Episode 3
In this episode of Beyond Sunday, the pastors reflect on Mother’s Day at Newbreak and the powerful reminder that holidays can carry both joy and pain. The conversation explores the relationship between faith and psychology, why discipleship cannot be replaced by self-help, and how God often works through wise, Christ-centered counseling and care. The team also introduces our new series through the book of Ephesians, unpacking the historical world of Ephesus, themes of identity and belonging, and some of the deeper questions surrounding predestination and free will. Along the way, they celebrate stories of life change happening across Newbreak and invite listeners to continue living out their faith beyond Sunday.
What do Mother's Day grief, a 2,000-year-old city, and the question of free will all have in common? This episode connects them all.
Share Your Story
One of the most consistent patterns in the book of Ephesians is that God's grace always produces a story worth telling. Before the foundation of the world, He chose you, redeemed you, and sealed you with His Spirit — not so you could keep it to yourself, but so your life would bring praise to His glory. Just as this episode reminds us that holidays can carry both joy and pain, your story doesn't have to be polished or pain-free to be powerful. You just need a willingness to share what God is doing in your life right now.
Take Your Next Step
Throughout Ephesians, Paul writes to people wrestling with identity, belonging, and what it means to truly follow Jesus in a culture pulling them in every direction — sound familiar? Real spiritual growth has never been about having it all together. It's about responding to what God is already showing you. Whether that's pursuing Christ-centered counseling, stepping into discipleship, or simply asking the harder questions about faith and psychology that this episode explores — don't wait. Respond to what God is prompting you to do.
Invite Someone & Get Connected
Paul wrote Ephesians to a church in one of the most spiritually complex cities in the ancient world — and yet his message was that every person, regardless of background, belongs to God's family through Jesus. That mission hasn't changed. When you invite someone to church, you're not just filling a seat — you're creating space for them to discover that they were chosen, loved, and included before they ever knew to ask. And when you stay connected, you grow alongside others instead of trying to navigate faith, identity, and belonging on your own.
About the Book of Ephesians Sermon Series
God has always had a plan. The book of Ephesians reveals the incredible story of God’s plan to bring salvation to all people through Jesus Christ and unite them into one family. In this 13-week series, we’ll discover what it means to live with purpose as people who have been chosen, redeemed, and called by God. Along the way, we’ll explore how the Holy Spirit transforms our everyday relationships—with family, friends, the Church, and the world around us. Ephesians is an invitation to step into God’s greater story and live the kind of life we were created for.
Wow! You all are amazing and fun loving examples of “real” people, moving through this world with purpose for God in our lives. I loved your conversation about predestination and our choices. Our choices tell us who we are!
Thanks for your words Tracy! Our hope is to have an authentic dialogue about who God is and what He is doing in scripture and our lives. Praying it continues to be a helpful encouragement to keep the conversation about faith going Beyond Sunday!