Sunday Morning 8:00am Service

Feb 15, 2026

Sun, Feb 15, ‘26 - AM Services

“Happy, Yet Hated” - Dr. Doug Melton

Luke 6:22-23

If you truly follow Christ, dying to yourself, living under the Lordship of Christ, you will find yourself increasingly living in direct opposition to the world. Persecution, for the follower of Christ, is a reality.

1. Thank the Lord for guilt by association because through it, you also have life by association.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know Him who sent me.“

John 15:18–21

makarios - supremely blessed

“For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.“

Romans 6:5

2. The blessing of being excluded.

“At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.“

2 Timothy 4:16–18

3. Just because the world overwhelmingly loves you and accepts you doesn’t mean you’re on the right path.

“If you can find something everyone agrees on, it’s wrong.”

Mo Udall

4. Live with an eternal perspective.

Conclusion:

“Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.“

Acts 5:41