Message by Blake Bradley
Main Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 2:1–2; Matthew 26:20–25; Matthew 7:21–23; Matthew 16:24–26; Acts 20:24
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Sermon Overview
In this message, Blake Bradley calls us back to the foundation of our faith—Jesus Christ and Him crucified. When we forget who He is, we drift toward self-reliance, pride, and performance. Jesus is not a side dish in our lives; He is the feast.
This teaching confronts our comfort and challenges us to examine whether Jesus is truly Lord in every area—our hearts, decisions, time, and desires. Blake reminds us that spiritual growth isn’t about chasing something new, but returning to the One who is everything.
Why This Study
This 5-day guide is designed to help you go deeper into the message by opening your Bible and meeting with Jesus through His Word. When you answer each question, don’t rely on surface thoughts—go to Scripture. Read it, listen for the Holy Spirit, and let the Word of God reveal truth and direction for your own life.
Each question is written to help you seek the Word as the source of truth and to consider how it applies to your personal walk and encounter with Jesus.
Day 1 – Knowing Jesus and Him Crucified
Big Idea:
The foundation of our faith is not what we know, but Who we know—Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Key Scriptures:
1 Corinthians 2: 1–2; Galatians 2: 20; John 3: 16
Quote from Blake:
“I was asking God for something more when Jesus is everything.”
Discussion Questions
New Christians
- Read 1 Corinthians 2: 1–2. What does it mean for Paul to “know nothing… except Jesus Christ and Him crucified”?
- How does understanding the cross help you begin a real relationship with Jesus, not just religion?
Mature Christians
- How has familiarity with the gospel ever caused you to treat it as “common”? Read Revelation 2: 4–5.
- In what ways is God calling you back to the simplicity and power of the cross?
Jr. & Sr. High Students
- Why do you think it’s tempting to chase new experiences instead of staying close to Jesus Himself?
- Read Philippians 3: 8–10. What does it mean to “know” Christ personally?
Families with Young Children
- Read John 3: 16 together. Why did Jesus die for us?
- How can we thank Him this week for His love through simple family actions or prayer?
Families with Teenagers
- How can the cross shape the way your family treats others or responds to challenges?
- What would it look like for your home to live like “Jesus is everything”?
Application Step:
Spend time thanking Jesus for His sacrifice. Write down or talk about what His cross personally means to you.
Family: Create a “Thank You Cross” by writing ways Jesus has shown His love on paper crosses or sticky notes.
Day 2 – Lord, Not Just Rabbi
Big Idea:
Jesus isn’t just a teacher to listen to—He is the Lord to obey.
Key Scriptures:
Matthew 26: 20–25; Luke 6: 46; John 13: 13–15
Quote from Blake:
“Judas said, ‘Is it I, Rabbi?’ The others said, ‘Is it I, Lord?’ Judas had already decided who was on the throne of his heart.”
Discussion Questions
New Christians
- Read Matthew 26: 20–25. What do you notice about Judas’ and the disciples’ responses to Jesus?
- Why does calling Jesus “Lord” require obedience and not just belief?
Mature Christians
- Where has Jesus been speaking, but you’ve been reasoning it away? Read Luke 6: 46–49.
- What throne in your heart still needs to be surrendered to His Lordship?
Jr. & Sr. High Students
- What’s the difference between saying “Jesus is Lord” and showing it through your choices?
- How can you make Him Lord in your school life, not just at church?
Families with Young Children
- Read John 13: 13–15. What did Jesus show His followers by washing their feet?
- How can we show that Jesus is Lord through kindness and serving each other this week?
Families with Teenagers
- Where does your family most need to put Jesus back at the center—time, priorities, or attitudes?
- What would change if you made decisions together by asking, “What does Jesus want?”
Application Step:
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you’re calling Jesus “Rabbi” instead of “Lord.” Obey one thing He’s been speaking.
Family: Pray together and choose one area as a family where you will follow Jesus’ leading this week.
Day 3 – More Than Words
Big Idea:
It’s possible to say the right words and live the wrong way. Jesus wants hearts that belong to Him.
Key Scriptures:
Matthew 7: 21–23; Isaiah 29: 13; James 1: 22–25
Quote from Blake:
“I can say the words, but be void of the truth here. We can do Christian things and not be submitted to the Lord.”
Discussion Questions
New Christians
- Read Matthew 7: 21–23. What does Jesus say matters most to Him?
- How can you start obeying God’s Word instead of just hearing it?
Mature Christians
- What areas of “Christian activity” have replaced real relationship with Jesus?
- Read James 1: 22–25. How can you live as a doer of the Word this week?
Jr. & Sr. High Students
- How does social media sometimes show hypocrisy among Christians? Read Isaiah 29: 13.
- What could help you live the same way privately as you do publicly?
Families with Young Children
- Why does Jesus care about what’s in our hearts, not just what we say?
- Read James 1: 22. How can we obey God’s Word as a family this week?
Families with Teenagers
- Talk about a time when your family’s actions spoke louder than words. How can that reflect Jesus better?
- What does authenticity in faith look like at home?
Application Step:
Invite God to search your heart (Psalm 139: 23–24). Confess any area of pretending or performance and ask Him to make your heart sincere.
Family: Have each person share one area where they want to grow in honesty and obedience to Jesus.
Day 4 – Deny Yourself, Take Up Your Cross
Big Idea:
Following Jesus means surrendering control and letting His will lead ours.
Key Scriptures:
Matthew 16: 24–26; Luke 22: 42; Galatians 2: 20
Quote from Blake:
“His yoke is easy and His burden light—but there’s still a yoke. It’s a life where my will submits to His.”
Discussion Questions
New Christians
- What does it mean to “deny yourself” and follow Jesus?
- How can you surrender one specific area of your life to Him this week?
Mature Christians
- Where are you resisting God’s direction because it feels uncomfortable?
- Read Luke 22: 42. How did Jesus model surrender, and what does that teach you about your own prayers?
Jr. & Sr. High Students
- What does it look like to “take up your cross” at school or with friends?
- How can you remind yourself that following Jesus is worth it even when it’s hard?
Families with Young Children
- Why did Jesus say we must “take up our cross”? (Read Matthew 16: 24–26 together.)
- How can we choose to obey God even when it’s not easy?
Families with Teenagers
- What areas of independence or opinion make it hard to submit to God’s will?
- How can your family encourage each other to obey God’s direction even when it costs something?
Application Step:
Lay down one area where you’ve been holding control. Pray together, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
Family: Write that area on a small piece of paper and pray over it, symbolically placing it at the feet of Jesus.
Day 5 – Living for One Thing
Big Idea:
Our lives have one true purpose—to know Jesus and make Him known.
Key Scriptures:
Acts 20: 24; Philippians 3: 7–14; Colossians 3: 1–4
Quote from Blake:
“My life’s value is in Him—not in my will, but in my surrendered will to the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, my Jesus.”
Discussion Questions
New Christians
- Read Acts 20: 24. What does Paul say about the value of his life?
- How can you begin to live with that same focus and purpose?
Mature Christians
- What competes with Jesus for your time, attention, or affection?
- Read Colossians 3: 1–4. How can you set your heart and mind on things above this week?
Jr. & Sr. High Students
- What are you living for right now—and how does it line up with following Jesus?
- How could you practically make Him your focus this week?
Families with Young Children
- Read Colossians 3: 2. What does it mean to “set our minds on things above”?
- How can we make choices that show Jesus is the most important in our home?
Families with Teenagers
- What would it look like for your family to live on mission together, not just individually?
- How can you help one another keep your eyes on Jesus in daily life?
Application Step:
Ask Jesus to renew your purpose—to live for Him above all else. Make time this week to share His love with someone who needs Him.
Family: As a family, choose one person or group you can bless or serve together this week in Jesus’ name.
Bonus Reflection – The Seat of Lordship
Scripture Focus:
Matthew 26: 22–25; Romans 12: 1–2; Revelation 3: 20
Reflection Thought:
Every day, something sits on the throne of our hearts. For Judas, it was control and self-will. For the other disciples, it was surrender. The difference between “Rabbi” and “Lord” is the difference between admiring Jesus and obeying Him.
Jesus stands at the door and knocks—not to visit as a guest, but to reign as Lord. When we let Him rule, every other part of our life begins to find its right order.
Questions for Reflection:
- What is currently sitting on the seat of lordship in your life—something or someone that shapes your decisions more than Jesus?
- When you read Romans 12: 1–2, what does offering your life as a living sacrifice look like in this season?
- What part of your walk with Jesus has become “common”? How can you restore the wonder and gratitude of your first love?
- How might your relationship with Jesus change if you truly lived as if He is everything?
Prayer:
Jesus, search my heart. Show me where I’ve settled for calling You “Rabbi” instead of living as if You are Lord. I lay down control, pride, and self-reliance. Be seated on the throne of my life again. May every thought, word, and action reflect that You are everything. Amen.
Personal Action Step – Individual
Find a quiet place this week and make a physical sign of surrender—kneel, lift your hands, or write out your own prayer of devotion to Lord Jesus.
Speak out loud: “Jesus, You are Lord of my life. Nothing else belongs on this throne but You.”
Personal Action Step – Families with Young Children
Gather your family around a table or in a prayer circle.
- Read Revelation 3: 20 together and talk about what it means for Jesus to be the King of your home.
- Give each child a paper crown and ask them to write or draw one thing they want to give to Jesus as King (a worry, toy, attitude, or action).
- End by placing the crowns in the center of the table and praying, “Jesus, we make You Lord of our hearts and home.”
This simple act helps children picture surrender and understand that Jesus deserves first place in their lives.
Personal Action Step – Families with Teenagers
Sit together as a family and read Romans 12: 1–2 aloud.
- Ask each person to write one area where they tend to lead themselves instead of letting Jesus lead.
- Share what you wrote, then pray for one another to make space for Jesus to be Lord in that area.
- End with this family declaration: “Jesus, You are everything. Be Lord of our choices, our words, and our future.”
Encourage your teens to keep that note somewhere visible—like on their mirror or inside their Bible—as a reminder that surrender isn’t weakness; it’s worship.
Final Encouragement:
Don’t rush through this guide. Each question is an opportunity to meet with Jesus through His Word. Let Scripture be a seed that is planted in good soil. The goal isn’t to finish—it’s to be transformed and produce fruit for the harvest.