I'm Not Staying Here | Stephen Chandler | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

I'm Not Staying Here

Stephen Chandler

Union Church • Oct 26, 2026 • 44 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

Pastor Stephen Chandler delivers an empowering message on breaking free from spiritual and personal stagnation by declaring that staying where you are is no longer an option. Drawing from the story of the four lepers in 2 Kings 7, he explains that looking backward or settling for familiar misery only leads to spiritual decline. True breakthrough requires closing off pathways to the past, confronting our greatest obstacles head-on, and stepping forward in faith to discover that God has already prepared the victory.

Themes

Overcoming StagnationFaith and CourageMoving ForwardLeaving the Past BehindTrusting God's Power

Pastor's Points

1.

Here is not an option

2.

Backwards won't fix anything

3.

It's time to engage the enemy

Key Points

1.
Here is not an option: recognizing that remaining stagnant is a spiritual death sentence creates the urgency needed to pursue God's best.
2.
Backwards won't fix anything: returning to old environments or past bondage will never solve present struggles.
3.
It's time to engage the enemy: overcoming stagnation requires directly confronting your greatest obstacles in faith.
4.
Spiritual stagnation occurs when God moves forward to perform a new work while believers try to maintain past achievements.
5.
True spiritual vitality requires stepping out into places of uncertainty where trust in God is continually renewed.
6.
Time and hardship can cause believers to romantically misremember past bondage and consider going back to places that no longer serve who God made them to be.
7.
Leaving back doors open to the past weakens commitment to God's calling; following Jesus requires burning the ships behind us.
8.

Sermon Moments

“What if your enemy ain't your enemy? What if the closed door ain't locked? You just never turned the knob.”

“The worst thing you could do is be comfortable and stuck.”

“Being stuck is a death sentence... Progress brings life to your soul.”

“Faith is only activated when I say, "I'm not staying here any longer."”

“God is not interested in maintaining the status quo... He said, "I'm moving forward. I'm doing a new thing."”

“Backwards won't fix anything. Why would you think going back will make it better when God already brought you out of it?”

“Some of you need to burn the ship that can take you back to where God brought you out of.”

“When you take a step towards what God has promised you, you're going to find that when you got there, God already left the situation fixed.”

This Week

Identify areas in your life—whether in career, relationships, or your spiritual walk—where you have settled for stagnation instead of God's best.

Refuse to stay stuck by changing your approach and taking proactive responsibility rather than passively waiting for circumstances to change.

Keep yourself in a Holy Spirit flow by stepping outside your comfort zone and engaging in opportunities that require fresh faith.

Stop romantically misremembering past seasons or relationships that God previously brought you out of.

Close off back doors and backup options to your past so you can fully commit to where God is calling you today.

Confront the most difficult argument, issue, or obstacle in your life directly through prayer, worship, and honest communication.

Take one decisive step of faith toward a promise God has given you, trusting that He has already gone before you to clear the path.

Remember This

You will never experience God's next move in your life until you declare that staying where you are is no longer an option.

A Challenge for You

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the area where you have settled or left an open door to the past, and take one courageous step forward in faith, trusting that God has already gone before you to fix the situation.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.