Beyond Belief // Bread Bath and Beyond // Jan. 18, 2026 9am Live Stream Worship

Devotional

Day 1: Listening for God’s Persistent and Gentle Call

Sometimes we get so busy or cynical that we stop listening for the messages God is sending us. Like young Samuel, you are invited to stay open and attentive even when you aren't sure who is speaking. God is incredibly persistent, often returning to us time and again until we finally recognize the divine voice. It might take weeks or even years to fully respond, but the invitation remains open. You are called to move beyond distractions and simply say, "I'm here, I'm listening." [28:40]

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” (1 Samuel 3:1-10)

Reflection: When you look back at the last few weeks, is there a "still small voice" or a recurring thought you’ve been dismissing as just your own imagination?

Day 2: Seeing Beyond Our Prejudices and Assumptions

You may carry hidden biases that prevent you from seeing the full truth of the people around you. Like Nathaniel questioning if anything good could come from Nazareth, it is easy to dismiss others based on where they come from or how they look. These assumptions act as blocks, preventing you from recognizing the presence of Christ in those who are different. When you stay stuck in your beliefs about who people are, you miss the beauty of what God is doing through them. True faith invites you to cross the rivers of division and see others as God sees them. [34:01]

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” (John 1:43-46)

Reflection: Think of a group of people or a specific neighborhood you usually avoid; how might God be trying to speak to you through someone from that very place?

Day 3: The Gift of Mentors on Our Journey

Navigating a journey of faith is rarely something you are meant to do entirely on your own. Even when God speaks directly to you, you often need the wisdom of a mentor to help you understand the message. Whether you feel overly self-sufficient or deeply insecure, God provides people who care for you and can guide your steps. These mentors help you grow when you are willing to be honest about your need for help. By studying and walking with others, you find the courage to respond to God's call. [31:37]

And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. (1 Samuel 3:8-9)

Reflection: Who is a person in your life whose faith you respect, and how could you reach out to them this week to share a question or a struggle you’ve been carrying?

Day 4: Recognizing God’s Presence Beyond Our Physical Senses

Your physical senses are wonderful gifts, but they do not always give you the full picture of reality. Just as a nighttime photo of a city hides the mountains and water surrounding it, your eyes can miss the depth of God’s work in the world. You are invited to use all your senses—including the spiritual sense of the heart—to learn about God’s love. Even when you cannot hear or see clearly, the gifts of peace and love remain available to you. The Holy Spirit works through your limitations to turn your attention toward what truly matters. [25:40]

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. (Psalm 25:4-5)

Reflection: Think of a situation that currently feels incomplete or confusing; how might you ask God to help you "see" the spiritual reality that your physical eyes might be missing?

Day 5: Believing in Order to See God’s Work

Once you move from skepticism to belief, your eyes are opened to see the world in a completely new way. This transformation doesn't just change your perspective; it compels you to share the message of Jesus with those you encounter. Like the disciples who traveled to distant lands, you are called to be a witness of the grace you have received. Your life becomes a testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit working within you. Whether through service or simply sharing your story, you reflect the light of Christ to a divided world. [38:35]

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:47-51)

Reflection: If you were to share one "evidence" of God’s work in your life with a friend this week, what specific story of grace or provision would you tell?

Sermon Summary

People are invited to widen how they perceive God beyond sight and sound, learning to attend with all the senses and with humility. Using simple classroom demonstrations, the account of Helen Keller, and travel stories from Hong Kong, attention is drawn to how limited vision and hearing can leave crucial truth undiscovered. Two biblical portraits show complementary ways God calls: a child, Samuel, who learns to listen as God persistently speaks, and Nathaniel, whose cultural prejudice first blocks then opens to seeing Jesus for who he is. The importance of mentors emerges clearly—experienced guides like Eli help interpret surprising or painful revelations, and community witnesses can carry God’s voice when personal perception fails.

Practical theology threads through the talk: sacraments invite the Holy Spirit to reorient flawed senses, and embodied practices—touch, presence, shared meals, baptismal water—prepare people to notice God beyond assumptions. Concrete community life follows conviction: a meal-packing mission, retreat invitations, and simple hospitality (pie day) model how faith becomes visible and contagious. Ultimately, the work of belief is shown to be both receptive and active—receiving God through unexpected channels while being sent out to testify, teach, and repair a divided world. Faith matures when people stop insisting on seeing first, when they receive guidance from trusted companions, and when their belief reshapes how they perceive neighbors previously dismissed. The closing charge calls for openness to still, small voices and to the living presence of Jesus seen in one another, trusting the Spirit to make senses faithful instruments of God’s love.

Key Takeaways

1. God speaks through unexpected senses God’s revelation is not limited to sight or sound; touch, presence, and embodied care can disclose truths that eyes and ears miss. When cultural or linguistic filters obscure meaning, other senses and practices—hospitality, shared touch, sacramental acts—become channels for divine disclosure. Attending to these means practicing vulnerability to forms of knowledge that feel inferior or inconvenient. [14:05]
2. Listen with the openness of a child Children often hear without the cynicism adults carry; Samuel’s example shows receptivity, patience, and the need for persistence from the divine. Openness is a spiritual discipline: it requires quieting assumptions, allowing repetition, and trusting that understanding may unfold slowly. This posture makes space for correction, call, and vocation that adult armor would otherwise harden against. [28:07]
3. Mentors help interpret God’s voice Trusted guides translate and contextualize divine promptings, especially when the content is painful or counterintuitive. Eli’s role demonstrates that spiritual formation is communal and that prophetic clarity often requires someone who will listen, confirm, and risk truth-telling on another’s behalf. Seeking such relationships guards against isolation and misreading. [29:43]
4. Belief removes cultural blinders Prejudice can blind people to God in others; Nathaniel’s shift shows how belief reframes identity and reveals presence where dismissal once ruled. To move from suspicion to discipleship demands humility, an honest audit of learned biases, and willingness to be surprised. True seeing follows transformed hearts, not the other way around. [34:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[09:03] - Pie Day & Greetings
[10:29] - Kids: Learning with Senses
[12:21] - Eyes-Closed Demonstration
[13:25] - Helen Keller & Touch
[23:59] - Hong Kong: Night and Day
[26:34] - Disney Language Barrier
[28:07] - Samuel Hears God
[29:43] - Eli and Spiritual Mentors
[32:16] - Nathaniel’s Prejudices Shift
[39:06] - Sacraments, Spirit, and Sight
[50:36] - Meal Packing & Mission
[62:26] - Picnic with Paul Retreat Invite
[63:38] - Pie Day Reminder
[68:45] - Closing Blessing and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

1 Samuel 3:1–10 (ESV)
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

John 1:43–51 (ESV)
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Observation questions

In the account of Samuel, how many times does the Lord call out to the boy before Eli realizes what is happening, and what specific instructions does Eli eventually give him?
When Philip tells Nathanael about Jesus, what is Nathanael’s immediate verbal reaction to the mention of Jesus’ hometown?
During the demonstration with the children, how did the child’s perception of height change when they were asked to use their hands instead of their eyes? [12:54]
When looking at the photos of Hong Kong, what specific geographical features were completely hidden in the nighttime photo but clearly visible during the day? [25:16]

Interpretation questions

Eli was a faithful priest, yet his own sons were corrupt and did not live according to the faith they saw in their father [30:36]. Why might God choose to bypass the established "professional" priests to speak His message through a young child like Samuel?
Nathanael’s prejudice against Nazareth almost prevented him from recognizing the Messiah [33:28]. How do cultural or geographic "blind spots" function as a barrier to seeing the truth of who a person really is?
Hearing a performance in a language like Cantonese without a translation can lead to missing crucial details, even if the general "song" is familiar [27:43]. In what ways can a person "hear" religious language or stories without actually understanding the message God is trying to communicate?
Jesus tells Nathanael that he will see "greater things" than just a display of supernatural knowledge. Based on the end of the passage in John, what is the "greater thing" Jesus wants his disciples to eventually perceive?

Application questions

It is often easier for young people to hear God’s message because adults can become cynical, busy, or simply stop listening [28:07]. What are the specific "noises" or "armors" in your life right now that make it difficult for you to have the open receptivity of a child?
God is persistent and often has to speak multiple times before we notice He is calling [28:40]. Can you share a time when it took several "prods" or even years of waiting before you finally realized God was directing you toward a specific path?
Spiritual growth is a communal journey, and we often need mentors to help us interpret God’s voice [31:01]. Who are the "Elis" in your life—trusted guides who can help you understand a message from God, even when that message is surprising or difficult?
We sometimes dismiss people because they come from a different community, dress differently, or speak a different language [35:54]. Is there a "Nazareth" in your life—a place or a group of people you have written off—where God might actually be trying to speak to you?
The sacraments of communion and baptism use physical elements like bread, wine, and water to turn our attention to what really matters [39:06]. How can engaging your physical senses through these traditions help reorient you when you feel spiritually "blind" or "deaf"?
Belief is not just an internal feeling; it leads to outward action, such as the community gathering to pack 15,000 meals for those in need [50:36]. What is one concrete way your belief can become "visible" to your neighbors this week?

Sermon Clips

``Do we keep trying to hear to believe? I think when we think about the sacraments that we've been talking about, holy communion and baptism, I think what we really need is the power of the holy spirit that comes to us through the sacraments given to us by Jesus. The sacraments of a meal around a table, a washing of water. Our senses always have had the opportunity to let us down, but the power of the holy spirit can turn our attention to what really matters. And that is how we will believe God's message for us today. [00:38:44] (39 seconds) #SacramentsAndSpirit

And so it does not matter if we can see to believe or hear to believe, we can also use our other senses to learn about the world around us and to learn about God's love for us. Now God sent Jesus someone that we could see and listen to that we could learn more about God's love for us and how, God wanted us to love each other and live together in the world. In our bible readings that Julie's gonna share with us in a minute, we're gonna hear about a boy named Samuel. Now Samuel was about seven or eight in this story. So he's not a grown up, he's a little boy, and he hears a message from God. And then we're gonna hear about a man named Nathaniel who saw Jesus and came to believe Jesus. [00:13:51] (45 seconds) #BelieveBeyondSight

when I was homeschooling my kids at one point, I made my children memorize the 12 disciples, the 12 apostles, and my guess is none of us are very good at listing all of them unless we maybe grew up in a Catholic church. The reality is for most of the disciples, we don't know very much about them and I don't think there's another mention of Nathaniel in the entire bible. [00:36:53] (24 seconds) #UnsungDisciples

Nathaniel could not see Jesus for the full truth of who Jesus was because Nathaniel was stuck in his beliefs of who people were because of where they came from. His beliefs block his seeing. He can't see and believe because what he sees isn't the full truth. But once he believes, he begins to see more fully. [00:33:45] (31 seconds) #BeliefOpensEyes

Tradition says he was martyred for his devotion to Jesus in the area called Armenia today. It's an area of Armenia that's actually within the country of Turkey. He gave his life to Jesus even though at first sight, he did not believe and he dismissed Jesus. Once he believed, then he saw. And then no one could shut him up. He traveled, he talked, he he taught, and he talked, and he brought the message of Jesus to many, many others. [00:38:03] (36 seconds) #FromDoubtToWitness

Now, as we think of ourselves and where we fit into these stories, who are the people we dismiss in our lives today because they aren't what we look up to? Maybe they come from a different community or dress differently or speak differently. Who do we set aside and not see or hear or pay attention to? [00:35:42] (27 seconds) #SeeBeyondLabels

God doesn't just talk to Samuel once, God comes back time and time again until Samuel figures out what's going on. Until Samuel now, to be honest, Samuel's paying attention the whole time. He just doesn't know what's happening. But for us, usually, we're not paying attention when God starts talking to us, and so we need God to come back often. So then I have to wonder just how often do we blow off God and we don't even notice it. [00:28:37] (32 seconds) #GodIsPersistent

The first one is Samuel who's about seven or eight years old. He hears God speaking at night. Now I've always felt that this was a very powerful story, and I often think we don't talk enough about this story in church. First, I think that young people are often more open to hearing God's message because as we get older, we often get cynical or busy or just plain stop listening and are not always open to God's messages to us. So I think it's a wonderful role model how Samuel shows us how to listen and how to try and figure out what's going on. Now the second thing I love about this story is that God is persistent. [00:27:54] (44 seconds) #ListenLikeAChild

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Beyond Belief // Bread Bath and Beyond // Jan. 18, 2026 9am Live Stream Worship

Devotional

Day 1: Listening for God’s Persistent and Gentle Call

Day 2: Seeing Beyond Our Prejudices and Assumptions

Day 3: The Gift of Mentors on Our Journey

Day 4: Recognizing God’s Presence Beyond Our Physical Senses

Day 5: Believing in Order to See God’s Work

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Beyond Belief // Bread Bath and Beyond // Jan. 18, 2026 9am Live Stream Worship

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