God Has No Plan B: The Church Is God’s Plan A

This morning, I was reminded of the deep sense of family and purpose that God has given to each of us, both individually and as a church. Walking into this place brought back memories of my first pastorate, and I felt at home among brothers and sisters who share the same calling to be Christ’s hands and feet in our city. Each of us has a unique assignment from the Lord, and it’s important not to compare our journey with others, but to walk faithfully in what God has entrusted to us. My own family’s story, with its unique challenges and blessings, is a testament to God’s creativity and faithfulness in giving each of us a role to play in His kingdom.

We live in a world that is increasingly chaotic and complex, but God’s plan for reaching and transforming it has not changed—He has no plan B. The church is His plan A. We are not just a building or an organization; we are living stones, being built together into a spiritual house. If the building were gone tomorrow, the church would remain, because we are God’s people, chosen and called to show His goodness to the world. Our identity is rooted in being a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s own possession. This identity compels us to live honorably among our neighbors, so that even those who do not believe might see our lives and be drawn to God.

Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples” is not a suggestion, but a call to invest deeply in the lives of others. Evangelism is not just about getting someone to pray a prayer, but about walking with people, building relationships, and helping them grow in Christ. In a world saturated with communication but starved for real connection, we are called to move beyond digital noise and memes, and instead offer genuine testimony and presence. Our stories, our love, and our willingness to walk with others are what will make the hope of Jesus real to those around us.

The story of Ananias and Saul reminds us to be patient and courageous with those who are new to faith or even seem unlikely candidates for God’s grace. As we disciple others, we begin to look more like our heavenly Father, and our love for one another becomes the proof to the world that we are truly Jesus’ disciples. Let us rediscover our “why” as the church, remembering that God believes in us and has chosen us to be His plan for this city. May our love for God, for each other, and for our community overflow beyond these walls, bringing hope and transformation wherever we go.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Church Is God’s Only Plan God has no backup strategy for reaching the world—He has chosen the church as His primary means of revealing His love and truth. This places a sacred responsibility on us to live out our calling with intentionality and faithfulness, knowing that our presence and witness are essential in God’s redemptive work. We are not just participants, but central to God’s mission in our city and beyond. [02:50]
• 2. Our Identity Shapes Our Mission Being a chosen people and a royal priesthood is not just a title, but a calling to live distinctively. Our identity in Christ should shape every interaction, compelling us to live honorably and to reflect God’s goodness to those around us. When we embrace who we are in Christ, our lives become a testimony that draws others to Him, even in a skeptical world. [09:28]
• 3. Discipleship Requires Relationship, Not Just Communication In an age of endless digital messages, true transformation happens through real relationships. Making disciples means walking alongside others, sharing our lives, and patiently nurturing faith. It is through authentic connection and testimony—not just information—that people encounter the living Christ and are changed. [16:06]
• 4. Rediscovering Our “Why” Fuels Our Passion Like the Wright brothers, who succeeded because they understood their purpose, we as the church must continually return to the reason we exist: to embody and share the hope of Christ. When we focus on our “why,” our actions become more intentional, and our passion for God’s mission is renewed. This clarity empowers us to persevere and make a lasting impact. [22:08]
• 5. Love Is the Mark of True Discipleship Jesus said that our love for one another would prove to the world that we are His disciples. This love is not sentimental, but sacrificial and patient, especially with those who are new to faith or difficult to love. As we grow in Christ and walk with others, our resemblance to our heavenly Father becomes evident, and our community is transformed by the reality of God’s love. [28:26]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:00] - Feeling at Home and FCA Introduction
• [02:50] - The Church Is God’s Plan A
• [04:30] - Personal Family Story and Unique Assignments
• [06:08] - God Has No Plan B
• [07:30] - Reading 1 Peter 2:1-12
• [09:28] - Living Stones and Church Identity
• [12:50] - The Church as Family
• [14:30] - The Great Commission: Go and Make Disciples
• [16:06] - Beyond Communication: Real Connection
• [19:18] - The Wright Brothers and Rediscovering Our Why
• [22:08] - Passion Versus Position in God’s Mission
• [25:22] - Ananias, Saul, and Patient Discipleship
• [28:26] - Love as the Mark of Discipleship
• [31:46] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Reading

1 Peter 2:1-12 (ESV) — So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV) — Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Acts 9:17-19 (ESV) — So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened.

Observation Questions

1. In 1 Peter 2:4-5, what does Peter mean when he calls believers “living stones” and “a spiritual house”?
2. According to the sermon, what is the difference between the church as a building and the church as God’s people? [09:28]
3. What was Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19-20, and how did the sermon describe the difference between making disciples and just getting someone to pray a prayer? [14:30]
4. In the story of Ananias and Saul (Acts 9:17-19), what did Ananias do that was risky or unexpected? [25:22]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says, “God has no plan B for Calgary—we are his plan A.” What does it mean for the church to be God’s only plan for reaching the world? How does this shape the way we see our role in the city? [06:08]
2. 1 Peter 2:9 calls us a “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” How should this identity affect the way we interact with our neighbors and community? [09:28]
3. The pastor shared that “making disciples means walking alongside others, sharing our lives, and patiently nurturing faith.” Why is relationship so important in discipleship, especially in a world full of digital communication? [16:06]
4. Ananias took a risk to disciple Saul, someone everyone else was afraid of. What does this teach us about who we are called to invest in, and how might this challenge our comfort zones? [25:22]

Application Questions

1. The sermon said, “If something happened to this building, we would still be a church.” How would your faith and sense of community be affected if you couldn’t meet in this building? What would it look like to “be the church” outside these walls? [09:28]
2. The pastor shared about his own family’s unique story and said, “Each of us has a unique assignment from the Lord.” What is one way you can stop comparing your journey to others and walk faithfully in what God has entrusted to you? [04:30]
3. Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples” is not a suggestion. Who is one person in your life you could intentionally invest in this month, not just by sharing information, but by building a real relationship? [14:30]
4. The sermon challenged us to move beyond digital noise and memes to real connection. What is one practical step you can take this week to connect with someone face-to-face or in a more personal way? [16:06]
5. The story of Ananias and Saul reminds us to be patient and courageous with those who are new to faith or seem unlikely. Is there someone in your life who is difficult to love or disciple? What would it look like to show them patience and invest in their growth? [25:22]
6. The pastor said, “Our love for one another becomes the proof to the world that we are truly Jesus’ disciples.” What is one way you can show sacrificial or patient love to someone in our church family this week? [28:26]
7. The Wright brothers succeeded because they understood their “why.” What is your “why” for being part of the church? How can rediscovering your purpose help you serve with more passion and intentionality? [22:08]