LIFE IN THE GOSPEL 8-13-26

The Gospel does more than tell us how to be saved. It tells us what salvation means, how the saved should live, and where the saved are going. God has delivered us from sin, called us to faithful service, and promised us a glorious destiny. Salvation is not merely about where we will be someday. It changes who we are today.

THE DELIVERANCE OF SINNERS

The greatest problem facing humanity is not poverty, sickness, loneliness, or even death. It is sin. Sin separates us from God and leaves us unable to save ourselves. But the good news of the gospel is that Jesus Christ came to deliver sinners.

Paul wrote that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Through His death and resurrection, Christ provides forgiveness and reconciliation with God. We are not saved because we have earned salvation. We are saved because God, in His grace, has provided salvation through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The Gospel calls sinners to believe in Christ, repent of their sins, and respond to Him in obedient faith (Acts 2:38; Acts 16:31). The chains of sin can be broken. The guilt of sin can be forgiven. The sinner who comes to Christ can become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

THE DUTY OF SAINTS

Those who have been delivered from sin have a responsibility to live for Christ. Grace does not give us permission to continue living as we please. Paul asks, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” His answer is emphatic: “Certainly not!” (Romans 6:1-2).

The Christian has been called to serve. We are to love God, love others, proclaim the Gospel, help those who are hurting, and live as lights in a dark world (Matthew 5:14-16). We are not saved merely to sit. We are saved to serve.

Every Christian has a place in the work of God. Some preach. Some teach. Some encourage. Some give. Some serve quietly where few people ever see them. But every faithful servant matters to God (1 Corinthians 15:58).

THE DESTINY OF THE SAVED

The Christian life does not end at the grave. Jesus promised that those who belong to Him have the hope of eternal life (John 3:16; John 14:1-3).

Our destiny is not determined by the temporary circumstances of this life. There may be suffering, disappointment, persecution, sickness, and sorrow along the way. But these things are not the final word. God has prepared something greater for those who remain faithful to Him.

John saw the ultimate victory of God’s people and heard the promise that God would dwell with them. Death, sorrow, crying, and pain would be no more (Revelation 21:3-4).

So remember the three great truths of the Gospel:

The Deliverance of Sinners — Christ saves us from sin.

The Duty of Saints — Christ calls us to serve Him.

The Destiny of the Saved — Christ gives us the hope of eternal life.

We have been delivered for a purpose, called to a duty, and promised a destiny. Therefore, let us never take our salvation for granted. Let us live faithfully, serve gladly, and keep our eyes fixed upon the hope that God has set before us.

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PRAYER: Father, thank You for the deliverance You have provided through Jesus Christ. Help me to live faithfully as one who has been saved. Give me a servant’s heart, a willing spirit, and a steadfast faith. Help me keep my eyes upon the destiny You have promised and remain faithful until the end. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

THE NAKED MAN WHO RAN AWAY

There is a strange little detail in the story of Jesus’ arrest that is easy to overlook. As Jesus was taken away, Mark tells us that a young man followed Him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. When the crowd seized him, he left the linen cloth behind and fled away naked (Mark 14:51-52). Mark gives us only two verses, but those two verses leave us with a powerful picture of what fear can do to a person.

HE FOLLOWED JESUS

The young man was following Jesus. He was close enough to be present when the soldiers came to arrest Him. Perhaps he intended to see what would happen. Perhaps he wanted to remain near the Lord. Whatever his reason, he was there when Jesus was taken.

But being near Jesus is not the same thing as being willing to suffer for Jesus. There is a difference between following Christ when the road is easy and following Him when the road leads toward suffering. Many people are willing to walk with Jesus until walking with Him becomes costly.

HE RAN FROM JESUS

When the young man was seized, fear overcame him. He left his linen cloth in their hands and ran away naked (Mark 14:52). He had been following Jesus, but suddenly he was more concerned about saving himself than remaining with his Lord.

What a picture of human weakness. Fear can make us abandon what we once intended to do. We may say that we will stand, but when pressure comes, our courage can disappear quickly.

Peter had just declared that even if everyone else abandoned Jesus, he would not (Mark 14:29-31). And yet within hours, Peter denied knowing Him. The young man ran. Peter denied. The disciples scattered. Jesus stood alone.

JESUS DID NOT RUN

There is an important contrast in the story. The young man ran away, but Jesus did not.

Jesus knew exactly what awaited Him. He knew the betrayal, the false accusations, the beating, the cross, and the suffering that were coming. Yet He willingly surrendered Himself to those who came to arrest Him.

The disciples were afraid because they were looking at what they might lose. Jesus was willing to suffer because He was looking at what He came to accomplish.

That is the difference between human courage and divine commitment. Jesus did not go to the cross because it was easy. He went because He loved us.

The naked man reminds us of our weakness. Jesus reminds us of His faithfulness.

We may run when we should stand. We may become afraid when we should trust. We may fail when we intended to be faithful. But our failures do not change the faithfulness of Christ.

The story of the naked man is only two verses long, but perhaps that is enough. Mark leaves him running into the darkness while Jesus continues toward the cross. One ran away from suffering. The other ran toward it.

And Jesus went toward the cross for people just like us.

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PRAYER

Father, give me courage to follow Jesus when following Him becomes difficult. When fear tells me to run, give me faith to stand. When I am weak, remind me that Jesus was faithful when everyone else failed. Help me never to be ashamed of Christ, but to remain faithful to Him wherever He leads me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL 8-13-26

From the beginning, humanity has been confronted with the difference between good and evil. In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve everything they needed, but He also gave them a command. They were not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). God was teaching them that there is a difference between knowing what is right and choosing what is right.

KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL

After Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, their eyes were opened, and they became aware of their nakedness (Genesis 3:6-7). Sin brought a new awareness into their lives. They now knew evil, not merely as something God had forbidden, but as something they had personally experienced.

There is nothing wrong with knowing that evil exists. The Bible repeatedly teaches us to recognize the difference between good and evil (Isaiah 5:20; Hebrews 5:14). The danger comes when we stop calling evil evil and begin calling it good. Our culture can change its opinions, but God’s standard does not change.

CHOOSING GOOD

Knowledge by itself is not enough. We can know what is right and still choose what is wrong. Adam and Eve knew God’s command, but they chose to disobey it. Knowledge without obedience can leave us with greater responsibility rather than greater righteousness (Luke 12:47-48).

God calls us to turn away from evil and pursue what is good. We are to hate what is evil and cling to what is good (Romans 12:9). The Christian life is not simply learning more about the Bible. It is allowing the truth of God’s Word to shape our choices, our attitudes, our relationships, and our lives.

WISDOM TO DISCERN

We live in a world where good and evil are often confused. What God calls sin may be celebrated, and what God calls righteousness may be mocked. That is why we need God’s Word. His truth teaches us to discern between right and wrong.

The writer of Hebrews says that mature believers have their senses trained to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). Notice the word trained. Discernment grows as we continually expose ourselves to God’s truth and practice obeying it.

The answer is not to become fascinated with evil. The answer is to become so familiar with God’s goodness that we recognize evil when we encounter it. Paul tells us to be wise concerning what is good and simple concerning evil (Romans 16:19).

We do not have to taste every evil thing to know that it is bitter. We do not have to walk into darkness to appreciate the light. God’s Word has already shown us the difference.

The knowledge of good and evil should lead us to a greater love for what is good, a greater hatred for what is evil, and a greater dependence upon the God who is perfectly good.

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PRAYER

Father, give me wisdom to recognize good and evil. Help me never to call evil good or good evil. Train my heart through Your Word so that I will love what You love, reject what You reject, and walk faithfully in Your truth. May my knowledge of good lead me to obedience, holiness, and a deeper relationship with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

OBEDIENCE OVER OPPOSITION 5-13-26

Acts 5 demonstrates that following Christ will sometimes put us in direct opposition to the world. The apostles were preaching Jesus, performing signs, and proclaiming the resurrection. The religious leaders became angry and had them arrested and put in prison. An angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and told them to go back to the temple and speak to the people. Their circumstances had not changed, but their assignment had not changed either (Acts 5:17–20).

When the apostles were brought before the council, they gave a simple answer: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). That ought to be the conviction of every Christian. We respect people, we honor authority, and we seek peace, but when the command of man conflicts with the command of God, our loyalty must remain with God. Faithfulness is not measured by how little opposition we face, but by whether we remain faithful when opposition comes.

The apostles were beaten and commanded not to preach in the name of Jesus. What did they do? They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name. Then they went right back to teaching and preaching Jesus Christ (Acts 5:40–42). They did not allow suffering to silence them. They did not allow threats to intimidate them. They did not allow rejection to change their message.

That is powerful—when people who have settled the question of whom they will obey. When God has first place in our hearts, opposition cannot easily move us. We may be criticized. We may be misunderstood. We may suffer loss. But we can still stand because our confidence is not in the approval of men. Our confidence is in the Lord.

The message of Acts 5 is simple: obey God, endure opposition, and keep preaching Jesus. The world may resist the truth, but that does not make the truth any less true. Our responsibility is not to make everyone happy. Our responsibility is to remain faithful.

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PRAYER: Father, give me the courage of the apostles. Help me obey You when obedience is difficult, stand when I am opposed, and remain faithful when I suffer. Never let fear of people become greater than my love for You. Give me boldness to speak of Jesus and strength to keep going when the road is hard. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

HIS HOLY HILL

There is something beautiful about the words, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who shall stand in His holy place?” (Psalm 24:3). The hill of God speaks of a place of fellowship, holiness, worship, and nearness to Him. It is not merely a physical location. It speaks of a heart that desires to draw near to God and remain in His presence.

God’s holy hill is not climbed by human pride. We do not reach it because we are better than others. We come because God has called us upward. The Psalmist asks who may ascend, and then answers, “He who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:4). God is concerned not only with what our hands are doing, but with what our hearts are desiring. True holiness begins within and eventually becomes visible without.

The holy hill is a place of separation. David understood that we cannot walk with God while deliberately walking in the ways of the world. “Who shall ascend?” is a serious question because fellowship with God demands that we leave some things behind. We cannot carry every worldly affection up the mountain with us. There are attitudes, habits, desires, and sins that must be surrendered at the feet of the Lord.

But the holy hill is also a place of blessing. “Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle” (Psalm 43:3). God does not call us upward merely to deprive us. He calls us upward so that we may know Him more deeply. His light leads us. His truth directs us. His presence strengthens us.

There is a difference between visiting the presence of God and living in fellowship with God. Too many want God on Sunday but themselves on Monday. They want His blessings without His holiness, His comfort without His correction, and His promises without His presence. But those who truly love God desire to dwell where He is. “LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?” (Psalm 15:1).

The answer is a person whose life reflects the character of God. He walks uprightly. He works righteousness. He speaks truth in his heart. He refuses to use his words to destroy others (Psalm 15:2-3). Holiness is not merely what we say in worship. It is how we live when nobody is watching.

God’s holy hill reminds us that there is a higher place for those who belong to Him. We do not have to remain in the valleys of bitterness, compromise, fear, and sin. The Lord calls us higher. He calls us to lift our eyes, purify our hearts, surrender our lives, and walk with Him.

May we never be satisfied with standing at the bottom of the mountain when God has invited us to come higher. May our prayer be simple: “Lord, lead me to Your holy hill. Cleanse my hands. Purify my heart. Remove everything that keeps me from You. Let me walk closely with You all the days of my life.”

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PRAYER

Father, lead me to Your holy hill. Give me clean hands and a pure heart. Help me surrender every sin, every selfish desire, and everything that keeps me from walking closely with You. Let Your light lead me and Your truth guide me. May my life be pleasing in Your sight, and may I never become satisfied with anything less than Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

Livestream Preaching Times for Thursday, August 13, 2026

5:30 AM

“The Shepherd of Rest”
(Psalm 23:2)

10:00 AM

“The Church that Tolerated Sin”
(Revelation 2:18-29)

2:00 PM

“The Hidden Life of Faith”
(Matthew 6:1-18)

6:00 pm

“Judgment Without Repentance”
(Revelation 9)

TikTok: @dewaynedunawayministries

All times CST

JESUS THE REDEEMER

The word redeemer carries the beautiful idea of buying back what has been lost. Humanity wandered into sin, separated itself from God, and found itself unable to repair the damage through human strength. But God did not leave us without hope. He sent Jesus Christ, the One who came to redeem us. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7).

JESUS REDEEMS US FROM SIN. Sin is not merely a mistake. It is rebellion against God, and its consequences are serious. We could not cleanse our own hearts or erase our own guilt. But Jesus gave Himself for us. He “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed” (Titus 2:14). The cross tells us both how serious sin is and how great God’s love is.

JESUS REDEEMS US BY HIS BLOOD. Our redemption did not come cheaply. Peter reminds us that we were not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver or gold, “but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Jesus willingly gave His life so that sinners could be reconciled to God. The cross was not an accident. It was the supreme expression of divine love and the means by which Christ accomplished our redemption.

JESUS REDEEMS US FOR A PURPOSE. Redemption is not simply being rescued from something. We are redeemed so that we might belong to God and live for Him. Paul said that Christ “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). Jesus does not merely forgive our past. He calls us into a new way of living.

JESUS REDEEMS OUR FUTURE. The work of redemption reaches beyond what God has already done. We look forward to the day when redemption will be complete. Paul spoke of “the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23). The suffering, weakness, and corruption of this present world will not have the final word. Christ will.

That is why Jesus is more than a teacher, example, or religious figure. He is the Redeemer. He came where we were, bore what we could not bear, paid what we could not pay, and opened the way back to God. Our hope is not in ourselves. Our hope is in Him.

If you have wandered, come home. If you are burdened by sin, come to Christ. If you have lost hope, look again to the cross. The Redeemer still calls. The price has been paid, the tomb is empty, and grace is still being offered.

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PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank You for being my Redeemer. Thank You for giving Yourself for my sins and opening the way for me to be reconciled to God. Help me never to take Your sacrifice lightly. Teach me to live as one who has been redeemed, and let my life bring glory to Your name. Amen.

BDD

THE CERTIFIED GOSPEL

The Gospel is not a message created by men. It is not a religious opinion, a philosophy, or a collection of human ideas. It is the good news of what God has done through Jesus Christ. Because the gospel comes from God, it carries divine authority. Paul described it as “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

THE GOSPEL WAS PROMISED. The message of Christ did not suddenly appear when Jesus came into the world. God had been preparing the way from the beginning. The prophets spoke beforehand of the coming Messiah and the salvation He would bring. Paul said that the gospel was “promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures” (Romans 1:2). What God promised, He fulfilled in Christ.

THE GOSPEL WAS PROVEN. Jesus did not simply claim to be the Son of God. His life, His works, His death, and especially His resurrection testified to who He was. Paul declared that Jesus “was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). The empty tomb stands at the heart of the Christian message. Our faith rests upon an event God accomplished in history.

THE GOSPEL WAS PROCLAIMED. Jesus commanded His disciples to take the gospel into all the world (Mark 16:15). The apostles did not preach themselves. They preached Christ crucified and risen. Their message was not designed to entertain people or win popularity. It was designed to call sinners to faith, repentance, and obedience to Jesus Christ.

THE GOSPEL IS POWERFUL. The Gospel does what human wisdom cannot do. It brings forgiveness to the guilty, hope to the hopeless, peace to the troubled, and life to those who are spiritually dead. It reveals the righteousness of God and calls us to respond in faith (Romans 1:16-17). The Gospel does not merely inform us about salvation. It is God’s appointed message through which salvation is proclaimed.

THE GOSPEL MUST BE PRESERVED. We have no authority to rewrite the Gospel to make it more comfortable, popular, or acceptable. Paul warned that even if someone preached another gospel, it was to be rejected (Galatians 1:8-9). The Gospel does not need improvement. It needs faithful proclamation.

The Gospel is certified by God’s promises, confirmed by Christ’s resurrection, proclaimed by His apostles, and powerful to save those who believe. Therefore, we do not need a new gospel. We need to return to the Gospel God has already given us.

Christ died. Christ was buried. Christ was raised. Christ reigns. And the good news of what He has done still calls every person to believe, repent, and follow Him.

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PRAYER

Father, help me never to be ashamed of Your Gospel. Give me courage to proclaim it faithfully, wisdom to understand it clearly, and humility to obey it completely. Keep me from changing Your message to please men. May my life point others to Jesus Christ, who is the heart and hope of the Gospel. Amen.

BDD

THE TRUE NATURE OF LOVE

Love is one of the most frequently used words in the human vocabulary. It is also one of the most misunderstood. Men speak of loving when they mean desiring. They speak of love when they mean tolerance. They speak of love when they mean emotion, affection or personal attachment. The Bible presents love in a much higher and holier sense. True love did not originate with man. “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Therefore, love must be understood in the light of God and His revealed will rather than by the changing standards of human society.

There is sentimental love. Sentimental love is governed largely by feelings. It loves when it is convenient and withdraws when circumstances become difficult. It is often strong when emotions are high and weak when sacrifice is required. Such love may have sincerity in it, but sincerity alone does not make it Biblical love. The love commanded by Christ reaches beyond feelings. Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you” (Matthew 5:44). Sentiment may cause a man to love those who love him. Christian love teaches him to love even those who mistreat him.

There is also permissive love. This is the concept that says love never corrects, never rebukes and never says that anything is wrong. According to this view, to disagree with someone is unloving and to warn someone about sin is hateful. Such a concept cannot be reconciled with Scripture.

Jesus loved people perfectly, yet He also called men to repentance. Paul commanded Christians to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Biblical love does not rejoice when someone continues in error. “Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). Love cares too much to remain silent when souls are in danger.

There is selfish love. This kind of love is based upon what another person can provide. It loves when love is returned, when appreciation is received, when friendship is beneficial or when personal desires are satisfied. But the love of Christ is sacrificial. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus did not wait until humanity became worthy of His love. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The cross is the greatest demonstration that Biblical love gives rather than merely takes.

There is conditional love. Men often say, “I will love you if you love me,” or, “I will forgive you if you deserve it.” God’s love teaches us something higher. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Christian love is not determined entirely by how others treat us. It is determined by how God has commanded us to treat others. This is why Christians are commanded to forgive, to bear with one another, to pray for their enemies and to overcome evil with good (Matthew 6:14; Colossians 3:13; Romans 12:20-21).

There is also genuine Christian love. This love is patient and kind. It does not envy. It does not parade itself. It is not puffed up. It does not behave rudely or seek its own. It is not easily provoked and does not keep a record of wrongs. It rejoices in truth and endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). This is not weak love. It is strong enough to forgive, humble enough to serve, courageous enough to correct and faithful enough to remain when remaining is difficult.

The greatest expression of love is found in Jesus Christ. He loved the unlovely, touched the rejected, received sinners, served His disciples and willingly went to the cross. He did not merely speak about love. He demonstrated it. “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16). If we want to know what love looks like, we must look to Christ.

Therefore, the question is not simply whether we love. The question is whether our love resembles the love of Christ. Love must be more than a word on our lips. It must become a character within us and a conduct before others. “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). A world filled with hatred, bitterness and division needs to see Christians who love as Christ loved. Such love does not compromise truth, but it never uses truth as an excuse to withhold love.

True love begins with God, is revealed in Christ, is governed by truth and is demonstrated by our lives. It does not merely ask, “What do I feel?” It asks, “What is good for the soul of another?” It does not merely seek to be loved. It seeks to love. And when the love of Christ truly fills the heart, it becomes impossible to hate our brother while claiming to love God (1 John 4:20-21).

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PRAYER

Father, teach me to love as Christ loved. Deliver me from selfish, sentimental and conditional love. Give me a love that is governed by truth, demonstrated by sacrifice and expressed through kindness, patience and forgiveness. May the love of Christ fill my heart until others can see Him through the way I live. Amen.

BDD

THE CENTRALITY OF CHRIST

Everything in the Christian life finds its meaning in Christ. He is not simply a part of our faith. He is the center of it. Remove Christ from Christianity, and we are left with religion without redemption, morality without mercy, and doctrine without life. But when Christ is at the center, everything else finds its proper place.

CHRIST IS THE CENTER OF SCRIPTURE. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible points us toward the purpose and work of Christ. The Law anticipated Him. The prophets spoke of Him. The Gospels revealed Him. The apostles proclaimed Him. Revelation declares His ultimate victory. Jesus Himself said that the Scriptures testify of Him (John 5:39). We do not merely read the Bible to learn information. We read it to know the One toward whom all of Scripture points.

CHRIST IS THE CENTER OF SALVATION. We cannot save ourselves. Our hope is not found in human goodness, religious achievement, or personal merit. Our hope is found in Jesus Christ. “Nor is there salvation in any other” (Acts 4:12). He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). He died for our sins, was raised from the dead, and became the foundation of our hope (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Salvation is not ultimately about what we have done for Christ. It is about what Christ has done for us.

CHRIST IS THE CENTER OF THE CHURCH. The church does not belong to us. It belongs to Him. Christ is the head of the church, and we are His body (Ephesians 1:22-23). When Christ is truly central, personalities become secondary, human opinions become smaller, and personal agendas lose their power. The church exists to exalt Christ, proclaim His truth, love His people, and make His name known.

CHRIST IS THE CENTER OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). Christianity is more than attending worship, learning doctrine, or trying to become a better person. It is learning to live with Christ at the center of everything. He becomes the pattern for our character, the authority for our decisions, the source of our strength, and the object of our affection.

When Christ is at the center, everything changes. Our worship becomes deeper. Our obedience becomes more sincere. Our love becomes stronger. Our suffering becomes bearable. Our service becomes meaningful. Our hope becomes secure. We no longer ask merely, “What do I want?” We begin asking, “What would honor Christ?”

The Christian life is not about making Christ fit into our plans. It is about bringing our lives under His lordship. He must be more than Savior on Sunday. He must be Lord every day. “That in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).

Christ is the beginning. Christ is the foundation. Christ is the center. Christ is the goal. When everything else is stripped away, may we still be able to say with Paul, “Christ who is our life” (Colossians 3:4).

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PRAYER

Lord Jesus, take the center of my life. Let my thoughts, words, decisions, worship, service, and relationships all point back to You. Keep me from making myself, my opinions, or my desires the center. May You have the preeminence in everything I do. Amen.

BDD

THE WAY OF FAITH

Faith is not merely believing that God exists. Faith is trusting God enough to follow Him. It changes the direction of our lives, the foundation on which we stand, and the righteousness by which we live. The way of faith is a journey that begins with repentance, continues through reliance, and produces righteousness.

REPENTANCE

The way of faith begins when we turn from sin and turn toward God. Repentance is more than feeling sorry for what we have done. It is a change of heart that produces a change of direction. Jesus said that repentance is necessary, because unless we repent, we will perish (Luke 13:3). Faith does not make peace with sin. Faith turns away from the things that dishonor God and turns toward the One who can save us.

Repentance does not mean that we will never stumble again. It means that sin is no longer the direction in which we intend to walk. When we fall, we get back up. When we wander, we return. When we recognize that we have been wrong, we humble ourselves and come home. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart” (Psalm 51:17).

RELIANCE

After repentance comes reliance. Faith learns to stop depending upon self and start depending upon God. We cannot save ourselves by our goodness, our wisdom, our strength, or our religious accomplishments. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

The Christian life is not lived by human strength. We need the grace of God every day. We need His Word to guide us, His wisdom to direct us, His strength to sustain us, and His mercy when we fail. Paul expressed this reliance beautifully when he said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Faith says, “I cannot do this without God, but I do not have to do it without Him.”

RIGHTEOUSNESS

True faith eventually becomes visible in the way we live. Faith does not merely change what we believe. It changes who we are becoming. We are not saved because we have manufactured our own righteousness. We look to Christ, trust in Him, and then allow that faith to produce a life that honors God. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10).

The way of faith therefore has a beautiful progression. Repentance turns us from sin. Reliance turns us toward God. Righteousness shows the world that our faith is real. Faith begins in the heart, but it cannot remain hidden there. A living faith will eventually find its way into our words, our choices, our relationships, our obedience, and our daily walk.

The way of faith is not always easy, but it is always the right way. Turn from sin. Trust in God. Walk in righteousness. Keep your eyes upon Jesus, and keep moving forward. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

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PRAYER

Father, teach me to walk the way of faith. Give me a repentant heart that turns from sin, a trusting heart that relies completely upon You, and a righteous life that brings honor to Your name. Help me to keep my eyes upon Jesus and follow Him faithfully every day. Amen.

BDD

Livestream Preaching Times for Wednesday, August 12, 2026

5:30 AM

“The Lord is My Shepherd” (2)
(Psalm 23:1)

9:00 AM

“Imitators of God”
(Ephesians 5:1)

2:00 PM

“The Call to Repentance”
(Matthew 4:17)

5:00 pm

“Ehud the Left Handed Judge”
(Judges 3)

TikTok: @dewaynedunawayministries

All times CST

THE POWER OF A GODLY EXAMPLE

Paul told Timothy, “Be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

Our Words matter. What we say can encourage someone, discourage someone, strengthen someone’s faith, or damage their view of Christ.

Our Walk matters. People are watching how we live, especially when life becomes difficult. A godly life gives credibility to a godly message. We may not realize who is learning from our example, but someone is always watching.

Our Witness matters. We are not called merely to talk about Christ but to represent Him. When our words and our lives point people toward Jesus, we become a living testimony of His grace.

You may be the sermon someone remembers long after they forget the words you preached.

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PRAYER

Father, help me to be a godly example in my words, my walk, and my witness. Let my life point others to Jesus, not to myself. Give me wisdom in what I say, faithfulness in how I live, and love in everything I do. May those who watch my life see Christ in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

JARS OF CLAY

Paul says, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels” (2 Corinthians 4:7). The treasure is the Gospel, but the vessel is us. Clay jars were ordinary, fragile, and easily broken. God could have chosen angels or perfect people to carry His message, but He chose ordinary, imperfect people. Our weaknesses do not disqualify us from being useful to God. In fact, they remind us that the power belongs to Him and not to us.

Sometimes we become discouraged because we see our cracks, our failures, our weaknesses, and our limitations. We think God could never use someone like us. But the beauty of a jar of clay is that its value is not in the jar itself. The treasure inside is what matters. Paul said we are “hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed” and “struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). We may be fragile, but God’s grace sustains us.

So don’t despise the vessel God has chosen to use. You may not be strong enough, wise enough, or perfect enough to accomplish His work on your own. That is exactly the point. When people see God working through someone who knows his own weakness, the glory belongs to God. We are only jars of clay, but we carry a treasure beyond price. The vessel may be fragile, but the treasure is eternal.

BDD

GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN

Sin is a terrible reality because it separates us from God. The Bible does not minimize the seriousness of sin or pretend that our failures are insignificant. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Every person has fallen short of God’s righteousness, and no amount of human goodness can erase the guilt of sin. We cannot save ourselves by becoming good enough. We need grace.

The good news of the Gospel is that God’s grace is greater than our sin. “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Romans 5:20). This does not mean that sin is unimportant or that grace gives us permission to continue sinning. Paul immediately rejects that conclusion: “Certainly not!” (Romans 6:2). Grace does something far greater than excuse sin. Grace provides the answer to sin through Jesus Christ.

God’s grace was demonstrated most clearly at the cross. We were sinners, but Christ died for us. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus did not wait until we became worthy. He came while we were still sinners. The cross shows us both the seriousness of our sin and the greatness of God’s love. Sin was so serious that Christ had to die, but God’s grace was so great that He was willing to die for us.

This is why we must never confuse grace with human merit. We are saved by God’s grace through faith, not because we have earned salvation by our works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our obedience matters, and genuine faith produces obedience, but our obedience does not give us grounds to boast before God. Salvation begins with God’s grace, depends upon God’s grace, and ultimately gives God the glory.

Grace also means that our past does not have to determine our future. Paul reminded the Corinthians of the kinds of people who would not inherit the kingdom of God, and then he said, “And such were some of you” (1 Corinthians 6:11). That little word “were” is powerful. Their past was real, but it did not have to remain their identity. They had been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God.

Some people spend their entire lives looking backward at what they have done and wondering whether God could really forgive them. But the Gospel tells us to look to Christ. Peter preached that through Jesus “whoever believes will receive remission of sins through His name” (Acts 10:43). John wrote that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Grace does not tell us that our sin does not matter. Grace tells us that Christ matters more.

Grace does not tell us that we have never fallen. Grace tells us that we can get back up.

Grace does not give us permission to remain in sin. Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age (Titus 2:11-12).

The Christian life is therefore not a life of pretending that we have never failed. It is a life of continually coming to Christ, trusting His mercy, confessing our failures, and allowing His grace to transform us. We should never become comfortable with sin, but neither should we become so overwhelmed by our failures that we forget the greatness of God’s mercy.

The hymn writer captured the truth beautifully: grace really is greater than our sin. Our sin may be deep, but God’s mercy is deeper. Our failures may be many, but Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient. Our past may be painful, but God’s grace can give us a new beginning.

So when Satan reminds you of everything you have done wrong, remember what Jesus has done right.

When your past condemns you, remember the cross.

When you see the depth of your sin, look again at the greater depth of God’s grace.

We are not saved because our sin was small.

We are saved because Christ is great.

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PRAYER

Father, thank You for Your amazing grace. Thank You that You did not leave us in our sin but sent Your Son to redeem us. Help us never to take sin lightly, but also never to underestimate the power of Your mercy.

When we fall, teach us to turn toward You instead of running from You. Help us live lives worthy of the grace we have received, trusting completely in Jesus Christ.

In His name, Amen.

BDD

THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW COVENANT

In order to understand the redemptive message of the New Testament, it is vitally important to understand the Old Testament. The New Covenant did not appear in isolation. It was the fulfillment of promises, prophecies, patterns, sacrifices, and expectations that God had revealed throughout the Old Testament.

The Old Testament provides the foundation upon which the message of Christ is built. Jesus and the apostles continually appealed to the Old Testament to explain who Christ was, why He came, why He had to suffer, and what His death accomplished.

The Law of Moses served an important purpose in God’s plan of redemption. It revealed God’s holiness and man’s sinfulness. Through the commandments, humanity came to understand more clearly what sin is and how seriously God regards it (Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7).

The sacrifices and priesthood also provided pictures of the greater sacrifice and priesthood that would come through Christ. Paul therefore described the Law as a “tutor” that was intended to bring people to Christ so that they might be justified by faith (Galatians 3:24-25). The Law was never God’s final answer for the salvation of mankind. It pointed beyond itself to the One who would fulfill God’s redemptive purpose.

Paul made this point when he reminded Timothy that from childhood he had known the Holy Scriptures, which were able to make him “wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:14-15). The Scriptures Timothy had known from childhood were the Old Testament Scriptures. They were able to make him wise for salvation because they testified of God’s promises and ultimately pointed to Christ. Paul was not teaching Timothy that the Old Testament was itself the Christian covenant. Rather, he was showing the continuing value of the inspired Scriptures that had prepared the way for the coming of Christ and testified about Him.

The writer of Hebrews explains the progression of divine revelation: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2). God truly spoke through Moses, the prophets, and the other writers of the Old Testament. Their message was inspired and authoritative for the people to whom God gave it. Yet the revelation reached its fullness in Jesus Christ. The Son is greater than the servants, and the New Covenant established through Him is greater than the covenant made through Moses.

This distinction is important because Christians are not under the Law of Moses as their covenant. At the transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus, but the Father’s voice directed the disciples’ attention to Christ: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5).

Jesus is the One to whom we now listen as the mediator of the New Covenant. He did not come to destroy the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17). Having accomplished His redemptive work, He established the New Covenant by His blood (Luke 22:20; Hebrews 9:15).

The New Testament therefore teaches clearly that the Mosaic Covenant is no longer the covenant under which God’s people live. Christ has fulfilled the Law and established the New Covenant. Paul says that Christ is the end or goal of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Romans 10:4). He also explains that believers have died to the Law through the body of Christ so that they might belong to Him (Romans 7:4).

Hebrews declares that Christ took away the first covenant in order to establish the second (Hebrews 10:9). The Law of Moses cannot be imposed upon Christians as the covenant governing our relationship with God.

Yet saying that we are not under the Old Covenant does not mean that the Old Testament has become irrelevant. Quite the opposite is true. The Old Testament remains inspired Scripture and continues to teach us about God, sin, faith, obedience, judgment, mercy, wisdom, and redemption. Paul wrote, “Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). He also explained that the things recorded in Israel’s history were written as examples and warnings for Christians (1 Corinthians 10:11).

We therefore read the Old Testament through the fulfillment that has come in Christ. We do not return to the Mosaic Covenant as though Christ had never come, but neither do we discard the Scriptures that prepared the way for Him. The Old Testament tells us where the story begins. The New Testament reveals where that story was going all along. The promises to Abraham, the Law given through Moses, the sacrificial system, the priesthood, the kingship, the prophecies, and the hopes of God’s people all find their ultimate significance in Jesus Christ.

The Old Testament is not our covenant, but it is our Scripture. The Law of Moses is not our law, but it teaches us why we need Christ. The sacrifices are not our means of atonement, but they help us understand the sacrifice of Christ. The prophets are not our covenant authorities, but their writings point us to the One who is. And the history of God’s dealings with Israel teaches us that God is faithful to His promises.

The Christian therefore does not choose between the Old Testament and Christ. We understand the Old Testament because of Christ, and we understand Christ more deeply because we see Him in the testimony of the Old Testament. As Jesus Himself said, “These are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39).

The Old Testament prepares the way. The New Testament reveals the fulfillment. And at the center of it all stands Jesus Christ.

BDD

THE PROMISE WAS ALWAYS POINTING TO CHRIST

God’s covenant with Abraham was real. It happened in history, involved real people, real promises, and real circumstances. God promised Abraham descendants, a nation, and a land. But the promise was never meant to end with Abraham, Canaan, or the physical nation of Israel. From the beginning, God was working toward something far greater. The promise was pointing forward to Jesus Christ.

Paul makes this remarkably clear when he says that the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his “Seed,” and then identifies that Seed as Christ (Galatians 3:16). God was not simply making a promise about a piece of earthly territory. He was revealing His plan to bring redemption to the world through one particular descendant. The land was part of the historical promise, but Christ was the ultimate purpose behind it.

God told Abraham, “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 22:18). Notice the breadth of that promise. All the nations. God’s purpose was never to bless only one ethnic group while leaving the rest of humanity outside His mercy. Through Abraham’s Seed, the blessing would eventually reach the nations. That Seed is Christ.

This is why the gospel is so beautiful. Jesus did not come merely to restore an earthly kingdom or establish another political nation. He came to redeem sinners and gather together a people for God from every nation. In Christ, the dividing walls that once separated people are overcome. The people of God are not defined by geography, bloodline, or national boundaries, but by faith in Jesus Christ.

The promise to Abraham therefore teaches us something important about how we should read the Bible. We should not stop at the earthly shadow when God has revealed the heavenly reality. We should not become so focused on the temporary that we miss the eternal. The promises of God were moving history toward Christ. The Old Testament was not a collection of disconnected stories. It was a developing revelation of God’s redemptive purpose.

And now that Christ has come, we can see what God was doing all along. The blessing promised to Abraham has reached the nations through the Gospel. People from every background can come to Christ, receive forgiveness, become children of God, and become part of His people through faith (Galatians 3:7, 26-29).

The greatest fulfillment of God’s promise was never a boundary on a map. It was a Savior on a cross.

Abraham received a promise. Israel received a history. But in Christ, the world receives redemption.

That means the promise is not merely something we study. It is something we can experience. The same Christ toward whom the promise pointed is the Christ who calls us today. He is our hope, our salvation, and our inheritance.

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PRAYER

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness and for the promise You made that ultimately pointed us to Jesus Christ. Help us to see Christ throughout Your Word and to understand that Your purpose has always been redemption.

Thank You that through Christ people from every nation can become Your people. Keep our hearts focused not on the things that are temporary, but on the eternal blessings we have in Your Son.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

Livestream Preaching Times for Tuesday, August 11, 2026

5:30 AM

“The Lord is My Shepherd”
(Psalm 23:1)

10:00 AM

“The Spirit of Adoption”
(Romans 8:15-17)

2:00 PM

“Our Advocate with the Father”
(1 John 2:1-2)

5:00 pm

“Evil Men and Imposters”
(2 Timothy 3:13)

TikTok: @dewaynedunawayministries

All times CST

WHEN PEOPLE TURN AGAINST YOU

One of the hardest things in life is watching someone who once stood beside you suddenly turn against you. Sometimes it happens without warning. Someone you trusted begins believing things about you that are not true. Someone who once defended you now criticizes you. Someone who knew your heart now questions your motives. It hurts because betrayal does not usually come from strangers. It comes from people who once mattered to you.

David knew what it was like to have people turn against him. He had enemies who wanted him dead, but some of his deepest pain came from those who had once been close to him. He wrote, “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it” (Psalm 55:12). There is a particular pain when the person hurting you is someone you once trusted. David understood that pain, but he also understood where to take it. He said, “Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you” (Psalm 55:22).

Jesus experienced it too. Judas walked with Him, heard His teaching, witnessed His miracles, and shared meals with Him. Yet Judas eventually turned against Him and betrayed Him with a kiss (Matthew 26:47-49). Jesus knew what it was to be loved by some, hated by others, misunderstood by many, and betrayed by someone close. If people turned against Jesus, we should not be shocked when they turn against us.

But here is where we must be careful. Someone else’s betrayal does not give you permission to become bitter. When people turn against you, the temptation is to spend your life trying to make them pay. You want everyone to know what they did. You want to expose them. You want to answer every accusation and defend every part of your character. But sometimes the greatest victory is simply to keep walking with God. “Repay no one evil for evil” (Romans 12:17). “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

You may not be able to control what people believe about you. You cannot control what they say when you are not present. You cannot force someone to remember the good you did for them. You cannot make someone remain loyal. But you can control what happens inside your own heart. Do not let somebody else’s disloyalty make you disloyal. Do not let their hatred make you hateful. Do not let their bitterness make you bitter. Keep your heart tender before God.

Sometimes God allows people to walk away because He knows something you do not know. Not everyone who starts the journey with you is supposed to finish it with you. Some people are only there for a season. Some relationships end because God is protecting you. Some doors close because God has another door to open. Paul experienced people abandoning him, yet he could still say, “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me” (2 Timothy 4:17). When people leave, God does not leave.

So if people have turned against you, do not spend your days staring backward. Lift your eyes toward Christ. Keep praying. Keep loving. Keep serving. Keep telling the truth. Keep your conscience clean. Let God handle the people who have chosen to oppose you. You do not have to win every argument. You do not have to answer every accusation. You do not have to chase everyone who walks away.

There will be days when you feel alone, but remember this: you may lose people and still have God. And if you have God, you have not lost everything. David said, “When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me” (Psalm 27:10). People can change. Friends can leave. Circumstances can turn. But Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Let them turn if they choose. You keep walking toward Christ. Let them talk if they must. You keep speaking truth. Let them leave if they will. You keep following Jesus. Your life is not defined by who walked away from you. It is defined by the One who promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

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PRAYER

Lord, when people turn against me, give me grace not to become bitter. Help me forgive those who have hurt me and refuse to repay evil for evil. When I feel rejected, remind me that You have not rejected me. When friends leave, remind me that You remain. Help me keep my heart clean, my conscience clear, and my eyes fixed on Jesus. Give me strength to keep walking when others walk away. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

WHEN YOU’RE MISUNDERSTOOD

Few things hurt like being misunderstood. It is one thing when someone does not know you. It is another thing when someone knows you and still chooses to believe the worst about you. You can explain your heart, clarify your intentions, and tell the truth, yet someone may still decide to believe a different story. Sometimes people judge your motives without knowing your heart. Sometimes they hear half the story and make up the other half. And sometimes they simply want to believe something negative about you. But being misunderstood does not mean you are guilty.

Jesus was misunderstood constantly. People looked at His kindness and called Him a friend of sinners (Matthew 11:19). They saw Him casting out demons and accused Him of doing it by the power of Satan (Matthew 12:24). They questioned His motives, His authority, and His character. The One who was perfectly righteous was repeatedly accused by people who did not understand Him. Yet Jesus did not allow their opinions to determine who He was.

There is a tremendous lesson here. You do not have to live your life trying to convince everyone that you are a good person. God knows your heart. “For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). People see pieces of your life. God sees the whole picture. People hear conversations. God knows motives. People see what happened. God knows why it happened.

Sometimes the more you try to defend yourself, the worse the situation becomes. You explain one thing, and they question another. You answer one accusation, and three more appear. Before long, your entire life becomes an endless courtroom where you are constantly trying to prove your innocence. You cannot live peacefully when your identity depends upon everybody else’s approval. There comes a time when you have to place your reputation in God’s hands.

That does not mean we should never explain ourselves. There are times when truth needs to be spoken and falsehood needs to be corrected. But there is also a time to remain silent. Jesus demonstrated this during His trial. “And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing” (Matthew 27:12). He knew when to speak and when not to speak. His silence was not weakness. It was confidence in the Father.

If someone has misunderstood you, keep walking in truth. If someone has judged your motives, keep your motives pure. If someone has believed a lie, do not become a liar trying to correct it. Let your life become the evidence. Character has a way of speaking over time. A person can tell a story about you in a moment, but they cannot erase years of faithful living.

And remember this: being misunderstood by people does not mean you are misunderstood by God. David said, “You understand my thought afar off” (Psalm 139:2). God knows the thoughts you never spoke. He knows the tears nobody saw. He knows the reasons behind the decisions people criticized. He knows when your heart was sincere even when others questioned you.

So stop exhausting yourself trying to control every opinion. You cannot make everyone understand you. You cannot make everyone like you. You cannot make everyone believe you. But you can live before God with a clean heart. Keep loving. Keep serving. Keep telling the truth. Keep your conscience clear. Let God handle the people who refuse to understand.

One day, every hidden thing will be brought into the light. “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

Until then, keep walking.

You do not have to be understood by everybody when you are fully known by God.

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PRAYER

Lord, help me when I am misunderstood. Keep me from becoming bitter, defensive, or angry. Give me wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent. Help me live with such integrity that my life speaks louder than the opinions of others. When people judge me unfairly, remind me that You know my heart completely. Give me peace to leave my reputation in Your hands and continue faithfully following Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD