Knowing what a Christian is matters. But then comes the practical question: How do we actually live this out? Earlier in Are You A Christian?, we walked through five foundational areas of a victorious Christian life: prayer, the Word, holiness, the church, and obedience. Now Aaron and Julie take those five areas deeper in this classroom video. These aren’t five boxes to check so we can say we’re doing Christianity correctly. They’re foundational parts of a healthy walk with Jesus and when one is consistently missing, eventually it will affect the others. As you WATCH THIS VIDEO, don’t just think about which areas you’re already doing well in. Listen for the one that needs more attention right now. Then here’s your next step: choose one of the five and intentionally strengthen it over the next seven days. If you want some accountability, drop the one you’re working on below. Let’s keep growing together.

Sometimes we’re asking God, “What do You want me to do?” when He has already told us. So this weekend, we have a simple challenge for you: Obey the last thing. Take a few quiet minutes and ask yourself: Is there something I already know God has told me to do that I’ve delayed, avoided, or only partially obeyed? Maybe it’s forgiving someone. Making something right. Stepping away from something. Beginning something. Being faithful somewhere. Spending time in the Word. Having a conversation you’ve been avoiding. Whatever it is, don’t spend this weekend looking for another instruction. Act on the one you already have. James 1:22 says, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says.” Your challenge: Before this weekend is over, take one concrete step of obedience. And when you’ve done it, come back here and simply write: DONE. Or share your win with us if you’d like so we can celebrate with you!

This video asks a question that goes deeper than it may first appear: Why do we follow Jesus? God is good, and His Word is filled with promises. We know Him as our protector, our provider, our strength, and the One who brings true freedom. We should believe Him for everything He has promised. But what happens when the promise isn’t what keeps us close to Him? Israel experienced things most of us could hardly imagine. They watched God part the Red Sea. They ate miraculous provision in the wilderness. They saw His glory. Yet when circumstances became difficult, many of them were ready to return to Egypt. Joshua was different. While others were fascinated by what God could do, Joshua had learned to love His presence. When Moses left the tent of meeting, Scripture tells us that Joshua stayed. That speaks loudly. There is a place in our relationship with God where we stop seeking Him primarily because of what He can give us and discover that He Himself is what we want. That kind of love will keep us steady when circumstances change. It will keep us faithful when an answer takes longer than expected. It will keep our hearts from being drawn toward something else that promises an easier road. Esther unpacks this beautifully in THIS VIDEO. Before you watch, answer this question for yourself: Why do I follow Jesus? Then watch the teaching all the way through and come back to that question afterward. See if your answer has changed. More than anything God can place in our hands, may we become a people who simply want Him. ❤️

We’ve had some time to look back on everything God did during the Great Awakening Tent Revival in Van Wert, and there was such a clear progression throughout the week: Foundation. Purification. Activation. We spent much of the week teaching through the foundational truths found in Hebrews 6. As the Word went forth night after night, we watched people begin to soften. Some who seemed guarded at the beginning of the week began responding to Jesus. Multiple people came forward for salvation or rededication, several received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and we watched a fresh hunger for God begin to grow. One of the nights was centered on the baptism of fire and allowing God to refine the areas of our lives that need to change. Around 15 to 20 people responded that night, asking Jesus to remove anything that did not belong. Then it was time to put everything into action. On the final night, we taught very practically about worship, knowing the Word, speaking to our mountains, believing when we pray, acting on what we believe, and continuing to give thanks to Jesus. We never want people to leave our meetings dependent upon us. We want them to know how to stand on the Word of God and live by faith for themselves. We also saw several people healed throughout the week. One man had to be driven to the tent because of the physical difficulties he was having. After receiving prayer, he came back the next night riding his bicycle and telling us how great he felt! We love that! Then on Sunday morning, around 10 people were baptized in water. It was such a beautiful way to see what God had been doing throughout the week continue into Sunday. When we look back on Van Wert, we don’t just see a collection of great services. We see God building something in people. Foundation. Purification. Activation. That is what we want for every one of us. To know the truth. To allow Jesus to remove what doesn’t belong. And then to actually live what we believe. Some of these revival services are now available HERE inside ITC. Take some time this month to go back through them, especially if you weren’t able to be with us in Van Wert. And when you watch, don’t just watch what God was doing in the tent. Ask Him what He wants to continue doing in you.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) What an incredible promise. We were created to know the voice of God. But there’s a difference between knowing God speaks and actually positioning our hearts to hear Him. That’s at the center of this week’s devotional. Jesus repeatedly said things like, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” and “Take care then how you hear.” There is an intentionality to listening. Our hearts can be crowded by worry, distraction, our own desires, or even the voices around us until God's voice becomes one among many. The answer isn't striving harder to hear Him. It's learning to stand in His presence with a soft, humble heart, ready not only to hear what He says, but to cling to it and obey it. As you read THIS WEEK’S DEVOTIONAL, take some time to consider what has had your ear lately. What voice has been shaping your thoughts, expectations, and decisions? And then we'd love to hear from you: What has God been speaking to your heart lately? It can be something from Scripture, something He has been correcting, something He has been reminding you of, or simply a truth He keeps bringing back to your attention. Share it below. There’s something powerful about hearing what the Lord is teaching each of us as we grow together.