To the Ends of the Earth, Begins

The Givenness of Things | Personal Faves Ep: 4

Psalm 127 Dominant Thought: The better way of life is not the way of self-reliance, but the way of trusting the Lord who builds, guards, gives, and blesses His people. INTRODUCTION * Psalm 127 was written as a "Song of Ascents," a song for God's people as they went up to worship. * Dr. Dilbeck connects this psalm to: * God's faithfulness during fifteen years of ministry at QSBC. * The perspective that comes with age and reflection. * The significance of June 28 in American history and Benjamin Franklin's appeal for prayer at the Constitutional Convention. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S OBSERVATION Franklin referenced Psalm 127 when he urged the Constitutional Convention to seek "the assistance of heaven," saying: > "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." His point was simple: without God's help, human efforts ultimately fail. THE TWO WAYS OF LIFE THE WAY OF BABEL Genesis 11 reveals humanity's determination to: * Make a name for themselves * Depend on themselves * Live in pride and self-reliance * Build life apart from God The way of Babel ultimately produces: * Anxiety * Compromise * Neglect of what matters most * Frustration and vanity THE WAY OF THE LORD Genesis 12 presents the alternative. God told Abraham: > Trust Me. Obey Me. Follow Me. Instead of making our own name great, we trust God to accomplish His purposes in and through us. Psalm 127 invites us to reject the way of Babel and embrace the way of the Lord. 1. THE BETTER WAY MAKES US HUMBLE Psalm 127:1-2 > "Unless the Lord builds the house… Unless the Lord guards the city…" The repeated word in the psalm is: Vain. Vain. Vain. Meaning: * Empty * Useless * Meaningless THE PSALM ASSUMES DILIGENCE The passage is not anti-work. We are called to: * Build * Guard * Create * Work diligently * Rise early and labor faithfully The problem isn't work. The problem is believing that our work alone can control outcomes. MOST OF WHAT MATTERS IS BEYOND OUR CONTROL We spend our lives: * Building * Acquiring * Producing Then we spend the rest of our lives: * Protecting * Preserving * Guarding Yet the things that matter most remain beyond our control. CHILDREN ILLUSTRATE THIS TRUTH Children: * Come from the Lord * Are gifts from God * Cannot be manufactured or controlled * Continually humble us Our lives are deeply affected by our children and grandchildren, yet we cannot ultimately control their hearts or futures. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS * Work hard, but reject self-sufficiency. * Hold your plans with open hands. * Recognize your dependence upon God. * Give Him credit for every blessing. 2. THE BETTER WAY MAKES US HOPEFUL Psalm 127:1-2 Psalm 127 presents a God who is active. The Lord: * Builds * Guards * Gives * Blesses This changes our entire outlook on life. THE WORLD'S SOUNDTRACK "It's a jungle out there." * You're on your own. * Scratch and claw your way forward. * Depend entirely upon yourself. THE CHRISTIAN'S SOUNDTRACK "This is My Father's World." * God is ruling. * God is working. * God is active on behalf of His people. HOW DO WE KNOW GOD LOVES AND WORKS FOR US? We look to the gospel. * God so loved the world that He gave His Son. * Christ died for sinners. * The cross proves God's love and activity on our behalf. Whenever we question God's goodness, we return to the cross and remember: God gives what we could never earn. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS * Stop living like everything depends on you. * Trust God's activity even when you cannot see it. * Let the gospel be evidence of God's love and faithfulness. * Rest in the reality that God is still building, guarding, and giving. 3. THE BETTER WAY MAKES US FAITHFUL Psalm 127:1-5 Biblical faithfulness is more than responsibility. Faithfulness means: > I will do all I can do because I believe that He will do all He can do. Christian faithfulness is: * Trust and obey * Work and dependence * Diligence and surrender THEREFORE… We do not work because we think we control life. We work because we believe: * He does. * He is building. * He is guarding. * He is giving. * He is faithful. BECAUSE HE IS FAITHFUL… * I will build. * I will guard. * I will work with purpose. * I will sleep with peace. * I will remain faithful because He is faithful. THE GOSPEL INVITATION The way of Babel says: > I can build my own life. The way of Jesus says: > Humble yourself, trust in Christ, and receive what only God can give. Salvation itself is a gift: * By grace * Through faith * Not by works * Created in Christ Jesus for good works prepared by Him. BOTTOM LINE Most of what matters in life is beyond our control, but nothing is beyond God's control. Therefore, we can humbly trust, hopefully rest, and faithfully obey the Lord who builds, guards, gives, and blesses His people.

The Pharisee & Tax Collector | Personal Faves: Ep: 3

Personal Faves — The Pharisee and the Tax Collector Why do some people seem to draw near to God while others remain distant, despite appearing deeply religious? In this message, Pastor Connor examines Luke 18:9–14 and Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Through this tale of two prayers, Jesus exposes the danger of self-righteousness and highlights the necessity of self-awareness. The Pharisee trusted in himself, looked down on others, and made a mockery of what was sacred. In contrast, the tax collector recognized who he was, understood who God is, and cried out for mercy. The message is clear: the way up in God's kingdom is the way down. Those who humble themselves before God are the ones who receive His grace and are declared righteous. CHAPTERS The Big Idea: The Problem Is Me (1:38–5:21) There Is Great Danger in Self-Righteousness (5:21–15:25) His Trust in Himself (6:42–9:06) His Treatment of Others (9:06–12:26) His Temple Mockery (12:26–15:25) There Is Great Grace in Self-Awareness (15:25–26:24) He Knows Who He Is (16:23–18:54) He Knows Who God Is (18:54–22:28) He Knows What God Does (22:28–26:24) The Way Up Is the Way Down (26:24–End) REFERENCED SCRIPTURES Luke 18:9–14 Luke 15 Luke 16 Luke 17 Luke 5:30–32 Isaiah 6:1–5

The Good Samaritan | Personal Faves: Ep 2

Personal Faves — The Story of the Good Samaritan The Parable of the Good Samaritan is one of Jesus' most familiar stories, but its message cuts far deeper than simple kindness. In this message, Pastor Connor explores Luke 10 and reveals the danger of self-righteousness, exposing our tendency to justify ourselves before God by what we have or haven't done. Through the unlikely compassion of a Samaritan toward a wounded stranger, Jesus paints a picture of the gospel itself. We are all the wounded traveler in need of rescue, and Christ is the great Samaritan who crossed the road to eternity to render aid we could never earn or repay. Because we have received His grace, we are now called to extend that same grace to others through sacrificial, costly, and committed love. CHAPTERS The Danger of Self-Righteousness (0:00–22:14) Christ-like "Roadside Grace" Is Extravagant Generosity Rooted in Deep Compassion (22:14–End) He Sacrificed His Own Convenience (23:28–25:37) He Shouldered the Cost (25:37–30:45) He Showed Full Commitment (30:45–End) REFERENCED SCRIPTURES Luke 10:25–37 Deuteronomy 6:5 Leviticus 19:18 Ephesians 2:1–5 Romans 10:9–13

The Call of a Lifetime | Personal Faves: Ep 1

Personal Faves — The Call of a Lifetime Jesus has always used ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary purposes. In this message, Dylan Bone examines Luke 5:1–11 and the calling of Simon Peter to reveal a pattern that still marks every disciple today. Jesus captures our attention, leverages every part of our lives for His kingdom, compels us to trust Him beyond our understanding, connects us to others in His mission, exposes our need for His grace, and ultimately commissions us to follow Him and make Him known. The call to follow Jesus is not reserved for a select few—it is the invitation and assignment given to every believer. CHAPTERS Jesus Captivates Your Attention (3:28–7:29) Jesus Leverages Your Life (7:29–14:10) Jesus Compels Your Trust (14:10–24:59) Jesus Connects You to Others (24:59–31:42) Jesus Exposes Your Need (31:42–36:06) Jesus Commissions You (36:06–End) REFERENCED SCRIPTURES Luke 5:1–11 Proverbs 3:5–6 Matthew 28:18–20 Mark 1:14–15

Living on Mission | Designed For Glory: Ep 8

Designed for Glory — Week 8: Living on Mission The Designed for Glory series concludes by bringing us back to God's original purpose for humanity. In this message, Pastor Connor explains how the gospel restores our ability to fulfill God's creation mandate in a broken world. Through Jesus, our identity is made new, our lives become a witness to His kingdom, and we are sent into our homes, workplaces, schools, and communities as salt and light—showing the kingdom of God through our lives and sharing the kingdom of God through the gospel. CHAPTERS The Gospel Makes Us New (0:00–10:56) Know What You Are (10:56–17:07) Know Where You Are (17:07–27:13) Know Why You Are (27:13–End) REFERENCED SCRIPTURES Genesis 1:28 Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23 Mark 1:14–15 John 3 Colossians 1:13 Matthew 5:13–16