What Now? “Walking in Your God-Given Purpose” | Pastor Chris Searcy | 5.18.25

What Now?
“Walking in Your God-Given Purpose”

I. INTRODUCTION: WHY WE’RE HERE TODAY

• Celebrate the graduates—from kindergarten to Ph.D.
• Today is a celebration…. I want to answer the most commonly asked question
• The real question isn’t just “What’s next?” but “Why did God create me, and what is He asking me to do?”

II. PURPOSE: THE REASON YOU WERE CREATED

Definition: Purpose is the reason for which something was created.

A. You Were Created by God for a Reason

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

B. Your Ultimate Purpose Is to:

1. Worship God
   Isaiah 43:7
   Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.
   
   John 4:23
   The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth...
   
2. Make Him Known
   Matthew 28:19–20
   Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...
   
   2 Corinthians 5:20
   Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ...
   
3. Bring Glory to His Name
   1 Corinthians 10:31
   So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
   

III. PURPOSE IS UNIVERSAL — ASSIGNMENT IS UNIQUE

You can walk in purpose anywhere doing anything—as long as you’re doing it to worship God, make Him known, and glorify Him.

Biblical Examples Across Vocations:

Name	Role	How They Walked in Purpose
Lydia	Businesswoman	Hosted and supported the early church (Acts 16:14–15)
Paul	Tentmaker + Apostle	Made Christ known everywhere (Acts 18:1–4)
Priscilla & Aquila	Married Tradespeople	Taught Apollos truth more accurately (Acts 18:26)
Moses	Shepherd turned Deliverer	Followed God’s assignment
Mary	Mother	Nurtured and supported Christ's mission (Luke 1:38)

Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, street preacher, student, coach, etc—you can walk in your purpose anywhere.

IV. WHAT YOU’RE REALLY ASKING: “WHAT IS MY ASSIGNMENT?”

Assignment is the specific task, role, or season-based opportunity through which your purpose is expressed.

But before we talk about that, I have to interrupt your question with this:

V. WHY WALKING IN YOUR GOD-GIVEN ASSIGNMENT IS URGENT

Mark 8:36
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

• There are people who had money, fame, and influence… but without purpose and assignment, life felt empty.

Real-World Examples of Misaligned Success:

Name	Success	Tragic End
Anthony Bourdain	Beloved chef and TV host	Died by suicide	$1.2 million
Chris Lighty	Music executive	Died by suicide	$30 million
Chester Bennington (Linkin Park)	Global music icon	Died by suicide	$30 million
Robin Williams	Oscar-winning actor	Died by suicide	$50 million
Kate Spade	Billion-dollar fashion empire	Died by suicide	$100 million

Point: You can accomplish every dream you’ve ever had—and still feel meaningless if you're not walking in God's assignment.

VI. HOW TO FIND YOUR GOD-GIVEN ASSIGNMENT

1. Ask two simple questions:

• What am I good at?
• What do I have a deep desire or affinity for?

Romans 11:29
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

My Own Story

• I wanted to play football. Thought I was going to the league.
• Didn’t get the looks. No scholarships.
• But I could talk (got me in trouble too!)
• That gift led me into broadcast journalism... even got to cover the Crimson Tide.
• That moment taught me: Just because you love it doesn’t mean you’re gifted for it. And just because you’re gifted for it doesn’t mean it’s your ultimate assignment.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Gift + Desire = Assignment (Potentially)

3. A Helpful Question:

“What do I do so well that someone would be willing to pay me for it?”

• Most of the time the answer will point straight to your assignment.
• Some times it won’t—but by process of elimination you are closer to finding it.

VII. THREE TRUTHS ABOUT ASSIGNMENT

1. Assignment Changes (Joseph)

• God may call you to different assignments in different seasons
  (Joseph: pit → palace → prison → prime minister).

1. Assignment Always Serves Purpose

• It will always lead to you worshiping God, making Him known, and glorifying Him.

1. Assignment Requires Stewardship
   Colossians 3:23–24
   Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord... You are serving the Lord Christ.

VIII. FINAL CHARGE TO GRADUATES

• Whether you’re graduating kindergarten or college…
• Don’t just chase a career—walk in your calling.
• Don’t just seek success—seek significance in Christ.
• Don’t just ask “What’s next?”—ask “God, where do You want to use me?”

IX. CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY

• I want to take a moment to celebrate how proud I am of this community.
• I’ve been seeing the pictures, the posts—the way you’re showing up for each other organically forming community.
• That’s the culture of the Kingdom—a family showing up for family.

Moms, You Matter | Pastor Chirs Searcy | 5.11.25

Moms, You Matter

The God-ordained influence of mothers in shaping lives and society

I. Biblical Foundation: God’s High Calling for Mothers

Genesis 3:20

"The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living."

→ From the very beginning, woman was named in connection with her role as the life-

giver—mother of all living.

Proverbs 31:25-28

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,

    and she laughs at the time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,

    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household

    and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;

    her husband also, and he praises her:

Isaiah 66:13

"As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted

in Jerusalem."

→ God compares His own nurturing comfort to that of a mother.

II. The Roles: Fathers guard the gate, Mothers make the home!

Statistics for present fathers largely result in the greater:

moral boundaries, discipline, protection, and deterrence from destructive behavior!

ex.

Up to 85% of youths in prison come from fatherless homes.

Children without fathers are 75% more likely to abuse drugs.

63% of youth suicides occur in father-absent homes.

90% of runaway children come from fatherless homes.

Does that mean moms don’t matter… Of course not… It means they provide

something different!

Fathers keep the evil away, Mothers introduce the good!

Involved Mothers improve the child’s:

Emotional development

Cognitive and academic performance

Long-term social health

The Brain

Children with nurturing mothers show 10% larger hippocampus growth (learning &

memory area)

Children with involved mothers are more likely to have higher IQs by age 4.

Children whose mothers read to them daily are 2x more likely to reach reading

proficiency by 3rd grade.

Preschoolers with affectionate mothers show advanced brain development in memory

and learning areas.

Mothers who sing or talk to their babies daily enhance language acquisition by 20–30%

The Heart

Children with supportive mothers are 50% less likely to develop anxiety or depression.

Children with emotionally available mothers have better emotional regulation skills.

Children with supportive moms are 31% more likely to have strong peer

relationships

Mothers who breastfeed help reduce infant mortality by up to 21% in the first year

Mothers who eat meals with their children 5x per week reduce risky teen behavior

by 33%

The Hand

Students with mothers who help with homework are 81% more likely to complete

high school

Mothers who regularly attend religious services raise children who are 3x more

likely to keep the faith into adulthood

MOMS……. YOU MATTER!!!!!!

You are the love, you are the warmth.

The first 5 years of life are when 90% of a child’s brain develops. Nurture and love

stimulate critical neural connections for learning and emotional regulation.

Neglect in the first 2 years of life can lead to permanent developmental and emotional

delays.

Don’t let anyone tell you your God given role isn’t important

Signs of the End of the Age

Matthew 24:10-12

10 And then many will fall away[ a ] and betray one another and hate one

another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And

because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

Godlessness in the Last Days

2 Timothy 3:1-5

3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of

difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant,

abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless,

unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving

good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather

than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its

power. Avoid such people.

Mothers you matter!!!!

You standing in solidarity with fathers are all that stand between your offspring

and Lawlessness!!!!

Imago Dei "The High Calling of God for Women” | Pastor Chris Searcy | 5.4.25

Imago Dei

"The High Calling of God for Women”

I. Introduction: Honoring the Women God Created

Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created

him; male and female he created them.”

Hebrew:

אָדָם (ʾāḏām) – Strong’s H120 - Mankind, humankind, human being - Not Gender

specific.

Greek:

ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) - “And God made the human (anthrōpos)”

II. God’s Original Design for Women in Marriage

Genesis 2:18-24

• God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit

for him.” (v.18)

• Woman was created to be a “helper suitable” (ezer kenegdo) – a strong,

fitting partner, not inferior

• Genesis 2:19-23

19 Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and

every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call

them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its

name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens

and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for

him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he

slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that

the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to

the man. 23 Then the man said,

“This at last is bone of my bones

    and flesh of my flesh;

she shall be called Woman (ishshah),

    because she was taken out of Man (ish).”

• Married Woman - You were created to labor in the work of the

kingdom, as a helper to a husband.

• Single - You are to devote your time to the Lord, and prepare

yourself if desiring to be married.

Titus 2:3-5

3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not

slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is

good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and

children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind,

and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may

not be reviled.

III. Priscilla and Aquila

Acts 18:1-3, 18-26

• Priscilla and Aquila were a married couple working together as tentmakers

and in ministry

• Together they hosted Paul in their home (Acts 18:3),

• Risked their lives for him (Romans 16:3-4)

• Taught Apollos the way of God more (Acts 18:26)

• Scripture mentions Priscilla’s name first in some passages, showing her active,

honored role (Acts 18:26)

IV. Jesus is your biggest advocate

1. Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well.

John 4:25-26

“25 The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ).

When he comes, he will tell us all things.’ 26 Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am

he.’”

2. Jesus defended the woman caught in adultery.

John 8:10-11

“10 Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned

you?’ 11 She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and

from now on sin no more.’”

3. Jesus included women as disciples and ministry supporters.

Luke 8:1-3

“1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the

good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some

women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from

whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's

household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their

means.”

4. Jesus first appeared to women after His resurrection and sent them to tell the

disciples.

Matthew 28:5-7

5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus

who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place

where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead,

and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told

you.”

Matthew 28:9-10

9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold

of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and

tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

For His Glory- Joyfulness Stewarding Your Singleness | Pastor Chris Searcy | 4.27.25

"For His Gloryˮ

- Joyfully Stewarding Your Singlenessˮ

Proverbs - in Hebrew “māšāl" (ל ָשׁ ָמ) - A wise saying, A parable

Proverbs 1:1-7

1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,

to understand words of insight,

3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,

in righteousness, justice, and equity;

4 to give prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the youth—

5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,

and the one who understands obtain guidance,

6 to understand a proverb and a saying,

the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

1 Timothy 5:1–2

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men

as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

Today we are expounding on how to find joy in this season

We will move through 3 main topics:

1. Courting vs dating

2. Equally Yoked

3. Godly community

Courting vs Dating

(slow, public deliberate pace, to find out if we are equally yoked)

Genesis 24: 1-4

1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord had blessed

Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his

household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh, 3 that

I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth,

that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites,

among whom I dwell, 4 but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife

for my son Isaac.ˮ

The servant went miraculously met

Why did Abraham prohibit a Canaanite woman:

1. The Canaanites Were Spiritually Corrupt

• The Canaanites were known for idolatry, child sacrifice, and immoral religious

practices (Leviticus 18:3–30).

• Abraham knew a wife from that culture could lead Isaacѹs heart away from

the Lord.

Deuteronomy 7:3–4 (ESV)

3 You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or

taking their daughters for your sons,

4 for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods.

Then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against you, and he would

destroy you quickly.

2. Preserving the Covenant Line

• Isaac was the child of promise — through him, God's covenant with Abraham

would continue.

Genesis 17:19

19 God said, ѼNo, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call

his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting

covenant for his offspring after him.ˮ

• Abraham wanted to protect that promise by ensuring Isaac's wife shared

faith in the one true God, not pagan gods.

Physical attraction cam override Spiritual Discernment.

What are the differences between Courting and Dating

Equally Yoked

2 Corinthians 6:14-16

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has

righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with

darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a

believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God

with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

Deuteronomy 22:10 (ESV)

10 You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.

Amos 3:3 (ESV)

3 Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?

The yoke imagery speaks to two people pulling in the same direction under

the same leadership

What Happens When Animals Are Unequally Yoked?

1. Effects

• If one animal is stronger or taller, the plow won't move straight.

• The stronger animal will drag or strain the weaker one.

• The field will be plowed crookedly, causing poor harvest results.

• The animals will pull at different paces, leading to resistance and exhaustion.

• Instead of working together, they are constantly working against each other.

• The uneven yoke causes neck sores, bruising, and fatigue, especially for the

smaller or less capable animal.

• Over time, both animals are injured or slowed down.

What being equally yoked looks like

• Both spouses trust Jesus as Lord and Savior.

• Both submit to Godѹs Word as the foundation for life and decisions.

• Christ is not an afterthought—He is the center of the relationship.

• Their passions and callings complement, not compete.

• Theyʼre helping each other to grow spiritually

5

• Unity in how they view money, sex, family, forgiveness, and priorities.

• Maintain values through disagreements and disappointments

You may love that person deeply, but theyʼre pulling in opposite

directions!

and itʼll end hurting you both!

what is equally yoked Priscilla & Aquila

Community

The final component is Godly community!

Romantic relationships arenʼt the only places to experience deep meaningful

connections.

In the 1st century this was their reality:

Acts 2:46–47 (ESV)

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their

homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God

and having favor with all the people.

Benefits of community:

Sharpening:

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Encouragement:

Hebrews 10:24–25

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not

neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,

and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Increased Wisdom:

Proverbs 13:20

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer

harm.