February 22, 2026 | "How to Talk to a Fox," Rev. Jamaar Trumane Jones

A congregation enters 2026 declaring a year of new direction and celebrating 130 years of faith. Worship moves from lively praise into a solemn communion and a call to examine hearts, then into joyful declarations of thanksgiving and community moments—birthdays, guest recognition, and honoring long-serving members. Scripture from Luke 13:31–32 frames the day: when warned that Herod wants to kill him, Jesus answers, “Go tell that fox. I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.” That exchange becomes the sermon’s hinge.

The fox becomes a metaphor for opposition: cunning, sly, and intent on stopping vocation and purpose. Opposition appears as jealous people, abusive systems, political power, family trauma, workplace sabotage, or spiritual forces. Jesus’ response models a resolute, even confrontational faith—one that refuses intimidation, continues deliverance ministry, and presses toward the appointed goal. This Jesus is portrayed not as passive gentleness but as a radical agent who overturns corruption, touches the excluded, breaks religious showmanship, and confronts oppression.

Practical implications follow: the same authority Jesus exercised to cast out demons and heal the sick transfers to believers who will speak, command, and expel the powers that steal joy, health, and destiny. Persistence matters—continuing to do good, pressing through failure, trusting God’s timing until the “third day” fulfillment. Personal testimony underscores that apparent failures do not cancel God’s calling; broken seasons can be redeemed and healed into academic, relational, and vocational breakthroughs.

The service closes with an urgent invitation: confession of Jesus as Lord for salvation, calls to church membership, rededication, and an appeal for faithful giving—specifically to a media project—so ministry can continue. The overall thrust fosters bold, missionary faith: name the fox, resist it with authority, persevere through setbacks, rely on resurrection power, and step into community and service so calling can be completed.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Call the fox what it is Jesus names Herod a fox to expose cunning weakness rather than dignify its threats. Naming dishonesty and manipulation strips their mystique and allows decisive, faith-driven response. Refusal to sanitize evil empowers targeted action and prevents spiritual paralysis. [63:06]
• 2. Persist in mission despite threats Jesus answers intimidation by declaring continued ministry until the ordained goal arrives. Endurance reframes danger as a tempo to be outlasted, not a signal to retreat. Practical faith advances most often through steady, small acts of obedience, not sporadic heroics. [64:35]
• 3. Use authority to drive out darkness Authority to cast out unclean spirits and heal operates by spoken command rooted in Christ’s name and presence. Deliverance becomes a practiced posture: identify the intrusion, speak its departure, and reclaim the space for life. This authority requires moral clarity, spiritual readiness, and willingness to act on behalf of the vulnerable. [66:59]
• 4. Resurrection power redeems past failure The “third day” summons a theology of reversal: setbacks and shame do not define destiny. Redemption repurposes past losses into fuel for perseverance and testimony. Trusting resurrection logic transforms delayed outcomes into eventual vindication and restored capacity. [73:34]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [25:40] - Worship and Call to Worship
• [27:32] - Communion and Reflection
• [32:14] - Confession and Forgiveness
• [35:04] - Rejoicing and Praise
• [37:55] - Recognizing Visitors and Birthdays
• [40:47] - Culture of Honor: Honoring Members
• [50:47] - Scripture Reading: Luke 13:31–32
• [52:11] - "How to Talk to a Fox" Introduction
• [56:00] - The Radical Character of Jesus
• [63:06] - Defining the "Fox": Opposition
• [65:37] - Driving Out Demons and Healing
• [73:18] - The Third Day: Resurrection Power
• [75:12] - Invitation: Salvation and Membership
• [78:15] - Offering and Media Project

1. What specific warning did the Pharisees bring to Jesus, and how did He respond?
2. What does Jesus mean when He refers to Herod as a “fox”? [01:03:06]
3. What three things does Jesus say He will continue doing despite the threat?
4. What does Jesus say will happen “on the third day”?

1. Why do you think Jesus used the term “fox” to describe Herod instead of a more directly confrontational label?
2. How does Jesus’ response redefine what it means to be faithful under pressure or threat? [01:04:35]
3. What might “driving out demons and healing people” represent in a broader sense beyond the literal acts? [01:06:59]
4. In what ways does the “third day” symbolize hope and redemption, even beyond resurrection? [01:13:34]

1. What is one “fox” in your life right now—a person, situation, or inner struggle—that’s trying to derail you from God’s purpose? How can you respond like Jesus did? [01:03:06]
2. Where have you been tempted to slow down or stop doing what God has called you to do because of opposition or discouragement? What would it look like to “keep on” this week? [01:04:35]
3. Is there an area in your life—your mind, relationships, health, or finances—where you need to boldly command darkness to leave in Jesus’ name? What would that sound like spoken out loud? [01:06:59]
4. Can you recall a past failure or season of pain that God has since redeemed or used for good? How does that encourage you in your current situation? [01:13:34]
5. Who in your circle needs healing—emotionally, physically, or spiritually—and how can you be a vessel of God’s healing touch for them this week? [01:09:06]
6. What’s one practical step you can take this week to move closer to the goal God has for you, especially in an area where you’ve felt stuck or delayed?
7. How can you support others in your small group or community when they’re facing their own “foxes”?