Austin Area Wide: Look Up, Look In, Look Out

Special guest Paul Partlow takes us into the throne room of God through Isaiah chapter 6, revealing a three-fold movement that transforms how we engage with our faith and our world. We begin by looking up to behold God's holiness and majesty, recognizing that even when earthly thrones are empty and uncertainty surrounds us, God remains sovereign and seated on His throne. The whole earth is full of His glory, not just our worship services or church buildings. This upward gaze shifts our perspective from political anxieties and cultural wars to the unchanging reality of God's reign. Next, we're called to look inward with honest self-examination. Like Isaiah, when we truly encounter God's holiness, we cannot help but recognize our own brokenness and need for grace. This isn't about self-righteousness or pointing fingers at others, but acknowledging that we are all sinners standing on level ground at the foot of the cross. Finally, having been cleansed and forgiven, we look outward with mission and purpose. God asks the same question He asked Isaiah: whom shall I send? Our response as a unified body of Christ should be a resounding declaration that we are ready to go into broken neighborhoods, workplaces, and schools to show others the transforming love of Jesus. This isn't about converting people to our way of doing church, but introducing them to the person of Christ Himself.