Sunday AM Recap
July 12, 2026
Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/dEDZuSmK_MA?si=qcJuBC75Uesrokjr
Teacher Sara Ozbun opened the service.
Stacea Kuehn led worship.
Early Childhood Worship
Link: God's Got This Week 1
Bible Story: Creation
Verse: Jeremiah 29:11
Big Idea: God is Real
Message: Pastor Jeff Spangler
“What’s in it for me?”
Jesus came to be revolutionary, He came and said “if there’s another way I’ll do that.” But He saw it through and did what had to be done until it was FINISHED. He said “be like me.” In this season, are we also a people that will go to completion? We like easy, so sometimes we don’t complete the work, and we aren’t great finishers. Sometimes we have to finish even when it’s hard.
Last week Pastor had the privilege of baptizing his grandson. In preparation for that, there were discussions about justification and sanctification.
We are justified through Christ and by Christ. How many times do we stop at justification? Much of the Church stops there. But the work begins here: now that you have been justified in Christ, sanctify yourselves.
That’s the work for the rest of our lives.
Sanctification: set apart. Our nation puts sanctions on other nations; it’s a way of getting people to do things by taking something else. Christ has removed something from you and left you His Word - “it is written.” Your sanctification is being obedient to that Word.
We have to have that truth so as we are a pastor to others, it’s not about us - it’s about THEM. Even in the midst of your mess - it’s about THEM.
We are being sanctified - and there is more of me to be set apart. Remember, the Father is more committed to your change than you are.
Sanctification is a LIFE endeavor. Cut yourself some slack. Don’t go clear over to easy - but cut yourself some slack. We start to put sanctification in a religious spirit - “well if I can’t do it I won’t even try. Or I will give you almost all.”
Preview: much of the next few weeks’ studies will be coming from The Awe of God by John Bevere.
“Do I have your attention now?” He’s saying it all over! Look around - He is willing to speak to you as you give Him your attention. If something grabs you and gives you some kind of emotion, train yourself to say “Lord, you have my attention!” Holy Spirit is grabbing our attention!
Jesus came and was revolutionary because he didn’t look like the established religion, and they hated him for it. Remember the scene from The Chosen - they gathered to kill Jesus, and He walked through the crowd saying “not today.”
When we pray for strength and courage, that’s the response we need. “Enemy - not today.”
Matthew 10:38-39
38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
He has taught us in the last few months to ask a good question - ask God the question. It’s not ungodly to question God! If you ask Why - that’s His. Who, what, where, etc. - but why is His. Some things belong to the LORD.
“Those that hold onto their lives will lose it, and those who lose their lives will gain it.” You hold on, you protect yourself, and you think you’re blessed because you keep getting away with it - but we church it up too much. Stop trying to put lipstick on a pig.
God knows what THEY need - and He put YOU there. There is work for us to do in the Gardens of CCC!
In a world and incentives and benefits, we have become conditioned to think what’s in it for me? Whether big or small - what’s in it for me?
When Jesus said “those who hold onto their life will lose it” we all think “what’s in it for me?” We have been lied to. We have been taught that there is an incentive structure - “I’m not doing that until I know what’s in it for ME.” Pastor Jeff and his wife have a new puppy, and the puppy, as they are training him, responds to a treat/incentive based system. As Jeff was thinking about that, the Lord told him: “Jeff - that’s you!”
We talk to puppies and animals in particular tones, and we give tones to what the Father says. And that’s us, not Him. God doesn’t talk to us like we talk to a puppy! He says “THIS is the truth - THIS is the way - THIS is the life - and if you let go and do it My way, I have plans for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you to give you a hope and a future.” But it has to be HIS way.
We live in this structure of “what’s in it for me?”
Message Title: What’s in it for me?
Isn’t that what the Pharisees and the Jews of the time said to Him? Lord, where have I said: what’s in it for me? Where am I the puppy? Is there something in my mindset that tells me this is what I get if I do this, as opposed to just accepting this is who I am? Where have I accepted the mindset of “what’s in it for me?”
He wants to give you a heart of flesh for the hard places in your heart! God has a good word for you!
We’ve been justified by His blood - let’s get into sanctification!
People want the things of God - peace, love, miracles - but they don’t want God. What’s in it for me? You can’t fight against God and still want the things of God - and that’s not how it works.
1 Corinthians 4:1-13
This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.
What are you hanging onto really tight? Where do you think you have to save yourself? Nobody’s looking out for me! Except…Jesus is looking out for you so much that He died and rose again for YOU. He looks out for you so much that He is more committed to your change than you are.
This past week, Pastor Jeff was driving through construction, and construction usually slows down your drive time. There’s the guy with the slow/stop sign - standing right there to slow you down. Stop your day. And we make it all about ME.
We get into that construction, and the first thing we think - what’s happening? Why are they doing this now? WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?
“Do I have your attention now?” Ok Lord…what are you showing me in the construction?
“Pay attention to the written warnings to avoid penalty.” “If you strike a construction worker, $10,000 fine.” We actually have a sign that puts a monetary value to a life.
“DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION NOW?” What’s in it for me? Pay attention to the written warnings to avoid penalties!
There is evidence there among all the construction stuff of people pushing the limit. There are black skidmarks where people should be going 45, but everyone is trying to go 70, and it bangs up your car, so there’s a penalty. And there are other penalties.
Why does construction bring such emotion to your feelings? Why do we immediately get mad and frustrated and think “why is this happening to me?!”
Why do they do the construction? To make the roads safe. Not to inconvenience you. But to make it BETTER. Example: when there was a smooth blacktop, Pastor’s back pain subsided. The ride was clear. But you don’t get that without some construction.
“That which I cursed - has now become my blessing.”
God sees a bigger picture than you do. He has plans for you. He knows what you will face. Although you are suffering now, He has made a way to stay true and on the path, and it will be different than you think.
The construction is not there for your temporary suffering. It’s there for long-term wellness. In Christ we have temporary suffering - for long-term wellness. Can you say that? Can you accept that? THAT’S sanctification!
Even though you suffered for a little while…trust the Father has your best in mind.
Instead of being all about incentives and benefits and what’s in it for me…you teach them to sit for his benefit.
The Word of God - IT IS WRITTEN. He’s already given us the Word! Change your language from what’s in it for me to “you have my attention.”
Verse 1-2:
This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
Letter to the Church in Corinth - and a Word for us, CCC. Listen to Jesus speak to you where you are at RIGHT NOW. You have been entrusted with the Word and with the promise…He is ENTRUSTING YOU to take it TO THEM. It’s not about you - He’s already promised to take care of you! It’s for THEM!
Pastor Jeff, as he was studying, had a little piece of a black t-shirt fall from the spine of his Bible. Dr. Vanessa Battle, when she visited many years ago, cut up her t-shirt and handed out what had been entrusted to her. You’ve been given a piece! You may feel like less than and that you don't have anything - but He says YOU HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED in a piece!
It’s not about being perfect and getting your life together and THEN going for Jesus - but sanctification is a lifelong process, and it’s not about showing them what’s right and wrong, but about walking alongside them in their journey.
Pastor is suffering from body pain right now - all coming from his core which isn’t right. The t-shirt fell out of the spine of His Bible - Jesus is in your core!
“What’s in it for me?” A life that’s not just full of easy buttons. My Christ suffered for me - and there’s gonna be a little bit of that for you too. Picking up your cross doesn't mean getting beat up every day. It means that as you are moving towards sanctification. The cross was in Jesus's path, and He went through it, because He believed that Father had something greater, and that Father MANIFESTED in that moment.
Why? Because Christ humbled Himself and was obedient.
So now how you ought to regard us - as those who will finish the race. Work to completion.
Verse 1:
This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.
God has revealed YOU. When you try to do it your way, there’s a struggle and He will do what He needs to in order to get your attention
Big picture on the road construction - to make the road better for those coming. Stop saying “what’s in it for me?” and say “what’s in it for THEM?”
Why do you give? Do you give to get? To be seen? To have certain feeling? Or for what’s in it for them?
Verse 2:
2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
Must prove faithful.
Must prove faithful.
It’s hard to prove faithfulness when it’s easy. You prove your faithfulness when it’s tough. The test. To see if you’ve achieved the understanding. If you don’t pass the test you must be remediated. You have to learn it again.
Instead of saying what’s in it for me, but ask: “God what’s in it for YOU?” He loves us so much that He will answer those questions!
Here’s the answer: Verse 6
Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.
We are all going to walk through some things that will test our faith. The Scripture says many will leave the faith. They were justified but never worked on sanctification and will walk away - they know about God, they love Jesus, but they don’t fear Jesus. (Teacher note - this part is from The Awe of God.)
The answer: as we study this out, He is talking to us. There’s work to be done. Have I been saying what’s in it for me? Where’s my honor? Where’s my reverence? I want to know this God because He is a big God…stop with what’s in it for me. We live in a period of grace because our Father waits for us to turn from that towards Him.
Let’s not be a church that has to go through remediation. There’s a world out there that needs us to bring sanctification to them - to walk alongside them because you have the piece THEY need.
Verse 6 - so that you may learn from us do not go beyond what is written - pay attention to written warnings to avoid penalties!
You have my attention now - it is time to learn “it is written.” We are going to begin a path through “it is written.” Don’t go beyond what is written. Ask a good question.
Who makes you different from others? Not what - Who? Who gave you what you have?
“It is written”…instead of the Scripture, we tend to give them us. We give them our answers. Why do you boast like you achieved anything?
I have received through Christ all things that strengthen me. We give stuff like it came from us…but those who hang on to our life will lose it. The perception of who hHe is, the projection of who He is…Jesus is interested in the reality of who HE is.
Verse 8:
Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!
The Kingdom of God is NOW and you have already begun to reign. It began at justification. It continues in sanctification. Don’t get lost in the journey- each one of us has a piece.
Church - you have all you want. You have access to all of it. You have all you want. What’s in it for me? Jesus. That’s what’s in it for you. He went to completion, and all He asks you today is are you willing to complete the assignment? That’s sanctification.
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