Sea Change Sermons

In this sermon, we examine Genesis 22:1-8, where God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Abraham’s response, “Here I am,” reveals a heart fully surrendered to God’s calling. This moment reflects a larger biblical pattern of faith and obedience seen in figures like Moses, Samuel, and Isaiah, who also responded with “Hineni” (Here I am) when God called them.

Through this passage, we explore two key themes:

Reflection questions for personal or group study:

Pastor Adam noticed something in Genesis 22 that is easy to read past. God had spoken to Abraham at least nine times before this — the call, the promises, the covenant, the visit at Mamre — and had never once used his name. The first time God says "Abraham!" is the moment of the test.

He reads that as a graduation. Something in the relationship changes when God uses your name, and what follows is not a reward but an assignment nobody would want.

Two points. God knows your name rather than your number, backed with Jeremiah, Isaiah, John 10 and Revelation. And cultivate a here-I-am attitude, which Adam explains from how a household servant answered in the ancient world: not what do you want, but yes, my lord — agreement given before the request arrives.

Then he turns it on the room. People regularly tell him they wish God would speak audibly. He points at what God said to Abraham the moment he did, and asks honestly whether anyone actually wants that.

He offers three graduation moments from his own life, beginning with a woman God had plainly told him not to pursue and a date he went on anyway.

The last turn is the one the passage builds to. Abraham says here I am to God, and to his son. And then God says it back to the world — laying the wood on his own Son's back and going up the hill himself.

Key topics:

In “Isaac’s Birth Promised”, Pastor Joshua Pigg explores Genesis 21:1-7, revealing God’s unwavering faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. Through the miraculous birth of Isaac, we see how God’s word is reliable, His timing is perfect, and His consistency is unshakable. This message challenges us to trust in God's promises even when circumstances seem impossible.

Key Scripture:

Main Point:
God keeps His Word.

Themes of the Sermon:

Practical Takeaways:

Discussion Questions:

Listen now and be encouraged by the faithfulness of God in every season of life! 🙌

Sarah is ninety and holding a newborn. Pastor Joshua Pigg gives the congregation one sentence to carry out and has them say it back before he starts: God keeps his word.

What he draws out of Genesis 21 is transparency. God told Adam exactly what would happen. He told Noah what was coming and why to build. He told Abraham what he intended for Sodom. In each case the announcement came first, and then the thing happened. The names carry it too — Abraham, father of nations; Sarah, princess; and Isaac, laughter, given to the couple who had laughed.

Five things come out of the passage. Trust God's timing. God works through unlikely circumstances. Obedience is part of the promise, not an optional extra bolted onto it — he is pointed about wanting the title and the blessings while ignoring the plain instructions. God's faithfulness produces joy. And live in truth rather than in lies, because a life anchored somewhere other than the word is easy to deceive.

The fourth point is where he tells his own story. Ten years of waiting on something he believed he had heard, and the relief of the moment it came — meeting Pastor Adam at an open house, and eventually joining the staff. Not vindication so much as confirmation that he had not invented it.

The service closes with communion and the Lord's Prayer.

Key topics:

Genesis 17 picks up the story of Isaac after Abraham, with an encouragement to read the whole book — these are three of the most important people in Scripture.

In “Life or Death: The Choice in Your Words,” Pastor Adam Stadtmiller explores the transformative power of our speech through the lens of Proverbs. Using key scriptures, this sermon challenges us to recognize the influence of our words and equips us to guard and filter them for the glory of God.

Key Scriptures:

Main Point:
You will live or die by the tongue.

Two Principles for Speech:

Practical Takeaways:

Proverbs 10:19 and the question of whether there is a speed bump between your mind and your mouth. Jesus locates words in the heart, not the head.

We hope this word encourages you in your walk with the Lord and in your friendships! 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. Two are better than one, stated flatly with no ‘sometimes’ attached — and friendship, not only family, is what fills that role.

In “Wisdom Calls: Ancient Guidance for a Noisy World”, Pastor Adam Stadtmiller unpacks Proverbs 1:20-23, where Wisdom is personified, calling out to us amidst the clamor of life. This message offers practical and spiritual insights into hearing Wisdom’s voice and responding to her invitation.

Key Points:

Practical Takeaways:

• James 1:5 reminds us to ask God for wisdom. Create habits of seeking biblical guidance, praying, and journaling insights to align your choices with God’s truth.

• Proverbs 1:23 calls for a course correction. Reflect on areas where God is challenging you to turn back, and take intentional steps to realign with His will.

Quote to Reflect On:
"Knowledge is horizontal; wisdom is vertical—it comes down from above." – Billy Graham

This sermon invites us to rise above the noise of daily life and heed the call of divine Wisdom, leading us to lives filled with clarity, purpose, and transformation.