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.

The Immovable Church
Let the Church Be the Church – Week 4

Introduction
This is the fourth message in our series, Let the Church Be the Church.
Over the last three weeks, we have been looking at the early church in the book of Acts.
We have seen:

• The infant church—young, eager, and surrendered
• The involved church—faithful in prayer, community, and service
• The invested church—giving of themselves and their resources

And in each of these, we have looked at ways we can model their passion and apply it to our lives today.
Tonight, I want us to look at the immovable church.
Times have changed.
Methods have changed.
There are even things God has ordained for this time in which we live.
But I am thankful that there are still some things we can be settled in, grounded in, and sure about—while still being obedient to the Lord.
Let’s look at the immovable church.

1. The Early Church Was Unmoved by Pressure
Sometimes we think we live under pressure in the modern church.
Maybe the auditorium is 69 degrees when we prefer 70.
Maybe the ice cream shop ran out of our favorite flavor after church.
Maybe the waterslide is closed at youth camp.
But the early church lived under real pressure.
They were facing the threat of imprisonment—and even death.
The government had warned them not to preach Christ.
After Peter and John healed the lame man, they were arrested and commanded to stop preaching in Jesus’ name.
But listen to their response in Acts 4:20:
“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
They said, “We cannot stop.”
I wonder—how many of us would stop if we were told not to gather?
Recent years have shown us how possible that really is.
So what made them unmoved by pressure?

A. A Personal Experience with Christ
These were not people repeating religion.
They were not going through the motions.
They had experienced Christ personally.
1 John 1:1 says,
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;”
They had seen Him.
They had heard Him.
They had experienced Him.
And when you truly experience Christ—you cannot help but tell it.

B. A Higher Authority
They had lived under Roman rule—under tyranny, bondage, and control.
But now, they had submitted themselves to God Almighty.
Acts 4:19 says,
“But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.”
Acts 5:29 says,
“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
We should do all we can to submit to earthly authority.
But we must never forget—there is a higher authority.
And when we stand with Him, we can be confident—He stands with us.

2. They Were Unstopped by Persecution
This wasn’t inconvenience.
This wasn’t preference.
This was real persecution.
In the book of Acts:

• Peter and John were warned not to preach (Acts 4)
• The apostles were imprisoned (Acts 5)
• The apostles were beaten (Acts 5)
• Stephen was stoned to death (Acts 7)
• James was executed and Peter imprisoned (Acts 12)
• Paul was stoned and left for dead (Acts 14)
• Paul and Silas were beaten and jailed (Acts 16)

The persecution was real.
And yet—they kept going.
So here’s the question:
What does it take for us to stop?
Bad weather?
Disagreements?
A busy schedule?
They were unstopped.

3. They Were Unshaken in Their Production
It’s one thing to be unmoved—and accomplish nothing.
To be stubborn but fruitless.
But the early church was immovable in the right things—and it produced something.
They made an impact.
They understood they were called to bear fruit.
To use what God had given them.
To give Him a return on His investment in their lives.
And because they stood firm—their influence spread.
Acts 17:6 says,
“And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;”
That was meant as a criticism.
But what a compliment.
They turned the world upside down for Christ.
May it be said of us.
We can still make a difference:

• In our homes
• In our communities
• In the morals of our world
• In the priorities of people

But our impact is directly tied to our consistency.
It’s hard to follow inconsistent people.
It’s hard to follow invisible leaders.
It’s hard to follow ever-changing convictions.
Yes, the world will change.
Yes, the church must adapt in some ways.
But:
The gospel must stay the same.
The mission must stay the same.
The truth must stay the same.
And our impact should keep growing.

Conclusion
The early church faced pressure—but they didn’t move.
They endured persecution—but they didn’t stop.
They stayed grounded—and they produced fruit.
They were an immovable church.
And in a world that is constantly shifting…
in a culture that is always changing…
God is still looking for a church that will stand.
Not stubborn in preference—
but steadfast in truth.
Not rigid in tradition—
but rooted in Christ.
So the question is this—
Are we easily shaken?
Or are we firmly grounded?
Because when the church stands firm…
the world takes notice.
May it be said of us—
that we are still standing,
still serving,
still speaking,
and still making a difference.
Let the church be the church.

The Invested Church
Let the Church Be the Church – Week 3

Introduction
In this series, Let the Church Be the Church, we’ve been walking through the early church in the book of Acts.
In week one, we saw the infant church—young, inexperienced, yet eager and surrendered.
Last week, we looked at the involved church—a people committed to prayer, community, and faithfulness.
But tonight, I want us to see something deeper.
The early church was more than just attenders…
They were an invested church.
Anytime the subject of giving comes up in church, people often get quiet.
They think, “Oh no… here comes the money sermon.”
Some assume pastors are lining their pockets or trying to take advantage of people.
And I believe part of the problem is this:

“Giving is often talked about as a duty rather than a joyful thing. Giving can be viewed as a bill from the church rather than worship unto God.”

But when we look at the book of Acts, we see something completely different.
We see a church that wasn’t pressured… they were passionate.
They weren’t manipulated… they were transformed.
They gave—not just their time, not just their prayers—but their resources.
Why?
Because their hearts had been changed by the gospel.

1. Giving Reflects the Heart of God
To truly understand giving, we have to begin with God Himself.
God is—and always has been—a giver.
The Bible says in John 3:16,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
He gave first.
He gave freely.
He gave without asking anything from us beforehand.
James 1:17 reminds us,
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
So when we give, we’re not losing something.
We’re not subtracting from our lives.
We are reflecting the very character of God our Father.
Giving is not about obligation—it is about imitation.

2. The Early Church Was Invested
When we read the book of Acts, we’re not just reading about church attendance.
We’re reading about transformed lives.
This isn’t just a group of people who kind of got it.
This is the Acts of the Apostles.
A disciple is a student.
But an apostle is one who had seen the risen Christ.
Acts 1:21–22 says,
“Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.”
These were eyewitnesses to the resurrection.
And that encounter changed everything.
They moved from:

• Law to grace
• Religion to relationship
• Selfishness to generosity

Acts 4:32 says,
“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”
They stopped saying, “This is mine and that is yours,”
and started living like, “Look what God has trusted us with.”
Their mindset shifted to:
“How can we come together and do more for Christ?”
Now, God is not calling us to sell everything and move into a compound.
But the principle is clear:
If we all give, and we all serve,
we can push the gospel further together than we ever could alone.
So the question is:
What has God trusted you with?
Are you keeping it… or investing it?

3. Giving Frees Us from Materialism
Jesus said in Matthew 6:21,
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
In other words—your heart follows your money.
What you invest in is what you will care about the most.
Money has a way of gripping us.
It promises:

• Security
• Control
• Comfort

But those promises are empty.
Giving breaks that grip.
When we give, we stop trusting in our money
and start trusting in the faithfulness of God.
Someone once said:
"A closed fist cannot receive anything new."
Money is necessary for living.
But if it controls how we live, we are using it wrong.
And remember what the Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:10,
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Giving loosens its hold on our hearts.

Conclusion
The early church wasn’t just present—they were invested.
Their giving wasn’t forced, it wasn’t pressured, and it wasn’t mechanical…
it was a reflection of hearts that had been changed by the gospel.
When you truly understand what God has given to you,
giving back to Him stops feeling like an obligation
and starts becoming an act of worship.
So the question tonight is simple—
What has God trusted you with, and what are you doing with it?
Because when the church is invested…
the gospel moves forward,
lives are changed,
and God is glorified.
Let the church be the church.

LOST AND FOUND
Luke 15:8–10

Luke chapter 15 records three of the most well-known parables Jesus ever told: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Some say these are three separate stories. Others say it is one story told from three different angles. Either way, the message is unmistakable—God cares deeply about the lost.
In a recent message, I preached from the third parable about the prodigal son. One phrase stood out to me in that passage: “and kissed him.” When the son came home, the father did not lecture him. He did not shame him. He simply embraced him and kissed him. That kiss said more than words ever could.
Today I want to step back a few verses and focus on the second parable in the chapter—the parable of the lost coin.
Jesus said:

“Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”
(Luke 15:8–10)

This simple story reveals powerful truths about the condition of the lost and the heart of God toward them.

THE LOSTNESS OF THE COIN
The Bible says the woman “swept the house.” That tells us something about the environment where the coin was lost. In Bible times, homes often had dirt floors. The ground was sandy soil that people would sweep regularly.
Things would fall into that dirt—dust, debris, spilled food, and scraps from daily life. In many ways, the dirt acted like a place where everything unwanted was pushed aside and covered over.
Jesus’ description is intentional. It reminds us that living in a lost condition is like living in a dirty place spiritually.
Now let me be clear: I am not saying a lost person is worthless. But living apart from Christ is a dark and dirty place for the soul. Sin blinds us and separates us from God.
Sometimes people try to explain why someone is lost. They put labels on people’s lives and circumstances.
But the truth is simple: lost is lost.
In these three parables we see different reasons for lostness:

• The sheep was lost through wandering.
• The son was lost through willful rebellion.
• The coin was lost through neglect.

But regardless of the reason, the condition was the same—they were lost and needed to be found.

THE COIN DID NOT KNOW IT WAS LOST
The second truth we see is that the coin was ignorant of being lost.
The coin never cried out. It never called for help. It simply lay there in the dirt, unaware of its condition.
That picture reflects the spiritual reality of many people today.
The Bible says we are “dead in trespasses and sins.” A spiritually dead person does not recognize spiritual truth. They cannot fully understand their own lost condition.
Jeremiah wrote:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
(Jeremiah 17:9)

And Revelation describes people who think they are fine but are actually spiritually destitute:

“Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing… and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
(Revelation 3:17)

That is the danger of being lost.
But an even greater danger is being lost and not knowing it.

THE COIN WAS LOST BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
The third truth in the story is this: the coin was lost, but it was not forgotten.
The woman had ten coins. When she realized one was missing, she did not shrug her shoulders and move on. She lit a candle. She swept the house. She searched diligently until she found it.
Why?
Because that one coin mattered.
The entire chapter of Luke 15 is not really about sheep, coins, or sons. It is about souls.
Every lost person matters to God.
The shepherd left ninety-nine sheep to find one.
The woman swept the house to find one coin.
The father waited and watched for one son to return home.
God wants us to see the worth of a single soul.
The song says it well: He thought I was worth saving.
And that is exactly the message Jesus was giving in these parables.

THE COIN WAS CLAIMED
Finally, we see that the coin was claimed when it was found.
Verse 9 says:

“When she hath found it…”

She did not merely notice it—she claimed it. She picked it up and restored it to its place.
The same thing happens when Christ saves a sinner.
Colossians reminds us:

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”
(Colossians 1:13)

And Peter wrote:

“Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God.”
(1 Peter 2:10)

When Jesus finds a lost soul, He does more than forgive them. He brings them into His family.
We were once outside of mercy—but now we live under grace.
The Joy of Being Found
The woman in the story did something interesting when she found the coin. She called her friends and neighbors and said:
“Rejoice with me.”
Jesus said heaven does the same thing.
When one sinner repents, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God.
Imagine that. Heaven celebrates when someone comes to Christ.
And that leads to an important question.
Are you lost or found?
I remember the day my life changed forever. On March 24, 1991, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart in a church service. In a moment—faster than a blink of an eye—I went from being lost to being found because I trusted Christ as my Savior.
Do you have that testimony?
Can you say with confidence that you have been found?
If not, you do not have to remain lost. The same Savior who told this story is still seeking souls today. He still lights the candle, sweeps the house, and searches diligently.
And when He finds a sinner who turns to Him, heaven rejoices.
Why stay lost when you can be found?

The Last Cry
Text: Book of Revelation 21:4 
GREG LAYFIELD

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Life begins with a cry.
The first sound most of us ever made was the cry of a newborn entering a broken world. From that moment forward, tears become a familiar part of the human story. Children cry when they are hurt. Parents cry when they are burdened. Hearts cry when they are broken.
From the cradle to the grave, tears mark the human experience.
But the Bible gives us a promise that stretches beyond this life. In Book of Revelation 21:4, the Apostle John the Apostle records a vision of eternity where God Himself brings the crying to an end.
One day, for the child of God, there will be a last cry.

The Reason for the Cry
We live in a world where tears are common because sin has touched every corner of human life. The Bible shows us several reasons why people cry.

First, there is the cry of loss.
Death separates families, empties homes, and leaves chairs at the table unfilled. Scripture reminds us in First Epistle to the Corinthians 15:26 that “the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” Every funeral we attend is a reminder that this world is not as God originally designed it.

Then there is the cry of pain.
Pain comes in many forms. Sometimes it is physical suffering in the body. Other times it is emotional distress in the heart. Many carry burdens that no one else can see. The Bible says in Epistle to the Romans 8:22 that the whole creation groans under the weight of a fallen world.
But thank God—pain has an expiration date.

There is also the cry of regret.
In eternity, those who rejected God’s offer of salvation will face the sorrow of realizing what they turned away from. Book of Revelation 20:15 speaks of those whose names are not found written in the Book of Life. That is a sobering truth and a reminder of why the gospel matters today.

The Hand That Stops the Cry
But the promise of Book of Revelation 21:4 is not only about the end of tears—it is about who ends them.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
Notice who does it.
Not an angel.
Not a loved one.
Not time.
God Himself.
The Creator who formed us, the Savior who redeemed us, and the Shepherd who carried us through life will personally wipe away every tear.
And when He does, four things disappear forever:

• Death will be gone.
• Sorrow will vanish.
• Crying will cease.
• Pain will end.

The verse concludes with this beautiful phrase: “for the former things are passed away.”
Everything that once caused heartbreak will belong to the past.
A Future Without Tears
Think about what that means.
One day there will be:

• The last funeral ever held.
• The last hospital waiting room.
• The last sleepless night.
• The last tear that ever falls down the face of a child of God.

John the Apostle saw a future where sorrow has an ending.
And the Bible does not say we will wipe our own tears away.
It says God Himself will wipe them away.
No more graves to visit.
No more pain in the body.
No more broken hearts.
No more midnight cries.
The things that broke us in this life will become former things—gone forever.
The Hope Behind the Promise
But this promise is only possible because of what Jesus Christ has done.
The gospel reminds us in Gospel of John 3:16:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

And Epistle to the Romans 5:8 declares:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Because of that love, anyone who comes to Christ can be forgiven, redeemed, and given eternal life.
That is why the invitation of the gospel matters today.
One Day the Cry Will End
One day the last tear will fall.
And when it does, the hand of God will wipe it away.
And after that moment, God’s children will never cry again.

When Will Christ Come Again?

Over the last couple of weeks there has been significant unrest in the Middle East. Conflict between Iran and Israel once again reminds us how fragile peace in that region really is. It seems like every time a treaty is made, sooner or later someone breaks it.
Many Americans instinctively say, “I stand with Israel,” and certainly Israel has faced many enemies throughout history. But the truth is that region has always been a place of tension, conflict, and broken agreements.
While we may not know every detail about current attacks or military responses, one thing is clear: the Jewish people, their allies, and their enemies remain at the center of world attention.
For students of the Bible, that should not surprise us.
The Word of God teaches that the end-time events of history will revolve around the Jewish people and the city of Jerusalem. The Temple Mount will play a role in the last days. The final battles of this age will occur in that region. And according to Scripture, the thousand-year reign of Christ will be centered in Jerusalem.
The Bible teaches that one day Jesus Christ will return.
Not at the rapture—but at His Second Coming—He will stand upon the Mount of Olives and establish His kingdom on earth.
Before that happens, we believe the rapture of the church will occur. In that moment, believers will be caught up to meet the Lord, and the church will be removed from the earth. Seven years later, Christ will return in glory and power.
To some people that may sound strange. To others it may sound like a fairy tale.
But to those who believe the Bible, it is the blessed hope.
Whenever we see turmoil in the Middle East, it reminds us that the stage of history is always moving toward the fulfillment of God’s Word. Now, I’m not a doomsday preacher. Just because there is a war does not necessarily mean this is the final war.
But it could be.
And every believer ought to live with the awareness that Christ could come at any moment.
Luke 21:28 says:

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

When we see the events of our world unfolding, Jesus said we should look up.
Not panic.
Not despair.
But look up.
Because our redemption may be nearer than we think.
The Question of the Ages
For centuries people have asked the same question:
When will Christ come again?
The disciples themselves asked this question.
In Acts 1:6 they said:

“Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”

In Luke 21:7 they asked:

“Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?”

In Matthew 24:3 they asked:

“What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”

And in Mark 13:4 they asked again:

“Tell us, when shall these things be?”

The disciples believed Jesus might return in their lifetime.
Paul thought it might happen in his day.
Peter believed it was near.
So are we foolish to think Christ could come in our lifetime?
Not at all.
In fact, believers in every generation have looked toward the eastern sky with expectation.
History is filled with people who tried to predict the exact date of Christ’s return:

• In the year 999 A.D., crowds packed into St. Peter’s Basilica believing Christ would return when the calendar turned to 1000.
• In 1528, a German self-proclaimed prophet said the world would end that year.
• A respected Bible teacher once predicted Armageddon before 1933.
• In 1988, a minister wrote a book claiming Jesus would return that year.
• Even Joseph Smith predicted the Second Coming by 1891.

Every one of those predictions was wrong.
Why?
Because Jesus Himself said:

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man.” (Matthew 24:36)

If anyone claims to know the exact date of Christ’s return, you should run the other direction.
But while no one knows the day, the Bible makes something else very clear:
Jesus will return.

His Imminent Return
The return of Christ is what theologians call imminent.
That word simply means it could happen at any moment.
If you say you’re meeting someone for lunch at 12:30, that is a scheduled appointment.
But if you say, “We’ll meet sometime today,” that is imminent. There is no set time, but it will happen.
That is how the Bible describes Christ’s return.
He is coming.
But we do not know when.

1. No One Knows the Time
Jesus said plainly:

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man.” (Matthew 24:36)

People may speculate about moons, wars, or world events, but ultimately the Father alone knows the moment.

2. We Are Commanded to Watch
Mark 13:35–37 says:

“Watch ye therefore… lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.”

Watching does not mean sitting around doing nothing.
Watching means preparing.
If you were expecting a loved one to come home, you would clean the house, prepare a meal, and make everything ready.
You would be watching—but you would also be working.
That is how believers should live while waiting for Christ.

3. It Will Be Sudden
Many people believe they will have time to get ready when the rapture happens.
But Scripture says it will happen:

• “In the twinkling of an eye”
• “As a thief in the night”

Just like a sudden power outage or an unexpected alarm, the moment will arrive without warning.
And when it happens, it will be too late to prepare.
Signs to Consider
While we cannot know the exact time, Jesus did say there would be
Signs Pointing Toward His Return.

1. The Gospel Reaching the World
Matthew 24:14 says:

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

For centuries missionaries struggled to translate the Bible into new languages.
Today, because of technology, the internet, and even AI, Scripture is available in thousands of languages. The gospel can reach places that missionaries once could not enter.
What seemed impossible 100 years ago is now happening rapidly.

2. The Increase of Knowledge
Daniel 12:4 says:

“Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”

Think about how true that is today.
People travel across the country in a single day. Business is conducted through video calls. The information in your phone today is greater than what entire libraries once held.
Knowledge has exploded.

3. Israel Back in Their Land
One of the most remarkable fulfillments of prophecy occurred in 1948.
Ezekiel prophesied that the Jewish people would one day be gathered back into their land.
For nearly 1900 years they were scattered across the world.
But on May 14, 1948, the modern nation of Israel was reborn.
A prophecy written about 2,500 years earlier came to pass.
Today Israel stands again in the land God promised them.

What Should We Do?
So what should we do with all of this?
We cannot stop Christ from returning.
We cannot speed it up.
But there will be a moment when the Father will say to the Son:
“Go get your bride.”
And in that instant the trumpet will sound, the church will be caught up, and history will change forever.
Prophecy is not meant simply to inform our minds.
It is meant to convict our hearts.
Every person must answer one question:
Are you ready to meet the Lord?
This is not about becoming a Baptist.
It is not about joining a church.
It is not about giving money or singing in the choir.
It is about your soul.
Have you trusted Christ as your Savior?
Have you confessed your sin and received His forgiveness?
Jesus said when we see these things begin to happen:
“Look up.”
For the believer, that is a message of hope.
But for the person who is not ready, looking up may simply mean watching the church leave.
Friend, Christ could come today.
And the most important question you will ever answer is this:
Are you ready?

One Thing Thou Lackest
Text: Mark 10:17–27

Today is the first Sunday in March. In just about a month, we will celebrate Palm Sunday — the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem. Later that week He would go to the cross, then to the tomb, and three days later He would rise again in victory.

All of that is on the horizon.

So today, I want us to step back about a month before the cross and look at a powerful encounter Jesus had along the road. It is the story of the rich young ruler. This story is so important that it is recorded in three of the four Gospels — here in Mark 10, as well as in Matthew 19 and Luke 18.

It is the story of a salvation that never happened.

Most everyone who came in contact with Christ followed Him. Most who heard Him obeyed Him. Most who desired something from Him received it.

But not this man.

Why?

Jesus said, “One thing thou lackest.”

Let’s look at what was missing.

I. He Truly Was Seeking

Mark 10:17
“And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

Let’s not criticize this young man. He was seeking something. He ran. He kneeled. He asked about eternal things.

He had likely heard Jesus speak of eternal life. Perhaps as a ruler he had crossed paths with Nicodemus, another ruler, who once came to Jesus by night.

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

This young man needed it. He wanted it. He came in a hurry to try to get it.

But notice his question:
“What shall I do?”

He lived in a world of doing. He was a mover and a shaker. A buyer. A fixer. A man used to achieving outcomes. So he assumed eternal life must be achieved the same way.

Let me remind us all:

Ephesians 2:8–9
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Salvation cannot be earned. It cannot be bought. It comes at the cost of surrendering to Christ.

He was truly seeking something.

II. He Was a Perfect Candidate

Mark 10:19–20
“Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.”

This was a good man.

He was moral. Upstanding. Disciplined. Religious.

If anyone looked like a candidate for heaven, it was him.

But something was missing.

Isaiah 64:6
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…”

We cannot live so clean that we do not need a Savior.

Even if we could keep all the commandments, we would still be lost apart from Christ.

James 2:10
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Living a good life is not the same as living a godly life.
Living a moral life is not the same as surrendering your life to Christ.

He was the perfect candidate — but he still lacked one thing.

III. The Truth in Love

Mark 10:21
“Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest…”

Jesus could have said, “You’re doing great. I think you’ll be fine.”
But real love tells the truth.

The Bible says Jesus loved him.

He did not want him to live and die moral.
He did not want him to live and die religious.

He wanted him saved.

I’m glad we have a God who loves us enough to confront us about our sin.

If we truly love people, we will speak the truth in love. Love does not flatter someone into hell. Love tells them what they need to hear.

And what was the truth?

“One thing thou lackest.”

IV. Surrender Was Necessary

Mark 10:21–22
“...Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”

Was Jesus saying he could buy salvation?
Was Jesus saying he could earn it by good works?

No.

The issue was not his money — it was his master.

His possessions possessed him.

Jesus still said, “Come… take up the cross… and follow me.” The question was whether he was willing to surrender.

Jesus did the same with others.

To Peter, a fisherman settled into routine:

Matthew 4:19–20
“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”

To Matthew, the tax collector, living in profit and corruption:

Luke 5:28
“And he left all, rose up, and followed him.”

To Paul, the religious zealot climbing the ladder of influence:

Philippians 3:8
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”

To Peter, it was surrendering his routine.
To Matthew, it was surrendering his dirty money.
To Paul, it was surrendering his religion.

To this rich young ruler, it was surrendering his wealth as his god.

There are people today who know they need Christ. They have questions. They don’t want to miss eternal life. But there is a part of them they refuse to surrender.

Maybe it’s an addiction.
Maybe it’s a relationship.
Maybe it’s pride.
Maybe it’s religion.

And we often have the same struggle as Christians.

We want a Savior — but not a Lord.
We want eternal life with Christ — but not an earthly life for Christ.

Let me say it clearly:

We want a Savior, but not the Lord.
We want eternal life with Christ, but not an earthly life for Christ.

Jesus closed with this:

Mark 10:27
“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”

Salvation is impossible with men. It is not earned. It is not achieved.

But it is possible through surrender to Christ.

I’m glad Jesus does not require every one of us to sell everything we own. But there must be a surrender of the will if we are to possess eternal life.

Many will seek it.

But to some He still says:

“One thing thou lackest.”

Let the Church Be the Church – Part 1
The Infant Church
Acts 1

I want to begin a new series on the topic of the church.
In this modern day, many people do not love or appreciate the church like we once did. I’m afraid many of us have been part of the church for so long that it no longer feels valuable to us — it no longer stands out to us.
Most of us know what it is to be lost, unsaved, and away from God. But many of us have never known what it is like to be without the church. In some ways, that is one of the greatest blessings we could ever testify to. But in other ways, it may cause us to forget — or at least fail to consider — what a gift the church truly is.
So for the next few weeks, I want us to look at this theme:
Let the Church Be the Church.
If we are going to appreciate the church, we must go back to the early days — back to the apostles — and witness the birth of the church.
The infant church of the Lord Jesus Christ was small.
It was new.
It was inexperienced.
Yet they were pioneers. They were thinkers. They were leaders.
Consider their responsibility: they had heard firsthand the command of the Lord to go, preach, teach, make disciples, and baptize new converts. But there were no precedent manuals. No notebooks. No discipleship programs. No podcasts. No church-growth conferences.
And yet somehow, this early group of believers labored so faithfully and effectively that their work has lasted for over two thousand years.
We are Christians today because of their obedience.
But how did they do it?
What was their plan?

I. They Were in Fellowship with the Risen Lord
Acts 1:3–4 says:

“To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.”

For forty days after His resurrection, Jesus met with them. They saw Him. They sat with Him. They learned from Him.
John 15:4–5 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.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

The early church understood this: without Christ, they could do nothing.
The church as a whole — and our church included — must take time to see Christ, sit with Christ, and learn from Christ.
Too often when people come into our churches, we spend the first few minutes telling them who we are as a church, what activities we offer, what events are coming up. That is fine to a degree.
But what people need most is fellowship with the risen Lord.
The church can involve them.
The church can instruct them.
The church can help them live the church life.
But the risen Lord will change them forever.
Let’s keep this truth before us:
“The CHURCH was not born out of grief for a dead Christ, but out of faith in a risen Lord.”

II. They Operated in the Power of the Holy Ghost
Acts 1:8 says:

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

The Holy Spirit has always existed. He is eternal God. But He has not always operated in the exact same role as He does in this present age.
Today, the Spirit works to:

• Convict the lost and draw them to salvation
• Lead believers into truth
• Convict us of sin
• Bring us into surrender and service
• Magnify Jesus Christ

He never highlights Himself — He always magnifies Christ.
Now historically, here is the progression:
Acts 1:3 tells us Jesus was seen for forty days after His resurrection. On the fortieth day, He ascended back to the Father (Acts 1:9). That left ten days until the Feast of Pentecost — because Pentecost occurred fifty days after Passover.
Acts 2:1 says:

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

So for ten days, these early believers waited in Jerusalem — just as they were commanded.
Now let’s see the biblical progression.
Passover and the Cross
Jesus was crucified at Passover.
In Exodus 12, the Passover lamb was slain. The blood was applied. Israel was delivered from Egypt — freed from bondage.
That event foreshadowed Christ.
Jesus Christ is our Passover Lamb.
His blood was shed.
His blood is applied by faith.
We are delivered from bondage.
We experience salvation.
Pentecost and Power
Pentecost — also called the Feast of Weeks — occurred fifty days after Passover (Leviticus 23:15–16). It was a celebration of firstfruits.
In Jewish tradition, Pentecost was also associated with the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai.
Exodus 19 tells us:

• There was thunder
• There was lightning
• There was a thick cloud
• There was smoke
• The Lord descended in fire
• The Law was given

Power fell.
Instruction was given.
Now come to Acts 2.
The Spirit is given.
There is a mighty rushing wind.
There are cloven tongues like as of fire.
And instruction is given — not law written on tables of stone, but empowerment written upon hearts.
At Sinai, the Law was given.
At Pentecost, the Spirit was given.
At Sinai, fire descended on a mountain.
At Pentecost, fire rested on believers.
So Pentecost was not random. It was divinely timed.
Now here is where we must be clear doctrinally:
Those early believers waited ten days for the promise of the Father. But believers today are not waiting for the Spirit to come.
Romans 8:9 says:

“Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

The moment we trust Christ, the Spirit of God takes up residence within us.
We are not commanded to wait for Him.
We are commanded to walk in Him.
To be filled with Him.
To produce fruit by Him.
The infant church did not operate in personality.
They did not operate in talent.
They did not operate in strategy.
They operated in the power of the Holy Ghost.
And that is still the only power that builds a true church.

III. They Were Obedient to the Word of the Lord
Acts 1:4 tells us they were commanded not to depart from Jerusalem.
Acts 1:12–13 shows us they obeyed and returned to Jerusalem.
They were fearful. No doubt some were concerned for their lives. But they obeyed.
Today, many want salvation without obedience.
We seek approval for sin.
We look for loopholes in Scripture.
We search for verses that allow sin instead of obeying verses that command against it.
But the power they experienced was tied directly to obedience.
God has always entrusted power to obedient people.
God has never blessed disobedience.
The infant church was obedient to the Word.

IV. They Were United in Spirit
Acts 1:14 says:

“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”

Psalm 133:1 says:

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

We might think, “Times were different back then.”
Perhaps so.
But they still had different personalities.
Different backgrounds.
Different temperaments.
Unity does not mean we all do the same things.
Unity means we do different things with the same spirit for the same goal.
They were in one accord.
They prayed together.
They waited together.
They believed together.
And God moved.

Conclusion
Before the church preached to the world in Acts 2:
They sat with Jesus.
They waited for power.
They obeyed the instructions.
They walked in unity.
Pentecost was no accident.
It was prepared for.
So here is the question for us:
What are we preparing for God to do in our church?
If we want to see God move, then we must let the church be the church.
Let us sit with Christ.
Let us walk in the Spirit.
Let us obey the Word.
Let us live in unity.
And when we do — what happened in Acts will not just be history.
It will be testimony.

I Will Maintain
Job 13:15

There are certain phrases in Scripture that seem to carry more weight than the rest of the sentence. They are short, simple, and yet they thunder with truth.
Over the past several weeks, our preaching has centered around some of those three-word phrases. It wasn’t planned that way — but the Lord has a way of guiding themes.
We looked at “and kissed him” — that beautiful moment in the story of the prodigal son when the father ran to meet his returning boy and declared forgiveness without saying a word.
We considered Peter’s desperate cry, “Lord, save me”, when his faith faltered and the waves grew stronger than his confidence.
We rejoiced in the truth that Jesus loved them "unto the end.” Not halfway. Not until it became inconvenient. Unto the end.
And last week we reflected on “hereby perceive we” the love of God — that we understand love because Christ gave Himself for us.
This week, my attention turned to Job.
Job 13:15 says, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain mine own ways before Him.”
At first, I was drawn to those words, “yet will I.” That would preach. But the more I looked at the text, the more the next three words caught my attention:
“I will maintain.”
And that may be exactly what someone needs to say today.

When You Don’t Understand
Job maintained when he did not understand.
Let’s be clear — faith does not mean full explanation. Job did not know about the conversation between God and Satan. He did not understand why the storms came. He did not understand why ten fresh graves stood where laughter once echoed.
In Job 23 he said:

“Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him.”

Have you ever been there?
You look forward — nothing.
You look backward — nothing.
Left. Right. Silence.
Heaven feels brass. Prayers feel unanswered. God feels distant.
But in the same chapter Job said, “But he knoweth the way that I take.”
That is faith.
Not that I understand Him — but that He understands me.
Job’s greatness was not that he figured God out. It was that he refused to walk away when he couldn’t.
He simply said, “I will maintain.”
Some of you have been walking with God for years, and you still have unanswered questions. That doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human.
Don’t wait for all the answers before you move forward.
Just put one foot in front of the other.
Maintain.

When You Are Accused
Job maintained when he was accused.
As if loss were not enough, his friends showed up. And instead of comfort, they brought condemnation.
“You must have sinned.”
“You’re reaping what you sow.”
“You deserve this.”
Job knew his testimony. The opening chapter of the book declares him righteous — a man who feared God and eschewed evil. Yet his friends interrogated him for days.
It is one thing to suffer.
It is another thing to suffer and be blamed for it.
But Job did not abandon his walk with God.
He maintained.
Think of Joseph in Potiphar’s house. Falsely accused. Stripped of position. Thrown into prison. He lost his coat — but he kept his character.
Think of Daniel. His enemies couldn’t find a flaw in him, so they created a law against him. He knew praying would cost him. He opened the window anyway.
They maintained.
You cannot control what people say.
You cannot stop accusations.
You cannot silence every critic.
But you can maintain your position with God.
If you don’t have a walk with God, you have nothing to maintain. But if you do — guard it.
Work at making God proud. That is not a cop-out. That is where we are supposed to live.
Anybody can stay faithful when life is easy.
It takes something deeper to say, “I will maintain” when life falls apart.

When Time Keeps Marching On
Job maintained — and eventually, he saw vindication.
The rebuilding did not happen overnight. Herds do not double in a day. Ten children are not born in a year. Restoration takes time.
Seasons kept coming. Summer. Winter. Harvest. Christmas. Valentine’s Day. Life does not pause for heartbreak.
But Job just kept walking.
And the Bible says in Job 42:16, “After this…”
Those two words are powerful.
After the funerals.
After the boils.
After the accusations.
After the loneliness.
“After this lived Job an hundred and forty years…”
If he had quit, he would have missed it.
If he had checked out, he would have forfeited four generations of influence.
If he had thrown in the towel, he would never have seen the Lord double what was taken.
The Bible says the Lord gave him twice as much as before.
And here’s something remarkable — he shared his inheritance with his daughters. In that culture, that was unheard of. That tells me he wasn’t just restored — he was abundantly blessed.
But none of that was visible when he sat in ashes.
All he had in that moment was his testimony.
And he said, “I will maintain.”
Hang Around Long Enough
Someone reading this is tired.
You’ve walked faithfully.
You’ve endured criticism.
You’ve buried things you loved.
You’ve watched others prosper who don’t even live for God.
David once wondered why the wicked flourish.
It can feel like obedience costs more than compromise.
But hear me — hang around long enough to see the vindication of the Lord.
Don’t quit on God.
Don’t quit on your family.
Don’t quit on your ministry.
Don’t quit on yourself.
If you cannot grow right now — maintain.
If you cannot advance — stand.
But do not go backward.
Paul told the believers in Ephesus that after putting on the whole armor of God, and after doing all — to stand.
Sometimes victory looks like growth.
Sometimes victory simply looks like refusing to retreat.
There may be days when all you can say is what Job said:
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him… I will maintain.”

What Does Easter Really Mean?

Easter is one of the most important days in the Christian calendar. It’s a celebration of hope, love, and the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. But what does it really mean for you today?

God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16). Jesus came to take our place, and while we were still sinners, He died for us on the cross (Romans 5:8). His body was buried, but on the third day, He rose again, conquering sin and death forever (1 Corinthians 15:4). Because He lives, anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord can be saved and receive new life (Romans 10:13).

Easter isn’t just about eggs, candy, or a holiday — it’s about the greatest gift ever given: forgiveness, hope, and the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. It’s an invitation to experience a personal relationship with God, to be forgiven, and to discover the hope that only He can bring.

We would love for you to join us this Easter at West End Baptist Church to celebrate together. Come as you are, bring your family, and see what God is doing in our community.

Oh, How He Loves Us
Text: 1 John 3:16

The Bible says in the First Epistle of John 3:16,

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

Let’s read it again.

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

Oftentimes around Valentine’s Day we love to preach from that great verse found in the Gospel of John 3:16:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Many have said that verse gives us the whole gospel in a nutshell. But today we are not in John 3:16. We are in one of John’s epistles — a letter written to believers.
In this letter, John is writing to those he calls “little children,” the beloved, those whose sins are forgiven, those who know the Father, those who have passed from death unto life. This is not primarily an evangelistic letter to the lost, but a reminder to the saved.
John’s desire is that believers would know Christ deeply — not just know about Him, but know Him personally. And my job every week is the same: to help you know the love of Christ. Not just to know that He existed, but to know Him and the power of His resurrection.
John says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God.” In other words, let’s look at it again. Let’s see it clearly.
Valentine’s Day is good for couples because it reminds them of love. It helps parents and children revisit love. And it does us good to revisit the love of God.
If you’re cold in your relationship with Christ, see His love again. See Him on that cross. Let that love be reignited.
If you’ve never met Christ — if you are lost — no one is pointing fingers at you. We want you to know Him. My goal today is to make His love visible to you.

I. A Clear Perception
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us.”
Everyone has a perception of God. Some think He is mean. Some think He is silent. Some think He is unfair. Some think He is unconcerned. Some think He is imaginary.
Perceptions can be blurry. That’s why we need the Word of God — it clears the blur.
John says there is one place where God is not blurry — the cross.
If you want to see God clearly, look at the cross.
Everything He did there had nothing to do with His sin and everything to do with yours. He was not wounded for His transgressions — but for ours.
If you get confused looking at life, look at Calvary. At the cross, we can’t help but say, “Oh, how He loves us.”

II. A Costly Provision
“He laid down his life for us.”
Love is not only seen — it is costly.

1. His Provision Was Voluntary
Jesus said in Gospel of John 10:18:

“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.”

Pilate didn’t take His life. Herod didn’t take His life. The soldiers didn’t take His life.
He gave it.
It was voluntary. It was free — but it was not cheap.

2. His Provision Was Demonstrated
Romans 5:8 says:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

God demonstrated, commended, directed His love toward us.
He didn’t die for us on our best day. He died for us in our sin — with our failures, our skeletons, our shame.
That was the condition we were in when He died.

3. His Provision Was Substitutionary
One of the great doctrines we hold is the substitutionary death of Christ.
He died for us.
Isaiah 53:5 says:

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Seven hundred years before the cross, Isaiah said “our.”
Now John says, “He laid down His life for us.”
That “us” includes everybody. The religious and the rebellious. The church member and the prisoner. All have sinned — and Christ died for all.

III. A Compelling Pattern
“And we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
Here is our part in the love story.
God sent Jesus.
Jesus laid down His life for us.
Now we are called to lay down our lives for others.
The cross is not only our salvation — it is our pattern.
John is not necessarily calling us all to physical martyrdom. But he is calling us to sacrificial living.
Lay down your time.
Lay down your energy.
Lay down your comfort.
Sacrifice should be our pattern.
Love is not always convenient. Love can be messy. Love can be unreturned. Love can feel one-sided. But we love because He first loved us.
When I was growing up, people sacrificed. Youth workers gave their time for free. Church members gave faithfully. Why? Because Christ crucified was preached, and sacrifice was visible.
We perceived His love — and so we lived sacrificially.
If sacrifice demonstrates love, then how much does He think we love Him?
If we perceive His love by His sacrifice, how do others perceive love from us?
“I love you” with no action is just words. But love coupled with sacrifice creates a relationship.

In Closing
If you do not know Christ, I pray today you can perceive His love for you.
He did not die so you could merely become religious. He died to pay your sin debt.
Someone has to pay for your sin. Either you will pay it — separated from God for all eternity — or you can trust the One who already paid it.
Why would we reject the payment that has already been made?
Oh, how He loves us.

The Love of Christ for Us
Text: 1 John 4:19

“We love him, because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19

It is no secret that this Saturday is Valentine’s Day, February 14. For many, that means it is time to start thinking about a gift.
I looked up the history of Valentine’s Day, and it seems there are several historical events that have shaped February 14 into this day of celebrating love. Some of it is built on the celebration of pagan ideas. Some of it is built on the memory of two Christians named Valentine. One of those men was reportedly arrested and executed for secretly performing Christian weddings. Supposedly, before he died, he signed a note that said, “From your Valentine.”
In medieval times, in the 1300s, a poet named Geoffrey Chaucer wrote about February 14 as a day when love was in the air and birds began to mate. By the 1700s, the day had become widely marketed as a celebration of love, cards, chocolate, and gift-giving.
I do not know how much of the folklore of Valentine’s Day is true. But either way, on February 14, we celebrate love one for another.
But as we look at our text verse tonight, we must ask: What about the greatest love we know? Yes, the love we have for Christ — but even more so, the love He has for us.
“Our text says, We love him, because he first loved us.”
In a nutshell, that is saying without Him loving us first, we would not have the knowledge or even the ability to truly love one another.
Let us consider several truths about Christ’s great love for us.

I. His Love for Us Does Not Change
John 13:1

“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”

This verse refers specifically to His disciples. But if He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, then that means His love for us is unending and unchanging. We are loved with the same love that He gave His disciples.
The phrase “he loved them unto the end” means to the very end — until His last breath. It means to the uttermost, completely, perfectly, to the fullest extent.
And He never changed.
That phrase is so important in the redemptive story of grace. Christ had every reason to stop loving everyone — with the possible exception of His mother. Peter had denied Him. The Bible says all the disciples forsook Him. The soldiers crucified Him. Pilate found no fault in Him, but did nothing to change His situation.
And yet, from the cross, He cried:

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” — Luke 23:34

John records that He loved them unto the end.
Let us be honest — we are not Christ. We cannot always love like Him. But it is not because He failed to leave us an example. His love never changes.

II. His Love Is a Divine Love
John 15:9

“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”

As we consider the love between the Father and the Son, we know it is an eternal love. It had no beginning, and it will have no end.
It is a perfect love. There has never been jealousy, division, or strife between the Father and the Son.
It is a holy love — built on righteousness, purity, and holiness.
Then Jesus says, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.”
In other words, “That is the way I love you.”
Is it not remarkable to be loved by Christ — who Himself is loved by the Father? That is not a shallow love. That is not a temporary love. That is a divine love.

III. His Love Is Inseparable
Romans 8:35

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

We have already said His love is unchanging. But as humans, we sometimes wonder: What if something outside of us separates us? What if some external force comes between us and His love?
Paul lists governments and wars, stresses of life, death, sickness, and mental anguish. He mentions famine and nakedness — extreme poverty. He mentions peril and sword.
In other words, what if my very life is taken? Will the love of God survive that?
Your friendships may not survive it. Your marriage may not survive it. Earthly relationships sometimes cannot withstand such pressures.
But Paul concludes:
Romans 8:39

“Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

If you can name it or think of it, it does not have enough strength or power to separate you from the love of Christ. His love is inseparable.

As a footnote to that truth: if we live with that promise and die with that promise — and others who have gone on before us lived and died with that promise — then we can never truly be separated from them either.
The love Christ had for our loved ones cannot be changed or pulled back. The love Christ has for you and me today cannot be changed or taken away.
Therefore, as long as Christ lives — and as long as God lives — our loved ones are safe in His care. One day we will be reunited with them in God’s new heaven. Not because of our love for them, but because of Christ’s love for us all.

IV. His Love Is Constraining
2 Corinthians 5:14–15

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

Verse 14 says, “For the love of Christ constraineth us.”
That word constraineth means to bind together, to compel, to hold fast. We are tied to Him. We are tethered to Him. We are compelled and controlled by Him.
Why?
Not merely because He is Christ. Not simply because He is God. But because of His resurrection life in us.
Paul says, “we thus judge.” After looking at the evidence, we have concluded that Christ died for all — and if He died for all, then all were dead. All were guilty. All needed a Savior.
Verse 15 finishes the thought:
Those who live — those who have trusted Christ, repented, and accepted His substitutionary death for their own — should not live unto themselves, but unto Him.
We are not constrained by duty.
We are not constrained by obligation.
Sometimes we think, “He did this for me, so I better do that for Him.”
No.
We are constrained by love.
He loved me.
He died for me.
He forgave me.
Therefore, I will live for Him.
Conclusion
I cannot, in just a matter of minutes, even begin to scratch the surface of the love of God.
Paul said in Ephesians:

“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” — Ephesians 3:19

It passes knowledge. It is almost beyond comprehension. Who can truly know the depth and breadth of the love of Christ?
But we have seen enough from the Scriptures tonight to know this:
God really loves us.
He does not just love the Christian. He loves every human being and has made His gift of salvation available to every person.
And we love Him only because He first loved us.

“We love him, because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19

Bearing Fruit That Remains
John 15:1–8

John chapter 15 is where we turn our attention tonight.
It’s a familiar passage—one we’ve heard many times before. Yet sometimes the most familiar Scriptures still have something fresh to teach us, if we’ll slow down and listen again.
Over the past several Wednesday nights, our pastor has been leading us through a series called Gifted. He has reminded us, straight from Scripture, that every believer has been given gifts by God—and that those gifts are not meant to be shelved, hidden, or ignored. They are meant to be used.
And I truly believe this: when we listen to that encouragement, when we step out and use the gifts God has given us, something happens. Using our gifts produces fruit.
That’s been a biblical truth from the very beginning.
Jesus said in John 15:1–2:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”

Fruit matters. Not as a means of judgment, but as evidence of life. You don’t have to look far to see it—this church is filled with people who are bearing good fruit. And when we use our gifts the way God intends, that fruit multiplies.
Jesus continues:

“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.” (v. 4)

So the question becomes simple and personal:
How do we bring forth good fruit?

1. Expand Your Roots
If we’re going to bear fruit, we must first be rooted deeply.
Jeremiah 17:7–8 says:

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river…”

Expanding your roots requires trust. It means leaning fully into what God has promised, rather than carrying the weight of the world on your own shoulders. Many of us live anxious, burdened lives simply because we refuse to trust Him completely.
Some Christians get saved and stop growing. They’re satisfied with salvation, but never stretch beyond it. Yet people around us—family, coworkers, neighbors—desperately need to see good fruit.
We live in a world full of bad fruit. Turn on the news. Scroll social media. Negativity is everywhere. But God has placed us here to offer something different.
That’s why Jeremiah continues:

“…and shall not see when heat cometh… neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”

When your roots go deep, drought doesn’t destroy you. Heat doesn’t defeat you. You remain fruitful.
Don’t try to do everything—but do something. Use your gifts. Go further than where you are now. Expand your roots.

2. Extract the Weeds
Good fruit will never grow where weeds are allowed to thrive.
Luke 8 reminds us that seed can fall in many places—but only one produces fruit.
Some seed is devoured.
Some withers.
Some is choked.
Why? Because weeds were never removed.
A weed is simply anything growing where it doesn’t belong—and weeds choke life. They don’t always look dangerous at first. Many grow alongside the seed. But eventually, they steal the nutrients, block the light, and suffocate what God intended to grow.
An open, unguarded life invites weeds.
A lack of standards invites weeds.
Wrong influences invite weeds.
And the result is always the same—spiritual suffocation.
But Luke 8:8 gives hope:

“And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold.”

When the ground is right—when weeds are removed—fruit multiplies.
You already know what the weeds are in your life. I don’t have to name them. God has already put His finger on them. And until they’re removed, fruit will be limited.

3. Experience God’s Pruning
Pruning is not punishment—it’s preparation.
Jesus says in John 15:2 that God prunes dead branches. That makes sense. But He also prunes branches that are already bearing fruit.
That’s the part we struggle with.
Sometimes God removes good things to make room for greater things.
I’ve lived that.
For twelve years, I served as a youth pastor. I loved it. I thought I would do it forever. But God began pruning—not because I was failing, but because He was redirecting.
That pruning led to the Connect Class—and through it, lives have been changed, people restored, and ministries strengthened. Looking back, I can see clearly: God knew what He was doing.
Some of the hardest years of my life—years marked by loss, drought, and confusion—were years of pruning. I didn’t understand them then. I questioned God. I wrestled. I struggled.
But now I can say this with confidence:
God was preparing me.
Pruning hurts.
Pruning is uncomfortable.
But pruning is necessary.

4. Expect the Fruit
Jesus concludes:

“I am the vine, ye are the branches… he that abideth in me… bringeth forth much fruit.” (John 15:5)

Fruit is not our responsibility—abiding is.
When we expand our roots, extract the weeds, and submit to God’s pruning, fruit will come. It always does.
This world needs good fruit.
Your family needs it.
Your church needs it.
And God has already given you everything you need to bear it.
Abide in Him.
The fruit will follow.

And Kissed Him
Luke 15:20

“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” — Luke 15:20 

Luke chapter 15 and verse number 20 brings us into one of the clearest and most beautiful pictures of God the Father found anywhere in Scripture. In this familiar account of the prodigal son, Jesus gives us more than a story about rebellion and repentance—He gives us a portrait of the heart of our Heavenly Father.
Throughout the Bible, God is revealed in many ways. Sometimes He is simply God—Jehovah, sovereign and majestic. But in Luke 15, He is pictured as a Father. And I don’t know of a more visible, more tender picture of God than the one Jesus paints here.
Luke records several chapters of red-letter preaching where Jesus teaches us how to pray, how to love our neighbor, and how to walk the narrow way. Yet Luke 15 may be one of Christ’s greatest sermons of all. It is often called the lost and found chapter—the lost sheep, the lost silver, and the lost son. Three stories, yet one message: something was lost, someone searched, and when it was found, there was great rejoicing.
We often focus on the prodigal—the rebellion, the disrespect, the waste, and the sin. And rightly so. There is much to learn from his foolishness. But the prodigal son has never been the hero of this story.
The hero has always been the Father.

The Kiss Reveals the Love of the Father
Verse 20 ends with three powerful words: “and kissed him.”
The Greek word for kissed is kataphileō, meaning to kiss earnestly, again and again, fervently, and with genuine affection. This was not a reluctant peck—it was an overwhelming expression of love.
The son’s sin was great, but the Father’s love was greater.
Someone once said that if Luke had written “kicked him” instead of “kissed him,” we would have understood. But Jesus said kissed him, and that changes everything. The kiss was not based on the son’s actions—it was based on the Father’s heart.
If you want to change your story—or your family’s story—do a lot more kissing and a lot less kicking.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8

The Kiss Reveals the Thoughts of the Father
When people hurt us, our minds race. We rehearse conversations. We prepare speeches. We load both barrels.
But not this Father.
He didn’t pace the floor waiting to scold his son. When he saw him, he really saw him—broken, empty, wounded. And his only thought was this: I’ve got to get to my son.
Just like a parent running to a child who’s fallen and scraped their knees, the Father ran—not to lecture, but to love.
Charles Spurgeon said it best:

“Slow are the steps of repentance, but swift are the feet of forgiveness. God can run where we can scarcely limp. If you’ll limp toward God, He’ll run toward you."

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” — Jeremiah 29:11

The Kiss Reveals the Restoration of the Father
Here’s something that stood out to me like never before:
The father never said a word to the prodigal son.
No lecture.
No speech.
No probation.
Everything the father needed to say was said in the kiss.
He spoke to the servants. He spoke to the older brother. But to the prodigal? Only restoration—fully and freely given.
The kiss said: It’s over. Welcome home.
Sin condemns. The Father restores.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9

Conclusion
We need more intimate moments with the Father—moments that don’t become highlight reels, moments that don’t need a microphone.
There are things God does between Him and His children that are meant to stay personal.
The prodigal used his lips for confession.
The Father used His lips for restoration.
You may know about the Father from a distance—but intimacy happens when you come home.
If you’ll come, you’ll find Him running.
And when He reaches you, you’ll find a kiss—and full restoration.

Doers, Not Just Hearers
Gifted to Serve — Sermon Series, Message 4
Text: James 1:22
This message is the fourth sermon in our series “Gifted to Serve.” Over the last three weeks, we have been laying an important foundation.

• Week one, we learned that everyone has a gift.
• Week two, we talked about how our gifts are unique and God-given.
• Last week, we focused on the truth that the Holy Spirit lives within us to develop and direct those gifts, doing a spiritual work in us that we could never accomplish on our own.

Tonight, I want us to move from discovery to decision. The question before us is simple but searching:
What are we going to do with the gifts God has given us?
James answers that question with strong and loving clarity:

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” — James 1:22

1. Be Obedient, Not Deceived
It is one thing to be inactive because you don’t know any better.
It is another thing altogether to know the truth and still do nothing with it.
After everything we have learned this month about spiritual gifts, to remain idle is not just unfortunate—it is disobedient and deceptive. If we truly understand that we are gifted by God, uniquely designed by Him, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to serve at divine appointments, and we stop there, then we have deceived ourselves about God’s will for our lives.
God does not just want us to know we are gifted.
He wants those gifts to be used.
We don’t need more revelation.
We need a response.
Jesus told a story about servants who were given talents. Two invested what they had been given and were rewarded. But one took his talent and buried it in the ground, hoping only not to lose it. When the master returned, that servant was called wicked and slothful—not because he had failed, but because he had refused to act.
Let’s be obedient, not deceived.

2. See the Need of the Day
I want to take you to Isaiah chapter 6. It was a time of great need. A good king had died. The nation was fearful. Spiritual decline had set in. God had a message, and God had a plan—but He also needed a messenger.
Isaiah did not live in easy times, and neither do we.
Paul told Timothy that perilous times would come, and when you read 2 Timothy chapter 3, it sounds like today’s newspaper headlines. People are fearful. Morality is confused. Faith is under attack. And yet, I still believe with all my heart that God has a word and a work for this generation.
The problem is not that sin is running rampant.
The problem is that in many churches, service opportunities are sitting vacant.
We have faithful people wearing multiple hats, doing everything they can, while the church struggles to accomplish all that she is called to do. The harvest is still plentiful. The laborers are still needed.
Now is not the time to step back.
This is the time to step up.

3. Verbally Agree to Serve
When Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord asking, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” he did not just recognize the need. He did not wait for someone else to respond.
He said,

“Here am I; send me.” — Isaiah 6:8

He moved from just knowing to action.
I think about Ehud, the left-handed deliverer. He didn’t say, “There’s a problem.” He said, “I can help—using what God has given me.”
I think about the twelve disciples. None of them felt adequate, but here we are today because of their surrender.

Knowing the need matters.
Feeling the burden matters.
Having a tender heart matters.
But obedience begins when we couple action to our burden.
That’s what James is teaching us.
Be doers, not just hearers.

And church, I want to say this with gratitude and encouragement—over the last couple of weeks, I’ve had people come to me and say:

• “I’ll teach a class.”
• “I can help in children’s church once a month.”
• “I’m willing to lead music for the kids.”
• “I want to help with the grief ministry.”

That’s what this is all about.
Not just saying, “There’s a need.”
But saying, “Here am I. Send me.”
God has gifted us on purpose, for a purpose, at this time, in this place.
Let’s not stop at knowing.
Let’s step into doing.
Because we are not just gifted to know…
we are gifted to serve.

The Gift of the Holy Spirit
GIFTED — Sermon 3

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been talking about the subject of being gifted — how God has given every believer gifts and how we are to use those gifts to serve the Lord. We have talked about how everybody has a gift, and we have also talked about how easy it is to overlook our own unique gifts.
But tonight, I want us to talk about the gift that is in us, the gift that helps us operate in our gifts — and that is the gift of the Holy Spirit.
You can have talent without power.
You can have ability without effectiveness.
But God never intended for us to serve Him in our own strength.
He gave us His Spirit.

I. The Holy Spirit Is a Gift to All Believers
Jesus told His disciples:

John 14:16–17
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

When a person places their faith in Christ, the Spirit of God takes up residence inside that believer. Salvation is not just forgiveness of sins — it is the indwelling presence of God.
Paul said it this way:

1 Corinthians 6:19
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

Too often, when we think about serving the Lord, we think only about our external talents and forget about the internal power that we possess.
I am glad that Jesus did not leave us comfortless to serve Him.
He gave us the power to serve Him through the person of the Holy Spirit.

II. The Holy Spirit Guides Us into Truth
Jesus also said:

John 16:13
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

When it comes to discovering our gifts or surrendering our lives to God’s will, people often act like it is some big secret between God and everybody else.
You will hear people say, “I’m praying God will show me His will.”
Five years later, they are still praying that same prayer.
Ten years later, they are still saying, “I just want to know God’s will.”
May I remind us — that is exactly what the Spirit living inside of you is for.
Yes, He will tell you the truth about sin.
Yes, He will tell you the truth about the Savior.
But He will also tell you the truth about your service and how you are to serve Him.
Sometimes I do not think we are ignorant of God’s will as much as we are resistant to it.
Sometimes the opportunities are made available by the Spirit, but they are ignored by our selfishness.
The Spirit will lead us into service, but He is not careless to place us into areas without preparation. And sometimes the very places He puts us are part of our training. And if we are in line with what He has asked us to do, where He has led us, and what He has shown us — then we are doing the maximum for the Kingdom of God.

III. The Holy Spirit Does a Work We Cannot Do
Jesus said:

John 16:8
“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”

Let us be reminded that our giftedness is not about transactions — it is about obedience.
Sometimes we say, “If I could explain the gospel better, more people would be saved.”
Or, “If I were more talented, I could reach more people.”
And to some degree, yes — we should grow in our abilities. We should work at our ministries and improve our delivery. But the Holy Spirit of God can do what no human ability ever can.
Your gift, your passion, your talent is only a hobby without the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible tells us:

2 Timothy 2:15
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

And Peter wrote:

1 Peter 3:15
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

There is responsibility on our part — but notice that verse begins with, “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.” Our witness is not a replacement for the drawing of the Holy Spirit. It is the obedience that demonstrates faith, and faith is the arena where the Spirit works.
I am reminded of when Jesus went to His hometown:

Matthew 13:58
“And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”

May we always place our faith in what God can do above what man can do.

IV. The Spirit Empowers Our Witness
The Bible says:

Acts 1:8
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Notice — He does not witness for us, but He witnesses with us.
I often hear people say, “Pray that I will have the right words.”
Or, “Pray that I will remember the verses I studied when I talk to my loved ones.”
And I understand that feeling. But let us also pray that the Holy Spirit will arrange the meetings, open the doors, and set up divine appointments where He can work. Then let us ask Him for the courage to simply be obedient and share what we know.
And then may the power of God convict men of their sin and convince them of the righteousness of Christ.
Paul said:

1 Corinthians 3:6
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”

Closing Thought
We should prepare our hearts and minds.
We should learn what we can.
But the Spirit performs the spiritual work.
Our responsibility is faithfulness.
God’s responsibility is fruitfulness.
If we are not walking in the Spirit, how can we expect to witness in the Spirit?
We are more gifted than we think — but it is because of the greatest gift of all, the Holy Spirit, who lives inside of every believer.
God did not just save us and send us out on our own.
He saved us — and then He moved in.
And because He lives within us, we can serve, we can witness, and we can walk in confidence that God is at work through us for His glory.

The Power of Lifting Up Jesus: Finding Hope in His Name
We live in a world filled with competing voices, conflicting messages, and constant distractions. Everyone is offering an opinion. Everyone is promoting a solution. Everyone is promising hope. But in the middle of all that noise, there is still one name that rises above every other name — a name that carries power, peace, and eternal significance. That name is Jesus.
The real question is not whether people are talking, posting, and shouting. The real question is this: Who are we lifting up?
Jesus said it plainly as He approached the cross:

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32)

These words were not spoken from a place of comfort. They were spoken from a place of coming sacrifice. The cross was ahead. The suffering was near. Yet even in that moment, Jesus declared a spiritual truth that still stands today — when Christ is lifted up, He does the drawing.
His Name Is Announced
There is something extraordinary about the name of Jesus. It is not simply a religious title or historical reference. Scripture tells us:

“God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.” (Philippians 2:9)

That wasn’t voted on by a committee. That wasn’t granted by a denomination. That was declared by God Himself.
Acts 4:12 leaves no room for confusion:

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Not good works. Not religious rituals. Not moral improvement. Salvation is found in a Person — and His name is Jesus.
The Bible calls His name a “strong tower” where the righteous run and are safe (Proverbs 18:10). In a world desperate for security, identity, and peace, that name still provides refuge.

His Power Is Displayed
Lifting up Jesus is more than acknowledging His existence — it is declaring His power.
We live in a culture that often magnifies weakness, struggle, and survival mode Christianity. And while honesty about our struggles matters, we must never forget that we serve a victorious Savior.
Through the cross, Jesus:

• “spoiled principalities and powers” (Colossians 2:15)
• broke the dominion of sin (Romans 6:14)
• destroyed the power of death and the devil (Hebrews 2:14)

That is not symbolic language — that is spiritual reality.
When Jesus is lifted up, chains still break. Addictions still lose their grip. Bitter hearts still find healing. Broken lives still experience restoration. Not because of our methods, but because of His might.
People need friendship. They need support. They need compassion. But if we offer help without Jesus, we may improve their situation while losing their soul. The deepest need of every heart is not better coping skills — it is new life in Christ.

His Salvation Becomes an Invitation
Notice what Jesus said:

“I will draw all men unto me.”

He did not say we would push them. He said He would draw them.
Our responsibility is not manipulation — it is proclamation. We lift Him up in our preaching, our worship, our testimony, and our daily living. Then the Holy Spirit does what only He can do.
Picture the cross — arms stretched wide. That is heaven’s open invitation.

• “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 45:22)
• “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)
• “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

No one is excluded. No past is too messy. No heart is too broken. Jesus still saves.
And when He is lifted up, people are still drawn to Him.
The Difference Jesus Makes
Does meeting Jesus remove every problem? No. But it gives something better — His presence in every problem.
He becomes comfort in the storm, strength in weakness, peace in chaos, and hope when the road feels dark. He becomes a friend that sticks closer than a brother and a Savior who never walks away.
Most of all, He gives salvation — sins forgiven, a new name written in heaven, and the assurance that this world is not the end of the story.
Trying to explain how Jesus changes a life is like trying to explain everything a good mother does for her children. You don’t always see it, but you know she is always working, always caring, always making a difference. Jesus is like that — always present, always faithful, always working for our good, even when we don’t see the full picture.
An Ongoing Call
Lifting up Jesus is not just the calling of preachers and church leaders. It is the calling of every believer — in every conversation, every workplace, every relationship.
When we make much of Jesus — not our programs, not our preferences, not even our denominations — but Jesus Himself, we take part in God’s drawing work.
There truly is something about that name.
Kings and kingdoms will pass away. Trends will change. Voices will fade.
But the name of Jesus will stand forever.
And the question for each of us is simple:
Will we lift Him up? 

Gifted — Sermon #2
Ehud: The Left-Handed Deliverer
Bible Text: Judges 3:12–14

As we continue our series on spiritual gifts, I want to begin tonight by asking a very simple but very personal question:
Have you ever felt like something about you makes you stand out, but not in a good way?
Maybe you feel like you are not as smart as others.
Maybe you do not sing as well as others.
Maybe you do things differently than most people.
Or maybe you feel like you just do not have what others seem to have.
If you have ever felt that way, I want to introduce you to a man in the Bible who likely felt the same way.
When God’s People Are in Trouble
In Judges chapter 3, we find the nation of Israel in a very difficult place. They had disobeyed God, and as a result, they found themselves under the rule of an ungodly king for eighteen long years. His name was Eglon, king of Moab.
Once again, God’s people were experiencing the consequences of turning away from Him, and once again, they cried out to the Lord for help.

Judges 3:12–14

“And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord.
And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.”

They were desperate. They were defeated. And they were ready for God to move.
God’s Unexpected Choice
In the very next verse, we read something powerful.
Judges 3:15

“But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.”

God answered their prayer — but not in the way most people would have expected. He raised up a deliverer named Ehud, and the Bible specifically points out that he was left-handed.
In Bible times, being left-handed was often seen as a weakness or even a handicap, especially for a soldier. Men were trained for right-handed combat. Weapons were carried on the left side so they could be drawn with the right hand across the body. Because of this, guards were trained to check the left side for weapons when people passed through security.
But Ehud was different.
God used what others saw as a weakness as part of His plan.
Ehud made a small dagger and hid it on his right side instead of the left. When he went through the security check, the guards did not find it. He was allowed to go in and present a gift to the king. And it was there that God used this left-handed man to defeat a wicked ruler and begin Israel’s deliverance.

Ehud obeyed God, escaped safely, and Israel went on to defeat Moab. According to Judges 3:30, the land had rest for eighty years.
One obedient person changed the future of an entire nation.
When God Uses What We Call Weakness
What we often see as a weakness in our lives may be exactly what God wants to use to bring victory to our family, our church, or even our community.
Ehud did not wait to be like everyone else.
He used what made him different to make a difference.
He was not famous.
He was not highly trained.
But he was willing to do what God asked him to do.

It reminds me of David. When others saw a shepherd boy, God saw a king. David was nearly overlooked, but God had already chosen him for something greater.
So let me ask it this way:
What if the very thing you think disqualifies you is the thing God wants to use?
What if obedience matters more to God than confidence?

An Illustration: The Gloves
I was recently in New York, and I had a pair of gloves that kept my hands warm in the cold temperatures. Those same gloves would also protect my hands if I were working in the yard and keep me from getting splinters. I could even use them to take something hot out of the oven and keep from getting burned.
Now imagine if I put those gloves on the wrong hands — the right glove on the left hand and the left glove on the right hand. It would look unusual, maybe even silly, but they would still work. They would still keep my hands warm. They would still protect me from splinters. They would still protect me from heat.
Just because something is unusual does not mean it is unusable.
And just because someone serves differently than we do does not mean God is not using them. In fact, God may be orchestrating their unusual service to accomplish something miraculous.
God wants to use you just as you are — right-handed or left-handed, tall or short, educated or uneducated.
God Has Always Used Unlikely People

All throughout Scripture, God uses people who do not seem to fit the usual mold.
In Exodus, there were Bezalel and Aholiab, craftsmen who built the tabernacle. They were not prophets or priests, but they were essential to the work of God.
Rahab hid the spies in the book of Joshua.
In John chapter 6, a little boy simply gave his lunch to Jesus, and God used it to feed a multitude.
In Jeremiah chapter 36, Baruch the scribe carefully copied and preserved the Word of God, and we are still blessed by his behind-the-scenes work today.
Not everyone stands in front of crowds, but everyone can be used by God.

Closing Challenge
As we think about Ehud and all these others, here is the question I want to leave with you:
What are some ways — even unusual ways — that God may want to use you to encourage others, invest in people, or share the gospel?
God is not limited by what we lack.
He is glorified by our obedience.
And He delights in using people who are willing to say yes, even when they feel different or overlooked.
In God’s hands, what seems unusual can become unstoppable.