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What happens when your deepest fear becomes reality? When the one person who promised to love you forever betrays that trust completely? 

After discovering my wife's affair, I faced a devastating choice that would forever change my understanding of God's love. Standing in my living room, hyperventilating with grief, I heard God whisper an invitation not to justified anger, but to something far more difficult – and ultimately transformative.

Marriage isn't ultimately about our happiness, but something far greater. It's the most intimate picture we have of Christ's relationship with his church, designed to reveal how God loves us unconditionally. This perspective revolutionizes how we approach our relationships, whether married, single, or healing from past wounds.

Drawing from Colossians and 1 Corinthians, we explore biblical marriage as other-focused rather than self-focused. When spouses love each other not because they've earned it, but because God loves them, marriage becomes a powerful channel of healing. Conversely, when we focus primarily on getting our own needs met, we unintentionally destroy the fabric of our relationships.

My journey through betrayal, single fatherhood, and eventual redemption reveals how God works through our deepest pain to show us His character. Six boys under six, a two-bedroom apartment, and two broken people with mountains of baggage – not exactly a fairy tale beginning. Yet God used this unlikely new marriage to demonstrate His faithfulness and restore what seemed irreparably damaged.

Whether you're navigating the challenges of marriage, healing from divorce, or seeking God's design for relationships, this message offers hope that no matter what you've experienced or what you've done, God is not finished with your story. His redemptive power can transform even our most painful chapters into testimonies of His grace.

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What if the path to true happiness isn't through getting what you want, but through discovering who you truly are?

In this soul-stirring exploration of identity in Christ, we unpack how grace fundamentally transforms not just our relationship with God, but with everyone around us. The Corinthian church—so self-focused they were actually suing each other—serves as a powerful backdrop for understanding how easily we can forget our true identity and fall into patterns of harmful self-interest.

When Paul repeatedly asks "Do you not know?" he's not being condescending—he's lovingly reminding believers that they've forgotten something essential about themselves. Their behavior wasn't stemming from being terrible people, but from identity amnesia. Sound familiar?

We dive deep into the counterfeit paths to happiness our culture promotes versus the counterintuitive truth Jesus offers. While Satan whispers "you're missing something," God declares He's already given us everything we need through Christ. This revelation changes everything about how we pursue joy and make daily choices.

The sermon tackles difficult topics like sexual immorality within this context of identity, offering hope rather than condemnation. Our bodies aren't simply our own—they house precious cargo: the very Spirit of God. This truth doesn't restrict our freedom but reveals our immeasurable value and the path to genuine fulfillment.

Ready to stop "body-surfing on a dead corpse" of your old identity? Join us as we discover how embracing who we are in Christ leads to the joy, peace, and purpose we've been searching for all along.

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What do Will Smith's infamous Oscar slap and the ancient Corinthian church have in common? Both reveal profound truths about integrity, boundaries, and love within communities. Through a fascinating study of 1 Corinthians 5, we discover how maintaining purity within God's family isn't about punishment but about aligning our actions with our true identity in Christ.

For weeks, we've been building a foundation of understanding who we are in Christ—beloved, holy, righteous. Now we see how that identity plays out in community. When someone persistently acts in ways that harm others without remorse, the church faces a difficult but necessary decision. Like a hospital that welcomes the sick seeking healing but prevents the spread of disease, the church must sometimes establish boundaries for those who refuse to acknowledge how their actions affect others.

The difference between "I made a mistake and I'm sorry" and "I'll do whatever I want regardless of who it hurts" is the difference between humility and pride. And pride, as Paul warns, spreads like leaven through the entire community. By establishing loving boundaries, the church isn't rejecting people but protecting both its witness to the world and the individual's opportunity to recognize their disconnect from their true identity in Christ.

This teaching challenges us to see church discipline not as punishment but as restoration—creating space for natural consequences to lead someone back to alignment with who they already are in Christ. Whether you're struggling with your own failures or wondering how to respond to others', this message reminds us that we don't create holiness through our efforts; we simply live out the holiness Christ has already placed within us.

Have you ever wondered how to balance grace and accountability in your spiritual community? This message offers practical wisdom for navigating those waters with both truth and love.

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What if the root of all our problems came down to just one heart issue? This eye-opening exploration of 1 Corinthians 4 reveals the fundamental battle each believer faces—choosing between pride and humility. While most spiritual teachings focus on behavior modification through rules, we discover that transformation never happens that way.

The gospel shows us a radically different path. Rather than giving the struggling Corinthian church a list of dos and don'ts, Paul targets the underlying condition: pride. He masterfully exposes how pride—our natural tendency toward self-sufficiency—disconnects us from experiencing God's power. Through three penetrating questions, he challenges their boasting: "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?"

We journey into a fascinating exploration of Satan's fall, seeing how his repeated "I will" statements demonstrate the essence of pride—placing self at the center. This self-focus corrupts wisdom itself, making us believe we're being smart when we're actually being foolish. In stark contrast stands Jesus, who "made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant," showing us perfect humility.

The practical implications transform how we approach every relationship. Whether in marriage, parenting, work, or church life, humility is the only channel through which God's power flows. As James 4:6 simply puts it: "God gives grace to the humble, but he opposes the proud." This isn't just theological theory—it's the operating system of the Christian life.

Ready to exchange self-sufficiency for Christ-dependency? This message will show you how embracing your true identity in Christ leads to experiencing His power in ways you never thought possible. It's time to live from who you already are rather than striving to become something through your own efforts.

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Standing at a crossroads between two philosophies of life, we face a pivotal choice that determines our spiritual reality. Do we build our lives on the wisdom of this world—with its foundation of pride and self-sufficiency—or on God's wisdom, which emerges from humility and faith?

The world's wisdom tells us we must earn everything, deserve better, and can achieve it all through our own strength. Yet God's wisdom, seemingly foolish by worldly standards, reveals a counterintuitive truth: everything we truly need has already been freely given. Picture grace as a waterfall continuously pouring from heaven—our pride places us outside its flow, while humility positions us directly beneath its refreshing current.

Our union with Christ represents the most profound treasure of knowledge available to humanity. When we believe in Jesus, we share completely in His death and resurrection. His sacrifice becomes our forgiveness; His resurrection becomes our new life. This isn't merely philosophical—it's transformative. We receive a brand new heart and spirit while our physical body and brain gradually renew through continued faith.

Most Christians unknowingly sabotage their spiritual lives by "trying to get closer to God." This misunderstands our fundamental reality in Christ—we can't possibly get any closer than being in Him! Our challenge isn't earning more of God's presence but surrendering more areas of our lives to experience what's already ours. This surrender looks like rest, not striving; peace, not stress.

Which tower will you choose? Will you continue exhausting yourself digging broken cisterns that can't hold water, or will you drink freely from God's fountain of living water? The choice determines whether you'll experience the abundant life Jesus promised or continue struggling in your own strength. Everything you truly need—love, acceptance, purpose, healing—awaits in the tower of God's grace.

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What if you were told that you are literally the dwelling place of God? Not metaphorically, not symbolically, but truly and actually? That's exactly what the Apostle Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17: "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"

This message takes us on a profound journey through Scripture to uncover what it really means to be God's temple. Starting with Solomon's literal temple in the Old Testament, we discover how God placed His name, eyes, and heart there—but also how that physical dwelling was eventually destroyed because people stopped valuing their relationship with Him.

The revolutionary truth revealed in the New Testament is that God's temple is no longer a building but us—both individually and collectively as believers. This isn't just theological jargon; it completely transforms how we should understand ourselves and our purpose. You're not just someone who goes to church; you are the church. Every aspect of your existence is now sacred space.

But what does it mean to live as God's temple? The answer is refreshingly simple yet profoundly challenging: we come to Him. Not to a building, not to a set of rules, but to a person—Jesus Christ. Through faith (trusting Him) and humility (acknowledging our need for Him), we grow as living stones in God's spiritual house.

This teaching challenges the common misconception about "the fear of the Lord." Far from cowering in terror, having the fear of the Lord means valuing your relationship with God so highly that you treat it with appropriate honor and respect. It's like being entrusted with a priceless work of art—you don't take that responsibility lightly.

Whether you've never known what it means to have your burden of sin lifted, or you're a believer who's wandered away from walking in holiness, the invitation is the same: remember who you are in Christ. The temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

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This week, Pastor Shawn zooms out from personal identity and zooms in on corporate identity—what the Church looks like when we all wear Grace Glasses. Yes, you’re a new creation, but you’re not alone. God’s plan was never just to save individuals, but to knit together a family of misfits who learn to love like Jesus—together. The Church is the grace classroom, love laboratory, and spiritual farm where our new life gets tested, refined, and multiplied.

Paul starts with the source of division: leaders. People often get hurt by pastors, but Paul reminds us: leaders are just servants, not saviors. They're tools God uses to help others believe—some plant, some water, but only God gives the growth. Every pastor is just part of the farm crew, and the Church is God's field. So stop idolizing or criticizing leaders as if they’re the point—they’re not. The grace of God is.

Then Paul switches metaphors: the Church is a building, and the only solid foundation is Jesus. That means ministry must be done by grace—not law, not hype, not human cleverness. You can build with granite (truth) or straw (flesh), but a refining fire is coming, and only the grace-built things will last. This isn’t about salvation—Paul is clear—we’re saved by grace. But our work will be tested, and real, Spirit-led love will stand forever.

Finally, Paul gives a third image: the Church is a temple. Not a physical building, but a holy people where God’s Spirit dwells. That’s why purity matters. That’s why unity matters. That’s why love matters most of all. Because this isn’t a club, it’s a living, breathing Body of Christ. And every little act of grace and love, even unseen ones, are building something eternal.

Takeaways:

• The Church is not a stage, school, or system—it’s a family farm, a grace-built house, and a holy temple.
• Ministry must be built on grace or it won’t last.
• Leaders are servants—not the foundation, not the focus.
• You’re holy because Jesus made you holy. Now live out that identity together.

Next week: we dig deeper into what it means to be God’s temple and how grace makes us holy from the inside out.

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Pastor Shawn picks up Paul’s letter right where it starts to sting: the Corinthians are saints, yet they’re acting like they have two personalities—“spiritual” on Sunday, “carnal” the rest of the week. Paul calls them “babes in Christ” because, though they are new‑creations, they’re still trying to live out the Christian life on self‑effort. Like royal children bored in the palace, they’ve forgotten that the whole kingdom already belongs to them. Until they embrace their single, Spirit‑filled identity, they’ll keep chasing spiritual junk food that feeds ego instead of faith.

Drawing on Galatians 2:20 and 3:1‑3, Pastor Shawn reminds us that our old self was crucified with Christ—there is no second nature lurking inside us to manage or kill off. Growth comes the same way salvation came: by grace through faith. When we slip back into “flesh mode,” we trade the Spirit’s power for envy, strife, and division—the rotten fruit Paul now sees in Corinth. Milk (justification) got them started, but solid food (fruit‑bearing life) requires abiding in Christ, not doubling down on willpower. Anything that tells you “it all depends on you” is a lie that leaves you exhausted and immature.

So what’s the cure for this spiritual schizophrenia? Renounce self‑reliance and fix your eyes on Jesus—His finished work, His indwelling Spirit, His voice defining your identity. The Father doesn’t want better behavior; He wants His children to believe they’re already loved, holy, and joined to His Son like a sponge soaked in living water. When we live from that union, the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, and more—flows naturally. Stop letting old voices label you a sinner; listen to Jesus, put on your Grace Glasses, and grow up into the freedom that’s been yours all along.

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This week at OneTwo Church, Pastor Shawn invites us into the secret language of the Holy Spirit—a divine, deeply personal way God communicates His love directly to our hearts. Building on Paul’s teaching, we learn that while the world chases independence, intellect, and self-glory, true wisdom—the kind that transforms us—is found only in the Gospel of Grace.

The world doesn’t recognize the wisdom of God because it’s rooted in dependence, not self-sufficiency. It’s a mystery—hidden for ages but now revealed to those who love God. This mystery isn’t about head knowledge; it’s about relationship. As Pastor Shawn puts it: “You can’t just tell someone about God’s love—it’s too vast, too heartfelt, too much for words.” That’s why God gives us His Spirit, not just to teach us about love, but to fuse us to Himself. The Spirit doesn’t just tell us about God’s love—He delivers it moment by moment through spiritual union with Christ.

Referencing Ephesians 3 and Romans 5, Pastor Shawn explains how the Spirit enables us to “know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.” It’s like trying to describe a mother’s love for her child—impossible to fully explain, but undeniably real. The Gospel isn’t just something we learn—it’s something we live in, something we experience. That experience is only possible because of the Spirit living within us, revealing the promises of God and helping us grab hold of them by faith.

And here’s the challenge: Don’t wait for a feeling. Walk by faith in what God has said. When we believe, the Spirit affirms truth in our hearts—and our emotions and understanding will eventually catch up. This is how we grow in maturity. This is how we live by the Spirit, not by the flesh.

Pastor Shawn closes with a practical invitation: Get alone with God. Ask Him to reveal His love through Jesus. Open the Word, listen for His voice, and latch on to His promises by faith. As you do, give thanks. Worship. Praise. That’s the “secret language”—faith-filled response to Spirit-breathed truth. And it changes everything.

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This week, Pastor Shawn reminds us that the Christian life isn’t about being impressive, persuasive, or self-reliant—it’s about full dependence on Jesus. Picking up where last week’s message left off, Paul continues his contrast between worldly pride and Gospel humility. Though Paul was brilliant and gifted, he made a conscious decision not to rely on himself but to know only “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Why? Because only the death and life of Jesus carry the real power to change hearts. Pastor Shawn emphasizes that we were never made to live independently; true life is found in relationship—and relationship means reliance. And the word that best defines reliance on God? Love.

Paul’s radical ministry approach—marked by weakness, fear, and trembling—wasn’t a failure; it was a spiritual strategy. By refusing to depend on clever speech or charisma, Paul allowed the Spirit of God to do what only He can: awaken hearts to faith. This wasn’t flashy ministry—it was fruitful ministry, grounded in the life and death of Jesus. Pastor Shawn helps us see that we, too, are invited to this posture of surrendered dependence. The message of the cross not only removes our guilt but replaces our dead hearts with the living power of Christ. It’s not just about forgiveness—it’s about transformation through union with Jesus.

The episode closes with Paul’s core conviction: our faith must not rest in human wisdom but in the power of God. Whether we’re worn out in ministry, battling sin, or confused about joy—these are signs we might be relying on ourselves instead of Jesus. But the Gospel is more than enough. It’s not behavior modification or emotional hype—it’s divine power. As Romans 1:16 says, the Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. So today, Pastor Shawn urges us to return to the simplicity of faith in Christ alone, where all grace, strength, and wisdom are found.

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