Palm Sunday always feels like a collision of joy and longing.

Crowds filled the streets, waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna!”—“Save us now!” They believed the King had finally come. And they were right… just not in the way they expected.

For generations, God’s people had chased after kings—leaders, warriors, voices they hoped would bring peace and security. And every single one left them wanting more. Sound familiar? We still do the same thing—looking to success, control, or people to give us what only Jesus can.

But on Palm Sunday, everything changes.

Jesus rides in—not on a war horse, but on a donkey. Not to take power, but to give His life. Not to defeat Rome, but to defeat sin, death, and everything that separates us from God. The King we’ve always needed has come—and He doesn’t leave us longing. He meets us with forgiveness, hope, and new life.

Here’s the invitation this week:
Ask yourself, “Where am I looking for something other than Jesus to satisfy me?” And then bring that to Him. Surrender it. Trust Him as your King—not just in words, but in your life.

Because He’s not just a King worth celebrating—He’s a King worth following.

And the story doesn’t end on Sunday…it leads to an empty tomb.

Join us this Easter Sunday at 10:30am at McAnally Middle School.
We’d love to celebrate the risen King with you.

Why did Judas betray Jesus? It’s a question that echoes through the Easter story—and one that reveals something about all of us. Judas walked with Jesus, witnessed miracles, and heard the truth firsthand. Yet when temptation came, he traded the Savior for thirty pieces of silver. He reached for bread that would never truly satisfy.

Earlier in John 6, Jesus fed more than 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish. The crowd experienced a miracle, yet many followed Him only because their physical hunger had been satisfied. Jesus confronted them, urging them not to work for food that spoils, but for food that leads to eternal life. He then made a bold declaration: “I am the bread of life.”

This is where the tension begins. Many who heard this teaching walked away. It was too hard, too challenging, too different from what they wanted. Yet Peter responded with faith: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Judas, however, stayed for the benefits—not the belief. His heart remained focused on temporary satisfaction rather than eternal fulfillment.

Both Judas and Peter eventually failed. Judas betrayed Jesus. Peter denied Him. But their responses to conviction were very different. Judas tried to fix his mistake alone and fell into despair. Peter ran back to Jesus and found forgiveness and restoration.

This contrast reminds us of a powerful truth: the bread of this world always disappoints. Success, possessions, and approval promise satisfaction but leave us empty. Only Jesus offers what our souls truly need.

At the Last Supper, Jesus made it clear. He broke bread and offered Himself as the new covenant—His body and blood given for forgiveness and eternal life.

The invitation still stands today. Stop chasing what spoils. Come to the table. Receive the Bread of Life.

In Matthew 13:18–23, Jesus pulls back the curtain on one of His most powerful parables. The seed—His Good News—is scattered freely, generously, without limitation. But here’s what determines whether that seed takes root and grows: the soil it lands in. And that soil? It’s us. It’s our response to His truth.

Jesus names two specific things that can crowd out God’s word in our lives: the worries of this life and the lure of wealth. I want to focus on the first one—because if we’re honest, worry is something most of us wrestle with every single day.

Worry Is a Choice—And a Thief
Notice what Jesus doesn’t say. He doesn’t say we’re choked out by pain, injustice, past failures, or life’s hardships. He says worry. That’s not what happens to us—that’s what we do. Worry is a mindset. It’s a habit. And it’s a choice.

In Matthew 6:25–34, Jesus is unambiguous: “Don’t worry.” Not “try not to,” not “worry less.” Don’t. Because worry is corrosive. It eats away at faith like a slow cancer, choking out the very truth God is trying to grow in us. When we choose to worry, we’re choosing to crowd God out.

Trust Is the Antidote
So what’s the antidote? It’s not willpower. It’s not positive thinking. It’s trust. God is for you. He cares for you. He is your protector and provider. Worry feeds fear and poisons the soul—but God’s truth brings hope, faith, and peace.

Today, let’s make a declaration: we refuse to let worry crowd out what God is growing in us. We choose to trust Him—with everything—so that His truth can bear real, lasting fruit in our lives.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
God, thank you for the truth of your word about worry. It is a destructive force that must be purged from our lives. Father, grant us the faith and courage to believe the truths from your word regarding battling worry. We refuse to let worry hold us captive and instead choose truth so that good fruit may be produced in our lives.
In the Mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

The Church Is Not a Museum for the Holy
It’s a Hospital for the Broken

“I don’t go to church because it’s full of hypocrites.”
That’s kind of like saying, “I don’t go to the gym because it’s full of people who aren’t in shape.”
The truth is, the church was never meant to be a place where people show off how holy they are. It’s a place where broken people come to experience the grace of God — learning to walk with Jesus one step at a time. We don’t gather because we have it all together. We gather because we know we need Him.
Jesus said it this way:
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark 2:17

When you look around a church, every person in that room is carrying something. Some are dealing with doubt. Others are carrying regret. Some are fighting for their marriage. Some are battling quiet addictions or wounds they’ve never told anyone about.
The church doesn’t gather the perfect. It gathers people who are honest about their need for God.
Scripture reminds us:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23

Yes, hypocrisy can exist in the church — because people are there. But don’t let someone else’s imperfections keep you from experiencing the grace that God wants to give you.
You don’t have to clean yourself up before you come.
Come as you are.
You’ll fit right in.

The final stretch is often the hardest.
Just ask Lawrence Cherono, the Kenyan marathon runner who, at mile 25.8 of his first marathon victory in 2019, felt his muscles begin to lock up. With only 0.4 miles left, another runner pulled alongside him. Victory—or defeat—hung in the balance.
Cherono later said he refused to let the moment slip away. He didn’t want to look back with regret, wishing he had given more. So he reached deeper than he thought possible and won the race by just two seconds.
Sometimes the greatest resistance comes when we are closest to breakthrough.
That’s exactly what we see in the book of Nehemiah. As the wall of Jerusalem neared completion, opposition intensified. The attacks didn’t come strongest at the beginning—but at the end.
Nehemiah’s response in Nehemiah 6:3 captures the heart of mission-focused living:
“I am carrying out a great project and I cannot come down.”
He understood the difference between good opportunities and a God-given assignment. And he refused to come down.
Here are three distractions he overcame—and we must too.
1. Seemingly Reasonable Invitations
Sanballat and his allies repeatedly invited Nehemiah to meet with them in the plain of Ono. On the surface, it sounded harmless—“Let’s talk.” In reality, it was a trap designed to pull him away from the work.
Four times they asked. Four times he said no.
Not every opportunity is from God. Busyness does not equal fruitfulness. Sometimes staying focused means saying no—even to things that sound reasonable—so we can say yes to what God has clearly assigned.
2. False Accusations
When invitations failed, Nehemiah’s enemies escalated to slander. They publicly accused him of rebellion and selfish ambition, hoping fear and division would weaken the people.
Nehemiah gave a simple denial and then prayed, “Now, O God, strengthen my hands” (Nehemiah 6:9).
He didn’t waste energy defending himself endlessly. He entrusted his reputation to God and stayed on mission.
Slander and criticism can easily derail us if we allow them to consume our focus. Unity and obedience matter more than winning every argument.
3. False Spiritual Counsel
The final distraction was the most subtle. A man claiming to speak for God urged Nehemiah to hide in the temple for safety. It sounded spiritual. It sounded protective.
But it would have caused him to sin and abandon his post.
Nehemiah knew God’s Word well enough to recognize deception. Not every spiritual-sounding voice is from the Lord. If it contradicts Scripture, produces fear, or leads to compromise, it is not from Him.
Discernment comes from knowing God’s Word.
Nehemiah stayed the course—and the wall was completed in fifty-two days.
The question for us is simple: What has God called you to in this season? And what distractions are trying to pull you away?
When opposition rises, when criticism stings, when other opportunities appear—remember your assignment.
Like Nehemiah, declare:
“I am carrying out a great project and I cannot come down.”
Stay focused. Stay faithful. The God who called you will give you strength to finish.

There are moments in your faith journey that become defining markers — moments you look back on and remember, God met me there.
Baptism is one of those moments.
Not because it saves you.
Not because it makes you more spiritual.
But because it is a step of obedience — a visible response to an invisible work God has already done in your heart.
At Frontier Church, we believe baptism is an outward expression of an inward connection you have made with Jesus Christ. It is the public declaration that your life now belongs to Him.
What Happens Before Baptism?
Before anyone steps into the water, something far more important has already taken place.
A person recognizes their need for Jesus.
They place their faith in Him as Savior and Lord.
They surrender their life to His leadership.
Scripture says:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, and see, the new has come.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB)
Salvation is the inward miracle. Baptism is the outward celebration.
The Picture of Romans 6
Romans 6:4 shows us why baptism is so powerful:
“Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.”
— Romans 6:4 (CSB)
Going under the water represents being buried with Christ — the old life, the old sin, the old identity.
Coming up out of the water represents resurrection — new life, new direction, and new identity in Him.
You don’t go under the same and come up the same. You walk in the newness of life.
Baptism allows us to physically display what Jesus has already done spiritually.
Following the Example of Jesus (Matthew 3:13–17)
When Jesus was baptized, He was fully submerged in the Jordan River. As He came up out of the water, the heavens opened, the Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father declared His pleasure in the Son.
Jesus didn’t need repentance or forgiveness — He was sinless.
Yet He chose baptism to identify with us and to model obedience.
If Jesus stepped into the water in obedience, how much more should we?
Why Baptism Matters
Baptism declares:
I belong to Jesus.
I am not ashamed of the gospel.
I am choosing to follow Him with my life.
It is your first public step of obedience as a believer — not the last step and not an optional one, but the next step.
Following Jesus was never meant to be private. Baptism is a way of saying, I’m all in.
A Word to the Frontier Church Family
If you have trusted Christ but have not yet followed Him in believer’s baptism, let me lovingly ask:
What are you waiting for?
You don’t have to be perfect.
You don’t need all the answers.
You don’t have to have everything figured out.
You simply need to say yes.
At Frontier Church, we celebrate baptism because we celebrate changed lives. Every time someone goes under the water, we see the gospel on display — buried with Christ, raised to walk in newness of life.
You may not hear an audible voice from heaven, but make no mistake — your Father is pleased with your obedience.
Trust Christ.
Follow Him.
Walk in newness of life.
Ready to Take Your Next Step?
If you’re ready to talk about baptism, we would love to walk with you. Talk with a pastor after service or fill out a Next Steps form, and let’s take this step together.
I would be honored to stand in the water with you.

When You Start Building, Expect the Battle
There’s something exciting about new beginnings. A fresh step of obedience. A new calling. A decision to build something meaningful. But if Nehemiah teaches us anything, it’s this: the moment you start building, resistance shows up.
When Nehemiah began rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall, the people were united, hopeful, and ready to work. But almost immediately, mockery came. Critics questioned their ability, their faith, and their chances of success. And honestly, that still happens today. When you step out in faith—serve, lead, forgive, rebuild, or grow—there will always be voices that doubt what God is doing in you.
Nehemiah didn’t waste energy arguing. He prayed. Then he got back to work.
That’s such a Frontier reminder for us. We don’t fight battles with noise or defensiveness. We bring our burdens to God, trust Him with our reputation, and keep building what He’s asked us to build.
When the opposition escalated, Nehemiah adjusted the strategy. The people prayed and posted guards. They worked wisely, stayed alert, and kept going. Faith wasn’t passive—it was prayer paired with action.
But the hardest battle wasn’t outside the wall; it was discouragement inside the builders. They were tired. The rubble felt overwhelming. Fear began to spread. And Nehemiah’s response was simple: Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome.
That’s the invitation for us, too. When you feel weary or overwhelmed, don’t stare at the rubble—remember God’s faithfulness. Remember what He has already carried you through.
At Frontier, we believe God is always building something—inside us and through us. And if you’re facing resistance right now, that doesn’t mean you’re off track. It might mean you’re exactly where God wants you.
So keep praying. Keep building. Keep showing up.
The wall isn’t finished yet. And neither is your story.

Reflections from I Love My Church Sunday

This Sunday was special.

Not because the room was full. Not because the energy was high. But because we were reminded why this church matters in the first place.

Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” Not a way. Not one option among many. The way home to God.

On I Love My Church Sunday, we didn’t celebrate a building. We celebrated a Savior.

I shared how, for years, I believed a quiet lie about God—that I had to earn His love. That if I worked hard enough, served enough, did enough… maybe I’d finally measure up. But Romans 5:8 shattered that for me: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That truth changed everything.

This is why I love our church. Because here, we don’t preach performance—we preach grace. We don’t offer self-improvement—we offer a Savior. We don’t point people to religion—we point them to Jesus.

And I watched it happen again Sunday. People leaning in. Hearts softening. Truth replacing lies.

We love this church because it keeps lifting up Jesus—the Way when you’re lost, the Truth when you’re confused, the Life when you feel empty.

And if He really is the way home… then this church is worth sharing.

—Pastor Travis

Nehemiah 3 might win the award for "Most Boring Chapter in the Bible" at first glance. Seriously—it's just names, gates, and construction zones. But hidden in this ancient project list is a truth that'll change your Monday morning: everyone has a place, and no one sits on the sidelines.

Here's what jumped out at me: goldsmiths were hauling stones. Perfume-makers were mixing mortar. Even the high priest—who could've totally pulled rank and stayed clean—grabbed a hammer and got dirty. And get this: people built the section of wall right in front of their own house.

Think about it. If enemies attack, it's your family at risk. You see that wall every single day, so you make it strong. Your neighbors are watching your work ethic. You can't phone it in when it's literally in your own backyard.

Here's the question that messed me up this week: What's your section?

Maybe it's the lonely neighbor three doors down. Maybe it's showing up consistently for kids ministry (yes, even when you're tired). Maybe it's finally starting that small group or just praying for your coworkers instead of complaining about them.

The British won WWII partly because millions of people planted "Victory Gardens" in their own yards. They didn't wait for someone else to feed the nation—they dug up their flowerbeds and planted potatoes. Why? Because it was THEIRS.

Here's the deal: God doesn't need your résumé. He needs your commitment. You don't have to be qualified—just willing.

So this week, stop waiting to feel "ready" and just build your section. The wall needs it. Your neighbors need it. And honestly? You need it too.

What's in front of your house?

The Night I Almost Launched Too Early : Week 3 Nehemiah Blog Post

When I first sensed God calling me to plant Frontier Church, I was ready. I had the vision, the passion, the urgency. I wanted to gather a launch team immediately, start services within months,
and hit the ground running.

But God kept whispering: Wait. Look. Listen.

I'll be honest—waiting felt like disobedience. Shouldn't faith move quickly? Doesn't urgency equal obedience?

During this time, I was studying Acts and the book of Nehemiah. When I got to Nehemiah 2, and everything shifted.

The Leader Who Took His Time

Nehemiah had every reason to rush. He'd just traveled 800 miles. He had the king's blessing, resources, and protection. The people were desperate for leadership. But when he arrived in Jerusalem, he did something unexpected: he waited three days, then inspected the damage secretly at night.

No press conference. No rallying speech. Just quiet observation.

Why? Because wise leaders assess the situation before mobilizing the people.

Nehemiah rode through the rubble-filled streets examining every broken gate, every collapsed wall. The damage was worse than he imagined—so bad his donkey couldn't even get through the
debris at Jackal Well. And he did this privately, without fanfare, before telling anyone his plan.

Facing What's Broken

Here's what hit me: You can't fix what you won't face.

Before I could cast vision for Frontier Church, I needed to honestly assess the spiritual landscape of our community. I needed to understand Walsh Ranch, Morningstar, West Fort Worth and
Parker County as a whole—not just demographically, but spiritually. What were people's real needs? Their real objections to church? Their actual questions about God?

I also had to inspect my own life. What "walls" were broken in me? Where was I trying to build from a place of ego rather than calling? What weaknesses needed shoring up before I could lead
others?

A doctor can't treat what he won't diagnose. Neither can a leader.

The Power of Patient Preparation

After his inspection, Nehemiah finally went public. And when he did, his vision was clear, compelling, and complete. He said: "You see the trouble we're in. Come, let us rebuild the wall
of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace."

• Honest about the problem
• Clear about the solution
• Focused on the why (identity and dignity)
• Backed by testimony of God's faithfulness
  

The people's response? "Let us start rebuilding!" Immediate buy-in. Why? Because the vision was rooted in reality, not fantasy.

That's what happens when you inspect before you build.

Critics Don't Get a Vote

Of course, the mockers showed up immediately. Sanballat, Tobiah, and now a new guy—Geshem—ridiculed the work before it even started.

Nehemiah's response? "The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding. But as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem."

Translation: You don't get a vote. We're building anyway.

For Frontier Church, this has been crucial. Not everyone celebrates what God's doing. Some think we're too small, too ambitious, too new. But our calling doesn't require their approval—it requires God's.

So Here's My Challenge

What needs inspecting in your life right now? What broken walls are you avoiding? What damage needs an honest assessment before you can rebuild?

Maybe it's a relationship. Maybe it's your finances. Maybe it's your faith itself.

Don't rush. Pause. Assess. Face reality. Then build.

Because the God of heaven will give us success—not because we're fast, but because we're faithful.

Let's go.
Pastor Travis

Discussion Questions

1. Where are you most tempted to rush instead of assess? What would "inspecting the damage" look like in that area of your life?
2. What broken "walls" have you been avoiding? What would it take for you to honestly
face that reality this week?
3. Nehemiah's vision included four elements: identifying the problem, casting the vision, explaining the why, and sharing God's faithfulness. Which of these is hardest for you when trying to mobilize others?
4. Who are the "critics" in your life? How can you respond like
Nehemiah—acknowledging them without giving them a vote?
5. What's one area where God might be asking you to wait, observe, and prepare before taking action? How will you practice patient obedience this week?

Blessings,

Dr. Travis Young

When Fear Meets Faith: Lessons from Nehemiah's Boldest Moment

This weekend we continued our "Rebuilding the Walls" series, and honestly, I'm still thinking about Nehemiah standing before King Artaxerxes with everything on the line.

Picture it: Four months of prayer. One dangerous moment. A question that could change everything—or cost him his life.

The king notices Nehemiah's sadness and asks why. In Persian court culture, this was a massive violation of protocol. Cupbearers were supposed to be cheerful, entertaining—the life of the party. Showing sadness implied the king couldn't make you happy, which was basically an insult to royal authority.

Nehemiah's response? "I was very much afraid."

I love the honesty there. No fake bravado. Just raw acknowledgment: This is terrifying.

But here's what gets me—fear didn't stop him from being faithful.

When the king asks, "What do you want?" Nehemiah shoots up what I call an "arrow prayer"—one of those quick, desperate, "God-help-me-NOW" prayers. Then he makes his request. And it's not small. He asks for permission to leave, resources from the king's own forest, letters of safe passage, and a specific timeline.
He asks BIG because he serves a BIG God.

The result? The king grants everything. Why? Nehemiah says it himself: "Because the gracious hand of my God was on me."

But notice—God's provision didn't eliminate opposition. The moment Nehemiah starts moving toward Jerusalem, enemies emerge. Sanballat and Tobiah are "very much disturbed" that someone would dare help God's people.

Here's what I'm learning: When you step into what God's calling you to do, expect resistance. Opposition isn't a sign you're on the wrong path—it's often confirmation you're on the right one.

For our Frontier Church family, this hits home. We're watching God open doors in our community. We've got a summer intern, Connor, who's already 40% funded after one week of asking. We're planning student ministry, VBS, basketball camps. We're seeing new faces every Sunday.

But growth brings challenges. Not everyone will celebrate. Some will criticize. Resources will stretch. The enemy will resist.

So what do we do?

We follow Nehemiah's pattern: Pray long. Step boldly. Ask big. Plan well. Move forward anyway.

This week, I'm challenging myself (and our church) with one specific, bold prayer request for 2026. Not vague. Not safe. Something that requires God to show up.

What's yours? What door is God opening that terrifies you but also excites you? What would you ask for if you knew God was listening and able?

Write it down. Pray it daily. Then plan accordingly—because faith without works is dead, and prayers without plans often remain just wishes.

Nehemiah was afraid AND faithful. That's the combination that changes everything.

Let's go,

Pastor Travis

P.S. - If you're looking for a place to take your next faith step, we'd love to have you at Frontier Church. We meet Sundays at 10:30am in Aledo. Come ready to see what God's building.
 

Blessings,

Dr. Travis Young

Commit Your Way to God’s Way

The start of a new year always feels full of possibility. Fresh calendars. New goals. Renewed hope. But as we begin this year together at Frontier Church, the deeper question isn’t what are we planning—it’s who are we seeking.

Proverbs 16:9 reminds us,
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

Planning isn’t wrong. In fact, Scripture assumes that we will plan. The danger comes when our plans are shaped by our own confidence rather than surrendered dependence on God. As we reflected on this past Sunday, God is not just interested in our goals—He’s deeply concerned with the motives of our hearts behind them.

That’s why, before rushing headlong into another busy year, we are pausing as a church family to seek the Lord through 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting.

These next three weeks are not about earning God’s favor or checking a spiritual box. They are about alignment. About rolling our plans, our work, our hopes, and even our uncertainties onto the Lord and saying, “If You don’t establish this, we don’t want it.”

Proverbs 16:3 says,
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

To “commit” means to surrender—not to ask God to bless what we’ve already decided, but to invite Him to shape what we decide in the first place. Sometimes that means God confirms our direction. Other times, He lovingly redirects us. Either way, surrender leads us into peace, because our confidence rests not in our strategy but in His sovereignty.

As a church plant, we’ve seen this firsthand. We’ve made plans, worked hard, and prayed bold prayers. Yet God has often slowed us down—not to frustrate us, but to form us. What feels like delay to us is often preparation in God’s hands.

That’s why I’m inviting every person connected to Frontier Church to walk with us through these 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Follow along with the prayer guide. Set aside daily time to seek the Lord. Pray big, God-sized prayers—but pray them with open hands.

James 4:15 captures the posture we want in 2026:
“If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

Our desire is simple: plans that are God-formed, not self-formed. Steps that are established by Him. And hearts that are fully surrendered to His will—for His glory and our joy.

Let’s seek the Lord together. The best way forward is always God’s way.


Blessings,

Dr. Travis Young

Beginning the Year on Our Knees:

Why 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting Matter

The start of a new year often fills us with plans, goals, and resolutions. We think about where we want to go, what we want to build, and how we hope things will turn out. Scripture reminds us, however, that while “the plans of the heart belong to man,” it is the Lord who establishes our steps (Proverbs 16:1, 9).

That’s why, as a church family, we are setting aside the first part of this year for 21 Days of Prayer & Dependence. Before we rush ahead, we want to pause. Before we plan, we want to pray. Before we act, we want to listen.

Why Prayer at the Start of the Year?

Prayer reorients our hearts. It reminds us that wisdom does not come from experience alone, strategy alone, or effort alone—it comes from God. James tells us that our lives are “a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14). That truth isn’t meant to discourage us, but to humble us and draw us closer to the One who holds every tomorrow.

As a young church plant, this posture matters even more. We want Frontier Church to be built not on human ambition, but on divine guidance. Proverbs 16 repeatedly presses this truth home: commit your work to the Lord, trust Him, and He will act (Proverbs 16:3; Psalm 37:5).

What These 21 Days Are About

These 21 days are designed to help us seek God personally and corporately. Each day invites us to pray with intention—giving thanks for what God has already done, asking for heavenly wisdom for what lies ahead, and seeking supernatural favor for the mission He has entrusted to us.

Together, we are praying for:

• Wisdom and direction for our leaders and church family
• Evangelistic zeal, that we would boldly and lovingly share the gospel
• Unity and peace within our church
• Small groups and community to form, grow, and multiply
• Service and impact in our city
• God’s provision and favor as we advance into new frontiers.

This is not about checking a box or following a routine. It’s about aligning our hearts with God’s heart and declaring together: “Lord, establish our steps.”

Fasting: A Physical Expression of Dependence

We will conclude these 21 days with a church-wide fast,
encouraging our church family to fast from Saturday, January 24, 2026 at noon through Sunday, January 25, 2026 at noon.
Fasting is a way of saying with our bodies what we are praying with our hearts—that we hunger for God more than anything else.

We will then break the fast together through Communion on Sunday, January 25 at noon, remembering that Christ Himself is our sustenance, our strength, and our hope.

An Invitation to the Journey

Whether you’ve walked with Christ for many years or you’re just beginning to explore faith, this journey is for you. You don’t need perfect words or long prayers—just a willing heart.

We invite you to join us:

• Personally, by praying daily and seeking the Lord
• Corporately, by standing with your church family in unity and faith

As we commit our ways to the Lord, we believe He will act. We believe He will guide us. And we believe He will do more than we could ever plan on our own.

Let’s begin this year together—on our knees, trusting God to lead us forward.

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” — Psalm 37:5 (ESV)


Blessings,

Dr. Travis Young

Holy Night : The Chosen  Series - Week 4

He Came; We Go: A Love That Moves

A reflection from Pastor Travis Young

There's a moment in parenting that every dad knows—that split second when your child takes off running and you realize you'd better move fast if you're going to keep up. A few years ago, I watched one of my kids bolt across our driveway toward the street, and without thinking, my feet were already moving. That's what love does. It doesn't sit still. It runs.
That image came back to me this Advent as I've been preparing to preach on Luke 2—the shepherds' story. The text tells us that after encountering the Christ child, "they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child" (Luke 2:17). These rough-around-the-edges shepherds became the world's first evangelists, rushing from the manger straight into the streets of Bethlehem. One minute they're at Jesus' feet. The next minute they're on their feet—for Jesus.

He came; they went.

That four-word pattern has been wrecking me in the best way. It's not just the shepherds' story—it's the whole arc of Scripture. John the Baptist goes. The Magi go and spread the news. Jesus sends the Twelve, then the Seventy-Two. The Risen Christ commands, "Go." Luke writes his Gospel and then writes Acts to show us the same thing: the Church scattering like seeds across Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.

He came; we go.

Going to the Ones Nearest Us

Here in Aledo and West Fort Worth, "going" starts simple. It starts with the name God keeps bringing to your mind—the neighbor whose face you see when you pull into the driveway, the coworker two desks down, the parent on the sidelines of your kid's soccer game.
For me, it's neighbors to my left and to my south —two neighbors I keep thinking about. I don't have a grand strategy. I just know that before Christmas, our family is going to take them some honey butter (because who doesn't love honey butter?) and invite them to our Christmas Eve service at our home.

That's it. That's the plan. Pray. Bless. Invite. It's not complicated, but it does require that I actually move.

We've been doing this as a church too—showing up at local community events, hosting Christmas Tyme, connecting in Morningstar, running Upward Sports. These aren't just programs; they're rhythms of love that put us shoulder-to-shoulder with our neighbors. And when you're standing next to someone at a basketball game or a neighborhood gathering, the gospel conversation doesn't feel forced—it feels natural.

Going to the Ends of the Earth

But the "go" doesn't stop at our zip code. The angel told the shepherds this was "good news of great joy that will be for all the people" (Luke 2:10). All. Not just the folks in Parker County. Not just Texas. All.

That's why I'm so grateful for leaders like Mike, who's planning mission trips and helping us think globally. That's why we support partners who are planting churches, serving the vulnerable, and making disciples in places we'll never see on a weekend road trip.
Some of us will pray. Some will give. Some will go—literally pack a bag and board a plane in 2026 to serve on a short-term trip. All of us can do something. And when we do, a map lights up from Aledo to the ends of the earth—76008, 76102, 76107, all the way to places we can't even pronounce.

The Question That Won't Leave Me Alone
If I'm honest, the question haunting me this Advent is this: Has the Church stopped going?

We're busy. We're tired. We're distracted. We live in a polarized moment where contempt seems easier than conversation. Personal evangelism has cooled in many places, and I get it—talking about Jesus feels awkward, risky, even offensive to some.
But the shepherds didn't ask permission. They didn't wait for a better cultural moment. They just went. Because when you've seen the Savior, love moves your feet.

What It Looks Like When We Leave

This Sunday, after we light the Love candle and hear Luke 2 again, I want us to do two things before we walk out the doors:

1. Near: Pull out your phone right now and write down one name—the neighbor, friend, or coworker you'll invite to Christmas Eve and check on this week.
2. Nations: Visit our Missions table, scan the QR code, or talk to someone on our team about praying, giving, or going. Learn one partner's name and start praying for them tonight.

That's it. Two steps. Because love doesn't need a perfect plan—it just needs to move.

He Came; Now Go

The eternal Son of God took on flesh, lived the life we couldn't live, died the death we deserved, and rose to give us forgiveness and forever life. That's the message "for all the people." And if He came all that way for us, surely we can cross the street—or cross an ocean—to make Him known.

So let's go. To our neighbors and to the nations. In love. Like the shepherds. Like the early Church. Like people who've actually seen the Savior and can't help but tell someone.

He came; we go.

Blessings,

Dr. Travis Young

Holy Night : The Chosen  Series - Week 3

Joy in a Joyless World — A Reflection on Chris Juen’s Sermon

By Travis Young

Advent Week 3 always presses on a question we don’t like to ask out loud: Can joy really exist when life feels heavy? Chris Juen, executive producer of The Chosen, answered that question with clarity and conviction in his sermon on joy—and not the shallow, seasonal kind.

Rooted in Luke 2:10–12, 14, Chris reminded us that the announcement of Jesus’ birth didn’t begin with changed circumstances, but with changed hearts: “Fear not… good news of great joy… for all people.” The shepherds were still poor. Rome was still oppressive. The night was still dark. And yet—joy arrived.

One line from the message has stayed with me: “When you step into obedience, clarity rarely comes first. Peace does.” That truth reframes how we often approach faith. We want explanations before obedience, answers before surrender. But Scripture—and lived experience—suggests peace is God’s first gift, not clarity. Joy follows not because life makes sense, but because Jesus is present.

Chris beautifully connected this to The Chosen episode “Holy Night,” highlighting the joy of the shepherds. These weren’t powerful or prepared people. They were ordinary, overlooked, and fearful. Still, heaven chose them as the first witnesses. Joy, it turns out, doesn’t discriminate.

The contrast with Exodus 14:11 was striking. Israel, freshly freed, looked backward in fear: “Were there no graves in Egypt?” It’s a reminder of how quickly fear can eclipse joy when we forget who goes before us. Joy isn’t the absence of trouble—it’s the presence of Jesus.

Chris didn’t offer sentimental optimism. He offered something sturdier: a Savior who steps into our darkness and calls us to “fear not.” Good news. Great joy. For all people.

In a joyless world, that message couldn’t be more timely.

With love and joy in Christ,
Pastor Travis Young
Frontier Church
 

Holy Night : The Chosen  Series - Week 2

By Pastor Travis Young | Frontier Church | Aledo, TX


For All the People: When God Shows Up in the Margins

Week 2 of Holy Night: An Advent Series on Peace

We've domesticated shepherds over the centuries—turned them into felt-board figures and bathrobe-wearing kids in Christmas pageants. But in first-century Israel, shepherds were the overlooked. The dismissed. They worked a job nobody wanted, lived on the literal margins of society, and couldn't participate in temple worship because their work made them ceremonially unclean. No voice. No influence. No status.

In other words, they were exactly where many of us feel sometimes.

The Weight of Being Unseen

Maybe you know what it feels like to be a shepherd—to feel worthless, like what you do doesn't really matter. To feel unwanted, excluded from the places where people seem to belong. To feel unclean, carrying the weight of mistakes or shame that whispers, You're too broken. There's no coming back from this.

The shepherds knew that battle intimately. And it's in that exact place—in the middle of their ordinary, marginalized existence—that God chose to make His greatest announcement.

The God Who Shows Up

Luke 2:9 tells us, "An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them."

Not to the palace. Not to the priests. To shepherds.

The angel's first words? "Do not be afraid." God knows we feel unqualified, unworthy, unseen.

Then comes the announcement: "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you."

For all people.
Not just the elite. Not just the qualified. All people. Including shepherds. Including you.

And more than that—"A Savior has been born to you." This isn't abstract. This is personal.
The shepherds didn't earn this moment. They simply received it. And that's the invitation extended to every single one of us today.

Craig Groeschel puts it beautifully: "God meets you in your weakness, not in your strength. His grace fills the gaps where you feel most unqualified."

Christmas is God's declaration that no one is outside the reach of His love. We simply must receive His love and walk in His light.

When Heaven Explodes

One angel wasn't enough. Suddenly "a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace.'"

The message they proclaimed? Peace. Not peace as the world gives it, but peace with God and peace within ourselves, even when life is hard.

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "Peace is not the absence of struggle but the presence of God amid the struggle."

I've known people with everything the world offers but no peace. And I've known people who've lost nearly everything, yet carry deep peace because they have Jesus. That's the peace the angels announced. The peace we all need.

David Platt reminds us: "No one is beyond the reach of God's grace. The gospel is not exclusive to the privileged; it is extended to the broken, the forgotten, the unreached, and the overlooked."

The Invitation

This Advent season, as we light the candle of Peace, hear what those shepherds heard:
"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. A Savior has been born to you."
You don't have to earn Him. You simply receive Him.

Jesus has come to bring peace to ALL people—especially the overlooked, unworthy, and unqualified.

Your Challenge

Here's my challenge to you as we move deeper into Advent:

First, ask yourself where you're still believing lies. What voices say you're unworthy, unseen, or not enough? Bring those places before God and ask Him to show you where you need to receive the peace Jesus came to give.

Second, look around for the shepherds in your life. Who feels overlooked, hurting, or far from peace? Ask God to give you His eyes to see them and boldness to share the good news that Jesus came for all people—including them.

Because if there's one thing the shepherds teach us, it's this: God doesn't show up where we expect Him to. He shows up in the margins. In the mess. In the middle of our most ordinary, overlooked moments.

And when He shows up, everything changes.

Merry Christmas, Frontier Church. May you know the peace that only Jesus can bring.


With love and joy in Christ,
Pastor Travis Young
Frontier Church
 

Holy Night - Week 1

Holy Night : The Chosen  Series - Week 1

By Pastor Travis Young | Frontier Church | Aledo, TX


A Reflection from Pastor Travis Young

Church family,

What a beautiful start to Advent we shared this Sunday as we launched our Holy Night series, inspired by The Chosen. As we opened God’s Word together in Luke 1, Matthew 1, Isaiah 9, and Micah 5, we were reminded of one of the most hope-filled declarations in all of Scripture:

“Nothing is impossible with God.” — Luke 1:37

For hundreds of years, God’s people waited in longing—generation after generation praying for the Messiah. In the silence, it would have been easy to believe that God had forgotten. But He had not. At just the right time, Heaven broke through—speaking to a teenage girl named Mary and a young carpenter named Joseph—announcing that the impossible was becoming reality.

This is the heartbeat of Advent:

We remember that God keeps His promises, and we look forward with hope because He will keep the next one too, in his second coming.

As we walk through this season together, I want to encourage you to create your own Advent traditions at home. Light a candle at dinner and read a few verses from Luke 1 or Isaiah 9. Follow our Advent Family Guide and pray together as a family for God to renew your hope. Watch the Christmas episode of The Chosen and talk about the story of Jesus. Slow down long enough to remember that the Savior who came still comes near to us today.

Frontier Church exists because God still does impossible things—and Advent reminds us that He’s not finished yet.

May your home be filled with expectation, peace, and the hope that only Jesus brings.

With love and joy in Christ,
Pastor Travis Young
Frontier Church

“Nothing is impossible with God.”

He Is Risen—Now Go!

Jesus On the Move Series - Week 12

By Pastor Travis Young | Frontier Church | Aledo, TX


This week, we concluded our 12-week journey through the Gospel of Mark—a series we've called "Jesus on the Move." And what better way to finish than at the empty tomb?
For the last three months, we've watched Jesus move with purpose and urgency through Mark's Gospel. He healed the sick. He cast out demons. He challenged the religious establishment. He taught in parables. He walked on water. He moved.
But if Jesus's entire ministry was movement, then His resurrection wasn't the end of the story—it was the beginning of our movement.

The Resurrection Changes Everything

As we examined Mark 16:1-20, one truth rang clear: the resurrection isn't just something to celebrate—it's something to act on.

The women came to the tomb expecting to anoint a dead body. Instead, they encountered an angel with a command: "Go, tell." Not "sit and celebrate." Not "keep this to yourself." Go. Tell.

N.T. Wright captures this beautifully: "Jesus's resurrection is the beginning of God's new project not to snatch people away from earth to heaven but to colonize earth with the life of heaven."

Think about that. The resurrection isn't an escape plan. It's an invasion plan. God is reclaiming His creation through His people. And that starts with us going and telling.

Why This Matters for You

Here's what strikes me about ending our Mark series this way: Throughout these 12 weeks, we've watched a moving Jesus. Now, the risen Jesus is calling us to move.
We preach. He proves. We go. He works.

This is the pattern the disciples discovered. They had no seminary degrees. They had no strategic marketing plans. They had the resurrection—and a command to proclaim it. And they turned the world upside down.

So where are you sitting when you should be going?

Maybe you've trusted Christ for years, but you've become comfortable. You've settled into a quiet faith that doesn't risk, doesn't reach, doesn't tell. The resurrection demands more than comfort—it demands courage.

Or maybe you've never personally placed your faith in Jesus. You've heard about Him. You might even respect Him. But there's never been a moment when you said, "Jesus, I'm all in. My life is Yours."

The empty tomb is proof that Jesus is who He claimed to be. It's proof that His sacrifice was accepted by God. It's proof that death doesn't have the final say.

How the Cross Changes Everything

But let's dig deeper. The resurrection doesn't stand alone—it's the vindication of the cross.
At the cross, Jesus bore our sin. He took the punishment we deserved. He died so we wouldn't have to face eternal death. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 3:23-24: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

The cross absorbed God's wrath against sin. It satisfied God's justice. It opened a pathway home for every person who will believe.

But here's where it gets revolutionary: the cross changes not just your eternal destiny—it changes your present purpose.

When you understand that Jesus died and rose again for you, everything shifts:

Your past is forgiven. No longer defined by shame, failure, or regret. The cross cancels the debt. You're free.

Your present has meaning. You're not just marking time until heaven. Your life matters.
Your work matters. Your witness matters. Every act done in Jesus's name echoes into eternity.

Your future is secure. You're not afraid of death. You're not anxious about judgment. The resurrection guarantees that we, too, will rise. As the Apostle Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 15:57: "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

The Call

As we wrap up this series, I want to ask you: What will you do with this truth?
The disciples didn't sit. They went. They preached. They faced persecution, rejection, and even death. And they did it because they'd encountered the risen Christ, and that encounter demands a response.

Tim Keller wrote: "The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope."

That's the message. That's worth going for. That's worth telling.

So here's my challenge: This week, identify one person who needs to hear that Jesus is risen. Not next month. Not "someday." This week. Reach out. Share your story. Tell them what the cross and resurrection mean to you.

Because the tomb is empty. The mission is urgent. And the Lord is working with you.

He is risen. Now go.

What will you do with this truth? I'd love to hear how the cross is changing your life. Share your story in the comments below or reach out to us at Frontier Church.


With love and joy,
Pastor Travis Young

The Cross Was Always the Plan

Jesus On the Move Series - Week 11

By Pastor Travis Young | Frontier Church | Aledo, TX


This past Sunday was one I won’t soon forget. Our church gathered for Week 11 in our Jesus On the Move series, walking through Mark 15:1–39 and reflecting on the suffering, sacrifice, and unstoppable love of Christ. And as I’ve sat with this passage throughout the week, one truth keeps rising to the surface:

The cross was not an accident. Not a backup plan. Not a tragic twist.
The cross was always the plan—because saving us was always the heart of God.

As we looked at Jesus’ suffering, the silence before His accusers, the brutal scourging, the darkness at noon, and ultimately the tearing of the temple curtain, God reminded us once again:

What Jesus endured, He endured willingly.
What Jesus suffered, He suffered purposefully.
What Jesus accomplished, He accomplished out of deep love—love for you and me.

And that truth hit even deeper this week as we celebrated something beautiful together as a church family…

Friendsgiving Overflowing With Gratitude

This past Sunday after service, we hosted our Frontier Church Friendsgiving—and it was incredible. Eighty-nine people gathered around tables, shared food, laughed, prayed, swapped stories, and enjoyed the warmth of real community. Tears were shed in worship earlier that morning, and smiles were everywhere afterward as we gave thanks for God’s faithfulness.

I looked around the room and thought, Lord… You are building Your church right here in Aledo.

People who were strangers just months ago now feel like family. Kids ran around with joy. New relationships were formed. Prayers were shared. People stayed long after the meal ended simply because they wanted to be together.

It was one of those Sundays that makes you stop and whisper,
“Thank You, Lord. Only You could do this.”

Seeing the Gospel Take Root in Our Community

Every week I’m blown away by what God is doing—people stepping into faith, visitors returning, families finding hope, students beginning to lead, and prayers being answered in real time. Every meal shared, every handshake, every testimony reminds me:

Jesus is still on the move in Aledo.
And the cross is still the power of God for salvation today.

Our church began with vision, prayer, and a step of faith—now we are watching God form a community of believers who love Him, love people, and live on mission.

Friendsgiving wasn’t just a meal…
It was a glimpse of the church God is forming.

**Gratitude for What God Has Done…

And Hope for What’s Ahead**

As we move deeper into the fall and toward the holidays, my heart is full of gratitude for:

• Every person who has walked through our doors
• Every volunteer serving with joy
• Every child learning to love Jesus
• Every family finding community
• Every life being changed
• Every opportunity God has given us to advance the gospel in Aledo

And as we keep following Jesus, we will continue to point people to the same truth we preached this weekend:

The cross was always the plan—because redeeming broken people has always been God’s heart.

Frontier Church, I am grateful for you.
I am proud of you.
And I am excited for the days ahead.

God is building His church right here on the far west side of Fort Worth—and we get to be part of it.

Let’s keep moving forward with gratitude.
Let’s keep building community.
Let’s keep advancing the gospel into new frontiers.

With love and joy,
Pastor Travis Young

A Kingdom For Children

Jesus On the Move Series - Week 9

Preached by Dr. Travis Young | Frontier Church | November 2


What happens when Jesus turns everything upside down? In Mark 10, we encounter one of the most countercultural moments in Jesus' ministry—He elevates children and confronts the rich. In a world where children were dismissed as insignificant distractions, Jesus gets indignant with His own disciples for pushing them away.

The Greek word for Jesus' reaction is ἀγανακτέω (aganakteō)—deeply moved with anger, greatly displeased. This isn't a mild correction. Jesus is visibly upset because His followers missed the heart of the Kingdom.

The Upside-Down Kingdom

Throughout our journey in Mark, we've seen Jesus heal the sick, teach in parables, and demonstrate divine authority. Now He declares that the Kingdom belongs to those who come like children—dependent, trusting, and humble. Meanwhile, the rich young ruler walks away sad, unable to let go of his wealth.

Jesus keeps turning our expectations upside down.

Personal Applications

Examine your posture. Are you coming to God with childlike faith, or are you clinging to what makes you feel secure and important? Jesus invites us to radical dependence.

Value what Jesus values. Who are the "insignificant" people in your life that you might be overlooking? Children, yes—but also the marginalized, the powerless, those society dismisses. Jesus calls us to see them as Kingdom citizens.

Confront your idols. What would you walk away sad about if Jesus asked you to release it? Your wealth, reputation, comfort, control? The rich man's money wasn't the problem—his inability to let go was.

Key Verse

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." — Mark 10:14

Closing Prayer

Father, humble our hearts to receive Your Kingdom like children—with open hands and trusting hearts. Show us what we're clinging to that keeps us from following You fully. Help us to value what You value and see people the way You see them. In Jesus' name, amen.


—Dr. Travis Young
Frontier Church

<sub>Mark Week 8 — October 26, 2025
from Travis Young’s “The Servant King” – Frontier Church
 Text: Mark 8:27–38

Bottom Line: Jesus shatters our expectations so He can build His kingdom on surrender, not power.
There’s something in all of us that wants control. We want to write the story, hold the steering wheel, and choose the outcome. But this past Sunday, as we walked through Mark 8:27–38, we were reminded that the way of Jesus is not about control—it’s about surrender.

When Peter declared, “You are the Christ,” he got the right answer but had the wrong expectations. Like many of us, Peter wanted a Savior who would fix his problems without changing his plans. He wanted a crown without a cross. But Jesus looked at Peter—and looks at us—and says, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”

That’s not the kind of invitation we’re used to hearing in a world that glorifies comfort, power, and self-promotion. Yet this is where the real life is found. Jesus’ call to “deny yourself” isn’t about losing your joy—it’s about finding it. It’s an invitation to trade the exhausting weight of self-reliance for the peace of resting in the One who never fails.

At Frontier Church, we believe faith isn’t reckless—it’s resting in Jesus. It’s trusting Him when life doesn’t make sense. It’s believing that surrender is not weakness—it’s strength under the lordship of Christ.
So here’s my challenge to you this week: What’s one area of your life that you need to surrender to Jesus?

Maybe it’s control over your finances. Maybe it’s fear about your future. Maybe it’s a relationship that’s taken the place of your devotion. Whatever it is, take a bold step of faith and lay it at His feet.

When you surrender your plans, your pride, and your preferences, you’ll discover what Peter eventually learned—that the path of surrender is the pathway to freedom.

Let’s be people who follow Jesus not just when it’s easy, but when it costs us something. Because the Servant King didn’t just die for us—He showed us how to live.

Reflection Verse:
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” — Mark 8:35

Prayer:
Jesus, teach me to trust You more deeply. Help me surrender the things I’ve been clinging to and rest in Your perfect will. Make me bold enough to follow You, even when it means carrying my cross. Amen.</sub>

—Dr. Travis Young
Frontier Church

<sub>Mark Week 7 — October 19, 2025
from Travis Young’s “Just Believe” – Frontier Church
 
Some weeks the gap between Sunday and Monday feels like a canyon.
 
On Sunday we sing “Way Maker.” On Monday the MRI calls back. On Tuesday the bills stack
up. By Wednesday you’re staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m., negotiating with God for a miracle you
can’t manufacture.
 
If that’s you, this one’s for you.
 
Mark 5 tells two stories braided together: a respected dad whose little girl is dying, and a woman
who has bled for twelve years. Different addresses. Same ache. Both stand at the edge of
impossibility—and that’s where Jesus meets them.
 
But this isn’t a post about ancient miracles. It’s about you, in the middle of your week, trying to
hold it together with thin prayers and tired hope.
 
Here are four gentle invitations I sensed as we sat with the Lord together on Sunday.
 
1) You don’t have to be strong to reach for Jesus.

The woman didn’t roar; she reached. No speech. No spotlight. Just a trembling hand through the
crowd and a whisper of faith: “If I touch even His clothes, I will be made well.”
Maybe you don’t feel spiritual enough. Maybe your faith feels like a frayed string. Jesus isn’t
grading your technique; He’s honoring your reach. If all you can manage today is a “Help me,”
that’s enough to touch heaven.
 
A practice for today:
Put your hand out—literally. Whisper the name of Jesus. Name the wound. Ask for His nearness.
Don’t try to fix it in the same breath—just reach.
 
2) When fear is loud, borrow Jesus’ words.

Jairus hears the sentence every parent dreads: “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher
any longer?” Before the grief closes in, Jesus speaks first: “Do not be afraid. Only believe.”

Those words hit like oxygen in a room short on air. They aren’t denial; they are defiance—the
kind that looks fear in the face and refuses to let it be the final narrator of your story.
 
A practice for this week:
Every time the “what-ifs” start spiraling, say out loud, “Jesus, I choose to believe You here.”
You’re not pretending the waves aren’t real. You’re remembering Who is in the boat.
 
3) Faith isn’t fast—but God is faithful.

Both stories move slowly. Crowds delay Jesus. Messengers interrupt. People laugh at Him.
Sound familiar? Waiting is not wasted time in God’s economy. It’s the classroom where trust
grows deep roots.
 
We want microwaves; Jesus tends to use ovens. And yet, in both homes—the woman’s heart and
Jairus’ house—He gets the final word.
 
A practice for the wait:

Make a “Remember List.” Write three moments God showed up for you in the past. Keep it on
your phone. When the delay makes you dizzy, read it out loud. Your history with God is a
weapon against despair.
 
4) Your healing is for you—but it isn’t just for you.

After the miracle, Jesus says something surprising. To the woman: “Go in peace.” To the parents:
“Give her something to eat.” To the roomful of mockers: silence. To you and me: carry this into
your street.
 
Miracles don’t always look like resurrections. Sometimes it’s a sudden freedom. Sometimes it’s
steady strength. Sometimes it’s the grace to endure with uncommon peace. Whatever it is, let it
spill. Be the person who prays in hospital halls, brings a meal, sends the text, chooses hope, and
says, “I’ll go with you.”
 
A practice for mission:

Ask God for one name. One. Send a text today: “Hey, you’ve been on my heart. How can I pray
specifically this week?” Then actually pray—and follow up.
 
For the one who feels late
 
You might be thinking, “Okay, Pastor, but my situation is past the point.” Jairus thought that too.
The house was already humming with mourners. But in a whisper only a child and a Savior
could share, Jesus said, “Talitha koum—Little girl, get up.”
 
We can’t promise the when or the how. But we can promise this: Jesus does some of His best
work when the room has already started planning the funeral. Even when outcomes don’t
look like we begged for, He always brings life—sometimes to bodies, always to hearts.

A simple prayer for the edge of impossibility

Jesus, I am at my limit.
I reach for You with the faith I have, not the faith I wish I had.
Speak peace to my fear.
Sit down beside my situation and take it by the hand.
Where You say “rise,” help me rise.
Where You ask me to wait, hold me steady.
And when You move, let Your life in me overflow to someone else.
Amen.</sub>

—Dr. Travis Young
Frontier Church

_{Mark Week 6 — October 12, 2025
by Pastor Travis Young, Frontier Church}

Some stories you never forget.

Not long ago a man pulled into a dark church parking lot after midnight. Twenty years of
addiction had taken nearly everything—home, family, hope. He put his head on the steering
wheel and whispered the only prayer he had left: “Jesus, if You’re real, I need You now.” No
worship band. No preacher. Just a broken man and a mustard seed of faith. That night the chains began to break. Today he helps others find the same freedom he found in Christ.

Mark 5:1–20 tells a story like that—only louder, darker, and even more dramatic. Jesus steps out of a boat into Gentile country and meets a man who lives among the tombs. He’s cut off from people, tormented day and night, and so strong that no chain can hold him. If you’ve ever wondered how far the love of Jesus will go, this chapter answers it: all the way to the
graveyard.

Bound in Darkness (vv. 1–5)

The man is a living picture of what sin and spiritual bondage do: isolate, distort, and destroy. He lives where the dead live. He cries out and harms himself. Society tried to restrain him, but nothing worked. It’s a hard truth, but an honest one—some battles are spiritual battles. Human strength and strategies aren’t enough. We need a Savior.

Maybe you don’t live in the tombs, but you know the feeling of being stuck—habits you can’t break, shame you can’t shake, thoughts you can’t tame. Chains can be visible… or invisible.

Encountering Christ (vv. 6–13)

Then Jesus arrives.

The possessed man runs toward Jesus, not away. Even the demons recognize the Son of the Most High God. With a word—no rituals, no theatrics—Jesus commands the darkness to leave. The unclean spirits flee, and the man is freed.

The same Jesus who calmed a raging storm in Mark 4 now calms a raging soul. Storm or spirit, ocean or tomb—He is Lord over all chaos. That’s good news for anyone who’s ever felt out of control: your chaos is not king. Jesus is.

Restored and Sent (vv. 14–20)

When the townspeople arrive, they find the man “sitting there, clothed and in his right mind” (v. 15). That’s what Jesus does: He restores dignity, soundness, and peace. The man begs to follow Jesus onto the boat, but Jesus gives him a different assignment: “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.” (v. 19)

Freedom becomes mission. The one who once terrified his city becomes the first missionary to the Decapolis. No seminary. No platform. Just a transformed life and a simple message: “Look what Jesus did for me.”

What This Means for Us

1. No one is too far gone. If Jesus crosses a sea and steps into a graveyard for one man, He
will meet you wherever you are.
2. Jesus’ authority is greater than your bondage. Chains break where Christ speaks. “If
the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
3. Freedom comes with purpose. We’re not just rescued; we’re sent. Your story might be
the key to someone else’s freedom.

How to Respond

Bring your chains to Jesus. Be honest. Name what binds you—addiction, anger, bitterness, fear, secret sin—and bring it to Him. Sometimes the breakthrough comes with prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). Not to earn God’s favor, but to depend on His power.

Tell your story. Start at home, like Jesus told the man: “Go to your friends.” People don’t need polished speeches; they need real testimony: “This is who I was. This is what Jesus did. This is who I am now.”

Join the mission. At Frontier Church, we’re people becoming kingdom servants. We serve
because Jesus is still on the move—setting captives free in Aledo, Fort Worth, and beyond.

A Prayer for the Week

Jesus, You crossed every boundary to rescue a man no one could help. Cross the boundaries of my life too. Speak to the places that feel dead. Break the chains I cannot break. Heal my mind, restore my heart, and fill me with Your Spirit. Then send me to my friends and neighbors to tell how much You have done for me. I surrender to Your mercy and Your mission. Amen.

Friend, if you feel like you’re living among tombs, hear this: freedom in Christ is real. Come as you are. Bring the chains. Watch Him break them. And when He does, don’t keep it to yourself—go home and tell the story.

—Dr. Travis Young
Frontier Church

A Reflection from Pastor Travis Young | Frontier Church | September 21, 2025

I know a man who once walked into the ER coughing, convinced he had nothing more than a stubborn chest cold. But after running a few tests, the doctors discovered the real issue: he was in heart failure. His problem wasn’t on the surface—it was deep inside, life-threatening, and unseen.

This story helps us understand the message of Mark 2:1–12. When four friends carried a paralyzed man to Jesus, everyone thought the man’s greatest need was obvious: he couldn’t walk. But when Jesus looked at him, He didn’t begin with his legs—He began with his heart. “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Why? Because our greatest need isn’t always what we think. At the root, our deepest need is forgiveness.
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What Happened in Capernaum

The scene was unforgettable. A small home in Capernaum was packed wall-to-wall with people. Dust fell from the ceiling as four friends dug through the roof, determined to lower their paralyzed friend right in front of Jesus.
Jesus honored their faith—but He also shocked the crowd. He didn’t just say, “Get up and walk.” He said, “Your sins are forgiven.” The scribes gasped. They accused Him of blasphemy because only God can forgive sins. And that’s the point: Jesus is God, and He alone has the authority to forgive.
As R.C. Sproul once said:
“If Jesus was not God, then His pronouncement of forgiveness was nothing short of blasphemy. But if He was God, then the scribes’ refusal to bow before Him was the real blasphemy.”
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Forgiveness Leads to Freedom

To prove His authority, Jesus did the visible miracle—He healed the man’s legs. The paralyzed man walked out carrying his mat, and the crowd gasped: “We have never seen anything like this!” (Mark 2:12).
But the greater miracle wasn’t what the crowd could see—it was what only Jesus could do. He forgave sins. He restored identity. He gave this man not just freedom from something, but freedom for a new life.
N.T. Wright put it this way:
“When Jesus healed the man’s body, it was not an added extra to the forgiveness of his sins. It was the visible sign that the forgiveness was real.”
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Why This Matters for Us

The greatest need of every soul is not health, success, or comfort—it’s the forgiveness of sin. And the greatest benefit of Christianity is that God, through Jesus Christ, meets that need.
This is the vision of Frontier Church. We’re not here just to meet surface needs—we’re here to proclaim the Savior who forgives sins and makes people new.
That’s why we invite you to:

• Join a Team. (Greeters, Kids, Worship, Outreach, Setup/Tear-down.)
• Get in Community. (Small groups, Membership.)
• Share the Gospel. Invite your one.

Why? Because church isn’t a restaurant—it’s a rescue team. Don’t just sample. Commit to the mission.
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Bottom Line

Only Jesus has the authority to forgive sin—and when He forgives, He doesn’t just make us better, He makes us brand new.
Maybe today your greatest need isn’t healing, comfort, or success. Maybe it’s forgiveness. And the good news is—Jesus offers it freely.

—Dr. Travis Young
Frontier Church

By Dr. Travis Young

Last week we began our series Jesus on the Move with the bold announcement from Mark 1:1–15 that the gospel is not good advice—it’s good news. It’s the declaration that Jesus, the Son of God, has come to rescue sinners. At Frontier Church, we believe this changes everything.

But here’s the question we must wrestle with this week: If the gospel is true, what does it mean for me?

Mark 1:16–34 gives us the answer in a simple but profound invitation: “Follow Me.”
Jesus didn’t call the elite, the powerful, or the well-connected. He called fishermen. Ordinary men casting their nets on an ordinary day. And with two words—“Follow Me”—their lives were never the same. They left their nets, their boats, even family expectations behind, stepping out of comfort and into calling.

The same Jesus still calls today. He doesn’t wait for us to be impressive; He asks for our availability. And when we say yes, He writes us into His story of redemption.

But following Jesus is more than admiration—it’s imitation. These first disciples not only heard His teaching with authority, they witnessed His power over demons, disease, and darkness. They saw firsthand that the kingdom of God moves with unstoppable force. And that same Spirit is alive in us.

Finally, following Jesus impacts the people around us. After leaving the synagogue, Jesus went into Simon Peter’s home, healed his mother-in-law, and suddenly the whole town was gathered at the door. That’s what discipleship looks like—when Jesus touches your life, it overflows into the lives of others.

Here at Frontier, we don’t want to build an audience—we want to build an army. Men and women who will step out of the ordinary, say yes to Jesus, and let their lives ripple with gospel impact.

Friends, discipleship still costs something. This past week, we were reminded with heavy hearts of a brother in Christ who lost his life boldly proclaiming Jesus. To follow Him is not to be a fan—it is to be fully devoted, even when it costs dearly. But in that cost, there is joy. In that sacrifice, there is resurrection life.

So let me ask: what does “Follow Me” look like for you in 2025?

• Maybe it’s joining a small group.
• Maybe it’s serving on a team.
• Maybe it’s inviting a neighbor into your home.
• Or maybe it’s finally saying yes to Jesus for the very first time.

The gospel moves forward through ordinary people who say yes to an extraordinary Savior.
Let’s be those people. Let’s be that church.

—Dr. Travis Young
Frontier Church