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Christian Life Church
February 22, 2026 at 9am & 11am
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:30 AM
THE BOOK OF ACTS FEBRUARY 22, 2026
LEAVING & LATCHING
SCRIPTURE
Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these accusations true?” This was Stephen’s reply: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran. God told him, ‘Leave your native land and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’ So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran until his father died. Then God brought him here to the land where you now live. “But God gave him no inheritance here, not even one square foot of land. God did promise, however, that eventually the whole land would belong to Abraham and his descendants—even though he had no children yet.” Acts 7:1-7
PLACES GOD WILL ALWAYS CALL YOU TO LEAVE
God will always call you to leave the old life.
God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4
God will always call you to leave sin.
For this is the will of God, your sanctification 1 Thessalonians 4:3
PLACES GOD WILL NEVER CALL YOU TO LEAVE
God will never call you to leave the faith.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. Hebrews 10:23
God will never call you to disobey the Bible.
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.” John 14:23
God will never call you to leave marriage without cause.
“What God has joined together, let no man separate.” Mark 10:9
God will never call you to abandon responsibilities.
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8
PLACES GOD MAY CALL YOU TO LEAVE
God may call you to leave what is known for what is unknown.
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3
1/ Do I have a clear conscience about this?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6
We cannot always trust our heart, so confirmation is necessary on multiple levels.
2/ Do I sense the Holy Spirit is confirming this?
3/ Is this supported by the Word of God and the ways of God?
When we go to the Bible, our feelings are confronted with truth.
To know the will of God, we must stay in the word of God.
4/ Do my spiritually minded peers support this?
A man of understanding will acquire wise counsel. Proverbs 1:5
5/ Do my spiritual leaders support this?
ABRAHAM’S EXAMPLE
In the beginning, God called Abraham and he took a step of faith.
So Abram left. Genesis 12:4
“This is faith… to move at the command of God without seeing the destination, trusting the One who calls.” John Chrysostom
There is a rarity of clarity in the Christian life. Remember the 80/20 Rule!
Along the way, God provided for Abraham.
Then Pharoah gave Abram many gifts because of Sarai—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. Genesis 12:16
Along the way, Abraham encountered conflict.
Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us.” Gen 13:8Along the way, God brought moments of comfort to Abraham.
Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abraham in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” Genesis 15:1
Along the way, God gave Abraham tokens of the promise.
The Lord said to Abram “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.” Genesis 13:14
Along the way, Abraham focused on the Promise Giver above the promise.
This was the same place where Abram had built the altar, and there he worshiped the Lord again. Genesis 13:4
Remember the specific promises of God.
Remember the general promises of God.
“This is My command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
My God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7
I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. Philippians 1:6
We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:28
Remember God!
In the end, Abraham realized that blessing follows obedience.
“And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed Me.” Genesis 22:18
In the future, Abraham’s story would be told again and again.
“’Abraham believed God.’” Romans 4:3
LEAVING & LATCHING
SCRIPTURE
Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these accusations true?” This was Stephen’s reply: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran. God told him, ‘Leave your native land and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’ So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran until his father died. Then God brought him here to the land where you now live. “But God gave him no inheritance here, not even one square foot of land. God did promise, however, that eventually the whole land would belong to Abraham and his descendants—even though he had no children yet.” Acts 7:1-7
PLACES GOD WILL ALWAYS CALL YOU TO LEAVE
God will always call you to leave the old life.
God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4
God will always call you to leave sin.
For this is the will of God, your sanctification 1 Thessalonians 4:3
PLACES GOD WILL NEVER CALL YOU TO LEAVE
God will never call you to leave the faith.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. Hebrews 10:23
God will never call you to disobey the Bible.
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.” John 14:23
God will never call you to leave marriage without cause.
“What God has joined together, let no man separate.” Mark 10:9
God will never call you to abandon responsibilities.
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8
PLACES GOD MAY CALL YOU TO LEAVE
God may call you to leave what is known for what is unknown.
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3
1/ Do I have a clear conscience about this?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6
We cannot always trust our heart, so confirmation is necessary on multiple levels.
2/ Do I sense the Holy Spirit is confirming this?
3/ Is this supported by the Word of God and the ways of God?
When we go to the Bible, our feelings are confronted with truth.
To know the will of God, we must stay in the word of God.
4/ Do my spiritually minded peers support this?
A man of understanding will acquire wise counsel. Proverbs 1:5
5/ Do my spiritual leaders support this?
ABRAHAM’S EXAMPLE
In the beginning, God called Abraham and he took a step of faith.
So Abram left. Genesis 12:4
“This is faith… to move at the command of God without seeing the destination, trusting the One who calls.” John Chrysostom
There is a rarity of clarity in the Christian life. Remember the 80/20 Rule!
Along the way, God provided for Abraham.
Then Pharoah gave Abram many gifts because of Sarai—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. Genesis 12:16
Along the way, Abraham encountered conflict.
Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us.” Gen 13:8Along the way, God brought moments of comfort to Abraham.
Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abraham in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” Genesis 15:1
Along the way, God gave Abraham tokens of the promise.
The Lord said to Abram “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.” Genesis 13:14
Along the way, Abraham focused on the Promise Giver above the promise.
This was the same place where Abram had built the altar, and there he worshiped the Lord again. Genesis 13:4
Remember the specific promises of God.
Remember the general promises of God.
“This is My command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
My God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7
I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. Philippians 1:6
We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:28
Remember God!
In the end, Abraham realized that blessing follows obedience.
“And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed Me.” Genesis 22:18
In the future, Abraham’s story would be told again and again.
“’Abraham believed God.’” Romans 4:3