What Our World Needs Now, Part 1: No Substitute // Andy Stanley
The Holy Spirit was given to us not so we could be more spiritual, but so we could become more mature.

The Holy Spirit was given to us not so we could be more spiritual, but so we could become more mature.
Despite Jesus predicting it multiple times, eyewitnesses were shocked to learn God had raised Jesus from the dead. And what God did for Jesus, he can do for you.
It’s easy to believe the greatest enemy of the church comes from outside the church. Unfortunately, the church’s greatest threat is right in the middle of it.
The message of the church is a message for the world.
Early Christians were bold, confident, and courageous. How we pray is an indicator if we’ve strayed from that.
Provide for the next generation what you wish the previous generation had provided for you.
When the church first began, a natural question surfaced right away: What shall we do? The answer had to do more with understanding who your faith was in more than what needed to be done.
Being part of a local gathering of Jesus followers means you are part of something big. It’s up to each generation to determine what Christianity looks like, sounds like, and reacts like.
We will be FOR Hamilton Mill by passing the baton to the next generation.
What it takes to shrink the gap between what we want to be known for and what we're actually known for.
If the only things that concern you are about you, there is work to do. Ultimately, we save ourselves from ourselves by choosing not to be all about ourselves.
If something about the world is broken and it breaks your heart, there’s an opportunity to be a part of fixing it.
During this time of year, we engage our imaginations as we embrace the magic of Christmas. Let’s also imagine what the world would be like if we fully embraced the way of Jesus—the way of love.
Jesus came to show us not only the way back to God, but the way back to others as well. As people who have been reconciled to God, we should pursue reconciliation with people whenever possible.
Have you ever felt like you've lost your way? Usually by the time we realize we’re lost, we’ve been lost for quite some time. And we instinctively ask, "What should I do?" Instead, there’s a different question to consider.
If you do not see God as a father, you will not see yourself as a son or daughter.
Being “lost” is not just for those who aren’t Christians.
When it comes to what we think God is like, and who he likes, we need a much bigger perspective. The way Jesus lived was meant to expand our view of God and his love for us.
Doubt doesn't have to be an off-ramp to faith. In fact, it's a natural part of the journey.
No matter if our current season of life is easy or difficult, we strive to fix our eyes on Jesus instead of our circumstances.
Our circumstances are not an indicator of God’s absence.
Your great work is to identify the distractions that keep you from the “problem” that you are uniquely positioned to solve.
Great work is often found on the other side of a terrifying longing. How could clarity regarding your “terrifying longing” reduce the allure of the distractions you’re most susceptible to?
So, what happens when we find ourselves on the other side of that decision, stuck in the shadows?
"What you do in the shadows doesn't stay in the shadows."
As we see in this interview with Hal Donaldson, sometimes difficult circumstances can inspire people to do something great.
Living in the upside-down kingdom Jesus described can perhaps seem risky and foolish. But the power and love of God is released when we embrace it.
We can be tempted by a lot of things we shouldn’t give in to. But when we give into the temptation of humility, the world changes for the better.
The cross is a reminder for us to stop chasing what can’t be caught.
It's not intuitive to choose to lose, but Jesus introduced an upside-down way of living.