“Here and Now” | CHURCH UNBRANDED Week 1 | April 19th, 2026

In this opener of our new series, “Church Unbranded,” Lead Pastor Jason Britt introduces a powerful "grounding technique" for the soul. In a world defined by noise pollution, political division, and constant distraction, we often lose sight of the bigness and beauty of what we are a part of. Using the Lord’s Prayer as our guide, we discover that the Kingdom of God is not a spiritual metaphor or a "someday" hope—it is a reality happening in the here and now. As citizens of this Kingdom, we are called to be an "outpost of hope" in the middle of a broken world. 💡 Key Takeaways: The Grounding Prayer: The Lord’s Prayer is more than a tradition; it is a way to reconnect to reality when emotions or culture try to pull us away. It reminds us that we are safe, we are here, and God is present. The Doxology of Power: The phrase "For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory" was used by the early church to anchor their worship. It shifts our focus from our petitions (asking God) to His praise (honoring the King). A Kingdom, Not a Metaphor: Jesus mentioned the Kingdom over 120 times in the Gospels. If ”your” Jesus only exists to get you to heaven when you die, you are missing the power He wants to establish through you today. The Church as an Outpost: Imagine a remote settlement in a dangerous frontier. That is the Church. We aren't built for comfort; we are a piece of "home" (heaven) planted in hostile ground. The Gates of Hell: When Jesus promised that the "gates of hell" would not overcome His Church, He was standing in Caesarea Philippi—a place of literal pagan debauchery known as the "Gates of Pan." Jesus isn't intimidated by the darkness of our culture; He is the Light that breaks through it. Unity Over Division: A culture that is deeply divided desperately needs a Church that is deeply united. Our mission is to move outward so the Kingdom can move forward. 📌 Timestamps: 00:00 – Heart Behind the “Church Unbranded” Series 03:15 – Video: New Salem Church Baptisms 04:44 – Divided Culture vs. United Church  07:24 – The Grounding Technique: Reconnecting to the present 10:15 – Praying the Lord's Prayer Together 13:40 – Starting and ending with the Kingdom 17:25 – Dallas Willard: Living a life with God at the center 21:44 – The Point of the Church 23:31 – Me, Myself, and I: Escaping the "Unholy Trinity" 24:20 – What Jesus Can Do FOR You or What He Wants to Do THROUGH You   26:06 – The Frontier Outpost: Planting hope in hostile territory 27:30 – Caesarea Philippi: Standing at the literal "Gates of Hell" 29:44 – Matthew 16:18 - The Gates of Hell Will Not Overcome 32:29 – God’s Kingdom Shows Up In The Middle of Darkness  37:16 – The 5 C’s: Identifying your posture toward the Church 44:19 – The 7-Day Challenge: Praying for God’s presence where your feet are planted ✝️ Key Scriptures: Matthew 6:9–13 1 Chronicles 29:11 John 18:36 Matthew 16:18–19 We exist to lead people to discover a new life in Christ. This is the vision of Bethlehem Church, led by Pastor Jason Britt and based in Bethlehem, GA.      🔗 Connect With Us:    First Time? We'd love to connect with you. Please click https://wearebethlehem.churchcenter.com/people/forms/504192 to fill out our Connection Card! If you want to take your next step with Jesus, please text INCHRIST to 97000. We’d love to pray for you! Visit https://bethlehemchurch.us/prayer-wall/ to post your prayer request. Give Online: Support the ministry of Bethlehem Church at https://bethlehemchurch.us/give/   🗓️ Stay Up-To-Date: Website: https://bethlehemchurch.us/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethlehemchurchga/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethlehem_churchga/ #ChurchUnbranded #KingdomOfGod #JasonBritt #BethlehemChurch #LordsPrayer #OutpostOfHope #GroundedInFaith #TheChurch #Sermon2026 #Matthew16