God’s sacrifice, our sin, the cross, the empty tomb…I’m undone all over again every time I come face to face with Jesus’ remarkable sacrifice on the cross.

As I’m working away – writing, praying and preparing for Easter weekend, I can’t get over what He did for me – personally. I will never recover from His extravagant offer of love…His sacrifice. Nothing in the universe compares to His singular act of love that Good Friday 2,000+ years ago. Nothing comes close to His extraordinary love. It is beyond anything I could have ever hoped for.

Are your hopes up this Easter? God has more in mind for you than you could possible begin to imagine. I don’t know where you are on the road or where you find yourself on your spiritual journey, but Heaven’s hopes are up for you…for the people you love…for our cities and our world.

Luke 14:23 says, “Go out 2 the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in…” I want to encourage you to DO IT. Invite everyone you know…invite everyone you come in contact with between now and Easter. Let’s SPILL OUT HOPE into this hopeless world.

I’m cheering you on as you go all out inviting and getting ready, Questers. Pray for me as I finish my talk and make my last invites. I can’t wait to partner with you this weekend for the most remarkable weekend we’ve ever experienced together.

Do you ever wonder about who God picks? What He sees in this leader or that servant? Why He positions people in specific times and places? Why He risks so much on ordinary people with so few skills, less than impressive track records and life experiences to recommend them?

Last night I had the privilege of celebration with more than 120 of Quest’s leaders reflecting back over the year together. I couldn’t be more grateful for these ordinary people who lay down their lives to lead out in the Bride of Christ. Just remarkable people. Not the most skilled or the most talented, but remarkable because they’ve let Jesus break their hearts for His lost kids and given Him their YES in advance.

It’s everywhere in the pages of the Bible – and I see it everywhere as a leader. God picks ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. He entrusts His mission to the hands and hearts of fragile, fallible people. He risks on us. And He entrusts us. I’m always amazed what He will do with a thorough yes and people willing to risk on Him!

You are CHOSEN for His purposes (not always what you’ve planned for or what you’d pick – but astonishing things that matter in the Kingdom). And your yes plays a part in unleashing those purposes. Fully live out the ministry God has given you!  Give Jesus your YES in advance.

To an amazing team of leaders: Thanks for saying yes to Jesus, thanks for risking on Him, and thanks for running this race faithfully.

And to Uprising leaders around the country and around the world: Thank you for letting Jesus break your heart for lost kids, thank you for saying yes to Him. You’re not alone!

p.s. As our leaders remembered God’s great work over the last year, we almost couldn’t land our top 10 highlights of the year. What God did here was just that flat out holy and remarkable, but in an early tie for first place were The Uprising and the Spontaneous Baptisms on October 16/17! Tonight is our Christmas Baptism, our first baptism celebration service since then, and we can’t WAIT! You don’t wanna miss this night (or join us online if you can’t drive into Lex).

Change is good. Everything that grows changes…transforms. And Quest has been gearing up for a fantastic change that’s finally here! I’m pumped to invite you out to Quest tonight to join us for the launch of Quest University!

Quest University is a brand new university model approach to our midweek service, and it launches tonight at 6:30 pm at our Lexington Campus. For those of you who’ve been looking for the time and space to invest in your spiritual growth– or just learn more about your church — this is your chance! We’ll have fantastic worship together and then we’ll split off into specialty classes that help us make the most of this night!

Quest University consists of a series of classes designed and aimed to help us become wholehearted followers of Jesus.  Below is a list of classes offered during this 6 week quarter.

The First Ever Quest University Class Offerings Nov. 3 – Dec. 8

• Cover to Cover: Getting the Bible’s Big Picture
• Jonah: A Book You Want to Study!
• Who I Am In Christ: Embracing Your Identity in Christ
• Rooted: Foundational Steps with Jesus
• Quest 101: Getting to Know Your Church
• United: Keys to a Thriving Marriage
• Just Walk Across the Room: Growing in Evangelism
• Open Hands: Keys to Financial Freedom

Drop your students off at FUSED, check your kids in at KidsQuest, and show up tonight ready to grow in a whole new way! This may just be the answer to your prayers. God’s got GREAT things in store! Let’s dive into this great opportunity together, Questers. I’ll see you there!

Last night was REMARKABLE. We heard dozens and dozens of stories of God’s unrelenting love, grace and pursuit. 68 people were baptized! 13 people came to Christ! And Jesus was lifted up. Just a breathtaking picture of the beauty of the bride of Christ. Watch this snapshot of the spontaneous baptism at the end of the night!