Welcome to Trinity World Christian Center, where we strive to spread the love of Christ in all that we do. We are excited to have you join us in worship and fellowship.

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Series F3- Faith with Influence. Esther 4:1-14

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<ol><li>Welcome to Trinity! If we have any visitors today, know that we love you, we appreciate you, and we welcome you to remain in fellowship with us. Please fill out the information cards handed out by our ushers and thank you for considering us as your extended family today.&nbsp;</li><li>All those interested in being on the hospitality committee please see Sis. Dominique after church today.</li><li>Bible study groups remain activated. Please see one of our bible study leaders for information regarding when their in-person and virtual studies are taking place: see Evangelist Jenn, Pastor Henry, or Bishop Robert.</li><li>Intercessory prayer happens Fridays at 7PM.&nbsp;&nbsp;All are welcome to join the call. The prayer line number is <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-primary underline" href="tel:(339)%20207-8446">339-207-8446</a>.</li><li>Sunday, October 11, is Friends and Family Sunday. Please invite your friends and family now. Refreshments will be served after service.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-primary underline" href="https://sites.google.com/view/twcc-community-announcements/trunk-n-treatz">Trunk A Treatz- October 31, 2026 6pm-8pm at TWCC. We still need more “trunk participants”. See Sis. Jackie Cooper after service today if you would like to participate.</a></li><li>Sister Kathy has been volunteering to clean the church weekly. We need someone immediately to take over this service. Please see Sis. Kathy today after service.</li></ol><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-primary underline" href="http://service.New">New</a> Giving Options AvailableWe are pleased to announce that new methods of giving are now available!You can conveniently make your offering using Cash App, Google Pay, or a debt/credit card. Please use the link provided on the Tithe and Offering Online card to access these new giving options.The option to give through The Covenant portal is still available using the Covenant Church Giving link.Thank you for your continued generosity and faithful support of our church and its ministries!

SEASONS OF FAITH“Whether Great or Little, It’s All in Your Understanding”Matthew 14:14–32&nbsp;Over the last three weeks, our conversation has taken us through different seasons of faith. We have discovered that faith is not static, it grows, develops, is tested, and matures as our relationship with God deepens. We began with the understanding that “The Movement of My Faith Is Tied to My Relationship With God.” Faith moves when our relationship with God moves deeper. We then explored “Faith: A Season of Understanding—Faith…Take a Licking and Keep on Ticking,” reminding us that faith is more than what we hear; faith must be understood, received, and acted upon. From Matthew 25:14–30, we learned that God gives us something to work with, but understanding determines what we do with what God has placed in our hands. Last week, we focused on “Faith Is the Source of Our Strength.” We were reminded that hearing the Word is not enough. The seed must be understood in order to produce fruit. Faith becomes strength when what we have heard about God becomes something we understand, trust, and live. Now Matthew 14:14–32 brings those lessons together. The disciples are placed in a situation where what they see appears greater than what they understand. There are thousands of hungry people, only five loaves and two fish, a storm on the sea, and then Jesus walking on the water. The question is not simply, “How much faith do you have?” The deeper question is, “What do you understand about the Jesus in whom you have placed your faith?” Sometimes we call our faith “little” when the real issue is that our understanding of God’s power, presence, and purpose is still developing. Faith may be great or little, but its effectiveness is connected to our understanding of who God is, what God can do, and what God has placed in our hands.&nbsp;FAITH UNDERSTANDS THAT GOD CAN USE WHAT YOU HAVE: (Matthew 14:16–18)Jesus tells the disciples, “They need not depart; give them something to eat.” The disciples looked at the situation through the limitations of what they possessed: five loaves and two fish. But Jesus was teaching them that what you have may look insufficient in your hands, but it becomes sufficient when placed in God’s hands. The miracle begins when the disciples stop focusing on what they don’t have and bring to Jesus what they do have. Faith does not deny limitations. Faith refuses to make limitations greater than God. The issue was never really the amount of food. The issue was whether they understood who was standing in front of them.&nbsp;Discussion Questionsa. What are some things we consider “too little” that God may be asking us to place in His hands?b. How does our understanding of God change the way we respond when what we have does not appear to be enough?&nbsp;FAITH UNDERSTANDS THAT JESUS IS PRESENT IN THE STORM: (Matthew 14:22–27)After feeding the multitude, Jesus sends the disciples into the boat while He goes to pray. The disciples find themselves in the middle of a storm.&nbsp; Notice something important: They were in the storm because they were obeying Jesus. Sometimes we assume that if we are doing God’s will, we should not experience storms. Matthew teaches us otherwise. The disciples were exactly where Jesus told them to be, yet the wind was against them. Then Jesus comes walking on the water. But because of fear and uncertainty, they do not recognize Him. They think He is a ghost. Jesus says: “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid”. Before Jesus changes the storm, He changes their understanding of who is in the storm with them. That is an important lesson for every season of faith: The presence of a storm does not mean the absence of God. Sometimes faith is not about understanding why the storm came. Faith is understanding who is with you while you are in it.&nbsp;Discussion Questionsa. Have you ever been in a season where you could not see what God was doing, but later realized that God was present all along?b. Why do you think storms can cause us to forget what we already know about God?&nbsp;FAITH UNDERSTANDS THAT YOU CANNOT WALK ON WHAT YOU ARE AFRAID TO TRUST:(Matthew 14:28–32)Peter says:” Lord, if it be you, bid me come unto you on the water.” “Jesus says one word: “Come.” Peter steps out of the boat. This is one of the most powerful demonstrations of faith in Scripture because Peter does something that cannot be explained by human ability. As long as Peter’s focus remains on Jesus, he walks on the water. But when he begins to focus on the wind and the waves, fear replaces faith, and he begins to sink. Peter’s problem was not that he had no faith. His problem was that his understanding shifted from the power of Jesus to the power of the storm. This brings us back to our theme: Whether great or little, it’s all in your understanding. Peter had enough faith to get out of the boat. But he had not yet developed enough understanding to keep his eyes on Jesus when the circumstances changed. Faith grows when our understanding grows.&nbsp;Discussion Questionsa. What are the “winds and waves” in life that can cause us to take our eyes off Jesus?b. What can we do to develop our understanding of God so that our faith remains strong when circumstances change?&nbsp;CONCLUSIONFAITH GROWS AS UNDERSTANDING GROWS. This is the lesson for our season of faith: Faith is not simply measured by how much faith we have. Faith is developed by how much we understand about the God in whom we believe. “Faith Cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”