Doing Good Because It Is Good: Encouragement to Persevere

Devotional

Day 1: Do Not Grow Weary in Doing Good

There are seasons when doing the right thing feels exhausting, especially when results are slow or invisible, and discouragement creeps in. Yet, the call remains: do not grow weary in doing good, for in God’s timing, a harvest will come. This is not about instant gratification or visible success, but about faithfulness to what is good, trusting that God sees and honors perseverance. Even when the world rewards shortcuts or celebrates the pragmatic, the people of God are invited to keep sowing seeds of goodness, knowing that their labor is not in vain. [12:47]

Galatians 6:7-10 (ESV)
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to give up on doing good because you don’t see immediate results? Ask God for renewed courage to persevere in that area today.

Day 2: The Kingdom of God Is Not Pragmatic

The world often values what is efficient, productive, and results-driven, but the kingdom of God operates on a different logic—one that values right relationships, virtue, and beauty, even when they don’t produce immediate or measurable outcomes. God’s kingdom is not a system for maximizing output, but a network of relationships rooted in love, patience, and kindness. You are invited to resist the pressure to measure your worth or your actions by worldly standards, and instead to align your life with the values of God’s kingdom, trusting that goodness is worth pursuing for its own sake. [11:24]

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel pressured to be “pragmatic” rather than faithful to God’s values? What would it look like to choose the kingdom way today?

Day 3: Encouragement Flows in Community

Encouragement is a rare and precious gift in a world that often drains our courage and energy. God’s design for the church is that it would be a place where encouragement flows freely, where people speak life into one another, carry each other’s burdens, and pour courage into weary hearts. This is not just a nice idea, but a core practice that sustains us in the long journey of faith. When you encourage others, you participate in God’s work of building up the body and helping each person persevere in doing good. [28:17]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: Who in your church family or community needs encouragement today? How can you intentionally speak life and courage into them this week?

Day 4: The Mindset of Christ: Serving, Not Self-Advantage

Jesus, though fully God, chose the path of humility, servanthood, and obedience—even to the point of death on a cross. He did not use his power for his own advantage, but gave himself for others, modeling a radically different way of living. You are called to have this same mindset: to look for ways to serve rather than be served, to be a giver rather than a taker, trusting that God will provide for your needs as you pour yourself out for others. [32:33]

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can serve someone today, putting their needs ahead of your own, in the spirit of Christ?

Day 5: New Creation Is Happening—Don’t Give Up

Even when progress seems slow or invisible, God is at work bringing new creation to life in and through his people. Every act of faithfulness, every moment of encouragement, every step toward right relationship is a sign that God’s kingdom is breaking in. You may not always see the fruit immediately, but your labor in the Lord is not wasted. Keep going, keep sowing, keep loving—because new creation is happening, and your perseverance matters more than you know. [24:36]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: Where do you see small signs of new creation in your life or community? How can you celebrate and nurture those signs today, even if they seem small?

Sermon Summary

This morning, I shared some important updates about our church’s journey and the sense that we are on the threshold of a new adventure. After many years in our current theater space, we are discerning whether it’s time to seek a new, more permanent home—one that better reflects our values and allows us to serve our community in deeper, more creative ways. There’s a growing openness in our city, and we’ve had more promising conversations in the last two months than in the previous seven years. As we move forward, I’m inviting everyone to pray with us for wisdom, opportunity, and the right space at the right price.

As we enter Thanksgiving week, I’m reminded of God’s faithfulness to our community—how He has preserved, protected, and used us to bless Davis. This gratitude sets the stage for our reflection on Galatians 6:7-10, where Paul urges us not to grow weary in doing good. In a world obsessed with results and pragmatism, it’s easy to question whether doing the right thing is worth it, especially when bad behavior often seems to be rewarded. Our culture’s fixation on “what works” can erode our confidence in goodness for its own sake.

But the kingdom of God is not a results-driven system. It’s a network of right relationships, rooted in the intrinsic value of every person as an image-bearer of God. Goodness is worth pursuing, not because it always yields immediate results, but because it is good. Paul’s metaphor of sowing and reaping is not a formula for guaranteed success or a Christianized version of karma. Instead, it’s a call to steward our energies toward shalom—toward life, flourishing, and the beauty of God’s kingdom.

We are called to do good to all people, especially within the family of believers, but also beyond. Yet, we all know how discouragement can sap our courage. That’s why encouragement—literally, putting courage into one another—is so vital. Whether you’re a parent, a student, someone working for change, or simply trying to follow Jesus in a challenging world, don’t give up. New creation is happening, even when we can’t see it right away. The cross itself is the ultimate paradox: seemingly inefficient and unpragmatic, yet it is through Christ’s self-giving love that redemption and abundant life are made possible.

Let’s be a community where encouragement flows freely, where we carry each other’s burdens, and where we keep doing good—not because it’s easy or immediately rewarding, but because it’s the way of Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. Goodness is worth pursuing for its own sake In a culture obsessed with results, it’s easy to lose sight of the intrinsic value of doing good. The kingdom of God calls us to pursue goodness not for immediate payoff, but because it reflects God’s character and brings shalom. Even when results are delayed or unseen, faithfulness in doing good shapes us and our community into the likeness of Christ. [12:47]
2. Resist the spirit of pragmatism Pragmatism tempts us to measure everything by what “works” or what brings more—more followers, more money, more influence. But the gospel is not about maximizing results; it’s about right relationships and sacrificial love. When we resist pragmatism, we open ourselves to the slow, sometimes hidden work of God, trusting that His ways are higher than ours. [09:45]
3. Encouragement is a spiritual necessity Discouragement is inevitable in a broken world, and it can drain us of the courage needed to persevere in goodness. True encouragement is more than kind words; it’s the act of pouring courage into one another so we can keep going. A community marked by encouragement becomes a place where people are sustained and empowered to live out the gospel. [28:17]
4. The cross redefines what is “effective” Jesus’ life and death were not pragmatic by worldly standards—thirty years of obscurity, a servant’s posture, and a humiliating death. Yet, through this apparent inefficiency, God accomplished redemption and new creation. The cross invites us to trust that God’s power is made perfect in weakness and that true fruitfulness often comes through costly faithfulness. [30:47]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:21] - Health and Space Updates
[01:36] - Why Consider a New Space
[02:55] - Vision for Community Hub
[04:08] - Openness in the City
[04:57] - Invitation to Pray
[05:52] - Thanksgiving and Gratitude
[07:21] - Prayer for Courage
[08:12] - Is Doing Good Worth It?
[09:45] - The Sin of Pragmatism
[11:24] - The Kingdom’s Non-Pragmatic Nature
[12:47] - Don’t Grow Weary in Doing Good
[14:25] - Stewarding Our Energies
[16:22] - False Gospels and True Gospel
[18:53] - The Relational Kingdom
[20:07] - The Timing of the Harvest
[21:17] - Doing Good to All People
[22:24] - The Practice of Encouragement
[24:36] - Encouragement for Parents
[25:55] - Encouragement for Students
[27:58] - Carrying Each Other’s Burdens
[29:26] - The Paradox of the Cross
[31:35] - Embracing the Challenge
[32:33] - The Mindset of Christ
[33:49] - Prayer for Courage and Encouragement

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

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### Bible Reading

Galatians 6:7-10 (ESV)
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

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### Observation Questions

In Galatians 6:7-10, what does Paul say will happen to those who “sow to please the flesh” versus those who “sow to please the Spirit”?
According to the sermon, what are some examples of “pragmatism” that can distract us from doing good for its own sake? [09:45]
What does Paul mean when he says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”?
How does Philippians 2:5-8 describe the mindset and actions of Jesus, and how is this contrasted with a results-driven or pragmatic approach? [32:33]

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### Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul warn against growing weary in doing good? What are some reasons people might feel discouraged or tempted to give up? [21:48]
The sermon says, “The kingdom of God is not a results-producing system. It is a network of right relationships.” What does this mean for how we measure success as a church or as individuals? [11:24]
How does the example of Jesus’ life and death challenge our ideas of what is “effective” or “successful”? [30:47]
The sermon talks about encouragement as “putting courage into one another.” Why is this kind of encouragement necessary for following Jesus, especially when results are slow or unseen? [28:17]

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### Application Questions

The sermon mentioned that our church is discerning whether to move into a new space and invited everyone to pray for wisdom and opportunity. How can you personally participate in this process—either through prayer, encouragement, or practical help? [05:52]
Think about an area of your life where you are tempted to focus on “what works” or “what gets results” rather than what is good or right. What would it look like to resist pragmatism in that area this week? [09:45]
Is there a situation where you have grown weary in doing good—maybe as a parent, student, friend, or coworker? What is one step you could take to keep going, even if you don’t see immediate results? [25:01]
The sermon says, “Goodness is worth pursuing for its own sake.” Can you name a recent time when you did the right thing, even though it didn’t seem to pay off? How did that experience shape you? [12:47]
Who in your life needs encouragement right now? What is one specific way you can “put courage into” that person this week—through words, actions, or presence? [28:17]
The cross is described as “seemingly inefficient and unpragmatic, yet it is through Christ’s self-giving love that redemption and abundant life are made possible.” How does this truth affect the way you think about your own sacrifices or acts of service? [30:47]
Our church wants to be a place “where encouragement flows freely, where we carry each other’s burdens.” What is one practical thing you can do this week to help make that vision a reality in our community? [29:05]

Sermon Clips

Because it is, I think, going to take a movement of God for us to get into the right space at the right price in the right part of our city. And so right now, we are asking you to pray with us. Pray for wisdom. Pray for opportunities. Again, pray for the right space at the right price. Let's pray. Let's pray. Let's pray. Let's pray like crazy and see what happens. [00:05:27] (29 seconds) #FollowJesusToTheCross

On top of that, there are things that are worth doing even if they don't produce a result. There are things that are worth doing even if they don't produce a result. I think this is actually one of the most countercultural ideas, one of the most countercultural statements that you can make today. That something is worth doing even if it doesn't give you an immediate result. But there are things like virtue, beauty. A couple weeks ago, we talked about the fruits of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness. The kingdom of God is not pragmatic. [00:10:45] (48 seconds) #WorthDoingWithoutResults

The kingdom of God is not a results-producing system. It is a network of right relationships. God, us, the rest of creation. Right relationships are built on the value of human beings. Human beings who have infinite and intrinsic value because you are created in the image of God. We need to regain the moral vision, the moral clarity that good is worth doing because it is good. Good is worth doing because it is good, even if it doesn't produce a result, an immediate result. And I think that word immediate is very important for us in 2025, almost 2026. [00:11:33] (60 seconds) #KingdomOfRightRelationships

Let the vision of the beauty of the kingdom of God lead you and drive you. The kingdom of God, which breaks down barriers and heals divisions, doesn't add things, extra hoops for you to jump through. It removes the barriers and the divisions. Let that vision guide you. Paul is saying all throughout this letter. He's been arguing against the pragmatic and for the cross. The goal, in Paul's mind, the goal is not to get results. The goal is to follow Jesus to the cross. [00:18:42] (41 seconds) #DoGoodToAllPeople

Paul is saying all throughout this letter. He's been arguing against the pragmatic and for the cross. The goal, in Paul's mind, the goal is not to get results. The goal is to follow Jesus to the cross. And the reality is, that's not an easy thing to do. This is going to be hard, which is why Paul says right here in the middle of this closing section, let us not become weary in doing good. It is going to be hard. You are going to get weary, but don't give up. For at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. [00:18:57] (65 seconds) #DoGoodDontGiveUp

Now, there's some good news, right? Now, Paul's vague here about the time frame. This might be a year from now. It might be a hundred years from now. It might not be until Jesus returns, but it will happen. The point is not the timing, which I think is, again, very hard for us. We want to see it immediately, right? The quicker, the better. The point is not the timing. The point is it will happen. But again, that's also not why we do good. We do good because it is good to do good. Are you with me? [00:20:07] (45 seconds) #TimingIsNotThePoint

We do good because it is good to do good. Are you with me? Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Now, sometimes this gets read as only do good to Christians. Read it carefully. Paul says all people, right? And all people means all people. Now, there is a high calling here to care for one another, to care for each other within the church. If you go back to verse 2, carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. But we are called to do good to all people. [00:20:42] (52 seconds) #CourageSpokenIntoYou

May encouragement flow in this community. I don't know about you. Maybe you have noticed this, too. Encouragement does not flow in very many places. And so my prayer, my prayer for us, my prayer for discovery is that we are known as a people and a place of encouragement. That to be here, to be a part of this family is to be around people who are going to speak life, pour life, who are going to literally put courage into each other. [00:28:12] (38 seconds)

Now, as we get ready to take communion, I'll invite the band to come back up here. The cross is this beautiful and mysterious paradox for a whole bunch of reasons. We're not going to get into all of them right now. But one of them is that it's both the least and the most pragmatic moment in history. Think about it for just a second. God comes to earth as a baby, a human baby, not very efficient, spends 30 years making chairs or whatever, hanging out. Think about that. I mean, like, just think about Jesus at 19. What was God doing? [00:29:26] (53 seconds) #SpeakLifePourLife

``There's a world to save. Jesus spends 30 very inefficient, very non-pragmatic years hanging out and then steps into ministry, teaches us about the kingdom of God, this beautiful vision of what the kingdom of God is, and tells us that it's here right now, that it's among us. All we need to do is turn and repent and jump in. And then he dies on the cross. God dies on a cross. Not very pragmatic. And yet, and yet, it is this death that gets the result, that produces everlasting life, that opens up the possibility for abundant life, for redemption, for right relationship to be restored. [00:30:18] (61 seconds) #CrossIsCounterintuitive

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