The Last Kingdom, Part 3: Beyond Pledging Allegiance // Joel Thomas

Whatever picture we have of God isn’t enough.

When we see God for who he is, we’re able to trust him even deeper.

Jesus didn’t come to help us win at survival. He came to show us how to surrender so we could truly live.

All of us are tempted to take “good things” and worship them as the “ultimate things” that shape our purpose and identity.

God doesn’t size you up and write you off—and neither should you. In God's eyes, you're invited to move forward, not remain stuck in the past.

The resurrection isn’t just a story—it’s the event that launched a movement and changed everything. If Jesus really rose from the dead, his resurrection has real implications for your life, your faith, and your future. In this Easter message, we talk about this event, why we celebrate it, and why it is the anchor for everything we believe.

Before inviting Peter to follow him, Jesus asked Peter to “put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” After a night of fishing with no success and despite his reservations, Peter agreed: “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” At some point, every Jesus follower will face their own “because you say so” moment. Like Peter, we won’t know what hangs in the balance or our decision. It’s better to find out than miss out. Ready to engage in Deeper/Wider? We in invite you to make a commitment at DeeperWider.com/commit.

Biblical generosity is informed and fueled by the acknowledgment that God owns it all. We are simply managers. When we adopt that posture, we view everything we “own” as a potential tool to further the agenda of our King. We will give first and adjust our lifestyle accordingly. Christians who adopt this perspective as the organizing principle for their personal finances find it easier to surrender the other components of their life as well. As Jesus made clear, the number one competitor for our devotion to God is our devotion to more. More money and more things.

People all over the world claim to be Christian, based on a belief Jesus is the ultimate king. But at times, we can find ourselves living in defiance of the very king we swear allegiance to.

Just as the apostle Paul wrote to the Jesus followers in Ephesus, you were made for something more than yourself. You are God’s workmanship, and you’ve got something to offer God’s Kingdom.