Living Faith Christian Church: Messages, Studies, & Stories

When his health began to fail in 1859, Rufus Choate planned a trip to England for some rest and advanced healthcare. At that time, a friend reportedly said to him, “I feel sure that your health will be restored, and you will be living ten years from now.” Rufus replied, “Living ten years from now! I shall be living a thousand years from now!” He died a few days later. Faith is not just looking back at the Cross for forgiveness and healing or looking up at the throne for power to change from King Jesus. Faith looks forward to what the Lord said he will do in the future. 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 has five benefits of forward-looking faith that will help us persevere through the challenges of this life.

Nothing compares to Christmastime in New York City—the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, 5th Ave. lights, Radio City Rockettes Show, Bryant Park Winter Village, Macy’s Santaland, Hudson Yards Holiday light show, Ice Skating in Wollman Rink in Central Park, and more! And then it culminates with the ball dropping on New Year’s Eve in Times Square, where 1 million people gather in-person, and 180 million Americans along with over 1 billion people worldwide watch it on TV. It’s matchless, truly one of a kind. In a much more profound way, Christ’s love is unlike any love we have ever experienced. Romans 5:1-11 describes humanity with 3 adjectives that highlight the 3 aspects of God’s love for us in Jesus that make it unique.

There are so many passages of Scripture in the New Testament about God’s love, which makes sense because God is love and Jesus is the full revelation of God. But we shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking God was a different God in the Old Testament. There’s a common misunderstanding that God was angry and even unloving back then. That’s not true. God is the same today as it was 3,000 years ago as it was before time began as it will be when the sun wears out. He is not like us. He doesn’t change. And neither does his love. Psalm 103 describes the steadfast love of Christ in 4 statements.

Heaven is one of humanity’s greatest mysteries and most heartfelt questions: “What happens after we die?” While Scripture gives only a glimpse, that glimpse offers a breathtaking vision of the church in Heaven—a worship service beyond anything found on Earth, filled with overflowing love, unity, and transformed joy. The future for believers isn’t just heaven, but a new Heavens and a New Earth, a world where all that is good endures without the pain of sin. And when we gather for worship in this final church, people from every nation will join to proclaim Christ’s glory, echoing what happens in churches today but perfected forever. In Revelation 7:9-12, Jesus reveals five aspects of heavenly worship and gives the church on Earth five instructions based on this vision. Church life now finds meaning in its heavenly destination—worshipping Jesus together, forever.

Vacationers sometimes find welcoming bowls of fruit at their rental—only to discover, especially if they take a bite, that the fruit is plastic. Outwardly beautiful, inviting, and seemingly satisfying, fake fruit lacks substance and has no power to nourish or refresh. Plastic fruit is fruitless, not fruitful. That common experience offers a timely lesson for Christians and churches: it’s possible to look rich, successful, and spiritually productive while actually lacking genuine fruit beneath the surface. Jesus wants more for us than a hollow, fruitless life. In Revelation 3:14-22, Jesus spoke words of encouragement, correction, and promise to churches that appear prosperous but desperately need his perspective and presence.

In 2006, the Chicago Tribune ran a quirky story about “Flat Dave”—a cardboard cutout that attended family gatherings, celebrated birthdays, and became a local celebrity, even as the real Dave lived three hours away. While the community embraced Flat Dave and his reputation grew, the truth remained: he wasn’t really present, and he wasn’t alive. That funny headline offers a somber parallel to Jesus’ words in Revelation 3:1-6: “You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” Churches and believers can be active, well-known, and admired, but still lack true spiritual life—a reality far weightier than cardboard imitation. Jesus speaks with both correction and grace, offering encouragement and promise to those who feel spiritually lifeless. True life is found in Christ alone; his words invite every church and every Christian to wake up, repent, and receive the fullness he offers.

The 1980s were marked by optimism, technological progress, and memorable music, yet the era also witnessed tragic events. One of those tragedies, the Chernobyl nuclear plant meltdown, serves as a lasting example of what happens when important warnings are dismissed: tolerance of preventable danger can have devastating consequences. In life and faith, not all tolerance is good; sometimes, what we allow to persist can quietly undermine what matters most. In Revelation 2:18-29, Jesus addressed the tolerant church—affirming the good, but warning of the perils of tolerating sin and false teaching. Christ’s words bring encouragement, correction, and promise to all churches, urging us to discern between commendable patience and damaging negligence. Good tolerance builds community; bad tolerance can erode faith.

Serious runners know the agony of hitting “the wall,” when pain and exhaustion threaten to overwhelm any hope of finishing the race. Life is similar—everyone faces suffering, and often it feels endless, lonely, and unbearable. Physical, emotional, or spiritual anguish can leave the finish line of relief feeling impossibly far away. In a broken world marred by rebellion, disease, and loss, Christians are not spared from hardship; sometimes, our struggles mirror marathoners pressing on through intense pain. In Revelation 2:8-11, Christ spoke words of encouragement and promise to the suffering church, assuring them—and us—that he is present in our darkest moments and his love, comfort, and hope are greater than any affliction.

The human search for significance can leave people exhausted as they strive to meet overwhelming expectations. Many pour themselves into raising children, trying to provide the perfect upbringing, while guilt and fear whisper that every failure means defeat. Others seek approval at work, in relationships, or online, believing their value depends on constantly measuring up. That pressure—whether as a parent, employee, friend, or student—can drain every ounce of energy and hope. These lies corrupt our minds and hearts, but Jesus offers good news to those running on empty. In Revelation 2:12-17, Jesus spoke to the drained church with words of encouragement, correction, and promise. His love assures us that our worth comes not from our performance, but from his grace, which refreshes exhausted souls.

Those who aspire to play guitar, know that the learning process means enduring sore fingers and raw skin, but after enough practice, callouses form—making the pain fade and the music flow. Yet, those same callouses that strengthen a guitarist’s skill can eventually dull sensitivity to touch and feeling. In life, there’s a similar risk: we work hard to build spiritual resilience, but sometimes what makes us tough can make us insensitive, less tender to others and even to God. Jesus addressed this danger in Revelation 2:1-7, which contains his words of encouragement, correction, and promise for callous Christians.

At the eastern tip of Long Island, there’s an iconic lighthouse, a steadfast symbol of a time past when ships sailed the dangerous waters of the Atlantic. When you stand next to it or even inside it at the top, it’s not hard to picture the storm battered lighthouse keepers—the men responsible for shining the light when sailors depended on it most. Like a keeper in the storm, the Apostle John found hope while exiled on Patmos, surrounded by the storms of persecution and uncertainty. In that isolation, John wrote down his shining vision of Jesus: radiant, glorious, walking among his church. John realized the churches weren’t abandoned, but held safely by Christ, the true Lord—present, active, and commanding history itself. Revelation 1:9-20 contains four statements that describe our Lord of the Church.

In February 1861, Abraham Lincoln’s said farewell to the town where he lived, Springfield, Illinois, as he was about to become the President of the US. His speech was filled with emotion, gratitude, and a desire for his people’s blessing as he faced the unknown. In a similar, but much more profound way, Jesus gave a final message to his church in a vision to the Apostle John, which John wrote down called the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ words are weighty and filled with blessing, not only for the ancient churches, but for every church—including yours—across time. It begins with Revelation 1:1-8, which celebrates these blessings—where they come from, who receives them, what they’re like, and how we can open our lives to receive all Christ has for us.

A few months ago, I went to start one of our church vans, and when I turned the key all I heard was silence. The battery was completely dead. After a jumpstart, a trip to autozone, and a new battery, it roared back to life. That van is a mirror of how many of us live. We smile and show up, but deep down, we’re running on fumes. We’re emotionally drained, spiritually empty, and mentally worn out. In John 15, Jesus says, 'I am the true vine,' reminding us that he is our source of our life and power. Jesus isn’t calling us to try harder. He’s inviting us to abide. Come experience the joy of renewal as God breathes life into what feels dry, tired, and worn out.

In 1998, Thomas Monaghan retired the founder, president, and chief executive officer of Domino’s Pizza, Inc. From 1970 to 1985, he grew it from a small debt-ridden chain to the second largest pizza company in America, with sales of over one billion dollars. When asked to account for the phenomenal growth of the company, Monaghan explained, “I programmed everything for growth.” How did he do that? He said, “Every day we develop people – the key to growth is developing people.” He didn’t focus on special cheese, a tasty crust, or fast delivery schedules, but on developing more leaders. If that is true for a pizza chain, how much more true is it for the church! 2 Timothy 2:1-7 contains 5 characteristics God wants his faith leaders to develop so that his church grows.

One day, a farmer pointed out to a friend his thriving crops and healthy livestock. His companion was especially impressed with the beautiful sheep in the pasture. He had seen the same breed before, but never such attractive animals. Curious, he asked the farmer how he had managed to raise such outstanding sheep. The answer was straightforward but profound: “My friend, I just take very good care of the lambs.” There’s a lesson in that story for churches. No matter how big a church gets, it should always maintain a focus on shepherding. Further, that focus should be particularly strong towards new people, the lambs that God has led there. Acts 20:17-38 describes at least 4 characteristics of good spiritual shepherds for every church to emulate.

A man who sold Christmas trees, noticed a couple on the hunt for one in his parking lot. They found a Scotch pine that was okay on one side but pretty bare on the other. Then they picked up another tree that was not much better. The salesmen agreed to sell them both cheap because he didn’t think anyone else would buy them. A few days later he noticed a beautiful tree in the couple’s apartment. They had pushed the two trees together where the branches were thin and tied the trunks together. The branches overlapped and formed one full and healthy-looking tree. That story is similar to something taught in Ephesians 4:11-16. It has 3 principles about how God puts imperfect people together in the church to form one full and healthy group.

As a young girl, Maya Angelou stopped speaking for nearly five years due to childhood trauma. During this time, she was sent to live with her grandmother in Arkansas. One day, her grandma’s neighbor named Mrs. Bertha Flowers, invited Maya to her home for tea and cookies. During their visit, she gently encouraged Maya to read aloud and introduced her to the beauty of literature and the spoken word. This simple invitation—to share an afternoon and read together—helped Maya find her voice again, literally. She started to speak again. And it, thus, set her on a path to becoming one of the most influential speakers and writers of the 20th century. A simple invitation can have that sort of impact, and no invitation has more power than the one given by Jesus. John 1:35-51 describes 3 aspects of Christ’s invitation to the world.

There is a temptation in us to try to tame Jesus. We tend to domesticate the Son of God in our minds so that he is always kind and nice and unoffensive. One pastor said that we think Jesus is like Mr. Rogers with a beard. Such a good way to put it. The thing is though…he’s not. Sure, he is gentle and compassionate, but he’s also holy and fierce. After all, would the religious establishment have had a problem with Mr. Rogers? Would the Romans have crucified Mr. Rogers? Probably not. When we read about Jesus turning over the tables in the Temple, we are confronted with an untamed Jesus. Why was he so zealous? Mark 11:15-19 has 3 insights for us about the purpose of his actions that day.

In a world where people often feel overlooked, forgotten, or unworthy, this message reminds us of the heart of God—open, welcoming, and full of grace. Drawing from Jesus’ parable of the great banquet in Luke 14:15–24, this sermon is an invitation to all who feel like outsiders: There is still room for you. Whether you’ve wandered far, feel broken, or wonder if you’ve missed your chance, this message proclaims the truth that God’s invitation still stands. His table is not full. His mercy is not exhausted. And His arms are still open. Come and be encouraged by the hope that no matter your past, there is still room—for grace, for healing, and for you

What does it really mean to be saved? Is simply knowing about Jesus enough? In Finding Your Seat, we’ll dive into Luke 13:22–30 and uncover the urgency behind Jesus’ words about the narrow door. This message will challenge common assumptions about faith, explore the danger of missed spiritual opportunities, and ask the question every heart must face: Are you truly ready to enter?