Vision Series | Imagine People Who Have a Way

Pastor of Formation & Mission Benjamin Kandt concludes our Vision series on the Lord's Prayer and its transformative power in shaping our spiritual journey. Pastor Ben differentiates between character-building trials and temptations that derail us. The petition "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil" serves as our anchor, guiding reflection on liberation from sin's presence and power.

He then unpacks the meaning behind "lead us not into temptation," emphasizing that following Jesus is more about our direction than achieving perfection. By drawing on the wisdom of Psalm 23, he turns our attention to trusting Jesus' leadership amid life's darkest moments. He further clarifies the distinction between God's testing and Satan's tempting before encouraging us to seek maturity in our faith. Ultimately, we understand that being led by Jesus sometimes means venturing into uncomfortable territories but it always is aimed at our spiritual growth and freedom from sin's grip.

Concluding with a triumphant message, Pastor Ben turns to Hebrews 4 and the cosmic victory of Jesus over evil, reflecting on how Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses and enters into our temptations to redeem us. The concept of Christus Victor reveals our liberation from the fear of death and sin. The significance of the word "amen" is a powerful affirmation of God's promises and how Jesus fulfills our spiritual vision. Seeing the Father answer the Lord's prayer is our vision and living in this prayer offers a transformative guide for our community at NewCity.