This message is being shared in a season where many people are carrying heavy hearts — wrestling with fear, anger, anxiety,and grief over what’s happening in our nation and in the world. The goal of this sermon is not to give political commentary or quick answers, but to help us recenter our hearts on God’s character and presence in the middle of confusion and uncertainty.Through the prophet Habakkuk, we learn that God invites our honest questions — that real faith is not silent, but seeking. Habakkuk lived in a time of moral decline, violence, and national instability, and yet through his dialogue with God he discovered that the righteous live by faith not by sight Through the story of Jesus in the boat with His disciples, we learn that even when God seems silent, He is not absent. The One who calmed the storm still reigns over every wave of fear, division, and doubt we face today. Drawing from Scripture and from spiritual discernment practices (as outlined by Ruth Haley Barton in Pursuing God’s Will Together), this message invites the church to become a discerning people — a people who listen for God’s voice, wait for His direction, and respond with trust instead of panic. We will ask reflective questions that move us from reaction to revelation, from anxiety to awareness of God’s presence. The heart of this sermon is simple but powerful: Even when we don’t understand God’s plan, we can trust His character.This is a call to spiritual steadiness, unity, and worship — to fix our eyes on Jesus in a world that feels adrift. May this message help our community grow in faithful discernment, courage, and peace as we seek God’s will together.

Introduction — When the World Shakes

“God, what are You doing—and how do we live faithfully in times like these?”

1. When God Seems Silent

Habakkuk 1:2–4

Habakkuk 1:5

Habakkuk 2:4

Habakkuk 3:17–18

2. Peace in the Middle of the Storm

Mark 4:37–38

A. The moment in the disciples’ journey

B. The power and purpose of the storm

Mark 4:40

C. What this means for discernment today

3. A Biblical Response When Our Nation Faces Troubling Times

A. When you feel fear — Remember Who is in control

Psalm 56:3

Psalm 46:1

B. When you feel anger — Let it move you to righteous action, not sinful reaction

Ephesians 4:26

James 1:20

C. When you feel anxiety — Anchor your mind in the peace of God

Philippians 4:6–7

D. When you feel grief — Lament with hope

Matthew 5:4

E. When you don’t know what to do — Fix your eyes on Jesus

Hebrews 12:2

The Questions We Need to Bring Before God

If we truly want to discern God’s will in these times, here are some questions we might consider bringing before Him:

• Am I seeking God’s presence or just His answers?
• Am I listening to His Word more than my worry?
• Am I processing my emotions in prayer or in panic?
• Am I rooted in community or retreating in isolation?
• Am I keeping my eyes on Christ or on the chaos?

Living This Out — Discerning God’s Will in Troubling Times

So how do we live this out when times are troubling?It begins by living those questions daily — and by learning what Ruth Haley Barton calls “the practice of discernment.” Barton reminds us that discernment is not decision-making — it’s attention. It’s the ever-increasing capacity to notice and respond to the activity of God in every situation, rather than react in fear or control.

Here are key lessons drawn from her wisdom and Scripture:

1. Slow down to see clearly.

2. Begin with transformation, not information.

3. Cultivate indifference — wanting God’s will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.

4. Practice listening — to God, to each other, and to your own soul.

5. Trust unity and peace as fruit of the Spirit’s leading.

Sermon Notes

You can add your own personal sermon notes along the way. When you're finished, you'll be able to email or download your notes.

Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist, is not just a church tradition.
It is a sacred command given by Jesus Himself on the night He was betrayed.

Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist, is not just a church tradition.
It is a sacred command given by Jesus Himself on the night He was betrayed.

What is Communion?

1. Communion is a Sacred Act of Remembrance

Luke 22:14-20

“When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

Jesus established communion as a tangible way to remember His sacrifice.

Isaiah 53:5-10

2. Communion Declares the Gospel

1 Corinthians 11:26

“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

When you hold the bread and cup, you are bearing witness to the greatest truth in history—that Jesus saves

Communion is a visible sermon:

• Christ has died
  

• Christ is risen
  
• Christ will come again.

When you hold the bread and cup, you are bearing witness to the greatest truth in history—that Jesus saves.

3. Communion Unites Us as the Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 10:16 -17

“Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.”

Ephesians 4:4-9 NIV“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

4. Communion Calls Us to Examine Ourselves

1 Corinthians 11:28 29 NLT

“So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself.”

Jesus Himself taught us how to pray by saying, “forgive us our sins, as we also forgive those who have sinned against us...”

Matthew 6:14-15

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.”

Before receiving the bread and cup, ask: “Am I walking in repentance and faith? Am I reconciled with my brothers and sisters?” “Am I forgiving those in my life, so that I, too, may be forgiven?”

5. Communion Points Us Forward in Hope

Matthew 26:29

“I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Communion is sacred. It is not simply bread and juice—it is a holy encounter with the living Christ.

• We remember His sacrifice.
• We proclaim His gospel.
• We unite as His body.
• We examine our hearts.
• We hope for His return.

Let us approach the table today not as spectators, but as participants in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Sermon Notes

You can add your own personal sermon notes along the way. When you're finished, you'll be able to email or download your notes.

When was the last time you seriously considered the revolutionary implicationsof your own baptism — not just for your personal salvation, but for how youengage a broken world?

#1 - What the Early Church Knew About Baptism

#2 - The Significance of Jesus’ Baptism

Matthew 3:13–17 NIV- Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”Jesus replied “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

1. Identification with Sinners

2. Affirmation of Sonship

3. Anointing for Mission

4. Foreshadowing Death and Resurrection

#3 - Baptism as Death: The End of the Old Self

Romans 6:3–4 NIV- Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead throughthe glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Application for Kingdom Impact: Instead of focusing on what’s wrong with others, baptism calls us to examine what old patterns and attitudes need to die in us.

#4 - Baptism as Resurrection: The Birth of the New Self

Romans 6:4–5 NIV- We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

#5 - Baptism as Declaration: Public Commitment to the Mission

Matthew 28:19–20 NLT- Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teachthese new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

#6 - A Modern Catechumenate: What We Need to Recover

#7 - Living Out Our Baptism: The Three Questions

1. Who is your neighbor that you are loving towards Jesus?2. Who are you discipling right now?3. Who is discipling you?

“When we emerge from those sacred waters, we shine like the sun, having put off the old person and put on Christ himself.”John Chrysostom

Holy Moments: The Holy Moment of Confession

Where Heaven Touches Earth

Encountering God's Grace Through Honest Confession

Four important ways for you to embrace confession as a way of life with Jesus:

1) The Reality of Our Need

1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

2) The Promise of Forgiveness

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

3) The Power of Confession

Psalm 51:10–12 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

First, confession creates a clean heart.

Second, confession restores joy.

Third, confession renews our spirit and relationship with God.

Third, confession renews our spirit and relationship with God.

4) The Practice of Confession

First, private confession to God.

Second, confession within community.

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Third, the humility modeled by the tax collector.

Application: Living in the Freedom of Confession

Three practical ways you can apply confession to your way of life with Jesus

First, make confession a regular spiritual discipline.

Second, create space for corporate confession in our worship.

Third, embrace the freedom that comes from living transparently before God.

1 John 1:9 NIV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Follow along with the sermon.

Revelation 21:1-8

Big Idea: God's ultimate plan is not destruction, but re-creation—making all things new and beautiful.

This is a key insight that changes everything: God's plan is renewal, not replacement. He's not looking to scrap everything and start over. He's looking to take what exists—what he declared "very good" in Genesis—and make it new again.

Revelation 21:1-8

Big Idea: God's ultimate plan is not destruction, but re-creation—making all things new and beautiful.

This is a key insight that changes everything: God's plan is renewal, not replacement. He's not looking to scrap everything and start over. He's looking to take what exists—what he declared "very good" in Genesis—and make it new again.

Point #1: God renovates creation rather than replacing it.

Revelation 21:1 NIV

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.What does this mean for us today?

Several things:

• First, the physical world matters to God.

• Second, our bodies matter

.• Third, social justice matters.

Point #2: The goal of all history is God dwelling with his people.

Revelation 21:2 NIV

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.Revelation 21:3 NIVAnd I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.Revelation 21:4 NIV‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Point #3: God renews what exists rather than creating something entirely different.

Revelation 21:5 NIV

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Point #4: God offers renewal as a gift, but the choice is ours.

Revelation 21:6 NIV

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.

Revelation 21:7 NIV

Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

Revelation 21:8 NIV

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

Point #5: The new creation vision transforms present living.

• Our Suffering Has Meaning
• Our Work Has Purpose
• Our Hope Is Certain

Final Challenge: What broken area of your life do you need to entrust to God's promise to make all things new?

Sermon Notes

You can add your own personal sermon notes along the way. When you're finished, you'll be able to email or download your notes.

Central Idea Today: The church is called to be faithful witnesses even when it leads to suffering—and God’s glory will be known. We live in a time of increasing cultural tensions around Christian witness. Our beliefs about truth, morality, and the gospel are increasingly at odds with the prevailing cultural narrative. Speaking biblical truth about marriage, sexuality, the sanctity of life, or the exclusivity of Christ can cost us relationships, opportunities, even employment. Many Christians are asking: How do we remain faithful witnesses in such an environment? This morning we turn to Revelation 11, which gives us perhaps the most vivid picture in all of Scripture of witness, suffering, and vindication. In this passage, John describes two witnesses who prophesy, suffer persecution, are killed, and then are vindicated by God through resurrection and ascension.

I. The Calling: Prophetic Witness (Revelation 11:1-6)

Let's begin by looking at verses 1-6, where we see that the church is called to prophetic witness in a hostile world.

I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. But excludethe outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

II. The Cost: Suffering and Death (Revelation 11:7-10)

Looking at verses 7-10, we see that faithful witness often leads to rejection and persecution.

Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

III. The Vindication: Resurrection and Ascension (Revelation 11:11-13)

Verses 11-13 show us that God will vindicate his faithful witnesses for His glory.

But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

The Hope for Today

Here is the hope: God has ultimate victory From this passage, we learn four crucial truths for faithful witnesses:

1. Faithful Witness Will Be Costly

Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave isnot greater than the master.’ Since theypersecuted me, naturally they will persecuteyou. And if they had listened to me, theywould listen to you.

2. God's Protection Has Limits and Purposes

3. Truth May Be Rejected But Won't Be Defeated

4. Vindication May Be Delayed But Is Certain

What truth is God calling you to speakfaithfully, regardless of the cost?

Follow Along with the Message

Theodicy- the vindication of divine goodness and providence in view of the existence of evil

“Theology cannot always deliver. It cannot answer where the revelation does not.”- Marty, Martin E. “Introduction.” in A Little Exercise for Young Theologians. Thielicke, Helmut. 1959, 1962. Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing

Clarifying Evil in Scripture

1. Sin- falling short of the glory of God

Luke 6:45

2. Satan- the literal enemy of our souls

Genesis 3:1&5

Isaiah 14:12-15

John 8:44

3. Babylon- the literal and figurative anti-Christ kingdom

Systematic approach to the existence of evil

Since humanity sins in their hearts and minds, our enemy attempts to persuade us in rebellion against God’s reign. As more are persuaded, wickedness grows into a kingdom that is anti-Christ.

God and Evil

Ezekiel 36:26-27

Romans 8:2

Luke 10:18-19

1 John 4:4

Matthew 16:18

John 16:33

Evil still exists because:

1. People return to it

1 Peter 2:20

2. Satan is persistent

1 Peter 5:8

Evil Submits to God’s will

1. Evil is given boundaries

Job 1:12

Luke 22:31-32

Revelation 20:2-3

2. Evil advances the Will of God

Jeremiah 32:28-29

John 13:26-27

3. Evil reveals what is in the hearts of mankind

God’s edict against evil

Revelation 5

I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. 4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; 5 and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”

6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. 7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” 13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” 14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped

The “Problem” with Evil isn’t a problem for God

Evil is an ant at God’s picnic

Takeaways:

Don’t play with the anthill

Make ready the table