Into God's Word 2026

If you’re a fan of football (and I mean American football), you might realize that there is currently a coaching carousel happening. As of last Thursday, 25% of NFL teams were looking for head coaches. Now, there are many things that we could chalk this up to. For instance, in some cases, the teams just aren’t winning, while others cite “office politics.” My personal favorite is that the team needs a new direction. There are even people saying that Andy Reid’s time in Kansas City is done after this current season. We have all differing opinions on these types of things; that’s what makes us fans. But I hope you can see—regardless of your opinion—how crucial the leadership and direction of a head coach are to the team.

As we continue to turn the corner and launch out into 2026, we have our Week of Prayer in the rear-view mirror, now. I hope this week was effective for you as you sought God, and that you had the opportunity to pray with others in your family, in small groups, and in other gatherings. We continue to fire up the proverbial engines this week with a sermon related to the importance of God’s Word in our lives. We pray because our Master delighted in this. Prayer is our communication with our God. And, you could say the same things about His Word. Our Master delighted in the Scriptures. And His Word is His communication with us. A word we use in church life to describe this is “revelation,” as God is disclosing spiritual truth to us through His Word. Every word God has said proves true. And, we come to delight in it.

Still noodling on this “head coach” idea, we continue to move forward toward Jesus. This process is called discipleship. Jesus is our mentor, our Lord, the One we have our eyes fixed on. Discipleship is apprenticing under Him. We are His trainees in this world. He’s teaching and disclosing truth to us, and we are all moving to be more like Him. We follow Him.

And, as we are thinking about this idea, let’s read our launching off point today. Read Matthew 28:18-20 (This is God’s Word; thanks be to God). These were some of Jesus’s final words to His followers, and they called for them to live these things now. They aren’t to settle in; they are to go out. Like He made disciples, we go make disciples of all the nations. We baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So, the initial step in following Him means identifying with Him through the water of baptism. Notice how v.20 continues, though. We are teaching disciples to observe all that Jesus has commanded (and He’s with us in this work). 

How are you doing in observing all that Jesus has commanded? I know some of us have been taught a lot of tremendous Christian content (especially those of us who supplement what our local church does with podcast preachers or radio teachers). Notice that the goal isn’t to get more content, but to observe (obey or keep) it. What does it look like to be taught to observe all that Jesus has commanded? Don Carson put it succinctly and helpfully: “What the disciples teach is not mere dogma steeped in abstract theorizing but content to be obeyed.” Or we could put it this way: “The disciples were to call not for a superficial response but for total commitment to the new community (symbolized in baptism) and to a life governed by everything Jesus had commanded them.” So, if the norm for us as Christians is to make disciples, draw you into community, and teach them to obey all that Jesus commanded, then we are going to keep doing what we’ve been doing. Here’s the question again: how are you doing in observing all that Jesus has commanded? Today, I’m going to give you a sense of where we’re headed this year as we see 4 ways we intend to teach you to observe all that Jesus commanded in 2026…

We’re not giving up on the task that Jesus has given us. Therefore, please expect us to keep leading you to be disciples who follow Jesus. Today, we’ll see 4 ways we intend to teach you to observe all that Jesus commanded in 2026…

Seeing the importance of observing what we’re taught, let me first remind you that… I. Observing His commands leads toward maturity. (19; Colossians 1:28) 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

So, as I explained in the introduction, the call of the Great Commission is making disciples by roping people into community and teaching them to obey what Jesus has said. Obeying what He has said is incentivized with the promise that Jesus is with us forever. So, this isn’t some gutted-out obedience where we must get to work now (OR ELSE), but one where He is with us, working in us for His good. It’s all Him. And, as we walk more with Christ, applying what He has said in our lives, we are led to maturity.

Look at how this emerges in Colossians 1. Paul is explaining his role with these churches in Colossae and how God set him apart for a work. And, in v.28, Paul explains that it’s all Jesus for his ministry, too. He says, “Him we proclaim,” which is Paul making Jesus known to those around Him. And what this proclamation looks like is a warning to people, teaching them with all wisdom. Wisdom is the practicalities that go with a life direction centered in God. So, even Paul's warnings and teachings are clarified by what Jesus has commanded. And, what’s the aim? At the end of v.28 we see that we are seeking to present every person mature in Christ.

Connecting this together, then, we see that observing His commands leads to maturity. The reps we put together by keeping what Jesus has said form a direction for our life that leads to maturity. We want your engagement in church life to affect you and ultimately lead to your maturity. So, how do we get to maturity? Secondly, we see today that this progresses as…

II. Maturity flows out of ordered learning. (Luke 1:1-4)

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

I’m reminded of this because we often think God breathed out the Scriptures at random. But we know that God is orderly in what He does. Luke makes this plain as he unpacks the opening of the 2-volume works and Acts. Yes, Luke used his brain and writing ability to compile a narrative of all that was accomplished as Jesus came, lived, died, rose, and ascended to heaven. He took advantage of eyewitnesses and ministers who were teaching God’s Word by following the events closely. And this led him to formulate an orderly account for Theophilus (and others like him), so that we would have certainty concerning the things we have been taught.

Ordered learning gives us certainty. And consider that word “certainty.” In other places in the Scriptures, it speaks of being strengthened or established. This is the endgame for us. Yes, we want maturity, but maturity isn’t just a nice museum exhibit. We step into maturity so we can be more effective in the mission. And the mission will require certainty for us. We need to be established or strengthened for the work we’ve been invited into. In last week’s short wrap of our team’s reports, we saw the work Paul and Barnabas did in Acts 14 to strengthen and establish local churches. And this orderly account in Luke's book of Acts helps us have an ordered learning. We have a design for what we’re teaching you. We want each block to build so that you are led to maturity. This comes through ordered learning. Another way this unfolds, third, is that…

III. Ordered learning emerges from elementary principles. (Hebrews 5:11-14) 11 About this, we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

We’ll come back to these first or elementary principles repeatedly. We saw these principles last year in Colossians 2:6-8 and how impactful they are in helping us not drift into anything that would leave Christ. This Hebrews text comes at the center of the book. The author is concerned that readers (such as Jewish believers) will fall away from the faith amid the impending distress. He builds his argument to avoid falling away through a set of exhortations. He builds an argument from a series of expositions preceding each exhortation (warning), masterfully shaped by the entire Old Testament and centered on Christ.

In each exhortation, he embeds positive encouragements that create a pathway to press on to maturity. And, the point of these verses is something like, “I cannot explain the full significance of Melchizedek, Abraham, and Moses, and then the great priesthood of Christ, because you are still babes in Christ, and do not even understand the first principles of the oracles of God.”

They have stopped listening, and they are still babes in the "oracles of God" (a phrase often used of the Old Testament prophets). They cannot see clearly into the teaching they have received from the apostles. The call of this passage is to learn the first principles, then. Not like getting the data to pass a test, but to understand how these elementary principles inform life, leading us to become more skilled in living. Have you applied the basics or elementary principles of our faith to your mind and life? We’re building on these things in an ordered way so we can reach maturity. 

And lest we drift into too much “me and Jesus” thinking, IV. This process creates one mindtogether. (John 17:17-21)

17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Again, these are somewhat familiar words, but notice how specific Jesus is in zeroing in on the part we’d rather avoid. Jesus is praying that the word would do a work to change us together for mission. He’s going to do all that God has asked Him to do, and He is praying that as we step towards maturity, it will lead us to be one. The standard is the oneness that the Godhead exhibits. As we align around first principles and ordered learning toward maturity, we will be more aligned with one another. So, as we gather with others seeking to observe all that Jesus commanded, we will be united with those moving in that same direction, fostering unity and oneness. This is God’s will because this is actually what Jesus prays for His followers. 

In conclusion, today we’ve seen 4 ways we intend to teach you to observe all that Jesus commanded in 2026…

I. Observing His commands leads toward maturity. (19; Colossians 1:28)

II. Maturity flows out of ordered learning. (Luke 1:1-4)

III. Ordered learning emerges from elementary principles. (Hebrews 5:11-14)

IV. This process creates one mind together. (John 17:17-21)

As we wrap up today, this is where we’re headed in 2026. It’s an excellent time for those of you who might be newer to church or wondering what a relationship with God looks like, because this year we are going to work through the foundational building blocks in an orderly manner so that we can have unity in our journey toward maturity. Of course, there will be questions; we’re counting on it. And, this is a spiritual activity, too. But we’d love for you to embrace the new life found in Jesus. If you’re ready for that today, you turn from your sin and believe in Jesus. Look to Him. Center in Him. As much as you’re able, rest completely in Him. We’ll have some leaders up front here after the service if you need to talk to someone more or pray. 

And, Crestview, we’re pressing to observe all that Jesus commanded. We’re in this together. Do you desire to move toward maturity? Maybe you feel like you’re already there? Regardless, we need you. Would you give yourself up to this process so we can be a people who know Jesus and make Him known? Will you observe all that Jesus commanded, so that we glorify and enjoy Him forever?