15-Year Celebration

by | Sep 28, 2025 | Sermon Notes

15-year Celebration Service

Cory – The 3R’s.

·      Restore the fallen and broken

·      Resolve conflict between families and individuals (sometimes with ourselves)

·      Refocus the church on its true mission; it’s all about people

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (MSG) 11 So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind….

•  We exist to elevate our communities through hope one person at a time.

•  Bringing fresh hope to the one. Because one person matters. 

Richelle – 15 years.

Biblical Definition of Rest: Biblical rest encompasses physical cessation from work, such as the Sabbath observance, and a deeper spiritual peace found in God’s presence and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. It also involves contentment, freedom from worry, and being settled in God’s provision, providing rest for the body, soul, and mind from weariness and burdens.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

My Thought: Spiritually, the number 15 can represent divine grace, mercy, and deliverance: Grace is represented by the number 5, and 15 represents grace 3 X (times).  So, God, in His great mercy, has delivered us from where we’ve been to a new level of His divine grace and rest.

Biblical Definition of Divine Grace:  In the Bible, divine grace is God’s unmerited favor, love, and empowerment freely given to humanity, enabling salvation, sanctification, and the strength to do God’s will. It’s not earned through works but received through faith in Jesus Christ. Grace gives believers the power to live a transformed life, overcome weakness, and receive forgiveness for sins, which reconciles them to God.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

C. S. Lewis said, “In the process of being worshiped, God communicates his presence to men.”

Final Statement: We all are going to leave with a renewed passion for our mission and vision and express our gratitude openly to God who is worthy to be praised and share our Jesus stories with people one person at a time.