Geoff Kirsten leads a church in Lisbon, and for nine years his community has been hearing stories about Genesis. On his first visit, he asks why God would gather a church like this one and what it's for. Many of us are holding more than we realize: years of Scripture, teaching, and faith that people in other places are desperate for. With great privilege comes great responsibility. Making disciples matters, but disciples of what? Jesus came to reconcile all things to himself (Colossians 1) and to tear down the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2), and he handed that work to the church. When his team moved to Lisbon, they asked whether it would be enough to simply love the people of the city. Their experience says it's more than enough. Our job isn't to sort people into us and them. It's to make the church a place where someone far from God walks in and feels like this is for them. And the blessing God has given us can't become the place we settle. In Deuteronomy 1, Israel is told they've stayed long enough at Horeb. It's time to move on.

Scripture & Themes Scripture: Colossians 1:18–24, Ephesians 2:14–16, Matthew 28:19–20, Deuteronomy 1:6–8

Themes: Reconciliation, love, the mandate of the church, discipleship, grace, welcoming the outsider, unity, saying yes to God, faithfulness, character, mission, not settling

About Genesis Costa Mesa We are a Jesus-centered community on mission, shaped by the table, worship, prayer, story, and mission. Together we seek to bring the gospel to the nations, raise up leaders, and plant new Jesus-communities, living as the church both locally and globally. We hold fast to Scripture, the presence of the Spirit, and the call to join God's work of renewal in the world. Learn more at: https://www.genesiscostamesa.com/

Week 7 at Genesis | Why Will Jesus Save Me?

The gospel isn't a one-time transaction that gets you into heaven and leaves you trying to be a good person for the rest of your life. In 2 Corinthians 6, God says, "I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me." Chris walks through three things that come with that promise. First, a new Father, who frees us from the absent, abusive, authoritative, or even amazing fathers we measure him against. Second, a new identity, where the little cords other people have tied around us get cut and our family history no longer gets the final word. Third, a new community. Paul says "we are the temple": many people, one place where God lives. Our faith was never meant to be lived alone. Chris closes with a simple practice for the coming weeks. Start each morning by praying, "My Father, who is good, who is great, who doesn't change, who keeps his promises."

Scripture & Themes Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:16–18, Matthew 12:46–50, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 2:4–5, Acts 2:42, Ephesians 1:5, Matthew 6:9–13

Themes: Grace, the gospel, God as Father, adoption, identity, sons and daughters, freedom from the past, a new bloodline, community, the church as God's temple, forgiveness, reconciliation, communion, prayer

About Genesis Costa Mesa We are a Jesus-centered community on mission, shaped by the table, worship, prayer, story, and mission. Together we seek to bring the gospel to the nations, raise up leaders, and plant new Jesus-communities, living as the church both locally and globally. We hold fast to Scripture, the presence of the Spirit, and the call to join God's work of renewal in the world. Learn more at: https://www.genesiscostamesa.com/

October 11 at Genesis | Why Would Jesus Save Me?

In Colossians 1, Paul writes to a small church we know almost nothing about and tells them the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world. It's the language of Genesis 1: be fruitful and multiply. So how does the gospel bear fruit in us? Picking up from last week, Kai walks through Luke 4, where Jesus reads Isaiah 61 in his hometown synagogue, rolls up the scroll, and tells everyone it's about him. He was anointed by the Spirit to bring good news to the poor, the prisoners, the blind, and the oppressed, and most of us fit somewhere on that list. In Acts 2 and Acts 5 we see what happens when people take that news seriously. A repentant people isn't a perfect people. They turn around. They wrestle with God and still choose him. They keep going when it costs them. The gospel bears fruit through a repentant people with an unrelenting devotion to Christ and his kingdom.

Scripture & Themes Scripture: Colossians 1:3–6, Luke 4:14–21, Isaiah 61:1–2, Matthew 4:17, Acts 2:36–41, Acts 5:41–42, James 1:2–4

Themes: The gospel, fruitfulness, repentance, the anointing of the Spirit, the kingdom of God, good news, grace, confession, wrestling with God, suffering and perseverance, the resurrection, devotion to Christ, mission

About Genesis Costa Mesa We are a Jesus-centered community on mission, shaped by the table, worship, prayer, story, and mission. Together we seek to bring the gospel to the nations, raise up leaders, and plant new Jesus-communities, living as the church both locally and globally. We hold fast to Scripture, the presence of the Spirit, and the call to join God's work of renewal in the world. Learn more at: https://www.genesiscostamesa.com/