Obscure Significance

Lisel Cain • March 7, 2025

We have entered a time that often measures impact by visibility. It's easy to assume that those with the largest followings, most books sold, or the most downloaded sermons are the ones God is using most profoundly. We celebrate the Christian celebrities, well-known pastors, and the latest podcasters. But what about the ones whose wisdom will never be published, whose words will not be trending, and whose voices will not be spoken beyond the walls of their local church? What about the mother who shows up each week in the nursery to rock a baby to sleep? The man who faithfully sets up chairs before anyone else arrives? The widow who quietly intercedes for the next generation?


Their work may seem obscure and seemingly insignificant, but in God’s kingdom, nothing done in faithfulness goes unnoticed.


A Kingdom Built on the Ordinary

Throughout scripture God has given us stories of ordinary people playing significant roles in His story. It is the unseen and the overlooked that He spent much of His ministry highlighting. When Jesus described the kingdom of heaven, He compared it to a mustard seed—small, seemingly ordinary and insignificant, yet capable of great growth (Matthew 13:31-32). When He talked of the widow who gave two small coins, He commended her offering as greater than all the rest (Mark 12:41-44). In His final days on Earth, Jesus chose not to be served, but to serve by washing His disciples’ feet, showing that true greatness is found in serving (John 13:12-17).


The kingdom of God is not built solely with those who seemingly have the most influence; it is upheld by the faithfulness of the ordinary. 


The Hidden Glory of Faithful Service

The Bible refers to the church as a body, and every part plays an important function (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). The beauty of God’s church is that He has generously gifted each of us with a unique role, and He does not consider one less significant than the other. While some are called to preach on a stage, others are called to prepare the coffee, mentor students, or pursue their community. Some will disciple thousands, while others will disciple one. Some will write books, and some will write letters of encouragement to those seated next to them.

What we do in secret (Matthew 6), God sees. What we consider small, God magnifies. And what seems obscure to us is significant in His eyes. At the end of our lives, the goal is not to have the most followers, the most influence, or the most recognition. The goal is to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).


Wisdom Overlooked & Unseen

Our tendency to elevate celebrity Christians has caused us to overlook the community God has given us within the church. We are often quick to turn to a Christian podcast or grab the latest self-help book than to reach out to someone in our own church body. The husband who ensures discipleship is at the forefront of his home or the woman who selflessly serves her family are equally rich in biblical wisdom. We often forget that throughout Scripture, knowledge of God was passed down through seemingly ordinary people—Hannah's faith (1 Samuel 1:27-28), Jeremiah's doubt (Jeremiah 1:7-8), and the disciples' passion to spread the Gospel shaped generations to love the Lord.

How much deeper and richer would our church community be if we recognized the wealth of knowledge and love for God present among us? We would see that merit in the faith is not measured by accolades or the name, size, and ministry opportunities of your church. Instead, we would experience the fullness of God’s design for the church. A people pursuing and bearing one another. 


Resisting the Pull of Recognition

It’s tempting to believe that influence equals impact. But Jesus Himself never sought a platform—He withdrew to solitary places, poured into a small group of disciples, and often told people not to speak of His miracles. He wasn’t interested in building a personal brand; He was interested in building the kingdom of God.

When we get caught up in recognition, we miss the quiet ways God is working through us. The mother raising her children to love Jesus is advancing the kingdom. The greeter welcoming people with care is embodying Christ’s love. The one in steadfast prayer is shaking the heavens. 


Faithfulness in the Obscurity

So to the unseen servants of the church: You are significant. Your faithfulness matters. Even if no one acknowledges your work, heaven does. To the one idolizing the celebrity: God can meet you in the ordinary. His wisdom can reach you in the gentle comfort of a neighbor. Seek those God has placed around you. 


The kingdom of God is being built through the obscure and significant hands of His people.




This blog post was written in light of Pastor Ky Martin's sermon on Romans 16:1-6, What's In A Name?

Arm Yourselves

June 11, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:1-6 Prepare to suffer Is. 50:6-8a I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. 7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. The martial language indicates that discipline and grit are needed to live the Christian life, particularly in view of the suffering believers encounter. -Thomas R. Schreiner Some people won’t like you if you follow Jesus When a culture abandons biblical standards, when extramarital sex, cohabitation, and birth outside of marriage become normal, people attack the church for its moral snobbery and judgmentalism. Peter warns us that if we do take a stand, we need to expect slander, not applause. -Daniel M. Dorian This is one of the hardest things a new Christian has to face. Your friends liked you because you shared in “the same flood of debauchery.” It seemed great fun at times, but then you came to embrace Christ… But your friends have not… They will be surprised when you say “No.” -Juan Sanchez. Keep an eternal perspective Our outcome is glorious Suffering is good for us Let’s remember that suffering accomplishes God’s purposes. It exposes what or whom we are trusting (1 Peter 1:6–7). - Juan Sanchez Ecc. 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Discipleship Questions: Verse 1 tell us to arm ourselves by thinking as Christ did about suffering. How did Christ arm himself for and against sufferings? What does it look like for us to do that? Have you ever lost friendships (or had them change) because you were following Jesus? Do you fear that we (or our kids) will experience greater persecution in the future? If yes, how should we handle that fear?

I Believe That We Will Win

June 3, 2025
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:18-22 Jesus suffered and died in order to bring us to God Jesus conquered death by his resurrection “A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.” —Martin Luther Problem #1 - he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison —Jesus preached through Noah to those who lived at that time (1 Peter 1:10–12) —Jesus proclaimed His victory to evil angels (see Genesis 6:1-4) Problem #2 - baptism now saves you —Scripture is clear - we are saved by grace not works —baptism pictures our salvation from God’s judgment through the resurrection of Christ “The waters of baptism, like the waters of the flood, demonstrate that destruction is at hand, but believers are rescued from these waters in that they are baptized with Christ, who has also emerged from the waters of death through his resurrection. Just as Noah was delivered through the stormy waters of the flood, believers have been saved through the stormy waters of baptism by virtue of Christ’s triumph over death.” —Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude —in baptism we are appealing to God for a good conscience "This appeal is an act of the heart looking away from itself and from all human instruments and calling on God, appealing to God, for grace to save.” —John Piper —in baptism we are pledging to God to live in a manner worthy of the gospel Jesus ascended to heaven and now reigns over everything “We can face suffering as Christians with confidence rather than panic, and hope rather than despair, because the road marked with Christian suffering is, no matter what its twists and turns are, the road to vindication and glory. The God who vindicated Jesus will vindicate you, and he will sustain your faith until that day.” –Juan R. Sanchez, 1 Peter For You Discipleship Questions: How does Jesus’ death and resurrection encourage us when we suffer? Why did we need Jesus to suffer and die to bring us to God? How does Jesus’ victory over death give us eternal hope? What are your thoughts regarding some of the problems in this passage? How does what Peter says about baptism elevate the importance of baptism? When were you baptized and how does this passage inform your understanding of baptism? How does knowing our victory is secured help us with all the things this life throws at us?

Who Can Be Against Us?

May 27, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:13-17 Nobody can (truly) hurt Christians Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Rom. 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? The train of thought is as follows: “No one will be able to harm believers on the future day if they are zealous for good” (v. 13). Indeed, even present suffering is not a sign of punishment but of blessing both now and especially in the future, on the day when God rewards his people with eternal life. -Thomas R. Schreiner Honoring Christ Erases Fear Share your faith with strength and gentleness Embrace balance Be prepared to share The truth of the gospel is a public truth that can be defended in the public arena. This does not mean, of course, that every Christian is to be a highly skilled apologist for the faith. It does mean that every believer should grasp the essentials of the faith and should have the ability to explain to others why they think the Christian faith is true. -Thomas R. Schreiner Be prepared to suffer “I’ve spent a number of years in India and Africa where I found much righteous endeavor undertaken by Christians of all denominations; but I never, as it happens, came across a hospital or orphanage run by the Fabian Society [a British socialist organization], or a humanist leper colony.” -Malcolm Muggeridge Be bold! We will likely suffer as Christians in this world, but that suffering is slight and temporary compared to the eternal inheritance that awaits us. The worst thing that can happen to us is that we die and receive our promised inheritance. Can you imagine how emboldened Christians would be if we only believed what Peter is saying? -Juan R. Sanchez Discipleship Questions: Does the fact that nobody can (truly) harm us comfort you? What would change if we lived like we really believe that? Are you a more confident person as someone who knows Christ? Does your security in Christ embolden you to take some risks in life, knowing that the worst that could happen is death? How equipped / prepared are you to give a reason for the hope that you have? What would grow your confidence and competence in that? Have you considered joining Michael Clark one day for evangelism at the harbor? Well….you should….
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