Doing Good Anyway: Faithfulness Over Comfort

May 10, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Five Loaves and Endowment Seeds

Jesus took five barley loaves, broke them, and fed thousands. The disciples saw scarcity; Jesus saw possibility. Today, a $2,000 goal stands before us like those loaves – small in human hands, multiplied through divine partnership. The same hands that broke bread now invite us to break cycles of scarcity through radical giving. [37:44]

This miracle wasn’t about food logistics but about trusting God with fragments. Our seminary fund mirrors this: $2,000 trains pastors who’ll break Bread of Life for generations. Jesus invests in people, not programs – equipping disciples to nourish nations.

What fragments do you withhold from God’s multiplying hands? Write “seed faith” on a dollar bill today. How might your “not enough” become someone else’s overflow through obedience?

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
(2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to show you one financial commitment to make toward the seminary fund this month.
Challenge: Write “Multiply this” on a $5+ bill and place it in the Miracle Sunday offering.

Day 2: Curveballs and Covenant

A pitcher hurls 100 fastballs, knowing some will become home runs. The Cubs’ 108-year drought taught fans to cheer effort over outcomes. Jesus faced crucifixion knowing many would still strike out spiritually – yet He kept throwing grace. [41:06]

Faithfulness outlives failure. Peter denied Christ three times but became the church’s cornerstone. Our swings at justice, mercy, and truth matter more than our batting averages. Kingdom work isn’t measured in viral moments but in daily obedience.

When did a “strikeout” discourage you from stepping up to the plate? Name one area where you’ll recommit to showing up regardless of visible results.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
(Romans 8:28, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one instance where you valued comfort over commitment.
Challenge: Text one person who’s “struck out” spiritually with the message: “Still on your team.”

Day 3: Scars and Broiled Fish

The resurrected Jesus showed His wounds while eating fish, proving love survives violence. Peter later wrote to persecuted believers: “Keep doing good” – not as a slogan, but as survival strategy. Their scars became seeds. [47:13]

Opposition confirms we’re threatening darkness. The food pantry faces criticism? Good. The blessing box gets vandalized? Plant tomatoes there. Every lettuce leaf given spitefully waters gospel seeds.

What “broiled fish” moment – where joy and pain coexist – have you experienced recently? Where is God inviting you to nourish others while still bearing wounds?

“So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”
(1 Peter 4:19, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for three scars (yours or others’) that birthed ministry.
Challenge: Donate one non-perishable item to the blessing box with a note: “Resurrection tastes like this.”

Day 4: Shopping Bags and Sacred Choice

The food pantry shifted from pre-packed boxes to client choice – honoring dignity over efficiency. Jesus asked the blind man, “What do you want me to do?” He still asks the hungry, “What do you need?” not “Take what I’m serving.” [52:22]

Choice is costly. It demands listening shelves and flexible inventories. Yet it mirrors heaven’s economy where the poor feast first (Luke 14:15-24). Every shopping bag becomes a communion plate when handled with sacred respect.

When have you reduced someone’s needs to your convenience? Visit the pantry this week – not to serve, but to learn names and stories.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”
(Matthew 25:35, NIV)

Prayer: Confess times you’ve prioritized efficiency over empathy in serving.
Challenge: Volunteer one hour at the food pantry, asking three clients: “What’s your favorite meal?”

Day 5: Gloves On, Walls Down

The community garden’s first tomatoes push through clay soil – defiance in red flesh. Peter’s church planted gardens in Roman war zones, their trowels writing sermons no sword could silence. [56:11]

Resurrection isn’t a metaphor but a methodology. Every seed sown, policy challenged, or outcast welcomed declares: “Death loses.” The blessing box’s rusty hinge sings louder than any sermon: “Come hungry. Leave full.”

What dormant “seed” have you kept pocketed for fear of poor soil? Grab gloves and meet us at the garden tomorrow – let’s get dirt under our nails and hope in our lungs.

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
(Micah 6:8, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to uproot one fear preventing you from tangible acts of love.
Challenge: Sign up for one garden workday this month – bring a neighbor.

Sermon Summary

We open by bringing names, needs, and thanksgivings before God, lifting the small and the large together. We claim God present in ordinary life, in healed eyes and in surgeries, in school endings and in medical fights, and we trust that the rains of blessing also teach us to grow. We commit to carry one another’s burdens in community and to ask leaders to seek the common good. We practice generous stewardship so ministry can continue and neighbors can be served.

We name a global need and respond. We join a worldwide offering to fund theological education for seminarians in regions with little access to advanced training. We argue that a small gift now multiplies over time through an endowment and that our local giving partners us to strengthen the global church. We set a clear goal to fund one student for one year and keep returning to that call.

We hold fast to a steady theology of faithfulness rather than comfort. We learn from sports that steady presence matters more than a single win. We keep doing good even when the world resists, because faithfulness shapes character and points us to Christ. We refuse the false promise that faith guarantees ease and instead root our hope in resurrection, which declares cruelty temporary.

We refuse to glorify suffering or treat pain as proof of special favor. We say that suffering often comes from oppressive systems rather than divine delight. We resist any theology that uses suffering to excuse injustice and instead confront the structures that produce pain. Love that costs us invites real risk, and that risk often meets resistance from entrenched powers.

We practice concrete mercy and wide welcome. We place a blessing box for 24 7 access to food, build a food pantry that honors choice, plant gardens that feed and create community, and invite all to the table. We insist that faith moves us toward action, that every act of compassion becomes resistance against despair, and that resurrection grounds our work in hope. We leave convinced to do something small or large now, to step into love, and to be the body that lets God’s love break through.

Key Takeaways

1. Faithfulness matters more than comfort We choose ongoing presence over quick reward. Faith calls us to show up across many days and losses, not to seek applause after a single act. Our steady love forms community and points to Christ more than any one success. [43:41]
2. Suffering does not prove holiness We refuse to equate pain with divine favor. Many wounds reflect broken systems, not spiritual virtue. Naming that truth frees us to seek justice and to comfort rather than to romanticize hurt. [48:32]
3. Acts of mercy resist oppression Every provision and embrace challenges systems that profit from scarcity. Feeding, protecting, and defending others interrupts narratives of fear and scarcity. Mercy becomes a deliberate form of resistance rooted in hope. [50:44]
4. Faith requires practical loving action Belief without movement leaves people unseen and hungry. We turn prayer into work by creating food choice, gardens, and accessible aid. Such actions shape disciples and invite neighbors into dignity. [51:37]
5. Generosity trains global theological leaders A modest gift grows to fund education that equips pastors worldwide. Funding seminarians multiplies through endowment and strengthens whole communities. Our local giving joins a global church to form leaders for tomorrow. [37:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[17:27] - Community prayers and joys
[23:24] - Corporate prayer and thanksgiving
[27:48] - Giving and church support
[35:13] - Miracle Sunday explained
[40:41] - Faithfulness over comfort
[48:32] - Suffering and its meaning
[50:44] - Compassion as resistance
[51:37] - Practical care ministries
[54:16] - Call to action and discipleship
[58:13] - Communion and forgiveness
[64:15] - Lord’s Prayer and benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
- 1 Peter 3:13-17 (ESV): "Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil."
- Romans 8:28 (ESV): "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (ESV): "For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes."

Observation Questions

In 1 Peter 3:13-17, what does the passage say about the relationship between suffering and doing good? How does this connect to the sermon’s claim that "suffering does not prove holiness" but often reflects broken systems? [48:32]
The sermon emphasizes that "faithfulness matters more than comfort." What examples from daily life or sports does the pastor use to illustrate this idea? [41:06]
According to the sermon, how does the blessing box and food pantry model reflect the principle that "acts of mercy resist oppression"? [51:37]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Peter link suffering for doing good to honoring Christ as Lord (1 Peter 3:15)? How might this challenge the assumption that faithfulness should lead to comfort or approval?
The sermon argues that "resurrection grounds our work in hope." How does the practice of Communion (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) connect to both remembering Jesus’ suffering and sustaining hope for justice?
Romans 8:28 says all things work together for good for those who love God. How does this differ from the "prosperity gospel" idea criticized in the sermon? [44:18]

Application Questions

The sermon says, "Faithfulness is about showing up across many days, not seeking applause after a single act." What is one small, daily act of love or justice you can commit to this week, even if no one notices?
The pastor challenges the idea that suffering is a sign of divine favor. Where have you seen suffering in your community that stems from broken systems rather than personal failure? How could you advocate for change? [50:02]
The blessing box and food pantry prioritize dignity and choice. What is one practical way your group could make generosity more accessible or respectful in your neighborhood?
The sermon urges "stepping into love even when it’s risky." What relationship, conversation, or action have you avoided because of fear? How might you move toward it this week?
The global offering for seminarians aims to multiply impact over time. How could your group creatively contribute to a cause that invests in long-term change, even if the results aren’t immediate? [38:14]

Sermon Clips

69s

#LoveTransforms

“Yes, love still matters. Yes, compassion still matters. Yes, justice still matters because resurrection has already declared that cruelty does not get the final word. It's a crossroads. Today, how are we doing good anyway? How are we stepping in to love anyway, to show up anyway, to tell the truth anyway, to protect the vulnerable anyway, to refuse criticism anyway, to build a community anyway. Because the goal of our faith is not and it never has been comfort. The goal is transformation. And not just our transformation, but to transform the world, to transform where we live, to transform everything around us.”

73s

#BeliefIntoAction

“If our beliefs do not move us toward people, then they are not moving us toward Jesus. Peter reminds the church that you're not alone in the struggle, that believers every know, everywhere know what it feels like to grow weary. And y'all sometimes I'm so weary that I'm just not sure what to do next. I'm overcome with not knowing what to do or how to do it or even what even to think about doing. Much less actually moving my feet and hands to do it. And yet, if love still matters and it does, we are called to do something. Goodness can survive in this harsh world. And the answer of the gospel tells us that.”

55s

#FaithOverComfort

“But Peter reminds us that the church in the church that doing good does not always lead to comfort. But it's always gonna lead us to Christ. That and that matters because suffering itself is not a holy act. Pain is not proof of faithfulness. God does not delight in people hurting. Jesus did not suffer because god wanted violence to come and cause Jesus to suffer. Jesus suffered because love threatened the empire. Jesus suffered because systems built on inclusion, on exclusion, because systems built on exclusion always resist liberation.”

61s

#BecomingLikeJesus

“The goal has always been about becoming people who look so much like Jesus that even a world addicted to fear and division Even in that world, god's love breaks through. God's love breaks through through us. God's love breaks through in our actions. God's love breaks through in how we step in to do something. In the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Amen.”

50s

#ResistedForGood

“and the powers of the world pushed back on that. They pushed out back hard like kill you kinda hard. And in our scripture, Peter writes to people who were exhausted from living faithfully in a world that re rewarded cruelty more than compassion. And his words, I think, are still incredibly relevant relevant for us today. They hit home because we know what it feels like to do good and face resistance. At least I hope we know what it feels like to do good. Because if we're doing good in the world today, there's a good chance that somebody is pushing back on that.”

40s

#KeepShowingUp

“And you just keep stepping up to the plate. You just keep taking the field. You just keep believing that something good is gonna happen, that it's still possible. And until you're mathematically eliminated from the season, you still have a chance. And I think maybe Peter is trying to tell the church the same thing. Following Jesus isn't about comfort. It's about faithfulness. It's about continuing to do good even when the world is pushing back. Because doing good doesn't always lead to comfort.”

49s

#CollectiveGoodWork

“Not that we get all this good stuff, but that everything that is happening to us works into something good. That doesn't mean that we get to coast. It doesn't mean that we get to prosper. It means that all of it comes together to make this collective good thing. I mean, we want to hold on to this idea that if we do the right thing, people will applaud us. And wouldn't that be nice, y'all? Wouldn't that be nice that we would do this one good thing and everybody would be like, look how good you did.”

54s

#FaithIsPersistence

“because sometimes You do this whole loving thing, right? We love on somebody, and you still get criticized. Sometimes you tell the truth, and people still get angry. Sometimes you stand up for the vulnerable, and instead of getting applause, you get resistance. Sometimes doing good doesn't lead to comfort at all. But that's where baseball players know that showing up every day for a 162 games of the year is about faithfulness. It's about continuing to show up. It's more than one inning. It's more than one play. It's more than one loss.”

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Doing Good Anyway: Faithfulness Over Comfort

Devotional

Day 1: Five Loaves and Endowment Seeds

Day 2: Curveballs and Covenant

Day 3: Scars and Broiled Fish

Day 4: Shopping Bags and Sacred Choice

Day 5: Gloves On, Walls Down

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Doing Good Anyway: Faithfulness Over Comfort

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