Before time began, God chose you, not because you were good, but because He is good. In Ephesians 1, Pastor Brent shows that to be in Christ means you've been chosen, adopted, and set apart as holy, and that demands a faithful response of total surrender to Jesus in 2025.
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
Point 1 of 7
Ephesians answers two questions: what does it mean to be in Christ, and what does that demand of us?
Pastor Brent leans on commentator Kent Hughes to frame the whole book of Ephesians around this question, noting the first three chapters give rich theology (chosen, made alive, united as one) while the last three chapters apply it to daily life like marriage, family, and spiritual armor.
A story from life
The preacher's story of visiting his stepdad's office before proposing, thanking him for raising him as his own son despite not being his biological father
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
Point 2 of 7
God chose you before time began, not because of your goodness but because of His goodness.
Using the story of his stepdad choosing to be his father when he married his mother, Pastor Brent shows that God had us on His mind before creation. He lists things God did not choose us for (cute, smart, talented, gifted, even good) and lands on the truth that God chose us because it is in His nature, seeing all our flaws and still choosing us.
“he did not choose you because you were so cute”
— Pastor Brent Hatchett
“God did not choose you because of your goodness. God chose you because of his goodness”
— Pastor Brent Hatchett
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
Point 3 of 7
To be holy means to be set apart for a specific person and purpose.
Pastor Brent clarifies that holiness isn't about sinlessness or perfect performance, but about being set apart. He illustrates this with his dad's IBC root beer, which was reserved just for him, arguing that if a man can feel that way about a drink, God feels infinitely more that way about us.
Illustration
The stepdad's IBC root beer kept separate in the fridge — set apart for a specific person and purpose — used to illustrate the meaning of 'holy'
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
Point 4 of 7
Being a faithful follower means picking up a cross of obedience, giving Jesus total access rather than partial access.
He distinguishes fans from true followers, defining a faithful follower through Matthew 16:24 as one who denies self, picks up their cross, and follows Christ. He tells the story of a young man who thought a girlfriend he didn't like was his 'cross to carry' to clarify that the real cross is the daily choice of obedience, not giving God only part of your life.
A story from life
A young man after a sermon told the prayer team his girlfriend was 'the cross he was supposed to carry' — used to clarify what the cross of obedience actually means
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
Point 5 of 7
God does not practice cancel culture; He calls the very people the world would write off.
Pastor Brent points to David's adultery and murder and to Paul's past as a violent persecutor of the church (Saul) to show that neither was chosen for good behavior but because God is a good God. He argues if anyone should have been canceled it was Paul, yet God chose him to write two-thirds of the New Testament.
“Paul wasn't selected because he was a good guy. Paul was selected because God is a good God”
— Pastor Brent Hatchett
“we don't serve a God who cancels us, we serve a God who calls us”
— Pastor Brent Hatchett
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
Point 6 of 7
God's plan is to bring everything together under Christ's authority when He returns.
Working through Ephesians 1:9-10, Pastor Brent describes a coming theocracy where every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus is Lord, regardless of politics, race, or status, and all brokenness will be undone according to God's plan.
“if on that vision board and in the goals that you wrote down did not include you growing closer to Jesus, you might as well throw them all away”
— Pastor Brent Hatchett
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
Point 7 of 7
Real hope and power for 2025 are found only in Jesus, sealed by the Holy Spirit who guarantees our inheritance.
He contrasts the world's search for hope in things, circumstances, and public figures with the believer's hope anchored in Jesus, who never changes. He points to the same resurrection power that raised Christ and seated Him at God's right hand as available to believers now, urging people to grow in their relationship with the Holy Spirit rather than just chase New Year's goals.
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
Take it into your week
Let today be the day you surrender all to Him.
Application
Give Jesus total access, not partial access
Stop giving God only some parts of your life this year; pick up the cross of obedience daily and surrender every area to Him instead of picking and choosing when to follow.
Lean into the Holy Spirit like never before
In 2025, intentionally deepen your relationship with the Holy Spirit who lives in you to lead, guide, comfort, and correct you.
Put growing closer to Jesus above every other goal
Whatever is on your vision board or resolution list for 2025, make sure growing in knowledge of God is on it, or the rest is ultimately wasted.
Anchor your hope in Jesus alone
Stop looking for hope in people, circumstances, or public figures, and instead root your hope in Jesus, who never changes and never fails.
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI