Grace Chapel Wilsonville

Music by Ikson (https://www.youtube.com/ikson​​​​​​)

This sermon introduces the 11th rhythm of discipleship at Grace Chapel - the rhythm of multiplying. Mike emphasizes that Jesus' mission wasn't simply to gather comfortable Christians, but to create a movement of disciples who reproduce themselves. Using the metaphor of dominoes, the message illustrates how one small, surrendered life can start a ripple effect that changes the world. The sermon challenges believers to move beyond addition (inviting people to church) to multiplication (intentionally discipling others who will disciple others). Jesus' strategy was simple: invite, invest, and inspire. Mike emphasizes that disciples are called to be, sent to go, and made to multiply - and that there is a unique, top-shelf joy reserved for those who engage in the messy, sacrificial work of pouring into others.Discussion Questions:-Jesus chose ordinary, unqualified people like fishermen and tax collectors as His disciples. How does this challenge our modern tendency to believe we need credentials or perfection before we can serve God?-The domino illustration shows how one small surrendered life can create exponential kingdom impact. What fears or excuses prevent you from seeing yourself as that first domino?-The sermon contrasts addition (inviting people to church) with multiplication (discipling people who disciple others). Why do you think the church has focused more on addition, and what would need to change to shift toward multiplication?-If you examined your bank statements, calendar, and relationships as indicators of your true mission, what would they reveal about what you actually value versus what you say you value?

Mike paints a startling picture: a soul can suffer hypoxia. Foggy thinking, fatigue, poor decisions, breathless living — all signs that something vital is missing. He opens up the living, God-breathed word as oxygen for the heart, the mind, and the weary places we try to carry on our own. From the buffet line of selective belief to the deep inhale of truth, Mike calls us to let scripture fill us, shape us, and move through us with life.Discussion Questions:-In what ways do you approach the Bible like a buffet, selectively choosing verses that affirm your values rather than allowing Scripture to transform and challenge your values?-When you face spiritual warfare or temptation, do you have specific rhema words from Scripture ready like Jesus did in the wilderness, or do you need to spend more time in the logos to build that foundation?-How does the concept of inhaling God's Word and exhaling it to others challenge you to move beyond personal consumption of Scripture to active sharing and living it out?-What is the difference between knowing about God through Scripture and actually encountering God through His Word, and which one best describes your current relationship with the Bible?

It just sneaks in one small drift at a time, until you look up and realise you’ve lost the point. Josh walks through how that happened in Somalia and with the YMCA, then brings it right into real life: busy weeks, packed calendars, family routines that slowly get pulled off course. Emma anchors it in Scripture, and Ben and Janet keep it practical with simple rhythms that actually fit real life. Stay close. Stay steady.Discussion Questions:-How have you experienced mission creep in your own spiritual life or family, where good activities gradually replaced your core purpose of knowing and following Jesus?-How does recognizing that there is a spiritual enemy actively working against your mission change the urgency with which you pray, read Scripture, and engage in community?-How can you share what God is teaching you through Scripture in a way that is authentic and brief rather than lecturing, allowing others to see the Bible impacting your real life?-How does the truth that spiritual transformation is ultimately God's work rather than yours both relieve pressure and increase your dependence on Him in discipleship relationships?

In this powerful message, Pastor Mike continues our House of Discipleship series by diving into one of the ten "Rhythms of Jesus": Family on Mission. This week, we focus specifically on what it means to be a Marriage on Mission.Whether you are happily married, struggling, divorced, or single, this message is for you. Marriage isn't just a social contract or a pursuit of personal happiness — it’s a divine "living parable" designed to reflect the character of God and the message of the Gospel to the world.Discussion Questions:- How does viewing marriage as a living parable that reflects God's character change the way you approach conflict and daily decisions in your relationship?- The sermon states that marriage is about holiness rather than happiness. How does this challenge cultural expectations, and what would it look like to prioritize holiness in your relationship?- How does the story of Hosea and Gomer challenge your understanding of forgiveness and reconciliation, especially when betrayal or hurt seems unforgivable?- For singles, how can you pursue Christlikeness now rather than waiting for marriage to begin your spiritual journey, and what destination are you setting for your life?- Which of the five bands of intimacy (social, intellectual, emotional, physical, spiritual) is weakest in your relationship, and what practical step can you take this week to strengthen it?

From childhood loyalties in a stadium to the quiet ache of rejection, we are wired to ask: Where do I fit? Jake traces that longing through neuroscience, ancient confession, and the waters of baptism, revealing a God who steps into line with humanity. Fully human. Standing among sinners. Sharing the table. Bearing death itself. In Christ, belonging becomes union. Water, table, body, way. “I’m with them,” he says. The question is, are you with him?Discussion Questions:-In what ways have you chosen belonging over truth in your life, and how can identifying with Christ help you navigate that tension?-Why do you think Western Christianity has emphasized individualistic faith over communal belonging, and what are the consequences of that emphasis?-How does viewing baptism as identification rather than just a symbol change your perspective on this practice and its importance?-What barriers prevent you from fully committing to the body of Christ with the same loyalty you show your biological family?

Jen talks about what it means to stop pretending we’ve got it all figured out and start letting God into the mess; one thought, one moment, one honest breath at a time. Stay open, listen, and let small changes make space for real peace.Discussion Questions:-In what areas of your life do you find it hardest to acknowledge that you don't have it all figured out, and what might humble alignment with God look like in those spaces?-Which item from Paul's list in Colossians 3 (anger, greed, malice, etc.) did the Holy Spirit highlight for you, and what small tweak rather than total overhaul might God be inviting you into?-Where in your life are you rehearsing narratives of hurt or frustration instead of laying those burdens at Jesus' feet, and what would it look like to shift that pattern?-How does understanding that forgiveness is primarily about your relationship with God rather than letting someone off the hook change your willingness to forgive?

Mike takes aim at the lie that only the impressive make an impact, and shows how God moves through surrendered hands, not perfect résumés. From a kid with a lunch to a widow with two coins, Scripture is full of ordinary people doing extraordinary things because they said yes. If you think you don’t have much to offer, you’re exactly the kind of person God loves to use.Discussion Questions:-The religious leaders were astonished that 'unschooled, ordinary men' could do extraordinary things because they had been with Jesus. How does this challenge our assumptions about who God uses and why?-Jesus said we cannot serve both God and money. In what ways might money or financial security have become an idol or source of fear, anxiety, or control in your life?-The sermon emphasized that God wants 100% of us, not just 10%. What areas of your life are you holding back from full surrender to Jesus, and what would it look like to offer Him everything?-The phrase 'what we don't place on the altar will eventually become an altar' suggests that anything not surrendered to God can become an idol. What might this look like practically in your finances, relationships, or time?

Mike unpacks what it really means to walk in step with the Holy Spirit, not just admire Him from a distance. From ball boys handing out Scripture to rhythms that reshape how we live, this is a call to quiet the noise, open up, and let the Spirit lead. It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence and posture. Discussion Questions:-In what ways might you be trying to follow Jesus through your own strength rather than relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, and how can you recognize the difference?-What areas of your life feel like a 'wilderness' right now, and could the Holy Spirit actually be leading you through this barren season for a purpose?-In what ways have you tried to measure spiritual maturity through behavior modification rather than the fruit of the Spirit, and how might this approach be limiting God's work in your life?-What 'noise' or distractions in your life are preventing you from hearing God's voice clearly, and what would it look like to create more space for the Holy Spirit to speak?

In this week's message Mike points to a truth many of us feel but rarely name: we stay plugged in, busy, and committed but often to the wrong things. At the center of Jesus' call is a rhythm most would avoid: dying to self. Not as an idea, but as a daily posture. What feels like loss becomes the soil where something eternal takes root. Devotion begins where self-preservation ends.Discussion Questions:-In what areas of your life have you tried to negotiate with Jesus rather than fully surrendering, and what might it look like to stop negotiating and start dying to those things?-How might viewing difficult people in your life as accomplices to the cross rather than enemies change the way you respond to conflict and friction in relationships?-If dying to self means dethroning your preferences and comforts, what is one preference or comfort God might be asking you to place on the altar right now?-Peter said to Jesus, 'Where else can I go? You have the words of life.' What would it take for you to have that same conviction when Jesus asks you to do something uncomfortable or confusing?

That invitation is still open, but it reorders everything. Mike walks through a vision of discipleship rooted in devotion to a person, not a program. It’s about living close enough to Jesus to notice how he moves, how he loves, how he leads. When formation replaces information, and practice replaces theory, ordinary lives begin to multiply into something eternal.Discussion Questions:-When you think about the early disciples who wanted to be covered in the 'dust of their rabbi,' how closely are you following Jesus in your daily rhythms and decisions?-What would 'messy obedience' look like for you this week as you step out in faith to practice one of the formational rhythms Jesus modeled?-How does the concept of 'come follow me' versus 'come balance me' challenge your current approach to discipleship and devotion to Christ?-Why do you think Western Christianity has emphasized information over formation, and how can you personally shift toward practicing what you learn rather than just hearing it?

Mike unpacks the deeper meaning of "resolution" as more than goal-setting. It's about untangling the soul until one clear allegiance remains. At the heart of this message is a call to holy narrowing, where Jesus is not just added to life but becomes the center of it. Not divided. Devoted.Discussion Questions:-In what ways have you found yourself living a 'double-minded' life, divided between devotion to Jesus and devotion to other things competing for your allegiance?-What is the difference between being a 'believer' who takes notes and a 'disciple' who takes steps, and which one best describes your current relationship with Jesus?-How does the concept of 'holy narrowing'—focusing more intentionally on fewer things centered on Jesus—challenge the cultural value of balance and multitasking?-Which of the four chairs (curious/conflicted, convinced/cautious, committed/conformed, or courageous/contagious) best represents where you are in your discipleship journey, and what would help you move forward?

This Christmas message invites us to reconsider what peace truly means in our lives. Drawing from Isaiah 9:6, we explore the profound title given to Jesus: Prince of Peace, or in Hebrew, 'Sar Shalom.' This isn't the fairy-tale prince we might imagine, but a warrior-commander who brings a peace that runs deeper than circumstances. The contrast between shallow peace and shalom peace is striking—shallow peace depends on everything going right externally, while shalom peace is an inner restoration that holds firm even in chaos. We see this contrast beautifully illustrated in Matthew 2, where the wise men traveled for up to two years pursuing peace and found it in worshiping Jesus, while King Herod, representing self-reliance, was disturbed by the very same news. The paradox of Christmas is that Silent Night required a Violent Night—Jesus paid the ultimate price on the cross so we could experience true reconciliation with God. The world's peace plan is escapism, but Christ's peace plan is arrival—He steps into our darkness rather than helping us run from it. This Christmas, we're challenged to stop pursuing peace through endless scrolling, distractions, or self-help, and instead receive the Light that came into the world. When we believe and receive what Christ has done, His peace becomes an internal reality that's greater than any external chaos we face.