Claiming God's Vision: Unity, Wisdom, and Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Ask God for the Nations—Bold Prayer and Vision

God invites His people to ask for big things, even things that seem impossible or beyond their current circumstances. When we pray with faith, believing in His promises, God is able to give us influence and impact far beyond what we can see. Even if we feel small or insignificant, God delights in fulfilling His word and giving us the nations as our inheritance. Let your prayers be bold, not limited by what seems reasonable, but rooted in the greatness of God’s power and His desire to reach the world through His people. [02:44]

Psalm 2:8 (ESV)
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

Reflection: What is one “impossible” thing you can boldly ask God for today—something that would only be possible if He moved in power?

Day 2: United in Christ—Rejecting Division and Rivalry

True unity in the church comes not from following personalities or denominational labels, but from being united in Christ alone. When we allow preferences, traditions, or allegiance to leaders to divide us, we lose sight of the gospel and the power of Christ’s cross. Our identity and allegiance must be rooted in Jesus, not in any human leader or group. Let us honor those who serve, but never elevate anyone or anything above Christ, remembering that we are all part of one body, called to love and serve together. [04:51]

1 Corinthians 1:10-13 (ESV)
I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Reflection: Is there any way you have allowed preferences, traditions, or personalities to divide you from other believers? How can you pursue unity in Christ this week?

Day 3: God’s Wisdom vs. Human Wisdom—Embracing the “Foolishness” of the Cross

God’s ways often seem illogical or even foolish to the world, but His wisdom is far above human understanding. The message of the cross—God becoming human, dying for sinners, and rising again—defies worldly logic, yet it is the very power and wisdom of God for salvation. Instead of relying on our own reasoning or demanding signs, we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when it doesn’t make sense. God delights in using what seems weak or foolish to accomplish His greatest purposes. [22:58]

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (ESV)
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel God is asking you to trust Him beyond what seems logical or reasonable? How can you step out in faith today?

Day 4: Made Alive with Christ—From Death to Life

God’s purpose is not just to make us better people, but to bring us from spiritual death to life through Jesus. When Christ was raised from the dead, we too were made alive with Him, forgiven and set free from our old ways. This new life is not about behavior modification, but about living in the power of His resurrection, walking in righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Let us remember that our transformation is a work of God’s grace, and our boast is in Him alone. [29:41]

Ephesians 2:1, 5 (ESV)
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins… even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to experience the resurrection power of Jesus today? What would it look like to live as someone made alive with Christ?

Day 5: Seeking God’s Wisdom—Walking in Step with the Spirit

God generously offers wisdom to all who ask, not just knowledge, but the ability to live and act according to His ways. True wisdom comes from walking in daily fellowship with God, allowing Him to renew our minds and transform us from the inside out. As we seek His wisdom, we are empowered to discern His will and live in a way that honors Him, even when others may not understand our choices. Let us pursue a deeper relationship with God, asking Him for wisdom and courage to follow where He leads. [31:45]

James 1:5 (ESV)
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Reflection: What is one decision or situation where you need God’s wisdom right now? Will you take time today to ask Him for it and listen for His guidance?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered with expectancy, believing God for something extraordinary, and were reminded that His promises are not limited by our circumstances or our location. Even in a small town like Hamilton, God’s vision is vast—He invites us to ask for the nations as our inheritance, to believe for more than what seems reasonable or possible. We are called to claim our city, our region, and even the world for Christ, not because of our own strength or resources, but because God is faithful to His word and delights in confounding human logic with His divine wisdom.

We explored Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, where he addresses the dangers of division and misplaced allegiance within the church. Paul urges believers to be united in mind and purpose, not rallying around human leaders or denominational labels, but centering our identity and loyalty on Christ alone. The temptation to elevate people, traditions, or even religious symbols above Jesus is a subtle but real threat. Whether it’s venerating Mary, the cross, or denominational pride, these are variables—worthy of honor, perhaps, but never to be confused with the unchanging constant of Christ Himself.

God’s ways often defy human logic. The cross, a symbol of shame and foolishness to the world, is the very means by which God displayed His greatest wisdom and power. The world seeks wisdom and signs, but God chooses what seems weak or foolish to shame the strong and the wise. Our calling is not to boast in our own wisdom or strength, but to boast in the Lord, who brings life where there was death and calls us to walk in His wisdom, not the world’s.

We are challenged to seek God’s wisdom, to renew our minds, and to walk in step with His Spirit. This means letting go of old identities and roles when God calls us forward, even if it’s uncomfortable or misunderstood by others. God is inviting us to believe for things beyond reason, to prepare for growth and impact even when our resources seem small. The vision is not just for a building or a congregation, but for a legacy that will bless generations and bring transformation to our city and beyond. As we pray and plan, we trust that God will build His house, bring in those who need Him, and give us the nations as our inheritance.

Key Takeaways

1. True unity in Christ transcends personalities, traditions, and denominational lines. Our allegiance must be to Jesus alone, not to human leaders or religious camps. When we elevate anyone or anything above Christ, we risk division and lose sight of our true identity as one body in Him. [08:00]
2. God delights in using what the world considers foolish or weak to accomplish His greatest purposes. The cross is the ultimate example: what looked like defeat was actually the victory that brought us life. We must be willing to follow God’s leading, even when it doesn’t make sense to us or to others. [22:58]
3. Our faith is not about behavior modification or outward conformity, but about being made alive in Christ. God’s goal is not to make bad people good, but to bring the dead to life. This resurrection life is accessed by grace, not by our own wisdom or effort, and it calls us to walk in daily fellowship with Him. [29:41]
4. Wisdom from God is available to all who ask, but it requires a willingness to let go of worldly thinking and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Knowledge alone can puff us up, but true wisdom is knowing how to apply God’s truth in our lives, in step with His Spirit. [31:45]
5. God often calls us to prepare and believe for things that seem unreasonable or impossible in the natural. Vision from God will stretch us beyond our comfort zones and resources, but as we step out in faith, He provides what we need and uses our obedience to impact generations. [40:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:35] - Online Campuses and Technical Adjustments
[02:44] - Claiming Hamilton and the Nations
[04:51] - Paul Addresses Division in the Church
[08:00] - Honoring People Without Elevating Them Above Christ
[09:33] - Variables vs. Constants in Faith
[15:16] - Denominational Pride and Unity
[16:21] - Pastoring the City Together
[17:26] - The Message of the Cross and Human Wisdom
[21:31] - God’s Logic vs. Human Logic
[22:58] - The Power and “Foolishness” of the Cross
[28:05] - God Chooses the Lowly and Weak
[29:41] - Resurrection Life and Grace
[31:45] - Seeking God’s Wisdom and Renewing the Mind
[34:58] - Letting Go of Old Roles and Embracing New Seasons
[39:02] - Vision for the Next Generation and Building in Faith
[40:37] - Preparing for Growth Beyond Reason
[42:17] - Worship, Obedience, and Prophetic Declaration
[43:23] - Trusting God’s Provision and Strategy
[44:53] - Praying for Vision and Miraculous Breakthrough
[46:02] - Rejecting Division and Embracing God’s Vision
[46:53] - God Builds the House and Calls in the Nations
[47:54] - Declaring Victory Over the City and Families
[49:58] - Blessing and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 1:10-31 (ESV) — > 10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? ...
> 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ...
> 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Psalm 2:8 (ESV) — > Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

Romans 12:2 (ESV) — > Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Observation Questions

What specific problem does Paul address in the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 1:10-13? How does he describe the divisions?
According to the sermon, what are some examples of things (or people) that Christians sometimes elevate above Jesus? [[08:00]]
What does Paul say about the message of the cross and how it is viewed by the world? [[17:26]]
In Psalm 2:8, what does God invite us to ask for, and how did the pastor apply this verse to the church’s vision? [[02:44]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul is so concerned about people identifying themselves with leaders like Paul, Apollos, or Cephas instead of with Christ? What dangers does this pose for the church? [[04:51]]
The sermon mentions that God often uses what seems foolish or weak to accomplish His purposes. Why might God choose to work this way, and how does this challenge our normal way of thinking? [[22:58]]
The pastor talked about “variables” and “constants” in our faith. What does it mean to make a variable (like a tradition or a person) into a constant, and why is this a problem? [[09:33]]
According to Romans 12:2 and the sermon, what does it look like to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” in practical terms? [[31:45]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenged us to keep our allegiance to Jesus alone, not to leaders, traditions, or denominations. Are there any people, traditions, or “variables” in your life that you tend to elevate above Christ? How can you realign your focus this week? [[08:00]]
The message of the cross doesn’t always make sense to the world. Have you ever felt embarrassed or hesitant to share your faith because it seemed “foolish” to others? How can you find courage to share the gospel anyway? [[22:58]]
The pastor said God’s goal is not to make bad people good, but to bring the dead to life. In what ways have you experienced God’s resurrection life personally? Is there an area where you need to stop trying to “fix yourself” and instead ask God for new life? [[29:41]]
The sermon talked about seeking God’s wisdom and letting go of old ways of thinking. Is there a specific area where you need to ask God for wisdom right now? What would it look like to “renew your mind” in that area? [[31:45]]
The pastor shared a vision for believing God for things that seem unreasonable or impossible—like building for growth before it’s obvious. Is there something in your life or in our church that seems “too big” to believe for? What step of faith could you take this month? [[40:37]]
The message encouraged us to prepare for growth and impact, even when resources seem small. What is one practical way you can prepare for what God might want to do in your life, family, or community? [[43:23]]
The pastor prayed for God to give us the city and the nations as our inheritance. How can you join in praying and acting for the transformation of our city? Is there a specific person or group you feel called to reach out to? [[47:54]]

Sermon Clips

She is a variable. It could have been somebody named Beatrice that gave birth to the Lord. She is a variable. She is the one that God chose, but she's a variable. She gave birth to the Savior. The world so it doesn't matter who that girl was. We honor her, we venerate her, but she did her job and now she's done. She's not a holy one, she's a saint, but like I said last week, you're a saint, so we're all saints. [00:09:55] (33 seconds) #SaintsAllAround

We can honor people but we don't put them in a position. I honor Charlie Kirk because of what he did. I honor him, I respect what he did, it was horrible what happened to him, but it seems like now people are actually putting him in a spot. He was a flawed individual, he was a flawed human, he was honest enough and he was brave enough to make a stand, but we cannot base our Christianity in our life based on him. We have to make it on Jesus. [00:13:46] (36 seconds) #RespectFlawedLeaders

We don't have to place the fact that we still operate in the gifts of the Spirit say we're superior. We are blessed because of that. We have a strength because of that. We wish they would discover that that's actually a benefit, that it's still working today. But they are still just as saved as we are. They're just as saved. I think people are going to be so shocked when they go to heaven and their Baptist neighbor is there. They're going, wait a minute. You was Baptist. You didn't speak in tongues. So? [00:15:46] (35 seconds) #GiftsAreBlessings

Listen, he is so immense that the whole universe cannot contain him, yet he lives in me. Figure that out. He loves me more than he loves anybody else, but then he also loves you more than anybody else. I can't. I don't know. I don't know. He's God. He can do that. He's watching after me. His eye is on me. I'm in the palm of his hand. He's got my name written in the palm of his hand. But he does every person on the planet Earth. All eight plus billion of them. It's not logical. It's not logical. [00:21:16] (50 seconds) #GodLovesImmeasurably

He is the one that gave us the air we breathe. He is the one that formed us in our mother's womb, that knew us when we were in our mother's inward parts. He knew us. He planned for us. He has dreams for us. He rejoices over us with singing. God did this for us. And what he does just seems foolish. It seems foolish and unwise. [00:28:46] (34 seconds) #GodKnowsAndRejoices

There are times when people are not going to understand why you're doing certain things. They want you to stay the way you were because that's comfortable for them. I'm not about their comfort. I'm about doing what God wants me to do. I'm about growing as a person, growing as a child of God, and if I have to get to a place where I don't fit this anymore, so be it. [00:33:10] (25 seconds) #GrowthOverComfort

When God gives them to me, I just have to say it and let the chips fall where they may. We are going to build a facility there that I believe will seat about 250, maybe 300. And it's going to be a beautiful. Why in this neighborhood? Because we're going to make this place a beautiful place. We're going to beautify this part of town. We're going to show what the kingdom of God being established in a place can do. It's to glorify God. It's not for anything. I want to be able to pass on to the next generation. I want to be able to pass on something that they can actually take and run with. [00:40:00] (46 seconds) #FaithfulFoundation

Show them something to believe for that is beyond reason. Give them a word like you did me last night. Ignite their spirit like you did me last night about something in their life. And God, I'll believe with them. We're going to believe together, those that can. We're going to believe together for what you're going to do here. But God, I'm believing with those that are in the building or online for miraculous things you can do in their life. For things that seem beyond reason. [00:44:46] (38 seconds) #BelieveBeyondReason

We are the laborers, but you build the house. Lord says, if we build, the scripture says, if we labor ourselves, then we're laboring in vain, but you build the house and we're gonna go by your plans and your purpose, but you will build this house. [00:47:03] (16 seconds) #GodBuildsTheHouse

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