He Promises
You're Not Alone in the Struggle, 1 November 2026
01 11 26
You’re Not Alone in the Struggle
He Promises
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
November 1, 2026
Matthew 28:18-20
Series Description: Maybe you’ve heard what Jesus has done for others. You want to believe He can do the same for you, but you're not sure it's even possible. Jesus made several promises in the Bible—but what do they mean today?
Big Idea: God promises to be with us…always.
When is the last time you felt lonely?
For some, it may be today, even surrounded by others. Being alone and feeling lonely are quite different. While I can’t guarantee you will never feel lonely, I can say with complete confidence you are never alone. God is with us…always.
My name is Kirk, and today we continue our series He Promises. In week one, we said God loves you even when it doesn’t feel like it. Last Sunday, we said God is present even when you don’t hear His voice. I want to encourage you today that you’re not alone in the struggle. And the struggle is real.
If you’ve been reading through the New Testament with us, you recently encountered a great story about Jesus and his disciples in a great storm on the Sea of Galilee. To set the stage, the Sea of Galilee is known for violent thunderstorms with gale-force winds that can appear with little warning, waves reaching as high as 20 feet. In Jewish culture, the sea was associated with danger, chaos, and natural forces. I imagine many people had drowned during ferocious storms that seemed to be created by monsters.
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” (Mark 4:35)
This sounds fine, but on the other side were…Gentiles! Pagans. “Those people.” It’s like someone telling a bunch of Buckeyes to drive up to Ann Arbor to hang out with Wolverines!
Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. (Mark 4:36)
I’m sure it was difficult leaving the crowds. Jesus had done a lot of teaching and was probably exhausted. He had taught about faith, and now trust would be tested.
A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. (Mark 4:37)
This was not a military-grade ship they were in! It was probably a wooden boat, obviously made by hand since they had no shipbuilding factories.
Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38)
I love the detail…on a cushion. I can’t imagine how anyone could sleep through this storm, though Jesus was very tired from the crowds. Notice the accusation in the disciples. “Don’t you care?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. (Mark 4:39)
Jesus said these words to an unclean spirit at Capernaum in the first chapter of Mark. He has authority over spiritual and natural forces. Beyond a miracle, the disciples may have thought of the sea in Psalm 107:
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven. (Psalm 107:28-30)
Jesus is doing what God did in this scripture. This is no party trick! This is God at work.
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)
Fear or faith? There were experienced fishermen in the boat with Jesus, including Peter, Andrew, James, and John. For them to be terrified is significant.
The storm was over, yet they were still afraid. Instead of fearing the danger, they feared God. It wasn’t a spooky fear, but awe and reverence in the presence of the mysterious miracle worker. They’ve seen Jesus do miracles. They’ve heard the amazing teaching. They were still coming to grips with the fact that the long-awaited Messiah was in their midst.
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:41)
The question reveals a lot about the disciples. Who is this? We know it is Jesus, the God-man, fully God and fully human, able to relate to our struggles, sorrow, and pain, yet possessing all power and authority. Do you know him? Do you follow him? Is he just Savior but also truly LORD?
What I want to tell you is Jesus will calm every storm in your life, but we know that’s not true. Scott Krippayne penned these song lyrics:
Sometimes He calms the storm And other times He calms His child
I love that! God promises to be with us…always. I’d rather be with Jesus in a storm than alone on the beach.
Our scripture reading is from Jesus’ final words on earth as recorded by Matthew. He gathered his followers together.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18)
This passage is known as the Great Commission. It’s one of the most important texts in the entire Bible.
First, Jesus declares his authority. It is complete. Jesus has all authority. He has it all, in heaven and on earth. That is crucial because the rest would be meaningless without it.
The mission, then, is to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey. This is the foundation of our church mission to love, equip, and send. We are to be a discipleship factory.
Notice that’s different than merely distributing religious goods and services. It means we are to intentionally engage in life-on-life ministry, but we’re not alone. He is with us always, to the very end of the age. That’s the message of Christmas: Emmanuel, God is with us. Jesus was with us for 33 years and then sent the Holy Spirit to be with us. I take great comfort in knowing God is here. God is with us.
This does not mean we won’t struggle, but rather that God is with us in the struggle.
At this very moment, the room is filled with something you cannot see, feel, smell, taste, or hear, but they are very real. They’re called radio frequencies or waves. In order to access them, you need a receiver…a radio. The same can be said for WiFi or television signals. They are present, but we’re often unaware of their presence. We need to tune in. We need to pay attention.
Research shows that as we move, our eyes are usually focused ahead or down. There could be something right above you, and you may be unaware of it. I want to challenge you to look up! Paul said in the midst of life’s troubles,
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)
Not only is God with us, but the Church is with us in the struggle. Notice the capital “C.” We were created for community, for relationships. I need you. You need me. We are a family. No individual is a family.
I love our College First family. I’ve seen countless examples of people loving, serving, praying, laughing, crying, encouraging, grieving, and rejoicing with and for one another. I believe we can go through just about anything in life if we know we’re not alone. I often think of our nine years with a sick child and the dozens of people who journeyed with us. Heather read a book by Carol Kent that referred to those people as “stretcher-bearers.” They came alongside us and carried us when we could not carry ourselves. They brought meals, prayed, sent cards of encouragement, watched our other kids when we were at the Cleveland Clinic, and supported us financially.
That’s the Church in action. Real community. Nothing artificial about it! But you have to reach out. You have to make your needs known. Ask for help, fill out a Connection Card, join a small group, contact the office, send an e-mail to a staff member, come forward for prayer at the end of our gathering today. We can’t serve you if we don’t know you need help.
So What?
If you’ve said “yes” to Jesus, you are never alone. God promises to be with us…always. If you let Jesus in your boat, he will never leave you. The writer of the book of Hebrews said,
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
This is a reference to three Old Testament passages (Genesis 28:15, Deuteronomy 31:6, 8, and Joshua 1:5). Throughout the Scriptures, we’re reminded that God is with us. Always. These verses have been a comfort to those facing persecution and even martyrdom both then and now around the world. It’s a promise He makes again and again.
In the storm, the disciples didn’t feel God’s love, but it was present. It was hard for them to hear Jesus, but he was speaking. He was fully present even when they were not looking to him. Things changed when they turned to him and reached out.
The next time you feel lonely, remember, God is with us. Look up!
And the church is with us. Reach out! You’re a part of a family. You belong here. You are seen. You are loved. You are never alone.
He Promises
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
November 1, 2026
Matthew 28:18-20
Series Description: Maybe you’ve heard what Jesus has done for others. You want to believe He can do the same for you, but you're not sure it's even possible. Jesus made several promises in the Bible—but what do they mean today?
Big Idea: God promises to be with us…always.
When is the last time you felt lonely?
For some, it may be today, even surrounded by others. Being alone and feeling lonely are quite different. While I can’t guarantee you will never feel lonely, I can say with complete confidence you are never alone. God is with us…always.
My name is Kirk, and today we continue our series He Promises. In week one, we said God loves you even when it doesn’t feel like it. Last Sunday, we said God is present even when you don’t hear His voice. I want to encourage you today that you’re not alone in the struggle. And the struggle is real.
If you’ve been reading through the New Testament with us, you recently encountered a great story about Jesus and his disciples in a great storm on the Sea of Galilee. To set the stage, the Sea of Galilee is known for violent thunderstorms with gale-force winds that can appear with little warning, waves reaching as high as 20 feet. In Jewish culture, the sea was associated with danger, chaos, and natural forces. I imagine many people had drowned during ferocious storms that seemed to be created by monsters.
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” (Mark 4:35)
This sounds fine, but on the other side were…Gentiles! Pagans. “Those people.” It’s like someone telling a bunch of Buckeyes to drive up to Ann Arbor to hang out with Wolverines!
Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. (Mark 4:36)
I’m sure it was difficult leaving the crowds. Jesus had done a lot of teaching and was probably exhausted. He had taught about faith, and now trust would be tested.
A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. (Mark 4:37)
This was not a military-grade ship they were in! It was probably a wooden boat, obviously made by hand since they had no shipbuilding factories.
Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38)
I love the detail…on a cushion. I can’t imagine how anyone could sleep through this storm, though Jesus was very tired from the crowds. Notice the accusation in the disciples. “Don’t you care?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. (Mark 4:39)
Jesus said these words to an unclean spirit at Capernaum in the first chapter of Mark. He has authority over spiritual and natural forces. Beyond a miracle, the disciples may have thought of the sea in Psalm 107:
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven. (Psalm 107:28-30)
Jesus is doing what God did in this scripture. This is no party trick! This is God at work.
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)
Fear or faith? There were experienced fishermen in the boat with Jesus, including Peter, Andrew, James, and John. For them to be terrified is significant.
The storm was over, yet they were still afraid. Instead of fearing the danger, they feared God. It wasn’t a spooky fear, but awe and reverence in the presence of the mysterious miracle worker. They’ve seen Jesus do miracles. They’ve heard the amazing teaching. They were still coming to grips with the fact that the long-awaited Messiah was in their midst.
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:41)
The question reveals a lot about the disciples. Who is this? We know it is Jesus, the God-man, fully God and fully human, able to relate to our struggles, sorrow, and pain, yet possessing all power and authority. Do you know him? Do you follow him? Is he just Savior but also truly LORD?
What I want to tell you is Jesus will calm every storm in your life, but we know that’s not true. Scott Krippayne penned these song lyrics:
Sometimes He calms the storm And other times He calms His child
I love that! God promises to be with us…always. I’d rather be with Jesus in a storm than alone on the beach.
Our scripture reading is from Jesus’ final words on earth as recorded by Matthew. He gathered his followers together.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18)
This passage is known as the Great Commission. It’s one of the most important texts in the entire Bible.
First, Jesus declares his authority. It is complete. Jesus has all authority. He has it all, in heaven and on earth. That is crucial because the rest would be meaningless without it.
The mission, then, is to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey. This is the foundation of our church mission to love, equip, and send. We are to be a discipleship factory.
Notice that’s different than merely distributing religious goods and services. It means we are to intentionally engage in life-on-life ministry, but we’re not alone. He is with us always, to the very end of the age. That’s the message of Christmas: Emmanuel, God is with us. Jesus was with us for 33 years and then sent the Holy Spirit to be with us. I take great comfort in knowing God is here. God is with us.
This does not mean we won’t struggle, but rather that God is with us in the struggle.
At this very moment, the room is filled with something you cannot see, feel, smell, taste, or hear, but they are very real. They’re called radio frequencies or waves. In order to access them, you need a receiver…a radio. The same can be said for WiFi or television signals. They are present, but we’re often unaware of their presence. We need to tune in. We need to pay attention.
Research shows that as we move, our eyes are usually focused ahead or down. There could be something right above you, and you may be unaware of it. I want to challenge you to look up! Paul said in the midst of life’s troubles,
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)
Not only is God with us, but the Church is with us in the struggle. Notice the capital “C.” We were created for community, for relationships. I need you. You need me. We are a family. No individual is a family.
I love our College First family. I’ve seen countless examples of people loving, serving, praying, laughing, crying, encouraging, grieving, and rejoicing with and for one another. I believe we can go through just about anything in life if we know we’re not alone. I often think of our nine years with a sick child and the dozens of people who journeyed with us. Heather read a book by Carol Kent that referred to those people as “stretcher-bearers.” They came alongside us and carried us when we could not carry ourselves. They brought meals, prayed, sent cards of encouragement, watched our other kids when we were at the Cleveland Clinic, and supported us financially.
That’s the Church in action. Real community. Nothing artificial about it! But you have to reach out. You have to make your needs known. Ask for help, fill out a Connection Card, join a small group, contact the office, send an e-mail to a staff member, come forward for prayer at the end of our gathering today. We can’t serve you if we don’t know you need help.
So What?
If you’ve said “yes” to Jesus, you are never alone. God promises to be with us…always. If you let Jesus in your boat, he will never leave you. The writer of the book of Hebrews said,
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
This is a reference to three Old Testament passages (Genesis 28:15, Deuteronomy 31:6, 8, and Joshua 1:5). Throughout the Scriptures, we’re reminded that God is with us. Always. These verses have been a comfort to those facing persecution and even martyrdom both then and now around the world. It’s a promise He makes again and again.
In the storm, the disciples didn’t feel God’s love, but it was present. It was hard for them to hear Jesus, but he was speaking. He was fully present even when they were not looking to him. Things changed when they turned to him and reached out.
The next time you feel lonely, remember, God is with us. Look up!
And the church is with us. Reach out! You’re a part of a family. You belong here. You are seen. You are loved. You are never alone.
How Do I Hear God? 25 October 2026
25 10 26
How Do I Hear God?
He Promises
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
October 25, 2026
John 10:2-4
Series Description: Maybe you’ve heard what Jesus has done for others. You want to believe He can do the same for you, but you're not sure it's even possible. Jesus made several promises in the Bible—but what do they mean today?
Big Idea: God is present even when you don't hear his voice.
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, I meet with a group of men and ask them two questions:
1. What is God saying to you?
2. What are you going to do about it?
Take a moment and think about how you would answer them.
Today we’re continuing our new series He Promises. Last Sunday we said God loves you even when it doesn’t feel like it. Today our subject deals with listening to God.
It’s often said Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship with God. Relationships require two-way communication. I can talk to a tree, but I can’t have a relationship with a tree because it cannot communicate. I can text you every day, but if you never reply, we don’t have a relationship.
Sometimes we pray, and it seems like God didn’t get the message. He’s not ghosting you.
God is present even when you don't hear his voice.
I admit that a relationship with God is different than one with a person you can see, hear, and touch. I recently asked a friend if she had a relationship with her dog, and she said, “Absolutely.” The way they communicated with one another was different than a human-to-human interaction, but they have a unique and special bond. In a way, the same can be said about our relationship with God.
When I ask, “What is God saying to you?” I’m making two assumptions:
1. God is speaking
2. You can discern what He is saying
God promises His presence. The book of Matthew ends with Jesus saying,
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b)
God never promised that we would always hear His voice, but He is always with us.
How do I hear God?
God speaks in a variety of ways, both in biblical times and today. 1 Samuel records one incident where God spoke in an audible voice. Samuel was a young boy serving under Eli the priest.
One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
4 Then the LORD called Samuel.
Samuel answered, “Here I am.”
5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. (1 Samuel 3:2-5)
Samuel didn’t recognize God’s voice.
Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” (1 Samuel 3:6)
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. (1 Samuel 3:7)
A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. (1 Samuel 3:8-9)
The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)
Samuel needed Eli to help him discern the voice of God. We need wise counsel in our lives to help us discern God’s voice sometimes, too.
If I called you on the phone for the first time, you might talk for a while to be polite, but eventually you’d ask, “Who is this?” When I call my kids, they never ask that because they know my voice. The more time I spend knowing God through prayer, obedience, and studying the Bible, the better I know God and can discern between His voice, my wishful thinking, and the enemy’s lies.
In the tenth chapter of John, Jesus tells his friends,
The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. (John 10:2-4)
I’ve never heard the LORD speak audibly to me, but I do pray those words Samuel declared: Speak, for your servant is listening.”
There are those who have heard God’s voice. Others have had dreams and visions, which can be from God. Extraordinary circumstances are just that…extraordinary. God can use the ordinary to speak through people and circumstances. For example…
On October 19, 2023, I received a phone call from Lance Finley inviting me to apply for the lead pastor role at College First Church of God. I was so surprised! My first response was that it would be crazy to leave a great church in Toledo. I didn’t want to move, but then my primary question was, “God, is this Your will?” I spent months praying, studying Scripture, and seeking wise counsel before becoming convinced that God was leading us to College First.
Discernment is essential in hearing from God. Whether it’s an audible voice, dreams, or circumstances, it’s often helpful to seek wise counsel. Samuel had Eli. I have Heather, our church staff, and Elders, among others. I’ve heard people claim some wild things they believe God spoke to them that were clearly not from God. How do I know?
The primary way God speaks is through the Bible. This is why it’s so important to read and study it. The Bible helps us discern truth from the lies of our culture. It reveals His will for us, His character, and His wisdom. It doesn’t tell us what job to take, what color socks to wear, or what car to buy, but it offers timeless instructions for godly living. I especially love reading the Gospels and studying the life of Jesus, my hero, my role model.
What’s God saying to you? If you can’t answer, perhaps you need to spend more time in the Bible because the primary way God speaks is through the Bible. Ask Him to show you through the Scripture what you need today…your daily bread.
Time Matters
God rarely speaks on demand. We can study the Bible, pray, seek wise counsel, and still not get an answer. This is when faith kicks in. God’s timing is perfect, and it’s not usually the same as ours! It’s easy to get impatient with God.
If that’s you, don’t give up. He is with you. He promised! Keep seeking His will. Some of you have spent months or years seeking a job, a spouse, or some other decision. Sometimes God is silent. He feels distant. It doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. God is always up to something. Be patient. He sees you. God’s presence is a promise, not a feeling.
Do you want God to speak?
It’s one thing to hear God and quite another to obey. Jesus responded to a woman,
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28)
Perhaps you don’t want God to speak because you’re afraid of what He might say. What if He says, “Sell everything and give to the poor,” as Jesus said to the rich young ruler? What if He wants me to be a missionary in the jungle? What if He says I need to change my behavior, my attitude, or my career?
What if He does? He loves you. He knows best. He can be trusted. I promise!
So What?
You were created for a relationship with God, your Creator. All relationships require time, attention, effort, and intentionality for them to be healthy and growing. God is present even when you don't hear his voice.
What is God saying to you?
If you don’t know, have you asked Him to speak? Are you engaging the Bible? Studying it with others? Seeking wisdom and discernment from others?
Are you quiet enough to hear? That’s where I struggle. I love to be busy, and that makes it hard to listen. The psalmist wrote,
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:10-11)
This was written in the midst of chaos and turmoil, not unlike our world today. The LORD Almighty is with us.
God is present even when you don't hear his voice.
What are you going to do about it?
He Promises
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
October 25, 2026
John 10:2-4
Series Description: Maybe you’ve heard what Jesus has done for others. You want to believe He can do the same for you, but you're not sure it's even possible. Jesus made several promises in the Bible—but what do they mean today?
Big Idea: God is present even when you don't hear his voice.
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, I meet with a group of men and ask them two questions:
1. What is God saying to you?
2. What are you going to do about it?
Take a moment and think about how you would answer them.
Today we’re continuing our new series He Promises. Last Sunday we said God loves you even when it doesn’t feel like it. Today our subject deals with listening to God.
It’s often said Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship with God. Relationships require two-way communication. I can talk to a tree, but I can’t have a relationship with a tree because it cannot communicate. I can text you every day, but if you never reply, we don’t have a relationship.
Sometimes we pray, and it seems like God didn’t get the message. He’s not ghosting you.
God is present even when you don't hear his voice.
I admit that a relationship with God is different than one with a person you can see, hear, and touch. I recently asked a friend if she had a relationship with her dog, and she said, “Absolutely.” The way they communicated with one another was different than a human-to-human interaction, but they have a unique and special bond. In a way, the same can be said about our relationship with God.
When I ask, “What is God saying to you?” I’m making two assumptions:
1. God is speaking
2. You can discern what He is saying
God promises His presence. The book of Matthew ends with Jesus saying,
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b)
God never promised that we would always hear His voice, but He is always with us.
How do I hear God?
God speaks in a variety of ways, both in biblical times and today. 1 Samuel records one incident where God spoke in an audible voice. Samuel was a young boy serving under Eli the priest.
One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
4 Then the LORD called Samuel.
Samuel answered, “Here I am.”
5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. (1 Samuel 3:2-5)
Samuel didn’t recognize God’s voice.
Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” (1 Samuel 3:6)
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. (1 Samuel 3:7)
A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. (1 Samuel 3:8-9)
The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)
Samuel needed Eli to help him discern the voice of God. We need wise counsel in our lives to help us discern God’s voice sometimes, too.
If I called you on the phone for the first time, you might talk for a while to be polite, but eventually you’d ask, “Who is this?” When I call my kids, they never ask that because they know my voice. The more time I spend knowing God through prayer, obedience, and studying the Bible, the better I know God and can discern between His voice, my wishful thinking, and the enemy’s lies.
In the tenth chapter of John, Jesus tells his friends,
The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. (John 10:2-4)
I’ve never heard the LORD speak audibly to me, but I do pray those words Samuel declared: Speak, for your servant is listening.”
There are those who have heard God’s voice. Others have had dreams and visions, which can be from God. Extraordinary circumstances are just that…extraordinary. God can use the ordinary to speak through people and circumstances. For example…
On October 19, 2023, I received a phone call from Lance Finley inviting me to apply for the lead pastor role at College First Church of God. I was so surprised! My first response was that it would be crazy to leave a great church in Toledo. I didn’t want to move, but then my primary question was, “God, is this Your will?” I spent months praying, studying Scripture, and seeking wise counsel before becoming convinced that God was leading us to College First.
Discernment is essential in hearing from God. Whether it’s an audible voice, dreams, or circumstances, it’s often helpful to seek wise counsel. Samuel had Eli. I have Heather, our church staff, and Elders, among others. I’ve heard people claim some wild things they believe God spoke to them that were clearly not from God. How do I know?
The primary way God speaks is through the Bible. This is why it’s so important to read and study it. The Bible helps us discern truth from the lies of our culture. It reveals His will for us, His character, and His wisdom. It doesn’t tell us what job to take, what color socks to wear, or what car to buy, but it offers timeless instructions for godly living. I especially love reading the Gospels and studying the life of Jesus, my hero, my role model.
What’s God saying to you? If you can’t answer, perhaps you need to spend more time in the Bible because the primary way God speaks is through the Bible. Ask Him to show you through the Scripture what you need today…your daily bread.
Time Matters
God rarely speaks on demand. We can study the Bible, pray, seek wise counsel, and still not get an answer. This is when faith kicks in. God’s timing is perfect, and it’s not usually the same as ours! It’s easy to get impatient with God.
If that’s you, don’t give up. He is with you. He promised! Keep seeking His will. Some of you have spent months or years seeking a job, a spouse, or some other decision. Sometimes God is silent. He feels distant. It doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. God is always up to something. Be patient. He sees you. God’s presence is a promise, not a feeling.
Do you want God to speak?
It’s one thing to hear God and quite another to obey. Jesus responded to a woman,
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28)
Perhaps you don’t want God to speak because you’re afraid of what He might say. What if He says, “Sell everything and give to the poor,” as Jesus said to the rich young ruler? What if He wants me to be a missionary in the jungle? What if He says I need to change my behavior, my attitude, or my career?
What if He does? He loves you. He knows best. He can be trusted. I promise!
So What?
You were created for a relationship with God, your Creator. All relationships require time, attention, effort, and intentionality for them to be healthy and growing. God is present even when you don't hear his voice.
What is God saying to you?
If you don’t know, have you asked Him to speak? Are you engaging the Bible? Studying it with others? Seeking wisdom and discernment from others?
Are you quiet enough to hear? That’s where I struggle. I love to be busy, and that makes it hard to listen. The psalmist wrote,
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:10-11)
This was written in the midst of chaos and turmoil, not unlike our world today. The LORD Almighty is with us.
God is present even when you don't hear his voice.
What are you going to do about it?
Does God Still Love Me, 18 October 2026
18 10 26
Does God Still Love Me?
He Promises
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
October 18, 2026
Luke 15:4-7
Series Description: Maybe you’ve heard what Jesus has done for others. You want to believe He can do the same for you, but you're not sure it's even possible. Jesus made several promises in the Bible—but what do they mean today?
Big Idea: God loves you even when it doesn’t feel like it.
Love. It’s one of the most powerful words in the English language. It’s also one of the most misunderstood.
I love ice cream. I love my wife. I love the Findlay Oilers basketball team. I love my sister. I love Jesus.
How can one word convey so many different meanings?
The Bible says God loves me, but what does that mean? And is it true?
My name is Kirk, and today we’re beginning a new series called “He Promises.” I’m sure you’ve heard or sung or read, “God loves you.” It’s about as old-school, basic, vintage as it gets.
My friend, David May, had t-shirts made that say, “Jesus Loves You…and David May does, too!” I love that (no pun intended). Sometimes the idea of God’s love can seem vague and impersonal, but that love expressed through a human can be transformative. Sometimes we believe we are loved, but don’t feel it. That can be true in a marriage, with parents, or a friendship. God loves you even when it doesn’t feel like it.
The most famous verse in the Bible says,
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
The word “loved” is “agapao” in the original Greek, a word that means to love, to show love, to value, esteem, be faithful towards, to delight in.
God delights in the world. He delights in His creation, and the zenith of creation was not the mountains, ocean, dolphins, or platypus! It was humankind.
God loves the world.
Unfortunately, the world God created and loves does not always love Him. Have you ever thought about how God feels when His love is rejected? Perhaps you’ve experienced love that was not reciprocated. Many of us had puppy love as kids and felt rejected when we expressed it, only to discover the other person had different feelings. I remember in elementary school it was fashionable to ask a friend to ask a person if they would “go” with you. I can’t even remember the person, but at least once I asked a friend to ask a girl if she would “go” with me and was told no. I’m not sure where I wanted to go in third grade!
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
God loves the world. Nobody loves like God, but love is more than an action with God. It’s His very nature.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8)
God is love. He is the definition of love. He proved it, too.
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)
The Father sent Jesus to die to take away our sins, to forgive us, to restore our relationship with God, which was broken by our sin, rebellion, and disobedience.
Obviously, God does not love our sin, and He doesn’t love what sin has done to our world, but He loves the world. Not only does God love the world, but God loves you. Yes, you. Not just the person next to you who you think has it all together (remember our previous sermon series…all families are messed up!). God knows you. He sees you. He loves you. Even when you wander from Him.
Jesus said in today’s scripture reading:
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:4-7)
This is not a story about the smart sheep, the popular sheep, the talented sheep, the good-looking sheep, or the athletic sheep. It’s about a wandering sheep…literally a sinner who has lost their way and repents…turns 180 degrees and runs to God.
Is that you today? Some of you have never said “yes” to Jesus. You’ve been too busy, proud, angry, or simply unaware that God loves you. Respond today with a simple prayer: “Jesus, I give you my life.”
Perhaps you’ve called yourself a Christian but have wandered off the path. Come home. The Father’s arms are open wide.
Tragically, many people don’t believe God really loves them. They may protest and say, “You don’t know what I’ve done.” God does, and…
God will always love you. You are the one Jesus loves!
His love is unconditional. It never changes. His arms will always be open to welcome you into His family, but He will not force Himself upon you…or anyone. Love does not pressure or manipulate or control. Instead,
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Agape love doesn't depend on what we do. Like an anchor, it’s not moved by waves or weather or circumstances. If you’ve said “yes” to Jesus, you can be certain of his love for you.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” (Romans 8:35-36)
Nothing shall separate us from God’s love. Nothing.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)
Nothing shall separate us from God’s love. Nothing.
Sometimes life hurts. People hurt us. Our bodies fail us. Our minds betray us. Trouble or persecution or famine or danger may come. But God loves you even when it doesn’t feel like it. Your feelings are real, but not always reliable. You don’t have to understand everything. I certainly don’t! I have struggled to feel God’s love amid suffering, disappointment, pain, and prayers that seemed to go unanswered, but that never changed the truth that God loved me…and he loves you, too.
So What?
My earnest prayer for all of us is that we experience God’s love. It’s been said the longest twelve inches in the world is from the head to the heart. I want you to know God’s love in the deepest part of your soul. Jesus summarized the entire Bible by saying,
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30)
We love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength when we experience God’s love with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And then we can go and love others.
Today I want to close with a video called Father’s Love Letter. It’s a series of promises in the Bible that God makes to you and me. You might want to close your eyes, listen, and let the words of your Father wash over you.
Video: Father’s Love Letter, https://www.fathersloveletter.com
One more thing…God loves you, even when it doesn’t feel like it…and I do, too!
Credits: some ideas from Life.Church
He Promises
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
October 18, 2026
Luke 15:4-7
Series Description: Maybe you’ve heard what Jesus has done for others. You want to believe He can do the same for you, but you're not sure it's even possible. Jesus made several promises in the Bible—but what do they mean today?
Big Idea: God loves you even when it doesn’t feel like it.
Love. It’s one of the most powerful words in the English language. It’s also one of the most misunderstood.
I love ice cream. I love my wife. I love the Findlay Oilers basketball team. I love my sister. I love Jesus.
How can one word convey so many different meanings?
The Bible says God loves me, but what does that mean? And is it true?
My name is Kirk, and today we’re beginning a new series called “He Promises.” I’m sure you’ve heard or sung or read, “God loves you.” It’s about as old-school, basic, vintage as it gets.
My friend, David May, had t-shirts made that say, “Jesus Loves You…and David May does, too!” I love that (no pun intended). Sometimes the idea of God’s love can seem vague and impersonal, but that love expressed through a human can be transformative. Sometimes we believe we are loved, but don’t feel it. That can be true in a marriage, with parents, or a friendship. God loves you even when it doesn’t feel like it.
The most famous verse in the Bible says,
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
The word “loved” is “agapao” in the original Greek, a word that means to love, to show love, to value, esteem, be faithful towards, to delight in.
God delights in the world. He delights in His creation, and the zenith of creation was not the mountains, ocean, dolphins, or platypus! It was humankind.
God loves the world.
Unfortunately, the world God created and loves does not always love Him. Have you ever thought about how God feels when His love is rejected? Perhaps you’ve experienced love that was not reciprocated. Many of us had puppy love as kids and felt rejected when we expressed it, only to discover the other person had different feelings. I remember in elementary school it was fashionable to ask a friend to ask a person if they would “go” with you. I can’t even remember the person, but at least once I asked a friend to ask a girl if she would “go” with me and was told no. I’m not sure where I wanted to go in third grade!
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
God loves the world. Nobody loves like God, but love is more than an action with God. It’s His very nature.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8)
God is love. He is the definition of love. He proved it, too.
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)
The Father sent Jesus to die to take away our sins, to forgive us, to restore our relationship with God, which was broken by our sin, rebellion, and disobedience.
Obviously, God does not love our sin, and He doesn’t love what sin has done to our world, but He loves the world. Not only does God love the world, but God loves you. Yes, you. Not just the person next to you who you think has it all together (remember our previous sermon series…all families are messed up!). God knows you. He sees you. He loves you. Even when you wander from Him.
Jesus said in today’s scripture reading:
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:4-7)
This is not a story about the smart sheep, the popular sheep, the talented sheep, the good-looking sheep, or the athletic sheep. It’s about a wandering sheep…literally a sinner who has lost their way and repents…turns 180 degrees and runs to God.
Is that you today? Some of you have never said “yes” to Jesus. You’ve been too busy, proud, angry, or simply unaware that God loves you. Respond today with a simple prayer: “Jesus, I give you my life.”
Perhaps you’ve called yourself a Christian but have wandered off the path. Come home. The Father’s arms are open wide.
Tragically, many people don’t believe God really loves them. They may protest and say, “You don’t know what I’ve done.” God does, and…
God will always love you. You are the one Jesus loves!
His love is unconditional. It never changes. His arms will always be open to welcome you into His family, but He will not force Himself upon you…or anyone. Love does not pressure or manipulate or control. Instead,
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Agape love doesn't depend on what we do. Like an anchor, it’s not moved by waves or weather or circumstances. If you’ve said “yes” to Jesus, you can be certain of his love for you.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” (Romans 8:35-36)
Nothing shall separate us from God’s love. Nothing.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)
Nothing shall separate us from God’s love. Nothing.
Sometimes life hurts. People hurt us. Our bodies fail us. Our minds betray us. Trouble or persecution or famine or danger may come. But God loves you even when it doesn’t feel like it. Your feelings are real, but not always reliable. You don’t have to understand everything. I certainly don’t! I have struggled to feel God’s love amid suffering, disappointment, pain, and prayers that seemed to go unanswered, but that never changed the truth that God loved me…and he loves you, too.
So What?
My earnest prayer for all of us is that we experience God’s love. It’s been said the longest twelve inches in the world is from the head to the heart. I want you to know God’s love in the deepest part of your soul. Jesus summarized the entire Bible by saying,
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30)
We love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength when we experience God’s love with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And then we can go and love others.
Today I want to close with a video called Father’s Love Letter. It’s a series of promises in the Bible that God makes to you and me. You might want to close your eyes, listen, and let the words of your Father wash over you.
Video: Father’s Love Letter, https://www.fathersloveletter.com
One more thing…God loves you, even when it doesn’t feel like it…and I do, too!
Credits: some ideas from Life.Church