Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/8cmv3NWIQq8

Summary of the Sermon: “God’s Plot” & “A Tool in God’s Hands”

Introduction – The “Brookie”

• People often struggle with decisions, like choosing a dessert.
• A “brookie” (brownie + cookie) is the result of not choosing—and this sermon is the same: two messages blended into one.
• Both come from Acts 9 and the story of Saul’s conversion.

SERMON 1: “God’s Plot”

1. God Uses Unlikely People (Acts 9:1–2)

• Saul was a violent persecutor of Christians—the last person we would choose.
• Scripture shows God repeatedly chooses the unlikely (e.g., David overlooked by his own family).
• God’s choices don’t align with ours; He sees the heart.

2. God Uses Unlikely Circumstances (Acts 9:3–6)

• Saul’s change began with a dramatic encounter on the road to Damascus.
• Ministry often happens in strange, unexpected situations—Facebook posts, random meetings, unusual life moments.
• What looks unpromising to us is often exactly the place where God works.

3. God Brings Others Into the Story (Acts 9:10–14)

• Enter Ananias, the reluctant helper.
• God always provides people at the right time (like Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch).
• Ministry is interconnected—God uses people to reach people; we are not meant for isolated Christianity.

4. People Still Must Choose (Acts 9:17–19)

• Even after the encounter, Saul still had to respond—he had a choice.
• Ananias obeyed regardless of how Saul responded.
• God brings opportunities, but He does not remove human responsibility.

5. People Really Can Change (Acts 9:20–22)

• Saul immediately began preaching Christ.
• People were shocked—“Is this the same man?”
• Transformation still surprises people today, but God can radically change lives.

Summary of God’s Plot:
Unlikely people, unlikely circumstances, unexpected helpers, personal choice, and real transformation—all repeated over and over again. God’s plot hasn’t changed.

SERMON 2: “A Tool in God’s Hands” (Shorter Sermon)

1. Saul Was a Chosen Tool (Acts 9:15–16)

• God calls Saul a “chosen instrument”—meaning a tool designed for a specific job.
• Like a surgeon’s instrument or a custom-made tool, Paul was crafted for a particular purpose.

2. We Are God’s Tools Too (Ephesians 2:10)

• All Christians are God’s workmanship—created to accomplish good works prepared in advance.
• God designs us uniquely for the assignments He intends for our lives.

3. Tools Sometimes Get Worn or Hurt (1 Peter 4:12–16)

• Being used by God often involves struggle, hardship, and spiritual “pressure.”
• Suffering for Christ is not strange; it’s part of being a tool in God’s hands.
• Paul himself endured hardship (2 Corinthians 12:7–10).

4. The Worst Thing for a Tool Is Not Being Used

• A tool left on the shelf becomes wasted potential.
• Christians are meant to serve, act, go, shine, and endure—not sit unused.

Conclusion – “Are You Really That Different From Paul?”

• Paul’s story shows a pattern God still uses:
  • An unlikely person
  • In an unlikely situation
  • With another person involved
  • Who had to make a choice
  • And who shocked others with real change
• That same pattern is seen in our lives.
• God designed each of us as a tool for His purposes—large or small.
• Whatever someone needs (help, prayer, support, answers), God loves them, the church loves them, and the invitation is open.

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Watch the Video Version Here: https://youtu.be/0-xJ7lnlAXI

"Being Certain Not Circumstantial," is a sermon delivered at the West Side Church of Christ. The speaker uses a real-life survival story and the biblical book of Habakkuk to discuss maintaining faith during hopeless situations.

Summary of the Sermon:

• Opening Story of Survival: The message begins with the story of Briana Cassell, a woman who crashed her car into a drainage ditch in rural Illinois. She survived for six days with two broken legs, drinking water wrung from a hoodie, before being discovered by a contractor [00:11]. The speaker uses her ordeal to illustrate feelings of hopelessness and the sense that no one is coming to save you [03:30].
• The Prophet Habakkuk's Complaint: The sermon transitions to the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk, who lived during a time when it felt like evil was winning and God was silent. Habakkuk cries out, asking how long he must call for help while God seemingly does not listen [04:21]. The speaker notes that despite appearances, God always knows and cares about our situation [08:11].
• Waiting on God: Although Habakkuk struggles with God's plan (using a wicked nation to judge His people), he decides not to abandon his faith. Instead, he chooses to "stand at [his] watch post" and wait for God's answer, demonstrating patience and a willingness to listen rather than just complain [13:08].
• Certain vs. Circumstantial Faith: The climax of the message focuses on Habakkuk's prayer in Chapter 3. After recounting God's power, the prophet declares that even if the fig tree does not blossom and the fields yield no food, he will still rejoice in the Lord [18:07]. The speaker argues that true faith, love, and trust must be certain (unwavering) rather than circumstantial (dependent on things going well) [18:48].
• The Example of Job: The sermon concludes by referencing Job, whose faithfulness was tested to prove he didn't just love God for the blessings ("stuff") he received. The speaker challenges the audience to consider if their own faith would survive if their circumstances fell apart [20:22].

Watch The Video Version Here: https://youtu.be/2ky3DZBk1bo

"What to do when you don’t know what to do."

The Opening Illustration: The Impossible Rescue

The sermon opens with the dramatic true story of the 2018 Thai Cave Rescue. Twelve members of a youth soccer team and their coach were trapped by monsoon floodwaters deep inside a cave system.1

• The Dilemma: The situation was impossible. The water was rising, the boys were trapped miles in, and professional Navy SEALs were struggling to navigate the currents.

• The Solution: It required admitting they couldn't save themselves. They had to call in outside specialists (cave divers and an anesthesiologist). The risky plan involved sedating the boys and dragging them out underwater—something that seemed impossible but was their only hope.

• The Spiritual Bridge: Just as those boys were trapped and helpless, we face moments in life where we are "between a rock and a hard place," powerless to save ourselves.

The Biblical Context: 2 Chronicles 20

The sermon transitions to the story of King Jehoshaphat of Judah.

• The Situation: Judah is being surrounded by a massive alliance of armies (Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites).

• The Crisis: Jehoshaphat is afraid.2 He is outnumbered, outgunned, and facing a "monsoon" of enemies. He cannot fix this problem on his own.

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The 4 Steps: What to Do When You Are Powerless

The preacher outlines four practical steps based on Jehoshaphat’s reaction in 2 Chronicles 20:

1. Assess the Problem (v. 1-4)

You must distinguish between problems you can fix (like putting antifreeze in a truck) and problems that are beyond your human ability.

• Key Takeaway: When you realize the problem is bigger than you, stop running around trying to fix it and making a bigger mess. Admit you are powerless.

2. Communicate & Focus on God (v. 5-12)

Jehoshaphat "set his face to seek the Lord." This wasn't just a casual prayer; it was a total shift of focus.

• Key Scripture: "We are powerless against this great horde... We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." (v. 12)

• Key Takeaway: When you don't know what to do, you need to know where to look. Focus on the One who can solve it.

3. Listen (v. 13-17)

Communication is a two-way street.3 After praying, you must listen for God’s answer. God speaks through:

• His Word: The Bible.

• His People: Wise counsel and other believers (Proverbs 11:14).

• The Message Received: God tells them, "Do not be afraid... for the battle is not yours, but God's."
  
  

4. Worship (v. 18-21)

Before the battle was even won, the people bowed down and worshipped. They sent the choir out in front of the army.4

• Key Takeaway: Worship God not just for the outcome you want, but because He is worthy. The result of this worship was that the enemy armies turned on each other and destroyed themselves.

The Conclusion

The sermon concludes with the comforting realization that while we are on the battlefield, the battle ultimately belongs to God. Just as the Thai boys had to trust the divers completely to carry them out, we must trust God to carry us through "valleys of the shadow of death."