Read and listen to messages
preached from the pulpit of First Baptist Church

Read and listen to messages
preached from the pulpit of
First Baptist Church

The Tension - 2 Corinthians 5:7

Life is filled with moments where decisions must be made, paths must be chosen, and direction must be set. In those moments, every believer feels a pull in two different directions. One direction urges us to trust what we can see, calculate what makes sense, and move forward only when the outcome feels safe. The other direction calls us to trust God, obey His Word, and move forward even when the details are unclear. That inner pull is what can be described as the tension.

Second Corinthians 5:7 places this tension front and center: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” This verse is simple, but it is not easy. Paul is not dismissing wisdom, facts, or careful thought. Rather, he is declaring what must govern the Christian life. Faith, not sight, is meant to be the deciding voice. The believer does not deny reality, but refuses to let visible circumstances determine obedience. Faith asks, “What did God say?” while sight asks, “How will this work out?” Every day, believers must choose which voice will lead.

Throughout Scripture, faith is not primarily defined but displayed. From Abraham leaving his home without knowing his destination, to Noah building an ark before rain ever fell, faith rests on the Word of God. At the same time, Scripture also shows negative examples, such as Israel at Kadesh Barnea, where fear and sight overruled faith and led to long-term consequences. These accounts remind us that walking by faith is not optional for a fruitful Christian life. It is essential.

1. Sight Allows Circumstances to Preach to Us

When believers walk by sight, circumstances begin to act like preachers. Every situation starts sending a message. Bills preach anxiety. Delays preach doubt. Silence preaches abandonment. Prosperity in the lives of others can preach envy. When circumstances take the pulpit, they shape our thinking and influence our decisions.

The psalmist experienced this struggle in Psalm 73 when he admitted that his feet had almost slipped as he watched the prosperity of the wicked. What he saw distorted what he believed. It was not until he entered the sanctuary of God and returned to God’s truth that clarity came. Circumstances are constant preachers, but they are terrible theologians. They do not reveal God’s character, His faithfulness, or His promises. Scripture does.

Walking by faith requires choosing which voice will preach to us. God’s Word must have the final say, even when circumstances appear loud, convincing, and overwhelming.

2. Sight Allows Fear to Scare Us

Sight does not stop at preaching; it also produces fear. When circumstances dominate our thinking, fear naturally follows. Proverbs 29:25 warns, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” Fear asks questions filled with uncertainty. What if this fails? What if God does not come through? What if obedience costs too much?

Faith is not reckless, but it is courageous. The three Hebrew men standing before the fiery furnace saw real danger, yet they refused to let fear dictate their obedience. Sight would have told them to bow. Faith told them to stand. Their confidence was not in survival, but in God Himself. When faith led, fear lost its power.

Many believers struggle with anxiety because they are unintentionally walking by sight. Fear often disguises itself as wisdom, but fear is rooted in what we see, not in who God is. Faith trusts God even when fear insists on retreat.

3. Sight Allows Control to Manipulate Us

Another danger of walking by sight is the illusion of control. Sight convinces us that if we plan enough, manage carefully, and prepare backup options, we can control outcomes. Control feels responsible and even spiritual, but it subtly replaces trust with self-reliance.

Scripture confronts this mindset directly. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5–6). Faith does not mean inactivity, but it does mean surrender. Faith obeys while releasing the outcome to God. Sight obeys only if it can maintain control.

The tension between faith and sight becomes clear here. We often want to trust God while still holding the reins. True faith steps out of the driver’s seat and allows God to lead, even when the road ahead is unfamiliar.

Walking by Faith in Everyday Life

One of the most challenging truths from this message is that faith is often tested more in small, everyday decisions than in major crises. When life feels manageable, it is easy to rely on sight. When situations feel impossible, faith feels more natural. Yet God calls His people to walk by faith at all times, not only when options run out.

Faith believes what cannot be seen and obeys what is known to be true. It listens to God’s Word instead of circumstances, trusts God instead of fear, and submits to God instead of control. The Christian life cannot be lived partially by faith and partially by sight. The two compete for authority, and only one can lead.

Reflection Question

Where in your life are you feeling the tension between faith and sight right now? What would change if you chose to listen to God’s Word instead of your circumstances and walked forward in faith?

Read Story

Pastor JD Howell

4 min read

The Tension - 2 Corinthians 5:7

The Tension - 2 Corinthians 5:7

1. Sight Allows Circumstances to Preach to Us

Walking by faith requires choosing which voice will preach to us. God’s Word must have the final say, even when circumstances appear loud, convincing, and overwhelming.

2. Sight Allows Fear to Scare Us

3. Sight Allows Control to Manipulate Us

Walking by Faith in Everyday Life

Reflection Question

Where in your life are you feeling the tension between faith and sight right now? What would change if you chose to listen to God’s Word instead of your circumstances and walked forward in faith?

Read Story

Pastor JD Howell

4 min read

Sermon Series

Faith for Today | Hebrews 11:1

When we talk about faith, it is easy to admire it from a distance. We respect it in the lives of Bible characters. We applaud it in the testimonies of others. We even celebrate it as a theme or an idea. But Hebrews 11 does not present faith as something reserved for history or for heroes of the past. It presents faith as something present, active, and necessary right now. The opening words make that unmistakably clear: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is not something we had once. Faith is something we live in today.

This chapter is often called the hall of faith, but it is not a hall of perfection. The men and women listed here were not flawless. Some made serious mistakes. Some failed in ways that would seem to disqualify them from being used by God. Yet God includes them because the qualification was never perfection. The qualification was faith. God does not require a perfect life to use someone. He requires a faith-filled life. Faith for today means choosing to trust God in the present, even when circumstances are unclear and outcomes are unknown.

Faith does not wait for ideal conditions. It operates in the here and now, often with incomplete information. We are reminded that we walk by faith, not by sight. Faith gives foundation to hope, not wishful thinking, but confident expectation. God has never broken a promise, and He never will. Because of that, faith becomes the solid ground on which hope stands.

1. Confidence in Eternal Life Through Jesus Christ

Biblical faith begins with a clear object, and that object is not vague or self-defined. Faith is anchored in God, and ultimately in His Son, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us that we are “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” He begins true faith, and He completes it. No system, no religion, and no personal effort can do that. Only Jesus can.

The foundation of faith is the gospel. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Faith places its full weight on what Christ has done. His death, burial, and resurrection secure our eternity. When a person places their faith in Jesus Christ alone, their eternal destiny is settled. That brings confident expectation, not fear or uncertainty.

Because of Christ, we live knowing that heaven is real. Salvation does not depend on our daily performance but on Christ’s finished work. God does not excuse sin, but He does secure the believer. Faith for today means living with the assurance that eternity is in God’s hands, not ours.

2. Confidence in God’s Sovereign Purposes

Hebrews 11 reminds us that faith often involves trusting God’s plan when it does not make sense. Noah built an ark without ever seeing rain. God asked him to obey before explaining all the details. That is often how faith works. Faith trusts God’s purposes even when the path feels confusing.

The Bible assures us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). That does not mean all things feel good. It means God is always at work. Faith refuses to let circumstances preach louder than Scripture.

When trials come, it is easy to assign motives to God instead of trusting Him. Faith says, “Lord, I will trust You with this, even if You never explain it.” Faith believes that God’s purposes are good, even when life feels heavy and unanswered questions remain.

3. Confidence in God’s Sufficient Grace in Temptation

Faith is not only about eternal matters. It affects daily decisions, especially when temptation arises. Hebrews 11 points us to Joseph, a man who faced intense temptation yet chose faithfulness. He believed God was greater than the moment.

Scripture promises, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Faith believes that promise and acts on it.

Faith takes up the shield God provides. “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16). When faith is active, temptation does not have the final word. God’s grace is sufficient, and He always provides a way to stand.

4. Confidence in God’s Daily Direction

A life of faith trusts God not only with eternity and temptation, but also with daily direction. Faith believes that God orders our steps, even when we cannot see the whole road ahead. Faith chooses obedience over clarity and trust over control.

Walking by faith means believing that God is involved in everyday decisions. He is not distant. He is personal, present, and purposeful. Faith says, “Lord, lead me today,” and then follows when He does.

5. Confidence That God Hears and Answers Prayer

Faith also shapes how we pray. Hebrews 11 reminds us that prayer is an expression of trust in God’s character. We do not always see immediate answers, but faith believes that God hears every request.

Some prayers are answered quickly. Others are answered over time. Some are answered in ways we do not fully see until eternity. Faith continues praying, trusting that God is faithful. We do not have to see the result today to know that God is at work.

Faith for today is not theoretical. It is lived. It shows up in salvation, in suffering, in temptation, in direction, and in prayer. The question is not whether we talk about faith, but whether we are walking in it.

Reflection QuestionAre you living by faith today, or are you relying on what you can see and understand? What step of faith is God calling you to take right now?

Feb 1, 2026

5 min read

Author: Pastor JD Howell

Sermon Series

Foundation | Hebrews 11:1

When we talk about faith, most people assume they already understand it. Faith is a familiar word. We use it easily, admire it in others, and often attach it to optimism, effort, or even last-ditch hope. But Hebrews 11 opens in a surprising way. God does not begin with a story, a hero, or an illustration. He begins with a definition. Before showing us faith in action, He tells us what faith actually is. That matters because if we misunderstand faith at the beginning, we will misunderstand everything that follows.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This verse is not written to correct the world’s idea of faith. It is written to correct the church’s understanding of faith. God knows that before we can live by faith, we must know what faith is. Faith is not optimism, passivity, or a last resort. Biblical faith is a living, present confidence in God that shapes how we think, pray, and live right now.

1. Faith Is for Today, Not Someday

The verse begins with three simple but powerful words: “Now faith is.” Faith is not something reserved for the future. It is not faith that will be, or faith might become. Faith exists now. It is present, active, and real. God is not describing an ideal we grow into later. He is declaring a present reality for every believer.

Faith does not wait for perfect conditions or complete information. It operates in the here and now, often when clarity is missing. We want all the details before we move forward, but faith steps forward trusting God even when the path is unclear. That is why Scripture tells us we walk by faith, not by sight. Faith is required in uncertainty. Faith is exercised before the outcome is known. If there is uncertainty in your life today, God is calling you to trust Him now, not later.

2. Faith Gives a Foundation to Hope

Hebrews 11:1 says faith is “the substance of things hoped for.” The word substance carries the idea of a foundation or support. Hope is the structure, but faith is the foundation holding it up. Hope says, “I want this to be true.” Faith says, “I am ordering my life because I believe it is true.”

Faith is not wishful thinking. It is confidence rooted in God’s character. Hope without faith collapses under pressure, but hope built on faith stands firm. Faith treats future promises as present realities. It lives as if God’s Word is already settled, because it is. If our faith is real, it will show up in how we pray, how we plan, and how we obey. Faith moves us to pray boldly and trust God for things only He can do, so that when He answers, there is no doubt who deserves the glory.

3. Faith Is Confident Expectation, Not Uncertainty

Biblical hope is not crossed fingers or vague optimism. It is a confident expectation anchored in the faithfulness of God. Faith does not say, “I hope this works out.” Faith says, “God is faithful no matter how this turns out.” Faith rests not in circumstances, but in the unchanging character of God.

That kind of faith produces calm confidence even in difficult seasons. It allows believers to obey God without guarantees and trust Him without conditions. Faith is not reckless. It is resolved. It believes that God’s purposes are good, even when His ways are hard to understand.

4. Faith Confirms What Cannot Be Seen

The verse ends by saying faith is “the evidence of things not seen.” Evidence is proof. Faith does not deny reality, but it trusts what God has said even when it cannot yet be seen. Just as we believe in wind or electricity because we see their effects, faith gives conviction about invisible spiritual realities.

Faith takes God at His Word and lives accordingly. It plugs life into God with confidence, trusting that He is at work even when nothing appears to be happening. Faith does not require sight to move forward. It trusts the One who sees all things.

Hebrews 11 reminds us that faith is not abstract. It is practical. It shapes daily decisions. It determines how we respond to hardship. It guides how we pray, give, serve, and obey. Faith is not just something we claim. It is something we live.

Reflection Question:What in your life right now can only be explained by faith in God, not by sight, logic, or comfort? If someone examined your life, what evidence would they see that you are truly walking by faith today?

Jan 25, 2026

4 min read

Author: Pastor JD Howell

Sermon Series

Motivation | 2 Timothy 2

We live in a fast-paced world that values speed, convenience, and instant results. We want fast food, fast answers, and quick solutions. That same mindset can quietly shape how we approach the Bible. Instead of careful study, we settle for a verse of the day. Instead of doctrine, we look for something quick that works in the moment. But God never designed His Word to be consumed like fast food. He gave us an inspired, preserved book and calls us to handle it carefully, patiently, and reverently.

In 2 Timothy 2, Paul writes to a young pastor who is learning how to walk faithfully with God and lead others to do the same. While the immediate audience was Timothy, the instruction clearly extends beyond him. We already lean on verses from this same letter when we face fear, discouragement, or the temptation to quit. It would be inconsistent to claim those promises while ignoring the call found here. God’s Word applies to all believers, and this passage confronts not just how we study the Bible, but why we do it.

At the heart of this chapter is a simple but searching command: “Study to show thyself approved unto God.” That phrase forces us to examine our motivation. God is not merely interested in our actions. He is deeply concerned with the reason behind them. When it comes to Bible study, motivation matters more than we often realize.

1. We Do Not Study to Impress People

Paul does not say, “Study to show thyself approved unto men.” Our goal in studying Scripture is not to sound intelligent, win arguments, or build a reputation as someone who knows the Bible well. Those motivations may look spiritual on the surface, but they miss the mark entirely. It is possible to know Scripture and still be driven by pride.

Jesus addressed this issue directly in Matthew 6. He spoke of people who gave, prayed, and fasted, not to honor God, but to be seen by others. In each case, He said the same sobering words: they have their reward. The problem was not the activity. The problem was the motive. In the same way, Bible study done for human approval may earn admiration, but it does not earn God’s approval.

If our desire to study increases only when others are watching, then our motivation is already misplaced. God is not impressed by performance. He looks beyond what others see and examines the heart behind the effort.

2. We Do Not Study for Knowledge Alone

The Bible never discourages knowledge, but it strongly warns against pride. Scripture tells us that “knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Knowledge by itself can inflate the ego without ever transforming the heart. It sharpens arguments, fills the mind, and wins debates, yet leaves the inner man untouched.

When knowledge becomes the goal, several dangers follow. Pride replaces humility, and God resists the proud while giving grace to the humble. Critical spirits replace compassion, and we begin measuring ourselves against others instead of examining our own walk with Christ. Worst of all, we may start thinking we are impressive while becoming less Christlike.

It is possible to be biblically informed and spiritually immature at the same time. God’s purpose in salvation is not merely to make us knowledgeable, but to conform us to the image of His Son. Bible study that does not lead to Christlikeness has missed its true purpose.

3. We Study to Please God

This brings us to the right motivation. We study to please God. The phrase “approved unto God” reminds us that the standard is not horizontal, but vertical. The crowd is not the measure. God Himself is. He sees what no one else sees. He knows the private disciplines, the hidden effort, and the heart behind the work.

The word “approved” carries the idea of inspection. Just as a meal is examined before it is accepted, God examines how we handle His truth. The question is not whether others are impressed with our Bible knowledge. The question is whether our study would pass God’s inspection.

Jesus set the example when He said, “For I do always those things that please him” (John 8:29). That same aim should guide us. Studying Scripture is not about looking spiritual or sounding impressive. It is an act of worship. It is a desire to know God so that we can obey Him, reflect Him, and bring Him glory.

This motivation will look different for each believer. God does not call everyone to study in the same way or to the same depth. But He does call all of us to approach His Word with a heart that longs to please Him. When that motivation is settled, faithfulness follows.

Reflection Question

When you open the Bible, who are you trying to please? Is your motivation shaped by the approval of others, or by a sincere desire to be approved unto God?

Jan 21, 2026

4 min read

Author: Pastor JD Howell

Sermon Series

Faith for Today | Hebrews 11:1

1. Confidence in Eternal Life Through Jesus Christ

2. Confidence in God’s Sovereign Purposes

3. Confidence in God’s Sufficient Grace in Temptation

4. Confidence in God’s Daily Direction

5. Confidence That God Hears and Answers Prayer

Reflection QuestionAre you living by faith today, or are you relying on what you can see and understand? What step of faith is God calling you to take right now?

Sermon Series

Foundation | Hebrews 11:1

1. Faith Is for Today, Not Someday

2. Faith Gives a Foundation to Hope

3. Faith Is Confident Expectation, Not Uncertainty

4. Faith Confirms What Cannot Be Seen

Sermon Series

Motivation | 2 Timothy 2

1. We Do Not Study to Impress People

2. We Do Not Study for Knowledge Alone

3. We Study to Please God

Reflection Question

When you open the Bible, who are you trying to please? Is your motivation shaped by the approval of others, or by a sincere desire to be approved unto God?

Sermon Series

The Sedition of Tradition - 2 Timothy 3

There are moments in the Christian life that stand out clearly in our memory. Moments when we opened the Bible not because it was part of a routine, but because we were desperate to hear from God. Moments when prayer was not something we checked off a list, but a cry from the heart because we knew we needed the Lord to move. That kind of living is not tradition living. It is faith living. It is godly living filled with power.

Second Timothy chapter 3 confronts us with a sobering warning for the last days. The Apostle Paul tells us plainly, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Timothy 3:1). As the world grows darker and more confusing, the danger is not only what happens outside the church, but what can quietly happen inside it. Paul lists eighteen serious sins that mark a broken culture, but then he ends with a condition that is even more alarming. He describes people who look religious, sound religious, and act religious, yet something vital is missing. They have “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5).

A form is not a bad thing by itself. Forms bring structure, consistency, and order. God Himself is a God of order. But a form only provides shape. It never provides power. When tradition replaces dependence on God, the result is a convincing imitation of godliness that lacks spiritual life. This is the sedition of tradition.

1. Tradition Can Look Like Godliness Without Dependence on God

Paul’s warning in verse five comes after a long list of grievous sins, yet this final condition often goes unnoticed because it appears respectable. A form of godliness looks right on the outside. It follows the schedule. It knows when to stand, when to sit, what to say, and how to behave. It dresses the part and speaks the language of Christianity.

The danger is subtle. We can learn how to conform without ever learning how to depend. We can justify decisions by saying, “I prayed about it,” without ever listening to what God actually says. We can mistake familiarity with spiritual habits for faith itself. Tradition becomes comfortable, predictable, and safe. Over time, if we are not careful, the form begins to replace the Father.

Faith living requires dependence. It requires moments when obedience actually needs God to show up. If nothing in our Christian life truly requires God, then we may be living by tradition rather than by faith.

2. Tradition Living Can Feel Like Godly Living

Tradition has a way of convincing us that we are spiritual simply because we are busy. We attend church. We read our Bibles. We give. We dress modestly. None of those things are wrong. In fact, they are good and biblical. But they were never meant to be the end goal.

When those practices become the goal instead of a means to walk with God, life begins to feel empty. Many believers eventually describe their Christian life with one phrase: “I’m just going through the motions.” That feeling is often a warning sign. It usually means faith has been replaced with form.

There was a time when we came to church because we needed to meet with God. There were seasons when prayer flowed from desperation, not obligation. That is the difference between tradition living and faith living. Tradition checks boxes. Faith seeks God.

3. A Form Without Power Brings Comfort but Not Change

Paul does not say that godliness disappears in the last days. He says the power disappears. People still attend services. They still sing hymns. They still hear preaching. But the transforming power of God’s Word is denied.

You can attend church without repentance. You can serve without surrender. You can sing without submission. You can give without faith. All of it can look right on the outside while producing no real change on the inside. That kind of Christianity offers comfort but never transformation.

It is like running on a treadmill. There is effort, sweat, and routine, but in the end, you are still in the same place. Tradition keeps people busy. Faith changes people. We are saved by faith, and we are called to walk by faith.

4. The Power Is Found in God’s Word, and a Life of Faith

Paul closes this chapter by pointing us back to the source of true spiritual power. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

The answer to empty tradition is not abandoning structure, but restoring faith. It is allowing God’s Word to correct us, reprove us, and change us. Two people can sit in the same church, hear the same sermon, and sing the same songs. One can be alive and growing, while the other is cold and empty. The difference is not the form. It is whether they are walking by faith or merely going through tradition.

On the outside, things may look the same. The same Bible reading time. The same prayer schedule. The same seat in church. But on the inside, everything changes when we move from form to faith, from tradition to dependence, and from routine to a real walk with God.

Reflection Question

Are you walking with God today by faith, or are you simply maintaining a familiar form of godliness without His power?

Sermon Series

Faith for Today | Hebrews 11:1

1. Confidence in Eternal Life Through Jesus Christ

2. Confidence in God’s Sovereign Purposes

3. Confidence in God’s Sufficient Grace in Temptation

4. Confidence in God’s Daily Direction

5. Confidence That God Hears and Answers Prayer

Reflection QuestionAre you living by faith today, or are you relying on what you can see and understand? What step of faith is God calling you to take right now?

Sermon Series

Foundation | Hebrews 11:1

1. Faith Is for Today, Not Someday

2. Faith Gives a Foundation to Hope

3. Faith Is Confident Expectation, Not Uncertainty

4. Faith Confirms What Cannot Be Seen

Sermon Series

Motivation | 2 Timothy 2

1. We Do Not Study to Impress People

2. We Do Not Study for Knowledge Alone

3. We Study to Please God

Reflection Question

When you open the Bible, who are you trying to please? Is your motivation shaped by the approval of others, or by a sincere desire to be approved unto God?

Sermon Series

The Sedition of Tradition - 2 Timothy 3

1. Tradition Can Look Like Godliness Without Dependence on God

2. Tradition Living Can Feel Like Godly Living

3. A Form Without Power Brings Comfort but Not Change

4. The Power Is Found in God’s Word, and a Life of Faith

Reflection Question

Are you walking with God today by faith, or are you simply maintaining a familiar form of godliness without His power?

Sermon Series

Reaping Grace - 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

When a preacher announces, “Today I’m preaching on money,” you can almost feel the room tighten up. Some people wonder if something is wrong. Others assume the church must be desperate. But the Bible reminds us that money is not just a financial topic, it is a spiritual one. God talks about it often in Scripture, not because He needs anything from us, but because He cares about our hearts, our faith, and the way we live.

That is why 2 Corinthians 9 does not start with pressure or manipulation. It starts with a principle God built into creation itself. God wants His people to learn to give in a way that is guided by His Word, shaped by faith, and marked by joy. The goal is not to create “emotional giving” or “forced giving,” but faith-filled giving that pleases the Lord and puts His grace on display in everyday life.

1. The Principle of Sowing and Reaping

Paul begins with a simple, unavoidable truth:

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6, KJV)

Before Paul talks about giving, he points to a law God planted into the world. From the very beginning, God established that what you plant is connected to what you receive. Genesis shows that this principle is not a human invention. It is a God-designed reality. In creation, God made every plant and tree to reproduce “after its kind,” meaning the seed determines the harvest. You do not plant one thing and expect a completely different outcome.

An example of this can be found in common-sense “farmer wisdom” that illustrates this spiritual truth. First, you always reap later than you plant. Nobody plants today and expects a full harvest tomorrow. Second, you always reap more than you plant. One seed can produce much fruit. Third, you reap in proportion to what you plant. Plant sparingly, reap sparingly. Plant bountifully, reap bountifully. God wired this into the way life works, and Paul uses it to help us understand giving.

Scripture applies this sowing and reaping principle beyond agriculture. Galatians teaches that the choices we make every day are also a kind of sowing. When we live for the flesh, we are planting seeds that produce corruption. When we follow the Spirit, we are planting seeds that produce life and blessing. The reminder is sobering and helpful: there is no lasting blessing without obedience. If life feels like constant fallout, we may be harvesting what we have been planting.

So when we come back to giving, the question is not simply, “How much should I give?” A deeper question comes first: “Do I believe God’s principle enough to obey it?”

2. The Posture of the Heart When We Give

After the principle, Paul moves to the posture. God is not only interested in what leaves our hand. He is deeply concerned with what is happening in our heart. Verse 7 gives four heart conditions, two positive and two negative.

First, giving should be deliberate. Paul says, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart.” That word carries the idea of thoughtful intention. This is not careless, thoughtless giving. It is a decision made before God, with Scripture in mind, and with a desire to honor Him.

Second, giving is personal. “Every man” means this is voluntary between you and the Lord. The government can take money, but God calls for a willing heart. No one can make this decision for you. A spouse cannot obey for you. A parent cannot obey for a child. Each believer must personally choose whether they will follow God’s instruction.

Then Paul gives two warnings about what giving should not be. It should not be resentful: “not grudgingly.” If giving produces bitterness, something is off in our perspective. Giving is not meant to feel like we are being robbed. It is meant to be worship.

It also should not be forced: “or of necessity.” The sad reality is that some churches have used guilt, pressure, or even manipulation to get money. But forced giving may help a budget while harming the soul. God is not after coerced cash. He is after surrendered hearts.

Finally, Paul reveals the attitude God loves: “for God loveth a cheerful giver.” “Cheerful” carries the idea of hilariously joyful. Not fake joy. Not performative joy. Real gladness that says, “I get to give.” Two people can give the same amount, but with completely different hearts. God sees the difference every time.

3. The Power Behind Faith-Filled Giving

Then Paul lifts our eyes to the power source behind giving:

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8, KJV)

This verse does not say you are able. It does not say your budget is able. It does not say the church is able. It says, “God is able.” Faith-filled giving does not rest on our resources. It rests on God’s ability.

He also pointed out something crucial: God promises “all grace,” not “all money.” Grace supplies what money can never supply. God may provide financially at times, but His promise here is bigger than dollars. It includes sufficiency, peace, stability, and strength to do His will.

Notice the overflowing language in the verse: all grace, always, all sufficiency, all things, every good work. God is not stingy in the way He cares for His people. He is a God who can abound in grace toward us so we can abound in good works.

God does not bless us so we can store it away like a bucket. God blesses us so we can pass it on like a pipeline. Buckets collect and hold. Pipelines receive and release. The Lord supplies so that His people can serve, give, and advance His work. Faith-filled giving trains our hearts to trust God’s care, and God proves Himself faithful.

God is not asking us to do something He has never done. He gave the greatest gift in history when He gave His Son. If we have received Christ, we have already received grace beyond measure. That gospel reality should loosen our grip and warm our hearts toward generosity.

Reflection Question

If God loves a cheerful giver, what would have to change in your heart for giving to become joyful obedience instead of reluctant duty, and how might God be trying to teach you to trust His grace through it?

Sermon Series

A Focused Energy - 2 Timothy 2

When most people think about studying the Bible, they imagine quiet reading, familiar verses, or a casual devotional moment. Yet Scripture itself calls us to something far deeper. In 2 Timothy 2, the Apostle Paul challenges a young pastor named Timothy to approach God’s Word with intention, effort, and care. This chapter reminds us that handling Scripture is not a light task, nor is it optional for the believer. It is a responsibility given by God to every Christian.

Paul’s words are not spoken into a vacuum. Timothy was ministering in Ephesus, a city filled with false religion, spiritual confusion, and deceptive teaching. Pagan worship, superstition, and so-called secret knowledge surrounded the church. In that environment, careless handling of truth would not merely confuse people, it would destroy faith. That is why Paul emphasizes diligence, accuracy, and spiritual focus. God’s Word must be handled rightly, especially in a culture full of competing voices.

At the center of this chapter stands a powerful command that shapes the entire message: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). This verse lays out what it means to give God a focused report with our lives and our doctrine.

1. A Focused Effort Before God

Paul begins with the command to study. This word carries the idea of labor, diligence, and earnest effort. It is not casual reading or spiritual dabbling. Studying Scripture requires intentional work, thoughtful engagement, and a willingness to exert effort. God is not asking for halfhearted attention. He is calling His people to break a spiritual sweat.

The goal of this effort is not to impress others, but to be approved unto God. The word “shew” means to present. This is about standing before God with a life and mind shaped by His truth. Just as believers are called to present their bodies as a living sacrifice in Romans 12, here they are called to present themselves as faithful workmen. God is not pleased with laziness in spiritual matters. He desires believers who take His Word seriously.

Many excuses surface when it comes to Bible study. Some say they do not understand Scripture. Others say it feels boring or difficult. Yet those very reasons reveal why study is necessary. The Bible was meant to be understood, even if not all of it is immediately clear. God gave His Word to reveal His ways, His will, His counsel, and His character. Difficulty is not an excuse to disengage, but an invitation to dig deeper.

2. A Faithful Workman With the Word

Paul describes the believer as a workman who needeth not to be ashamed. This picture emphasizes skill, care, and responsibility. A careless worker produces poor results, but a faithful workman handles his task with precision. In the same way, believers must handle Scripture accurately.

This is where Paul introduces the phrase “rightly dividing the word of truth.” The idea is to cut straight, to handle God’s Word correctly and honestly. Scripture must be interpreted in its proper context, not twisted or selectively quoted. Many false teachings arise not from ignoring the Bible, but from misusing it. Even Satan quoted Scripture, but he distorted its meaning.

Paul warns Timothy about profane and vain babblings, empty words that lead people away from truth. He explains that false teaching spreads like a disease and can overthrow faith. This is why accurate Bible study matters. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. When the Word is mishandled, faith is weakened. When it is handled rightly, faith is strengthened.

In Ephesus, where mystical ideas and spiritual confusion were common, Timothy needed discernment. The same is true today. Our culture values experience over truth and confidence over correctness. God calls His people to something better. He calls them to know His Word and to stand firmly upon it.

3. The Fruit of Studying God’s Word

Paul shows that diligent study produces clear spiritual results. First, it builds a strong foundation. Truth properly understood anchors the believer and keeps him steady when error threatens. Second, it develops discernment. Studying Scripture teaches us when to speak, when to stay silent, and when to avoid foolish arguments altogether.

Third, it produces meek instruction. A believer shaped by God’s Word learns humility. Truth is not wielded as a weapon of pride, but shared with gentleness and patience. Finally, it provides safety. The Word of truth guards us from the snares of the devil and keeps us aligned with God’s will.

These benefits remind us that Bible study is not merely academic. It is deeply practical. God uses His Word to shape our thinking, protect our faith, and guide our daily lives. A Christian who neglects Scripture places himself at risk, while one who studies it grows in strength and stability.

Paul’s challenge to Timothy is a challenge to every believer. God is not looking for spectators, but for workmen. He is not calling for shallow familiarity, but for faithful diligence. The focused report God desires is a life shaped by His truth and a mind grounded in His Word.

Reflection QuestionAre you giving God a focused report with your time in His Word, or have you settled for familiarity without diligence? What step can you take this week to study Scripture with greater care and intention?