Motion Church

July 27, 2026

Faith Stories - week 3

July 24, 2026

Faith Stories — Week 2: Faith That Won’t Be Quiet

We're continuing our Faith Stories series, because faith never just affects the person who has it — it affects everyone around them. This week we're in Luke 18:35-43 with a blind man sitting by the road outside Jericho. When he hears that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, he starts shouting: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" The crowd tells him to hush — and he cries out all the more. And Jesus, on his way to Jerusalem to be crucified for the sins of the world, stands still. He stops his mission for one man's faith, calls him over, and asks, "What do you want me to do for you?" The man is healed, and immediately follows Jesus — and all the people, seeing it, give praise to God. A few things worth sitting with: Jesus stood still. He didn't have to stop. He was on his way to the cross. But persistent, unembarrassed faith got his full attention — and it still does. God closing the loop. Remember Jericho from Joshua 6 — the walls that came tumbling down? Where there was once rubble and ruin, here comes Jesus bringing redemption and restoration, near the end of his ministry, still loving and serving people on his way out. (Even the names rhyme: Joshua and Yeshua share the root meaning "Yahweh saves.") Ask the questions. "Son of David" is genealogy and prophecy fulfilled — and if that's ever confused you, you're in good company. There are no dumb questions when it comes to figuring out your faith. Ask them. The invitation: a persistent faith — one that won't quit, that isn't altered by the opinions of other people, that's anchored in God's character and track record. Position yourself around people who've walked through the fire, be strengthened by their faith, and then use your own story to serve, love, and inspire someone else's. Get up and follow Jesus. Scripture: Luke 18:35-43 (with a look back at Joshua 6).

July 23, 2026

Faith Stories — Week 1: Faith in Friends

We're kicking off a new series looking at stories from the life of Jesus where someone's faith inspired the people around them. Because that's what always happens — when people encounter Jesus, their faith is strengthened, and that faith becomes a catalyst for something miraculous.   This week we're in Mark 2:1-12. Jesus is back home in Capernaum, and the crowd is so packed there's no room left, not even outside the door. Four friends carry a paralyzed man to Jesus, and when they can't get through the crowd, they climb up, tear the roof off the house, and lower their friend down at Jesus' feet. And here's the line that matters: "When Jesus saw their faith" — not the paralyzed man's, but his friends' — he forgave the man's sins and told him to get up, pick up his mat, and walk.   There are two miracles in this story.   Jesus the Multitasker — The obvious one: Jesus heals a man who couldn't walk. But he's doing two things at once. To the religious skeptics muttering in their hearts that only God can forgive sins, Jesus proves the point — he heals the man so that they'll know the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. It's never just about the moment; it's always about the bigger picture. May we never forget what Jesus has done for us, where he brought us from, and the mats he's helped us walk away from.   Vandalizing Faith — The less obvious miracle: this man had four friends who cared enough and believed enough to do something radical and disruptive to get him to Jesus. At some point, faith has to stop being theoretical and start producing action. You will be down at some point, and when you are, you need friends who have faith when yours is weak — friends willing to press through the crowd, climb the stairs, and tear the roof off to carry you to Jesus. And if you want friends like that, you have to be a friend like that — the one who picks up his corner of somebody else's mat.   That's what church really is. You may not hear the greatest message every week, but every week you'll find some friends who will carry their corner of your mat — and a chance to carry someone else's.   Scripture: Mark 2:1-12 (with a nod to John 9).