Pastor Matt delivered the second message in the "Becoming the 3C Disciple" series. The sermon focused on the second and third "C's" - being connected to Jesus followers and contributing to His mission.

Pastor Matt emphasized that community is essential, not optional, for Christ followers, explaining that from the beginning Jesus formed a people, not just individual believers. Using the body metaphor from Romans 12, he showed how the church functions with unity without uniformity, interdependence, and mutual responsibility. He referenced Acts 2:42, where early believers devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayers, creating a shared rhythm of life that resulted in spiritual formation and witness to the watching world.

The third "C" involves contributing to Jesus' mission as sent, gifted disciples who cheerfully give back to God. Pastor Matt explained that disciples are called to be "servant ambassadors" who both serve others with Christ-like humility and represent Jesus to the world. Drawing from Romans 10:13-15, he emphasized that everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved, but people need to hear the good news, which requires messengers with "beautiful feet" who bring the gospel wherever they live, work, and play.

In the first message of the "3C Disciple" series, Matt began with the foundational truth that "you don't have to stay the way you are," emphasizing that real transformation is possible through Jesus Christ. He defined discipleship as more than just belief - it's about following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and being committed to His mission. The first "C" focuses on being committed to Jesus, recognizing Him as both Savior and Lord, not treating these as separate categories.

Matt spent considerable time addressing cultural barriers to commitment, explaining how our society trains us against making lasting commitments through endless options, comfort-maximizing technology, and viewing discomfort as a problem rather than a teacher. He noted how previous generations saw commitment as virtuous and character-building, while today's culture often views it as limiting freedom. The sermon emphasized that obedience doesn't earn salvation but reveals genuine faith, and that loving God requires total life devotion - heart, soul, mind, and strength. Using the "know, be, do" triangle, Matt explained that disciples must know Jesus personally, be transformed by His lordship, and do what He commands. The church is emphasizing Bible reading this year with Joshua 1:8 as their theme verse, encouraging members to read Scripture at least four days a week for spiritual transformation.

Pastor Matt kicked off 2026 with the first message in a new series called "Becoming a 3C Disciple," focusing on what it means to be committed to Jesus. Using our theme verse for the year, Joshua 1:8, Pastor Matt emphasized the importance of regular Bible reading as God transforms our thinking and lives. He explained that being committed to Jesus involves four key aspects: it begins with personal, daily, wholehearted commitment (referencing Luke 9:23); understanding Jesus as both Savior and Lord as two inseparable sides of the same coin; loving the Lord with total life devotion involving our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:28-31); and recognizing that everything flows from our allegiance to Jesus.

Pastor Matt connected this commitment to the familiar "Know, Be, Do" triangle, explaining that committed disciples must know Jesus personally through relationship rather than mere religion, be transformed by His lordship in every area of life, and do what He commands through daily obedience that flows from love rather than fear. He shared a personal illustration from his 24th wedding anniversary, demonstrating how commitment shapes us over time, and concluded by offering practical next steps for new and growing disciples while inviting anyone who hadn't yet surrendered to Christ to make that personal commitment.