Unshakable Faith
In Pastor Rick’s sermon on Matthew 5:10-12, he explored the beatitude on persecution for righteousness’ sake. While acknowledging that most congregants in our Bible Belt community may not face severe religious persecution, he discussed four reasons why God allows pain in our lives: to honor our free will, to get our attention, to teach dependence on Him, and to equip us to minister to others. Pastor Rick shared a personal testimony about a challenging period in his ministry when God used difficulties to reveal areas in his life needing surrender, reinforcing that staying through trials often leads to growth that wouldn’t happen otherwise.