The manuscript for today’s #sermon, “Walk in Newness of Life,” is on my blog. https://jeffsjottings.wordpress.com/2026/06/21/walk-in-newness-of-life/

Jesus invites us to come and die—but not for death's sake. Jesus invites us to take up the cross that we may walk in newness of life. Baptism is a sign of that paradox and that transformation.

[Worship Service] Father's Day Sermon - "How Deep The Father’s Love For Us?" June 21 2026

https://youtu.be/KAZlMTtEMUg

https://odysee.com/@firstfilipinobaptistchurchtoronto:3/06212026:3796b4f58c

https://rumble.com/v7bmbng-worship-service-fathers-day-sermon-how-deep-the-fathers-love-for-us-june-21.html

#Church #SundayMorning #Sermon #SundayService #ChurchOnline #FathersDay

We read the Bible as though we are always meant to be focused on Isaac, the chosen one, the child of the promise, the one the story is about, the one who is the ancestor of Israel. But this story is also, quietly, about the one who gets sent away, the one who exits the story at this point in Moses’ account of his people. God says something remarkable to Abraham: do not be distressed about the boy. As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring.

Ishmael is not a mistake to be cleaned up. He is not a loose end. He has his own destiny, his own future, his own nation, a future God promises to protect, out there, beyond the edge of the family that did not want him.

It is a hard thing to learn that not every story is about us and that sometimes we are not the main character at all, but rather a bit player in someone else’s deliverance. And it is harder still to learn that the people we are tempted to write off, the ones we are sure need to leave, may be carrying a destiny from God that we simply cannot see.

You can view the sermon directly at this link.