Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

Luke 9:1, Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. 62, But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

"Fit” means suitable, ready, or well-positioned for kingdom service. 

Pastor Hudson reviews the earlier themes of the series: the peril of the past, seen in Lot’s wife looking back; the peril of the present, seen in Israel facing the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army; and the promise of the future, which requires faith to see beyond present obstacles. He stresses that before people can move forward outwardly, they must first move forward inwardly—in heart and mind.

Using Luke 9:62, Pastor Hudson explains that Jesus’ words about putting one’s hand to the plow and not looking back speak to focus, commitment, and Kingdom readiness. To be “fit for the kingdom” means being suitable, ready, and well-positioned for God’s service. Looking back, carrying too many distractions, or losing focus makes a person ineffective in their calling.

He then connects this to the story of the man at the Pool of Bethesda in John 5. The man had been disabled for 38 years and was trapped in a system of false hope, waiting for healing in the water but never experiencing change. Pastor Hudson says the man’s real problem was not just his condition, but the system he was stuck in. Bethesda represents the kinds of systems people rely on that actually keep them stuck—socially, emotionally, spiritually, financially, or relationally.

A key insight of the message is this: you are not the stuck thing; the system is stuck. People are not defined by their trauma, environment, or condition. God did not create anyone to live in bondage. Pastor Hudson uses the illustration of boots stuck in mud: the person is not stuck—the boots are. The answer is to step out of them. In the same way, believers must step out of mindsets, habits, environments, and patterns that keep them bound.

He emphasizes that the miracle for the man at Bethesda was not in the water, but in leaving the water when Jesus said, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” Becoming unstuck is not always dramatic; often it happens through simple but important steps like changing your environment, setting boundaries, changing your mindset, ending destructive relationships, refusing gossip, or breaking unhealthy cycles.

The message closes with the acrostic FORWARD:

John 5:5, Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.6, When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

A system is a structure of interacting parts that produces outcomes, good and bad.

In this text, we see the convergence and collision of different systems:

Detailed Summary: “The Peril & Promise of Systems” (Generated by OpenAI)

By Bryan Hudson, D.Min.  ~  New Covenant Church, March 8, 2026

Central Message:

1. Living Between the Peril of the Past and the Promise of the Future

The message begins by framing the spiritual posture necessary for moving forward with God.

Three dangers are identified:

1. The Peril of the Past

2. The Peril of the Present

3. The Promise of the Future

The Exodus story illustrates this principle. When Israel faced the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army approaching behind them, God told Moses to “tell the people to go forward.” Even when the path was not visible, the first step forward was a change in mindset.

Forward movement begins not with physical action but with transformed thinking.

2. Three Levels of Forward Action

Three scriptures illustrate how God’s purposes operate across three dimensions:

Heavenly Perspective

Psalm 103:19, The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

The Church’s Role

1 Corinthians 3:9, For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

Society and Justice

Jeremiah 22:3, Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.”

Together these passages show that believers must be “heavenly minded and earthly good.” Our faith must translate into real-world service.

3. The Purpose of the Church

The sermon challenges a shallow form of Christianity focused only on religious activity.

The church exists not merely to “have church” but to serve people and influence society.

True Christianity involves action:

Believers are meant to become living expressions of Christ—“epistles read by all people.”

4. Jesus’ Model of Compassion

Matthew 25 is presented as a defining picture of what authentic Christianity looks like.

Jesus identifies Himself with: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the homeless, the sick the imprisoned

Serving people in need is therefore equivalent to serving Christ Himself.

The sermon critiques versions of Christianity that ignore or reject vulnerable people while claiming religious authority. Authentic faith must mirror the compassion of Jesus.

5. Understanding Systems

The central theme of the message is the nature of systems.

A system is defined as:

“An organized structure of interacting parts that produces outcomes—good or bad.”

Systems shape human experience in every area of life.

Examples include: government systems, legal systems, healthcare systems, travel systems, cultural systems, religious systems, family systems

Even God’s kingdom operates as a system—one that is perfectly just and life-giving.

6. Navigating Systems

Successfully navigating systems requires several qualities: Knowledge, Patience, Perseverance, Adaptability, Courage to challenge unjust systems

Every person lives within systems they did not create. These systems influence opportunities, expectations, and outcomes.

Understanding systems helps believers serve people more effectively because people’s struggles are often connected to the systems surrounding them.

7. Systems Can Be Good or Harmful

Not all systems are negative. Many systems are necessary for order.

For example:

Air Traffic Control

Civil laws are also intended to create fairness and stability.

However, systems can be corrupted and used to control or disadvantage certain groups.

Historical examples include laws that: enforced racial segregation, prevented enslaved people from learning to read, criminalized basic freedoms

These examples demonstrate that some systems were not broken but intentionally designed to produce inequality.

8. Systems and Social Inequality

The sermon discusses how societal systems often determine who receives opportunity.

The concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is described as an attempt to correct systems that historically excluded certain groups.

The idea is not to promote unqualified individuals but to ensure that qualified people from underrepresented groups receive fair opportunity.

The biblical vision of heaven supports diversity:

Revelation 7:9 describes a multitude of people from every nation, tribe, and language worshiping God together.

This heavenly picture affirms that God values diversity rather than hierarchy among people.

9. The Danger of False Religious Systems

The sermon strongly critiques religious systems that claim Christian authority while ignoring Christ’s teachings.

History shows that harmful systems often arise from distorted theology, including:

When religion becomes detached from Christ’s character, it becomes dangerous because it prioritizes power and control over compassion.

10. The Systems at Bethesda

The story of the healing at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5) illustrates how multiple systems can collide.

Several systems were operating simultaneously:

1. The System of the Sick: A community of disabled individuals gathered around the pool, trapped in a cycle of waiting and suffering.

2. The System of False Hope: A legend claimed that an angel stirred the water and the first person into the pool would be healed.

However, historical evidence suggests no reliable healings occurred.

The system gave people hope but actually maintained their stagnation.

3. The System of Social Neglect: In that era, disabled individuals were often believed to be cursed by God, which justified society’s failure to care for them.

4. The Religious System: Religious leaders prioritized Sabbath rules over human suffering.

When the healed man carried his bed, they accused him of violating religious law rather than celebrating his healing.

5. The System of Jesus and the Kingdom of God: Jesus introduced an entirely different system—one based on compassion, liberation, and divine authority.

When Jesus said, “Rise, take up your bed, and walk,” He overrode every other system operating in that place.

11. Systems Can Trap People

The man at Bethesda had been trapped for 38 years.

His greatest limitation was not his physical condition but the system he believed in.

When Jesus asked if he wanted to be healed, the man responded by explaining the system of the pool.

Instead of expressing faith, he defended the system he had learned to rely on.

People often remain stuck because they are attached to systems that cannot truly help them.

12. Detaching From Broken Systems

Deliverance often requires detaching from the systems that sustain stagnation.

A person connected to a failing system will continue moving in the direction that system is going.

Just as peer groups can influence young people toward destructive behavior, larger systems can also shape life outcomes.

Transformation requires re-alignment with a better system.

13. The Kingdom of God as the Ultimate System

The sermon concludes by affirming that the Kingdom of God is the system believers must anchor themselves to.

Jesus taught: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

The kingdom provides the wisdom necessary to navigate every other system in the world.

14. The Call to Action

The sermon closes by challenging believers to evaluate their relationship to systems.

Each person must ask:

Christ followers must move beyond simply attending church and instead become agents of transformation, helping people navigate and improve the systems that shape society.

Hebrews 12:1-2, Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The greatest challenge to moving forward is the past and the present

Three perspectives:

THE PERIL OF THE PAST

Successes, failures, mistakes, and even people who keep us looking back. 

THE PERIL OF THE PRESENT

Allowing circumstances alone to define your reality.

The perils of the past and present can conspire to ruin your perception of the future

THE PROMISE OF THE FUTURE

Summary of Message by Pastor Bryan Hudson, DMin

FORWARD: The Only Direction God Is Moving

(Generated by OpenAI)

This message presents “Forward” as a foundational theme: God’s direction is always forward, and those who walk with Him must align themselves with that movement. The focus is on developing the right perspective, mindset, and faith to move into a new season with clarity and spiritual strength.

Hebrews 12:1–2, Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Perception by Ryan Holiday: Perception is how we see and understand what occurs around us—and what we decide those events will mean. Our perceptions can be a source of strength or of great weakness. 

Just because other people say that something is hopeless or crazy or broken to pieces doesn’t mean it is. We decide what story to tell ourselves. Or whether we will tell one at all. Welcome to the power of perception. 

Forward Is a Mindset

Forward is more than physical movement. It is a way of thinking and living. Without a forward mindset, life becomes confined to two realities:

But God is always revealing something beyond what we currently see. A forward mindset embraces growth, development, and destiny rather than remaining trapped in memory or circumstance.

Perception Shapes Experience

A central principle of the message is that perception influences reality. Events are real, but how we interpret them determines how they shape us. Believers must guard against allowing:

to define their reality.

This is not about positive thinking alone; it is about aligning perception with God’s Word, promises, and character. Faith itself is a God-centered perspective.

What you perceive may not automatically change circumstances—but it will change you, and that transformation positions you for forward movement.

Hebrews 12:1–2 — The Roadmap for Forward Movement

The message uses Hebrews 12:1–2 as a spiritual roadmap for going forward:

Forward living requires discipline and focus. Just as travel requires a map, purposeful spiritual movement requires direction and clarity.

The Greatest Obstacles: The Past and the Present

The message identifies two major threats to forward progress, along with a third contrasting promise:

The Peril of the Past

The past becomes dangerous when it pulls us backward emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. The peril of the past includes:

A key distinction is made:

Looking back prevents growth because it distracts from what God is doing now. The warning of Lot’s wife illustrates that backward movement can lead to destruction. She was instructed to flee judgment, but instead turned back toward what she was leaving. The lesson: when God says move forward, hesitation and reversal are dangerous.

The message also emphasizes the importance of accurate remembrance. Ignoring or distorting history does not solve problems; it perpetuates them. To move forward properly, foundations must be truthful and sound.

The Peril of the Present

The present becomes perilous when circumstances alone define identity and possibility.

The example of Israel at the Red Sea (Exodus 14) demonstrates this danger. They had been delivered from slavery but faced:

Their past slavery mindset combined with present fear tempted them to retreat. Circumstances seemed to say they would never be free.

The command “Go forward” was not merely directional; it was transformational. It was a call to:

Even when nothing had visibly changed in the moment, God’s word introduced a new reality. The message stresses that the greatest difference between a crisis and victory is often what you think about it. God’s perspective interrupts fear and invites repentance—not necessarily from sin, but from wrong thinking.

Repentance is defined as changing the mind, and mindset change becomes the gateway to blessing.

Moving Forward Requires Intentional Alignment

Forward progress may require practical changes:

Standing still is easy. Moving forward is difficult because it involves risk, mistakes, and emotional discomfort. But stopping is not an option if God is moving.

The Promise of the Future

If the past contains peril and the present contains pressure, the future contains promise.

The promise of the future rests on two anchors:

These provide stability when circumstances fluctuate. Jesus endured the cross “for the joy set before Him,” seeing the future redemption of humanity. That forward vision sustained Him through suffering.

Likewise, believers endure by focusing on what God is building ahead.

The Meaning of FORWARD

The message concludes by defining forward living through seven qualities:

Final Emphasis

The core declaration remains clear:

God’s way is forward. Those who walk with Him must move in that same direction—mentally, spiritually, relationally, and missionally—bringing others along toward redemption and purpose.

Psalm 37:39–40, “But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.”

Prayer: I trust You, Lord.

MESSAGE SUMMARY

Learning to Trust God with the Desires of My Heart

By Patricia Hudson, M.S.

1) Opening prayer and purpose of the message

Patricia opens by thanking God for the day and asking Him to help her speak words that are “seeds”—words that will touch hearts and produce fruit in the lives of both in-person listeners and livestream viewers. Her prayer emphasizes that God’s work is corporate and individual: He is speaking to the whole church, but also to each person’s specific life, struggles, and calling.

She thanks Dr. Bryan Hudson for the opportunity to minister, connecting her message to the church’s yearlong focus: “Delight in the Lord, desires of the heart fulfilled.” She references an earlier teaching (Dec. 28) titled “Joy is Delight, Bent for God,” which becomes the foundation for how she develops Psalm 37:4.

2) Starting with the Day 4 devotional: Delight means “bent”

With Pastor Hudson’s permission, Patricia begins by reading the Day 4 devotional, “Delight in the Lord.” The devotional’s key idea is that:

This introduces a crucial lens for the entire sermon: delight is not a feeling only—it is a direction. Delight means your inner life is being shaped, inclined, and formed.

She stresses that because “to delight is to be bent,” we must pay attention to our desires and discern whether they come from God or from something else. As we delight in the Lord—His character, presence, and promises—God forms us into a “shape” that pleases Him.

3) Relational, not transactional: God gives transformed desires

Patricia repeats a major refrain: life with God is relational, not transactional. In other words, Psalm 37:4 is not a “deal” where people delight so God gives a wishlist. Instead:

She quotes Pastor Hudson’s idea that what comes from being “bent” through relationship with God is being granted, bestowed, and entrusted with genuine heart desires. She also highlights another phrase: Jesus refines, aligns, and “calibrates” the heart, so what we increasingly desire reflects God’s will.

4) The “bend” metaphor: transformation can be uncomfortable

Patricia explains why “bend” matters to her: bending changes shape, and bending is not always comfortable. Depending on age, bending can be easier or harder, but the point is spiritual:

This becomes a pastoral encouragement: discomfort does not mean God is absent—it can mean God is shaping you.

5) The guiding questions: where do desires come from?

Patricia invites the Holy Spirit to guide listeners through several reflective questions:

Her direction is clear: this teaching is not merely about getting what we want, but about understanding purpose.

6) Word study: “desires of the heart” as petition flowing from delight

Patricia introduces a word study to emphasize that Psalm 37:4 is specific. She explains that the Hebrew term she’s focusing on carries the sense of:

She says this word appears only twice in the Old Testament (Psalm 20:5 and Psalm 37:4), which for her underscores that the phrase is purposeful and weighty.

Her takeaway: true desires of the heart become petitions God is willing to satisfy when they arise from delight in Him. So she urges people to watch how they use the word “desire”—because we can want many things, but “desires of the heart” in this sense are the kind that rise out of communion with God.

7) Continual desires: God isn’t done with you

One of her most encouraging points is that the “desires of the heart” concept implies something ongoing—not finished, continual. That excites her because it speaks directly to people who wonder, especially later in life, “Lord, is there still more?”

Her answer is yes: as you continue delighting in the Lord, God continues shaping desires and giving zeal and passion to finish your race and fulfill purpose—regardless of age.

8) Abraham and Sarah: a case study in trust, waiting, and purpose

Patricia then turns to Abraham and Sarah to show how this works in real life. She frames their story as a living example of learning to trust God with heart desires.

a) Genesis 12 — Called to go without knowing

b) Genesis 15 — God promises an heir

c) Genesis 16 — Sarah tries to “help God”

d) Genesis 17 — God reiterates: “I said what I said”

e) Genesis 21 — Isaac is born after 25 years

She states it plainly: circumstances don’t change the promise, and delays don’t cancel God’s purpose when we remain delighted in Him.

9) Genesis 22 — The test: will you trust God with what you love most?

After Isaac arrives—the heart’s desire—God tests Abraham: offer Isaac. Patricia frames this as the ultimate picture of her theme:

Abraham prepares to obey, declaring in faith that God will provide. God stops him and provides a ram. Then God reaffirms the covenant again: blessing, descendants, and worldwide impact through Abraham’s offspring.

Patricia’s conclusion from this scene: Abraham learned trust over time, and the test revealed where his heart truly rested—in God, not merely the promise.

10) Bigger than personal blessing: prophetic purpose fulfilled in Christ

Patricia then lifts the story to its larger meaning:

She reads from Romans 4 to emphasize that Abraham’s faith was recorded for our benefit, so believers today can trust that God keeps His promises and counts faith as righteousness through Christ.

11) Modern illustrations: “the this” and “the that,” and purpose that blesses others

Patricia brings the message into contemporary life through two examples:

a) Jan Mitchell’s testimony (Jan. 18)

b) Ophelia Wellington and Freetown Village

12) Closing invitation: partner with God, don’t perform for God

Patricia closes by returning to Pastor Hudson’s framing: as we delight in Him, we will see the desires of our heart fulfilled. She calls the congregation to accept God’s invitation:

And she clarifies: these are not fleshly works to earn something; we are laborers together with God. 

Reflection Question: In light of this Scripture and lesson, what does waiting on the Lord mean?

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Sermon Summary: “The God of Your Days”

Psalm 37 is a psalm of wisdom, not lament. It instructs believers how to live faithfully when injustice and wickedness appear to prosper. God’s command to “do not fret” calls for courageous engagement without anxiety, fear, or spiritual distortion.

“The LORD knows the days of the upright” affirms God’s intimate involvement in every season of life—past, present, and future. God is the God of all our days, including times of joy, hardship, abundance, and loss.

God’s faithfulness extends across generations. Long before we were born, God was already at work, planting seeds through the faith, obedience, and integrity of those who came before us. Our true inheritance is not merely material but includes faith, character, courage, and purpose—things that outlast wealth and recognition.

Remembering and preserving inheritance is essential. Forgetting history weakens identity, while intentional storytelling strengthens future generations.

Above all, God Himself is our greatest inheritance. Unlike material possessions, what God gives cannot be lost, diminished, or destroyed. Because our hope is in Him—not in systems or people—we will not be ashamed in evil times.

God preserves His people through both trust and action. Faith works through obedience, wisdom, and responsibility. Even in seasons of famine—spiritual or natural—those who remain grounded in God’s Word will be satisfied.

Final Affirmation: