Under Your Feet | Seek Week 2026 | Pastor Brenton Fessler

Seek Week: A Time to Pursue the Divine

Introduction to Seek Week

• The speaker expresses excitement for "Seek Week," emphasizing the importance of seeking God. They reference Psalms 105:4, which encourages continual pursuit of the Lord's presence.

Worship and Praise

• The worship session begins with a focus on God's attributes, including His might as a warrior and His love as a father. The congregation is invited to engage in praise through song.

Themes of Greatness and Salvation

• Repeated affirmations of God's greatness are highlighted, with references to Him as "the great I am" and "the architect." This section emphasizes worship through music that celebrates God's name and salvation.

Invocation of God's Presence

• The lyrics express a longing for God’s presence, portraying Him as a source of comfort and peace amidst chaos. There is an emphasis on how God sustains life and inspires new songs of praise.

Call for Transformation

• A plea is made for personal transformation, asking that lives be altered by divine influence. The speaker invites participants to open their hearts to God’s touch during this sacred time.

Seeking Divine Revelation

• Towards the end, there is an earnest request for God to reveal Himself, with references to biblical imagery such as seeking His face in holy places. This reflects a deep desire for spiritual connection and understanding.

Seek Week Opening Prayer and Announcements

Worship and Seeking God's Presence

• The worship begins with a heartfelt song expressing the desire to see God's face, emphasizing the longing for divine connection.

• Acknowledgment of "Seek Week" as a time dedicated to pressing into God’s presence and seeking His guidance. The speaker reflects on the importance of this week in fostering community and spiritual growth.

• The prayer highlights the historical context of seeking God, referencing scripture to inspire hope amidst challenges faced by those who have sought Him before. It sets an expectation for divine encounters during this week at Vanguard.

Community Engagement and Upcoming Events

• An invitation is extended to participate in various gatherings throughout Seek Week, encouraging attendees to connect deeply with God’s presence and each other. The speaker emphasizes that God's presence has been established long before their arrival.

• Dr. Jackson is introduced as a key figure at Vanguard, promoting her Old Testament classes while also announcing an important upcoming conference titled "Does Israel Matter?" which focuses on missional outreach towards Jewish people and understanding biblical truths about Israel.

Conference Details: "Does Israel Matter?"

• The conference aims to explore the significance of Israel within the context of Jesus' teachings and the gospel, featuring notable speakers including scholars and pastors who will share insights on Jewish history, anti-Semitism, and ministry focus related to Israel.

• Attendees can earn chapel credits by participating in sessions that include testimonies from individuals involved in interfaith bridge-building efforts, highlighting personal stories connected to faith and heritage. Specific sessions are outlined with details about guest speakers sharing their experiences related to these themes.

Encouragement for Participation

• Despite registration being closed for some events like Shabbat dinner, there are still opportunities for day-of registration available on a first come first serve basis for students wishing to attend the conference sessions. Early arrival is encouraged due to limited seating availability.

• Each session will feature Q&A segments allowing participants to engage directly with speakers regarding their questions about Israel's relevance today, fostering an interactive learning environment aimed at deepening understanding among attendees about Jewish culture and faith perspectives.

Reflection Questions

• As part of engaging with the theme of truth-telling during Seek Week, participants are prompted to reflect on personal experiences related to honesty by considering their earliest memories of telling lies—inviting introspection into personal integrity within spiritual journeys.

Childhood Lies and Lessons

Reflecting on Childhood Deceptions

• The speaker reminisces about childhood lies, suggesting that many are trivial, such as lying about eating vegetables.

• A specific lie involves a fascination with fire; the speaker recalls lighting toilet paper in a trash can while home alone, leading to chaos.

• After attempting to hide the smoke by opening a window, the speaker's parents return home and immediately sense something is wrong.

• Another memory includes lying about finishing lima beans by discarding them in the trash when no one was looking.

• The third lie involved forging a parent's signature for music practice sheets, which ultimately led to being caught.

Social Dynamics and Relationships

• The speaker shares experiences from their time at Vanguard University, discussing "DTR" (Define The Relationship) talks among students.

• These DTR conversations often took place in recognizable campus locations, indicating social dynamics among students regarding relationships.

• Many of these discussions ended with couples parting ways under pretenses like needing more time for personal faith development.

• This leads to humorous reflections on honesty within relationships and how people often use excuses that may not be truthful.

Scriptural Reflections

• Transitioning into scripture discussion, the speaker asks if listeners have encountered confusing or unexpected passages in the Bible.

• They highlight Romans chapter 16 as an overlooked section of scripture that many pastors skip due to its perceived dullness but believe it holds significant value.

• The speaker emphasizes that while Romans is widely appreciated, certain chapters remain unexplored despite their potential insights.

Understanding Romans 16: The Role of Women in Ministry

Introduction to Romans Chapter 16

• The speaker introduces Romans chapter 16, noting its perceived dryness and potential for being overlooked in devotional readings.

• Paul emphasizes the role of women in ministry by commending Phoebe, a deacon from Canrae, highlighting her importance in delivering and performing the letter.

Key Figures Mentioned by Paul

• Paul instructs the Roman church to receive Phoebe warmly and assist her, acknowledging her contributions as a benefactor to many, including himself.

• He greets several individuals such as Priscilla, Aquila, Eponyus, Mary, Andronicus, Junia (notably a woman), amplatus, Aelis, Herodian, Narcissus' household members Trifina and Trifosa.

Paul's Exhortation on Goodness and Evil

• Paul expresses joy over the obedience of the Romans but urges them to be wise about good while remaining innocent regarding evil.

• He makes a striking statement that "the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet," transitioning from greetings to profound theological insight.

Theological Significance of Crushing Satan

• This declaration serves as a reminder of God's ultimate victory over evil; it connects back to Genesis where God curses the serpent after Adam and Eve's sin.

• The speaker reflects on how this moment signifies the beginning of humanity's struggle with lies introduced by the enemy.

Connection Between Lies and Spiritual Warfare

• The narrative discusses how lies can lead people away from truth and relationship with God.

• It highlights God's inquiry into who told Adam and Eve they were naked—indicating awareness of deception affecting their identity.

Implications for Believers Today

• The speaker notes that Paul's message is not merely historical but relevant today; believers must recognize lies that hinder their relationship with God.

• Questions are posed about what lies individuals might believe that keep them distant from seeking God's fullness in their lives.

Conclusion: Seeking Truth Amidst Lies

• As part of "seek week," attendees are encouraged to reflect on personal struggles with deception that may obstruct spiritual growth.

Understanding the Lies We Believe

The Impact of Childhood Beliefs

• The speaker questions what beliefs have been instilled in individuals since childhood, emphasizing that these beliefs can act like a repetitive soundtrack in one's mind.

• Personal anecdote about writing notes to his children, aiming to remind them of their worth and truth amidst external challenges they face at school.

• Highlights the need for reminders of one’s true identity, suggesting that many may require affirmation from a higher power rather than just earthly figures.

Confronting Deceptive Narratives

• Discusses the biblical imagery of God crushing Satan under our feet, questioning its meaning and relevance in contemporary life.

• Reflects on fear associated with snakes as a metaphor for confronting deeper fears and lies rooted in personal narratives.

• Mentions St. Patrick's story as an allegory for overcoming evil, reinforcing the idea that confronting lies is essential for spiritual growth.

Moving Lies Below Our Feet

• Emphasizes the necessity of shifting deceptive thoughts from our minds to beneath our feet, symbolizing control over these negative beliefs.

• Suggestion to physically write down lies believed about oneself as a method of confronting and dispelling them.

Personal Struggles with Beliefs

• Shares a poignant story about a friend's wife battling cancer, illustrating how such experiences can lead to believing lies about one's worth or future.

• Questions common self-deprecating thoughts like "I am no good to God," urging listeners to recognize these as lies meant to deter them from their purpose.

Overcoming Fear and Doubts

• Addresses feelings of isolation among students regarding relationships and future prospects, encouraging reflection on whether past experiences dictate future outcomes.

• Challenges listeners to identify specific lies they believe about themselves that could hinder their potential and relationship with God.

Lies and Freedom: Seeking God During Seek Week

The Impact of Lies

• The speaker discusses the lies that individuals may believe, referencing the biblical story of God's curse on the serpent and Paul's message in Romans 16 about God crushing Satan.

• Emphasizes that "Seek Week" is an opportunity for community engagement and spiritual growth, urging participants to confront the lies they believe to experience God fully.

Confronting Lies

• Encourages attendees to physically write down the lies they've been told during prayer times, suggesting a symbolic act of removing their shoes as part of this process.

• Advises participants to take action by walking away from these lies, emphasizing that they can hinder one's freedom and relationship with God.

Embracing Truth

• Stresses the importance of understanding how God sees each individual, contrasting this divine perspective with the negative voices often heard from others or oneself.

• Reminds listeners that everyone is made in God's image and has a secure place in His kingdom, regardless of past mistakes or sins.

Prayer and Community Support

• Calls for collective prayer against the lies that people are tempted to believe about themselves, reinforcing a sense of community support during Seek Week.

• Concludes with a prayer asking for freedom from these deceptions and encourages participants to actively seek God's presence throughout the week.

Announcements for Seek Week Activities

• Acknowledges upcoming prayer rallies scheduled throughout Seek Week, inviting attendees to participate actively in worship and communal prayer sessions.

• Informs about chapel services resuming later in the evening, encouraging ongoing engagement with spiritual activities.