South Bay Community Church

What does the next generation truly need? The story of Judges shows us that Israel didn’t simply need a better earthly king. Even after kings like Saul, David, and Solomon, the story ultimately leads to destruction, exile, and the loss of the temple. The answer comes through the silence and into the Gospel of Matthew: Jesus, the descendant of David, the King of Kings and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Our children and grandchildren need more than a king who can protect them from injustice; they need the Lamb of God who can save them from their own sin. As Joshua challenged Israel, “Choose this day whom you will serve.” The same challenge stands for us today: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

In Pastor Gary's message to the church, we're challenged to double down on being the light of Jesus. Whether that's on a mission trip overseas or right in our own backyard with family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. Because the stakes are eternal, and it's not okay for even one person to miss out on God's grace. Drawing from a personal, physically challenging mission trip to Japan and the piercing truth of of God's word, we're reminded that as long as we're alive, our work of sharing Jesus isn't finished.

Missions | The Joy of Missional Living by Andy Pearce (Aug 23, 2026) by South Bay Community Church

Paul’s ambition was never promotion, reputation, or more followers. It was that Jesus would be known where He was not yet known. After years of persecution, sacrifice, and more than 10,000 miles of missionary journeys, Paul still looked toward those who had not heard, because a surrendered life becomes an available life. God may send us across the world, across the city, or even across our school, but every follower of Jesus is invited to participate in His mission. We see this through ordinary people like Shane, whose encounter with Jesus led to faith, discipleship, and eventually a multiplying movement that reached the Middle East, India, Europe, and beyond. It all began with a simple “yes.” Church, this is the movement: we SEE, we SURRENDER, and we are SENT. We don’t respond to God’s mission out of guilt, but because we are captivated by His mercy. Jesus saw us when we were far from Him. Jesus surrendered His life for us. Jesus was sent to us so that the Gospel could reach us. And now His love compels us to ask, “God, here is my life. Where do You want it?”

“God is in absolute control of his world and everything that happens, without any gaps, limits, interference, or thwarting of his rule.” The question I have for you is: Do you believe that God is in absolute control of everything? God will never leave you or forsake you. He will walk with you even through the valley of the shadow of death. So when you’re facing a worst-case scenario, always remember this: that God is sovereign.

Psalm 145 reminds us that every generation is called to praise God by telling the next generation who He is and what He has done. David's praise flowed from personal experience as he remembered God's mighty works, His protection, forgiveness, faithfulness, and abundant goodness throughout his life. In the same way, every believer has a unique "song of praise" written through God's work in their own story. While the chorus is the same: God is good, faithful, and worthy of worship, the lyrics are personal, reflecting how He has comforted, healed, provided, forgiven, and guided each of us. As we remember and share our stories, our testimony encourages others to trust God and helps pass faith on to the next generation. The question is not whether God has given you a song to sing, but whether you are remembering it, declaring it, and allowing it to point others to His greatness.

This week at South Bay Community Church, we dig into Psalm 100 and what it really means to worship with joy. Too often we walk in on Sunday mornings feeling dry, distracted, or just not in the mood to sing and it's usually because we haven't been filling up on God's goodness the rest of the week. Just like a strong marriage needs both knowledge and affection, true worship requires both truth and emotion: head knowledge without heartfelt response leaves us with a lifeless intellectual faith, while emotion without truth leaves us with shallow, ungrounded worship. Jesus tells us in John 4:23-24 that true worshipers worship the Father "in spirit and truth", and when we truly grasp who God is, what He's done for us, and how deeply He loves us, worship becomes the natural overflow of that joy. Tune in as we explore how daily feeding on God's Word fuels the kind of worship that can't wait for Sunday.

Psalm 5 reminds us that there are seasons when life feels like a walk into the darkness. David begins the psalm weighed down by grief, opposition, and uncertainty, honestly pouring out his pain before God rather than hiding it. Expressing our emotions can feel like stepping into the unknown. Exposing our vulnerability to others can feel like walking deeper into the darkness. Even entrusting our grief to God may seem like a difficult journey when we cannot yet see His answers. And allowing ourselves the time to heal can feel like an endless path with no sunrise. Yet David shows that faith is choosing to keep walking toward God in the darkness, trusting that He hears every cry, leads with unfailing love, and will ultimately surround those who trust in Him with His favor and protection.

I started with sharing this beautiful wedding invitation from our friends. And I said that the quality and beauty of an invitation tells you a lot about who is inviting you, what you are being invited to, and how much that person values you. Jesus being sent from heaven to earth is the greatest invitation I can think of. All people are invited by the God of the universe to be in a marriage relationship with Him, and Jesus showed how much God values us by paying the eternal cost for sin with His body on the cross. The invitation of the gospel is not just to go to heaven one day in the future, but it is also to enjoy a personal relationship with God now. If it sounds too good to be true, you’re starting to get it. And if the Christian life is about relationship and not our performance, then we can freely cling to Him with everything we are and everything we have. We can trust that the same hands that once held nails in them are the same hands that are strong enough to hold us forever.

David's hope did not come because his circumstances suddenly improved or because his prayers had already been answered. Instead, his confidence was anchored in the unchanging character of God. Even when David felt abandoned, surrounded by enemies, and overwhelmed by hopelessness, he chose to believe that God is good. Remembering God's faithfulness gave him the strength to declare, "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14). David wasn't telling us to wait for a breakthrough, healing, promotion, or even answers, he was calling us to wait for the Lord Himself. The Hebrew word qavah describes this kind of waiting as an expectant trust, like strands of rope woven tightly together, illustrating an active, intimate dependence on God rather than passive endurance. Throughout Psalm 27, David demonstrates that true waiting is not simply hoping circumstances will change, but remaining closely connected to God, remembering who He is, and allowing confidence to rest in His goodness rather than in what He may do.

David teaches us that in times of trouble, we should pray for an undivided heart that is anchored in the Lord's steadfast love. Rather than simply asking God to meet our needs, our prayers should ultimately seek His glory. David prayed that God would help and comfort him so that those who opposed him would see the Lord's faithfulness, mercy, and unfailing love on display. When God answers, others become witnesses to His hesed, His gracious, covenant-keeping love and He is glorified. Our prayers in difficult seasons reveal where our hearts are fixed, responding to God's steadfast love with trust, dependence, and a desire to make Him known.

Paul closes 1 Corinthians with a powerful reminder that our Christian life begins, continues, and matures only by the grace of Jesus Christ. We are saved by grace, sustained by grace, and transformed by grace. His final prayer, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you,” points believers back to their continual need for Christ’s grace every day. Paul also ends with, “My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.” Though much of the letter contained correction and rebuke, it was ultimately written out of deep love for the church. His desire was not merely to correct behavior, but to help believers know the risen Christ and live lives that reflect His love. Because Christ is risen and will come again, the church is called to be a people of practical love, a love that gives generously, honors others selflessly, and stands firm in truth and faithfulness. Grace fuels this kind of love, and through it, God shapes His people into the likeness of Christ.

Because of Christ's resurrection, our work for the Lord has eternal significance. Though our time on earth is brief and ministry can often feel difficult, unnoticed, or fruitless, God sees every act of faith, service, obedience, and gospel ministry. While our earthly bodies will not last, the work we do for Christ will carry into eternity, resulting in eternal rewards,. Therefore, believers should remain steadfast, making sacrificial choices that reflect their hope in the resurrection. Keep serving faithfully, work hard for the Lord, and stay focused on eternal things. Invest your life in what truly lasts, without becoming attached to the temporary things of this world.

“If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”…we should be living in such a way…with our obedience, our worship, our risk-taking out of faith, our selfless loving and serving other people, our bold proclamation of the gospel, our denying our flesh, our giving of our time and resources, pursuits, desires, decisions out of trust, living that is diametrically different than the world…where if we were to one day find out that there is no resurrection from the dead when this life is over, we would look like the most foolish people to ever live! And I fear…I fear for myself and for other believers…that we are living in such a way, where IF it were to be proven that there is no resurrection…our lives would look exactly the same…not pitiable at all, the same as everyone else in the world. Believers, we should be living in such a way… where the ONLY explanation for the decisions we make and all our behavior… is that I will be raised from the dead when this life is over!

1 Corinthians 14:3 | On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. So it is meant to build up, not tear down. But upbuilding doesn’t mean it’s always fluffy/positive. It could be corrective, but the end goal is constructive. True prophecy should leave one stronger in faith. Church, that’s the power of prophecy. May we all be eager to prophesy. And remember, it’s not the skill of the person, it’s the gift of the Spirit.

1. What are the Gifts of Tongues and Prophecy? 2. Why is Prophecy more desirable than Tongues? 3. What principle should guide the gifts of prophecy and tongues? Paul says pursue Love and desire the spiritual gifts that build up… and if it can build up the believers in the room, and benefit the unbelievers in the room… then pursue those greater gifts.

We will need each other to discover our gifts. We can’t just pray in our room alone and expect God to send a delivery pigeon with our gift. Part of finding our gifts is serving the church body and learning along the way. Things like spiritual gifts tests are great, but those tests don’t actually know you like other people can. Please do not wait to be certain about your gifting before you try serving the church. We all learn along the way as we are affirmed by fellow believers and pointed in the right direction by the Holy Spirit. I am just humbly asking that you prayerfully consider how the Spirit may be inviting you to serve your fellow Christians, whether at this church or in the various spaces you occupy outside the church. Either way, please don’t remain a spectator - get in the game. Because all Christians need the church, and the church needs all Christians. We need you, and you need us. But it’s important to remember - before we give Jesus our hands in service, He first wants our hearts in surrender. So I’m going to pray us out, and we’re going to sing, “Lord, I give you my heart. I give you my soul. I live for you alone.” And I hope that as we sing this, we can make this our collective prayer as a church. As we surrender our hearts to God, I trust the Holy Spirit will open our hands in service to Him.

The Lord said very clearly to me, as I was meditating on this very passage: “I have given you the most excellent way. I’ve given you the ministry of love.” And the Lord says that to each of you who has Christ in you. Moms, if you ever feel like you’re not enough… God has given YOU the most excellent way. You have the ability to love. Who else needs to hear that? You may not have the gift of service or administration, but you have love. You may not have a public platform or a wide audience, but you have love. You may not have what she has or he has, but you have love. If God has given you his Son, and he’s put in you His Spirit… then he’s given you the most excellent way. And out of you should come the greatest gift… the gift of LOVE.

John 5:24 | “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. It takes one step of faith to cross over from death to life. One step of repentance- believing that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, the one who died for our sins and rose from the grave. I love that in life you can make 1000 wrong decisions, go in hundreds of wrong directions… but you’re just one step away from forgiveness, hope, newness, and eternal life in heaven with Jesus. Just one step of faith, and you’re saved by grace.

Communion is more than a ritual, it’s a moment of honest self-examination for everyone, whether you’re still exploring faith or already walking with Christ. As we remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we’re reminded that He gave His life for our sins, which invites us to open our hearts fully before Him. Like the prayer in Psalm 139:23–24, we ask God to search us, reveal what’s hidden, and lead us toward lasting transformation. This can mean confronting broken relationships that need healing or recurring sin that requires repentance and Christ’s help to overcome, trusting that He alone sees us clearly and guides us toward the life He intends.