A LESSON OR A BLESSING? - Sermon Notes

Aug 30

4 min read

Living So Your Life Leaves Evidence of Jesus

Sunday, August 30, 2026 • Ekklesia Christian Life Ministries

TODAY'S BIG IDEA

A life surrendered to Christ should leave evidence—not merely that I was here, but that Jesus was here through me.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS

Acts 9:36–42 — Tabitha: a disciple whose life left tangible evidence.

Philippians 1:3–5 — Recognize the blessing while the blessing is present.

Matthew 5:13–16 — Be salt and light; let the blessing flow through you.

Galatians 6:7–10 — Do good while God gives you the opportunity.

John 13:34–35 — Let your love prove that you belong to Jesus.

1. RECOGNIZE THE BLESSING

Scripture: Philippians 1:3–5

Don’t let somebody’s absence teach you what their presence was trying to show you.

Paul’s gratitude for the Philippians was rooted in their faithful partnership in the Gospel.
Koinonia means fellowship, participation, and shared partnership.
Familiarity can make extraordinary grace look ordinary.
Christian maturity recognizes God’s grace working through people while they are still present.

2. BE THE BLESSING

Scripture: Matthew 5:13–16

Stop asking only, “Who will bless me?” Ask, “Who is God trying to bless through me?”

Jesus says, “You are” salt and light: identity comes before activity.
Good works are not about drawing attention to us; they should direct glory to the Father.
A thermometer only reports the atmosphere; a thermostat helps change it.
Do not merely describe darkness—bring the light of Christ into it.

3. DO IT WHILE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY

Scripture: Galatians 6:7–10

Don’t let pride make you miss an opportunity that love is giving you.

Paul calls Spirit-led believers to keep doing good and not grow weary.
Opportunity requires response; obedience cannot always be rescheduled.
“Later” can become a spiritual excuse: call later, forgive later, serve later, obey later.
Sometimes we do not need another revelation—we need to obey what God has already shown us.

LIFE APPLICATION

Who do I need to call, encourage, thank, forgive, or serve?
What act of obedience have I been postponing?
What can I do today while the opportunity is still open?

4. LEAVE EVIDENCE

Scripture: Acts 9:36–42

I don’t just want to leave memories. I want to leave evidence.

Luke identifies Tabitha first as a disciple, then shows what her discipleship produced.
The widows could point to tangible evidence of her service—the garments she had made.
Her funeral had exhibits: her life had gotten into somebody else’s life.
Kingdom evidence is not limited to titles, crowds, buildings, or possessions.
Faithfulness may look like one person becoming stronger because God assigned you to love them well.

ASK YOURSELF

If my life had an exhibit, what could somebody put on the table?
Who is stronger, wiser, encouraged, helped, or closer to Jesus because I was here?
What evidence do I want to leave in another person this year?

HER FUNERAL HAD EXHIBITS.

LET THE EVIDENCE POINT BEYOND YOU

5. MAKE SURE THE EVIDENCE POINTS TO JESUS

Scripture: John 13:34–35

Stop exhausting yourself trying to convince everybody that you are a blessing. Live like the person God called you to be.

Jesus gives this command in the shadow of betrayal and the cross.
The standard is not, “Love people when they appreciate you,” but, “As I have loved you.”
Our love is supposed to become visible evidence that we are His disciples.
Being misunderstood does not automatically make us right; being appreciated does not automatically make us righteous.
The measurement is Christ: can people recognize Jesus by the way I live?

6. WHEN I’M GONE, FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE TO JESUS

Scripture: Acts 9:42; John 13:35

I don’t just want to be remembered. I want Jesus to be remembered because I was here.

Every earthly assignment eventually ends: every room, role, season, and responsibility changes.
The goal is not merely, “Remember me,” but, “Let what you remember about me lead you back to Jesus.”
After Tabitha’s restoration, the news spread and many believed in the Lord.
The evidence ultimately pointed beyond Tabitha and beyond Peter—to Jesus.
If I encouraged you, helped you, preached to you, prayed for you, or served you, follow the evidence to Jesus.

THE CLOSING QUESTION

WHAT WILL BE LEFT IN THE ROOM AFTER YOU LEAVE?

Will wounds, bitterness, confusion, and recovery from our actions remain?
Or will faith, love, wisdom, encouragement, strength, and evidence of Jesus remain?
Legacy is being written while we are living.
Every conversation, apology, act of service, prayer, sacrifice, and act of integrity is writing it.

If you do not like the evidence your life would leave today—thank God you are still here.

THE WHOLE WEEK

Listen. Live it. Leave evidence.

THE SIX MOVEMENTS

MONDAY — RECOGNIZE IT: See God’s grace in people.
TUESDAY — BECOME IT: Let God’s grace flow through you.
WEDNESDAY — DO IT NOW: Do not postpone Spirit-led obedience.
THURSDAY — LEAVE EVIDENCE: Let discipleship produce something tangible.
FRIDAY — POINT TO JESUS: Let your life ultimately glorify Christ.
SUNDAY — FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE: Let what remains after you point people back to Jesus.

MY RESPONSE THIS WEEK

RECOGNIZE — One person I need to appreciate while they are still present:

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BECOME — One person God is calling me to intentionally bless:

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ACT — One act of love, forgiveness, service, or obedience I will stop postponing:

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EVIDENCE — One tangible deposit I want to leave in another person:

____________________________________________________________

JESUS — One way my life can make Christ more visible this week:

____________________________________________________________

LEGACY — If my assignment ended today, what do I want the evidence to say?

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KEY LINES TO REMEMBER

Don’t let somebody’s absence teach you what their presence was trying to show you.
Stop asking only, “Who will bless me?” Ask, “Who is God trying to bless through me?”
Don’t let pride make you miss an opportunity that love is giving you.
I don’t just want to leave memories. I want to leave evidence.
Live so people can recognize Jesus by the way you love.
I don’t just want to be remembered. I want Jesus to be remembered because I was here.