FAITH, CONFIDENCE, BOLDNESS (The Story of Us) - Pt.2 | Rise of the Remnant - Series | Pastor K. Mays

Reimagine Church moves from celebration into a season of intentional advance, pressing a call to become disciples who make disciples. The congregation is invited to answer three foundational questions—who are they, what are they, and why they exist—as a way to clarify identity, mission, and the unique contribution this local body will make in the Mohawk Valley. Emphasis lands on biblical formation: producing disciples who are biblically literate and spiritually mature, then sending those disciples into the “seven mountains” of culture (religion, education, government, media, arts and entertainment, business, and more) so the kingdom penetrates public life.

Using the Epistle to Philemon as a living parable, the narrative of Onesimus illustrates the hard work of reconciliation. A runaway slave becomes a believer under Paul’s care, and by faith chooses to return to his former master to seek restoration. That return models the costly obedience required to resolve unresolved conflict—between people, and between people and God—before a fuller season of blessing and expansion can occur. Historical tradition even suggests Onesimus later rose to church leadership, underscoring how restoration unlocks destiny.

A prophetic word frames 2026 as a year of replication and multiplication: intentional disciple-making that reproduces itself across families, neighborhoods, and workplaces. Practical exhortation urges the church to burn the ships of retreat—no plan B—committing fully to God’s plan A. Courage, faith, and confidence are named as necessary virtues for a small church stepping into tasks that will look too big, requiring dependence on God rather than on comfortable familiarity.

The pastor combines pastoral urgency with pastoral compassion: the call to confront personal and communal unresolved conflicts, to prioritize loving God and loving people as inseparable, and to prepare for “big asks” that will require risk, sacrifice, and tenacity. Operational next steps are offered—upcoming Bible study, membership class, and community events—so the congregation can move from conviction to concrete action. The message closes with a mobilizing charge: the harvest is ripe, the land is ready, and the remnant must rise with faith, confidence, and boldness to possess what God has prepared for the Mohawk Valley.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith requires active, costly return Returning to confrontation or broken relationships is not passive remorse but a deliberate act of obedience that risks rejection. Onesimus’s journey back to Philemon models the discipline of returning to make amends as a crucible for spiritual maturity; such returns often precede deeper usefulness in God’s economy. Choosing to go back can reorient identity from fugitive to brother, unlocking both personal healing and communal fruitfulness. [59:49]
• 2. Reconciliation precedes expansion Unresolved conflict is a structural barrier to future blessing; spiritual outpourings and organizational growth will stall until relational ruptures are addressed. The text argues that God’s promise of multiplication is conditioned by the church’s willingness to confess, forgive, and restore—because unity refines witness and releases leadership. Restoration is therefore not merely ethical repair but strategic preparation for greater mission. [41:39]
• 3. Train disciples; influence culture Discipleship must produce biblically literate, spiritually robust followers equipped to enter the seven mountains of culture. The call is twofold: gather and ground people in Scripture, then send them into education, government, media, arts, business, and beyond to exert kingdom influence. Cultural transformation is incremental and requires both theological depth and thoughtful marketplace engagement. [31:07]
• 4. Burn the ships; commit to Plan A Half-measures and safety nets dilute vocation; true movement often demands total commitment without a plan B. The exhortation to “burn the ships” is a theological posture: risk dependence on God rather than hedging with fallback options, because destiny frequently requires costly surrender. Boldness coupled with faith reframes scarcity into stewardship of what God provides. [36:38]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [06:56] - Opening humor and worship moments
• [08:18] - Church announcements & schedule
• [15:02] - Invitation to the Holy Spirit
• [16:22] - Series focus: Faith, Confidence, Boldness
• [17:32] - Three core questions: Who, What, Why
• [31:07] - The seven mountains of culture
• [42:09] - Reading: Philemon (Onesimus introduced)
• [59:49] - Onesimus returns: reconciliation illustrated
• [67:45] - Call to faith, confidence, and boldness
• [71:07] - Closing: events, membership, mobilization

Here is a Bible study guide based on the sermon summary and transcript:

Bible Reading

Philemon 1:10-16 (ESV)
"I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: who in times past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: whom I have sent back. Thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own heart: whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: but without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but as of willingness. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him forevermore; no longer as a bondservant, but more than a bondservant, as a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord?"

Observation questions

1. Paul refers to Onesimus as his "child" whom he "begotten in my bonds." What does this phrase suggest about Paul's relationship with Onesimus and the context of their meeting? [46:27]
2. Paul states that Onesimus "in times past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me." What does this contrast imply about Onesimus's past actions and his present transformation? [46:56]
3. Paul mentions he would have liked to keep Onesimus with him but chose not to do anything "without thy mind." What does this reveal about Paul's respect for Philemon's authority and the principle of consent? [47:13]
4. The passage describes Onesimus as no longer just a "bondservant" but "more than a bondservant, as a brother beloved." What does this shift in status signify for both Onesimus and Philemon? [47:58]

Interpretation questions

1. Paul's appeal to Philemon is framed as a request rather than a demand, even though he states he "could demand it in the name of Christ." What does this approach teach us about how to address conflict and make requests within the body of Christ? [45:25]
2. The sermon summary highlights that "faith requires active, costly return." How does Onesimus's decision to return to Philemon, after having wronged him and fled, exemplify this active and costly return? [59:18]
3. The idea of "reconciliation precedes expansion" is presented as a key takeaway. How does the story of Onesimus and Philemon illustrate that resolving conflict is a necessary step before further blessing or growth can occur? [41:39]
4. The sermon mentions the "seven mountains of culture" that the church is called to influence. How might the principle of reconciliation, as seen in Philemon, be a prerequisite for effectively influencing these areas of society? [31:07]

Application questions

1. The story of Onesimus returning to Philemon models the difficult but necessary work of reconciliation. Are there any unresolved conflicts or broken relationships in your life that God might be calling you to actively address through a "costly return"? [59:18]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of "burning the ships" and committing to God's "Plan A" without a backup. In what areas of your life might you be holding onto a "Plan B" that hinders your full commitment to God's calling? [36:38]
3. The idea that "discipleship must produce biblically literate, spiritually robust followers equipped to enter the seven mountains of culture" is central to the sermon. How can you personally grow in biblical literacy and spiritual maturity so that you are better equipped to influence your sphere of influence for the kingdom? [31:07]
4. The sermon speaks of the need for faith, confidence, and boldness for the "big asks" that God has for us. What is a "big ask" that God might be placing on your heart, and what steps can you take to cultivate the faith, confidence, and boldness needed to pursue it? [40:36]
5. The narrative of Onesimus, a runaway slave who became a brother in Christ and potentially a church leader, shows how restoration can unlock destiny. In what ways might embracing reconciliation and forgiveness in your own life unlock a greater destiny that God has for you? [01:05:10]
6. The sermon calls for intentional disciple-making that reproduces itself. What is one practical way you can intentionally invest in making a disciple or being discipled in the coming week? [24:36]
7. The message highlights that loving God and loving people are inseparable. How can you practically demonstrate this inseparable love for God and people in your daily interactions this week, especially in situations where there might be unresolved conflict? [37:03]