Set Apart Summer: The Invitation to Change

May 26

You don't need to have it all figured out.

That's the message Pastor Abbie shared this Sunday as we prepare for Set Apart Summer. Following Jesus isn't about perfection - it's about showing up faithfully, questions and all.

The Real Meaning of "All In"

When Jesus calls us to follow Him, He's not asking for a polished performance. Look at His disciples:

Peter went back and forth between bold faith and doubt
Thomas brought all his questions
None of them had it figured out

All in equals faithful. It means showing up even when you don't understand everything. It means bringing your curiosity and questions to Jesus instead of waiting until you feel ready.

You Can Actually Change

Here's what science now confirms: your brain can rewire itself. Those patterns that feel permanent? They're not.

Pastor Abbie, drawing from both her therapy background and pastoral experience, reminded us that Jesus has been telling us this truth all along. Real transformation is possible.

But here's the catch - quick fixes rarely stick. That chocolate cake gives you a dopamine hit in 10 seconds. The hour-long workout? It takes time to feel good. The things that truly change us require patience and practice.

Remove Before You Replace

Think about getting dressed in the morning. You don't put new clothes over old ones. You take off yesterday's outfit first.

The same principle applies to spiritual growth. Before we can fully devote ourselves to new practices, we need to identify what's not serving us anymore. This is consecration - being set apart FROM something and fully devoted TO something else.

Why Community Matters

Research shows that social connection releases chemicals in our brain that:

Promote learning
Build resilience
Make rewiring more effective

When we practice spiritual formation together, we literally learn and change faster. This isn't just about hanging out (though we enjoy that too). There's scientific proof that transformation happens better in community.

God Has Time for Your Healing

In Joshua 5, after the Israelites went through circumcision, God let them rest and heal. He didn't rush them to the next thing.

The same is true for you. When you remove harmful patterns from your life, it might hurt. That's normal. God has patience for your process. He has time for your healing, your questions, and your journey.

Join Us for Set Apart Summer

Starting June 8th, we're launching Set Apart Summer - three months of intentional spiritual practices as a community. Here's what's coming:

Daily Rhythms Journal - Morning prayer, midday pause, evening reflection
Form Groups - Partner with someone for weekly check-ins and accountability
Community Support - Do this journey together, not alone

The Question for You

What do you need to consecrate from? What do you need to consecrate to?

Take time this week to consider:

What patterns or habits need to go?
What practices will you replace them with?
Who will you invite to join you on this journey?

Remember: consecration isn't a one-time event. It's a rhythm of removing what doesn't serve us and embracing what draws us closer to Jesus.

Josh Sorenson

a systems thinker, church communicator, and automation nerd based in Madison, WI. As VP of Systems Integration at Church Media Squad, he helps companies streamline operations, communicate clearly, and scale creatively… without burning out their teams. He’s passionate about no-code/low-code tools like n8n, ClickUp, and Supabase, and loves building workflows that actually make life easier.

When he’s not knee-deep in APIs or optimizing a workflow queue, you’ll find him at the dog park, behind a camera, or biking around Madison’s east side. He’s all about clean design, clear systems, and Christ-centered culture… and maybe a good dad joke or two along the way.

joshsorenson.com