Pastor Bart Blair opens by sharing how losing his son to suicide in 2021 opened his eyes to the reality of spiritual warfare, moving him from under-spiritualizing to recognizing the genuine battle between good and evil in our world. Teaching from Acts 12, he examines how King Herod Agrippa attacked the early church by executing James and imprisoning Peter during Passover, intending to make a public spectacle of Peter's execution. However, the church's response wasn't political activism or human strategy—they prayed fervently together.

The turning point comes with the simple word "but" in Acts 12:5: "Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him." This fervent prayer (the Greek word "ektenos" meaning stretched out, intense, unceasing) led to an angelic rescue that freed Peter from maximum security—16 guards, chains, and locked gates. Meanwhile, Herod, who had positioned himself as a God, was struck down and eaten by worms, while "the word of God spread and multiplied." Pastor Blair emphasizes that the enemy's playbook remains unchanged: attack leaders, create division, and distract from the gospel mission, but our response must be the same as the early church—unified, fervent prayer focused on the main thing: the gospel.

Ordinary People Do Extraordinary Things: When Faithfulness Meets Opportunity

What if the most influential church in history was started by people whose names we don't even know?

In this message from Acts 11, we discover the incredible story of the Church of Antioch—a church that would go on to plant churches across the Roman Empire, send Paul and Barnabas on multiple missionary journeys, and become the headquarters of Christianity in the first century. But here's what makes this story so powerful: it was started by unnamed, ordinary believers who were simply staying faithful to Jesus' call to make disciples.

As Bear Creek Community Church in Lavon, TXsteps into 2026 with a focus on "building what matters," this sermon delivers three critical goals: to encourage us in our church planting journey, inspire us for the hard work ahead, and propel us into the next gear of mission.

Through the lens of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team's "Miracle on Ice," we're reminded that ordinary people do extraordinary things all the time. These weren't professional athletes—they were college players and amateurs who defeated the seemingly invincible Soviet Union team and won the gold medal. They were no-names who made a major impact.

But here's the shift: this isn't really about what ordinary people CAN do—it's about what God has ALREADY placed before us. The real question isn't "Can God use ordinary people?" The Bible proves that over and over. The real question is: "Will we step into the extraordinary things God's already placed before us?"

Three keys to stepping into God's extraordinary plan:

Stay the Course - When Barnabas arrived in Antioch, he simply encouraged them to "remain true to the Lord with steadfast purpose." They were already doing what Jesus called them to do: making disciples. The encouragement was to keep going, to keep doing what matters.

Be Full of Faith - Church planting and starting something new is about hearing God's call and acting on it in faith. Not small faith that plays it safe, but big faith that believes God can do more than we ask, think, or imagine. Faith that puts action to direction.

Reap the Harvest - When ordinary people stay the course and step out in faith, God meets them there. Large numbers of people came to faith in Antioch—not because they had the perfect strategy or the best marketing plan, but because ordinary people were faithful and God's hand was upon them.

The harvest isn't just about getting people saved—it's about making disciples, teaching people to obey all that Jesus commanded, and experiencing life transformation. And in God's economy, "a great many" is simply one more person: one more friend, one more coworker, one more neighbor.

The most encouraging truth? You can do this. We can do this. The call of Jesus in Matthew 28 comes with a promise: "I will be with you to the end of the age." We don't need to be superstars or blue-checkmark celebrity Christians. We just need to be ordinary people who take God's call seriously and act on our faith.

Because extraordinary things lay before ordinary people who stay the course, walk in faith, and are willing to reap the harvest God has already prepared.

Perfect for: Church planters, ministry leaders, anyone who's ever felt "too ordinary" to be used by God, and every believer who wants to step into the mission Jesus has for them.

What if the divisions we've drawn in our hearts aren't as permanent as we think? In this sermon, Pastor explores Acts 10 and Peter's radical journey of learning that the Gospel transcends every boundary we create—whether cultural, social, political, or personal.

For the first decade of the early church, believers were convinced that following Jesus meant staying within the lines they'd drawn. But when Peter receives a vision and encounters Cornelius, a Roman centurion and Gentile outsider, everything changes. Through vivid storytelling and contemporary examples, this message shows how Peter's prejudices were dismantled when he encountered God's inclusive love.

This isn't just ancient history. In our most connected yet deeply divided world, this sermon challenges you to examine the boundaries you've constructed. Whether it's about political affiliation, socioeconomic status, nationality, or lifestyle choices, the Gospel has something to say: It crosses every line.

You'll discover three transformative truths: The Gospel is bigger than our prejudice, the Gospel levels the human condition, and the Gospel is a gift freely available to everyone. Most importantly, you'll understand what it means to be a carrier of this good news—someone who dismantles divisions rather than creates them.

If you've felt excluded, looked down upon, or written off by others, this message is for you. If you've been guilty of drawing those lines yourself, this is your invitation to something greater. The Gospel doesn't exclude anyone. Neither should we.

Key Takeaway: The Gospel makes a difference not only in our relationship with God but in our relationships with others.

Lear more about Bear Creek Community Church in Lavon, TX: https://www.bc3.church/