Homes of Hope & Healing Evangelistic Series
November 9, 2024
Issue #11
Offline Ain't an Option: Why We Must Stay Connected to Jesus
Pastor Anthony Hall delivered a powerful sermon emphasizing that true connection with God is more than lip service; it's rooted in an obedient relationship with Christ. Drawing from John 15:4-5, he highlighted the essential truth: just as a branch cannot survive without the vine, we too cannot thrive without staying connected to Jesus. "Being offline from Him," he said, "is like a tree branch lying in the sun—fruitless and dying."
It's easy to slip into a routine that appears spiritually active but is disconnected from the true source.
It's easy to slip into a routine that appears spiritually active but is disconnected from the true source.
Going to church or speaking the right words doesn’t automatically make you a Christian. Just like walking into a fast-food restaurant doesn’t make you a hamburger, your faith must be genuine, deep, and marked by obedience. Obedience, as the pastor underscored, is not only a sign of love for God but an act of worship and a pathway to His blessings.
Pastor Anthony Hall. Photo By Ansuni Hall
Maybe It’s Time To “Come Home”
Maybe it’s time to “come home.” Sometimes, God sends winds of strife to get our attention when we stray. Like the prodigal son or Saul on the Damascus road, your storm may be God saying, “Come home.” No matter how far you run or how deep you sink into your own plans, God’s love reaches beyond every boundary you set. Even Jonah, who ran as far as he could from God’s call, discovered that you can never outrun God’s mercy.
When Jonah found himself in the belly of the great fish, he realized that turning back was always an option. In the darkest, most hopeless moments, God hears the sincere cry of a heart willing to return. No matter how far you’ve gone, His grace is there to welcome you home, ready to restore and renew.
What You May Have Missed this Week
Walk the Walk, Don't Just Talk
Luke 6:46 is a wake-up call: "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" True faith means aligning our actions with God’s words. Let our obedience speak louder than empty words.
Know Better, Do Better
1 Peter 1:14 reminds us, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.” When new truth comes to light, we must align ourselves with it—even when it’s tough.
No Shame in the Gospel
Romans 1:16 declares, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” This is a powerful reminder that as followers of Christ, we are called to boldly stand for God’s Word, no matter what the world says. Christians must be courageous. We cannot be silent or ashamed when it comes to declaring the truth and hope found in the gospel.
Christ’s message is the power of salvation, the anchor for a lost world. If Satan’s followers can loudly proclaim what they stand for, how much more should the children of God stand up, unashamed, for the message that saves and transforms?
Christ’s message is the power of salvation, the anchor for a lost world. If Satan’s followers can loudly proclaim what they stand for, how much more should the children of God stand up, unashamed, for the message that saves and transforms?
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He’s Always There
Even in our most trying moments, when we feel distant or disconnected, God is there, surrounding us with His unfailing love. Whether we’re on the highest mountain or in the deepest valley, His hand is stretched out to lead us back.
When life’s storms shake us to our core or when we’ve wandered far, it’s easy to believe that we’re beyond reach. But Psalm 139 reminds us that God’s presence is inescapable. No matter where we go or how far we run, His right hand holds us firm, calling us back to Him with grace and mercy that never runs out.
When life’s storms shake us to our core or when we’ve wandered far, it’s easy to believe that we’re beyond reach. But Psalm 139 reminds us that God’s presence is inescapable. No matter where we go or how far we run, His right hand holds us firm, calling us back to Him with grace and mercy that never runs out.
The Path to Eternal Life
Matthew 19:17 reminds us that keeping God’s commandments isn’t to earn salvation but to reflect it. Obedience follows salvation as surely as light follows the sun.
Don’t Run from Your Nineveh
Don't Be Like Jonah
If God’s telling you to head in one direction and you’re running the other way, expect life’s waves to crash.
Faith Without Fruit
Without staying connected to Jesus, our lives may be full of activities but empty of fruit. He said plainly in John 15:5, "Apart from me, you can do nothing." We must ask ourselves: are we connected or just going through the motions?
Jesus or Just Religion?
Attending church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. To live a life connected to Jesus, engage in prayer, study, and service, mirroring His ways.
That moment when you realize being ‘offline’ from Jesus is why everything’s falling apart.
A Lot Ado About Nothing
Saturday, Nov 9
Watch Now
Come Home, Stay Connected, Live Unashamed
Life's journey is filled with distractions and moments of drifting away, but God's call to remain connected to Him is clear and unwavering. Just as a branch draws life from the vine, we too must stay connected to Christ, living in faithful obedience that bears lasting fruit. Even when we falter or run in the wrong direction, God’s mercy is boundless. The stories of Jonah, Saul, and the prodigal son remind us that no distance is too great, no mistake too severe for His love to reach us.
God invites us to come back, to stand firm and unashamed in His truth. In a world that often turns its back on righteousness, Christians are called to be the lights that reflect Christ’s love and power. By embracing His Word, not just in speech but in action, we can navigate life’s storms with the assurance that He is always there—guiding, protecting, and holding us close.
Let this be a call to action: reconnect if you’ve strayed, remain rooted in His presence, and boldly proclaim the gospel. Because true life, true joy, and true purpose can only be found when we’re not “offline” from our Creator but living fully in His grace.
