Turlock | Pastor Dave Larson | 04-19-26

Devotional

Day 1: Stones of Remembrance

The Israelites built altars of stones to remember God’s miracles. Like them, a small group gathered in 1976 to worship in a borrowed hall. They had no grand plan—just faith in a God who parts seas and provides manna. For fifty years, stones of remembrance piled up: land purchased against odds, lives freed from addiction, new generations singing “Amen.” Each stone whispers, “He did this.” [03:28]

God calls His people to mark His works because forgetfulness breeds fear. When the Israelites faced new battles, those stones shouted, “The same God who drowned Pharaoh walks with you now.” Our stories of provision and rescue aren’t just history—they’re fuel for today’s trust.

What stones has God placed in your life? Write one moment of His faithfulness on a real stone. Keep it where you’ll see it daily. When doubts come, will your hand reach for that stone and remember?

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.”
(Psalm 105:1-2, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for one specific miracle in your past. Ask Him to help you see His hand in today’s struggle.
Challenge: Write “He did this” on a rock and place it where you’ll see it daily.

Day 2: Twelve Acres of Trust

The board said “no.” The church had no money. But 12½ acres of dirt waited across from Faye’s Donuts. A faithful few fasted, prayed, and watched God flip “no” to “yes.” They didn’t see Costco or crowds—they saw Jehovah Jireh, the God who owns every acre. [07:22]

Jesus taught that faith moves mountains, but sometimes it buys fields. God’s provision often requires risky obedience first. The disciples left nets; the widow gave her last oil. Trust isn’t a feeling—it’s building on land you can’t yet afford.

Where is God asking you to plant a “yes” before the provision comes? Identify one step of faith you’ve delayed—a conversation, a commitment, a surrender. What’s holding you back?

“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)

Prayer: Ask God for courage to take one faith-step this week, even if you can’t see the outcome.
Challenge: Text one person about a step you’re taking in faith. Ask them to pray with you.

Day 3: Broken Walls, Mended Hearts

In 1992, the church fractured. Eighty-five wounded believers wondered if hope could rebuild. Like Nehemiah surveying Jerusalem’s crumbled walls, they chose to pick up stones of forgiveness. Healing came slowly—trust rebuilt brick by brick through shared meals, tears, and choosing grace. [10:18]

God specializes in resurrection. Jesus didn’t abandon Thomas for doubting—He showed His scars. Brokenness, surrendered to Christ, becomes the mortar for stronger walls. The church isn’t a museum for saints but a hospital for the humble.

Is there a relationship or dream in your life that feels shattered? Write down one action—a call, a prayer, a confession—to start rebuilding. Who needs your grace today?

“They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work.”
(Nehemiah 2:18, NIV)

Prayer: Confess any bitterness you’ve carried. Ask God to help you rebuild one broken connection.
Challenge: Send a forgiveness text or note to someone, even if it’s just three sentences.

Day 4: Chains in the Prayer Circle

Celebrate Recovery began with a year of praying in circles—chains of addiction, shame, and regret laid bare. Like the woman at the well, they brought empty jars to Jesus and left filled. Chains snapped as stories were shared under the banner “No perfect people allowed.” [15:29]

Jesus said, “Whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst.” Freedom starts when we stop hiding. The demon-possessed man became a missionary; the thief on the cross entered paradise. Your story, surrendered, becomes a key for others’ prisons.

What habit or hurt have you kept in shadows? Whisper its name to Jesus now. Who could you invite into your healing journey this week?

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
(2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal one area He wants to free you from. Thank Him that His light breaks chains.
Challenge: Write “I am new” on your mirror. Say it aloud every morning this week.

Day 5: The Doxology’s Echo

In a donut-scented hall, 34 voices sang the Doxology—a hymn declaring God’s glory “from generation to generation.” Today, that song still echoes: in Patterson’s warehouse church, in baptismal waters, in teenagers leading worship. The same God who fed 5,000 feeds us still. [44:01]

Jesus is “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Our call remains: love people one step closer to Him. The disciples didn’t retire—they replicated, entrusting the gospel to Timothy, Lydia, you. Legacy isn’t preserving the past; it’s empowering the next.

What step can you take this week to invest in someone’s spiritual growth? Will you commit to pray for one younger believer by name?

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
(Hebrews 13:8, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for someone who spiritually invested in you. Ask Him to show you whom to mentor.
Challenge: Invite someone under 30 for coffee and ask, “How can I pray for you?”

Sermon Summary

Fifty years of gathered worship, witness, and steady faith form the thread of this account. A small band of thirty-four met in an American Legion hall and, despite uncertainty and setbacks, pursued a faithful life together that then expanded into a committed community. The purchase of 12.5 acres after an initial denial, volunteer-driven building nights, and sacrificial giving show how practical faith shaped place and purpose. Hard seasons of loss and leadership upheaval refined motives and called the community to deeper dependence rather than ego or growth for its own sake.

This history traces specific ministries that flowed from that dependence: regular reading of Scripture and remembering God’s deeds, new recovery ministries begun to bring hope to those trapped in hurts and habits, a thriving Patterson campus, and intentional spaces created not simply for attendance but for transformation. Baptisms, personal testimony, and long-term discipleship provided the proof that the work aimed at heart change rather than headline numbers. Moments of communal celebration, like moving into a new worship center and shared recommitments—“not for our glory, but yours”—reveal an ongoing posture of outward-focused worship and stewardship.

The narrative refuses nostalgia as an endpoint and instead chooses memory as a motivation. Remembering past faithfulness serves as fuel to examine present motives and to take courageous steps forward. The account calls for a next fifty years marked by careful stewardship, bold compassion, and a focus on raising the next generation to follow Jesus. Prayer, public recommitment, and communal practices like the Doxology anchor that forward movement in humility and dependence. Ultimately, the story insists that the same faithful God who began the work remains present to lead the community into whatever future unfolds—calling it to love people one step closer to Jesus and to steward resources and relationships for kingdom purposes rather than institutional comfort.

Key Takeaways

1. Remember God's faithfulness across generations Remembering specific acts of God roots present faith in reality rather than sentiment. Memory becomes an act of obedience that shapes communal identity and resists the temptation to center on present convenience. By recounting God's deeds, people gain courage to face uncertainty because their hope rests on the historical reliability of God’s character. [03:28]
2. Steward the legacy with courage Inheritance creates responsibility: the past is not merely to be enjoyed but to be actively managed for the future. Stewardship demands clear-eyed evaluation of motives, willingness to sacrifice comfort, and disciplined choices that favor long-term spiritual fruit over short-term acclaim. Courage shows when a community chooses risky faithfulness—buying land, building, and renewing mission—rather than preserving a safe status quo. [04:35]
3. Transformation beats mere attendance Buildings and numbers are instruments, not ends; investments should target genuine change in hearts and lives. Designing spaces and ministries for transformation calls for patient discipleship, visible testimonies like baptism, and programs that meet deep need rather than chase metrics. When leaders orient toward formation, the community measures success by changed character and new obedience. [12:47]
4. Step forward toward the future Honoring the past without being trapped by it requires confession, renewal, and proactive imagination for the next season. Forward movement combines humility about shortcomings with confidence in God’s continuing faithfulness, leading to concrete steps—new campuses, recovery ministries, and recommitments. A congregation that prays, reevaluates motives, and recommits publicly positions itself to multiply grace into the next generation. [36:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Founding Faces and First Gathering
[02:37] - Reading Scripture and Remembering God
[05:32] - American Legion Hall Beginnings
[07:47] - Land Purchase and Community Faith
[12:47] - Building for Transformation
[15:29] - Celebrate Recovery Launch
[17:47] - Patterson Campus Begins
[18:13] - New Worship Center Move-In
[34:00] - Video: Fifty-Year Montage
[36:01] - Call to the Next Fifty Years
[42:39] - Recommitment: "Not for Our Glory"
[44:01] - Doxology and Closing Fellowship

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
- Psalm 105:1-5 (ESV): "Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered."
- Hebrews 13:8 (ESV): "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Observation questions

What specific actions does Psalm 105:1-5 call believers to do when reflecting on God’s faithfulness?
The sermon mentions how the church prioritized building spaces for "transformation, not attendance" [12:47]. What examples were given to illustrate this focus?
How did the church respond when their initial land purchase was denied, and what does this reveal about their faith? [07:22]
What phrase did the congregation repeat together when moving into their new worship center, and what does it emphasize? [42:39]

Interpretation questions

Why might remembering God’s past faithfulness (as seen in Psalm 105) be especially important during seasons of uncertainty or loss, like the church’s leadership upheaval in 1992? [10:01]
How does the idea of stewarding a legacy with courage challenge a community to avoid complacency or nostalgia?
The sermon contrasts "nostalgia" with "memory as motivation." What dangers arise when a church focuses only on "how things used to be" instead of future steps? [36:01]
Why might prioritizing "transformation over attendance" require sacrifices or risks for a church community?

Application questions

What personal or family story of God’s faithfulness could you share with others to encourage them this week? How might this practice of "remembering" strengthen your own faith?
The church faced setbacks but chose to pray and act boldly [07:22]. Where in your life or community do you need to trust God’s faithfulness instead of settling for "good enough"?
Transformation often happens through intentional relationships (e.g., Celebrate Recovery [15:29]). Who in your circle needs support to take a step closer to Jesus, and how could you walk with them?
The congregation declared, "Not for our glory, but yours, oh Lord" [42:39]. What areas of your life (time, resources, relationships) need this same recommitment to God’s purposes?
How can you personally contribute to "raising the next generation to follow Jesus" in practical ways—whether in your family, church, or community?
The church’s history included both celebration and loss. How can you cultivate gratitude for God’s goodness while still being honest about current struggles?

Sermon Clips

You know in 2,018 when we moved into this building, we stood just like this together. And we spoke words of faith and commitment about what we were doing about what we were doing all this for. What was our motivation in our heart that's always been to make him famous, to call attention, to point back to Jesus. And so, I want us today to once again say these same words. And it's like we're we're recommitting our hearts. We're reconsecrating ourselves to God's calling us. So would you say this with me? Not for our glory, but yours, oh Lord. Not for our kingdom, but for yours, oh Lord. That's what we do. [00:42:07] (51 seconds) #NotForOurGlory

I think that's such a picture too of just our area that we live in. And that same God, our same God, who's faithful back then in Isaiah's day, who was faithful fifty years ago, is the same one who's faithful today. And he is at work in us now. So yes, we celebrate fifty years. We're so grateful. It's it's a joy to do that. We give thanks and we honor the story and we honor the people, but we don't remain in a place of the past because the call before us is unchanging. It's what you see up on our wall in the lobby. It's what you see on these banners in here. What is it? What's God called? To love people one step closer to Jesus. [00:37:24] (84 seconds) #LoveOneStepCloser

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Turlock | Pastor Dave Larson | 04-19-26 | 50th Anniversary