--- title: "The Tree Church — Lancaster & Logan, Ohio" url: https://thetree.church/blog/tag/obedience description: "The Tree Church — Lancaster & Logan, Ohio. Experience the life-changing presence of a loving God. Sundays 9:00 & 11:00am." lang: en --- 721 N. Memorial Drive, Lancaster, OH 43130✦ Main Service: Sunday 9 & 11am✦ Movement Youth Sunday 5:30pm✦ Lancaster & Logan, Ohio✦ 721 N. Memorial Drive, Lancaster, OH 43130✦ Main Service: Sunday 9 & 11am✦ Movement Youth Sunday 5:30pm✦ Lancaster & Logan, Ohio✦ All posts (https://thetree.church/blog) Tag # Obedience. Take 20 ## You Are Called Now October 13th, 2026 Jesus called His followers to be salt and light right where they were. He didn't tell them to wait until they were more mature, knowledgeable, or spiritually disciplined. He called the people who were standing in front of Him at that moment. In the same way, Jesus isn't waiting for a future version of us before He can use us. He has called us to live for Him right now. https://thetree.church/blog/2026/10/13/you-are-called-now Take 20 · September 30th, 2026 ### Take the Next Step The disciples waited, but when the Holy Spirit finally came, Peter and the others began to obey. The Holy Spirit moves through us in ways we could never accomplish on our own. We may not feel ready or sufficient, but we can take the next step knowing that where we lack, God can fill the gaps. https://thetree.church/blog/2026/09/30/take-the-next-step Take 20 · September 28th, 2026 ### Say Yes Before You Know Peter had no idea what following Jesus would look like after the resurrection. He had failed Jesus, been restored by Him, and was now simply told, “Follow me.” Jesus didn’t give Peter a complete plan for his future. He gave him an invitation to trust and obey. Following Jesus often means saying yes before we know exactly where that yes will lead. https://thetree.church/blog/2026/09/28/say-yes-before-you-know Take 20 · September 11th, 2026 ### The Courage to Obey Recognizing God’s voice ultimately means very little if we are unwilling to obey what He says. Proverbs calls us to trust the Lord rather than leaning entirely on our own understanding and to acknowledge Him in all our ways. Obedience strengthens our sensitivity to God because we learn through experience that His ways are trustworthy; disobedience, on the other hand, can harden our hearts and make us less responsive to His voice. We do not need to understand everything before we obey—we need to trust the One who is leading us. https://thetree.church/blog/2026/09/11/the-courage-to-obey Take 20 · August 31st, 2026 ### Faith That Moves Us Faith is more than believing that God can do something; biblical faith moves us to respond to what we believe about God. Hebrews 11 gives us example after example of people who acted because they trusted God—Abel offered, Noah built, Abraham left, and Moses obeyed. The Holy Spirit can give us confidence in God’s power and faithfulness in a specific situation, but that confidence is meant to produce a response. We may not know exactly what God will do, but we can choose to pray, obey, risk, and persevere because we know who God is. https://thetree.church/blog/2026/08/31/faith-that-moves-us Take 20 · August 17th, 2026 ### Two Roads, One Choice Jesus closes the Sermon on the Mount with a stark choice: a narrow gate that leads to life, and a wide gate that leads to destruction. Jesus warns that few find the narrow way. because it takes full and daily surrender to living His way, while the wide road only asks you to drift with the crowd. Jesus gives a warning and a promise in the same breath: you'll recognize a tree by its fruit, and even impressive words mean nothing if they aren't backed by actually doing what He says. The wise builder isn't the one who simply hears the message, it's the one who lets it reshape how they live, so that when the storms come, they're still standing. https://thetree.church/blog/2026/08/17/two-roads-one-choice Take 20 · August 14th, 2026 ### Learning to Hear the Holy Spirit How does the Holy Spirit convict us? Most often, He speaks through God's Word, through prayer, through other believers, and even through life's circumstances. Scripture exposes what is hidden in our hearts. Prayer creates space for the Spirit to search us. Mature believers help us recognize blind spots we cannot see on our own. Even seasons of discipline become loving invitations to return to God. The greatest danger isn't that God stops speaking. The greatest danger is that we stop listening. Delayed obedience hardens our hearts until His voice becomes more difficult to recognize. But every act of obedience softens our hearts and increases our sensitivity to His leading. As you consistently respond to the Holy Spirit, He develops within you a godly conscience that naturally draws you toward Jesus. https://thetree.church/blog/2026/08/14/learning-to-hear-the-holy-spirit Take 20 · July 16th, 2026 ### Blessing Through Obedient Worship Jesus consistently taught that obedience and faithfulness lead to blessing—both now and eternally. Desiring God’s blessing isn’t selfish; it’s healthy faith that honors His character as a good Father. When we worship through obedience—seeking first His kingdom, giving generously, forgiving freely—we position ourselves to receive what God wants to give. Worship isn’t manipulation; it’s alignment. It aligns our hearts with God’s will and opens us to His favor. Like children who trust their father’s wisdom and provision, we honor God when we believe He will bless our obedience. True worship transforms us from the inside out, making us more like Christ and positioning us for the abundant life He promised. https://thetree.church/blog/2026/07/16/blessing-through-obedient-worship Take 20 · July 10th, 2026 ### Worship That Shapes Our Lives Paul calls us to present our bodies as living sacrifices—this is our “true and proper worship.” Worship isn’t confined to Sunday morning music; it’s the daily offering of our whole lives to God. When we prioritize time with God, when we tithe even when money is tight, when we choose obedience over convenience—we’re worshipping. This kind of worship transforms us, renewing our minds so we can discern God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will. The world will constantly pressure us to conform, offering counterfeit gods that promise fulfillment. But when we remove our idols and place God back in His rightful position, He directs every decision we make. True worship shapes our lives from the inside out. https://thetree.church/blog/2026/07/10/worship-that-shapes-our-lives Take 20 · June 9th, 2026 ### The Obedience of True Worship Nadab and Abihu had access, anointing, and authority—yet they died in God's presence. Their https://thetree.church/blog/2026/06/09/the-obedience-of-true-worship Take 20 · May 15th, 2026 ### The Narrow Gate and Wide Invitation The gate is narrow, but the invitation is universal. Jesus doesn't exclude people; people exclude themselves by choosing the wide, easy path that leads to destruction. The narrow way isn't difficult because God is restrictive—it's difficult because it requires surrendering our self-constructed paths. Many will say https://thetree.church/blog/2026/05/15/the-narrow-gate-and-wide-invitation Take 20 · May 13th, 2026 ### Love Expressed Through Obedience Love without obedience is merely sentiment. Jesus repeatedly connects loving Him with keeping His commands—not as legalistic burden, but as relational reality. When you love someone, you naturally align your life with theirs. Obedience becomes the language of love. This challenges our culture's definition of love as unconditional acceptance without transformation. God's love is unconditional, but relationship with Him requires response. Today, identify one area where you call Jesus https://thetree.church/blog/2026/05/13/love-expressed-through-obedience Take 20 · April 22nd, 2026 ### Storms Will Come Jesus doesn't promise a storm-free life—He promises a foundation that holds when storms hit. Rain falls on both houses; the difference is what they're built upon. Your deconstruction may feel like a storm, but perhaps it's revealing whether your faith was built on religious performance, others' expectations, or cultural Christianity rather than on Christ Himself. The wise builder doesn't just hear Jesus' words; they do them. They experience Him. Knowledge alone won't sustain you when questions rage and doubts flood in. Relationship will. Today, identify one teaching of Jesus you've heard but haven't truly practiced. Choose to obey it—not from duty, but as an experiment in trust. Let experience deepen what knowledge alone cannot. https://thetree.church/blog/2026/04/22/storms-will-come Take 20 · April 15th, 2026 ### The Warning of Divided Loyalty Joshua's warning cuts deep: the same God who blesses obedience will discipline disobedience. This isn't about earning God's love—that's already secured—but about experiencing His best. Divided loyalty always leads to diminished life. What competes for God's place in your heart? Career success? Financial security? Others' approval? These aren't inherently evil, but when they command the obedience that belongs to God alone, they become functional gods. Joshua witnessed an entire generation miss the Promised Land because they trusted their fears more than God's faithfulness. What are you missing by serving lesser things? Today, identify one area where you've given another voice authority over God's. Repentance isn't condemnation; it's the pathway back to blessing. https://thetree.church/blog/2026/04/15/the-warning-of-divided-loyalty Take 20 · March 18th, 2026 ### The Authority of God's Word Scripture isn't merely one influence among many—it's God's authoritative voice for every aspect of life. Yet many believers treat the Bible as a reference point they consult occasionally rather than the captain of their souls. When we know what Scripture teaches but choose our own way, we move from ignorance to rebellion. God has revealed His design for relationships, finances, sexuality, work, rest, and purpose. The question isn't whether God has spoken—it's whether we'll obey what He's said. Today, examine your life honestly. Are there areas where you know God's Word but haven't submitted to it? Remember, spiritual maturity isn't measured by knowledge alone but by obedience. Let Scripture equip you for every good work God has prepared. https://thetree.church/blog/2026/03/18/the-authority-of-god-s-word Take 20 · March 12th, 2026 ### No Excuses, Only Obedience We are masterful at creating excuses for why we can't serve: https://thetree.church/blog/2026/03/12/no-excuses-only-obedience Take 20 · February 25th, 2026 ### Return to Me God’s invitation is relational, not transactional: “Return to me.” The tithe isn’t about meeting God’s needs—it’s about aligning our hearts with His lordship. Giving is one of the clearest expressions of trust and obedience. God uniquely invites His people to test Him here, not to manipulate Him, but to experience His faithfulness. When we honor Him first, we position ourselves to witness His provision and protection. https://thetree.church/blog/2026/02/25/return-to-me Take 20 · January 21st, 2026 ### How You View God Determines Everything Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time. Reading: Proverbs 9:10–12; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read. After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. B... https://thetree.church/blog/2026/01/21/how-you-view-god-determines-everything Take 20 · January 16th, 2026 ### One Percent Better Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time. Reading: Colossians 3:23–24; Luke 16:10Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read. After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attenti... https://thetree.church/blog/2026/01/16/one-percent-better Take 20 · December 30th, 2025 ### Faith Requires Movement Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time. Reading: Matthew 2:9–10, Hebrews 11:8–10Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read. After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attent... https://thetree.church/blog/2025/12/30/faith-requires-movement