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Central Message

God loves people we may find hard to love. He calls us to put aside our judgments, care about others, and share the same grace and mercy He has given us.

Knowing about God is not the same as knowing His heart. Jonah knew God was loving and forgiving, but he didn't want God to forgive his enemies.

God's mercy is for everyone. No one is too sinful or too far away to receive God's love and forgiveness.

People matter more than our comfort. Jonah cared more about having shade than about the people of Nineveh being saved.

God sees people differently than we do. Instead of judging others, we should see them as people God loves and wants to save.

God wants us to share His love with others. Since God has shown us mercy, we should be willing to show that same mercy to everyone.

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Scripture: Luke 15:1–7; 1 Peter 3:15

What if God has placed someone in your life who needs to hear about the hope found in Jesus?

In this message from Shady Grove Wesleyan Church, Pastor Todd Reynolds shares from Luke 15:1–7, reminding us that every person matters to God. Just as the shepherd searched for the one lost sheep, we are called to care for those who have yet to experience God's love.

Through personal stories, Scripture, and practical encouragement, Pastor Todd explains that sharing our faith doesn't require having all the answers. It begins with telling others what Jesus has done in our lives, building genuine relationships, and showing God's love through kindness and compassion.

The challenge is simple: Who's your one? Who has God placed in your life that you can pray for, care for, and share the hope of Jesus with?

Scripture References

Luke 15:1-7 - central text (parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, lost son) illustrating God’s heart for the lost.

Matthew 4 - theme verse: "Follow me... I will make you fishers of men." used to call every believer to reach others.

1 Peter 2:9-10 - called believers to declare how God brought them from darkness to light.

1 Peter 3:15 - instructs to be prepared to give a reason for your hope, with gentleness and respect.

2 Corinthians 4:4 - explains spiritual blindness and the need for prayer and spiritual battle.

Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8; Romans 10:9 - the gospel problem and solution: all have sinned, Christ died for us, and salvation comes by confessing and believing.

John 14:6; Acts 4:12 - Jesus as the only way to the Father.

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Following Jesus changes your purpose: you are called to be a wise "fisher of people"—notice the divine appointments God places around you, reflect Christ with gracious manner, and clearly point people to the hope of Jesus.

Key Points

Recognize and seize divine appointments. God ordains intersections in everyday life; be attentive and curious so you can plant, water, or harvest as needed. 

Watch your manners—be salt and light. Let conversations be full of grace, seasoned with salt; listen well, show unconditional care, and avoid quarrelsome approaches.

Share the message clearly and gently. After preparing and relating, cast the net: give a simple, personal reason for your hope in Jesus without getting into needless arguments.

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Jesus calls followers to be fishers of men: sharing the Gospel is not optional but the defining privilege and responsibility of every follower of Christ.

Key Points

Fishing is what followers do — Jesus begins and ends His ministry with a call to reach others; mission is core to Christian identity.

Fear and excuses (not knowing answers, rejection) often keep believers from sharing, but the root issue is fear.

Evangelism is a privilege and necessity — there is rejoicing in Heaven when a sinner repents; we are ambassadors with a ministry of reconciliation.

We were once fish — remember who brought you to Christ; that perspective fuels compassion and perseverance in outreach.

Pray for your "one more" — focus on a specific person, picture a face, and persistently pray "Lord, help me get one more." (Desmond Doss story used as illustration of relentless courage and one-by-one rescue.)

Mission applies locally and globally — missionaries remind us that all believers are called; some cross oceans, some cross streets.

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Jesus calls believers to leave comfort and routine, obey even when it defies human logic, and step into partnership and service—meeting both spiritual and practical needs as we follow His calling.

Key Points Shift: Move from routine maintenance of faith to a higher purpose—be willing to step out of comfort for God’s mission.

Obedience vs. Logic: Faith sometimes requires obeying God despite experience or human reasoning; obedience beats logic.

Power of Partnership: Mission succeeds through teams—base (local church/prayer cover), field (workers/missionaries), and deployers (senders/funders).

Meeting the Need: Address whole needs (physical, financial, medical, relational) as a gateway to share the Gospel.

Surrender & Calling: Following Jesus often requires sacrifice—time, comfort, career, or proximity to family—because we belong to God.

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Choose the Right Tree: Try Harder or Come Closer?
 Genesis 2:8–9, 15–17; Genesis 3:1–7; 1 John 5:11–12

Central Message

Following Jesus is not about trying harder to earn God’s love; it is about coming closer to Jesus, receiving His love, and allowing that relationship to transform us from the inside out.

In the Garden of Eden, humanity faced a choice between two trees: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life. That same choice illustrates two very different ways we can approach God. One approach is built around religion, performance, duty, and obligation. The other is built around relationship, love, joy, and life. 

The sermon contrasts the message of religion—“I have to do more to get God”—with the message of Jesus—receive what Christ has already done. Religion gives us a checklist; Jesus gives us the cross. On the cross, Jesus declared, “It is finished.” Our relationship with God therefore begins not with earning His approval, but with receiving His grace and love. 

That changes the way we live. Instead of trying to change ourselves from the outside in, God transforms us from the inside out. Prayer, Scripture, obedience, worship, and service cease to be ways of earning God’s favor and become responses to a God we love. The difference becomes “I have to” versus “I get to.” 

Ultimately, the choice is about Jesus Himself. Every day we choose how we will approach God: one tree says, “Try harder”; the other says, “Come closer.” One produces religion; the other produces life. One leaves us exhausted; the other leaves us transformed. 

Choose the tree of life. Come closer to Jesus, receive His love, and rediscover the joy of following Him.

Key Scriptures
Genesis 2:8–9, 15–17; Genesis 3:1–7; John 5:39–40; John 14:15; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 3:17–19; Ezekiel 36:26–27; 2 Corinthians 5:14; 1 John 4:19; 1 John 5:11–12; Hebrews 12:2.

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Following Jesus is not the end of the journey—it is the beginning. God calls us to keep going deeper: from salvation, to obedience, to complete surrender, where the Holy Spirit transforms and empowers our lives.

God always has more.

In Acts 8, the people of Samaria believed the good news about Jesus and were baptized—but their journey with God was not finished. Peter and John came and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Their story reminds us that salvation is not the finish line of the Christian life; it is the beginning.

In “Step Into the River,” we explore what it means to pursue the deeper life with God. We can settle for simply knowing that we are saved, or we can surrender more fully and allow the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts, priorities, relationships, and daily lives. The more we surrender to God, the more we discover what life under His direction can become.

Ezekiel 47 gives us the picture: ankle-deep, knee-deep, waist-deep, and finally water too deep to stand in. Eventually the prophet must stop controlling where he goes and trust the river to carry him. That is the invitation of this message—stop standing safely at the edge and step deeper into what God has for you.

Wherever you are in your walk with Christ, God always has more. Take the next step. Step into the river.

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Prayer, offered in faith and rooted in God’s word, is the primary, powerful response to trouble. Perseverant, Scripture-based prayer opens the way for God to work in the impossible and to renew, heal, and restore.

• James 5:13-20 - main text: prayer in trouble, singing praise, elders called to pray and anoint the sick, confession to one another, the power of righteous prayer.
• 1 Kings 17 (Elijah) - model of persistent, faith-filled prayer: drought, repeated prayer, and God answering (cloud then rain).
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 - righteousness declared through Christ; our wrongs covered by Jesus.Philippians (quoted) - do not be anxious; present requests to God with thanksgiving.
• Hebrews (referenced) - perseverance is required so we receive God's promises.

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The health of the church's future depends on meaningful intergenerational relationships: adults investing time, presence, prayer, and mentoring in youth turns powerful camp moments into lasting faith. Camp stories and baptisms show God moving, but discipleship must continue year-round.

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“From Doubt to Belief” – Pastor Todd Reynolds

In this powerful Resurrection message from John 20:24–29, Pastor Todd Reynolds challenges the common label of “Doubting Thomas” and reframes the story as a journey from honest doubt to transformational belief.

Rather than condemning Thomas, Pastor Todd highlights a deeper truth: all the disciples struggled to believe the resurrection at first. Doubt is not the enemy of faith—it’s often the doorway to a stronger, more personal encounter with Jesus.

Pastor Todd emphasizes that:

• Faith is not about blind belief, but personal experience with Christ.
• What ultimately convinced Thomas was not argument or logic, but an encounter with the risen Jesus—and specifically the evidence of His suffering.
• Jesus does not avoid doubters; He pursues them, meeting them right in their questions, fears, and uncertainty.

The message connects Thomas’ story to our everyday lives:

• We doubt when life doesn’t make sense, when prayers seem unanswered, or when pain feels overwhelming.
• Like the father in Mark 9, many of us live in the tension of: “I believe—help my unbelief.”

The turning point comes when Jesus invites Thomas to take a step forward:

Pastor Todd drives home a central truth:

• Faith is not a system of beliefs—it’s a relationship with a living Savior.
• Growth doesn’t happen in one leap, but one step at a time toward Jesus.

The sermon culminates in Thomas’ declaration:

This is more than belief—it’s surrender.

Key takeaway:
No matter where you are—full of faith or full of questions—Jesus is still coming after you. And the path from doubt to belief always begins with one simple step: move toward Him.

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