We are Energized When We Begin To Connect To God On A Deeper Level (Jump #1)

We are Energized When We Begin To Connect To God On A Deeper Level (Jump #1) | Dr. Larry Baucom & Dr. Troy Doucet | March 1, 2026

As Suncoast launches its new Jump series, Dr. Larry Baucom and Dr. Troy Doucet invite us into a fresh spiritual beginning—reminding us that spring is not just a change in season, but an opportunity for renewal. For those running on empty, stuck in old patterns, or simply ready for more, this message answers a simple but powerful question: How do we jump-start our faith?

Drawing from Mark 1:1–11, where the story of Jesus begins not with His birth but with His baptism, they offer three essential truths for spiritual renewal:

1. We are energized when we begin to connect to God on a deeper level. (through confession and repentance).

The journey begins with honesty. John the Baptist’s call to repentance wasn’t about religious performance—it was about real transformation. Confession is naming the truth about ourselves; repentance is turning toward a new way of living.

Both pastors emphasize that true repentance goes beyond words. It’s not “I’m sorry, but…”—it’s a sincere surrender that leads to change. When we stop pretending and start owning our brokenness, we reconnect with God in a life-giving way. Like jumper cables to a dead battery, repentance becomes the connection point that allows God’s power to flow again.

2. We are energized when we begin to see what God can do through us. (by embracing humility and purpose).

John the Baptist models a crucial truth: we are not the source—we are the sign. Refusing to make himself the center, John points entirely to Jesus, understanding his role as the “warm-up act,” not the main event.

This kind of humility is freeing. When we stop trying to control everything or play God in our own lives, we make space for God to work through us. Real spiritual energy comes not from striving for significance, but from surrendered obedience—being willing to say, “I’m not the Christ, but I can point to Him.”

3. We are energized when we allow the Spirit of God to jump-start our lives. (through surrender and identity).

At Jesus’ baptism, heaven is “torn open,” and the Spirit descends as God declares, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Before Jesus does anything, He is already loved and affirmed.

This moment reveals a powerful truth: identity comes before activity. We don’t earn God’s approval—we live from it. When we surrender fully—confessing, repenting, and opening our hearts—we position ourselves to be filled with God’s Spirit. And what God fills, He uses.

Closing Challenge:
If you want a true jump start this spring, don’t overcomplicate it. Start with God. Have an honest conversation. Confess what’s real. Turn from what’s holding you back. Surrender fully.

Because faith doesn’t restart with hype—it restarts with surrender. And when we connect, humble ourselves, and allow God’s Spirit to fill us, we don’t just get going again—we become part of something greater than ourselves.