Luke | Are You Following or Controlling Jesus? | Kevin Barra | Spring Branch | February 15, 2026

In Luke 4, Jesus returns to His hometown and clearly declares who He is. He reads from Isaiah and announces that He is the promised Messiah sent to bring freedom, healing, and forgiveness. At first, the crowd is impressed. But when Jesus refuses to fit their expectations and reminds them that God’s grace is for outsiders too, admiration turns into anger. This message challenges us to wrestle with a crucial question: Are we truly following Jesus, or are we trying to make Him follow us? When Jesus doesn’t perform on command, doesn’t stay in our box, or challenges our assumptions, how do we respond?• Jesus reveals Himself as the Spirit-anointed Messiah who brings freedom, healing, and forgiveness• Familiarity and personal expectations can blind us to who Jesus really is• Every person must choose a response: bow in faith or reject His authorityKey Scriptures:Luke 4:14–30Isaiah 61:1–2Joshua 5:13–15Where has Jesus challenged your expectations? Have you made Him too familiar, too small, or too manageable? This week, ask yourself: Am I letting Jesus lead, or am I trying to control the outcome? If this message helped you see Jesus more clearly, share it with a friend or family member who needs to wrestle with who He truly is.Bayou City Fellowship Spring Branch Campus | Kevin Barra | February 15, 2026https://linktr.ee/bayoucityfellowship