Chapter 2: The Comeback Season Pt 3 | Rev David Zuniga

Devotional

Day 1: Remembering God’s Promises in Seasons of Confusion

When life feels uncertain, our clarity comes not from new revelations but from recalling what God has already spoken. The disciples at the empty tomb walked away perplexed because they forgot Jesus’ words about His resurrection. Like Mary Magdalene, our breakthrough begins when we choose to dwell on God’s faithfulness rather than our confusion. What He has declared over your life remains true, even when circumstances seem to contradict it. Take time to rehearse His promises today. [08:59]

“And they remembered his words.”
(Luke 24:8, KJV)

Reflection: What specific promise or truth from Scripture have you struggled to hold onto recently? How might intentionally recalling it daily shift your perspective in this season?

Day 2: Identity Rooted in Christ’s Redemption

Your true identity isn’t defined by past failures or others’ opinions, but by Christ’s redeeming work. When Jesus called Mary by name, she recognized Him and her mission. God calls you by name—not by your mistakes—declaring you healed, chosen, and beloved. The enemy seeks to drown this truth in shame, but resurrection power reminds us we’re eternally marked by grace. [19:17]

“Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself and saith unto him, Rabboni.”
(John 20:16, KJV)

Reflection: Where have you been accepting labels (from yourself or others) that contradict how God names you? What practical step can you take this week to affirm your identity in Christ?

Day 3: Silencing Distractions to Hear God’s Voice

The world’s noise often drowns out divine direction. Mary’s clarity came when she tuned out the chaos of the empty tomb and focused on Christ’s voice. Like the angels’ rebuke—“Why seek the living among the dead?”—we’re reminded to fix our attention on life-giving truth, not dead-end doubts. Prioritize moments of stillness to discern God’s whispers over the clamor. [03:17]

“Why seek ye the living among the dead?”
(Luke 24:5, KJV)

Reflection: What distractions (external or internal) most often pull you away from God’s voice? How could creating intentional space for silence this week help you realign with His truth?

Day 4: Trusting God’s Timing Over Personal Plans

Human understanding often resists divine delays. The disciples initially missed the resurrection’s significance because it didn’t align with their expectations. Yet God’s interruptions are always purposeful—like redirecting a soccer contract to fulfill a greater calling. Surrendering our timelines to His sovereignty unlocks unexpected blessings. [14:45]

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
(Jeremiah 29:11, KJV)

Reflection: Where are you clinging to your own timeline or plan? How might God be inviting you to trust His “expected end” even if the path feels unfamiliar?

Day 5: The Transformative Power of Scriptural Memory

Victory in spiritual battles hinges on wielding God’s Word as both sword and shield. Mary’s remembrance of Jesus’ words transformed her grief into gospel proclamation. Regularly revisiting Scripture isn’t about gaining new information but renewing our conviction in eternal truths. Let His words dwell in you richly, becoming your default response to every trial. [28:07]

“I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
(Psalm 139:14, KJV)

Reflection: Which verse or biblical truth could you commit to memorizing this month? How might anchoring your heart to this truth prepare you for future challenges?

Sermon Summary

The gathering opens with praise and a call to remember God’s victory. Scripture from John 20 and Luke 24 frames a single conviction: the difference between confusion and breakthrough often rests not in fresh revelation but in remembered truth. Three witnesses—Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John—stand before the empty tomb; each shares the same sight, but only memory produces revelation. Mary lingers, recalls Jesus’ words, and recognizes him when he calls her name; John and Peter observe and walk away puzzled because they fail to retrieve what had been said.

A personal testimony about a childhood soccer opportunity illustrates how a spoken word preserved in memory redirected a life. A father’s refusal to sign a worldly contract, guided by what he heard from God, became the hinge that opened unexpected doors later. The practice of rehearsing God’s promises transforms seasons of dislocation into stages of purpose. Identity—knowing what one’s name signifies in God’s economy—turns mourning into mission and confusion into clarity.

The congregation receives a practical summons: don’t wait for new weekly insights alone; cultivate a disciplined remembrance. Quiet the loud voices of criticism and distraction, develop resilient “crocodile skin” against slander, and rehearse Psalm 139 and Romans 8 to fix God’s thoughts about each life. God’s thoughts remain numerous and personal; nothing can separate believers from that love. The closing invitation presses a simple spiritual habit: put God in remembrance daily. Recollection of God’s words, rather than constant chasing of novelty, produces the comeback, restores name and mission, and anchors hope amid trials.

Key Takeaways

1. Comeback rests on remembered promises A comeback depends on retrieving earlier revelations rather than acquiring new ones. When memory summons past promises, hope rematerializes and actions align with God’s prior word. Practicing recollection converts confusion at the tomb into the revelation of resurrection. [08:31]
2. Remembering your name unlocks recognition Being called by name restores identity and redirects response. When the voice of the Redeemer names the redeemed, sorrow becomes service and bewilderment becomes purpose. Cultivating awareness of what God calls a person breaks old patterns of shame. [18:33]
3. Comeback needs memory, not novelty Waiting for weekly meetings or fresh signals can become spiritual passivity. Active meditation on scripture and past promises stokes faith in droughts and desert seasons. The habit of remembering makes present crises respond to earlier assurances. [24:28]
4. Silence distractions; cultivate crocodile skin External chatter and inner shame distort calling and delay movement. Building thickened resilience prevents other people’s opinions from redefining divine identity. Practiced boundaries keep attention on God’s voice and advance the work he intends. [26:08]
5. Put God in remembrance daily Regularly rehearsing what God has spoken rewires expectation and primes obedience. Short, intentional acts of remembrance reestablish covenant memory when discouragement arrives. The simple discipline invites God to act on remembered promises. [33:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:52] - Opening Praise and Honor
[01:34] - Series: Your Comeback Season
[01:54] - Scripture Readings (John & Luke)
[04:18] - Prayer and Worship
[05:13] - Everyday Forgetting Illustrated
[08:31] - Remembering vs. Experiencing
[16:04] - Promise and Personal Testimony
[18:33] - Jesus Calls Mary by Name
[26:08] - Silence Wrong Voices; Crocodile Skin
[33:23] - Call: Put Me In Remembrance
[34:48] - Altar Invitation and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
John 20:1-2, 8-16 (ESV)
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”
8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

Observation Questions

What were the different reactions of Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John when they encountered the empty tomb (John 20:1-10)?
In Luke 24:8, what action did the women take after hearing the angels’ message, and how did it affect their response?
How did Jesus’ act of calling Mary by name change her perspective and emotions (John 20:16)? [18:33]

Interpretation Questions

Why might Peter and John have walked away confused despite seeing the same empty tomb as Mary? What role did their failure to “remember” play in their confusion (John 20:9)?
How does the act of remembering God’s past promises transform a person’s ability to recognize His work in the present (Luke 24:8)?
What does the contrast between Mary’s recognition of Jesus and the disciples’ initial confusion reveal about the relationship between identity and spiritual clarity? [19:17]

Application Questions

What is one specific promise or word from God that you need to intentionally remember this week? How could writing it down or rehearsing it daily shift your perspective in a challenging situation? [33:23]
When have external voices (criticism, doubt, or distraction) recently clouded your ability to hear God’s truth? What practical step could you take to “silence” those voices and focus on His voice instead? [26:08]
How might reflecting on your spiritual “name” (e.g., redeemed, chosen, loved) change the way you respond to feelings of shame or failure? Share a time when remembering your identity in Christ redirected your actions.
The sermon emphasized that “comebacks” often hinge on recalling past promises rather than waiting for new revelations. What old journal entry, scripture, or prayer could you revisit this week to reignite hope? [08:31]
In what area of your life do you need to develop “crocodile skin” against negativity or slander? How could memorizing a verse like Romans 8:38-39 strengthen your resilience?

Sermon Clips

The difference between the devil and god isn't that one knows the mistakes you made and the other doesn't. The difference between the devil and god is that the devil knows your name but calls you by your mistake but god knows your mistake but calls you by your name. Is anybody thankful tonight that god can call you by your name and not by your mistake and if god can remember your name it's about time we remember who's for us and I think in the word it says that God's for us and when you start remembering who's for you who can be against you is there somebody who believes that word tonight [00:20:02] (41 seconds)

I want to tell somebody tonight, you are not what you went through. You are not what you tried to find. You are not what others called you. You've been bought with the price but god tonight wants to tell somebody, just remember me. I want you to remember tonight. Just experience me. Don't just experience me, son. Don't just experience me, daughter. But I want you to start remembering because you, when you start remembering, start remembering that the devil is small compared to me. [00:34:25] (41 seconds)

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Chapter 2: The Comeback Season Pt 3 | Rev David Zuniga | New Life St. Louis