Saturday, October 17, 2026

Foundations Class Weekly October 17 2026

Our Framework
We GATHER in fellowship · We GIVE in service and generosity · We GROW in God’s Word · We SHARE the Good News of Jesus.
This Sunday  |  October 18, 2026
Faith in the Impossible
Sarah  |  Hebrews 11:11–12  |  Taught by Carol Pierce
Faith in the Impossible – Sarah

By faith, Sarah — barren and long past the age of childbearing — received power to conceive. She did not lean on her circumstances; she leaned on the character of the One who promised. Her faith had a single anchor: she considered him faithful who had promised.

This Sunday, Carol Pierce continues our Faith Beyond Sight series with the faith of Sarah. When every earthly reason said impossible, Sarah’s faith said otherwise — and from one man, Abraham, “as good as dead,” came descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

Carol Pierce teaching in the Foundations Class
Carol Pierce teaching in the Foundations Class
“By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.”
HEBREWS 11:11

Come ready to consider: what impossible thing is God asking you to trust him for — and will you judge him faithful?


Join us this Sunday
October 18, 10:45 AM, Choir Rehearsal Room. Come a few minutes early and bring your Bible.
Last Sunday  |  October 11, 2026
The Call and the Pilgrimage
Abraham  |  Hebrews 11:8–10  |  Taught by Bill Wright

Last Sunday Bill Wright opened Abraham’s portrait in our Faith Beyond Sight series with a plain question: what does faith actually do? From Hebrews 11:8–10, he drew five lessons.

1. Faith leaves the comfort zone. Abraham lived in Ur — at the Tigris-Euphrates crossroads, the “cradle of civilization,” wealthy, able to avail himself of anything. God calling him out was like being told to leave Paris for Laredo. Bill kept bringing it home: how would you pitch that to your wife? Abraham was a real man with a family, fears, and roots — not a stained-glass figure.

2. Faith knows no age limits. “God does not have a retirement plan.” Abraham was 75 when God called him. Caleb was 85 when he said, “Give me the mountains” — the Anakim, the giants — “Bring on the big guys.” Colonel Sanders, Sam Walton, Toni Morrison, Grandma Moses: all late bloomers. At this season of life, we may be more valuable than ever — most experienced, most available, most able. All of life before may be preparation for what God wants now.

3. Faith obeys when it can’t figure it out. Abraham didn’t know where he was going, how long it would take, or what he would find. Gideon — a frightened farmer threshing wheat in a wine press at night — was called “mighty warrior,” then watched his army cut to 300 and received a battle plan of jars and trumpets. Lord, is there a plan B? The proof of faith is obedience when you can’t figure it out.

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
HEBREWS 11:8

4. Faith always brings reward. The Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12) promised four things: a great nation, a great name, blessing on those who bless and cursing on those who curse, and blessing to all nations through him — ultimately the Scriptures and the Messiah. Israel today: 10 million people on land smaller than New Jersey, yet in the headlines every day. Balaam was hired to curse Israel and ended up blessing her instead.

5. Faith endures hardship with an eternal perspective. Abraham lived in tents — tabernacles — after a fine house in a fine city. He could, because he was looking for a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be.” Bill told of a stockbroker asking his father-in-law, “Have you made any provision for what’s going to happen after this life?” — and leading him to faith on the spot. Abraham had.


The walk this week
God does not have a retirement plan, and faith is obedience when you can’t figure it out. Where is God calling you to step out this week — and will you trust the One who called, even without the map? Pack light. He knows the way.

Missed Sunday? Watch the full lesson here.

This Week’s Walk  |  October 18, 2026
Name Your Impossible

Sarah looked at the impossible odds on one side, the Promiser’s character on the other — and reached a settled conclusion: He is faithful; therefore it is possible. Her faith was not optimism about outcomes; it was arithmetic about character.

“Is anything too hard for the LORD?”
GENESIS 18:14

This week, name your “impossible” — the thing you’ve stopped asking for because the math doesn’t work. Then do Sarah’s reckoning: weigh the human impossibility against the divine impossibility of God breaking His word. As Warren Wiersbe put it, stop asking “How can this be?” — the question of doubt — and start asking “How shall this be?” — the question of surrendered faith. God reserves His greatest work for the point where our resources end.

The Pastor’s Message  |  October 11, 2026
What Got You Here Will Not Get You There: Seeing Differently
Numbers 13  |  Dr. Stephen Trammel

Dr. Stephen Trammel opened Numbers 13 and the spies’ report: life gets blurry when the next step is unclear. He gave three essentials for seeing clearly — explore the land God has put in front of you, recognize that fear distorts your vision while faith clarifies it, and let God’s past faithfulness fuel your trust today. And when fear pulls you under, like Peter stepping out of the boat, cry out to Jesus — whatever is over your head is beneath His feet.

Try this daily. Dr. Trammel gave us three movements to build into our morning quiet time — smile first (you’re awake, it’s a new day), then:

  • Eyes — two fingers to your eye, then open them: “Lord, help me see differently.”
  • Heart — cupped hand over your heart: “Lord, help me trust deeply.”
  • Hand — cupped hand forward, as if receiving from God: “Lord, help me to move forward in faith by your grace.”

Missed the message? Watch it here.

Mark Your Calendar  |  Fall 2026
Upcoming Events
Share  —  The Good News
Street Church — Go, Love, Serve — Thursday, October 29 at 6 PM
Street Church — Go, Love, Serve
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026  |  6:00 PM
Pre-event snacks, worship, message, and prayer as we take church to the streets. Meet us at 2017 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002 — and wear your Kingdom Come t-shirt!
Street Church Worship — Learn the Songs
SONG 1  |  WE PRACTICE IN CLASS THIS WEEK
Charlotte is preparing three songs for worship at Street Church. We’ll practice the first one in class this week — listen now so we can sing it with confidence on the streets:
Songs 2 and 3 coming in next week’s edition.
Gather  —  Fellowship
Friendsgiving on the Lawn — Sunday, November 15, 2026, after class
Men's BBQ Trail
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2026  |  11:20 AM
The trail continues — next stop: Terry Black's BBQ, 1329 N Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX. Join the men of the class for great barbecue and even better fellowship.
Friendsgiving on the Lawn — Sunday, November 15, 2026, after class
Friendsgiving on the Lawn
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2026  |  RIGHT AFTER CLASS
Our annual fall gathering — food, fellowship, and friends on the lawn. Invite someone who’s been visiting our class.
Give  —  Service & Generosity
Christmas on Mission — Our Class Assignment
COLLECTION DAY: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2026  |  THE LOOP
Our class has been assigned 26 gifts for boys and girls ages 0 to 2. This season we celebrate Christmas by being the hands and feet of Jesus, locally and globally. Gifts may be dropped off at any service — 9:15 AM, 11:00 AM, or 4:00 PM at The Lawn. We may give more than our assigned number if we wish.
Vote Your Values
EARLY VOTING: OCTOBER 19–30  |  ELECTION DAY: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Voter registration is available at all campuses. Pastor Gregg wrote a free booklet, 3 P’s of Voting, to help believers pray, examine, and participate — read it right here:
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Quarter Memory Verse  ·  The Promiser and The Promise
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
JEREMIAH 29:11
Around Our Church
Worth a look this week

Day of Baptism, Oct 25. Sarah's story reminds us that what God calls impossible, He makes possible — and baptism is how we say it publicly. If you've been putting off that step, this is the week to say something. A baptism Sunday is always a great Sunday to bring a friend.

Night of Prayer, Oct 26 at 7p. A church-wide evening of prayer. Fits our class's prayer culture to a T — mark it and bring a prayer partner.

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
GENESIS 18:14

Save the dates: Then Sings My Soul hymn-sing worship night, Nov 11 (6:30p, The Loop). An Evening with Dr. Peter J. Williams: Can We Trust the Gospels? — Nov 13 (7p, Downtown), an apologetics evening that feels made for our class. And TOYMAKER, a brand-new interactive Christmas musical, Dec 11–13 — tickets are on sale now.

For the grieving: Surviving the Holidays meets Oct 22 and Nov 10 (6:45p) — gentle support heading into the holidays. Share it with someone who needs it.

Encore folks: Hunt Retreat Day Oct 22, Monday Morning Mingle Oct 26, and the Shangri-La Gardens day trip Nov 6. Mark your calendar for Christmas on Mission Collection Day, Nov 22 — a simple way to put feet on your faith.

One-liners: LoopedIn! is the church's new digital updates channel — worth a follow. And Pastor Gregg's Let Freedom Ring: A Guide for Christian Voters is available ahead of the Nov 3 midterms — Prayer, Policies, Partnerships, Person, Participate, and Peace.

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Midweek  ·  Every Wednesday
The Midweek Refreshment of Shared Prayer

Join us as we pause together for the Sweet Hour of Prayer every Wednesday at noon. Please send your prayer requests to Karen at 713-204-8384 by Tuesday so they may be included.

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Ministry  ·  Encore Activities
Connecting Through Encore

Encore is our church’s ministry for adults 55+, with trips, retreats, and gatherings all year long. Coming up: the Hunt Retreat Day on October 22 and the Monday Morning Mingle on October 26.

For Encore information click here →

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Stay Connected  ·  GroupMe
You’re in Control — Join or Step Back Anytime

We’ve created a Foundations Class GroupMe message center as a convenient, real-time way to share prayer requests, announcements, and encouraging messages. Join or leave anytime — no pressure. Mute notifications if you prefer silence, or jump into the conversation when something grabs your heart.

Sign up here: https://3zs8.short.gy/FoundationsGM →

Foundations Class GroupMe QR code
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Foundations Class Weekly October 17 2026

Our Framework We GATHER in fellowship · We GIVE in service and generosity · We GROW in God’s Word · We SHARE...