2025 in Review

Prayer

Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can be more like You, and made more into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all too often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possibly can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. I ask these things for your glory and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

Transition/context

This past year, we have gone through so much together. This year alone, in the beginning of the year, we studied The Gospel of Jesus, and committed ourselves to both knowing the gospel and sharing the gospel as an act of Love to God and Mankind, which led to our establishment of the “Go and Make Disciples Jar.” Or, “Go Jar” for short. This year we have filled it about one a half times, meaning as a group we have done some 300 disciple making and strengthening actions, and if memory serves me right, 7 dice were put in as well, meaning that 7 people we were ministering to in some way either came to Christ or Returned, this is great and a big thing to celebrate!

We also finished out sermon series through entire book of Acts, where we took a good long hard look at the Early Church, the early followers of Jesus, how they acted, what they did, how they came together, how they went out to Love God, Love People, and Make disciples; even to the point of great personal sacrifice even up to loss of life for some, being arrested for others, and worshiping and following God with their whole being no matter the cost. Thus we established the clear mission of Churches of Jesus, and so now we say, “The Mission of LaFayette Baptist Church is to be and make disciples that: Love God, Love People, and Make disciples.”

In the mid summer, we walked through the entire book of Nehemiah, and saw God bring revival to a people who had long since separated themselves from Him. In this, we saw God use men He called and strategically put into position to make the changes necessary to bring them back to a position of worship and love of God. We also saw the actions that God tends to do and the people's responses when a place when He has breathed new life, revival into a people.

In the late summer, we walked through the first chapter of Genesis, and saw the narrative of how God created the world, how He created mankind, and how mankind chose to separate themselves from Him by sinning, and that this state of sin and separation is a curse on mankind that exists even today and effects and touches everything in the world.

We also touched many more areas, but these are some of the key moments to remember and revisit.

So, let’s jump in and from this year's sermon series, I want us to remember, know, and apply these truths from God’s Word as we go into 2026 and beyond.

Message

The first truth to remember, know and apply is to: Know the Gospel and Share the Gospel.

(1Cor 15-1-4, John 3:16-21, and Matthew 28:16-20).

Not really sure what some of the key parts of The Gospel (the good new) of Jesus is? Let me share with you a quick summary that Paul wrote to the church at Corinth. He wrote:

15 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

So, what does this mean? That everyone has sin, that separates us from God. Christ (the messiah, Jesus), died for our (my, your) sins as the scriptures foretold He would. He died, was buried, but rose again on the third day after, as the scriptures said He would, and as He said He would, thus proving to us, that Jesus was and is truly God and can and has made this sacrifice for us. All we have to do is accept it.

But, why would God do this? Why would God chose to redeem mankind, me, us, if we oh so frequently turn our back against Him and commit High Treason? Listen to what John wrote, He said it this way, this is why, “ 16 For God loved the world in this way:[e] He gave[f] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it,[g] so that his deeds may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by[h] the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.” Why then, because He loves you, He loves mankind, His treasured creation so much, that He didn’t hold anything back from us, to redeem us from this self inflicted separation, even up to His own life.

This is so important to know and remember, but also to share. In fact, if you truly know and understand it, then you couldn’t help but share it with others, doing the work to see others become disciples of Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus gave us this mission and commissioned us to do so. We read about this in the Great Commission, which is given to follower of Jesus everywhere, Matthew wrote about this in His gospel in chapter 28 which says at the end, 18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of[e] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,[f] I am with you always,[g] to the end of the age.” Let me also give you a series hint into your faith-life, if you aren’t doing is, and you are physically able, even in little ways like picking up a telephone or messaging on a computer, then something is critically wrong with your love of God, something is critically wrong with your understanding and application of the Gospel. If this is you, then I urge you to examine yourself, and remind yourself of the gospel of Jesus. In fact, walk through the one of the Gospels, your favorite one if it helps, and walk through it in your Bible and realize that it was written both to and for you to understand and apply.

So then, there are so many great tools out there, and ways to walk through the Gospel, both in your mind and as you share it with others, but a good one includes these critical pieces. So then, remember this Gospel, apply it everywhere, and share it everywhere you can. It is so easy to get of task, so be sure to check yourself often, and make any changes in your life and priorities to get this #1 priority right.

The next truth to remember, know, and apply is that: God is always at work building His kingdom.

(Acts 22-28)

The tales in these scriptures were both epic and terrifying. Just before, we had seen the Apostle Paul go throughout the regions we call Asia Minor and Greece today and plant any new churches. He came across all kinds of things when he did this. Death threats and places that he was loved. Towns that accepted the gospel quickly and towns that took a long time. Churches planted that followed Jesus closely, churches planted that fell away from Jesus quickly, divided churches, united churches and everything in between. Paul went through times of drudgery, he also went through times of excitement over many years of being on the missionary field. He went through times where he could devote himself full time to the ministry God had called him to, he also was in times where he needed to work in other ways to provide for himself. He went through times of living well, times of barely living at all, and even many days inside a jail cell.

This all culminated up to The Holy Spirit revealing to him that he was to go and be arrested in Jerusalem by the Jews there, and an angel, a messenger from God, telling him that to not fear, as he would get to and minister in the town of Rome to the emperor himself, a mission which Paul had joyfully submitted to do. During all of this what was clear? That difficulty, hurt, strife, and even hurtful actions from people you love and care about happens often for the Christian. In fact, it’s often a proof that you are on the right track when you are ministering to a people. Why? Because mankind is a fallen creature, and that is who we minister to, that is who we share the gospel with, that is who we give hope to. A people who knowing or unknowingly reject God, reject Jesus, and turn to something else to fill the God sized hole in their hearts, in their innermost being.

Despite all this difficulty that will come. One thing was clear for Paul and is clear for all of us today, God is always going about building His kingdom. One way or another, His will shall be accomplished. So, it is better to come along-side God’s mission and choose to be a willing part of it. God is always at work building His kingdom, we cannot win against His will, though we all often try so hard to build someone else’s kingdom. So then, let us put our own or someone else’s kingdom aside and seek in everything to bring God’s glorious kingdom into each and every stretch of the world, whether it be close, like in our own hearts, or in far away lands. To His glory, honor, and splendor.

A third truth to remember, know, and apply is that: A Great and True Revival Has These:

(Nehemiah 7-10)

We saw through the Epic tale of Nehemiah that a revival, God breathing Himself out in a new and strong way on a place and people, has certain things, at least, all the revivals that are God breathed, tend to have the actions happen with them.

The first of which is a need, the people had fallen away from God, and as a result of the people getting of of mission, commitment of God, and love of God, a consequence comes. For Jerusalem, they had long since rejected God and as a result they were struck down and made small and lowly among the nation, even to the point that their beloved Holy city lay in ruins.

The next is the need was seen and action was taken by the leaders that God called into the place. In this case, it was the Prophets Nehemiah and Ezra. These two led the people to a rekindled interest in and worship of God.

Third, is that prayer always precedes a significant action. We saw Nehemiah always stop for prayer, seeking God, and asking Him to intervene and grant Him wisdom, even remember His actions that were done for God.

Fourth, for one reason or another, the people are called in and come together, in this case, Nehemiah called everyone in for the sake of rebuilding the wall of the city.

Fifth, is that the enemy will try to stop it. Remember how people who were enemies of the Israelites tried to thwart the plan to rebuild at every turn, even discouraging the people, and going so far as to send armies and plan for ambush attacks. This is Satan trying his best to use fallen mankind to stop God’s people.

Sixth, is that the Word of God is proclaimed to a people. From this, they hear it, realize what has gone wrong and that they need to change as a people to get back on track, to get back on mission and worship the one true God of the universe, instead of the idols and gods of their own making. Here the people learn a lesson about God’s word, that every time they hear it they have a choice, to either respond to it with yes, and believe in the gospel and repent of their sins, or to deny it, and further add to the separation between you and God.

Seven, is that then, it really really starts to hit the people. They cry out to God, realizing all the damage they have done, they cry out to God to forgive them and make them like new people, they look at their current situation, and they name the mistakes they made. In their case, they came together and named over the generations how big and little mistakes were made, and that in the end, they had gotten to this fallen away state from their choice. They knew the reality of the situation, and admitted it to themselves and committed themselves to making it right.

Eight, in turn, they committed themselves to God. Putting the love of anything and everything away or much lower where it belonged. They then put their whole being into this love and worship of God, and did not shy away from changing anything that was wrong in their hearts, minds, deeds, and actions.

These are actions that take place in a God-breathed revival, both then and now, and ones that any people who are wanting to experience true revival must be ready to do and see through. It all starts with God and His people, reconnecting and the people desiring God more and more and more. It requires hearts that chime out, God, more of you, and less of me.

Another truth to remember, know, and apply is the Fundamental truths to build upon

(Genesis 1-4)

Here we began with those words, the first few in your bible, which goes, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And ended in Chapter 4, just 1 generation after the first woman, Adam and Eve, their son descended into murder, and a few generations later, the people had fallen deep into sin, especially the sin of pride. We do however, see a hope for mankind, as God still showed his love for mankind, as He gave Adam Eve, who, had lost a son as Cain killed his brother, gain another, named Seth.

In between those verses, we saw God create the heavens and earth in a literal 7 days, using the skills we learned in hermeneutics for biblical interpretation, and understand that this book is History and in the biblical genera as such, and should be taken as a recorded history, as opposed to linguistic articulation such when Peter wrote to the churches in Asia minor, where he told them that to God, 1000 years is like day, which was serving to tell them to be patient. The same is true in the psalms, which are themselves songs and poems and must be rightly divided, that is handled differently.

From this truth, we have something to build upon. God created the heavens and earth in 6 days, and rested on the 7th, thus 7 days of creation. He created everything good. He created man and women alike, mankind; and mankind was given the rare ability of free will, the ability to choose good vs bad. Satan came into the world, and divided the couple, and made them choose bad (sin) which separated us and every generation afterwards from God. God however, loved and loves His creation, and when addressing the man, woman, and the serpent for what they had done, He told us all something. He told us that we will always be struggling with the after effects of this new sin curse so long as sin in the world, but that He was preparing the way for sin to be overcome. For the deceive to be crushed, and His treasured creation (you, mankind) to be perfectly restored to Him one day. Today, we know this to be a foreshadowing of what would come and has come for us, Jesus Christ, the savior, the messiah, who would die for our sin, offering us forgiveness and one day will (a day that we are still waiting for) will return and crush the head the of the serpent once and for all. Praise God for this gift and coming day!

So then, take these fundamental truths and apply them where they are not or not strong enough. Know that God is creator and sustainer of everything. Know that from sin we are separated from God and cannot function properly for what we designed to do, to worship God, bring Him Honor, Glory, and delight. All this is true, and God told us even back at our first mistake, He is offering forgiveness, and is providing the way for everything to made right once and for all. Believer, follower of Jesus, do you believe this, do you hope in this with expectation that it will come? Put aside the doubts and fears that keep you from doing so, and ask God for strength in doing so, strength and wisdom that He will surely give to all that ask.

Conclusion

Beloved, if there is any one big thing. The most important thing to take away from this year's sermons it’s this. Do your absolute best to be the kind of disciple who Loves God, Loves People, Makes Disciples. This is our mission. This is the greatest commandment, declared by the Lord Jesus Himself and His great commission, given from Jesus Himself to believers everywhere. Yes, none of us start perfect or get anywhere near perfection in the end of our lives. Yet still, the life-time endeavor is to be better, stronger, and more swift to do just these. So, do you find yourself loving something over how God reveals Himself in our bible or even hating God? There you have some sort of idol and sin that needs to be addressed. Do you find yourself hating people or even angry at them, what they said, what they do, how they think? Even if it’s done quietly in your mind, the truth will out and it shows itself more than we think it does. If you find yourself hating/being angry at anyone for any one reason, there you have some sort of idol and sin that you need to addressed. Do you find yourself not making disciples? Not seeking to be a part in God’s kingdom furthering in some way? If so, then you have a sin, a lack of fulfilling your commission, and most likely some kind of idol of attitude and fear that needs to be addressed. Beloved, don’t keep yourself from a closer relationship with God. Submit to Him, Submit to His Word, Submit to His will and you find something special you never thought was possible.