Lift Up Your Heads O Ye Gates, 12 April 2026
12 04 26
Lift Up Your Heads O Ye Gates
Handel’s Messiah
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
April 12, 2026
Psalm 24:7-10
Series Big Idea: Handel’s Messiah may be the greatest work of music ever created, bringing praise and glory to the Creator.
Big Idea: Jesus is the King of kings and LORD of lords, worthy of our praise and obedience.
Our nation’s 250-year history has been one without a king. We have had presidents and governors and mayors lead us, but none of had the role of royalty.
Our text for today speaks of a king…the King…the King of kings, the King of glory. His name is Jesus.
We’re continuing our series on the lyrics of Handel’s Messiah. Our song today is entitled Lift Up Your Heads O Ye Gates.
In the beginning God…created…the heavens and the earth. He had a beautiful relationship with Adam and Eve until they disobeyed, sin entered the world, they hid, and were expelled from paradise. Generations later, God told Abram he would become the father of a great nation despite being childless in his nineties. Later, Moses was chosen by God to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land while God served as their leader, guiding them through a cloud in the daytime and fire at night as they journeyed for forty years in the wilderness. Despite many warnings, the people wanted a king because…all their neighbors had a king. God wanted to be their king, but they insisted and God gave them over to a series of kings, most of whom did great harm to the Israelites.
David was a shepherd who wrote about the Good Shepherd in Psalm 23, and he was one of the good kings…who wrote about the Great King in today’s text, the very next Psalm.
The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters. (Psalm 24:1-2)
Everything we have belongs to the LORD. We are His stewards. We worship the God who created and owns everything, including you and me!
Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god. (Psalm 24:3-4)
Literally, this is none of us, but because of Jesus, we can be made clean. Even today, God is searching for men, women, and children who have clean hands, who do no harm to others. They also have pure hearts. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” in Matthew 5:8. They also avoid idols, trusting only in God.
They will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God their Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob. (Psalm 24:5-6)
I pray this would be us…the generation who seeks God, those who receive salvation and redemption from Him. God will declare righteous and save those who are committed to Jesus and trust him with all of their heart, soul, mind, and body.
Now we come to today’s scripture.
Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in. (Psalm 24:7)
What do gates and doors have to do with a king?
It is believed this psalm was used after battle when the ark of the covenant returned.
The ark—not Noah’s ark—was a sacred box containing the Ten Commandment tablets, a jar of manna God used to feed the people while they were journeying for forty years in the wilderness, and Aaron’s rod. It was the most sacred object of the Israelites, so when it was
The temple doors open for the King.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle. (Psalm 24:8)
David was a strong and mighty king, conquering the giant Goliath as a young boy and proving to be such a skilled solider that his predecessor, King Saul, felt threatened by his success. So David knows about victory, yet he is describing the Victor, the one who conquered sin and death and the cross, King Jesus. He fights our battles.
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
He’s our King. He battles for us. Hallelujah!
I know the news these days is scary, with war in Iran and Israel, among other places. It’s easy to feel afraid, anxious, and worried, but our world is not ruled by presidents, prime ministers, Democrats or Republicans. King Jesus is LORD! Even when it doesn’t feel like it.
Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in. (Psalm 24:9)
The King is coming. Are you ready? He said in the book of Revelation,
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:20)
I love the next verse.
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Revelation 3:21)
Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty—
he is the King of glory. (Psalm 24:10)
If you think there’s repetition here, you’re right.
If you think there’s repetition here…
David did not have the options of bold, italics, underlining, or highlighting when he wrote this, so the common way to emphasize was to repeat.
Jesus is the LORD Almighty, the King of glory!
So What?
Hail to the King! He is worthy of our praise and worship, not just on Sunday, but every day.
Author and Pastor Mark E. Moore just published a book with Kyle Idleman entitled The Missing Messiah: The Jesus We Can No Longer Ignore. He said on a recent podcast,
Jesus is not your therapist. He's not your life hack. He's not your guru. He is your king. He's your Lord. And until you make him Lord, you're missing half of him.
He continues,
In the church, if you look at the history of the church, the Jews missed the Messiah because they were wanting a king. They were not expecting a savior. When the Gentiles came in, they didn't know what Messiah was. And so they translated it as Christ, but they didn't know how to define the word Christ. So they defined it as savior, not as king.
The American church, based on Gentile culture, we have made Jesus our savior and not our king. So the Jews missed him for one reason, we've missed him for another.
Someone said there are vampire Christians who only want Jesus for his blood. They want to avoid hell, but they don’t want a King, they don’t want a LORD, they don’t want to submit and surrender to God, they just want a Savior.
What about you? During this season of Eastertime, we’re celebrating the cross and the empty tomb and all that Jesus accomplished, but while it’s true that our redeemer lives, he is also King. He is LORD. A Christian is not someone who believes in historic events intellectually. They follow. Christian means “little Christ.” We’re not saved by our works, but our works validate our faith. We’re all on a journey, but true spiritual growth means becoming more like Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The role of the king is to take care of his subjects.
The role of the subjects is to follow, to submit, to obey.
King Jesus knew we would not be perfect, which is why he came and died, to forgive our sins and reconcile us to the Father. But our faith is not based on morality, but a relationship…with our Creator. Our King got off the throne, became a baby, lived to die, and rose from the dead. Hallelujah!
Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty—
he is the King of glory. (Psalm 24:10)
Jesus is the King of kings and LORD of lords, worthy of our praise and obedience.
Is He your King?
Handel’s Messiah
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
April 12, 2026
Psalm 24:7-10
Series Big Idea: Handel’s Messiah may be the greatest work of music ever created, bringing praise and glory to the Creator.
Big Idea: Jesus is the King of kings and LORD of lords, worthy of our praise and obedience.
Our nation’s 250-year history has been one without a king. We have had presidents and governors and mayors lead us, but none of had the role of royalty.
Our text for today speaks of a king…the King…the King of kings, the King of glory. His name is Jesus.
We’re continuing our series on the lyrics of Handel’s Messiah. Our song today is entitled Lift Up Your Heads O Ye Gates.
In the beginning God…created…the heavens and the earth. He had a beautiful relationship with Adam and Eve until they disobeyed, sin entered the world, they hid, and were expelled from paradise. Generations later, God told Abram he would become the father of a great nation despite being childless in his nineties. Later, Moses was chosen by God to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land while God served as their leader, guiding them through a cloud in the daytime and fire at night as they journeyed for forty years in the wilderness. Despite many warnings, the people wanted a king because…all their neighbors had a king. God wanted to be their king, but they insisted and God gave them over to a series of kings, most of whom did great harm to the Israelites.
David was a shepherd who wrote about the Good Shepherd in Psalm 23, and he was one of the good kings…who wrote about the Great King in today’s text, the very next Psalm.
The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters. (Psalm 24:1-2)
Everything we have belongs to the LORD. We are His stewards. We worship the God who created and owns everything, including you and me!
Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god. (Psalm 24:3-4)
Literally, this is none of us, but because of Jesus, we can be made clean. Even today, God is searching for men, women, and children who have clean hands, who do no harm to others. They also have pure hearts. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” in Matthew 5:8. They also avoid idols, trusting only in God.
They will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God their Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob. (Psalm 24:5-6)
I pray this would be us…the generation who seeks God, those who receive salvation and redemption from Him. God will declare righteous and save those who are committed to Jesus and trust him with all of their heart, soul, mind, and body.
Now we come to today’s scripture.
Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in. (Psalm 24:7)
What do gates and doors have to do with a king?
It is believed this psalm was used after battle when the ark of the covenant returned.
The ark—not Noah’s ark—was a sacred box containing the Ten Commandment tablets, a jar of manna God used to feed the people while they were journeying for forty years in the wilderness, and Aaron’s rod. It was the most sacred object of the Israelites, so when it was
The temple doors open for the King.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle. (Psalm 24:8)
David was a strong and mighty king, conquering the giant Goliath as a young boy and proving to be such a skilled solider that his predecessor, King Saul, felt threatened by his success. So David knows about victory, yet he is describing the Victor, the one who conquered sin and death and the cross, King Jesus. He fights our battles.
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
He’s our King. He battles for us. Hallelujah!
I know the news these days is scary, with war in Iran and Israel, among other places. It’s easy to feel afraid, anxious, and worried, but our world is not ruled by presidents, prime ministers, Democrats or Republicans. King Jesus is LORD! Even when it doesn’t feel like it.
Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in. (Psalm 24:9)
The King is coming. Are you ready? He said in the book of Revelation,
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:20)
I love the next verse.
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Revelation 3:21)
Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty—
he is the King of glory. (Psalm 24:10)
If you think there’s repetition here, you’re right.
If you think there’s repetition here…
David did not have the options of bold, italics, underlining, or highlighting when he wrote this, so the common way to emphasize was to repeat.
Jesus is the LORD Almighty, the King of glory!
So What?
Hail to the King! He is worthy of our praise and worship, not just on Sunday, but every day.
Author and Pastor Mark E. Moore just published a book with Kyle Idleman entitled The Missing Messiah: The Jesus We Can No Longer Ignore. He said on a recent podcast,
Jesus is not your therapist. He's not your life hack. He's not your guru. He is your king. He's your Lord. And until you make him Lord, you're missing half of him.
He continues,
In the church, if you look at the history of the church, the Jews missed the Messiah because they were wanting a king. They were not expecting a savior. When the Gentiles came in, they didn't know what Messiah was. And so they translated it as Christ, but they didn't know how to define the word Christ. So they defined it as savior, not as king.
The American church, based on Gentile culture, we have made Jesus our savior and not our king. So the Jews missed him for one reason, we've missed him for another.
Someone said there are vampire Christians who only want Jesus for his blood. They want to avoid hell, but they don’t want a King, they don’t want a LORD, they don’t want to submit and surrender to God, they just want a Savior.
What about you? During this season of Eastertime, we’re celebrating the cross and the empty tomb and all that Jesus accomplished, but while it’s true that our redeemer lives, he is also King. He is LORD. A Christian is not someone who believes in historic events intellectually. They follow. Christian means “little Christ.” We’re not saved by our works, but our works validate our faith. We’re all on a journey, but true spiritual growth means becoming more like Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The role of the king is to take care of his subjects.
The role of the subjects is to follow, to submit, to obey.
King Jesus knew we would not be perfect, which is why he came and died, to forgive our sins and reconcile us to the Father. But our faith is not based on morality, but a relationship…with our Creator. Our King got off the throne, became a baby, lived to die, and rose from the dead. Hallelujah!
Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty—
he is the King of glory. (Psalm 24:10)
Jesus is the King of kings and LORD of lords, worthy of our praise and obedience.
Is He your King?
My Redeemer Lives, 5 April 2026
10 04 26 Filed in: Sermons | Handel's Messiah
My Redeemer Lives
Handel’s Messiah
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
April 5, 2026
Job 19:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
Series Big Idea: Handel’s Messiah may be the greatest work of music ever created, bringing praise and glory to the Creator.
Big Idea: Because my redeemer lives, I have a living hope.
I know that my redeemer lives. What a great message for Easter, resurrection Sunday. Today is the greatest day on the Christian calendar as we remember Jesus’ horrific death on the cross was followed by his miraculous resurrection.
This past Advent, we began a message series examining the songs and lyrics of Handel’s Messiah. The first part of the magnificent work of music speaks of the Incarnation, the events of Christmastime which is why it’s commonly performed in December. But the rest of it—including the Hallelujah Chorus—is about the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus the Messiah with glimpses of the future.
Our world is a mess…would you agree? Since Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, sin and evil have been wreaking havoc, whether it’s violence, racism, abuse, addiction, greed, adultery, or any number of things that steal, kill, and destroy. It’s nothing new. What makes things seem so bad, I believe, is the 24/7 news cycle that is constantly screaming through our screens. We know too much!
Because humans made a mess of the world, Jesus came as a baby to fix things, to ultimately die, to take the punishment you and I deserve for our sins, our pride, our rebellion. Jesus is our redeemer…and I know that my redeemer lives.
Redeemer is one of those churchy, biblical words you rarely hear in our culture, but it’s incredible.
To redeem is to exchange. We redeem gift cards, for example. Another meaning of redeem is to pay off, like a debt or promissory note.
Is there anyone perfect here? You’ve never told a white lie, cheated, lusted, driven over the speed limit…!!! We’ve all sinned—missed the mark—and according to God we must be penalized. That’s only fair, right? A simple example would be paying a parking ticket.
Imagine you received a ticket from God for every sin you committed, every bad deed, every failure to love well, every evil thought. That would be an expensive ticket, right?! How would you feel about paying it? It would be impossible!
Now imagine Jesus comes along and says, “I’ll pay it.” How would that make you feel?
That’s redemption. That’s a redeemer. That’s grace…unmerited favor. And it’s available to everyone one of you. You can choose to suffer yourself and be punished for your sins or say yes to Jesus and let him pay the bill, let him be your redeemer.
One of the most famous of the ancient scriptures says,
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)
About 2000 years ago Jesus died on a cross in Jerusalem…though he did nothing wrong.
When Jesus rose from the dead—and hundreds of people saw his resurrected body—he proved his love. He proved his power. He proved his sacrifice was sufficient. Paul, who wrote much of the Bible, said,
But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. (1 Corinthians 15:20-22, NLT)
“Belongs to Christ” simply means they say yes to Jesus. The simple prayer is, “Jesus, I give you my life.”
If you’re like me, you probably like to be in control. You don’t want to follow, you want to lead. But how’s that working out for you? Are you experiencing a life of freedom? Peace? Joy? Satisfaction? Contentment?
The culture says to pursue happiness, and we usually do so through money, power, and pleasure, but I haven’t found anything or anyone that offers true meaning and purpose than Jesus. He’s fully God, yet fully human, the perfect example of what it means to be human…and the one I want to lead my life.
Our song from Handel’s Messiah is curious because although it declares, “My redeemer lives,” those words were taken from the book of Job, written hundreds—if not thousands—of years before Jesus died and rose from the dead.
It’s the story of a righteous man whose faith is tested by a variety of tragedies and pain, from physical suffering to the loss of his children. Job is honest about his suffering and how he feels about God’s testing. Then he adds,
My breath is offensive to my wife; I am loathsome to my own family. (Job 19:17)
Even the little boys scorn me; when I appear, they ridicule me. (Job 19:18)
All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me. (Job 19:19)
I am nothing but skin and bones; I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth. (Job 19:20)
“Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me. (Job 19:21)
Why do you pursue me as God does? Will you never get enough of my flesh? (Job 19:22)
Have you ever felt like that? We all have stories of hurt and suffering. I’ve suffered. My family has suffered. We’ve been through many long, hard seasons including nine years of treatments across the country with a sick child. For months, one of our children lived at the Ronald McDonald House in Cleveland with me while my wife was in Ann Arbor with our other two kids during the week. Heather and I would switch on weekends, passing one another on the Ohio Turnpike. The relational, physical, and financial challenges were overwhelming, and as the years dragged on, I could relate to Job, a little bit. It felt like God was out to get us or at least forgot us, at times, though our story was not over…and neither is yours.
A few verses after expressing all of his anguish, Job declares,
I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. (Job 19:25)
And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:26-27)
I know that my redeemer lives. Job had hope that the Messiah would come. He knew his story—and HiStory—was not over.
Job wrote centuries before Jesus walked the earth. While we can view his words as somewhat prophetic, he had no knowledge of the Messiah’s death and resurrection. He was not only on the other side of Easter, Job was on the other side of Christmas! But even in his agony, he had faith to believe God would eventually intervene, that he would be vindicated, that whether in life or death, he would see God.
I know that my redeemer lives.
If Jesus remained dead, there would be no reason for faith. We would have no hope. Death would win.
But he is risen! He is risen indeed!
So What?
Because Jesus lives, we can face tomorrow
Because Jesus lives, all fear is gone.
When we trust him rather than ourselves, we can rest, experience forgiveness, and know peace.
Do you know God loves you? No matter who you are or what you’ve done, God loves you…so much that He proved His love by sending Jesus to die as your redeemer, to pay the penalty of your sins…and mine.
Do you know Jesus died and rose from the dead? That’s the foundation of the Christian faith. It’s not about a religion or politics, but the person of Jesus.
Do you know Jesus is your redeemer? If not, today can be the day you say yes to Jesus, the day you choose to follow him, the day to allow him to pay the bill and lead your life. You’ll never regret it.
My hope is not in my talents, my wealth, or my wisdom. It’s not in technology, our government, or the stock market. The only real hope I’ve found came through a cross and an empty tomb, a death and a resurrection. I know that my redeemer lives, and because he lives, I have hope. Jesus is my living hope. Is he yours?
Handel’s Messiah
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
April 5, 2026
Job 19:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
Series Big Idea: Handel’s Messiah may be the greatest work of music ever created, bringing praise and glory to the Creator.
Big Idea: Because my redeemer lives, I have a living hope.
I know that my redeemer lives. What a great message for Easter, resurrection Sunday. Today is the greatest day on the Christian calendar as we remember Jesus’ horrific death on the cross was followed by his miraculous resurrection.
This past Advent, we began a message series examining the songs and lyrics of Handel’s Messiah. The first part of the magnificent work of music speaks of the Incarnation, the events of Christmastime which is why it’s commonly performed in December. But the rest of it—including the Hallelujah Chorus—is about the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus the Messiah with glimpses of the future.
Our world is a mess…would you agree? Since Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, sin and evil have been wreaking havoc, whether it’s violence, racism, abuse, addiction, greed, adultery, or any number of things that steal, kill, and destroy. It’s nothing new. What makes things seem so bad, I believe, is the 24/7 news cycle that is constantly screaming through our screens. We know too much!
Because humans made a mess of the world, Jesus came as a baby to fix things, to ultimately die, to take the punishment you and I deserve for our sins, our pride, our rebellion. Jesus is our redeemer…and I know that my redeemer lives.
Redeemer is one of those churchy, biblical words you rarely hear in our culture, but it’s incredible.
To redeem is to exchange. We redeem gift cards, for example. Another meaning of redeem is to pay off, like a debt or promissory note.
Is there anyone perfect here? You’ve never told a white lie, cheated, lusted, driven over the speed limit…!!! We’ve all sinned—missed the mark—and according to God we must be penalized. That’s only fair, right? A simple example would be paying a parking ticket.
Imagine you received a ticket from God for every sin you committed, every bad deed, every failure to love well, every evil thought. That would be an expensive ticket, right?! How would you feel about paying it? It would be impossible!
Now imagine Jesus comes along and says, “I’ll pay it.” How would that make you feel?
That’s redemption. That’s a redeemer. That’s grace…unmerited favor. And it’s available to everyone one of you. You can choose to suffer yourself and be punished for your sins or say yes to Jesus and let him pay the bill, let him be your redeemer.
One of the most famous of the ancient scriptures says,
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)
About 2000 years ago Jesus died on a cross in Jerusalem…though he did nothing wrong.
When Jesus rose from the dead—and hundreds of people saw his resurrected body—he proved his love. He proved his power. He proved his sacrifice was sufficient. Paul, who wrote much of the Bible, said,
But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. (1 Corinthians 15:20-22, NLT)
“Belongs to Christ” simply means they say yes to Jesus. The simple prayer is, “Jesus, I give you my life.”
If you’re like me, you probably like to be in control. You don’t want to follow, you want to lead. But how’s that working out for you? Are you experiencing a life of freedom? Peace? Joy? Satisfaction? Contentment?
The culture says to pursue happiness, and we usually do so through money, power, and pleasure, but I haven’t found anything or anyone that offers true meaning and purpose than Jesus. He’s fully God, yet fully human, the perfect example of what it means to be human…and the one I want to lead my life.
Our song from Handel’s Messiah is curious because although it declares, “My redeemer lives,” those words were taken from the book of Job, written hundreds—if not thousands—of years before Jesus died and rose from the dead.
It’s the story of a righteous man whose faith is tested by a variety of tragedies and pain, from physical suffering to the loss of his children. Job is honest about his suffering and how he feels about God’s testing. Then he adds,
My breath is offensive to my wife; I am loathsome to my own family. (Job 19:17)
Even the little boys scorn me; when I appear, they ridicule me. (Job 19:18)
All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me. (Job 19:19)
I am nothing but skin and bones; I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth. (Job 19:20)
“Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me. (Job 19:21)
Why do you pursue me as God does? Will you never get enough of my flesh? (Job 19:22)
Have you ever felt like that? We all have stories of hurt and suffering. I’ve suffered. My family has suffered. We’ve been through many long, hard seasons including nine years of treatments across the country with a sick child. For months, one of our children lived at the Ronald McDonald House in Cleveland with me while my wife was in Ann Arbor with our other two kids during the week. Heather and I would switch on weekends, passing one another on the Ohio Turnpike. The relational, physical, and financial challenges were overwhelming, and as the years dragged on, I could relate to Job, a little bit. It felt like God was out to get us or at least forgot us, at times, though our story was not over…and neither is yours.
A few verses after expressing all of his anguish, Job declares,
I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. (Job 19:25)
And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:26-27)
I know that my redeemer lives. Job had hope that the Messiah would come. He knew his story—and HiStory—was not over.
Job wrote centuries before Jesus walked the earth. While we can view his words as somewhat prophetic, he had no knowledge of the Messiah’s death and resurrection. He was not only on the other side of Easter, Job was on the other side of Christmas! But even in his agony, he had faith to believe God would eventually intervene, that he would be vindicated, that whether in life or death, he would see God.
I know that my redeemer lives.
If Jesus remained dead, there would be no reason for faith. We would have no hope. Death would win.
But he is risen! He is risen indeed!
So What?
Because Jesus lives, we can face tomorrow
Because Jesus lives, all fear is gone.
When we trust him rather than ourselves, we can rest, experience forgiveness, and know peace.
Do you know God loves you? No matter who you are or what you’ve done, God loves you…so much that He proved His love by sending Jesus to die as your redeemer, to pay the penalty of your sins…and mine.
Do you know Jesus died and rose from the dead? That’s the foundation of the Christian faith. It’s not about a religion or politics, but the person of Jesus.
Do you know Jesus is your redeemer? If not, today can be the day you say yes to Jesus, the day you choose to follow him, the day to allow him to pay the bill and lead your life. You’ll never regret it.
My hope is not in my talents, my wealth, or my wisdom. It’s not in technology, our government, or the stock market. The only real hope I’ve found came through a cross and an empty tomb, a death and a resurrection. I know that my redeemer lives, and because he lives, I have hope. Jesus is my living hope. Is he yours?
God's Will, 22 March 2026
God’s Will for Your Life
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Why?
March 22, 2026
Proverbs 3:1-7
Series Big Idea: It’s natural to ask God, “Why?” but He’s up to something.
Series Scripture: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Big Idea: It is wise to seek God’s will for your life.
Author Mark Twain said the two most important days are the day you are born and the day you figure out…why.
One of the most common questions I get as a pastor is, “How do I know God’s will?” I’d be the first person to say I sometimes wish God would simply send me a text or an e-mail, but He has given us something far greater…if you’re willing to seek it.
Do you have a life verse? A favorite passage of the Bible? A quote that serves as your north star? Mine was selected decades ago and it has guided me better than any GPS. Today during our “Why?” series, we’re examining God’s Will for Your Life.
In the most famous prayer in history, Jesus teaches his disciples to pray, “Your will be done.” But how do we know God’s will? Romans chapter 12 gives us a clear answer, but I want to work backwards. Verse two ends
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2b)
God’s will is good, and pleasing, and perfect. As I said last week, Daddy knows best. He can be trusted in all things. He’s not mad at you, He’s madly in love with you! He’s not out to get you, He wants to get to know you! My favorite passage of the Bible is found in our scripture reading for today. The first verses of Proverbs chapter three contain several “do not” commands, every one of which is a command in the same grammatical structure as the Ten Commandments. My favorite verses within the section say,
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
I’m living proof of this truth. Even though I haven’t always trusted and followed God, it has been my aspiration, my desire. He has guided me to places I never imagined (can you say ‘Ohio?’) and has never failed me, even when I have failed. The journey has not always been easy or comfortable, but I wouldn’t trade the adventure for anything. Perhaps the greatest thing is the peace and satisfaction of being led by God. When things have gotten rough—and they have—I’ve said, “God, You led me here and You’ve got to lead me through.” He has been so faithful! Hallelujah!
So how do we know God’s will? Back to Romans, the first part of verse two says,
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
Does the world have influence over you? Absolutely! Even if you were to move to the middle of nowhere with no phone, tv, or Internet, you would surely experience temptation. What is the pattern of this world? Paul wrote,
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. (Colossians 3:5)
We are bombarded by these things in our entertainment, advertising, neighbors, and culture. It’s the way of the world. We need to put it to death!
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
Be transformed by the renewing of our mind? How do we do that? Let’s back up one more verse.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
What’s the therefore there for? Romans chapter 11 ends with a doxology that declares God’s wisdom, knowledge, justice, creation, and sovereignty.
To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:36b)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
Therefore we are to submit our bodies—and everything else—to God. Followers of Jesus surrender their rights to Christ. Our bodies belong to the LORD. We are temples where He dwells. How’s your temple? How are you treating it? This is especially true in a sex-crazed culture where immorality runs rampant—even among those who call themselves Christians. The invitation from Jesus is to die—to our sin, our pride, our selfish living—and be resurrected with him, experiencing righteousness, justice, and peace. We renew our mind by studying the Bible, guarding our eyes and ears and heart, and seeking first God’s Kingdom rather than our own.
Taken as a whole, these two verses are loaded! They’re challenging. But they are a path to understanding God’s will. If you really want to know it, you begin by aligning your heart, soul, body and mind with godliness, not the world. Usually that means doing the opposite of what everyone else is doing. It can be lonely. This is why we need to fellowship with one another, encourage one another, love and support one another as we live radical, countercultural lives. If your life doesn’t seem different to what everyone else is doing, you might not be doing it God’s way. Let me be clear, I don’t always get this right, either, but…
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25)
This is a beautiful vision of us—the Church! Love, good deeds, encouragement…
I know some of you simply can’t be here in-person, but if you can gather with us on Sundays, in small groups during the week, and at special events, you will be blessed…and your presence will bless others.
(By the way, we have a little gathering coming up in two weeks. I hope you will all be there…with friends! If not, please pray, pray, pray that God will use this celebration to draw men, women, and children to Himself.)
Back to this issue of calling, our calling is often the intersection of our gifts, our passions, and the world’s needs. What are you good at? What do you love to do? How can that impact the world, near or far? These may give us clues, but it may take years to discover and/or experience. Then again,
there may be more than one calling for our lives. This may be true over the course of our lives. I used to be in sales, then music, now pastoring. My friend Bill went from physical therapist to CFO! Young people, you will likely have multiple careers—which is not always the same as calling, but they often align.
If you’re still trying to figure it out, don’t rush the process. Be faithful in the small things. Memorize Romans 12:1-2. Following Jesus is not a puzzle to solve. It’s a lifelong journey with Christ, being guided by the Bible and the Holy Spirit.
The quest for clarity should result in intimacy with God. Seek and you will find. The goal is not landing the perfect job or even understanding the Bible like a scholar but knowing Jesus.
The quest for clarity should result in intimacy with God. Discern with others. This is why we need to get together. I often say when Heather and I agree on a decision, it is usually God’s will. This is not to say we often disagree nor is it a guarantee, but we need to be on the same page before things such as a relocation or a job change. One friend said to his wife, “God told me to plant a church.” Her reply was respectfully, “When He tells me, we’ll do it.” He wisely waited several years until she said she heard from the LORD. They have been leading their “new” church together for almost sixteen years. Timing is everything. Had he gone ahead, I’m not sure the church and/or their marriage would be intact. Maybe it is God’s will for you to be married, have kids, or move to Hawaii…but it might be years into the future. Remember, God has all the time in the world!
I have a discipleship Huddle with a group of men where I ask three questions:
a. What is God saying to you?
b. What are you going to do about it?
c. How can we help?
We discern together because sometimes we are biased. Wise counsel is…wise!
So What?
It is wise to seek God’s will for your life. Knowing God’s will starts with God, not with us. You can tell God what you want, but if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans!
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)
I think this is what inspired Saint Augustine to say something like, “Love God and do what you want.”
There are few “guarantees” in life or with our choices, but God is gracious and kind. Even when we make an unwise choice, He will redeem the decision, guiding us back onto the path if we’re willing to seek first His Kingdom. His arms are always wide open.
Why were you born? Ultimately you were created to know God, make Him known to others, and bring Him glory. You and I were made to worship…with our voices and with our lives. I challenge you this week to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. He’s worth it! Amen.
Reflection Questions
What is your life verse(s)?
How has it guided you?
What brings you joy?
What gifts has God given to you?
What is your life purpose?
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Why?
March 22, 2026
Proverbs 3:1-7
Series Big Idea: It’s natural to ask God, “Why?” but He’s up to something.
Series Scripture: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Big Idea: It is wise to seek God’s will for your life.
Author Mark Twain said the two most important days are the day you are born and the day you figure out…why.
One of the most common questions I get as a pastor is, “How do I know God’s will?” I’d be the first person to say I sometimes wish God would simply send me a text or an e-mail, but He has given us something far greater…if you’re willing to seek it.
Do you have a life verse? A favorite passage of the Bible? A quote that serves as your north star? Mine was selected decades ago and it has guided me better than any GPS. Today during our “Why?” series, we’re examining God’s Will for Your Life.
In the most famous prayer in history, Jesus teaches his disciples to pray, “Your will be done.” But how do we know God’s will? Romans chapter 12 gives us a clear answer, but I want to work backwards. Verse two ends
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2b)
God’s will is good, and pleasing, and perfect. As I said last week, Daddy knows best. He can be trusted in all things. He’s not mad at you, He’s madly in love with you! He’s not out to get you, He wants to get to know you! My favorite passage of the Bible is found in our scripture reading for today. The first verses of Proverbs chapter three contain several “do not” commands, every one of which is a command in the same grammatical structure as the Ten Commandments. My favorite verses within the section say,
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
I’m living proof of this truth. Even though I haven’t always trusted and followed God, it has been my aspiration, my desire. He has guided me to places I never imagined (can you say ‘Ohio?’) and has never failed me, even when I have failed. The journey has not always been easy or comfortable, but I wouldn’t trade the adventure for anything. Perhaps the greatest thing is the peace and satisfaction of being led by God. When things have gotten rough—and they have—I’ve said, “God, You led me here and You’ve got to lead me through.” He has been so faithful! Hallelujah!
So how do we know God’s will? Back to Romans, the first part of verse two says,
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
Does the world have influence over you? Absolutely! Even if you were to move to the middle of nowhere with no phone, tv, or Internet, you would surely experience temptation. What is the pattern of this world? Paul wrote,
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. (Colossians 3:5)
We are bombarded by these things in our entertainment, advertising, neighbors, and culture. It’s the way of the world. We need to put it to death!
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
Be transformed by the renewing of our mind? How do we do that? Let’s back up one more verse.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
What’s the therefore there for? Romans chapter 11 ends with a doxology that declares God’s wisdom, knowledge, justice, creation, and sovereignty.
To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:36b)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
Therefore we are to submit our bodies—and everything else—to God. Followers of Jesus surrender their rights to Christ. Our bodies belong to the LORD. We are temples where He dwells. How’s your temple? How are you treating it? This is especially true in a sex-crazed culture where immorality runs rampant—even among those who call themselves Christians. The invitation from Jesus is to die—to our sin, our pride, our selfish living—and be resurrected with him, experiencing righteousness, justice, and peace. We renew our mind by studying the Bible, guarding our eyes and ears and heart, and seeking first God’s Kingdom rather than our own.
Taken as a whole, these two verses are loaded! They’re challenging. But they are a path to understanding God’s will. If you really want to know it, you begin by aligning your heart, soul, body and mind with godliness, not the world. Usually that means doing the opposite of what everyone else is doing. It can be lonely. This is why we need to fellowship with one another, encourage one another, love and support one another as we live radical, countercultural lives. If your life doesn’t seem different to what everyone else is doing, you might not be doing it God’s way. Let me be clear, I don’t always get this right, either, but…
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25)
This is a beautiful vision of us—the Church! Love, good deeds, encouragement…
I know some of you simply can’t be here in-person, but if you can gather with us on Sundays, in small groups during the week, and at special events, you will be blessed…and your presence will bless others.
(By the way, we have a little gathering coming up in two weeks. I hope you will all be there…with friends! If not, please pray, pray, pray that God will use this celebration to draw men, women, and children to Himself.)
Back to this issue of calling, our calling is often the intersection of our gifts, our passions, and the world’s needs. What are you good at? What do you love to do? How can that impact the world, near or far? These may give us clues, but it may take years to discover and/or experience. Then again,
there may be more than one calling for our lives. This may be true over the course of our lives. I used to be in sales, then music, now pastoring. My friend Bill went from physical therapist to CFO! Young people, you will likely have multiple careers—which is not always the same as calling, but they often align.
If you’re still trying to figure it out, don’t rush the process. Be faithful in the small things. Memorize Romans 12:1-2. Following Jesus is not a puzzle to solve. It’s a lifelong journey with Christ, being guided by the Bible and the Holy Spirit.
The quest for clarity should result in intimacy with God. Seek and you will find. The goal is not landing the perfect job or even understanding the Bible like a scholar but knowing Jesus.
The quest for clarity should result in intimacy with God. Discern with others. This is why we need to get together. I often say when Heather and I agree on a decision, it is usually God’s will. This is not to say we often disagree nor is it a guarantee, but we need to be on the same page before things such as a relocation or a job change. One friend said to his wife, “God told me to plant a church.” Her reply was respectfully, “When He tells me, we’ll do it.” He wisely waited several years until she said she heard from the LORD. They have been leading their “new” church together for almost sixteen years. Timing is everything. Had he gone ahead, I’m not sure the church and/or their marriage would be intact. Maybe it is God’s will for you to be married, have kids, or move to Hawaii…but it might be years into the future. Remember, God has all the time in the world!
I have a discipleship Huddle with a group of men where I ask three questions:
a. What is God saying to you?
b. What are you going to do about it?
c. How can we help?
We discern together because sometimes we are biased. Wise counsel is…wise!
So What?
It is wise to seek God’s will for your life. Knowing God’s will starts with God, not with us. You can tell God what you want, but if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans!
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)
I think this is what inspired Saint Augustine to say something like, “Love God and do what you want.”
There are few “guarantees” in life or with our choices, but God is gracious and kind. Even when we make an unwise choice, He will redeem the decision, guiding us back onto the path if we’re willing to seek first His Kingdom. His arms are always wide open.
Why were you born? Ultimately you were created to know God, make Him known to others, and bring Him glory. You and I were made to worship…with our voices and with our lives. I challenge you this week to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. He’s worth it! Amen.
Reflection Questions
What is your life verse(s)?
How has it guided you?
What brings you joy?
What gifts has God given to you?
What is your life purpose?
When Prayers Go Unanswered, 15 March 2026
When Prayers Go Unanswered
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Why?
March 15, 2026
2 Corinthians 12:6-10
Series Big Idea: It’s natural to ask God, “Why?” but He’s up to something.
Series Scripture: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Big Idea: God always answers our prayers, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
Why? It might be my favorite question. I’m a very curious person. I like to understand how things work, what goes on behind the scenes, where things originated. Asking, “Why?” can be a path toward comprehension and even appreciation. Simon Sinek wrote a great book entitled Start with Why. The question can also be a provocative challenge.
Today we begin a new series entitled, “Why?” It’s a question we’ve all asked God…even if we say we don’t believe in God!
Why did the child die?
Why am I unable to break this addiction?
Why is there evil in the world?
Why can’t I find a job…a spouse…relief for my pain?
Listen to these prayers.
How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (Psalm 13:1)
Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever. (Psalm 44:23)
Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; LORD, tear out the fangs of those lions! (Psalm 58:6)
If only you, God, would slay the wicked! (Psalm 139:19a)
Do you hear the passion? Can you sense the honesty. The audacity! It’s messy, but genuine.
Each of those prayers come from King David in the Psalms. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything but authentically pours out his heart to God…and we can, too.
You can be real with God. He can handle anything you throw His way…fear, doubt, anger, worry, praise, confession, petitions…
You can even ask, “Why?” though I have an even better question I’ll share later.
What happens when our prayers go unanswered?
Can you relate? If God is good, if God loves me, if God is in control, then why…?
I know the feeling. We all know the feeling. Some have even used what they thought was God ghosting them—doing nothing—as reason to reject God. If God won’t meet my demands, maybe I need to find a new god!
I want to encourage you today. I want to offer hope—real hope. God is good and He does love you and He is in control…and because of that, He knows how to best respond to our prayers.
God always answers our prayers, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
He responds with yes, no, or wait. The challenge is we don’t always get instant feedback on our petitions. If you pray for a sick friend, it would be nice if God said, “They will be healed, but it will take two surgeries and six months before they are fully healed.” At least you would have realistic expectations, though you would surely prefer a miraculous instant healing instead!
This begs the question, “Why doesn’t He just say ‘yes’ to all of my requests?” I don’t mean to make light of your struggles, but I think it’s the same reason I didn’t say ‘yes’ to my kids when they wanted a big bowl of ice cream at bedtime. Daddy knows best. He can be trusted. He really is good, He really does answer our prayers, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
Few people understood this better than Paul, the writer of much of the New Testament of the Bible. In his letter to a European church, he wrote about an encounter with God.
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. (2 Corinthians 12:7b)
What was this thorn? We don’t know. There are a few theories. It could’ve been…
- A physical issue such as chronic pain, malaria, epilepsy, or an eye disease (10:10)
- Opposition from false teachers and critics (11:1-5)
- Spiritual oppression or unrelenting temptation (1 Thess. 2:18)
- Depression, discouragement, or some other mental illness (2:4)
We don’t know, but what is clear is it had a purpose…to keep Paul humble. The Bible is filled with stories of people tested. I doubt any understood or welcomed these experiences…at the time.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. (2 Corinthians 12:8)
In Luke 18, Jesus tells a parable about a persistent widow who keeps bothering a judge, seeking justice. The moral of the story is we should always pray and not give up. Are we supposed to annoy God with our constant prayers? Not exactly, but the message seems to be persevere. God’s not deaf, but He loves to hear your voice. In Paul’s case, God replied after the third time.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9a)
I don’t think this was the response Paul wanted. Three times Paul said, “Take it away” and God said, “No.” The Greek word for grace here, charis, denotes Christ’s power to strengthen and endure hardship.
God always answers our prayers, even when it doesn’t feel like it. He says, “Yes, no, or wait.” Paul was blessed with a specific reply and explanation from God, but usually we hear nothing. We see nothing. We experience nothing…and wonder if God is there.
He is! Listen to Jesus’ last words in the book of Matthew:
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b)
King David asked,
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? (Psalm 139:7)
He is here. I promise! He said He would never leave or forsake us.
Back to Paul, God says no to removing this thorn in Paul’s life, leaving him with this weakness to show God’s power. Paul continues,
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9b)
People love to talk about themselves, post their accomplishments online, show the world their highlight reels, and seek approval from others. Paul was humbled by this thorn, this trial, this test. It served a purpose…Paul’s good and God’s glory.
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)
Does Paul sound like a crazy man, delighting in weakness, insults, hardship, persecutions, difficulties? He would be if it wasn’t for the short phrase, “For Christ’s sake.” Jesus taught us to pray, “Lord, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.”
Nobody knows pain and suffering like Jesus. He was facing the cup of death, of crucifixion and prayed,
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
He said, “Father, this is my will…but yours be done.” This is what Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane…three times (like Paul). Can you say that? Can you pray that? It takes faith and trust in our good, good Father. Job said,
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” (Job 1:21b)
So What?
There are many things I don’t understand about God. I have asked Him “why?” more times than I can count. Some prayers required waiting nearly a decade for visible action. There are, however, some things I do understand.
1. God loves us. He proved it.
2. God is with us. He sees us. The Holy Spirit lives inside believers.
3. God answers our prayers. Always. Not always on-demand with a yes.
4. We don’t always need to understand why.
5. It’s helpful to ask, “What are you up to, LORD?”
6. God is working through the waiting. Don’t give up.
7. Seek first His will and Kingdom. The Lord’s Prayer.
8. Jesus understands pain and grief and loss and suffering and betrayal and…
9. This life is preparation for the next one…which will last much longer!
10. We would love to pray with you and for you…at the conclusion of the service or even online (e-mail me)
I want to close with the scripture that summarizes today and the weeks to come in this series.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Do you love God? He loves you. He wants the very best for you. And He always answers our prayers, even when it doesn’t feel like it. The best is yet to come. It will be worth the wait.
Bonus Content
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZDvcEkjthA
In season 3 of the TV show The Chosen, one of Jesus’ disciples remains unhealed after years of prayer and he asks…why? Although not exactly a biblical quote, Jesus says in the episode,
“In the Father’s will, I could heal you right now, and you’d have a good story to tell…but there are already dozens who can tell that story…but to show people that you are patient with your suffering here on earth because you know you’ll spend eternity with no suffering, not everyone can understand that. How many people do you think the Father and trust this with? Not many…Remember, you will be healed. It’s only a matter of time.”
Reflection Questions
What are my expectations of God?
When has He answered my prayers?
Who can you prayer for and support?
Are you willing to ask for help? Prayer?
Can you think of a time when God revealed the purpose of a trial to you?
If He never says yes to your prayer, is He enough?
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Why?
March 15, 2026
2 Corinthians 12:6-10
Series Big Idea: It’s natural to ask God, “Why?” but He’s up to something.
Series Scripture: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Big Idea: God always answers our prayers, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
Why? It might be my favorite question. I’m a very curious person. I like to understand how things work, what goes on behind the scenes, where things originated. Asking, “Why?” can be a path toward comprehension and even appreciation. Simon Sinek wrote a great book entitled Start with Why. The question can also be a provocative challenge.
Today we begin a new series entitled, “Why?” It’s a question we’ve all asked God…even if we say we don’t believe in God!
Why did the child die?
Why am I unable to break this addiction?
Why is there evil in the world?
Why can’t I find a job…a spouse…relief for my pain?
Listen to these prayers.
How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (Psalm 13:1)
Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever. (Psalm 44:23)
Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; LORD, tear out the fangs of those lions! (Psalm 58:6)
If only you, God, would slay the wicked! (Psalm 139:19a)
Do you hear the passion? Can you sense the honesty. The audacity! It’s messy, but genuine.
Each of those prayers come from King David in the Psalms. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything but authentically pours out his heart to God…and we can, too.
You can be real with God. He can handle anything you throw His way…fear, doubt, anger, worry, praise, confession, petitions…
You can even ask, “Why?” though I have an even better question I’ll share later.
What happens when our prayers go unanswered?
Can you relate? If God is good, if God loves me, if God is in control, then why…?
I know the feeling. We all know the feeling. Some have even used what they thought was God ghosting them—doing nothing—as reason to reject God. If God won’t meet my demands, maybe I need to find a new god!
I want to encourage you today. I want to offer hope—real hope. God is good and He does love you and He is in control…and because of that, He knows how to best respond to our prayers.
God always answers our prayers, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
He responds with yes, no, or wait. The challenge is we don’t always get instant feedback on our petitions. If you pray for a sick friend, it would be nice if God said, “They will be healed, but it will take two surgeries and six months before they are fully healed.” At least you would have realistic expectations, though you would surely prefer a miraculous instant healing instead!
This begs the question, “Why doesn’t He just say ‘yes’ to all of my requests?” I don’t mean to make light of your struggles, but I think it’s the same reason I didn’t say ‘yes’ to my kids when they wanted a big bowl of ice cream at bedtime. Daddy knows best. He can be trusted. He really is good, He really does answer our prayers, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
Few people understood this better than Paul, the writer of much of the New Testament of the Bible. In his letter to a European church, he wrote about an encounter with God.
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. (2 Corinthians 12:7b)
What was this thorn? We don’t know. There are a few theories. It could’ve been…
- A physical issue such as chronic pain, malaria, epilepsy, or an eye disease (10:10)
- Opposition from false teachers and critics (11:1-5)
- Spiritual oppression or unrelenting temptation (1 Thess. 2:18)
- Depression, discouragement, or some other mental illness (2:4)
We don’t know, but what is clear is it had a purpose…to keep Paul humble. The Bible is filled with stories of people tested. I doubt any understood or welcomed these experiences…at the time.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. (2 Corinthians 12:8)
In Luke 18, Jesus tells a parable about a persistent widow who keeps bothering a judge, seeking justice. The moral of the story is we should always pray and not give up. Are we supposed to annoy God with our constant prayers? Not exactly, but the message seems to be persevere. God’s not deaf, but He loves to hear your voice. In Paul’s case, God replied after the third time.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9a)
I don’t think this was the response Paul wanted. Three times Paul said, “Take it away” and God said, “No.” The Greek word for grace here, charis, denotes Christ’s power to strengthen and endure hardship.
God always answers our prayers, even when it doesn’t feel like it. He says, “Yes, no, or wait.” Paul was blessed with a specific reply and explanation from God, but usually we hear nothing. We see nothing. We experience nothing…and wonder if God is there.
He is! Listen to Jesus’ last words in the book of Matthew:
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b)
King David asked,
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? (Psalm 139:7)
He is here. I promise! He said He would never leave or forsake us.
Back to Paul, God says no to removing this thorn in Paul’s life, leaving him with this weakness to show God’s power. Paul continues,
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9b)
People love to talk about themselves, post their accomplishments online, show the world their highlight reels, and seek approval from others. Paul was humbled by this thorn, this trial, this test. It served a purpose…Paul’s good and God’s glory.
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)
Does Paul sound like a crazy man, delighting in weakness, insults, hardship, persecutions, difficulties? He would be if it wasn’t for the short phrase, “For Christ’s sake.” Jesus taught us to pray, “Lord, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.”
Nobody knows pain and suffering like Jesus. He was facing the cup of death, of crucifixion and prayed,
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
He said, “Father, this is my will…but yours be done.” This is what Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane…three times (like Paul). Can you say that? Can you pray that? It takes faith and trust in our good, good Father. Job said,
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” (Job 1:21b)
So What?
There are many things I don’t understand about God. I have asked Him “why?” more times than I can count. Some prayers required waiting nearly a decade for visible action. There are, however, some things I do understand.
1. God loves us. He proved it.
2. God is with us. He sees us. The Holy Spirit lives inside believers.
3. God answers our prayers. Always. Not always on-demand with a yes.
4. We don’t always need to understand why.
5. It’s helpful to ask, “What are you up to, LORD?”
6. God is working through the waiting. Don’t give up.
7. Seek first His will and Kingdom. The Lord’s Prayer.
8. Jesus understands pain and grief and loss and suffering and betrayal and…
9. This life is preparation for the next one…which will last much longer!
10. We would love to pray with you and for you…at the conclusion of the service or even online (e-mail me)
I want to close with the scripture that summarizes today and the weeks to come in this series.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Do you love God? He loves you. He wants the very best for you. And He always answers our prayers, even when it doesn’t feel like it. The best is yet to come. It will be worth the wait.
Bonus Content
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZDvcEkjthA
In season 3 of the TV show The Chosen, one of Jesus’ disciples remains unhealed after years of prayer and he asks…why? Although not exactly a biblical quote, Jesus says in the episode,
“In the Father’s will, I could heal you right now, and you’d have a good story to tell…but there are already dozens who can tell that story…but to show people that you are patient with your suffering here on earth because you know you’ll spend eternity with no suffering, not everyone can understand that. How many people do you think the Father and trust this with? Not many…Remember, you will be healed. It’s only a matter of time.”
Reflection Questions
What are my expectations of God?
When has He answered my prayers?
Who can you prayer for and support?
Are you willing to ask for help? Prayer?
Can you think of a time when God revealed the purpose of a trial to you?
If He never says yes to your prayer, is He enough?
Generous, 8 March 2026
08 03 26 Filed in: Sermons | Money Matter$
Generous
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Money Matters
March 8, 2026
2 Corinthians 9:6-12
Series Big Idea: Money is a powerful tool that can bless or destroy.
Big Idea: You’ve probably never met an unhappy generous person.
What makes you happy?
Can money buy happiness? Yes it can. If you give me some, I’ll prove it!
The problem is the happiness money buys is temporary. But as I said last week,
You’ve probably never met an unhappy generous person.
We live in one of the most consumeristic, selfish societies in the history of the world. We’re told, “Whoever dies with the most toys wins,” “It’s all about you,” and even the fantasy that we can somehow have our “own truth.” Even today, most people around the world depend upon the support and generosity of others, whether it’s family, friends, or neighbors. We were created to exist in community, and God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit model it perfectly for us.
There are countless stories of wealthy people living miserable lives, some even taking their own lives in despair, because money can’t buy lasting happiness, but generosity can!
A 20089 study by Harvard and the University of British Columbia found those who spend money on others reported greater happiness than those who spent it on themselves. Researchers have discovered acts of giving stimulate the reward center of the brain, something called the “helper’s high.” Those who regularly practice generosity have lower depression rates, stronger social bonds, greater life satisfaction, and even better physical health markers,
This should come as no surprise given Jesus’ words that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
You’ve probably never met a happy, content selfish person!
You probably know the golden rule:
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
Those were Jesus’ words, not mine. He also said,
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:37-38)
Once again, this isn’t a fundraising pitch. It’s not what I want from you but what I want for you…what God wants for you…the happiness, the joy, the thrill of being generous.
In week one of this series, we said everything we have belongs to God. We are His stewards. It’s not my stuff, but His. We will all one day stand before God and give an account of what we did with our money, time, and gifts. This is not simply a financial issue, but a spiritual issue. How we earn, spend, give, save, and invest our money is a discipleship issue. Greed is not part of the fruit of the Spirit!
Last Sunday we said God faithfully provides through the generosity of His people…and what a joy it is to give, to invest in God’s Kingdom, to bless others, whether it’s an offering of a handful of rice as we saw in the video or a million-dollar gift. God’s math means whatever we offer to Him will be multiplied and impact lives for eternity.
Even if you’re a poor college student, a young family waist-deep in debt, or simply crushed under the weight of medical bills of no fault of your own, you can experience the joy of generosity. I want to challenge you to take a step of faith…not a leap, but a step of faith. Go ahead and take God at His word:
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. (Malachi 3:10)
Tithe simply means ten percent. That’s less than what you probably pay in taxes. That should be less than you tip a waiter or waitress! Ten percent is a good place for beginners. If you’re not giving ten percent, you’re missing out! You may be saying, “I can’t afford to give ten percent.” I’m saying you can’t afford to NOT give ten percent…as a starter, as a step of faith. If you just can’t imagine God providing and honoring your generosity, start with 5%. I dare you to trust God! The great thing about percentage giving is it adjusts to your income. We all have something we can give.
If you find yourself in debt, struggling to make ends meet, unsure of how to create a budget, or just want to grow in your understanding of finances, I want to encourage you to sign up for Financial Peace University. It will be held here on Wednesday evenings beginning March 25 and since it’s during Encounter, you can bring your kids!
This is not just a personal issue. As a church family, I’ve encouraged our leaders to create mission plans (that’s another name for a budget!) that require God to show up! We never want to be foolish or greedy, but I want us to remain on our knees, desperate for God.
I’m always struck by this passage in Proverbs, the book of wisdom:
“Two things I ask of you, LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:7-9)
I know what it’s like to be desperate for God. As many of you know, Heather and I spent years on our knees praying for our kids and their various challenges. When our daughter was in remission, I prayed to the LORD, “I don’t want to lose this urgency and desperation. I don’t want to get busy and comfortable. I want to turn my prayer requests and petitions into praises,” and I’ve tried to do that.
I know He’s calling me to take steps of faith, to step out of my comfort, to be more generous. As John Ortberg famously said, “If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat.”
We briefly looked at this text from Paul to one of the first churches in Europe. The church in Jerusalem is struggling financially, and Paul encourages those in Corinth to help.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:10-11)
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (2 Corinthians 9:12)
This is a win-win-win…a win for the church in Jerusalem, a win for God who is glorified, and a win for the givers who receive blessings.
So What?
I challenge you—I dare you—to ask God what to do with this sermon, with this series. What is your next step. Maybe it’s to sign up for Financial Peace University. Perhaps you simply need to volunteer an hour a week—here or with one of our local ministry partners. Maybe it’s time to start giving ten percent or five percent…or even a dollar! See if God doesn’t honor and bless you. It’s possible God wants some of you to add a percent—or a zero—to your current giving. You can’t outgive God.
Last year I gave away copies of Randy Alcorn’s classic The Treasure Principle. If you didn’t get one, I’d love to give you a copy, but I must warn you it is challenging.
Jesus summarized the entire scriptures by saying love God, love your neighbor as yourself. Do you believe that? Prove it! How we use and steward our time, our talents, and our treasures is the real measure of our faith, our obedience, our spiritual maturity.
Everything we have belongs to God. We are His stewards.
A life of generosity is a key to true satisfaction and happiness.
I pray that He says to each of us someday, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Money Matters
March 8, 2026
2 Corinthians 9:6-12
Series Big Idea: Money is a powerful tool that can bless or destroy.
Big Idea: You’ve probably never met an unhappy generous person.
What makes you happy?
Can money buy happiness? Yes it can. If you give me some, I’ll prove it!
The problem is the happiness money buys is temporary. But as I said last week,
You’ve probably never met an unhappy generous person.
We live in one of the most consumeristic, selfish societies in the history of the world. We’re told, “Whoever dies with the most toys wins,” “It’s all about you,” and even the fantasy that we can somehow have our “own truth.” Even today, most people around the world depend upon the support and generosity of others, whether it’s family, friends, or neighbors. We were created to exist in community, and God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit model it perfectly for us.
There are countless stories of wealthy people living miserable lives, some even taking their own lives in despair, because money can’t buy lasting happiness, but generosity can!
A 20089 study by Harvard and the University of British Columbia found those who spend money on others reported greater happiness than those who spent it on themselves. Researchers have discovered acts of giving stimulate the reward center of the brain, something called the “helper’s high.” Those who regularly practice generosity have lower depression rates, stronger social bonds, greater life satisfaction, and even better physical health markers,
This should come as no surprise given Jesus’ words that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
You’ve probably never met a happy, content selfish person!
You probably know the golden rule:
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
Those were Jesus’ words, not mine. He also said,
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:37-38)
Once again, this isn’t a fundraising pitch. It’s not what I want from you but what I want for you…what God wants for you…the happiness, the joy, the thrill of being generous.
In week one of this series, we said everything we have belongs to God. We are His stewards. It’s not my stuff, but His. We will all one day stand before God and give an account of what we did with our money, time, and gifts. This is not simply a financial issue, but a spiritual issue. How we earn, spend, give, save, and invest our money is a discipleship issue. Greed is not part of the fruit of the Spirit!
Last Sunday we said God faithfully provides through the generosity of His people…and what a joy it is to give, to invest in God’s Kingdom, to bless others, whether it’s an offering of a handful of rice as we saw in the video or a million-dollar gift. God’s math means whatever we offer to Him will be multiplied and impact lives for eternity.
Even if you’re a poor college student, a young family waist-deep in debt, or simply crushed under the weight of medical bills of no fault of your own, you can experience the joy of generosity. I want to challenge you to take a step of faith…not a leap, but a step of faith. Go ahead and take God at His word:
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. (Malachi 3:10)
Tithe simply means ten percent. That’s less than what you probably pay in taxes. That should be less than you tip a waiter or waitress! Ten percent is a good place for beginners. If you’re not giving ten percent, you’re missing out! You may be saying, “I can’t afford to give ten percent.” I’m saying you can’t afford to NOT give ten percent…as a starter, as a step of faith. If you just can’t imagine God providing and honoring your generosity, start with 5%. I dare you to trust God! The great thing about percentage giving is it adjusts to your income. We all have something we can give.
If you find yourself in debt, struggling to make ends meet, unsure of how to create a budget, or just want to grow in your understanding of finances, I want to encourage you to sign up for Financial Peace University. It will be held here on Wednesday evenings beginning March 25 and since it’s during Encounter, you can bring your kids!
This is not just a personal issue. As a church family, I’ve encouraged our leaders to create mission plans (that’s another name for a budget!) that require God to show up! We never want to be foolish or greedy, but I want us to remain on our knees, desperate for God.
I’m always struck by this passage in Proverbs, the book of wisdom:
“Two things I ask of you, LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:7-9)
I know what it’s like to be desperate for God. As many of you know, Heather and I spent years on our knees praying for our kids and their various challenges. When our daughter was in remission, I prayed to the LORD, “I don’t want to lose this urgency and desperation. I don’t want to get busy and comfortable. I want to turn my prayer requests and petitions into praises,” and I’ve tried to do that.
I know He’s calling me to take steps of faith, to step out of my comfort, to be more generous. As John Ortberg famously said, “If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat.”
We briefly looked at this text from Paul to one of the first churches in Europe. The church in Jerusalem is struggling financially, and Paul encourages those in Corinth to help.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:10-11)
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (2 Corinthians 9:12)
This is a win-win-win…a win for the church in Jerusalem, a win for God who is glorified, and a win for the givers who receive blessings.
So What?
I challenge you—I dare you—to ask God what to do with this sermon, with this series. What is your next step. Maybe it’s to sign up for Financial Peace University. Perhaps you simply need to volunteer an hour a week—here or with one of our local ministry partners. Maybe it’s time to start giving ten percent or five percent…or even a dollar! See if God doesn’t honor and bless you. It’s possible God wants some of you to add a percent—or a zero—to your current giving. You can’t outgive God.
Last year I gave away copies of Randy Alcorn’s classic The Treasure Principle. If you didn’t get one, I’d love to give you a copy, but I must warn you it is challenging.
Jesus summarized the entire scriptures by saying love God, love your neighbor as yourself. Do you believe that? Prove it! How we use and steward our time, our talents, and our treasures is the real measure of our faith, our obedience, our spiritual maturity.
Everything we have belongs to God. We are His stewards.
A life of generosity is a key to true satisfaction and happiness.
I pray that He says to each of us someday, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”