9 10 95 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/8f98a5406f32830ce080359e13d4a442.jpg 0911dbd8545489fa45d2f3f848da1204 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/f5ef5452d841f5dd897cc90342125dc1.mp4 c0966a5b93af4dc1b210fa4b22c54ea8 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Don’t Forget to Remember John 20:30-31 A few weeks ago, during a water-only fast, something unexpected happened. After about three days it felt as though a switch had been turned back on in my mind. Memories began flooding back. Things I had not thought about in years suddenly came into focus. I found myself saying, “Wow! I haven’t thought about that in years!” (can you relate?) The word remember means “to recall to mind” or “to bring again to memory.” Its Latin roots literally mean “to become mindful again.” There are some things we desperately want to remember, and there are some things we would rather forget. Sometimes we chase our tail into a seemingly downward spiral of despair. One thing after another.  It isn't punishment. It isn't bad luck. It's conditioning. We’re running on autopilot. I heard it said, “Most people aren't consciously creating their lives. They're unconsciously continuing them.” We need to be like Paul and forget those things which are behind us… while still remembering the good things God has done for over in the past. Remember His unfailing love. His mercy. His grace. …but God also says to us, “Forget the former things. Seee I Am doing a New Thing!” Today I want to speak about the spiritual power of remembering. John tells us that many things Jesus did were not written down, but these things were written so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ and that by believing we might have life in His name. The Gospel itself is a holy reminder. God knows we can be prone to forget. Point 1: We Forget More Than We Realize Life has a way of obstructing our memory about the faithfulness of God. We sometimes forget answered prayers. We forget miracles. We might somehow forget how God carried us through difficult seasons. Fear often grows where memory is weak. Anxiety causes us to become intensely aware of the problem. Faith causes us to become intensely aware of God's presence. Think of Peter walking on the water. As long as he looked at Jesus, he walked. When he became focused on the wind and waves, he began to sink. Sometimes our greatest need is not more information. Sometimes our greatest need is to simply remember. David said, “In my distress I called upon the Lord.” He remembered where help comes from. When we remember God's faithfulness, our faith becomes stronger. Point 2: The Holy Spirit Helps Us Remember Jesus said in John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit would bring all things to our remembrance. But the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. The Spirit does more than teach us new things. He reminds us of truths we already know but may have forgotten. The Psalmist declared, “I won't forget to walk in Your words.” (Psalm 119:16 TPT) Notice he did not simply say, “I won't forget Your words.” He said, “I won't forget to walk in Your words.” Re-membering is not merely recalling information. Remembering is returning to alignment. God's Word was never meant to simply occupy our minds. It is meant to direct our steps. The Holy Spirit continually reminds us so that we can walk in alignment with what God has said rather than merely admire it from a distance. He reminds us: • God is still faithful. • God is still present. • God still keeps His promises. When fear rises, ask yourself: “Where is God in this moment?” The answer is always closer than we think. The Holy Spirit continually points us back to Christ. He reminds us that we are never abandoned – we are never alone. Point 3: Re-Membering Means Being Put Back Together One of the most fascinating discoveries in preparing this message was realizing that “dismember” means to take apart, while “remember” can be viewed as putting back together. Life can leave us feeling dis-membered. Disappointments can fragment our confidence. Failures can fragment our hope. Loss can fragment our peace. But God's grace specializes in putting people back together. Re-Membering The Holy Spirit reminds us Who God is and who we are. He restores what fear, failure, and discouragement have attempted to tear apart. Colossians tells us that we are being renewed into the likeness of Christ. God is continually at work renewing our minds, renewing our hearts, and renewing our lives. Sometimes we must let go of old stories in order to embrace God's new story. What story are you carrying today? ( ) I once heard anxiety described this way: “Anxiety is often two competing ideas fighting against each other.” “This is the way I want things to be.” vs: “This is the way things currently are.” When those two realities collide, tension is created. James tells us that “a double-minded person is unstable in all his ways.” Sometimes our instability comes from trying to live in two stories at the same time. One story is the old life. The other story is the new life Christ is calling us into. One story is centered on self. The other story is centered on Christ. “Remember the Mission” One story says, “I have to figure this out.” The other says, “Apart from Him I can do nothing.” The Christian life is not learning how to improve the old story. It is allowing Jesus to become the center of a completely new story. Point 4: Remember the Past, But Don't Live There There is a balance in Scripture. We already stated: God tells us to remember His faithfulness. But He also says, “Forget the former things. See, I am doing a new thing.” We remember God's goodness, but we do not remain trapped in yesterday. We remember His mercy. We remember His grace. We remember His provision. But then we move forward into the new thing He is doing. Some old doors must close before new doors can open. Sometimes delays are actually divine preparation. As John Maxwell says, “we either prepare or we repair.” God wants us to move forward with wisdom, faith, and expectancy. Conclusion To walk into God's future, we must release the old story that no longer defines us. We are not who we were before Christ. We are not defined by our failures. We are not defined by our fears. We are not defined by our past. We are being renewed into His image day by day. The more Christ becomes the center of our lives, the more the old story loses its power. Psalm 27:13 says, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Maybe today God is asking you to remember what fear has made you forget. Remember His faithfulness. Remember His promises. Remember His presence. And as you re-member, allow God's grace to put the pieces back together. Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your faithfulness through every season of our lives. Forgive us for the times we have forgotten Your goodness, Your promises, and Your presence. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, bring to our remembrance all that You have spoken. Strengthen our faith. Renew our minds. Heal the places that have become fragmented through fear, disappointment, or discouragement. Help us remember Your mercy while embracing the new thing You are doing. Let Your peace rule in our hearts and Your hope fill our minds. Today we choose to remember that You are with us, You are for us, and You are still at work in our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. "The Christian life is not learning how to improve the old story. It is allowing Jesus to become the center of a completely new story." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Remember: Returning To Alignment 记得: 回到与神对齐的位置 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 06/14/2026 Description An account of the resource JOHN 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. 约翰福音 20:31 但记这些事，要叫你们信耶稣是基督，是 神的儿子；并且叫你们信了他，就可以因他的名得生命。 JOHN 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 约翰福音 14:26 但保惠师，就是父因我的名所要差来的圣灵，他要将一切的事指教你们，并且要叫你们想起我对你们所说的一切话。 PSALM 119:16 (TPT) I won’t forget to walk in Your words. 诗篇 119:16 我要在你的律例中自乐； 我不忘记你的话。 COLOSSIANS 3:10 Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 歌罗西书 3:10 穿上了新人；这新人在知识上渐渐更新，正如造他主的形象。 PSALM 27:13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 诗篇 27:13 我若不信在活人之地得见耶和华的恩惠，就早已丧胆了。 PSALM 62:5-6 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. 诗篇 62:5-6 我的心哪，你当默默无声， 专等候 神，因为我的盼望是从他而来。 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/0558348f764fb2ac59572215797a3efa.jpg 9477b70f965111b98d81fe26c55eea8d https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/2d51ee7cf4010f457e3ddd75ea047a66.png 1760d95a70f22256b0b6a09b8eaf2830 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound FIX YOUR THOUGHTS Romans 15:13 When you have something of value to share, you are obliged to share it. Not everyone will receive it, but that is not your responsibility. I have been studying and hopefully applying a lot of health and wellness information. How I wish I could have learned some of these things much earlier in life. I have learned a great deal throughout this personal healing journey, while recognizing that I still have much more to learn. Even as I learned the importance of healthy eating, exercise, controlled breathing, rest, and self-care, for me, the biggest challenge I faced was learning how to let go. Learning how to shut down. Learning how to allow my system to unwind. I've basically had to work on resetting my nervous system. (I only tell you these things because maybe some of you need this same information) The journey toward healing often begins with something very simple: Like: Learning to Slow Down. Today I want to share something that is both scriptural and scientific. The Word of God does not need science to agree with it. But when science agrees with Scripture, it may further validate things we already know are true. The Bible tells us: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8) Neuroscience tells us that what we consistently focus on influences the chemicals that our brains produce. Thoughts accompanied by emotion create corresponding responses throughout the body. God knew this long before neuroscience existed. That is why Scripture repeatedly calls us to direct our attention toward truth, hope, goodness, and God's presence. Fill your minds with thoughts about good things. Think about things that are true, clean, right, and lovely. Fixing our minds on good things means we are not fixated on fearful things. We are not controlled by fear. Whatever consistently holds our attention begins to shape our experience. If our attention is continually fixed on problems, uncertainty, and worst-case scenarios, our minds and bodies begin responding as though danger is always present. But when our attention is fixed on Christ, something begins to change. Peace. Hope. A Realistic Perspective. We remember that our circumstances are not our source. God is our source. Hebrews 12:2 "Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end." Life moves quickly for all of us. As we run, we must always look toward Jesus. Fixing our eyes on Jesus means continually centering our thoughts, actions, and priorities on Him rather than on circumstances and distractions. What we become most aware of often becomes our experience. Romans 15:13 "Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!" But what happens when our thoughts are filled with fear? Panic? Uncertainty? This is where renewal becomes necessary. We have to rewire so we can refire. REWIRE PHASE: (Unlearning & Resetting) Romans 6:14 "Remember this: sin will not conquer you, for God already has! You are not governed by law but governed by the reign of the grace of God." Sometimes we remain in bondage because we continue believing old stories that God has already set us free from. We must allow our thinking to be renewed. Ephesians 4:23 "And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind." Renewing the mind is a daily process. It is shifting away from fear-based thinking and aligning ourselves with God's truth. It is an inward transformation that eventually changes everything else. "Now it's time to be made new by every revelation that has been given to you." REFIRE PHASE: NEW ALIGNMENT Igniting Your New Purpose (New Alignment) Every day we are either strengthening existing thought patterns or creating new ones. We are reinforcing fear or reinforcing faith. God told Israel: "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds." Deut 11:18 Augustine famously said: "Our hearts are restless until they rest in You." Healing and restoration often begin when we stop striving and start resting in God. Peace becomes the soil where healing can grow. God created our bodies with an amazing capacity to heal and restore themselves. One of the ways He designed us for healing is through the gift of breath. In Genesis we are told that God breathed the breath of life into humanity. Breath is more than a physical necessity. It is a reminder of God's life flowing within us. When we are anxious, fearful, or overwhelmed, our breathing often becomes shallow. Our bodies shift into what is commonly called "fight or flight." This is called the sympathetic nervous system. It is a God-given survival mechanism designed to protect us in moments of danger. But most of the threats we face today are not “life-threatening.” They are deadlines. Bills. Schedules. Relationships. Expectations. The problem is that if we do not learn to discern the difference between a real crisis and an imagined one, we can remain stuck in a constant state of fight or flight. It is like revving the engine of a car. At first it seems harmless. But eventually something begins to wear down. When we pause, breathe deeply, and allow ourselves to relax, we help bring the body back into balance. We give ourselves permission to let go of the struggle for a moment and rest in God's care. Do you ever find it hard to settle down at night? Psalm 4:8: "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety." The parasympathetic nervous system essentially sends a message throughout the body: "You are safe." How beautiful that Scripture has been saying the same thing all along. "Dwell in safety." Jesus said: "Remain in Me." The next step is stillness. "Be still and know that I am God." Stillness is not doing nothing. Stillness is becoming aware. Aware of God's presence. Aware that we are loved. Aware that we are held. Aware that we are not carrying life alone. When we move from fear toward peace, the body no longer has to remain on constant alert. Instead, it can devote its energy toward restoration and healing. True Rest This is one reason prayer, deep breathing, quiet reflection, and trust in God are such powerful parts of the healing journey. Your body is not your enemy. Most of the time it is doing its best to protect you. As you learn to breathe deeply, embrace stillness, and place your trust in God, you create an environment where healing can flourish. Psalm 62:5-6 says: "My soul, wait silently for God, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my refuge; I shall not be moved." ( ) For a moment, let your heart become still before the Lord. Take a slow breath. Remember that God is with you. Trust that His healing work is already underway. Sometimes the greatest step forward is simply returning to stillness. Wrapping this up: Romans 15:13 (today’s scripture): "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" Are you ready for God to do something new in your life? Eph 3:20 reminds us that God is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Perhaps the next step is simply becoming open to what God wants to do. St Benedict taught a Prayer Form called: Lectio Divina – Divine Reading When we get quiet enough – God can speak to us. “Let go – and make room for new things.” Before we come to the Lord's Table, I invite you to become still. Take a slow breath. And another. Listen to these words from Psalm 62: "My soul, wait silently for God, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my refuge; I shall not be moved." What word or phrase stands out to you? (Pause) Listen once more. "My soul, wait silently for God, for my hope is from Him." What might God be inviting you to release today? ( ) Fear? Control? Worry? A burden you have been carrying alone? (Pause) Now simply rest. No striving. No fixing. No performing. Just resting in the Presence of the One Who loves you. (Long Pause) Hear these words: "You are safe in Me." Jesus says, "Remain in Me." "My peace I give to you." Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. HOLY COMMUNION Today we have spoken about fixing our thoughts, renewing our minds, slowing down, breathing deeply, and resting in God's presence. But peace is not ultimately a technique. Peace is a Person. Jesus Christ. Eph 2:14: “For Christ himself has brought peace to us. “ We do not find peace by trying harder. We find peace by drawing nearer. Nearer to Christ. Nearer to His presence. Nearer to His grace. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." At this table we remember that Christ has come near. He invites us to remain in Him. And as we receive these gifts, may we also receive His peace. Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Fix Thoughts Mandarin 调整你的思想 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 06/21/2026 Description An account of the resource 1. Romans 15:13 Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope! 但愿使人有盼望的神，因信将诸般的喜乐平安充满你们的心，使你们借着圣灵的能力大有盼望。 2. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 弟兄们，我还有未尽的话：凡是真实的、可敬的、公义的、清洁的、可爱的、有美名的，若有什么德行，若有什么称赞，这些事你们都要思念。 3. Hebrews 12:2 Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. 仰望为我们信心创始成终的耶稣。 4. Ephesians 4:23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind. 又要将你们的心志改换一新。 5. Psalm 62:5-6 My soul, wait silently for God, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my refuge; I shall not be moved. 我的心哪，你当默默无声，专等候神，因为我的盼望是从他而来。惟独他是我的磐石，我的拯救；他是我的高台，我必不动摇。 6. Psalm 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety. 我必安然躺下睡觉，因为独有你耶和华使我安然居住。 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/68532afad980da6505f652012def3f78.png fe40684852688dbf7fc95a4c4ac5ffa5 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/dac6630919f3195af99b3ae0a052bcfe.mp4 a675119ab9bb98b0a4afabd1cd0705be Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound The Code - Week One: Who Wrote the Code You're Living By? Romans 12:1-2 Earlier this week I woke up with one simple image in my mind – - one word inside a simple rectangular frame: CODE. For just a moment, think about the hundreds of decisions you will make this week. Every decision flows from something deeper. Every decision flows from a code. code: a set of conventions governing behavior or activity in a particular sphere. a set of principles a set of standards a set of customs ethics, morality, convention, accepted behavior a set of rules and standards adhered to by a society, class, or individual. Whether we realize it or not, each one of us lives by a code. The question has never been, 'Do I have a code?' The question is: "Who wrote the code I’m living by?" Every day, someone - or something - is discipling you. Whatever has your attention shapes your thinking. Whatever shapes your thinking shapes your heart. …And the code that governs your heart will eventually shape every area of your life. Francis Schaeffer's book How Should We Then Live? The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture (1976) argues that when society abandons biblical absolutes, it falls into moral chaos and authoritarianism. (I could show videos) His writings explore the shift from a God-centered worldview to secular humanism. "Most people catch their presuppositions from their family and surrounding society, the way that a child catches the measles. But people with understanding realize that their presuppositions should be chosen after a careful consideration of which worldview is true." Paul warned us of this danger long before Schaeffer wrote it down. Colossians 2:8 says, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ." We (you and I) have a responsibility to guard our gates 2 Cor 10:5, Paul calls us to take "captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Who - or what - has your regular attention? Romans 12:1,2 (read) Paul does not begin with behavior. He begins with transformation. That means, something was one way, and now it needs to become something else. A change is required. God desires renewed minds and transformed hearts. This same truth echoes in Ephesians 4:22-24, where Paul urges us to "put off your old self... to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." And in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" I know many of these verses may sound all-too familiar to some of you, but don’t let this slip past you… Before we talk about God's Code, we must understand God's HEART. Isaiah 57:18 declares: 'I have seen their ways... but I will heal them; I will lead them and restore comfort...' God sees us completely, just as we are, yet He still responds with grace. Psalm 103:8-10 reminds us: "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love... he does not treat us as our sins deserve." Romans 5:8 tells us the depth of that grace: "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." The Code is not God's way of keeping you out. It's God's way of bringing you home. ( ) Hebrews 8:10 reveals God's ultimate purpose: 'I will put My laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.' “ …this verse points out the difference between a covenant based on external, legalistic rules and one based on internal, personal experience with God. This drive for obedience, from the inside out, is the work of the Holy Spirit in those who are saved.” God says, “I will put my laws into their thoughts. I will write my laws deep inside them. I will be their God and they will be my people.” This New Testament promise is rooted in Old Testament prophecies, particularly Jeremiah 31:33, which foretold a time when God would establish a new relationship with His people. Jeremiah prophetically declares God’s Word: “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. God is not merely giving us better information. He is giving us a new heart. He isn't merely changing our behavior. He is changing our desires. Ezekiel 36:26: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." God never intended His Word to remain merely in our hands. His desire has always been to write it upon our hearts. (a Divine CODE for living) Jesus said He came that we might have “Life and have it more abundantly.” Eventually, the CODE should become our identity. (“I don’t smoke”) GOD wants the best for our lives. ( ) Ed Mylett, 'I want my friends to love me, but I don't want them to always accept me.' People who care about you also want the best for you. They won’t let you drop off a cliff just because they don’t want to offend you. This is GOD’s Heart toward us. Real love desires to see transformation. Elevation. God loves us exactly where He finds us, but He loves us far too much to leave us there. There must be a change – and it starts with a renewed mind and a transformed heart. Are we willing to let that happen – to do our part in this radical reformation? This week, before you scroll, before you react, before you speak, ask: “Who is writing the code I am following today?” Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Jesus (“the Word made flesh”) did not merely teach the Way. He is the Way. He did not merely speak the Truth. He is the Truth. He did not merely point us toward Life. He is the Life. In John 14:6, Jesus says it plainly: "I Am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Remember this: The Code is not God's way of keeping you out. It's God's way of bringing you home. Francis Schaeffer : "Here is a simple but profound truth: If there are no absolutes by which to judge society, the society is absolute. Society is left with one man or an elite filling the vacuum left by the loss of the Christian consensus which originally gave us form and freedom." “without a vision, the people perish” “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.”  You’ve probably heard that expression: “bring something up to code” Like renovate or update an old building in line with the latest building regulations. "the wiring has to be brought up to code" To recognize the need to follow God's Code, we must understand God's HEART. The CODE is more than just a word or a cool symbol… It represents the God who says, "I have seen your ways..." "...I will heal you..." "...I will lead you..." "...I will restore you..." "...I will write My law upon your heart." Jesus told us where that absolute truth is found. In John 17:17 He prays, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." And in John 8:32, He promises: "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Let's us pray Father, thank You for Your Word, which is truth, and for Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life Thank You that You do not just call us to try harder - You promise to write Your law on our hearts and give us a new heart, a heart of flesh Lord, search us and know our hearts Show us where we have been living by a code we did not choose - a code written by culture, by comparison, by fear, or by old wounds. Forgive us for the times we conformed to the pattern of this world instead of being transformed by the renewing of our minds Thank You that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us You do not condemn us - You heal us, lead us, and restore us Because Your compassion never fails, help us receive Your grace today So as we go from this place, let Your word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path Set us free with Your truth and write Your Code - Your law of love - deeply into our hearts. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Way, our Truth, and our Life. Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Code - Week One: Who Wrote the Code You're Living By? 生命密码1：谁在编写你所遵循的密码？ Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 07/04/2026 Description An account of the resource Romans 12:1-2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 罗马书 12:1-2 所以，弟兄们，我以神的慈悲劝你们，将身体献上，当作活祭，是圣洁的，是神所喜悦的；你们如此事奉，乃是理所当然的。不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。 Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 希伯来书 8:10 因为我要与以色列家立的约乃是这样：我要将我的律法放在他们里面，写在他们心上；我要作他们的神，他们要作我的子民。 2 Corinthians 10:5 We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 哥林多后书 10:5 我们争战的兵器本不是属血气的，乃是在神面前有能力，可以攻破坚固的营垒，将各样的计谋，各样拦阻人认识神的那些自高之事，一概攻破了，又将人所有的心意夺回，使他们都顺服基督。 John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 约翰福音 14:6 耶稣说：我就是道路、真理、生命；若不借着我，没有人能到父那里去。 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/0bed5364a9261bed4b725d434985423b.jpg a1cd713df30a5820d34a4955d997b19d https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/8152babbf9e75dd732425297f6f04c5b.mp4 b1b9d1047c52f455ed13ee1f0812fcd4 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/3d5486b5aa5517012c8d6d1b00970238.png 458f687aa89e1b4647665ee8f23709c5 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound CODE – Week Two – KNOWN 认识 Luke 19:5,9,10 Last week I did something that felt almost impossible. I deleted Instagram off my phone. For some of you, that might sound like no big deal. But for me... my thumb still finds that empty spot on my home screen out of habit. I'll go to check something — anything — and just stare at the blank space where the app used to be. That's how much of a grip it had on me. Because it wasn't just stealing my time. It was quietly planting ideas and images in my mind that I never asked for — a steady hum of comparison, distraction, and noise I didn't even realize I was carrying around with me all day. Now, I got some good productivity tips and health info along the way, I'll admit that. But mixed in with all of it was a constant stream of bad news and disturbing glimpses of everything wrong with this current age we live in. And it left me with a question I couldn't shake. Last week we asked, "Who wrote the code you're living by?" This week, it's this: Whose voice has our attention? What we focus on expands. What we feed our hearts determines what we start to see in the world around us. God wants to direct our steps — but we have to be sensitive enough to hear His voice. He is seeking us today.Before we can fully comprehend God’s CODE, we must first understand God's Heart. He sees us completely—our failures and wanderings—yet responds with healing, comfort, and grace. The Code is not God's way of keeping you out; it's God's way of bringing you home. Remember last week we said, GOD wants the best for our lives. ( ) Romans 8:31, 32: So, what does all this mean? If God has determined to stand with us, tell me, who then could ever stand against us? For God has proved his love by giving us his greatest treasure, the gift of his Son. And since God freely offered him up as the sacrifice for us all, he certainly won’t withhold from us anything else he has to give. It’s all about growing in our understanding and experience of the heart of Our Father Last week we asked, 'Who wrote the code you're living by?' This week we meet a man whose entire life had been written by another code. Success. Wealth. Status. Power. He climbed a tree thinking he was looking for Jesus... ...only to discover Jesus had been looking for him all along. “Wee Little Man” Luke 19:1-10 Zaccheus was NOT a popular man in the community The lesson is – even the little (rejected) person matters to God. (verse 3) The crowd overlooked him... Jesus didn't. “People want to be seen” GOD sees you where you are. (verse 5) Jesus stopped beneath the tree. He didn't say, 'Hey, tax collector...' He didn't say, 'Hey, sinner...' He didn't say, 'Hey, you...' He said, 'Zacchaeus.' Week Two: The One who rewrites your code already knows your name. Before Zacchaeus ever came down from the tree... before he gave anything back... before his life changed... before he made things right... Jesus called him by name. The world says... 'Prove your worth, and then you'll matter.' Jesus says... 'You matter, and that's why I've come for you.'" "You're valuable because I know your name." When Jesus says, "Zacchaeus," He isn't just identifying him. He's inviting him. The name becomes an invitation. When Jesus walked into a room, prostitutes felt safe enough to cry at his feet, while religious leaders plotted his death. That's not normal love. That's dangerous love. We've heard it a thousand times. “Jesus loves you.” But what does that actually mean? Because if we're honest, those three words have become so familiar that they've seemingly lost their impact on so many. HERE is the Love of Christ: Jesus didn't love people from a distance. He touched the untouchable. (even the tax collector) vs 5: When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”  WHY? vs 9: Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house…” An encounter with the true Jesus changes everything. (verse 9) He gave him dignity before he gave him direction. He let him know he was KNOWN. Joseph Prince: “In Luke 19:2–10, where you find Jesus meeting and ministering to Zacchaeus, notice that not a single commandment was given. Yet when the love and grace of our Lord Jesus touched his heart, the once-covetous tax collector wanted to give half of his wealth to the poor and repay fourfold every person he had stolen from. The love of money died when the love of Jesus came. This is what happens to people who encounter the Lord Jesus and His grace.” Why does this change us? “Perfect love drives out fear.” We need an “encounter with the Lord Jesus and His grace.” We need to have a revelation of the Love Jesus has for us today Here's what we sometimes miss: Jesus' love is so powerful... that it confronts the lies we've believed about ourselves. Jesus didn't simply come to forgive your past. He came to interrupt the code you've been living by. Jesus gave Zacchaeus dignity before he gave him direction. He let him know he was KNOWN. Our faith in the true love of the true Jesus – our true savior – becomes the CODE that is the antidote to this form of miserable existence: Romans 5:1: Our faith in Jesus transfers God's righteousness to us and he now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us. Romans 5:1 (AMP) Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). To understand The CODE we need a true revelation of the Love of Christ within our hearts. God sees you today. You are KNOWN. Psalm 33:18: Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love… God sees you today. God hears you today. You are KNOWN. Psalm 34:4 (David) “Listen to my testimony: I cried to God in my distress and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears!” Maybe you've spent years trying to prove your value. Maybe you've climbed your own tree. Maybe you've hidden behind success... or failure... or religion... or shame... Today... Jesus stops. Looks up. Calls your name. Then... “You're valuable... because I know your name.” Remember you are known Isaiah 43:1: Do not be afraid, I have rescued you to belong to me. I have called you by your name, so now you are mine. Zacchaeus' code said: You're valuable because of what you possess. Jesus rewrote the code: You're valuable because I know your name. “The Son of Man has come to seek out and to give life to those who are lost.” The Son of Man has come to seek... ...you. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CODE – Week Two – KNOWN 生命密码2 – 认识 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 07/12/2026 Description An account of the resource ROMANS 8:31-32 If God has determined to stand with us, who then could ever stand against us? For God has proved his love by giving us his greatest treasure, the gift of his Son. And since God freely offered him up as the sacrifice for us all, he certainly won’t withhold from us anything else he has to give. 罗马书 8:31-32 既是这样，还有什么说的呢？神若帮助我们，谁能敌挡我们呢？神既不惜为我们舍了自己的儿子，岂不也把万事和他一同白白地赐给我们吗？ LUKE 19:9-10 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 路加福音 19:9-10 耶稣说：“今天救恩临到了这家，因为他也是亚伯拉罕的子孙。人子来，为要寻找、拯救失丧的人。” ROMANS 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 罗马书 5:1 我们既因信称义，就藉着我们的主耶稣基督得与神相和。 ROMANS 5:5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 罗马书 5:5 盼望不至于羞耻，因为神的爱藉着所赐给我们的圣灵，已经浇灌在我们心里。 ISAIAH 43:1 Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine. 以赛亚书 43:1 你不要害怕，因为我救赎了你；我曾提你的名召你，你是属我的。 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/2ad786622be9d5d39a83be810f2ff99d.jpg 2f4fa633030bd5d19784fd1a180268c0 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/c202baa47ad493614eac12ef238c243a.mp4 7ccb591f1c24ae8afeb5ac168fb468a2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound CODE III: KNOW HIM 2 Thess 3:16 Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon Apparently every actor in Hollywood can be connected to Kevin Bacon in six steps or less. The theory says every person on earth can be connected to every other person through six relationships. Maybe that's true. According to the theory, somewhere between me and the President of the United States there are only six introductions. But I still doubt he's coming to Waffle House with me after church. I know about him. I've travelled twice just to see him speak. But he doesn't know me... ...and I don't really know him. I know about him. In the same way… People can have a lot of information about Jesus …they may even go to church. They can know “about” GOD without really knowing Him. That is not a mistake we want to carry through our lives. Jesus said in Matt 7:22,23: “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ “I never knew you” Last Sunday we celebrated that Jesus knows your name. Today the question changes. Do you know Him? There are signs and bumper stickers that say, “No Jesus (n-o) No Peace. Know Jesus , Know peace.” Today’s scripture reads: "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you". (AMP) Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all times and in every way [that peace and spiritual well-being that comes to those who walk with Him, regardless of life’s circumstances]. The Lord be with you all. Notice something. Paul doesn't tell us to manufacture peace. He points us to the Lord of Peace. And notice when He gives it. At all times. In every way. That means peace isn't reserved just for the easy seasons. May the Lord himself, who is our source of peace, give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all. We want that peace (of course we do,) but how do we get this peace and find its comfort and strength “in all times and in every way?” Eph 2:14: For He Himself is our peace We must abide… we must be in a real relationship with our Creator Eph 2:13: “ …Although you were once distant and far away from God, now you have been brought delightfully close to him through the sacred blood of Jesus—you have actually been united to Christ!” “you have actually been united to Christ!” – “through the sacred blood of Jesus” This is when The CODE starts its work in our hearts. CODE: Hebrews 8:1: 'I will put My laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.' CODE (Part Two) we recognized that Jesus knows our name. He came to seek and save that which was lost (you and me) Now CODE III is about you and I coming to know Him. Relationship. We have all heard that question, “Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?” Jesus said we must abide in Him Jesus used a beautiful word. He said, "Abide." It means remain. Stay. Live. Make your home in Me. Christianity was never meant to be occasional visits with Jesus. It was meant to be a life lived in Him. Religion asks, "What must I do?" Relationship asks, "Will you walk with Me?" Knowing about Jesus is not the same as knowing Jesus. There are many ways we can develop our relationship to a much great level. Prayer. Reading the Word. …and the Lord’s Supper Today is Holy Communion We are told we must “discern the Body” This is both The Body of Christ as in the physical body Jesus gave up for our healing and restoration, and also as the Body of Christ where we share in one loaf together. 1 Cor 10:17: Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. "Discerning the body" is a theological phrase from 1 Corinthians 11:29 regarding the Lord's Supper (Communion). It means recognizing the profound significance of Christ’s sacrifice and (also) valuing the unity of the church” John 6:56: "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him" Wommack: “ …was speaking of the spiritual man. Just as the physical man receives life from the food he eats, so the spiritual man receives life as he partakes of Jesus, the life of men (Jn. 1:4; 10:10; 14:6) or the ‘Bread of Life.’ Just as the life of a root is found in the soil, or a branch in the vine, or a fish in the sea, so the believer’s true life is found to be in union with Christ.” Col 2:9,10: “For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” John 6:57: “The Father of life sent me, and he is my life. In the same way, the one who feeds upon me, I will become his life.” Eph 3:19: “ … to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” This is beyond our intellect. It is experiential. It comes through relationship This is what we need to be filled with today. Knowing about Jesus is not the same as knowing Jesus. John 15:9: I have loved you, just as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love, continue in His love with Me. For the past few minutes we've been asking one question: "Do you know Him?" Not do you know about Him... "Do you know Him?" Today Jesus doesn't simply invite us to think about Him. He invites us to come to His table. The table has never been about remembering a distant Savior. It is about meeting a living Savior. Some of us came carrying fear. Some came carrying guilt. Some came carrying disappointment... bitterness. Some came carrying questions. But none of us should have to leave carrying those same burdens. The CODE God wants to write on your heart isn't merely information. It is relationship. He knows your name... and today He invites you to know His heart. So here's what that looks like for you, right now. If you've never truly known Him — if today you realize you've only known about Him — this table can be where that changes. This can be the moment you move from information to relationship, from a name you've heard to a Savior you know. And if you do know Him, but life has pulled you away — if you've drifted, grown cold, or wandered — this table is where you come home. Not because you've earned your way back, but because He's been waiting at the table the whole time. Whichever describes you, don't leave here the same way you came in. Tell Him. Whatever you're carrying — name it to Him now, in your heart. Then come to the table. "Let us break bread together on our knees." Communion is not a reward for people who have lived a perfect week. It's a gift for people who know they need Jesus. So don't wait until you feel ready. Come as you are — and come to know Him. Phil 3:10 …that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Code III: Know Him 生命密码3: 认识祂 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 07/19/2026 Description An account of the resource 1.MATTHEW 7:22-23 "On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'" 马太福音 7:22-23 “到那日，必有许多人对我说：‘主啊，主啊，我们不是奉祢的名传道，奉祢的名赶鬼，奉祢的名行许多异能吗？’我就明明地告诉他们：‘我从未认识你们；你们这些作恶的人，离开我去吧！’” 2.2 THESSALONIANS 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 帖撒罗尼迦后书 3:16 愿赐平安的主随时随地赐平安给你们。愿主与你们众人同在。 3.EPHESIANS 2:13-14 Although you were once distant and far away from God, now you have been brought delightfully close to him through the sacred blood of Jesus—you have actually been united to Christ! For He Himself is our peace. 以弗所书 2:13-14 你们从前远离神，与神为敌，如今却因基督耶稣的宝血，已经得亲近了，你们原本是与基督隔绝的，如今却与祂联合；因为基督祂自己就是我们的平安。 4.JOHN 6:56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 约翰福音 6:56 吃我肉、喝我血的人，就住在我里面，我也住在他里面。 5.1 CORINTHIANS 10:17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. 哥林多前书 10:17 我们虽多，仍是一个饼，一个身体；因为我们都是分受这一个饼。 6.JOHN 15:9 I have loved you, just as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love. 约翰福音 15:9 我爱你们，正如父爱我一样；你们要常在我的爱里。 7.EPHESIANS 3:19 …to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 以弗所书 3:19 并且知道基督的爱是何等长阔高深，能以充满你们，使你们充满神一切的丰盛。 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/89498b0fb87ee9e906b72dec1bf8653a.jpg 63a086c2d6461e58118c3087b90aa5a2 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/c7a193c0a2674e45410e789eadfa1423.mp4 29fbc350cb0438253cc0e79927a92a60 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound CODE IV: The Greatest Matthew 23:11,12 We live in the age of the “Adult Temper Tantrum…” (how did we get here?) “There must be a better way!” Who better than Jesus to guide us to a better way of navigating through this life… Jesus offered an entirely different Code for living Matthew 23:11,12: "The greatest among you will be the one who always serves others from the heart. Remember this: If you have a lofty opinion of yourself and seek to be honored, you will be humbled. But if you have a modest opinion of yourself and choose to humble yourself, you will be honored." Life (should be) about contribution Ask: “What is my gift?” The gift you carry isn’t just for you. The gift God gave you was never intended to stop with you. Do you see yourself as unable to serve – to make a contribution to others? I will say this with love: Thinking we are limited is actually true conceit. If we accomplish something and it is all done with our own abilities, then who gets the glory? the credit? the praise? (selah) John 15:8: When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father! It isn’t about YOU – it is about the Gift. 2 Cor 4:7: “We have this treasure…” “We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that this immeasurable power will be seen as God's, not ours.” The treasure isn't the jar. It is the gift gets the attention. The Giver gets the glory. Paul uses this analogy to highlight a core message. The power to transform and save belongs entirely to God, not to human strength or cleverness. When we go through difficulties or weaknesses, God's power shines through our frail humanity to make it clear where the strength is truly coming from. Joshua 1:9: “Have boldness to share your gift…” Jesus said to the Jewish leaders, John 8:47: If you really knew God, you would listen, receive, and respond with faith to his words. The Secret of Living is Giving Every culture has a code—a way of defining what success looks like. In our culture, greatness is often measured by followers, fame, influence, possessions, or power. But Jesus completely rewrites the code. In God's Kingdom, the greatest person in the room isn't the one being served. It's the one serving. The Greatest opportunity is TODAY. NOW. Take ALL you have learned, experienced – and yes, even all you have regretted, and use it to build your legacy. Ed Mylett: YOU are now most qualified to help the person or people that You used to be. Your failures become valuable the moment they become someone else's instruction. Your scars become someone's survival guide. Your perceived liability can be transformed into your greatest asset. ASK: “What can I give?” “What could I give?” “What do I have to give?” Discovering your (maybe currently) hidden gift will totally revolutionize your life. “Let YOUR LIGHT so SHINE…” (good works) What have you survived? What have you learned? What mistake taught you something valuable? What prayer did God answer? What gift have you buried? Who needs what only you can give? 1 Corinthians 10:11: All these things happened to them as examples—as object lessons to us —to warn us against doing the same things; they were written down so that we could read about them and learn from them. John Maxwell has a new book entitled: How to Get a Return on Failure He asks: What would change if you stopped seeing failure as something to avoid and started using it as something to build from? What have we learned in life that needs to be shared with others? Some lessons are hard – but they are still lessons. (the Bible is full of these lessons) Our learning should be used to bless others. Honestly: Are there any success stories that don’t include set-backs and adversity? ( ) I mean… have you never seen a Rocky movie? Karate Kid? I recently revisited Og Mandino’s classic: “A Better Way to Live” Og Mandino (20th century writer) went from being a homeless, suicidal alcoholic to one of the world's best-selling inspirational authors. After serving as a World War II bomber pilot, he struggled to find work, leading to severe depression, bad life choices, and the loss of his family. Hitting rock bottom, he wandered into a library, read self-help books, and rebuilt his life. His book, “A Better Way to Live”, not only shares his testimony of personal recovery and transformation, but also includes 17 Principles for living a better life. Principle # 3 says, “Whenever you make a mistake or get knocked down by life, don't look back at it too long. Mistakes are life's way of teaching you. Your capacity for occasional blunders is inseparable from your capacity to reach your goals. No one wins them all, and your failures, when they happen, are just part of your growth. Shake off your blunders.” It’s all about reframing the setbacks to decide how you can use these things to bless others. "The greatest among you will be the one who always serves others from the heart.” Anyone can serve if they have the desire to. You are not the hero because you conquered something. You are the hero because you came back with something worth giving. Prov 24:16: …for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again What propels us to get back up? I believe it is the CODE at work in our hearts, causing us to obey Jesus commands What are those commands? Matthew 22:37-40: Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Tony Robbins: "Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” "It is not what we get - but who we become, what we contribute... that gives meaning to our lives." Matthew 23:11-12: The greatest among you shall be your servant.  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. We sometimes learn hard lessons If we can humble ourselves and accept the lesson that comes with the mistakes, we can use that to make not only our own life, but the lives of others better for it having happened. Let your test become your testimony. Let GOD put His “Super” on your “natural” Romans 8:10: "Now Christ lives his life in you! And even though your body may be dead because of the effects of sin, his life-giving Spirit imparts life to you because you are fully accepted by God." It’s time to pick ourselves up – or rather, let Christ pick us up, and get back into the game. It’s time to move on - to “drive on” – to look forward instead of looking back. Change is never a matter of ability. It's always a matter of strong enough reasons. “Christ lives his life in you” The world says, "Hide your failures." Jesus says, "Use them." The world says, "Become important." Jesus says, "Become a servant." Because the greatest people are never remembered for what they accumulated. They're remembered for what they gave. One day... our money (or lack of it) won't matter. Our titles won't matter. Our possessions won't matter. Only what we invested in people. Only what we gave away. Only what Christ was able to do through us. John 12:25 "The person who loves his life and pampers himself will miss true life! But the one who detaches his life from this world and abandons himself to me, will find true life and enjoy it forever!" "The greatest among you will be the one who always serves others from the heart.” Christ lives His life in you. The treasure is already there. Your story—your victories, your failures, your lessons, your faith—can become someone else's encouragement. We so often underestimate our potential to give – to contribute – to serve So don't ask, 'How can I become greater?' Ask, 'How can I serve more faithfully?' Because according to Jesus, the greatest among you will be the servant… the one who serves from the heart. That is the Code. If you feel stuck - like you are missing something - and you’re exhausted from trying. The Lord is saying to you, “Look higher than you are looking! Why are trying to walk according to man’s ways and methods? Why are you trying to be provider? But if you SEEK ME, ALL THESE THINGS shall be added.” Let's pray together. Father, thank You for Jesus, who showed us that true greatness is found not in being served, but in serving. Forgive us for the times we've chased applause instead of purpose, for the times we've hidden our failures instead of letting You use them. Take our stories - the victories and the wounds, the lessons learned the hard way - and use them to encourage someone who needs exactly what we've been through. Remind us daily that the treasure of Christ already lives in us, and that we don't need to become greater; we simply need to serve more faithfully. Give us courage to live out this Code - to love You with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves - starting today, starting now. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who served us first. Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Code IV - The Greatest 生命密码4 - 最伟大的人 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 07/26/2026 Description An account of the resource Matthew 23:11-12 (NIV) The greatest among you will be the one who always serves others from the heart. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. 马太福音 23:11-12 (CUVS) 你们中间谁为大，谁就要作你们的用人。 凡自高的，必降为卑；凡自卑的，必升为高。 John 15:8 (NIV) When your lives bear much fruit, you show that you are my disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 约翰福音 15:8 (CUVS) 你们多结果子，我父就因此得荣耀，你们也就是我的门徒了。 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV) We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 哥林多后书 4:7 (CUVS) 我们有这宝贝放在瓦器里，要显明这莫大的能力是出于神，不是出于我们。 Proverbs 24:16 (NIV) for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again. 箴言 24:16 (CUVS) 因为义人虽七次跌倒，仍必兴起。 Romans 8:10 (NIV) But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 罗马书 8:10 (CUVS) 然而基督若在你们心里，身体就因罪而死，心灵却因义而活。 John 12:25 (NIV) Whoever loves their life will lose it, while whoever hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 约翰福音 12:25 (CUVS) 爱惜自己生命的，就失丧生命； 在这世上恨恶自己生命的，就要保守生命到永生。 Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two. 马太福音 22:37-40 (CUVS) 你要尽心、尽性、尽意爱主——你的神。 这是诫命中的第一，且是最大的。 其次也相仿，就是要爱人如己。 这两条诫命是律法和先知一切道理的总纲。 Joshua 1:9 (NIV) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. 约书亚记 1:9 (CUVS) 我岂没有吩咐你吗？你当刚强壮胆！ 不要惧怕，也不要惊惶；因为你无论往哪里去，耶和华——你的神必与你同在。 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/222f376f2dad44008fb42dd2c5d7b6a4.png 17e9bc383e3ae22253ef981aae7d1e20 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/adee43729c0f76e923eadf5f4a4c703f.mp4 69d39b03ce2aecce8f38c395a5709766 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound CODE V: COURAGE Acts 4:12-14 Have you ever noticed... Courage almost always looks ordinary... ...until history looks back on it. Peter and John weren't superheroes. They weren't famous. They weren't educated. They weren't powerful. They were just two ordinary men... ...who had been with Jesus. The best definition of courage is the mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty. It is not the total absence of fear, but rather the choice and willingness to act in pursuit of what is right, despite that fear. In Acts 3, Peter and John, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, healed the lame man. “Silver and gold have I none…” Acts 4 gives us one of the most remarkable moments in the early church. Peter and John had just healed a man who had been unable to walk since birth. As crowds gathered in amazement, they didn't take the credit—they pointed everyone to Jesus. The religious leaders didn't like that. So they arrested them, threw them in jail overnight, and the next day brought them before the highest court in the land. Imagine that. Two ordinary fishermen standing before the most educated and powerful religious leaders of their day. The council demanded, "By what power... and in whose name have you done this?" Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter didn't hesitate. He boldly declared that the man had been healed by the power of Jesus Christ—the very One they had crucified, but whom God had raised from the dead. then the Word says: "When they saw the boldness of Peter and John... they were amazed." Why were they amazed? Because these weren't polished scholars. They hadn't been through the prestigious rabbinical schools. They were ordinary, everyday men. But something about them was unmistakable. The leaders recognized that these men had been with Jesus. That's the difference. Not a diploma. Not a title. Not natural talent. They had spent time with Jesus. And being with Jesus had given ordinary people extraordinary courage. "When you've been with Jesus... courage becomes your new code." Here's the truth for us today: Wherever God is calling you to go... it will require courage. Whether it's leading your family, standing for your faith, forgiving someone who hurt you, starting something new, or stepping into God's purpose for your life... Godly leadership always requires courage. Deut. 31:6: Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you Daniel 11:32 states: "The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." My coffee cup: “Life Begins at the End of Your Comfort Zone” Heb 11:8: Faith motivated Abraham to obey God’s call and leave the familiar to discover the territory he was destined to inherit from God. So he left with only a promise and without even knowing ahead of time where he was going, Abraham stepped out in faith. Abraham walked away from certainty... toward a promise. from our scripture today… The leaders realized that the source of this POWER and AUTHORITY that Peter and John had was due to the time they had spent walking and living with Jesus. Where WE are CALLED to GO will require Boldness… it will require COURAGE Where YOU are CALLED to GO will require Boldness… it will require COURAGE “To boldly go where no man has gone before…” Courage is the CODE God writes into the hearts of people who have been with Jesus. Courage doesn’t deny the emotion of fear… it just means we ACT ANYWAY. “Do the thing, and you shall have the power.” Wherever YOU are called to go... it will require courage. Imagine Peter and John – ushering in a New Covenant – totally moving people away from what they have known – and from what their culture and religion had taught them and their ancestors Q: Did you ever have a slingshot? Ever shoot a bow & arrow? The force that pulls backward eventually launches the projectile forward. Throughout history... whenever churches become more concerned about pleasing culture (obeying the global mindset) rather than pleasing Christ... God raises up courageous men and women who lovingly call people back to the Gospel. (bow and arrow) The tension pulling us back toward the world is transformed into the release of our Divine Destiny in Christ Jesus says, “Repent and believe the Gospel” When I was young, the challenge to stand for biblical truth wasn’t nearly as challenging. …but here we are today. What will we do with what we (now) have to work with? The Mission is still the same. “Good times create weak people. Weak people create bad times. Bad times create strong people. And strong people create great times.” Napoleon Hill: “The Crucible of Purpose” (the #1 regret…) Forged in Private - Shaped by Adversity - Definiteness of Purpose Napoleon Hill's philosophy treats purpose not as an accidental discovery, but as something forged in the private discipline and hard tests of life. (the crucible) The ultimate regret in this framework is reaching the end of life having surrendered your potential to the expectations of others. ( ) A crucible is a vessel used for melting and purifying metals at high temperatures. In biblical literature, the term "crucible" is often used metaphorically to describe a process of testing, refining, and purifying individuals We must have the Corgae or communities through trials and tribulations. Proverbs 17:3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts. Godly Leadership Requires COURAGE Declaration of Independence: "we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor" What are we willing to pledge? Think about how words like “CODE” and “Alignment” fit this situation We must have courage to stand for this CODE – this ultimate truth: (Acts 4:12) "There is no one else who has the power to save us, for there is only one name to whom God has given authority by which we must experience salvation: the name of Jesus.” “I am not ashamed…” Maybe we need to be picked up again today… so we can try again. It takes courage to try again. Recommit to the purpose (the mission) we have for being here… …both as individuals and as a church Maybe you’re disappointed by your previous results. A failed attempt at change. Somebody needs to hear this today... One disappointing result... is not... a divine verdict. That disappointment has been pulling back your bow string… …but there comes a point when the tension is just too much and you say, “That’s it. I’ve had it! I will not compromise with the world any longer!” About 6 years ago we experienced together - a radical worldwide shift that impacted every part of our lives (yes – your life) At times it felt like the end, but it actually propelled Hillside (bow and arrow) into what is literally a humble but global online ministry. Now the string of the bow again pulls our churches back, saying, “Be like the world… think like the world… conform to the pattern of this world…” If we are bold and act with courage, the same thing happens now. Notice the release – the launch into the NEW thing… it happens when we let go. Sometimes our strength, our courage … comes out of our stillness To “Be Still and KNOW” If we listen, we hear God speaking to us as He did in Joshua 1:9: “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Will you pull back the bow today? To prepare to release those things that have tried to hold you back? Feel the tension one more time… it is time to let go and let GOD. The Sanhedrin remembered Peter and John because they had been with Jesus. I hope our time here together will be remembered the same way. Prayer: Father, prepare my heart and strengthen my faith for the opportunities You have ordained. Help me recognize my moment and give me the courage to act without fear. Keep me diligent in preparation so I am ready when You open the door. May I honor You by making the most of every opportunity You bring into my life. 2 Tim 1:6: This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. Romans 1:11: For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you… Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Code V: Courage 生命密码5: 勇气 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 08/02/2026 Description An account of the resource Acts 4:12 “There is no one else who has the power to save us, for there is only one name to whom God has given authority by which we must experience salvation: the name of Jesus.” 使徒行传 4:12 “除他以外，别无拯救；因为在天下人间，没有赐下别的名我们可以靠着得救，只有耶稣。” Acts 4:13 “When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” 使徒行传 4:13 “他们看见彼得、约翰的胆量，又看出他们是没有学问的小民，就希奇；又认出他们是与耶稣同过的。” Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” 申命记 31:6 “你们要刚强壮胆，不要惧怕，也不要惊惶；因为耶和华 — 你的神必与你同去，他必不撇下你，也不丢弃你。” Daniel 11:32 “The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” 但以理书 11:32 “认识他们神的百姓必刚强行事。” Hebrews 11:8 “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” 希伯来书 11:8 “亚伯拉罕因着信，蒙召的时候就遵命出去，往将来要承受为业之地去；他出去的时候，还不知道往哪里去。” Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” 约书亚记 1:9 “我岂没有吩咐你吗？你当刚强壮胆！不要惧怕，也不要惊惶，因为你无论往哪里去，耶和华 — 你的神必与你同在。” Proverbs 17:3 “A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.” 箴言 17:3 “银子要在炉中炼过，金子要在熔炉中炼过；惟有耶和华熬炼人心。” 2 Timothy 1:6 “This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.” 提摩太后书 1:6 “我提醒你，使你将神藉我按手所赐的恩赐再如火挑旺起来。” Romans 1:11 “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you…” 罗马书 1:11 “因我切切地想念你们，要把一些属灵的恩赐分给你们，使你们坚固…” Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/ad5c57601a19ee87040218a0bf7dd747.png 556fc46a3053dbf27e31a4fb58e3600f https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/ab809632bf8f2df06c7c3c2472ccf672.mp4 4a74e8ecd72f630debdde6d7a5128f34 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Updating the Code: God's Predictive Coding and Spiritual Transformation Let me ask you something.Have you ever decided how a conversation was going to go — before it even happened? You walk into a room and already know what to expect. You already know how your spouse is going to respond. You meet someone new, but something about them reminds you of someone who hurt you — and before they've done anything, you've already made a judgment. And sometimes we even do this with God. We've already decided what God thinks about us before we've even given Him a chance to speak. Why do we do that? Because your brain isn't just a recording device. Your brain is a prediction machine. There's a concept in neuroscience called predictive coding. The basic idea is actually very simple: Your brain uses what has happened before to predict what is going to happen next. And most of the time, that's helpful. Your brain is constantly making predictions based on everything you've experienced before. Then it compares those predictions with what is actually happening. If everything happens the way you expected, your brain basically says, "Yep. I knew it." But when something happens that doesn't fit your prediction, your brain has a decision to make: Do I hold onto my old understanding... or do I update it? It's like a software update running in the background of your mind. Here's a simple example. Have you ever sung the wrong words to a song for years? Creedence Clearwater Revival sang: "There's a bad moon on the rise." But thousands of people heard: "There's a bathroom on the right." And once your brain decided those were the words, that's what you kept hearing! You weren't really listening anymore. You were hearing what you expected to hear. And that's where this gets important. Because we don't just do this with song lyrics. We do it with life. We do it with people. We do it with ourselves. And sometimes... we even do that with God. Something happened to you years ago. Someone hurt you. Someone labeled you. You failed at something. A prayer wasn't answered the way you expected. And your brain took that experience and wrote a prediction: "This is just the way life works." "People can't be trusted." "I'll never be good enough.""Nothing is ever going to change." "Maybe God has forgotten me." And without realizing it, you can spend years interpreting today's reality through yesterday's prediction. So here's the question I want us to wrestle with today: What predictions are running in the background of your life right now? And an even more important question: What happens when God gives you new information? Because sometimes God doesn't immediately change your circumstances. Sometimes God challenges the mental model through which you interpret your circumstances. Your brain uses what happened before to predict what will happen next. But what happens when God says something that doesn't fit your prediction?” And that's exactly what He did with a man named Gideon. (more on that in a few moments… stay tuned) Today is the sixth edition of this CODE journey we have taken together Our KEY Verse: He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. We often think we have things figured out, but...Predictive Coding can only work so far... GOD is sovereign CODE I - God's Code Is Written on Our Hearts God doesn't merely give rules; He transforms us from the inside out. Hebrews 10:16: This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. Jeremiah 31:33 "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.\" CODE II – KNOWN - Before we understand God's ways, we discover God's heart-and we realize He already knows us. Psalm 139:1: Lord, you have searched me and known me. John 10:14: "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." CODE III – Alignment - The Christian life is not merely believing in Jesus, but allowing our lives to align with His. Romans 12:2 : Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind... Amos 3:3: "Can two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?" CODE IV - The Greatest - God's definition of greatness is completely different from the world's. Matthew 23:11: "The greatest among you will be your servant." Mark 10:45: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." CODE V – Courage - Courage isn't personality-it is the result of being with Jesus. Acts 4:13: "...They recognized that they had been with Jesus." Joshua 1:9: "Be strong and courageous... for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." God writes His Code on our hearts.(Hebrews 10:16) Then we discover we are fully known by Him.(Psalm 139:1) Knowing His heart leads us into alignment with His will.(Romans 12:2) Alignment changes our priorities-greatness becomes service.(Matthew 23:11) And serving Christ faithfully produces courageous living.(Acts 4:13) Eccl 3:11: He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. This verse is remarkable because it says two things simultaneously: God placed eternity in us. We still cannot fully comprehend His plans. In other words...We were created to keep learning God rather than assuming we've already figured Him out. (a continuous, lifelong process) God continually updates His people. The danger isn't ignorance.The danger is believing yesterday's revelation is the end of today's conversation. Predictive Coding says: "I've seen this before.” Faith says: "God may do something I've never seen before." Your future will largely be determined by which voice you allow to make your predictions. Will it be:your past? your failures? your culture? your fears? Or... the voice of the Holy Spirit? Judges 6:11:16 (read) Gideon's situation is a clear illustration of "predictive coding. The angel says: "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." (Judges 6:12) Gideon's internal predictive model immediately pushes back: "If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened?\" (v.13) \ "My clan is the weakest...\" (v.15) \ "I am the least in my family.\" (v.15) Notice what's happening psychologically. God isn't merely giving Gideon a command - God is challenging the mental model through which Gideon interprets reality. Gideon isn't seeing facts objectively. He's filtering everything through years of Midianite oppression, family insignificance, disappointment, and fear. His predictions about himself determine what he believes is possible. God doesn't begin by changing Gideon's circumstances. He begins by changing Gideon's identity. Gideon's Predictive coding: "I'm the weakest." God identifies him as: "Mighty warrior." When the angel calls Gideon a "mighty warrior," God is not describing Gideon's present performance. GOD is speaking to the identity He intends to develop. (God's perspective) Most of us aren't trapped by our circumstances. We're trapped by the story we've been telling ourselves about our circumstances. Look at Gideon's encounter with the angel of the Lord: Nothing had changed. Midian was still there. Israel was still oppressed. Gideon was still hiding in a winepress. The only thing that changed was the conversation. Our brains continually predict our future from our past. God speaks our future into our present. Think about the life stories of Moses… Abraham… Gideon… Peter Every major biblical transformation required someone to let God rewrite their internal predictions. "Don't become so committed to yesterday's understanding of God that you miss today's invitation." We never abandon truth. But we need to expand our understanding of it. For six weeks we've talked about God's Code. But God's Code isn't static — it's relational. He is still speaking, still shaping, still calling us into what's next. Don't let yesterday's assumptions become tomorrow's limitations. Keep your heart open, your spirit teachable, and your life available, because the Author of your story is still writing. Predictive coding says, "I've always been this way, so I'll probably always be this way." God says, "I know who you are becoming, even before you do." The question was never whose prediction is more convincing — the question is whose prediction you will believe. God writes a new code on our hearts so we begin to see ourselves, others, and the world the way He does. He knows you. He aligns you. He reshapes your values. He gives you courage. He continues to update you. The goal of the Christian life isn't to become a better version of who you were. It's to become the person God has always seen. Hebrews 8:1 promises, "I will put My laws in their minds and write them on their hearts." And Isaiah reminds us, "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." Psalm 31:24: Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Code VI : Updating the Code 生命密码6: 更新你的代码 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 08/09/2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States Description An account of the resource Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 传道书 3:11 神造万物，各按其时成为美好；又将永恒安置在世人心里。然而神从始至终的作为，人不能参透。 Isaiah 43:18 19 Forget the former things;do not dwell on the past.See, I am doing a new thing!Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?I am making a way in the wildernessand streams in the wasteland. 以赛亚书 43:18 19不要记念从前的事，也不要思想古时的事。看哪，我要做一件新事！如今要发现，你们岂不知道吗？我必在旷野开道路，在沙漠开江河。 Philippians 3:13 14 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.But one thing I do:Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 腓立比书 3:13 14 弟兄们，我不是以为自己已经得着了；我只有一件事，就是忘记背后，努力面前的，向着标竿直跑，要得神在基督耶稣里从上面召我来得的奖赏。 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here! 哥林多后书 5:17 若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人；旧事已过，都变成新的了。 Romans 12:1 2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy,to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 罗马书 12:1 2 所以，弟兄们，我以神的慈悲劝你们，将身体献上，当作活祭，是圣洁的，是神所喜悦的；你们如此侍奉，乃是理所当然的。不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。 Psalm 31:24 Be strong and take heart,all you who hope in the Lord. 诗篇 31:24 你们要刚强，与主相交的，都当壮胆！ GOD CONTINUES TO UPDATE HIS PEOPLE. STAY TEACHABLE. STAY AVAILABLE. STAY CLOSE TO HIM. 神不断更新祂的子民。 保持谦卑，保持顺服，始终亲近祂。 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/92296573fc6c4178e4f163c9a9af9eae.jpg eb2db9155416b8af7ba0fe475152b3e3 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/96860948748aa66e1c1961b2f44ab64b.mp4 779c98d81587360933ae141f0138b612 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound CODE VII — WONDER Psalm 62:5–8 Norman Vincent Peale once used a humorous illustration about problems. He asked an audience how many had problems — hands went up everywhere. Then he asked how many would like to live somewhere with absolutely no problems — just as many hands went up. Peale said such a place existed nearby: nobody there worried about money, work, or tomorrow. Nobody had any problems whatsoever. Then he revealed the place: THE CEMETERY. Suddenly, getting rid of all our problems didn't sound quite so appealing. Because problems are part of being alive. As long as we're living, we're going to encounter problems. Maybe when we're running short of them, as Peale said, it's time to get on our knees and say: "God...don't You trust me anymore?" The goal of life isn't to eliminate difficulty — it's to learn how to live fully in the middle of it. And maybe God wants us to rediscover something many of us lost along the way. Something children understand naturally. Something called... WONDER. Monday morning, I woke up thinking this CODE series was finished. Six messages. Done. And then God surprised me. God has a way of doing that for us… if we stop long enough to notice. I started thinking about Monday mornings. How do we greet them? “Oh no…another Monday”? Same job. Same responsibilities. Same problems. Same routine. Or could we wake up and say: “Lord…what do You have for me today?” Same Monday. Same circumstances. But an entirely different way of seeing them. When we really start living from God's CODE, something begins happening inside us. We become more aware. More grateful. More expectant. More alive. And gradually our hearts begin opening to this extraordinary experience called WONDER. Wonder is that mixture of surprise, admiration and amazement we experience when we encounter something beautiful, unexpected or beyond our understanding. What would happen if we began living our ordinary lives with amazed admiration? Not because everything was perfect, but because we began looking for God in everything. Paul prays in Ephesians 3 that God's people would have the power to understand how wide, long, high and deep God's love really is. God's love, goodness, and presence were already there. We simply needed the ability to perceive it. That's what gratitude does. Gratitude isn't merely saying "thank you." Gratitude is noticing. Psalm 63: "I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night... I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely." Pause in life. Reflect on God's goodness and mercy. When you practice gratitude, you stop letting life rush past unnoticed. You start seeing what you used to take for granted: the person beside you, a sunrise, another morning. Ordinary things stop feeling quite so ordinary. The other night I was talking face-to-face with someone in Melbourne, Australia — thousands of miles away, no delay, like they're in the next room. We nowadays call that "normal." Show that to somebody 150 years ago, and they'd call it a miracle. We call it “Tuesday.” Maybe the world hasn't become less amazing. Maybe we've just become harder to amaze. Gratitude wakes us up. It says: "Look. Notice. Pay attention." But Wonder needs something else: HOPE. Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today. Psalm 62:5 says, “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him.” Another translation captures the thought: “My expectation is from Him.” Expectation means something is still possible. God is still working. God isn't finished. Mark 9:23: (Jesus)“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” And this is where gratitude and hope come together: WONDER IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GRATITUDE FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE MEETS EXPECTATION FOR WHAT GOD WILL DO. Gratitude looks backward and says, “God has been faithful.” Hope looks forward and says, “God isn't finished.” And Wonder stands right in the middle and says: “I can't wait to see what He does next.” Sometimes living with hope reminds me of using GPS. You put in the destination. It calculates the route. Everything looks good. …And then… you miss the turn. Imagine if your GPS responded like some of us respond to life: “THAT'S IT! YOU MISSED THE TURN! YOUR ENTIRE TRIP IS RUINED!” Thankfully, GPS doesn't do that. It simply says: “Recalculating.” Maybe somebody needs to hear this today: YOU HAVE MISTAKEN A RECALCULATION FOR A CANCELLATION. Something didn't happen the way you expected. A relationship changed. A door closed. A plan failed. Life took a turn you never expected, and you thought: “It's over.” But maybe God is saying: “No. We're recalculating.” Sometimes our hopes have to adjust to the changing highway. And what God has in mind may be better than the best route we could have calculated ourselves. You may not understand the road you're traveling right now. But that doesn't mean God has abandoned the destination. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 doesn't say everything that happens is good. It says that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. That's different. The event itself may not be good. But God can still work through it. God can redeem it. Teach through it. Redirect through it. Develop something inside us through it. The closed door becomes a redirection. The setback becomes preparation. The wound becomes wisdom. Sometimes… the mess becomes the message. So instead of only asking, “Why is this happening to me?” we begin asking: “God…what can You do with this? Where is the lesson? Where is the opportunity? Where is the gift?” That doesn't deny pain. It simply means pain doesn't get the final word. Psalm 62:8 says: “Trust only in God every moment! Tell him all your troubles and pour out your heart-longings to him… Pause in his presence.” Notice: it doesn't say pretend you don't have problems. Tell Him your troubles. It doesn't say figure everything out. It says trust. And then… pause. Maybe that's where we've lost some of our wonder? We don't pause anymore. We're moving. Scrolling. Planning. Worrying. Reacting. But wonder requires enough stillness to notice. Maybe the world isn't short on miracles. Maybe we're short on awareness. Maybe God hasn't stopped surprising us. Maybe we've stopped noticing. So today, can we take life exactly as it is right now? Not the life you wish you had. Not the life you thought you would have by now. This life. With its blessings and disappointments. Victories and unanswered questions. Open doors and closed doors. Joys and problems. Can we place all of it into the loving hands of our Savior and allow Him to replace fear with trust, anxiety with expectation, disappointment with hope, routine with gratitude—and certainty with something even more beautiful: WONDER? You don't have to understand everything God is doing to trust that God is doing something. You don't have to know the entire route to take the next step. And you don't have to have a problem-free life to have an abundant one. So tomorrow morning, when your eyes open—before you reach for the phone, before you start rehearsing your problems—pause for a moment. Breathe. Recognize: “I'm alive. God is here. This day has never happened before.” And instead of GROANING, “it's Monday again,” maybe we could say: “God…it's Monday. I wonder what You have for me today.” Maybe that's the final piece of the CODE: Not having everything figured out, but trusting the One who does. Living awake. Living grateful. Living hopeful. Living expectant. Living with our eyes open to the possibility that God may be doing something extraordinary right in the middle of what looks ordinary. And when the road changes, instead of immediately asking, "God, why is this happening to me?" maybe we learn to ask: "God...what are You doing with this? Where are You taking me? How will You turn my mess into Your message?" So before we leave this moment, let's do something with it - not just hear it. If you're running on empty, tired of white-knuckling your way through disappointment, do one simple thing right now: open your hands. Palms up, right where you're sitting. Let that be your prayer – even before you say a word: "I'm done gripping this so tightly. I'm placing it in Your hands." And if you're ready, pray this with me: "God, I don't have it all figured out, and I'm done pretending I do. I place my disappointments, my questions, my unfinished story into Your hands. I surrender to YOU as a branch. Replace my fear with trust, my routine with gratitude, my certainty with wonder. Starting today, I want to live awake to what You're doing. Amen." If you meant that, tell someone this week. Say it out loud: "I'm choosing to live in wonder." A decision spoken out loud is harder to walk away from. And then... we watch. We trust. We expect. And we live... IN WONDER. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Code VII : Wonder 生命密码7: 奇妙 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 08/16/2026 Description An account of the resource Psalm 62:5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;my hope comes from Him. 诗篇 62:5 我的心啊，你当默默无声，专等候神；我的盼望是从祂而来。 Psalm 62:8 Trust only in God every moment!Tell him all your troubles andpour out your heart longings to him;God is our refuge. 诗篇 62:8 你们要时时刻刻信任祂！在祂面前倾心吐意；神是我们的避难所。 Psalm 63:6 8 I lie awake thinking of you,meditating on you through the night.Because you are my helper,I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.I cling to you;your strong right handholds me securely. 诗篇 63:6 8 我一生一世在你面前敬拜，在你名下举手。我渴想你，如旱地渴想水。我在床上记念你，夜间思想你；因你是我的帮助，我要在你翅膀的荫下欢呼。我紧紧跟随你；你的右手扶持着我。 Ephesians 3:18 19 May have power, together withall the Lord’s holy people,to grasp how wide and long andhigh and deep is the love of Christ,and to know this love that surpassesknowledge—that you may be filledto the measure of all the fullnessof God. 以弗所书 3:18 19 并且能够以和众圣徒一同明白基督的爱是多么长阔高深，并且知道这爱是超过人所能测度的，便叫神一切所充满的，充满了你们。 Romans 8:28 And we know that in all thingsGod works for the good of thosewho love him, who have been calledaccording to his purpose. 罗马书 8:28 我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按祂旨意被召的人。 GRATITUDE LOOKS BACK. HOPE LOOKS FORWARD. WONDER EXPECTS GOD. 感恩回顾过去。盼望展望未来。惊奇期待神的作为。 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/e8106b76b56c275d541f20ea73511337.jpg 1f0469f996565e461a139c3c210b1b0a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2022 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Homecoming 2022