This message beautifully bridges Thanksgiving and Christmas through eight powerful words from 2 Corinthians 9:15: 'Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift.' We're reminded that the foundation of all Christian gratitude isn't our circumstances, blessings, or even our feelings—it's Jesus himself. The apostle Paul uses a word so rare it may have been coined specifically for this moment because ordinary vocabulary couldn't capture the magnitude of what God has done. When we grasp that our biggest problem—sin—has already been solved through Christ, everything changes. We're not swimming in a pool of blessings; we're swimming in the gospel itself. This isn't about jumping off a diving board once when we get saved and moving on. It's about living every single day immersed in the reality of who Jesus is and what He's accomplished. The message challenges us to anchor our thanksgiving not in what's happening around us, but in what God has already accomplished for us. When life feels more like the crash scene in a Hallmark movie than the happy ending, we can still overflow with gratitude because our foundation is unshakeable. From forgiveness and redemption to adoption and eternal life, we possess riches in Christ that transcend any earthly circumstance. This season, before we sit at any table or wrap any gift, we're invited to pause and preach this truth to ourselves: Jesus is enough, always has been, always will be.

This powerful conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount forces us to confront an uncomfortable truth: we're all building something, and the only question is what foundation we're building on. Jesus presents us with two builders, two houses, and the same devastating storm—but drastically different outcomes. The difference? Obedience. We live in a culture saturated with spiritual information—podcasts, devotionals, Bible studies, sermons on 1.5 speed—yet Jesus isn't impressed with how much we know. He's after transformation, and transformation happens when hearing becomes doing. The rock Jesus speaks of isn't our discipline, church attendance, or willpower—it's Jesus himself and our obedience to his words. This message challenges us to examine where we've become experts in hearing but amateurs in doing. Are we building our lives on the shifting sand of partial obedience, cultural Christianity, and spiritual convenience? Or are we anchored in the rock that withstands every storm? The invitation isn't to try harder—it's to anchor deeper. Because storms don't care what we know; they reveal what we've obeyed. And when life shakes us, the question won't be whether we attended church or knew the right verses—it will be whether we actually built our lives on the one foundation that cannot fall.

What if everything we've built our faith on turns out to be counterfeit? This powerful message from Matthew 7:21-23 confronts us with one of Jesus' most sobering warnings: not everyone who calls Him 'Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven. Through the striking image of counterfeit twenty-dollar bills that look real but hold no value, we're challenged to examine whether our faith is genuine or merely religious activity. Jesus reveals that real faith isn't about saying the right words, attending church regularly, or even performing miracles in His name. Instead, it's about doing the will of the Father—living in obedient relationship with Him. The passage exposes a terrifying possibility: we can be surrounded by faith, doing good works, speaking truth, and still be strangers to Jesus. Many will stand before Him confident in their salvation, pointing to their ministry resumes—'Lord, didn't we prophesy, cast out demons, and do mighty works in Your name?'—only to hear the devastating words, 'I never knew you.' This isn't about earning salvation through works; it's about understanding that genuine salvation produces real transformation. The question isn't what we've done for Jesus, but whether we truly know Him in intimate, surrendered relationship. Are we fans cheering from the stands, or followers who've stepped onto the field? Today is the day to examine our foundation and ensure we're trusting in Christ alone, not our religious credentials or spiritual activity.

We're presented with one of the most sobering truths in all of Scripture: there are only two paths in life, and every single one of us is walking on one of them right now. Drawing from Matthew 7:13-20, we explore Jesus's teaching about the narrow gate and the wide gate—two roads with vastly different destinations. The narrow way requires us to drop our baggage of pride, self-righteousness, and sin at the door. It's the path of surrender, repentance, and daily choosing to follow Christ. The wide road, meanwhile, looks easy and inviting, crowded with affirmation and comfort, but it leads to destruction. What makes this message so powerful is the reminder that we can't drift into the kingdom of God—salvation is intentional, not accidental. Jesus isn't trying to keep us out; He's inviting us into real, abundant life. But we must come through the one door: Him. The question isn't which church we attend or what we say we believe, but which way we're actually walking. Are we carrying too much into the gate—our ego, our sin, our 'I'll do it my way' attitude? The gate isn't small because God is exclusive; it's small because our pride won't fit through. This message challenges us to examine our hearts honestly and asks: which path are we truly on today?

Matthew 7 challenges us to examine the difference between righteous discernment and hypocritical judgment. We discover that Jesus isn't forbidding us from ever making moral evaluations—instead, He's calling us to start with humility and self-examination. The vivid image of trying to remove a speck from someone's eye while a log protrudes from our own reveals how blind we can be to our own faults while hyper-focused on others' shortcomings. The message invites us into a transformative rhythm of dependence on our Heavenly Father through persistent asking, seeking, and knocking. This isn't about manipulating God but about drawing close enough that our desires align with His heart. When we grasp that we serve a generous Father who loves giving good gifts to His children, everything changes—including how we treat others. The Golden Rule becomes not just a moral platitude but a gospel-powered way of life where we reflect the grace we've received. We're challenged to move from the judge's bench to our knees, from criticism to compassion, and from self-righteousness to Spirit-dependence. This upside-down kingdom life means we don't wait for others to deserve grace—we lead with it because we've been lavished with it first.

This message cuts straight to the heart of our modern struggle with anxiety and control through Jesus's timeless words in Matthew 6:33-34. We're challenged to examine what we're truly seeking first in our lives—are we building our own little kingdoms of comfort and security, or are we pursuing God's reign and righteousness? The contrast is stark: when we seek first our own kingdom, anxiety rules our lives because we simply don't have the power to control everything. But when we seek His kingdom first, peace begins to reign. The Greek word for 'seek' means to actively pursue, to go hard after something—this isn't casual Sunday Christianity. We're called to live under God's authority, reflect His character, and join His mission, which means prioritizing obedience over comfort, holiness over happiness, mission over maintenance, and trust over control. The beautiful promise attached to this priority is that God will take care of 'all these things'—our daily needs. Like the Israelites receiving manna each morning, we're learning to depend on God daily rather than borrowing tomorrow's trouble. This isn't passive laziness but active faith that works hard while trusting the Provider rather than our plans. When we stop trying to live tomorrow before it arrives, we discover that God's grace is sufficient for today, and tomorrow's grace will come exactly when we need it.

In a world where anxiety has become the third most common health disorder in our nation—affecting more people than diabetes and all cancers combined—Pastor David Williams invites us to consider a radically different perspective. Drawing from Matthew 6:25-32, this message challenges us to look beyond our worry windows filled with concerns about family, finances, work, and failures. Jesus doesn't dismiss our anxieties or tell us we're foolish for feeling them; instead, He invites us to consider the lilies of the field. These flowers neither toil nor spin, yet they're clothed in splendor that surpasses even Solomon's glory. The call to 'consider' isn't a casual glance—it's a deep meditation, an invitation to observe how our Heavenly Father provides. We learn three transformative truths: His eyes are on us, His hand is on us, and His heart is for us. Peace doesn't come from what we know, but from who knows us. Like a silversmith who keeps silver in the fire until he can see his reflection in it, God is refining us through our waiting, burning away everything that doesn't look like Him. The contrast is stark—the world frantically seeks after provision with obsessive craving, but we're called to rest in the knowledge that our Heavenly Father already knows what we need. This isn't about managing anxiety better; it's about laying it at His feet and letting Him do the work.

We're challenged to confront our anxieties head-on through the lens of faith. Drawing from Matthew 6, we're reminded of Jesus' profound words: 'Do not be anxious about your life.' This isn't just a suggestion, but a command rooted in understanding God's character and provision. We're invited to shift our perspective from worrying about earthly needs to trusting in God's abundant care. The analogy of birds, who neither sow nor reap yet are cared for by our Heavenly Father, beautifully illustrates God's attentiveness to our needs. This message encourages us to recalibrate our priorities, finding rest in God's care, and living with generosity. It's a call to move from a life dictated by worry to one characterized by trust and freedom in Christ.

Explore Jesus' teachings on the importance of spiritual focus and undivided devotion to God. It emphasizes that our focus shapes who we become, and we cannot serve both God and money. The pastor encourages listeners to give God their first and best, both in terms of finances and overall devotion, leading to true freedom and abundant life.

Donna Corum

Donna grew up in a Christian home, surrounded by faithful parents and grandparents. She attended church regularly, always believing in Jesus but not yet understanding what it meant to follow Him completely and proclaim the gospel through baptism. Since attending Fountain City Church, the Lord has been stirring her heart to take this step of obedience. As she was studying God’s Word, the Holy Spirit broke her heart with Acts 22:16: “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized…” It was this verse helped her realize that baptism is an outward expression of a personal surrender to Jesus. Today she joyfully follows Christ in baptism, proclaiming her trust in Him as her Savior.

Logan Hall

When Logan was six years old, he began asking his mom how he could go to heaven. She sat with him and read from the Storybook Bible, explaining that Jesus is God’s Son who never sinned, but died on the cross in our place so that we can be forgiven and have eternal life with Him. That night, Logan believed in Jesus and put his trust in Him as his Savior. Over the years he has continued to grow in his understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. Today, at age eleven, Logan is being baptized to share publicly that he belongs to Jesus and wants to follow Him.

Emory Carter

Emory remembers feeling overwhelmed by her family’s move and the changes in her life. In the middle of that season, she realized her heart was longing for peace that only Jesus could give. While at Youth Group on a Wednesday night, she heard the good news of the gospel, that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again so we could be forgiven and have eternal life. That night, Emory put her trust in Jesus and gave her life to Him. Today she is being baptized to share that she belongs to Jesus and has found the peace she was searching for in following Him.

Kayla Carter

Kayla grew up in church and for many years thought she was saved. But at age 28, she realized she had never truly surrendered her life to Jesus. That was when she placed her faith in Christ and received Him as her Savior. For years she has carried the sense that she needed to publicly affirm the step she took when she truly trusted in Jesus. Today, with joy and conviction, Kayla is being baptized as a follower of Christ, celebrating the gospel, that Jesus died for our sins so we may be saved.

Carol Rudolph

Carol first surrendered her life to Jesus as a young girl and has known His love throughout her life. Over the years, there were seasons when she reconnected with Him in fresh ways, but recently she has experienced a deeper understanding of what it means to follow Christ. As she’s grown in God’s Word and listened to the testimonies of others sharing how the Lord has worked in their lives, she realized that baptism is a public declaration of full surrender to Jesus. Moved by that truth, Carol is now taking this step of obedience. Today she is being baptized alongside her husband Jeff to celebrate her faith in Jesus and her commitment to follow Him completely.

Jeff Rudolph

Jeff grew up in a Christian home and has believed in Jesus for much of his life. Over the years, however, he has come to understand that following Christ is not just about believing in Him but about surrendering every part of life to Him. Jeff says that his time at Fountain City Church has deepened his walk with the Lord and drawn him closer to Jesus than ever before. He now desires to live as a fully devoted follower of Christ. Today, together with his wife, Jeff is being baptized to publicly declare his faith in Jesus and his desire to follow Him, trusting the good news of our loving and merciful God.

Michelle Pritchard

Michelle’s story is one of God’s patience and grace. For many years she walked away from the Lord, angry and hurting, and went down a dark road. By God’s mercy, she has now been clean for thirteen years, and this week she proclaimed that she has truly surrendered her life to Jesus and found lasting hope in Him. She has experienced the love and forgiveness of Christ in a new way and is learning what it means to follow Him fully. Today she is being baptized to proclaim that Jesus has saved her, restored her, and given her new life. She wants everyone to know that the good news of the gospel is real.

Guido Fallerino

Guido came to the RENEW Conference carrying years of trying to make life work in his own strength. For a long time, he believed he had to earn his way to God, but no matter how hard he tried, it never brought peace. On Thursday night of the conference, as he heard the good news of the gospel… that Christ’s death and resurrection paid the full price for our sins… he realized that grace was even for someone like him. Guido says that in that moment he knew it was time to stop striving and to come home to Jesus. Today he is being baptized to declare his faith in Christ and the new life he has found in Him.

Dan Young

Dan first trusted Christ as his Savior the summer before his junior year of high school at a youth retreat, but he never followed that decision with baptism. Over the past few months, he has sensed God calling him to step up as the Christian husband and father he is meant to be and to lead his family in faith. Dan says he’s spent years living as a passive believer, “dragging around the corpse of my old self,” and now he’s ready to bury that old life and live fully for Christ. Today he is being baptized to declare his faith in Jesus, who died and rose again so that all who believe in Him may have eternal life.

Kylie Bounds

Kylie first began attending church in fifth grade after her mom remarried. Around age eleven she came to understand who Jesus is and, at a church conference in sixth grade, trusted Him as her Savior. Though she has walked with Jesus since that time, she was never encouraged to be baptized and didn’t fully understand the importance of this public declaration of faith until later in college.

For years, baptism stayed on her heart, but she never felt settled in a church where she could take that step. That changed when she came to Fountain City Church. Here she has found a Christ-centered community that has encouraged her, strengthened her faith, and helped her grow in God’s Word.

Over the past year Kylie’s relationship with Jesus has deepened, giving her a new confidence in Him and an unshakable desire to live fully for Christ. Today she is being baptized to joyfully declare her faith in Jesus and celebrate the new life she has in Him.

Mackenzie Harbin

Mackenzie says her grandmother was the greatest influence in pointing her to Jesus. She remembers her grandmother’s wisdom, Christ-like character, and humble faith, and how she consistently drew Mackenzie toward God when the world was pulling her in other directions. Over the years, Mackenzie admits she often felt lukewarm in her faith and at times wandered into things that were not what God wanted for her. Recently, she has come to a place of surrender, ready to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. Today she is being baptized to declare that she has been washed clean and forgiven through Christ, who died for our sins so we could have eternal life with Him.

Morghan Harbin

Morghan first came to know Jesus at a church service in 2015, but for several years her faith felt distant and inconsistent. While living in Dallas, she learned from a family she nannied for what it meant to spend daily time with the Lord and have a real relationship with Him. Soon after, she faced an unexpected pregnancy and felt uncertain about her future, yet God graciously met her where she was and began shaping her life and her family. Moving to Knoxville and becoming part of Fountain City Church has been a turning point, helping her grow in her faith and experience Christ in a deeper way. Today, Morghan is being baptizedalong with her husband to celebrate her new life in Jesus and her desire to follow Him together as a family.

Caden Harbin

Caden grew up in church, surrounded by believers, but for many years never fully committed his life to Christ. In college, his roommate, who led FCA, showed him what it truly meant to follow Jesus. After graduation, becoming a father opened Caden’s eyes to the kind of example he wanted to set for his son. This past year, finding Fountain City Church has been one of the greatest blessings of his life, strengthening his faith and shaping him as a husband and father. He and Morghan got married LAST SUNDAY and are committed to keeping God at the center of their home. Today Caden is being baptized as a declaration of his trust in Jesus and his desire to lead his family to follow Christ together.

We're challenged to embrace the transformative truth of 'Christ in you, the hope of glory' from Colossians 1:27. This isn't just about Jesus being with us, but dwelling within us. We're reminded that our identity in Christ is not about our own efforts or goodness, but about His presence inside us. The speaker uses a vivid illustration to show how we are completely enveloped in God's presence when we accept Christ. This profound reality calls us to surrender our self-sufficiency and trust in Christ's sufficiency. We're encouraged to abide in Him daily, choosing to be Spirit-led rather than self-led. This message invites us to move beyond simply trying harder in our faith, to trusting deeper in the indwelling power of Christ.

Olivia Cates

Olivia first started going to church as a teenager but drifted away in college after being hurt by a very legalistic environment that left her fearful and uncertain. For years she wrestled with doubt, until about a year ago when she felt convicted to learn more about the Bible. As she studied its reliability, her faith in God was renewed, and she began looking for a church. She found Fountain City Church online and began watching the livestream every week.

Still nervous about walking in, she often drove by Fountain City Church, unsure if she’d ever come in person. One Sunday in July she told herself that if there was a parking spot out front, she’d go inside and let God do the rest. 

There just so happened to be a spot open right by the front door. Little did she know, that was the very first Sunday our shuttle team had launched to open up parking for people just like her. From that first Sunday, God used the people she met at NextSteps, her new small group with Rose Harper, and the Belong class to draw her closer to Christ. Today she is being baptized to declare her faith in Jesus and the new life she has found in Him.

Amber Atkins

Amber began questioning faith a few months ago and started searching for truth. As she listened to the stories of others who had been changed by Jesus, she felt her heart being drawn to God in a way she had never experienced before. In the weeks leading up to the RENEW Conference, she prayed and asked God to guide her life, sensing that He was calling her to Himself. On Friday night at RENEW, Amber said she could no longer stand still, her whole body was shaking as she heard the Gospel… she knew it was time to surrender her life fully to Christ. Today she is being baptized to declare her faith in Jesus and the new life she has found in Him.

Lydia Harper

Lydia first sensed God calling her when she was about seven years old. The next day, while working on her Awana verses, she confessed her sins and prayed with her mom, trusting Jesus as her Savior. As she grew, she experienced seasons of strong faith and seasons of doubt. At thirteen, during a week at Camp Tapawingo, she recommitted herself to the Lord. Still, it wasn’t until her family came to Fountain City Church that Lydia says her faith truly became firm and personal. She now knows with confidence that her hope is in Jesus. Today she is being baptized to declare her trust in Christ, who died for her sins and gives her the gift of eternal life.

Will Payne

Will grew up with some connection to faith, but often drifted in and out of it. Earlier this year, he reached a very low point and even attempted to take his own life. While in the hospital, he experienced moments of clarity and peace, as if God was meeting him right where he was. When he woke up, he sensed a new hope and knew something had changed. Not long after, he began attending Fountain City Church and soon made a confession of faith in Jesus. Will says he has found real hope and life in Christ, who forgives, restores, and gives eternal life to all who trust in Him. Today he is being baptized to declare his new life in Jesus.

Ryder Norris

Ryder grew up in a Christian home but for many years didn’t personally believe in Jesus. He knew about Him but hadn’t trusted Him as Savior and Lord. That changed on Thursday night of the RENEW Conference. Surrounded by friends from Young Adults, men he now calls his brothers, Ryder sensed God drawing him to Himself. That night he surrendered his life to Jesus, believing with his whole heart that Christ truly is “the way, the truth, and the life.” Ryder says that moment changed everything, giving him new faith and hope in Christ. Today he is being baptized to declare publicly that his life belongs to Jesus and that he desires to follow Him completely.

Shannon Eirich

Shannon has an experience at a church camp early in life, but realized later that she had just following the crowd and not truly surrendering to Jesus. Earlier this year, she and her husband Hobie joined Marc and Karen Arnold’s small group. When it was her turn to share her story, Shannon realized she had never truly surrendered her life to Christ. She told the group she longed to know Him personally and hear His voice. That evening, she placed her trust in Jesus and gave her life fully to Him. Today she’s being baptized as an act of obedience and faith, and she’s asked Karen to stand with her in this special moment.

Hobie Eirich

Hobie grew up hearing about God from his mom and, even as a child, began to believe that what he heard about Jesus was true. Still, for many years he tried to live life in his own strength and never fully surrendered his life to Christ. Over time, he realized that the gospel is not just good advice about how to live but the good news of what Jesus has already done… that He died for our sins, rose again, and offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who trust in Him. Recently, Hobie prayed to fully surrender his life to Jesus. Today he is being baptized alongside his wife, Shannon, to declare his faith in Christ and his desire to follow Him completely.

Ryan Cardwell

Ryan first knew the gospel as a middle schooler at a school release crusade and felt God speaking to him. But as he grew older, he drifted and began living as if he could handle life on his own. Though he believed in Jesus, he realized he was not truly following Him. For years he felt the need to surrender but kept putting it off. This past Sunday, September 21st, Ryan finally yielded his life fully to Christ, declaring Jesus as Lord and committing to follow Him completely. Today he is being baptized as a testimony of that surrender, proclaiming that his life belongs to Jesus and he desires to live under His leadership.

Kara Cardwell

Kara grew up in a Christian home and came to faith in Christ during a youth conference in middle school. She was blessed with friends who encouraged her walk with Jesus and with a family who laid a foundation of faith in her life. In college, her priorities shifted and her faith drifted for a season. God used her husband’s desire to lead their home in a Christ-centered way to draw her back. The birth of their daughter deepened Kara’s desire to raise her in a home that honors the Lord. This past year has stretched Kara’s faith and reminded her to lean on Jesus through every season. Today she is being baptized to declare her trust in Christ and her commitment to follow Him.

Andrew Barkley

Andrew grew up in a wonderful home and heard the good news of Jesus from an early age. While in college, he prayed with a leader to receive Christ as his Savior, but in the years that followed he never became part of a church community and says he wasn’t truly living as a follower of Jesus. Through it all, his family continued to pray for him and encourage him in his faith. His sister begged him to come to the RENEW Conference and he came! On Thursday evening, Andrew sensed God calling him to surrender fully and to lay everything in his life down at the feet of Jesus. Today he is being baptized to declare that he belongs to Christ and desires to follow Him completely.

Brandon Scarlett

Brandon has faced incredible trials… surviving a serious car accident as a teenager, a rattlesnake bite, and a devastating motorcycle accident that left him in a wheelchair. Through each near-death experience, God was drawing Brandon closer to Himself. In the hospital after his accident, Brandon says he came face-to-face with the reality of spiritual darkness, which made his faith in Jesus grow even stronger. Over the past few months at Fountain City Church, Brandon has fully surrendered his life to Christ and now lives with the confidence that Jesus has saved him. Today he is being baptized to declare publicly that his life belongs to Jesus and that the gospel is the hope of the world.

We dive deep into Hebrews 11, often called the 'Hall of Faith.' This passage challenges our common misconceptions about what true faith looks like. We learn that sometimes God delivers believers immediately through miracles or behind-the-scenes work, while other times He gives us the grace to endure suffering. The key is understanding that God's deliverance is best, whether it comes immediately or eternally. We're reminded of heroes like Daniel in the lions' den and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, who demonstrated unwavering faith in both triumph and tragedy. This message encourages us to hold onto God even in our darkest moments, knowing that our enduring faith can be a powerful testimony to the world. As we run our race of faith, we're called to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the ultimate example of endurance through suffering for a greater purpose.

We're challenged to raise our expectations of what God can do in our lives. The story of Peter and John healing the lame man at the temple gate in Acts 3 serves as a profound reminder that God often exceeds our expectations in miraculous ways. We're encouraged to see interruptions as divine setups for God's intervention. The beautiful gate, where the lame man sat daily, symbolizes how we sometimes settle for less when God wants to offer us complete transformation. This narrative invites us to reflect on areas in our lives where we may have lowered our expectations due to prolonged waiting or disappointment. Are we merely seeking support in our current condition, or are we open to God's transformative power? The message urges us to anchor our hope in God's character rather than our circumstances, reminding us that the answer to every broken part of us is always Jesus Christ.

In a world that often feels chaotic and broken, many of us find ourselves longing for something more - a divine intervention, a spiritual awakening, a personal revival. But how do we invite such transformation into our lives? The answer may lie in a powerful passage from Isaiah 64, which offers timeless wisdom for those seeking renewal.

The cry of the desperate heart is captured beautifully in Isaiah's words: "Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence." This isn't a polite request or a casual prayer. It's a raw, almost violent plea for God to tear open the sky and break into our reality. It's the language of someone who knows that unless God shows up, nothing will change.

This desperation is the soil where revival grows. It's not about manufacturing spiritual excitement or implementing clever strategies. True renewal begins when we finally admit, "God, I can't do this on my own. I need you to intervene." It's in these moments of complete surrender that we often see God move most powerfully.

Consider the story of 33 Chilean miners trapped nearly half a mile underground in 2010. For 17 days, they had no idea if anyone even knew they were alive. Imagine the desperation - no light, dwindling food, oxygen running low. They couldn't dig themselves out or engineer their own rescue. Their only hope was that someone from the outside would break through. After 69 agonizing days, every single miner was pulled to safety. This miraculous rescue illustrates the heart of Isaiah's prayer: "God, we're trapped. We can't save ourselves. We need you to break in and rescue us."

But here's a profound truth that sets the God of the Bible apart from every other deity: He acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. While other religions demand that people perform rituals, make sacrifices, or climb spiritual ladders to reach the divine, the one true God flips the script. He comes down to us. Our role is not to hustle our way into His presence, but to wait - actively, dependently, and expectantly.

This waiting isn't passive. It's not sitting back and hoping things will change. Biblical waiting is leaning forward in trust, like a watchman straining his eyes toward the horizon, convinced that the King is coming. It's an posture of dependence that says, "God, I'm looking to you. I trust that you'll move on my behalf."

However, this journey towards renewal requires something that often makes us uncomfortable: humility. Isaiah doesn't mince words when he states, "All our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment." This is a stark reminder that our best efforts to reach God on our own terms fall desperately short. Our church attendance, careful words, and "Christian resume" cannot earn us favor with God. In fact, they can blind us to our deep need for Him.

True revival never starts with performance. It always begins with repentance and confession. We must admit our sin, our pride, and our inability to save ourselves before God can truly work in our lives. Consider the story of Chris Herren, a professional basketball player whose promising career was derailed by addiction. Despite fame, money, and opportunity, he spiraled out of control. No amount of rehab or personal effort could fix him. It was only when Herren reached a point of total surrender, admitting he couldn't save himself and placing his life in God's hands, that real transformation began.

This brings us to a beautiful metaphor Isaiah uses: "But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand." God doesn't just rescue the desperate or forgive the humble. He reshapes them. He takes the raw, cracked, unformed clay of our lives and begins to mold it into something beautiful, strong, and useful.

But for this transformation to occur, we must be moldable. If we harden our hearts or resist His touch, God cannot shape us. He waits for willing hands, open hearts, and surrendered lives. This often means letting go of our own plans and control, trusting that God sees what we cannot.

Consider the story of Moses. When God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses resisted. He argued, made excuses, and clung to his comfortable life in the desert. But when Moses finally yielded and became pliable in God's hands, we see the incredible results. Rivers parted, plagues fell, and an entire nation was delivered from slavery. God accomplished through Moses what he never could have done on his own.

So, what does this mean for us today? How can we position ourselves for personal revival and renewal?

Be Desperate: Cry out to God, acknowledging that you can't fix yourself.

Be Dependent: Trust God to act on your behalf, rather than trying to earn His favor.

Be Humble: Admit your inability to save yourself, and let God do the work in your life.

Be Moldable: Yield your life, plans, and desire for control to God, allowing Him to shape you.

The invitation is clear: stop striving, stop performing, and stop trying to earn God's love. Instead, surrender. Open your hands and your heart. God is ready to act, to rescue, and to reshape your life. But He won't force Himself on hardened hearts. He waits for those who are willing to say, "Yes, Lord. Whatever you tell me to do, I'll do it."

Perhaps there's an area of obedience God has been calling you to, but you've been resisting. Maybe it's a step of faith, a conversation you need to have, a relationship to restore, or a sin to confess. Whatever it is, don't hold back any longer. Be willing to take that next step, trusting that as you do, God - in His goodness - is running towards you, ready to meet you there.

In a world that often feels dark and chaotic, we have hope. We serve a God who is willing to rend the heavens and come down, to reshape our lives and bring renewal. The question is: are we desperate enough to cry out, dependent enough to wait, humble enough to confess, and moldable enough to be transformed? May we all have the courage to say "yes" and watch in awe as God moves in power.

In one of the final episodes of the Renew Podcast, we get to hear from Nick Campbell, our Worship Pastor at Fountain City Church, about what it means to worship from the overflow of our walk with Christ. Dave & Nick also talk about preparing our hearts for Renew and how God has been moving in recent weeks.

In our final speaker interview, Donny & Dave interview Cory Lethgo, Pastor of Riverstone Church, about how God is moving in his life, the growth at Riverstone Church, how thankful he is for his wife, and what's in store for night one of the Renew Conference.

Read 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (ESV)

Paul’s prayer here is short, but full of vision. He’s asking God to help the Thessalonians live lives worthy of the calling they’ve received, not by their own strength, but by His power. It’s a prayer for resolve, for faith, and for a life that glorifies Jesus in everything.

As we pray, we’re asking God to fulfill what He’s planted in us. To give us strength to walk by faith, not by sight. And above all, to make Jesus more known through our lives. 

May our calling and His grace collide in ways that bring Him glory.

Prayer Guide:

“That our God may make you worthy of His calling…”

→ Shape me, God, to live a life that reflects Your grace.

“And may fulfill every resolve for good…”

→ Help me follow through on the godly desires You’ve put in my heart.

“And every work of faith by His power…”

→ Let my work be done in faith, not fear... and by Your strength, not mine.

“So that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you…”

→ May everything in me point to Jesus, not to me.

“According to the grace of our God…”

→ Thank You that none of this depends on perfection... just grace.

“And the Lord Jesus Christ.”

→ Jesus, You are Lord. Be Lord over my motives, my work, my witness.