Ask + Seek + Knock

Our Journey to Love | John Knoch"There's a simplicity to the Christian life… it's really love God and love people."John reminds us that the world deserves a more accurate picture of who the Father is, and that the revival we're praying for is gonna be a revival of LOVE.1. LOVING GODTend to your heart daily. When our hearts get "janky," we pull away from God, not the other way around. Watch the check-heart lights: we don't feel close to God, we carry pain or unforgiveness we haven't let the Holy Spirit heal, or we fill our lives with distractions. God's not boring! And understand the role of the Holy Spirit, our Helper, Comforter and Spirit of truth. "Do you come to me to get something, or to be with me?"2. LOVING ONE ANOTHER"The mark of a disciple isn't miracles… it's do you love one another." As you have been loved, so love. The difference between discernment and being critical is PRAYER. Choose to forgive, because we've been forgiven so much, and don't judge our differences.3. LOVING THOSE STILL ON THEIR JOURNEY TO KNOWING GODThe Shepherd leaves the 99 for the one. With a word from Janna on seeing people with God's eyes ("Stop it. I love them."). Represent God well wherever He's put you, and look for little opportunities to love: a big tip, an "I appreciate your smile."LIVE IT THIS WEEKEvery day, invite the Holy Spirit to tenderize your heart. Ask Him to show you anyone you've judged or become critical of, then pray blessing over them from a place of humility: "Lord, as you have shown mercy and grace to me in my areas of weakness and need, would you extend mercy and grace to them in theirs."Radiant has the opportunity to be radiant with His love.GO DEEPER: Mark 12:30–31 • John 13:34–35 • Proverbs 4:23 • Psalm 51:10 • John 16:7 • Romans 5:5 • 1 John 4:7–8 • Matthew 18:21–22 • Colossians 3:13 • Ephesians 4:32 • Matthew 7:1 • Luke 15:4–7 • 1 Timothy 2:4 • Matthew 25—Radiant Central Coast · 675 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach, CASundays · English 9:30am · Español 11:30amradiantcentralcoast.com · @radiantcentralcoast

What happens when desperate need meets the compassion and authority of Jesus?In Matthew 8:1–13, we encounter two extraordinary moments: a leper who approaches Jesus with the words, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean,” and a Roman centurion whose remarkable faith rests on one simple declaration: “Just say the word.”Through these encounters, Jesus reveals both His willingness to draw near to the broken and His absolute authority to make all things new.In this message, we explore:The compassion of Jesus — He doesn't turn away from the unclean or the outcast. He reaches out and touches them.The authority of Jesus — His word carries the power to heal, restore, and transform.The humility of genuine faith — The centurion recognizes that he isn't worthy, yet trusts completely in the authority of Christ.The invitation of the Kingdom — Jesus welcomes those who come to Him in faith, even those the world considers outsiders.The question isn't simply whether Jesus is able. It's whether we will come to Him with humble, surrendered faith.Scripture: Matthew 8:1–13Join us at Radiant Church as we seek God, are shaped by the Word and Way of Jesus, and are sent on mission.📍 Radiant Central Coast675 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach, CASunday Gatherings:English — 9:30 AMEspañol — 11:30 AM🌐 https://radiantcentralcoast.comALL EYES ON JESUS.#RadiantChurch #Matthew8 #JesusChrist #Faith #Sermon #AllEyesOnJesus

Watch Out! | Matthew 7:15–29Three warnings in quick succession, like road signs on a motorway: get through the narrow gate, watch out for those who lead you off the road, and don't assume tagging along gets you there.1. False Prophets: Look at Fruit (Matthew 7:15–20)Words are cheap. Look for fruit. We need the Spirit to make us a good tree and thus produce good fruit in us. Fleshly living means it is impossible for us to please God. We need a deep, thorough work of the Spirit so that we are not just dealing with "fruits" but getting to the root of the matter!2. Deeds of Power Are Not Enough: "I Never Knew You" (Matthew 7:21–23)Many want the power but want to name their own truth. There's always a temptation to be drawn to the spectacular and the miraculous at the expense of submitting to the truth of Christ's word and way of his kingdom. "But whoever loves God is known by God." (1 Corinthians 8:3)3. Hearing + Putting into Practice = Unshakable Life (Matthew 7:24–29)Words are not enough. Deeds are not enough. Hearing and practicing is the reality every kingdom disciple who has entered the narrow way is meant to live. This is not a call for striving in the flesh, performance-based religion, or works that earn God's favor. No! We receive the seed of kingdom life, we become a good tree by the sheer grace of God, and we live out of this new identity.Hearing · Heeding · Practicing · Obeying, in the power of the Spirit, in the context of community!Jesus is looking to build men and women who are like unmovable houses on the rock of his word, will and way!Scriptures: Matthew 7:15–29 • Matthew 12:33–37 • 1 Timothy 5:24–25 • Romans 8:6–8 • Galatians 5:16–25 • 1 Corinthians 8:3 • 2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 • Exodus 7:8–13 • Matthew 12:46–50 • Matthew 5:14–16 • James 1:22–25 • 1 John 3:1, 8–9Radiant Central Coast#WatchOut #Matthew7 #SermonOnTheMount #RadiantCentralCoast

The Narrow Way | Matthew 7:13–14"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it." —Matthew 7:13–14Scripture doesn't know how to end a sermon with a suggestion. When God is finished speaking, people are expected to respond. In Matthew 7, Jesus brings us to a fork in the road.1. The Kingdom Has a GateThe broad road is the natural direction of an unexamined life. The narrowness of the door is to protect you from living another second with the things that kill you. The shape of the door into the kingdom of God is the shape of Jesus. My pride won't fit through a door that's shaped like humility.2. The Kingdom Has a WayThe narrow way of following Jesus is not Him taking life from you. It's Jesus removing everything that is keeping you from life. So, is restriction a bad thing? Not when it's in the hands of a wise gardener.3. The Kingdom Is Found by SeekersWe can't determine the right direction by how crowded the path is. The good news of the gospel is there is a God who can be found, and He's a God who is actually seeking you. Love will not force itself. The handle is on your side."We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed." —2 Corinthians 4:8Scriptures: Matthew 7:13–14 • Proverbs 14:12 • John 3:17 • Psalm 25:8 • 2 Corinthians 4:8Radiant Central Coast #TheNarrowWay #Matthew7 #FollowJesus #RadiantCentralCoast

"My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." —Mark 11:17God birthed the Church in a prayer meeting. Preaching explains Heaven for earth. Praise explores Heaven from earth. Prayer exports Heaven to earth.Without the "constantly" of corporate prayer (Acts 1:14), the Church will not experience the "suddenly" of an open Heaven and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:2).In this message we walk through four practices of a House of Prayer:I. The Practice of Two or Three Agreeing in PrayerTwo or three believers praying in agreement is the key that unlocks the door to the kingdom of Heaven, and the most powerful force on earth. (Matthew 16:19; 18:18–20)II. The Practice of the Prayer of Faith to Move Mountains"Have faith in God… whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:22–24)III. The Practice of Praying for the Outpouring of the Holy SpiritWhen we boldly and persistently pray together, we move from having nothing to having as much as we need. (Luke 11:5–13; Acts 4:31; 8:15–17)IV. The Practice of Praying for the Greater ThingsA House of Prayer is a House of Healing! (John 14:12–14; Matthew 21:13–14; Acts 4–5)"If Jesus intended the kingdom to come without our prayers, He would never have commanded us to ask." —Watchman NeeScriptures: Mark 11:17, 22–24 • Acts 1:14; 2:2; 4:24–31; 5:14–16; 8:15–17 • Matthew 16:19; 18:18–20; 21:13–14 • Luke 11:5–13 • John 14:12–14Radiant Central Coast#HouseOfPrayer #Prayer #HolySpirit #RadiantCentralCoast

A tax collector. Despised by his own people. In bed with the enemy. Greedy.Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see who Jesus was. But when Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and called him by name: "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."We thought Zacchaeus was the one doing the seeking… No, JESUS was the SEEKER!This Together Sunday, we open with the image that went viral across social media. Grok was asked to "remove the fake gods" from a picture of 40 religious figures, and only one was left standing. Then we walk through Luke 19, where Jesus comes to the house of the most hated man in Jericho, and salvation comes with Him.It is NOT the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. NONE are too lost or too far gone.For the church: as the Father sent Jesus, so He sends US. We're sent to destroy the works of the devil, to give our lives away in sacrificial service, to share meals, lives and stories with those far from God, and to seek and save the lost. It is impossible to seek and save without proximity!Every heart with CHRIST in it is a MISSIONARY.Every heart without CHRIST is the mission field.📖 Scriptures: Luke 19:1–10 · Luke 5:30–32 · Acts 17:26–27 · Ezekiel 34:11, 16 · Luke 2:30 · 1 John 3:8 · Mark 10:45 · Luke 7:34 · John 17:18 · 1 John 2:6

What does it mean that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father? In this message, we explore the often-overlooked doctrine of Christ’s ascension—and how His reign shapes the way the church prays, lives, gathers, and perseveres.Drawing especially from Psalm 110:1 and the book of Hebrews, this sermon reflects on Jesus as our victorious King and High Priest: His sacrifice is complete, He intercedes for His people, and He is filling His church to participate in God’s kingdom purposes. Because we are united with Christ, we’re called to pray with confidence and live with practical, sacrificial obedience—holding fast to hope and encouraging one another toward love and good works.Scriptures referenced include: Hebrews 1 and 10; Psalm 110:1; 1 Corinthians 15:22–28; Ephesians 1:19–23 and 2:6–10; Matthew 6:9–10; and Revelation 12:11.Key reminder: Christ is seated, reigning, and ruling. In Him, we can persevere and join His work in the world.

Many people quote Jesus’ words, “Do not judge,” but few understand the depth of His heart behind them. In this message from Matthew 7, we explore how “do not judge” is not a shallow moral slogan, but an invitation into the very heart of Jesus—the friend of sinners who moves toward the broken, not away from them.Drawing from passages like Matthew 11, John 17, Isaiah 57, 1 John 2, and Romans 6, this teaching unpacks:How Jesus relates to people with “logs and splinters”—the morally failed, the spiritually weary, the ashamedWhy true maturity is not a life without failure, but knowing how to run to Jesus when we stumbleHow judgmentalism and indifference both contradict the gospel and fracture church unityWhat it means to see Jesus as gentle and lowly, a Savior who draws near when we sinThe danger of living with “plank eye” and calling it normal ChristianityTwo practical responses from Romans 6:This sermon is a call to let the revelation of God’s hearttransform how we see ourselves and others, so that instead of condemning or disengaging, we join Jesus in His redemptive movement toward people.Whether you feel judged, stuck in shame, or tempted to write others off, this message invites you back into the abundant life Jesus offers and into a church family marked by mercy, unity, and love.Scriptures referenced:Matthew 7, Matthew 11, John 4, John 7, John 17, Isaiah 57:15, Revelation 3:20, 1 John 2, 1 John 3, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 6, Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 6, Colossians 2, 2 Peter 1:19Key themes:Judgment, mercy, repentance, sanctification, church unity, spiritual formation, friend of sinners, gentle and lowly, brokenness, grace that truly changes us.

ASK • SEEK • KNOCK – Building a Life of Prayer on the Goodness of the FatherIn this message, Pastor Chad walks through Matthew 6–7, centering on Jesus’ invitation to “ask, seek, knock”(Matthew 7:7–12). Instead of treating prayer as a one‑off emergency tool, Chad calls us into a lifestyle of ongoing, relational prayer built on one foundation: God is a good Father.Drawing from Scripture and his own battle with anxiety and disappointment, Chad unpacks:Why a real prayer life must start with seeing God as a good, attentive FatherWhat it means to live in the present‑continuous of prayer: keep asking, keep seeking, keep knockingHow God uses delays and unanswered prayers to form us, not punish usThe progression of prayer:

ASK SEEK KNOCK – Contend for the Coast | Radiant ChurchWhat does it look like to build a life of prayer on the goodness of a Father who really listens, answers, and moves in power? In this message, Pastor Chad unpacks Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 7:7–12—“ask, seek, knock”—and connects it to Radiant’s regional call to “Contend for the Coast.”Drawing from Micah 4, Isaiah 2, Matthew 6–7, and his own journey through grief and anxiety, Chad calls the Central Coast to contend for a supernatural “uphill river” of hunger for God in one of the most indifferent, never‑churched regions in America.In this message:The vision behind Contend for the Coast and why Radiant is rallying regional prayerWhy a real prayer life must be built on God’s goodness as a FatherThe progression of prayer: Ask → Seek → KnockHow disappointment, cherished sin, unforgiveness, and unbelief can stall your prayer lifePractical ways to start (or restart) a life of prayer and contend for revival in your cityIf you’re weary, disappointed in prayer, or hungry to see God move on the Central Coast (and beyond), this message will call you back to persistent, hope-filled, relational prayer.Key Scriptures: Micah 4; Isaiah 2; Matthew 6:25–34; Matthew 7:1–12; 1 Timothy 2:1–6; 2 Peter 3:9; Psalm 66:18; Hebrews 3; Mark 9