Journey Community Church La Mesa, California

Dr. Mary Neal — a surgeon and best selling author — shares about her own near death experience. Message Central Thought: How you understand death is directly related to how you understand life.

Message Summary: In our culture, we try to ignore death but we simply can’t ignore it. God invites us into a new eternal kind of life that is free from the fear of death. This freedom is also called the assurance of salvation, which is based on the person Jesus, the promises of God, experiencing forgiveness and the presence of God through the Holy Spirit. Series Summary: "What’s Next?” In a diverse world, one of the things that unites us as humans is that we share a common end. All of our stories end… or do they? So, what is NEXT after all this? This is one of the oldest questions humans have asked. The story of Jesus speaks pointedly to this question and perhaps differently than you may have thought. In this series, we’ll explore the answers given by Jesus and his early followers (the ones who wrote the Bible, witnessed and proclaimed His resurrection, which changed the discussion completely.) The series will feature a special talk by best selling author Dr. Mary Neal — a surgeon who has written two popul

Message Summary: The question of the afterlife is actually a very practical and relevant question. We will all face death. What we need is real, solid, confident hope and that’s exactly what God offers us. The shape of hope is better than just a “better place”. It looks like Jesus. It is shaped like eternal life that is about quality, a person and the overthrowing of death. This all leaves us with an important decision to entrust our lives to Him. Series: "What’s Next?” In a diverse world, one of the things that unites us as humans is that we share a common end. All of our stories end… or do they? So, what is NEXT after all this? This is one of the oldest questions humans have asked. The story of Jesus speaks pointedly to this question and perhaps differently than you may have thought. In this series, we’ll explore the answers given by Jesus and his early followers (the ones who wrote the Bible, witnessed and proclaimed His resurrection, which changed the discussion completely.) The series will feature

Message Summary: We all want to live the best life for ourselves and our families. God is pulling for us, longing for us to live our best lives. This weekend we talked about three adjustments we need to make in order to do so: living MY best life, realizing it is something I receive from God and understanding it is bigger than this life. Series Summary: Who doesn’t want to live their BEST life? It’s a super popular hashtag — usually attached to a photo of us lying on a beach or hanging out with people we love. The trick is, how do we really know how to live our BEST life? More commonly, we live our #prettygoodlife. Maybe our whole culture is wrong about what our #bestlife actually is and how to go about getting it! Jesus said that is exactly what is happening — so let’s take a look at how he would have us live #mybestlife.

Message Summary: Getting off the destructive cycles in our lives. Series Summary: Who doesn’t want to live their BEST life? It’s a super popular hashtag — usually attached to a photo of us lying on a beach or hanging out with people we love. The trick is, how do we really know how to live our BEST life? More commonly, we live our #prettygoodlife. Maybe our whole culture is wrong about what our #bestlife actually is and how to go about getting it! Jesus said that is exactly what is happening — so let’s take a look at how he would have us live #mybestlife.

Message Summary: Living my best life means embracing my vocation as an Imago Dei being: to Win. As we look back into the creation story we learn that God created us to extend and take back His rule through Jesus. This was our original script. But after the fall, we chose to live the wrong scripts. We can end up looking to the g gods of mammon and disordered romance/sexual desire and the scripts they offer, to bless us- make us happy. If we want to return to living our best lives, we take back our original script and live with confidence that He will give us this day our daily bread and submit our bodies to God, gaining freedom from lust. Series Summary: Who doesn’t want to live their BEST life? It’s a super popular hashtag — usually attached to a photo of us lying on a beach or hanging out with people we love. The trick is, how do we really know how to live our BEST life? More commonly, we live our #prettygoodlife. Maybe our whole culture is wrong about what our #bestlife actually is and how to go about

Message Summary: In 2 Chronicles we see Jehoshaphat as an example of unmitigated success in the midst of hostile, confusing difficult times. We learn here that I live my best life only when I get rid of my gods and go for God! What does it mean to get rid of my little g gods? It’s a question of which god we seek, because we all seek. When we #LMBL with God, He solidifies my life. I practice “holding the Lord high in my heart.” I saturate my “domain” in the ways of God. The result of #LMBL is fruitfulness and increase. Series Summary: Who doesn’t want to live their BEST life? It’s a super popular hashtag — usually attached to a photo of us lying on a beach or hanging out with people we love. The trick is, how do we really know how to live our BEST life? More commonly, we live our #prettygoodlife. Maybe our whole culture is wrong about what our #bestlife actually is and how to go about getting it! Jesus said that is exactly what is happening — so let’s take a look at how he would have us live #mybestlife

Message Summary: God’s plan and purpose for each of us is fruitfulness and increase. But sometimes we have to fight for breakthrough in order to get there. How? We learn to declare the kingdom of God over our lives. We show up in community and learn to allow others to pray over us. We learn rest and to allow God to battle for us as we worship. In prayer and worship we give our world back to God. We eventually experience breakthrough and victory, sometimes expressed differently than we expect. Let’s invite Him to activate His good purposes. Surrounded Series: Most of us have figured out that WE NEED GOD. And if that’s true… we really need to learn to pray. But maybe instead of seeing prayer as our last line of defense, we should also see it as our first line of offense. One pastor asked this question on Twitter: “What would be different in this world if God answered EVERY prayer you prayed last week?” At Journey, several times a year we really focus and dial in to try and step our prayer game UP! On

We all have moments of feeling surrounded by heaviness and things that weigh us down. But when we see the reality of the glory of God surrounding us we face our problems with calm confidence. Eye opening seems to happen as we pray and specifically as someone else prays for us. Breakthrough follows with what you needed and more. Surrounded Series: Most of us have figured out that WE NEED GOD. And if that’s true… we really need to learn to pray. But maybe instead of seeing prayer as our last line of defense, we should also see it as our first line of offense. One pastor asked this question on Twitter: “What would be different in this world if God answered EVERY prayer you prayed last week?” At Journey, several times a year we really focus and dial in to try and step our prayer game UP! On the weekends, we’ll look at two stories about how we battle through life with prayer.

Mark Oestreicher — Journey regular and founder of The Youth Cartel Aspirational Faith: The Beauty of Knowing Less and Wanting More Message Summary: There is a story in Mark about a man who asks Jesus to heal his son. In that conversation, the man cries out to Jesus, “I believe, help my unbelief!” In the paradox of having both doubt and belief, we find an invitation to bring our whole selves to Jesus without shame. When we remain open to “aspirational faith”, we also find ourselves less fearful, cynical, and judgmental. Although it seems counter-intuitive, we can set into place practices to help us celebrate where our doubts can lead us, rather than be shamed by them.

Message Summary: As human persons we experience many temptations. But there are at least three temptations of spirit: the temptations to pretend, despair and to judge our own value and worth by our performance. In 1 John 1 we see that life is all about connection with God who is light. So how do flawed, darkness-infected people experience connection with light? John goes on to tell us that the way to connect is through a practice called confession. Instead of pretending, we confess. Instead of judging ourselves, we trust God as the one who sacrificed Himself for our sin.

Message Central Thought: The ability to really consistently enjoy life is only possible in the context of a trusting relationship with God. John Lynch is a national speaker with the Truefaced team and co-writer of The Cure and TrueFaced the book. In addition to speaking nationally with the Truefaced team since 1997, John has authored On My Worst Day and co-authored a number of books and resources with Truefaced, including the bestseller The Cure and the popular TrueFaced Two Roads audio-video message. John served for 27 years as teaching pastor at Open Door Fellowship in Phoenix, Arizona before working full time at Truefaced. John used his love for writing and performing as the co-founder and playwright for Sharkey Productions, a theater troupe focused on Gospel-anchored theater productions for those still seeking Jesus. John and his wife Stacey have three grown children and three grandchildren.

Message Central Thought: We all experience depression and pain during our lives. God shows up to care for us in the midst of these moments. Karrie Garcia is a speaker, life coach, wife, mother of three, and advocate for misfits who is passionate about proclaiming the freedom that can come from a life surrendered to Christ. Through facing drug addiction, the suicide of her mother, and the breakdown of her first marriage, she understands the need for grace, mercy and healing that can only come from Jesus Christ. Also, the founder of Freedom Movement, a non-profit that provides resources as next steps in the journey to freedom, Karrie is passionate about being a guide to help women walk in victory. Through events, workshops, resources and spiritual direction and counseling, Freedom Movement is dedicated to showing women that hope and healing are for today.

Jesus is inviting us to rise up away from our sickness and sin and walk in freedom. Archie Robinson — Pastor, New Birth Kingdom Covenant Archie R. Robinson, born in Texas, moved to San Diego, CA at the age of 18 and has been in ministry for over 40 years. He is the Father of New Birth Christian Fellowship now known as New Birth Kingdom Covenant Fellowship which was founded and established on August 27, 1997 by he and his wife. As a result of his faith, obedience, and diligence Pastor Robinson was called to the office of Apostle in 2005.

Message Summary: The movie gives us a picture or an allegory of a “celebration of humanity” through a new kind of humanity made possible by Jesus. We often design a world that traps us in a life that is less than the one God envisions for us. We need a new vision. If we want to move toward humanity 2.0, we must be aware and healed of the hole in our souls. The temptation to go back to the old way of life will often come when we are at an advantage. We must be aware and avoid it. It won’t be easy so we must keep our eyes on the JOY that is God’s endgame for us. God starts us on our way to humanity 2.0 as we embrace imago dei, as we give God full responsibility to bring beauty through our lives and to redeem the broken part of us. Series: Movies have a way of communicating unlike any other art form. In them, we find powerful stories of the human experience—an experience marked by intersection with the divine. Whether filmmakers know it or not, God’s fingerprints can be found all over their stories. We’

Message Summary: We succumb to greed when we “ultimatize” the wrong things in life. The actual “good life” is accessed as we get insight into Jesus’ teaching and this movie actually depicts a life that displays the opposite of His teaching. We learn that our “theology” determines our deepest sense of identity and determines the rails our lives run on. As we gain wisdom, we know what’s truly valuable and how to live. Trying to find security in the material doesn’t work. And finally, we learn, that sin is a failure of worship. We can avoid becoming fools as we worship God, tithe and experience His grace and mercy. Series: Movies have a way of communicating unlike any other art form. In them, we find powerful stories of the human experience—an experience marked by intersection with the divine. Whether filmmakers know it or not, God’s fingerprints can be found all over their stories. We’ll take some of the most popular films from the last year and look at how we can find God at the movies. *Message Podcast

Message Summary: Auggie Pittman is anything but ordinary, especially because of the way he looks. In our current culture, we focus on the seen rather than on the unseen. But what if we saw ourselves, and others, from a soul-depth perspective? God created us in love and to be seen. A community of Christ followers can demonstrate grace and empathy as we learn to truly see each other. Series: Movies have a way of communicating unlike any other art form. In them, we find powerful stories of the human experience—an experience marked by intersection with the divine. Whether filmmakers know it or not, God’s fingerprints can be found all over their stories. We’ll take some of the most popular films from the last year and look at how we can find God at the movies. *Message Podcast only. Video messages are not available for this series*

Message Summary: The story of Winston Churchill parallels that of the Biblical Esther. Both were raised up by God to take their people through crucial moments. As we move through our own dark hours, we need to realize that our self-talk can weaken or strengthen us. We must also realize that as we keep moving, our faith will increase because God will show up. We come to know that God can repurpose our past- even our failures. A community of Christ followers can serve to call out greatness and our destiny from us. Take a moment to reflect three questions to ask ourselves as we consider the way through our darkest hours. Series: Movies have a way of communicating unlike any other art form. In them, we find powerful stories of the human experience—an experience marked by intersection with the divine. Whether filmmakers know it or not, God’s fingerprints can be found all over their stories. We’ll take some of the most popular films from the last year and look at how we can find God at the movies. *Message

*Message Podcast only. Video messages are not available for this series* Message Summary: Black Panther is more than a super hero movie. It explores the tension of what “serving God” and redemptive activity in our world looks like for us as Christ followers. There are three impulses historically that have been the response of the people of the CHURCH to a culture: to completely separate ourselves, to use violence to bring the kingdom of God, and to bring the kingdom of God to earth following the lead of Jesus. There are two messages of the Kingdom that we need to connect with if we’re to move in this third way. The first is to own our origin story laid out in Genesis. The second is to recognize that there is only one true and good King, the Lord Jesus Messiah. We bring His kingdom as we engage-even risk- and take our calling seriously. Series: Movies have a way of communicating unlike any other art form. In them, we find powerful stories of the human experience—an experience marked by intersection with the

Message Summary: In the book of 1 Samuel, we see the people of Israel losing a battle and losing the ark of the covenant (which was a place God chose to be present) to the Philistines. There was a “no glory” word spoken over them and their land. Journey was raised up to stand up to the “no glory” word spoken over San Diego. Our mission is to help ordinary people disconnected from God access the depth of life with God through Jesus Christ. And today we celebrate God’s victories here by creating an altar, an Ebenezer like the one the Israelites constructed when God showed up, representing these victories, our history, and our grip on God in the midst of pain. 25 Series: Join us as we celebrate and commemorate 25 years of this community called Journey. 25 years of being a come as you are church. 25 years of life-changing stories. 25 years of partnering in our local and global communities. 25 years of helping people access the depth of life “with God” through Jesus Christ.