Does What I Do Matter?

Because of You

Scripture References

• 1 Thessalonians 3:7
• 1 Thessalonians 3:9
• Acts 17

Overview

The message centers on a single conviction: every follower of Christ can be a catalyst for life-changing impact. Drawing from Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 3, Pastor Craig shows how the phrase “because of you” still echoes today through simple acts of service, generosity, and encouragement. Real-time stories from campuses, global missions, the YouVersion Bible App, and the Church Online Platform illustrate that God continually multiplies small faithfulness into eternal results. Listeners are invited to pray, “God, in light of what You’ve done, what would You have me do?”—and to step into the mission.

Main Points

“You have no idea how God might use you”

“You have no idea how God might use you—one word of encouragement, one act of service, one gift of generosity—to change someone’s life.”

• Pastor’s own salvation traces back to one Gideon handing him a free Bible in 1988.
• Theme sentence repeated throughout as the lens for the entire message.

Paul’s letter: encouragement that lasts (1 Thessalonians 3)

• Paul had been rushed out of Thessalonica (Acts 17) and later wondered if his ministry “mattered.”
• Reading the believers’ report, he writes: their steadfast faith brings him “great joy … because of you.”
• Takeaway: whenever we serve, give, pray, or witness, we seldom see the full ripple effect, yet God uses it.

Modern “because of you” stories

• Story: Amanda (Albany, NY)
  • Chronically ill young woman, angry and hopeless, messages the campus Facebook page “0.00001 % interested in church.”
  • Volunteer Linda listens, prays, and even visits her in the hospital; stranger Lesie later invites her in a waiting room.
  • Amanda attends, meets Christ, has flawless church attendance, and insists on being baptized even post-surgery—dunk-bucket style.
• Story: Monty (Midtown Tulsa, OK)
  • 17-year-old first-time attender battling anxiety, depression, and drug addiction.
  • Gives life to Christ at Switch, stays connected online through quarantine, celebrates six months of sobriety and baptism—243 drug-free days.
• Story: Lendy (Edmond, OK)
  • In a closet ready to end her life, hears God whisper, “I’m here and I love you.”
  • Begins attending, remembers hosts telling her, “We’re so glad you’re here,” and now serves on the Host Team radiating joy—even behind a mask.
• Global Story: Pastor Abraham, Palestine
  • Using Life.Church’s free Church Online Platform to stream services across the Middle East.
  • Testimonies: Husam (Syria) finds Christ after wife killed by ISIS; Amani (Egypt) escapes abuse, now leads discipleship group.

The measurable impact of generosity

• 2020 salvations at Life.Church physical locations & Church Online: 39,000.
• Giving: $27 million invested in 150+ local & global mission partners this year.
• YouVersion Bible App: 450 million installs, 1,500+ languages, opened 7.8 billion times in 2020; non-English usage up 52 %.
• Church Online Platform: grew from 3,000 to 45,000 churches since March; averaging 2,000 reported decisions for Christ every day.
• Emphasis: we don’t just give to the church; we give through the church.

Invitation to participate

• Followers of Christ are “heavenly ambassadors, kingdom representatives, bright lights.”
• Practical on-ramps: start serving, begin tithing, give an end-of-year offering, invite someone, encourage someone, share the Gospel.
• Guiding prayer: “God, in light of what You’ve done, what would You have me do?”

Call to salvation

• Come as you are—with doubts, addictions, shame.
• Jesus came for the sick; His death and resurrection provide forgiveness and new life.
• Many responded, typing “I’m giving my life to Jesus” and praying a surrender prayer.

Key Truths

• God often uses ordinary people and small acts to produce extraordinary, eternal outcomes.
• Faithfulness today can become someone else’s “because of you” tomorrow.
• Generosity is worship: we are blessed to be a blessing, giving through the church to the world.
• The church—not a building but a people—will prevail against darkness.
• Asking God for next steps positions us to partner in His ongoing mission.

Response

• Pray, “God, in light of what You’ve done, what would You have me do?” and listen.
• Start serving on a team, at church or online, to meet real people with real needs.
• Return the tithe and consider an additional offering to extend Gospel reach.
• Share one personal invitation or word of encouragement this week.
• Celebrate and testify to God’s faithfulness, fueling others’ faith.

Closing

Pastor Craig urged every listener to move from spectator to participant so that future stories of rescue will also read, “Because of you.”

“Because of you, people around the world will praise God.”

Prayer

The congregation asked God to fill them with joy in serving, to direct their next step of obedience, and to multiply every act of generosity so that more lives are transformed by Jesus.