In the second part of the "My Job Depends on Ag" series, this sermon addresses the often-dreaded spiritual discipline of waiting. We frequently try to avoid praying for patience to dodge trials, but trials are inevitable. The question isn't if we will wait, but how. Using James' analogy of the farmer, we see that waiting is not passive; it is an active, expectant dependence on God for a harvest we cannot control.

Scripture References

• James 5:7-11: "Be patient then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits... patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains."
• Psalm 27:14: "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
• Isaiah 40:31: "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength..."
• 2 Timothy 2:3-6: Paul uses the soldier, athlete, and the hard-working farmer as examples of perseverance.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: "Love is patient... love always perseveres."
• Mark 4:26-29: The parable of the growing seed, illustrating the slow, mysterious nature of Kingdom growth.

Key Points

1. Waiting is Active, Not Passive James points to the farmer who waits for the rains. For a first-century farmer, this wasn't leisurely; it was survival. His life depended on conditions outside his control. Similarly, waiting on God is an active posture of looking to Him as our source, surrendering our need for control.
2. Why We Wait
   • To kill entitlement: Waiting cures the "Veruca Salt syndrome" ("I want it now!").
   • To look to God: Waiting shifts our focus from the thing we want to the One who provides it.
   • To develop character: Patience is essential for spiritual maturity.
3. Hurry is the Enemy of Love First Corinthians 13 begins with "Love is patient" and ends with "Love perseveres." If we cannot wait, we cannot love. Hurry makes us incapable of connecting with God and others. Patience is simply the ability to wait with a heart of peace and hope.
4. The Kingdom Grows Slowly Jesus' parable of the seed (Mark 4) shows that Kingdom growth is often mundane, slow, and invisible. While we love "Pentecost moments," most growth happens through small, daily acts of obedience—prayer, listening, and faithfulness over time.

Conclusion

Waiting is not forever. James reminds us to be patient until the Lord's coming. Jesus, the ultimate Farmer, patiently suffered on the cross to forgive our impatience and secure our future. Whether He breaks through in this life or at His return, the wait will end. Until then, we are called to practice "slowing"—deliberately placing ourselves in positions where we must wait—to cultivate a heart of patience.

Calls to Action

1. Shift Your Perspective: View waiting not as a nuisance but as "patience practice"—an opportunity for your heart to grow.
2. Practice "Slowing":
   • Drive in one lane at the speed limit and use the time to pray.
   • Listen to people without your phone in your hand.
   • Take deliberate breaks from technology.
3. Pray for Patience: Stop avoiding it. Ask God for the grace to wait well.
4. Receive Prayer: If you are in a painful season of waiting, come forward for prayer to receive strength to persevere.

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Using agriculture as a metaphor for spiritual growth, this sermon focuses on the importance of cultivating a "root system" by keeping our hearts. Just as trees need roots to bear fruit, we must tend to our inner life to produce lasting spiritual fruit. We often prioritize the external—our "branches" of doing and achieving—while neglecting the hidden life of the heart.

Scripture References

• Genesis 2:4-9: God plants a garden and forms man from the dust (humus), reminding us of our humble origins.
• John 15:1-8: Jesus is the vine; we are the branches. The command is to "remain" or "abide," focusing on the connection (root) rather than striving for fruit.
• Mark 7:14-23: Jesus teaches that defilement comes from within the heart, not from outside circumstances.
• Proverbs 4:23: "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."
• 1 Samuel 16:7: "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
• Ezekiel 36:26-27: The New Covenant promise: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you."

Key Points

1. Prioritize the Root Over the Fruit At the start of a new year, we naturally focus on external results (fruit). However, Jesus consistently points us to the unseen, hidden life (root). If we focus on remaining in Him, the fruit will take care of itself. We must resist the pressure to let our public persona outgrow our private character.
2. Keep Your Heart with All Vigilance The heart is not just emotions; it is the center of our being—mind, will, and desires. Like a musical instrument, it naturally goes out of tune and must be constantly tended. Proverbs 4:23 commands us to guard it above all else because everything in life flows from it. While the world (bosses, teachers, etc.) may only care about our production, God cares deeply about the condition of our hearts.
3. Stop Blaming and Start Investigating We often blame external circumstances or people for our reactions ("Look what you made me do"). But Jesus teaches that what comes out of us (anger, lust, pride) reveals what was already in us. Instead of blaming others for shaking the bottle, we should investigate what's inside.

Conclusion

Spiritual growth isn't just behavior modification; it's heart transformation. We cannot change our own hearts, but God can. The promise of the New Covenant is that God will remove our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh. Our job is to tend the soil, stay connected to the Vine, and let His grace do the deep work of change.

Calls to Action

1. Invest in Your Marriage: Sign up for the marriage workshop on January 31st to intentionally shape your relationship.
2. Tend to Your Heart: Don't neglect your inner life for the sake of outer performance. Take time to stop and ask, "How is my heart doing?"
3. Journal Your Emotions: Use the simple exercise of writing down what you are Mad, Sad, Afraid, and Excited about to uncover what is truly going on inside you.
4. Stop Blaming: When negative reactions spill out, resist the urge to blame others. Ask God to show you the root of that reaction in your own heart.

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This sermon introduces the new year series, "My Job Depends on Ag," using agriculture as a metaphor for spiritual growth. The pastor begins with a confession about struggling to trust God with finances (both for the church's summer camp and the Amigo Row building project) and how asking for help led to miraculous provision. He emphasizes that spiritual growth is not like technology—it doesn't happen instantly with the push of a button. Instead, it's like farming: slow, incremental, often invisible, and dependent on creating the right conditions.

Scripture References
1 Corinthians 3:18: "And we all... are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory."

Romans 8:28-30: God's purpose is for us to be "conformed to the image of his Son."

Luke 8:4-15: The Parable of the Sower, illustrating four types of soil and the importance of perseverance for a harvest.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24: "The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it."

Key Points
Don't Settle for Less: The pastor's confession highlights the temptation to settle when tired of contending. Whether in finances, relationships, or faith, God often calls us to press on rather than accept the status quo. We need community to spur us on when our own faith is weak.

Growth is Like Agriculture, Not an App: Spiritual transformation is not a "zap" or a flash. It is organic, often invisible to the naked eye, and happens over time. Jesus used agricultural metaphors (soil, seed, harvest) because they accurately reflect how the Kingdom of God works.

Intentionality vs. Accident: No one accidentally gets a great marriage, a fit body, or a deep relationship with Jesus. While growth ultimately comes from God (like a tree growing), we must be intentional about creating the conditions for that growth (planting, watering, tending). We cannot drift into spiritual maturity.

The Parable of the Soils: Jesus explains that the same seed (God's Word) produces different results based on the soil of our hearts.

Path: The enemy snatches the word away.

Rocky Ground: No root; faith withers in testing.

Thorns: Choked by worries, riches, and pleasures; does not mature.

Good Soil: Hears, retains, and perseveres to produce a crop.

Conclusion
God has a plan for your growth in 2026. He desires your transformation even more than you do. While we must be intentional, we can rest in the promise that "The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it." We are invited to partner with Him, tending the soil of our hearts so that His Word can produce a harvest.

Calls to Action
Assess Your Intentions: On a scale of 1-10, how intentional are you about your spiritual growth? Move from hoping for accidental growth to planning for intentional formation.

Refuse to Settle: identify areas where you have stopped contending for God's best (marriage, health, faith) and ask Him for renewed faith to press on.

Tend Your Soil: As we begin this series, prepare your heart to receive God's Word. Identify any "rocks" or "thorns" (worries, distractions) that might be choking your growth.

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This sermon concludes the three-week series "God Our Home," connecting the longing for God's presence with the reality of Christmas. We recap that God's desire to dwell with His people is the entire storyline of the Bible—from Eden to the New Creation. However, significant barriers like disobedience, shame, lies, and God's holiness keep us from experiencing this intimacy.

The Good News of Christmas is that Jesus came to address every single barrier. He is the "obedience of the one" that makes many righteous. He clothes our shame so we can hide in Him rather than from Him. He reveals the true nature of the Father, dispelling lies. He comes full of grace and truth to make us holy, paying the entrance fee we could never afford. And He empowers us to forgive by first forgiving us.

Scripture References

• Revelation 21:3: "I will be your God, you will be my people, and I will dwell in your midst."
• Psalm 22:3: God inhabits the praises of His people.
• Deuteronomy 8:10-14: A warning not to forget God in times of plenty.
• John 8:28-29: Jesus' perfect obedience to the Father.
• Romans 5:19: "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous."
• Colossians 3:3: "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."
• Hebrews 4:15: We have a High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses.
• John 14:6-9: Jesus reveals the Father: "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."
• John 1:14: The Word became flesh, full of grace and truth.
• Matthew 6:9-15: The Lord's Prayer, emphasizing forgiveness.

Key Points

1. Jesus Addresses Our Barriers
   • Disobedience: Jesus' perfect submission overthrows our rebellion. His obedience is credited to us, making us righteous.
   • Shame: Instead of hiding from God in shame, we can hide in Christ. He clothes us in His righteousness, fully knowing and fully loving us.
   • Lies: Jesus reveals the true nature of the Father, dispelling the enemy's lies about God's character.
   • Holiness: Jesus doesn't lower the standard; He pays the price. He comes full of grace and truth to make us holy and blameless in God's sight.
   • Unforgiveness: We are empowered to forgive others because we have been forgiven a debt we could never pay.
2. How to Not Miss His Presence Like the characters in the first Christmas story who did experience God, we must:
   • Worship: Adore Him to gain perspective and crush comparison.
   • Ponder: Like Mary, treasure God's work in your heart. Be curious and wonder about Him.
   • Seek: Like the Wise Men, actively pursue Him. Don't assume His presence; hunt for it.

Conclusion

We don't have to live separated from God. Jesus, Emmanuel, has come to bridge the gap. He has dealt with our sin, shame, and separation so that we can once again stand in the presence of a holy God—not with fear, but with boldness and joy.

Calls to Action

1. Invite Someone: 80% of people are willing to come to church if invited. Use this Christmas season to invite someone to the Fox Theatre service.
2. Worship & Ponder: In the busyness of the season, take time to worship and ponder what Christ has done to bring you near.
3. Come to the Table: As you take communion, reflect on the cost Jesus paid to remove every barrier between you and the Father.

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This sermon explores the deep longing for God's presence and the obstacles that obscure it. While we often associate God's presence with emotional experiences—tears or goosebumps—He is a constant reality. "Emmanuel" (God with us) is not merely a seasonal Christmas theme; it is the entire storyline of the Bible, from the Garden of Eden to the New Creation. God's relentless pursuit is defined by the promise: "I will be your God, you will be my people, and I will dwell in your midst." However, significant barriers often keep us from experiencing the face of God.

Scripture References

• Genesis 3:1-13: The Fall, introducing disobedience and hiding.
• Psalm 51: David's plea not to be cast from God's presence.
• Isaiah 6:1-5: The confrontation between human sin and God's holiness.
• Luke 2:41-52: Jesus' parents losing Him by assuming He was in the crowd.

Key Points

1. The Narrative of Presence The Bible is bookended by God dwelling with man. It begins in Eden, moves through the Tabernacle and Temple, finds its fulfillment in Jesus, continues in the Church through the Holy Spirit, and culminates in the New Creation where no temple is needed.
2. Seven Barriers to Intimacy
   • Disobedience: Sin naturally creates distance.
   • Hiding & Shame: Guilt says "I did something bad"; shame says "I am bad," causing us to hide from God.
   • Lies: The enemy deceives us about God's character and the severity of sin.
   • Holiness: God's unapproachable light exposes our darkness (Isaiah 6).
   • Unforgiveness: Jesus teaches that holding grudges hinders our prayers.
   • Busyness: Prosperity often leads us to forget the God who blessed us.
   • Presumption: Like Mary and Joseph, we can travel days assuming Jesus is with us in the "religious crowd" without actually consulting Him.

Conclusion

During the holidays, we celebrate God being with us, but the pressing question is: Are we with Him? It is dangerous to assume His presence while living distracted, disobedient, or unforgiving lives. Jesus came to remove every barrier—sin, shame, and separation—so that we could once again walk face-to-face with God.

Calls to Action

1. Stop Hiding: Come out of isolation. Confess your sin and let God cover your shame.
2. Check Your Assumptions: Don't assume God is with you just because you are at church. Actively seek His face daily.
3. Release Unforgiveness: Let go of grudges that block your experience of God's nearness.

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This sermon addresses the deep ache for "home" we feel during the holidays—a longing for the permanent and perfect that the world cannot satisfy. This desire points to the central theme of Scripture: Emmanuel, God with us. This is not just a Christmas slogan; it is the entire storyline of the Bible, from the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem.

Scripture References

• Genesis 1-3: Eden, the first temple where God walked with humanity.
• Exodus 25:8 & 29:45: God commands a sanctuary be built so He may dwell among His people.
• 1 Kings 8:10-11: The glory of the Lord fills Solomon's Temple.
• John 1:14: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."
• 1 Corinthians 3:16: "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?"
• Revelation 21:1-27: The New Creation, where God dwells with man permanently.

Key Points

1. The Journey of God's Presence The Bible traces God's dwelling place through history:
   • Eden: The original design where God walked with man.
   • The Tabernacle/Temple: "Mini-Edens" where God's glory dwelt, guarded by boundaries.
   • Jesus: The true Temple; God in the flesh.
   • The Church: Today, the Holy Spirit fills believers. We are the temple of God.
   • New Creation: The final stop where heaven and earth merge, and there is no temple because God's presence is everywhere.
2. You Are a Priest on Duty Just as Adam was called to "work and keep" the garden, and priests were called to minister in the temple, believers are a "priesthood" called to keep and cultivate the presence of God. Every believer houses the Holy Spirit and has a ministry to the Lord that will last forever.
3. Longing for Home is Longing for God Our holiday homesickness is actually a spiritual longing for the New Creation. Earthly pleasures are just appetizers (or "little pink spoons") meant to arouse our desire for the real thing: face-to-face communion with God.

Conclusion

We are currently living as temples of the Holy Spirit, the "embassies" of the coming Kingdom. The next event on God's timeline is the return of Christ and the establishment of the New Jerusalem, where we will finally be "home" with Him forever. Until then, our purpose is to house and cultivate His presence in a world that desperately needs Him.

Calls to Action

1. Cultivate His Presence: Ask yourself, "How am I tending to the presence of God in my life?" Make time for "face time" with Him amidst the holiday busyness.
2. Be Filled with the Spirit: Instead of being filled with wine, fear, or greed this season, intentionally ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
3. Clean House: Remember you are God's temple. If there are habits or thoughts that grieve the Spirit, clean them out to honor His presence.

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This sermon explores the origins and significance of baptism and communion, tracing them back to their roots in the Exodus story. It explains that these sacraments are not random rituals but divine institutions commanded by Jesus, prefigured in the Old Testament, and practiced by the church for thousands of years.

Scripture References

• Matthew 28:18-20: The Great Commission to baptize.
• Luke 22:7-20: The Last Supper, instituting communion.
• 1 Corinthians 11:23-26: Paul's instructions on the Lord's Supper.
• Exodus 12:1-28: The Passover, the origin of communion.
• Exodus 12:29-51 & 14:1-31: The Exodus and crossing of the Red Sea, the origin of baptism.
• John 1:29: John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the "Lamb of God."
• 1 Peter 1:18-19: Redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish.

Key Points

1. Communion: The Passover Fulfilled To understand the Last Supper, we must understand the First Supper (Passover). In Exodus 12, God provided a substitute (a lamb) to save the Israelites from judgment. This lamb had to be:
   • Pure: Without defect.
   • Personal: Kept in the home for four days.
   • Killed: A true sacrifice.
   • Applied: Blood on the doorposts (faith in action).
   • Consumed: Totally devoured (we take all of Jesus).
   • Taken in Faith: Eaten in haste, ready to move. Jesus is the fulfillment of this Passover lamb. He is the pure, personal sacrifice whose blood is applied to our lives, saving us from judgment.
2. Baptism: The Red Sea Crossing Baptism is framed by the Israelites' crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14). It involves three movements of salvation:
   • Leaving the Old Behind: Just as Israel left 430 years of slavery in Egypt, baptism symbolizes leaving our old life of bondage.
   • Surrendering to God: At the Red Sea, Israel was trapped and terrified. Moses told them, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Baptism declares our trust in God to fight battles we cannot win.
   • New Identity: Passing through the waters, Israel was born again as a free nation. They emerged on the other side with a new identity as worshipers, erupting in song. Baptism marks our entry into a new life and identity in Christ.
3. Why We Do It We practice baptism and communion because Jesus commanded them, the early church practiced them, and they powerfully reenact the story of our salvation. They are not just rituals; they are "sacraments" that mark the church and remind us of who we are and whose we are.

Conclusion

The sacraments of baptism and communion are God's way of "resetting our clocks" and marking us as His own. Just as the Passover changed the calendar for Israel, meeting Jesus changes everything for us. We leave behind the old, trust God to fight for us, and step into a new identity as His people.

Calls to Action

1. Remember Your Baptism: If you are a believer, recall the moment you "crossed the Red Sea" and left your old life behind.
2. Take Communion in Faith: When you participate in the Lord's Supper, remember the cost of the Lamb and apply His blood to your life by faith.
3. Stand Firm: If you are facing an "impossible" Red Sea situation, hear the word of the Lord: "Do not be afraid. Stand firm... The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

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This sermon addresses the "why" behind the Ten Plagues, asking "What's up with that?" regarding God's harsh judgment. The plagues are a revelation (Who is God?), a rescue (fulfilling His promises), and a recompense (judging oppression). They show God rules over humanity, nature, and all other gods. These were supernatural acts, and this message tackles the "why" of their severity.

Scripture References

• Acts 17:25
• Psalm 50:12
• Galatians 6:7-8
• Matthew 7:2
• Proverbs 1:24-33
• Exodus 34:6-7
• 2 Peter 3:9
• Ezekiel 33:11
• Exodus 8:25, 8:28, 10:11, 10:24

Key Points

1. God Is Not Insecure; His Glory Is Our Good God's commitment to His own glory isn't neediness; it's love. He seeks our worship not because it meets His need, but because it meets our need. When God exalts Himself, He draws us to the only thing that can satisfy our souls. We were designed to worship. Non-worship is not an option; you will worship something. God, in His kindness, offers Himself as the only object that leads to life.
2. God Will Not Be Mocked (Reaping What You Sow) The plagues are a terrifying picture of justice. Egypt is reaping what it has sown. Long before God turned the Nile red, the Egyptians turned it red with the blood of Hebrew infants. Long before God struck the firstborn son, Pharaoh had been killing Israel's sons. This principle is meant to drive us to the Gospel, to flee to God for mercy rather than face the just consequences of our own actions.
3. God's Patience Precedes His Judgment God is "slow to anger" (Ex. 34:6). He is not a short-fused, raging deity. These plagues come after centuries of oppression. He warns repeatedly because He is patient, "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). His warnings are an act of love.
4. God Will Not Compromise on Freedom Pharaoh tries to negotiate, offering four compromises that are still schemes of the enemy today:
   • Deal 1: "Worship, but stay my slaves." (A faith with chains on).
   • Deal 2: "Worship, but don't go too far." (A private, comfortable faith).
   • Deal 3: "Let the men go, but leave the families." (A faith that doesn't include your household).
   • Deal 4: "Go, but leave your flocks." (A faith that costs you nothing). God refuses every deal. He is committed to total, costly, all-encompassing freedom.

Conclusion

God will not settle for a people who worship with chains on. He has not called us to a compromised faith. He is committed to our total freedom, and He paid the ultimate price for it. We must refuse to "play church" and settle for anything less than the complete freedom Christ has purchased for us.

Calls to Action

1. Refuse to Worship with Chains On: Renounce any bondage you've accepted as normal.
2. Reject Compromised Faith: Don't take the enemy's deals. Go as far as God calls.
3. Take Your Family With You: Commit to leading your entire household in worship.
4. Make Your Worship Costly: Refuse to offer God a faith that costs you nothing.

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