FMC Tulsa

Jesus does not just want our belief -- he wants our lives. And the most fundamental way we follow him is by sharing our faith with the people around us. That calling can feel intimidating, but the answer is not more technique or more Bible knowledge. It is the Holy Spirit.

Before his ascension, Jesus told his disciples they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them, and then they would be his witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). That promise is still for us today.

Nothing less than a personal filling of the Holy Spirit will give us the courage and love we need to share our faith boldly. Are you asking Jesus to fill you afresh each day?

Jonah had a plan. God had a better one. And Jonah spent three days in the belly of a fish learning the difference.

This week, we looked at the real Jonah -- not the children's storybook hero flying out of the fish's fist raised in victory, but a man so committed to his own worldview that he ran to the ends of the earth to avoid God's call. Sound familiar?

Psalm 37:23 reminds us that God establishes the steps of those who delight in Him. The path to peace is not bending the world to your will. It is surrendering your plan and simply taking the next faithful step in His.

Whether you are starting a new school year or walking through loss, the calling is the same -- let God be God, and trust that one faithful step is enough.

The sermon explored the life of Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from Thyatira who appears in Acts 16:13-15, and who holds the remarkable distinction of being the first convert to Christianity on the entire continent of Europe. Her story is not simply a footnote in the book of Acts -- it is a powerful testimony to what God can accomplish through a person whose heart is open and willing. Lydia was not a prominent figure by the world's standards, and she was not even where she might have been expected to be. Yet because she was actively seeking after God, she was ready when the Holy Spirit moved. Her home became the first church on European soil, making her not only a convert but a church planter. Her example challenges each of us to examine how attentive and available we are to the call of God in our own daily lives.

Most of us will never be famous. We will not write books of the Bible or plant churches across continents. But the story of Ananias in Acts 9 reminds us that ordinary faithfulness changes the course of history. Before Ananias obeyed, he made himself available. When God called his name, he answered simply: "Yes, Lord, here I am." He did not know the assignment. He did not know the cost. He just said yes.

There would be no Apostle Paul without one ordinary disciple who showed up. God is still calling names today. The question is not whether he is calling. The question is whether we are available to hear him. Romans 5 tells us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. That same grace that welcomed Saul is the grace that welcomes us. May we wake up each day and say, Lord, today I am available.

Have you ever felt disqualified from your calling? Like the wreckage of your failures was the final word? Peter did too.

In this Sunday's message, Rebekah walked us through a tale of two fishing trips -- from Peter's first encounter with Jesus on the shore to his restoration after his greatest failure. Through shipwreck, gladness, and amazement, Peter became the rock Jesus always said he would be. Not through his own strength, but through Jesus' unyielding faithfulness.

Jesus came back to the beach. For Peter. And he is on the beach for you today.

Real leaders aren't made on the throne—they're made in the cave.

When David had the perfect chance to take down King Saul, everything in him screamed to act. His men urged him. Logic demanded it. But David asked a different question: "Why aren't you afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?" This wasn't about self-control. This was about transformation.

Submission costs everything, but on the other side? Your life. Real freedom in Christ. Our King didn't seize a throne—He took up a cross. The question isn't whether you'll restrain yourself from going after your "Saul." It's whether you revere God enough to trust Him with your vindication.

Every day we're drowning in choices. What to watch, what to buy, what to do. But Joshua cuts through the noise with ONE choice that actually matters: Will you serve God or something else? Here's the truth: The life you hope to have tomorrow is built by the choices you make today. Macro changes begin with micro choices. One prayer. One Sunday. One decision to say "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

No more halfway. No more backup plans. It's time to burn the boats and be all in. Because nobody accidentally follows Jesus - you have to choose. And if God has been faithful in your past, you can trust He'll be faithful in your future.

Today is the day. Make "one day" today.

What does it mean to truly take heart? Not to "suck it up" or look in the mirror for confidence, but to fill your heart completely with trust in God?

At 85 years old, Caleb said, "Give me this hill country." After 45 years of waiting, he was ready to face giants—not because of his own strength, but because God was with him. While ten spies saw themselves as grasshoppers, Caleb saw God's promises. The difference? Caleb wholly followed the Lord. He filled up his heart after God, leaving no room for fear to control him.

We all carry burdens and face giants. But like Caleb, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego facing the furnace, we can take heart knowing God never leaves us. When we seek first His kingdom (Matthew 6:33), when we trust that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39), we can face anything—even if we have to do it scared.

Hannah refused to let anyone stand between her and God. No priest. No tradition. No barrier. She threw herself down in prayer, pouring out her deepest pain and desire directly to the Lord—and God heard her. This is the model Jesus gave us: bold access to the throne of grace. Not through intermediaries, but directly through Christ. "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

Ever heard of Tertius? He appears exactly once in the entire Bible—Romans 16:22—where he writes, "I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord." He was Paul's scribe, the one who actually penned the 7,000+ words of Romans with cramped hands and careful letters.

Here's the truth: If Tertius hadn't done what he did, Paul couldn't have done what he did. Not everyone is called to be Paul. Most of us are called to be Tertius—the faithful servants working behind the scenes. And that matters eternally.

This world tries to make us feel small and inconsequential. But God put Tertius in Scripture to tell us something crucial: NO believer is inconsequential to the kingdom of God. Your life matters. Your faith matters. Your witness matters. You have a calling, and God is holding a place for you to fill it.