APRIL – Resurrection Power: Living the RISEN Life
SUNDAY’S SERMON SUMMARY
GO TO www.belmontbaptistchurch.com/sermons and listen to Sunday’s message.
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
LOVE THAT PURSUES
“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
True love doesn’t wait for perfection—it chases after the unlovely, the broken, the overlooked. Before you ever dreamed of earning His favor, Jesus ran toward you, crossing every boundary of shame and fear, to lay down His life on your behalf. His pursuit wasn’t a polite invitation; it was a full-throttle rescue mission.
That same relentless love now lives within you, urging you to take the initiative in your relationships. Instead of waiting for someone to come around, you become the one to bridge the gap. Maybe your spouse is weary from a long week at work, or a friend feels forgotten after a harsh word. When you mirror Christ’s pursuit, you’re saying, “I value you more than my comfort. I’ll keep seeking until walls come down.”
This isn’t about chore-driven kindness—it’s heart-driven courage. It means picking up the phone when pride wants you to stay silent. It means knocking on the door when fear whispers “you’ll be rejected.” And it means trusting that love, when poured out without reserve, has the power to awaken hope in the hardest places. As you step out in sacrificial pursuit, you become a living testament to the Gospel’s power to redeem even the darkest stories. In loving without condition, you not only draw others to Christ but also discover the depth of His love more fully in your own heart.
Practical Application
- List of Pursuit
- Write three names of people who need to know they’re loved unconditionally.
- Personal Outreach
- For each name, choose one tangible act:
- Encouraging Note: Handwrite a short letter and drop it off.
- Thoughtful Gift: Send a favorite treat or a small reminder of God’s truth.
- Focused Prayer: Set aside five minutes today to intercede by name.
- For each name, choose one tangible act:
- Conversation Starters
- Prepare a gentle question to open their heart:
- “I’ve been thinking of you—how can I pray for you right now?”
- “What’s one thing you wish someone would do to show they care?”
- Prepare a gentle question to open their heart:
- Daily Journal
- At day’s end, record how your pursuit impacted you and them. Note any surprises—may it spark gratitude or fresh insight.
- Couples’ Check-In
- As a couple, share whom you’re each pursuing. Pray together over those names, asking God to open doors of conversation and soften hearts.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for chasing me down with Your boundless love—reaching into my mess, my mistakes, my doubt. Fill me with that same relentless passion. Give me boldness to pursue those You adore, to step past my fears and pride, and to extend mercy before it’s earned. Let my life become a living invitation to grace, so that every barrier crumbles and every heart is drawn closer to You. Amen.
FRIDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Angela Bryan’s Sister
Ann Stanley
Beth – A Friend Of Amy Garners – Much Better
Danny Jarrard
Darlene Wiggins
David Newby
Debbie Foskey
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Eric Magnusson’s Mother
Eric Ward
Friend of Linda Hodge
Gayle Sparks
George & Linda Alexander
George Calhoon
James Burnette
James Parker
Jessica Headrick
Jodi Bateman
John McClain’s Mother
June Cronan’s Sister
June Davis
Kailey Bateman
Kathryn Raines
Kim McClain’s Mother
Kim’s Sisters – Ann & Brenda
Lee Cronan
Lillianna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Lonzo Christian
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary William’s Granddaughter
Mary Williams
Mary Williamson – Dana Jackson’s Mom
Marynell Ford
Mike, Gwen, Michael Rice Family – Friends of Blount’s – Car Accident
Mrs. Franklin
Nora Allison
Pastor Driskell
Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA
Scarlett – Marynell’s Granddaughter
Scott Lanier
Steve Michaels
Theresa Bain’s Granddaughter
Tom Witcher