Foundry Community Church
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost - Year A
  • Great Is Thy Faithfulness

      • Psalm 86:1–10NIRV

      • Romans 6:1–11NIRV

  • His Eye Is on the Sparrow

      • Matthew 10:24–39NIRV

  • Fourth Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 7, Year A)

    Genesis 21:8–21 | Romans 6:1–11 | Matthew 10:24–39

    Big Idea

    Following Christ is not always easy, but God sees us, sustains us, transforms us, and calls us to live courageously as His disciples.

    INTRODUCTION

    Have you ever noticed that we are often drawn to stories of victory, but rarely to the stories of what it cost to get there?
    We celebrate championships, but we don't see the years of training. We admire successful businesses, but we often miss the sacrifices, setbacks, and sleepless nights that made success possible. We applaud courage, but we sometimes forget the fear that had to be overcome before courage could emerge.
    The same can be true in our faith.
    Many people are attracted to the promises of Christianity—the promise of forgiveness, peace, hope, and eternal life. Yet Jesus never promised that following Him would be easy. In fact, throughout Scripture, we find that God's greatest work often happens in the most difficult places.
    Today's readings take us into those difficult places.
    We meet Hagar, a woman abandoned in the wilderness with no clear future and no visible hope. We hear Paul remind believers that following Christ requires dying to an old way of life before experiencing the power of resurrection. And we listen as Jesus tells His disciples that following Him may bring opposition, sacrifice, and even suffering.
    These are not comfortable texts. They are not prosperity texts. They are not "everything will work out exactly as you planned" texts.
    Instead, they reveal a deeper truth: God is faithful even when the road of discipleship becomes difficult.
    Whether you find yourself in a wilderness season, struggling to let go of an old life, or facing the cost of standing faithfully for Christ, these passages remind us that God sees us, transforms us, and gives us courage to follow wherever He leads.
    Today we will discover that following Jesus may cost us something—but it is always worth it.

    POINT 1 ~ GOD SEES US IN THE WILDERNESS

    Genesis 21:8–21

    "God heard the voice of the boy." Genesis 21:17
    Genesis 21:17 ESV
    17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.
    Hagar and Ishmael are cast out into the wilderness with little hope of survival. They are rejected, vulnerable, and seemingly forgotten.
    Yet God sees them.
    The wilderness is often where God's people discover God's presence most clearly.

    Illustration

    Several years ago, a rescue team was searching for a lost hiker who had wandered off a trail in a remote wilderness area. As darkness fell, the hiker became increasingly convinced that no one knew where he was. His phone battery had died. The temperature was dropping. Every hour that passed deepened his fear that he had been forgotten.
    What he didn't know was that a massive search effort was already underway. Rescue workers were combing the area. Volunteers were looking through the night. A helicopter had been dispatched. His family had not stopped searching.
    From the hiker's perspective, he was alone.
    From reality's perspective, he was being sought.
    The next morning, rescuers found him and brought him safely home.
    Like the lost hiker, we may feel forgotten. But the God who heard Ishmael's cry and saw Hagar's tears is the same God who sees us in our wilderness and comes to our aid at exactly the right time.

    Application

    We all experience wilderness seasons:
    • Grief • Disappointment • Uncertainty • Financial struggles • Relationship conflicts
    Our circumstances may suggest abandonment, but God's presence declares otherwise.

    Key Truth

    God sees what others overlook and remains present when we feel alone.

    POINT 2 ~ GOD CALLS US TO A NEW LIFE

    Romans 6:1–11

    "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:11)
    Romans 6:11 ESV
    11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
    Paul reminds believers that faith is more than forgiveness—it is transformation.
    Through baptism we identify with Christ:
    • His death becomes our death. • His resurrection becomes our new life.
    The Christian life is not merely about avoiding sin; it is about becoming a new creation.

    Personal Illustration

    Several years ago, I realized there were areas of my life where I wanted God to bless me, but I wasn't fully willing to let Him change me.
    I wanted the peace of Christ without surrendering my worries. I wanted God's direction without releasing control. I wanted spiritual growth without the discomfort of transformation.
    Then one day it struck me: God wasn't simply trying to improve my old life; He was inviting me into a new life.
    There was a season when God was teaching me to trust Him more deeply. My instinct was to solve every problem myself, carry every burden myself, and control every outcome.
    But God kept reminding me: "You cannot carry what only I can carry."
    Letting go felt like a death—to pride, self-reliance, and control.
    Yet on the other side of surrender I found freedom, peace, and deeper trust.

    Application

    Many people want resurrection without crucifixion.
    Yet God calls us to:
    • Die to old habits. • Die to selfish ambitions. • Die to sinful patterns. • Live in obedience to Christ.

    Key Truth

    The life Christ offers begins when the old self is surrendered to Him.

    POINT 3 ~ GOD GIVES COURAGE FOR COSTLY DISCIPLESHIP

    Matthew 10:24–39

    "Whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:38)
    Matthew 10:38 ESV
    38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
    Jesus does not hide the cost of discipleship.
    Following Him may bring:
    • Rejection • Criticism • Misunderstanding • Sacrifice
    Yet Jesus repeatedly says, "Do not be afraid."
    The call to carry a cross is not a call to misery but a call to faithfulness.

    Personal Application

    As I reflect on Jesus' words, I have to ask myself a difficult question:
    Am I willing to follow Jesus when it costs me something?
    It's easy to follow Christ when everything is going well. But discipleship becomes real when obedience requires sacrifice.
    There have been moments when I knew what God was calling me to do, yet I hesitated because I was concerned about how others might respond. I worried about disappointing people, creating conflict, or stepping into an uncertain future.
    In those moments, I discovered that following Jesus often means choosing faithfulness over comfort.
    The question Jesus places before every disciple is this:
    Will I live for approval, or will I live for obedience?

    Challenge

    What comfort, fear, or security might you need to surrender in order to follow Jesus more fully?

    Key Truth

    The cost of following Jesus is real, but the reward of following Him is greater.

    CONCLUSION

    These readings are not three separate messages. They tell one story—the story of discipleship.
    Hagar teaches us that there will be wilderness seasons. Paul teaches us that there must be transformation. Jesus teaches us that discipleship requires courage.
    Perhaps today you feel like Hagar—lost in a wilderness and wondering if God sees you.
    Perhaps you feel caught between the old life and the new life God is calling you toward.
    Perhaps you know there is a step of obedience you've been avoiding because it feels costly.
    Hear the good news:
    The God who saw Hagar sees you.
    The Christ who conquered death can transform you.
    The Savior who calls you to carry a cross walks beside you every step of the way.
    The wilderness is not the end of your story.
    The struggle is not the end of your story.
    The sacrifice is not the end of your story.
    Because our story is ultimately a story of resurrection.
    The God who provided a well in the wilderness, who raised Jesus from the dead, and who empowers disciples to follow faithfully is still at work today.
    So do not lose heart.
    When the wilderness comes, trust that God sees you. When transformation is difficult, trust that God is changing you. When discipleship becomes costly, trust that Jesus is worth following.

    Final Charge

    You are seen.
    You are being transformed.
    And you are called to follow.

    Closing Statement

    "The wilderness may be hard, the cross may be heavy, but the Savior is faithful—and He is worth following."
    Amen.

      • Genesis 21:17NIRV

      • Romans 6:11NIRV

      • Matthew 10:38NIRV

  • Leader: Brothers and sisters in Christ, we come now to the Lord’s Table—a place of grace, remembrance, and renewal. Here we remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, proclaim His victory over sin and death, and celebrate the unity we share as His people.

    Invitation to the Table

    Leader: Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
    This table is not the table of any church, but the table of our Lord Jesus Christ. All who trust in Him, repent of their sins, and desire to follow Him are invited to share in this meal of grace.

    Prayer of Confession

    Leader: Before we receive these gifts, let us confess our sins before God.
    All: Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart, and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
    Let us go before our Lord in Silent Confession…

    Assurance of Pardon

    Leader: Hear the good news: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
    In Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven.

    The Great Thanksgiving

    Leader: The Lord be with you.
    People: And also with you.
    Leader: Lift up your hearts.
    People: We lift them up to the Lord.
    Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
    People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
    Leader: Let us pray as our Lord taught us…

    The Lord’s Prayer

    Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

    Words of Institution

    Leader: On the night He was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread. After giving thanks, He broke it and said:
    "This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
    In the same way, after supper He took the cup and said:
    "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."
    For whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

    Prayer of Consecration

    Leader: Let us pray.
    Gracious Father, pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts of bread and cup. By Your Spirit, unite us with Christ and with one another, that we may be nourished in faith, strengthened in hope, and renewed in love. Make us faithful witnesses of Your kingdom until Christ comes again in glory. Through Him, with Him, and in Him, all honor and glory are Yours, now and forever. Amen.

    Distribution

    Leader: The body of Christ, given for you. Amen.
    The blood of Christ, shed for you. Amen.

    Prayer After Communion

    All: Gracious God, we thank You for feeding us with the spiritual food of the body and blood of Your Son. Strengthen us through this meal to love and serve You faithfully, to seek justice, to show mercy, and to walk humbly with You. Send us into the world in the power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of Christ's love. In His holy name we pray. Amen.
  • Doxology
  • O Master, Let Me Wall with Thee
  • Now Unto Him
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