GROWING SPIRITUAL RESILIENCE IN 2026
Pastor Nick Scheske | Sunday, December 21, 2025
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Christmas At Heartland
Dec 22-24
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1,568 completed the survey
89.5% of you say you have grown spiritually in the last year.
God, who do you want me to become in 2026?
Barna/Gloo Research State of the Church 2025
Out of the thousands of Christians they talked to, “Only 1 & 11 is a resilient disciple” – What is a resilient disciple? Someone who grows to become more like Christ despite all the challenges and surprises they face.
Unavoidable circumstances
Unexplainable problems
Uncontrollable worry
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Things will come your way BUT in me there is peace….
Starts with a humble admission… “Jesus, when I look at you, consider who you are, the values you hold—the humility you lived with, the unity you prayed for, and the generosity you give. When I see the audacity you live with, your curiosity about people, and your perseverance and tenacity to not quit, I know that’s who I need to become.
Is it actually forming you?
When the Pressure turns up, Q: How spiritually resilient am I?
Is there a gap between who I say I am and who I want to be?
Matthew 26:36-37 NKJV Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
Matthew 26:38-39 NKJV “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and, fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
God is not a figure to be studied but a Father to be known
Matthew 26:40-41 NKJV Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Hebrews 4:15–16, (The Message) “We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.”
Barna/Gloo Research State of the Church 2025 Survey - The key difference: between the 1 who is spiritually resilient and the other 10 who aren’t...The 1 who is spiritually resilient says, “I have experienced God's power, provision, & presence through prayer...”
21 Days of Prayer
January 4 - 24, 2026
Monday — Friday at 6:00 am EST
Saturday at 9:00 am EST
In-Person & Online
Prayer connects me to God
Fasting disconnects me from the world
I want you to Pre-decide: Spiritual resilience doesn’t happen by accident… it takes a plan… so commit and plan right now… I’m going to be a part of 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting
James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”