Have you ever driven for miles with a bright amber warning light glaring at you from your dashboard? At first, your heart jumps—but when the car keeps running and the heater stays warm, it’s easy to tune it out, cover it up, or pretend everything is fine.

We do that with our cars, but the tragedy is that we often do the exact same thing with our souls. In this message from our series through the Gospel of Mark, "Follow the Leader," Pastor Charlie Grimes walks through Mark 6:45–56. Up to this point in the gospel story, "hardness of heart" was a term reserved strictly for religious critics and sworn enemies of Jesus.

But out on the stormy waters of Galilee, that holy dashboard light flashes directly at the Twelve Disciples.

Discover what happens when spiritual amnesia sets in, how comfort and routine can numb our awe, and why desperate faith can always reach out and touch the hem of His garment. In this message, you’ll discover:

Big Idea: "If we missed Jesus in yesterday's miracles, we will miss Him in today's hardships."

It’s easy to put people into boxes based on who they used to be—and when they outgrow our expectations, we often resist rather than adjust. But what happens when we do that with Jesus?In our culture, reminders of Jesus are everywhere—verses on coffee mugs, crosses on jewelry, and familiar childhood stories. Over time, casual familiarity can lead us to reduce Him to a safe, comfortable figure who fits neatly within our boundaries.In this message from our series through the Gospel of Mark, "Follow the Leader," Pastor Charlie walks through Mark 6:1–6, where Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth.

Instead of marveling at His divine authority, His childhood neighbors took offense (skandalizo) because all they could see was the local carpenter. Discover how assumption blocks awe, how unbelief limits our experience of God's power, and how we can trade religious routine for childlike wonder and full surrender.In this episode, you’ll discover:Why knowing about Jesus is not the same as actually following Him.How our assumptions and personal comfort zones can choke out genuine awe.The biblical connection between faith as a conduit and experiencing God’s power in everyday life.Why Jesus marveled at their unbelief—and why He moves toward hungry hearts rather than arguing with cynicism.How to recover a childlike wonder and stop limiting what God can do in your life.📖 Scripture Passage: Mark 6:1–6💬 Key Truth: "Faith is the conduit through which God’s power flows. God does not force His supernatural work on cynical, closed-off hearts."

Have you ever been caught in a storm so intense that every illusion of control was stripped away?

In this episode of the Follow the Leader series, Pastor Charlie Grimes dives into Mark 4:33–41, where Jesus transitions from teaching parables to the crowds into a private, dramatic demonstration of His divine authority with His closest disciples.

When a violent squall threatens to swamp their boat on the Sea of Galilee, experienced fishermen panic while Jesus rests peacefully in the stern. With just three words—"Peace! Be still"—Jesus silences the wind and the waves, moving His followers from a state of terror to a posture of holy awe.

Following Jesus doesn't exempt us from life’s storms, but it changes who is in the boat with us. Discover why you can surrender your fear, step out of the driver's seat, and anchor your trust in the One who has ultimate authority over every circumstance you face.

In This Episode:

• The Crowd vs. The Inner Circle: Why Jesus used parables for the public but revealed His power intimately to His disciples.

• Sovereign Calm: What Jesus’ rest during a furious squall teaches us about absolute trust in the Father.

• From Panic to Awe: How Jesus addresses our honest doubts ("Don't you care if we drown?") and challenges us to trade circumstance-driven fear for faith in His sovereignty.

Scripture Reference: Mark 4:33–41

Key Takeaway: If the Creator of the universe is in your boat, the storm cannot destroy you.

Many thanks to Meghan Miller and Sarah Hochstetler for leading worship this week, a portion of the song "The Lord Will Provide" (Passion) is enjoyed at the end of this episode!