Living Your Divine Purpose Through Trials and Faith

Today’s gathering was a beautiful reminder of the power of community, service, and the unshakeable purpose God has for each of us. As we celebrated the first snow and shared laughter, I was struck by the many ways our church family supports one another—through life groups, acts of service, and simply showing up for each other. This is what it means to be the body of Christ: to care, to serve, and to walk together.

We looked at Acts 26, where Paul stands before King Agrippa, not as a victim of his circumstances, but as someone who sees his chains as part of God’s greater plan. Paul’s calmness and gratitude in the face of trial are not natural responses—they are the fruit of years of preparation, faithfulness, and surrender to Christ. He doesn’t plead for his own life; instead, he pleads for the souls of those who hold power over him. Paul’s identity is so rooted in Christ that his circumstances—no matter how dire—cannot define him. Instead, they reveal the depth of his faith and the reality of God’s purpose.

Paul’s journey reminds us that God’s purpose is not hindered by our circumstances but revealed through them. The trials, delays, and even the chains we experience are not wasted. They are the very places where God prepares us, shapes us, and gives us a testimony. Like Paul, we are called to be witnesses—not just in comfort, but especially in hardship. Our stories, including our past failures and present struggles, become powerful testimonies of God’s grace.

We also reflected on the “chains” that can hold us back today: fear, distraction, suffering, or even apathy. Yet, the key to freedom is not comfort, but courage—a decision to obey God even when it’s hard. When we remember who we are in Christ, share our stories honestly, trust God’s timing, and stay focused on our mission, we find that nothing in our lives is wasted. Every trial, every delay, every moment of waiting is a divine setup for God’s purpose to be fulfilled in and through us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Purpose Is Revealed Through Hardship God does not waste our trials or delays. Instead, He uses them to prepare us for the very moments He has designed for us. When we face hardship, it is often the training ground for our greatest influence and testimony. Our circumstances do not define us; they reveal the depth of God’s work in us. [47:25]
• 2. Courage Is a Decision of Faith, Not Comfort True boldness comes when obedience to God matters more than the approval of others or our own comfort. Courage grows as we step out in faith, even when we feel afraid or unprepared. Each act of obedience strengthens our resolve and deepens our trust in God’s faithfulness. [55:32]
• 3. Your Story—Including Your Chains—Is a Witness Paul did not hide his past or his struggles; he used them to point others to Christ. Our own stories, with all their messiness, are powerful testimonies of God’s grace. When we share how God met us in our hardest places, we offer hope and encouragement to others who are struggling. [51:24]
• 4. Trust God’s Timing and Preparation Delays and seasons of waiting are not setbacks, but divine setups. God is shaping our words, our character, and our readiness for the next stage of our calling. Rather than despising the waiting, we can embrace it as the place where God is preparing us for greater things. [58:28]
• 5. Stay Mission Focused—Fix Your Eyes on Eternity When we keep our eyes on God’s eternal purpose, temporary trials lose their sting. Our mission is to know Christ and make Him known, regardless of our circumstances. This focus brings peace, purpose, and a sense of fulfillment, even in the midst of difficulty. [11:59]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [15:57] - Announcements and Gospel Fluency
• [16:23] - Life Groups and Community Care
• [17:20] - Christmas Project and Serving Opportunities
• [18:16] - Honoring Servant Leaders
• [19:05] - Missions Update and Community Engagement
• [23:38] - Opening Prayer
• [37:44] - Celebrating New Staff and Growth
• [41:08] - Introduction to Acts 26
• [42:02] - Paul’s Emotion and Setting
• [47:25] - God’s Purpose Revealed in Chains
• [53:15] - Preparation Through Trials
• [59:40] - Fulfillment of Christ’s Word
• [65:10] - Identifying and Breaking Chains
• [69:26] - Living Out Your Purpose
• [73:22] - Next Steps and Reflection

Bible Reading

Acts 26:1-19 (ESV) — 1 So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: 2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. 4 “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? 9 “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities. 12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

Observation Questions

1. According to Acts 26, what specific hope does Paul say he is on trial for, and how does he describe his past before meeting Jesus? ([44:46])
2. How does Paul respond emotionally to being on trial before King Agrippa, and what words does he use to describe his situation? ([49:13])
3. What does Paul say Jesus told him to do after appearing to him on the road to Damascus? ([46:40])
4. In the sermon, what are some of the “chains” mentioned that can hold people back today? ([01:05:10])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul consider himself “fortunate” or “happy” to stand trial, even though he is in chains? What does this reveal about his perspective on suffering and purpose? ([49:31])
2. The sermon says Paul’s calmness and gratitude in hardship are not natural, but the result of years of preparation and faithfulness. How does this preparation show up in his words and actions before Agrippa? ([53:15])
3. The pastor mentioned that Paul’s identity was so rooted in Christ that his circumstances could not define him. What does it look like for someone’s identity to be rooted in Christ rather than in their situation? ([52:47])
4. The sermon talks about “chains” like fear, distraction, suffering, or apathy. How might these chains keep someone from living out God’s purpose? ([01:05:10])

Application Questions

1. Paul used his story—including his failures and struggles—as a testimony to God’s grace. Is there a part of your story you tend to hide or feel ashamed of? How could sharing it encourage someone else? ([51:24])
2. The sermon says courage is a decision of faith, not comfort. Can you think of a recent situation where you chose comfort over courage? What would it look like to choose courage next time? ([01:05:32])
3. The pastor listed several “chains” that can hold us back: fear of rejection, distractions, suffering, or apathy. Which of these do you most relate to right now? What is one step you could take this week to move toward freedom? ([01:05:10])
4. Paul trusted God’s timing, even when he was delayed or waiting in prison. Is there an area of your life where you feel “stuck” or delayed? How might God be using this season to prepare you for something ahead? ([58:28])
5. The sermon encouraged us to stay mission focused and keep our eyes on eternity. What is one practical way you can remind yourself of God’s bigger purpose when you face daily frustrations or setbacks? ([01:11:59])
6. The pastor said that every trial, delay, or moment of waiting is a “divine setup” for God’s purpose. Looking back, can you see a time when a hard season prepared you for something important? How did it shape your faith? ([58:28])
7. The church community was described as a place where people support each other through life groups and acts of service. How can you be more intentional about showing up for others in your church family this month? ([16:53])