In this sermon, Pastor Tim begins a new series on the seven letters to the churches in Revelation. He focuses on the first letter to the church in Ephesus, which was known for being active, determined, smart, and committed. Despite their many good qualities, Jesus had one complaint against them: they had left their first love. The pastor draws parallels between how our love for Jesus can grow cold over time, similar to how passion can fade in a marriage. He identifies nine warning signs of a cold heart, including worshiping less, doing more for God than being with God, becoming less sensitive to God's presence, going through religious motions without emotion, complaining instead of celebrating, changing attendance patterns, losing passion for evangelism, caring more about human approval than God's, and no longer longing for God's presence. The solution Jesus gives is to remember, repent, and return to the things done at first. The sermon concludes with communion, symbolizing this process of returning to our first love.

In this final sermon of the 'Made for More' series, the pastor emphasizes that God has created each person with a unique purpose and dream. The message focuses on how to discover and live out God's dream for our lives through four key steps: don't doubt, embrace God's promises, walk by faith, and launch out. The pastor explains that doubt limits our potential and causes us to miss God's best, while comparison and past failures are major doubt influencers that hold us back.

The sermon encourages listeners to trust God completely, embrace His promises found in Scripture, and take steps of faith even when conditions aren't perfect. The pastor reminds the congregation that God can use ordinary, imperfect people to accomplish extraordinary things - even "infinitely more than we might ask or think." The message concludes with a call to action, inviting people to commit to specific steps toward fulfilling God's dream for their lives, whether that means inviting someone to church, serving, reconciling with someone, or pursuing a specific calling.

We were created with purpose, yet often trade our God-given identity for worldly pursuits. In Luke 5, Jesus transforms the disciples' empty fishing nets into an overwhelming catch, teaching us how to turn discouragement into opportunity. This transformation requires inviting Jesus into our situations, admitting our limitations, obeying His instructions even when they seem illogical, trusting Him completely, and seeing beyond material blessings to our true purpose. When we trust in ourselves, we become weak; when we trust in Jesus, we find strength to fulfill our calling of making an eternal difference.

In our faith journey, we often face moments of wanting to give up, but God calls us to run with endurance. To develop persistence, we must first remove distractions—including past guilt and resentment—that prevent us from running our unique race. Keeping our eyes on the eternal prize helps us maintain motivation when temporary rewards fade. Resisting discouragement is crucial; like learning to ride a bike, momentum helps us stay upright through wobbles. Finally, experiencing daily renewal through physical rest and spiritual connection with God provides the strength to continue when our own power isn't enough.

God has a specific 'more' for each of our lives, but sometimes we find ourselves in a waiting room where progress seems stalled. James 5 teaches us to be patient like farmers waiting for rain, knowing that patience is a mark of spiritual maturity. Waiting is especially difficult when life feels out of control, when we're aligned with God's will but facing opposition, or when experiencing painful circumstances. To wait well, remember that God remains in control, rewards patience, and is still writing your story. Wait expectantly, without complaining, and with confidence that while you're waiting, God is working behind the scenes toward His greater purpose.

God has designed each of us as His masterpiece with a purpose beyond our current circumstances. The key to unlocking this greater purpose is taking initiative—Spirit-led action in faith without waiting for perfect conditions. Using the CLEAR method (Carpe Diem, Let Go of Fear, Express Faith, Accept God's Grace, Respond with Your Next Step), we can move beyond comfort zones and into God's calling. Like Bartimaeus who seized his moment with Jesus, we must recognize divine appointments, overcome fear, publicly declare our faith, embrace God's grace, and take concrete action. Our best days aren't behind us—they're ahead, waiting for us to take initiative.

Each of us was created with unique gifts and talents for a greater purpose, yet we often trade these divine purposes for worldly offerings. Jesus promised we would do even greater works than He did, but many settle for less due to past hurts, complacency, or busyness. Building a foundation of faith is essential for pursuing the 'more' God has planned. Faith requires stepping out without knowing everything, trusting that even mustard seed-sized faith can move mountains when placed in a big God, and allowing that faith to propel us forward toward our divine purpose. God has already begun something new in your life that surpasses anything in your past.

The power of praise transcends our circumstances, serving as both our purpose and spiritual strength. Based on Psalm 150's call for everything with breath to praise the Lord, we're reminded that praise isn't dependent on feelings but on God's unchanging goodness. When we choose to praise despite difficulties, we exchange despair for a garment of praise that shifts our focus from problems to God's presence. As 1 Peter 2:9 affirms, we were created to declare God's praises, and making praise a consistent practice—even when it feels like a sacrifice—transforms our perspective and connects us more deeply to God.