In “Strengthening Our Spiritual Vitals,” I walk through Jesus’ warning to the church in Sardis in Revelation 3:1–6 and use it as a mirror for our personal and corporate spiritual health. Jesus tells this church that although they have a reputation for being alive, they are spiritually dead. I explain that complacency often develops when comfort replaces dependence on God. A church, or a believer, can continue going through the motions while losing spiritual vitality.
I unpack how complacency shows up in everyday life: relying on past spiritual successes, becoming disengaged in worship, reading Scripture without reflection, and settling for routine rather than transformation. I challenge believers to stop depending on yesterday’s victories and instead pursue ongoing faithfulness. Growth requires intentional effort, not spiritual autopilot.
Jesus’ command to “wake up” and “strengthen what remains” becomes a central theme of the message. I explain that incomplete obedience and unfinished spiritual work weaken our witness. God has given each of us gifts, callings, and assignments, not just within the church, but also in our workplaces, relationships, and daily interactions. Strengthening what remains means finishing what God has started, stewarding our gifts well, and recognizing that our everyday environments are mission fields.
I also focus on repentance as a spiritual discipline, not as condemnation, but as humility before God. I address the tendency to blame others for spiritual stagnation and emphasize personal responsibility in our walk with Christ. True spiritual maturity requires self-examination, forgiveness, reconciliation, and a willingness to let God deal with our inner life.
Despite Sardis’ condition, Jesus acknowledges a faithful remnant, those who have not “soiled their garments.” I highlight how God often begins renewal with a few faithful people and remind the church not to despise small beginnings. I stress the importance of identity, emphasizing that our worth is not defined by past failures, criticism, or insecurity, but by Christ’s redemption. In Him, we are worthy, clothed in white, and secure in our salvation.
I conclude by calling believers to live as overcomers, persevering through trials, trusting God in weakness, and remaining faithful to the end. Jesus’ promise to acknowledge us before the Father reminds us that our faithfulness matters eternally. I challenge everyone to listen attentively to the Holy Spirit, respond with obedience, and pursue spiritual health with renewed urgency, leaving behind complacency and walking fully in the life God has called us to live.
In this message, I preach “V²: Vision & Values,” teaching that what we experience in worship and daily life becomes stronger when our church is aligned around two things: vision (where God is leading us) and values (who God is shaping us to be). I share that vision matters not only for individuals but also for the church body. Without direction, people drift, become distracted, or fall into whatever pressures life throws at them.
1) Why Vision Matters
I begin with Proverbs 29:18, pointing out that many people quote only the first half “where there’s no revelation, people cast off restraint” but the verse also includes “blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” I emphasize that it’s not Bible vs. Spirit or Spirit vs. Bible, they belong together. We read the Word carefully, and we also live daily sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading. The Spirit isn’t only present to help us interpret Scripture, He also speaks, guides, prompts, and directs believers in real time.
I then explain that without vision, we lose direction, and when we lose direction, we become vulnerable, our choices get driven by emotions, pressure, distraction, or fear instead of purpose. That’s why vision is a gift: it gives us a clear target.
2) Write the Vision and Stay Focused
From Habakkuk 2:2, I highlight the command to write down the revelation and make it plain. Vision isn’t meant to be vague or forgotten; it should be recorded and remembered. I talk honestly about how easy it is to forget simple tasks, and how that same forgetfulness can cause us to forget what God said. Writing it down helps us stay focused.
I also address delays and redirections: if a vision seems delayed, it doesn’t mean it’s dead. Sometimes God redirects for a season, like Paul experiencing a closed door and receiving a different assignment. What looks like delay can be preparation.
3) Our Church Vision: Unity
I share that when I stepped into leadership, one of my first questions was: “What is the vision of this church?” A church can’t be effective in its community without knowing what it’s called to emphasize. I remind the congregation that the vision we prayed and fasted for at the beginning of the year was unity, and I point out how God has already been fulfilling it: families reconnecting, people returning, and the body slowly being restored.
I challenge the church to remember the vision so we don’t miss what God is doing. If we forget unity, we’ll drift into lesser priorities, secondary arguments, or distractions.
I reinforce unity with key Scriptures:
Philippians 2:2, be like-minded, same love, one spirit and mind 1 Corinthians 1:10, agreement and reduced division Romans 12:5, many members, one body in Christ
Unity doesn’t mean we never disagree. It means we keep Jesus at the center and refuse to let lesser things break the bond of the Spirit.
4) Values: The Character That Sustains the Vision
Next, I teach that vision alone isn’t enough. You can have a direction, but if you don’t have the values and character to withstand storms, you won’t stay steady long enough to finish what God called you to do.
I define values as the standards and principles that shape what matters most. Christian values are rooted in what Jesus taught, and they don’t shift with trends. Values show what’s really inside us, and they also shape the kind of people we become.
I then point to the early church as a picture of healthy values (Acts 2:42–47): devotion to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, prayer, awe, generosity, unity, worship, and evangelistic fruit.
5) Our Core Values Today
I lay out the church’s core values and connect them to Scripture and real life:
Appreciate Diversity
We value people, stories, and gifts, and we empower them to advance God’s Kingdom. I connect this to the body imagery of 1 Corinthians 12, where we are one body with many parts.
Practice Generosity
Generosity isn’t only money; it’s time, service, support, and sharing our gifts. I connect it to Philippians 2:4, looking to the interests of others.
Embrace the Spirit-Filled Life
The Holy Spirit isn’t limited to church services, He goes with us everywhere. A Spirit-filled life includes fruit of the Spirit and openness to the gifts of the Spirit. I tie this to John 14:16–17, emphasizing that the Spirit lives in us and guides us.
Authentic Leadership
Leadership isn’t pretending you have it all together; it’s being real about struggles and victories while modeling Christ. I reference John 13:15, where Jesus leads by serving. I describe growth stages: observer → participant → leader, and I call for leaders who are steady examples in a dark world.
Honor Relationships
The church grows when we love, support, challenge, and sharpen each other. I connect this to Romans 12:10, devoted in love, honoring one another above ourselves.
Fruitful Worship
Worship isn’t routine; it’s encounter. I anchor this in John 4:24, worship in Spirit and truth. We come not to “check a box,” but to experience God and be changed.
6) Call to Response and Prayer
I close by calling the church to return to the center:
remember the vision: unity live the values consistently ask the Holy Spirit to sharpen us refuse to drift into distractions or division become a church whose identity is recognizable by its fruit
I pray for renewed spiritual sight, for hindrances to be removed, and for the church to stay aligned with Jesus as the non-negotiable center.
In this sermon, I speak directly to an urgent dilemma facing the church: growth or death. We all understand that growth is necessary in life, whether in our marriages, careers, businesses, or health, but too often we forget that the same is true of the church. A healthy church cannot remain stagnant. When anything becomes stagnant, it begins to die. So I call the congregation to take spiritual inventory and ask: are we becoming more effective in God’s mission, or are we drifting into comfort and unfinished obedience?
I begin by clarifying that the church belongs to God, not to personalities, preferences, or even traditions. We are one Body under one King, and the Body of Christ functions with structure and responsibility. Scripture shows two clear evidences in the church: leadership offices and congregational responsibility. Leaders, pastors, deacons, and ministry heads, are accountable to God, and according to James, leaders are judged more strictly. That truth should sober every leader. Our actions carry weight, influence, and consequences, especially in a culture where many have lost trust because of leaders who fall.
From there, I walk through leadership’s responsibility using Ephesians 4:12: leaders are called to equip God’s people for works of service so the Body may be built up. That means leadership must do more than preach, we must delegate, prepare, train, and develop people. Without structure, without a plan, and without intentional discipleship pathways, we are not fulfilling our assignment. I also share personally how taking ministry seriously includes recognizing the burden of calling: it’s not something I “do,” it’s who I am before God, and it impacts others who are watching and following.
Then I shift to the responsibility of believers. Every Christian has a role. From 1 Peter 4:10, I emphasize that each person has received a gift and is called to use it to serve others. From 2 Corinthians 5:20, I remind the church that we are Christ’s ambassadors, representatives of heaven, called to help the world be reconciled to God. From Ephesians 2:10, I affirm that we are God’s handiwork created for good works. I confront a common imbalance: sometimes we focus so much on personal devotion, Bible reading and prayer, that we forget service is also a spiritual discipline and a core part of spiritual maturity.
I then press into the mission of the church through Matthew 28:19–20. “Go,” “make disciples,” and “teach” are action words. We are not called to sit still and remain comfortable. Faith that produces no obedience becomes dead and powerless. Jesus also said the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, which exposes a common problem: we gather well, but we often fail to engage the harvest field. In today’s culture, church attendance is no longer automatic. People carry skepticism, pain, and baggage, so we must learn to reach them intentionally through real relationships, not by treating people like projects. Our workplaces, schools, and daily relationships are ministry fields.
From there, I take the church to Revelation 3:1–3, where Jesus speaks to the church in Sardis: “You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” This passage becomes a mirror. Reputation is not the same as spiritual health. Jesus calls the church to wake up, strengthen what remains, repent, and finish what is unfinished. I compare stagnation to a hospital monitor: when things go flat and stagnant, it’s a dangerous sign. Sometimes the church needs a spiritual wake-up call, an honest confrontation, so life can return.
I also address real challenges: burnout, lack of structure, and fear of change. Many churches struggle because ministry is carried by a few people without sustainable systems, which leads to exhaustion and hesitation to step into new opportunities. I make the point that wisdom includes knowing capacity, creating healthy rhythms of rest, and developing processes that protect people while still advancing the mission. The goal is not to work people into the ground, the goal is to build a healthy, equipped Body that can serve consistently without collapsing.
I close with urgency and hope. God’s work is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58), but we must give ourselves to His mission with wisdom and perseverance. I warn against a self-focused faith that neglects God’s house and God’s mission, echoing the prophetic confrontation that God’s people can become busy building their own lives while leaving God’s work unfinished. This sermon is ultimately a call back to covenant responsibility: to build disciples, equip the saints, serve with our gifts, and reach the lost. We are not spectators, we are family. And God is calling His church to grow
In this sermon, I teach our youth what it means to live a Spirit-filled life and why Jesus had to return to the Father so that the Holy Spirit could come. If Jesus had stayed physically on earth, His presence would have been limited to one place at a time, but through the Holy Spirit, God now dwells within every believer, guiding us, comforting us, and empowering us daily.
I begin by explaining that the Holy Spirit is not an “it” or a force, He is a person, the third Person of the Trinity, and He relates to us like a friend. Just like healthy friends tell us the truth, walk with us through hardship, and help us grow, the Holy Spirit does the same, yet in a deeper, supernatural way. Many people struggle with the idea of the supernatural, but our faith is rooted in a God who is Spirit, a God who fills the emptiness in our hearts that the world can never satisfy.
From there, I walk through Jesus’ promise in John 14 and 16 that the Spirit would come as our Advocate. The world can’t recognize Him, but we can, because He lives within us. The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives becomes evidence of God’s power and love at work, and He begins producing transformation from the inside out.
I then teach on the fruit of the Spirit, using an apple as a visual. Jesus said people are known by their fruit, meaning our actions reveal what is truly inside of us. The fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) shows whether we’re being led by the Spirit or by our flesh. I share practical, everyday examples, waiting patiently at the DMV, responding kindly to difficult customers, showing gentleness when correcting someone, and exercising self-control when anger rises. These aren’t just Christian ideals; they’re spiritual attributes the Holy Spirit grows in us over time.
Next, I teach on the gifts of the Spirit from 1 Corinthians 12. While the fruit shapes our character, the gifts empower our ministry. I share real-life examples from my own walk: moments where God gave me supernatural wisdom in conversation, times when I sensed a spiritual presence in someone, and moments when the Spirit gave interpretation during a time of tongues. These gifts operate not for personal pride but “for the common good,” to build up the church and reveal God’s supernatural love and truth.
Finally, I remind the youth that as a Spirit-filled church, we should not be surprised when the Spirit moves. We shouldn’t be surprised when God changes the direction of a sermon, convicts a heart, gives a prophetic word, or pours out a gift in the room. We honor the Word of God, we stay balanced, and we remain grounded in Scripture, but we also fully expect the Spirit to show up, because Jesus promised He would.
I close with prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to make Himself real in our lives, speak to us when we need direction, grow His fruit in us, and activate His gifts within us. My heart is that every student understands that the Spirit-filled life is not mystical or strange, it’s the normal Christian life, empowered by God Himself.
I reflect on my relationship with Christian Life Center in Gridley.
When I was a youth director at The Father’s House in Live Oak for eight months, the church needed guest speakers. My church recommended me, and I had the opportunity to preach a few times.
The first time, I preached about the Holy Spirit.
The second time, I preached about pastoral qualities.
The third time, I preached on “Strengthening Our Vital Signs.”
Taking on these opportunities helped me reflect on my preaching and develop a heart for service during a time when the church was in need.
Since it has been a while since I last updated my site, I’ll be posting recaps covering the last two years of my journey.
At the beginning of 2023, my heart was set on serving a local church after my time at Live Oak, which was filled with volunteerism. After that season of mission work, I decided that I wanted to serve somewhere closer to my workplace.
Media Involvement:
It all started when a college friend asked if I was willing to help with media at their church. Since this church was closer to both my home and workplace, I decided to pursue this opportunity. I saw the potential of using media to help bring people closer to where I work and serve.
I officially started serving in media at Mission City Church around March 2023. I consistently worked during first services since my work schedule prevented me from attending second services. This commitment has continued over the past several months.
Youth Involvement:
After a few months, I felt stirred to serve in youth ministry. From October to December, I visited and reflected on whether this was a commitment I was willing to make. Given my background in youth ministry, my goal has always been to empower students and equip them for the gospel. This motivation led me to actively engage with the youth ministry.
2023 Run Down
• March 2023 – Began serving in media ministry at Mission City Church.
• October 2023 – Started exploring involvement in youth ministry.
• December 2023 – Made the commitment to youth ministry after a period of reflection.
Time has been a challenge including when you have goals that need to be prioritized and executed. My life is shifting before my eyes and it seems like these challenges are now becoming real to me to the point that sacrifices will have to be made.
As a minister, one of the eye-opening things is the obsession with being in Ministry. This was my big dream to someday be in full-time ministry when I was called to it in High School. This was the end goal and planned, prepared, and did everything I can to be able to achieve this goal. Goals are great but they should be flexible and not idolized. This was my downfall when I started to idolize this dream more than God. This dream dictated my value and worth. So when I didn’t accomplish this goal I felt like a failure. I had to remember that God is the one that opens doors. He is the one who dictates my value and worth not a position. So instead of allowing this dream to be first in my life, I now have God being first to allow anything to happen in my life. It goes back to surrender for worship.
Enjoying the Present:
I am currently working two jobs right now as a vendor and a produce clerk. Both of these jobs are full-time positions which I’m blessed with because of how bad the economy is going right now. Within these two jobs, I have been able to become light to those who need it (Matthew 5:14-16)
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
and be able to be a witness (Acts 22:15)
15You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.
when the opportunity comes. I feel strongly that I am there to make an impact on my coworkers and while I have the chance, I treat this as a missionary assignment to plant seeds or water and if God will allow those opportunities to grow, they will grow.
Master’s Program:
I am one month away from starting my Master’s Program. Having two jobs will help me pay for it without getting more into student loans which I currently owe 45,000 for my bachelor’s degree. Pursuing this program, I am aware that it will be time demanding, and sacrifices I will have to be making throughout this program. This should take me less than 2 years which is a good outlook being 27 and having my Masters’s degree accomplished. Then my goal before 30 is to be completely debt free from my student loan debt.
I will be running this race well. Praying for God to use me in a powerful way through the connection I have gained with work and the studies that I am learning to impact the local church.
We like to talk about resolutions when it comes to the New Year. As a 25-year-old, I still have a lot to work on when it comes to balancing my life and handling my flaws.
I remember I would tell myself every year that I wanted to be debt-free from my credit cards. I would be motivated but then fall back due to my ability to spend the money I have built in my credit cards. I also have a few subscriptions and leases that I currently have that don’t help my case here.
Honestly, if I can pay off all my debt I can get a small apartment here in California. But because it’s getting too expensive it’s common for people to have a second job to accommodate living situations.
So part of how I am finally going to accomplish this resolution is to get an additional part-time job as I currently have a full-time job that pays decent but because I live above my means it’s difficult.
I’m right now in the process of maybe getting this additional part-time job which will negotiate how to work out my schedules as I work, have full-time work-study, and school.
With my responsibilities, I have been trusted with much. Here’s a verse that has been in my mind while going through my Bible plan.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” – Luke 16:10 NIV
I believe that if you are honest, trustworthy, punctual, and can establish boundaries on many things. There will be a lot of responsibilities that can be trusted for you to be able to have in your life. I might as well do as much as I can before I get married since marriage itself is a huge responsibility to care for your partner.
This part-time I believe is temporary unless I officially have a living wage ministry position. In the meantime, I think it’s wise to handle my finances first before I start worrying about churches.
1 Timothy 1:1-2 New International Version (NIV) 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy my true son in the faith. Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul’s View of Ministry:
We can notice a few things within the beginning letters of Paul towards Timothy regarding his philosophy of ministry. We can see that in verse 1 the word command indicates that this is not something Paul decided to do one day. This was a calling that God has chosen him to be apart of. Let’s not forget that Paul was persecuting Christians and Jesus decided to redirect his life for the sake of the gospel. (Acts 9:1-19) This should relate to us as ministers of the gospel. That this was not something that we decided to do one day and thought it would be a great idea. This is something God has called us to do, commanded us to do, which gives us the desire to do it.
To figure out whether we are called by God to minister in whichever area we must recognize if there must be a command to do it. Do you have a deep feeling that this is something you must do? Do you know and know and know and know that this is 100 percent what God has called to pursue? If you are called into the ministry then you are obligated to do the work of the ministry. Whichever path is presented will come when you commit yourself by reading the Word, prayer, and fasting.
Why do we need this validation from God?
We need to know this is from God because ministry is not as easy as it seems, nor it is as amazing as you would imagine. Let me break your bubble for a minute… I remember my calling by in high school and my goal was to become an intern at my church, during this time frame the church faced division and there was no internship after that. Afterward, I stayed persistent to serve and somehow if i would get to be in full-time ministry throughout those years. While God hasn’t made provision for that yet I believe that I need to go back to my specific first step and be apart of an internship or be trained under someone. Throughout serving the ministry there will be hard times and it is those hard times that God’s calling must guide us to stay committed to the cause. Paul did not have an easy journey throughout his ministry and we can expect struggles and challenges that will test our calling. I’ve struggled, wanted to quit, and simply believe that I’m not good enough but God… reminded me of my calling. This is the obligation that Paul was sensing while talking to Timothy.
Don’t forget your calling:
There are many people who quit the ministry simply because of the intensive expectations placed on them by people, the workload of establishing the church, and fighting against temptations. We must be reminded that God is equipping and preparing you daily if you allow Him to. If God has called you then he had all the pieces together to accomplish the tasks. We are created to do good works that God already planned for in advance. (Ephesians 2:10) Don’t forget that when we get tired and weary that Jesus is willing to help with our burdens. (Matthew 11:28-29) Lastly, Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2)
My Faith Journey 