What radical love! Most of us have a good idea of how we would respond if someone punched us. It wouldn’t involve turning our cheek. We prefer the eye-for-an-eye approach a little more. Even if we know how we should respond as followers of Jesus, our old nature may take the driver’s seat in that instance. As Pastor Bill will challenge us in today’s message, in following the example of our Savior and of Paul, we’re called to face this kind of physical oppression with steadfast love and grace.

Not all of us are cheerful people by nature. You may not have that sort of disposition. Maybe you naturally tend to be serious or even grim. As Pastor Bill will challenge us in today’s message, you don’t need to alter your personality, but if you’re going to be happy or cheerful about anything, the grace of Jesus Christ is that thing. Take the time to think about the incredible gift you’ve been given in Him, and it should bring a deep joy to your heart that will be apparent to those you interact with.

Some of the hardest people to witness to can be the people closest to you. They know you. They know your past. They’ve seen you at your lowest. They may have a hard time thinking you're for real about this Jesus stuff. They may have shut you down a thousand times trying to talk about it. But, as Pastor Bill will challenge us in today’s message, we need to take advantage of every opportunity. It may seem futile, but those seeds of God’s grace may take root at any time. 

It’s not really that simple, is it? All we have to do is trust in God? Our self-serving desire to work for and earn our status, essentially saving ourselves and earning the glory and honor, will fight this admission, but the truth is, we’re capable of nothing good on our own. It really is as simple as trusting in Jesus – God’s only Son – who died on the cross to secure our place in His family. He’s provided salvation, and He’ll provide for your needs as you follow Him in this life.

It’s amazing how much we worry and fret over the future as believers. It’s sad, really. We have no reason to be afraid. As Pastor Bill will encourage us in today’s message, our God is the Creator of the universe. He can speak worlds into existence. He’s all-knowing and all-powerful. He cares about you and promises that He’ll work all things for the good of those who love Him. This world is broken and conspires against us, but we have nothing to fear with God on our side.

Have you heard that phrase before? “That’s why they’re ‘sad-you-see’?” What a sad state of being – no hope of an afterlife, and only your current status, power, or position to drive your morality and spirituality. As Pastor Bill will point out in today’s message, the Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead or the afterlife. This life was it. As followers of Jesus, the hope of eternity is a critical part of what drives us and supports our sense of inner peace through the hardships of this world.

A dirty conscience is a heavy burden to bear. It can keep you awake at night, give you ulcers, and destroy your relationships and any sense of inner peace. As Pastor Bill will point out in today’s message, all of us have reason for a dirty conscience. All of us have sinned against God, others, and ourselves, and we continue to do so on a regular basis. So how can we cleanse our conscience and walk in peace and freedom? Only Jesus offers the solution through His death and resurrection. 

God brings people who are different from us into our lives to enrich our spiritual experiences. Today, Pastor Bill refers to these individuals as "Odd Couples." He shares examples of various church members who were initially very different from others when they came. God chose Saul of Tarsus to be the first missionary in order to glorify Jesus and demonstrate His redemptive power. God always has a purpose and a plan in the choices He makes. The greatest “Odd Couple” is Jesus and you.

Sometimes, God uses an unlikely leader to bring deliverance to His people. In today’s message, Pastor Bill recounts the story of Paul and the Roman general, Claudius. Claudius saves Paul’s life on four occasions and eventually allows him to address his citizens. Because of this, Paul can share his testimony with lost people. God offers us protection through various means, including our government. We may not agree with all they do, but we should remember to be thankful for this provision by God.

Jesus knows how to show up in our lives when we think everything is lost. Today, Pastor Bill teaches about Paul and how, amidst his struggles and persecution, God provided him with help. We should not be dismayed but remain faithful in delivering the gospel, leaving the results in God's hands. The number of converts is not the goal; rather, our faithfulness. God even sent a Roman general to assist Paul during difficult times. He knows the next chapter of our lives and will make a way for us, too.