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• The Invitation to Soul Rest
  • Jesus extends a personal invitation to the weary and burdened: "Come to me" for true rest, contrasting busyness (Martha) with sitting at His feet (Mary). This rest is a gift found only in Him.
• Modern Need for Slowing Down
  • In a distracted, high-paced world (constant phone use, shortened attention spans), we risk a "mediocre" faith. Slowing down—sitting in silence, disconnecting—revives our wonder in God's presence.
• What Soul Rest Is
  • Not just physical sleep, but deep, renewing refreshment: calm expectation, relief from burdens, inner peace.
  • Internal and eternal; rooted in God's unconditional love and presence in the "Secret Place."
  • Rest amid trials (not from them), as seen in John Paton's experience of peace while hiding from danger.
• How to Find Soul Rest (Jesus' Two Invitations)
  • Come to Me: Consciously turn to Him in prayer, Scripture, obedience; run to Christ amid fear, grief, weariness; physically create space (sit quietly without distractions).
  • Take My Yoke and Learn from Me: Exchange heavy burdens (legalism, sin, anxiety, self-striving) for Jesus' easy yoke—surrender control, walk in step with Him as He bears the load, empowers by grace, and teaches a Spirit-led life.
• The Promise
  • Yoked to Jesus brings deep soul-rest: freedom from sin's burden, shared strength, joyful obedience, and lasting peace—even in hardship. In 2026, choose the "good part" by pausing to rest in Him.

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• Original Design & Restoration
  • God created us for unhindered communion and intimacy (Eden). Through Jesus' death and the torn veil, we are invited back into that intimate relationship with the Father.
• Identity in the Secret Place
  • In closeness with God (Secret Place, beyond the veil), we discover our true identity as beloved children resting in Him before any tasks or callings.
• Two Narratives
  • We live either in our default self-reliant story or in God's better narrative/path. God invites and woos us into His story through time in the Secret Place.
• Dependence vs. Independence
  • Cultural independence contrasts with biblical dependence on God. True fruitfulness and direction come only from abiding in Christ (John 15:5).
• God's Promises of Guidance (Psalm 32:8)
  • Instruct – Practical insight and wisdom for the path.
  • Teach – Formal instruction (root of Torah), fulfilled by the Holy Spirit.
  • Guide with His eye – Intimate counsel from close relationship; sensitive to His slightest direction.
• Alternative to Yielding
  • Stubbornness (like horse/mule needing bit and bridle) leads to forced correction. Self-reliant paths seem right but end in death (Prov 14:12).
• Call to Action for 2026
  • Choose life in God's presence and path. Spend time in the Secret Place to hear His voice ("This is the way"), receive deliverance from fear (“spirit” of fear)/self-sufficiency, and walk the narrow, fruitful road He has for us – for our good, our children, and others we are called to reach.

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"God’s intent is that each generation would stand on the spiritual shoulders of the generation before them, reaching ever increasing heights in their walk with God... Simply taking them to church each week will not get that done. We need to talk regularly with our kids about God and His ways." -Richard Blackaby

• Commitment to Spiritual Legacy:
  • Dedicating children is a pledge to raise them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, not just through church attendance but by living out the Gospel daily through service, repentance, and worship (Deut. 6:1-9, Psalm 145:4).
• Love God Supremely:
  • Parents must love God with all their heart, soul, and strength, making Him their greatest treasure. This love shapes family priorities and enables faithful parenting (Deut. 6:5, Matt. 6:21, Matt. 13:44).
• Model Faith Authentically:
  • Children learn faith by observing parents’ actions—how they handle challenges, make choices, and rely on God’s Word. Hypocrisy undermines teaching; genuine faith shines (Matt. 5:16, 1 Thess. 2:8).
• Teach Purposefully “As You Go”:
  • Diligent, consistent teaching happens in scheduled (family devotions) and unscheduled moments (daily conversations), seizing every opportunity to point to God (Deut. 6:7-9).
• Practical Ways to Build Legacy:
  • Memorize Scripture as a family and display it in the home.
  • Discuss justice and God’s value for all people, taking action where possible.
  • Foster gratitude through daily prompts and shared conversations.
  • Help children identify their God-given gifts and purposes.
  • Engage in missions through prayer, giving, or family mission trips.
  • Conduct spiritual checkups to support children’s faith journeys.
• Eternal Impact:
  • A spiritual legacy, like C.T. Studd’s, prioritizes faith in Christ over material wealth, creating an atmosphere where faith flourishes (Psalm 112:1-3, 2 Tim. 1:5).
• God’s Promise: Prioritizing God brings blessings to families, as obedience to His commands leads to flourishing (Deut. 6:3, Phil. 3:8-10).

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• Be Led by the Spirit
  • Like Jesus, who only did what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19), Christians must follow the Spirit’s guidance rather than initiating plans and seeking God’s blessing after (Romans 8:14, Isaiah 30:21).
• Obedience May Lead to Storms
  • The disciples faced a fierce storm while obeying Jesus’ command to cross the lake (Mark 4:35-41). Storms don’t always indicate disobedience; they can be used by The Father (John 16:33).
• Trust God’s Promises
  • Jesus promised they would reach the other side (Mark 4:35). God’s promises are sure (2 Corinthians 1:20), and He is present through trials (Hebrews 13:5).
• Declare Peace in the Storm
  • Jesus calmed the storm with “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39), demonstrating Heaven’s peace. Believers are called to speak Christ’s authority into chaos.
• Divine Appointments Await
  • Crossing the lake led to the deliverance of a demon-possessed man (Mark 5:1-20). Obedience positions us for God’s purposes, bringing wholeness (sozo in Greek, meaning salvation and wholeness).
• Be Christ’s Ambassadors
  • Christians are called to follow the Spirit’s leading, preservere through challenges, and bring Christ’s transformative power to others (Colossians 1:27, 2 Corinthians 5:20).
  • Listen for God’s voice, obey even when tired or uncertain, trust His presence in trials, and pursue divine appointments to see lives transformed.

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“I guarantee you that if you are intentional about meditating, fixing your mind, your heart on God’s word in the beginning of your day, at the end of your day, and thinking through how can that saturate your life during the day, I guarantee you, you will see, discover, experience this word as delightful. Full of delight.” -David Platt

“So someone may ask: How can I come to delight in the word of God? My answer is twofold: 1) pray for new tastebuds on the tongue of your heart; 2) meditate on the staggering promises of God to his people.” -John Piper

Key Points of the Sermon

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3, Psalm 119:24, Matthew 7:13, Jeremiah 15:16, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 1:18

1.Two Paths of Life: Psalm 1 contrasts two ways to live—following the world (independence from God) or following God’s Word (dependence on God). There is no third option.

2.Biblical Blessedness: The term "blessed" in Psalm 1 (from Hebrew esher) means happiness, contentment, and being "right" or "straight" with God, not material wealth or superficial blessings.

3.What the Blessed Avoid (Verse 1):

No to Ungodly Counsel: The blessed person rejects advice from those who oppose God’s ways, seeking instead godly counsel rooted in Scripture (Psalm 119:24).

No to the Path of Sinners: They avoid lingering or "loitering" in sinful ways, choosing the narrow path of righteousness over the wide path of destruction (Matthew 7:13).

No to the Seat of the Scornful: They refuse to join those who mock or criticize God and His followers, proudly standing for Christ (Spurgeon’s quote).

4.What the Blessed Embrace (Verse 2):

Delight in God’s Word: The blessed find joy and pleasure in God’s Word, seeing it as a source of life and a way to encounter God (Matthew 4:4, Psalm 119:103, Jeremiah 15:16).

Meditate Day and Night: They intentionally ponder and reflect on Scripture, filling their minds with God’s truth, which transforms and renews them (Romans 12:2, Ephesians 1:18).

5.Results of Delighting in the Word (Verse 3):

Stability and Strength: Like a tree transplanted by rivers of water, the blessed are deeply rooted, stable, and sustained by God’s Word.

Fruitfulness: They bear fruit in every season, impacting others positively through their devotion.

Prosperity: God brings good out of all circumstances in their lives, even challenges, leading to spiritual prosperity.

6.Saying No to Say Yes: To embrace God’s best, the blessed learn to say "no" to ungodly influences and "yes" to delighting in and meditating on God’s Word, leading to a flourishing, abundant life.

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Matthew 25:35-40

The testimonies, the salvations, the stories, all of this is the fruit that all of us get to enjoy, because we are one family in Christ!

This trip was a great step of faith for so many, for those that went, you stepped out in great faith, you trusted the Father, you trusted me, you served with love, you carried the light of Christ very practically into places in great need.

This journey reminds us that mission is at the heart of who we are as followers of Jesus.

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“Train up a child in the way he should go—but be sure you go that way yourself.” -Charles Spurgeon

“A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.” -Billy Graham

Scripture: Psalm 103:13, Malachi 4:5-6, Proverbs 22:6, John 1:12, Ephesians 5:1, 1 Corinthians 11:1

• The Fatherlessness Epidemic:
  
  • Fatherlessness is a root cause of societal issues like crime, poverty, and behavioral disorders, as evidenced by U.S. Department of Justice statistics (e.g., 63% of youth suicides, 71% of high school dropouts from fatherless homes).
• Malachi 4:5-6 warns of a curse if fathers’ hearts are not turned to their children, highlighting the need for godly “fathers” to rise up.

• Sonship as the Foundation:
  
  • To be a godly father, one must first be a son of God, resting in relationship with the Heavenly Father (John 1:12).
• • Accepting Jesus and walking in sanctification enables fathers to reflect God’s heart, as Jesus did (John 5:19).
• • Charles Spurgeon: “Train up a child in the way he should go—but be sure you go that way yourself” (Proverbs 22:6).
• Reflecting the Father’s Heart:
  
  • Godly fathers imitate God’s character (Ephesians 5:1), revealing His love, compassion, and action to their children and others (Genesis 1:26).
• • Fathers should live authentically, confessing failures and modeling repentance (Proverbs 24:16), so children see faith in action.
• Action-Oriented Love:
  
  • Like the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), godly fathers act extravagantly, breaking cultural norms to love and pursue their children.
• Jesus was about His Father’s business (Luke 2:49); fathers should act out of love, teaching, mentoring, and serving (John 3:16).

• Imitating Christ as an Example:
  
  • Paul urges, “Imitate me, as I imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Fathers must model faith through devotion, prayer, and service, inviting others to follow their example (Philippians 4:9).
• D.A. Carson: “Do you ever say to a young Christian, ‘Do you want to know what Christianity is like? Watch me!’”

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• Created in God’s Image (Imago Dei):
  • Genesis 1:26-28 establishes that humanity is uniquely created in God’s image and likeness, distinct from the rest of creation. This doctrine, echoed in Psalm 8:4-6, means every person—regardless of race, status, or belief—bears inherent dignity, value, and worth, with a calling to have dominion over the earth.
• Purpose of the Image:
  • Humans are designed to reflect God’s character, glory, and goodness, much like a sculpture (e.g., the Lincoln Memorial statue) reflects its subject. We are “images created to image” God, displaying His attributes to the world.
• Impact of Sin on the Image:
  • Sin distorts this divine reflection, turning humanity inward to worship self or idols (Rom. 1:23). While the image of God remains in all people (Gen. 9:6, 1 Cor. 11:7, James 3:9), it is marred, leading to brokenness in humanity’s relationship with God and creation.
• Restoration Through Christ:
  • Salvation restores this image by conforming believers to the image of Christ, who is the perfect image of God (Colossians 1:15, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Hebrews 1:3). Scriptures like Romans 8:29, Colossians 3:9-10, and 1 Corinthians 15:49 affirm that through Christ’s work, we are renewed to reflect God’s glory once more.
• Implications for Human Dignity and Justice:
  • Because all people bear God’s image, every life has intrinsic value, compelling believers to uphold justice and fight against issues like poverty, homelessness, trafficking, and prejudice. Proverbs 31:8-9 and Matthew 25 emphasize our responsibility to advocate.
• Personal Story of Tension:
  • The encounter with Andrea highlights the tension between the sacred reality of God’s image in her and the injustice of her circumstances. This experience reflects God’s heart—compassion, righteous anger, and a call to action.
• Call to Minister in the Tension:
  • Micah 6:8 provides a framework for living out this calling: act justly (address wrongs), love mercy (show compassion), and walk humbly with God (rely on His strength). This active faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit, equips us to minister amidst the world’s brokenness, ensuring God’s image in every person is honored.

APPLICATION:

1. Recognize the Image of God in Everyone Reflect: Take a moment to consider people you encounter daily—family, coworkers, strangers, or those in need. How does knowing they bear God's image change your perspective?

• Action: Intentionally show respect and kindness to someone you might typically overlook (e.g., a homeless person, a coworker you disagree with). See them as God’s image-bearer.
• Prayer: Ask God to open your eyes to see His image in every person, regardless of their background, status, or beliefs.

2. Advocate for Justice and Dignity

• Where do you see injustice in your community?
• Action: Take one practical step to address injustice. Examples: volunteer, donate to a ministry supporting the vulnerable, or speak up against prejudice.

3. Reflect God’s Character Through Your Life

• How can your words, actions, or decisions better reflect God’s love, mercy, and holiness?
• Action: Choose one way to “image” God this week, such as showing compassion, forgiving someone, or sharing the Gospel with a friend.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you live as a “clean mirror,” reflecting Christ’s character in your interactions.

4. Live in the Tension of a Broken World

• Commit to an act of mercy inspired by Micah 6:8. For example, help a neighbor, pray for the oppressed, or support a mission.

5. Share the Restorative Hope of the Gospel

• Share the Gospel with someone this week, even