Read and listen to messages
preached from the pulpit of First Baptist Church

Read and listen to messages
preached from the pulpit of
First Baptist Church

Read and listen to messages
preached from the pulpit of
First Baptist Church

The Purpose of Life | James 4:13

Life has a way of making us feel secure. We fill our calendars, make plans for next week, next month, and next year, and assume that tomorrow will unfold exactly as we expect. We talk about where we’ll go, what we’ll accomplish, and how our future will look. Yet James steps into that mindset with a sobering reminder: “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). 

James, the half-brother of Jesus, writes this book with deep practicality. Throughout the letter, he deals with real-life issues: anger, trials, faith, speech, and obedience. But here in James 4, he brings us face to face with one of the greatest truths we can ever learn: life is fragile, temporary, and ultimately belongs to God. We spend so much of our energy acting as though we are in control, but James reminds us that every breath is a gift from the Lord. 

The truth is that life moves quickly. Children grow up. Years pass. Seasons change. One moment, we are beginning a chapter of life, and before we know it, that chapter has already closed. James compares life to a vapor on a cold morning in Michigan. You can see it for a moment as you exhale, but within seconds it disappears. That is how brief life truly is. The problem is not that we fail to know this intellectually. The problem is that we often fail to live as if it is true. 

1. Life Is Unpredictable

James says, “Ye know not what shall be on the morrow” (James 4:14). None of us truly knows what tomorrow holds. We make plans, set goals, and assume stability, but life has a way of reminding us how little control we actually possess. One phone call can change everything. One doctor visit can alter the course of a family. One unexpected tragedy can instantly rearrange every carefully laid plan. 

No one schedules hardship. No one plans for heartbreak or suffering. Yet because we live in a broken world, difficult days inevitably come. James is teaching us that life cannot be controlled the way we often imagine. We may know this truth in our heads, but many times we do not live as though it is true. We delay spiritual decisions, assuming there will always be another opportunity. We put off following God more seriously because we think we have unlimited tomorrows. 

But tomorrow is never guaranteed. Thousands of people wake up every day expecting an ordinary routine, only to discover that life can change in an instant. That reality ought to drive us closer to God, not farther from Him. Instead of waiting for tragedy to awaken spiritual seriousness, we ought to seek the Lord now while we have the opportunity. Life is unpredictable, and James wants us to live with that awareness constantly before us. 

2. Life Is Brief

James asks the piercing question, “For what is your life?” Then he answers it: “It is even a vapour.” Life is real, but it is incredibly short. Like a breath on a cold morning, it appears for only a moment before vanishing away. 

There are moments that seem to drag on forever, yet the years themselves move astonishingly fast. One day, you are graduating high school, and before long, you are watching your children graduate. Parents hold newborn babies in their arms, and seemingly in the blink of an eye, those children are adults building families of their own. Retirements come and go. Milestones pass. Life moves rapidly. 

James uses this imagery to awaken us spiritually. So many people spend their entire lives consumed with temporary things while neglecting eternal realities. We devote years to entertainment, careers, hobbies, and possessions, yet often give very little time to God. The average person spends years sleeping, working, eating, and watching television, but only a tiny fraction of their life pursuing spiritual things. James is challenging us to rethink our priorities because life is far too short to waste on things that will not matter in eternity. 

3. Life Is Not Ours to Own

James tells us that instead of arrogantly assuming control of tomorrow, we “ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:15). That phrase changes everything because it reminds us that we are not ultimately in charge. God is. 

Every breath we take is borrowed from Him. Every day we wake up is sustained by His grace. We often live as though our lives belong entirely to us, but James teaches that life is on loan from God. One illustration makes this truth especially clear. A rental car may be enjoyable to drive for a few days, but eventually it must be returned. The driver does not truly own it. In the same way, our lives are not permanently ours. One day, every person will hand the keys back to God. 

That reality should cause us to examine how we are living. Are we living to please ourselves, or are we living to honor the One who gave us life? For believers, this means surrendering our plans, desires, and ambitions to the Lord. We should stop living as owners and start living as stewards. Life belongs to God, and we are accountable for how we use it. 

But James also points us to an even greater question: what have you done with Jesus Christ? Life is unpredictable and brief, and eternity is real. The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). No amount of goodness or religion can erase our sin. That is why Jesus came. He died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again so that we could have eternal life through Him. 

The wonderful news of the Gospel is that salvation is a gift. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). A gift cannot be earned. It can only be received. The Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). No matter your age, your background, or your failures, you can trust in Jesus Christ today and receive the forgiveness and salvation that only He can give. 

Reflection Question

If life truly is unpredictable, brief, and borrowed from God, are you living today in a way that honors Him, or are you living as though tomorrow is guaranteed?

Read Story

Pastor JD Howell

6 min read

The Purpose of Life | James 4:13

The Purpose of Life | James 4:13

Life has a way of making us feel secure. We fill our calendars, make plans for next week, next month, and next year, and assume that tomorrow will unfold exactly as we expect. We talk about where we’ll go, what we’ll accomplish, and how our future will look. Yet James steps into that mindset with a sobering reminder: “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). 

James, the half-brother of Jesus, writes this book with deep practicality. Throughout the letter, he deals with real-life issues: anger, trials, faith, speech, and obedience. But here in James 4, he brings us face to face with one of the greatest truths we can ever learn: life is fragile, temporary, and ultimately belongs to God. We spend so much of our energy acting as though we are in control, but James reminds us that every breath is a gift from the Lord. 

The truth is that life moves quickly. Children grow up. Years pass. Seasons change. One moment, we are beginning a chapter of life, and before we know it, that chapter has already closed. James compares life to a vapor on a cold morning in Michigan. You can see it for a moment as you exhale, but within seconds it disappears. That is how brief life truly is. The problem is not that we fail to know this intellectually. The problem is that we often fail to live as if it is true. 

1. Life Is Unpredictable

James says, “Ye know not what shall be on the morrow” (James 4:14). None of us truly knows what tomorrow holds. We make plans, set goals, and assume stability, but life has a way of reminding us how little control we actually possess. One phone call can change everything. One doctor visit can alter the course of a family. One unexpected tragedy can instantly rearrange every carefully laid plan. 

No one schedules hardship. No one plans for heartbreak or suffering. Yet because we live in a broken world, difficult days inevitably come. James is teaching us that life cannot be controlled the way we often imagine. We may know this truth in our heads, but many times we do not live as though it is true. We delay spiritual decisions, assuming there will always be another opportunity. We put off following God more seriously because we think we have unlimited tomorrows. 

But tomorrow is never guaranteed. Thousands of people wake up every day expecting an ordinary routine, only to discover that life can change in an instant. That reality ought to drive us closer to God, not farther from Him. Instead of waiting for tragedy to awaken spiritual seriousness, we ought to seek the Lord now while we have the opportunity. Life is unpredictable, and James wants us to live with that awareness constantly before us. 

2. Life Is Brief

James asks the piercing question, “For what is your life?” Then he answers it: “It is even a vapour.” Life is real, but it is incredibly short. Like a breath on a cold morning, it appears for only a moment before vanishing away. 

There are moments that seem to drag on forever, yet the years themselves move astonishingly fast. One day, you are graduating high school, and before long, you are watching your children graduate. Parents hold newborn babies in their arms, and seemingly in the blink of an eye, those children are adults building families of their own. Retirements come and go. Milestones pass. Life moves rapidly. 

James uses this imagery to awaken us spiritually. So many people spend their entire lives consumed with temporary things while neglecting eternal realities. We devote years to entertainment, careers, hobbies, and possessions, yet often give very little time to God. The average person spends years sleeping, working, eating, and watching television, but only a tiny fraction of their life pursuing spiritual things. James is challenging us to rethink our priorities because life is far too short to waste on things that will not matter in eternity. 

3. Life Is Not Ours to Own

James tells us that instead of arrogantly assuming control of tomorrow, we “ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:15). That phrase changes everything because it reminds us that we are not ultimately in charge. God is. 

Every breath we take is borrowed from Him. Every day we wake up is sustained by His grace. We often live as though our lives belong entirely to us, but James teaches that life is on loan from God. One illustration makes this truth especially clear. A rental car may be enjoyable to drive for a few days, but eventually it must be returned. The driver does not truly own it. In the same way, our lives are not permanently ours. One day, every person will hand the keys back to God. 

That reality should cause us to examine how we are living. Are we living to please ourselves, or are we living to honor the One who gave us life? For believers, this means surrendering our plans, desires, and ambitions to the Lord. We should stop living as owners and start living as stewards. Life belongs to God, and we are accountable for how we use it. 

But James also points us to an even greater question: what have you done with Jesus Christ? Life is unpredictable and brief, and eternity is real. The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). No amount of goodness or religion can erase our sin. That is why Jesus came. He died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again so that we could have eternal life through Him. 

The wonderful news of the Gospel is that salvation is a gift. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). A gift cannot be earned. It can only be received. The Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). No matter your age, your background, or your failures, you can trust in Jesus Christ today and receive the forgiveness and salvation that only He can give. 

Reflection Question

If life truly is unpredictable, brief, and borrowed from God, are you living today in a way that honors Him, or are you living as though tomorrow is guaranteed?

Read Story

Pastor JD Howell

6 min read

Sermon Series

The Purpose of Life | James 4:13

Life has a way of making us feel secure. We fill our calendars, make plans for next week, next month, and next year, and assume that tomorrow will unfold exactly as we expect. We talk about where we’ll go, what we’ll accomplish, and how our future will look. Yet James steps into that mindset with a sobering reminder: “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). 

James, the half-brother of Jesus, writes this book with deep practicality. Throughout the letter, he deals with real-life issues: anger, trials, faith, speech, and obedience. But here in James 4, he brings us face to face with one of the greatest truths we can ever learn: life is fragile, temporary, and ultimately belongs to God. We spend so much of our energy acting as though we are in control, but James reminds us that every breath is a gift from the Lord. 

The truth is that life moves quickly. Children grow up. Years pass. Seasons change. One moment, we are beginning a chapter of life, and before we know it, that chapter has already closed. James compares life to a vapor on a cold morning in Michigan. You can see it for a moment as you exhale, but within seconds it disappears. That is how brief life truly is. The problem is not that we fail to know this intellectually. The problem is that we often fail to live as if it is true. 

1. Life Is Unpredictable

James says, “Ye know not what shall be on the morrow” (James 4:14). None of us truly knows what tomorrow holds. We make plans, set goals, and assume stability, but life has a way of reminding us how little control we actually possess. One phone call can change everything. One doctor visit can alter the course of a family. One unexpected tragedy can instantly rearrange every carefully laid plan. 

No one schedules hardship. No one plans for heartbreak or suffering. Yet because we live in a broken world, difficult days inevitably come. James is teaching us that life cannot be controlled the way we often imagine. We may know this truth in our heads, but many times we do not live as though it is true. We delay spiritual decisions, assuming there will always be another opportunity. We put off following God more seriously because we think we have unlimited tomorrows. 

But tomorrow is never guaranteed. Thousands of people wake up every day expecting an ordinary routine, only to discover that life can change in an instant. That reality ought to drive us closer to God, not farther from Him. Instead of waiting for tragedy to awaken spiritual seriousness, we ought to seek the Lord now while we have the opportunity. Life is unpredictable, and James wants us to live with that awareness constantly before us. 

2. Life Is Brief

James asks the piercing question, “For what is your life?” Then he answers it: “It is even a vapour.” Life is real, but it is incredibly short. Like a breath on a cold morning, it appears for only a moment before vanishing away. 

There are moments that seem to drag on forever, yet the years themselves move astonishingly fast. One day, you are graduating high school, and before long, you are watching your children graduate. Parents hold newborn babies in their arms, and seemingly in the blink of an eye, those children are adults building families of their own. Retirements come and go. Milestones pass. Life moves rapidly. 

James uses this imagery to awaken us spiritually. So many people spend their entire lives consumed with temporary things while neglecting eternal realities. We devote years to entertainment, careers, hobbies, and possessions, yet often give very little time to God. The average person spends years sleeping, working, eating, and watching television, but only a tiny fraction of their life pursuing spiritual things. James is challenging us to rethink our priorities because life is far too short to waste on things that will not matter in eternity. 

3. Life Is Not Ours to Own

James tells us that instead of arrogantly assuming control of tomorrow, we “ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:15). That phrase changes everything because it reminds us that we are not ultimately in charge. God is. 

Every breath we take is borrowed from Him. Every day we wake up is sustained by His grace. We often live as though our lives belong entirely to us, but James teaches that life is on loan from God. One illustration makes this truth especially clear. A rental car may be enjoyable to drive for a few days, but eventually it must be returned. The driver does not truly own it. In the same way, our lives are not permanently ours. One day, every person will hand the keys back to God. 

That reality should cause us to examine how we are living. Are we living to please ourselves, or are we living to honor the One who gave us life? For believers, this means surrendering our plans, desires, and ambitions to the Lord. We should stop living as owners and start living as stewards. Life belongs to God, and we are accountable for how we use it. 

But James also points us to an even greater question: what have you done with Jesus Christ? Life is unpredictable and brief, and eternity is real. The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). No amount of goodness or religion can erase our sin. That is why Jesus came. He died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again so that we could have eternal life through Him. 

The wonderful news of the Gospel is that salvation is a gift. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). A gift cannot be earned. It can only be received. The Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). No matter your age, your background, or your failures, you can trust in Jesus Christ today and receive the forgiveness and salvation that only He can give. 

Reflection Question

If life truly is unpredictable, brief, and borrowed from God, are you living today in a way that honors Him, or are you living as though tomorrow is guaranteed?

May 17, 2026

6 min read

Author: Pastor JD Howell

The Family | Building Christ-Centered Homes

The Family | Displeasure - Part Two | Hebrews 12:11

Few responsibilities in life carry more weight than raising children. Parenting is not simply about keeping kids safe, making them happy, or helping them succeed. Parenting is about preparing hearts to follow God. That means there will be moments of joy, laughter, encouragement, and blessing. But it also means there will be moments of correction, disappointment, discipline, and difficult decisions. Hebrews 12:11 reminds us, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” God teaches us that correction is not cruelty. Correction is love working toward righteousness.

Our culture constantly pushes parents to remove every hardship from a child’s life. We are told to smooth every path, solve every problem, and protect children from every uncomfortable emotion. But the Bible paints a very different picture. Scripture shows us that children who never learn correction often grow into adults who refuse authority, reject accountability, and exalt themselves. That is exactly what happened with Adonijah in 1 Kings 1. The Bible says of David, “And his father had not displeased him at any time, saying, Why hast thou done so?” (1 Kings 1:6). David loved his son deeply, but love without correction produced devastating consequences.

Parents must understand that discipline is not about controlling behavior alone. It is about shepherding the heart. God disciplines His children because He loves them, and earthly parents are called to reflect that same kind of loving correction. If we are unwilling to create necessary tension when children are young, life will eventually create far greater consequences when they are older.

1. Parents Must Be Willing to Say No

One of the greatest acts of love a parent can give a child is the willingness to say no. Children are not born naturally submissive or selfless. The sinful nature reveals itself very early. A child instinctively wants what he wants, when he wants it, and how he wants it. Left unchecked, that self-will grows stronger over time.

David’s failure with Adonijah was not simply that he loved him too much. It was that he never confronted wrong behavior. The Bible says David “had not displeased him at any time.” He avoided correction. He avoided conflict. He chose comfort over confrontation. The result was a son who exalted himself and attempted to take what was never his to claim.

Parents must teach obedience early. Obedience means responding right away, with the right answer, and with the right attitude. Delayed obedience is still disobedience. Many adults treat God the same way children often treat parents. God convicts them about something, and instead of obeying immediately, they delay and promise to deal with it later. But true obedience responds immediately.

The right attitude matters as much as the outward action. A child stomping angrily while obeying is still revealing a rebellious heart. God is never interested merely in outward compliance. He is always pursuing the heart. Parents must do the same. Teaching obedience in childhood helps prepare children to obey God later in life.

2. Biblical Discipline Goes After the Heart

Biblical discipline is far more than punishment. Biblical discipline is correction aimed at the heart. Proverbs 22:15 says, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” Discipline is not about venting frustration or expressing anger. It is about lovingly helping a child learn submission, humility, and obedience before God.

Parents must be intentional in discipline. Mom and Dad need unity and consistency. Discipline should never be driven by irritation, uncontrolled anger, or emotional outbursts. God disciplines His children perfectly, and parents should strive to discipline carefully, lovingly, and purposefully.

Discipline must also be measured and corrective. The goal is not simply behavior modification. The goal is heart transformation. Sometimes mercy can be shown when a child responds correctly to conviction. Teaching children to recognize when their attitude displeases God is a powerful lesson. Children need to learn how to self-correct before the Lord instead of always requiring external force.

One of the most important truths parents must remember is that some battles must be won while children are young. There are moments where the issue is no longer the outward action itself, but the submission of the heart. In those moments, parents cannot surrender simply because the process becomes exhausting or emotional. A loving parent understands that winning the heart today may save a child from devastating rebellion tomorrow.

3. Parents Must Allow Children to Experience Disappointment

Many parents today rush to rescue children from every disappointment, failure, hurt feeling, or uncomfortable situation. But disappointment is often one of God’s greatest classrooms. James chapter 1 teaches that trials and testing produce growth, patience, and maturity.

Children need to learn how to process disappointment biblically. They need to learn how to hear no, how to lose graciously, how to wait patiently, and how to accept correction humbly. If parents constantly remove every obstacle, children never learn resilience, responsibility, or emotional maturity.

This often begins very young. Parents sometimes avoid nursery situations because children cry. Later, toddlers learn that tears can manipulate authority. As children grow older, parents often begin rescuing them from every social conflict, every uncomfortable consequence, and every difficult interaction. Instead of teaching children how to handle problems biblically, parents absorb the problems for them.

Eventually, children begin believing that every hardship is someone else’s fault. Teachers are unfair. Coaches are against them. Referees cheated them. Employers mistreated them. Excuses replace responsibility. Accountability disappears. Instead of learning how to grow through disappointment, they learn how to blame others for every struggle in life.

Real maturity comes when children learn that every choice carries consequences. Parents can guide children through disappointment without removing every discomfort from their lives. God often uses disappointment to shape character, deepen faith, and teach dependence upon Him.

The truth is that parenting is heart work. It is not easy work, convenient work, or always enjoyable work. But loving correction, biblical discipline, and wise guidance help prepare children to follow God faithfully. The goal is not simply to raise successful children. The goal is to raise children whose hearts are yielded to the Lord.

Reflection Question

Are you helping your children avoid every disappointment and correction, or are you lovingly guiding them toward the peaceable fruit of righteousness that God desires?

May 13, 2026

5 min read

Author: Pastor JD Howell

Faith-Filled Characters Sermon Series

Jocahbed - What Can You Do? | Hebrews 11:24-26

There are moments in life when faith feels strong and steady. Then there are moments when circumstances collide so violently that we wonder how we can possibly keep going. Hebrews 11 reminds us that faith is not reserved for easy seasons. Faith shines brightest when the pressure is greatest. When God wanted to shape a nation and raise up a deliverer for Israel, He did not begin with an army or a throne. He began with a mother named Jochabed.

The story of Moses often centers on the miracles God performed through him, but before Moses ever stood before Pharaoh, there was a mother quietly walking by faith in the shadows. Exodus 2 shows us a woman living under the cruel decree of a wicked king, surrounded by fear and uncertainty, yet determined to trust God anyway. Jochabed teaches us that faith is not always loud or dramatic. Sometimes faith looks like praying through the night, taking the next right step, and trusting God with what you cannot control.

There are many believers today who feel trapped by circumstances they did not choose. Some are facing burdens in their homes, struggles in their finances, pressures at work, or fears for their children. Jochabed’s story reminds us that faith does not remove problems, but it equips us to face them. God still works through ordinary people who are willing to trust Him in difficult moments. The same God who guided an ark through the Nile River is still guiding His people today.

1. Faith Continues Even When Circumstances Become Impossible

Exodus 2:3 says, “And when she could not longer hide him…” That short phrase reveals a heartbreaking crisis. Jochabed had done everything she could to protect her baby, but the moment came when her efforts no longer seemed enough. Pharaoh had commanded that every Hebrew baby boy be killed, and now the danger could no longer be hidden away.

Three powerful forces collided in this moment. There was the faith of a mother who believed God had a purpose for her son. There was the edict of a king demanding death. And there was the very real fear of losing her child. Jochabed was not facing imaginary fears. Her situation was dangerous and painful.

Yet faith did not disappear when the pressure increased. Too often, we imagine that strong faith means a life without hardship, but Scripture teaches the opposite. Jesus said, “without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Faith does not eliminate trouble, but it gives us strength to walk through trouble with confidence in God.

There will be seasons when life feels overwhelming and uncertain. There will be moments when we question what God is doing. But faith keeps trusting even when circumstances seem impossible. God is faithful even when life is difficult.

2. Faith Does What It Can and Trusts God With the Rest

When Jochabed could no longer hide Moses, she did not panic or surrender. Exodus 2 tells us she built an ark of bulrushes, carefully waterproofed it, and placed it by the riverbank. This was not reckless desperation. It was wise and thoughtful faith.

Jochabed did everything she could do. She built a place of safety for her child. She carefully positioned the ark where it would be protected. She had Moses’ sister watch from a distance to see what would happen next. She used wisdom while depending completely on God for the outcome.

This is one of the great lessons of faith. God calls us to obey Him in the things we can do while trusting Him to handle the things only He can do. Sometimes people misunderstand faith and think it means doing nothing. But biblical faith plans, prepares, obeys, and acts while resting in God’s sovereignty.

Jochabed could not overthrow Pharaoh. She could not control the future. But she could take the next step of obedience. Many believers exhaust themselves trying to control outcomes that belong only to God. Parents try to control every detail of their children’s future. Families try to force solutions to every problem. But faith remembers this truth: we can only do what we can do, and God alone can do what only He can do.

The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6:

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Faith takes responsibility for obedience while leaving the results in God’s hands.

3. God Often Works Through Small Steps of Obedience

One of the most remarkable details in this story is where Jochabed placed Moses. Pharaoh had commanded that the Hebrew baby boys be cast into the river. Ironically, Jochabed placed her son into the river too, but she placed him there inside an ark of safety. What Pharaoh intended for death, God used for deliverance.

Soon, Pharaoh’s daughter came to the river and discovered the child. The Bible says she “had compassion on him” (Exodus 2:6). In one of the most incredible reversals in Scripture, the very household that decreed death for Hebrew children became the household that protected and financed the raising of Moses.

God flipped the entire story upside down.

Jochabed walked away from the river carrying her son openly in her arms, no longer hiding him in fear. Pharaoh’s daughter even paid her wages to the nurse and raised the child. Only God could orchestrate something so incredible.

The name Moses means “to draw out.” Pharaoh’s daughter named him because she drew him out of the water, but God already knew the greater purpose. The one drawn out of the water would one day draw an entire nation out of Egypt.

This is how God works. He uses small steps of faith to accomplish eternal purposes.

We often look for dramatic moments while ignoring daily obedience. Yet God works powerfully through ordinary faithfulness. Spending time in God’s Word each day matters. Prayer matters. Church attendance matters. Teaching children the truth matters. Quiet acts of obedience matter.

The life of Susanna Wesley beautifully illustrates this truth. She raised nineteen children in difficult circumstances, often alone and under tremendous pressure. Yet she faithfully taught her children Scripture, prayed over them, and invested in them spiritually. Two of her sons, John and Charles Wesley, were used mightily by God to impact generations.

Great works of God often begin with small acts of obedience that nobody notices.

4. God Is Always Working Behind the Scenes

Jochabed could not see the entire plan while she stood beside the river. She could not fully understand what God was preparing through her simple acts of faith. But behind every detail was the sovereign hand of God.

God was working through the timing. God was working through Pharaoh’s daughter. God was working through the compassion shown to the child. God was working through a mother willing to obey Him in difficult circumstances.

Sometimes, believers become discouraged because they cannot immediately see results. But God is always at work behind the scenes. He is arranging circumstances, opening doors, softening hearts, and preparing futures that we cannot yet understand.

Romans 8:28 reminds us:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

That does not mean everything feels good in the moment. It means God is faithfully weaving every detail together for His glory and our good.

Jochabed simply kept taking the next step of faith. God handled the rest.

Reflection Question

What small step of faith is God asking you to take today? Are you trying to control outcomes that belong to Him, or are you faithfully doing what you can do while trusting God to do what only He can do?

May 10, 2026

6 min read

Author: Pastor JD Howell

Sermon Series

The Purpose of Life | James 4:13

Life has a way of making us feel secure. We fill our calendars, make plans for next week, next month, and next year, and assume that tomorrow will unfold exactly as we expect. We talk about where we’ll go, what we’ll accomplish, and how our future will look. Yet James steps into that mindset with a sobering reminder: “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). 

James, the half-brother of Jesus, writes this book with deep practicality. Throughout the letter, he deals with real-life issues: anger, trials, faith, speech, and obedience. But here in James 4, he brings us face to face with one of the greatest truths we can ever learn: life is fragile, temporary, and ultimately belongs to God. We spend so much of our energy acting as though we are in control, but James reminds us that every breath is a gift from the Lord. 

The truth is that life moves quickly. Children grow up. Years pass. Seasons change. One moment, we are beginning a chapter of life, and before we know it, that chapter has already closed. James compares life to a vapor on a cold morning in Michigan. You can see it for a moment as you exhale, but within seconds it disappears. That is how brief life truly is. The problem is not that we fail to know this intellectually. The problem is that we often fail to live as if it is true. 

1. Life Is Unpredictable

James says, “Ye know not what shall be on the morrow” (James 4:14). None of us truly knows what tomorrow holds. We make plans, set goals, and assume stability, but life has a way of reminding us how little control we actually possess. One phone call can change everything. One doctor visit can alter the course of a family. One unexpected tragedy can instantly rearrange every carefully laid plan. 

No one schedules hardship. No one plans for heartbreak or suffering. Yet because we live in a broken world, difficult days inevitably come. James is teaching us that life cannot be controlled the way we often imagine. We may know this truth in our heads, but many times we do not live as though it is true. We delay spiritual decisions, assuming there will always be another opportunity. We put off following God more seriously because we think we have unlimited tomorrows. 

But tomorrow is never guaranteed. Thousands of people wake up every day expecting an ordinary routine, only to discover that life can change in an instant. That reality ought to drive us closer to God, not farther from Him. Instead of waiting for tragedy to awaken spiritual seriousness, we ought to seek the Lord now while we have the opportunity. Life is unpredictable, and James wants us to live with that awareness constantly before us. 

2. Life Is Brief

James asks the piercing question, “For what is your life?” Then he answers it: “It is even a vapour.” Life is real, but it is incredibly short. Like a breath on a cold morning, it appears for only a moment before vanishing away. 

There are moments that seem to drag on forever, yet the years themselves move astonishingly fast. One day, you are graduating high school, and before long, you are watching your children graduate. Parents hold newborn babies in their arms, and seemingly in the blink of an eye, those children are adults building families of their own. Retirements come and go. Milestones pass. Life moves rapidly. 

James uses this imagery to awaken us spiritually. So many people spend their entire lives consumed with temporary things while neglecting eternal realities. We devote years to entertainment, careers, hobbies, and possessions, yet often give very little time to God. The average person spends years sleeping, working, eating, and watching television, but only a tiny fraction of their life pursuing spiritual things. James is challenging us to rethink our priorities because life is far too short to waste on things that will not matter in eternity. 

3. Life Is Not Ours to Own

James tells us that instead of arrogantly assuming control of tomorrow, we “ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:15). That phrase changes everything because it reminds us that we are not ultimately in charge. God is. 

Every breath we take is borrowed from Him. Every day we wake up is sustained by His grace. We often live as though our lives belong entirely to us, but James teaches that life is on loan from God. One illustration makes this truth especially clear. A rental car may be enjoyable to drive for a few days, but eventually it must be returned. The driver does not truly own it. In the same way, our lives are not permanently ours. One day, every person will hand the keys back to God. 

That reality should cause us to examine how we are living. Are we living to please ourselves, or are we living to honor the One who gave us life? For believers, this means surrendering our plans, desires, and ambitions to the Lord. We should stop living as owners and start living as stewards. Life belongs to God, and we are accountable for how we use it. 

But James also points us to an even greater question: what have you done with Jesus Christ? Life is unpredictable and brief, and eternity is real. The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). No amount of goodness or religion can erase our sin. That is why Jesus came. He died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again so that we could have eternal life through Him. 

The wonderful news of the Gospel is that salvation is a gift. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). A gift cannot be earned. It can only be received. The Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). No matter your age, your background, or your failures, you can trust in Jesus Christ today and receive the forgiveness and salvation that only He can give. 

Reflection Question

If life truly is unpredictable, brief, and borrowed from God, are you living today in a way that honors Him, or are you living as though tomorrow is guaranteed?

The Family | Building Christ-Centered Homes

The Family | Displeasure - Part Two | Hebrews 12:11

Few responsibilities in life carry more weight than raising children. Parenting is not simply about keeping kids safe, making them happy, or helping them succeed. Parenting is about preparing hearts to follow God. That means there will be moments of joy, laughter, encouragement, and blessing. But it also means there will be moments of correction, disappointment, discipline, and difficult decisions. Hebrews 12:11 reminds us, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” God teaches us that correction is not cruelty. Correction is love working toward righteousness.

Our culture constantly pushes parents to remove every hardship from a child’s life. We are told to smooth every path, solve every problem, and protect children from every uncomfortable emotion. But the Bible paints a very different picture. Scripture shows us that children who never learn correction often grow into adults who refuse authority, reject accountability, and exalt themselves. That is exactly what happened with Adonijah in 1 Kings 1. The Bible says of David, “And his father had not displeased him at any time, saying, Why hast thou done so?” (1 Kings 1:6). David loved his son deeply, but love without correction produced devastating consequences.

Parents must understand that discipline is not about controlling behavior alone. It is about shepherding the heart. God disciplines His children because He loves them, and earthly parents are called to reflect that same kind of loving correction. If we are unwilling to create necessary tension when children are young, life will eventually create far greater consequences when they are older.

1. Parents Must Be Willing to Say No

One of the greatest acts of love a parent can give a child is the willingness to say no. Children are not born naturally submissive or selfless. The sinful nature reveals itself very early. A child instinctively wants what he wants, when he wants it, and how he wants it. Left unchecked, that self-will grows stronger over time.

David’s failure with Adonijah was not simply that he loved him too much. It was that he never confronted wrong behavior. The Bible says David “had not displeased him at any time.” He avoided correction. He avoided conflict. He chose comfort over confrontation. The result was a son who exalted himself and attempted to take what was never his to claim.

Parents must teach obedience early. Obedience means responding right away, with the right answer, and with the right attitude. Delayed obedience is still disobedience. Many adults treat God the same way children often treat parents. God convicts them about something, and instead of obeying immediately, they delay and promise to deal with it later. But true obedience responds immediately.

The right attitude matters as much as the outward action. A child stomping angrily while obeying is still revealing a rebellious heart. God is never interested merely in outward compliance. He is always pursuing the heart. Parents must do the same. Teaching obedience in childhood helps prepare children to obey God later in life.

2. Biblical Discipline Goes After the Heart

Biblical discipline is far more than punishment. Biblical discipline is correction aimed at the heart. Proverbs 22:15 says, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” Discipline is not about venting frustration or expressing anger. It is about lovingly helping a child learn submission, humility, and obedience before God.

Parents must be intentional in discipline. Mom and Dad need unity and consistency. Discipline should never be driven by irritation, uncontrolled anger, or emotional outbursts. God disciplines His children perfectly, and parents should strive to discipline carefully, lovingly, and purposefully.

Discipline must also be measured and corrective. The goal is not simply behavior modification. The goal is heart transformation. Sometimes mercy can be shown when a child responds correctly to conviction. Teaching children to recognize when their attitude displeases God is a powerful lesson. Children need to learn how to self-correct before the Lord instead of always requiring external force.

One of the most important truths parents must remember is that some battles must be won while children are young. There are moments where the issue is no longer the outward action itself, but the submission of the heart. In those moments, parents cannot surrender simply because the process becomes exhausting or emotional. A loving parent understands that winning the heart today may save a child from devastating rebellion tomorrow.

3. Parents Must Allow Children to Experience Disappointment

Many parents today rush to rescue children from every disappointment, failure, hurt feeling, or uncomfortable situation. But disappointment is often one of God’s greatest classrooms. James chapter 1 teaches that trials and testing produce growth, patience, and maturity.

Children need to learn how to process disappointment biblically. They need to learn how to hear no, how to lose graciously, how to wait patiently, and how to accept correction humbly. If parents constantly remove every obstacle, children never learn resilience, responsibility, or emotional maturity.

This often begins very young. Parents sometimes avoid nursery situations because children cry. Later, toddlers learn that tears can manipulate authority. As children grow older, parents often begin rescuing them from every social conflict, every uncomfortable consequence, and every difficult interaction. Instead of teaching children how to handle problems biblically, parents absorb the problems for them.

Eventually, children begin believing that every hardship is someone else’s fault. Teachers are unfair. Coaches are against them. Referees cheated them. Employers mistreated them. Excuses replace responsibility. Accountability disappears. Instead of learning how to grow through disappointment, they learn how to blame others for every struggle in life.

Real maturity comes when children learn that every choice carries consequences. Parents can guide children through disappointment without removing every discomfort from their lives. God often uses disappointment to shape character, deepen faith, and teach dependence upon Him.

The truth is that parenting is heart work. It is not easy work, convenient work, or always enjoyable work. But loving correction, biblical discipline, and wise guidance help prepare children to follow God faithfully. The goal is not simply to raise successful children. The goal is to raise children whose hearts are yielded to the Lord.

Reflection Question

Are you helping your children avoid every disappointment and correction, or are you lovingly guiding them toward the peaceable fruit of righteousness that God desires?

Faith-Filled Characters Sermon Series

Jocahbed - What Can You Do? | Hebrews 11:24-26

There are moments in life when faith feels strong and steady. Then there are moments when circumstances collide so violently that we wonder how we can possibly keep going. Hebrews 11 reminds us that faith is not reserved for easy seasons. Faith shines brightest when the pressure is greatest. When God wanted to shape a nation and raise up a deliverer for Israel, He did not begin with an army or a throne. He began with a mother named Jochabed.

The story of Moses often centers on the miracles God performed through him, but before Moses ever stood before Pharaoh, there was a mother quietly walking by faith in the shadows. Exodus 2 shows us a woman living under the cruel decree of a wicked king, surrounded by fear and uncertainty, yet determined to trust God anyway. Jochabed teaches us that faith is not always loud or dramatic. Sometimes faith looks like praying through the night, taking the next right step, and trusting God with what you cannot control.

There are many believers today who feel trapped by circumstances they did not choose. Some are facing burdens in their homes, struggles in their finances, pressures at work, or fears for their children. Jochabed’s story reminds us that faith does not remove problems, but it equips us to face them. God still works through ordinary people who are willing to trust Him in difficult moments. The same God who guided an ark through the Nile River is still guiding His people today.

1. Faith Continues Even When Circumstances Become Impossible

Exodus 2:3 says, “And when she could not longer hide him…” That short phrase reveals a heartbreaking crisis. Jochabed had done everything she could to protect her baby, but the moment came when her efforts no longer seemed enough. Pharaoh had commanded that every Hebrew baby boy be killed, and now the danger could no longer be hidden away.

Three powerful forces collided in this moment. There was the faith of a mother who believed God had a purpose for her son. There was the edict of a king demanding death. And there was the very real fear of losing her child. Jochabed was not facing imaginary fears. Her situation was dangerous and painful.

Yet faith did not disappear when the pressure increased. Too often, we imagine that strong faith means a life without hardship, but Scripture teaches the opposite. Jesus said, “without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Faith does not eliminate trouble, but it gives us strength to walk through trouble with confidence in God.

There will be seasons when life feels overwhelming and uncertain. There will be moments when we question what God is doing. But faith keeps trusting even when circumstances seem impossible. God is faithful even when life is difficult.

2. Faith Does What It Can and Trusts God With the Rest

When Jochabed could no longer hide Moses, she did not panic or surrender. Exodus 2 tells us she built an ark of bulrushes, carefully waterproofed it, and placed it by the riverbank. This was not reckless desperation. It was wise and thoughtful faith.

Jochabed did everything she could do. She built a place of safety for her child. She carefully positioned the ark where it would be protected. She had Moses’ sister watch from a distance to see what would happen next. She used wisdom while depending completely on God for the outcome.

This is one of the great lessons of faith. God calls us to obey Him in the things we can do while trusting Him to handle the things only He can do. Sometimes people misunderstand faith and think it means doing nothing. But biblical faith plans, prepares, obeys, and acts while resting in God’s sovereignty.

Jochabed could not overthrow Pharaoh. She could not control the future. But she could take the next step of obedience. Many believers exhaust themselves trying to control outcomes that belong only to God. Parents try to control every detail of their children’s future. Families try to force solutions to every problem. But faith remembers this truth: we can only do what we can do, and God alone can do what only He can do.

The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6:

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Faith takes responsibility for obedience while leaving the results in God’s hands.

3. God Often Works Through Small Steps of Obedience

One of the most remarkable details in this story is where Jochabed placed Moses. Pharaoh had commanded that the Hebrew baby boys be cast into the river. Ironically, Jochabed placed her son into the river too, but she placed him there inside an ark of safety. What Pharaoh intended for death, God used for deliverance.

Soon, Pharaoh’s daughter came to the river and discovered the child. The Bible says she “had compassion on him” (Exodus 2:6). In one of the most incredible reversals in Scripture, the very household that decreed death for Hebrew children became the household that protected and financed the raising of Moses.

God flipped the entire story upside down.

Jochabed walked away from the river carrying her son openly in her arms, no longer hiding him in fear. Pharaoh’s daughter even paid her wages to the nurse and raised the child. Only God could orchestrate something so incredible.

The name Moses means “to draw out.” Pharaoh’s daughter named him because she drew him out of the water, but God already knew the greater purpose. The one drawn out of the water would one day draw an entire nation out of Egypt.

This is how God works. He uses small steps of faith to accomplish eternal purposes.

We often look for dramatic moments while ignoring daily obedience. Yet God works powerfully through ordinary faithfulness. Spending time in God’s Word each day matters. Prayer matters. Church attendance matters. Teaching children the truth matters. Quiet acts of obedience matter.

The life of Susanna Wesley beautifully illustrates this truth. She raised nineteen children in difficult circumstances, often alone and under tremendous pressure. Yet she faithfully taught her children Scripture, prayed over them, and invested in them spiritually. Two of her sons, John and Charles Wesley, were used mightily by God to impact generations.

Great works of God often begin with small acts of obedience that nobody notices.

4. God Is Always Working Behind the Scenes

Jochabed could not see the entire plan while she stood beside the river. She could not fully understand what God was preparing through her simple acts of faith. But behind every detail was the sovereign hand of God.

God was working through the timing. God was working through Pharaoh’s daughter. God was working through the compassion shown to the child. God was working through a mother willing to obey Him in difficult circumstances.

Sometimes, believers become discouraged because they cannot immediately see results. But God is always at work behind the scenes. He is arranging circumstances, opening doors, softening hearts, and preparing futures that we cannot yet understand.

Romans 8:28 reminds us:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

That does not mean everything feels good in the moment. It means God is faithfully weaving every detail together for His glory and our good.

Jochabed simply kept taking the next step of faith. God handled the rest.

Reflection Question

What small step of faith is God asking you to take today? Are you trying to control outcomes that belong to Him, or are you faithfully doing what you can do while trusting God to do what only He can do?

The Family | Building Christ-Centered Homes

The Family | Displeasure - Part One | Proverbs 29:15

When we think about parenting, most parents naturally want to make life easier for their children. We do not enjoy seeing our kids disappointed, hurt, frustrated, or upset. Every loving parent wants their child to smile more than cry, succeed more than fail, and enjoy life rather than struggle through it. But Proverbs 29 reminds us that good parenting is not simply about keeping children comfortable. It is about shaping their hearts for God. Proverbs 29:15 says, “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” The Bible teaches us that correction, discipline, and even disappointment are necessary parts of raising godly children.

One of the greatest dangers in parenting is allowing comfort to replace correction. Modern culture often tells parents to remove every obstacle, smooth over every hardship, and shield children from disappointment at all costs. Yet God frequently uses difficulty, boundaries, and correction to build character in our lives. If we remove every struggle from a child’s path, we may also remove opportunities for growth, humility, and spiritual maturity. Children who are never corrected often grow into adults who believe life should always revolve around their desires.

The story of Adonijah in 1 Kings 1 gives us a sobering example of this truth. Adonijah eventually exalted himself and declared, “I will be king” (1 Kings 1:5). The Bible then gives the explanation behind his behavior: “And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so?” (1 Kings 1:6). David was a man after God’s own heart, but in this area he failed. Adonijah grew up without correction, without resistance, and without being taught that authority existed above him. The result was a young man who believed his desires overruled everyone else’s. That same spirit is still destroying homes today.

1. Choosing Comfort Over Correction Produces Self-Willed Children

The Bible says David “had not displeased him at any time.” That phrase carries the idea of hindering, restraining, or carving away what should not remain. Like a sculptor removing unnecessary material from a block of wood, parents are called to help shape and refine their children’s hearts.

David never interrupted Adonijah’s wrong behavior. He never challenged his selfishness. He never created the necessary tension that correction sometimes requires. Instead of allowing consequences to teach his son, David continually chose comfort over correction. In doing so, he unintentionally raised a son who believed he could take whatever he wanted.

Adonijah was not merely strong-willed. He was self-willed. He was not simply confident. He was rebellious. He learned to exalt his own desires above everyone else because no one ever displeased him. The tragedy is that when children are never corrected, they often grow up believing they themselves are the highest authority.

Our culture constantly reinforces this mentality. Society teaches people to follow every feeling, pursue every desire, and define truth for themselves. But Scripture teaches the opposite. God calls us to submit ourselves under His authority. Parenting is one of the primary ways children first learn that authority exists above them.

2. Parents Must Be Willing to Say No

One of the most loving things a parent can do is say no when necessary. Proverbs 29:15 reminds us that correction produces wisdom. If parents never oppose a child’s will, they will never teach that child submission.

Children need to learn early in life that they do not always get their way. They need to understand that authority exists above them. This is not cruelty. This is preparation for life and preparation for walking with God.

Many parents struggle with this because they hate seeing their children upset. Yet allowing a child to constantly control situations through tantrums, attitudes, or emotional manipulation only strengthens selfishness. A child who learns that screaming louder results in getting their way will continue using that method later in life.

Sometimes the answer truly is, “Because I said so.” Parents do not owe lengthy explanations for every instruction. If children are taught they only need to obey when the reasoning seems acceptable to them, they may eventually approach God the same way. Yet many times in Scripture, God simply commands obedience because He is God.

Good parenting teaches children to obey authority even when they do not fully understand every reason behind it.

3. Biblical Obedience Includes More Than Actions

True obedience is not merely outward compliance. Scripture teaches that obedience involves the heart as well as the action.

First, children should obey right away. Delayed obedience is still disobedience. When a parent must repeat the same instruction five or six times before a child responds, the child is learning that obedience is optional until consequences become serious enough. God does not expect His children to obey only after repeated warnings, and parents should not train children to respond that way either.

Second, children should obey with the right answer. Respectful speech matters. A godly home should cultivate honor, courtesy, and respect. Responses like “yes sir” and “yes ma’am” are not merely cultural habits. They help teach humility and submission to authority.

Third, children should obey with the right attitude. A child may technically comply outwardly while still rebelling inwardly. God cares about both actions and attitudes, and parents should lovingly guide children toward both outward obedience and inward respect.

Hebrews 12:11 says, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Discipline is not enjoyable in the moment, but when it is done biblically and lovingly, it produces righteousness later.

Parents are not called to raise merely “good kids.” We are called to raise godly kids. Children who will one day love God, submit to His authority, and follow Him with their whole heart do not develop accidentally. They are shaped through loving correction, biblical discipline, and parents who are willing to lovingly displease them when necessary.

Parenting is humbling because our weaknesses often appear in our children. Yet by God’s grace, parents can still faithfully raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. No parent is perfect, but God’s Word gives wisdom for every home willing to follow Him.

Reflection QuestionAre you choosing temporary comfort over biblical correction, or are you lovingly guiding your children to understand authority, obedience, and submission to God?

Sermon Series

The Purpose of Life | James 4:13

Life has a way of making us feel secure. We fill our calendars, make plans for next week, next month, and next year, and assume that tomorrow will unfold exactly as we expect. We talk about where we’ll go, what we’ll accomplish, and how our future will look. Yet James steps into that mindset with a sobering reminder: “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). 

James, the half-brother of Jesus, writes this book with deep practicality. Throughout the letter, he deals with real-life issues: anger, trials, faith, speech, and obedience. But here in James 4, he brings us face to face with one of the greatest truths we can ever learn: life is fragile, temporary, and ultimately belongs to God. We spend so much of our energy acting as though we are in control, but James reminds us that every breath is a gift from the Lord. 

The truth is that life moves quickly. Children grow up. Years pass. Seasons change. One moment, we are beginning a chapter of life, and before we know it, that chapter has already closed. James compares life to a vapor on a cold morning in Michigan. You can see it for a moment as you exhale, but within seconds it disappears. That is how brief life truly is. The problem is not that we fail to know this intellectually. The problem is that we often fail to live as if it is true. 

1. Life Is Unpredictable

James says, “Ye know not what shall be on the morrow” (James 4:14). None of us truly knows what tomorrow holds. We make plans, set goals, and assume stability, but life has a way of reminding us how little control we actually possess. One phone call can change everything. One doctor visit can alter the course of a family. One unexpected tragedy can instantly rearrange every carefully laid plan. 

No one schedules hardship. No one plans for heartbreak or suffering. Yet because we live in a broken world, difficult days inevitably come. James is teaching us that life cannot be controlled the way we often imagine. We may know this truth in our heads, but many times we do not live as though it is true. We delay spiritual decisions, assuming there will always be another opportunity. We put off following God more seriously because we think we have unlimited tomorrows. 

But tomorrow is never guaranteed. Thousands of people wake up every day expecting an ordinary routine, only to discover that life can change in an instant. That reality ought to drive us closer to God, not farther from Him. Instead of waiting for tragedy to awaken spiritual seriousness, we ought to seek the Lord now while we have the opportunity. Life is unpredictable, and James wants us to live with that awareness constantly before us. 

2. Life Is Brief

James asks the piercing question, “For what is your life?” Then he answers it: “It is even a vapour.” Life is real, but it is incredibly short. Like a breath on a cold morning, it appears for only a moment before vanishing away. 

There are moments that seem to drag on forever, yet the years themselves move astonishingly fast. One day, you are graduating high school, and before long, you are watching your children graduate. Parents hold newborn babies in their arms, and seemingly in the blink of an eye, those children are adults building families of their own. Retirements come and go. Milestones pass. Life moves rapidly. 

James uses this imagery to awaken us spiritually. So many people spend their entire lives consumed with temporary things while neglecting eternal realities. We devote years to entertainment, careers, hobbies, and possessions, yet often give very little time to God. The average person spends years sleeping, working, eating, and watching television, but only a tiny fraction of their life pursuing spiritual things. James is challenging us to rethink our priorities because life is far too short to waste on things that will not matter in eternity. 

3. Life Is Not Ours to Own

James tells us that instead of arrogantly assuming control of tomorrow, we “ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:15). That phrase changes everything because it reminds us that we are not ultimately in charge. God is. 

Every breath we take is borrowed from Him. Every day we wake up is sustained by His grace. We often live as though our lives belong entirely to us, but James teaches that life is on loan from God. One illustration makes this truth especially clear. A rental car may be enjoyable to drive for a few days, but eventually it must be returned. The driver does not truly own it. In the same way, our lives are not permanently ours. One day, every person will hand the keys back to God. 

That reality should cause us to examine how we are living. Are we living to please ourselves, or are we living to honor the One who gave us life? For believers, this means surrendering our plans, desires, and ambitions to the Lord. We should stop living as owners and start living as stewards. Life belongs to God, and we are accountable for how we use it. 

But James also points us to an even greater question: what have you done with Jesus Christ? Life is unpredictable and brief, and eternity is real. The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). No amount of goodness or religion can erase our sin. That is why Jesus came. He died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again so that we could have eternal life through Him. 

The wonderful news of the Gospel is that salvation is a gift. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). A gift cannot be earned. It can only be received. The Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). No matter your age, your background, or your failures, you can trust in Jesus Christ today and receive the forgiveness and salvation that only He can give. 

Reflection Question

If life truly is unpredictable, brief, and borrowed from God, are you living today in a way that honors Him, or are you living as though tomorrow is guaranteed?

The Family | Building Christ-Centered Homes

The Family | Displeasure - Part Two | Hebrews 12:11

Few responsibilities in life carry more weight than raising children. Parenting is not simply about keeping kids safe, making them happy, or helping them succeed. Parenting is about preparing hearts to follow God. That means there will be moments of joy, laughter, encouragement, and blessing. But it also means there will be moments of correction, disappointment, discipline, and difficult decisions. Hebrews 12:11 reminds us, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” God teaches us that correction is not cruelty. Correction is love working toward righteousness.

Our culture constantly pushes parents to remove every hardship from a child’s life. We are told to smooth every path, solve every problem, and protect children from every uncomfortable emotion. But the Bible paints a very different picture. Scripture shows us that children who never learn correction often grow into adults who refuse authority, reject accountability, and exalt themselves. That is exactly what happened with Adonijah in 1 Kings 1. The Bible says of David, “And his father had not displeased him at any time, saying, Why hast thou done so?” (1 Kings 1:6). David loved his son deeply, but love without correction produced devastating consequences.

Parents must understand that discipline is not about controlling behavior alone. It is about shepherding the heart. God disciplines His children because He loves them, and earthly parents are called to reflect that same kind of loving correction. If we are unwilling to create necessary tension when children are young, life will eventually create far greater consequences when they are older.

1. Parents Must Be Willing to Say No

One of the greatest acts of love a parent can give a child is the willingness to say no. Children are not born naturally submissive or selfless. The sinful nature reveals itself very early. A child instinctively wants what he wants, when he wants it, and how he wants it. Left unchecked, that self-will grows stronger over time.

David’s failure with Adonijah was not simply that he loved him too much. It was that he never confronted wrong behavior. The Bible says David “had not displeased him at any time.” He avoided correction. He avoided conflict. He chose comfort over confrontation. The result was a son who exalted himself and attempted to take what was never his to claim.

Parents must teach obedience early. Obedience means responding right away, with the right answer, and with the right attitude. Delayed obedience is still disobedience. Many adults treat God the same way children often treat parents. God convicts them about something, and instead of obeying immediately, they delay and promise to deal with it later. But true obedience responds immediately.

The right attitude matters as much as the outward action. A child stomping angrily while obeying is still revealing a rebellious heart. God is never interested merely in outward compliance. He is always pursuing the heart. Parents must do the same. Teaching obedience in childhood helps prepare children to obey God later in life.

2. Biblical Discipline Goes After the Heart

Biblical discipline is far more than punishment. Biblical discipline is correction aimed at the heart. Proverbs 22:15 says, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” Discipline is not about venting frustration or expressing anger. It is about lovingly helping a child learn submission, humility, and obedience before God.

Parents must be intentional in discipline. Mom and Dad need unity and consistency. Discipline should never be driven by irritation, uncontrolled anger, or emotional outbursts. God disciplines His children perfectly, and parents should strive to discipline carefully, lovingly, and purposefully.

Discipline must also be measured and corrective. The goal is not simply behavior modification. The goal is heart transformation. Sometimes mercy can be shown when a child responds correctly to conviction. Teaching children to recognize when their attitude displeases God is a powerful lesson. Children need to learn how to self-correct before the Lord instead of always requiring external force.

One of the most important truths parents must remember is that some battles must be won while children are young. There are moments where the issue is no longer the outward action itself, but the submission of the heart. In those moments, parents cannot surrender simply because the process becomes exhausting or emotional. A loving parent understands that winning the heart today may save a child from devastating rebellion tomorrow.

3. Parents Must Allow Children to Experience Disappointment

Many parents today rush to rescue children from every disappointment, failure, hurt feeling, or uncomfortable situation. But disappointment is often one of God’s greatest classrooms. James chapter 1 teaches that trials and testing produce growth, patience, and maturity.

Children need to learn how to process disappointment biblically. They need to learn how to hear no, how to lose graciously, how to wait patiently, and how to accept correction humbly. If parents constantly remove every obstacle, children never learn resilience, responsibility, or emotional maturity.

This often begins very young. Parents sometimes avoid nursery situations because children cry. Later, toddlers learn that tears can manipulate authority. As children grow older, parents often begin rescuing them from every social conflict, every uncomfortable consequence, and every difficult interaction. Instead of teaching children how to handle problems biblically, parents absorb the problems for them.

Eventually, children begin believing that every hardship is someone else’s fault. Teachers are unfair. Coaches are against them. Referees cheated them. Employers mistreated them. Excuses replace responsibility. Accountability disappears. Instead of learning how to grow through disappointment, they learn how to blame others for every struggle in life.

Real maturity comes when children learn that every choice carries consequences. Parents can guide children through disappointment without removing every discomfort from their lives. God often uses disappointment to shape character, deepen faith, and teach dependence upon Him.

The truth is that parenting is heart work. It is not easy work, convenient work, or always enjoyable work. But loving correction, biblical discipline, and wise guidance help prepare children to follow God faithfully. The goal is not simply to raise successful children. The goal is to raise children whose hearts are yielded to the Lord.

Reflection Question

Are you helping your children avoid every disappointment and correction, or are you lovingly guiding them toward the peaceable fruit of righteousness that God desires?

Faith-Filled Characters Sermon Series

Jocahbed - What Can You Do? | Hebrews 11:24-26

There are moments in life when faith feels strong and steady. Then there are moments when circumstances collide so violently that we wonder how we can possibly keep going. Hebrews 11 reminds us that faith is not reserved for easy seasons. Faith shines brightest when the pressure is greatest. When God wanted to shape a nation and raise up a deliverer for Israel, He did not begin with an army or a throne. He began with a mother named Jochabed.

The story of Moses often centers on the miracles God performed through him, but before Moses ever stood before Pharaoh, there was a mother quietly walking by faith in the shadows. Exodus 2 shows us a woman living under the cruel decree of a wicked king, surrounded by fear and uncertainty, yet determined to trust God anyway. Jochabed teaches us that faith is not always loud or dramatic. Sometimes faith looks like praying through the night, taking the next right step, and trusting God with what you cannot control.

There are many believers today who feel trapped by circumstances they did not choose. Some are facing burdens in their homes, struggles in their finances, pressures at work, or fears for their children. Jochabed’s story reminds us that faith does not remove problems, but it equips us to face them. God still works through ordinary people who are willing to trust Him in difficult moments. The same God who guided an ark through the Nile River is still guiding His people today.

1. Faith Continues Even When Circumstances Become Impossible

Exodus 2:3 says, “And when she could not longer hide him…” That short phrase reveals a heartbreaking crisis. Jochabed had done everything she could to protect her baby, but the moment came when her efforts no longer seemed enough. Pharaoh had commanded that every Hebrew baby boy be killed, and now the danger could no longer be hidden away.

Three powerful forces collided in this moment. There was the faith of a mother who believed God had a purpose for her son. There was the edict of a king demanding death. And there was the very real fear of losing her child. Jochabed was not facing imaginary fears. Her situation was dangerous and painful.

Yet faith did not disappear when the pressure increased. Too often, we imagine that strong faith means a life without hardship, but Scripture teaches the opposite. Jesus said, “without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Faith does not eliminate trouble, but it gives us strength to walk through trouble with confidence in God.

There will be seasons when life feels overwhelming and uncertain. There will be moments when we question what God is doing. But faith keeps trusting even when circumstances seem impossible. God is faithful even when life is difficult.

2. Faith Does What It Can and Trusts God With the Rest

When Jochabed could no longer hide Moses, she did not panic or surrender. Exodus 2 tells us she built an ark of bulrushes, carefully waterproofed it, and placed it by the riverbank. This was not reckless desperation. It was wise and thoughtful faith.

Jochabed did everything she could do. She built a place of safety for her child. She carefully positioned the ark where it would be protected. She had Moses’ sister watch from a distance to see what would happen next. She used wisdom while depending completely on God for the outcome.

This is one of the great lessons of faith. God calls us to obey Him in the things we can do while trusting Him to handle the things only He can do. Sometimes people misunderstand faith and think it means doing nothing. But biblical faith plans, prepares, obeys, and acts while resting in God’s sovereignty.

Jochabed could not overthrow Pharaoh. She could not control the future. But she could take the next step of obedience. Many believers exhaust themselves trying to control outcomes that belong only to God. Parents try to control every detail of their children’s future. Families try to force solutions to every problem. But faith remembers this truth: we can only do what we can do, and God alone can do what only He can do.

The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6:

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Faith takes responsibility for obedience while leaving the results in God’s hands.

3. God Often Works Through Small Steps of Obedience

One of the most remarkable details in this story is where Jochabed placed Moses. Pharaoh had commanded that the Hebrew baby boys be cast into the river. Ironically, Jochabed placed her son into the river too, but she placed him there inside an ark of safety. What Pharaoh intended for death, God used for deliverance.

Soon, Pharaoh’s daughter came to the river and discovered the child. The Bible says she “had compassion on him” (Exodus 2:6). In one of the most incredible reversals in Scripture, the very household that decreed death for Hebrew children became the household that protected and financed the raising of Moses.

God flipped the entire story upside down.

Jochabed walked away from the river carrying her son openly in her arms, no longer hiding him in fear. Pharaoh’s daughter even paid her wages to the nurse and raised the child. Only God could orchestrate something so incredible.

The name Moses means “to draw out.” Pharaoh’s daughter named him because she drew him out of the water, but God already knew the greater purpose. The one drawn out of the water would one day draw an entire nation out of Egypt.

This is how God works. He uses small steps of faith to accomplish eternal purposes.

We often look for dramatic moments while ignoring daily obedience. Yet God works powerfully through ordinary faithfulness. Spending time in God’s Word each day matters. Prayer matters. Church attendance matters. Teaching children the truth matters. Quiet acts of obedience matter.

The life of Susanna Wesley beautifully illustrates this truth. She raised nineteen children in difficult circumstances, often alone and under tremendous pressure. Yet she faithfully taught her children Scripture, prayed over them, and invested in them spiritually. Two of her sons, John and Charles Wesley, were used mightily by God to impact generations.

Great works of God often begin with small acts of obedience that nobody notices.

4. God Is Always Working Behind the Scenes

Jochabed could not see the entire plan while she stood beside the river. She could not fully understand what God was preparing through her simple acts of faith. But behind every detail was the sovereign hand of God.

God was working through the timing. God was working through Pharaoh’s daughter. God was working through the compassion shown to the child. God was working through a mother willing to obey Him in difficult circumstances.

Sometimes, believers become discouraged because they cannot immediately see results. But God is always at work behind the scenes. He is arranging circumstances, opening doors, softening hearts, and preparing futures that we cannot yet understand.

Romans 8:28 reminds us:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

That does not mean everything feels good in the moment. It means God is faithfully weaving every detail together for His glory and our good.

Jochabed simply kept taking the next step of faith. God handled the rest.

Reflection Question

What small step of faith is God asking you to take today? Are you trying to control outcomes that belong to Him, or are you faithfully doing what you can do while trusting God to do what only He can do?

The Family | Building Christ-Centered Homes

The Family | Displeasure - Part One | Proverbs 29:15

When we think about parenting, most parents naturally want to make life easier for their children. We do not enjoy seeing our kids disappointed, hurt, frustrated, or upset. Every loving parent wants their child to smile more than cry, succeed more than fail, and enjoy life rather than struggle through it. But Proverbs 29 reminds us that good parenting is not simply about keeping children comfortable. It is about shaping their hearts for God. Proverbs 29:15 says, “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” The Bible teaches us that correction, discipline, and even disappointment are necessary parts of raising godly children.

One of the greatest dangers in parenting is allowing comfort to replace correction. Modern culture often tells parents to remove every obstacle, smooth over every hardship, and shield children from disappointment at all costs. Yet God frequently uses difficulty, boundaries, and correction to build character in our lives. If we remove every struggle from a child’s path, we may also remove opportunities for growth, humility, and spiritual maturity. Children who are never corrected often grow into adults who believe life should always revolve around their desires.

The story of Adonijah in 1 Kings 1 gives us a sobering example of this truth. Adonijah eventually exalted himself and declared, “I will be king” (1 Kings 1:5). The Bible then gives the explanation behind his behavior: “And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so?” (1 Kings 1:6). David was a man after God’s own heart, but in this area he failed. Adonijah grew up without correction, without resistance, and without being taught that authority existed above him. The result was a young man who believed his desires overruled everyone else’s. That same spirit is still destroying homes today.

1. Choosing Comfort Over Correction Produces Self-Willed Children

The Bible says David “had not displeased him at any time.” That phrase carries the idea of hindering, restraining, or carving away what should not remain. Like a sculptor removing unnecessary material from a block of wood, parents are called to help shape and refine their children’s hearts.

David never interrupted Adonijah’s wrong behavior. He never challenged his selfishness. He never created the necessary tension that correction sometimes requires. Instead of allowing consequences to teach his son, David continually chose comfort over correction. In doing so, he unintentionally raised a son who believed he could take whatever he wanted.

Adonijah was not merely strong-willed. He was self-willed. He was not simply confident. He was rebellious. He learned to exalt his own desires above everyone else because no one ever displeased him. The tragedy is that when children are never corrected, they often grow up believing they themselves are the highest authority.

Our culture constantly reinforces this mentality. Society teaches people to follow every feeling, pursue every desire, and define truth for themselves. But Scripture teaches the opposite. God calls us to submit ourselves under His authority. Parenting is one of the primary ways children first learn that authority exists above them.

2. Parents Must Be Willing to Say No

One of the most loving things a parent can do is say no when necessary. Proverbs 29:15 reminds us that correction produces wisdom. If parents never oppose a child’s will, they will never teach that child submission.

Children need to learn early in life that they do not always get their way. They need to understand that authority exists above them. This is not cruelty. This is preparation for life and preparation for walking with God.

Many parents struggle with this because they hate seeing their children upset. Yet allowing a child to constantly control situations through tantrums, attitudes, or emotional manipulation only strengthens selfishness. A child who learns that screaming louder results in getting their way will continue using that method later in life.

Sometimes the answer truly is, “Because I said so.” Parents do not owe lengthy explanations for every instruction. If children are taught they only need to obey when the reasoning seems acceptable to them, they may eventually approach God the same way. Yet many times in Scripture, God simply commands obedience because He is God.

Good parenting teaches children to obey authority even when they do not fully understand every reason behind it.

3. Biblical Obedience Includes More Than Actions

True obedience is not merely outward compliance. Scripture teaches that obedience involves the heart as well as the action.

First, children should obey right away. Delayed obedience is still disobedience. When a parent must repeat the same instruction five or six times before a child responds, the child is learning that obedience is optional until consequences become serious enough. God does not expect His children to obey only after repeated warnings, and parents should not train children to respond that way either.

Second, children should obey with the right answer. Respectful speech matters. A godly home should cultivate honor, courtesy, and respect. Responses like “yes sir” and “yes ma’am” are not merely cultural habits. They help teach humility and submission to authority.

Third, children should obey with the right attitude. A child may technically comply outwardly while still rebelling inwardly. God cares about both actions and attitudes, and parents should lovingly guide children toward both outward obedience and inward respect.

Hebrews 12:11 says, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Discipline is not enjoyable in the moment, but when it is done biblically and lovingly, it produces righteousness later.

Parents are not called to raise merely “good kids.” We are called to raise godly kids. Children who will one day love God, submit to His authority, and follow Him with their whole heart do not develop accidentally. They are shaped through loving correction, biblical discipline, and parents who are willing to lovingly displease them when necessary.

Parenting is humbling because our weaknesses often appear in our children. Yet by God’s grace, parents can still faithfully raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. No parent is perfect, but God’s Word gives wisdom for every home willing to follow Him.

Reflection QuestionAre you choosing temporary comfort over biblical correction, or are you lovingly guiding your children to understand authority, obedience, and submission to God?

Sermon Series

God Is Not the Problem - We Are | Isaiah 59

There are times in the Christian life when God can feel distant. We pray, and it seems like heaven is silent. We look for answers, but the situation does not change. In those moments, it is easy to begin questioning God. Has He stopped listening? Has He lost His power? Has He withdrawn His hand from helping us? But Isaiah 59 confronts that thinking head-on and reveals a truth that is both sobering and necessary. God is not the problem.

The Bible says, “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1). The issue is not with God’s ability or His willingness. The issue lies much closer to home. Verse 2 makes it plain: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” When there is distance between us and God, it is not because He has moved. It is because something has come between us and Him. And that something is sin. 

1. The Great Separator

Isaiah begins by exposing the real problem. Sin is the great separator. It is not a small issue or a minor inconvenience. It is a dividing force that breaks fellowship with God and disrupts every relationship it touches. The prophet lists specific sins such as violence, lying, corrupt speech, injustice, and sinful thoughts. These are not isolated actions but evidence of a heart that has turned away from God.

It is easy to look at this list and think of extreme cases, but Jesus made it clear that sin runs deeper than outward actions. Hatred in the heart, deceit in the lips, and pride in the spirit all contribute to this separation. Sin is not just what we do. It is who we are apart from God. And every time sin is present, it creates distance. It separates husbands and wives, parents and children, church members from one another, and most importantly, it separates us from God.

The danger is that we often blame God when the separation is actually caused by our own sin. Like the children of Israel, we may ask why God seems silent while ignoring the sin that has disrupted our fellowship with Him. But the truth remains. Sin always separates, and it always brings destruction.

2. The Greater Confession

While the problem is serious, Isaiah does not leave us without hope. In verse 12, the tone of the passage changes. Instead of blaming God, the people begin to confess: “For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us… and as for our iniquities, we know them.” This is the turning point. True confession begins when we stop pointing outward and start looking inward.

Confession is not a vague acknowledgment that we are imperfect. It is a clear agreement with God about our sin. It is saying what God says about it. It is recognizing that our sin is against Him, that it condemns us, and we cannot fix it ourselves. Sin is not something we can outrun or hide from. It follows us, testifies against us, and remains until it is dealt with in God’s way.

The Bible gives us that way in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confession must be followed by forsaking. We cannot hold on to sin and expect restoration at the same time. God is not looking for excuses, comparisons, or partial efforts. He is looking for genuine repentance. When we come honestly before Him, acknowledging our sin and turning from it, He responds with mercy and cleansing.

3. The Greatest God

The beauty of Isaiah 59 is that it does not end with separation or even confession. It ends with salvation. When God sees the problem and hears the confession, He steps in with a solution that only He can provide. Verse 16 tells us that there was no man to intercede, so God Himself brought salvation.

This points directly to Jesus Christ, the Redeemer spoken of in verse 20. The same God who is high above us reaches down to restore us. We could never bridge the gap caused by sin, but God did through His Son. The chapter begins with separation, but it ends with redemption.

And this truth is reinforced in Romans 8, where we are reminded that nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Sin can break fellowship, but it cannot cancel God’s love. When we come to Him in repentance, His grace restores what sin has damaged. What once seemed like an overwhelming problem becomes a temporary one in the hands of a powerful God.

God is not the problem. He is the solution. He is the One who saves, cleanses, restores, and sustains. When we humble ourselves before Him, confess our sin, and turn back to Him, He responds with grace that is greater than all our sin.

Reflection Question

Is there anything in your life right now that has come between you and God? Will you stop looking outward and honestly ask Him to reveal what needs to be confessed and forsaken today?

The Family | Building Christ-Centered Homes

The Family | Good Kids vs. Godly Kids | Deuteronomy 6

When people think about raising children, most parents naturally want the same things. We want respectful kids. We want obedient kids. We want children who say “yes sir” and “yes ma’am,” who behave in public, who work hard, and who stay out of trouble. Those are good desires. The problem is that good behavior alone is not the same thing as godliness. A child can learn how to act right outwardly while their heart remains far from God inwardly.

That is the burden behind Deuteronomy 6. God’s desire was never simply to produce outward conformity in His people. He wanted hearts that truly loved Him. Moses declared, “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Before parents could ever teach truth to their children, that truth first had to become real in their own hearts. Godly parenting begins long before correction, discipline, or rules. It begins with parents who genuinely walk with God themselves.

We are living in a generation where children are struggling deeply. Anxiety, hopelessness, rebellion, confusion, and emotional instability are becoming increasingly common. Society often blames culture, economics, or social pressure, but Scripture continually points us back to the home. God has given parents both the responsibility and the privilege of shaping the spiritual direction of their children. The goal is not merely to raise children who are pleasant to be around. The goal is to raise children who know God, love God, and desire to walk with Him personally.

1. Behavior Modification Is Not Equal to Heart Transformation

One of the greatest mistakes parents can make is assuming that outward obedience automatically means inward surrender. Children can learn how to sit quietly in church, avoid certain behaviors, and say all the right things without ever truly developing a love for God. Jesus warned about this very danger when He said, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8).

Parents often focus heavily on actions while neglecting affections. We correct the behavior without asking what is happening in the heart. We become embarrassed when our children misbehave publicly, but sometimes we care more about being embarrassed than we do about their spiritual condition. It is easy to become satisfied with outward appearances because outward obedience is visible and measurable. But God continually asks a deeper question: Does this child truly love Me?

A child may know how to behave correctly and still not know Christ personally. That is why parenting must constantly point children back toward God rather than simply toward family expectations. Instead of only asking, “Did you obey Mom and Dad?” we should teach children to ask, “Did this please the Lord?” That simple shift changes everything. It moves the conversation from mere rule-keeping to a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are not simply trying to produce compliant children. We are trying to point hearts toward God.

2. Good Kids Without God Become Self-Righteous Adults

There is another danger in raising children who are outwardly good but inwardly disconnected from God. Sometimes “good kids” begin comparing themselves to others and develop spiritual pride. Instead of measuring themselves by God’s holiness, they measure themselves against people they believe are worse than they are.

Jesus illustrated this spirit in Luke 18 when the Pharisee prayed, “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are” (Luke 18:11). That prayer sounded religious, but it was full of pride. The Pharisee was polished outwardly, but he lacked humility before God. That same danger can creep into Christian homes if we are not careful.

Children can begin believing they are spiritual simply because they follow rules, attend church, or avoid certain sins. But true godliness is not built on comparison with others. It is built on humility before God and dependence upon His grace. Parents must help their children understand that they need God daily. They need His help, His forgiveness, His wisdom, and His strength.

If all we emphasize is external righteousness without explaining grace, we may accidentally raise children who look spiritual while lacking genuine surrender to Christ. Godly parenting continually reminds children that Christianity is not about proving we are better than others. It is about recognizing our desperate need for Jesus Christ every single day.

3. The Goal Is Not Control, but Surrender

Many parents unintentionally make control the ultimate goal. We want our children to obey quickly, follow rules carefully, and meet expectations consistently. While obedience certainly matters, obedience alone is not the final destination. We are not merely raising rule followers. We are raising Christ followers.

Deuteronomy 6 teaches that spiritual truth should saturate everyday life. Parents were instructed to teach God’s Word diligently to their children when sitting in the house, walking by the way, lying down, and rising up. In other words, faith was meant to become part of normal daily life. Godliness was not supposed to be reserved for church services only. It was supposed to shape the atmosphere of the home itself.

That process begins with parents personally walking with God. Children are deeply influenced by what they consistently see in Mom and Dad. If parents love church, children learn that church matters. If parents value Scripture, children learn that Scripture matters. If parents speak naturally about the things of God, children begin seeing Christianity as something real rather than merely religious.

Parents should intentionally talk about Scripture, share what God is teaching them, pray together as a family, and explain life through the lens of God’s Word. At the same time, love also requires protection. Parents are called to guard against influences, attitudes, and attachments that pull children away from faith. Love does not merely give freedom. Love also guards hearts.

Children do not need perfect parents. They need authentic ones. They need to see parents pray, repent, apologize, worship, and genuinely enjoy walking with God. A humble and authentic faith in the home often becomes one of the greatest tools God uses to point children toward Himself.

The ultimate goal is not simply to produce nice children who impress people externally. The goal is to raise young people whose hearts genuinely belong to Jesus Christ.

Reflection QuestionAre you primarily trying to shape outward behavior, or are you intentionally pointing hearts toward a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ?

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About Pastor JD Howell

Pastor J.D. Howell is a faithful and passionate servant of God whose heart beats for preaching the truth of God’s Word and shepherding God’s people with love and integrity.

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First Baptist Church of Bridgeport | All Rights Reserved

About Pastor JD Howell

Pastor J.D. Howell is a faithful and passionate servant of God whose heart beats for preaching the truth of God’s Word and shepherding God’s people with love and integrity.

Home

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Subscribe now to get timely updates and in-depth insights designed to keep you in touch with First Baptist Church.

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© 2026

First Baptist Church of Bridgeport | All Rights Reserved

About Pastor JD Howell

Pastor J.D. Howell is a faithful and passionate servant of God whose heart beats for preaching the truth of God’s Word and shepherding God’s people with love and integrity.

Home

Sermons

About

Authors

Contact

Newsletter

Subscribe now to get timely updates and in-depth insights designed to keep you in touch with First Baptist Church.

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© 2026

First Baptist Church of Bridgeport | All Rights Reserved