Be the Response
Bible Center’s 70th Anniversary
June 28, 2026
Minister Walter Lewis
Sermon in a Sentence: God hears our cries and responds by sending the willing.
Exodus 3:7 “The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.”
*God responds through people.
Acts 16:9“During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
*How does God speak? He speaks to those who listen.
Acts 16:6-7 “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.”
*But what if we’re not ready? God qualifies those He calls.
Acts 9:1-6 “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.“As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
*What happens when we say yes? God works through our obedience.
Acts 16:-10–31 “From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
*How will we respond?
Isaiah 6:8 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!””
Get Your Mind Right – Father’s Day
John M. Wallace, Jr., PhD
June 21, 2026
Peace
A God-given condition of spiritual wholeness, inner tranquility, freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts.
The Promise of Peace
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace [total well-being, wholeness, nothing missing, nothing broken, everything flourishing, in every domain, to an exceptional degree]. Whose mind [inner orientation, world view, and operating system of their soul] is stayed [fully leaning and resting] on You, Because he trusts [completely and confidently relies totally] in You.
Peace Formula
Truth of God’s Word + Power of the Holy Spirit + Best Scientific Evidence + Common Sense & Peace
Sermon in a Sentence
Get Your Mind Right!
How Our Thoughts Impact Our Life Outcomes
Experience Something Thoughts (Tell Ourselves a Story)
Feelings
Actions
Outcomes
5 Things We Need from Fathers
Mark 1:9-11 9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
The inauguration of Jesus Ministry
1. Presence
2. Equipping
3. Identity
4. Unconditional Love
5. Affirmation
Reclaim Your Peace
From Harmed to Healed:
Exposing Church Hurt
June 14, 2026
Minister Trashawnda Ward
Definitions
- Church Hurt: emotional, spiritual or psychological rejection, betrayal, manipulation, judgement, exclusion, and abuse that occurs within a faith community.
- Injured Party: One who suffers harm due to the actions of another.
- Injurer: One who injures, harms, or causes loss to another.
Questions
Can you recall being injured?
Can you recall being an injurer?
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Key Scripture: Psalm 55:12-14
“If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. 13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, 14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the
worshipers.”
5 Sources of Church Hurt
1. Loss of Power (The Power Trip), Ezekiel 34:2-4 & 7-10
2. Self-Righteousness, Matthew 23:1-7, Matthew 7: 3-5
3. Unsanctified Tongues and Minds, Proverbs 12:18, Proverbs 15:1, I Peter 3:9, Philippians 4:8, Colossians 3:8-10
4.Idolatry & Misplaced Trust, Matthew 23:8-9, Isaiah 2:22, Psalm 118:8, Proverbs 29:25
5.Luggage from the Past, Proverbs 18:19
The Sermon in a Sentence:
Call out the hurt and choose to HEAL. That’s where freedom begins.
Choose to H.E.A.L.
H = Humility
E = Ephesians 4: 29
A = Approach each other and situations that occur like a LOVING family.
L = Love unconditionally.
OFFENSE is different than ABUSE (RUN FROM ABUSE!) Abuse:
• Punishing people for asking questions.
• Manipulating “prophecy” to shame someone.
• Threatening that leaving the church means bad things for you.
• Belittling or humiliating members publicly.
• Isolating members from family or friends outside the church.
• Teaching that disagreement with leadership means you’re rebellious and you will die.
• Grooming young people or vulnerable adults.
• Forcing or coercion of giving with the threat of death.
• Encouraging “shunning” of members by members.
When Abuse Happens:
Forgive, Release & Bless until you get it right, and LEAVE the outcome to the Lord.
I forgive__________ for _______________. I release _______, I bless _____________,
and Lord, I give it to You. Heal my broken heart.
Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
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).
