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City of Light Church
Sermon Notes: 9.20.2026 From Nothing To Now
Speaker: Brian Mckee
Locations & Times
City of Light Church
6725 W Burleigh St, Milwaukee, WI 53210, USA
Sunday 9:20 AM
This is not a "look how far we've come" service. This is a "look who brought us here" service.
“The LORD has helped us every step of the way.” – 1 Samuel 7:12 (NIRV)
Memory was something you built.
That's what we're doing today. Ten years isn't a nostalgia trip. It's a stone in the ground.
And this stone is about to declare three things to us — and every single one of them is going to ask something of you before we're done.
That's what we're doing today. Ten years isn't a nostalgia trip. It's a stone in the ground.
And this stone is about to declare three things to us — and every single one of them is going to ask something of you before we're done.
POINT 1: REMEMBER THE STONES
Your history is not your highlight reel — it's your foundation
Your history is not your highlight reel — it's your foundation
Hebrew Cultural Context — The Matzevah
These standing stones were called a matzevah in Hebrew — a memorial pillar.
These standing stones were called a matzevah in Hebrew — a memorial pillar.
If you don’t build the marker, the next generation loses the memory.
Anamnesis (ἀνάμνησις)
"This do in remembrance of me." – Luke 22:19 (KJV)
"This do in remembrance of me." – Luke 22:19 (KJV)
Anamnesis means to bring the past into active, present power.
It means to re-presence something so it works on you now, not just make you feel nostalgic about then.
It means to re-presence something so it works on you now, not just make you feel nostalgic about then.
Your Foundational Memories Shouldn’t Just Make You Feel, They Should Cause You To Move
Ebenezer isn't just a rock. It's a receipt.
Every testimony you have is proof God already showed up — which means the God of your past has already signed off on your future.
Every testimony you have is proof God already showed up — which means the God of your past has already signed off on your future.
POINT 2: GOD REDEEMS THE DRAFT
Your mess isn't your ending — it's God’s material
Your mess isn't your ending — it's God’s material
Hebrew Cultural Context — The Goel (Kinsman-Redeemer):
If a family lost their land, their name, their future — a near relative had both the right and the responsibility to buy it back, restore the name, and rebuild the lineage.
If a family lost their land, their name, their future — a near relative had both the right and the responsibility to buy it back, restore the name, and rebuild the lineage.
Redemption in Hebrew culture was never distant.
That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't redeem you from a distance. He became kin (Hebrews 2:11) so He'd have the right to redeem you.
That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't redeem you from a distance. He became kin (Hebrews 2:11) so He'd have the right to redeem you.
Synergei (συνεργεῖ) - Work Together: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." — Romans 8:28 (KJV)
Synergei means active, ongoing, intentional collaboration.
God isn't just watching your story from a distance and hoping it turns out fine. He is co-authoring it.
God isn't just watching your story from a distance and hoping it turns out fine. He is co-authoring it.
God doesn't dismiss chapters. He redeems them.
The Action Step:
The Action Step:
POINT 3: WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER — TOGETHER
We end where every good anniversary should end — not looking back, but looking forward, together.
"And Joshua said unto all the people... choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."— Joshua 24:15 (KJV)
"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." — Philippians 1:6 (KJV)
"And Joshua said unto all the people... choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."— Joshua 24:15 (KJV)
"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." — Philippians 1:6 (KJV)
Hebrew Cultural Context — Contract/Covenant Renewal:
Epiteleo (ἐπιτελέω) - Will Perform:
God isn't just the one who started your story. He is contractually, covenantally committed to finishing it.
Epiteleo (ἐπιτελέω) - Will Perform:
God isn't just the one who started your story. He is contractually, covenantally committed to finishing it.
A renewal doesn't work if half the cast shows up to watch instead of showing up to act.
Don't just watch the sequel. Be part of the cast.
The Action Step:
Don't just watch the sequel. Be part of the cast.
The Action Step:
You are not reading the end of this story. You are living in the middle of it — and God is still holding the pen.
1. Remember — write down and tell someone your Ebenezer this week.
2. Surrender — bring the chapter you've been trying to delete to the Redeemer who's able and willing to touch it.
3. Commit
2. Surrender — bring the chapter you've been trying to delete to the Redeemer who's able and willing to touch it.
3. Commit