Jesus First Church Ministries

09/05/2026

Living in God’s Grace
God’s grace is endless, and He invites us to make it our home.
Philippians 1:1-11

Since all of Paul’s letters begin with an expression of God’s grace, we may be tempted to think that it is simply a customary word of greeting. But in reality, God’s grace is our foundation and the very atmosphere in which we live as believers in Christ.

Grace is the undeserved favor of God. And according to Ephesians 2:8, it’s the means by which we are saved through faith. Romans 5:2 says that by our faith, we have “obtained our introduction … into this grace in which we stand.” Grace isn’t a one-time gift—it sustains us throughout life and into eternity. And it never ceases to do its work in us. That’s why Paul could confidently say, “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).

Sometimes it’s difficult to see righteousness in ourselves, because we know how weak and flawed we are. But even that awareness can draw us closer to Christ. If we’ve been saved, then the Lord lives in us and we in Him (1 John 4:13). Jesus is our righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30), and He’s actively producing His fruit in our life as we abide in Him. This process, known as sanctification, is God’s grace working to align our character with the Son’s. So let’s stand firm in divine grace and trust God to complete what He started.

09/05/2026

09/04/2026

When God Says “Not Yet”
Waiting for God’s “yes” grows our patience and anchors our trust in Him.
Genesis 16:1-12

God answers prayer in one of three ways: “yes,” “no,” or “not yet.” This last reply is possibly the most dreaded—and for good reason. Waiting requires us to trust God’s plan when we can’t yet see it. However, patience is an important trait for the Christian, as Scripture repeatedly teaches us in stories, proverbs, psalms, and epistles.

Waiting on God to unlock a door is always wiser than attempting to open it ourselves. After God promised him descendants (Gen. 12:2), Abraham waited 25 years with an answer of “not yet.” That is a long time to hold on to a promise!

Abraham and Sarah were human, and eventually they came up with their own plan to get an heir. Sarah’s servant Hagar bore Ishmael. It’s easy to understand the impulse; the waiting must have felt unbearable. But the consequences were painful. Bitterness and blame touched every member of the family (Gen. 16:4-6; Gen. 21:9-10). When the divine “yes” finally came through Isaac, it arrived in God’s timing and on His terms—as it always does.

Our patience isn’t to give God more time—He doesn’t need it. But waiting deepens our trust and prepares us for what He has on the other side of that door (Isa. 40:31). His timing is always worth trusting in, especially when the waiting is hard.

09/03/2026

Waiting for the Right Door to Open
When God closes a door, it’s an open to invitation to walk with Him down the path He has for us.
Acts 16:5-12

It’s natural to feel disappointed when a door of opportunity closes. But our heavenly Father will often prevent us from going forward when He wants to redirect our steps toward a wiser path. What shapes our journey is our reaction: Will we beat against the barred door or look for a new opening?

Paul’s second missionary journey included a series of divine “no admittance” signs. He set out to visit the churches he’d started across Asia, but the Holy Spirit led him away from city after city. Considering the apostle’s sense of urgency for the gospel, each closed door must have been deeply disorienting.

But Paul kept traveling in search of a place to plant a new church, and at last the Lord revealed an open door to Macedonia. The new route led into key cities with great promise. Philippi, Corinth, and Ephesus were major commerce centers teeming with dignitaries and traders who could carry the gospel farther and faster than the apostle ever could alone.

The Bible tells us to trust in the Lord instead of our own understanding (Prov. 3:5). When we learn to follow the Spirit’s prompting—even past doors we hoped would open—He directs our steps through the right ones.

09/02/2026

Bringing Others to Jesus
When we answer the call to discipleship, we can’t help but share the good news with others.
John 1:35-42

When the disciple Andrew asked Jesus, “Rabbi ... where are You staying?” (John 1:38), he revealed he was hoping to spend time with the Messiah and learn from Him. That desire for sweet fellowship with the Lord wasn’t something Andrew kept to himself. His devotion to Christ naturally deepened his desire to share that joy with others—and he did so at every opportunity.

We find evidence of his mindset throughout the Gospels. Immediately after meeting Jesus, Andrew found his brother Simon and brought him to the Savior (John 1:41-42). Later, when a great multitude was hungry, he came across a boy who was willing to share his lunch. Andrew connected him with the Lord by means of the five loaves and two fish (John 6:8-9). And when some Greeks wanted to meet Christ, Andrew and Philip made the introductions (John 12:20-22). The disciple’s actions show he clearly saw the importance and the blessing of knowing the Messiah.

When Andrew answered the call to discipleship, Jesus said he would be catching men instead of fish (Matt. 4:18-19). As followers of Christ, we also have this same wondrous goal. Though our personalities, circles of influence, and opportunities to do so may vary, we’re each blessed with the chance to bring others to Jesus.

09/01/2026

Lisa Leviner had her gallbladder surgery today and is recovering well. Please continue prayers for the family.