Luke 5:15–16: Digital Commitments

The life Jesus offers does not happen by accident. Every day, our habits and routines are forming us into a particular kind of person. The question is not whether we are being formed, but by what. In a culture and economy designed to fragment our attention and keep us constantly connected to screens, following Jesus requires more than awareness and good intentions. It requires intentional practices that create space for communion with God, presence with others, and attentiveness to what matters most.

As a church, we are asking each of us to commit to two simple but meaningful practices that help us resist the pull of distraction and cultivate a deeper life with Jesus. Practices like “Jesus Before Screens” and “My Phone Sleeps Where I Don’t” are not about guilt, restriction, or proving our holiness. They are small, research-supported1–5 acts of discipleship that reorient our hearts toward God and remind us that our devices are meant to be our servants, not our masters. As we take these steps together, supported by a committed community, we trust that God will use these ordinary practices to form in us a greater freedom, presence, and love for Him and for others.

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Mark 11:15–19: Clearing the Way for Communion With God

God created us for communion with Himself. Like the temple in Jerusalem, our lives were meant to be places where we meet with God. Yet over time, other things can quietly occupy that sacred space. In Jesus’ day, economic interests, cultural assumptions, and long-accepted religious practices had slowly crowded the temple until the place intended for prayer had become something else entirely. People had grown so accustomed to the obstruction that they no longer recognized what had been lost.

Jesus’ response was anything but indifferent. Filled with holy zeal, He overturned the tables and drove out everything that hindered people from encountering His Father, declaring, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” His passion reveals both the value of communion with God and His willingness to confront whatever stands in its way. As we become aware of the ways our digital lives have shaped us, Jesus extends that same invitation to us—not to reject technology itself, but to courageously remove whatever crowds out His presence. The goal of every sacrifice, boundary, and countercultural choice is not simply less distraction, but more of God. As we clear away what has taken up residence in our hearts and habits, we create space to become people who more deeply enjoy His presence and help others do the same.

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Jeremiah 2:13–14: Gaining Awareness Into Our Digital Lives

In countless visible and invisible ways, our digital environment is shaping us. The devices we use, the content we consume, and the habits we repeat each day are quietly influencing our attention, desires, relationships, and spiritual lives. If we hope to follow Jesus faithfully in our digital age, we must begin by honestly examining the ways we are already being formed. All worthwhile growth and change starts with awareness. Awareness is not the destination, but it is an essential first step toward meaningful transformation.

The invitation of Jesus is not one of shame or condemnation, but rather the sweet integration of grace and truth. He lovingly calls us to see reality as it is so that we might experience the freedom He desires for us. Through honest reflection and a Digital Habit Audit (see the series companion workbook on the series page, linked below), we have an opportunity to pay attention to what is truly shaping us and to discover where our lives are aligned—or misaligned—with the life God intends. As we do, we can trust that the kindness of God will lead us toward repentance, renewal, and a more intentional way of living.

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Matthew 7:13–15: Being With Jesus in a Digital & Distracted Age

We live in a world that is increasingly defined by distraction. The devices we carry, the media we consume, and the rhythms we inhabit continually compete for our attention, shaping our desires and influencing who we become. Without intending to, many of us find ourselves swept along by a culture of constant connectivity, hurriedness, and digital saturation. Rather than leading to a life of peace and wholeness, this cultural current often leads to increasing anxiety and dividedness. Jesus describes such a path as the broad and easy way—a way that feels natural and effortless, yet ultimately leads away from the life we were created to enjoy and ultimately toward unraveling.

Yet Jesus does not merely warn us about the broad way; He invites us into something better. Through the narrow gate and along the hard way, He offers a life of genuine freedom, wholeness, and communion with God. Following Jesus in a digital and distracted age will require intentionality, courage, and a willingness to resist powerful cultural currents. It will cost us something. But what we gain is far greater: a life rooted in God’s presence and shaped by His love. This series is an invitation to walk that path together.

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Luke 5:15–16: Rest (III)

 

This fall marks our sixth installation of “Be with Jesus and Follow His Way of Life,” a semiannual preaching series where we revisit our vision for discipleship to Jesus (with a focus on a particular practice).

But first, what is that vision for discipleship? Park Church exists to make disciples of Jesus for the glory of God and the joy of all people. What’s a disciple? A disciple is someone who has been reconciled to God by grace through faith in Christ and is learning to be with Jesus and follow His way of life.

This particular installation of the series is simply called “Rest” and is aimed at helping disciples of Jesus learn more about what it means to “be with Jesus” by helping us grow in our practices of rest and Sabbath. This mini-series precedes its sibling, “Work,” which we’ll visit in January 2026.

Exodus 20:8–11: Rest (II)

 

This fall marks our sixth installation of “Be with Jesus and Follow His Way of Life,” a semiannual preaching series where we revisit our vision for discipleship to Jesus (with a focus on a particular practice).

But first, what is that vision for discipleship? Park Church exists to make disciples of Jesus for the glory of God and the joy of all people. What’s a disciple? A disciple is someone who has been reconciled to God by grace through faith in Christ and is learning to be with Jesus and follow His way of life.

This particular installation of the series is simply called “Rest” and is aimed at helping disciples of Jesus learn more about what it means to “be with Jesus” by helping us grow in our practices of rest and Sabbath. This mini-series precedes its sibling, “Work,” which we’ll visit in January 2026.

Genesis 1:23–2:3: Rest (I)

 

This fall marks our sixth installation of “Be with Jesus and Follow His Way of Life,” a semiannual preaching series where we revisit our vision for discipleship to Jesus (with a focus on a particular practice).

But first, what is that vision for discipleship? Park Church exists to make disciples of Jesus for the glory of God and the joy of all people. What’s a disciple? A disciple is someone who has been reconciled to God by grace through faith in Christ and is learning to be with Jesus and follow His way of life.

This particular installation of the series is simply called “Rest” and is aimed at helping disciples of Jesus learn more about what it means to “be with Jesus” by helping us grow in our practices of rest and Sabbath. This mini-series precedes its sibling, “Work,” which we’ll visit in January 2026.

A Life of Confession (Luke 18:9–14)

This is our fifth installation of our “Be with Jesus and Follow His Way of Life” multi-year preaching series. This particular installation is aimed at helping disciples of Jesus learn more about what it means to “be with Jesus” by helping us grow in our practice of confession and repentance in order to cultivate deeper communion with God.

The Practice of Confession (1 John 1:5–10)

This is our fifth installation of our “Be with Jesus and Follow His Way of Life” multi-year preaching series. This particular installation is aimed at helping disciples of Jesus learn more about what it means to “be with Jesus” by helping us grow in our practice of confession and repentance in order to cultivate deeper communion with God.

The Challenge of Confession (Psalm 32:1–5)

This is our fifth installation of our “Be with Jesus and Follow His Way of Life” multi-year preaching series. This particular installation is aimed at helping disciples of Jesus learn more about what it means to “be with Jesus” by helping us grow in our practice of confession and repentance in order to cultivate deeper communion with God.