FMC Tulsa

What if knowing the ending of the story actually made the journey richer rather than emptier? Unlike a novel where reading the last page drains the tension and joy from everything in between, the Bible works in the opposite direction. When we turn to the final pages of Revelation and see the breathtaking vision of a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language gathered around the throne of the Lamb, clothed in white and crying out that salvation belongs to God, it does not flatten our present experience. It transforms it. It gives us the courage to keep running the race, to release our grip on anxiety and fear, and to live with a deep, settled confidence. And because we know how the story ends, we can live and give and love in the present with a freedom that would otherwise be impossible.

Everything that matters most in life is rooted in relationship. Before we even know ourselves as individuals, we know ourselves in relation to others. And at the deepest level, we are made for relationship with God Himself.

In Genesis 28:20-22, Jacob wakes from his dream of a heavenly ladder and responds to God's promises with a vow, pledging a tenth of everything back to the One who gave him everything. His giving was not duty. It was the overflow of a relationship. That is the heart of stewardship. We give because God first gave to us, most extravagantly in His Son, Jesus Christ, who died for our sins that we might have life. Our generosity is simply our answer to His.

Anxiety is at an all-time high. Most of us are somewhere between worried and very anxious about the economy, world events, our families, and the future. And if we are honest, even our faith does not always silence the fear.

But here is the truth: God has never abandoned his people on the journey. Just as he led Israel through the wilderness with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, he promises to go with us now and always. That presence did not depart from the people then, and through the Holy Spirit, it does not depart from us today.

Jesus reminded us in Matthew 6 to seek first the kingdom of God, trusting that he holds what we cannot control. The key to shifting from anxiety to assurance is knowing that wherever you are going, God is going with you.

The sermon explored the final component of our faith-sharing toolkit — what happens after we share our faith with someone. Drawing on examples from the early church and the writings of the Apostle Paul, we examined how evangelism and discipleship are inseparable. True faith sharing does not end at the moment of conversion; it leads people into the life of the kingdom, into baptism, and into the fellowship of the body of Christ. The church is the household of faith, the place where new and seasoned believers alike are equipped, encouraged, and built up together for the work of ministry.

What is the worst thing that could happen if you share your faith with someone? A moment of awkwardness. And the best thing? You could change someone's eternal destiny. The reward outweighs the risk every single time.

In Acts 1:6-9, Jesus commissions his disciples -- and us -- to be his witnesses. Not just in our comfort zones, but to the very ends of the earth. That calling belongs to us just as much as it did to Peter, James, and John.

The good news is that Jesus never asks us to do it in our own strength. He promises power through the Holy Spirit -- and that same Spirit is alive and at work in his church today.

You were never meant to do it alone. When Jesus sent His disciples out, He sent them two by two -- not because He lacked confidence in them individually, but because He knew we are stronger together.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Paul calls us to encourage one another and build each other up. That is not just a suggestion -- it is the design. The paralyzed man in Mark 2 never reached Jesus on his own. It was the faith of four determined friends that carried him there.

Whether it is sharing your testimony, inviting a neighbor to church, or simply showing up for someone who is struggling, the work of faith is done together. In the body of Christ, we are greater than the sum of our parts.

God told the prophet Habakkuk something simple and powerful: "Write down the revelation." (Habakkuk 2:2-3) That command is just as relevant for us today as it was thousands of years ago.

This week, we are challenging every member of our church family to write down their testimony. How did you come to faith? What has God done in your life? Your story is one of the most powerful tools you have for sharing the love of Jesus with the world around you.

What does it really mean to follow Christ, and how do we actually get there? This message digs into a question that sits at the heart of every believer's journey: how do ordinary people grow into the kind of Christ-like maturity that changes the world around them? Drawing from Paul's words to the church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 4, we explore the idea that spiritual growth is not a solo endeavor. Just as children learn to walk, talk, and live by watching and imitating those closest to them, we grow in faith by walking alongside people whose lives reflect the character of Jesus. Paul's distinction between a guide and a father is striking and deeply personal. A guide does a job. A parent loves. And it is that love-driven investment in one another that moves a community of believers from spiritual infancy into full maturity. The message calls us to look honestly at the people who have shaped our faith and to ask ourselves whether we are becoming that kind of person for someone else. The invitation is not reserved for the spiritually elite. It is extended to every one of us who is willing to say yes to Jesus and take the next faithful step.

What if sharing your faith had nothing to do with having the perfect words? Jesus tells His disciples in Matthew 10 not to worry about what to say -- because it will not be them speaking, but the Spirit of the Father speaking through them.

That changes everything.

Paul himself admitted he came to the Corinthians "in weakness and in fear and in much trembling" -- not with lofty speech, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power (1 Corinthians 2). Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, stood before a hostile crowd and his face shone like an angel's. Neither of them relied on their own ability. They relied on God's.

You do not need to be a spiritual superhero to share your faith. You need to trust the One who speaks through you. Surrender to the Spirit, and let Him do the rest.

"Whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know. But one thing I do know -- I once was blind, but now I see." Twenty-four words. A complete testimony. And it is all any of us needs to share our faith.

This week we explored what it means to be both called and sent -- called to believe in Jesus, and sent into the world to share that belief with others. As 1 Peter 3 reminds us, we must always be ready to explain the hope within us.

Your story does not have to be complicated. It only needs three things: what life looked like before Jesus, how you encountered Him, and the difference He has made since. That is your testimony. That is your power.