Living Faith Christian Church: Messages, Studies, & Stories

Serious runners know the agony of hitting “the wall,” when pain and exhaustion threaten to overwhelm any hope of finishing the race. Life is similar—everyone faces suffering, and often it feels endless, lonely, and unbearable. Physical, emotional, or spiritual anguish can leave the finish line of relief feeling impossibly far away. In a broken world marred by rebellion, disease, and loss, Christians are not spared from hardship; sometimes, our struggles mirror marathoners pressing on through intense pain. In Revelation 2:8-11, Christ spoke words of encouragement and promise to the suffering church, assuring them—and us—that he is present in our darkest moments and his love, comfort, and hope are greater than any affliction.

The human search for significance can leave people exhausted as they strive to meet overwhelming expectations. Many pour themselves into raising children, trying to provide the perfect upbringing, while guilt and fear whisper that every failure means defeat. Others seek approval at work, in relationships, or online, believing their value depends on constantly measuring up. That pressure—whether as a parent, employee, friend, or student—can drain every ounce of energy and hope. These lies corrupt our minds and hearts, but Jesus offers good news to those running on empty. In Revelation 2:12-17, Jesus spoke to the drained church with words of encouragement, correction, and promise. His love assures us that our worth comes not from our performance, but from his grace, which refreshes exhausted souls.

Those who aspire to play guitar, know that the learning process means enduring sore fingers and raw skin, but after enough practice, callouses form—making the pain fade and the music flow. Yet, those same callouses that strengthen a guitarist’s skill can eventually dull sensitivity to touch and feeling. In life, there’s a similar risk: we work hard to build spiritual resilience, but sometimes what makes us tough can make us insensitive, less tender to others and even to God. Jesus addressed this danger in Revelation 2:1-7, which contains his words of encouragement, correction, and promise for callous Christians.

At the eastern tip of Long Island, there’s an iconic lighthouse, a steadfast symbol of a time past when ships sailed the dangerous waters of the Atlantic. When you stand next to it or even inside it at the top, it’s not hard to picture the storm battered lighthouse keepers—the men responsible for shining the light when sailors depended on it most. Like a keeper in the storm, the Apostle John found hope while exiled on Patmos, surrounded by the storms of persecution and uncertainty. In that isolation, John wrote down his shining vision of Jesus: radiant, glorious, walking among his church. John realized the churches weren’t abandoned, but held safely by Christ, the true Lord—present, active, and commanding history itself. Revelation 1:9-20 contains four statements that describe our Lord of the Church.

In February 1861, Abraham Lincoln’s said farewell to the town where he lived, Springfield, Illinois, as he was about to become the President of the US. His speech was filled with emotion, gratitude, and a desire for his people’s blessing as he faced the unknown. In a similar, but much more profound way, Jesus gave a final message to his church in a vision to the Apostle John, which John wrote down called the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ words are weighty and filled with blessing, not only for the ancient churches, but for every church—including yours—across time. It begins with Revelation 1:1-8, which celebrates these blessings—where they come from, who receives them, what they’re like, and how we can open our lives to receive all Christ has for us.

When his health began to fail in 1859, Rufus Choate planned a trip to England for some rest and advanced healthcare. At that time, a friend reportedly said to him, “I feel sure that your health will be restored, and you will be living ten years from now.” Rufus replied, “Living ten years from now! I shall be living a thousand years from now!” He died a few days later. Faith is not just looking back at the Cross for forgiveness and healing or looking up at the throne for power to change from King Jesus. Faith looks forward to what the Lord said he will do in the future. 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 has five benefits of forward-looking faith that will help us persevere through the challenges of this life.

A few months ago, I went to start one of our church vans, and when I turned the key all I heard was silence. The battery was completely dead. After a jumpstart, a trip to autozone, and a new battery, it roared back to life. That van is a mirror of how many of us live. We smile and show up, but deep down, we’re running on fumes. We’re emotionally drained, spiritually empty, and mentally worn out. In John 15, Jesus says, 'I am the true vine,' reminding us that he is our source of our life and power. Jesus isn’t calling us to try harder. He’s inviting us to abide. Come experience the joy of renewal as God breathes life into what feels dry, tired, and worn out.

In 1998, Thomas Monaghan retired the founder, president, and chief executive officer of Domino’s Pizza, Inc. From 1970 to 1985, he grew it from a small debt-ridden chain to the second largest pizza company in America, with sales of over one billion dollars. When asked to account for the phenomenal growth of the company, Monaghan explained, “I programmed everything for growth.” How did he do that? He said, “Every day we develop people – the key to growth is developing people.” He didn’t focus on special cheese, a tasty crust, or fast delivery schedules, but on developing more leaders. If that is true for a pizza chain, how much more true is it for the church! 2 Timothy 2:1-7 contains 5 characteristics God wants his faith leaders to develop so that his church grows.

One day, a farmer pointed out to a friend his thriving crops and healthy livestock. His companion was especially impressed with the beautiful sheep in the pasture. He had seen the same breed before, but never such attractive animals. Curious, he asked the farmer how he had managed to raise such outstanding sheep. The answer was straightforward but profound: “My friend, I just take very good care of the lambs.” There’s a lesson in that story for churches. No matter how big a church gets, it should always maintain a focus on shepherding. Further, that focus should be particularly strong towards new people, the lambs that God has led there. Acts 20:17-38 describes at least 4 characteristics of good spiritual shepherds for every church to emulate.

A man who sold Christmas trees, noticed a couple on the hunt for one in his parking lot. They found a Scotch pine that was okay on one side but pretty bare on the other. Then they picked up another tree that was not much better. The salesmen agreed to sell them both cheap because he didn’t think anyone else would buy them. A few days later he noticed a beautiful tree in the couple’s apartment. They had pushed the two trees together where the branches were thin and tied the trunks together. The branches overlapped and formed one full and healthy-looking tree. That story is similar to something taught in Ephesians 4:11-16. It has 3 principles about how God puts imperfect people together in the church to form one full and healthy group.