The Life That Stands
The Life That Stands
In a world of constant change and uncertainty, building a life that truly lasts requires more than good intentions or surface-level faith. The difference between lives that collapse under pressure and those that stand strong isn't found in circumstances or resources, but in the foundation upon which they're built. Many people construct their lives on temporary things like career achievements, financial security, or social approval, only to discover these foundations crumble when real storms hit.Building on solid rock means choosing Jesus Christ as the unshakeable foundation for every aspect of life. This process requires what can be called excavation before elevation - digging deep to remove layers of pride, fear, isolation, and regret that prevent us from reaching solid ground. It's uncomfortable work that involves getting honest about areas needing change, but it's absolutely necessary for lasting stability. Just as Jesus experienced humiliation before exaltation, we must be willing to humble ourselves and invest in character development rather than seeking quick fixes or shortcuts.When life's inevitable storms arrive - sickness, loss, financial struggles, relationship problems - they don't come to destroy us but to reveal the strength of our foundation. The pressure exposes what our faith is truly built upon and whether we'll run to God or away from Him in difficult times. Those who build their lives on Christ create something that outlasts them, impacting future generations through their faithfulness. The choice facing every person is simple yet profound: will you be the builder who invests in deep, solid foundations, or the one who settles for surface-level construction that won't withstand life's storms?
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Building a Life That Stands: Foundations for Lasting Faith
In a world where everything seems temporary and unstable, how do we build something that lasts? How do we create a faith that not only survives life's storms but thrives through them? The answer lies in understanding what it means to build our lives on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ.
What Does It Mean to Build on Solid Rock?
Jesus painted a powerful picture in Luke 6:46-49 of two builders who faced the same storm with vastly different outcomes. Both had access to the same tools, materials, and resources. The difference wasn't in what they had available to them—it was in what they chose to build upon.
The house in this parable represents your life, your beliefs, your family, and your future. The rock represents obedience to God's word and building your life on Jesus Christ. When we remain faithful and obedient, we construct our lives on an unshakeable foundation.
Why Do Some Lives Collapse While Others Stand Strong?
The key difference between the two builders wasn't their circumstances or resources—it was their willingness to do the hard work of proper foundation building. One builder took shortcuts and built on the surface, while the other invested time and effort in digging deep to reach solid rock.
Many people today are building their lives on temporary things: career success, relationships, financial security, or social media approval. While these aren't necessarily bad things, they make poor foundations because they can shift or disappear entirely.
How to Dig Deep: Excavation Before Elevation
What Does Digging Deep Look Like?
Before God elevates you, He strengthens what's underneath. Your character, your convictions, and your connection to Him must be solid. A strong life begins beneath the surface, not with what others can see.
Digging deep means excavating and removing layers of pride, fear, isolation, and regret that have built up over time. It's about getting honest with yourself and God about areas that need work. This process isn't comfortable, but it's necessary.
Why Is This Process Important?
You can't build a flourishing life on a soft surface. Just like Jesus went through humiliation before exaltation—taking the form of a servant and being obedient even to death on a cross—we too must be willing to humble ourselves and do the hard work of character development.
The Greek word for "dug deep" means to excavate completely. This isn't surface-level change; it's getting to the root of issues and dealing with them thoroughly until you hit the solid rock of Jesus Christ.
How to Stand Steady When Storms Come
Understanding Life's Storms
Every person faces storms—sickness, loss, financial struggles, relationship problems, and various pressures. These storms don't come to destroy you; they come to reveal how strong your foundation really is.
When the flood waters rise and break against your house, the question isn't whether you'll face pressure, but whether your foundation can withstand it. The storm tests the structure of your spiritual life and exposes what your faith is truly built on.
What to Do When Pressure Builds
The rising and breaking points in life are when you've tried to handle everything in your own strength and reach your limit. The challenge isn't the storm itself—it's asking yourself which type of builder you are.
Are you someone who builds strong on a solid foundation with your focus on Jesus, or is your focus consumed by the storm? When life shakes you, do you run or do you stand? The pressure proves your foundation.
Building for Legacy: What Outlasts You
Why Your Story Matters
What's built on Christ outlasts you. A faith built on Jesus doesn't stop with you—it continues through those who come after you. When you build your life on Christ, your story becomes someone else's foundation.
Your story has power, regardless of what you think about it. Whether you've lived a dramatic life or what seems like an ordinary one, God can use your faithfulness to impact others in ways you may never fully realize.
What Do People See When They Look at Your Life?
When people observe your life, what do they see? Do they see someone who has triumphed through trials and struggles and is still praising the Lord? Do they see someone anchored in Christ who has joy in their salvation?
The goal isn't perfection—it's authenticity in your relationship with Jesus. People need to see that it's possible to go through difficult times and still maintain faith, hope, and joy.
The Choice Every Person Must Make
Which Builder Will You Be?
You have the same Bible, the same access to God's presence, and the same Holy Spirit available to you as every other believer. The question is: what will you do with these resources?
Will you be like the builder who takes shortcuts and builds on the surface, or will you invest in the hard work of digging deep until you reach solid rock? Will you stand firm when storms come, or will you be overwhelmed by circumstances?
The Power of Saying Yes to Jesus
There's something beautiful that happens when God's people say yes to Jesus and put Him first over other things in their lives. This isn't about perfection—it's about direction and commitment.
When you make the decision to build your life on Christ, you're not just changing your own future; you're potentially impacting generations to come. Your faithfulness today becomes a foundation for others tomorrow.
Life Application
This week, take an honest inventory of what you're building your life upon. Are there areas where you've been building on unstable ground—perhaps trusting in your own abilities, relationships, or circumstances more than in God?
Choose one specific area where you need to "dig deeper" and remove something that's preventing you from building on solid rock. This might be unforgiveness, pride, fear, or misplaced priorities. Commit to doing the hard work of excavation in this area.
When storms come this week—and they will—practice standing steady instead of being overwhelmed. Remember that the pressure is revealing your foundation, not destroying it.
Questions for Reflection:
What am I building my life upon, and will it last through life's storms?
What needs to be excavated from my life so I can build on solid rock?
How do I respond when pressure comes—do I run to God or away from Him?
What legacy am I building for the next generation through my choices today?
Am I willing to do the hard work of digging deep, or am I content with surface-level faith?
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A discussion guide for the sermon can be found here.
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Morning.
Great to be here. If you're new to the Connect family, welcome, welcome, welcome. It's good to see you. Yes. And thank you.
If you're looking after my baby, thank you very much. I've got a word for you. I've been stirred. The Lord's been stirring my heart, the heart of my wife, my kids, my family home. And that's to build strong.
And we're in a season of building bigger in this church expansion 26. And it's exciting and we need those things. But I believe deep down inside we need to build spiritually strong. Amen. So I'm going to share with you a passage in Luke.
It says this, so why do you keep calling me Lord, Lord, when you don't do what I say, I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching and then follows is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the flood waters rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground. Without a foundation, when the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins. Who's heard that passage before, before?
Yeah, we've all heard it, most of us. It's pretty, pretty famous in that. And Jesus, he ends, concludes his Sermon on the Mount, painting this picture of two builders, same tools, same materials, same storm. But only one stands in the story. The house represents your life, your beliefs, your family, your future.
The rock represents you obeying God's word, obedience to it. When we stay faithful and obedient, we build our lives on solid rock. Jesus Christ, our firm foundation, a life built on Christ stands strong through any storm. I've titled my message this morning, the life that Stands. The Life that Stands.
I was telling my two daughters, Ayla and Aria, 9 and 6, about the expansion 26, what that means for them. And I asked them if there was something that they wanted or needed in kids church to help them and the other kids. And I said, playground, we need a playground, Playground, playground, playground. My youngest daughter is like, oh, we need a jumping castle in the big room, right? It's one of those calm your farm moments.
Say, relax, play buddy, relax. So I said to them, hey, there's a shed next to your kids church. And inside the shed, if you Open it. There's a shovel, these tools, these things, right? Yep.
And I said, we're going to go and dig some holes and build the playground. My oldest one goes, oh, no, no. Sorry, dad. And my oldest one was up on worship last week here with her mom, right? Yeah, she's a diva level now, Steph.
No, I don't. I don't do dirt or. I don't do that. My youngest one, right? Oh, she's.
Let's do it. Let's do it after church. We'll go now, dad, and we'll do it. Two sisters, same opportunities, same resources, same material, but only one is willing to stand strong in your life. Which one are you?
You're reading the same Bible as me. Which one are you? What are you building for? What are you building on? What do you want for your kids, for your family, for yourselves?
That is the picture of how we respond when it comes to building what God is calling us to build. God's not just calling us to build big. He's calling us to build strong, to build a life that lasts a life on Jesus Christ. So how do we do it, church? How do we build a life that stands strong and a faith that can last and be passed on?
The first thing is this. Dig deep. Dig deep. Excavation before elevation, before God raises you up. He strengthens what's underneath.
Your character, your convictions, your connection to Him. A strong life begins beneath the surface. You can't build a flourishing life on soft surface.
They won't last. They won't last what God does because he digs. He calls you to dig. Dig all those things out. The pride, the fear, the isolation, the regret.
All those things that get bottled up and they're just layer after layer digging deep. You're digging, you're excavating. You're removing all those things you don't need anymore in Christ, and you go, bang. I'm on the rock. I've dug deep enough.
Enough. I'm on solid rock.
Verse 47. It says, I'll show you. I'll show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teachings and follows it. Let's stop there. I'll show you.
If you don't know, let him show you. And when he does show you, do you receive it? Do you apply it?
Are you obedient to it? Do you follow? Follow it? Verse 48. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock.
Digs deep. Who digs deep? New King James Version says, He dug deep. Dug deep. And the Greek meaning of the word, he dug deep.
And it means to excavate, right? So we have this picture of digging deep, removing all the things that don't matter anymore, temporary things that don't matter yet. Many of us here have gone through seasons, we're just so much consumed by it. And then we have this expectation that God's going to move and then you're disappointed and you end up building on the surface on top and not on the one down bottom.
He builds it on depth, core value, not on excitement, not on charisma, not on the latest fashion that you wear and the latest posts that you put on your socials and that he doesn't base your life on, that he's going, are you willing to dig for me? Are you willing to dig through all that pride, all that anger, all that unforgiveness, until you find me firm foundation?
Jesus. Jesus went through excavation before elevation. He humbled himself, taking the form of a servant, living a life of obedience, even when it led him to the cross. But God didn't leave him there. He exalted him, gave him the name above every name.
He exalted him, Philippians 2, 8, 9. He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on the cross. Therefore, God elevated him to a place of highest honour and gave him the name above other names. Name above other names. When you dig deep, church to refine your moment, you see things.
You see things. We all got to work on things. I'm not there yet. Far from it. Don't be mistaken.
Yeah, lead pastor. That's just the role. That's the title. But I'm digging. I was digging this morning.
With the amount of kids we've got to get to church, right? And you're constantly digging, right? It's all part of life. But what are some of the things in your life this morning that you think it's probably time we need to dig? It's probably, probably time.
Now that story is getting a little bit old now. Their record is a little bit broken now. What decision are you going to make when you leave here, when you go? That's it. I've had enough.
I'm not going to keep living in this. I'm going to keep digging until I hit rock solid.
What is the posture of your heart when God calls you to be build. What is the posture of your heart when God calls you to dig, to dig deep, to remove the things? Because I can tell you what I'm looking at A church. This is crazy what God's doing, man. Look around you.
Look around you. This is the third service and he is moving in this church and he's moving in your life. I want to encourage you. I want to encourage you. Keep going.
Keep digging. I don't know all your stuff, stories, but you're here now. Come back next week, we go again. We keep digging. Amen.
No matter what, keep digging and see what God sees in your life. So that's the first thing. And what happens when you keep digging? What happens when you get to that solid rock? That's my point.
2. Stand steady. Stand steady. Stand firm. Hold your ground.
Pressure proves the foundation. Pressure proves the foundation. We have life struggles, right? We call storms. We call them storms.
You know, if you're new to the Christian, we call them storms. Sickness, loss, financial struggles, relationships, whatever it may be, we have them. Every single one of us have them. Maybe you're here right now and you're going through one, right? But these storms don't come to destroy you.
They don't come to destroy you. They come to show you how strong your foundation in Christ is. That's what they do. Your hardships, your brokenness, all these things, all they're doing when they come into your life, right? In their confrontation, they're coming.
So you can see for yourself. Is my faith in Jesus Christ or is my faith, faith in that situation? Is my faith in that marriage and that brokenness and their hurt, or is my faith in Jesus Christ?
Verse 48. When the flood waters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it's well built. I love this man. The rise and break. Who's here?
Who's ever felt overwhelmed, Right? Overwhelmed. Life's building you up. Yep. So we're all perfect here then.
I know. You know, you've lived lives feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, pressure, kids, financial bills, rates. La la, la la la. We all go through that, right? The rising and the breaking.
And the breaking point is when you've tried so much to do it in your own strength, you tried so much to knock this storm out, that you break. That you break. The challenge isn't there. The challenge is which builder am I? Challenge is you ask yourself, which builder am I?
Am I builder that builds strong on solid foundation? And my focus is on Jesus, or is my focus on the Sol storm?
The storm tests the structure of your life, your spiritual walk. The storm reveals strength, conceals it, exposes what your faith is really built on. The pressure proves your foundation. This morning, church, it was rising. My temperature Was rising.
My frustration was up there. Why? Because it was tough, man. Like, you know, my wife's worship leading and I'm preaching. And even last night I got home from church and baby was a bit unsettled.
And Alex was feeling the rising, right? She was rising. She was getting there and stuff like that. We talked it over, and I said to her, we've been here before. We've been here, but before.
Matter of fact, we've been here many times. Yeah, we got a newborn kid, another extra. But we've been here before. We know what to do when the challenge comes. We know what to do when the rising point comes.
We know what to do when the breaking point comes. What do we do? We stand strong. We serve the Lord. We go.
Our lives are built on Jesus Christ, our son. Savior. Yes. Messy. It's chaos.
It's screaming kids and milk bottles and nappies. And my daughter had a bleeding nose this morning in there. One hand here and the bottle and the baby on this hand, right? Rising and breaking. And maybe you're here right now and you're going through exactly that.
But on a more serious level, can I tell you this?
The enemy will do their best to let your storm overwhelm you. And you know what you do? You keep digging. Then you stand steady, right? Stand steady and you go.
Is that all you got? This is my Jesus here. That's my Jesus here. Is that the best you can do? My marriage is still going.
Is that the best you can do? My kids are still serving the Lord. Is that the best you can do? Bring it. Bring the rising and breaking moments.
I have Jesus.
Isaiah 28:16. It says this. Look. I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem. A firm and tested stone.
A precious cornerstone that safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken. Jesus Christ is your firm foundation. That precious stone, that safe place. Safe place.
And I don't know all your stories and that and what you're going through, but I know some of you here are still hurt from something that's happened many years ago. You still.
I know the feeling. This hurt from years ago, and you just can't get rid of it. Just can't. You can't. Oh, I just can't let it go.
Here's the thing, Church. It's not about getting rid of it or letting go. It's about going, who cares? I have Jesus. I'm not going to give it anymore.
I have Jesus. And maybe you're here right now and can I encourage you with this? Make a decision now. Make a Decision in your heart. Let the word of God fill your heart and breathe it in.
Have truth for yourself and your kids and go, what type of builder do I want to be? Someone that's built on soft sand or built on ground or someone that builds on solid rock. And I see that in each and every one of you. Do you see that in yourselves? Church, when life shakes you, what do you do?
Do you run or do you stand?
Are your storms transforming you or are they keeping you hammered down there?
Let your storms come, stand firm. Follow the Lord and trust me on this church. I've been there and still going through through it. Put Jesus Christ as your firm foundation and watch what he does in your life. Watch what he does.
So that's the second thing. Number one, dig deep. Excavate removal, the things we don't need until we get to solid rock. Number two, stand steady. Pressure approves the foundation.
Once you get those two things, number three is you build for legacy. Build for legacy. What's built on Christ outlasts you. What's built on Christ? Psalm 78.
Four says this. We will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord. The glorious deeds of the Lord to build on firm foundation, on solid rock. We have a calling and a responsibility to our next generation, don't we? Because here's the truth.
I've lived in the world, and I can. I can say this. If you don't lead them or invest in them, the world will.
If we don't make a stand and dig deep and stand steady for our next generation, who will? If we don't build for the next 10, 20, 30 years years, who will?
A faith that's built on Jesus doesn't stop with you. It continues through those who come after you. When you build your life on Christ, your story becomes someone else's foundation. Your story has power, Church. Your story has power.
You know, I've met some people, and they're like someone. I forgot their name. It was just last week. And they go to me, actually. Yeah, I spoke at an outreach program a couple weeks ago for community kids in Frankston.
And I was talking to them and speaking to all these young kids in that. And I was talking to this person, and I shared my testimony and this person goes to me. Oh, for.
I can't do that. I haven't lived that life. I don't have that life. I've got nothing to give, Right? And I know there's some of you here where you're like, I've lived such a good life.
And an honest life, right? I've got. I can't compare to someone else's story. But can I say this? You can impact someone else that those others can't.
Just because my story is the way it is and how you see see it doesn't mean I can impact everyone. You look at my wife, pastor's daughter, growing up in church her whole life, but she's impacting people, even in maternity leave. And that she's still impacting people that there's no way I could do.
Your story has power to build for legacy, to build for the next, next generation. When people look at you, what do they see? What do they see? What do you want them to see when they look at your life?
When they look at you, do they see someone that's triumphed through all the trials and struggles and are here, hands up, praising the Lord?
When they look at your life, do they see someone anchored in Christ? I have joy, the joy of my salvation. When they look at your life, what do you want them to see?
Paul echoes Jesus. There is only one foundation that lasts. In 1 Corinthians 3, 10, 11 says, because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder.
Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful for no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have. Jesus Christ.
Now others are building on it.
It's amazing, man. I'm speaking to people since we launched the Expansion 2026, talking to a lot of people and how excited they are and stirred up to be a part of the house. And it's not even, they're not even excited about the building itself really. They're just excited to, to be in a church. That's community, that's faith filled, that's.
I've never had this before. Why I've met so many go, I've been searching for church. Church. Now I found home.
And I've just been stirred by the so stories, right? Just stir. Like, man, you guys are awesome watching online. Far out, man. Awesome.
And my faith's been stirred.
New families. My daughters go nearly every week ago. Dad, there's far too many kids in kids church. Like it's a problem. And I think the way they said it was like can you fix it type of thing.
But I know then they're coming around like it's great. That's just how they say, you know, kids. And we have new families right coming through. And one of our new families came to our growth nights last Wednesday. For the first time.
And I was sitting there with Ian and Sia and his mom, dad and a 13 year old boy. 13 year old boy goes to me, pastor Fua, how do you, how do you do all this food and build a church at the same time? Shared with the young fella, generosity of people's giving to the Lord, being good stewards, right? Being honest, transparent, all those types of things. And then he goes bang.
Here's a hundred dollars from my holiday money for the building.
Yeah, it was like it was all moment Ryan. I kept that cool till dad started to tearing up, right? Mom started tearing up. And you know what, I'm like family. Once you start, it's game over.
Like I'm already there. And sure enough I was already there. I was like, oh, it wasn't so much the amount he gave, it was the heart behind it, the heart behind it giving to the expansion 26. That's between you and the father, you and the father. And I watch him and his family, I don't know what they're going through that but I know that they're in a season of digging.
They're in a season of digging. And for this young 13 year old I know years to come, I'm going to remember that story. How a 13 year old kid said yes.
When you're going church, will your story tell of a house that fell or a life that stood? How do you want to be remembered?
How do you want to be remembered? Someone who built worldly treasures or someone who built for tomorrow?
You want to be remembered as a great musician? You want to be remembered as someone that can take really cool photos and do insta posts whenever they need.
You want to be remembered to be the cool one. No one cares. Could tell you what. Jesus doesn't care, you know what he cares about? Are you willing to serve me?
Are you willing to dig deep? Are you willing to build and stand firm? Are you willing to impact and see lives change for me? And through all of that, are you willing to worship and praise me?
I never shared this in the last, on the last service, but this passage, right, this passage in Luke was probably the second or third time I ever opened up a Bible. In my early years there was laughing, encouraging love, right? Yeah, in my early days, second or third time I think and I came across this very passage and that, and in truth back then it wasn't even about building rock solid. You know the thing that got me when I read this the first time, I can promise you I'll get you, you now it's verse 46.
So why do you keep calling me Lord, Lord, we don't do what I say.
For so long I lived a fake life.
Christian on the weekend, party animal during the week.
Fake life again, again in the Word. So why do you keep calling me Lord, Lord, when you don't do what I said, say, pretending to be someone I'm not.
And I remember one time I broke down and I was like, man, I've had enough.
I've had enough. And you know what happened? Verse 47. I will show you. He showed me, showed me, show me what humility is.
And as he showed me and showed me, I kept listening, I kept being obedient. It. The more and more I got into it, more and more I got into it. And as the time went by, I kept on. Kept on going and kept on digging and kept on doing these things.
And then from that moment on, I made a decision. I'm all in. And I'm going to build my life on Jesus Christ. Because I don't want to live in a house. I don't want to live in a house that would collapse into a heap of ruins.
I don't want to live in that anymore. I've lived in that. Many of you here, you're shaking your heads because you know this. Matter of fact, you know the house of ruins more than the house in Christ. I knew that.
Why the sermon so special? Because each of these points is what I went through. That was the transformation process. That's why it's close to my heart, this passage. I dug deep.
You can dig deep. You can stand firm, stand steady. But when you do that, when you stand firm, stand with joy. Not everything is a fight. Stand with joy and I will serve my Lord.
Smile, laugh, worship, praise his name, and then watch him use. Use your life to build for the next generation. For the next generation.
Show the next generation the goodness of the Father. Show them a life that stands strong. And watch what happens. Amen, Church. When we close our eyes, when we close.
I'm going to pray and then hand it over to Adrian.
Thank you, Lord, for this moment, for this opportunity, for this season, and whatever the journey it is you take us on, Heavenly Father, that we are, we are deeply reminded to dig deep, to remove all the things that I want things, to stand steady, to stand firm on your word, to obey it, to follow it.
And I pray, Lord God, that we take hold of that calling, to see lives change, to impact lives, to impact communities, to build. To build for the next generation, Lord. So I Pray, Lord, your presence continues to flow through this service. I pray that they will flow in the people's lives, Lord God. They will keep believing and giving them new visions and new dreams, Heavenly Father.
And I pray, Lord God, that your people not just stay faithful, but stay faith filled, that there is a faith. There is a faith in them, Heavenly Father, that they want to press on to serve you, Lord God. And I pray, Heavenly Father, that your name continues to be the name above all else. We thank you, Lord, in your precious name, Church. Amen.
Love you, brother. That was the heart of God. Hey, so. So we were going to be.
We're going to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. There's something beautiful. There is something beautiful about God, people saying, yes, Jesus, there's something beautiful about God's people saying, lord, I put you first over the other things in my life.
And there's something beautiful that happens in our hearts when we do it, isn't there. You sense that this is what we're going to do. We're going to come around a time, two things. We're going to come around a time of communion because everything we do has to be centered around Jesus Christ. Everything we do has to be for him, like Fua was saying.
And we can't do nothing we do means anything without the sacrifice and the love of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives. And so we're going to have communion today and we're going to say thank you, Jesus, for your sacrifice, for your love, for your blood. And then we're going to have an opportunity to dedicate ourselves to him and to commit ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ. And as we do that, we're going to also have the opportunity to have a spiritual worship moment where we can say, for those of us who have said, I want to pledge to the Lord for the next expansion. We heard from Helga and Carl about 40 years ago.
God's people rose up and we saw miracles happen. It's time for us to see it again. And for those of us who've said, yes, I want to be a part of that God, I want to pray, I want to commit something to you. We're going to have an opportunity as we come and get communion to give our pledges in. And you know, as we do that, I've got a scripture to talk about.
I'm going to explain how we're going to do that. But I'm reminded again, and I'll say it, you know, there was a wonderful lady in our church who was also here for Many, many years. Iris Wilson. And some of, many of you would know her, some of. She was in the village Baxter for the last couple of years.
But very sadly, on Monday she passed away to be with the Lord.
But I've known her for the last 10 years. And I want to tell you, when I think of someone like Iraq, I think of a mighty, mighty woman of God. Because you know what? She lived what Phil was talking about. She built a legacy.
When I was here, she was running the seniors group now ministering, running Bible study. She was a prayer warrior. The first Sunday I ever came to this church and I believe I preached. And I was like, oh, you know, how's it gonna go, people like me? And she came straight up to me.
She goes, adrian, she goes, you keep preaching like that, you've got the fire of the Holy Spirit and we need it. She was dancing, she was loving it. She was hugging me. And she goes, I'm Scottish, I've got a bit of fire in me as well. And in the last 10 years I just saw her minister and that love and fire came out.
And so people like that have gone before us. And we're praying right now for Eric and Lisa, her son and daughter in law. We're praying for Eric Wilson, her husband. Husband. And the funeral is going to be on Thursday the 20th.
But we honor her as well today because of her faith and we have an opportunity. I want to be known as a person like that. I want to be known as someone who said, jesus, I put you first. And so this is what we're going to do. We're actually going to do it a bit different if this is okay.
And as I've said many times, and I'll keep saying it because it's true, I don't want anyone to give out of compulsion. I don't want anyone to give out of pressure. I don't want anyone to give because you feel like manipulated or you know, someone's watching me or whatever. That's not happening. And it's not the right way to give.
The heart that we give is because Jesus first gave to us. And out of that we have a freedom. And this church exists, this church is here and flourishing because of that freedom we have. And out of that freedom and out of listening to the spirit of God and being obedient to that, that's how we give. And so if you go, I'm not ready to.
I can't. That's okay. This can be your church. Nothing will change. We love you and you can be a Part of that.
But for those of us and especially if you're new, you know, there's no pressure. This is something very different. We don't normally do so you just can watch it and be a part of it. But for those of us that say, hey, my heart stirred, I want to do something and I want to pledge. So what we're going to do today and it's been a beautiful moment in our services, we're going to bring communion up the front and we're going to place communion up the front.
I'm going to invite us to come and take communion, come and take the emblems with us. And I've had instructions if you come up once you come up the front, if you go back along the sides so we don't get this too full so it's easy for people to come up and go. But we're going to have communion up the front and when you come up and take communion we also going to have a couple of these baskets here and these baskets are for us to have an opportunity to do something tangible to say, God, I'm pledging something to you and I want that to be part of my worship and part of my love for you. And so there's something powerful that happens when we do. And so I'm going to invite you those giving a pledge, come and take communion and then you can put your pledge in here.
And so the way we're doing that is we've had two ways to give a pledge and the first one is you can do that through the QR code on there or on our website ConnectChristian church expansion. There's a pledge form and you can fill that in and many people have been doing that. Fill that in and that will be your pledge. The pledge is a 12 month commitment you can give right now. Some people have said hey, people have already been giving towards expension mansion, that's fantastic.
But this the pledge is saying over the next 12 months this is what I would like to believe God to contribute to his house so that we can expand these facilities, build the kids church and we're gonna move it over into offices, put a playground in, upgrade the car park, all those things. We're gonna increase our missions giving so we can reach more people. We're gonna increase our how much food and meals we're doing in our church and in our community so people can receive the love of God. We got great plans, there's so much more. But this is your 12 month commitment to that.
So it might be online on the, on the online form. Or you might say, I haven't done that and I don't want to fill out an online form. I like paper. And so if you say we've got paper copies, it's exactly the same as what's online, but just the paper version. And so if you'd like that today, if you can just lift that out your hand if you'd like a paper copy and we'll come and bring those to you.
There's also some on the table over there. But if you need a paper version, we'll come and bring that. And we've also got pens we're handing out across as well so that we can do that. So we've got that paper version. And what you have on your seat is this little card.
This card is not the pledge, okay? So the pledge for us to sort of collate and go look at what, how much we've got pledge is either online or in this blue copy here. But for those of us especially who've done it online, we say, well, I don't have anything to put in a basket as my tangible thing. So we've got these. And what we've done is we've created these for you to.
You can put your name. You don't have to put your name if you don't want to, but you can put your name and say, this is what I'm pledging to the Lord over the next 12 months. And you can pop that in the basket. That's a symbol. It's not going to.
We're not going to collate these cards. This is just between you and God as something you can do as an act of worship. Does that make sense? Can I encourage you as well? What Carl said, he said, it's not equal giving, it's equal sacrifice.
And, you know, I know we've got some really generous people who are able to give generously, and we thank you for that. We've also got some people that you say, hey, it's not possible for me to give a lot or even anything. Maybe you're in a circumstance, you go, maybe you're a student and you go, I actually don't have that. Or maybe you say, I've got credit card, I've got stuff going on and I can't do that. But you know what?
You might say, I want to give my time to help build the church. Or maybe you've got a trade, or you've got a skill. And you say, you know what? When the time comes, I'm Going to pledge that to the Lord and say, lord, you can have my skill, you know, Can I encourage you? You write that down and say, lord, this is what I'm going to pledge to you here.
So it might be financial, it might be something that you're saying, God, I'm going to give this time. That's an act of your worship. And you can put that in and say, God, I commit this to you. I want to read this scripture to you, because this is why we're doing this. There's a number of times in Scripture where people had these moments, these holy, holy moments before God.
Exodus 30:5 is one of them. They were building the tabernacle, the house of God. And it says, moses talked to the people and he said to the whole community of Israel. Chapter 35, verse 4. This is what the Lord has commanded.
Take a sacred offering for the Lord. Let those with generous hearts present the following gifts to the Lord. He goes on to talk about what those gifts are. And then it says in verse 21, all whose hearts were willing, or all whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved, came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord. They brought all the materials needed for the tabernacle, for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments.
Both men and women came. All whose hearts were willing. So the people of Israel, every man and woman who was eager to help in the work the Lord had given them to through Moses, brought their gifts and gave them freely to the Lord.
I am blessed. I want to tell you. I promise you this. I feel so blessed to be part of a church community with so many people who I know whose hearts are stirred, whose hearts are willing, who are generous, who say, God, I want to put you first. Thank you for your encouragement.
Thank you for saying, I want to see God's house grow. I want to see Jesus name made great. We're going to see it happen together, I promise you. We're going to see the greatest days ahead of our church as we rise up in faith. And so this is now a holy moment between you and God.
I'm not going to be watching. This is my time. I'm going to be there worshiping the Lord in my own heart. This is for us. And so what I want us to do, we're going to have the band come and lead us in this song.
And I'm going to invite us in a moment to stand. And we're gonna invite you to come down and take communion. And as you come to take communion, those who have a pledge to Give. Come and put that into the basket and say, lord, this is for your glory. This is for you.
This is your act of worship to him today. And then we're gonna go back to our seats, we're gonna worship, we're gonna take communion together. Is that okay? So why don't you stand to your feet and we'll do it in a systematic way. When you feel ready, come up and take communion.
Go down the sides and put the pledges in. Let's do that this morning.
Through the storm he is love Lord of all In Christ alone Call us Savior's love to the star Strong Christ alone Lord, we play strong in the sa.
Through the storm he is Sam.
Glory.
It's not for your glory it's on for your glory, Jesus. Come on, let's declare this this morning. It's all for.
It's all for your glory.
It's all for your glory, Jesus.
Yes, it's all for your glory.
It's all for your glory.
It's all for your glory, Jesus.
We stay strong in the Savior's love Through the storm he is Lord.
You are Christ alone. Lift your voice core we create Strong in the Savior's love Through the storm he is alone, Lord.
You haven't taken communion yet. Why don't you do that?
Thank you, Jesus. It's all for your glory.
Thank you, Lord.
Where's Pastor, Where's Fua and. And my wife that were just here.
Not done yet, guys. I want to. To come up on stage if they can look at them and Katrina as well. So we're a family in this place.
And God's smiling down on his church, smiling down on his church, saying together, if you trust me, brothers and sisters, if you put your trust in God, we can see him do mighty things in our church, in our community, wherever we go, in your lives, in your home. Come on. Who's believing for miracles of salvation in their family, in their communities, in your workplace, in your school, in your university, where you see step. God can do a mighty miracle. You can see it happen.
We can see it. Do you realize we're living in the greatest days? We're living in days of great opportunity where the devil's tried to come and steal, kill and destroy. Jesus says, there I will step and bring life and love. And wherever you go, when you.
I promise you this. When you step out in faith and when you step out in sacrifice, miracles follow. Breakthrough follows things you've been believing for. Follow. And brothers and sisters, God wants to lift your faith.
And this is the beginning of that process. This is the beginning of what God's going to do. And it's a beautiful time, it's a beautiful moment and we're going to pray together. And I don't know if this is if we're allowed to do this anymore, but you know, when I was a kid growing up in church, sometimes the pastor would say, let's hold hands together. And so if you're comfortable with that, the person next to you, I'm going to invite us to hold hand.
We're going to hold hands across the front. I was trying to hold hands with my wife as well, but she's over in kids church. I think we had a hug before.
And I'm going to invite Fua to come and pray over us and over this church and over you as God's people, because we're in this together. Amen. Phil. Why don't you pray, Father? Leader, have your way and lead us.
Each and every person in this place, lead them, Lord. You've gone before them, Heavenly Father, and you will continue to go before them. But I pray for faithful souls to say I would follow their path. That your. That your presence, your father, your word, Lord, your life will shine.
Our path, Father, that we step into and I pray for, for everyone here and in our community of Frankston, Heavenly Father, that you would bring more. That this house is more than just the building. It's a place of hope, a place of prayer and a place of worship. And each and every person here, Father, they're here cemented in your presence. And I pray, Heavenly Father, that you'll pour your spirit out on them.
That you would just. They would hunger for you, Heavenly Father, that would hunger for you and say, you know what? My life's not perfect, but it is built on stone. On rock, solid stone. A cornerstone, firm and tested, precious.
A place of safety, Lord. So I pray, Heavenly Father, that you would go again, go again this next season. Before us, Father. Pave the way. Build your next generation, Heavenly Father.
Fill your people up with faith. Faith that's willing to. To take. Faith that's willing to stand firm and faith that build for the next generation. In Jesus name I pray Church.
Why don't we give him praise? Amen. Amen.
That's it, guys. Thank you very much. Oh, join us for morning tea out there. Thank God.
Related Bible Verses
Scriptures Referenced
Luke 6:46–49 (New Living Translation)
“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”
Click here to read Luke 6:46–49 on Bible.com (NLT)
Philippians 2:8–9 (New Living Translation)
He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names.
Click here to read Philippians 2:8–9 on Bible.com (NLT)
Isaiah 28:16 (New Living Translation)
Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.”
Click here to read Isaiah 28:16 on Bible.com (NLT)
Psalm 78:4 (New Living Translation)
We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.
Click here to read Psalm 78:4 on Bible.com (NLT)
1 Corinthians 3:10–11 (New Living Translation)
Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.