Standing and Sending: Feet Committed to the Gospel

May 17, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Shoes of Readiness

The Roman soldier’s sandals gripped uneven terrain, nails driven through leather soles. Paul says believers strap on “the readiness given by the gospel of peace.” These aren’t passive shoes. They propel us into battlefields and broken places, anchored in Christ’s victory. The world stumbles in shifting opinions, but our footing stays sure. [24:59]

Jesus didn’t commission spectators. He armed walkers. Your shoes aren’t for retreating—they’re for advancing with good news. When culture says “sit down,” the gospel says “stand up.” Truth isn’t a theory; it’s traction under your feet.

Where have you been standing still instead of stepping forward? Identify one relationship or task where fear has kept you passive. What concrete step could you take today to advance Christ’s peace there?

“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”
(Ephesians 6:14-15, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal one place He’s calling you to walk boldly today.

Challenge: Write three Bible truths about God’s character on sticky notes. Place them where you’ll see them before leaving home.

Day 2: Lamplight on Gravel Paths

David gripped the scroll, its words illuminating rocky trails. “Your word is a lamp,” he wrote, remembering midnight escapes from Saul. The disciples carried this light into stormy seas and hostile towns. Darkness still misdirects—but your path glows where Scripture guides. [33:28]

Jesus called Himself “the light of the world,” then handed the torch to you. Every decision, conversation, and crisis gains clarity under this beam. The world gropes for answers; you hold the switch.

When did you last consult God’s Word before reacting to a problem? Keep your Bible open this week where you eat breakfast. What heavy choice needs its light right now?

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
(Psalm 119:105, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one area where you’ve relied on human wisdom over God’s Word.

Challenge: Take a 10-minute walk after dark with a flashlight. Pray for someone walking in spiritual darkness as you walk.

Day 3: Love’s Blistering Pace

John’s aged hand scrawled, “This is love: that we walk according to His commands.” The early church marched into plagues and prisons, binding wounds and baptizing jailers. Love isn’t a sentiment—it’s a stride. Jesus outwalked His disciples to meet the demon-possessed man. [35:10]

Your “love walk” passes beggars, critics, and neighbors. It’s easier to debate theology than drive a single mom to the grocery store. The world measures love in hashtags; heaven measures it in shoe leather.

Who have you circled in prayer but avoided in person? Name one practical act of service that would mirror Christ’s love this week.

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.”
(2 John 1:6, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for a time someone showed you His love through action.

Challenge: Buy groceries for a struggling family or write an encouraging note to a lonely person.

Day 4: Humility’s Uphill Climb

Micah’s prophecy cuts through performative faith: “Walk humbly with your God.” Jesus washed feet, then climbed Calvary. Humility isn’t weakness—it’s following God’s path despite your right to detour. The world admires strutters; Heaven honors servants. [36:57]

You walk humbly when you credit God for victories and kneel in failures. It’s refusing to post your “rightness” online. The disciple’s feet bled for others, not for applause.

Where has pride quietly redirected your steps? What relationship requires you to lay down “being right” this week?

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
(Micah 6:8, NIV)

Prayer: Confess a specific instance where pride hindered your witness.

Challenge: Perform one act of service anonymously—rake a neighbor’s leaves or pay for a stranger’s coffee.

Day 5: Beautiful Dusty Feet

Paul quotes Isaiah: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!” Roman roads coated messengers in grime, but their arrival meant hope. Your commute, errands, and vacation routes are divine appointments. The gospel isn’t a monument—it’s a moving target. [47:40]

Jesus sent the disciples into their existing networks: fishing buddies, tax circles, family feuds. You don’t need a pulpit—just a posture of readiness. Eternal destinies hinge on ordinary steps.

Who in your daily orbit needs to hear your story of grace? What’s one phrase you can use to gently shift conversations toward Christ?

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”
(Romans 10:14, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God for courage to share how He’s changed you with one person today.

Challenge: Text a believer to pray for you as you initiate a spiritual conversation this week.

Sermon Summary

We conclude Disciples by Design by focusing on committed feet: how we stand and where our feet take us. We begin by standing firm in the truth of Christ, grounded in Scripture, not in cultural opinion or personal preference. From that stance the Christian life issues in a practical walk: we walk in the light God gives, we walk in his love toward others, and we walk humbly before God. Grounding our feet in the Word transforms our daily choices; the Bible becomes the lamp that guides our path, shapes our conversations, and steadies us when the world shifts around us.

Our feet also carry a mission. As we go about ordinary life, we carry Christ into workplaces, neighborhoods, and chance conversations. The call in Matthew 28 reframes ministry from building attendance to making disciples by presence and relationship; our movement matters more than marketing. We teach obedience by sharing how Jesus has changed us and by pointing others toward practices that form faith.

Finally, our feet must carry the good news. The church stands as the appointed bearer of the gospel, entrusted to proclaim and illuminate the darkness. We proclaim simply, invite readily, and point people to Jesus without needing to win every argument. Carrying the light looks like introducing Jesus into real conversations, offering spiritual sight to those stumbling in trends and shifting values, and accepting the responsibility that some will only hear through our witness. We end with a direct call to accept this role: stand in truth, walk in God’s ways, follow his call, and carry the gospel so others may find light and life.

Key Takeaways

1. Stand in Christ's revealed truth We ground our identity and decisions in the truth revealed in Scripture so we avoid mere cultural guessing. Standing in truth requires rejecting the pressure to apologize for belief and instead offering clear, reasoned witness. When we read and quote the Word, our feet find a steady path through shifting trends. [24:39]
2. Walk by Scripture, love, humility We let the Bible light our steps, let God’s love shape our actions, and let humility form our posture before God and people. Humility here is strength that chooses obedience and justice, not passivity; love turns doctrine into neighborly action. This triad guards against pride and fosters credibility in mission. [30:43]
3. Let our feet follow God's call We move with purpose as disciples who go and make disciples in everyday contexts, not waiting for ideal conditions. Going means presence: being where people live their stories and offering Jesus through relationship and testimony. Obedience teaching helps convert initial curiosity into lasting commitment. [39:34]
4. Carry and proclaim the gospel light We accept that the church alone bears the mandate to carry the good news and to point people to the light. Proclaiming needs no theological perfection; it needs faithful saying and an openness to follow up. When we carry light, we invite the dark to come and see, trusting the gospel to awaken hearts. [46:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:05] - Series Recap: Disciples by Design
[24:39] - Scripture Foundation: Ephesians 6
[28:05] - God Secures Our Feet in the Word
[30:43] - Walking in the Light of Scripture
[34:06] - Walking in Godly Love
[36:01] - Walking with Humble Strength
[37:58] - Feet Sent to Follow God's Call
[39:34] - The Great Commission: As You Go
[41:52] - Awaken Hearts in Everyday Life
[43:41] - Carrying the Good News
[46:10] - Proclaiming the Gospel Courageously
[50:02] - Invitation to Commit and Connect
[51:07] - Prayer and Sending
[52:26] - Closing Announcements

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Ephesians 6:14-15 (ESV)
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

Psalm 119:105 (ESV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

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.

Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 6:14-15, what three things are believers instructed to "put on"? How does the metaphor of "shoes" relate to readiness for the gospel?
The sermon emphasizes three aspects of walking as a disciple: in light, love, and humility. What specific actions or attitudes are tied to each of these? (See Psalm 119:105, 2 John 1:6, Micah 6:8) [30:43]
In Matthew 28:19-20, what does Jesus command believers to do as they go? How does this differ from waiting for people to come to a church or event? [39:34]

Interpretation Questions

Why is standing in "truth" (Ephesians 6:14) foundational for a disciple’s walk? How might cultural opinions or personal preferences undermine this stance? [25:16]
The sermon describes humility as "strength, not weakness" when walking with God. How does Micah 6:8 redefine humility, and why is this important for credibility in mission? [36:20]
Jesus’ command to "make disciples" includes "teaching them to observe all I have commanded." What does this imply about the relationship between sharing our testimony and teaching practical obedience? [42:15]

Application Questions

Identify one area where cultural opinions or personal preferences currently challenge your commitment to standing in biblical truth. What step could you take this week to ground yourself more deeply in Scripture? [28:35]
Walking in love means turning doctrine into "neighborly action." What is one practical way to show God’s love to someone in your workplace, neighborhood, or family this week? [35:10]
The sermon says, "We don’t have to be theologians" to proclaim the gospel. Who in your life needs to hear how Jesus has changed you? How could you naturally introduce Him into a conversation with them? [46:46]
"As you go" reframes ministry as everyday presence. What is one ordinary place (e.g., gym, coffee shop, school pickup) where you could intentionally build relationships to "awaken hearts"? [41:52]
The church is called to "carry the light" in darkness. What societal trend or cultural value feels especially dark to you? How could you point someone toward Christ’s truth in that area? [48:27]

Sermon Clips

74s

#MeetPeopleWhereTheyAre

“Way different than some of the thinking of the modern church, which is if we put out enough marketing, hang enough banners, put out the word, the world will come. Hadn't worked yet. Jesus has been gone almost two thousand years. Nope. I'm gonna give you a little clue. This is why hope is on the beach because we wanna be where you are. I can't tell you through the years how many people have pulled up a chair while just walking the beach. Wow. Look at that. A church service and they just plug in. We wanna be where you are. They multiply that by all the places where you go. And as you go, make disciples.”

72s

#ShareTheGoodNews

“It's okay to say, you know, I don't know the answer to that, but I'll find it. We're to proclaim. Listen to Romans 10. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him on whom they've never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they're sent? As it is written how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news. You wanna have beautiful feet? Share the good news. God is saying it's beautiful to see his disciples carrying the good news. Sharing it. Calling others to it. We are to proclaim the good news.”

70s

#BringJesusToTheTable

“It's our job alone. Our job alone. So if you're not carrying the good news, then there's a good chance somebody's not hearing it. Somebody's missing it because you were their connection to it. Letter a says, our call is to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. We're to proclaim it. I've said it for several years now. I've said it during my tenure here. We need to look for an excuse to get Jesus on the table. Get him introduced into the discussion. Just get him on the table. He'll take it from there. We don't have to be theologians. We don't have to know everything.”

78s

#ChurchCarriesTheGospel

“If you are in God's family, you are part of God's church and God's church is the only institution he ordained to carry the gospel. If the world's gonna be changed beloved, it's gonna be changed by us. We're gonna have to do it. We're the only ones who carry God's gospel. We're in. There's lots of wonderful organizations in our day and time. Many of you probably support more than one financially or with your presence. There's lots of good things happening. Lots of good people receiving help from good people. But the truth about God's gospel is we, the church, are the only ones ordained to share it.”

77s

#GodsWordLightsThePath

“You know that part where the boxes are everywhere. Half closed, half opened. Don't remember where we put that. That kind of a deal. And Judy again reminded me last night as I was getting ready to go to bed, Judy said, don't forget. Don't walk through here in the dark. Okey dokey. That's how the world is and the church should be saying out loud to the world, don't walk through here in the dark. You're gonna hit something, you're gonna bump into something, you're gonna possibly get hurt. We need the light of God's word. His light sheds light on where we're going, lights up our path, shows us the right decisions to make.”

56s

#NoApologiesForFaith

“But for too long as believers in Christ, we have all allowed ourselves to almost become apologetic for being a believer. And I want to say to you as a committed disciple, as a disciple by design, we do not apologize. We are right. See, man, I don't know, Steve. That's pretty bold statement to think that we're right. I know. But it's not you and me that's right. It's not the way we were brought up that's right. It's not our education no matter how far we went that's right.”

68s

#StandFirmInTruth

“When we look at the fact that as believers, we stand in truth, then there's only one conclusion. The world outside of Christ is wrong. Talk amongst yourselves. The world is wrong. The way the world operates, the habits, the lifestyles, the opinions, the thinking, all wrong. All wrong. See now, the world would tell the non believing world would say to us believers, we're wrong. They have names for us. They kick us around in their little magazines, in their little talk shows. They draw a lot of conclusions because we claim the name of Christ.”

80s

#GroundedInScripture

“It's not the corporate rules we play by that are right. What's right is the truth of Christ. That's what's right. Him, not us. And so standing, that's where we start. Standing in truth. Then the rest of what I wanna share with you is true. Number one, God secures our feet in his word. In his word, we are secure as a disciple in God's word. That's where the truth is. That's where I stand. So when someone gets in a big deep discussion with you and wants to know your opinion, I have begun to answer those kinds of things by saying, well, I don't think my opinion matters. But I can tell you what God's word says.”

74s

#DiscipleByExample

“Folks need to know there's a spiritual side to their life and we're the ones that are to tell them that. So we have a couple of responsibilities. One is to go and make disciples. The other is we're to teach obedience. Teach them to observe all that I've commanded. So go make disciples, teach obedience. You see, we're to point people to Christ. We're to direct them to what Jesus has for them. And we can do it easily by just sharing what Christ has done for us, what our own experience has been. We just share it. We're in a conversation and we can just say, you know, I've I experienced what you experienced once. I felt that. That happened to me.”

67s

#HumbleStrength

“Now humbly is interesting because a lot of people would interpret humbly to mean to kind of be a pushover, kind of be noncommittal. But the truth is, if I walk humbly, the very word humble means I have a right to walk otherwise. I can walk far different than humbly. Humble is a strength, not a weakness. It's a strong heart, not a weak heart. Micah says, he's told you o man what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

68s

#FollowGodsCall

“Phone usually rings and it's never just thinking about you, old man. Thought I'd say, hey. It's, hey. This broke. Yeah. You live in Arizona. What do you want me to do about it? You know how to fix it? Yeah. But you live in Arizona. There's always a need. Is there a couple of bucks? Is there do you know this? You know anybody that this don't think you're ever gonna get away from being a parent. You're not. Everybody's got an idea of what we should do. But the answer is our feet are sent to follow God's call. God's call. And his call is very plain in Matthew 28.”

71s

#LoveLikeJesus

“We need to show God's love. We need to react in God's love. Remember little bracelets? You can still find them. WWJD. Remember those? What would Joe do? Just checking to see if you're with me. What would Jesus do? We need to think about that. How would Jesus react in love? How would he show love? How can I help someone else feel God's love through me? How can I introduce them to God's love? How do we do that? As a disciple by design, secured in God's word, We should walk in light, walk in love. And thirdly, God empowers us to walk humbly. We should walk humbly.”

70s

#TogetherInHisLight

“Those of us in God's light are in it together. Look at letter b. We walk in his love. So as we're grounded in his truth, we walk in his light and we walk in his love. Listen to second John. This is love that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment just if you have heard from the beginning so that you should walk in it. Love. It's the commandment that we're to walk in. We're to walk in his love. Could the world use more of that? What a dumb question. Of course, the world could. There is a need for us to walk in love.”

68s

#WordIsOurLamp

“What's the bible say about whatever? And you can find scripture that will speak to that. And you will find truth. Not opinions, not hopes, not I wish it was like this. No. You will find truth. That's God's word. That's what we are secure in. So we start there. And being secure in God's word means a couple of things. Number letter a, we walk in the light of God's word. Psalm one nineteen, your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. You see the world without Christ lives in darkness. They don't have an understanding. They're feeling their way. That's why trends change so quickly.”

70s

#FeetCarryTheGoodNews

“And I can just tell you Jesus made a big difference. And you share what Christ did for you. So as a committed disciple with committed feet, I stand and walk in the word and I follow God's call. And number three, our feet carry the good news. We carry the good news. We've got the good news. Now I'd like to just take a minute. I'm a short timer, so I get some liberties. And so one of those this morning is I wanna go a little bit from preaching to Medlin. Can I do that? What are you gonna do? But I want you to see that we are to carry the good news.”

67s

#OpenYourBible

“I can tell you what the word says. Now some of you, if you begin wanna challenge you for a minute. Man, I'm on a roll. Giving you challenges, things to talk about. But I do wanna challenge you to begin to read the bible. Just read it. Open it. Read it. It will, some of you, it will alarm what's in the bible. How many modern day issues are talked about in the bible? They're explained in the bible, but we have to open it. We gotta search them. So if you get in a discussion, you hear a topic brought up at work, when you can get away from that situation, get your bible. You can Google it.”

56s

#LetGodsWordGuideYou

“Opinions change so quickly because the world's trying to find its own way and they're in the dark. The truth is in God's word and the light of that word shows us where to go, shows us how to walk, keeps us from walking into things. My wife and I by now, you probably know we're moving to Texas. Oh, yeehaw. I'm leaving this for Texas. So we leave in a week. Next Sunday would be my last Sunday with you. And we're headed off, so we're in the middle of the packing.”

80s

#CommittedFeetFollowGod

“So we have this these characteristics of a life planted in God's word. Committed feet walk in the light of God's word, in God's love, and in the humility that he gives us. That's what our lifestyle looks like. So then number two tells us what our feet do. Says our feet are sent to follow God's That's a big deal because there's a lot of folks calling on your life, aren't there? Everybody's got an idea of who you ought to be and what you ought to do. Everybody's got an idea of what you should do for them. It's always about them. You got kids? Yeah. And it doesn't seem how old they get. I keep hoping. No.”

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