What Came Down When He Went Up
Text: Acts 1:9-11
"This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." — Acts 1:11
Most Christians can tell you a great deal about Bethlehem. We know the story of the manger, the shepherds, the wise men, and the miraculous birth of Christ.
Many can also tell you about Calvary. We remember the crown of thorns, the nails, the cross, and the sacrifice Jesus made for our sins.
But there is one major event in the life of Christ that often receives far less attention—the Ascension.
Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus gathered His disciples on the Mount of Olives. After teaching and preparing them for the days ahead, He ascended back to the Father. The disciples watched until He disappeared into the clouds.
Imagine standing there that day. Three years of ministry had come to an end. Their Teacher, Leader, and Friend was gone. Questions filled their minds. What would happen next? How could they continue without Him?
Yet the story of Christ did not end at Bethlehem, Calvary, the empty tomb, or even the Ascension. In many ways, it was just beginning.
Today I want to consider this thought:
What Came Down When He Went Up?
When Jesus ascended to the Father, Heaven responded by sending several wonderful gifts to believers.

1. When He Went Up, The Spirit Came Down
Acts 2:33 reminds us that after Jesus was exalted to the Father's right hand, He sent the promised Holy Spirit.
Prior to Pentecost, the disciples knew God primarily in an external way. They walked with Jesus. They heard His teaching. They witnessed His miracles.
But after the Ascension, something changed.
The Spirit of God came to dwell within believers.
No longer would God's presence be limited to a location or a building. The Spirit would live inside every child of God.
Jesus said it was expedient for Him to go away because if He went to the Father, He would send the Comforter.
Instead of one Jesus ministering in one place at one time, the Spirit would empower believers around the world.
What an incredible truth!
We are never alone. We have God's Word, God's church, and God's Spirit living within us to guide, comfort, and strengthen us each day.

2. When He Went Up, Power Came Down
Acts 1:8 says:
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you."
The disciples were ordinary men. Fishermen. Tax collectors. Common laborers.
Throughout Christ's earthly ministry, they served under His power. They watched Him perform miracles. They followed His leadership.
But after the Ascension, they may have felt powerless.
How could they continue without Jesus physically beside them?
Then Pentecost came.
The Holy Spirit filled them with power.
Peter, who had once denied Christ, stood boldly and preached. Thousands were saved.
The early church grew despite fierce persecution. Believers stood firm in the face of imprisonment and death.
Why?
Because the power of God rested upon them.
The same power that transformed Peter is available to believers today.
You may feel insignificant. You may feel outnumbered at work, at school, or even in your own family.
But if you know Christ, the Spirit of God lives within you.
You have the power to witness, serve, teach, lead, and live for God's glory.

3. When He Went Up, Intercession Came Down
Romans 8:34 tells us that Christ now sits at the right hand of God making intercession for us.
Before Christ, people approached God through priests, sacrifices, and religious rituals.
But when Jesus completed His work on the cross and ascended to Heaven, everything changed.
The veil in the Temple was torn from top to bottom.
Access was granted.
Jesus became our Great High Priest.
Today, we can come boldly before the throne of grace because Christ intercedes on our behalf.
What makes this even more comforting is that Jesus understands us completely.
He knows sorrow.
He knows hunger.
He knows temptation.
He knows grief.
He knows pressure.
Hebrews tells us that He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities because He experienced life as we do.
When we pray, we are not speaking to someone who is distant and detached.
We are speaking to One who has walked where we walk and understands exactly what we face.

4. When He Went Up, Hope Came Down
The angels told the disciples:
"This same Jesus... shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."
What a statement of hope!
Bethlehem gave us hope.
Calvary gave us hope.
The Resurrection gave us hope.
But the Ascension gave us a promise.
Jesus is coming again.
The disciples stood staring into the sky as Jesus disappeared into the clouds.
The angels essentially said, "Don't just stand here looking. He will come back. Now get to work."
That promise still encourages believers today.
One day Christ will return.
One day He will gather His children.
One day we will see our saved loved ones again.
One day faith will become sight.
One day sorrow, suffering, and death will be forever behind us.
The same Jesus who ascended from the Mount of Olives will return in power and glory.
What a hope we have!

Conclusion
When Jesus went up, He did not leave His followers empty-handed.
He sent His Spirit.
He gave His power.
He provides intercession.
He secured our hope.
Perhaps today you feel weak, discouraged, overwhelmed, or alone.
Remember that Jesus has not abandoned His people.
The Spirit of God lives within you.
The power of God is available to you.
The Son of God intercedes for you.
And the promise of God awaits you.
The countdown is getting lower every day.
One day the trumpet will sound.
One day the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven.
The question is simple:
Will you be ready when He comes?
This version is formatted like a typical Preacher's Pen devotional article—clear headings, readable flow, preserved illustrations, and a strong gospel-centered conclusion.

Paying Attention

Hebrews 2:1 says, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.”
Tonight, I want to talk about paying attention.
That is something many of us struggle with.
In fact, that is something I struggle with. My mom would tell you that!
But tonight, I want us to see what God can do when we truly pay attention to Him.
The first thing I want us to notice is this:

Paying Attention Has Rewards
In 1 Samuel 3, Samuel is lying down in the temple when the Lord calls his name.
Three times Samuel mistakes God’s voice for Eli’s voice. Finally, Eli realizes what is happening and tells Samuel that if the voice calls again, he should answer:
“Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.”
Samuel listened.
Samuel paid attention.
And because he paid attention, God used him.
Before I continue, I want to make something clear. The things God was going to do would have happened one way or another.
The book of Esther reminds us of that truth.
Mordecai told Esther that if she refused to act, deliverance would still come from another place — but she had been placed where she was “for such a time as this.”
That is the reward Samuel received.
He got to be part of what God was doing.
God called Samuel to anoint Israel’s greatest king.
In 1 Samuel 16, God sends Samuel to the house of Jesse. One by one the sons pass before him until David is brought in — the shepherd boy, overlooked by everyone else.
And God says:
“Arise, anoint him: for this is he.”
Because Samuel paid attention and obeyed, he became part of God’s unfolding story.
And look what followed.
David brought the Ark of God back to Israel.
David’s son, Solomon, became known as the wisest king who ever lived.
And generations later, Jesus Christ came through David’s line.
Samuel’s obedience connected him to something far bigger than himself.
That is one of the rewards of paying attention to God.

Not Paying Attention Has Consequences
Most people know the story of Lot and Sodom.
Lot separated from Abraham and chose to live in Sodom.
When God determined to destroy the city, messengers came with a warning:
Get out.
Leave.
Do not stay.
Do not look back.
The messengers were clear.
But while they were escaping, Lot’s wife looked back.
And the Bible says she became a pillar of salt.
Now, I am not saying that if we fail to pay attention to God today He will immediately strike us down.
We live under grace.
But think about all the other consequences that come from ignoring God.
We may miss opportunities to witness to someone.
We may miss God’s direction.
We may miss blessings, ministry opportunities, or divine appointments.
There are consequences when we fail to pay attention to what God is saying.
Which leads me to my final point.

Paying Attention Isn’t Enough — We Must Also Obey
James 1:22 says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
Samuel did not just hear God’s voice.
Samuel obeyed.
When God revealed His difficult message concerning Eli’s house, Samuel faithfully delivered it, even though he was afraid.
God used Samuel not simply because he listened — but because he obeyed.
Lot’s wife is another example.
Whether she heard the warning clearly or not, the important truth is that she did not obey.
And there are many more examples throughout Scripture.
Zacchaeus
In Luke 19, Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree because he wanted to see Jesus.
He paid attention.
But he did more than that.
When Jesus came to his house, Zacchaeus responded.
He repented.
He changed.
He committed to making things right.
And Jesus declared salvation had come to his house.
He did not just notice Jesus.
He obeyed Him.
Noah’s Neighbors
Everyone knows the story of Noah.
Jesus said in Matthew 24 that in Noah’s day people were eating, drinking, marrying, and living life as normal until the flood came.
I imagine Noah’s neighbors paid attention to what Noah was doing.
Surely they noticed the giant boat.
Surely they heard Noah’s warnings.
They probably joked about him.
Talked about how crazy he looked building that ark.
But paying attention was not enough.
They did not obey.
And the flood came.
Adam and Eve
Perhaps the most familiar example is Adam and Eve.
In Genesis 3, the serpent questioned God’s command.
Adam and Eve knew what God had said.
They heard the instruction.
They understood the warning.
But they did not obey.
And sin entered the world.
The consequences affected not just them — but all of humanity.
They paid attention to God’s command.
But they failed to obey it.
And that is the difference.
We must do more than hear God’s Word.
We must respond to it.
We must obey it.
That is why paying attention matters.
Because we never truly know whose life we are influencing — for good or for bad — until the impact unfolds.
Your obedience could point someone toward Christ.
Your disobedience could become a stumbling block.
So let us pay attention to what God is saying.
Let us listen carefully.
And let us do more than hear.
Let us obey.

What Would Jesus Delete?

Our world lives through a screen.
We wake up to notifications, scroll through updates, answer messages, watch videos, listen to playlists, and carry an entire digital world in our pockets. Phones aren’t just tools anymore — they often shape our thoughts, moods, priorities, and even our hearts.
That is what makes this question so powerful:
What would Jesus delete?
Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Imagine this for a moment.
Jesus walks into your house. He smiles, sits down beside you, and you hand Him your phone.
He scrolls a little.
He opens a few apps.
Maybe He checks your pages, your playlists, your group chats, your screen time report.
And suddenly you’re thinking, “Lord… please don’t scroll too far.”
Be honest.
If Jesus looked through your phone, what would He see?
Would He see peace, purpose, truth, and love?
Or would He see stress, comparison, distraction, and noise?

We often ask, “What would Jesus do?”
But maybe today we need to ask a different question:
What would Jesus delete?
Because our phones often reveal what fills our hearts.
The music we play.
The accounts we follow.
The content we consume.
The conversations we entertain.
All of it says something about what is shaping our minds.
Now, don’t misunderstand — phones are not evil. Social media is not automatically bad. Technology can be used in powerful ways for God’s glory.
But if we are not careful, what lives in our phones can begin to shape what lives in our hearts.
So what might Jesus delete?
1 Corinthians 10:23 says, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”
Jesus scrolls through your apps.
Instagram.
TikTok.
Snapchat.
YouTube.
Games.
Group chats.
And maybe He says:
“This one is stealing your focus.”
“That one is disturbing your peace.”
“That one is pulling you away from Me.”
Not because He is trying to ruin your fun.
Because He is trying to protect your heart.
Maybe He deletes the comparison app.
The one that constantly makes you measure your life against everyone else’s highlight reel.
You scroll…and suddenly everyone seems prettier, happier, more successful, more confident, and more fulfilled than you.
Comparison kills contentment.
You cannot enjoy your blessings while constantly staring at someone else’s.
Jesus wouldn’t delete that because He is angry.
He would delete it because you are already loved, chosen, and valuable.
Maybe He deletes the junk feed.
You know the one.
You start with a funny video…
Then drama…
Then gossip…
Then content that slowly pulls your mind into anxiety, temptation, anger, or distraction.
Thirty minutes later you’re in a completely different emotional and spiritual place.
Why?
Because what you consistently feed your mind will eventually shape your heart.
Jesus would protect your peace.
Maybe He deletes the time thief.
The endless scrolling.
The late-night rabbit hole.
The “just five more minutes” that turns into an hour.
Not because rest, entertainment, or hobbies are wrong.
But because distraction has stolen your time with God, your rest, your joy, and your relationships.
Sometimes Jesus doesn’t want to take something from you.
He wants to give something back to you.
Your time.
Your peace.
Your purpose.
And what about your playlist?
Would Jesus vibe with your soundtrack?
Music is powerful.
It shapes our mood, influences our thoughts, and often becomes the soundtrack of our thinking.
Not all music is bad.
Jesus probably wouldn’t delete every song.
But He would likely ask:
“Is what you listen to feeding your spirit…or starving it?”
Because what plays repeatedly in your ears often settles deeply into your heart.
What about the drama?
Jesus opens the group chats.
The DMs.
The comment sections.
Would He find encouragement…or constant conflict?
Negativity?
Gossip?
Arguments?
Jesus was about peace.
He knew how to disconnect from unnecessary noise so He could stay connected to what mattered most — His relationship with the Father.
Sometimes peace doesn’t come from deleting people.
Sometimes peace comes from muting the noise.
You don’t have to enter every argument.
You don’t have to respond to every comment.
You don’t have to read every rumor.
You can let some things go.
But there is one connection Jesus would absolutely want to keep strong.
John 15:4 says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”
If Jesus had a phone, His favorite app would probably be the Bible.
Not because He needed it.
Because He loved staying connected to the Father.
We stay plugged into our phones all day long, but often forget to plug into God.
We refresh social media constantly.
But when was the last time we refreshed our relationship with Him?
Prayer.
Scripture.
Worship.
Time alone with God.
That connection changes everything.
Here’s the truth.
When a phone gets overloaded with junk, it starts glitching.
Sometimes it needs a reset.
That’s exactly what Jesus offers.
Not punishment.
A fresh start.
He isn’t standing over you saying, “Why do you still have that app?”
He is saying,
“Let Me make space for peace, joy, purpose, and freedom again.”
If Jesus looked through your phone, He would not be searching for reasons to reject you.
He would be determined to help you become who you were created to be.
Maybe the real question is not:
“What would Jesus delete?”
Maybe the question is:
“What am I still holding onto that Jesus wants me to surrender?”
Because when you hand your life to Jesus, He doesn’t scroll through your mistakes.
He restores.
He renews.
He transforms.
He does not delete your personality, your joy, or your identity.
He removes the things that are stealing your peace, your focus, and your purpose.
And when He does, you will discover that what He gives back is far better than anything you gave up.
So maybe today it is time to look honestly at your phone…
…and ask yourself:
What would Jesus delete?

Taking Your Family Home
Text: Genesis 7:1
“And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark.”
This is the fifth and final message in our “Family Under Fire” series. Throughout this month, we have talked about the success, survival, and spiritual health of the family. We discussed holding the line at home, having a burden for the family, the power of our words, and the value of God’s design for the home.
But today, I want to focus on one final thought: Taking Your Family Home.
My goal in this series has not simply been for families to spend more time together, schedule more date nights, or reduce conflict in the home — though all of those things matter. The ultimate goal is far greater than that.
The goal is to make sure our families make it safely to their heavenly home.
Noah’s story is the story of a man who got his family safely into the ark before judgment fell. How did he do it?

Noah Saw the Danger Before Others Did
Genesis 6 describes a world filled with wickedness. The thoughts of mankind were continually evil, yet people carried on with life as usual. They were eating, drinking, marrying, and ignoring God’s warning.
But Noah saw what others refused to see.
Parents, we must learn to see dangers our children cannot yet recognize. We must ask God to help us see what’s down the road before our families arrive there.
We live in a world that assumes everyone goes to heaven. People can reject Christ, ignore God, and live without repentance, yet somehow we comfort ourselves by believing eternity will work itself out.
Scripture does not teach that.
Noah understood judgment was real. He saw the danger before everyone else did.

Noah Built With His Family In Mind
Hebrews 11:7 says Noah, “being warned of God of things not seen as yet,” prepared an ark “to the saving of his house.”
Why did Noah build that massive ark?
Not for fame.
Not for recognition.
Not to make history.
He built it for his wife, his sons, and their wives.
Every board, every tree cut down, every day of labor had one purpose: the saving of his family.
People thought Noah was foolish. Rain had never fallen before. A giant boat in the middle of dry land seemed ridiculous.
But Noah obeyed anyway.
Today, families that prioritize God will often look strange to the world.
Going to church faithfully.
Praying with your children.
Reading Scripture at home.
Living by biblical convictions.
The world may say that’s extreme.
But Noah teaches us something powerful: protecting your family matters more than pleasing the crowd.

Noah Prepared Before The Judgment Came
God gave Noah instructions long before the rain ever fell.
Build the ark.
Gather the family.
Prepare for what is coming.
And Noah obeyed before judgment arrived.
That matters.
Too many families wait until crisis strikes before turning toward God.
We wait until the marriage struggles.
Until addiction enters the home.
Until hearts grow cold.
Until children drift away.
Then suddenly we want to build.
But Noah built before the storm.
We must do the same.
Don’t squander the precious years God has given you with your children and grandchildren. Build a home of refuge, truth, prayer, and spiritual safety now.
The time to build is before the rain.

God Wants Your Family In His Home
From Genesis to Revelation, God’s desire has been for His family to come home.
Sin destroyed Eden.
Sin broke marriages.
Sin shattered families.
Cain murdered Abel.
Humanity has always had the same problem: sin wrecks what God created.
But Jesus made a way home.
In John 14, He said:
“In my Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you.”
Home is where you want to be after a hard day.
Home is comfort.
Home is rest.
Home is peace.
Jesus said He is preparing a place where sin cannot destroy, death cannot enter, and sorrow cannot survive.
And God wants your family there.
The question is this:
Are we getting serious about helping our families get on the ark?
We know more theology than ever before.
We have Bibles, sermons, books, music, and endless resources.
Yet many are still delaying obedience.
Waiting.
Hoping.
Assuming there will always be time.
There may not be.

The Door Will Not Stay Open Forever
Genesis 7:16 says, “And the Lord shut him in.”
Notice carefully — Noah did not close the door.
God did.
For Noah and his family, that was security.
For everyone outside, it was tragedy.
The opportunity had ended.
Noah surely had friends who laughed at him before the rain fell. But once judgment arrived, belief came too late.
The door had been closed.
One day, opportunity will end for every person.
The invitation of grace will not remain open forever.
That is why the time to respond is now.
Build your testimony now.
Train your children now.
Teach them about God now.
Lead your family now.
Because someday, the opportunity will be gone.
Is Your Family Ready For Heaven?
That is the question before us.
Dad, are you ready?
Mom, are you ready?
Young person, are you certain?
Not because everyone else made a decision.
Not because you grew up around church.
But because you know Christ personally.
Life is fragile.
We are more vulnerable than we like to admit.
One day our time here will end.
The ultimate goal is not merely raising successful children or building comfortable lives.
The ultimate goal is taking our family home.
Nothing matters more than that.
Build the boat.
Protect your family.
Point them to Christ.
And don’t miss heaven.

This is a Study Guide for the series Family Under Fire: These sermons originated from the pulpit of West End Baptist Church in Social Circle Ga, Pastor Craig Hudgins.

Small Group Guide: Holding the Line at Home
Based on Joshua 24:15 - "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"

Opening Prayer
Begin your group time by asking God to give wisdom, conviction, and courage as you discuss what it means to hold the line for your families in today's world.

Share one family tradition or value from your childhood that has stuck with you into adulthood. Why was it meaningful?

Key Scripture
Joshua 24:15 - "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Sermon Summary
The message emphasized that families today are under unprecedented attack—not always through obvious wickedness, but through busyness, distraction, and cultural pressure. Joshua's declaration came at a crossroads moment, and we too must make clear decisions about who our families will serve. The pressure we face demands a decision, reveals what we truly serve, and requires someone to hold the line.

Discussion Questions
Section 1: The Pressure Demands a Decision

1. The sermon stated, "The road is full of dead squirrels who could not make a decision." What does this mean in the context of family leadership? What happens when we refuse to make clear decisions about our family's spiritual direction?
2. What are some of the "good things" that Satan uses to fill our calendars and distract us from God and family? How have you experienced this in your own life?
3. The pastor said, "It can't be both" when referring to serving God and serving ourselves. Why is it impossible to truly serve both? What does compromise look like in family spiritual leadership?

Section 2: The Pressure Reveals Who We Are Serving

1. Joshua could have said "what you will serve" but instead said "whom you will serve." Why is this distinction important? Who are the different "persons" we might be serving instead of God?
2. The sermon mentioned that pressure reveals our priorities and weaknesses. Can you share a time when difficulty revealed something about your spiritual life—either positive or negative?
3. Discuss this statement: "Don't you let what happens in a moment become your identity." How can we prevent temporary crises from permanently changing our commitment to God?

Section 3: The Pressure Requires Someone to Hold the Line

1. What does it mean practically to "hold the line" in your home? What specific lines need to be drawn in today's culture?
2. The pastor listed several things that "still matter": where we go, what we wear, what we participate in, our language, our habits, and our faithfulness. Which of these do you find most challenging to maintain in your family? Why?
3. Joshua was giving his farewell speech, knowing leadership would soon change. What message do you want to leave with your children or family members about serving God? Have you communicated this clearly?

Key Takeaways

1. Families are under attack through busyness, not just badness. Satan doesn't always tempt us with obvious sin; he fills our lives with good activities that crowd out God.
2. Pressure reveals what's really inside us. Hard times show who we truly serve and what our real priorities are.
3. Someone must hold the line. Every family needs a Joshua who will declare, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
4. Living for God as a family still matters. Faithfulness, church attendance, godly examples, and spiritual priorities are not outdated—they're essential.
5. Forgiveness and humility strengthen families. Being willing to apologize and ask forgiveness models Christ and builds respect.

Practical Applications
This Week's Challenge
Choose ONE of the following to implement this week:
Option 1: Family Prayer Time

• Establish a daily prayer time with your family (mealtime, bedtime, or morning)
• Pray specifically for each family member by name
• Make God visible in everyday moments

Option 2: Draw a Line

• Identify one area where your family schedule or activities have compromised your spiritual priorities
• Have a family conversation about making a change
• Communicate clearly: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"

Option 3: Prioritize Church

• Evaluate your family's church attendance and involvement
• Commit to consistent attendance for the next month
• Find one way to serve together as a family in your church

Option 4: Have "The Conversation"

• If you have children old enough to understand, have a conversation about their relationship with God
• Ask: "Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior?"
• Share your own testimony and your desire to see them in heaven

Option 5: Practice Forgiveness

• If you've made mistakes as a parent or family member, apologize this week
• Model humility and the need for forgiveness
• Reset the tone in your home

Personal Reflection Questions
(For individual journaling or silent reflection)

1. What would my family say is most important to me based on how I spend my time?
2. Am I confident in my children's/family members' relationship with God? What evidence do I see?
3. What line do I need to draw this week to protect my family's spiritual health?
4. Where have I been passive when I should have been decisive about my family's spiritual direction?
5. What will my children remember most about my faith when I'm gone?

Scripture for Further Study

• Deuteronomy 6:6-9 - Teaching children diligently
• Proverbs 22:6 - Training up a child
• Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers bringing up children in the Lord
• Psalm 78:1-8 - Telling the next generation
• 2 Timothy 1:5 - Sincere faith passed down through generations

Closing Prayer Points
Pray together for:

• Wisdom to make clear decisions about your family's spiritual direction
• Courage to hold the line even when it's unpopular
• Protection over your families from the enemy's attacks
• Salvation for family members who don't know Christ
• Strength to prioritize God when life gets busy
• Grace to forgive and be forgiven within your families

Before Next Week

• Share with the group one specific way you held the line this week
• Be prepared to discuss challenges you faced in implementing your chosen application
• Pray daily for the families in your small group

Remember: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" is both a declaration and a decision. It requires intentionality, courage, and daily commitment. You cannot control everything, but you can control your own faithfulness and example.

Small Group Guide: The Burden for the Home
Family Under Fire Series - Week 2


Sermon Review
Main Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:27 - "For this child I prayed, and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him."
Key Points:

1. Hannah's burden was her responsibility
2. Her burden caused her to pray
3. Her burden became her mission
4. Her burden produced a prophet

Discussion Questions
Section 1: Personal Responsibility
Read 1 Samuel 1:10-11

1. Hannah's burden for a child was deeply personal. How does having a personal burden for our children differ from simply going through the motions of parenting?
2. The pastor said, "Let's stop sacrificing their tomorrows on the altar of today." What does this statement mean to you? Can you think of examples where parents might do this?
3. Why do you think parents sometimes try to outsource their spiritual responsibility to teachers, schools, or other organizations? What are the dangers of this approach?

Section 2: The Power of Prayer
Read 1 Samuel 1:12-16

1. Hannah prayed so intensely that Eli thought she was drunk. When was the last time you prayed with that kind of desperation for your children or family members?
2. The sermon listed several reasons to pray for children in 2026 (sex trafficking, pornography, mental health, etc.). Which of these concerns you most? How can prayer make a difference?
3. "God can be where we are not." How does this truth encourage you as a parent or family member?

Section 3: Mission and Purpose
Read 1 Samuel 1:27-28

1. Hannah gave her answered prayer back to God. What does it look like practically to "lend" our children to the Lord?
2. The pastor said we worry more about what others think of our kids than what God wants to do with them. Have you experienced this tension? How can we shift our focus?
3. How can we balance encouraging our children's talents and interests while also prioritizing their spiritual development?

Section 4: Producing the Next Generation
Read 1 Samuel 3:20

1. Hannah's private burden blessed Israel publicly through Samuel. How does this challenge our view of parenting as just a private family matter?
2. What legacy are you creating for the next generation? If you're a first-generation Christian, what unique responsibility do you carry?
3. For those without children: How can you carry a burden for the next generation in your church or community?

Key Takeaways
Have group members share which of these truths resonated most with them:

• Families need time together - Being in church is important, but so is quality family time
• The burden must be personal - We are responsible for raising our children in the Lord
• Prayer changes things - Consistent, desperate prayer for our families matters
• God has a plan - Our children have potential for God's kingdom work
• Legacy matters - What we do privately affects the next generation publicly

Practical Applications 
This Week's Challenge:
Choose at least two of the following to implement this week:
For Parents:

• [ ] Schedule 30 minutes of uninterrupted family time (no phones, no TV)
• [ ] Write out a specific prayer for each of your children and pray it daily
• [ ] Have a conversation with your child about their relationship with God
• [ ] Identify one area where you've been trying to "fix" your child instead of praying for them

For Everyone:

• [ ] Pray daily for the children/youth in your church by name
• [ ] Thank your mother (or mother figure) for specific spiritual investments she made
• [ ] Examine your own walk with Christ - "You can never lead where you've never been"
• [ ] Identify one young person you can mentor or encourage this week

Accountability Question: Who in this group can you share your commitment with and ask to check in with you next week?

Prayer Time
Prayer Focus:

1. Thanksgiving - Thank God for godly mothers and their influence
2. Confession - Confess areas where we've neglected our spiritual responsibility to family
3. Intercession - Pray specifically for:
4. 
   
   • Salvation of unsaved family members
   • Protection over children and grandchildren
   • Parents to carry a greater burden for their families
   • First-generation Christians to establish godly legacies
   • The next generation of spiritual leaders
5. Commitment - Pray for strength to follow through on this week's practical applications

Closing Thought
"The answer to Hannah's prayer and the focus of her burden became the man that the nation needed."
Question to ponder: What if your faithful prayers and burden for your family produced exactly what this generation needs?

For Next Week

• Continue praying for your family daily
• Be prepared to share one way you saw God work through your burden this week
• Read Joshua 24 in preparation for next week's discussion

Small Group Guide: Words in the Home
Family Under Fire Series - Week 3

Share a time when someone's encouraging words made a significant positive impact on your day or life. How did it make you feel?

Key Scripture
Proverbs 18:21 - "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
Supporting Scriptures:

• James 3:3-8
• James 1:19
• Ephesians 4:29
• Colossians 4:6

Sermon Summary
Pastor Hudgens addressed how our words have the power to either build up or tear down our families. The sermon emphasized that while families face external attacks, often the most damaging fire comes from within—through the words we speak to one another. Our tongue carries the power of life and death, and what we say in our homes has lasting consequences that can either bring healing and stability or cause lasting damage.

Discussion Questions
Part 1: Words Will Build or Break Our Homes

1. The Power of the Tongue: Pastor Hudgens said, "I can speak life, you look great today. Or I can speak death, you're wearing that." What are some everyday examples of speaking life versus speaking death in your home?
2. Church, School, and Work: How can the principle of speaking life apply beyond our homes—in our churches, schools, and workplaces? Share an example of where you've seen this principle at work.
3. Self-Reflection: On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the "life-giving" quality of your words at home this past week? What influenced your rating?

Part 2: Words Can Do Lasting Damage

1. Swift to Hear, Slow to Speak: James 1:19 tells us to be "swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." Why do we often get this order backwards? What practical steps can help us listen more and react less?
2. Shame Never Brings Change: Pastor Hudgens shared James Dobson's statement: "Shame never brings change." Discuss a time when criticism or embarrassment failed to produce positive change. What approach might have worked better?
3. The Coaching Example: Reflect on the story about the father yelling at his son during the baseball game. Have you witnessed similar situations? How can we correct or coach our children without causing lasting damage?
4. Generational Impact: How do hurtful words spoken in one generation affect the next? Have you seen this pattern in your own family or others?

Part 3: Godly Words Give Healing and Stability

1. Pleasant Words: Proverbs 16:24 says, "Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones." What are some specific "pleasant words" your family members need to hear from you?
2. Coming Home: Pastor Hudgens talked about spouses needing healing words after difficult days at work. How can you create an atmosphere of healing and encouragement when family members come home?
3. The Blue-Eyed Experiment: What did Jane Elliott's 1968 classroom experiment teach us about the power of our words? How does this apply to how we speak to our children?
4. Grace-Seasoned Speech: Colossians 4:6 says, "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt." What does it mean to have grace-seasoned speech in practical, daily situations?

Key Takeaways

1. Our words carry the power of life and death - Every conversation is an opportunity to build up or tear down.
2. We eat the fruit of what we speak - Whether we speak life or death, we will experience the consequences in our relationships and homes.
3. Lasting damage comes from careless words - Hurtful words spoken in a moment can impact someone for years.
4. What we tell our family is what they will believe - Our words shape our children's self-image and future.
5. Christ in the heart changes words in the mouth - Transformation begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Practical Applications
This Week's Challenge: Choose ONE of the following to practice this week:
Option 1: The 5:1 Ratio For every one corrective or critical statement you need to make at home, commit to giving five encouraging or affirming statements first. Keep track and share your experience with the group next week.
Option 2: The Evening Blessing Each evening before bed, speak a specific blessing or encouragement over each family member. Make it personal and meaningful.
Option 3: The Apology Project If the Holy Spirit brought to mind hurtful words you've spoken (like Pastor Hudgens' "maternity shirt" comment), make it right this week. Apologize specifically and ask for forgiveness.
Option 4: The Word Fast Identify one negative phrase or type of comment you frequently make ("I'm so stupid," "You never listen," "Here we go again," etc.) and fast from saying it for one week. Replace it with a life-giving alternative.
Option 5: The Encouragement Note Write a heartfelt note to each family member expressing what you appreciate about them and the positive qualities you see in them. Be specific.

Personal Reflection Questions
(Take 5-10 minutes for individual reflection before sharing)

1. What specific words or phrases do I need to stop saying in my home?
2. Who in my family needs to hear words of life from me most right now?
3. What hurtful words from my past do I need to forgive and release?
4. How would my home be different if I spoke life consistently for the next 30 days?
5. Is Christ truly in my heart, affecting what comes out of my mouth?

Prayer Focus
Group Prayer Time:

• Pray for forgiveness for words that have caused damage
• Pray for wisdom to speak life-giving words
• Pray for healing in relationships damaged by hurtful speech
• Pray for Christ to transform hearts, which will transform mouths
• Pray for specific family members who need encouragement
• Pray for strength to hold the line in your home and speak according to godly standards

For Next Week
Preparation:

• Continue the "Family Under Fire" series
• Practice your chosen application challenge daily
• Journal about your experiences with speaking life
• Memorize Proverbs 18:21

Accountability Partner: Share your phone number with one person in the group and commit to checking in mid-week about your practical application challenge.

Closing Thought
"If Christ is not in your home, if Christ is not in your heart, He won't be in your mouth. What comes out of the mouth? The Bible says, out of the mouth the heart speaketh. What's in our heart is what comes out of our mouth."
Final Question: What is one specific change you will make this week in the words you speak at home?

Additional Resources

• Recommended Reading: "The Power of a Praying Parent" by Stormie Omartian
• Scripture Memory Cards: Create cards with the key verses from this lesson to review daily

Remember: The goal is not perfection but progress. Be patient with yourself and your family members as you all grow in speaking life-giving words.
Small Group Guide: The Value of the Home
Family Under Fire Series - Week 4

What's your favorite memory of spending time together as a family growing up? What made it special?

Key Scripture References

• Genesis 2:18-25
• Deuteronomy 6:6-7
• Ephesians 5:22-25
• Ephesians 6:1-4

Main Takeaways
1. The Home Was Created for Companionship
God said, "It is not good that man should be alone" (Genesis 2:18). We were designed for relationship and connection within our homes.
2. The Home Is for Spiritual Growth
The home should be the child's first classroom for learning about God, prayer, worship, forgiveness, and character.
3. The Home Should Be a Picture of Christ
The family unit reflects Christ's relationship with the church - husbands model Christ's sacrificial love, wives complement and complete, children honor and obey.

Discussion Questions
Section 1: Companionship in the Home

1. The sermon mentioned we live in a "microwavable, disposable society." How have you seen this mindset affect modern families?
2. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the quality of companionship in your home? What contributes to that rating?
3. The pastor said, "We're so busy, we don't ever see each other." What activities or commitments are crowding out family time in your household?
4. Practical Challenge: What is one specific way you could increase meaningful companionship in your home this week? (Examples: family dinner, date night, bedtime conversations)

Section 2: Spiritual Growth at Home

1. The sermon stated, "Sunday school teachers are not your replacement—they're just an echo of what you're already doing at home." How does this statement challenge or encourage you?
2. What spiritual practices (prayer, Bible reading, worship, etc.) are currently happening in your home? What would you like to add?
3. For parents: What are some barriers that keep you from leading spiritual growth in your home? How can this group help you overcome them?
4. For singles/those without children: How can you invest spiritually in the next generation (nieces, nephews, church kids, etc.)?

Section 3: The Home as a Picture of Christ

1. Read Ephesians 5:22-25. How does viewing marriage as a picture of Christ and the church change the way we approach our roles?
2. For husbands: The sermon emphasized sacrificial love like Christ showed the church. What does that look like practically in your home?
3. For wives: The concept of "completing" your husband was discussed. How is this different from simply submitting to his ideas?
4. For children/teens: What makes it easier or harder to honor and obey your parents? How can parents create an environment where respect flows naturally?

Personal Reflection
Take a few moments of silence for each person to reflect:

• What is one area where my home life doesn't match God's design?
• What is one specific change I need to make this week?
• Who can I ask for wisdom or accountability in strengthening my home?

Practical Applications
This Week's Action Steps:
Choose at least ONE to implement:

1. Schedule a family meal where everyone sits together without devices and has real conversation. Parents: prepare 3-5 questions to ask your kids.
2. Start a family devotion time - even 5-10 minutes of reading Scripture and praying together. (Resources: One Year Family Devotions, Jesus Calling for Families)
3. Husbands: Plan a date night with your wife. Ask her questions about her day, her dreams, her concerns.
4. Wives: Affirm your husband this week for one way he's leading the family spiritually or sacrificing for the family.
5. Parents: Have a one-on-one conversation with each child about their spiritual life, friends, and struggles.
6. Singles: Reach out to an older couple in the church and ask them for wisdom about building a godly home.
7. Evaluate your schedule - What one activity could you eliminate or reduce to create more family time?
8. Children/Teens: Do something this week to honor your parents without being asked (chores, kind words, time together).

Accountability Questions
Share with one other person in your group:

1. What is one specific commitment you're making this week?
2. How can this group pray for your family?
3. Can I check in with you next week about how it went?

Closing Discussion
The sermon mentioned that families who prioritize spiritual growth and companionship sometimes "look like they've got the plague" because it's so countercultural.

• Have you ever felt judged for prioritizing family time over activities?
• How can we encourage each other to swim against the cultural current?
• What would it look like for our church families to model biblical homes to our community?

Prayer Time
Break into smaller groups (2-4 people) and pray specifically for:

• Marriages in the group - for unity, sacrificial love, and companionship
• Parents - for wisdom, patience, and spiritual leadership
• Children - for hearts that honor parents and hunger for God
• Singles - for godly preparation for future families or contentment in singleness
• Struggling families - for healing, restoration, and breakthrough
• Protection - that Satan's attacks on families would be defeated

For Next Week

• Review the entire "Family Under Fire" series
• Consider what changes God has called you to make
• Be prepared to share one testimony of how God has worked in your family this month

Additional Resources

• Books: "The Meaning of Marriage" by Tim Keller, "Sacred Marriage" by Gary Thomas
• For Parents: "Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Tedd Tripp
• Marriage: Consider attending a marriage conference or retreat
• Counseling: If your family is in crisis, reach out to church leadership about Christian counseling resources

Leader Notes

• Be sensitive that some in your group may come from broken homes or difficult family situations
• Emphasize God's grace and the possibility of breaking negative cycles
• Encourage those without traditional families that these principles apply to their spheres of influence
• Create a safe space where people can be honest about struggles without judgment
• Follow up during the week with anyone who shared something vulnerable

Family Under Fire: Taking Your Family Home
Small Group Guide

Question: Share a favorite family memory from your childhood. What made it special?

Sermon Overview
This final message in the "Family Under Fire" series focuses on the ultimate goal: ensuring our entire family makes it safely to our heavenly home. Using Noah's story from Genesis 7:1, we're reminded that building spiritual protection for our families requires intentionality, urgency, and obedience to God's Word.

Key Takeaways

1. Noah saw the danger before others did - We must be spiritually alert to threats our families cannot yet see
2. Noah built an ark with his family in mind - Everything we do should have our family's salvation as the goal
3. Noah prepared the ark before the judgment came - We cannot wait until crisis hits to build spiritual foundations
4. God wants your family to come to His home - Heaven is the ultimate destination we're preparing for
5. The door will not stay open forever - There is urgency in making sure our families know Christ

Discussion Questions
Section 1: Seeing the Danger
Read Genesis 6:5

1. What are some spiritual dangers facing families today that many people don't recognize or take seriously?
2. The pastor mentioned that Noah "saw what God saw." How can we develop spiritual discernment to see what threatens our families?
3. Have you ever been concerned about something your children couldn't see coming? How did you handle it?

Section 2: Building With Purpose
Read Hebrews 11:7

1. Noah built the ark "to the saving of his house." What does it look like practically to build spiritual protection for your family today?
2. People thought Noah was extreme and crazy. Have you ever felt judged for your commitment to raising your family in God's ways? How did you respond?
3. The pastor said, "With every nail he drove, he said 'it's for my family.'" What daily actions can you take with that same intentionality?

Section 3: The Urgency of Now
Read Genesis 6:22

1. The pastor challenged us not to wait until crisis comes to build spiritual foundations. What are some ways we "squander time" with our families spiritually?
2. He mentioned the difference between being with grandchildren versus children - having more perspective on what matters. What would you do differently if you could go back to when your children were young? (Or what are you learning now while they're still home?)
3. "Don't wait until addiction and trouble fall on their lives like rain before we start to build." How does this statement challenge you?

Section 4: Heaven is the Goal
Read John 14:1-3

1. How does keeping an eternal perspective change the way we make decisions for our families?
2. The pastor asked: "Is your family ready for heaven?" How would you honestly answer that question about each member of your household?
3. What barriers keep us from talking about heaven and salvation with our families?

Section 5: The Closing Door
Read Genesis 7:16

1. "God shut the door" - what does this teach us about the finality of choices regarding salvation?
2. The pastor said some families are "waiting, hoping, wishing" instead of "obeying." What's the difference in how this plays out practically?

Personal Reflection (5 minutes)
Take a moment of silent reflection:

• Am I personally ready for heaven?
• Is each member of my family ready?
• What is one specific action I need to take this week?

Practical Applications
This Week:
Choose at least TWO of the following to implement:

1. Have a salvation conversation - Talk with each family member individually about where they stand with Christ. Don't assume.
2. Create a family altar time - Establish a regular time (even 10 minutes) for family Bible reading and prayer.
3. Eliminate one distraction - Remove one thing that's stealing time from spiritual investment in your family (excessive TV, phone time, activity, etc.).
4. Write a letter - Write each family member a letter expressing your desire to see them in heaven and what Christ means to you.
5. Attend together - Commit to not missing church services as a family. Make it the priority.
6. Pray specifically - Create a prayer list with each family member's name and specific spiritual needs. Pray daily.
7. Share your testimony - Tell your children or grandchildren your salvation story this week.

This Month:

• Schedule a family meeting to discuss spiritual goals for your household
• Start a family devotional plan
• Identify one family tradition you can start that points to Christ
• Reach out to extended family members who may not know Christ

Accountability Questions
For next week's meeting:

1. Did you complete the actions you committed to?
2. What conversations did you have with family members about their salvation?
3. What obstacles did you encounter?
4. How can this group pray for your family specifically?

Closing Prayer Prompts
Pray together for:

• Salvation for any unsaved family members (by name)
• Wisdom to see spiritual dangers before they arrive
• Courage to build "an ark" even when others think we're extreme
• Urgency to act now, not waiting for crisis
• Open doors for gospel conversations with our families
• Protection over our children and grandchildren
• Boldness to prioritize heaven over earthly comfort

Memory Verse
Genesis 7:1 - "And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark."

Additional Resources

• Consider reading together: "The Family Shepherd" by Voddie Baucham or "Parenting" by Paul David Tripp
• Discuss implementing a family worship plan
• Share resources for age-appropriate family devotionals

Leader Notes

• Be sensitive to those who have unsaved family members - this can be painful
• Create space for emotional responses - this topic touches deep places
• Emphasize grace alongside urgency - we cannot save our families, but we can faithfully point them to Christ
• Be prepared to pray with individuals after the meeting
• Have resources available for those who want to know more about assurance of salvation

"The ultimate goal is to take our family home. What's more important than that?"

The Value of the Home
Text: Genesis 2:18–25
We have spent several weeks in our Family Under Fire series discussing the battles families face today. We have talked about holding the line at home, having a burden for the family, and what we say in our homes. This week, I want us to consider the value of the home.
We live in a world where everything is quick, disposable, and easy to replace. If something breaks, we buy another one. If something is inconvenient, we move on. Sadly, that mindset has crept into our homes and relationships.
But from the very beginning, God designed the home to be something valuable.
In Genesis 2, before government, before institutions, before anything else, God established the home. The home was God’s idea, and because it was God’s idea, Satan wants to destroy it.

The Home Was Created for Companionship
Genesis 2:18 says:

“And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”

God created people to relate to people. Adam had fellowship with God, but God still said, “It is not good that the man should be alone.”
Our homes should be places of companionship.
We are living in a generation where families are often in the same house but a million miles apart. Different rooms. Different devices. Different schedules. We pass one another more than we actually spend time together.
But companionship matters.
Protect the dinner table. Make time for conversations. Ask questions. Laugh together. Spend time together.
Husbands and wives need companionship. Families need companionship. Children need your presence more than another activity on the calendar.
One day, we will never regret the time we spent together, but we may regret the conversations we never had.

The Home Should Be a Place of Spiritual Growth
Deuteronomy 6 reminds us that the Word of God should be spoken:

“when thou sittest in thine house… when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

The home was never meant to be spiritually empty.
Parents, the church is your partner, not your replacement.
Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, and children’s workers can reinforce truth, but spiritual growth begins at home.
Children should learn prayer in the home. They should learn worship in the home. They should learn forgiveness, Bible truth, and Christian character in the home.
Our homes have become so busy that many families barely have time for fellowship, much less spiritual investment.
But if we want strong Christian families, somebody has to slow down enough to open the Bible, pray together, and intentionally pour truth into the next generation.

The Home Should Be a Picture of Christ
Ephesians 5 gives us one of the clearest pictures of the family in Scripture.
The relationship between a husband and wife is compared to Christ and His church.
Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church — sacrificially, lovingly, and faithfully.
Men, our homes should not be ruled by pride, harshness, or selfishness. Christ did not lead by bullying; He led by love.
Wives are called to walk alongside their husbands as helpers and partners in God’s design. God created Eve not as decoration, but as a helpmeet — someone who would complete and strengthen what Adam could not do alone.
Healthy homes are built when husbands and wives walk with God, work together, and reflect Christ through their relationship.
Then Ephesians 6 turns to children:

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.”

Children thrive where there is companionship, spiritual leadership, and godly example.
No home is perfect. Every family has struggles. But with God’s help, our homes can reflect His design.

Final Thoughts
Our families are under fire.
Many homes look strong on the outside but are struggling behind closed doors. The enemy would love nothing more than to divide marriages, weaken parents, and disconnect families.
But God has given us something valuable.
Your spouse is valuable.
Your children are valuable.
Your family is valuable.
Let’s not treat God’s design as disposable.
Let us determine, like Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
That means investing in companionship, prioritizing spiritual growth, and building homes that reflect Christ.
God is faithful. And with His help, we can build homes that honor Him.

Living By Faith
Habakkuk 2:4
This is the third sermon in our series from the book of Habakkuk in the Old Testament. If we were to summarize the book of Habakkuk with one word, it might be waiting.
The longer Habakkuk waits, the heavier the pressure becomes. The direction gets blurry. He finds himself at the end of his rope. He wants God’s will, but this time trusting God does not feel exciting—it feels difficult.
In week one, we discussed questioning God. Habakkuk asked why God would allow Babylon to rise to power. The sermon was titled When Life Doesn’t Make Sense.
Last week, we discussed that God is at work even when we do not see Him at work. Just because we cannot see God moving does not mean God is not working.
This week, I want to focus on the principle God gave Habakkuk in the middle of his struggle.

“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” — Habakkuk 2:4

Faith Is Rarely Understood
God said, “The just shall live by faith.”
That is a wonderful statement. We ought to write it down, frame it, and hang it in our homes. But what does it really mean?
Habakkuk wanted God to give him answers, but instead, God gave him faith.
How many times in life have we sought answers from God, only to discover that God was teaching us something deeper along the way?

I am reminded of the movie The Karate Kid. Daniel wanted to learn karate so he could defend himself. Mr. Miyagi agreed to teach him—but first Daniel had to paint a fence. Day after day, he painted. Then Mr. Miyagi told him to wax all the cars: “Wax on, wax off.”
Eventually Daniel became frustrated.
“I came here to learn karate, not work for you!”
But then Mr. Miyagi threw a punch, and Daniel instinctively blocked it using the same motion he had learned while painting the fence. A kick came, and Daniel defended himself with the wax on, wax off motion.
Without realizing it, he had been trained all along.

I am not trying to spiritualize The Karate Kid, but that is often how God works.
We ask for answers, and God says, “Let Me teach you something deeper.”
Sometimes that leaves us scratching our heads.
“Why is God doing this?”
“Why is God allowing this?”
The Apostle Paul asked three times for God to remove the thorn in his flesh. Instead of immediately removing it, God replied:

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9

Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison. Through it all, God never handed him a clear timeline. God never explained the full plan.
Yet in the end Joseph could say:

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” — Genesis 50:20

Naaman had leprosy in 2 Kings 5. Others were healed publicly, but Elisha instructed Naaman to dip seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman resisted.
Why not the cleaner rivers of Damascus?
Because to receive his miracle, he had to act by faith, even when it did not make sense.
We all face things in life we do not understand—heartache, disappointment, struggle, despair.
But may we keep walking with God, trusting that one day He will use it all for His greater purpose.

Faith Continues Through Life
God told Habakkuk:

“The just shall live by his faith.”

The key word is live.
God did not say, “Use faith to get over this hurdle.”
He did not say, “Use faith until you get to the next season.”
No—He said faith becomes the pattern, the foundation, and the pillars of the justified life.
I believe many people want to die in faith, but very few people want to live by faith.
This statement, “The just shall live by faith,” appears several times throughout Scripture.

In Romans 1:17, Paul emphasizes justification.

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” — Romans 1:17

To be made right with God takes faith.

In Galatians 3:11, Paul emphasizes freedom from the law.

“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” — Galatians 3:11

Stop trusting in works. Trust the God who saves and sets free.

In Hebrews 10:38, the emphasis is endurance.

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” — Hebrews 10:38

You do not have to quit. You do not have to turn back. You can endure life’s problems through faith.

This truth is woven throughout the Bible, but it is also woven throughout our lives—from salvation, to freedom, to perseverance.
Even when it does not all add up, the message remains:
The just shall live by faith.

Faith Is A Personal Choice
Notice one small word in our text:

“The just shall live by his faith.”

Our relationship with God is personal.
We can each say:
“He died for me.”
“He paid my sin debt.”
“He forgave my sins.”
“One day I am going to Heaven.”
Salvation is personal.
But our ongoing faith toward God is personal too.
The just shall live by his faith.
As your pastor, I want to provoke you to good works. I want to push you toward service. I want to see God use you. I want your family to finish well.
But God calls you to exercise faith.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” — Hebrews 11:6

I believe Heaven’s favorite conduit is faith.
We send faith upward, and God sends blessing downward.
Noah obeyed by faith. He built a boat in a desert.
Abraham obeyed by faith. He left home not knowing where he was going.
Moses obeyed by faith. He endured opposition, stood before Pharaoh, and declared, “Let my people go!”
If we are ever going to truly obey God, it will require faith—trusting what God says even when we cannot yet see the end result.
We came to God by faith.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” — Ephesians 2:8

But strangely, the longer we walk with God, the more tempted we are to drift away from faith and rely only on what we can see and control.
Maybe we have been hurt.
Maybe time feels short.
Maybe we simply want to protect what is ours.
Maybe we are in a season where we just want to play it safe.
Habakkuk had to trust that the rise of the Chaldeans, the struggle of Israel, and the unclear plan of God would somehow work out for good in the end.
He had to exercise his faith toward his God.
God gave rebuke and warning to the wicked.
But to the justified—to the child of God, to the forgiven, redeemed, born-again believer—God says:
“Keep living by faith.”
God did not ask the lost world to live by faith.
Throughout Scripture, He continually challenges His people to live by faith.
And the same challenge remains for us today.
The just shall live by his faith.

WHAT WE SAY IN THE HOME
Family Under Fire Series
Proverbs 18:21
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” — Proverbs 18:21
This month we are in a series called Family Under Fire. We are looking at the pressures, attacks, and struggles facing the modern home.
It is no secret that families are under strain. Some are still under the same roof but feel miles apart emotionally and spiritually. Others are experiencing breakdowns, broken relationships, and deep hurt they never expected.
Life has a way of throwing curveballs, and the enemy works tirelessly to divide what God intended to unite.
In week one, we talked about holding the line at home from Joshua 24:15:
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
We asked the question: Who is holding the line in your home?
Last week, we looked at the burden for the home through the life of Hannah. Her burden drove her to prayer and shaped her family’s future.
This week, we turn to a very practical but powerful subject: our words in the home.
Because when there is no line in the home, there are often no limits on speech. Anything gets said. Hurtful words become normal. Criticism becomes common. And what should be a place of refuge becomes a place of damage.
Our text reminds us:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
One of the enemy’s most effective tools against the family is not always obvious attacks — it is our own words.

Words Will Build or Break the Home
The same tongue that speaks life can also speak death.
We can say:
“You did a great job.”
Or we can say:
“You never get anything right.”
We can encourage.
Or we can tear down.
Life produces growth. Death produces decay.
Life brings color. Death brings darkness.
Life moves forward. Death becomes stagnant.
If a home is slowly deteriorating, it is often not because of outside pressure alone — but because of what is being spoken inside it.
James 3 reminds us of the power of the tongue:
“Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body…
Behold also the ships… are turned about with a very small helm…
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things…
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity… it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” — James 3:3–6, 8
A small tongue can steer the direction of an entire life, home, or marriage.
And once words are spoken, they cannot be retrieved.
Many of us have said things we immediately wished we could pull back — but we cannot.

Words Can Do Lasting Damage
The proverb says:
“…and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
In other words, what we consistently speak becomes what we eventually live in.
If we speak death, we will live in the fruit of death.
If we speak life, we will live in the fruit of life.
Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.”
That principle applies deeply to the home.
What a father speaks over his children often becomes what they believe about themselves.
What a mother speaks into her home often becomes the atmosphere of that home.
James gives us the right order:
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” — James 1:19–20
We often reverse that order. We are quick to speak, quick to react, and slow to listen.
And that leads to damage.
Words spoken in anger, frustration, or embarrassment often leave scars that last far longer than the moment itself.
Shame Never Produces Change
James Dobson once said, “Shame never brings change.”
Criticism may feel satisfying in the moment, but it rarely produces growth.
A child corrected in front of others often doesn’t leave better — they leave broken.
We see it in homes, on ballfields, and in everyday life. Words spoken publicly in anger often produce private discouragement that lingers long after the moment is gone.
Correction has its place — but it must be paired with wisdom, timing, and love.
Because what we say can either build a child’s confidence or crush it.

Godly Words Bring Healing and Stability
The same tongue that wounds can also heal.
Scripture gives us repeated instruction on this:
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” — Proverbs 15:1
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” — Proverbs 25:11
“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” — Proverbs 16:24
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying…” — Ephesians 4:29
Our words should build up, not tear down.
They should bring grace, not tension.
They should bring healing, not harm.
Many homes are struggling not because of a lack of love — but because love is not being expressed through words.
A husband needs encouragement when he comes home from a hard day.
A wife needs stability, not suspicion or tension.
Children need affirmation, not constant criticism.
Words matter.
They set the atmosphere of the home.
Words Shape Identity
There is power in what we speak over others.
A well-known classroom experiment by Jane Elliott demonstrated how children performed differently depending on what they were told about themselves. Those spoken to as capable began to perform with confidence. Those spoken to as inferior began to struggle.
The lesson is simple: what people hear about themselves affects how they live.
Our children, our spouse, and our family members are constantly being shaped by words — either from us or from somewhere else.
We must be the loudest voice of truth in our homes.
Christ Changes Our Words
Jesus said:
“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” — Matthew 12:34
If Christ is in the heart, He will eventually come out in the words.
If Christ is not in the heart, He will not be reflected in the speech.
That is why revival in the home begins with Christ in the heart.
Because when Christ is present, He changes what we say.
And when He changes what we say, He begins to change what we build.

Conclusion
Our homes are under fire. But many times, the fire is not coming from outside — it is coming from within.
It is friendly fire.
It is words spoken in frustration, anger, carelessness, and pride.
But the same mouth that has caused damage can also bring healing.
We can choose life.
We can choose encouragement.
We can choose grace.
Because:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” — Proverbs 18:21
So the question is not whether words are powerful.
The question is: what are we doing with that power in our homes?

God Is at Work
A Study Through the Book of Habakkuk
Main Text
Habakkuk 1:5
This sermon is the second message in our series through the book of Habakkuk. Last week we began studying the burden of the prophet and the trouble of his day. Habakkuk was a man of faith, yet he was filled with questions for God.
“Lord, do You see what is happening?”
“How is this fair?”
“Why are the wicked prospering?”
His faith had been shaken. He was troubled by the condition of the people, troubled by the sin around him, and even troubled in his understanding of God’s ways. Yet through all of it, Habakkuk kept praying.
We learned last week that God answered Habakkuk’s prayer, but the answer was not at all what the prophet expected. Rather than immediately destroying the enemies of Israel, God allowed the Chaldeans—the Babylonians—to rise up in judgment against His own people. They were violent, cruel, and oppressive, and God allowed them to invade the land.
We closed by reminding ourselves of this truth: when God is working, the finished result will always be better than what we could have designed ourselves.
Tonight I want to continue that thought and preach on this subject:
God Is at Work
Sometimes we assume that because we cannot see God moving, He must not be doing anything at all. We do not get updates from Heaven as often as we would like, so we think God is idle. But God gave Habakkuk a verse of hope.
Habakkuk 1:5
“Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.”
Habakkuk was asking, “How long?”
“Why aren’t You moving?”
“Why does sin go unpunished?”
And God answered, “I am moving. I am working behind the scenes.”
But then God said something eye-opening: “You would not believe what I am doing even if someone told you.”
Habakkuk expected immediate judgment. He likely expected God to send fire from Heaven and handle the situation quickly. But God was interested in something deeper and longer lasting.

Point 1 — The Generational Work
Notice the wording of verse five:
“For I will work a work in your days…”
God did not say “in a day.”
He said “in your days.”
Habakkuk wanted a quick solution to a long-standing problem. The burden had already weighed on him for some time because he cried, “How long?” Yet God answered in a broader way. It was as if God was saying, “During your lifetime… during your generation… during your ministry… I am working.”
Sometimes God works suddenly, but many times His work is generational.
We must remember that if we are not dead, then God is not done.
There are parents praying for wayward children who want them to come home immediately, but sometimes God allows the road to get longer so the lesson becomes deeper. God may allow someone to discover for themselves that He truly is all they need.
It has often been said: when God is all you have, you realize He is all you need.
Sometimes we are too quick to rescue people from hard circumstances, not realizing that those very circumstances may be what God is using to reveal Himself to them. If people always have someone else to lean on, when will they learn to lean on God?
National repentance and healing in Habakkuk’s day would take time, but God assured him:
“I will work a work in your days.”
There is another lesson here for Christians today.
Too many believers are living in somebody else’s day.
We talk about old revivals. We talk about former glory days. We remember what God used to do in churches, ministries, and meetings. But when was the last time we prayed:
“Lord, I thank You for what You did then, but would You do it again in my day?”
We cannot survive on yesterday’s manna.
The God who moved before can still move today.
If God ever could, He still can.

Point 2 — The Guaranteed Work
Habakkuk 2:1-3
Habakkuk 2:1-3
Habakkuk 2:1-3
“I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
Habakkuk had complained to God about the wickedness around him. God answered, but the answer was not what Habakkuk wanted. The prophet struggled with it. Yet instead of walking away from God, Habakkuk chose to wait on Him.
He pictured himself as a watchman standing on the wall, faithfully watching and waiting for further instruction.
Even when he did not fully understand God’s ways, he still positioned himself to hear from God.
That is a lesson for us.
Even when life does not make sense…
Even when things are not unfolding according to our preferences…
We must continue to stand our post.
We must not abandon our responsibilities to God, to His work, or to the next generation.
Habakkuk took a teachable posture before the Lord.
He said:
“...what I shall answer when I am reproved.”
Many people know they are wrong but hope God will change His mind to agree with them. Habakkuk instead desired to get right with God.
Sooner or later, God reproves His children because He loves them.
In Habakkuk’s day, God often spoke audibly to prophets. Today, God reproves us through His Word and through the Holy Spirit.
Then God told Habakkuk:
“Write the vision, and make it plain…”
Some commentators say the writing was to be so clear that someone running by could still read it. Others say it was written plainly so that those who read it would be moved to action.
What was the vision?
Judgment was coming upon sin and injustice, including Babylon itself. But amid all the warnings, God gave this foundational truth:
Habakkuk 2:4
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”
Habakkuk 2:4
The righteous are not to live by circumstances.
We are not to live by emotions.
We are not to live by preferences.
We are to live by faith.
Faith trusts God when His timing is slow.
Faith trusts God when His methods are unfamiliar.
Faith believes that God’s finished product will be better than anything we could have planned ourselves.
God warned against pride, greed, violence, and idolatry, but He also assured His people that He saw every injustice.
Our plans are often rushed and impatient, and the results are usually shallow. But God is methodical. He works according to His omniscience, His foreknowledge, and His perfect wisdom.
God sees the end from the beginning.

Conclusion
God is working.
Sometimes it may only seem like small movements behind the scenes, but He is still at work.
What is encouraging in this story is that God still wanted to use Habakkuk even after his complaints, frustrations, and questions. God saw beyond the prophet’s attitude and looked directly at his heart.
Habakkuk got his heart right, submitted himself to God, and kept moving forward.
May that be a lesson to us.
God still wants to use imperfect people. He still uses people who struggle, people who ask questions, and people who sometimes wrestle with discouragement.
What God desires from us is simple:
Live by faith.
Trust Him.
Repent when you are wrong.
Get back up.
And keep moving forward.
To be continued...

1. Habakkuk struggled with questions about what God was allowing. Why do you think God sometimes seems silent or slow when we are hurting or confused?
2. In Habakkuk 1:5, God said, “I will work a work in your days.” What are some ways God may be working behind the scenes in our lives even when we cannot see it?
3. The sermon mentioned that many Christians try to live on “yesterday’s manna.” How can we stay expectant for God to move in our generation instead of only talking about the past?
4. Habakkuk chose to “stand upon the watch” and wait on God even when he did not fully understand His plan. What does it look like practically to remain faithful while waiting on God?
5. Habakkuk 2:4 says, “the just shall live by his faith.” What areas of your life right now require you to trust God by faith instead of by sight or feelings?

Family Under Fire: The Burden of the Home

Bible Text: 1 Samuel 1:27 
“For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him.”
Take your Bible this morning to 1 Samuel chapter 1.
We’ll look at verse 27 in just a moment.
I’ll get you to stand with me in honor of God’s Word, and then I’ll let you be seated. I’ll be mindful of your time today. I know many of you have family plans, places to go, and I hope you’ll enjoy that time together.
And let me say this while I’m here—there’s no evening service tonight. Take some time with your family. Be intentional about it. Life moves fast, and those moments don’t wait on us.
Sandy and I are going to try to do the same today—just a little family time, maybe the park, maybe a bike ride. Just being together.
And let me say this plainly: families need time together.
I believe you ought to be in church every chance you can, but I also believe there are moments where you need to pause and invest in your home. Because as the family goes, so goes the church.

1 Samuel 1:27 says:
“For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him.”
You can be seated.
Last week we began this series, Family Under Fire.
We talked about holding the line at home—Joshua’s declaration: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
And somebody has to make that decision in the home. Somebody has to draw the line and say, “We’re going to serve God.”
But let me say this—while that leadership is often associated with fathers, the reality is, much of the spiritual tone of a home is carried by mothers.
And I thank God for godly mothers.
Can we just pause and appreciate the mothers who carry that weight in the home?

The Influence of a Burdened Mother
From Jochebed hiding Moses…
to Naomi shaping Ruth…
to Lois and Eunice shaping Timothy…
The influence of a mother in the home is undeniable.
And I want to say this clearly: moms, don’t ever say, “I’m just a mom.”
There is no “just” about it.
Whether you’re at home full-time, working full-time, or doing both—you are carrying a weight that shapes generations.
But here’s something I’ve learned:
great influence in a home usually comes from great burden for a home.
A burdened mom is a powerful mom.
A burdenless home drifts.
And honestly, that same truth applies to fathers too.

1. Her Burden Was Her Responsibility
In 1 Samuel 1, we meet Hannah.
She is barren. Her womb is closed. And in that culture, that meant shame, grief, and deep personal pain.
The Bible says she wept sore. She was in bitterness of soul. She could not carry what she longed for most.
But when God finally gave her a son, she said something powerful:
“For this child I prayed…”
In other words—I know what it was like not to have him… and I know what it means now to have him.
And now she understands something deeper:
This child isn’t just a blessing—he is a responsibility.
Parents, let’s be honest: when you become a mom or dad, they don’t stay optional in your life.
They become your priority.
And we’ve got to stop outsourcing the spiritual responsibility of our children.
Not the school system.
Not the church alone.
Not the culture.
It’s ours.

2. Her Burden Drove Her to Prayer
The Bible says Hannah prayed and wept sore.
She prayed until others misunderstood her.
Eli even thought she was drunk because her burden looked strange to people who didn’t carry it.
But she wasn’t out of control—she was under conviction.
And here’s the truth: burdened parents pray.
Not occasionally. Not casually.
They pray and pray and pray.
And let me just say it plainly—we are raising children in a world that is not neutral.
Sex trafficking is real.
Pornography is constant.
Immorality is everywhere.
Comparison is destroying identity.
And anxiety is shaping a generation.
So we don’t just pray, “Lord help them have a good day.”
We pray:
“Lord, save them.”
“Lord, protect their mind.”
“Lord, keep their heart.”
“Lord, go where I cannot go.”
Because God can be where we are not.

3. Her Burden Became Her Mission
Hannah didn’t just receive a child—she surrendered a child.
“I will give him unto the Lord…”
She didn’t raise Samuel to belong to her comfort.
She raised him to belong to God’s purpose.
And somewhere in today’s culture, we’ve become more concerned with what people think about our children than what God wants to do with them.
But let me say this gently—people who won’t give an account for your home are not the ones who should be shaping your home.
God has entrusted you with that child.
And He is interested in what He can do through them.

4. Her Burden Produced a Prophet
1 Samuel 3:20 says:
“All Israel… knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet.”
Let that sink in.
One burdened mother.
One answered prayer.
One surrendered child.
And a nation received direction.
What started in private prayer became public impact.
And I wonder today—what if what you’re carrying in private is meant to shape something in public?
We pray, “God bless our nation.”
But maybe the better prayer is:
“God, shape my home.”
Because revival doesn’t start in a crowd—it starts in a cradle, in a kitchen, in a living room, in a prayer closet.

Closing Thought
So let me ask you:
When was the last time you truly carried a burden for your home?
Not frustration. Not pressure. Not routine.
But burden.
When was the last time you called your child’s name before God and said:
“Lord, save them.”
“Lord, use them.”
“Lord, don’t let them miss You.”
And maybe today, you don’t just need a message—you need a burden again.
Because Hannah didn’t just raise a child.
She surrendered one to God.
And God used him to change a nation.

HABAKKUK WEEK 1 
When Life Doesn’t Make Sense
Text: Habakkuk 1:1–3 

“The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.”
I am beginning a new series from the book of Habakkuk in the Old Testament. This week’s message is titled When Life Doesn’t Make Sense. Along with our Sunday messages, we will begin a Wednesday night Bible study that will take us through the month of May as we walk verse by verse through this small, yet powerful book.
I don’t know that I’ve heard many messages from Habakkuk, but it is in our Bible for a reason. In an expository way, we are going to look closely at what God has preserved for us—and what it reveals about the honest struggles of faith.
There are moments in life when our understanding of God, righteousness, and good living collides with reality. We often think that if we live right, go to church, and read our Bibles, life will be filled with blessings—while the wicked will face misery. But life doesn’t always unfold that way.
Sometimes a drunk driver survives, and an innocent person loses their life. Sometimes godly people pass unexpectedly, and we find ourselves thinking of others who seemed far less deserving. Pain often comes to those we would least expect.
And so the question rises in the human heart: Why do bad things happen to good people?
The book of Habakkuk speaks directly to those thoughts. Perhaps that’s why it isn’t preached often—it isn’t filled with easy answers or comforting clichés. It’s not roses and cupcakes. It is raw, real, and honest. It is a man of God bringing hard questions to the Lord—questions many have asked in private but hesitate to voice publicly.

Habakkuk is labeled a “minor prophet,” not because of importance, but because of the book’s size compared to prophets like Isaiah or Jeremiah. What makes this book unique is its direction. Most prophets speak to the people on behalf of God. Habakkuk speaks to God on behalf of the people.
There is no long sermon to the nation. No sweeping call to repentance like in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Instead, there is a burdened man looking at a broken world and saying, “God, this doesn’t make sense.”
Violence, injustice, corruption—everywhere he looks, and heaven seems silent.
He begins with a simple but sincere question: “O Lord, how long?”
That’s not rebellion—it’s reality. Many of us have been there. We’ve looked at the wickedness of this world—the abuse, the pain, the persecution—and asked, “God, how long will You allow this?”
David asked similar questions in the Psalms. This is the cry of a heart trying to reconcile faith with what it sees.

Faith Still Asks Questions
Habakkuk cries, “How long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear?”
This is a man of faith—but his faith is being stretched. He voices what many have whispered: “God, do You even hear me?”
We’ve often been told not to question God—but why? If we are made in His image, and even our children ask us questions, then surely we can come to God respectfully and ask Him the “why” of life.
Faith is not the absence of questions. Faith is bringing those questions to God instead of walking away from Him.
There was a time when we surprised our children with a cruise. We didn’t reveal everything upfront. They asked questions—where are we going, what are we doing—and we answered vaguely. Not because we didn’t care, but because the surprise would be worth it.
Sometimes God works the same way. He doesn’t reveal everything—but His plan is still good.
Habakkuk questioned—but he never stopped praying.

Life Can Challenge What We Believe
In verse 3, Habakkuk says, “Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance?”
He is struggling with what he sees. The wicked seem to prosper, while the righteous suffer. Justice appears delayed. The law seems powerless.
He’s not wrong—he’s honest.
And if we’re honest, we’ve felt that too. People grow weary. Even in churches, there is a sense of fatigue. We fight the good fight, we give, we serve—and yet wickedness still abounds.
Habakkuk’s belief system is being shaken—but instead of walking away, he keeps talking to God.

God Is at Work Even When We Don’t See It
As Habakkuk pours out his complaint, it seems like heaven is silent. No response. No immediate answer.
But then God speaks.
In verse 5, the Lord says, “I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.”
Finally—an answer.
Surely this means deliverance is coming. Surely God will vindicate His people.
But then comes the unexpected.
God says He will raise up the Chaldeans—the Babylonians—to accomplish His purpose.
That wasn’t the answer Habakkuk expected.
The Babylonians were ruthless, violent, and godless. Yet God declares He will use them.
Can you imagine the confusion? The weight of that moment?
We’ve seen moments like that. People pray, believing a miracle is coming—only to face worse news. The bank fails. The diagnosis worsens. The door closes.
And we find ourselves saying, “God, this isn’t what I expected.”
But here is the truth we must hold onto:
When God is silent, He is still working.
And when God is working, it may not look like what we would choose—but it will always be what is best.
This is only the beginning of the story.
To be continued…

Understanding the Text

1. In Book of Habakkuk 1:2–3, what emotions do you hear in Habakkuk’s questions? Why do you think he speaks so openly to God?
2. How is Habakkuk different from other prophets in the way he communicates with God and the people?

Personal Reflection

1. Have you ever experienced a time when what you believed about God didn’t match what you were going through? What did that feel like?
2. Which question do you relate to most: “How long?”, “Why?”, or “Are You listening?” Why?
3. What are some situations today that make people feel like God is silent or absent?

Faith and Doubt

1. The sermon says, “Faith is not the absence of questions.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
2. What is the difference between questioning God and walking away from God?
3. Why do you think people are sometimes afraid to be honest with God about their doubts?

Seeing vs. Believing

1. How can what we see in the world (violence, injustice, suffering) challenge our faith?
2. What are some healthy ways to respond when life doesn’t make sense?

Jesus for My Family
Acts 16:31
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
There are moments in Scripture when God slows us down and causes us to see something we’ve read many times—but never fully noticed.
That’s what happened to me in Acts 16:31.
We often focus on the first part: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” And that is right. That is the greatest decision anyone could ever make. Salvation is not found in religion, routine, or good works—it is found in personal faith and trust in Jesus Christ. There is a blessed assurance in those words—thou shalt be saved.
But the verse doesn’t stop there.
It continues with three powerful words: “and thy house.”
That phrase stirred my heart.
Because while salvation is personal, it is never meant to be contained. The gospel was never designed to stop with us—it is meant to reach our homes, our families, and our households.
The most important thing you can ever do is trust Jesus Christ. Nothing else in this life compares.
But right behind that is this: we must care about our house.
Not that every person will automatically be saved—but they should know the God we serve. They should see it in us. They should feel the difference. They should witness a life that has been changed.
Because one day, they will have to make that decision for themselves.
So how do we bring Jesus into our family?

Jesus Is the Foundation of Our Family
Every home is built on something.
It may look strong on the outside. It may appear put together. But if the foundation is not right, it will not stand when the storms come.
Jesus taught in Matthew 7 that the wise man built his house upon a rock.
That rock is Christ.
A strong family is not built on money, emotions, or circumstances—it is built on Jesus Christ. Storms will come, but a home grounded in Him will stand.
So where is your foundation?
Being in church is not the same as being grounded in Christ. Activity is not the same as a foundation.
Jesus must be the center.
That means we must be intentional.
Pray together.
For a long time, I struggled with praying in front of my family. I would pray for them, but not with them. There was hesitation there. But when we started praying together, something changed.
We began bringing our kids together at night. Not perfectly, not every single night—but consistently.
And something would happen in that room.
Peace.
No matter how chaotic the day had been, there was a calm that settled over us. Even the kids felt it.
I watched one of my children go from saying, “Dear Lord, thank you, amen,” to praying with boldness and sincerity.
Why? Because prayer became normal.
Pray together.
Read the Word together.
Make decisions based on truth.
When the foundation is right, everything else can hold together.

Jesus Is the Example for Our Family
Everyone follows someone.
When I was growing up, I looked to the best players I could find and tried to model my game after them.
So who are we pointing our families toward?
There is no greater example than Jesus Christ.
He showed us how to live—with humility, love, forgiveness, and service.
And He didn’t just say it—He lived it.
If we want our families to reflect Christ, we must model Him.
Love when it’s hard.
Forgive quickly.
Serve one another.
Bitterness will destroy a home, but forgiveness will restore it.
When a family follows the example of Jesus, the home becomes a place of peace instead of conflict.
And in a chaotic world, peace in the home is a gift.

Jesus Is the Only Hope for Our Family
Joshua said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
That is a decision every family must make.
Jesus is not just part of the solution—He is the only hope.
No matter your past…
No matter your failures…
No matter what your family has been through…
Jesus can restore.
Jesus can heal.
Jesus can lead you forward.
And many of us are here today because someone made that decision before us.
Someone chose Christ.
Someone set the foundation.
Someone changed the direction of the family.
And because of that, we had a chance.

I’ll never forget a moment that made this real to me.
I was in West Virginia at a conference, staying alone in a hotel room. Before that trip, Presleigh had been asking questions—questions about the Bible, about salvation—but she didn’t fully understand.
Every time we talked about being saved, she would shut down.
That night in the hotel, I had a dream I will never forget.
I dreamed that my family and I were walking through the gates of Heaven—but something wasn’t right. Presleigh wasnt with us. I woke up in that room, overwhelmed, crying like a child.
From that moment on, I began to pray harder than I ever had before. Every day. Every night. I asked God to work in her heart.
About two weeks later, on a Wednesday night, everything changed.
On the way home, she told her mom, “I want to get saved tonight.”
She wanted to understand. She wanted to trust Jesus for herself.
And that night, she did.
I thank God for that moment.
Because nothing in this world matters more than that.
Not jobs.
Not schedules.
Not activities.
Nothing is more important than knowing that your family knows Jesus Christ.
So believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
But don’t stop there.
Make sure your house knows Him too.
Build your home on Him.
Live as an example of Him.
Trust Him as your only hope.
Because those words still matter:
“And thy house.”

A Family Under Fire
For some time now, I have wanted to preach on the home and the family. There is no greater organization in our lives than the family.
You may say your job is everything because it supports your family—but your focus better be on your family.
I love the church, but always remember: God instituted the family before He instituted the church. If you want to serve God well, make your family strong.
The family is where we find our greatest joy, our greatest pride, and our greatest blessing.
But today, families are struggling.
Satan is on the attack. He wants to redefine the family, distract the family, and ultimately defeat the family.
I’ve said it before—if he can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.
It used to be that everything centered around obvious sins—drugs, immorality, rebellion. But now? Satan has learned something. He doesn’t have to destroy with wickedness—he can distract with busyness.
He fills our calendars with good things until we neglect the best things.
He disconnects us.
He creates conflict.
He shifts our focus.
And before long, instead of building, we’re constantly repairing.
That’s why for the next few weeks, we’re looking at this truth: Families Under Fire.
And today’s message is simple:
Holding the Line at Home

1. The Pressure Demands a Decision
We are living under pressure as families today—maybe more than ever before.
Not always from wicked things, but from constant demands:

• Busy schedules
• Rising costs
• The fear of missing out
• The pressure to keep up

And in that pressure, Joshua gives a command:
“Choose you this day whom ye will serve.”
Pressure demands a decision.
There are many families today who won’t decide—and they end up crushed because of it. The road is full of “dead squirrels” that couldn’t make up their minds.
Joshua makes it plain:
You will either serve the gods of this world, or you will serve the Lord.
It cannot be both.
We like to think we can balance everything—but don’t be fooled. You cannot take what belongs to God and give it somewhere else and expect God to bless it.
So decide.
Draw the line.
Hold the line.
Declare it.
What you’re facing right now will either refine you or redefine you—but it will change you.
So why not choose Him?

2. The Pressure Reveals Who We Are Serving
Joshua says something important:
Not “what” you will serve—but “whom” you will serve.
There is always an object of our service.
It’s either:

• God
• Others
• Or ourselves

And pressure reveals which one it is.
I’m not a know-it-all when it comes to family. I’ve made my share of mistakes. But I do know this—pressure reveals what’s inside us.
When life gets hard:

• We say things we wouldn’t normally say
• Our attitudes shift
• Our priorities change

Why? Because pressure exposes us.
Difficult seasons will reveal your relationship with God.
Now let me say this—pain is real.
Grief is real.
Loss is real.
Hardship is real.
And those things will change you.
But don’t let what happens in a moment become your identity.
Don’t let hardship push you away from God—let it push you toward Him.
Let your schedule reveal Him.
Let your stress reveal Him.
Let your pain reveal Him.
Be a living testimony that says:
“Yes, we’ve been through hard times—but we still serve the Lord.”

3. The Pressure Requires Someone to Hold the Line
Joshua is nearing the end of his life. This is his farewell.
He knows leadership is about to change. He knows the people will be vulnerable.
So he makes his position clear:
“As for me and my house…”
He wasn’t waiting on everyone else.
He wasn’t following culture.
He made his decision.
And every family needs someone who will do the same.
One day, every parent will leave this world.
And when that day comes, what will you leave behind?
Will it be something shallow and temporary—or something eternal?
Dads, moms—you have a responsibility to lead your family spiritually.
Tell them:

• Live for God
• Stay faithful
• Be in church
• Serve the Lord

Because somebody has to hold the line.
And let me say this clearly—the line still matters.

• Where we go matters
• What we do matters
• What we say matters
• Our habits matter
• Our faithfulness matters

I’m not preaching perfection—but I am preaching example.
If nowhere else, be an example in your home.

What Does It Mean to Serve the Lord?
Serving God is more than being on a church roll.
It means:
Put God First When Life Gets Busy
Your schedule may fill—but your priorities are your choice.
Turn to God in Problems, Not Just Peace
Let your children see your faith when life is hard.
Include God in Everyday Moments
Pray with your children. Talk about Scripture. Make God part of daily life.
Be Vocal About Your Faith
It’s okay to draw lines and explain why your family lives differently.
Be Willing to Say “I’m Sorry”
Nothing builds respect like humility.
Your children don’t need perfection—they need authenticity.
A Personal Word
One of the greatest moments of my life was when my father looked me in the eyes and said, “I’m sorry.”
Not because he was perfect—but because he was honest.
That moment built more respect than anything else ever could.
If you make a mistake—own it. Apologize. Move forward.
That’s how you lead your family.
Final Questions
Let me ask you:

• How confident are you in your family’s relationship with God?
• What do you see that points to eternity?
• Are you leading your home spiritually?

There is an eternity ahead of your children.
And there is an enemy after them.
Someone must stand.
Someone must lead.
Someone must hold the line.
Conclusion
Joshua made his choice.
Now it’s your turn.
Draw the line in your home and declare it boldly:
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” the Line at Home

Directly Cited or Referenced:

1. Joshua 24:15 - Main text: "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
2. Galatians 5:7 - Alluded to: "Paul said in one place in the New Testament, he said, you used to run well, but who did hinder you?"
3. Exodus 20:3 - Alluded to: "thou shalt have no other gods before me"
4. 1 Timothy 4:12 - Referenced: "Paul told Timothy, he said, you be an example of the believer. He said, word, deed, conversation."
5. John 10:10 - Alluded to: "He come to steal, kill, and destroy"
6. 1 Peter 5:8 - Referenced: "The Bible said there's a roaring lion seeking who he may devour"
7. Luke 22:31 - Alluded to: "Jesus told Peter he wants to sift you as wheat"

Relevant Verses for Main Themes:
Family Leadership and Faith:

• Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - Teaching children diligently
• Proverbs 22:6 - Training up a child
• Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers not provoking children but bringing them up in the Lord

Choosing to Serve God:

• Matthew 6:24 - Cannot serve two masters
• 1 Kings 18:21 - How long will you waver between two opinions?

Prioritizing God:

• Matthew 6:33 - Seek first the kingdom of God
• Luke 10:27 - Love the Lord with all your heart

Forgiveness in Families:

• Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind and forgiving to one another
• Colossians 3:13 - Forgive as the Lord forgave you

Bringing the Children to Christ
Text: Mark 10:13–16

The sermon is titled Bringing the Children to Christ. I’m using Mark 10:13–16 as my text.
We are beginning a campaign on Sunday in our Sunday School to help us reach new goals and new people through the teaching ministry of our church. How many people miss out on a great relationship and also great growth in their personal lives by not involving themselves in a class of some kind?
And tonight I want to encourage all of our adults to get involved in a Sunday School class. But as we all get involved in Sunday School, I am particularly interested in making sure that all of our boys and girls are involved to their maximum in our Sunday School, Children’s Church, and Wednesday night program.
In our text, Mark is recording an event that happens between Jesus and some children in the community. It’s one of our favorite stories because of how Jesus dealt with the children—and how He dealt with those who tried to prevent them from getting to Him.
Let’s look at a few thoughts from the story.

1. Children should be brought to Jesus
Mark 10:13 – “And they brought young children to him…”
Here in this verse, we don’t know exactly who brought them—mothers, fathers, caretakers—but somebody brought them.
And I would just say this: it’s a wonderful thing when families dedicate their children or desire a Christian home, but the greatest blessing to your children is when you personally bring them to the house of God to hear about Jesus.
I am so thankful I was able to go to church as a young man—but even more than that, I’m thankful my parents brought me to church.

2. Children need the touch of Jesus
Mark 10:13 – “…that he should touch them.”
We have to understand something—children in Bible days were not always viewed the way we view them today. They were often overlooked, sometimes even pushed aside.
And yet Jesus didn’t ignore them—He touched them.
He made them feel like they mattered. He didn’t push them away. He didn’t make them feel like they were in the way. He made them feel important.
I believe it was a physical touch—picking them up, putting His hands on them, maybe patting them on the head. But I also believe it was a spiritual touch. The God of heaven in the flesh reaching down and giving them worth, care, and security.
Our church ought to be a place where children come in week after week and they feel safe, they feel loved, and they feel the touch of Jesus on their life.

3. Children should not be hindered
Mark 10:13 – “…but the disciples rebuked those that brought them.”
So you’ve got people bringing children to Jesus, and then you’ve got the disciples rebuking them for it.
Now I’ve been in ministry long enough to know most people love kids—but every now and then you run into someone who just doesn’t. Sometimes it’s personality. Sometimes it’s just a mindset.
But in this story, I think the disciples were just reacting out of what they knew. They thought kids were insignificant. Maybe even a distraction. And remember, Jesus is becoming known at this point—so they’re acting like security trying to keep things orderly.
But Jesus corrects it all by saying, “Let them come.”
Because if we’re not careful, we can create an atmosphere where somebody walks away thinking Jesus is not for them.
And I never want that to happen.
I can remember as a child, our family didn’t have much. We weren’t really anybody in our community or even in our church. But when I went to church, those people made me feel like I was somebody. Like I mattered. Like I had everything in the world I needed. They loved me and my family.
That’s what the house of God ought to do.
Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me.” And I’m glad nobody ever stopped me from coming to Jesus.

4. Children are a picture of the kingdom of God
Mark 10:14
Jesus didn’t say children didn’t need salvation. But He did point to their openness, their trust, and their simplicity.
There’s something about a child’s heart that reflects what the kingdom of God is supposed to look like—humble, trusting, receiving.
Jesus was saying, “This is what my kingdom is like.”

5. Children teach us childlike faith
Mark 10:15
Jesus said we must receive the kingdom of God as a little child.
When my children were small, I would pick them up and sit them on top of our refrigerator. And I would say, “Jump to me—fall into my arms.”
And at their age, they weren’t thinking about gravity. They weren’t thinking about distance. They weren’t calculating risk. They just knew this: if Daddy said jump, Daddy would catch them.
That’s childlike faith.
And that’s exactly what Jesus is talking about. Not overthinking it. Not trying to control it. Just trusting Him.

6. Children are blessed when they come to Jesus
Mark 10:16 – “And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”
This is the picture right here.
He held them. He touched them. And He blessed them.
That’s why church matters for children—because they get close to Jesus, they hear His Word, and blessings are spoken over their lives.
And let me just say this: when children are in church, it’s not just babysitting until they get older—it is ministry right now.

So what can we do?
We can:

• Remove barriers
• Make kids feel wanted, not just tolerated
• Show them Jesus through affection and attention
• Speak blessings over them
• Teach childlike faith
• And make sure welcoming children is a church-wide culture

Because boys and girls ought to feel just as comfortable in the auditorium as they do in the children’s building.
Why? Because Jesus is exalted in this place.

The Awe of His Preservation
Bible Text: Psalm 12:6–7

God’s Word is forever settled in heaven.
And yet, at the same time, it is always new—living, active, and alive. Just when someone thinks it has grown old, dry, or irrelevant, God brings a fresh reminder of its power. A new song is written about the same old gospel. Another sermon is preached from the same eternal Book. And still—it speaks.
It is living water. It is alive.
Psalm 12:6–7 says,
“The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”
This truth brings us to the final message in our series, “The Awe of Him.”
We have stood in awe of Him in creation. We have stood in awe of Him in salvation. And now, we stand in awe of Him in preservation—specifically, the preservation of His Word.
Because here’s the question:
How do we know creation is true?
How do we know salvation is real?
The answer is simple:
“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

The Awe of the Source
The Bible is not man’s idea—it is God’s revelation.
Scripture says these are “the words of the Lord.”
2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God.
Yes, men physically wrote it down—but God is the Author.
Over 40 writers, across 1,500 years, from different backgrounds and locations, wrote a Book that perfectly harmonizes from Genesis to Revelation. That does not happen by accident. That is divine orchestration.
God breathed His Word.
God inspired His Word.
God delivered His Word—to you.
Somewhere along the way, someone placed a Bible in your hands. A parent, a grandparent, a teacher, a preacher. However it happened, you are holding something sacred.
This is not just a book.
It is the Book.

The Awe of the Purity
We live in a contaminated world.
Everything around us is flawed—people, systems, opinions, even our best efforts. Everything fades, breaks down, or fails.
But not the Word of God.
It is described as pure words, like silver refined seven times.
In a world full of error, we have something that is completely right.
People question it. Doubt it. Try to explain it away. But if God can create a universe out of nothing, then nothing written in His Word is beyond His power.
And even when you feel like you’re not retaining what you read, the Word is still working.
Like water running through a strainer—you may not hold much, but you’re being cleaned.
The Word purifies the mind.
It cleanses the heart.
It shapes the life.

The Awe of the Keeping
God didn’t just give His Word—He promised to keep it.
“Thou shalt preserve them… forever.”
If preservation depended on men, it would have failed long ago.
David died.
Moses died.
Paul was martyred.
But God lives forever—and so does His Word.
Through persecution, burning, banning, and bloodshed, the Bible has endured. It has been translated into thousands of languages and distributed by the billions.
And yet, beyond all the statistics, here’s what matters:
It made it to you.
From one generation to the next, God has faithfully passed down His Word. What may feel familiar to us is brand new to the next generation. And God is still using it.
Whether it’s printed on a page, displayed on a screen, spoken from memory, or even written in chalk on a sidewalk—the Word of God is still the Word of God.
And it still works.

The Awe of Its Power
Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.”
“Quick” means alive.
“Powerful” means active and effective.
The Word of God is not static—it moves, works, and operates in real time.
It meets you on the mountaintop.
It meets you in the valley.
It speaks differently in different seasons, yet never changes.
It convicts.
It corrects.
It comforts.
It points us to Christ.
Faith comes by hearing—and hearing by the Word of God.
After all these years, through every season of life, one truth remains:
The Bible still works.
The Message of the Book
At its core, the message of Scripture is simple enough for a child to understand:
God loved man.
Man sinned.
Sin required payment.
Jesus said, “I’ll pay it.”
He went to the cross.
God placed our sin on Him.
God offers His righteousness to us.
“And as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.”
That is the message preserved through the ages.
That is the message God fought to get to you.

A Final Word
Why would anyone ignore a God who has gone to such lengths to reach them?
If you don’t know Christ, receive Him today.
And if you do know Him—get in His Word.
Not as a routine. Not as a ritual. But as a lifeline.
We fill our minds with so many things, yet neglect the one thing that truly transforms us.
God’s Word will not return void.
It will do exactly what He sent it to do.
So let it in.
Live it out.
Pass it on.
Because we are not just holding a book—
We are holding the preserved, powerful, living Word of God.

The Awe of Him (Part 2: The Awe of His Salvation)
Text: Ephesians 2:1–10

There are moments in Scripture where just a few words carry overwhelming weight. In Ephesians chapter 2, we find two of the most powerful words in all the Bible: “But God…”
Those words change everything.
The passage begins in a dark place: “And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” We were not struggling—we were dead. We were not wandering—we were following the course of this world. We were not neutral—we were children of wrath.
But then comes the turning point: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us…”
And that love should leave us in awe.
We have been walking through a series titled The Awe of Him. We’ve already stood in awe of Him in creation—how vast and powerful He is. But today, we turn our attention to something even more personal: the awe of Him in salvation.
It is a wonderful thing to be saved. Everything good in my life traces back to salvation—when Christ changed me, changed my family, and changed my eternity. And when we truly consider salvation, we cannot help but stand in awe.

The Awe of Being Chosen Before Salvation
One of the most humbling truths in all of Scripture is this: God loved us before we ever loved Him.
Ephesians reminds us, “He loved us.” Not after we cleaned ourselves up. Not after we came to church. Not after we got things right. He loved us while we were still dead in sin.
Before you ever held a Bible, before you ever said a prayer, before you ever made your first mistake—God loved you.
We often think God loves us because we came to Him. But the truth is, we came to Him because He first loved us.
Before your parents ever chose your name, God already knew it. Before your first sin, God had already made provision to forgive it. Before you ever ran from Him, He had already made a way for you to come home.
That is a love unlike any other—and it should leave us in awe.

The Awe of the Cost
Salvation may be free to us, but it was not cheap.
The Bible says we were made alive “with Christ.” That phrase reminds us that our salvation is directly tied to His sacrifice.
Jesus went to a Roman cross. He was stripped, mocked, beaten, and nailed to that cross. A crown of thorns pressed into His brow. A spear pierced His side. But beyond the physical pain, He bore the weight of all sin.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Two thousand years ago, before we were ever born, Christ saw us—and He chose the cross anyway.
He gave up everything. Not just comforts—His very life.
There’s an old love song that says a man would give up all his comforts for the one he loves. But Jesus did far more than that—He gave everything to have you.
And when He rose from the grave, He proved it was all worth it.
The cross paid it. The tomb proved it.
And that should leave us in awe.

The Awe of Grace
Perhaps the greatest wonder of salvation is this: it is all by grace.
Ephesians 2:8–9 tells us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith… it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
That goes against everything we understand.
In life, everything is a transaction. You work, you get paid. You give, you receive. Every relationship has some form of exchange.
But salvation is different.
You didn’t earn it.
You didn’t deserve it.
You didn’t work for it.
It is a gift.
And that’s hard for many people to accept. We ask, “What can I do?” But the answer is—nothing. Jesus already did it all.
If salvation were based on works, heaven would be full of bragging. But God designed it so that all the glory belongs to Him.
It is grace, and grace alone.
And that should leave us in awe.

The Awe of Our Transformation
Salvation doesn’t just change our destination—it changes us.
The Bible says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.”
In Ephesians 2, we see three stages:

• We were dead in sin
• We were made alive in Christ
• We now walk as His workmanship

There should be a difference.
When someone truly comes to Christ, there is a transformation. Not perfection—but change. A new direction. A new desire. A new life.
I’ve watched people try everything to fix their lives—but nothing transforms like Jesus.
Some people He delivers from a sinful past. Others He keeps from one. But every single person He saves, He changes their destiny.
We are no longer headed for hell—we are bound for heaven.
And that should leave us in awe.

In Closing
Salvation is simple. It is free. But it is not cheap.
Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we could receive the greatest gift.
Don’t let the simplicity of salvation keep you from receiving it. You cannot buy it. You cannot earn it. You can only receive it.
And if you have received it, take a moment and reflect on the cost, the love, and the grace that made it possible.
Because when you truly understand salvation, there is only one response:
To stand in awe of Him.
God has loved you from the beginning. He has pursued you through time. And today, He offers you life.
Why not say yes to Him?

The Christian Worker
Text: Jude 20–23

The book of Jude is one of the smallest books in all of the Bible. It is only one chapter, containing 25 verses. Its main theme is a warning against corrupt teachers and bad doctrine. It is written by Jude, who identifies himself as the brother of James, which would make him the half-brother of Jesus if he is indeed that same Jude.
This is a small letter written to a very specific group. Most letters in the New Testament are written to churches or to a specific church, and some are even written to individuals, such as Paul’s letters to Timothy. But this letter is written to a general group. Notice verse 1:
Jude 1
“Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”
This letter is written to those who are saved, sanctified, and called. I believe most everyone reading this fits into that category. I hope you are saved. I pray God is working in your life through sanctification, shaping and molding you. And I pray you are active in the calling God has placed on your life.
By way of introduction, Jude encourages us to earnestly contend for the faith.
Jude 3
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
The gospel does not need our approval, our vindication, or even our defense—but it does require our labor to carry it to the next generation.
Jude reminds us that God is serious about sin. He delivered Israel out of Egypt, yet judged those who did not believe.
Jude 5
“I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.”
Even angels are reserved in chains for their rebellion.
Jude 6
“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”
Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for their sin.
Jude 7
“Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
Jude warns that this same kind of corruption is creeping into the church—error in teaching, greed in service, and corruption in conduct.
Judgment is coming.
Jude 15
“To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
He also tells us there will be mockers, sensual individuals who do not have the Spirit of God.
But in verse 20, Jude shifts his focus back to the believer by using the word “but.” In contrast to all the error and corruption, he gives us characteristics of a Christian worker who makes a difference.

1. A Christian worker builds himself up in the faith
Jude 20a
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith…”
The church is a great source of encouragement. It should be a place of discipleship and growth. But Jude is not writing to new converts—he is writing to the saved, the sanctified, and the called. And he tells them to build up themselves.
An oak tree was once a tender plant needing care, water, and support. But as it grows, it must learn to stand, endure the elements, and even provide shade for others.
How do we build ourselves up?
First, do not rely on others for your nourishment. Get into God’s Word. The answers are in God’s Word. Let it feed you.
Second, seek to grow. Many seek to attend. Many seek to belong. But those who seek to grow are different. Growth requires intentional pursuit.
Third, be honest about your commitment. Saying you want to grow is different than doing what it takes to grow. Desire without discipline produces nothing.

2. A Christian worker prays in the Holy Ghost
Jude 20b
“…praying in the Holy Ghost,”
At the very least, this means praying at all. The worst prayer is the one never prayed.
We can do more after we pray, but we cannot do more until we have prayed.
Praying in the Holy Ghost means praying under the leadership of the Spirit—being mindful of Him and obedient to Him. Sometimes it is simply saying, “Lord, I do not know how to pray, but here is my heart, and I will follow You.”
Too often we pray in our own spirit, telling God what to do. But Spirit-led prayer says, “Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.”
If we are going to make a difference, we must be people of prayer.

3. A Christian worker keeps himself in the love of God
Jude 21
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
We are already loved. We are saved and secure. There is nothing we can do to make God love us more.
But we can remove ourselves from the enjoyment of that love.
Dr. J. Vernon McGee likened the love of God to the sun. We cannot change the sun, but we can put up an umbrella that blocks its warmth.
May we not allow anything in our lives to block the love of God. Instead, we should bask in it, soak it in, and then let it flow through us to others.

4. A Christian worker has compassion and seeks to make a difference
Jude 22
“And of some have compassion, making a difference:”
The people in this verse are different from those in verse 23, yet our compassion should have no limits.
The best definition of compassion is seeing yourself in someone else’s condition and asking what you would want someone to do for you.
Not everyone can do everything, but everyone can do something.
Any difference is a big difference in someone’s life.

5. A Christian worker seeks to win the lost
Jude 23
“And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
This fear is not fear of people—it is an awareness of the seriousness of judgment. It produces urgency.
Like a child running toward the road, action must be immediate.
This verse gives three actions: saving, pulling, and hating.
We do all we can to rescue people from an eternity in hell, while hating the sin that destroys them.
This is why we must build ourselves up—we never know when we will need to help someone.
This is why we must pray—to be led to those who need rescue.
This is why we must stay in the love of God—so nothing hinders our effectiveness.
This is why compassion matters—because people are hurting everywhere.

Conclusion
Are you saved? That is a simple yes or no.
If you are saved, then you should be growing and seeking God’s will for your life.
If you know your calling, then you should be working in it to make a difference for Christ.
Any difference is a big difference in eternity.

Discussion Questions:

• In what practical ways can we “build up ourselves” in our faith beyond just attending church? What does that look like in your daily life?
• What is the difference between praying in our own will and praying “in the Holy Ghost”? Can you share a time when God led your prayer life in a specific way?
• What are some “umbrellas” that can block us from experiencing the love of God, and how can we remove them?
• Who in your life right now might need compassion or even urgent spiritual help, and what is one step you can take this week to make a difference?

The Awe of Him (Part 1: The Awe of His Creation)
Text: Psalm 33:6–9

Psalm 33:6–9
“By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”

There are moments in life that simply cannot be explained—only experienced.
This past week, I watched one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen. It was massive, vibrant, breathtaking. I could take a picture of it. I could try to describe it. But the truth is—you just had to be there.
Church can feel that way too.
You can watch it online. You can hear about it. But there are moments when God shows up in such a real way that words fall short. Moments where you don’t just attend—you stand in awe.
And that is what I fear we are losing.
In a world where church can become routine, preference-driven, and scheduled, we are in danger of losing the “wow”—the awe of God.
So for the next few weeks, I want us to focus on one theme:
The Awe of Him.
Today, we begin with this truth:
The Awe of His Creation

1. His Word Carries Absolute Authority
The psalmist reminds us:

“By the word of the Lord were the heavens made… For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” (Psalm 33:6, 9)

God did not assemble the world from borrowed materials.
He didn’t gather parts.
He didn’t experiment.
He spoke—and it was.
Out of nothing, everything came into existence.
That means the same God who created the universe with His voice has the power to speak into your life.
When you face situations that seem impossible…
When you see no solution…
When it feels like nothing can be done…
Remember this:
Our God makes something out of nothing.
We must ask ourselves:

• Are we reading His Word?
• Are we trusting His Word?
• Are we obeying His Word?

Because when we drift from His Word, we begin to lose our awe of Him.

2. His Power Is Beyond Comprehension

Isaiah 40:12
“Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?”

Isaiah paints a picture that stretches our understanding:

• God holds the oceans in His hand.
• He measures the heavens with His span.
• He knows every particle of dust on earth.
• He weighs mountains like we weigh small objects.

Think about that.
The same God who set the depth of the oceans…
The same God who determined the height of the mountains…
Is the God who knows your situation today.
Your problem is not bigger than God.
He does not need your strength, your wisdom, or your approval.
He is God all by Himself.

3. His Wisdom Is Self-Sufficient

Isaiah 40:13–14
“Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?”

Everything we know, we’ve learned from someone else.
But who taught God?
Who advised Him?
Who instructed Him?
Who gave Him wisdom?
No one.
God has never had an “aha” moment.
Nothing has ever occurred to Him.
He has never needed guidance—because He is perfect in knowledge.
And yet, we often treat Him as optional.
We give Him leftover time.
We fit Him into our schedule.
We neglect the very One who gives us breath.
If we would return to time in His Word…
Time in prayer…
Time in His presence…
We would rediscover the awe we’ve lost.

4. His Presence Makes Nations Small

Isaiah 40:15
“Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance…”

The nations of the world may seem powerful:

• Governments rise and fall
• Armies grow and threaten
• Leaders influence millions

But to God?
They are a drop in a bucket.
They are dust on a scale.
God is not intimidated.
He sets up kings.
He removes kingdoms.
He rules over all.
And because of that:
We do not have to live in fear—we can live in awe.

Conclusion: Have You Lost Your Awe of Him?
Creation reminds us of one simple truth:
We are completely dependent on God.
You cannot breathe without Him.
You cannot live without Him.
You cannot succeed without Him.
And yet—this Creator desires a relationship with you.
Think about that.
The One who spoke the universe into existence…
Wants to walk with you.
Hear from you.
Be known by you.
Not because we deserve it—
But because of His grace.
So let me ask you:

• When was the last time you were overwhelmed by His goodness?
• When was the last time you worshipped Him without prompting?
• When was the last time you simply stood in awe?

If we’ve lost that…
Why not start today?
Give Him your life.
Give Him your burdens.
Give Him your everything.
Because the God who made everything from nothing…
Can do something incredible with you.

Death Defeated, Hope Alive
1 Corinthians 15:12–20

There’s a question that keeps surfacing in the world we live in today—what is true? What can we really believe? Everywhere we turn, things feel uncertain. Images can be generated. Stories can be manipulated. Narratives are constantly shifting. Even in everyday life, people are left wondering what they can trust.
And sadly, that same uncertainty has crept into how people view the church. People hear preaching and think, Is that really true? Can I trust that?
So the question stands—what is truth?
Jesus made a bold claim. He didn’t just say He knew the truth—He said He was the truth. He said He came to bear witness of the truth. But then something happened that shook everything—Jesus was crucified.
They mocked Him. They beat Him. They nailed Him to a cross. And He died.
So if He is dead… what does that say about His claims? If Jesus stayed in the grave, then everything He said collapses. Our faith is empty. Our hope is gone. As Paul said, our preaching would be in vain, and our faith would be vain also.
But the story doesn’t end at the cross.

On that Easter morning, the stone was rolled away. The tomb was empty. Jesus Christ got up from the grave just as He said He would.
And in that moment, everything changed.
The resurrection became the validation of everything Jesus ever said.
If He got up, then He was right.
And because He lives, death has been defeated, and hope is alive.

The Resurrection Validates the Identity of Jesus
Everyone has an opinion about who Jesus is.
Some say He was a good man. Others say He was a teacher. Some dismiss Him altogether. But Jesus didn’t leave room for casual opinions—He made direct claims. He said He was the Son of God. He said He was the resurrection and the life. He said He had power over death.
Then He died.
And for a moment, it looked like those claims had failed.
But when that stone rolled away, every question was answered.
The resurrection confirmed His identity. It declared to the world that He is exactly who He said He is—truth, life, and Lord over death, hell, and the grave.
Anyone can make a claim—but only one walked out of a tomb to prove it.

The Resurrection Validates the Cross
The cross was a place of shame. It was reserved for criminals—the worst of society. And Jesus was numbered among them.
From a human perspective, it looked like failure.
The crowd mocked Him. The rulers rejected Him. Even as He hung there, dying, He cried, “It is finished.” To many, that sounded like defeat.
But the resurrection tells a different story.
If Jesus had stayed in the grave, then the cross would have meant nothing. The sacrifice would have failed. Sin would still reign. We would still be lost.
But when Jesus rose again, He proved that the cross worked.
The payment was accepted. The debt was paid. Sin was defeated.
What looked like the end was actually the victory.

The Resurrection Exposes the Limits of Religion
Religion existed long before Jesus came.
Structure, rituals, gatherings—those things have always been part of human life. And even today, people can participate in all the motions of religion without ever knowing Christ.
Paul addressed this directly. He spoke to people who heard preaching, sat in services, and yet still doubted the resurrection.
And the truth is simple—if Christ is not risen, then religion is empty.
You can attend church. You can go through the motions. You can look the part. But if your faith is in anything other than a risen Savior, it cannot save.
Religion might improve your life—but only Jesus can give you eternal life.
The resurrection draws a clear line: it’s not about what we do—it’s about who He is.

The Resurrection Demands a Response
When you read the Easter story, one thing becomes clear—no one stayed neutral.
Mary believed and ran to tell others. Thomas doubted until he saw for himself. The soldiers lied. The religious leaders resisted. The disciples were changed forever.
Everyone responded.
And today, we must respond too.
You cannot simply admire the story of Jesus and walk away unchanged. You cannot stay on the fence about the resurrection. If it’s false, it doesn’t matter. But if it’s true, it matters more than anything else in your life.
So what do you do with Jesus?
You come to Him.
You confess your need. You believe who He is. You bring Him everything broken in your life—your sin, your struggles, your burdens—and you lay it at His feet. You ask Him to save you, to lead you, to change you.
And then—you believe that He has done exactly what He said He would do.

Death has been defeated. Hope is alive.
But that truth must become personal.
It’s not enough to celebrate it in a church service—it must live in your heart.
Because the same Jesus who walked out of that tomb is still saving, still changing lives, and still offering hope to anyone who will trust Him.
So the question is simple—
Why not trust Him today?

The King They Expected and The Savior They Needed
Matthew 21:8-11

The streets of Jerusalem were alive with anticipation. Cloaks laid across the dusty road, palm branches waving wildly in the air, children singing, crowds shouting praises—this was Palm Sunday, a day of triumph and expectation. The people had waited generations for this moment, for the one who would finally come and set everything right.
"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" The words echoed through the city streets as Jesus made His way into Jerusalem, not on a mighty war horse as many expected, but on a humble donkey.
Matthew 21:8-11 captures this pivotal moment: "And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way. Others cut down branches from the trees and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before and that followed cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest."
The entire city was moved. But within days, these same voices crying "Hosanna" would be screaming "Crucify Him!" What changed? The answer reveals a timeless truth about human nature and our relationship with God.

Expecting a Political Fix
The Jewish people lived under the oppressive thumb of Rome. They were taxed beyond measure, controlled by a foreign government, stripped of their autonomy. When they cried "Hosanna"—which literally means "save us" or "rescue us"—they weren't thinking about spiritual salvation. They were thinking about political liberation.
The prophecies spoke of one who would shoulder the government, a conquering king who would overthrow Rome and restore Israel to its former glory. They expected a warrior on a white stallion, ready to lead them into battle and victory.
Instead, Jesus came on a donkey—the lowest, most humble of animals. He described Himself as "meek and lowly," entering not as a political giant but as a humble Savior.
We do the same thing today, don't we? We think if we could just get the right person in office, fix the right system, implement the right policies, everything would be better. We look for external solutions to problems that are fundamentally internal.
The world doesn't need better politicians or more talking heads on television. What the world desperately needs is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords—a Savior who can transform hearts, not just circumstances.

Expecting the Miraculous
Jesus had built quite a reputation. He healed the blind, cast out demons, fed 5,000 men with just five loaves and two fish. Everywhere He went, miracles followed. The crowd waving palm branches had seen or heard about these wonders, and they were convinced that as long as they had Jesus, everything would be fine.
No more sickness. No more hunger. No more problems.
They were cheering for the loaves, for the material benefits, for the show. And what a show it was! But Jesus didn't come to put on a show—He came to seek and to save the lost.
We fall into this same trap. We want Jesus to heal our bodies, fix our finances, restore our relationships, help us land the big job. We treat faith like a networking opportunity or a cosmic vending machine. We want enough Jesus to get us out of trouble, but not so much that He actually changes how we live.
Jesus cares deeply about our physical needs and earthly struggles. He wants healing for our families, provision for our tables, restoration for our broken places. But His primary mission was never about building an earthly kingdom. As He Himself declared, "My kingdom is not of this world."
Too many people have expectations of Jesus that have nothing to do with Him becoming their Savior. They want what God can give them, but they don't want His Son.

Rejecting Him When He Confronts Them
Everything was going wonderfully—until Jesus started talking about holiness. Until He told Nicodemus, "You must be born again." Until He confronted the religious leaders about their pride, their sin, their hypocrisy.
Suddenly, the tone shifted in Jerusalem.
People love a healing Jesus. They love a supplying Jesus, a blessing Jesus, a Jesus who meets their needs. But people struggle with a holy Jesus. They struggle with a correcting Jesus, a Jesus who demands commitment and transformation.
The crowd's cry changed from "Hosanna, save us from suffering" to "Crucify Him, save us from submission." They wanted relief from hardship, but they didn't want to submit to the kingdom of heaven. They wanted rescue from the Romans, but they didn't want repentance. They wanted a savior, but not one who would rule over their hearts.
C.S. Lewis wisely observed, "I didn't go to religion to make me happy. A bottle of booze would do that. But if you want a religion to make you really comfortable, I certainly don't recommend Christianity."
Charles Spurgeon put it bluntly: "The reason why men do not come to Christ is not because they cannot, but because they will not."
We want to be saved, but we insist that Christ do all the dying. We want the benefits of Christianity without the transformation. We want enough of God to get us into heaven, like a "get out of jail free" card, but we don't want Him changing how we live our lives.

What They Really Needed: Salvation
The people wanted to be rescued externally—from Rome, from taxation, from religious oppression. What they really needed was for Jesus to fix them internally.
When the angel told Mary she was with child, he said Jesus would "save his people from their sin." John the Baptist proclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world." Jesus Himself said He came "to seek and to save that which was lost."
It wasn't empty stomachs or earthly thrones that Jesus came for. He came to save souls—every person who would trust in Him.
People changed their tune about Jesus not because they didn't like Him, but because He didn't meet their expectations. He came preaching truth, transformation, and a kingdom not of this world.

The Lifeboat We Refuse to Board
On April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink. Despite the danger, many passengers refused to get into the lifeboats. They had been sitting at fancy tables, eating gourmet meals, drinking champagne. The Titanic was declared unsinkable—even God couldn't sink it, they boasted.
When crew members lowered the lifeboats, some passengers looked at those small, rickety boats and said, "I'm not getting in that." They were expecting comfort and luxury. What they needed was rescue.
Tragically, many waited too long. They missed their chance to be saved. The very thing that could save them was the very thing they were hesitant to step into.
Don't let that be your story.

What Do You Expect from Jesus?
The reality is that Jesus is not who we expect Him to be—He's so much more. He didn't come to pad our pockets or advance our careers. He didn't come to make our lives comfortable or give us everything we want.
He came to save us from our sin. He came to transform our sin-cursed hearts. He came to wash us clean, to write our names in heaven, to give us eternal life.
And here's the beautiful truth: if you give Him your heart, He'll give you the desires of your heart as well. Not necessarily everything you want, but everything you truly need. He'll meet your needs. He'll bless you beyond measure. He'll be faithful in ways you cannot imagine.
But first, He must be your Savior.
The crowd on Palm Sunday expected a king who would fix their political problems and perform miracles on demand. What they needed—what we all need—is a Savior who can rescue us from sin and death.
Jesus rode that donkey into Jerusalem knowing exactly where He was headed: to a cross. Within days, they would pierce His hands, mock Him, and declare Him a failure. But He came out victorious on the other side.
That same Jesus offers you salvation today. Not just better circumstances, not just temporary relief, but eternal rescue. The question is: will you receive Him as He is, or only as you expect Him to be?

SERIES: Let the Church Be the Church
SERMON 5: The Improving Church

This is the fifth sermon in our series, Let the Church Be the Church. We have already discussed the infant church, the involved church, the invested church, and the immovable church. As we look at all these attributes of the early church, sometimes we might think, “Boy, they had it all together.” And to some degree, they did—but I believe, just like us, they had room to improve, room to grow, and room to get better.
Let’s also see ourselves as a people who need to improve. I am not there yet. As Paul said, I have not apprehended.

Philippians 3:12
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

Members of this church have not arrived. And we, as a complete body, have much room for improvement. So let’s look at what the early church did—especially its leaders—in the way of improving.
From the start, let’s be clear: they were not working to improve the gospel, because it was flawless. They were not working to improve the story of Christ. But they were working to improve how they conveyed it and how they lived it.

1: THEY IMPROVED IN HANDLING CONFLICT
In the book of Acts, we find a story involving Paul and Barnabas. These were men greatly used by God. Paul, the great missionary, pastor, and leader. Barnabas, his right-hand man—a preacher and encourager, especially to the Gentiles.
Together, they traveled, planted churches, and shook the world for Christ.
But then tension arose.
The issue was a young man named John Mark. His home had once been a meeting place for believers. He traveled with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, but during that journey, he left early. And now he had a reputation as someone who quit when things got hard.
Now Barnabas wants to give him another chance—but Paul disagrees.

Acts 15:39
“And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;”
This got heated. This was real conflict.
Barnabas took Mark, and Paul went another direction. But they agreed to disagree—and they did not let the conflict cancel the mission.
Instead of one team, now there are two. Instead of less work being done, now more can be accomplished.
Sometimes we think conflict means something is wrong. But conflict, when handled correctly, can stretch people, introduce new ideas, and open new doors.
If we think other churches don’t have conflict, our vision is skewed. Churches don’t post their problems on social media.
You don’t measure a church by the absence of conflict—you measure it by how it handles it.
What could have broken Paul and Barnabas actually broadened them and allowed them to do more.

2: THEY IMPROVED BY GIVING SECOND CHANCES
As we continue with John Mark, Paul and Barnabas had good reason to be concerned.
On the first journey, things got tough—and Mark quit and went home. Paul never forgot it.

Acts 15:38
“But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.”
Ministry is work. If we want to be respected in ministry, we must work the ministry. People want to ride in the parade, but nobody wants to build the float—and that should never be said of leaders in the church.
Mark wanted to be on the team—but he avoided the hard work. That’s why Paul didn’t trust him. He wasn’t ready. He wasn’t reliable.
But the gospel did for Mark what it does for all of us—it changed him.
The gospel changes us, though not always in the same way or at the same pace. But it works from the inside out and prepares us for our purpose.
God was working on Mark. And at the same time, God was working on Paul.
Listen to what Paul wrote about forgiveness:

Ephesians 4:32
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

Colossians 3:13
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
As Paul wrote these words, no doubt God was working on his own heart.
Paul grew. Mark grew.
And Paul went from a hard “no” to a changed heart.

2 Timothy 4:11
“Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.”
That is a second chance at its best.
To be an improving church, we must learn to change our hearts and minds about people.
Don’t freeze people in their failures. Yes, sin must be addressed. Yes, issues must be resolved. But don’t make a permanent decision about someone based on a temporary season.

3: THEY IMPROVED IN FORGIVENESS
Now we move from conflict and second chances into forgiveness.
In the book of Philemon, we meet a man named Onesimus. He was a servant who had wronged his master, Philemon. He broke trust, ran away—perhaps even stole—and ended up crossing paths with Paul.
He heard the gospel, and he got saved. God changed his heart. He became a new man.
And then Paul did something powerful—he sent him back.
He wrote a letter to Philemon asking him to forgive Onesimus for the gospel’s sake, because now they were brothers in Christ.

Philemon 1:15–16
“For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?”
Then Paul says:

Philemon 1:17
“If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.”
Paul is saying—if you are in fellowship with me, and I am in fellowship with him, then receive him the same way you would receive me.
In other words, don’t treat him based on what he did—treat him based on what he has become.
That is forgiveness.
Forgiveness is not pretending it didn’t happen—it is choosing to relate to people through grace rather than their failure.
The same mercy we expect is the same mercy we must extend.

CONCLUSION
This early church—and especially its leaders—improved in biblical ways.
They handled conflict. They didn’t walk away from the mission—they used conflict to do more for Christ.
They gave second chances. When we think a second chance is enough, Jesus told us to forgive seventy times seven.
They forgave—because they had been forgiven.
God did not improve the gospel—but He improved people’s understanding of it, and how they lived it out.
And if we are going to be the church…
We must keep improving too.

Something to Rejoice About
Text: Luke 15:3–7

There are some chapters in the Bible that you can return to again and again, and every time you do, they stir your heart in a fresh way. Luke 15 is one of those chapters.
If your walk with God ever feels stale…
If your devotion time ever seems to lose its edge…
If your spirit ever feels a little dry…
Go to Luke 15.
This chapter is salvation at its best. It is lost and found at its best. It is mercy, grace, compassion, and soul-winning all wrapped into one. We see the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son—each painting a powerful picture of how much God values a soul.
Over the past weeks, we’ve focused much on the sadness of being lost. But this time, the focus shifts.
Not the tragedy of being lost…
But the triumph of being found.
There are two sides to salvation: lost and found. And if you’ve been saved by the grace of God, you know which side you’d rather be on.
“I once was lost, but now am found.”
That alone gives us something to rejoice about.

Rejoicing in God’s Seeking
The story begins with a shepherd who has one hundred sheep—but one goes missing. Without hesitation, he leaves the ninety-nine and goes after the one.
That’s the heart of God.
He is the seeker. The searcher. The One who comes looking.
Have you ever stopped to consider where you would be if God had not come looking for you?
What if no one had prayed?
What if no church had cared?
What if no Christian had witnessed?
But that’s not your story.
God came looking.
Maybe it was through a faithful church.
Maybe through a praying grandmother.
Maybe through a friend who wouldn’t give up on you.
However He did it—He sought you out.
And that alone is reason to rejoice.

Rejoicing in God’s Success
The Bible says the shepherd went after the lost sheep “until he find it.”
Not if… but until.
God doesn’t quit.
People may give up. We get tired. We get discouraged. We sometimes stop trying.
But not God.
He kept calling.
He kept searching.
He kept reaching.
And one day—He found you.
Your life is evidence that God is still in the saving business. He is not failing. He is not losing. He is still successfully seeking and saving sinners.
And if you are saved today, it’s because God didn’t give up on you.

Rejoicing in God’s Strength
When the shepherd finds the sheep, he doesn’t scold it… he doesn’t drive it… he doesn’t drag it…
He carries it.
“He layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”
That sheep didn’t make its way back. It couldn’t.
It was too weak.
Too lost.
Too close to danger.
So the shepherd lifted it up and carried it home.
That’s exactly what Christ did for us.
We weren’t strong enough to find our way back.
We weren’t good enough to earn our way back.
So He did the work.
He carried us.
Salvation is not about our strength—it’s about His.
We were nothing when He found us. But by His strength, we were brought back into the fold.

Rejoicing in Heaven’s Support
When the shepherd returns home, he calls his friends and neighbors together and says:
“Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.”
What a picture.
First, we see a rejoicing Savior.
Then we see rejoicing neighbors—a picture of the church celebrating when someone comes home.
But it goes even further than that.
Jesus said that heaven itself rejoices over one sinner that repents.
Think about it—every time someone gets saved, heaven doesn’t stay silent.
Heaven celebrates.
There is support from above.
There is joy among the angels.
There is rejoicing in the presence of God.
You are not alone in your salvation—heaven stands in celebration with you.
And I believe that when a soul is saved, all of heaven knows it. The rejoicing is real. The celebration is great. The support is overwhelming.
That’s something to rejoice about.

A Final Word
If you are saved today, don’t lose your joy.
Remember where you were…
Remember what God did…
And rejoice in the fact that you have been found.
You are no longer lost.
No longer wandering.
No longer without hope.
You have something to rejoice about.
But if you are not saved…
There is nothing that would bring more joy—to this church or to heaven—than for you to come to Christ.
Don’t ignore the tug on your heart.
Don’t step over the prayers of those who love you.
Turn to Him.
Repent.
Believe.
Come home.
And when you do…
Heaven will rejoice.

Behold, I Come Quickly
Introduction

Over the last several services, there has been a common thread.
We’ve heard preaching from Revelation, and we’ve been studying the church in Acts.
Even before I was asked to stay in that same rhythm, God had already been stirring my heart toward this passage.
And I love how God orchestrates even the small things.
Tonight, I want us to look at the last chapter of the Bible—Revelation 22.
Revelation 22:7 says,
“Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:12 says,
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
Revelation 22:20 says,
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
Three times in this final chapter, we hear the same phrase:
“I come quickly.”
That ought to get our attention.

1. A Call to Pay Attention
The word “behold” means to stop and pay attention.
It’s God saying—don’t miss this.
Revelation 22:7 says,
“Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:12 says,
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
Jesus is saying—don’t get distracted.
Don’t get comfortable.
Don’t forget—I am coming again.
This isn’t a possibility.
It is a promise.
So the question is:
Are we paying attention?
Are we spiritually awake?
If Jesus came today—would we be ready?
Not the person beside you…
not your family…
but you.
Because the greatest decision you will ever make is your relationship with Christ.

2. A Promise of His Return
This is not symbolic language.
This is a promise.
Jesus is coming again.
The same Jesus who came the first time—will return.
He came as a Savior…
and He will return as King.
And this promise should not bring fear to the believer—it should bring hope.
Because this world is broken.
There is pain.
There is loss.
There is heartbreak.
But one day, that all ends.
The promise of His coming gives us:

• Hope in suffering
• Peace in uncertainty
• Comfort in pain

Revelation 22:20 says,
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
John didn’t fear His return—he longed for it.
And if the thought of Jesus returning brings fear instead of comfort,
we need to look in the spiritual mirror.
Because if you know Him—His coming is comfort.
If you don’t—it’s a warning.

3. A Reminder of Urgency
The Bible does not say, “I come eventually.”
It says, “I come quickly.”
That word “quickly” does not just mean immediate—it means suddenly, without warning.
At an appointed time.
In a moment.
In the twinkling of an eye.
And the danger is this—
We’ve heard it so much that we’ve grown used to it.
“Jesus is coming back.”
We know it—but do we feel the urgency of it?
Because when He comes:

• There will be no second chances
• No time to prepare
• No opportunity to fix things

It will be done.
And that means urgency matters:

• In our own salvation
• In our walk with God
• In reaching others

There are people in our lives who need the gospel.
Family.
Friends.
Coworkers.
Are we living like time is short?

Conclusion
Revelation 22 ends with a powerful reminder:
“Surely I come quickly.”
Not once.
Not twice.
But over and over again.
God is saying:
Pay attention.
Be ready.
Live with urgency.
So tonight, the question is simple—
Are you ready?
If He came today—would you be ready?
And if you are ready—
What about the people around you?
Because the final chapter of the Bible doesn’t end with confusion…
It ends with an invitation.
So let’s not ignore it.
Let’s not delay.
Let’s live ready.
Behold… He is coming quickly.