“The Prayer Life God Gives Us!”

Posted January 14, 2026
Filed under: Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Dr. Gary Deddo, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Many Christians discover that the life of prayer can feel both deeply alive and deeply difficult, marked by vitality and struggle, at times unfolding with natural freedom and at other times feeling burdensome or unanswered.

What is God inviting us into when prayer feels this way?
What is God forming in us through both the ease and the struggle of prayer?
What does Scripture teach us about the kind of prayer life God desires?

There is a deep and living relationship at the heart of Christian prayer. One rooted in the life of the Triune God and revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Prayer is not a spiritual vending machine where we drop pious words in order to get what we want. It is not a strategy for managing God or securing outcomes. Prayer is participation in the life of the Trinity. A communion with the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit.

Grace Communion International captures this truth with pastoral clarity:

“Prayer is our cry for help. In prayer, we admit that we are not self-sufficient, that we cannot handle everything on our own. In prayer, we acknowledge a relationship between God and us, a relationship in which God has promised to provide our needs and to bless us in ways he knows are best.”— Grace Communion International—  Responding to Jesus With Prayer

Because prayer is relational, Scripture teaches that it can also be hindered. Not because God becomes distant, but because our lives can become misaligned with His will. The apostle James speaks directly to this reality:

“You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”— James 4:3 (CSB)

James does not suggest that God is unwilling to listen. Rather, he reveals that prayer becomes distorted when it is shaped by self-centered desire instead of trust in the Father’s goodness. Prayer is not about coercing God or twisting His arm. It is about being reshaped by the God who delights in giving good gifts to His children. John Calvin expressed this truth clearly:

“Believers do not pray, with the view of informing God about things unknown to him, or of exciting him to do his duty, or of urging him as though he were reluctant; but they pray in order that they may arouse themselves to seek him.”— John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book III, Chapter 20, Section 3

Prayer, then, is not designed to change God’s disposition toward us. It draws us more deeply into dependence upon Him. Jesus Himself teaches that our relationships with others profoundly shape our prayer life. He offers a sober warning:

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive your wrongdoing.”— Mark 11:25 (CSB)

Unforgiveness does not merely strain human relationships; it disrupts our lived communion with God. When bitterness takes root, prayer becomes clouded, not because God withdraws, but because our hearts resist the reconciling life He offers. The apostle Peter brings this truth into the ordinary spaces of life, reminding us that prayer cannot be separated from how we live:

“Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker partner, showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.”— 1 Peter 3:7 (CSB)

Here, prayer is inseparable from embodied love. The way we honor others reflects the way we stand before God. When our lives mirror Christ’s self-giving love, prayer rises not as complaint or demand, but as communion.

Yet even when prayer feels unanswered, Scripture invites us to resist the assumption that God is absent or indifferent. Silence, in the life of faith, often becomes a place of deep growth. Jesus Himself gives thanks for the Father’s hidden and gracious work:

“I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants.”— Matthew 11:25 (CSB)

This means that God’s silence is not emptiness. It is often a gracious space where trust is learned, humility is formed, and Christlikeness is shaped. At the heart of all Christian prayer stands the Trinity. Prayer is never a solo performance. Even when words fail, we are not left alone:

“The Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.”— Romans 8:26 (CSB)

This is why prayer is possible at all. As theologian Dr. Gary W. Deddo reminds us:

“The Christian life is first and foremost about our participation, as the body of Christ, by the Spirit, in the Son of God’s relationship with his Father.”— Gary W. Deddo, Grace Communion International

Prayer flows from this shared life. We do not pray to reach a distant deity. We pray because, in Jesus Christ, we have already been welcomed into the Father’s fellowship by the Spirit. C. S. Lewis reinforces the deeply personal reality of prayer:

“I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God—it changes me.”— C. S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer

Prayer shapes us because the gospel itself reshapes our standing before God. The good news of Jesus Christ does not announce something we must achieve, but something God has already given. Scripture proclaims:

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.”— Romans 1:17 (CSB)

This righteousness is revealed not through religious performance, but through the person and work of Jesus Christ:

“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”— 1 Corinthians 2:2 (CSB)

Because righteousness is given rather than earned, prayer becomes a response rather than a performance, participation in grace rather than pressure to prove ourselves. Prayer is not about twisting God’s arm, but about being shaped by His love. It is the daily fellowship of a people invited to dwell with the God who, in Christ, has made His home with us.

Conclusion: 

God desires our prayer life to be rooted in relationship with Him and with one another. Prayer is not a wish list presented to a reluctant God; it is the heartbeat of a life united with the Triune God. When we pray, we come as children to the Father. We come through the Son who mediates our access. We are guided by the Spirit whose intercession aligns our hearts with heaven. 

And we are not left to invent prayer on our own! Ultimately, prayer is a participation with Jesus IN HIS CURRENT LIFE OF PRAYER as a glorified human being! Jesus prays with us in our humanity (Heb. 5:7) and prays for us eternally as our High Priest (Heb. 7:25).

Jesus Christ Himself teaches us how to pray as those who belong to the Father, placing words of trust, forgiveness, daily dependence, and hope on our lips.

The Lord’s Prayer:

“Therefore, you should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
your name be honored as holy.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
— Matthew 6:9–13 (CSB)

“God Promises A Suffering Servant!”

Posted January 6, 2026
Filed under: Bible, By Richard Andrews, Christian Living, Christianity, Christmas, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Resurrection, Sermons, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Part A:

Part B:

Full Message:

Scripture: Isaiah 52 – 53 (CSB)

Summary:

In this powerful message, Pastor Richard Andrews led us into Isaiah’s powerful vision of the Suffering Servant, a vision that refuses to separate suffering from salvation or pain from God’s redemptive purpose. Isaiah 52–53 reveals that deliverance would not come through dominance or spectacle, but through humble obedience, costly love, and a Servant who willingly bears the weight of the world’s sin and sorrow.

Isaiah confronts our expectations of what a Savior should look like. We often look for strength that is visible and triumphant. Instead, God reveals a Servant who is despised and rejected, acquainted with grief, and silent before His accusers. This Servant does not avoid suffering; He enters it fully. He does not merely sympathize with human pain. He carries it.

At the heart of this prophecy is substitution. What belongs to us, our sin, sickness, rebellion, and shame, is placed upon Him. The punishment that should have fallen on us, falls on the Servant instead, and through His wounds, healing comes. As J. C. Ryle writes:

“Christ has stood in the place of the true Christian. He has become his Surety and his Substitute. He undertook to bear all that was to be borne, and to do all that was to be done, and what He undertook He performed.”

The suffering of Christ is not an accident or a failure. From the beginning, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit purposed salvation through self-giving love. Rather than demanding payment from humanity, God Himself bears the cost.

Isaiah also shows us how deeply personal this suffering is. The Servant knows rejection, loneliness, injustice, sickness, silence, and grief. He understands the groaning that comes when words fail and prayer feels impossible. No human pain lies outside His experience, and no suffering endured in faith is suffered alone.

Yet the prophecy does not end in despair. The Servant who is crushed is also the Servant who prospers. Through His anguish, many are made righteous. God weaves utter bleakness into ultimate victory, showing that suffering and glory are not opposites, but mysteriously joined in the redemptive work of Christ.

John Stott captures this great reversal with clarity:

“For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man.”

This is the heart of Isaiah 53. Humanity insists on living life on its own terms, resulting in chaos and death. God responds not with condemnation, but with substitution, taking our place so that we might receive His life.

For those who follow Jesus, this vision reshapes how we understand our own suffering. Pain is no longer evidence of God’s absence. In Christ, suffering is neither meaningless nor ultimate. Because Jesus’ work is finished, our suffering is held within the promise of resurrection and joy.

This sermon calls the church not merely to admire the Suffering Servant, but to follow Him, joining Christ in His reconciling work in a world marked by pain, trusting that even in suffering, God is at work.

Key Themes and Reflection Questions:

1. God’s Promised Suffering Servant 🩸🐑

Theme: Salvation comes through a Servant who willingly suffers rather than through human power or dominance.
Discipleship Question: How does seeing Jesus as the Suffering Servant reshape my faith?
#SufferingServant #Isaiah53 #GodsPromise

2. Substitution: Sin Transferred, Mercy Given ⚖️❤️

Theme: Jesus bears our sin and punishment so that we may receive peace, healing, and forgiveness.
Discipleship Question: What am I still carrying that Jesus has already carried for me?
#SubstitutionaryLove #GraceUponGrace

3. Rejected Yet Exalted 👑💔

Theme: The Servant’s rejection leads not to defeat, but to exaltation and victory.
Discipleship Question: Where am I tempted to see suffering as failure rather than trust God’s work?
#ServantKing #HopeInSuffering

4. Jesus Present in Our Pain 👀✝️

Theme: Jesus knows human suffering personally and meets us within it.
Discipleship Question: Am I inviting Jesus into my pain, or trying to carry it alone?
#GodWithUs #NotAlone

5. Called to Follow the Servant 🌍🔥

Theme: Those who receive life through Christ are called to lives of service and faithful witness.
Discipleship Question: How is God inviting me to participate in His reconciling work?
#FollowTheServant #GospelWitness

A Reflective Moment:

Isaiah invites us to look again, not at our suffering first, but at Christ. The Servant does not stand apart from human pain. He enters it, carries it, and redeems it.

Whatever burdens you bring today, known or unspoken, they are not foreign to Him. He has borne grief, carried sorrow, and taken upon Himself. What we could not heal or undo. Hold this truth quietly: your suffering is seen, your life is valued, and nothing you endure is outside the saving work of Jesus Christ

“Our Primary God-Given Response to Suffering!”

Posted December 31, 2025
Filed under: Advent, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Resurrection, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Song, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Part A:

Part B:

Full Message:

Scripture: Revelation 4 Revelation 14: 14-20

Summary:

This sermon by Pastor Timothy Brassell confronts one of the most pressing questions of the Christian life: How are we meant to respond to suffering as people united to Jesus Christ? Rather than beginning with explanations, predictions, or strategies for escape, Scripture directs us first to worship. Revelation does not open by explaining suffering away, but by unveiling who reigns in the midst of it.

In Revelation 4, John, exiled and suffering, is invited to “come up” and see reality as it truly is. What he sees is not chaos, but a throne. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are revealed as sovereign, radiant, and unshaken. Before the seals are opened, before judgment unfolds, and before suffering intensifies, heaven is already filled with worship. This vision reorients the Church: our suffering is real, but it is not ultimate. God reigns, and His rule is exercised in covenant faithfulness, holiness, and love.

Central to this vision is Jesus Christ Himself. The risen and ascended Lord is not distant from human pain. As the Father’s suffering Servant, Jesus entered fully into our broken world, bore our suffering in His own body, and overcame it through His death, resurrection, and ascension. Now, by the Holy Spirit, He meets His Church personally and presently in suffering, not merely as comforter, but as the victorious God-Man who strengthens us to endure and to hope.

As Pope St. John Paul II writes with profound clarity: “In the Cross of Christ not only is the Redemption accomplished through suffering, but also human suffering itself has been redeemed.” — Pope St. John Paul II, Salvifici Doloris

Suffering, then, is not meaningless nor abandoned by God. In Christ, it has been taken up, transformed, and caught up into God’s redemptive purpose. This is why Revelation consistently calls the Church not to speculation or fear, but to faithful endurance rooted in worship. Worship is not denial, it is alignment with reality as God defines it.

Revelation 4 also shows the Church represented around the throne, crowned, clothed in white, and secure. Even while the Church on earth suffers, the Church in heaven worships. Together they testify that God holds creation, history, and redemption firmly in His hands. The chaos of the world does not negate God’s reign; it reveals our need to see beyond appearances and to trust the One who “was, and is, and is to come.”

Jürgen Moltmann captures this deeply Christ-centered hope when he writes: “God allows himself to be humiliated and crucified in the Son, in order to free the oppressors and the oppressed from oppression and to open up to them the situation of free, sympathetic humanity.”— Jürgen Moltmann, The Crucified God

This powerful sermon ultimately calls the Church back to the center: worship as participation in the life of God. Worship is where suffering is held honestly before God without despair. It is where fear loosens its grip, where hope is renewed, and where the Church learns again to trust the throne that stands unshaken.

In suffering, we are not abandoned. We are invited to look, to worship, and to endure with confidence. The Lamb who was slain reigns. The throne is occupied. And the God who meets us now will bring all things to their perfected end.

Key Themes and Reflection Questions:

  1. Worship as Our First Response 🙌👑
  • Theme: Scripture reveals that worship, not fear or control, is the primary God-given response to suffering. Before history unfolds, heaven is already anchored in praise.
  • Discipleship Question: When suffering arises, what does it look like for you to turn first toward worship rather than anxiety or self-reliance?
  • #WorshipInSuffering
  1. Christ Meets Us in Our Suffering 🤍✝️
  • Theme: Jesus Christ has fully entered human suffering, overcome it, and now meets His Church by the Holy Spirit in every trial.
  • Discipleship Question: How does knowing that Jesus has suffered with you and for you, reshape the way you face hardship today?
  • #ChristWithUs
  1. The Throne Still Stands 🪑🌈
  • Theme: Revelation 4 reminds us that even when the world feels unstable, God remains seated on the throne, ruling in faithfulness and love.
  • Discipleship Question: What fear or uncertainty are you being invited to surrender in light of God’s unshaken reign?
  • #GodOnTheThrone
  1. Hope Between the Now and the Not Yet ⏳✨
  • Theme: Christ strengthens us now by His Spirit while drawing us toward the fullness of His final appearing, where suffering will be fully undone.
  • Discipleship Question: How does holding both Christ’s present help and future victory shape your endurance today?
  • #LivingInHope
  1. Joining Heaven’s Worship 🌍🔥
  • Theme: The Church on earth is invited to participate in the worship already taking place in heaven, finding renewal, courage, and peace in God’s presence.
  • Discipleship Question: What practice of worship could help you more intentionally align your daily life with heaven’s reality?
  • #HeavenlyWorship

Reflection Moment:

Take a quiet moment to imagine the scene of Revelation 4. An occupied throne. Unceasing worship. Light, holiness, and peace surrounding the One who reigns.

Now, hold your own suffering before God, without rushing to fix it, explain it, or escape it. Allow yourself to hear heaven’s song echo into your present moment. Let worship re-center your heart. Trust that the God who reigns above all things is also near to you, holding your life securely in His redeeming hands.

“God With Us: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love!”

Posted December 24, 2025
Filed under: Advent, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Christmas, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Liturgy, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Resurrection, Sermons, Song, Spiritual Warfare, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Christmas Reveals The God Who Is Always Near

As Christmas approaches, many of us are not longing for more celebration, we are longing for relief. December often arrives with exhaustion. Schedules fill up, spending piles on, emotions run close to the surface, and even the gatherings we hope will bring connection can carry tension and unspoken strain. We rush toward one day of joy, only to feel strangely empty, tired, or deflated when it passes.

For many, this season doesn’t feel light or magical. It feels heavy. We carry grief, disappointment, unresolved relationships, financial pressure, and the sense that nothing quite goes the way we planned. Beneath the lights and songs, there can be a quiet cloud of weariness, sadness, and confusion.

Scripture does not ignore this reality. It names it honestly:

Romans 8:22–23 (CSB) “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.”

And yet, this is exactly the kind of season into which Advent speaks.

As Advent comes to its close, we have been formed week by week by hope, peace, joy, and love. These are not passing emotions or seasonal themes. They are names for what happens when God comes near. Christmas is not the story of God stepping in only when things go wrong. It is the declaration that God has always intended to be with us, in joy and in sorrow, in clarity and in confusion. In Jesus Christ, God does not merely respond to human need; He reveals who He has always been.

Scripture tells us plainly how this love is made known: 

1 John 4:9 (CSB) “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.”

Hope is born not because the world suddenly improves, but because God has arrived. Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of Christ. Joy is not the denial of suffering, but the deep assurance that life is held by God. Love is not something we create, but something we receive because God loved us first.

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit God define love for us. We do not define it ourselves.

As the apostle John declares: 1 John 4:8 (CSB) “God is love.”

1 John 4:16 (CSB) “God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.”

These are not sentimental statements. They are theological declarations. They tell us that love is not merely what God does when circumstances demand it. Love is who God is. And Christmas represents the moment when that love takes flesh and dwells among us.

Theologian T. F. Torrance captures this truth beautifully: “God loves you so utterly and completely that he has given himself for you in Jesus Christ his beloved Son, and has thereby pledged his very being as God for your salvation.”— T. F. Torrance, The Mediation of Christ, p. 94.

This is the heart of Christmas: God does not give us something other than Himself. He gives Himself. His love is self-giving, faithful, and permanent.

In a world filled with uncertainty and noise, Christmas reminds us that the most serious reality in our lives is not the chaos around us, but the God who has come to dwell with us. God is not distant. God is not neutral. God is near and He is love.

Writing in the midst of a broken and violent world, Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminded the Church: “God loves human beings. God loves the world. Not an ideal human, but human beings as they are; not an ideal world, but the real world. What we find repulsive in their opposition to God, what we shrink back from with pain and hostility, namely real human beings, the real world, this is for God the ground of unfathomable love.”

A Reflection Moment:

Pause for a moment and consider this: God did not wait for the world to become peaceful and perfect before coming near. God did not wait for us to become joyful or loving before acting. Love arrived first.

Where do you need to stop striving and simply receive this love again?
What fear might be loosened if you trusted that God has already moved toward you?

This Christmas, rest in and enjoy the good news that the One who is our hope, peace, joy, and love has come near and He is here to stay.

Isaiah 9:6 (CSB)

“For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

“Joy To The World!”

Posted December 16, 2025
Filed under: Advent, Bible, By Richard Andrews, Christian Living, Christianity, Christmas, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Resurrection, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Part A:

Part B:

Full Sermon:

Scripture: Luke 2: 8-20

Summary:

On the Third Sunday of Advent, the church turns its attention to joy, not as a fleeting emotion or seasonal mood, but as a deep, unshakable reality rooted in who Jesus is. This gospel filled sermon by pastor Richard Andrews, calls us to resist allowing familiar songs, traditions, and routines to reduce Christ to background noise. Advent is a season of waiting, but it is also a season of awakening. A summons to refocus our hearts on the living Christ.

Drawing from Psalm 98, the psalm that inspired Joy to the World, we are reminded that joy is not merely personal, it is cosmic. All creation rejoices because God has made His salvation known. Seas roar, rivers clap, and hills sing because righteousness will not be left unresolved. In a world longing for justice and truth, Advent joy is anchored in the certainty that the Lord reigns and will judge the world with righteousness and equity.

That joy comes into sharp focus in Luke 2:8–20, where the angels announce to the shepherds, “good news of great joy for all people.” This joy does not ignore fear, hardship, or uncertainty, it speaks directly into them. “Fear not” is not denial; it is declaration. The shepherds respond immediately: they go, they see, they worship, and they testify. Encountering Jesus transforms passive observers into joyful witnesses.

Throughout the message, we are reminded that joy flows from knowing Jesus rightly. He is the Alpha and the Omega (Isaiah 44:6–8), present at the beginning, faithful in the middle, and sovereign at the end. He is the Lamb of God, the Light of the World (John 8:12), our Savior, and Emmanuel, God with us. He is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6–7), the Good Shepherd (John 10), and our faithful Intercessor. Because Jesus is sufficient, joy does not depend on our circumstances, performance, or emotional state. It depends on Him.

As C.S. Lewis reminds us, “Joy is the serious business of Heaven.”

And Charles H. Spurgeon captures the heart of Christian joy when he writes: “No joy ever visits my soul like that of knowing that Jesus is highly exalted.”

Advent joy, then, is not something we manufacture, it is something we receive. It flows from a living, vibrant relationship with Christ. Even in seasons of grief, weariness, or longing, joy remains possible because Jesus is present now, reigning now, and coming again. We rejoice not because life is easy, but because the Lord has come, and is still coming.

Key Themes and Reflection Questions:

  1. Joy Found in Who Jesus Is 🎁✨
  • Theme: True joy is not rooted in circumstances or feelings but in the identity of Jesus, the gift of God given in love to the world.
  • Discipleship Question: When joy feels distant, how can you intentionally refocus your heart on who Jesus is this week?
  • #JoyInJesus
  1. Jesus Is Never Background Noise 🎶👀
  • Theme: Familiar songs, traditions, and routines can dull our awareness of Christ if we are not attentive. Advent calls us to renewed focus on Jesus.
  • Discipleship Question: What is one way you can slow down and listen more attentively to Jesus during this season?
  • #EyesOnJesus
  1. Creation Rejoices at the Coming King 🌍🎺
  • Theme: Psalm 98 reveals that joy is cosmic. All creation celebrates God’s saving work and righteous reign.
  • Discipleship Question: How can your worship reflect the joy and confidence of a creation that knows the Lord reigns?
  • #JoyToTheWorld
  1. Fear Gives Way to Great Joy 🕊️📣
  • Theme: The angel’s message in Luke 2 declares that the birth of Jesus replaces fear with good news and lasting joy for all people.
  • Discipleship Question: What fear do you need to surrender to Jesus so His joy can take root in your heart?
  • #FearNot
  1. Joy Flows from Relationship, Not Performance ❤️🔥
  • Theme: Joy grows out of a vibrant, daily relationship with Jesus , Alpha and Omega, Savior, Shepherd, and King.
  • Discipleship Question: What practice can help deepen your daily relationship with Jesus so His joy overflows through you?
  • #LivingJoy

Reflective Moment:

As you move through this Advent season, pause and ask yourself: Is my joy tied to how life is going, or to who Jesus is? If weariness, distraction, or disappointment has dulled your joy, do not condemn yourself. Instead, open the gift again. Sit with Christ. Name Him for who He is. Let Him remind you that He is present now, faithful in the waiting, and victorious in the end. Advent joy is not forced. It is received, quietly, reverently, and faithfully, in the presence of Emmanuel, God with us.

“Advent in a World of Suffering: Hope in the Final Coming of Christ!”

Posted December 10, 2025
Filed under: Advent, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Christmas, Church, Discipleship, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Advent does not ask us to pretend the world isn’t aching. It does not demand that grief be hidden beneath Christmas lights, or that broken relationships suddenly feel whole because the calendar has turned to December. In fact, doesn’t December often feel harder, more hectic, more strained, more overwhelming than we expected?
Advent is given to turn our tired eyes back to Jesus Christ, to anchor our hope not in circumstances but in the certainty of His glorious coming again.
For all who sit in the tension of already but not yet, Advent whispers that Christ has come, Christ comes to us now, and Christ will come again in splendor.
It is the Father-Son-Holy Spirit-God’s word to the tired church, the grieving widow, the waiting intercessor, the one watching a loved one slip toward death, the member sitting in the sanctuary with silent pain behind the smile.

Advent is not the denial of sorrow; it is the defiant declaration that sorrow does not get the final word. It is the season where the Church lifts her eyes through tears and whispers Come, Lord Jesus. It is where we remember that Christ has already come, Christ comes to us now by His Spirit, and Christ will come again in glory. Advent reminds us that the manger was only the beginning, and the Cross was the victory; but the second Advent is the trumpet of victory, the unveiling of glory. This needs to be our focus.

Salvation is already accomplished, yet not fully consummated. We are redeemed, yet still being sanctified. Christ reigns, yet the world still groans beneath death and decay. And so we wait, not with wishful thinking, but with Christ’s promise.

John Calvin directs our longing upwards: “We must hunger after Christ until the dawning of that great day when our Lord will fully manifest the glory of His kingdom.” Institutes III.25.1 

Hunger grows strongest in seasons of ache, when our solutions fail, when prayers seem unanswered, when reconciliation never arrives, when hope feels thin. Yet, Advent proclaims that what we long for is coming. Not possibly. Not faintly. SURELY. Because Christ is not merely the child wrapped in straw anymore. He is The King who will return in glory.

John Calvin also comforts the suffering believer: “The Lord himself, by adversity, trains us to patience and obedience.” Institutes III.8.1 

We can still hope, knowing that suffering with Christ is never meaningless. It sanctifies. It loosens our grip on this passing age we live in and anchors us to the world to come. The world where God Himself will wipe every tear from our eyes and death will be no more. (Revelation 21:4). And even now, Scripture reminds us that “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord… they will rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them” (Revelation 14:13 NIV). In Christ, pain is never wasted; it becomes seed for glory.

 John Calvin continues: “Our present life is indeed a fleeting pilgrimage, but we are sustained by the hope of eternal life.” Institutes III.9.5  

Hope is not fragile. It is rooted in Christ.

Martin Luther, writing in the shadow of plague and death, declared: “Even in the midst of death, we Christians have a sure and certain hope.” Sermon on Preparing to Die (1519)

This is Advent.  Not sentiment, but substance.
Not shallow cheer, but the hope that defies the grave.
Not escape, but expectation.
Not rushing past pain, but waiting for the One who will end it.

Scripture tells us: “We wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13 (CSB) Blessed hope. Not a feeling but a promise. Not a mood but a return.

So, as we light the candles of Hope, Love, Joy, Peace, we are not just decorating tradition.
We are training our eyes for dawn while it is still dark.
We are forming hearts that know how to wait well.
We are teaching our souls to look to Christ Himself, not merely to relief.

Advent is for those who limp, not those who float. For disciples who fail and rise again. For churches who bury saints on Saturday and worship again on Sunday. For the weak, the wounded, the worn out. For us.

Christ has come. Christ comes to us now. Christ will come again. And when He comes, every tear will dry, every grave will surrender, every sorrow will be healed, every saint will stand in glory. Until then, we wait, hands lifted rather than empty. Not with fading hope, but with blessed hope. Not with denial of pain, but with faith in the One who will end it.

Come, Lord Jesus, COME. Our hope is in YOU ALONE. We are waiting, and with YOU we will not give up.

“Know The God Who Is Here And Is Coming!”

Posted December 2, 2025
Filed under: Advent, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Good News Celebration, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Resurrection, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Part A:

Part B:

Full Message:

Scripture: Revelation 4

Summary:

This first Sunday of Advent invites us to awaken from spiritual sleep and lift our eyes to the God who is both here and is coming. In This powerful sermon, Pastor Tim reminded us that time is not a dull, repetitive cycle but a purposeful, forward-moving story shaped by God’s self-revealing love. As Karl Barth writes, “God’s revelation is His self-unveiling, in which He speaks for Himself and acts for Himself; in which He makes Himself known.” Advent is this unveiling. God showing Himself, not staying hidden, not remaining distant, but revealing His heart through Jesus Christ.

Using the imagery of a spiral staircase, the sermon teaches that we are all moving either upward toward Christ, or downward away from Him. There is no neutral place in discipleship. To face Jesus in trust is to ascend by grace; to turn away is to drift downward. This sober picture is intensified by the reality of human fragility, the certainty of death, and the nearness of Christ’s return. We are closer to His final appearing today than we were last year, last month, or even yesterday.

Advent also calls us to understand the one coming of Christ expressed in a three-fold way:

  1. Christ came in the Incarnation.
  2. Christ comes now in the Holy Spirit.
  3. Christ will come again in His final, glorious Advent.

This is not confusion or contradiction, it is God’s relational, dynamic way of revealing Himself. As T.F. Torrance beautifully puts it, “God does not remain at a distance but draws near to us in His incarnate Son, making Himself known within the fabric of our human existence.” This nearness is not metaphorical; it is the very heartbeat of Advent.

Pastor Tim also helped us understand biblical “separation from God” not as God’s absence but as our relational refusal. God is present everywhere, sustaining all existence, even in the depths. Hell itself is not the absence of God. Hell has to do with rejecting a relationship with the Father, Son, Holy Spirit God…And we know that separation from God is not something God chooses for people…Hell is the natural consequence of rejecting the relationship God continually offers.”

Advent calls us to reject our double-mindedness, embrace the God who is making Himself known, and respond with trust, repentance, and love.

As Advent begins, the message is clear:
Wake up. Lift your eyes. Receive the God who is here and coming. And invite others into this urgent, beautiful relationship while there is still time. Christ is coming soon and HIS PROMISE is our hope.

Key Themes and Reflection Questions:

  1. Wake Up to God’s Presence 👁️🔥
  • Theme: Advent shakes us from spiritual sleep, reminding us that God is already near, closer than our breath, and calling us to renewed awareness.
  • Discipleship Question: Where have you grown spiritually sleepy, and how is Jesus inviting you to wake up to His presence?
  • #WakeUpToChrist
  1. Time Is Moving Toward Christ’s Return ⏳👑
  • Theme: Time is not a repeating cycle but a God-directed story moving toward the glorious return of Jesus.
  • Discipleship Question: How does remembering Christ’s soon return shape your priorities this week?
  • #ChristIsComing
  1. The Spiral Staircase of Discipleship 🌀✝️
  • Theme: We are always moving, either upward toward Jesus by grace or downward by neglect; there is no neutral ground.
  • Discipleship Question: Are you facing Christ in trust, or drifting downward in self-reliance?
  • #StepTowardJesus
  1. The One Coming of Christ in Threefold Advent 🌟🕊️✨
  • Theme: Christ came in the Incarnation, comes now through the Spirit, and will come again in glory. One God revealing Himself in three relational ways.
  • Discipleship Question: Which aspect of Christ’s Advent: past, present, or future, do you need to reflect on more deeply this season?
  • #GodWhoComes
  1. Relationship, Not Distance, Defines Salvation ❤️‍🔥🤲
  • Theme: Separation from God is never His absence but our refusal of relationship and Advent calls us back into His embrace.
  • Discipleship Question: Who in your life needs the hope that God is always present and always pursuing?
  • #ChooseRelationship

Reflective Moment:

Take a quiet moment and allow the truth of Advent to settle into your heart: the God who created you is nearer than your own breath, and yet He is also the One who comes, revealing Himself, drawing near, and inviting you into relationship. Let this season lift your eyes above routine and awaken your spirit to His presence. Hear His whisper: “I am here. I am coming. Stay awake to Me.” Trust His nearness, embrace His coming, and let hope rise in you again.

“Participate In The Passionate Spirituality Of King Jesus!”

Posted November 25, 2025
Filed under: Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Part A:

Part B:

Full Message:

Scripture: Acts 2: 42 (CSB)

Summary:

Christ the King Sunday calls us to remember that Jesus does not rule over a small, distant kingdom, He reigns over all creation, every place, every circumstance, and every moment of our lives. Even when the world feels chaotic, confusing, or out of control, Scripture declares that Christ is still the One who reigns, restores, and works all things together for good for those who love Him.

This powerful sermon by Pastor Timothy Brassell reminds us that salvation is not merely receiving something from Jesus, it is receiving His very life. In Acts 2:42, we see the pattern of Jesus’ own passionate spirituality now shared with His people: devotion to Scripture, fellowship, communion, and prayer. These are not religious tasks to check off but tangible ways we participate in the life He lives with the Father through the Spirit. As Athanasius so beautifully expressed: “He became what we are that He might make us what He is.”

Jesus does not force this life upon us; He invites us into it. He calls us into a relationship that grows, transforms, and reshapes us over time. And because He will one day return in glory, we live with a holy urgency, choosing participation over passivity, devotion over distraction, and love over indifference.

As ambassadors of reconciliation, we join Jesus in His ongoing work of calling others into this relational life with the Father. The gospel is not merely information; it is invitation. An invitation to share in the very life, love, and mission of King Jesus.

Key Themes and Reflection Questions:

1. Christ’s Reign as Our Present Reality 👑🌍

  • Theme: Because Jesus reigns over all creation, we can live with confidence that nothing in our world or our personal lives falls outside His loving authority.
  • Discipleship Question: Where do you need to trust Christ’s present reign instead of being shaped by fear or uncertainty?
  • #ChristReigns

2. Sharing in Jesus’ Life Through the Spirit 🤝🔥

  • Theme: Participation in Jesus means opening ourselves to His ongoing life, His mindset, His rhythms, and His relationship with the Father made available to us by the Holy Spirit.
  • Discipleship Question: How might you intentionally create space this week to participate in Jesus’ life, rather than merely observe it?
  • #ParticipateWithJesus

3. Devotion That Forms Us Into Christlike People 📖🤲

  • Theme: The early church’s devotion to Scripture, fellowship, communion, and prayer wasn’t routine, it was transformative. These practices shape us into people who mirror Christ’s character.
  • Discipleship Question: Which of these four devotions is most needed right now to shape you more deeply into the likeness of Jesus?
  • #DevotedChurch

4. Living Awake to Christ’s Coming ⏳🌅

  • Theme: Because Christ will return, we live with a posture of wakefulness, choosing faithfulness, compassion, and mission rather than spiritual sleepiness or distraction.
  • Discipleship Question: What one step could you take this week to live with greater spiritual attentiveness?
  • #LiveReady

5. Joining Jesus in the Ministry of Reconciliation 🌿🕊️

  • Theme: Reconciled by Christ, we now become His ambassadors, showing His grace, embodying His compassion, and extending His invitation to others.
  • Discipleship Question: Who might God be placing on your heart to encourage, reconcile with, or gently point back to Him?
  • #AmbassadorsForChrist

Reflective Moment:

As you sit with these themes, consider where Jesus is inviting you to say yes to His life this week. The passionate spirituality He lived before the Father is the life He now shares with you through the Spirit. Where can you open your heart a little more to His reign, His presence, or His invitation?

May your “yes” draw you deeper into the life of King Jesus; the life that makes us fully alive in Him.

“An Idolatrous People Receive Judgement!”

Posted November 18, 2025
Filed under: Bible, By Melvin McKee, Jr., Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Good News Celebration, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father Loves and Like You Celebration, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Part A:

Part B:

Full Message:

Scripture: 2 Kings 17

Summary:

In 2 Kings 17, we witness the heartbreaking fall of Israel, a nation blessed by God yet ruined by idolatry, compromise, and divided trust. Though God warned His people repeatedly through prophets, they refused to listen, rejecting His commands and chasing the empty promises of other nations, false gods, and their own desires. Israel’s downfall wasn’t sudden, it was the result of a long, steady drift from wholehearted devotion to God.

This powerful sermon by Pastor Melvin McKee reminds us that idolatry doesn’t always look like carved statues; it can show up as cravings for approval, security, power, pleasure, identity, or anything we elevate above God. When we place our hope in anything else, we eventually experience brokenness because idols cannot satisfy and cannot save.

Yet even in judgment, God’s heart is steadfast love. Like a Father who disciplines His children so they can live, He calls us to turn from what destroys us and return to Jesus, the only One who perfectly obeyed God and bore our judgment. Through the Spirit, God invites us to walk in true life, moving from idolatry to intimacy, from self-reliance to surrender, from wandering to worship, from spiritual emptiness to joy.

Key Themes And Relective Questions:

  1. The Danger of Divided Trust ⚠️💔
  • Theme: Israel tried to trust God while also relying on other nations and idols. Divided trust always leads to spiritual collapse.
  • Key Takeaway: God doesn’t accept part of our hearts; life is found when He becomes our only security.
  • Discipleship Question: Where are you tempted to divide your trust instead of resting fully in God?
  •  #WholeheartedTrust
  1. The Reality of Idolatry in Everyday Life 🗿➡️💭
  • Theme: Idolatry isn’t just ancient, it shows up whenever we rely on anything more than God for identity, joy, or meaning.
  • Key Takeaway: Idols promise satisfaction but deliver emptiness. Only God satisfies the human heart.
  • Discipleship Question: What subtle idols compete for your attention, affection, or allegiance?
  • #GuardYourHeart
  1. The Love That Warns ❤️📢
  • Theme: God sent prophets to lovingly expose Israel’s sin and call them back. Warnings reveal divine patience, not punishment.
  • Key Takeaway: Grace often comes as a warning. God exposes idols so we can return to Him and live.
  • Discipleship Question: How have you seen God’s warnings function as acts of love in your life?
  • #GraceThatWarns
  1. The Discipline That Restores 🛡️🔥
  • Theme: God’s discipline is not destruction. It is deliverance. He corrects His children so they may share in His holiness (Hebrews 12:7–11).
  • Key Takeaway: Though painful, discipline leads us back to life and deeper intimacy with God.
  • Discipleship Question: Where might God be using discipline to shape you more deeply into Christ’s likeness?
  • #LovingDiscipline
  1. Jesus: Our Deliverance from Idolatry ✝️🕊️
  • Theme: Israel failed under the weight of idolatry, but Jesus perfectly obeyed and took our judgment upon Himself.
  • Key Takeaway: Only Jesus can free our hearts from the idols we cling to and restore us to true worship.
  • Discipleship Question: How does Jesus’ obedience on your behalf inspire you to pursue Him with a whole heart?
  • #JesusOurHope

Reflective Moment:

When we look at Israel’s story, it becomes clear that idolatry is not just an ancient problem, it is a human problem. As Martin Luther reminds us, “That now, I say, upon which you set your heart and put your trust is properly your god.” Israel’s heart drifted, and if we’re honest, so do ours. We all reach for things that promise comfort, control, identity, or security, but none of them can carry the weight of our souls.

Yet the good news is this: God never stops coming after His people. His warnings are mercy. His discipline is love. His judgment is not the end of the story but an invitation back to life.

Today, take a quiet moment to ask: Where is God inviting me to return, to trust, and to let go of what cannot save? The One who calls you away from idols is the same One who welcomes you with open arms.

“The Priority of Jesus for His Present Church!” 

Posted November 11, 2025
Filed under: Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Lent, Liturgy, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Resurrection, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
* Comments (1)

Part A:

Part B:

Full Message:

Scripture: Acts 2: 36-42

Summary:

In this powerful and deeply reflective message, Pastor Timothy Brassell reminds us that Jesus is the living priority of His Church, not just in heaven, but here and now. Preaching from Acts 2:36–42, he invites us to rediscover the extraordinary presence of Christ in what we often call “ordinary time.” Though daily life may seem routine or wearisome, the Holy Spirit meets us in the ordinary, turning our everyday moments into sacred opportunities for transformation.

Pastor Tim explains that God Himself must teach us how to meet Him in Scripture. True preaching and faithful reading of the Bible begin not with what we should do, but with Who God is in Jesus Christ. The Father’s revelation in the Son, made alive to us by the Holy Spirit, draws us into participation with His divine life. Christ is both the message and the messenger, the Living Word through whom God reveals Himself and through whom we are transformed.

As theologian T. F. Torrance writes: “It is through Jesus Christ that we come to know God, for in Him the Word of God and the response of man meet together in one person.”— The Mediation of Christ

In this light, Pastor Tim reminds us that Jesus’ priorities for His Church, devotion to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer, are not four separate activities, but one shared life in Him. Through this shared life, the Church participates in Christ’s own faithfulness before the Father. God’s love, revealed unconditionally in Jesus, calls us not to passive belief but to unconditional surrender, a living response that takes shape through repentance, forgiveness, and the daily renewal of our hearts and communities.

This transforming love compels us to live and share the same grace we have received. Because the Father loves us unconditionally through the Son and Spirit, we are sent into the world to embody that same love. To be living witnesses of Christ’s ongoing life and mission.

As C. S. Lewis beautifully reminds us, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.”— The Weight of Glory

Even the most ordinary days become extraordinary when Christ is at the center. Every word of Scripture, every act of fellowship, every prayer, and every moment of kindness is an encounter with the Living Word who still walks among His people.

Key Themes and Reflection Questions

  1. The Extraordinary in the Ordinary ✨🙌
    • Theme: What seems “ordinary” in our daily lives is actually extraordinary because Jesus is present in every moment. His Spirit turns even the mundane into a sacred space for transformation.
    • Discipleship Question: How can you become more aware of Jesus’ presence in your everyday routines this week?
    • #ExtraordinaryOrdinary
  2. The Priority of Jesus for His Church ⛪🔥
    • Theme: Jesus Himself remains the center and priority of His Church, His people, both on earth and in heaven, calling us to live in constant participation with Him.
    • Discipleship Question: In what ways can you make Jesus, not activity or achievement, the true center of your faith community?
    • #JesusFirst
  3. Hearing the Living Word through Scripture 📖🕊️
    • Theme: God meets us personally in Scripture through the Spirit of Jesus; true preaching and reading begin with Who God is, not what we can do.
    • Discipleship Question: When you open the Bible, are you seeking information or an encounter with the Living Word Himself?
    • #WordAndSpirit
  4. Repentance and Renewal 💧❤️‍🔥
    • Theme: Repentance isn’t about guilt but transformation. Turning from self-centered readings of Scripture to Christ-centered participation in His life and love.
    • Discipleship Question: What areas of your spiritual life might need to be re-centered on Jesus’ way rather than your own?
    • #RepentAndRenew
  5. Unconditional Love and Costly Forgiveness 💞✝️
    • Theme: God’s unconditional love revealed in Jesus calls us not to passive acceptance but to unconditional surrender and costly forgiveness that mirrors His own.
    • Discipleship Question: How can you practice forgiving others in the same costly, grace-filled way Jesus forgave you?
    • #LoveThatSurrenders

Reflective Moment:

In the quiet rhythm of ordinary days, we are reminded that God still speaks, not only in the spectacular, but in the steady, everyday moments where His presence often goes unnoticed.
When we slow down and allow Scripture to reveal Who He is before asking what we must do, we discover that Jesus Himself is our pattern of life, the Living Word who interprets both Scripture and our hearts.

Let His unconditional love draw you into unconditional surrender.
Let His forgiveness teach you the costly joy of forgiving others.
And let His Spirit renew your ordinary moments into holy encounters with the extraordinary Christ.

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