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Author: Havana Sonday

Finding rest in God through Sabbath and stillness

Finding Rest in God Through the Gift of Sabbath

Written by Havana Sonday on . Posted in Resources, Sermon Highlights. No Comments on Finding Rest in God Through the Gift of Sabbath

This week’s teaching focused on the fourth commandment and God’s invitation to remember the Sabbath by stopping, ceasing, and resting with Him. In a world filled with hurry, technology, and constant stimulation, finding rest in God reminds us that we are not defined by what we accomplish and that we can trust God to sustain us.

This Week’s Teaching: #4: Sacred Rest

Key Takeaways

  • Sabbath is not simply about taking a day off; it is an invitation to stop, rest, and reconnect with God.
  • Finding rest in God helps us resist the hurry and constant stimulation that can leave us physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausted.
  • God’s command to rest is rooted in His desire for our freedom, reminding us that our value is not dependent on our productivity.
  • Creating space for boredom, quiet, nature, relationships, and creativity can help us slow down and become more attentive to God’s presence.
  • A regular rhythm of worship and rest can nourish our souls and remind us that God continues to sustain the world even when we stop working.

Sermon Highlights: Finding Rest in God

Life moves fast. Sometimes it feels like the week begins and suddenly it is over. Our phones are always within reach, notifications keep coming, and even our downtime can be filled with entertainment and stimulation. But what happens to our souls when we never really stop?

This week’s teaching invited us to consider what it means to practice Sabbath and why God included rest as one of the Ten Commandments. At the heart of the message is an important invitation: finding rest in God is not about escaping responsibility or becoming less productive. It is about remembering who we are, who God is, and trusting that the world does not depend entirely on us.

Big Idea of This Week’s Teaching

The fourth commandment says, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Sabbath means to cease, stop, and rest. The sermon emphasized that this is not simply rest because we are exhausted. It is a deeper kind of rest that allows our souls to become aware again of God, ourselves, our relationships, and the rhythms of life.

Finding rest in God gives us freedom from the idea that we always have to be working, producing, responding, or staying informed. Sabbath becomes a guardrail that helps us slow down and remember that God sustains us.

Key Scriptures

Exodus 20:8–11

The fourth commandment calls God’s people to remember the Sabbath, cease from work, and keep the day holy. The sermon connected this command to Israel’s experience of slavery, where generations had known relentless work without a true day of rest.

Genesis 2

The teaching connected Sabbath to creation, emphasizing that God Himself rested after His work. Rest, then, is not a consequence of human weakness; it is part of the rhythm God established from the beginning.

Psalm 46:10

“Be still and know that I am God” became a central invitation for prayer and reflection. The congregation was encouraged to slow their breathing, become still, and make space to notice God’s presence.

1. Finding Rest in God Means Learning to Stop

The Israelites had spent generations working under the oppression of slavery. When God called them to rest, they were being invited into something they had not known how to practice. The command to stop was itself an expression of freedom.

The sermon connected that ancient experience with our own lives. We may not be enslaved to the same things the Israelites were, but hurry can still become a kind of master. We can become so accustomed to being busy that even when our bodies stop, our minds keep going.

“You’re not just slaves to all the things going on. You have agency of your life.”

Are you always moving from one thing to the next? Do you find yourself reaching for your phone whenever there is a quiet moment? Even when you are not physically busy, is your mind still running?

Finding rest in God begins with recognizing that we do not have to live that way. Sabbath gives us permission to stop. It creates a space where we can say, “For this time, I don’t have to accomplish anything. I can simply be present with God.”

2. Finding Rest in God Means Trusting That God Sustains Us

One of the most meaningful ideas in the sermon was that stopping work is an acknowledgment that the world continues because God sustains it. We can step away from our responsibilities without believing everything will fall apart.

That can be difficult to accept. We live in a culture that often celebrates constant availability and productivity. Technology was supposed to make life easier, yet the sermon pointed out how easily technology can also keep us connected, distracted, and stimulated.

Finding rest in God challenges the belief that we always need to know what is happening or keep up with everything. We can choose the “joy of missing out.” We can be okay with not knowing every update, responding to every message, or filling every quiet moment. Rest becomes an act of trust.

3. Finding Rest in God Creates Space for Creativity

When every empty space is filled with a screen, a podcast, a notification, or some other form of stimulation, we may lose our ability to simply imagine. The sermon suggested that boredom can actually become a gift because it creates room for creativity.

That idea is especially meaningful in a world where technology increasingly imagines things for us. When we slow down, we begin to notice what is already around us. We can pay attention to nature, listen more deeply to the people we love, read a physical book, or simply sit outside without a phone.

Finding rest in God is not about doing nothing because nothing matters. It can actually help us become more present to what matters most. The sermon encouraged simple practices: walking in nature without earbuds, reading in quiet, eating a meal without a screen, taking a drive into the mountains, or sitting outside for fifteen minutes without a phone. These practices are not another list of spiritual achievements. They are invitations to make room.

“There’s freedom in this. There’s grace in this. There’s actually joy in this.”

4. Finding Rest in God Reminds Us That We Are Valuable

The fourth commandment also carries a beautiful message about human worth. Sabbath was not only for the wealthy, the powerful, or the people at the top of society. The command included sons and daughters, servants, foreigners, and even animals. Everyone was invited into the rhythm of rest. That means our value is not determined by our productivity.

The sermon put it simply: we are not just slaves to work, hurry, technology, or all the demands around us. We have agency in our lives, and God gives us these guardrails because we are valuable to Him.

Finding rest in God can therefore become a weekly reminder: You are more than what you accomplish, more than your schedule, and more than your responsibilities. You are loved by God.

Practicing This Week

  1. Set aside a portion of your day to stop working and intentionally rest with God.
  2. Spend fifteen minutes outside without your phone, earbuds, or another source of stimulation.
  3. Read Psalm 46 slowly and return to the words, “Be still and know that I am God.”
  4. Choose one ordinary activity, such as eating a meal or taking a walk, and practice doing it without a screen.
  5. Make gathering with the church part of your weekly rhythm of worship, rest, and connection.

Questions for Reflection

  1. What makes it difficult for you to stop and truly rest?
  2. When you imagine finding rest in God, what do you think that could look like in your everyday life?
  3. Where has hurry or constant stimulation affected your relationship with God, yourself, or others?
  4. What is one simple practice that could create more quiet and space in your week?
  5. What would it look like to trust that God continues to sustain the world even when you stop?

The invitation of Sabbath is ultimately an invitation to trust. Jesus does not meet us with another burden or another standard we have to perform perfectly. Instead, we are invited to slow down, open ourselves to God, and remember that our lives are held by something bigger than our schedules and responsibilities.

Finding rest in God gives us room to breathe, notice, listen, create, worship, and reconnect with what matters. So perhaps this week, the invitation is simple: stop for a moment. Breathe. Be still. Let go of the hurry. And remember that God is with you.

Revere God's name by remembering that God is big and available

Revere God’s Name: Finding Peace and Courage in Him

Written by Havana Sonday on . Posted in Resources, Sermon Highlights. No Comments on Revere God’s Name: Finding Peace and Courage in Him

This week’s teaching explored the third commandment and what it means to revere God’s name. More than simply being careful about the words we use, this commandment invites us to remember that God is both bigger than our circumstances and always available to us, offering peace and courage when life feels uncertain.

This Week’s Teaching: #3: Revere God

Key Takeaways

  • To revere God’s name is to recognize God’s holiness, greatness, and presence in our everyday lives.
  • We misuse God’s name when we make God smaller than He really is or forget His goodness in the middle of difficulty.
  • Grumbling can cause us to focus so much on our circumstances that we lose sight of God’s presence and provision.
  • Revere God’s name by remembering that God is big enough to hold our struggles and available enough to meet us in them.
  • When we turn toward God instead of relying only on ourselves, we can find peace and courage for whatever we are facing.

Sermon Highlights: Revere God’s Name

Have you ever thought about how much your name matters? A name is more than a label. It represents something about who we are, and the way someone uses our name can communicate respect, affection, or disregard.

The same is true when we speak about God’s name. The third commandment calls us to revere God’s name, and that invitation is about much more than avoiding certain words. It is about how we see God, how we respond to Him, and whether we recognize His holiness and presence in our lives.

Big Idea of This Week’s Teaching

The third commandment teaches us to revere God’s name by remembering who God really is. God is big, holy, powerful, and worthy of honor, but He is also available to us in every moment of our lives.

When we forget either side of that truth, we can become overwhelmed by our circumstances. But when we revere God’s name, we remember that our problems are not bigger than God and that we do not have to face them alone.

“God is Big, but God is available every moment of every day.”

Key Scriptures

Exodus 20:7

“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” This is the foundation for the teaching on the third commandment. The Hebrew word translated “misuse” carries the idea of emptiness or treating something as though it lacks meaning and value.

Exodus 16:2–8

When the Israelites faced adversity in the wilderness, they grumbled against Moses and Aaron. Moses pointed out that their grumbling was ultimately against the Lord. Their response shows how easily hardship can cause us to lose sight of God’s goodness and presence.

Colossians 1:16–17

Paul describes Jesus as the One through whom all things were created and in whom all things hold together. These verses remind us of the bigness of God and give us a reason to trust Him when life feels chaotic.

1. Revere God’s Name by Remembering That God Is Big

    The third commandment is not simply about using God’s name correctly. It calls us to see God rightly. To revere God’s name means recognizing that God is not ordinary. He is holy, powerful, and greater than anything we encounter in this world. Colossians 1 reminds us that everything was created through Christ and for Christ, and that in Him all things hold together.

    That matters when life feels chaotic. When our problems become the biggest thing we can see, fear can begin to take over. We may start believing that our circumstances are permanent, our resources are insufficient, or our future is hopeless. But revere God’s name by remembering that God is bigger than what you are facing. The size of our problems does not change the character or power of God.

    2. Revere God’s Name When Life Is Difficult

      The Israelites understood what it was like to face adversity. They had experienced God’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt, yet when they found themselves hungry and uncomfortable in the wilderness, they began to grumble. Their circumstances caused them to forget what God had already done.

      We can do the same thing. When something goes wrong, it is easy to focus on what we lack rather than what God has provided. Worry can replace gratitude. Fear can replace trust. Self-pity can make us feel stuck.

      To revere God’s name is to resist making God small in the middle of our struggles. It does not mean pretending that life is easy or ignoring pain. Instead, it means bringing our real circumstances to a God who is bigger than them.

      3. Revere God’s Name by Remembering That God Is Available

        God is not only big. God is available. That was one of the most encouraging truths in this teaching. The God who created everything is not distant or uninterested in our everyday lives. God invites us into a relationship that is personal, present, and life-changing.

        The story of the pastor’s dad illustrated this beautifully. Even as a child, he experienced his dad as someone who was strong and capable. But what he remembers most is that his dad was available. He could call late at night, and his dad would answer. Most of the time, he did not need his dad to solve the problem. He simply needed someone who would listen and help him find peace and courage.

        God offers that same kind of presence, only perfectly. To revere God’s name is to remember that we can turn toward God with our worries, fears, questions, and pain.

        “Whatever is going on in your life—the struggle, a period of suffering, a fear of the future, a sickness, or even just the day to day worries of life, let yourself go to God.”

        4. Revere God’s Name and Receive Peace and Courage

          The invitation at the end of the teaching was simple: Whatever is happening in your life right now, go to God. Maybe life feels sideways. Maybe you are carrying a fear about the future, dealing with suffering, facing sickness, or simply feeling worn down by everyday worries. The invitation is not to fix everything before coming to God. It is to come as you are.

          When we revere God’s name, we remember that God is both bigger than our circumstances and close enough to meet us in them. We can bring our whole lives to Him and ask for the peace and courage we need for today.

          Practicing This Week

          1. Revere God’s name by taking a few quiet moments each day to remember who God is before focusing on your circumstances.
          2. When you notice yourself grumbling, pause and name one thing for which you can be grateful.
          3. Bring one specific worry to God in prayer instead of carrying it entirely on your own.
          4. Read Colossians 1:16–17 and reflect on what it means that “in him all things hold together.”
          5. Revere God’s name by asking God for peace and courage rather than simply asking Him to remove every difficulty.

          Questions for Reflection

          1. When life feels difficult, what tends to become bigger in your mind: your circumstances or your understanding of God?
          2. What does it mean for you personally to revere God’s name?
          3. Where have you been tempted to grumble or lose gratitude because of a difficult circumstance?
          4. What would it look like to remember that God is both big and available in something you are facing right now?
          5. Where do you need God’s peace and courage today?

          The third commandment gives us an invitation, not simply a rule to follow. To revere God’s name is to remember the God who created all things, holds all things together, and is still present with us.

          Revere God’s name by remembering who God is. He is bigger than the chaos, stronger than our fears, and available in every moment. And in Jesus, we are invited to come to Him with confidence, trusting that He meets us with grace, peace, and courage.

          Rooted in God's Word through Scripture and daily meditation

          Rooted in God’s Word: Becoming Strong and Fruitful

          Written by Havana Sonday on . Posted in Resources, Sermon Highlights. No Comments on Rooted in God’s Word: Becoming Strong and Fruitful

          Psalm 1 gives us a picture of a life that is rooted in God’s Word: strong, fruitful, and able to withstand difficult seasons. This week’s teaching reminds us that staying connected to God through Scripture and meditation can shape how we live, how we respond to challenges, and who we are becoming.

          This Week’s Teaching: Full of Life, Fruitful, and Strong

          Key Takeaways

          • A life rooted in God’s Word draws strength from God’s wisdom rather than relying only on our own understanding.
          • Small choices can become habits, so Psalm 1 encourages us to recognize and turn away from influences that lead us away from God’s way.
          • Delighting in Scripture can become an acquired taste as we spend time with people and practices that help us appreciate God’s Word.
          • Meditating on Scripture means slowing down and returning to a verse repeatedly until its truth begins to shape us.
          • Being rooted in God’s Word does not mean life will be free from hardship, but it can give us strength to remain faithful and fruitful when hard times come.

          Sermon Highlights: Rooted in God’s Word

          Psalm 1 gives us a surprisingly simple picture: a tree planted beside streams of water. The tree isn’t strong because it has avoided storms. It is strong because it has access to what gives it life.

          That image gives us a meaningful way to think about our own lives. We all experience seasons of uncertainty, disappointment, stress, and change. The question isn’t whether difficult seasons will come. The question is where we will draw our strength when they do.

          Big Idea of This Week’s Teaching

          Psalm 1 describes the kind of life God desires for us: a life that is deeply rooted in God’s Word, nourished by God’s wisdom, and able to produce good fruit even when circumstances are difficult.

          “That person, the best version of you. You know what? It’s like a tree planted by streams of water which yields fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.”

          The sermon used the picture of an unusually strong oak tree that has survived hurricanes for hundreds of years because it is planted close to a reliable source of water. In the same way, we become strong and fruitful when we remain close to God and continually receive the wisdom he offers through Scripture.

          Key Scriptures

          Psalm 1:1–6

          Psalm 1 provides the foundation for the entire teaching. It contrasts two ways of living: the person who delights in God’s teaching and meditates on it, pictured as a flourishing tree, and the person who rejects God’s wisdom, pictured as chaff blown away by the wind.

          Psalm 1:3

          The image of a tree planted by streams of water captures the heart of the message. A person who stays connected to God can become fruitful and strong, with the ability to endure seasons when life feels dry or difficult.

          1. Rooted in God’s Word Means Drawing from God’s Wisdom

            A tree cannot survive without water, and the sermon invites us to consider what we are drawing from to sustain our own lives. We have access to an ongoing source of wisdom through God and through Scripture. When we listen to God, take his teaching seriously, and allow it to shape our choices, we begin to develop a deeper kind of strength.

            Being rooted in God’s Word doesn’t mean we will never experience failure, loss, stress, or disappointment. The sermon makes that distinction clearly. Instead, being connected to God gives us a source of strength that can help us withstand the hard times rather than being overwhelmed by them.

            “The more you dip into that and drink like that oak tree, the more you’ll find yourself becoming full of life, fruitful, and strong.”

            2. Rooted in God’s Word Means Learning to Recognize Bad Advice

              Psalm 1 begins by warning us about the influences we allow to shape us. The sermon describes a progression from walking in bad counsel, to standing in unhealthy patterns, to eventually becoming comfortable with them.

              Gossip provides a familiar example. Something that seems small or harmless can gradually become a habit. The more we allow unhealthy choices to slide, the less they feel like choices at all. They simply become part of our normal way of living.

              That is why being rooted in God’s Word involves paying attention to the voices and influences around us. Not every piece of advice deserves our trust. God’s wisdom gives us a way to recognize what leads toward life and what ultimately leaves us spiritually dry.

              3. Rooted in God’s Word Begins with Delight, Not Obligation

                The sermon doesn’t describe Scripture as merely another item on a spiritual checklist. Psalm 1 speaks about delighting in God’s teaching.

                That kind of delight may not happen instantly. The pastor compares it to developing a taste for sushi. Something unfamiliar may take time before we appreciate it, but repeated exposure can change our perspective. Scripture can be like that too. As we spend time with the Bible and with people who genuinely enjoy it, we may discover a growing appreciation for what it has to offer.

                For anyone who doesn’t naturally enjoy reading the Bible, there is no need for shame. A simple place to begin is to spend time with someone who does delight in Scripture. Let their curiosity and joy help you discover your own.

                4. Rooted in God’s Word Grows Through Meditation

                  Meditation can sound complicated, but the practice described in the sermon is remarkably simple. Take a piece of Scripture and stay with it.

                  The pastor compared this to “Bible jerky”: chewing on a verse slowly and repeatedly, allowing it to release more meaning over time. One practical invitation was to take a verse, put it somewhere visible, and return to it throughout the week. Read it. Think about it. Let it connect with your experiences and your conversations with God.

                  Over time, this practice can help us become more deeply rooted in God’s Word. The goal isn’t to see how much Scripture we can consume. It is to allow God’s truth to take root in us.

                  Practicing This Week

                  1. Choose one verse from Psalm 1 or another passage of Scripture and keep it somewhere you will see it throughout the week.
                  2. Spend a few minutes each day slowly reading that verse and asking what it might be showing you about God, yourself, or the way you are living.
                  3. Pay attention to the advice and influences shaping your choices. Ask whether they are helping you move toward God’s wisdom.
                  4. Find someone who genuinely enjoys Scripture and spend some time talking with them about what they are learning.
                  5. Give yourself permission to begin small. Being rooted in God’s Word is a process of growing deeper, not a test of spiritual performance.

                  Questions for Reflection

                  1. What voices or sources of advice have the greatest influence on the way you live right now?
                  2. Where do you find yourself relying primarily on your own wisdom rather than seeking God’s wisdom?
                  3. Is Scripture something you currently delight in, something you struggle with, or somewhere in between?
                  4. What verse could you spend time “chewing on” this week?
                  5. When you think about the tree in Psalm 1, what would it look like for your roots to grow deeper into God?

                  Psalm 1 gives us a hopeful picture of what can happen when we stay close to God. We don’t have to become strong by pretending that life is easy or by having everything figured out. We can become strong by staying connected to the One who gives us life.

                  So, this week, there is no need to strive for perfection. Simply come back to God. Listen. Read. Meditate. Receive. Let your roots grow a little deeper. A life rooted in God’s Word can become full of life, fruitful, and strong. And when the storms come, we don’t have to face them alone.

                  Transformed Through Surrender by renewing your mind

                  Small Acts of Surrender, A Transformed Life

                  Written by Havana Sonday on . Posted in Resources, Sermon Highlights. No Comments on Small Acts of Surrender, A Transformed Life

                  Transformation rarely happens through one dramatic decision. This teaching reminds us that we can be transformed through surrender by continually offering our lives to God, allowing the Holy Spirit to renew our minds, and practicing faithful obedience in everyday moments.

                  This Week’s Teaching: Transformed Through Surrender

                  Key Takeaways

                  • God’s mercy is the starting point for transformation, not something we earn through better behavior.
                  • Transformation happens gradually as small acts of surrender become daily practices.
                  • The Holy Spirit provides the power to transform us, while we actively position ourselves to receive His work.
                  • Renewing our minds means allowing God to reshape what we think about, love, value, notice, and believe.
                  • We can grow by practicing what we already know God is asking of us and trusting Him with the next step.

                  Sermon Highlights: Transformed Through Surrender

                  Everyone wants transformation, but most of us would prefer to skip the process. We might want to become healthier, wiser, more patient, financially secure, spiritually mature, or better at our relationships. We can picture the person we want to become, but getting there usually involves something less exciting: showing up again and again, making small choices, and trusting that those choices will eventually add up.

                  “It is small acts of surrender that add up and multiply into a transformed life.”

                  The Christian life is much the same. Being transformed through surrender isn’t about waking up one morning and suddenly becoming a completely different person. It is about offering ourselves to God day after day and allowing the Holy Spirit to reshape us over time.

                  Big Idea of This Week’s Teaching

                  Small acts of surrender add up and multiply into a transformed life. The teaching from Romans 12 reminds us that Christian transformation begins with God’s mercy. We don’t surrender our lives in order to earn God’s love or favor. We surrender because God has already given us His mercy and love.

                  Being transformed through surrender means continually choosing to place our lives in God’s hands. The Holy Spirit does the transforming work, but we participate by opening ourselves to Him, renewing our minds, and practicing what God has already shown us.

                  Key Scriptures

                  Romans 12:1

                  Paul urges believers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice. A living sacrifice isn’t a one-time decision; it is an ongoing picture of surrendering our whole lives to God.

                  Romans 12:2

                  Paul tells us not to conform to the pattern of the world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation happens from the inside as the Holy Spirit reshapes how we think and helps us recognize what is good and pleasing to God.

                  Romans 1–11

                  The first part of Romans lays the foundation for chapter 12. Humanity has turned away from God, but through Christ we receive grace and become part of God’s family. Romans 12 then shows what life can look like in response to that mercy.

                  1. Transformation Through Surrender Happens One Day at a Time

                  We often imagine transformation as a dramatic moment. But some of the most important changes in our lives happen through ordinary choices repeated over time.

                  The pastor shared the story of taking a difficult summer job collecting trash after losing a job at a warehouse. It wasn’t the kind of work he wanted, but continuing to show up eventually helped shape his understanding of responsibility and perseverance. That experience illustrates something important: sometimes the things that transform and grow us are the things we would never choose for ourselves.

                  The same can be true spiritually. One prayer may not seem life-changing. One chapter of Scripture may not feel transformative. One act of kindness, one decision to forgive, or one moment of choosing patience may seem small. But over months and years, those choices can reshape who we are. Being transformed through surrender is often less about one giant leap and more about faithfully taking the next step.

                  2. God’s Mercy Comes Before Our Transformation

                  Romans 12 begins with a powerful phrase: “in view of God’s mercy.” That matters because our spiritual practices aren’t a way to convince God to love us. We don’t pray, read Scripture, serve others, or surrender our lives so that God will finally approve of us. His mercy comes first. Our response comes from knowing that we are already loved.

                  This changes the way we think about spiritual growth. Instead of asking, “What do I have to do so God will love me?” we can ask, “Because God loves me, how can I respond?” Being transformed through surrender is therefore rooted in grace. We aren’t trying to transform ourselves through sheer willpower. We are responding to the God who has already reached toward us in mercy.

                  3. Renewing Your Mind Means Letting God Reshape You

                  Paul says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The world is constantly shaping us. Social media, our families, friendships, cultural trends, and the voices we regularly listen to can all influence how we think and what we value. We don’t always consciously choose those influences, but they still have an effect.

                  The question is not whether we are being shaped. The question is what is shaping us. Being transformed through surrender means intentionally making space for the Holy Spirit to reshape our minds. That includes what we think about, what captures our attention, what we love, what we fill our minds with, and how we view other people.

                  The pastor used the picture of a sailboat: we can’t create the wind, but we can raise the sails. The Holy Spirit provides the power, and we position ourselves to receive His work. That is an important balance. We don’t transform ourselves, but we aren’t passive either.

                  “Not because you transformed yourself, but because the Holy Spirit transformed you… one act of surrender at a time.”

                  4. Transformation Through Surrender Looks Like Everyday Faithfulness

                  Spiritual growth doesn’t require having everything figured out. Romans 12:2 describes learning to “test and approve” God’s will. That doesn’t mean waiting for God to hand us a five-year plan. It means learning to recognize what is good and pleasing to Him and then practicing it. Sometimes God’s will is right in front of us.

                  Is there someone who needs encouragement? Encourage them. Someone who needs help? Help them. Someone who is hurting? Show up. Someone you can serve? Serve them.

                  The Christian life is a life of service to others, and being transformed through surrender means learning to notice the opportunities God has already placed in front of us. Over time, those small acts of faithfulness shape us.

                  Practicing This Week

                  1. Read one chapter of Scripture each morning. Romans or Philippians are good places to begin.
                  2. Pray during your commute using a simple rhythm: “God, thank you. Help me.”
                  3. Replace ten minutes of social media with worship or intentional time with God.
                  4. Look at the person right in front of you and ask, “How can I love and serve this person today?”
                  5. At the end of the day, pause and ask, “Lord, how were You shaping me today?”

                  Questions for Reflection

                  1. Where are you currently longing for transformation in your life?
                  2. What small, daily act of surrender might help you make space for God this week?
                  3. What voices or influences are currently shaping the way you think and see the world?
                  4. Where might God be inviting you to serve, encourage, help, or show up for someone around you?
                  5. When you look back at who you were a year or several years ago, where can you see evidence of God’s transforming work?

                  You probably won’t walk out of church one Sunday completely different from the person you were when you arrived. And that’s okay. God is not asking you to transform yourself overnight. He is inviting you to surrender today, tomorrow, and the next day.

                  Through God’s mercy, the work of Jesus, and the presence of the Holy Spirit, we can trust that small acts of surrender matter. Being transformed through surrender is a lifelong journey of becoming more like Christ, one faithful step at a time.

                  So instead of asking, “How can I become a completely different person?” perhaps the better question is, “What is one way I can surrender my mind and my life to the Holy Spirit today?” We don’t have to do everything at once. We simply have to take the next step and trust the God who is already at work in us.

                  Living as God's image through everyday relationships

                  The Freedom of Living as God’s Image

                  Written by Havana Sonday on . Posted in Resources, Sermon Highlights. No Comments on The Freedom of Living as God’s Image

                  This week’s teaching explores the second commandment and why God tells us not to make idols or images to worship. Rather than limiting our freedom, this commandment reminds us that God has already placed His image in the world through us. Living as God’s image invites us to live authentically, represent Him well, and move through life with gratitude and hope.

                  This Week’s Teaching: The Ten: Representative

                  Key Takeaways

                    • Living as God’s image means recognizing that your life has deep and lasting significance to God.
                    • God’s boundaries are meant to protect our freedom, not take it away.
                    • We represent God through the way we treat the people we encounter every day.
                    • Gratitude helps us remember what God has already done instead of becoming consumed by what we think we still need.
                    • Hope gives us courage to believe that our lives can contribute to the good God is bringing into the world.

                    Sermon Highlights: Living as God’s Image

                    Have you ever wondered where God is when you need Him most? Maybe you have prayed about something, waited for an answer, and wondered why God seems to be taking so long. When the waiting becomes uncomfortable, it can be tempting to look for something else to give us security, direction, or control.

                    That tension is at the heart of the second commandment. The Israelites struggled with an invisible God, so they created something they could see. But God’s answer was not simply, “Don’t worship the wrong thing.” He was revealing something much deeper: He had already given His people a visible representation of His presence in the world. He created them in His image.

                    Big Idea of This Week’s Teaching

                    The second commandment is ultimately about more than avoiding idols. It reminds us that God does not need us to create an image of Him because He has already created us in His image.

                    Living as God’s image means recognizing that we are representatives of God’s Kingdom wherever we go. That gives us freedom to live honestly, confidently, gratefully, and hopefully because our identity is rooted in God.

                    Key Scriptures

                    Exodus 20:1

                    Before giving the commandments, God identifies Himself as the Lord who rescued Israel from slavery. The commands are given in the context of relationship and freedom, not as a way for people to earn God’s love.

                    Exodus 20:4

                    The second commandment says, “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” The command protects God’s people from reducing Him to something they can control or manufacture.

                    Exodus 32:1–4

                    While Moses was on the mountain, the Israelites became anxious about his absence and asked Aaron to make them gods they could see. Aaron created the golden calf, showing how quickly fear and impatience can lead us toward substitutes for God.

                    Genesis 1:26–27

                    God says, “Let us make mankind in our image,” and then creates humanity in His image. This passage helps explain why living as God’s image is so significant: God intentionally made people to represent Him in His creation.

                    1. God’s Rules Are Designed for Freedom

                      We often hear the word “rules” and immediately think about restrictions. But good boundaries can actually create freedom.

                      Imagine taking a young child to the top of a hill with a wide, flat area where he can run and play. It might seem like complete freedom until you realize there is an edge. Without a boundary, that freedom could quickly become dangerous. A fence doesn’t eliminate freedom; it protects the space where freedom can be enjoyed.

                      That is one way to understand God’s commandments. They are not arbitrary restrictions designed to make life smaller. They provide boundaries that help us experience life without unnecessary fear and destruction.

                      The second commandment protects us from trying to shrink God down into something we can create, control, or manipulate. Living as God’s image means we don’t have to manufacture an image of God. Instead, we can trust the God who made us.

                      2. We Were Made to Represent God

                        The word “image” takes on a powerful meaning when we look at the ancient world. Kings would sometimes place statues or images of themselves throughout their kingdoms, especially in places where they could not physically be present. The image served as a reminder: this is the king’s territory, and this represents the king.

                        Genesis gives us a breathtaking picture of humanity. God does not fill the world with statues of Himself. He creates people in His image. Living as God’s image means that our lives become a living representation of God’s presence and character. We are not inanimate objects sitting in one place. We walk, speak, work, create, love, serve, forgive, encourage, and build relationships.

                        “We are the statues—the representatives—Gods’ stand-in’s.”

                        That means your ordinary life matters. The way you treat your spouse, children, parents, siblings, neighbors, coworkers, classmates, and even strangers can become an expression of what God is like. Living as God’s image gives us a different way to think about our identity. We don’t have to hide or pretend to be someone we are not. We can live authentically, honestly, confidently, and loved by God.

                        3. Living as God’s Image Starts With How We Treat Others

                          The second commandment becomes incredibly practical when we realize that we represent God everywhere we go. Think about an ordinary Monday. Who will you wake up next to? Who will you encounter at the grocery store, in your neighborhood, or during your commute?

                          Every interaction becomes an opportunity for living as God’s image. That doesn’t mean we have to perform perfectly or somehow become a flawless representation of God. It means we can ask a simple question: What does the way I am treating this person communicate about the God I follow?

                          For the pastor, that meant thinking about how he treats his wife, Wendy, with a desire to care for her and sacrifice for her. For all of us, it can mean choosing patience instead of irritation, kindness instead of harshness, honesty instead of manipulation, and generosity instead of selfishness. Living as God’s image is not about putting on a religious performance. It is about allowing our everyday lives to reflect the God who has already called us His own.

                          “Everywhere we go and everything we do we are the representative of the Kingdom of God that is bringing good to the world.”

                          4. Living as God’s Image Means Choosing Gratitude and Hope

                            The Israelites had experienced freedom from slavery, but when the journey became difficult, they became dissatisfied. Instead of remembering what God had already done, they became focused on what they thought they were missing. Their lack of gratitude contributed to their desire for the golden calf.

                            We can fall into the same pattern. When life is difficult, it is easy to focus on what God hasn’t done yet and forget what He has already done. One practical response is gratitude. Gratitude helps us recognize God’s faithfulness in the middle of an unfinished journey. The other is hope. As God’s representatives, we have a say in how we contribute to the world around us. We may not be able to control everything happening in the world, but we can choose how we respond to it.

                            Living as God’s image means refusing to let negativity convince us that our lives don’t matter. We can bring encouragement, goodness, compassion, and hope into the spaces God has placed us.

                            Practicing This Week

                            1. Represent God well. Before interacting with someone, ask yourself what your words and actions might communicate about God.
                            2. Practice gratitude. Take a few minutes each day to name something God has already done that you might otherwise overlook.
                            3. Choose hope. When negativity takes over, look for one way you can contribute something good to the situation.
                            4. Live honestly with God. Bring your real questions, doubts, frustrations, joys, and hopes to Him instead of feeling like you need to pretend.
                            5. Remember your identity. When you are tempted to believe your life doesn’t matter, remember that God created you in His image and gave your life significance.

                            Questions for Reflection

                            1. Where are you most tempted to look for security or control when God seems distant or slow to respond?
                            2. What does living as God’s image look like in your closest relationships?
                            3. Is there an area of your life where gratitude could change your perspective?
                            4. Where might God be inviting you to bring more hope or goodness into your everyday surroundings?
                            5. How would your life look different if you genuinely believed that you are deeply significant to God?

                            The second commandment is not simply a warning about what we should not worship. It is an invitation to remember who we are. We don’t have to create something that represents God because God has already created us to represent Him. Living as God’s image means we can step into our everyday lives with the freedom to be authentic, loved, hopeful, and confident in who God has made us to be.

                            And when we fall short—and we will—we don’t have to hide from God. Jesus meets us with grace. Our calling is not about performing perfectly; it is about receiving God’s love and allowing that love to shape how we live.

                            This week, remember that you matter. Your relationships matter. Your choices matter. And wherever you go, you have an opportunity to reflect the goodness of the God who made you in His image.

                            Rules for Freedom through devotion to God

                            Rules for Freedom: What the First Commandment Teaches Us

                            Written by Havana Sonday on . Posted in Resources, Sermon Highlights. No Comments on Rules for Freedom: What the First Commandment Teaches Us

                            This week’s teaching begins our series on the Ten Commandments by looking at the first commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me.” Rather than seeing God’s commands as restrictive, we explored how rules for freedom can help us break free from the things that control us and learn to put God first.

                            This Week’s Sermon: The Ten: Devotion

                            Key Takeaways

                            • God’s commands are not meant to take away our freedom but to help us experience freedom that leads to a healthier life.
                            • True freedom is not the absence of all boundaries; sometimes the right boundaries give us the freedom to flourish.
                            • The first commandment calls us to recognize the many “gods” competing for our attention, devotion, and trust.
                            • God remains fully devoted to us even when we struggle to remain devoted to Him.
                            • Putting God first frees us to live with greater purpose, generosity, peace, and love.

                            Sermon Highlights: Rules for Freedom

                            We often think of freedom as having no restrictions. No rules or boundaries. No one telling us what to do. But is that really what freedom looks like?

                            Think about a mountain road with guardrails. The guardrails may seem restrictive, but they actually make it possible to drive with greater confidence and freedom. The same can be true in our spiritual lives. The right boundaries don’t necessarily limit us. They can help us become the people we were created to be.

                            That idea sits at the heart of this week’s teaching as we begin The Journey’s new series on the Ten Commandments. What if God’s commands aren’t simply a list of things we’re not allowed to do? What if they are rules for freedom?

                            Big Idea of This Week’s Teaching

                            The Ten Commandments aren’t primarily about restricting our lives. They are about helping us learn how to live freely.

                            The first commandment says, “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” God begins with a reminder of His relationship with His people. He has already rescued them. He has already shown them grace. Now He invites them to live differently.

                            The first commandment is ultimately an invitation to devotion: put God first and let everything else flow from there. These rules for freedom help us recognize what has taken God’s place in our lives and release our devotion to things that cannot give us the life we’re looking for.

                            Key Scriptures

                            Exodus 20:1–3

                            The central passage for this week’s teaching is the first commandment. God identifies Himself as the One who brought Israel out of slavery and then calls them to have no other gods before Him. The command is rooted in God’s grace and His desire for His people to experience freedom.

                            Genesis 12:1–3

                            God’s promise to Abraham was used to remind us that we are blessed to be a blessing. God’s blessings are not meant to turn us inward toward self-interest but outward toward others.

                            John 20:24–29

                            The story of Thomas encountering the risen Jesus provides the closing picture for the teaching. When Thomas recognizes Jesus, he responds, “My Lord and my God.” His response captures the heart of the invitation: recognize who Jesus is and place Him first.

                            1. Rules for Freedom Give Us Room to Flourish

                            We tend to associate rules with restriction. But the sermon offered several everyday examples that challenge that assumption. A budget can feel limiting, but financial discipline can free us from the weight of debt. Physical training requires discipline, but that discipline can lead to greater strength and health. Learning an instrument requires repetition and rules, but eventually those boundaries give a musician the freedom to create.

                            The same principle applies to faith. Discipline doesn’t necessarily kill freedom. In the right context, discipline creates freedom.

                            “Discipline does not kill creativity. It gives creativity a place to operate.”

                            That doesn’t mean every rule is automatically good. It means healthy boundaries can protect what matters most. The first commandment invites us to see God’s commands in this light. These rules for freedom aren’t designed to make life smaller. They’re designed to help us live with greater freedom and purpose.

                            2. We All Have Things Competing for Our Devotion

                            The first commandment also asks us to consider what functions like a “god” in our lives. The sermon pointed to things like money, possessions, comfort, success, entertainment, politics, sports, fitness, relationships, approval, and even self-interest. None of these things are necessarily bad. The problem comes when something becomes so important that it receives the attention, trust, and devotion that belong to God.

                            That gives us a helpful question: What do I think about the most? What do I worry about? What am I constantly trying to protect or control?

                            These questions aren’t meant to produce shame. They’re invitations to honesty. The rules for freedom begin by helping us recognize what has quietly become most important in our lives.

                            3. Putting God First Frees Us From What Controls Us

                            The first commandment isn’t simply, “Don’t worship other gods.” It is an invitation to a different way of living.

                            When we make money our god, we can become controlled by having enough. We can become controlled by what other people think when approval becomes our god. When comfort becomes our god, we can become controlled by avoiding anything difficult. When self becomes our god, we can become exhausted by constantly thinking about ourselves. But putting God first changes the direction of our lives.

                            The sermon described this as freedom from devotion to the things that hurt us. We can become free from devotion to money, possessions, addictions, anger, unhealthy relationships, resentment, people-pleasing, and even our own need for control.

                            This is where rules for freedom become deeply practical. God’s invitation isn’t simply about believing the right things. It’s about becoming free to love people better, bless others, trust God, and live with greater peace.

                            “We are free from being devoted to things that hurt us.”

                            4. Rules for Freedom Begin With God’s Devotion to Us

                            Perhaps the most important part of the message is that God’s command to devote ourselves to Him begins with God’s devotion to us. God reminds Israel that He is the One who brought them out of slavery. Before He asks anything from them, He reminds them of what He has already done.

                            The same grace is at the heart of our relationship with Jesus. We don’t earn God’s love by perfectly following His commands. God’s love comes first.

                            The sermon emphasized that even when we run from God, pursue other things, or find ourselves putting God far down our list of priorities, God remains devoted to us. That changes the way we respond. We aren’t trying to earn God’s acceptance. We’re learning to respond to the grace we’ve already received.

                            That’s what makes these rules for freedom different from a list of religious requirements. They are an invitation to live from God’s grace rather than striving for it.

                            Practicing This Week

                            1. Take a look at your attention. Notice what you spend the most time thinking about, watching, worrying about, or pursuing.
                            2. Name one thing that may be competing with God for your devotion. You don’t need to fix everything at once. Simply bring it honestly before God.
                            3. Try the simple prayer from the sermon: “God, thank you. Help me.” Thank God for where you’ve seen Him at work, then ask Him for help with what you’re carrying today.
                            4. Practice putting God first in one ordinary decision this week. Ask, “What would it look like to let God have the first place here?”
                            5. Look for a way to bless someone else. Remember the invitation from Genesis: we are blessed to be a blessing.

                            Questions for Reflection

                            1. What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “rules for freedom”? How does that compare with the way you typically think about rules?
                            2. What receives most of your attention, energy, worry, or devotion right now?
                            3. Where might you be trying to control your own life instead of trusting God?
                            4. What is one way you’ve seen God help you through something difficult in the past?
                            5. What would it look like this week to genuinely say, “My Lord and my God,” and put Jesus first?

                            The first commandment is not a demand to become perfect. It is an invitation to remember who God is and who He has always been to us. God is devoted to you. He doesn’t walk away when you struggle, and His grace isn’t something you have to earn. Jesus invites us to respond to that grace by becoming devoted to Him in return.

                            As we begin this journey through the Ten Commandments, may we discover that God’s commands are not obstacles to a meaningful life. They can become rules for freedom, helping us release the things that control us and make room for the life Jesus is inviting us to live.