"Faith Gets to Work"--a sermon on James 2:14-26

 I am currently helping write a year long series of sermons on the topic "Courageously Christian." Our church (Forest Community Fellowship) has covered Philippians, Ruth, Esther, and we are now working through James. This sermon is number 4 in an 8 part series ("Faith that Works") in the letter of James. I thought it might bless some of you to see the document as it is sent to the person preaching.

Sermon Series: Courageously Christian—Faith That Works (a series on James)

Series Aim: In a world of compromise, James calls believers to courageous Christianity—a faith that endures trials, resists cultural pressures, pursues holiness, and demonstrates the character of Christ in everyday life. Courageous Christianity, according to James, is a faith that is decisive, visible, holy, merciful, and steadfast until Christ returns. James teaches that authentic faith is not merely believed; it is lived. Courageous Christianity is a faith that works!

Week 4 specifically identifies Decisive Discipleship—Faith in Action as its emphasis and stresses that genuine faith produces visible obedience. Holiness is not merely an experience; it is a way of life. This sermon highlights the Wesleyan emphasis on active holiness.

Week 4: Courage to Act

Sermon Title: "Faith Gets to Work"

Text: James 2:14–26

Primary Theme: Decisive Discipleship

Big Idea: Genuine faith inevitably produces visible obedience. Faith that never acts is faith that never lives.

INTRODUCTION — THE BLUEPRINT AND THE BUILD

We are continuing our series Courageously Christian: Faith That Works, and today we come to a passage that gets right to the heart of what James is trying to teach us: Faith Gets to Work.

James is going to ask us a difficult question: What good is faith if it never changes the way we live?

Let me illustrate. Have you ever purchased a piece of flat-pack furniture? You know the kind—it comes in a cardboard box, and inside are a hundred identical screws, several pieces of particle board, and an instruction manual with no words, only drawings of a smiling cartoon character.

Imagine bringing that box home, setting it in the living room, and carefully studying the instructions. You admire the design. You believe the plan will work. You may even tell a neighbor, “This bookshelf is going to be perfect.”

But then weeks pass, and the box stays unopened. You walk around it every day. You believe the blueprint, but you never pick up the tools and assemble the pieces.

You can study the instructions for the next twenty years. But you still don't have a bookshelf. You have a blueprint. You have information. You have good intentions. But you do NOT have a bookshelf. You have a cardboard obstacle. The blueprint may be good, but until belief becomes action, the plan remains unused.

James says faith can be like that. We can know the Bible, believe the doctrines, attend church, sing the songs, and even say all the right things. But if our faith never moves from our heads into our hands and feet, James says something is desperately wrong.

We are in week four of our series, Courageously Christian. We are asking what it means to live out a faith that works. Today, James confronts us with a massive truth: true faith cannot stay inside the box of our intellect. It requires the Courage to Act. Real faith gets to work.

Our theme this morning is Decisive Discipleship. In our Wesleyan-Nazarene heritage, we love the word Holiness. But holiness is not merely an emotional moment at an altar. It is not simply avoiding obvious sins. Holiness is Spirit-formed love made visible in daily obedience. It is expressed through mercy, service, and faithful action. Decisive discipleship means our beliefs change the way we live.

When faith gets to work, we see three things: 1) it is not dead; 2) it is not demonic; and 3) it is dedicated. Let’s read James 2:14-17.

Point 1) Faith that Works is NOT Dead (James 2:14-17)—Good intentions are not enough. James does not ease into the issue. He begins with a piercing question: "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no works? Can such faith save him?"

Then he gives us a real-world scenario. Imagine a brother or sister in the church who lacks clothes and daily food. They are cold. They are hungry. You see them, and your heart goes out to them. You feel sympathy. You feel compassion. And then you say, with total sincerity: " Go in peace; keep warm and well fed." You might even tell them, "I'll be praying for you."

But then you walk away. You don't give them a coat. You don't buy them a meal. You don't help them find assistance. You simply offer good words and warm wishes.

James asks: "What good is it?" The answer is obvious. Good intentions don't feed hungry people. Good intentions don't put coats on cold people. Good intentions don't change desperate circumstances. Faith gets to work by acting on belief and not simply talking about it.

And then James delivers his verdict: "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by works, is dead.” That's strong language. Dead. Not weak. Not immature. Not incomplete. Dead.

Think about that. James is not saying faith needs a little boost, a little improvement, a little more effort. He's saying faith without works is a corpse. It has no life. It has no breath. It has no pulse.

This is the gap between what we say and what we do. We live in a world consumed by branding. Companies spend millions of dollars telling us who they want us to think they are. They craft an image. They project an identity.

Sometimes Christians do the same thing. We develop a spiritual brand. We want people to see us as compassionate, generous, faithful, and holy. We talk about compassion. We post about justice. We sing about God's love on Sunday morning. But James tears down the branding. He says: Don't tell me what your faith says. Show me what your faith does.

Your faith should affect your schedule. Your priorities. Your money. Your relationships. Your conversations. Your choices. Your service. This is how James defines faith that works.

If your faith never costs you anything, never inconveniences you, never changes your priorities, and never moves you toward someone else's need, James says we need to take a serious look at whether that faith is actually alive.

Application: This week, I want you to ask yourself one question: Where has my faith stayed in my head instead of moving into my hands? Is there someone you've been meaning to help? A call you've been meaning to make? A meal you've been meaning to deliver? Don't wait. Act.

Faith gets to work when it moves from talk to action, from lip service to actual service—James calls that faith that works. But words aren’t the only problem, some folks think that simply acknowledging truth or knowing things about God is sufficient to a life of faith. James calls that demonic faith. Read James 2:18-19.

Point 2) Faith that Works is NOT Demonic (James 2:18-19)—Knowing God is not the same as obeying God. Now James anticipates an objection. He knows someone in the room is going to push back. Someone says: "You have faith, and I have works." In other words: "You do faith your way. I'll do works my way. We're both okay. We're just different."

James completely rejects this division. He responds: "Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works."

Think about that challenge. How do you physically show someone an invisible belief without an action? You can't. Faith is invisible. You can't see it, touch it, or measure it. But you can see what faith produces.

Think about sitting in a chair. You say, "I believe this chair will hold me." But how do you demonstrate that belief? You sit down. Your action demonstrates your faith. Or imagine you're standing at the edge of a bridge. You can say, "I believe this bridge is strong." But eventually, you've got to step onto it. Faith acts on what it believes.

Then James drops one of the most shocking lines in the entire New Testament: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”

Let that sink in for a moment. The demons have some correct theology. They know God exists. They know who Jesus is. They understand His authority. They believe the truth strongly enough to tremble before it. But their knowledge doesn't produce obedience. They don't love God. They don't submit to God. They don't follow God. They believe—and they shudder. But they never bow.

This is where we examine our hearts. It takes no courage to sit in a pew and agree with a sermon. It takes no courage to nod along with correct theology. There is a difference between believing facts about Jesus and surrendering your life to Jesus. Faith gets to work by obeying God.

Decisive discipleship moves from agreement to obedience. It means we don't simply say, "I believe Jesus." We say, "Because I believe Jesus, I will follow Jesus."

"I believe God cares about the hurting—so I will care about the hurting."

"I believe God calls me to forgive—so I will forgive."

"I believe God calls me to holiness—so I will pursue holiness."

"I believe God calls me to serve—so I will serve."

That is faith getting to work. That is decisive discipleship. This is faith that works.

Application: Ask yourself this week: Does my belief change my behavior? Is there an area where you've been nodding in agreement with God's Word but never actually doing what it says? James is telling us that intellectual agreement without obedient action is no different from the faith of demons. That's uncomfortable, but James is an uncomfortable book.

Faith gets to work when it moves from assent to obedience, from basic knowledge about God to surrender to him—Obedience is success, James calls that faith that works. The faith that James promotes is a dedicated faith—faith that trusts God and risks because of that trust. Read James 2:20-26.

Point 3) Faith that Works is Dedicated (James 2:20-26)—For James, faith trusts God and acts according to his character. Now James moves from abstract argument to living examples. He calls two witnesses to the stand: Abraham and Rahab.

Abraham. God told Abraham to offer Isaac—his son of promise, the child he had waited decades to receive. Think about the magnitude of that command. Abraham didn't merely say, "God, I trust You." He got up. He gathered the wood. He took Isaac. He climbed the mountain. He built the altar. He obeyed.

James says: "You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.”

Notice those words: faith and actions were working together. Faith produced action. And action demonstrated faith. Abraham's obedience didn't earn God's grace. Rather, his obedience demonstrated the reality of his trust in God.

And then the Scripture was fulfilled: "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness," and he was called God’s friend. Abraham was called God's friend—not because he had perfect theology, but because his theology moved him to radical obedience. Faith produces action and friendship. Friendship is shown before it is proclaimed. Faith gets to work because of God’s character, and that faith produces friendship with God. It is faith that works.

Rahab. If Abraham represents the respected patriarch, Rahab represents someone who would never have appeared in a religious hall of fame. She was a Gentile woman living in Jericho. She had a complicated past. She was an outsider by every religious measure.

But when she encountered the truth about the God of Israel, she didn't just think, "Wow, that's an impressive God." She acted. She hid the spies. She protected them. She sent them away safely. She took a massive risk—risking her own life—because she believed God.

James places Abraham and Rahab side by side. Why? Because God isn't looking for people with perfect backgrounds. He's looking for people with active faith—faith that works. Abraham acted. Rahab acted. And courageous Christians act.

This is the heart of cross-focused living. Jesus did not look at our broken world from a safe distance and merely declare His love. He came. He entered our world. He walked dusty roads. He touched lepers. He welcomed outsiders. He healed the sick. He fed the hungry. He forgave sinners. He served His disciples. And finally, He stretched out His arms on the cross. Jesus shows us what active faith looks like—faith that works.

Jesus didn't merely tell us God loves us. He demonstrated God's love. The cross is God's ultimate declaration that love acts. And if we are followers of Jesus, our faith should become visible too.

And then James gives us his final, unforgettable image: "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead." A body without a spirit is a corpse. It looks human. It has the form of a person. But there is no breath. No life. No movement. James says faith without works is exactly like that. It may look like faith. It may have the form of religion. But there is no life in it.

Application: Where is God calling you to take a risk of faith? Maybe it's stepping into a ministry that feels beyond your ability. Maybe it's forgiving someone who doesn't deserve it. Maybe it's opening your home, your wallet, or your schedule. Decisive discipleship gets its hands dirty. It steps into the mud. It takes the risk.

PUTTING FAITH TO WORK

Let me bring this close to home with four concrete challenges.

1. Move Beyond Good Intentions.

When the Holy Spirit prompts you to help someone, do not delay. Don't simply say, "I'll pray about that later." Step into the moment. If God brings someone to mind, call them. If you see a need, ask what God has placed in your hands — and use it. Prayer is powerful. We should absolutely pray. But sometimes "I'll pray for you" becomes an excuse not to do anything. If God has given you the ability to meet a need, perhaps the prayer is: "Lord, show me how You want me to help."

2. Look for the Needs Around You—Make Service a Habit.

James doesn't tell us to wait for someone to make an appointment. He says: Look. Who is hurting? Who is lonely? Who is struggling? Who needs help? Who needs encouragement? Who needs someone to sit beside them? Don't wait until you feel inspired. Decisive discipleship creates habits of obedience. Serve when it's convenient. Serve when it's inconvenient. Serve when someone thanks you. Serve when nobody notices. Serve because Jesus served you. We know one another. We know our neighbors. We know our community. We can notice needs. And when we notice them, we can act.

3. Embrace a Lifestyle of Obedience—Surrender Everything to God.

Ask yourself: What belongs to God? Your answer should be: Everything. Your time. Your money. Your home. Your vehicle. Your abilities. Your influence. Your hands. Your feet. Your schedule. Your future. Everything belongs to God. Holiness is not a static state of being where we just avoid doing bad things. True Nazarene holiness is a dynamic, active love that is constantly pushing outward. It is a daily decision to say, "Lord, my hands are Yours, my feet are Yours, my wallet is Yours. Put me to work."

4. Read God’s Word to Learn What He Expects.

This week, be sure to spend time in God’s presence to prepare you to serve others as he leads. Pray for opportunities but also read Scripture to get an idea of God’s expectations for us as his people. This week, read the following: Genesis 50; Psalm 103; Matthew 18; Romans 14; James 3.

THE BRIDGE BUILDER

Let me close with a story. Years ago, a terrible flood swept through a rural community. A small river overflowed its banks and destroyed the only bridge connecting a mountain village with the medical clinic and the supply station on the other side. People were stranded. Medicine couldn't get through. Supplies couldn't get through. The situation was desperate.

The villagers gathered along the riverbank. They all agreed: "We need a bridge."

One man stood on a rock and gave an impassioned speech. "We need a bridge!" he shouted. "A bridge will save our community! A bridge will bring medicine to our sick! I believe in the power of a bridge with all my heart!"

Everyone applauded. It was a wonderful speech. Then everyone went home. The next day, the river was still roaring. The bridge still wasn't there. The chasm was still empty.

A few hours later, an old carpenter walked down to the riverbank. He didn't give a speech. He didn't organize a committee. He didn't wait for somebody else to go first. He carried a toolbox on his shoulder. He dragged a massive piece of timber behind him. He knelt in the mud, right at the edge of the dangerous water. He started measuring. He started cutting. He started hammering.

A few neighbors looked out their windows. They walked down and asked, "What are you doing? It's dangerous down there in the mud!" The old carpenter looked up. He wiped the sweat and dirt from his face and said: "Your speeches are wonderful. Your agreement is nice. But your belief won't cross the river. Only a bridge will do that."

Then he looked at them and said: "It's time to stop talking and start building."

One by one, the neighbors looked at their own hands. They looked at the mud. They realized he was right. They rolled up their sleeves. They stepped down into the dirt beside him. They went to work.

Within days, the bridge was built. Life-saving help rushed across. Medicine could cross. Supplies could cross. People could cross.

Because somebody decided that believing in a bridge wasn't enough. They built one.

FAITH GETS TO WORK

James is God's holy carpenter standing beside us today. He's saying: Your theology matters. Your doctrine matters. Your worship matters. Your Bible study matters. Your prayers matter.

But don't leave your faith sitting in a box. Faith gets to work.

The world around us is hurting. People are lonely. Families are struggling. People need hope. People need mercy. People need Jesus.

And God has placed us here—not simply to believe the Gospel, but to embody the Gospel. Our faith must become visible. Our love must become visible. Our holiness must become visible. Our discipleship must become visible. Courageous Christianity is a faith that is decisive, visible, holy, merciful, and steadfast until Christ returns. Decisive discipleship means faith gets to work.

INVITATION

I want you to ask yourself a question this morning: What is my faith doing?

Not: "What do I believe?" Not: "How long have I been a Christian?" Not: "How many sermons have I heard?"

But: What is my faith doing?

Is there someone God has been prompting you to help? Is there someone you need to forgive? Is there someone you need to call? Is there someone who needs encouragement? Is there a ministry where God has been asking you to serve? Is there an area of obedience you've been putting off?

Maybe you've been living on good intentions. You've said, "Someday I'll do that." "One day I'll get involved." "I'll call them later." "I'll give when I have more." "I'll serve when life settles down."

But perhaps the Holy Spirit is saying: Today is the day.

Perhaps you are here today, and you've realized that your faith has become primarily intellectual. You believe all the right things. But your hands haven't been involved in God's work for a long time. Today, you can come and ask God: "Lord, give me the courage to act."

Perhaps you've become comfortable. God is calling you out of comfort and into service. Come. Perhaps you need to make a fresh commitment to active holiness. You want the Holy Spirit to take control of your schedule, your resources, your relationships, your hands, and your feet. Come and say: "Lord, make my faith alive and active again."

And perhaps someone here has never surrendered their life to Jesus Christ. Today, you can come to Him. You can receive His grace through faith. You can trust Him as Lord and Savior. You can begin a new life — a life of faith that works. Come.

Don't leave it in the pew. Don't leave it as an intention. Don't leave it as an idea. Step out. Roll up your sleeves. Put your faith to work.

Come to Jesus—act on your faith—faith gets to work.

Thanks for reading! 

Our Stories Matter: An Encounter with Jesus--Saul's Story

 

I preached this sermon recently at a revival in Appomattox, VA, and I thought I'd share it with you all. 

Title: An Encounter with Jesus: Saul’s Story

Passage: Acts 9:1-9

Main Idea: Your story matters because an encounter with Jesus transforms ordinary, broken lives into powerful testimonies of His grace. An encounter with Jesus changes everything.

Introduction & Opening Illustration

Have you ever looked at a tangled ball of yarn? If you try to pull one loose thread, the whole thing often knots up tighter. Life can feel exactly like that. We look at our past mistakes, our broken relationships, and our current struggles, and we see a messy, tangled knot. We look at other people and think, “They have a beautiful tapestry. I just have a mess.” We start to believe the lie that our personal story doesn’t matter to God, or worse, that our story has disqualified us from being used by Him.

But the beauty of the Wesleyan tradition is the doctrine of transforming grace. John Wesley spoke deeply about the grace that chases us down before we even know we need God. God does not look at your tangled knot and see a lost cause. He sees a masterpiece in progress. Every single thread of your life matters to Him. Your story matters because your story is the canvas for His grace.

Today, we are looking at one of the most famous, messy, and dramatic stories in the entire Bible: the story of Saul of Tarsus and his encounter with Jesus. If anyone had a story that seemed completely unusable for the Kingdom of God, it was this man. Yet, an encounter with Jesus changed everything.

Today we will consider Acts 9:1-9, and note these three aspects of Saul’s story: the condition; the confrontation; the conclusion.

Remember, an encounter with Jesus changes everything. We all probably need regular encounters with Jesus. We need the change that a relationship with him brings. Read Acts 9:1-9.

Point 1) The Condition that Hinders (Acts 9:1-2)

The first thing to note is the condition of the person. What do you know about the life of Saul before Jesus? (Philippians 3:2-6) He was an accomplished man. He had reason for confidence. He was blameless according to the righteousness from the Law. He was a very religious person. No one could touch him in that area.

When the story begins, Saul is not looking for God. In spite of his religious beliefs, he was full of anger. Verse 1 says he was "breathing out threats and murder against the disciples." He was driven by anger, religious pride, and self-righteousness. He was on his way to Damascus to tear families apart. He was mad at the “heresy” of Christianity that had sprung up among his fellow Jews. He intended to wipe out this faith and destroy it completely. He thinks he is doing God a favor by destroying the church. Maybe instead of looking at his supposed “enemies” he should have been looking for God?

None of us come to God complete or whole. We all come broken. Some may seem better than others, but none of us is able to avoid the taint of sin. That is the situation in which we find Saul of Tarsus (soon to be Paul the Apostle).

Saul was the aggressor against the fledgling and newly born church. He got permission to go and arrest them so that he could put an end to them. We may never know what was driving his anger, but we know that he wanted to stop Christians.

His anger turned him into a “terrorist” against Christianity. Like some in our world today, he believed that those who disagreed with him should convert or die. Having them die was easier, so he pursued that option.

Saul was a sinner who resisted the truth and lived as an “enemy” of God (Romans 5:6-11). Saul stood against Christ. He was lost.

Religion without Jesus never saves. Many people today resemble Saul. Some are successful. Some are respectable. Some attend church faithfully. Yet without Christ, they remain spiritually lost.

Here the truth we all need to hear: God’s grace seeks us before we even seek him. Long before Saul was looking for Jesus, Jesus was pursuing Saul. Our stories matter because God begins writing before we ever realize He is holding the pen.

Never believe your past disqualifies you. Never assume someone else's past places them beyond God's reach. If God could save Saul, He can save anyone.

An encounter with Jesus exposes our condition. Such an encounter can also result in a change of our condition. The confrontation with Christ causes a change.

Point 2) The Confrontation that Transforms (Acts 9:3-6)

Once the condition is acknowledged, there is often a confrontation. The confrontation is between one who cannot save himself and the only One who can save. That is what happens to Saul.

Notice what happens in verse 3: "A light from heaven suddenly flashed around him."

This is the power of an encounter with Jesus. It interrupts us. Jesus confronts Saul as he is going about his everyday experience. Saul didn't schedule this meeting. He didn't sign up for a revival service. Jesus intercepted him on the dirt road of his own rebellion. Often Jesus confronts us in our mundane or normal surroundings. God is more than able to meet us right where we are! For many of us, our stories matter because Jesus chose to interrupt them.

You might be here today thinking you stumbled into this church by accident. You might feel like you are too far gone, too angry, or too broken. But the Holy Spirit is an expert at divine interruptions. Jesus meets us exactly where we are, but He loves us too much to leave us there.

Jesus confronts Saul miraculously—this seems to be a special case. There is a light from heaven—the glorified and risen Jesus reveals some of his glory. Saul falls to the ground—in the presence of a heavenly revelation, he gets low. He is humbled when Jesus is revealed. This is a divine encounter!

When Saul falls to the ground, Jesus asks a penetrating question: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

When we hurt others, or when we live in rebellion, Jesus takes it personally. But look at the immediate result of this encounter. The great, powerful, terrifying Saul gets up from the ground, opens his eyes, and he is completely blind. The man who rode into town as a conqueror needs to be led by the hand into Damascus. For three days, he sits in darkness, fasting and praying.

True transformation requires a season of vulnerability and surrender. Saul had to unlearn everything he thought he knew. His old story—the story of the zealous, self-made Pharisee—had to die so that a new story could begin. This is where the idea of consecration comes in. Holiness begins when we stop trying to lead ourselves by our own sight and allow Jesus to take us by the hand, even when we cannot see the next step.

Like all of us before we came to Christ, we cannot know God until God makes himself known to us. When Jesus confronts Saul, he is revealing himself. Jesus makes God known to Saul (John 1:18). The nature of this revelation no doubt convinced Saul that he was in the presence of God.

Most of us will not get a miraculous Damascus Road experience exactly like this one. We will not meet Jesus in a visionary experience. We will encounter him perhaps in a more mundane way. That doesn’t make the encounter any less significant. We encounter Jesus through the proclamation of his Truth. We humble ourselves in his presence. We listen to his direction. These are the same steps Saul experienced. Salvation requires revelation and response.

Jesus gives Saul a command—“Get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Jesus acknowledges Saul’s willingness to submit by giving him something to do. How Saul responds makes the difference. How we respond will make a difference too! Has Jesus interrupted our plans? Have we had a confrontation that led to transformation?

Salvation for all of us is similar (without the bright lights probably). We are going about our everyday tasks, ignoring or even resisting God and being his enemies. Then God confronts us with his person and truth, and we are humbled. We want to know more and perhaps ask some questions, and God responds by calling us to obedience. So, how do we respond?

Faithful response to Christ leads to salvation. An encounter with Jesus poses a challenge. A confrontation with Jesus forces us to choose. Will we obey him or not? That brings us to our conclusion and the need for surrender.

Point 3) The Conclusion: Our Surrender (Acts 9:7-9)

The conclusion of our story reveals Saul’s response. In a similar way, our response to God will write the conclusion to our story of salvation. If we humble ourselves and obey God’s call to repent, salvation will come.

Let’s remember though, that not all who were present at the encounter/confrontation get the point (verse 7). This is true in our lives as well. When the story of salvation is told, it is not a guarantee that everyone present will be converted. It is possible to witness God’s divine grace and still miss the truth. These people heard the voice but did not apparently get the point.

Saul, on the other hand, understands that he has encountered the divine, that he has run into God, and he is dramatically changed. Though physically blinded, he nonetheless obeys—he obeys Jesus’ command even though his physical circumstances have made it difficult.

How often do we try to excuse ourselves from obedience due to physical circumstances? “I’m not gifted in evangelism” or “I can’t make disciples” or “I’m shy” or even “I don’t hang around non-Christians much.” Physical circumstances do NOT hinder obedience—only our wills can do that!

Though physically blinded, Saul is now spiritually focused—food and drink no longer matter, he wants to know this person Jesus (verse 10 reveals that Saul is praying while fasting). Saul obeyed Christ and focused on Christ. We should follow his example. Circumstances don’t matter, obedience alone matters.

God often does His deepest work after He humbles us. Those three silent days became the turning point of Saul's life. Sometimes God slows us down before He sends us out. Sometimes He empties us before He fills us. Transformation is more than forgiveness. It is surrender. God isn't merely interested in changing where we spend eternity. He wants to change who we are.

Ask God: What pride needs to die? What habit needs to surrender? What relationship needs healing?

So, what’s the rest of the story? Saul goes on to plant churches all over the Roman Empire. He writes 13 letters (almost half of our New Testament). He becomes an example for all of us (1 Timothy 1:15-16).

When a person is brought to Christ and becomes a follower of Jesus, it is not for that individual’s good alone, it is for the benefit of others as well. Can others see the grace of God in us? Do they want what they see? What kind of example are we?

The conclusion to Saul’s story is written, but the story of salvation/redemption continues.  What will the conclusion be? An encounter with Jesus changes our story.

Application

How do we respond to this information? 

First, check your condition. Own your own raw story. Stop hiding the messy parts of your life. Saul never hid his past; he later wrote openly about being the "chief of sinners." God cannot heal the fictional version of yourself you present to others; he only heals the real you. What is our condition? Do we rely on our own strength and efforts, or are we confident in God? If we do not have a relationship with Jesus, that is the starting point. This week, focus on your relationship with Jesus. Be willing to even give up some of the important things in life to pursue a knowledge of Jesus and his righteousness (Philippians 3:7ff).

Second, look for divine interruptions. When the Holy Spirit prompts you to stop, pray, or change direction today, do not resist. Yield your schedule to the interrupting grace of God. Leave room in your schedule for God's plans.

Third, humble yourself and obey God. Ask: What is it that God has asked of you that you have ignored? We must never allow anything to deflect us from obedience. When we refuse to obey Jesus, we are backing away from the recreating power of his redemption. As Oswald Chambers says, “It is a matter of indifference to God’s grace how abominable I am if I come to the light, but woe be to me if I refuse the light.” (John 3:19-21). What was the last thing God told you to do? Leave here today, go and do it. Live in God’s light. Do not wait another minute to do the right thing.

Fourth, share your God story with others. People may argue with your theology, but they cannot deny your story. Take time to let others know what God has done. Make a list of people you would like to see have an encounter with God, then begin to pray for them and seek an opportunity.

An encounter with Jesus changes everything. How has it changed you?

Closing Story

Years ago, a minister was walking through a gritty downtown neighborhood when he noticed a local artisan who made beautiful stained-glass windows. In the back courtyard of the shop, there was a large dumpster filled with discarded, broken shards of colored glass. They were sharp, jagged, and seemingly useless.

The minister asked the artisan, "What do you do with all that garbage?"

The artisan smiled and said, "That isn't garbage. Those are my favorite pieces. You see, a brand-new sheet of glass is uniform and predictable. But when I take these broken, shattered pieces, wash them, and carefully fit them into the lead framing, the light hits the jagged edges in unique ways. The broken pieces create the most breathtaking mosaic."

That is what Jesus did for Saul. That is what He wants to do for you. He takes the shattered fragments of our choices, our hurts, and our failures, and He frames them with His grace. When the light of Christ shines through a redeemed life, the result is a beautiful holy mosaic. Your story matters because the world needs to see the light shining through your unique, redeemed pieces. God does not throw away broken people. He turns them into living testimonies of His grace.

Altar Call

Saul’s story shifted on a dirt road because he surrendered to the voice of Jesus. For three days he prayed in the dark, waiting for a touch of grace. You don't have to wait three days. The altar is open right now. Today, Jesus is stepping into your story.

Perhaps you are here and you feel like Saul before the light hit him—running, tired, angry, or breathing out stress and anxiety. You need a radical encounter with Jesus today. Perhaps you feel like Saul in the dark room—blinded by your circumstances, unsure of the next step, needing someone to pray over you so the scales can fall from your eyes.

Whatever your story is, it matters to Him. I invite you to come. Step out from your seat, come down these aisles, and kneel or stand at this altar. Let us lay our tangled threads before the Master Weaver. Let us give him the broken shards of life to make his Masterpiece of grace.

Come and encounter Jesus. Come and be transformed by his grace.

Restored and Commissioned--John 21:1-24

This is a sermon I preached a few years ago on the topic of the restoration of Peter I hope it is a blessing to you!  

Restored and Commissioned, John 21:1-24

Big Idea: By the Sea of Galilee, Jesus meets His disciples—not with condemnation, but with grace. He restores Peter after his greatest failure and calls him to a renewed purpose: 'Feed My sheep.' This story reminds us that no failure is final with God. When we fall short, Jesus meets us where we are, restores us in love, and calls us to follow Him with purpose.

Key Takeaway: Jesus restores our failures and calls us to serve Him with love.

Intro: Today, we turn to a disciple who had his own crisis—not of doubt, but of failure. Peter, one of Jesus’ closest followers, had made bold promises. And yet, on the night of Jesus’ arrest, Peter denied Him—not once, but three times.

Can you imagine how heavy that must have weighed on Peter’s heart? After all the miracles he had witnessed, after walking on water, after declaring that Jesus was the Messiah… in the moment of crisis, Peter failed. Maybe you know that feeling. Maybe there have been moments in your life where you’ve come up short—where fear, shame, or regret have made you wonder if God could still use you. Maybe you’ve asked yourself, “Is my failure too big for God’s grace?”

The good news is that Jesus does not leave us in our failures. This morning, we’ll see how Jesus goes after Peter—not to condemn him, but to restore him. By the shore of the Sea of Galilee, in the very place where Peter first followed Him, Jesus extends an invitation once again: “Follow me.” This is a story of grace that redeems, love that restores, and purpose that remains—even after failure. So if you’ve ever wondered if God still has a place for you, if you’ve ever felt unworthy of His calling, this passage is for you. Because Jesus is not finished with you yet. Let’s look at our passage in John 21 and see what happens when the risen Messiah meets Peter in his moment of shame—and restores him to a life of love and purpose.

Point 1) Learn from the Past, But Don’t Live There—Returning to the Familiar (John 21:1-3): Peter convinces 6 of the disciples to go fishing. While there is nothing wrong with fishing per se, in this instance Peter is returning to his “old way,” to his “old job,” to something familiar. The resurrection has happened, Jesus has given the disciples the Spirit, they have been commissioned and called to go and to minister to others in that same Spirit—to do “greater things”—to forgive sins—to bring people to Jesus. Yet, here, after all the amazing events in John’s Gospel, Peter returns to the familiar, to the old habits, to his old job.

Isn’t that typical? This moment speaks to a deep human tendency: when we feel lost, when we are unsure of our purpose, or when we feel like we’ve failed, we often retreat to what is familiar. We go back to old habits, old ways of thinking, and sometimes even to places we once left behind. Have you ever felt like a failure and wanted to go back to what was safe and comfortable? That’s exactly where Peter was. He may have thought, "I blew it. I denied Jesus. Maybe I’m not cut out for this disciple thing after all." Yet, even in this moment of uncertainty, Jesus met him in a powerful way. And this is an important truth for all of us: Jesus does not wait for us to get everything figured out—He comes to us, even when we retreat to the familiar.

Too often we pine away for the “way things used to be,” but the promise of God is almost always forward looking. It is future tense. Yes, we need to learn from the past, but we should not try to live there. God has called us to faithfulness today (“Today, if you hear his voice” . . . “Encourage one another as long as it is called ‘Today’” etc.). Learn from the past, but don’t live there. Move forward with God. But how do we do that? Pay attention to Jesus—Look to Jesus. He will meet with and provide for us.

Point 2) Look to Jesus—Meet with him: Jesus Provides and Reveals Himself (John 21:4-14) The disciples had spent the entire night fishing but caught nothing. For experienced fishermen, this would have been discouraging and frustrating. They had returned to what they knew best, yet even in their own expertise, they came up empty. This next moment of failure set the stage for Jesus to reveal His power and presence. 

They fished all through the night! How frustrating that must have been to catch nothing? Jesus tells them to try the other side, but why bother? I mean, they haven’t caught anything all night, right? Nonetheless, they did what the “stranger” told them to do, and they caught a bunch of fish. Then John realized who the “stranger” was: It was Jesus! Jesus shows up! 

Peter plunges in and swims to Jesus! When the rest of the disciples reached the shore, they found Jesus had already prepared a meal for them (John 21:9-13). What a beautiful picture of Christ’s love: He wasn’t just providing for their physical needs--He was welcoming them back into relationship with Him. Even before Peter could say a word, Jesus had already invited him to sit and eat.

Isn’t that always the best part of a story—when Jesus shows up and provides? Note here, however, that Peter and the disciples see Jesus “at daybreak.” In John’s Gospel, darkness and light carry chronological and spiritual meanings. Those “in the dark” usually don’t see Jesus or understand Jesus—Nicodemus, Judas, etc. Those “in the light” usually see and understand Jesus—Samaritan woman at the well, the disciples in the closed room, the disciples here, etc. 

The words “at daybreak” are important. They represent a “new day” and “light to see.” Are we in the light or in the dark? Remember, the “sun of righteousness” will rise with healing in its wings and “you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall” (Mal 4:2). God is the God of times and seasons, and his light is shining in Jesus today. Where do we need his light?

Note also that this “daybreak” brings a meal--a time of repose and relationship. Have you ever noticed how often it is that Jesus makes himself known in a meal? Emmaus road, disciples in hiding, Lord’s Supper, etc. The idea here is relationship around shared experience. We need time with Jesus and time with others in shared experiences. It could be a meal, a cup of coffee, face time, a phone conversation. There is something about relationship around a shared experience that can make Jesus known. Where can we be the light of Jesus in relationships this week? Where do we need time around the table with Jesus?

Just as Jesus met Peter and the disciples in their ordinary routine, He meets us in our everyday lives. He calls to us, provides for us, and reveals Himself in ways we may not expect.

The question is—will we recognize Him when He calls? And maybe a further question… Will we be able to humble ourselves and receive the Father’s healing and love? We need to learn from the past but not to live there. We need to meet with Jesus and others. And this meeting with others brings us to the next few verses where Jesus encourages Peter to tend his sheep.

Point 3) Tend the Sheep Jesus Gives You—Peter’s Restoration (John 21:15-19) The question of the hour is: “How do we face that which is uncomfortable to face and restore that relationship that has been broken?” Peter had denied Jesus three times, now three times Jesus asks him if he really loves Jesus. Here is the setting: Peter’s sense of failure was all consuming. Peter, the rock, had been crushed and crumbled under pressure Fast forward to the resurrection Peter saw the risen Christ and heard the words “Peace be with you” But how could he be at peace? Had he not disqualified himself? So, he went fishing instead. Jesus meets him there and cooks him breakfast. Now he will address the elephant in the room.

Let’s listen in on the conversation. Jesus does three things for Peter: 1. He pursues; 2. He focuses on relationship; and 3. He restores.

Jesus comes looking for Peter and the disciples because God takes the initiative. Sometimes we talk about people being seekers but the Bible portrays God as the original seeker. He pursues us. No matter what you’ve done or what’s in your past, the great God of the universe pursues you. 

John 14:16-18—Jesus doesn’t abandon his own—he sends another Comforter (i.e., another of the same kind as Jesus). Jesus will never forsake his people. The Spirit “comes alongside” of us to provide help for our spiritual journey. Jesus is our advocate. Is there somebody that we have a broken relationship with that we need to pursue? 

Jesus didn’t wait for Peter to come to him and seek to restore the relationship. Jesus tracks down Peter. Jesus pursues Peter because he is focused on relationship. We need to learn to be like Jesus in pursuing those he has given us to tend.

Note that Jesus doesn’t drag up the past. He prepares a meal and eats with Peter, but he doesn’t drag up Peter’s past failure. There is not one word of rebuke. Jesus is in the grace business, not the guilt business. As we pursue others (tending the sheep God gives us), we need to be sure that we focus on relationship with them and NOT trying to “fix” them. 

Romans 8:1, 34--If any could condemn us, it would be Jesus, but he chose to die for us rather than to condemn us (John 3:16-19). We should treat others the same way (Eph 4). What are some practical ways that we can follow Jesus here? How can we “make allowance for each other’s faults”? 

Jesus asks Peter three questions. Why three? Because three times Peter had denied Jesus (John 18:15-27). This was not a coincidence—it was grace in action. With each question, Jesus was undoing Peter’s failure and reaffirming his calling. Peter’s denial had been public, and now, so was his restoration. He doesn’t ask questions to condemn Peter, but to check on the relationship. He asks these questions to see where Peter’s heart was regarding their relationship. 

Matthew 26:31-35—Peter promised to stay with Jesus until death, even if no one else did. Of course, Peter not only denied Jesus, he pronounced curses on himself if he even “knew” Jesus. Jesus didn’t recount Peter’s promises, he went right to the heart “Peter, are you still with me? Do you love me?” Jesus sought to restore the relationship. Jesus focuses on relationship because he wants to restore Peter to service/ministry. Jesus was making it clear—Peter’s story was not over. His failure did not define him; his calling did. Our story is not over, and our failures do not define us either.

Peter’s story reminds us of three key truths: 1. Jesus does not give up on us. Even when we fall short, He calls us back. (Lamentations 3:22-23) 2. Love for Jesus leads to action. If we love Him, we are called to serve others. (1 John 3:18) 3. God uses our failures for His glory. 

Peter went on to become a pillar of the early church, not in spite of his past but because of God’s redemption in it. (Acts 2:14-41) Have you ever felt like you’ve messed up too badly for God to use you? Peter must have felt that way. But Jesus is in the business of restoration. He does not define us by our worst moments—He calls us forward in love.

Jesus restores Peter. Where do we need restoration today? Who do we know that needs restoration? Three times Jesus asks Peter about their relationship, and three times he requests that Peter look after Jesus’ sheep or lambs. The most precious thing to Jesus is people. People created in God’s image need a witness of God. Jesus asks Peter to be that witness, to shepherd the flock with the same love he received.

What relationship needs to be restored or re-instated? Peter moves from resigned to re-instated. It is interesting that the ministry Jesus offered to Peter was “take care of my sheep”. It wasn’t to build a great church or launch a world-wide ministry. It was to shepherd people. God was not through with Peter, and he is not through with us. Jesus wants to see broken relationships restored and re-instated. He wants all of us to act as reconcilers—those who forgive and restore one another (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). He has done it for us, now he wants us to do it for others. Where do you need to look for reconciliation? Who needs restoration in your life? Jesus seeks reconciliation, should we do any less?

We can learn from the past, but we shouldn’t live there. We need to see and to meet with Jesus. We need to tend to the relationships he has given us. Finally, we need to avoid comparing ourselves with others.

Point 4) Let Jesus tell your story, don’t compare it to others (John 21:20-24) At the end of our conversation, Peter turns and sees John (the “beloved” disciple). He asks Jesus, “Given what you’ve told me to do. Given that you’ve told me to die for you and to die to serve others. What should John do?”

Jesus replies, “I’m telling you your story and not his story. I have plans for him, you focus on obeying me and not on what he is doing.”

The word here is simple—focus on what God is telling you. Don’t compare yourself to others. God is working in your life, in the life of the church, and comparison tends to create more harm than benefit.

We don’t need to “measure up” to anyone but Jesus. Obedience to him is success. Like Peter, we may fail, but like Peter we can also learn to put into action what Jesus restores us to do. Will we?

Conclusion: Lamentations 3:22-23

After restoring Peter, Jesus gave him a glimpse of his future. It would not be easy—Peter would one day give his life for the gospel. But Jesus’ final words to him were simple and powerful: "Follow Me."

Peter’s story is our story. We have all failed in some way. We have all doubted, stumbled, or turned away. But Jesus does not cast us aside. He restores us. And He calls us to serve Him, not out of duty, but out of love.

Our failures do not disqualify us from God’s mission. Instead, Jesus meets us where we are, transforms our brokenness with His grace, and calls us forward in love.

Today’s passage reminds us that Jesus does not need perfect people to build His kingdom—He calls those who are willing to follow Him, even after failure. He calls those who will say, "Yes, Lord, You know that I love You," and then go and feed His sheep.

And this commission wasn’t just for Peter—it’s for all of us. Each of us has been restored by the grace of Jesus, not just for our own sake, but so that we can be a part of His greater purpose. Peter’s calling is our calling—to love Jesus and to show that love by caring for others, by sharing the gospel, by being His hands and feet in a world that desperately needs Him. 

Like Peter, we all have hurts, we all have failed, we all have needed forgiveness, release, and restoration at one time or another. We sometimes go back to the past and try to live there, or we forget that Jesus is willing and ready to meet with us and to empower us to some new ministry or opportunity. Those of us who follow Messiah have experienced his restoration firsthand in our salvation—God forgave our sin, released us from past guilt, and put us in a position of service and ministry for him.

And Jesus’ final words to Peter? They are the same words He spoke to him at the very beginning: "Follow Me." This is the call that continues today. Jesus meets us, restores us, and calls us to follow Him. 

So the question we must ask ourselves is this: How will we respond? Will we go back to what is familiar, or will we step into the purpose Jesus has given us? What would that look like this week?

1. First, spend some time thinking about Peter’s situation. Spend some time in Jesus’ presence. Read the book of 1 Peter to hear his take on “feeding” and “caring for” Jesus’ flock, for the people God has given him. How can you be like Peter this week? What people need the care God has taught to you? 

2. Second, pursue those who need God’s forgiveness. Make time to share the good news of salvation with those who are estranged from God. While you are at it, pursue those in your own life who need grace, forgiveness, relationship, help, etc. from you. Face the elephant in the room. Pursue reconciliation and seek to restore relationships that have been broken. If there are those in your life who you need to forgive, then do it. Do what you can to restore relationship. Tend the people God has put in your life.

3. Finally, look for opportunities to serve out of love for Christ. If we want to forgive others, we must follow Jesus’ example. Tend the flock. Love like Jesus loves.

Thanks for reading! 

The Baptism of Jesus: Identity and Assignment, Matthew 3:13-17; Isaiah 42:6-9

 Earlier this year I was given the opportunity to preach on Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist. The key thought of the sermon was simple: Identity comes before assignment. What God says is more important than any other word. Below are the notes for my sermon. The material comes from my own research and from others who have treated this topic. I hope this is a blessing to you! 

Baptism of the Lord Sunday (January 11, 2026)

The Baptism of Jesus: Identity and Assignment, Matthew 3:13-17; Isaiah 42:6-9 (supplementary—Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 29)

Jesus’ baptism marks the beginning of God’s kingdom on earth. This story reminds us that God provides our identity and from that identity God gives us our call. Identity comes before assignment. What God says is more important than any other word. We have to know who we are in order to accomplish best the service to which God calls us.

Introduction: On the first day of school, a parent walks their child to the door. The child is nervous—new teacher, new classmates, unfamiliar hallways. Before the child steps inside, the parent kneels down, looks her in the eye, and says something like this: “Remember who you are. I love you. I’m proud of you. You’ve got this.” The child doesn’t yet know the schedule, the expectations, or what challenges might come. But she walks in carrying something far more important: She knows she is loved.

Something similar happens at the baptism of Jesus. Before Jesus preaches a sermon. Before he heals a sick person. Before he casts out a demon. Before he walks the road to the cross. Before he begins his “official” ministry.

God speaks. God calls him “beloved.”

Baptism of the Lord Sunday invites us to stand with Jesus at the Jordan River and to listen—to hear who Jesus is, and to remember who we are. This story reflects a conflict of cultures between how God sees things and how humans often respond to those things. For now, let’s recognize that at Jesus’ Baptism, God speaks. What God says is more important than any word. More than a parent’s affirmation, more than a spouse’s declaration of love, more even than the kind words of a friend—God’s speech reveals who we are and directs us to what we should do. What God says is more important than any word.

Read Matthew 3:13-17. Let’s address the hard question. Why is Jesus baptized? Baptism is about washing your sins away—but Jesus had no sin! John the Baptist had said, “I baptize with water for repentance”—but Jesus didn’t need to repent! Why would Jesus receive baptism? The answer in Matthew’s narrative is: Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of what God had promised. He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He did it for us. His baptism was God ordained.

Two things happen at Jesus’ baptism: God made a claim, and God issued a call. At Jesus’ baptism, the kingdom of God invades the earth, and when God shows up, people respond. Let’s see some responses to this event in Matthew.

Point 1) The first response is identity. Jesus identifies with sinners even though he is sinless (note John’s question—“I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”). John’s baptism was a call to repentance because “the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Many people came out of a sincere desire to produce fruit of repentance because of their sins. Jesus identifies with those who come to God honestly, and God declares that Jesus is his beloved. God claims Jesus, and in Jesus he claims us. Are we willing to be his people?

Jesus identifies with sinners, but God declares Jesus to be his “beloved son.” In Isaiah 42:1, 4 (read), God identifies Jesus as his servant, his chosen one, the one through whom justice/righteousness comes to the earth. This servant is upheld by God, chosen by God, and—this is important—delighted in by God. God does not merely tolerate his servant. God does not reluctantly approve. God delights in him. He is favored by God!

This favored servant brings justice not by crushing the weak, but by preserving them (even identifying with them!). God’s salvation comes gently, faithfully, patiently. God’s holiness does not trample wounded people. It heals them. Some may intentionally resist God’s will, but we should embrace it.

Jesus identifies with humanity. He willingly stands where sinners stand. He enters the waters where sinners identify as broken. He begins his ministry not from a throne but from the river. This is the shape of God’s salvation, the beloved servant. God does not save us from a distance. God intentionally steps into the waters with us.

Jesus is the source of our true identity. Read Isiah 42:6-7. In Jesus, we are God’s covenant bearers, we are called to bring his light to others because Jesus brought us out of darkness to light; from bondage to belonging. Are we willing?

Jesus’ obedience identifies how God wants every human to be. In Jesus, God has claimed us for his own, but we must return that claim by accepting the identity God has given us in Jesus. God has claimed us; now we need to claim God. 

Jesus identifies with us in his baptism, so also we need to find our identity in him as we face a culture and a world that resists or opposes him. Like Jesus, we must identify with the weak and the broken to bring them the salvation of God. People may not understand our message, they may question our motives, but we must obey God and bear his message. All who trust in God’s Beloved Son can be beloved! What God says is more important than any word.

Point 2) The second issue revolves around understanding. Jesus acts out of obedience to God: “It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” John is confused by Jesus’ request. He isn’t quite clear on what is happening, but he defers to Jesus. This is a reminder to us that obedience should be our response to God even when others do not quite understand it. John was confused, Jesus obeyed. God spoke into John’s confusion, and God’s word affirmed Jesus’ work and identity. What God says is more important than any other word.

Obedience to God’s Word does not always remove confusion, but it provides identity and direction. God acknowledges Jesus as his Son, and in Jesus God calls us his children. We must remember this truth. Of course, this truth is quickly tested. We juggle many different names and roles. Some of them fit in well with the idea of being a child of God, while others may not. And sometimes, instead of letting God proclaim who we are, we allow the world around us to define us. 

Patricia J. Calahan writes:

“…as we grow, we sometimes forget the heavenly voice, and we begin to listen to other voices that confuse us. Perhaps we hear voices…that tell us that we are not smart enough.…we hear voices…who tell us that we are not cool enough…we hear voices that tell us we are not successful enough…Somehow, as God’s voice gets drowned out, we listen to these other voices, and we are tempted to forget who we are. We are tempted to forget that God…claimed us as beloved children.”

We need reminders of this divine claim. We need to hear God, claiming us not just in moments of our obedience but throughout our lives. When others express confusion at our obedience, or even confusion at our commitment to hear and to follow God, we must return to what God claims, to what God says. Remember, What God says is more important than any word. Jesus is his final Word, and we must find our identity in him. We must also learn to walk in humble service as Jesus walked. He is our example.

Point 3) Jesus give us an example to follow. Humility (read Phil 2:5-8)—Even though he is God, Jesus does not use his equality with God to benefit himself. He humbles himself. He gets baptized. He hears the Spirit and obeys. He does not immediately start a ministry, he waits on God’s guidance.

Many Jewish leaders came to see what was happening at the Jordan. They apparently wanted to be a part of the action. Earlier in Matthew 3, John chastises them and warns them of their lack of repentance. The Jewish leaders may be trying to manipulate John’s ministry or to get in on the “newest” trend, but they are not responding with humility. They are working contrary to God’s kingdom. They are trying to improve their situation on their own terms. They want to use God for their own advantage.

But God issues a different call—a call to humble service. The coming of the Spirit on Jesus is a reminder to us that God has called us by his Spirit to imitate the example of Jesus. Like our Lord, we have a call to serve. As Christians, we are called to become like Christ in word and in deed. We know we can’t do it alone, so it makes sense that God would reach out to us through his Spirit, to help us be the kind of servants that are described. We can reject the call if we want. God has given us free will (think of Jonah or Moses). There are all kinds of calls, but if you’re a follower of Jesus, you’ve got one.

So, you say, “How am I supposed to know what God is calling me to do? How do I find my call?” A theologian named Frederick Beuchner said, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” 

Think of it this way: Take your two hands. With one hand, get a grip on how God has made you. What are your gifts, your talents, your abilities, your passions? And then with the other hand, get a grip on the world around you. What do you see going on? What are the needs out there? What problems in the world keep you awake at night? And then bring your two hands together in prayer and your call will emerge. God will make it clear. Hear his voice, obey him, let his Word identify you: What God says is more important than any word.

Isaiah (42:6-7) describes what God’s servant will do: “I…will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”

Jesus’ baptism launches a mission of restoration and liberation. This event marks not an ending but a beginning. In Acts 10:37, Peter later reflects on this truth, saying that Jesus’ ministry began “after the baptism that John preached.” From that moment forward, Jesus goes about “doing good and healing all who were oppressed.”

What begins at the Jesus’ baptism continues through the life of Christ—and through the life of the church. We are now called to humble service and obedience like Jesus. Paul says: “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus.” Will we lower ourselves to serve when our culture encourages us to exalt ourselves? Will we die so that others may live? Will we obey even when others are confused about God’s declaration? Will we be immersed in Jesus and in his identity, obedience, and humility? Will we accept God’s call and the identity and assignment he provides? What God says is more important than any word.

How will we respond?

1. Remember Your Identity

In Jesus, God claims us. In Jesus, God names us. In Jesus, God sends us.

As a follower of Jesus, your life should be grounded in grace not achievement. You are not defined by your failures. You are not reduced to your fears. You are beloved. Read the following passages and learn from them what God says about you and what he wants you to do: Exodus 3; Isaiah 49; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 1; John 1.

2. Live Gently and Faithfully

Jesus’ way is marked by compassion, patience, and faithfulness. In a harsh world, the church is called to reflect the gentle strength of Christ. In divided times, we bear witness through love. In weakness, we trust God’s sustaining power.

Holiness is about God and about relationships. In his holiness, Jesus surrendered his life and died for human sin. Holiness requires relationship: with God and with others. Holding on to selfish desires does NOT promote relationship. Holiness is not selfish, it is humble and selfless; it is dialogue instead of monologue.

Holiness is not withdrawal—it is love made visible.

3. Step Into God’s Mission

Jesus’ baptism sends him into the wilderness, into ministry, into the world. In Jesus, God sends us too: To serve quietly. To love faithfully. To bear witness to God’s grace in ordinary places.

We are not sent because we are perfect—we are sent because we are loved.

Returning to the Voice of God

Remember the child in our earlier story. The identity of the child was in the voice and authority of the parent. The parent defined the child as loved, accepted, and capable. The voice of the parent was the strong foundation for the child’s life and action. So also, God’s voice provides these things for his children. Those who are followers of Jesus must remember that before they had answers, before they had clarity, before they had strength, God had already called them “beloved.”

Today, we may not stand physically in the Jordan River hearing the literal voice of God—but spiritually, we return to the voice that thundered over the waters. What God says is more important than any word.

We remember who Jesus is. We remember who we are. And we listen again for the voice that says, “You are my beloved child.”

Invitation

Today, I invite you to respond in one of several ways:

• Take a moment to renew your commitment to Christ—remember God’s grace and your calling.
• If you are longing to hear again that you are loved, come forward for prayer.
• If you are sensing a call into deeper obedience or service, offer yourself anew to God.
• And if you have never been saved or baptized, hear this invitation as an open door—God’s grace is already reaching toward you.

The heavens are still open. The Spirit is still moving. And God is still speaking love over his people. What God says is more important than any word. Amen.