One encounter with Jesus has the power to change everything. We saw it in Uprising pastors…we’ve seen it in the lives of hundreds who’ve given their lives to Christ in this series. The power of God to change, transform and shift a human heart is incalculable. Never underestimate the difference a day makes when God is on the scene!

As we concluded our series “The Difference a Day Makes” this weekend, Assistant Pastor Justin McCarty challenged us to pursue God for the more He has for us. I couldn’t agree more: Don’t stop short. Get to Jesus. Cry out to Him. Come humbly and ask boldly. He’s in the business of redeeming, restoring and renewing His people. Refuse to settle! He has more for you than you’ve ever dreamed!

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Justin: What a week! I can’t think of a better way to conclude “The Difference A Day Makes” than with The Uprising on Thursday and a sermon on Sunday about the God who does “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Thanks so much, Pastor Pete – it was an honor! Great things are in store for us, Quest Community Church – and what we saw this past week was just the beginning.

Digging into Mark 10:42-56 and looking closer at the encounter Jesus had with a blind man named Bartimaeus was one of my favorite sermons I’ve gotten to preach. There’s always so much more going on in the pages of the Bible. While you tend to think it’s a story about a blind man who gets to see, I was increasingly aware that it was actually a remarkable healing of a man’s heart to fight against the status quo – the way it’s always been – and to risk everything on the possibility that Jesus might have more for him.

We pulled out three keys to stepping into the “More” that God has for us – no matter where you might find yourself stuck in “life as usual”:

1. Risk on Jesus’ Reputation: Even if you haven’t personally experienced Jesus’ power or freedom in a certain area of your life, you can choose to abandon self-protection and risk your heart on the power and goodness of God.

2. Don’t Back Down, Get Louder: Bartimaeus didn’t allow the voices in his own mind or the loud voices of resistance around him to silence his request to Jesus. We may have to persist in fighting much longer than we thought, but we don’t have to give up. How do you need to turn up the volume of your request to Jesus? It may cost you some self-respect like it did for Bartimaeus, but it might also get you an encounter with Jesus!

3. Ask Big: When he had his moment, Bartimaeus didn’t ask for a change of circumstances, he asked Jesus to change HIM. He didn’t back off or hedge his bets, he humbly & boldly asked for what only Jesus could do — and he got it!

I’ve bumped into so many people since this talk who have told me that they sensed Jesus calling them into the more – in a variety of ways. Some didn’t realize they were stuck in the status quo, some had been fighting for their request to be heard, some were spurred onto to ask bigger of Jesus than they had been asking. It seemed like God had something for everyone! Which makes sense: no matter where “here” is for you, God always had a greater “there” in mind!

It was the perfect transition for our church into the new “Power of Everybody” series that will not only conclude the Imagine2 capital campaign journey on May 19th and 20th, but it will be a four week adrenaline injection of the vision of our church. I think over the next four weeks, we are going to fall more in love with the vision and potential of the church, and at the same time get an unforgettable glimpse of the “More” that God has in store for us. I can’t wait!

Whatever circumstances you face today… your story isn’t over. Your story is still being written by the One who knit you together in your mother’s womb.

Jesus sees potential out in front of you that you’ve never seen for yourself.

It’s all over the pages of the Bible… from a young shepherd boy left out of a family gathering… to Moses and a burning bush… to Peter busy cleaning his nets… to Rahab trapped in a life with no way out in sight. God is in the business of choosing the most unlikely people in the most unlikely circumstances to change the world.

When He looked at King David, He saw every shortcoming and He recognized the one who would be called a man after His own heart. He saw Rahab and saw more than “just a prostitute.” He saw a woman who would free her entire family and join the lineage of Jesus. He looked at Moses and saw the one who would become the most humble man on earth and would one day lead millions out of slavery. He looked at Peter and saw more than “just a fisherman.” He saw the man would one day preach the first sermon and launch the first church in Jesus’ name.

In God’s eyes, you are more than you’ve ever dreamed. You’ve been chosen by God Himself and you’re not “just a”…. You’re not just a student, a mom, a dad, a teacher, a lawyer, a divorcee, a senior citizen, a prodigal, a dealer, a flunkie, a doctor, a failure, a pretty face, a seeker, an addict, an adulterer. In the hands of God, you are more than you know! If you will just believe Him, you cannot imagine the life He has out in front of you!

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. – Eph. 2:10

I watched so many people entering in, having the time of their lives, and it struck me. There are so many stories of artists going to a concert like that and realizing in a moment that that’s what they want to do with their lives…from Adele and Pink, to P. Diddy and Run DMC…the experience transforms their lives. They watch someone on stage, and think…that’ll be me one day.

That’s a microcosm of the series we are in called The Difference a Day Makes. The point is simple & profound…that in no time at all (a single moment, hour, day)…we can see, hear, learn or experience something that changes us forever! Most people tend to believe this topic more for the negative than the positive! Bad, hard, painful things happen out of the blue all the time that change our lives, but in this series I’m focusing on the positives, hoping to convince you to wonder for yourself: What might God do in me if I open myself up to Him? What if?

In Luke 5, Peter opens himself up to Jesus’ direction, and the difference that day made in his life and the lives of billions to follow is incalculable. Tired after a long, unsuccessful night fishing, he gets boat-jacked, and somewhat reluctantly takes direction from a rabbi about fishing in the middle of the day. He’s on the shore, cleaning his nets…and Jesus tells him to push out to deeper water. And he DOES it! Despite his objections, he says, “If you say so, I will…” And his world is never the same again!

Some of us find ourselves on the shore, objecting, arguing our case with Jesus. Some people pray, asking God to bless this or bless that in the shallows, but He loves you too much to answer your prayers to make the shallow water more comfortable. He’s calling you to deeper territory.

Where is He calling you into to deeper water? You can be someone who says, “If you say so, I will…” every single time to Jesus. He got in Peter’s boat that day…and He’s getting in your boat now. He’s picked you for great things.

Ask Him where He wants to take you…and push off to deeper waters. You’ve been CHOSEN!

I remember the day I got married…, the day my mom called to say, “the cancer is back…”, the day Jacki told me she was pregnant…, the moments when I saw my boys on ultrasound…, the first time I held them in my arms. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. You could list a dozen days that have changed everything in your life. So could I.

I believe God has transformational days waiting for all of us. For those walking in a place of hopelessness, Jesus breathes HOPE into the darkness. For those who don’t know which way to go, He brings direction that can change the course of your entire life. When voices of defeat and failure try to conquer you, He speaks and all other voices get quieted. When you don’t know what you’re living for, He offers a plan for your life that will blow your mind! And for those who don’t know Him, He is pursuing you even now to draw you to Himself.

Days can pass unnoticed. We can let them slip away…OR we can let Jesus transform us and change everything. The difference a day makes: don’t miss what Jesus wants to do in you! You’re invited to explore the possibilities and find out what God has in store for you over the next seven weeks at Quest. What does He want to do in you today?

Need a glimpse? Watch the first week of our series, The Difference a Day Makes here.

p.s. Watch for reflections from our first weekend from our Transformation Pastor Helen Music here tomorrow.

My good friend, Pastor Perry Noble of NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC, got to speak at the revival last night and spur Elevation on, honoring God and the work He’s doing through Pastor Steven and their great church. It was a rare moment. In the Bride of Christ, we’re called to spur each other on to good works, but all too often churches finds themselves fighting against each other instead. We should be THE most honoring, encouraging people on the planet!

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. – Hebrews 10:24

Uprising pastors and leaders…when was the last time you spurred on what God was doing in another pastor, church or ministry? Go for it! Send them a text, tweet about them, write them a letter to cheer on God’s work in their life and community, commit to pray for an event on their behalf…invite them to The Uprising this April. It’s the whole reason we launched The Uprising to begin with…to spur on pastors and leaders, to help them accomplish all God is calling them to do in their communities!

You’re invited to join us Thursday, April 19 in Lexington for The Uprising. Bring your team (you won’t believe what it does in your church to have them with you!) Invite a pastor from another church. In fact…buy them a ticket. Invest in their ministry in a tangible way. Let God do a new thing in you as you invest in His Bride. (Tickets are available NOW for just two more weeks at our Super-Early Bird rate of just $59.)

It’s an honor to serve Jesus together in their great cause. Let’s spur each other on in new ways this week!

1. I absolutely LOVE our church! This week I got to be a part of two Christmas celebrations…one for our leaders and one for our volunteers. As I spent time in those settings, I could not get the thought out of my head how much I love this community! You are remarkable people, and so many of you are living out God’s dreams for your life. I am so proud of you! Thank you for making this community what it is. You are an integral part of what God is doing here, Questers!

2. Being Christmas gifts are being delivered today! Pray for students in Lexington & Frankfort who are receiving the overflow of God’s love for them through your lavish generosity! Don’t you wish you could see their faces?! I can’t wait to hear the stories! Let’s finish this year’s Being Christmas initiatives with strength, giving generously and sacrificially and fully resourcing all of our ministries in Lexington. Go all out in giving back to the One who gave His life for you!

3. As my friend Steven Furtick wrote earlier this week, I want to challenge you to Be a  Bringer!!  Steven ripped off that phrase-be a bringer- from @KevinGerald. He uses it to remind his church of their responsibility to be witnesses for Christ. Not only should we invite people to come to church this Christmas – we should bring them with us. We should do whatever we can to compel them to come. We’ll be doing our very best to make Jesus crystal clear this weekend and over all of our Christmas Eve worship experiences…and when people see Jesus for who He really is, they want Him. Let’s be bringers this Christmas. Your invitation could make all the difference!

For 12+ years as a church, we’ve lived in a culture of redemption where from the beginning, unity was a non-negotiable.  I believe it is an essential ingredient in why more than 12,000 people in the U.S. alone have come to Christ in 12 years here. (And not with out a few storms here and there!) Unity is something we fight for because there is an enemy for fights against it, an enemy who knows and fears the power of unity. The enemy knows if we will be the answer to Jesus’ John 17 prayer, people see who He really is and why He came…they’ll see that the Father loves US as much as He loved His own boy! (UNREAL)

Need a little review?  Here’s some great questions Helen gave us when she taught on this topic. I hope they’ll help you see how you’re doing in this area:

Extreme unity actively works for unity and is marked by a love that is reckless and irrational.

Extreme unity lives without lines.

• What are the lines in my heart?
• Who is it that I find difficult to accept because they are different than me?
• Where are there lines in my heart that keep me from loving recklessly and irrationally?

Potential Action Steps: Seek to add value to everyone you meet today.

Extreme unity joyfully honors those that lead.

• Do I find myself critical because of my perceptions and preferences regarding some aspect of the church?
• Do I pray for those God has given the position of leadership?
• Do I joyfully honor those that lead me?

Potential Action Step: Write a letter or make a phone call to thank a leader in your life for building into you.

Extreme unity assumes the best and is quick to forgive.

• Do I take things personally and find myself easily offended?
• Am I able to love others by assuming the best of them?
• How quick am I at forgiving?

Potential Action Step: The next time you’re unsure of someone’s motives or you’re feeling offended, actively BELIEVE THE BEST.

Will you choose to be an answer to Jesus John 17 prayer?  If you do, you’ll find His love irresistible through you and to you!

If you want to walk on water with Jesus, you must do these three things:

1. Obey Jesus. Go where He tells you to go. Follow Him into the unknown. Peter and the other eleven disciples were in the boat in the middle of a storm because JESUS sent them there. Peter was right where Jesus told him to be!
2. Recognize Him. Faced with terrifying circumstances, Peter recognizes Jesus for who He is…the One walking on the water in the middle of the storm.
3. Respond to Jesus. Critical piece to understand about audacious faith – it’s not faith in you, it’s faith in Him.  You are not called to have faith in your own ability or character or skills, but to put your faith in the One who walks on water.

Wonder how your church feels about your potential, students? Here’s a quick reminder:

Fused Answers The Challenge from Quest Community Church on Vimeo.

Your church believes in you. You have the potential to change the world…your leaders see it in you. I see it in you. Invite everyone you know to FUSED tonight. Keep investing in people who need to experience the love of God for themselves. Press into Jesus and live out the plans and dreams He has for you. Your church can’t wait to see what’s next for you.

We’re cheering you on!

While I was at Frankfort, Transformation Pastor Helen Musick spoke from our Lexington campus on our misconceptions about Jesus – and how important it is to throw out our false ideas, pressing for clarity so we can see Him for who He really is. Here are Pastor Helen’s reflections on this weekend:

When Pastor Pete gave me this weekend to teach “Jesus: Our Misconceptions” to be honest, I felt overwhelmed by the topic.  It seemed too big, more philosophical than practical and “not me”.  But as I spent time with it over the past weeks, my reading, studying and processing led me to understand that this topic is key to so much of what it means for seekers and follower alike to experience the fullness of what Jesus offers in a relationship with Him.  Thank you Pastor Pete for the entrustment.

This weekend changed me.  I know Jesus better and as a result, I love Him more.  Like the disciples, in alarm and amazement [Luke 8:25], I’m asking on a new level, “Who is this man?”  I hope you are too.

Our misconceptions leave us thinking Jesus is something He is not.  And when these misconceptions lead our seeking and/or following, we can find ourselves asking the question:  What’s wrong with Jesus?  The answer?  Nothing’s wrong with Jesus, it’s our image that is distorted.  Getting an accurate image of the real Jesus is key in living freely with Him.

While there are many misconceptions about Jesus, these two have the power to distort so much:

• Misconception #1 – Jesus was a good teacher and moral leader.  But He was not divine, He was not God.
• Misconception #2 -  Jesus was divine, fully God, but He is distant, unavailable and indifferent towards us.

I wonder – do either of these misconception ring out as true for you?  The reason we must clear of the distortion is because where misconceptions linger they become the lenses through which we see Jesus and when that happens, everything is blurred.

Misinformation and misfortune lead to missed opportunities with Jesus.  The source of our misconceptions is often one of these two – misinformation and misfortune.   We get how misinformation can cause us to have the wrong opinion of Jesus.  But the power of misfortune for many of us has a stronger hold on freedom.  Remember: If your misfortune is your starting point in defining God’s character, your perception of God will be skewed every time.  You must begin with the character of God first and allow His character to define your misfortune.

So, fight for clarity.  Do the work clarity requires. Go to the Source. Be around people who know Him in a way you want to, and learn from them. And…be honest about the misconception in your life.  Need to borrow courage? Listen again to the stories of Stacey, Amanda and Chuck – they fought for clarity and will help you want to do the same when you see the beauty of His redemption in their lives.

Praying for you to begin to see Jesus for who He really is over this great series! Get here next weekend as Pastor Pete helps us understand How Heaven Sees Him! Get ready for Jesus to blow your mind!