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?

Freed to Serve

April 28, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:11-17 This is the beginning of a section addressing how God's people now function in this world. It begins with aliens and exiles and continues with servants, wives, husbands, and finally, all of you. 1.) Our identity defines our actions. We are sojourners and exiles (temporary, passing through, not at home) We have a heavenly citizenship Actions We abstain from the passions of the flesh Keep conduct among the Gentiles honorable (our conduct is for the benefit of other people) Honorable conduct wins souls… sojourners, exiles, and soul winners “Peter’s point is that believers’ behavior creates a context in which people will listen to God’s word. He is not teaching that ‘good deeds’ in themselves convert unbelievers, but they establish an environment for the Gospel-word to do so.” -Barnett 2.) Our identity defines our expectations (Unbelievers will respond to honorable conduct in 1 of 2 ways) Some will speak evil against us as though we are evildoers Some will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation 3.) Our identity defines our view of authority (Does anyone here ever just want to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it? That’s why laws exist) Be subject to every human institution (for the Lord's sake) This includes governors and emperors (no distinction between good/bad) The will of God... by doing good, we silence the ignorance of foolish people 4.) Our identity defines our view of freedom Don't use freedom as a cover-up for evil We are freed to serve God Honor, Love, and Fear Discipleship Questions: 1.)Why is it so important to understand our identity before talking about our behavior? 2.) How might this reality impact your parenting? For real, what are 3 ways that you can apply that this week? 3.) How is good conduct a form of evangelism? 4.) What do these verses say that we can expect from others? 5.) How can we honor a government that isn't always honorable? Seriously, what are 5 things we should immediately stop doing and 5 things we should immediately start doing? 6.) What are some tangible ways to honor others? Love the brotherhood? Fear God? Honor the Emperor? 7.) Should we fear the Emperor?

Cornerstone

April 22, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:4-10 Everyone must accept or reject Jesus. He is the cornerstone. We choose to accept Him as the foundation of our lives or toss the truth aside. When we come to Jesus… We become part of His People 1 Pe 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The cornerstone is The New Temple. From this we learn that following Christ entails joining his community, the church…The freelance Christian, who follows Jesus but is too good, too busy, or too self-sufficient for the church, is a walking contradiction. -Daniel M. Doriani We join a royal, holy, priesthood 1 Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Because of who Jesus makes us. We receive God’s mercy Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms….Now repentance is no fun at all. It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means undergoing a kind of death. Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Discipleship Questions: Why is it impossible to be neutral about Jesus? Why do you believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God? Do you ever have doubts about this? If yes, what are they? According to 1 Peter 2:9, who are we after we come to Christ? Why does Paul say (in 1 Corinthians) that if Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain?

Born Again

April 16, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:2-3 Why do our souls ache for certainty? We are so eager for certainty that we will look for it in all the wrong places. - Certainty in our Finances [show slide from news] - Certainty in our Jobs [Acts 17:24-27] - Certainty in our Health [Covid] - Certainty in our Abilities [Ecclesiastes 3:11 “God has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”] “Things that have never happened before are happening every day.” -Morgan Housel In these verses, God gives us what our souls ache for! 1.) You must be born again of imperishable seed - We have all been born of perishable seed o Impure souls o Disobedient to truth o Unloving insincerity toward others o Lack of loving effort o Impure hearts - We are withering grass and falling flowers - The imperishable seed is the living and abiding Word of God o Does not wither o Does not fall o Does not let us down o It remains forever o It MUST BE PREACHED! But still, how can we be certain that we have been born again? 2.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your relationships When your relationship with God changes, God changes your relationships! - Sincere brotherly love - Love earnestly - Put away… o Malice o Deceit o Hypocrisy o Envy o All Slander 3.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your appetite for God’s Word - Like newborn infants - Long for the pure spiritual milk Discipleship Questions: 1.) Where are some unhealthy places where you look for certainty? 2.) Why do you do that? 3.) What were some evidences of your perishable seed before you came to Christ? Any of that still lingering that needs to be repented from? 4.) Why does Peter call the Word of God the imperishable seed? 5.) In light of the text, how would you describe being "born again" to a 5-year-old? 6.) How has imperishable hope proven itself in your relationships? OR How might it if you lean into loving others earnestly? 7.) Why does Peter tell us that hope will be seen in our appetite for God's Word?
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