Embracing Faith, Community, and the Power of Waiting
Summary
Today, we gathered as a community to witness the profound work of God in our midst—celebrating baptisms, dedicating children, and reflecting on the privilege and responsibility of being entrusted with the next generation. Each baptism is a moment of eternal significance, as meaningful as the baptism of Christ himself, because it represents a life surrendered to Jesus and a public declaration of faith. We are reminded that God’s plans for each person are perfect, and our role as parents, family, and church is to create an environment where those plans can flourish. Parenting is not about imposing our will, but about discovering and nurturing the unique way God has designed each child.
We also considered the importance of community, both in the family and the church. God has always existed in community—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and He calls us to live in community as well. The church is not just a place to gather, but a refuge and a support system, especially for our children. This privilege comes with the responsibility to invest our time, resources, and prayers to ensure that every child and family is supported and led toward Christ.
Generosity was likened to a life vest—something that protects and sustains us. Just as a life jacket is essential for safety on the water, generosity toward God is essential for spiritual protection and blessing. It’s not about the amount, but about the heart of obedience and trust in God’s promises.
Turning to the story of Joseph of Arimathea, we explored the theme of waiting. Waiting is not passive; it is an active, expectant posture. Joseph waited for the kingdom of God, just as many others did, but he waited differently—surrendering his expectations to God’s sovereignty. We often find ourselves in seasons of waiting, whether for healing, restoration, or fulfillment of God’s promises. The challenge is not to lower our expectations out of fear of disappointment, but to surrender them, trusting that God’s eventual answer will far exceed what we could imagine.
While we wait, we are called to pray as Jesus taught us: seeking God’s will, asking for daily provision, extending forgiveness, and relying on His protection. Our waiting is not wasted; it is preparation for the moment God has ordained. The ultimate hope is in Christ’s return, and until then, we live in the tension between the “already” and the “not yet,” trusting that God’s timing and ways are perfect.
Key Takeaways
- Every act of faith—whether baptism, parenting, or generosity—is a response to God’s initiative and trust in us. We are stewards of the lives and resources God has given, called to create environments where His purposes can be realized, not by controlling outcomes but by nurturing what He has planted. [15:42]
- Waiting is not a passive activity but an active, expectant posture. Like Joseph of Arimathea, we are called to wait with anticipation, surrendering our expectations to God’s sovereignty rather than lowering them to avoid disappointment. This surrender positions us to receive something far greater than we could have planned. [49:43]
- The tension between the “already” and the “not yet” is where much of our spiritual growth happens. God often gives partial fulfillments as a foretaste of what is to come, and our challenge is to remain faithful and hopeful, even when the immediate does not match our expectations. [58:05]
- Generosity is a spiritual safeguard, much like a life vest. When we give to God, we are not just supporting ministry—we are participating in God’s protective and productive work in our own lives, obligating ourselves to His promises and experiencing the security that comes from obedience. [41:31]
- Prayer is the essential practice for those in seasons of waiting. Jesus teaches us to pray not just for ourselves, but in community, seeking God’s will above our own, asking for daily sustenance, and extending forgiveness. This kind of prayer transforms our waiting from anxiety to trust, and from isolation to shared hope. [01:13:29]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[12:49] - Celebrating Baptisms
[15:42] - Child Dedications and Parenting as Stewardship
[33:42] - The Role of Community and Church Commitment
[35:43] - Our Responsibility to the Next Generation
[40:54] - The Life Vest of Generosity
[41:31] - The Protective Power of Giving
[46:52] - Introducing Joseph of Arimathea
[49:43] - The Challenge and Gift of Waiting
[53:25] - Joseph’s Expectant Waiting
[56:10] - Surrendering Expectations to God
[58:05] - Living in the “Already” and “Not Yet”
[01:01:58] - Stewardship of Resources and Readiness
[01:13:29] - How to Wait: The Lord’s Prayer
[01:21:40] - Closing Blessing and Dismissal
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Living in the Tension of Waiting, Stewardship, and Generosity
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### Bible Reading
1. Mark 15:42-43
*It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.*
2. Matthew 6:9-13 (The Lord’s Prayer)
*“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’”*
3. Proverbs 22:6
*Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.*
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Mark 15:43, what was Joseph of Arimathea waiting for, and how did he act on his faith?
2. In the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), what are the main things Jesus teaches us to pray for while we wait for God’s kingdom?
3. The sermon described generosity as a “life vest.” What does that metaphor suggest about the role of giving in the Christian life? [[41:31]]
4. What does Proverbs 22:6 say about the responsibility of parents and the community toward children?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon said, “Waiting is not a passive activity but an active, expectant posture.” What does it mean to wait expectantly, and how is that different from just being patient? [[49:43]]
2. How does surrendering our expectations to God’s sovereignty (like Joseph of Arimathea did) change the way we experience disappointment or uncertainty? [[56:10]]
3. The message compared generosity to a life vest, saying it “protects and sustains us.” In what ways can giving to God actually provide spiritual protection or blessing? [[41:31]]
4. Why is community—both family and church—so important in helping the next generation discover God’s plans for their lives? [[33:42]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon challenged us not to lower our expectations out of fear of disappointment, but to surrender them to God. Is there an area in your life where you’ve been tempted to lower your expectations? What would it look like to surrender them instead? [[49:43]]
2. Think about a season of waiting you are currently in (for healing, restoration, direction, etc.). How can you actively “wait on your tiptoes” with expectancy, rather than just passively waiting? [[53:25]]
3. The message said, “Parenting is about discovery, not determination.” If you are a parent, grandparent, or mentor, what is one way you can better nurture the unique way God has designed a child in your life this week? [[15:42]]
4. The church was described as a “refuge and a support system.” What is one practical way you can invest your time, resources, or prayers to support a child or family in our church community? [[35:43]]
5. Generosity was called a “life vest.” Are there any areas where you are holding back from giving—whether time, money, or talents—because of fear or uncertainty? What step could you take this week to trust God more with your resources? [[41:31]]
6. The Lord’s Prayer teaches us to pray for daily needs, forgiveness, and protection. Which part of this prayer do you find hardest to pray honestly, and why? How could praying this way change your attitude while you wait? [[01:13:29]]
7. The sermon said, “Our waiting is not wasted; it is preparation for the moment God has ordained.” Looking back, can you see a time when a season of waiting prepared you for something God had planned? How does that encourage you in your current waiting? [[59:28]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to pray for one another’s seasons of waiting, for the next generation, and for hearts of generosity and surrender.
Devotional
Day 1: Surrendering Expectations to God's Sovereignty
True waiting means surrendering our expectations to God's greater plan, trusting that His timing and ways are always better than what we could imagine. Joseph of Arimathea, like many others, waited for the kingdom of God with great anticipation, but when the moment came, it looked nothing like what he or his peers expected. Instead of lowering his hopes to avoid disappointment, Joseph surrendered his expectations, allowing God to surprise him with something far greater than he could have planned. In our own lives, we are called not to minimize our hopes but to lay them at God's feet, believing that His sovereign arrival will always be for our best—even if it doesn't match our plans. [50:48]
Mark 15:42-43 (ESV)
"And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus."
Reflection: What is one expectation you are holding tightly to right now? Can you pray today to surrender it fully to God, trusting that His plan is better than your own?
Day 2: Waiting Is Not Wasting—God Prepares Us in the In-Between
The time we spend waiting is not wasted; God uses it to prepare, position, and shape us for the moments He has ordained. Joseph’s years of study, moral living, and even his prosperity were not for nothing—they positioned him for a pivotal role in God’s story, even if it was only for a brief moment. In the same way, the work, learning, and faithfulness you invest today may be preparing you for a purpose you cannot yet see. Don’t despise the season of waiting; instead, trust that God is using every moment to ready you for what’s next. [01:00:46]
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."
Reflection: How might God be using your current season of waiting to prepare you for something greater? What is one way you can be faithful in the “in-between” today?
Day 3: The Danger of Rigid Expectations
Rigidly clinging to our own expectations can blind us to the ways God is moving right in front of us. The Pharisees missed the arrival of the Messiah because Jesus didn’t fit their preconceived ideas of what God’s deliverance should look like. Instead of being open to God’s surprising work, they became frustrated and even hostile, refusing to surrender their expectations. We are warned not to fall into the same trap; instead, we are called to humbly submit our hopes to God, remaining open to His greater and often unexpected blessings. [01:08:03]
Matthew 12:25-28 (ESV)
"Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, 'Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.'"
Reflection: Where have you become rigid in your expectations of how God should act? Ask God to help you release those expectations and open your heart to His surprising work.
Day 4: Living Between the Already and the Not Yet
We live in the tension between what God has already done and what He has yet to fulfill, called to wait expectantly and act faithfully in the meantime. Like Israel waiting for the Messiah, and now the church waiting for Christ’s return, we are invited to trust that God’s promises will be fulfilled in His perfect timing. Our role is not to passively wait, but to actively seek God, pray, and live out His will in the present, knowing that the ultimate fulfillment is coming. [01:12:19]
John 1:14 (ESV)
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Reflection: What is one way you can live faithfully “between the already and the not yet” today, trusting in God’s promises even as you wait for their fulfillment?
Day 5: How to Wait Well—Praying for God’s Will and Daily Provision
Jesus teaches us to wait well by praying for God’s will to be done, seeking His kingdom, and relying on Him for daily needs and forgiveness. In the Lord’s Prayer, we are reminded to focus not just on what we are waiting for, but on who we are waiting on—our loving Father. As we wait, we are called to pray for His kingdom to come, His will to be done, and for the grace to forgive and be forgiven. This posture of prayerful dependence transforms our waiting from anxious striving to peaceful trust, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. [01:17:01]
Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)
"Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'"
Reflection: As you pray today, what is one area where you need to ask for God’s will, daily provision, or forgiveness while you wait? How can you make this a daily habit in your waiting?
Quotes
And now you know who he is. He's no longer your God, he's your Father. And that changes our attitude completely. And we know where he is. We know who he is. For there is nothing impossible with God. He is holy. He is almighty. When we surrender to him. we're not losing we're winning he is the powerful god of heaven and earth who created everything from nothing through the power of his spoken word immediately explosively and dynamically when he said let there be light it was everywhere and all we're waiting on is a spoken word all we're waiting on is the breath of his lips and your life will change in the immediate don't forget who you're waiting on don't just focus on what you're waiting for focus on who you're waiting on [01:16:36] (72 seconds)
And what we wait for now is the second coming. And here's a radical difference. If you're in Christ and Christ is in you, you can't miss it. You cannot miss the second coming. In fact, if you're not in Christ, you won't miss it. You'll have a very different experience, but you won't miss it. You'll know exactly when he gets here that what you did miss is your opportunity in between the already and the not yet to alter your eternity. So the first coming, some missed it, some got it. The next one, nobody misses it. [01:11:55] (45 seconds)
And what do we ultimately want we want his kingdom to come into our lives immediately his way his principles his plan that's what i want i want your kingdom here i want your will to be done boy that's hard right like christ in the garden of gethsemane father remove this cup from me but your will not mine when we surrender our expectations we really reach a point where it's i only want what you want i want your will to be done here's the truth his will is going to be done it's just a matter of how we receive it when it gets done i want it done here as it is in heaven [01:17:47] (43 seconds)
If you accept that the time you're waiting is not wasting time. We surrender this season to God's sovereignty. He knows what he's doing. The moment is going to come. It is not going to be delayed. He's in control. He's the alpha and the omega. He's in control of everything. It's going to come exactly when it's supposed to come. [00:59:56] (20 seconds)
And we also know while we wait we're not perfect so would you forgive me my trespasses because you know what it's happening i'm not waiting really good in that kroger line i'm not waiting really good in kroger you extrapolate that into the more profound experiences of life let's just all be honest we don't wait well please and i know what father i know why people i need to forgive people too because they're just not waiting well you know if i had everything i need i wouldn't have to pray right and i know i listen forgive me because i'm not waiting well but i gotta be human enough to say i know why they're not doing great because they're not waiting well [01:19:19] (47 seconds)
Don't put down what God has you doing right now while you wait for what he's going to do next. Keep grinding. You have no idea what he's going to do with that. He literally put himself in a position. So whatever it is you're doing while you're waiting, keep doing. Because you just don't know what God's going to do. [01:01:02] (21 seconds)
Because you know what would be more painful than God's experience being not exactly what you expected? You being disqualified because of poor choices when it arrives. Like, it's one thing to be like, well, it's not what I expected, versus I'm just not even eligible. Ooh. Mm. That's, that's painful. That kind of regret will last you the rest of your life. It really will. [01:03:11] (31 seconds)
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