Good Friday Message
From Suffering to Glory
Elder Gary Nelson
April 3, 2026
Key Scripture
Isaiah 53:5,7-8 - 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.
8 Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people.
Key Terms
Suffering - Noun:
1) pain caused by injury, illness, loss
2) physical, mental or emotional pain
3) the state or experience of one who suffers
Two Types of Suffering
1) SIN Suffering – Romans 6:23a - For the wages of sin is death
2) Kingdom Advancement Suffering – 2 Timothy 2:3 - Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Glory – noun:
1) public praise, honor and fame
2) height or prosperity of achievement
3) state of great gratification or exaltation
Sermon in a Sentence
As disciples of Christ, when we endure Kingdom Advancement Suffering (suffering for the sake of the gospel of Christ) we help pave our path toward eternal glory.
The Journey:
For us to move from Suffering to Glory we must go through a process.
Process components:
1) Time - Genesis 3:15 - and I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
2) Preparing/Equipping – 1 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
3) Patience/Endurance - Luke 24:26, 46 - 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?”
46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.
Hebrews 10:36 - Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
God made the first move:
Romans 5:8 - But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ (Our suffering Savior) died for us.
Hebrews 2:9 - What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.
The Conclusion of the matter:
How will we respond?
Romans 8:17-18 - 17And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
Please remember that as a disciple of Christ we are always moving forward in our journey from suffering to Glory
God First, Ministry Always:
A Kingdom Marriage
Ministers Steve “Corky” & Kyya Pettiford-Davis
March 22, 2026
A Kingdom marriage is not built on preference, emotion, or convenience, but on a commitment to put God first in every aspect of life. Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:33 (NIV), “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
When God is first, everything else—including marriage—comes into proper alignment.
A marriage grounded in God prioritizes purpose over comfort and obedience over emotion, creating a relationship that is anchored in truth rather than circumstances.
A Kingdom marriage is not simply something to maintain—it is a ministry to live out. Scripture reminds us in 2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV), “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”
Marriage becomes a platform through which we serve God together and reflect His character. Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV) declares, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken,” reminding us that when God is the center, our union gains strength beyond our own ability.
Joshua 24:15 (NIV) affirms this commitment: “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Strong marriages are built through daily surrender. Each day requires intentional obedience, unity, and alignment with God’s will.
Choosing to seek God together, pray before reacting, and serve together strengthens the relationship and keeps Christ at the center. A Kingdom marriage becomes a “way of being and living” and itreflects God’s love and becomes a testimony of His faithfulness.
As we live this out, we hold firmly to the promise of Matthew 6:33 (NIV), “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
God’s Way.
Relationships: From Kingdom Engagement to Kingdom Marriage
John M. Wallace, Jr., PhD
March 22, 2026
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom [His Will] and his righteousness [His Way], and all
these things will be given to you as well.
Isaiah 55:8-9 8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Recommended 6 Stage God’s Will/God’s Way Relationship Pathway
Stage 1: Kingdom Kinship
Stage 2: Kingdom Fellowship
Stage 3: Kingdom Friendship
Stage 4: Kingdom Courtship
Stage 5: Kingdom Engagement
Stage 6: Kingdom (Covenant) Marriage
Sermon in a Sentence
The secret to success in our relationships is God’s Will, God’s Way!
John 14:1-3 1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My
Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there
to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take
you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Ephesians 5:15-31 (NLT) 15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who
are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly,
but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will
ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for
everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21 And further, submit to
one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to
the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the
Savior of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit
to your husbands in everything.
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life
for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 27 He did this to
present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish.
Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their
wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for
himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the
church. 30 And we are members of his body.
31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the
two are united into one.” 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and
the church are one. 33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the
wife must respect her husband.
God’s Will. God’s Way.
One Couple’s Journey: From Kingdom Kinship to Kingdom Engagement
Tony & Felicia Igwe
March 15, 2026
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom [His Will] and his righteousness [His Way], and
all these things will be given to you as well.
Genesis 2:22-25 - 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of
the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 That
is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become
one flesh. 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Sermon in a Sentence:
The secret to success in our relationships is God’s Will, God’s Way!
Ephesians 5:21-29; 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives,
submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the
head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the
Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their
husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church
and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing [b] her by the washing with
water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without
stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way,
husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves
himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their
body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body.
Recommended 6 Stage God’s Will/God’s Way Relationship Pathway
Stage 1: Kingdom Kinship
Stage 2: Kingdom Fellowship
Stage 3: Kingdom Friendship
Stage 4: Kingdom Dating Courtship
Stage 5: Kingdom Engagement
Stage 6: Kingdom (Covenant) Marriage
1. How did you guys meet?
2. What was your experience like with online dating?
3. What were some of the issues you had with it?
4. How did you go about building your friendship?
5. What role did your church community play in the process?
6. How and when did you know this is the one?
7. What would you do differently?
8. Questions from Bible Center members
God’s Will. God’s Way.
Stop, Repent and Move Forward
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Sister Erin Potter
A Risk Control Self-Assessment (RCSA) is a commonly used format or strategy to document risks within Businesses.
RCSAs is a systemic process that evaluates and documents:
1. risk identification and assessment
2. input controls or processes to mitigate/stop any gaps identified and
3. implementation of action plans to monitor and keep and eye on those gaps going forward.
We are going to apply the RCSA structure to help us with today’s subject text –
Stop, Repent and Move Forward
Stop – risk identification and assessment
Here are some risks we know we have to look out for:
Proverbs 6:16-19 - There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
But there are also some other risks that we need to be mindful of.
• Unforgiveness
• Laziness
• Failing to do what’s right
• Choosing your own way instead of Gods way
• Leaving God’s gifts on the shelf
Identify any risky activity occurring in our lives that would prevent us from obtaining our goal and Stop/start that activity.
Proverbs 28:13 – Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them find mercy
Once you identify the risks, it is time to implement Controls.
Controls are processes put in place to mitigate and stop risks. Spiritually our control is repentance and asking God for forgiveness.
Let’s Define repentance – To acknowledge our sinful nature and to be mournful of our deeds, humbling ourselves before asking for forgiveness with a promise and commitment to change our ways.
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
2 corinthians 7:10 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
A good example of repentance is found with Jacob in Genesis 32:24-28 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,[f] because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
The last part of the RCSA is the
Action plan – move forward
Creating an action plan to STOP risky behavior moving forward.
The first task on your action plan to move forward has to be to Pray.
Ezekiel 18:21-22
21 “But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die. 22 None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.
Ephesians 3:14-19 - 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death
The next step on your Action plan – is to Set aside, Commit time to read the Bible
2 Timothy 3:16-17 - 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Joshua 1:8 - 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Another key step on your action plan is to Praise God
So I ask you as you conduct a Risk Control Self-Assessment of your life and make the decision to Stop and find out where you are and Repent if needed, Pray and take off the old garment made by man and put on a new garment tailor made for you with your measurements. Customized for you to do God’s will, his way as you move forward
God’s Will. God’s Way.
Relationships: From Kingdom Kinship to Kingdom Courtship
John M. Wallace, Jr., PhD
March 1, 2026
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom [His Will] and his righteousness [His Way], and all
these things will be given to you as well.
Isaiah 55:8-9 8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Sermon in a Sentence
The secret to success in our relationships is God’s Will, God’s Way!
God’s Will: sanctification—holiness, being set apart for God’s use
1 Thessalonians 4:3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual
immorality;
God’s Way: Covenant Marriage
Matthew 19:4-6 4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made
them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and
be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one
flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Recommended 6 Stage God’s Will/God’s Way Relationship Pathway
Stage 1: Kingdom Kinship
Stage 2: Kingdom Fellowship
Stage 3: Kingdom Friendship
Stage 4: Kingdom Dating Courtship
Stage 5: Kingdom Engagement
Stage 6: Kingdom (Covenant) Marriage
Stage 1: Kingdom Kinship
Definition: Kingdom Kinship—both parties being surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ
(i.e., saved, citizens of the Kingdom, and children of the King) is foundational and prerequisite
for Kingdom (Covenant) Marriage
Key Truth
Before Kingdom Fellowship, Friendship, or deeper relationships, you must first be Kingdom
Family—Kinship
1 Corinthians 7:39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband
dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 6:14-18 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness
and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15What
harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an
unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the
temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will
be their God, and they will be my people." 17"Therefore come out from them and be separate,
says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 18"I will be a Father to you, and
you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
Genesis 24:1-4 Abraham was now a very old man. The Lord had made him rich, and he was
successful in everything he did. 2 One day, Abraham called in his most trusted servant and said
to him, “Solemnly promise me 3 in the name of the Lord, who rules heaven and earth, that you
won't choose a wife for my son Isaac from the people here in the land of Canaan. 4 Instead, go
back to the land where I was born and find a wife for him from among my relatives.”
Deuteronomy 7:3-4 3 Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or
take their daughters for your sons, 4 for they will turn your children away from following me to
serve other gods, and the Lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.
Stage 2: Kingdom Fellowship
Definition: Fellowship (Koinonia)—deep partnership, sharing of resources, meals, mission, joys,
suffering, inclusive of all ages, relational stages, and phases of life, getting to know each other,
learning to be spiritual family and genuine friends, doing life together
Key Truth
After establishing Kingdom Kinship, the foundational relationship for all believers is Kingdom
Fellowship
Acts 2:42 (Contemporary English Version) They spent their time learning from the apostles,
and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread [ and prayed together.
Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many
wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had
everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their
homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of
all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Stage 3: Kingdom Friendship
Definition: Specific, intentional, non-romantic relationships between believers, of the same or
opposite genders, characterized by mutual encouragement, shared mission, accountability, and
appropriate boundaries.
Key Truth
Kingdom Friendship can lay the foundation for Kingdom Courtship, but it is valuable and
desirable for its own sake.
John 11:5 (Amplified) Now Jesus loved and was concerned about Martha and her sister and
Lazarus [and considered them dear friends].
Stage 4: Kingdom Courtship
Definition: Kingdom Courtship is an intentional, one-on-one relationship, within Kingdom
community, that moves a couple towards Kingdom Marriage or an honorable conclusion.
Key Truth
Kingdom Fellowship and Friendship, provide the foundation for Kingdom Courtship that prizes,
promotes, and protects, God’s Will—spiritual “siblings” holiness
1 Timothy 5:1-2 1 Do not speak angrily to an older man, but plead with him as if he were your
father. Treat younger men like brothers, 2 older women like mothers, and younger women like
sisters. Always treat them in a pure way.
Song of Solomon 8:8-9 8 We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall
we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for? 9 If she is a wall, we will build towers of silver
on her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live
in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus
to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of
the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual
immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and
honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this
matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all
those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to
be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not
reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
Disclaimer: Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We believe and teach that the Bible is God’s Word — His opinion — and provides His instruction for how to live life under His rule (i.e., the Kingdom of God).
