2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

My heart naturally resists depending on God when I’m weak. The noise in my heart, amplified by tough self-sufficiency, can drown out the Holy Spirit’s reminder: “my power is made perfect in your weakness.”

…yet weakness is a gift.
There are the times when his voice breaks through the noise and exposes my heart. It is a struggle to swallow my pride and obey, but it is in that turn of repentance—right in the midst of the mess—that I begin to hope again.

The truth is that I am weak every second, not just when I feel overwhelmed. Jesus wants me to see that when I am overwhelmed, he is giving me a gracious gift: the ability to see more clearly my constant need for him. So rather than denying weakness, I can boast in it because it draws me closer to Jesus in worship.

For example, the other day I was scurrying around the house getting stuff done, feeling very behind on my seemingly urgent tasks. Our third child invited me to play dolls. Pause. Graciously say no, or accept this opportunity to connect with my daughter? In the moment, my heart was faint, overwhelmed with my work. I thought, “I can’t play right now!” Yet, the Holy Spirit changed my thoughts to dependence and flexibility in my weakness. We had a great time playing. When I went back to work, my heart was more tender than it had been previously.

Feeling overwhelmed is a signal to check my heart’s dependence on God. Am I softened to the Holy Spirit? Digging in to depend on God? Do I find my soul’s refreshment in God’s sufficiency? In these times, I’m learning to cling to my Savior, who accomplished perfect work on the cross and continues to save me from my sin. God meets me at the point of my prideful self-sufficiency and lovingly brings me to my knees in worshipful dependence.

Worship through work is not just working hard for God’s glory; it is also in the attitude of humility, realizing how weak and unable we are. We can all grow in dependence on Christ and boast in our weakness. We must humble ourselves before the face of God and thank him for the gift of weakness.

Trisha is the wife of Pastor Mike Wilkerson and mother of four children (2 to 8 years). Mars Hill has been her church home for the past 10 years, where she serves as a deacon at the Ballard Campus in the Redemption Group ministry and as a volunteer counselor. In addition to her bi-weekly posts here, you can read more about what Jesus is teaching her at www.workandworship.com.

Luke 2:8-21

Ed Stetzer: MISSION, A Night with America’s Foremost Missiologist November 13th | 7PM-9PM Ballard is hosting a night with Ed Stetzer. This is a free event in partnership with the Resurgence and Acts 29. Ed Stetzer is President of LifeWay Research, speaker, and author. Ed is a contributing editor for Christianity Today, among other publications, and has written an impressive list of books; such as Lost and Found The Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them.

At the Feet of the Father | 8 Weeks of Seeking the Will of God Through Prayer and Worship The Bible is abundantly clear that there is only one true God and God reveals himself as Father, Son and Spirit. (Jer. 10:10; John 17:3; 1 Thess. 1:9; John 1:1–4, 2 Cor. 3:16–18). So how should we approach God in prayer & worship? In Matthew 6:9-15, Jesus teaches us how. From September 30th-November 18th, come to the Ballard campus on Wednesday nights at 7:00 for a night of worship and prayer as we seek to honor Jesus by praying like him and living out his word together. Children’s Ministry will be available each week.

Proxy Wednesday Nights Hey, students! Proxy has officially started, if you are between the ages of 10 and 18, come to the Paradox on Wednesday at 7pm! Proxy is the junior high and high school student ministry at Mars Hill Church, which exists to reach students, connect them in community, teach them the truth of the Bible and equip them to live for Jesus. E-mail ballardproxy@marshillchurch.org for more information. E-mail if you have questions.

Redemption Night For those facing difficult and seldom-discussed struggles, like abuse, addiction, and trials of all sorts, Redemption Groups offer a time for growing in knowledge of how God changes our lives by the Gospel. Redemption Night starts with a main session (open to everyone) with teaching based in Exodus and the Israelites’ journey from slavery to freedom. Breakout sessions include the Group Track (intense small groups that dig deep into difficult areas of life; participation in these groups requires advance registration) and the Training Track (for volunteer counselors in training and existing ministry leaders). The next session starts September 30th at 7:00pm and Children’s Ministry will available each week. Email for more information.

Campus Cleanup Thursdays | 6:30pm Every Thursday at 6:30pm, Campus Cleanup prepares the Ballard campus for Sunday services. Join us for a time of studying Scripture, prayer, snacks, and cleaning & maintenance. Anyone who desires to worship Jesus, serve the church, and build community is welcome to attend. Email for more info.

Community Groups We were created to worship Jesus in community in the Image of our Creator, who Himself exists in community. At Mars Hill, community groups are the place where discipleship and care take place. It is also within community that we engage culture and incarnate Jesus in the nooks and crannies of our city. It is our desire to see every member of Mars Hill loved, cared for, and challenged within a thriving community. For more info, or for help in finding a community in your area, go to The City (”Find a Community”) or e-mail.

Mars Hill Church Ballard lives for Jesus as a city within the city of Seattle: knowing culture, loving people, and seeing lives transformed to live for Jesus. For more information, visit us HERE. For information on community groups go HERE. For info on membership at MH, click HERE. For general questions, you can email us at ballard@marshillchurch.org.

Every Monday afternoon, the Ballard campus staff and I get together for a brown bag lunch and a great discussion on what Jesus is doing in our church and in our lives. We share evidences of God’s grace that we saw the previous Sunday. We talk about the scripture that was preached and how it impacted us personally and in ministry. And we tell stories of how God used His word to transform lives.

This week, the main topic of conversation was the difference between Christians consuming the gospel of Jesus versus being consumed by Jesus. The difference is staggering.

In the book How People Change, authors Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp talk about how a Christian can know the gospel of Jesus and still not know it. They call this the gospel gap. It is the gap between knowing the truth and living the truth. Often this gospel gap happens between the head and heart. You can know the truth in your mind and yet still have a disconnect in your heart.

So what are these subtle differences? Here are a few we talked about…

Intellectualism. A person can know a lot about God intellectually without actually knowing Him or having a relationship with Him through Jesus. In this case, I am merely a consumer of the knowledge of God; I am not transformed (or consumed) by the truth. In this case, a person might be a Christian, but they are not experiencing the fullness of the Christian life.

Seeking grace without repentance. In His wisdom, God gives people godly grief, which leads to repentance. Repentance is turning away from sin and toward Jesus. Godly grief moves a person toward having a personal relationship with Jesus and experiencing heart transformation. Worldly grief, which is not godly grief, seeks to end guilt with shallow apologies in hopes of finding a shortcut grace with no true heart change. This is a way to consume grace without being consumed by the Giver of grace, who is Jesus.

Self-centeredness. How can the gospel benefit me? This worldview starts with who I am instead of who Jesus is. It is first and foremost about how the gospel can benefit me, versus how it brings glory to God. How can I consume this gospel without it taking me out of my comfort zone and calling me to die to myself?

The list goes on and on – we Christians are masters at trying to fit God into our lives on our own terms rather than seeing ourselves in light of the person and work of Christ Jesus. So, bottom line…are you consumed by Jesus through his transforming work on the cross & his magnificent resurrection from death? Or are you merely a consumer of his story?

It’s my prayer that each of us would be constantly consumed and renewed by Christ Jesus himself, with more concern for his glory than that of our own. In order for this to happen we need to stop focusing so much on ourselves and start focusing more on treasuring Jesus and being grateful for the great gift that He is.

By way of introduction, let me answer 3 simple questions:

Who was I? I was a CA born, MT raised second oldest child in a large family. I was a sexually abused 4-year-old whose body and soul were stirred at far too young an age. I was confused about my identity — am I really a dirty little girl, or am I truly a precious daughter of my Heavenly Father whom I love so much? How can I possibly be both? I was a college-educated, promiscuous young woman who desperately wanted to believe that I could be loved.

The question “Who was I?” received it’s complete and final answer in the crucifixion of Jesus. I was a hurting sinner who nailed Jesus to the cross.

Who am I? I am a happily-married woman, pleased to be experiencing great redemption and uninhibited passion in my marriage to Pastor Phil. I am a mom to 3 great kids whom I have the privilege (and duty) of discipling and nurturing. I am a teacher to my home-schooled kids and alongside Phil, to the engaged couples at Ballard. I am a passionate woman who is opinionated and arrogant at times. I am a sinner, having used my outspoken ways to promote worship of me. I am made righteous, choosing to believe that redemption does not necessarily mean silence and invisibility. Instead, I am using my gifts for His glory alone and not mine. I am a fighter — I believe God put spunk in me to do battle with Satan over the lies he whispers to us women.

The question, “Who am I?” is best answered in Christ’s justification of me — His death makes me free and clean TODAY. I am secure in my standing before a perfect and Holy God — despite my ongoing sin — because of the blood of Christ.

Who am I becoming? I am becoming a woman who risks sharing the deepest pains of my past and the ugly reality of my current sin because I have learned to boast in Christ. I am becoming a woman who is utterly dependent on God in every moment. I am becoming a woman who desires to inspire other women to a life of worship and joy. Because of His promises to complete the work He began in me and the ongoing sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, I am becoming more and more like Christ.

You are invited along on the journey…

Jen is the wife of Pastor Phil Smidt and the mother of three children, ages 8, 11 and 12. She and her husband have been at Mars Hill for 13 years and together they teach the pre-marriage class at the Ballard campus.

Luke 2:1-7 | 9:00am, 11:15am, 5pm, 7:15pm

Ed Stetzer: MISSION, A Night with America’s Foremost Missiologist November 13th | 7PM-9PM Ballard is hosting a night with Ed Stetzer. This is a free event in partnership with the Resurgence and Acts 29. Ed Stetzer is President of LifeWay Research, speaker, and author. Ed is a contributing editor for Christianity Today, among other publications, and has written an impressive list of books; such as Lost and Found The Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them.

Mars Hill Fall Family Festival October 30th | 5PM-9PM Bring family, friends and neighbors to the Ballard campus on October 30th, 5-9pm for the third annual Fall Family Festival! This huge FREE event will have games, candy, bouncy houses and a huge cardboard box maze. Costumes are encouraged.

College Advance This year’s College Advance is on Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1 at Warm Beach. This is a great opportunity to grown in your relationship with Jesus in a real, life changing way, as well as meet other college students at Mars Hill. To register, click here. The total cost (food & lodging) is $79 for the first 175 people who register and $99 after that. We hope to see you there!

At the Feet of the Father | 8 Weeks of Seeking the Will of God Through Prayer and Worship The Bible is abundantly clear that there is only one true God and God reveals himself as Father, Son and Spirit. (Jer. 10:10; John 17:3; 1 Thess. 1:9; John 1:1–4, 2 Cor. 3:16–18). So how should we approach God in prayer & worship? In Matthew 6:9-15, Jesus teaches us how. From September 30th-November 18th, come to the Ballard campus on Wednesday nights at 7:00 for a night of worship and prayer as we seek to honor Jesus by praying like him and living out his word together. Children’s Ministry will be available each week.

Proxy Wednesday Nights Hey, students! Proxy has officially started, if you are between the ages of 10 and 18, come to the Paradox on Wednesday at 7pm! Proxy is the junior high and high school student ministry at Mars Hill Church, which exists to reach students, connect them in community, teach them the truth of the Bible and equip them to live for Jesus. E-mail ballardproxy@marshillchurch.org for more information. E-mail if you have questions.

Redemption Night For those facing difficult and seldom-discussed struggles, like abuse, addiction, and trials of all sorts, Redemption Groups offer a time for growing in knowledge of how God changes our lives by the Gospel. Redemption Night starts with a main session (open to everyone) with teaching based in Exodus and the Israelites’ journey from slavery to freedom. Breakout sessions include the Group Track (intense small groups that dig deep into difficult areas of life; participation in these groups requires advance registration) and the Training Track (for volunteer counselors in training and existing ministry leaders). The next session starts September 30th at 7:00pm and Children’s Ministry will available each week. Email for more information.

Campus Cleanup Thursdays | 6:30pm Every Thursday at 6:30pm, Campus Cleanup prepares the Ballard campus for Sunday services. Join us for a time of studying Scripture, prayer, snacks, and cleaning & maintenance. Anyone who desires to worship Jesus, serve the church, and build community is welcome to attend. Email for more info.

Community Groups We were created to worship Jesus in community in the Image of our Creator, who Himself exists in community. At Mars Hill, community groups are the place where discipleship and care take place. It is also within community that we engage culture and incarnate Jesus in the nooks and crannies of our city. It is our desire to see every member of Mars Hill loved, cared for, and challenged within a thriving community. For more info, or for help in finding a community in your area, go to The City (”Find a Community”) or e-mail.

Serving Needs 9:00am service: Greeters, Facilities, Security, Ushers, Bookstore 11:15am service: Bookstore, Security, Greeters, Children’s Ministry 5:00pm service: Bookstore, Facilities, Greeters, Ushers, Security, Communion, Hospitality 7:15pm service: Hospitality, Ushers, Security, Facilities, Communion If you have any interest in serving in one of these areas, please email servingballard@marshillchurch.org. You can also visit the Find a Service Team page on The City or the Service Teams page on the Ballard website.

Mars Hill Church Ballard lives for Jesus as a city within the city of Seattle: knowing culture, loving people, and seeing lives transformed to live for Jesus. For more information, visit us HERE. For information on community groups go HERE. For info on membership at MH, click HERE. For general questions, you can email us at ballard@marshillchurch.org.

So we loaded up the ol’ Mars Hill shuttle bus and headed to Edmonds for an afternoon of WhirlyBall. “What’s WhirlyBall?” you ask. Well, it’s “the world’s only totally mechanized team sport,” which combines basketball, hockey, and jai-alai with the reckless abandon of bumper cars. In short, WhirlyBall equals wackiness.

Two teams of five maneuver around the court with a jai-alai style plastic scoop in one hand and a steering crank in the other. The object is to toss a softball-sized whiffle ball into a fifteen-inch hole cut out of a nine to ten foot high backboard. Behind the hole is a buzzer which notifies the referee when a score is made. The referee sits in an elevated booth above the court and gives the play-by-play, while keeping score and assessing any penalties.

We were able to play about a dozen fifteen-minute games. As the afternoon progressed, we each honed our skills and strategies (and even broke a sweat). Highlights included a five-point half court shot from Pastor Mike Wilkerson, a collision in the corner that sent Brandon Anderson’s car airborne, and the no-nonsense defense of Danielle Montemayor.

To make things even more interesting, at the end of the day, we also gave awards for best WhirlyBall uniform, as voted on by the players not in uniform. Kyle Firstenberg (far right), Haden Sutton (second from left), and Cliff Ellis (center) took the top three spots—quite the honor, as you can see.

We recapped the day on our ride home and even started throwing out ideas for our next staff outing. Paintball perhaps?


I appreciate the Ballard staff, the work they do, and the way God is working in and through them. But I also enjoy the times we’re able to let loose and have some fun. Praise God for friendships, laughter, and well…WhirlyBall.

Hi. My name is Tami. My story is, currently, one brimming with conviction of sin. My introductory post may seem to be just that — full of my sin, how wretched I am, how desperately I need Jesus. Praise God, because the more I see how much of a mess I am the more I’m amazed at the work of the cross: that while I was still weak, still a sinner–God’s enemy–Jesus died for me, in my place, taking all of the punishment and shame of both the sin I commit and that committed against me.

The gospel is not about how “together” I can be, purportedly for God’s glory. Rather, in my continuing weakness, the Gospel comes to life as I rely on Jesus — my sin- and death- conquering Hero, my Champion with His name tattooed on His thigh and eyes of fire. Praise Jesus that my story is not one merely of sin — it’s one of repentance, learning what it is to run to my Strong Tower and find refuge in Him! He’s changing me, putting my sin to death! Praise God that my story is a part of His story!

Jesus miraculously burst into my life and put His Holy Spirit into me 11 years ago. I spent over 10 years certain that I was a mature Christian. However, a multitude of sins rooted in pride, unbelief, and love of comfort and pleasure shone far more clearly through my life than did love for Jesus. In January of this year I went through a Redemption Group and my Father lovingly began to reveal to me how little I understood or lived the Gospel.

These last ten months have been filled with consistent revelation of sin, much repentance, and a lot of heart anguish due to the death wrought by my sin. I have been confronted boldly about sin; I wrestled with God over pursuing weight loss surgery; and now I am dealing with the sins that led to my obesity. Other sins include lack of submission to my husband; control; failure to steward finances, time, and talent; and my sinful response to my past history of sexual, emotional, physical, verbal, and spiritual abuse and sexual sin I committed.

Though I’ve been a Christian for over a decade, I feel like a baby. I thought this was the Gospel: Jesus died for me, saved me, and now I better be like Him. My sin discouraged and threatened me because I thought it showed that I must not really love Jesus because I wasn’t reflecting Him very well. Jesus is showing me that is not the Gospel. Rather, in God’s providence, He planned that Jesus would die once on the cross and rise once from the dead as the propitiation — taking my punishment in my place — for my sins. From there, I need continual expiation — consistent cleansing from the effects of sins I commit and sins committed against me, both pre- and post-salvation. My sin need not threaten me; rather, it is meant to remind me of my need to rely on the Holy Spirit for conviction and repentance. This allows me to be restored to the Father who loves me so much that He allowed my sin to nail Jesus to the cross so that He could have relationship with me.

This is the Gospel, and, praise God, I am learning to live it. I pray that my involvement in writing for this blog exhorts you to do the same. Last week I celebrated my 28th birthday, and I pray that when I turn 29 I can look back and see a year of living and believing the real Gospel. Will you join me?

Tami and her husband celebrated their second anniversary in September and look forward to celebrating two years at Mars Hill at the end of November. She is currently an apprentice in the Redemption Group ministry and she and her husband host their Community Group on Tuesday nights. You can read more about what Jesus is doing in her life in her personal blog, Steadfast Love.

Bubba Jennings
Ballard Campus Pastor

God cares a great deal about the families and kids in Seattle. We know this because God reveals Himself as a loving Father who is on a mission to save and redeem his lost, rebellious children (Matthew 5:44-45; 6:26; 7:11; Col. 1:13-15; 1 John 4:10-11). In fact, the whole idea of “family” was created and established by God (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:18-24). It is God who gives children to parents as a blessing (Psalms 127:3-5). And, it is God who provides parents with wisdom and instructions on how to raise their children in a loving way (Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Ephesians 6:1-4).

Likewise, part of our mission and one of our deep desires as a church is to see the families in our city meet Jesus and experience peace with God. Because of this, we partner with local organizations such as the Ballard Boys and Girls Club in order to build relationships with local families. As well, community groups are encouraged to love and serve families in their neighborhoods who are in need of help. And every year at this time we throw a huge free party with the intention of reaching out and inviting our neighbors to enjoy a safe and fun place to celebrate with us.

On Friday, October 30th from 5:00 to 9:00pm, bring your family and friends to the Ballard campus for our third annual Fall Family Festival. During this time, the entire building will be transformed into a huge party geared toward families. We’ll have carnival games for all ages, Rock Band/Wii, bounce houses, a giant cardboard maze, refreshments, candy, and most importantly, a great chance to connect with other parents and kids in the Ballard neighborhood. I look forward to seeing you there!