This Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute talk is titled "Jesus Stood Still" by Dr. Bryan Hudson focuses on Mark 10:46–52, the story of blind Bartimaeus. It highlights:
Bartimaeus' Faith and Boldness:Despite cultural norms that marginalized disabled and poor people, Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus with faith and desperation, refusing to be silenced.
Jesus' Compassion:Jesus stopped, defying societal expectations, to acknowledge and dignify Bartimaeus. He healed him, demonstrating that faith moves Him.
Relevance Today:The story ties into the New Covenant Church's 2025 vision, "Each One Reach One," encouraging believers to pause, notice, and help those in need, especially in a season where societal respect for the marginalized may diminish.
Call to Action:Followers of Christ are urged to embody Jesus' compassion, standing still for the "least of these" and being instruments of God's love.
Summary of New Covenant Church Vision 2025 (From OpenAI)
by Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min.
The 2025 vision, rooted in the church's constitution and the will of God, emphasizes collective purpose and unity under God's guidance. The theme, "Each One Reach One," calls every individual to focus on personal responsibility in reaching and impacting one person at a time, mirroring Jesus' approach of compassion and attention to the individual.
Key Points:
1. Foundational Scripture:
◦ Psalm 65:11 "You crown the year with your goodness, and your paths drip with abundance".
◦ Luke 15:7 "More joy in heaven over one sinner who changes heart and
life than over 99 righteous people".
◦ Galatians 5:13 "Through love, serve one another".
Vision Principles:
◦ God's vision is greater than personal ambitions, and individual purpose is discovered within God's purpose.
◦ Prioritize adapting personal priorities to align with God's kingdom priorities.
◦ True joy in heaven stems from repentance and transformation, not
material achievements.
Vision for 2025: "Each One Reach One"
◦ Emphasizes individual impact rather than crowd-focused goals.
◦ Encourages empathy, seeing and valuing individuals beyond their external circumstances.
◦ Challenges members to engage meaningfully, reflecting Jesus'
compassion for individuals within multitudes.
Jesus' Examples of Reaching the One:
◦ The lost sheep (Luke 15).
◦ The woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5).
◦ Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10).
Cultural Shift:
◦ Recognize the kingdom's values over societal norms, moving from self-
centered perspectives to collective and kingdom-oriented thinking.
◦ Replace idealism (unrealistic expectations) with actionable ideals
grounded in love and service.
Call to Action:
◦ Visit the vision webpage and engage in reflection and participation.
◦ Focus on actionable steps that align with the vision of loving God, loving
people, and serving the world.
The message concludes with a prayer of gratitude and encouragement for the congregation to embody the vision of reaching one person at a time with God's love and purpose.
Habakkuk 2:1, I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected. 2 Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. “Behold the proud,His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith."
Summary of "Run With the Vision" by Dr. Bryan Hudson (by OpenAI)
Dr. Bryan Hudson reflects on Habakkuk 2:1–4, emphasizing the importance of faith, vision, and trust in God's promises during challenging times. The passage highlights the prophet Habakkuk's dialogue with God about the injustice and evil in his world, including the rise of Babylon as an instrument of judgment. Despite the challenges, God assures Habakkuk that the vision of justice will come to pass, even if it seems delayed.
Key lessons include:
1. Living by Faith: Regardless of external circumstances, the righteous are called to live by faith in God, trusting His timing and promises.
2. Writing and Sharing the Vision: God instructs Habakkuk to write the vision plainly so it can inspire action and hope. This reminds believers to articulate and share God's guidance in a way that motivates others to act.
3. God’s Justice: While Babylon’s rise served as judgment, God holds all nations accountable, and evil will ultimately be punished. Believers are to focus on God’s justice and purpose rather than on the wickedness of the world.
Hudson draws parallels between Habakkuk’s time and today, urging Christians to focus on serving God's purpose and shining as lights in a dark world, as stated in Philippians 2:15. He emphasizes that God's promises remain valid and relevant, encouraging believers to live with hope and share God's vision in their communities.
The message concludes with an invitation to join New Covenant Church to hear and engage with the Vision for 2025, centered on God's ongoing work and unchanging promises.
Philippians 4:8-9 CEB From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise. 9 Practice these things: whatever you learned, received, heard, or saw in us. The God of peace will be with you.
SUMMARY (by OpenAI)
Dr. Bryan Hudson's talk for January 1, "A Resolution for 2025," encourages people to set resolutions that align with God's will, rather than relying on their own strength. He highlights a study showing that most New Year's resolutions fail by the second week of January, mainly because they are made in human strength. Hudson stresses the importance of resolutions rooted in God's power, which brings grace, motivation, and strength. He focuses on Philippians 4:8-9, urging individuals to focus on things that are excellent, admirable, true, holy, just, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise.
Hudson suggests that making decisions based on these virtues will lead to better outcomes. He encourages practicing solitude and prayer for personal growth and reflection. The sermon also emphasizes the importance of exemplars—role models who demonstrate the qualities to aim for. Hudson shares practical advice like "habit stacking," which involves building small, consistent habits to create lasting change.
Ultimately, Hudson calls for a resolution to rely on God's wisdom and strength, rather than one's own, and to focus on what is excellent and admirable. He encourages everyone to lean into God's guidance for personal and spiritual growth in the coming year.
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)
