• WELCOME
• STRUCK ME- HURDLERS RUN EFFORTLESS
• SOME SEEM TO STRUGGLE- OTHERS DON’T

HURDLE DEFINED

• TEMPORARY OBSTACLE
• A BARRIER- WALL A FENCE
• HURDLES ARE NOT WALLS PER SAY
• THEY AREN’T DEAD ENDS

  READY     FIRE        AIM

• PLANNING SERIES TOPICS
• CONVERSATION – SOME THINGS ARE HURLDES
• SOMETIMES WE GET THINGS OUT OF ORDER

PUT YOUR BOAT IN WATER- NO PLUG IN IT

HOSE IN YOUR GAS TANK GO PULL AWAY

• DON’T GET THIS SERIES RIGHT- WE RUN THE RISKS

Putting sanctification before salvation (justification)-SPIN WHEELS

• only be frustrated if you want to act like Christ before you have CHRIST

 SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:22                                      

  22. THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS GIVEN THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST TO ALL WHO BELIEVE. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JEW AND GENTILE.

SCRIPTURE 3:23

  23. FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.

 SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:24

  24. AND ALL ARE JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE THROUGH THE REDEMPTION THAT CAME BY CHRIST JESUS.       (JUST AS IF I NEVER SINNED)

SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:25

  25. GOD PRESENTED CHRIST AS A SACRIFICE OF ATONEMENT, THROUGH THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD-TO BE RECEIVED BY FAITH

 SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:25

  25. HE DID THIS TO DEMONSTRATE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, BECAUSE IN HIS FORBEARANCE HE HAD LEFT THE SINS COMMITTED BEFOREHAND UNPUNISHED.

SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:26

  26. HE DID IT TO DEMONSTRATE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AT THE PRESENT TIME.

SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:26

  26. SO AS TO BE JUST AND THE ONE WHO JUSTIFIES THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH IN JESUS.

SLIDE 12: SIN                                                                        

• WORKING DEFINITION

WILLFUL VIOLATION TO THE KNOWN LAW OF GOD

• I WONDER TODAY- HOW MANY ARE TRYING

YOU ATTEND CHURCH – READ SOME SCRIPTURE

KNOW SOME OF THE SONGS – TOOK COMMUNION

NOT BECAUSE WE WERE BAPTIZED

• THINGS THAT SHOULD BE EVIDENCE OF OUR FAITH
• THERE ARE THINGS WE DO BECAUSE OF FAITH
• NOT THE SOURCE OF OUR FAITH
• HAVE YOU BEEN BORN AGAIN- ADOPTION

HAVE YOU REPENTED OF YOUR SINS?

   SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH-

GRACE CALLS US TO REPENANCE, WHICH IS MORE THAN SIMPLY BEING SORRY FOR OUR SIN, BUT TURNING AWAY FROM OUR SIN. TURNING FROM OURSELVES TOWARD GOD. WHEN WE RESPOND TO GODS GRACE WE ARE ABLE TO REPENT AND BELIEVE. 

   ROY: FORMER CHURCH                                                 

• DIDN’T LIKE ME MUCH- I WORE JEANS- HE WORE TIE
• DIDN’T CARE FOR MUSIC- TELL WORSHIP LEADER
• DIDN’T LIKE THE CHURCH GROWING- HIS WIFE
• OTHERS DIDN’T WANNA EAT WITH HIM-WAITRESSES
• HED BEEN IN CHURCH FOR LONG TIME-SAME SEAT
• SOMETIMES TELL ME- SOMETIMES TALK BOUT ME
• NO ONE WAS SURPRISED AND EVEN EXPECTED IT
• PEOPLE JUST TOLERATED HIM
• I DIDN’T AND NO ONE ELSE SAW ANY CHANGE
• WE ARENT HIRED TO INSPECT SPIRITUAL FRUIT
• BUT NO ONE SAW ANY REAL CHANGE IN HIS LIFE
• NO ONE EXPECTED HIM TO BECOME LIKE JESUS

SO WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO LIVE A LIFE LIKE JESUS

• I WONDERED- HAS ROY EVER BEEN SAVED?

HAD HE GENUINELY REPENTED OF ANYTHING?

   I ALSO WONDERED IF HE HAS BEEN SAVED- HAS HE EXPERIENCED ANY REAL LIFE CHANGE

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 4:17

  17. “FROM THEN ON JESUS BEGAN TO PREACH, “REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND TURN TO GOD, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR.”

   JAREDS STATEMENT ON REPENTANCE- DIDN’T MEAN IT

SCRIPTURE 1 JOHN 1:9

   “IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST AND WILL FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND PURIFY US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNES

SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21

  21. GOD MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.

SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21.

  21. FOR GOD TOOK THE SINLESS CHRIST AND POURED INTO HIM OUR SINS. THEN IN EXCHANGE, HE POURED GODS GOODNESS INTO US.”

STATEMENT ON SALVATION

   SALVATION IS A THRESHOLD SO LOW ANYONE CAN COME ACROSS IT

STATEMENT ON SALVATION

   BUT ITS SO HIGH NO ONE CAN CLIMB IT

SALVATION IS A GIFT- SAVED BY GRACE- FAITH

COACH BILL MCARTNEY

• FORMER COLORADO FOOTBALL COACH

 JAMES RYLE

• FORMER PASTOR OF BILL MCARTNEY

  PROMISE KEEPERS

• 1997 WASHINGTON DC
• PREACHED THAT NIGHT

 MACHINE                                  

• A MACHINE THAT HAS FASCINATING PARTS
• THE MACHINE DOES NOTHING
• LOOKS IMPRESSIVE

POSSIBLE TO LOOK LIKE A GRAPE AND NOT BE ATTACHED

JUSTIFICATION

   IS THE FREEDOM FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN

SANCTIFICATION

   IS THE FREDEDOM FROM THE POWER OF SIN

 GLORIFICATION

  IS THE FREEDOM FROM THE PRESENCE OF SIN

   SANCTIFICATION– A SCRIPTURE FROM PAUL

 SCRIPTURE 1 THESALONIANS 5:23

  23. “MAY GOD HIMSELF, THE GOD OF PEACE, SANCTIFY YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH.” (PARTIALLY)

SCRIPTURE 1 THESSALONIANS 5:23

  23. MAY YOUR WHOLE SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY BE KEPT BLAMELESS AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

 SCRIPTURE 1 THESSALONIANS 5:24               

  24. THE ONE WHO CALLS YOU IS FAITHFUL, HE WILL DO IT.

• PAUL ALSO SAID ROMANS 12:1

  12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to

BRENNAN MANNING- CATHOLIC PRIEST- RETREAT

ROMANS 7:25

SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND ME WHEN YOU SEEK

COMMUNION

DO YOU BELIEVE TODAY JESUS DIED ON A CROSS FOR YOUR SINS THAT SOMEHOW THAT HAPPENED FOR YOU- IF SO THEN DECLARE IT TODAY

SCRIPTURE ROMANS 10:9

   9. “IF YOU DECLARE WITH YOUR MOUTH, “JESUS IS LORD, AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED.

 SCRIPTURE ROMANS 10:10

  10. FOR IT IS WITH YOUR HEART THAT YOU BELIEVE AND ARE JUSTIFIED, AND IT IS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT YOU PROFESS YOUR FAITH AND ARE SAVED.

WHAT IS NECASSARY

BELIEVE IN JESUS ENOUGH TO FOLLOW HIM

HOLINESS IS INSTANTANEOUS AND ALSO PROGRESSIVE

REPENTANCE IS NOT A ONCE AND DONE- ITS AN ENTRANCE

SURRENDER ISN’T A ONE AND DONE EVENT

PAUL SAID I DIE DAILY

 Judson W. Van DeVenter-

MAKING A DECISION TO STAY AN ARTIST OR ANSWER CALL

MENTORED BILLY GRAHAM

1 All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

SOME TO JESUS I SURRENDUR

SOME TO HIM I BEGRDUGINLY GIVE

2 All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

SOME OF US NEED TO JUST REPENT AND BE SAVED

SOME OF US NOT TO SURRENDER AFRESH AND NEW

WE NEED A NEW FILLING

WE DON’T GET A PIECE OF GOD-

HE GETS ALL OF US

https://www.bible.com/events/49571732

Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus 

Hurdles Part 1 

Ready. Fire. Aim 

We are starting a new 4-part teaching series called “Hurdles”. 

Over the next few weeks, we are going to face some of the key obstacles or hurdles that keep us from a full and abundant life in Christ. 

Today we are talking about the hurdle of having things out of order in our approach to relationship with Jesus. 

This can happen when we commit to trying to be a better person, to attending church, to doing all those good things, without ever first committing ourselves to Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior. 

Certainly the bible teaches that we need to live a good and moral life, but that commitment to good works is not what saves us. 

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬‬ 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 

The life and salvation that Jesus came to offer, does not come by our efforts, our attempts to be a good person and help other people or any other good work. 

It comes by grace, through faith, believing in the person of Jesus Christ. 

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬-‭10‬‬ 

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 

When we believe good works are what saves us, we are trusting in what we can do. 

Whereas when we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are trusting what he has done. 

When we believe in Him, in his life, death, and resurrection, we are what the bible calls justified. That means that every sin, every wrong thing we have ever done, said, or thought, is wiped clean. 

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬‬ 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 

When we place our faith in Jesus, turn away from our sin and place our faith in him. We are made new. The life of Christ is birthed within us by the Holy Spirit. 

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬‬ 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 

We are justified, regenerated, and adopted into the family of God, all by grace through faith. Those are things that our good works simply can not earn us. 

So let me ask you, is this what you are experiencing? 

Can you identify a time and place in your life where something so dramatic changed that you would have to use words like “Born again” or “new creation” or “adoption into a new family” to describe it? 

This is way beyond a question of do you go to church? Are you a nice person? Do you help other people? Or even if you pray and read the bible sometimes. All of those are great and even necessary things, in the right order. 

But if we get the cart before the horse in thinking those things come first, or even if we think that’s all there is to being a Christian. We are going to live a pretty frustrating and unfulfilling life. 

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭2‬‬ 

As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 

Today is the day of your salvation. Today is the day to get your spiritual life in order, to know that it is by faith in the person of Jesus that you are saved. 

Today is the day to repent, to have a distinct and definite change in your life in regard to sin. 

Today is the day to be made new! 

“As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”” 

‭‭Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭17‬-‭23‬ ‭ 

“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” 

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬-‭22‬, ‭27‬-‭28‬ 

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” 

‭‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬ ‭ 

Today we are completing our four-week series called Relationships Righted. You can access our messages at COTNAZ.org, WATCH/LISTEN ONLINE.

Over the last three weeks we have focused on relationships and focusing on “putting God first in our lives” so that our life is a living testimony to the LORD.

Today we are going to focus on relationships in the workplace. Can we truly worship God in the workplace and build and nurture relationships with our co-workers and bosses so that we point them to Christ?

Let us pray.

“Dear Lord, I stand before You and Your people, acknowledging that every breath and every hour of labor is a gift from Your hand. 

As we discuss the 90,000 hours we spend at work and in service, convict and encourage everyone here.  Let us be faithful stewards of this message.

Father, we bring our work-weeks—the exhaustion, the ambitions, and the anxieties—into this sanctuary. Perform a deep work within us today.

Transform our Hearts to see coworkers and neighbors not as obstacles, but as people to be loved in Your name.

Transform our Minds to stop seeing work as ‘secular’ and start seeing it as ‘sacred’—an offering of excellence to You.

Transform our Souls to find our identity not in titles or paychecks, but in our status as Your beloved children.

Lord please commission us. Move us beyond being ‘Sunday Christians.’ Equip us to represent Christ in the workplace and the neighborhood.

May we leave here seeing our labor not as a burden, but as a mission field.

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.”

We just prayed for God to transform our hearts, our minds, and our souls.

And friends, we need that transformation because of one staggering, inescapable number: 90,000. (Say NINETY THOUSAND slowly!)

That is the number of hours the average person will spend working and volunteering over their lifetime.

If our faith is only active during the one hour we spend here on Sunday, we are leaving 90,000 (Say NINETY THOUSAND slowly) hours of our lives—nearly one-third of our existence—untouched by the Gospel.

We often think of ‘mission trips’ as something we do for a week or two in a far-off place. But the greatest mission field you will ever enter is the one you walk into every Monday morning.

There are 90,000 opportunities to represent Jesus Christ to a world that watches us more closely at the office than they ever will in the pews.

Today, we’re going to look at how the Holy Spirit reclaims those hours for the Kingdom of God.

If we are going to spend 90,000 hours in the marketplace, we need more than a career strategy; we need a divine mandate.

The Apostle Paul addressed this directly in two different letters—one to the church in Colossae and one to the church in Ephesus.

At the very moment Paul wrote these words, he was sitting in a prison cell. He wasn’t writing from a position of power or comfort; he was writing under the weight of chains.

In the following passages from Colossians and Ephesians, you’ll hear Paul use the language of his time—the language of “slaves” and “masters.”

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

So, I have to ask you: Who is your “Real Boss”?

When we look at Colossians 3, we see that even if your supervisor is difficult or your workplace is chaotic, your ultimate accountability is to Jesus.

Paul reminds us that the ultimate “reward” doesn’t come from a weekly paycheck or a commission check; it comes as an “inheritance” from the Lord.

This single shift in perspective transforms 90,000 hours of drudgery into 90,000 hours of devotion.

Let’s pause here for a moment of honest reflection. (Pause)

Have you ever worked alongside a Christian whose attitude or work ethic made you want anything but Jesus?

How about…Have you ever seen someone carry a Bible into the breakroom but leave their integrity at the time clock?

Now, let’s make this personal.

Let’s turn the mirror around: If your coworkers’ only exposure to the Gospel was your performance this past week, what version of Jesus would they believe in?

But Paul doesn’t stop at redefining who we serve; he expands the scope of what we do. He doesn’t say “whatever you do in the church” or “whatever you do on the mission field.” Instead, he uses the Greek word pas.

In the original text, pas means “all, every, or whatsoever.” It is an all-encompassing word that leaves nothing out. This includes:

• The emails you send
• The floors you mop
• The meetings you lead
• The cars you repair

If it is worth doing, it is worth doing for God. …In the life of a believer, there is no hierarchy of holiness in the 90,000 hours of a career. If it is worth doing, it is worth doing for God.

Look at the card that was given to you this morning when you entered. If you didn’t receive a card, please raise your hand and someone will bring you one.

This card represents your mission field starting tomorrow morning. It’s easy to think of a ‘mission field’ as a place across the ocean, but for most of us, it’s a cubicle, a classroom, or a construction site.

Ask yourself this question: When you walk into that ‘field’ tomorrow—whether that is your physical arrival through a door or your face appearing on a Zoom meeting—do you bring a presence that draws people toward Christ, or a spirit that pushes them away?

Does your arrival feel like an answer to prayer or just a new source of stress for your team?

And for those of you who are retired, this is just as personal for you. When you walk into the hospital room to visit a friend, or into the kitchen for Sunday lunch with your grandkids, what ‘atmosphere’ do you bring with you?

Does your presence bring the ‘refreshment’ of a seasoned soul, or does it bring the ‘smoke’ of a grumbling spirit? Your mission field hasn’t closed; the doors have just changed.

This leads us to Paul’s core strategy for the mission field. He calls us to work ek psychēs (Pronounced ECK Sigh-KAYS)—literally, ‘from the soul.’

Don’t miss this: When you work from the soul, you aren’t just performing a task; you are projecting an atmosphere.

You are bringing the very life of Christ into the room through the quality of your labor and the posture of your heart.

It’s not just about what your hands are doing; it’s about where the work is coming from.

This isn’t just about being a high producer; it’s about being intentional with every soul we encounter in those 90,000 hours.”

Working with “all your heart” means that your work is a reflection of your soul’s health. You aren’t just giving the company your time; you are giving God your best.

This is the most radical part: Paul tells the worker to look past their earthly supervisor.

Your boss might be ungrateful, your company might be disorganized, and your volunteer post might be frustrating.

But when you realize your Audience is One, the pressure to please people fades, and the joy of pleasing God takes over.

Let me apply this theological concept to our ordinary lives in 2026, the Monday reality in which we all face every week.

To the Teacher: If you are a teacher or a coach, your hours aren’t just about lesson plans or wins and losses.

Worship looks like seeing the ‘difficult’ student not as a disruption to your day, but as an image-bearer of God who needs grace.

When you stay late to help a child who is struggling—not because the administration is watching, but because your CEO, Jesus, loves that child—that is an act of worship.

To the Contractor: If you are a contractor, a plumber, or an engineer, your worship is found in the integrity of your craft. It’s the wire you tuck away neatly behind a wall where no one will ever see it.

You do it with excellence because you aren’t just building for a client; you are building for the Lord.

To the Healthcare Worker: For the nurse, the doctor, or the volunteer at the hospice center, your worship is found in the sincerity of your presence.

You aren’t just ‘checking vitals’; you are tending to the temple of the Holy Spirit.

To the Retired, I know some of you are thinking, ‘Pastor, my 90,000 hours of career labor are behind me. I’m retired. Does this still apply to me?’

Absolutely. In God’s Kingdom, there is no such thing as retiring from the mission. You aren’t ‘retired’; you are repurposed.

For those of you who are in this season, I MUST ask:

• Are you using your freedom to build the Kingdom, or have you ‘retired’ from being a witness?

• Who are you intentionally pouring your wisdom into right now, so that they can find refreshment instead of drowning in the stress of their 90,000 hours?

For you, worship tomorrow might look like:

• The way you treat the cashier at the grocery store.
• The intentional way you pray for your grandkids.
• The way you volunteer your time to mentor a younger person.

You have a lifetime of wisdom to offer.  You can be the refreshment to a younger generation that is stressed and burned out.

You aren’t just ‘finished’ with your hours; you are the seasoned veteran on the team, bringing peace and encouragement to your neighborhood and your family.

While Colossians is about the fire in our hearts, Ephesians is about the faithfulness of our habits.

Ephesians 6:5-9:

5 “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.

6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.”

Paul warns us against ‘Performance Mode.’ This is the habit of working hard only when you are being watched, or doing the right thing just to win favor with people. In 2026, we call this ‘Performative Labor’ or ‘Image Management.’

Paul’s counsel is to work with ‘sincerity of heart.’ This means your character at 2:00 PM on a Tuesday—when you are exhausted, alone, and no one is looking—should be identical to your character here on a Sunday morning.

Let’s be honest for a moment: Is there a disconnect between the person in this pew and the person at your desk?

If your boss or your coworkers were sitting next to you today, would they recognize the person they see on Sunday mornings—or would they be shocked to find out the ‘Christian’ they never knew they employed?

Now, let’s make this personal. Let’s turn the mirror around: If your coworkers’ only exposure to the Gospel was your performance this past week, what version of Jesus would they believe in?

True integrity isn’t a performance for a human boss; it’s a lifestyle lived before God.

Paul’s counsel to the employee/volunteer is: Don’t work for the ‘Like’ or the ‘Favor.’ If you only work hard when you are being watched, you aren’t serving Christ; you are serving your own reputation.

Colossians tells us to work because we love God; Ephesians tells us to work because we represent God.

When we combine them, our integrity becomes our greatest sermon.

While Paul gives us a high calling in Ephesians to work with ‘sincerity of heart,’ the Book of Proverbs gives us a very blunt warning about the opposite.

Proverbs 10:26 (The Message):

“A lazy employee will give you a splitting headache; he’s like a mouthful of sand.”

Also translated as: “A lazy employee is the sand in the gears of a team and the smoke in the eyes of the boss.”

Think about that imagery.

On a job site or a football field, a sandpit is a trap. It slows everyone down. 

When you do the bare minimum, when you are unreliable, or when you bring a toxic attitude to the office, you are the sandpit that makes everyone else’s job harder.

Smoke makes your eyes sting. It makes it impossible to see clearly. When you only work hard when you’re being watched, you become a source of irritation.  You are clouding the vision of the whole organization.

If you want to have the right to speak to your coworkers about the Gospel, you must first earn their respect through your labor.

A believer who is an ‘irritation’ to their boss closes the door to their mission field.

Ask yourself this question…Are you currently the ‘sand in the gears’ of your office—someone who slows the team down with complaints, excuses, or unreliability?

Or are you a breath of fresh air on a blistering hot day—the person the boss relies on when everything else is falling apart?

Are you a refreshment? When you walk in, you shouldn’t just be filling a seat; you should be changing the atmosphere.

We see this today in C.J. Stroud, who in 2026 remains a household icon not just for the power of his arm, but for the posture of his altar.

He proves that when you work ‘from the soul,’ people notice your Source as much as your talent.

Stroud’s teammates publicly called him the “light in the room.” When the Texans faced a three-game losing streak in late 2025, C.J. didn’t resort to performing for the cameras.  

He didn’t put on a show for the media while grumbling in the locker room. Instead, he worked with a ‘sincerity of heart.’

He stayed late, encouraged his teammates behind closed doors, and took personal responsibility. He proved that his work ethic wasn’t tied to the scoreboard or public opinion, but to his commitment to the Master.

His coach, DeMeco Ryans, noted that C.J.’s influence wasn’t just about his stats; it was about the consistent character he brought to the facility every single day, win or lose.

In fact, DeMeco Ryans stated that the team’s success was a direct reflection of the players’ ‘belief in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.’

To see exactly what that kind of ‘drafted’ character looks like in action, let’s watch this video.

C.J. Strout interview 2 mins:  All Glory to God 1_52.mp4

That is what it looks like to play for the Master.

Look also at Justice Amy Coney Barrett. In 2026, she sits on the highest court in our land—a workplace that is often a storm of political “smoke.”

It would be easy for her to slip into “Performance Mode” to please the crowds, or to become a “people-pleaser” just to quiet the critics. Instead, she operates with a quiet strength.

You might ask, “How do I personally know this to be true about her when I don’t know her as a friend?”

I know it the same way the rest of our nation does: through the steady, unwavering frequency of her reputation.

Even from a distance, her life sends a clear signal.

Whether she is celebrated or criticized, she remains a trustworthy messenger because she isn’t working for the “likes” of the culture; she is working for the Lord.

She views her hours as a stewardship of God’s justice. Her identity isn’t found in her black robe; it’s found in her white robe of righteousness in Christ.

Her reputation speaks to our nation because her witness is consistent even when the cameras are off.

Church, tomorrow morning, you are walking back onto your own “field.”

Don’t be the ‘Smoke. If we are irritable, uncooperative, we cloud the vision.  As followers of Christ, our goal is to clear the air. I challenge you to be the ‘Refreshment.’

Whether you are clocking in at an office or meeting a friend for coffee in retirement, you have a mission:  be the one in your circle who stays consistent when the pressure is on.

 You don’t need a title to influence the culture of your family, your neighborhood, or your workplace. When things get heated or people get discouraged, be the refreshment that brings clarity and peace.

Proverbs 25:13 says: “Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.”

Work with such “High Integrity” and “Quiet Strength” that your boss finds refreshment in your reliability. Be the “light in the room” when the project fails or the deadline is missed.

Our mission statement says: ‘Transformed by God to bring Hope to others.’ This transformation begins in the heart. If you have a job, you have a calling. There is no such thing as a secular job.

Tomorrow morning, you aren’t just starting a new week; you are continuing an act of worship.

Don’t go in there trying to blend in. Be who God made you to be. Let the ‘Sunday you’ be the ‘Monday you.’ Remember: Integrity is consistency. Your daily work is deeply important to your God.

I want us to take a stand together in unity.

Whether you are a teacher, a mechanic, a nurse, a stay-at-home parent, a retiree, or an executive, everyone in this room has a mission field.

Right now, I want to ask this entire team to stand up.

Look at the person to your left and right. This isn’t just a crowd; this is your team.  This is a team committed to working ek psyches  (Pronounced ECK Sigh-KAYS). We aren’t just doing a job; we are working from the soul.

Now, I’d like to invite you to reach out and place a hand on the shoulder of the person next to you. You are not walking into your week alone.

Release that shoulder and hold your hands out in front of you, palms up. These are the tools of your worship.

Now as you look at your hands, I want you to stop and ask yourself these two questions:

• Lord, what will these hands build this week that will last for eternity?
• Who will I touch with Your grace, and who will I serve with Your excellence?

Let us pray:

“Dear Lord, look at this team and look at these hands. We are Your people, heading out into the mission field of this Valley. (Pause)

Father, I pray for the mechanic under the car, the accountant at the screen, and the retiree serving their neighbor—let their integrity be a refreshment to everyone they meet.

I pray for the teacher and the nurse—let them see every person as an image of You.

Today, we choose to be the refreshment. Holy Spirit, give them Your POWER! Remind them that they work for the King of Kings. In the Name of Jesus, we pray… AMEN!”

As we close, take a look at the card. This isn’t just a piece of paper; it’s your Playbook for the next six days.

Look at the front: ‘Drafted by God. Playing for His Glory.’ Whether you are in a boardroom, a classroom, or a season of retirement—that is your identity this week.

You haven’t just been ‘hired’ or ‘assigned’; you have been hand-picked by God for this moment.

Colossians 3:23 tells us to work with all our heart for the Lord.

Flip that card over. Tomorrow is Monday, and your mission is simple: Be the Spark.

Put this on your dashboard or your fridge where you’ll see it every morning.

Now… go out there. Bring the fire. Bring the hope. Our community is waiting—go give them Jesus! Let’s take the field for Jesus!!  You are dismissed.

East Rock Celebration  

• Last week East Rock Celebrated 5 years since they launched their Campus in Elkton. Over 100 people stayed to fellowship and celebrate.  

• What a great team they have there with Pastor Jarod Link, Beth Suhr, Pastor Terry, Steph Higgs their children’s Director and Karen Good with works with the teens  

• I have the privilege of sitting in Monday  

Meetings with Pastor Jared and Beth and wow, God is doing some amazing things not just on their campus, but in their community because of the faithfulness and obedience of the people at COTN.  So lets take a moment and celebrate them and all that God is doing and moving within the Elkton Community.   Now If only we can get moving on bringing summer back to VA.  You all fooled this Easterner from PA.  My first 2 winters in VA were easy. Hardly any snow, mild temps. Then BAMM you hit us Alaskan like weather.   

I am done with this winter weather. I know this is an unpopular opinion but, I not only love the beach,I also love the heat, the sun….I just love summer.    

Olaf on the beach.    

About 8 years ago, my parents moved from PA  to Ormond Beach Florida, for this exact reason.  They couldn’t stand the cold anymore.  Which is good news for me, because visiting them means trips to the beach for us.  However, the beach, although wonderful, comes with its own troubles.    

 Beach water waves.  

My girls loved getting in the water, which as a mom of course, freaked me out.  I was constantly watching them, making sure that they were not too far out and safe from the current and waves.  But without fail, after a few minutes of them swimming in the ocean, I would have to start waving them down.  The waves, little by little, would drift them out too far from where I was.    

They didn’t try to drift.  

They didn’t plan to drift.  

But the current slowly pulled them too far away.  

And once they realized it, they would start making the anxious effort and intention to swim back. Most of you have been there. Your umbrella was over there…and now it’s WAY over there.  

Spiritual drifting works the same way.  

Nobody wakes up and says, “Today, I think I’ll drift away from God.” I’m going to disconnect from my faith – or in current terminology – I’m going to DECONSTRUCT my faith today.  It happens slowly.    

There was an old song by casting Crowns that said, “It’s a slow fade, when you give yourself away. It’s a slow fade, when black and white, turn to gray”   

No big waves, no storm, just slow quiet movement, small waves that cause someone to drift from where they started. It’s usually slow… and it’s always very dangerous.  

Signs Someone is Drifting  

• They’re slowly pulling back from church, small groups, serving, worship, and Bible reading.  

• Faith stops being the center of life and other things start taking priority.  

• They start isolating themselves from Christian friends and accountability.  

• Their beliefs begin to shift quietly, leaning more on culture than Scripture, and small compromises start to feel okay.  

And suddenly they are not where they used to be spiritually speaking.    

Often the first sign isn’t behavior, it’s disconnection.  

Drifting doesn’t always look like running away.  

Sometimes it looks like slowly letting go.  

We included this topic in our relationship series because some of the most heartbreaking relationship struggles aren’t about conflict,  they’re about distance. Not just emotional distance, but spiritual distance.   

Many of us carry quiet burdens for people we love who aren’t walking with God anymore. And the Bible actually speaks to how we love people in that space.  

Right now…this morning, you may know and love someone in exactly this situation.  

So, here’s the question today:  

What do we do, when someone we love and care for starts to drift?  Someone who perhaps at one time in their life, called themselves a follower of Jesus, but now, their relationship with Jesus seems distant.   

James 5:19-20 (NLT) – Bring That
Person Back

19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins James 5:19-20 (The message)  

 “My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God.” The Message  

Scripture is clear that we are not to ignore the drifter. We are called to be the Waver!  

THE WAVER  

• Stays aware  

• Keeps looking outward  

• Notices movement  

• Cares enough to call out  

• Acts out of love, not superiority  

Before we look at John 21, let me say this: Peter is not the perfect example of a drifter. I could have used Jonah as an example of a drifter, who ran from God’s calling who knew God but didn’t want to obey, or Samson who was called by God at birth and drifted through pride, lust and disobedience, or perhaps, the parable of the prodigal son, who leaves his father to pursue worldly living. Peter had a momentary lap of judgement. Perhaps it was a momentary drift, but he isn’t the perfect example of a drifter. But he does show us what it looks like to struggle and stumble in faith.    

What’s remarkable in this chapter is how Jesus responds not with condemnation, but with patient restoration. Here, Jesus shows us exactly how to love, guide, and restore someone who has drifted. And that is who I want to focus on today, Jesus.    

Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, had denied Him three times, not once, not twice, but three times. He had boldly said he would never fall away, never fail, and yet when fear and pressure came, he completely denied even knowing Jesus. Just a few days earlier, Peter would have called himself Jesus’ most loyal follower. But in that moment of weakness, he drifted away.  

  With a curse, the Apostle Peter disconnected.  

After Jesus’ death, the women had discovered the tomb was empty, and their resurrected Lord began appearing to His disciples.  

Peter and the disciples returned to fishing on the Sea of Tiberias. But that night, they didn’t catch a single thing.  

Then a man on the shore, someone they didn’t recognize at first, called out and told them to cast their nets on the other side. When they did, the nets were overflowing with fish. They might have thought to themselves, “We have seen this happen before.” And then it clicked, it was Jesus.  

Peter, the one who had failed, the one who had walked away in fear, and denied knowing Jesus, didn’t hesitate. He jumped into the water and swam straight to Jesus.  

This story isn’t just about Peter’s failure, it’s about Jesus’ patience. It’s about how He pursues those who drift.  First Jesus   

Pursue the drifter with presence, not
pressure

Jesus’s always knew where He had to be and who He had to be with.   

John 21:12-14 NLT  

“Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.  

“Now come and have some breakfast!”   This invitation represents relationship and intimacy.  

Jesus spent time with Peter (even sharing a meal) before addressing anything spiritual.  

When someone is drifting, they often already feel distance. But presence is more powerful than  

punishment or judgment. A wise servant once said,   

presence matters most
and presence =Love

• Invite them to coffee, a walk, or normal hangout  

• Keep the relationship warm and safe  

• Let them see that they are loved, without an agenda.  

Because Jesus shows us to   

Lead with love, not lectures   

John 21: 15-17  

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.  

16Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of  

John, do you love me?”  

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 17A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  

Jesus didn’t start with, “Why did you deny me?”  

He started with, “Do you love me?”  

 BAMM-BAMM  

Bamm-Bamm from The Flintstones had a good heart, but his “bam” was still powerful enough to hurt.  

Where wavers get it wrong:   

Sometimes our desire to see a drifter return can make us push or ” Bible -bam” too hard. We don’t want to overwhelm them with Scripture, hoping something sticks. Truth is best received when it’s shared with love.  

Drifting hearts need reminders of love more than reminders of failure.  

• Ask heart-level questions  

• Listen more than you talk  

• Affirm your care for them    Examples:  

• “How are you really doing?”  

• “What is going on in your life?”  

• “Where do you feel God in your life lately?”  

Remember: You are not the Holy Spirit. You are a friend.  

John 21:18  

“Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you. “Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.  

Sometimes no matter how gently you approach the drifter, they may still feel hurt and defensive.  Some drifters work very hard to prove they are not wrong in disconnecting.  

Which is why we need to   

Keep it personal, not public.  

Not every moment needs an audience. Some things are meant to be handled up close, in love, and in private.  

John 21:20  

20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved,  

Peter turned and saw the other disciples behind him, it showed us there was some space between them.  

Jesus addressed individuals privately, The woman at the well, The one possessed by demons, The woman caught in adultery, The pharisees tried to make that public, but Jesus didn’t address her till everyone walked away.  

Social media is not the place to call out the drifter.  (This isn’t just a younger generation problem! According to data released by AARP in 2026…. 73% of adults over the age of 50 are active on Social Media)  

I’ve honestly never heard someone say they found Jesus because a Christian called them out publicly.  But I have seen people get hurt, shut down, or pushed further away because of it.  

Church, please hear my heart on this. When we publicly call someone out, whether on social media, or any other way, it almost never brings the change we hope for. Instead, it often brings division. And not just division, it can hurt our testimony. The world is watching how we treat people when they struggle or drift or disagree.  

  Someone said the church is the only army that shoots its own wounded…  

If our goal is restoration, then it has to start with relationships.  

Restoration starts with relationship  

A message. A phone call. A coffee. A quiet and personal conversation. Again, presence matters most.   

You may want to have an honest conversation at some point about the risks of walking away, There will come a time when you will have to have the hard conversation, but that’s usually not where you begin.  

That’s where love really works. That’s where people feel seen, not shamed. And that’s where Jesus meets them. So, let’s pursue people the way He pursues us – personally, gently, and privately. Because we are to   

Extend Grace, Not Gossip Sometimes what we call “concern” is really a comparison. Sometimes what we call “sharing” is actually gossip dressed up in spiritual language.  

Show a picture of Emily and Haley  

Look at these two girls who love each other deeply today. But when they were little, they fought like cats and dogs. There were moments I honestly wondered if they’d ever be close.  

When one made a mistake, the other was quick to point it out…..quick to make sure I knew who was wrong and who was right. One would be in trouble, and the other would almost glow in the moment, quietly saying, “See? I’m the good one.”  

Ephesians 4:29  

29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”  

Church… if I’m honest, I’ve seen that same tendency in my own heart.  

We say we want to help, but deep down we feel a little better about ourselves in the process. It’s the intent of the heart. What’s your goal, to help a brother or sister in need, or to puff yourself to flex your “spiritual muscles.”  

The Gospel doesn’t call us to gossip about the drifter,  it calls us to extend grace to them.  

Because the truth is, every one of us has been the one who wandered. Every one of us has needed mercy. None of us are sitting here today because we got it all right, we’re here because God was gracious when we got it wrong.  

So yes, seek wise counsel when needed. But never forget where God found you. Remember what He saved you from. When we remember our own rescue story, it softens our hearts.  

Then we stop offering gossip and start offering grace. It’s that grace that often helps bring a drifter home.   

 Trust God with the outcome  

Jesus didn’t force Peter’s response. He invited it.  

You can’t make someone come back to faith. You can only love them toward it.  

• Pray for them consistently  

• Let the Holy Spirit work  

• And be Patient with the Drifter    

A Message to the Drifter:  

If you’re sitting here today, or listening to my voice, and you’re realizing…   

“I might be the one drifting”…. hear this with love:  

This message isn’t a warning shot. It’s a wave from the shore.  

The umbrella never moved. You did!  

Nobody here is throwing stones at you. We’re waving you home.  

Drifting doesn’t make you a failure. It makes you human. But you don’t have to stay where the current has taken you.  

Remember Peter.  

He drifted.  

He denied Jesus.  

And yet Jesus pursued him, restored him, and still called him forward.  

Jesus is in the restoration business.    

The very Peter who drifted became the rock on which Jesus built His church.  

So hear this clearly: your drifting does not cancel God’s calling.  

Your distance does not disqualify your destiny.  

The same Jesus who cooked breakfast for Peter, who gently restored him, who didn’t shame him, that same Jesus is inviting you back.  

Not with pressure.  

Not with guilt.  

But with open arms.  

If you’ve drifted, you can come back.  

Peter jumped in the water, couldn’t even wait for the boat to dock, he came swimming to Jesus.   

Small strokes still move you toward shore. One prayer. One step. One surrender at a time.  

And know this: He still has a plan for you.  

Your story isn’t over.  

Your calling still stands.  

As a former pastor of mine often said,  

“Jesus is desperately in love with you!”  

Maybe today is your moment to turn your heart back toward Him.  

1Corinthians 13 the Love Chapter says,   

“Love is patient, Love is kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud, or rude.  It does not demand its own way.  It is not irritable and it keeps no record of being wronged.    

These verses are not just instructions about love to be recited at a wedding, they are also instructions on how to wave down the drifter.    

David G Allen, a published author and researcher said,   

“Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you   

have in your mind.”  

Like eating a Tootsie Roll Pop.  Anyone remember this commercial?  

How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie pop?  

I never did have the patience to not bite into the tootsie roll pop.  After a while, I just got tired and had to take a bite.    

LifeSavers   

LifeSaver Illustration: Patience with the Drifter  

Go ahead and put the LifeSaver in your mouth now, but here’s the challenge:  

Do not bite it.  

Just let it sit there and dissolve.  

You’ll notice something almost immediately, you want to bite it.  

It takes patience to just let it sit and slowly dissolve.  

And honestly?  

It’s easier to bite than to wait.  When Trying this at home it took me 2 min and 30 sec. before I just took a bite.    

That’s a lot like how we treat people who are drifting from the faith.  

We see them drifting.  

We love them.  

We want them to come home.  

But sometimes instead of patiently loving them, we bite down in frustration.  

We lecture.  

We push.  

We ‘Bible-bam’ them over the head.  

Not because we’re mean… but because we care.  

But church, when we bite, it often causes more harm than good.  

People rarely drift back because they were pressured.  

They come back because they were loved.  

Because someone waved them down. Because someone stayed patient.  

Brian’s Pop  

Brian’s pop (grandfather) a patriarch of the family prayed for Brian’s Dad, to come to the Lord for 15 years.  He prayed and Waved him down for 15 years.  Talk about patience.  Brian’s Dad gave his heart to the Lord when he was 33. Brian’s dad passed at 35 of cancer.    

Pop, also prayed for me. He waved me down for about 4  years before I gave my heart to Jesus.   

Were there times when he had difficult conversations with us…absolutely,  but he LOVED us first. And He loved us well.   

During this last song, lets take a moment to think of that person in your life who seems spiritually distant or drifting.  Perhaps it’s someone you care about but may feel powerless to reach.  Picture them clearly in your mind.    

If you still have a lifesaver in your mouth, Keep sucking! Cause whether you are the drifter of the waver, it’s often in the  waiting that the Holy Spirit moves.  

Song…  

Be patient with the drifter  

Love before you lecture  

Pursue with presence, not pressure  

Extend Grace and not Gossip  

Trust God to do the heart work  

You’re not the Savior,   

you’re just called to point the drifter to THE  

Savior, Jesus