Church Austin

Having a backstage pass can offer an amazing opportunity to get a glimpse of things we deem as great —bands, actors, organizations, and the like. But God shows us that true “greatness” comes from knowing Jesus and working towards strong character. What would it look like to pull back the curtain and snag a backstage pass to the creation of followers of Christ who seek great character through Him?

God doesn’t owe us anything. Our God is immeasurably superior to us, yet He so loves us, He doesn’t give us what we deserve when we rebel or do wrong; He offers us grace and mercy. This message of grace is woven throughout the Bible, but sometimes it’s hard for us to believe it applies to us. How do we connect with this God that loves so powerfully and radically?

When most people think about following Jesus, they think about all the “rules” and perhaps about a God who only wants us if we’re good enough. Whether it’s preachers on the streets, people yelling with signs, or even the whisper in our own minds that God isn’t interested in us or the messes we’ve made, we’re sometimes afraid to trust in a God who may reject us. Are we going to believe what people, our pasts, and our emotions tell us about God, or will we believe what God tells us about Himself in His Word (the Bible)?

Often times the picture we have of God is one that has Him condemning us for any mistakes and temptations in our lives. We fear such condemnation, which may lead us to try to hide from God. But the true nature of God is one of compassion and mercy. He loves and understands us, but He also wants what’s best for us. How can embracing the graciousness of God rid us from the heaviness of shame and turn us toward a better version of ourselves?

To fire God is not to kick the one true God out of your life; it’s to eliminate the false image of God we all have in our heads. You know the one we mean. Maybe it’s God as a traffic cop, aiming the radar gun at everything you do. Or maybe it’s God as a standoffish stranger, satisfied to leave you alone as long as you just don’t bother Him. How we perceive God determines how we perceive ourselves and how we live our lives. How can we know God’s true character?

In the various areas of our lives, we often confront situations that require wisdom to respond in the best way possible for us and those around us. Sometimes we need wisdom at work with a difficult coworker, at home with an angry spouse or rebellious child, or with friends and other family members. To whom do we turn for wisdom, and is that source actually wise? What would it look like to seek and find wisdom from the God who desires to lead us each and every day?

A tiny seed, receiving consistent watering over time, can emerge into a massive sequoia tree. The choice to humble ourselves, when watered with the active, steady practice of listening, can grow into something strong and enduring – wisdom. Where do you find yourself in the process of cultivating wisdom that comes from humility? Work through the following questions and Scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.

The world sees life as a challenge in which we discover who can achieve the most the fastest. There doesn’t even seem to be much focus on determining if the things you strive for are worth achieving. Hard work is a part of life, but as Christ-followers, we aren’t meant to go it alone or make decisions without careful consideration. How can we begin to live like we understand that we’re not working hard to prove our worth to society, but we’re working hard because we know God sees us as worthy?

For most of us, ringing in the new year involves a lot of honest reflection around how to do life differently going forward. Thankfully, there is no shortage of resources to help us! There are more books, seminars, Ted Talk videos, and podcasts than anyone could digest in two lifetimes. But how do we sift through all the knowledge out there in order to tap into the wisdom that can lead to a lasting change?

A new year is here, and we all want to be better. But perhaps moving forward means looking back, reflecting, and seeking input from the people closest to us. How can we find community that helps us learn from the past and gives us honest feedback, so we can be a better version of ourselves in the new year?

As an adult, how does it feel to give the perfect gift? Now imagine how God must have felt Christmas night—His sense of excitement. Think of all God did preparing for us to see and anticipate the best gift there ever was. Could you imagine leaving such a gift and never unwrapping it? Would you open it but then leave it under the tree unused? What will you do with the Gift this year?

As an adult, how does it feel to give the perfect gift? Now imagine how God must have felt Christmas night—His sense of excitement. Think of all God did preparing for us to see and anticipate the best gift there ever was. Could you imagine leaving such a gift and never unwrapping it? Would you open it but then leave it under the tree unused? What will you do with the Gift this year?

God is changing the world, life by life, as He builds His Church and works through all of us together. He makes epicenters of impact that ripple out from every life—your life and our lives connected to other lives around the world. But when you hear the word “church,” is that what you picture?

Jesus is the ultimate hero. He left the comfort of heaven for a new land on Earth, began working miracles at age 30, and He sacrificed His life for all of humankind—present and future. Jesus’ story is the best story ever told, but did you know each of us has a role in that story? Depending on our decisions, we can be a character who disappears after the first chapter, the villain or the hero of our own story, or friend and family to the ultimate hero, Jesus Christ. How will your story intersect with God’s?

The Bible is an epic story of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration, but it’s also an intimate story describing God’s pursuit of a love relationship with each of us as individuals. We need to understand the big picture so that we don’t miss the personal application. Where do we fit into God’s big picture?

When something painful or unfair happens, the natural tendency for many of us is to get caught in the why—what did we do to deserve this? We often feel like victims and become resentful toward the situation, the people involved, and even God. But Jesus offers us a command with a promise: keep your eyes on Me, and I will reward you beyond your wildest dreams. Is it worth it to trust God in life’s most challenging situations?

When it comes to money, the definition of success in our culture is one that’s unattainable. How much do you need in order to say “enough” or before you feel secure? It doesn’t matter how much or little you may have; the answer is always “more.” But what if there’s a way you could really succeed with money? How might it look to follow God’s plan for our finances, and does His plan really lead to rewards we can count on?

Few people have jobs they would consider glamorous. Some have jobs they like — most days. And a handful despise every minute they’re at work. But we all have one thing in common: God wants us to invite Him into our work. If we take the focus off ourselves, off our earthly bosses and co-workers, and focus on working as if the rewards that truly matter are eternal, we’d have clarity and purpose that lightens the load.

Across the globe, money, position, and power are the currencies and driving forces that bring success and rewards. Those things are not bad in and of themselves, but we often fail to realize that there’s a Greater Economy that governs us, and it’s important to be conscious of how we use the world’s economy to gain the Greatest Reward. How do we live for heavenly rewards and not just earthly rewards?

When you look around the world and see destruction, oppression, injustice, racism, and abuse, it seems as if there is something bigger at play. If there is a real war being waged in a realm we can’t see, and there are dark forces at work in this realm, should we be afraid? Can we really say “the devil made me do it,” or is this a battle we can win?