Taking the Next Step Into the Unseen

Oct 11, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Gathering in Necessity: The Unseen Seeds of Sacred Community

A small group met in West Texas not as visionaries, but as ordinary people who believed gathering was essential. They read Scripture, prayed, and shared meals not because it was easy, but because they knew survival depended on clinging to one another. Their faithfulness planted seeds that grew into a 125-year legacy. Like roots finding water in dry ground, their choice to prioritize community became a lifeline for generations. God multiplies ordinary obedience into eternal fruit. What began as necessity became a sanctuary.
[50:27]

"Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
(Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV)

Reflection: What "ordinary" act of gathering or serving in your life might God be preparing to use beyond what you can see? How does knowing your choices today shape tomorrow’s legacy change your perspective on faithfulness?

Day 2: Kindness as Compass: Crossing Aisles in a Divided World

T.B. Larimore baptized people in the Concho River and befriended those across doctrinal lines, his kindness disarming barriers. This became the church’s DNA—loving neighbors without demanding agreement. Like water softening hard soil, consistent compassion creates space for God to work. The kingdom advances not through debates, but through hands extended in Christ’s name. True connection begins where our need to be right ends.
[53:54]

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another... And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
(Colossians 3:12-14, NIV)

Reflection: Where might God be calling you to lay down "being right" to pick up radical kindness? How could practicing curiosity about someone’s story open doors for Christ’s love this week?

Day 3: Gripping the Worn Edges of Sacred Memory

The pews’ scarred wood holds generations of stories—first communions, tear-stained prayers, and hands clinging to hope. These grooves mark where ordinary moments collided with eternity. Like tree rings recording droughts and growth, every scratch testifies to God’s faithfulness through seasons. Our gathering places become living altars, where today’s struggles join yesterday’s victories in the unbroken song of saints.
[01:02:23]

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
(2 Corinthians 4:18, NIV)

Reflection: What physical place or object in your life holds sacred memories of God’s faithfulness? How might revisiting that "altar" renew your courage for current challenges?

Day 4: Courage as Choice: Inheriting the Unfinished Road

Joshua’s charge echoes through church history: strength comes not from certainty, but from choosing trust. Like pioneers crossing uncharted plains, each generation here said "yes" to Mexico missions, integrated schools, and radical hospitality. Courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s gripping God’s promise tighter than our doubts. The road ahead remains unseen, but the Guide remains the same.
[01:18:44]

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
(Joshua 1:9, NIV)

Reflection: What "unseen" step is God asking you to take that requires more courage than confidence? How does the faithfulness of those who walked before you strengthen your resolve?

Day 5: Love as Legacy: Pouring Out What Overflows

The church’s worn thresholds testify to love that never calculated worthiness. Like the Concho River baptisms—messy, public, and uncontained—this family chose to waste grace lavishly. When God’s love fills us to spilling, we become conduits, not reservoirs. True legacy isn’t in buildings, but in bending low to pour His love into thirsty hearts.
[01:09:12]

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit... And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
(Colossians 3:16-17, NIV)

Reflection: Where have you been tempted to ration love, and how might overflowing gratitude for Christ’s gift change that? Who needs you to "waste" kindness on them this week without expecting anything in return?

Sermon Summary

A hundred and twenty five years is measured not merely in dates, buildings, or names, but in “a whole bunch of sacred moments.” The history of Johnson Street begins with a small group who found a way to meet together in West Texas because Scripture, prayer, singing, encouragement, and shared life were not optional. Their faith was not perfect or larger than life, but they kept going, kept loving their neighbor, and kept trusting God.

The church’s story carries the fingerprints of people who stepped into the unseen. T. B. Larimore came to the plains, preached Christ, baptized people in the Concho River, and made friends across lines that others would not cross. That kind of kindness and partnership became part of this church’s DNA: loving neighbors, working alongside others who want to share Jesus, and believing that such faith bears fruit in the kingdom.

The unseen became a recurring way of life. Youth trips across borders, ministry in Mexico City, work in Atlanta, and a cow painted bus for neighborhood outreach all began as steps that could not be fully mapped out ahead of time. The worn ends of the pews bear witness to those sacred moments: first Sundays with a new baby, Sundays before major decisions, Sundays after funerals, and countless communions that rooted God’s people together in the body and blood of Jesus.

Colossians 3 gives language for what a church is called to be. Love clothes the gathered people of God because the Spirit keeps pouring God’s love into their hearts. Peace rules because Christ has made peace with God possible. The word of Christ dwells among the church, thanksgiving rises in song, and every word and deed is offered in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Joshua 1 turns remembrance toward the road ahead. God does not hand Joshua a magical promise detached from faithful choices; God calls him to strength, courage, obedience, meditation on the Word, and trust in God’s presence. Strength and courage are choices. Obedience is a choice. What fills the mind and comes out of the mouth is a choice.

The God who brought dust to life, parted seas, healed the sick, sent his Son, and stripped sin, death, and the grave of their power remains greater than every fear. The next generation will inherit the steps of faith made now. Love God, trust him, follow the Spirit’s lead, love one another, and share the story of Jesus because God has been faithful through every chapter and will remain faithful in the unseen road ahead.

Key Takeaways

1. Sacred moments shape a faithful history History becomes holy when ordinary people keep choosing faithfulness in ordinary places. The small group that first gathered did not need to see the whole future to take the next right step. God often builds a lasting work through people who simply refuse to forsake prayer, Scripture, fellowship, and love for neighbor. [50:27]
2. Faith steps into the unseen The unseen is not empty space; it is the place where God is already at work before the church can see the outcome. Courageous ministry does not wait until every risk is removed or every detail is settled. Faith moves forward because God’s presence is more certain than the road ahead. [63:24]
3. God’s love is meant to overflow Colossians 3 presents love as something God pours into the heart through the Holy Spirit, not something guarded for those who earn it. The church can give love freely because its supply comes from God’s inexhaustible generosity. That love changes difficult conversations by asking what the most loving thing might be. [68:12]
4. Courage grows through obedient choices Joshua 1 joins God’s promise of presence with a call to meditate on God’s Word and obey it without turning aside. Strength is not pretending that fear is absent; it is choosing trust while fear is present. The God who defeated sin and death remains greater than every circumstance that threatens to discourage his people.

## [79:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[47:25] - Celebrating 125 Years Together
[49:21] - A Small Group Begins a Movement
[52:27] - T. B. Larimore and Loving Neighbors
[54:35] - A Legacy of Ministry and Service
[57:30] - Sacred Moments and the Unseen
[61:40] - The Stories Held in the Pews
[65:27] - A Place Where People Belong
[67:40] - Clothed With Love
[71:57] - Leadership That Does What Is Right
[75:48] - Remembering the Past, Facing the Future
[77:57] - Joshua’s Call to Courage
[81:18] - The Next Generation of Faith

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” [01:18:38]

Colossians 3:14
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” [01:08:12]

2 Corinthians 4:18
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” [57:30]

Observation questions

In Joshua 1:9, what commands are given alongside God’s promise to be with Joshua?
According to Colossians 3:14, what place does love hold among the qualities God’s people are called to put on? [01:08:12]
In 2 Corinthians 4:18, how are “what is seen” and “what is unseen” contrasted, and how does that connect with taking steps of faith into an unknown future? [57:26]
What practices did the first small group value enough to treat as necessities rather than optional activities? [50:35]

Interpretation questions

Why might God repeat the call to strength and courage to Joshua while also telling him to obey and meditate on God’s Word?
Colossians 3 presents love as the bond that holds God’s people together. How does receiving God’s love change the way believers can respond when love is not returned or deserved? [01:08:42]
In what ways does focusing on what is unseen and eternal help a church make wise decisions without needing to know every outcome in advance? [01:03:43]
Joshua 1 connects God’s presence with human choices such as courage, obedience, speech, and meditation. How can both truths be held together without treating courage as either mere self-effort or passive waiting? [01:19:31]

Application questions

What is one “unseen” area in your life—a decision, relationship, ministry opportunity, or fear—where you need to take the next faithful step rather than wait until every detail is clear? [01:03:35]
When you feel discouraged or afraid, what tends to fill your mind and shape your words? What could it look like this week to keep God’s Word more present in your thoughts and conversations? [01:18:19]
Think of a difficult relationship or tense conversation in your life. How might asking, “What is the most loving thing to do here?” change your next response? [01:14:16]
God’s love is not a limited supply that must be saved for people who earn it. Who is someone you may be tempted to withhold kindness from, and what is one simple way you could show them Christlike love this week? [01:08:35]
What sacred moments—ordinary or significant—have helped root you in faith, such as shared worship, communion, a season of grief, or the support of other believers? How might remembering them strengthen you for what lies ahead? [01:01:56]
The next generation will inherit the faith steps God’s people take today. What kind of faith, love, or courage do you hope they will see in your life, and what practice could help make that hope visible this week? [01:21:18]

Sermon Clips

38s

#LoveWithoutLimits

“God is continually pouring that love into us so we can waste it. We can just throw it out on people that don't deserve it. You know, it... It's interesting to me that we kinda play games sometimes with love, that we will love you as long as you love us. I'll be nice to you if you're nice to me, but if you're not, then that's it. We don't have to do that as Christians. People that come here find out that God's love is so richly poured into us that we can just throw it all over you. And if you don't give it back, that's fine. I've got a big supply up here that's coming down on me.”

46s

#FaithIntoTheUnknown

“We have a great history behind us, and we celebrate that, and we wanna remember that well. The people, we have no idea what is ahead of us. It is the unseen, but we know who is with us. It is time for us to take one more step into the unseen because what is unseen eternal. God's blessings to this body in the road ahead.”

33s

#LoveInAction

“When a church gathers together, we have the love of God that has been just draped around us. Paul, in another place, talks about that God pours his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. And when God pours his love into our hearts, it just fills us up and splashes over and gets on other people as well. And we are so willing to give that love to others because we've got an infinite supply of that love.”

26s

#PeaceOfChrist

“We come together, and we experience that the love of God flows into our hearts, and the peace of Christ rules over us. We have found peace with God. And because of the peace that we have with God through the ministry of Jesus Christ through his death, burial, and resurrection, then we have come to have peace with God. Therefore, we can have peace with you as well.”

42s

#FaithOverFear

“And I believe that God, the creator of the universe, the one that brought dust to life, the one who parted the seas, the one who healed the sick, and the one who sent his son into the world and and and raised him to life. That's the God we serve. And if you really believe that's the God we serve who has taken the power away from sin and death, who has taken and stripped power from the grave so that we can have life eternally, if you believe in that God, then what do we have to fear?”

38s

#ChooseCourage

“And when you look at this text, this is not God magically bestowing all of this on Joshua. He's laying out for him. These are some choices that you need to really consider making here. And if you look at this, strength and courage, I think, are a choice. Obedience is a choice. What we speak about is a choice. What we meditate on and what we think about, it is a choice.”

39s

#LoveGodLoveOthers

“So I'm gonna echo what all of the ministers have done until now and what hopefully they will do from here on, and that is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Trust God. Follow him. Love one another and share the story of Jesus. And I believe the God who has been faithful to follow us through every chapter will continue to be with us as we walk in faith together.”

37s

#StrongAndCourageous

“What enemy is bigger than God? What circumstance or difficulty is too big for God to comfort you and lead you through? So it's our choice to choose to be strong and courageous. It is our choice to believe that the Lord is with us because I believe he is, and I see it here. Our story is good. God has done great things with you, but it's just beginning.”

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