Pastor Lucas Miles opens this message by welcoming the church into the new year and reframing the season of fresh starts through the lens of grace. While goals and resolutions can be helpful, he cautions against tying identity to performance, reminding believers that righteousness is found in Christ alone, not achievement. When condemnation comes, the believer’s response is to agree with the truth: we don’t have what it takes on our own, and that’s why we depend on Jesus.

Pastor Lucas then challenges the church to prioritize time in God’s Word, encouraging a renewed commitment to Scripture through the “Bible in 30 Days” challenge. He emphasizes that reading the Bible isn’t about earning God’s favor, but about being equipped to stand firm in a culture that increasingly pressures believers away from truth.

Continuing the Joseph series, Pastor Lucas walks verse-by-verse through Genesis 38, the story of Judah and Tamar, explaining that what appears to be an interruption actually reveals God’s faithfulness to preserve His covenant promises through imperfect people. He unpacks the cultural context of inheritance and levirate marriage, showing how this difficult passage sets the stage for the contrast between Judah’s compromise and Joseph’s integrity.

The message concludes with a personal call for the new year: don’t waste what God wants to birth in you. Pastor Lucas invites the church to begin 2026 with surrender, faith, and obedience—trusting that God is faithful to bring fruit through those who say, “Yes, Lord. Use me.”

Key Themes

Identity in Christ Over Performance

Grace Over Condemnation

The Power of Scripture to Equip Believers

Verse-by-Verse Teaching and Biblical Context

God’s Covenant Faithfulness Through Broken People

Judah and Tamar as Part of the Redemption Story

Contrast Between Judah’s Compromise and Joseph’s Integrity

A Call to Surrender and Spiritual Fruitfulness in 2026

Timestamps:

0:15 – Welcome & New Year perspective

2:15 – Time, seasons, and spiritual goals

4:45 – Identity in Christ | Responding to condemnation

6:15 – Call to Scripture | Bible in 30 days challenge

8:15 – Making time for God | Spiritual discipline and growth

10:15 – Trusting God with an unknown year

12:45 – Opening prayer for the new year

14:05 – Genesis 38 introduced | Judah and Tamar

16:15 – Judah’s family tragedy | Levirate marriage and inheritance

20:15 – Judah’s compromise | Tamar’s actions

24:15 – Exposure and repentance | “She is more righteous than I”

27:15 – Perez born | The Messianic lineage continues

30:15 – The sin of Onan | Legacy, inheritance, and covenant faithfulness

34:15 – Kinsman redeemer | Ruth, Boaz, and fulfillment in Christ

38:15 – Application | What is God birthing in you?

41:15 – Don’t waste the seed | Living with purpose

44:15 – Closing prayer & blessing

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