Discover Community Church - Littleton CO

Jesus travels quietly to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles because the religious leaders are seeking to kill Him, while His own brothers mock Him and urge Him to go publicly. Midway through the feast, He begins teaching in the temple with such authority that the crowds are astonished, wondering how someone with no formal rabbinic training could possess such wisdom. Jesus explains that His teaching comes from the Father and that anyone who genuinely desires to do God's will can recognize the truth—showing that spiritual understanding depends not on education, but on an honest and willing heart.

Jesus travels quietly to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles because the religious leaders are seeking to kill Him, while His own brothers mock Him and urge Him to go publicly. Midway through the feast, He begins teaching in the temple with such authority that the crowds are astonished, wondering how someone with no formal rabbinic training could possess such wisdom. Jesus explains that His teaching comes from the Father and that anyone who genuinely desires to do God's will can recognize the truth—showing that spiritual understanding depends not on education, but on an honest and willing heart.

Jesus prepares for the final stretch of His ministry by sending seventy‑two disciples ahead of Him in pairs, commanding them to rely completely on God's provision and to proclaim that the kingdom of God has come near. He warns them that the mission will be difficult—“lambs among wolves”—yet assures them that those who receive them receive Him, and those who reject them reject the Father. When the seventy‑two return overflowing with joy, amazed that even demons submitted to Jesus' name, it confirms that faith‑filled obedience unleashes God's power and advances His mission through ordinary disciples.

Jesus continues preparing His disciples for ministry by confronting their weak faith, correcting their misunderstandings, and teaching them how to handle sin, reconciliation, and spiritual authority. Through miracles, parables, and direct instruction, He shows them that true discipleship requires humility, childlike trust, and a willingness to remove anything that leads to sin. As He moves closer to His destiny in Jerusalem, Jesus intensifies His training so they can carry His mission forward after He is gone.

Jesus leads His disciples through a series of miracles, teachings, and challenges—including feeding thousands, walking on water, confronting the Pharisees, and showing compassion to a Gentile woman—to reveal who He truly is and to stretch their understanding of His mission. Despite witnessing these events firsthand, the disciples still struggle to grasp His identity and authority, prompting Jesus to take them on an intentional journey that prepares their hearts and minds. All of this builds toward the Transfiguration, where Jesus' divine glory is revealed before Peter, James, and John as a dramatic confirmation of His identity after their long season of confusion and learning.

Jesus' death and resurrection not only reconciled us to God but also raised us into a new spiritual life, equipping us for a purpose rather than removing us from the world. Before ascending, Jesus gave His followers the Great Commission—not to make converts, which only the Holy Spirit can do, but to make disciples by inviting people into relationship, modeling Christlike living, and nurturing faith within our natural spheres of influence. Pastor Bob emphasizes that discipleship is not complicated or reserved for experts; it is the everyday, authentic work of creating environments where others can encounter Jesus and grow in Him.

Jesus' death on the cross paid the full price for sin, but the resurrection completed God's redemptive plan by defeating death, Satan, and the power of sin once and for all. The empty tomb is verified through eyewitnesses, the sealed rock tomb, the angelic announcement, and Jesus' post resurrection appearances to many, including more than 500 people at once. Because He lives, believers share in His victory and can boldly proclaim not “He was risen,” but “He is risen”—a present and eternal reality.

Jesus moves from the upper room to Gethsemane, where He submits fully to the Father's will before being betrayed, arrested, and subjected to a series of unjust trials that lead to His condemnation. Despite Pilate's reluctance and the crowd's demand for Barabbas, Jesus is beaten, mocked, and crucified, carrying His cross to Golgotha where He prays for His executioners even in agony. His final declaration, “It is finished,” marks the moment the price of sin is paid, the old covenant is fulfilled, and the work of redemption is complete.

Jesus continues His deliberate journey toward Jerusalem, fulfilling prophecy and teaching with increasing urgency as He prepares for His final Passover. Upon arriving near the city, He enters to shouts of “Hosanna,” cleanses the temple, and becomes the target of a plot that will soon involve Judas' betrayal. The message then traces the Last Supper back to the first Passover, showing how Jesus becomes the true Passover Lamb whose body and blood inaugurate the new covenant promised by the prophets.

Jesus continues His journey toward Jerusalem, speaking plainly to the disciples about His coming suffering and death, yet they remain fixated on earthly power and their imagined roles in a political kingdom. When James and John ask to sit at His right and left hand in glory, Jesus uses the moment to redefine greatness—not as authority or status, but as humility, servanthood, and willingness to suffer for others. He teaches that true greatness in God's kingdom mirrors His own example: “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,” calling His followers to abandon pride, resist worldly distractions, and embrace a life shaped by obedience and sacrificial love

Jesus begins His journey to the cross with unwavering resolve, “setting His face” toward Jerusalem, knowing the suffering ahead is the will of God and the fulfillment of a plan set in motion since Eden. The disciples struggle to accept His path, especially Peter, whose well‑intentioned resistance reveals how human expectations can blind us to God's purposes. The message calls believers to the same decisive obedience—denying the flesh, embracing the Spirit, and choosing to follow Jesus with the same single‑minded determination He showed on the road to the empty tomb.

Jesus walks across the stormy Sea of Galilee to reach His struggling disciples, revealing His divine authority and presence. Peter steps out of the boat in bold faith but begins to sink when he focuses on the wind and waves, crying out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus rescues him immediately, teaching that faith thrives when fixed on Him and falters when distracted by fear.

Tom teaches that God notices and honors a grateful heart, using the healing of the ten lepers in Luke 17 to show how obedience and thankfulness reveal true faith. It encourages believers not to despise “small” or “insignificant” seasons—just as Jesus came from Nazareth—because God often does His best work in humble places. Finally, it calls Christians to live out 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 by rejoicing, praying continually, and giving thanks in everything as the Holy Spirit transforms their lives.