Jonah Werner | A New Song

The big idea

We were created to dive into the life Jesus offers instead of staying safe on the pier, trusting the great Rescuer to meet us in the hard, scary places.

Pastor Jonah shares that every life has a soundtrack, a song in the heart, and Jesus wants to meet us right where that song is one of sorrow, fear, or brokenness. People cannot rescue people; we can only lead each other to the feet of the one great Rescuer. When we dive in and trust Him, even when we're scared, He gives us a new song and leads us to life to the full.

Point 1 of 7

Pastor Jonah opens by comparing his own life to the song he performed, saying all of us have a theme song, whether it's peace and joy or sorrow, anxiety, and addiction. He says Jesus wants to meet people in whatever place that song describes.

Point 2 of 7

He tells the story of his little brother calling Jesus Jebus and being freaked out by the picture on the church wall, admitting he felt the same disconnect as a boy. He says he later learned about the real Jesus, who came not just to be born and die but to rise again and give abundant life.

Point 3 of 7

Through his own story of chasing after girls and relationships hoping to be rescued from his broken home, Pastor Jonah realized human relationships couldn't fill the hole in his heart. He names this directly as something he didn't understand until later in life.

Point 4 of 7

He tells the extended, comedic true story of hooking a huge fish off a North Carolina pier and being told by the pier master he'd have to swim out beyond the breakers in the dark to land it. Despite his fear, he dove in, followed the pier master's voice and light, and caught the record-size fish, which he uses as a picture of trusting God enough to jump into the deep, scary places of life.

Point 5 of 7

Pastor Jonah says God invites us to ask, what if I fall, will You catch me, what if I call, will You hear me, and that God wants to meet us in that hard place rather than turn away from the questions.

Point 6 of 7

He reads from Proverbs, explaining that God tells His sons and daughters to receive His words, treasure His commandments, incline their hearts, and cry out for insight, and that doing so leads to finding the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God, something he says the world desperately needs right now.

Point 7 of 7

Sharing a piece he wrote for his son about what makes a man, Pastor Jonah says Jesus taught him to be humble, take a stand, and love neighbors, enemies, and haters alike, because God is love, and that love is the answer to build a life on.

Take it into your week

Pastor Jonah's charge is to dive in, trusting the great Rescuer instead of staying safe on the pier.