 At our church, we believe following Jesus is not a sprint—it’s a marathon. The Christian life is long, often uphill, and full of challenges that test our endurance. Life can feel agonizing, mentally, physically, and spiritually, especially when we experience loss, sickness, hardship, or disappointment. But even in those moments, God offers us clear and life-giving truth: we don’t have to quit. We don’t have to give up.
In Hebrews 12, we’re reminded that we are surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses”—heroes of the faith who suffered and struggled but refused to give up. These men and women endured trials we can hardly imagine, yet they held fast to God’s promises. They’re cheering us on from the sidelines of eternity, urging us to keep going. Their lives testify that even when we don’t understand what God is doing, He is still worthy of our trust. Their legacy challenges us not to quit, even when we feel like we’re at the end of our strength. Scripture gives us four powerful truths to help us persevere. First, we remember the faithful who’ve gone before us. Second, we strip off anything that slows us down—whether it’s sin or something that just weighs heavy on our hearts. That might include toxic relationships, habits, distractions, or debt. Not everything that slows us down is sinful, but anything that keeps us from running freely is worth surrendering to God. He wants us to run light and run strong. The third truth is where we find our focus: we fix our eyes on Jesus. He’s not just the one who saves us; He’s the one who sustains us. He endured the cross for the joy set before Him—our redemption, our restoration, our place in God’s family. Jesus has already won the race, and now He invites us to keep running with Him. When we feel tired, confused, or overwhelmed, we look to Him. He is our strength, our steady place, and our motivation. Fourth, we are called to trust God’s plan for our lives—even the painful parts. Hebrews 12 reminds us that discipline is a sign of God’s love. Like a coach strengthening an athlete, God uses every hardship, every challenge, and every trial to shape us into who He’s created us to be. He doesn’t waste our pain. He works through it to build our endurance, deepen our faith, and form Christ in us. His discipline isn’t punishment; it’s transformation. We know this isn’t easy. There are seasons when the weight of life feels unbearable. Sometimes the temptation to quit feels louder than the call to press on. But God’s Word is clear—there is a harvest coming for those who don’t give up. Peace, righteousness, and spiritual maturity await on the other side of faithful endurance. That’s not just a promise for some future day—it’s the reality we begin to experience here and now when we trust Him in the middle of our trials. As a church family, we want to walk this journey together. If you’re in a season of discouragement, you are not alone. If you’ve been tempted to quit, know that Jesus hasn’t given up on you. Let’s strip off what’s weighing us down, fix our eyes on the Savior, and keep running. One step at a time. One prayer at a time. One act of obedience at a time. Because finishing well is everything. And with Jesus, we will. - Adapted from the sermons preached across our 3 campuses on 3/30/25.
0 Comments
Life is full of moments that don’t fully make sense until we live them. Whether it’s entering a new phase of life or enduring trials we never anticipated, we often feel unprepared or alone. Yet Scripture reminds us that our stories are never isolated. As believers, we are part of a much larger narrative—one rooted in the faithfulness of God and the courageous endurance of those who came before us. Hebrews 11 draws back the curtain on this grand story, showcasing generations of people who lived by faith, even when the outcomes were uncertain or painful.
The final verses of Hebrews 11 point to saints who didn’t experience miraculous deliverance or earthly success. Some were mocked, imprisoned, tortured, and even killed. Their stories are often sobering and difficult to read, but their legacy is one of deep faith. The Bible tells us that "the world was not worthy of them." These faithful men and women placed their hope not in comfort or escape but in the promises of God—promises that extended beyond this life into eternity. Faith, as we learn here, is not a guarantee of an easy life. In fact, Scripture shows that pain and persecution are not exceptions for the believer—they are often part of the journey. Our culture may encourage us to avoid suffering at all costs, but the gospel invites us to embrace faith even when it’s costly. Our hope is not in temporary relief but in the better resurrection that awaits all who trust in Christ. This message is as relevant today as it was in the early church. Around the world, Christians face incredible risks for following Jesus. From North Korea to Nigeria, believers are worshiping in secret, sharing the gospel under threat, and standing firm in places where their faith could cost them everything. Their courage challenges us to examine our own lives: Are we taking risks for Jesus? Are we living in such a way that reflects our trust in his promises? At the heart of Hebrews 11 is the powerful reminder that we are not alone. The same God who sustained the saints of old walks with us today. He has not abandoned us in our struggle. He understands our fears, weaknesses, and disappointments, and he intercedes for us. In him, we find mercy and strength in our time of need. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, and our faith—however small—is part of a grand, victorious story. This kind of faith isn’t just personal; it’s deeply communal. We need each other. We need the encouragement of fellow believers, the accountability of spiritual friendships, and the legacy of those who’ve gone before us. Faith was never meant to be lived in isolation. That’s why we encourage everyone to get connected—whether through the church community, a small group, mission partnerships, or stories of faithful men and women across history. As a church, we believe that “life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” God is calling each of us to step out in faith, to endure when it’s hard, and to stand firm when the world pushes back. Let’s live like we believe that our story is part of something greater—his story—and that, in the end, it always leads to victory. - Adapted from sermons preached across our 3 campuses on 3/23/25. We live in a world that celebrates achievement. From the Hall of Fame in sports to the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, we recognize those who have accomplished great things. But when it comes to what truly matters, God isn’t impressed by trophies, talent, or success—He is pleased by faith. Hebrews 11, often called the "Hall of Faith," highlights men and women who lived not by what they could see but by what they knew to be true about God. Their lives were marked by trust in Him, even when the outcome was uncertain.
Faith is not just an abstract idea or a religious cliché; it is a deep conviction that God is who He says He is and will do what He has promised. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." This kind of faith is more than belief—it shapes our choices, directs our steps, and influences how we respond to challenges. When we trust God enough to follow Him, we begin to see Him move in ways that strengthen our faith even more. The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11—Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and others—did not have easy lives. They faced uncertainty, opposition, and trials, yet they chose to trust God. Noah built an ark before he had ever seen rain. Abraham left his homeland without knowing his destination. Moses chose suffering over the temporary pleasures of Egypt. Their faith was not passive; it was active, bold, and transformative. They believed God's promises, even when they had no evidence except His word. This kind of faith is not just for biblical times—it is for us today. History is full of men and women who lived by faith: missionaries like Saint Patrick and Amy Carmichael, who risked everything to share the Gospel; George Müller, who trusted God to provide for thousands of orphans without ever asking for financial support; Corrie Ten Boom, who endured a concentration camp yet still forgave her captors. Their faith was not in their own strength but in the unchanging character of God. The challenge for us is simple: Are we living by faith, or are we just agreeing with the idea of faith? True faith requires action. It is stepping into the unknown, believing that God is leading even when the path is unclear. It might mean trusting God in a difficult situation, stepping into ministry, choosing obedience over comfort, or surrendering control over an uncertain future. As Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, "It is impossible to please God without faith." A life that pleases Him is one that is fully surrendered, willing to follow Him wherever He leads. We may not always see the results of our faith immediately, but Hebrews 11 reminds us that those who lived by faith did so with an eternal perspective. They were looking for a "better country—a heavenly one" (Hebrews 11:16). Our faith is not just about the here and now; it is about trusting God for what is to come. When we step out in faith, we are not just shaping our own lives—we are becoming part of God’s greater story, pointing others to Him. So what does your story of faith look like? If Hebrews 11 were still being written, would your life be included as an example of bold trust in God? Faith is more than belief—it is action. When we trust God enough to follow Him, we will see Him enough to show Him. And that is how we make God happy. - Adapted from sermons preached across our 3 campuses on 3/16/25. There are moments in life when we feel like giving up—when the weight of trials, disappointments, and spiritual exhaustion makes us wonder if continuing in faith is even worth it. The early Hebrew believers felt this same pressure. Persecution, suffering, and hardship tempted them to walk away from Jesus, questioning if their faith was strong enough to endure. The writer of Hebrews speaks directly to this struggle, urging them—and us—not to give up, but to hold onto faith with endurance. Faith isn’t just about belief; it’s about steadfast faithfulness, even when circumstances make us want to quit.
Hebrews 10:26-39 presents both a sobering warning and an encouraging promise. The passage reminds us that rejecting the Gospel after receiving its truth has severe consequences. There is no other sacrifice for sin apart from Jesus. Yet, the emphasis here is not on fear but on perseverance. The writer calls believers to remember their past faithfulness and the strength they once had in the face of suffering. Faithfulness in the midst of trials is not just possible—it’s essential. So how do we keep our faith from fading when life gets hard? First, we must freshen up our faith. When we first came to know Jesus, our faith was fresh and vibrant. We listened eagerly to His Word, obeyed quickly, and shared our excitement with others. Over time, trials and distractions can cause that passion to fade. The call of Hebrews 10 is to rekindle that fire—to go back to the posture of faith that says, “God, whatever You say, I will do.” One way to do this is by engaging with Scripture in a fresh way, practicing new spiritual disciplines, and stepping out in obedience immediately when God speaks. Second, we must preview our prize. The believers in Hebrews endured suffering, imprisonment, and loss of possessions, yet they accepted it with joy because they knew something greater was coming. They understood that the reward of faithfulness is far greater than any temporary hardship. When we fix our eyes on eternity—on the promises of God that await us—we find the strength to keep going. The struggles we face today are real, but they are not permanent. Patient endurance leads to an eternal reward that far outweighs any difficulty. The Christian life is not a call to comfort; it is a call to endurance. Following Jesus means standing firm when culture pushes back, remaining faithful when trials press in, and trusting God when we can’t yet see the outcome. Faith in theory may seem appealing, but faithfulness in practice is what truly matters. If we only follow Jesus when it’s easy, our faith will never mature. But when we choose to remain steadfast, even in hardship, we will experience God’s faithfulness in ways we never imagined. So today, we have a choice: Will we allow our faith to fade, or will we fight for fresh faithfulness? God is calling us to a deeper commitment, to renew our trust in Him, and to hold on to the promise that what He has prepared for us is worth every moment of struggle. Don’t give up. Keep believing, keep following, and keep trusting. Faithfulness leads to reward—and on the other side of endurance, we will see the goodness of God in ways we never expected. - Adapted from the sermon preached across our 3 campuses on 3/7/25. |
Welcome to the pastors' blog!
These are powerful posts adapted from our pastors' weekly sermons.
Previous posts
April 2025
|
RSS Feed