Pastor Matt opens the Fully Engaged series by drawing a striking distinction between people who know the Bible and people who are actually growing in it. After more than twenty years in ministry, he has observed that it is entirely possible to believe all the right things about Jesus — to attend church faithfully, to know sound doctrine — and still never be fully surrendered to Him. To help the congregation honestly assess where they are, he walks them through a Spiritual Health Assessment organized around three words: head, heart, and hands. The big idea anchoring the entire series is this: God wants my mind renewed, my heart transformed, and my life deployed.

From there, Pastor Matt unpacks three foundational statements about the nature of faith. First, Christianity is rooted in reality — not blind leaping, but trust built on evidence. John wrote his Gospel so that people would believe, and he pointed to miracles, eyewitnesses, and the empty tomb to make his case. Second, faith is more than agreement. Drawing from James, Pastor Matt reminds the congregation that even demons believe the facts about Jesus and shudder — yet they refuse to surrender. Knowing about Jesus is not the same as belonging to Him. Third, faith demands a response. Just as Matthew left his tax booth and Peter left his nets, genuine faith always produces movement — from the inside out, from a renewed mind to a transformed heart to hands that serve, give, and live on mission.