Visiting Speaker - Chaplain Troy Ahrens

May 03, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Scantron Torn, Grace Born

A junior high boy hunches over his desk, heart pounding as his science teacher rips up the cheating-tainted test. Porcelain frogs watch from classroom shelves as performance-driven panic collapses into shame. The crumpled Scantron in the trash can mirrors the boy’s crushed self-worth—until mercy whispers through the teacher’s choice to keep the failure private. [53:04]

Jesus knows our addiction to proving ourselves. He watched Pharisees polish outer behavior while hearts decayed. Ephesians 2 strips away pretense: salvation comes not through perfect scores, but through Christ’s finished work. God initiates rescue while we’re still fumbling through cheat sheets.

You’ve rehearsed your spiritual résumé—church roles, moral checkmarks, hours served. But grace says, “Put down your report card.” Where have you substituted achievement for receiving God’s “it is finished”? What if today you stopped justifying your place at His table?

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
(Ephesians 2:8-9, NLT)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to expose one area where you’ve tied your worth to performance instead of His cross.
Challenge: Write “NOT YOUR OWN DOING” on a sticky note. Place it where you’ll see it hourly.

Day 2: The Gift of a B

A third-grader storms home, furious his father celebrates a B+ with $10 instead of scolding imperfection. Porcelain frogs grin as the boy learns to breathe. Years later, a straight-A college student tosses his transcript aside, numb to achievement’s hollow prize. [46:59]

God designed rest, not as a failure, but as fuel. Jesus napped in storms and retreated from crowds. The Father’s delight in His Son’s “B+” moments—sleeping, eating, laughing—reveals a rhythm foreign to our hustle. Your worth isn’t graded on heaven’s curve.

How many vacations, naps, or lazy Saturdays have you guiltily “earned”? When did you last enjoy a hobby without monetizing it? Jesus says His yoke is easy—not efficient. What ordinary pleasure will you embrace today without self-reproach?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
(Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for something “unproductive” you enjoy—a food, hobby, or rest—as His gift.
Challenge: Spend 15 minutes doing something “useless” today. No photos or posts allowed.

Day 3: Surgeons and Sabbath Rest

A neurosurgeon’s hands steady over a patient’s brain—skills honed through decades of perfect scores. Yet in the chapel, she weeps, wondering if her scalpel-sharp discipline disqualifies her from grace. [59:27]

Jesus healed on the Sabbath, defying performance-based religion. He honored both the surgeon’s skill and the paralytic’s helplessness. Philippians 2’s tension—work out salvation; God works in you—mirrors a dance: our effort leaning into His lead.

You’ve mastered balancing acts—parenting, careers, service. But when did you last let God hold the clipboard? What if your next project began with “Father, show me where to work and where to watch You work”? Where does your competence block your awe?

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
(Philippians 2:12-13, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one task you’ve clenched too tightly. Ask God to pry open your fingers.
Challenge: Delete one item from your to-do list without rescheduling it.

Day 4: Crumpled Test, Uncrushed Hope

A teacher’s wrinkled hands withhold discipline from a cheating boy, preserving his future. Decades later, the man kneels, grateful for mercy that rerouted his perfectionism. Porcelain frogs stand sentinel over grace’s quiet victories. [53:34]

God’s justice demands payment for sin; His mercy provides it. Lamentations 3 rebukes our fear of divine grading: “His compassions never fail.” Like the teacher shielding the boy’s record, Jesus hides our failures beneath His scarred hands.

You catalog your spiritual B’s and C’s, dreading heaven’s transcript review. But what if God isn’t auditing—He’s applauding? When you stumble today, will you hear condemnation or the whisper, “I’ve already handled this”?

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
(Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV)

Prayer: Name one failure you still punish yourself for. Ask Christ to apply His “paid in full” stamp.
Challenge: Tear a paper into shreds while saying, “Christ’s mercy covers this.”

Day 5: The Desire of Ages

A 100-year-old woman forgets her grandchildren’s names but hums “Jesus Loves Me.” Senility erodes her achievements, yet her childlike trust glows brighter. The Desire of Ages outshines fading trophies. [01:17:07]

Jesus told adults to become like children—not childish, but trusting. John 6:37 flips performance anxiety: “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” The Father’s arms ache for you more than yours stretch for Him.

You’ve orphaned yourself, striving to earn a home God freely gives. What if today you stopped climbing heaven’s ladder and collapsed into His lap? When did you last let God delight in you—not your output?

“All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”
(John 6:37, NIV)

Prayer: Whisper “Jesus wants me” three times. Sit silently for 60 seconds afterward.
Challenge: Text someone: “God’s crazy about you.” No context needed.

Sermon Summary

A series of personal memories opens the reflection, from a centenarian grandmother facing senility to vivid recollections of elementary teachers and a prized frog collection. Early school years reveal a drive for perfection that shaped behavior and relationships. A first B became a formative lesson when a parent celebrated progress over perfection. That drive escalated into academic dishonesty in middle school, culminating in a Scantron being ripped and a public moment of shame that exposed how performance can distort conscience and identity. College brought a sober reappraisal when straight A report cards provoked a flippant reaction and a deliberate effort to learn gratitude for honest achievement.

The narrative shifts to scriptural anchors, centering on Ephesians 2 to define grace as God initiating salvation, a gift not earned by works. Contextual reading highlights that the gospel represents a cosmic work far beyond individual merit, and God’s love reaches toward sinners even while they remain distant. The reflection acknowledges the pervasive cultural grading system that trains people to measure worth by output, status, and results, and it warns how that system can become an idol that consumes life and faith.

A theological tension receives careful treatment. Paul’s declarations of free gift and subsequent injunction to work out salvation with fear and trembling pose a mystery rather than a contradiction. C. S. Lewis helps frame the paradox: divine action and human response intertwine without neat separation. The tension invites honest wrestling rather than easy answers, and it calls for practical humility in living out faith.

The conclusion returns to hope. The image of Jesus as the Desire of Ages reframes human insecurity about worth and salvation. Faith rests on the conviction that God’s desire to bring people home exceeds any human effort to earn that place. Living with eyes fixed on that desire becomes the most reliable posture in a life tempted by performance and idolatry.

Key Takeaways

1. Performance distorts the soul's worth Performance turns identity into a scoreboard and measures belonging by outcomes. When worth depends on grades or accolades, shame and fear grow whenever failure appears. Reorienting the heart away from external metrics protects relationships and fosters honest spiritual growth. [49:38]
2. Grace always precedes human effort Scripture portrays salvation as God initiating rescue while people remain spiritually dead. This ordering removes the foundation for boasting and reorients obedience as grateful response rather than currency. Receiving grace first changes how moral effort is understood and practiced. [60:15]
3. Tension between gift and obedience The Bible holds together God’s doing and human responsibility without ironing out the mystery. That tension calls for faithful engagement rather than doctrinal neatness, inviting both trust in God and serious moral effort. Wrestling with the paradox refines faith into humble praxis. [69:24]
4. Jesus desires believers more deeply The biblical image of the Desire of Ages reframes longing as divine initiative toward reunion. Trusting that God wants people in heaven more than they want it themselves diminishes spiritual bargaining and fosters rest. Fixing attention on that desire reshapes motivation from performance to invitation. [76:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[26:42] - Family and aging
[43:32] - Childhood teachers and frogs
[46:00] - First B and a father's wisdom
[49:38] - Cheating and the Scantron moment
[54:08] - College reflection on grades
[60:15] - Ephesians on grace explained
[69:24] - Grace versus works tension
[76:35] - Desire of Ages and hope

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT)
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT)
Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 2:8-10, what does Paul emphasize about the source of salvation, and what role do "good works" play after salvation?
In Philippians 2:12-13, how does Paul hold together the ideas of human effort ("work hard") and divine action ("God is working in you")?
The sermon shared a story about cheating for an extra credit question in middle school. What did this moment reveal about the dangers of performance-driven identity? [49:38]
How did the father’s reaction to a B grade challenge the speaker’s understanding of worth and achievement? [46:00]

Interpretation Questions

Why might Paul stress that salvation is "not a reward for the good things we have done" (Ephesians 2:9) in a culture that values earning through effort? How does this contrast with societal norms today?
The sermon described a tension between grace as a "free gift" and the call to "work out your salvation" (Philippians 2:12). How might these two ideas coexist without contradicting each other?
C.S. Lewis called the interplay of divine action and human responsibility a "mystery." Why do you think the Bible leaves this tension unresolved instead of offering a clear formula?
The father celebrated a B grade to counter perfectionism. What does this suggest about how families or communities might unintentionally reinforce performance-based worth? [46:00]

Application Questions

Reflect on an area of your life (work, parenting, faith) where you feel pressured to "earn" approval or worth. How might Ephesians 2:8-10 reshape your perspective on that struggle?
The sermon warned that performance can turn relationships into "scoreboards." Where have you seen this happen in your own life? What practical step could help you focus less on outcomes and more on grace? [49:38]
Philippians 2:12-13 says God gives both the desire and power to live for Him. What is one habit or attitude you need God’s power to change? How could you actively depend on Him this week?
The speaker described learning to appreciate his achievements instead of dismissing them. How can you practice gratitude for "honest effort" rather than obsessing over perfection? [54:53]
The sermon concluded that "God wants us in heaven more than we want to be there." How might this truth free you from bargaining with God or fearing failure in your spiritual journey?
Think of someone in your life (a child, coworker, friend) who seems trapped by performance pressure. How could you model or share the hope of grace with them this month?

Sermon Clips

42s

#GodWantsYouInHeaven

“If I could sum up the gospel in the clearest way, to me it is this, God wants me in heaven more than I wanna be there. Others have said it like Philip Yancey, there's nothing you can do to make God love you more. There's nothing you can do to make God love you less. Right? I just love that idea though. It's a prayer of mine. You can take it. You can steal it. Go ahead. I just love to sit there sometimes and say, god, you want me there more than I wanna be there.”

60s

#UnmeritedGrace

“But there is something about this issue we have in not accepting what the words of scripture are telling us. Even when we didn't wanna have anything to do with God, he worked out our salvation. Meaning, God loved us before and he wanted to save us, and we didn't have anything we didn't we didn't do anything to get him to do that. But we when you are struggling with, am I worthy of heaven? When am am I gonna can I get there? Am am I good enough? Do you realize that when you are struggling with that, which I struggle with that too, when you are struggling with that question of your personal salvation, that you're actually reflecting your belief that God is hesitant to save you.”

46s

#PerformanceVsGrace

“God is always ahead. He's always ahead. And yet when we struggle with the sense of, like, am I good enough to be saved? Am I doing enough things right? Our focus is not on the initiation of god. And in fact, it's okay that you struggle with that because we live in a performance driven society. Of course, we would struggle with our salvation in a sense of performance. Did I get the grade that is worthy of heaven? Is is is the road so narrow that it's only the a students that get to heaven in terms of following the law? Do the do some people with b's get it, or is is c passing for heaven?”

51s

#CosmicRedemption

“There is so much more going on. This is the grand work of God. The grand work of his whole saving activity is it's not just about here. Colossians says that the cross of Christ wasn't just for us on Earth. It was for those beings that had been unfallen in heaven. Why would the cross be for them? They're sinless. Because there's something that's going on that's much bigger than your personal salvation and my personal salvation, though that's really important. And so when you look at these passages and you see the context, this part I read because of the great love with which he loved us, interestingly, love repeated twice, emphasis is like, I really want you to get this. God loves you”

45s

#GodsWorkNotMine

“Paul has just been saying that, you know, the work of the gospel, the work of our salvation, this is the working of his great might that he worked in Christ. Work is actually repeated twice, I think emphasizing the work of salvation is his. That is his work that he did in Christ, and Jesus is the one who fills all in all. So you have this grand message in Paul's mind, and then he dives into the the the gift of your salvation is a free gift of God. For you, it's a free gift of God. But before he got there, he had already widened the lens. It is so much more than just you getting to heaven.”

46s

#EarnedApprovalMindset

“And I I remember grabbing the report card and going, I need to appreciate this, and I actually had to struggle to appreciate my a's. I look at young Troy, and I see a kid in the grip of performance expectations. Pastor Sam, just in February, said these words to start off his sermon. There's a universal human instinct that tells us that if we want to be right, then we have to do right. We can sometimes see it in our careers, we see it in our social status, most dangerously, it shows up in our faith.”

63s

#GospelTooGoodToBelieve

“The gospel, I think, is often too good to be true because we are people that earn our way to the promotion. We are people that earn our way to the grade, and that doesn't that doesn't mesh. And so I'll wrap it up with this right there, The desire of ages. If you're unaware, the desire of ages as an Adventist is a trigger, like, in a good way usually, hopefully, for Ellen White, a founder of the Adventist Church. And this is this is her most beloved book. I mean, other people love other books. I mean, some would say the great controversy.”

43s

#FaithVsProfession

“So for that neurosurgeon, pick a neurosurgeon for, say, doctor so and so, what is in her that is driving her to succeed at such a high level because you are cutting into people's brains? Can you turn that off in other areas of your life? Is there a neurosurgeon out there where she has a deep faith in God and she has this life based around performance as she should? But when it comes to her faith in being a child of God, where is that performance that's so much a part of her professional life?”

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What is the gospel's relationship to performance?

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How can salvation be both gift and task?

Visiting Speaker - Chaplain Troy Ahrens

Devotional

Day 1: Scantron Torn, Grace Born

Day 2: The Gift of a B

Day 3: Surgeons and Sabbath Rest

Day 4: Crumpled Test, Uncrushed Hope

Day 5: The Desire of Ages

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Visiting Speaker - Chaplain Troy Ahrens

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