In this sermon, Pastor Dairry Walker preaches about how who you become starts with who you are in Christ. He invites students, parents, and every believer to seek God first and rediscover identity and purpose in Him. He describes how Scripture lifts our hope through real stories: a woman healed by a determined touch, a father who held onto belief when the worst news arrived, and a soldier who trusted Jesus’ word from a distance.

Read the summarized highlights of the sermon below, listen to the full sermon here, or watch it here.

Sermon Highlights

Opening Focus: Identity Before Ambition

Pastor Walker begins by reframing the familiar childhood question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” with a deeper one: “Who are you?” Discovering identity in God clarifies calling and direction. Citing Matthew 6:33, he urges young people to “Seek ye first the kingdom of God … and all these things shall be added unto you,” explaining that as we learn who God is, “He begins to reveal to you who you are … why He gave you those gifts and those talents.”

A Word to Parents: Steward What You See

The pastor encourages parents to pay close attention to their children’s emerging gifts and help cultivate them. He shares a story about his daughter who, from an early age, showed entrepreneurial instincts — “she had a business plan all lined out” — and later thrived in management and business. The take-home: “Parents, pay attention to your children. Pay attention to their gifts.”

Core Lesson: Hope Is Vital, Not Optional

From Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,” Pastor Walker argues that hope is the target faith attaches to, adding “I came here to get your hopes up.”

“You can have all the faith in the world,” he warns, “but if you don’t have hope, faith has nothing to attach itself to.”

He uses Romans 15:4 to ground this in Scripture: “Through patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope.” This emphasizes that preaching isn’t a mere matter of opinion but a way in which the Bible is meant to “comfort you … that you might have hope.”

Lesson From the Woman With the Issue of Blood (Mark 5:21-34)

The preacher walks through the story to show how faith connects to hope through confession. The woman’s faith is so great that her inner confession is: “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.” Jesus confirms this, saying, “Daughter, your faith has made you whole.”

Pastor Walker uses this story to illustrate that what you say matters. “What are you saying when you walk up to the altar? … What comes from the heart touches the heart.”

Balanced Wisdom About Doctors and Healing

The pastor cautions against false dichotomies: Both medical care and faith are instrumental to healing, and seeking medical care can be done in faith. He tells a personal story of how he was prompted by the Holy Spirit to go to the hospital for appendicitis, interpreting the divine message as “You’re too important to your family” not to.

Accordingly, he urges: “Don’t be afraid of the doctors … go in faith.” Doctors “are in the same business God is in … there’s just one difference: They’re practicing.”

Speaking to the Mountain: Your Words and Desires (Mark 11:23-24)

He ties the woman’s confession to Jesus’ teaching as shown through Mark 11:23: He who believes “shall not doubt in his heart … he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Mark 11:24 reiterates this: “What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.” Pastor Walker’s practical counsel in this regard is to align your speech with your godly desires, not with fear or cynicism.

Jairus: Staying in Faith When Confronted With Bad News (Mark 5:35-43)

As Jairus hears that his daughter has died, Jesus answers, “Be not afraid, only believe.” The pastor urges that when the faithful encounter thoughts of unbelief, they should “shut them off.” He illustrates with a birth story where a prayer partner’s doubtful words were firmly rejected: “That’s not what I’m believing.”

Pastor Walker reminds listeners that the story ends with Jesus raising the 12-year-old girl from the dead, reinforcing that hope makes room for God’s power.

The Centurion’s Great Faith (Luke 7:1-10)

Not feeling worthy to host Jesus, the centurion, anxious to help his servant, sends word to Jesus: “Say a word, and my servant shall be healed.”

The pastor notes that Jesus “marveled” at this faith, encouraging Christians to come boldly for grace even when they feel unworthy. He remarks: “God is in the business of giving us what we don’t deserve.”

Everyday Applications

Pastor Walker offers the congregation some practical tips for keeping their faith and hope strong:

• Praying for relationships. Don’t pray manipulatively. Pray for your spouse’s good and for peace in the home. “It’s difficult to be at odds with someone you are earnestly praying for.”
  

• Coping with bad news. Respond first with faith, not fear: “Be not afraid, only believe.”
  

• Guard your confession of faith. Replace thoughts and phrases such as “I hope so” with Scripture-shaped speech that aligns with godly desires.

Closing Benediction: The God of Hope

The sermon ends with Romans 15:13, in which Jesus blesses the faithful, saying, “Now the God of hope fills you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.” The final appeal invites those who haven’t committed to Christ to respond, underscoring that hope and faith begin with knowing Jesus.

Tune Into the Word With Word of Life Church

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