In this message, Pastor Aaron continues the "We Dream" series by turning to Matthew 5:13–16, where Jesus tells a group of people the world had already written off that they are "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world." Through two unforgettable stories from Acts 16 — a successful businesswoman named Lydia and a hardened Philippian jailer — Aaron shows what it actually looks like to live in a way that makes people curious about Jesus, and to speak the truth clearly when they ask why.

In this episode:

• Why "being" has to come before "doing" — you can't live out an identity you don't believe is true
• The difference between "salty" living, which creates curiosity, and "bright" living, which creates clarity
• How to recognize the "Lydias" in your life — people already spiritually interested, just waiting to be engaged
• What Paul and Silas teach us about staying present with people who've hurt or imprisoned us
• Why a sent church chooses to be better before it chooses to be bigger

Reflection question: Is there someone in your life right now who's more like Lydia — already curious about God — or more like the jailer — hardened and far off? What would it look like to be "salty and bright" with them this week?

Ever notice how differently you talk to your boss than you do your best friend? Now multiply that by an entire city full of people who don't think, vote, or worship anything like you — and you've got the real challenge every Christian faces: how do we reach people who are nothing like us?

In this message, Pastor Aaron continues the "We Dream" series by turning to Matthew 5:13–16, where Jesus tells a group of people the world had already written off that they are "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world." Through two unforgettable stories from Acts 16 — a successful businesswoman named Lydia and a hardened Philippian jailer — Aaron shows what it actually looks like to live in a way that makes people curious about Jesus, and to speak the truth clearly when they ask why.

In this episode:

• Why "being" has to come before "doing" — you can't live out an identity you don't believe is true
• The difference between "salty" living, which creates curiosity, and "bright" living, which creates clarity
• How to recognize the "Lydias" in your life — people already spiritually interested, just waiting to be engaged
• What Paul and Silas teach us about staying present with people who've hurt or imprisoned us
• Why a sent church chooses to be better before it chooses to be bigger

Reflection question: Is there someone in your life right now who's more like Lydia — already curious about God — or more like the jailer — hardened and far off? What would it look like to be "salty and bright" with them this week?

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In this episode:

→ Jesus' definition of "neighbor" (from the Good Samaritan) and "enemy" — and why almost everyone qualifies for both

→ Why Jesus commands only two things toward our enemies: love them, and pray for them

→ How the gospel itself models this — we were once God's enemies, reconciled through Christ

→ 1 Corinthians 13 as a working definition of love: patient, kind, truthful, and unwilling to give up on people

→ The story of Nabeel Qureshi and David Wood, and how years of patient friendship led to a changed life

→ A story from the Civil Rights Movement on the power of praying for your enemies, not just against injustice

Reflection: Think of the person or group you find hardest to love right now. Do you want to see them won — or do you just want to win? What would it look like to pray for them this week, specifically, by name?

cfhome.org | instagram.com/cfhome | Engage God Daily is a ministry of CF Home

In Week 2 of We Dream, we continue exploring the vision of becoming a better church before a bigger church — a church where “casual fans become faithful followers of Christ.”

Looking at Paul’s words to Timothy, we’re reminded that becoming more like Christ requires intentionality. Paul tells Timothy to “train yourself to be godly,” because spiritual formation doesn’t happen accidentally.

Whether we realize it or not, we are already being shaped. Our friendships influence us. Our repeated habits form us. The books, podcasts, news, and stories we consume affect the way we see the world. And the cultures surrounding us establish patterns we can easily adopt without ever consciously choosing them.

So the real question isn’t whether we’re becoming someone.

It’s who or what is shaping the person we’re becoming.

In This Message

We explore four areas that are constantly shaping our lives:

1. The friendships we keep

Proverbs 13:20 reminds us that the people we walk with influence the direction of our lives. We naturally begin to become like the people around us.

2. The rhythms we repeat

Our habits are doing something in us. From our relationships and finances to prayer, rest, work, and worship, repeated rhythms eventually shape the people we become.

3. The stories we believe

The news we consume, podcasts we trust, books we read, online communities we participate in, and even the algorithms feeding us information are constantly reinforcing narratives about ourselves and the world. Those stories shape us.

4. The culture we live in

Family culture, workplace culture, school culture, church culture, and the broader culture around us all influence what feels normal and acceptable. Romans 12:2 challenges followers of Jesus not to simply conform to those patterns.

From Trying to Training

Paul’s answer is intentional spiritual training: “Train yourself to be godly.”

Faithful followers intentionally build their lives around practices that help them become more like Jesus:

• Engaging God individually
• Connecting in a group
• Worshipping in a gathering
• Impacting others personally

These aren’t simply religious activities to check off a list. They are practices modeled by Jesus and carried forward by His disciples and the early church.

Following Jesus isn't about trying harder for a moment. It’s about training ourselves, through the grace of God, to follow Him faithfully over a lifetime.

Questions to Consider

What are your current practices and rhythms helping you become?

Is authentic worship a regular rhythm in your life?

Are you growing within an intentional biblical community?

Are you serving and giving your life away?

Are you going beyond the walls of the church with gospel intentionality?

The goal is beautifully captured in the ancient picture of a disciple following his rabbi so closely that “the dust of your Rabbi is all over you.”

May we follow Jesus that closely — knowing Him well, doing what He tells us to do, and becoming more and more like Him.

Scripture Referenced

1 Timothy 1:3–7

1 Timothy 4:7–8

Matthew 28

Luke 6:40

1 Corinthians 9:25

Ephesians 6:4

Hebrews 5:14

Hebrews 12:11

Proverbs 13:20

Romans 12:2

Acts 2:42–47

Learn more and connect with Christ Fellowship:

cfhome.org

What does it actually mean to worship God?

In the first message of the We Dream series, Senior Pastor Aaron begins unpacking Christ Fellowship’s vision to become a better church before a bigger church—a church that is all about Jesus and fueled by authentic worship rather than empty religious routine.

Turning to Ezra 3, we see the people of Israel returning to Jerusalem after 70 years of exile. Surrounded by uncertainty, opposition, and the ruins of what once was, their first priority wasn’t rebuilding their homes or even rebuilding the temple. They rebuilt the altar. They gathered together, returned to God’s Word, and put worship back at the center.

That raises an important question for us: Where does worship fall in the priorities of our own lives?

Authentic worship is more than singing songs on Sunday. It is a wholehearted response to who God is and what He has done. It shapes why we serve, why we give, how we live, and ultimately who sits at the center of our lives.

In This Message

• Why Christ Fellowship is pursuing better before bigger
• What Israel’s return from exile teaches us about new beginnings
• Why rebuilding the altar came before rebuilding everything else
• What it means to worship God according to His Word
• Why authentic worship can be costly
• The difference between worship and simply participating in religious routines
• How empty religion can look spiritual while leaving the heart far from God
• Why worship is much bigger than music
• How to prepare your heart to worship before you ever walk into church
• What it looks like to make Jesus the center of your entire life

Key Scriptures

Ezra 3

Exodus 20

Matthew 22:37–39

Matthew 23

Matthew 28:8–9

Psalm 27

Matthew 6:33

A Question to Consider

Where is worship in the pecking order of your life?

It is possible to attend church, know the right words, serve, give, and participate in Christian routines while allowing our hearts to drift away from God. Jesus repeatedly challenged that kind of empty religion.

Instead, God invites us to come before Him with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.

What might change if you began every day—and every Sunday—not simply ready to do something for God, but prepared to meet with God?

As Pastor Aaron reminds us, our serving, giving, learning, work, and everyday lives can all become acts of worship when Jesus is at the center.

Learn more about Christ Fellowship and find ways to connect at cfhome.org.