2026-08-23 MARK THE MOMENT: DON'T FORGET WHAT GOD HAS DONE

Mark the Moment: Don’t Forget What God Has Done

Main Point:
Experiencing God always leaves a mark on our lives—a mark that becomes a testimony for those who come after us. The story of Joshua 4 reminds us that God’s faithfulness is not only for our benefit but is meant to be remembered, shared, and lived out as a witness for future generations.

Remembering God’s Faithfulness

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to remember our problems but forget God’s provision? Just like the Israelites, we often move from one crisis to the next, questioning whether God will come through, even after He’s proven Himself faithful time and time again. In Joshua 4, after God miraculously led the Israelites across the Jordan River, He commanded them to take twelve stones from the riverbed and set them up as a memorial. Why? Because God knows we are forgetful. He wants us to mark the places where He has worked in our lives so that we—and those who come after us—will never forget His faithfulness.

“This is so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord’s hand is strong, so that you may always fear the Lord your God.” (Joshua 4:24 NIV)

Action Steps: How to Mark God’s Work in Your Life

• Look Back and Recognize: Pause and reflect on where you have seen God move in your life. What prayers has He answered? What valleys has He carried you through?

• Mark the Moment: Identify tangible reminders of God’s faithfulness—whether it’s a journal entry, a keepsake, or a story you share with others. Like the twelve stones, these reminders can prompt questions and conversations for years to come.

• Tell the Story: Share your testimony with your family, friends, and community. When someone asks, “What do these stones mean to you?” be ready to tell them what God has done.

• Step Forward in Obedience: Remembering is never just about nostalgia. It is meant to fuel your faith and obedience for the challenges ahead. Ask yourself: What is the next step God is calling you to take? Is it serving, forgiving, reconciling, or perhaps following Christ for the first time?

Passing the Baton

The end of a sermon series is not the finish line—it’s the launching point. Just as in a relay race, it’s our responsibility to carry the baton of faith and hand it off to the next generation. If our children inherit only our buildings, budgets, and programs but not our stories of God’s faithfulness, we have missed the mark.

Conclusion & Prayer

Let’s be a people who mark the moments of God’s faithfulness, who tell the story, and who step forward in obedience. May our lives be living testimonies that point others to Jesus, so that all may know that the Lord’s hand is strong.

Prayer:
Father, thank You for Your faithfulness in every season. Help us to remember the ways You have worked in our lives and to mark those moments as testimonies for others. Give us courage to tell our stories and faith to obey Your leading. May our lives point others to the strength of Your hand and the love of Your heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Keywords: remembering God’s faithfulness, Joshua 4, Christian testimony, faith in action, spiritual memorials, obedience, passing the baton, Highland Baptist Church

2026-08=16 ONLY GOD CAN PRODUCE THIS

Remaining Faithful Through the Process: Lessons from Abraham’s Ultimate Test

Are you struggling to stay faithful when life doesn’t make sense?
We’ve all faced moments when obedience to God feels impossible—when the cost seems too high and the outcome uncertain. In our recent message at Highland Baptist Church, we explored what it truly means to remain faithful through the process, drawing inspiration from one of the Bible’s most challenging stories: Abraham’s test in Genesis 22.

The Main Point: Obedience That Honors God

At the heart of Genesis 22 is a call to radical obedience. Abraham is asked to offer his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice—a command that defies common sense and strikes at the deepest part of his heart. Yet, Abraham’s faith leads him to obey, trusting that “the Lord will provide” even when he cannot see how.

Our obedience, the sermon reminds us, can spring from two places:

• Fear of consequences (like a child afraid of discipline), or

• A heart that desires to honor and glorify God above all else.

As we mature in faith, our motivation shifts from avoiding punishment to seeking God’s glory through our actions, even when it costs us dearly.

Key Takeaways from Abraham’s Journey

• Obedience is a daily choice. Every decision is an act of obedience to someone or something—either to God, ourselves, or our desires.

• God often calls us beyond our comfort zones. Like Abraham, we may be asked to surrender what we hold most dear or to step into the unknown, trusting God’s character when we cannot see the outcome.

• Faith grows in the struggle. Abraham’s three-day journey to Mount Moriah was filled with turmoil, doubt, and wrestling. Yet, by the time he reached the mountain, his heart had already surrendered to God.

• God’s provision is revealed through obedience. At the moment of greatest sacrifice, God provided a ram—reminding us that He sees, He knows, and He provides for those who trust Him.

Action Steps: How to Remain Faithful Through Your Process

• Reflect on your motivations for obedience. Are you acting out of fear or out of love for God?

• Step out of your comfort zone. Is God calling you to something that feels risky or costly? Take a step of faith, trusting in His provision.

• Cultivate spiritual maturity. Spend regular time in Scripture, prayer, and community to move from obedience out of fear to obedience out of reverence and love.

• Surrender your desires to God. Like Abraham, be willing to lay down what matters most, trusting that God’s ways are higher than ours.

• Take the next step of obedience today. Whether it’s serving, giving, reconciling, or sharing your faith, don’t wait—act on what God is calling you to do.

Conclusion & Prayer

Remaining faithful through the process isn’t easy. There will be moments of doubt, fear, and pain. But as Abraham’s story shows, God is faithful to those who trust Him, even when the path is unclear.

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being a God who sees and provides. Help us to trust You, even when the process is painful or doesn’t make sense. Give us the courage to obey—not out of fear, but out of a deep desire to see You glorified in our lives. Strengthen our faith, mature our hearts, and help us surrender all to You. May our obedience be an act of worship that honors You above all.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you’d like to talk with someone about taking your next step of faith, or if you need prayer, please contact us at Highland Baptist Church. We’re here to walk with you through every season.

Keywords: faithfulness, obedience, Genesis 22, Abraham and Isaac, trusting God, Christian living, God’s provision, discipleship, spiritual growth, Highland Baptist Church

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