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1 Peter 1:1-5 - Peter was not born a great apostle. - Jesus chose Peter because God delights in transforming ordinary people. - The Kingdom of God has never been built primarily by extraordinary people. - It has always been built by ordinary people surrendered to an extraordinary God. 1 Peter 1:1 Acts 8:1–4 - Peter’s message is not “escape, give up, or compromise.” His message is “Hope.” - One of the greatest mistakes Christians make is confusing hope with optimism. - Optimism says: “Maybe things will get better.” Hope says: “God is faithful no matter what happens.” - Biblical hope is not wishful thinking. Biblical hope is confidence in the character of God.

Because I belong to Jesus, I can live with confidence every day. 1 John 5:11–13 KNOW. It’s not just about heaven someday, it’s about confidence today. JESUS IS THE FOUNDATION OF MY ASSURANCE Lyric: Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! John 10:28 Romans 8:16 Your assurance is not based on how tightly you hold onto Jesus. It is based on how tightly Jesus holds onto you. Heir of salvation: You belong to God’s family now. You have been given an inheritance. Purchase of God: Jesus paid for you with His life. Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood: You are forgiven and made new YOUR STORY SHOULD TURN INTO WORSHIP Lyric: This is my story, this is my song Psalms 107:2 What matters to you comes out of you. SURRENDER LEADS TO JOY, NOT LOSS Lyric: Perfect submission, perfect delight Galatians 2:20 Matthew 16:25 Perfect submission leads to perfect delight. Joy is not found in controlling your life. Joy is found in trusting Jesus with your life. Visions of rapture now burst on my sight: When you follow Jesus, your perspective changes. Echoes of mercy, whispers of love: You begin noticing God’s grace everywhere. Perfect submission, all is at rest. I in my savior am happy and blest: Peace comes from trusting Jesus, not controlling life. Watching and waiting, looking above: You begin living with eternity in mind. Filled with His goodness, lost in His love: Worship stops becoming forced. It becomes natural.

The story of the Bible is the story of God’s heart to dwell with people. Pentecost marks a major change in the way God dwells with His people. Exodus 31:1–11 1. Babel – People Arrogantly Climb Higher Genesis 11. Humanity gathers on the plains of Shinar at Babel. They say: “Let us build ourselves a city and a tower…” Notice the language: “Let us make a name for ourselves.” Babel is humanity united without God. 2. SINAI: People Tremble As God Comes Down Exodus 19. God descends at Sinai. At Babel: people arrogantly ascend upward. At Sinai: people tremble as God descends downward. God desires not merely to rule His people but to dwell with them. BEZALEL Exodus 31. God says: “I have filled him with the Spirit of God…” The Spirit of God empowers people to create spaces where the presence of God dwells. Talent without holiness creates idols. Biblically: anointing is divine empowerment for divine assignment. 3. Mount Carmel: Holy Fire Falls on An Altar 1 Kings 18. Elijah’s showdown with the prophets of Baal. False gods produce exhaustion but no fire. True God answers by fire. We are living in a generation obsessed with hype but starving for holy fire. 4. Pentecost: Holy Fire Falls on People Acts 2:1-4 Pentecost reverses Babel. The fire keeps moving closer. 5. Revelation: FIRE FOREVER What is revealed? No temple. No veil. No separation. No distance. Revelation says: there is no need for sun because the glory of God gives light. The fire of God never goes out. What are you building? - A tower for yourself? - A dwelling place for God? The gospel says: you do not climb to God. God came down through Jesus Christ.

Pastor James John speaks on Philippians 3:10.

Exodus 1:15-22 Exodus 2:1-10 God’s redemptive plan moves forward because a handful of women decided children mattered. One of the most powerful lines in the Old Testament: “But the midwives feared God…” God used all of them in ways they could not fully understand simply by loving children and protecting their little lives. 1. Motherhood Is Kingdom Work, Not Lesser Work The most important thing happening in Egypt was not inside Pharaoh’s palace. It was inside Hebrew homes. 2. Mothers Shape the Spiritual Atmosphere of a Home The question is not: “Will my kids be discipled?” The question is: “By whom?” 3. Motherhood Requires Courage and Sacrifice Motherhood is loving someone enough to continually release them into God’s hands. 4. The Culture Often Undervalues Mothers — But God Does Not The Kingdom of God has always advanced through ordinary people doing faithful things for a very long time. 5. Parenting Is Spiritual Warfare The enemy always targets generations. You are not just raising children. You are raising image bearers. 6. Spiritual Mothers Matter Too Some women have never physically given birth, yet they have spiritually mothered dozens. 7. Jesus Is the Greater Deliverer Unlike Moses, Jesus would not merely deliver people from slavery to Pharaoh. He would deliver us from slavery to sin.

Abner’s story is tragic because he is almost a true here 2 Samuel 3:1 - What long war do you find yourself in the midst of today? 2 Samuel 3:6-11 - Abner is fully aware of the Lord’s desire for David to be king God is not at work DESPITE these messy circumstances, He is at work THROUGH these messy circumstances. Romans 6:1-2 - “The fact that God works through messy circumstances is not to induce us to tolerate the chaos that we create in our lives, it is so that we recognize the grace of God in the midst of the chaos that has ensued in our lives.” - Alistair Begg 2 Samuel 3:12 - David will not force his kingship, he waits to be invited. “Abner only quotes scripture when it supports a pro-Abner move” - Dale Ralph Davis 2 Samuel 3:12 2 Samuel 3:17-21 5 character traits of Abner that The Lord used to position to make David King. 1. Loyal - He was loyal to serve the house of Saul 2. Strong - He was a strong warrior and a good fighter 3. Charismatic - He could easily rally people together and gain influence 4. Clever - He uses the right phrases at the right time with the right people 5. Ambitious - He has goals and is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve them There is a difference between believing and living

3 John 1-8 Gaius: Faithful Faithfulness is not flashy, but in the Kingdom of God, faithfulness is fruitful. Seven Characteristics of Gaius 1. He walks in the truth. 2. He is beloved. 3. He has a healthy soul. 4. He is faithful in ordinary things. 5. He practices costly hospitality. 6. He partners with gospel mission. 7. He serves without needing to be first. 3 John 9-11 Diotrephes: Overbearing Diotrephes “likes to put himself first.” That is the disease. Everything else is a symptom. Seven Characteristics of Diotrephes 1. He loves preeminence. 2. He rejects legitimate authority. 3. He uses words as weapons. 4. He refuses fellowship. 5. He punishes those who do right. 6. He confuses control with leadership. 7. He is a negative example to be resisted, not imitated. 3 John 11-12 Demetrius: Good Testimony Demetrius has what every Christian should want: not fame, not hype, not platform — testimony. Seven Characteristics of Demetrius 1. He has a good reputation. 2. He has been tested by community. 3. He is aligned with the truth. 4. He is affirmed by mature leaders. 5. He does not need to self-promote. 6. He is safe to commend. 7. He embodies the good John says to imitate. The “We” Passages: Our Shared Responsibility 3 John 8, 12  “We ought to support people like these.” - Mission is not optional. When faithful gospel workers go, faithful churches send. - You can be a fellow worker for the truth by supporting the work of truth. “That we may be fellow workers for the truth.” - The person preaching and the person supporting the preaching are both participating in the work. - No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. “We also add our testimony.” - Healthy Christians do not only critique what is bad. They commend what is good. - A healthy church must have the courage to confront what is evil and the joy to celebrate what is good. 3 John 13-15 “We will talk face to face.” - “Face to face” is the language of healthy relationship. - “By name” – they know and are known. Love and are loved, celebrate and are celebrated.

God often brings salvation through unexpected weakness so that his people will trust his grace, not their strength. Judges 3:1-4 Judges 3:12-14 1. Sometimes, God leaves battles in our lives on purpose. Some of us want a Christian life with no battle. God wants a Christian life with trust in the battle. Judges 3:15-23 Judges 3:24-25 Judges 3:26-30 2. God raises unlikely saviors because he loves to shame human pride. God loves to overthrow human arrogance through unlikely instruments. God chooses the kind of savior that makes everybody say, “That had to be God.” 3. The Bible often moves from visible strength to surprising weakness, and it all points to Jesus. God sent a poor Jewish rabbi from a nowhere town, with no home, no army, no political office, and eventually a cross on his back - that is your Savior. Christianity is this: God saves through weakness - that is why the gospel offends proud people. 4. Every human being is trying to save themselves, but salvation only comes as a gift. Religious people try to save themselves through morality. “If I am good enough, pure enough, faithful enough, disciplined enough, then God will accept me.” Irreligious people do the same thing with different tools. “If I am successful enough, attractive enough, loved enough, wealthy enough, important enough, then I will know that my life matters.” What keeps many people from salvation? Not their weakness, their strength. 5. God laughs at arrogant evil, so his people do not have to live in fear. That the gospel remains should do two things in us: First, it should give us courage. Second, it should soften us into compassion. 6. One day God will make our bitterest stories laughable. The oppression in Judges was real; yet, later, the people tell the story with laughter. God can redeem suffering so fully that one day his people will tell the story without tears. For those who belong to Christ, sorrow does not get the last word. 7. In God’s kingdom, availability matters more than ability. That does not mean gifts do not matter. It means gifts are not ultimate. Ordinary Christians obeying God in ordinary moments with extraordinary dependence – that’s how things move forward. God takes weak acts of obedience and fills them with his power.

1. Grace goes looking :: David seeks someone to bless. 2 Samuel 9:1–3 2. Grace chooses the unlikely :: Mephibosheth is broken, ashamed, and helpless. 2 Samuel 9:3–6 3. Grace replaces fear with kindness :: He expects judgment, but receives covenantal mercy. 2 Samuel 9:6–8 4. Grace brings us near :: He is restored and seated at the king’s table. 2 Samuel 9:9–13 5. Grace tells our story :: We were Mephibosheth, and Christ brought us near. Ephesians 2:12-13, 19-21 Romans 5:6-11 6. Grace changes how we live :: Those who believe the gospel become like the gospel. You do not produce gospel fruit by raw willpower. You produce gospel fruit by deepening awareness of gospel grace. 7. Grace must overflow somewhere :: Who is your Mephibosheth? Do for the one what you wish you could do for the many.

Matthew 28:1-10 1. That stone preaches that a door has been removed. The stone used to say, “Death wins.” Now the missing stone says, “Death has been invaded.” Romans 5:18-19 Ephesians 2:13-14 2. That stone preaches that a trophy is displayed. The stone is a monument in broad daylight saying, “The King has won.” Satan lost. Sin lost. Death lost. Hell lost. The stone is no longer guarding Christ’s body. It is now advertising Christ’s triumph. 1 Corinthians 15:55–57 3. That stone preaches that a foundation is laid. The stone that once sealed a grave becomes the stone beneath your feet. You can build here. This ground will hold. This gospel is true. Christianity does not stand on vibes, tradition, or positive thinking. It stands on an empty tomb. 1 Corinthians 15:14–20 4. That stone preaches that rest is provided. The stone has become a seat. A place of rest. A symbol that the work is finished. Religion says, “Do more.” Jesus says, “Done… It is finished.” Hebrews 10:12–14 5. That stone preaches that a boundary is marked. The stone as a dividing line. Same stone. Same tomb. Same Jesus. Totally different reality. The empty tomb does not allow permanent neutrality. 1 Peter 2:7–8 6. That stone preaches that evil is defeated. 1 John 3:8 …The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. The stone rolling away is the beginning of the end for the kingdom of darkness. The resurrection is heaven’s declaration that Satan’s empire has been breached. The rolled-away stone is like the first fallen brick in a doomed fortress. The wall is coming down. The Bible says Jesus Himself is a stone in one of two ways for every person in this room. 1. He is either the Cornerstone… A cornerstone is what the whole building lines up with. It sets the angle. It bears the weight. It determines what is true, straight, and lasting. You do not add Jesus to your life as a religious accessory. You rebuild your life on Him. 1 Peter 2:4–8 2. Or, He is the stumbling stone. If you will not build on Jesus, you will trip over Jesus. Rejecting Jesus does not remove Him. It only guarantees collision with Him. The stone you refuse to build on becomes the stone you break against. Romans 9:32–33 Jesus Christ is alive. Right now, He offers salvation, forgiveness, cleansing, adoption, eternal life, and a new beginning to anyone who will repent and believe. If you are waiting until you get your life together, you do not understand the gospel. You come to Jesus because your life is not together.

You do not get saved by getting your life under control. You come to Jesus in the storm, in the wreckage, in the sin, and in the shame — just as you are. 1. Storms reveal what calm seasons conceal (Acts 27:9-20). Paul warned them, but they ignored God’s word. Then, the storm hit. 2. God meets people in the storm with a word of grace (Acts 27:21–26). God’s purpose for Paul meant the storm was real, but not ultimate. 3. God may save you while letting your ship break apart (Acts 27:27–44). God often saves the person while sinking the idol. You may come back humbled or through wreckage, but you can still come back. 4. Surviving the storm does not end the battle (Acts 28:1–6). Coming to Jesus does not mean no more battles. It means you now have a Savior in the battle. 5. Saved people are meant to bless other people (Acts 28:7–10). Christianity is personal but it is not merely private. Saved people become sent people. 6. The Gospel must be preached clearly (Acts 28:23–27). Paul does not merely discuss spirituality. He preaches Christ. Not everyone believes. The problem is not always clarity. It is often hardness. 7. The door is still open (Acts 28:28–31). Storms, chains, shipwreck, snakes didn’t stop the gospel. Your past, your shame, your wreckage cannot stop the gospel. Jesus still receives sinners.

Thomas Obadiah Chisholm (1866–1960) Lamentations 3:21-26 1) God’s faithfulness is based on His covenant. Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. Hebrews 13:8 James 1:17 ● Faithfulness means steadfast loyalty, reliability, and consistency in keeping commitments or promises. It describes someone who remains dependable and true over time, even when circumstances are difficult. ● God’s faithfulness is not first rooted in what He does for me. It is rooted in who He is. 2) God’s faithfulness arrives as daily mercy. “Great Is Thy Faithfulness! Great Is Thy Faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!” ● Mercy is not always God changing our circumstances overnight. ● If God’s mercy is daily, then God’s faithfulness is personal. 3) God’s faithfulness is evident. “Summer and winter, springtime and harvest, Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.” ● The created world is not random chaos. It is manifold witness. It is a thousand reminders that God has not abandoned His world. Psalm 19:1 4) God’s faithfulness is forever answered in Jesus Christ. “Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!” 2 Corinthians 1:20 ● Every promise of rescue, forgiveness, restoration, and covenant love finds its fulfillment in Jesus. Romans 8:32 ● If God gave you Jesus, He will not abandon you now. ● The clearest proof of God’s faithfulness is that the cross happened and that the resurrection occurred. Steps for Application: Step 1: Stop measuring God’s faithfulness only by outcomes. Step 2: Receive mercy for today. Step 3: Pray for the Lord to open your eyes to Him every day. Use these songs for reflection.     Great is Thy Faithfulness    So Will I Step 4: Come to Christ. A.W. Tozer “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

Acts 26: 1-3 Acts 25–26 is one of the most dramatic scenes in the New Testament. The apostle Paul stands in chains in a Roman courtroom in Caesarea. Surrounding him are the powerful people of the region: Antonius Felix, the Roman authority over province in Acts 23-24 Porcius Festus, the Roman authority over the province in Acts 25-26 Herod Agrippa II, the last ruler from the dynasty of Herod Berenice, female royalty of the Herodian house Acts 26: 19-32 1. Christians Do Not Retreat From Culture — We Engage It Paul engages the culture with the gospel. Christians are not called to retreat from the world. We are called to bring Christ into it. 2. God Places Believers in Strategic Locations Paul’s situation looked like failure but, this wasn’t a mistake. This was positioning. God places believers inside culture so the gospel can reach it. 3. Evangelism Is Not Just for Churches — It Belongs Everywhere Acts 26:22–23 That the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light. The gospel is meant for the whole world. 4. Christians Speak With Both Courage and Respect Respect is not weakness. Faith is not irrational. Christianity is grounded in history, evidence, eyewitness testimony. Paul shows that Christian witness can be both bold and reasonable. 5. Evangelism Is Personal Evangelism ultimately comes down to a question: Do you believe? Evangelism is not about winning debates. It is about people knowing Jesus. 6. Faithfulness Matters More Than Outcomes Paul measured success by faithfulness. Results belong to God. Obedience belongs to us. 7. Where has God place you? You may not stand before kings, but God has placed you somewhere. Where you are is your first mission field.

Acts 23–24 There is a big difference between doing things for God and doing life with God. The good life is not from the Lord, it is with the Lord. 1. When You Walk WITH God, You Hear From Him Acts 23:11 The Lord stood by him. That’s relationship. Christian life is not just obedience to a mission. It is relationship with a Person. Jesus said in John 10:27: “My sheep hear my voice.” The Christian life is living close enough to God to hear Him speak. 2. When You Walk WITH God, He Gives Direction Acts 23:11 Paul has been trying to get to Rome for years. Now Jesus tells him: You are going to Rome. God’s direction often comes in ways we would never design. Paul knows: If Jesus says I’m going to Rome, nothing can stop it. When you walk with God, you do not have to control the outcome. You simply follow His direction. 3. When You Walk WITH God, He Provides What You Need Acts 23 tells us 40 men take an oath: They will not eat or drink until Paul is dead. Acts 23:12-15 Paul is a prisoner with no ability to defend himself but, God provides in a surprising way. The enemies of Paul thought they were eliminating him. Instead, they accidentally gave him the safest ride in the Roman Empire. God’s provision often comes from unexpected places. You don’t have to manufacture the protection. God provides it. 4. When You Walk WITH God, You Become an Effective Witness Acts 24:1-16 Paul is not preaching to crowds. He is speaking to one man in a room. When you walk with God, every room becomes a mission field. Paul’s goal is not survival. His goal is faithfulness. The goal of the Christian life is not merely working for God. It is walking with Him. Many people spend their lives asking: “What should I do for God?” The better question is: “Am I walking closely with Him?” You are not carrying the mission. God is walking with you.

RECAP 1: The Will of God Gives you a Testimony. RECAP 2: Spiritual authority flows from spiritual surrender. Acts 22 1. Grace changes identity. 2. Grace expands the mission. 3. Grace produces a story. 1. A life transformed by grace. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” - Proverbs 15:1 2. A redeemed past. “The gospel didn’t make me better. It made me new.” - Rosaria Butterfield You don’t come to Jesus. Jesus comes to you. 3. A supernatural interruption. You don’t drift into salvation. You are awakened into it. Salvation is not self-repair. It is resurrection. 4. A ordinary obedience. God uses PEOPLE to reach PEOPLE. God’s Word + God’s People. Everything else will burn. 5. A gospel that will cost you. “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great Savior.” - John Newton What’s your one sentence so what? Romans 3:23 - All have sinned. Romans 6:23 - Wages of sin is death, gift is life. Romans 5:8 - Christ died for us. Romans 10:9-10 - Confess and believe. Romans 10:13 - Everyone who calls will be saved.