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Pre-Decide | Your Choices Shape Your Life | Passion Church Kernersville
July 14, 2025
Pre-Decide: How Your Choices Shape Your Life – Passion Church Kernersville NC
If you’re searching for a Christian church in Kernersville, NC, or googling “church near me” hoping for something real, something refreshing, something life-giving, Passion Church might be exactly what you’ve been praying for.
Over the past several weeks, we’ve been walking through a powerful teaching series called Pre-Decide: Better Choices, Better Life. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this:
"The quality of your decisions will, by and large, determine the quality of your life."
This isn’t just self-help—it’s biblical truth. And at Passion Church Kernersville NC, we’re learning how to make better decisions not based on our emotions, pressure, or past failures—but on God’s purpose and truth.
What Is "Pre-Decide" About?
We’ve all made decisions we regret. And most of the time, it’s not because we’re bad people—it’s because we weren’t ready when the moment came. We reacted instead of responding.
But what if you could pre-decide your values, your boundaries, and your direction before life put you on the spot?
That’s the heart of this series.
“When faced with ______, I have pre-decided to ______.”
This simple declaration has helped so many people in our church build new rhythms of spiritual strength and personal integrity. It’s helped people overcome temptation, step into generosity, grow in consistency, and draw closer to Jesus.
Why Pre-Decide?
Because life is too important to drift.
Because the world is full of distractions and options that look appealing in the moment but lead to regret in the end.
And because you don’t rise to the level of your intentions, you fall to the level of your decisions.
Here are just a few core truths we’ve explored together:
1. When your values are clear, your decisions are easier.
If you don’t define your direction, the world will define it for you. At Passion Church, we’re learning to live by God’s values, not culture’s suggestions.
2. You don’t win in the moment—you win before the moment.
Whether it’s temptation, conflict, or spiritual habits—deciding beforehand how you’ll respond makes all the difference. This is how Daniel in the Bible stayed faithful under pressure (Daniel 1:8, Daniel 6:10).
3. You are not your emotions—you are who God says you are.
We live in a world that teaches us to follow our feelings. But Scripture teaches us to follow Jesus. Pre-deciding based on God’s identity and purpose for your life sets you free from emotional whiplash and spiritual stagnation.
6 Decisions That Can Change Your Life
Each week at Passion Church, we’ve made bold declarations that reframe how we live:
I am ready.
(I will be prepared when temptation comes.)
I am consistent.
(I will do what honors God again and again.)
I am devoted.
(I will seek God first.)
I am generous.
(I don’t wait to give—I plan to give.)
I am faithful.
(I will multiply what God has entrusted to me.)
I am a finisher.
(I don’t quit when it’s hard.)
And in our new Week 6 addition, we’re declaring:
I choose joy.
(No matter what, I will rejoice in the Lord. – Philippians 4:4–9)
This Isn’t Just About Self-Discipline—It’s About Spiritual Transformation
Pre-deciding isn't about willpower. It’s about identity.
You are who God says you are. You are loved. You are chosen. You are called.
And when you anchor your decisions to the truth of who He is and who He’s made you to be, your life changes from the inside out.
This series has been a game-changer for our church family—and we believe it could be a game-changer for you too.
A Church Near You That Feels Like Home
If you're looking for a church near me that teaches the Bible, loves people deeply, and challenges you to grow in your faith, Passion Church Kernersville NC is here for you.
We’re not interested in playing church—we’re here to be the Church: bold, joyful, real, and passionate.
Here’s what to expect when you visit:
Biblically-based messages that make sense in everyday life
Powerful worship that helps you connect with God
Incredible kids & youth ministries
A culture of authenticity, growth, and community
Real Stories, Real Growth
“Been a part of this amazing journey from the beginning when we were at the picnic tables at Triad Park to current location. This is my church family, not all know me, but they treat you like family. The members say hello, smile at you, make you welcomed. I have been pulled closer to God, I personally have been dealing with a lot and these extraordinary people I call my family have helped me with their kind words, their hugs, just listening, and it makes a difference, it pulls you to the light when you feel your in the dark place. I hope you come and see why the Passion Church is a welcoming church that does not judge and makes you feel at home and brings you closer to God.” – Lindsay S.
“Passion Church - the name says it all. Starting with Pastor Josh, the authentic, passionate attitude can be seen and experienced through the entire worship team, the members, the partners, and the volunteers who make this church a great place to worship. God is at the center of our worship, and many dedicated and generous individuals put forth a great effort to help point others to a genuine relationship with Jesus. Believing, trusting, and obeying God, being generous, and helping others in need - that is what it's all about - and that is what you will find at Passion Church.” – Ed P.
“From the moment you get out of your car, someone is there to welcome you before you enter the building. I dare say that if you are not greeted by at least 10 people on the way to your seat, you had to try to avoid them. This is the most welcoming church that I have ever seen. Not only that, the people are authentic and not just putting on a show. The workship is raw and real. The messages are shared with love and a genuine heart full of compassion for Jesus and people. I am proud to call Passion Church my church home.” – Paul B.
Join Us This Sunday
📍 Location: Passion Church, Kernersville, NC
🕘 Service Times: 9:30 am & 11:00 am
👶 Kids Church: Passion Kids for birth–5th grade
🌐 Website: www.passionchurchnc.com
Your Next Right Step
You don’t have to drift through life. You don’t have to be a victim of your past or your feelings.
You can pre-decide to become the person God created you to be.
So if you’re searching for a Christian church in Kernersville NC or a church near me where real people are experiencing real change through Jesus—come visit Passion Church.
We’d love to meet you. Better yet, we’d love to walk alongside you as you pre-decide to follow Jesus in every part of your life.
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I will never forget an encounter that changed my life. For this blog, we’re going to say it was a day I was talking with Tammy. Tammy was a teen I had been working with at my gym, training her in self-defense and fitness. She was precious—tender-hearted, kind, smart, and full of promise. All the reasons her dad wanted her to be equipped to protect herself in today’s world. Over the years, we built a strong friendship. She was like a little cousin to me. But one day, she came in visibly upset. We went through the workout as usual, but something was off. Jokes fell flat, silent tears were shed, and her whole demeanor had shifted. At the end, I gently asked if something was wrong. It was like a dam broke. Tammy opened up and shared something deeply personal—she was struggling with homosexual thoughts and urges. Wanting guidance, she had confided in her pastor. But instead of compassion, she was met with condemnation. She described nearly two hours of being berated, judged, and warned she would burn in hell if she didn’t repent. He told her she could no longer serve at the church if this was the path she’d chosen. But here’s the thing—she hadn’t chosen anything. She was experiencing confusing emotions and looking for help. She loved the church. She loved her friends there. She loved Jesus. She came seeking understanding and got rejection. That was the last time she set foot in that church. I sat there, heartbroken and angry. Tammy wasn’t rebellious—she was wounded. She needed grace, not a spiritual beatdown. And there I was, a Bible-believing Christian and conservative church pastor, holding the tension of truth and compassion in my hands. I believed in the biblical view of sex and marriage. But what about grace? What about loving her through a confusing season, mentoring her with wisdom, helping her process powerful emotions—not by affirming them as right, but by acknowledging them as real and pointing her toward Jesus? That day, something changed in me. I knew that something had to shift. And it needed to start here—with a new way of thinking. One rooted in Jesus. One that starts with grace and leads to truth. Why Grace Comes First Jesus modeled this for us. Whether it was the woman caught in adultery, Zacchaeus the tax collector, or Peter after his denial, He led with compassion before correction. He didn’t ignore sin—but He didn’t start there. He met people with grace first. Because grace softens hearts. It disarms fear. It invites relationship. That’s what we want people to experience at Passion Church. Whether it’s their first Sunday or their first time back in years, we want them to know: there is grace for you here. Grace Isn’t the End Goal But grace isn’t the destination—it’s the invitation. Because grace without truth may comfort us for a moment, but it will never transform us for eternity. Truth without grace leads to Hell—but grace without truth doesn’t exist. That might sound bold, but it’s biblical. If we base our salvation on truth alone—just law, just right and wrong—then we fail every time. Romans says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” If truth were the only measure, then by truth alone, we are all heading toward separation from God. But grace steps in. Grace makes a way. Yet grace that ignores truth isn't love. You cannot love someone and withhold the truth from them. That’s not compassion—it’s cruelty dressed in kindness. It’s like this: imagine I tell my daughter not to touch the electrical outlet. I warn her over and over. I even smack her hand away when she reaches for it because I love her and want to protect her. But then I walk away, and she touches it. She gets hurt. When I come back, I don’t shame her—I comfort her. I care for her, tend to her wounds, and get her the help she needs. But imagine if, at the end of that moment, I said, “Honey, if the light socket makes you feel good, go ahead and touch it again.” That wouldn’t be love—that would be abandonment. Love protects those it loves. Love accepts the mistake, but it doesn’t affirm it. That’s the heart of Jesus. Grace wraps its arms around you in your pain, but truth gently guides you toward freedom. We need both. Leading to Truth Truth isn’t a weapon—it’s a key. It unlocks the door to freedom. Jesus said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). We don’t use truth to shame—we use it to shepherd. At Passion Church, we believe you don’t have to sacrifice love to speak the truth, and you don’t have to water down truth to be loving. We walk with people through real struggles—just like Tammy—and we don’t abandon them to those struggles, nor do we affirm the lie that they are defined by them. We mentor, we guide, and we let the Holy Spirit do the heart work that only He can do. This is what real discipleship looks like: walking together, in grace, toward truth. What This Looks Like at Passion Church It looks like real stories—of redemption, healing, and restoration. It’s the single mom who finds community before anyone asks about her past. It’s the teenager wrestling with identity who finds love before receiving direction. It’s the addict who walks into a service hungover and walks out full of hope. From our welcome team to our worship, from the sermon to the follow-up, every part of our church culture is built to reflect this value: we start with grace, and we lead to truth. Why This Matters The world is confused about love and truth. Some churches speak truth so loudly they forget to love. Others love so broadly they forget to speak truth. But we believe the Gospel is better than that. Jesus meets us where we are, but He never leaves us there. And as His church, we’re called to do the same. At Passion Church, our mission is to help people become fully alive in Jesus. That starts with grace. But it never ends there. Final Invitation Maybe you’ve felt the sting of truth without grace. Maybe you’ve been handed grace without direction. Maybe you’re like Tammy—longing for a church that sees the struggle, speaks the truth, and never lets go of your hand in the process. If that’s you, know this: you are welcome here. There is grace for you. And there is truth that will change everything. Let’s walk that journey together.
The past few years have been some of the hardest I’ve ever faced. They’ve been filled with tension, stress, loss, and grief—both personally and spiritually. But nothing prepared me for the day I lost my sister, Nia, on January 15, 2024. That kind of devastation cuts deep. I was broken, grieving, and numb… but life didn’t slow down. My ministry was changing rapidly, my ex-wife and I had just separated, and the businesses I own were starving for attention and direction. I felt like I was standing in the middle of a storm with no place to hide. And the weight of it all was too much for me to carry. I couldn’t stop. But I also couldn’t survive on my own strength. And so—I prayed. Not perfect prayers. Not long prayers. Sometimes just whispered, tear-filled prayers. But they were real. They were raw. And they were lifesaving. Prayer didn’t make the grief disappear, but it became the foundation I stood on when everything else was shaking. And slowly, through daily prayer, God began building something new in me—a fresh strength, a deeper dependence, and the resilience to lead through one of the most sacred and stretching seasons of my life. Now, more than ever, I’m convinced: how we start our day matters. When I start my day with God—everything changes. My mood shifts. My patience increases. My decisions improve. My interactions with others are more grace-filled. I become a better father, pastor, and follower of Jesus. That’s the power of daily prayer. It’s not just a spiritual routine—it’s survival. It’s strength. It’s a daily invitation into God’s presence where everything begins to realign. Why Daily Prayer Matters 1. Prayer connects us to the heart of God. Every relationship needs communication. God isn’t looking for perfect words—He’s looking for your heart. Daily prayer is how we align our minds with His truth, how we hear His whisper, and how we stay grounded in the middle of life’s chaos. 2. Prayer brings peace in the middle of pressure. Life is loud. Prayer is where the volume gets turned down. Philippians 4:6–7 tells us not to be anxious about anything, but instead to pray about everything—and in return, God gives us peace that doesn’t make sense to the world. That kind of peace only comes through consistent connection with Him. 3. Prayer invites God into the details. From big decisions to small frustrations, when we invite God into our day—every part of it—we start to see Him show up in unexpected places. Your commute. Your meetings. Your parenting moments. Your late-night thoughts. Prayer transforms “just another day” into holy ground. 4. Prayer transforms us. Prayer isn’t about changing God’s mind—it’s about allowing Him to change our hearts. It shapes our character, stretches our faith, and reminds us who we are and whose we are. It Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated You don’t need perfect words. You don’t need a script. You just need a moment—and a willing heart. Pray while driving. Pray while washing dishes. Pray with your kids before school. Start your day with it. End your day with it. Write it out. Whisper it. Sing it. Sit silently and just listen. There’s no wrong way to pray—only an open invitation from your Father to draw near. The Power of Pre-Deciding Here’s a game-changer: pre-decide. When you pre-decide that you're going to start your day with God and keep Him involved, that decision begins to shape your direction. Over time, it becomes your normal, not your exception. You don’t have to debate it every morning. You’ve already decided—God comes first. Building that habit takes time and consistency, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, you can start by making it simple and obvious: Simple: Download the YouVersion Bible App and start with the Verse of the Day. Pair it with a few minutes of reflection and prayer. That’s 5–8 minutes total. You’ve got that. Obvious: Set a daily reminder in the app. It’ll pop up on your phone at the same time each day. That little nudge might be all it takes to build a powerful new rhythm. You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight—just choose one small step, and keep showing up. God meets us in the simple and the steady. A Simple Prayer to Start With “God, today I give you my attention. Speak to me, guide me, walk with me. Help me see people the way You do, and give me strength for whatever comes. I trust You, and I love You. Amen.” Powerful Bible Verses About Prayer 📖 Philippians 4:6–7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 📖 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 📖 Jeremiah 29:12 “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” 📖 Matthew 6:6 “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” 📖 James 5:16 “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” 📖 Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” 📖 Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” 📖 Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” 📖 Luke 5:16 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” You're Invited If you're reading this and wondering where to start—start with prayer. Start with showing up. Start by saying, “God, I want more of You.” And if you don’t have a church home, or you’ve been searching for a fresh start, we’d love to have you at Passion Church. We meet every Sunday at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM, and whether it’s your first time walking into a church or you’ve been following Jesus for years—you are welcomed and wanted here. Come as you are. Bring a friend. Bring your questions. Bring your heart. Let’s pursue God together. Josh Tufte
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