Text: Matthew 6:24-34

Exercise your faith and it will chase away your worries

An overview of the world between Malachi and Matthew, tracing how empires rose and fell, cultures collided, and Israel lived through centuries of upheaval and longing. This session shows how Persian policy, Greek influence, Maccabean revolt, and Roman rule shaped the world Jesus would enter, revealing why the Gospels unfold the way they do and why Israel’s anticipation for a Messiah burned so intensely.

The early days of Jesus’ public ministry move to center stage: His announcement of the Kingdom, His rejection in Nazareth, the calling of His first disciples, His confrontations with the demonic, and the explosion of healings that follow Him everywhere. This session highlights the authority Jesus carries, the tension it creates, and the growing recognition that Israel’s long-awaited Messiah may finally have arrived.

These passages trace the upside-down nature of the kingdom through Jesus’ parables, His predictions of suffering, and His call to servant leadership. Encounters with the blind, the desperate, and the despised—culminating in Zacchaeus’ transformation—reveal a Messiah who seeks the lost and overturns human assumptions about worth, power, and status. Everything builds toward the triumphal entry, where hopes run high but expectations run in the wrong direction.

An invitation to step into the story of a movement that began with a handful of ordinary people and grew into a force that reshaped history. The introduction traces the sweep of the book of Acts, the spread of the gospel through the Roman world, and the remarkable way God used both miracles and messiness to build His church. Listeners are reminded that the same Spirit who empowered the first believers continues His work today, calling the church to live with courage, unity, and unwavering devotion to Jesus.

The final chapters of Revelation lift believers out of the struggle and into the hope of God’s ultimate victory. This message traces the downfall of evil, the return of Christ in glory, the marriage supper of the Lamb, the final judgment, and the renewal of all things. With the curse reversed and God dwelling with His people, the story ends in joy, justice, and restoration. These truths give courage in spiritual warfare, reminding believers that the battle is real, but the outcome is already secure.

A practical guide for navigating the challenges and opportunities of change in a local church. Why change is both constant and costly, and why wise leadership must help people move from “where we are” to “where we could be.” Drawing from organizational life cycles, congregational dynamics, and biblical wisdom, it explores how different types of people respond to change, how trust shapes every decision, and how leaders can communicate with clarity, patience, and courage. Listeners are equipped to test the waters, listen to resistors, work with opinion leaders, avoid common leadership pitfalls, and guide congregations at a pace they can bear. At its heart, the message calls leaders to help their people see the value of the “pearl of great price,” recognizing that while change requires sacrifice, the fruit of God-directed transformation is worth it.

Text: Isaiah 26:3

Peace is yours if you do your part.

Text: Matthew 6:10

Pray for change in the world to start with us.

Text: Daniel 2:24-49

Knowing that God is in charge makes all the difference in the world.