Sermon Notes
May 31, 2026
Anchored
Anchored in the Unchanging Promises of God
Rev. Terence Gray
Big Idea:
“We don’t quit and we don’t coast, because too many faithful saints came before us and too many sons and daughters are coming after us.”
If our founders could speak to us today, what would they say?
“Soon after Hess began his ministry in February 1956 at Ward Memorial Church, he sensed the Lord’s leading to plant a new church in the Detroit suburbs. When he approached the Session (elders) about his idea, including the location of the land to be purchased, there was not much enthusiasm for spending $65,000 on eight acres of land in the suburbs. Not giving up on the idea, Hess came back to the Session with a plan for securing a significant portion of the funds. A promise had been made to build a new manse (house for the pastor owned by the church), since the existing one was very small. There was $30,000 in the manse fund. Bart and his wife, Margaret, discussed the matter and agreed they would be willing to live in the small manse, and asked if the funds could instead go toward purchasing the land for the church plant. The Session agreed to this arrangement and borrowed the remaining funds from the Church Extension Board, which were repaid. The six members of the Hess household would live in the small manse with one bathroom for 12 years. In May 1956, Hess held the first worship service at the Livonia branch of Elizabeth W. Ward Memorial Presbyterian Church with 57 people…. By the time Hess retired, Ward would have more than 5,000 members and 139 acres for a new facility in Northville, Michigan. Hess described the emphases of Ward Church as “absolute loyalty to the Bible as the Word of God; necessity of salvation through Christ alone; faithfulness to historic, biblical, and confessional Christianity as expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith.” — Dr. Don Fortson III, Liberty in Non-Essentials”
“In 1939, the adventuresome young couple took a four-month trip to Europe…. Later, Bart and Margaret recalled that the European trip gave them a unique opportunity to encounter fellow believers in many nations and cultures. Margaret wrote about the lasting impact of the trip: “In the process of that experience, we discovered what was universal about Christianity, or essential, and what was local or non-essential… We met devout Christians in Holland who smoked like chimneys and were very strict about the ‘Sabbath’—Sunday. We came back to the United States realizing that what was essential was faith in Christ and acceptance of the Bible as the Word of God. All other matters were non-essentials. So we made the motto of the early church our motto for ministry: ‘In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity’ (love). That became the basis on which we built our churches.” — Fortson, Liberty in Non-Essentials”
“A loving church knows how to settle its differences. A loving church appreciates the endless flavors of human personality. It doesn’t ask everyone to be plain vanilla or peppermint, or even chocolate almond. It enjoys differences. A loving church reaches out to strangers and folds them to its breast…. A loving church first of all loves its Lord. ‘We love him because he first loved us.’ (1 John 4:19, NASB). A loving church becomes a body to share that glorious love with the world. A body through which Christ can heal.” — Bart and Margaret Hess, The Power of a Loving Church
Hebrews 6:9-12
Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
“The author charges his readers to face their difficulties with faith and perseverance just as those saints who came before them faced theirs.” — Albert Mohler
Hebrews 6:13-15
When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
Hebrews 6:16-17
People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.
Hebrews 6:18
God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.
“In the oath the writer sees a combination of two unchangeable things, (i.e God’s character and his Word) since neither can change, it is impossible that God can prove false.” — Donald Guthie
Hebrews 6:19
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
Don’t let differences drive you to division.
Don’t let comfort convince you to coast.
Always anchor yourself in the Bible,
and keep the Gospel first and foremost.
