Series: Made for More - Identity, Purpose, and Grace in the Beginning

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, N.C.

August 24, 2025

1. God is Eternal and Ultimate (v. 1a)

2. God Has No Rivals (v. 1b)

3. God Fills the Empty (v. 2a)

4. God Is Our Only Source of Hope (v. 2b)

Genesis 1:1-2 reveals four essential truths about God that shape our understanding of life and purpose. God is eternal and ultimate, existing before time and being the central character of all Scripture. He has no rivals, creating everything through His Word alone. God fills emptiness and brings order to chaos, designing us with a need only He can satisfy. Finally, God's Spirit hovers over the waters of chaos, offering hope and new creation even in our darkest moments. These truths challenge us to make God our ultimate reference point, remove competing idols, allow Him to fill our emptiness, and trust Him as our source of hope.

Series: Operation Liberty: Gospel Mission

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

August 17, 2025

1. Ingredient #1: An Obedient Servant (vv. 26-27a)

2. Ingredient #2: A Lost Soul (vv. 27b-28)

3. Ingredient #3: The Power of the Holy Spirit (vv. 29-34)

4. Ingredient #4: A Prepared Witness (vv. 30, 35)

Evangelism is a partnership with God where we join His work in the world. The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch reveals four key ingredients for effective evangelism: an obedient servant willing to follow God's direction, a lost soul seeking truth, the power of the Holy Spirit orchestrating divine encounters, and a prepared witness ready to share the gospel. When these elements come together, the Kingdom of God multiplies and lives are transformed. Evangelism isn't about creating opportunities but recognizing and stepping into situations where God is already working.

Series: Operation Liberty: Gospel Mission

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

August 10, 2025

1. There are Only Two Requirements for Heaven (vv. 25-28)

2. Stop Thinking Like a Lawyer (vv. 29-32)

• We Feel the Need to Justify Ourselves (v. 29)
• We Try to Change the Grading Standard (v. 29)
• Logical Calculations Result in Cold Obedience and Self-Righteousness (v. 30-32)

3. The Beauty of a Gospel Life (vv. 33-37)

• The Gospel Life is Driven by the Heart (vv. 33-34)
• The Gospel Life is Others-Focused (vv. 34-35)
• The Gospel Life Loves Unselfishly (v. 36-37)

Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan reveals the stark contrast between heart-driven faith and head-driven religion. When asked about eternal life, Jesus points to loving God and loving neighbors as the requirements—standards impossible to fulfill perfectly. The religious leaders in the story made cold calculations about helping the injured man, while the Samaritan acted from genuine compassion. This parable challenges us to stop trying to justify ourselves through minimum requirements and instead embrace radical, costly compassion for others. True gospel-driven living flows from hearts transformed by Christ's sacrifice, leading to unselfish love that doesn't calculate convenience or cost.