Is God Still Good? | Bobby Chandler | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Is God Still Good?

Authentic Church • Aug 17, 2026 • 52 min

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

Summary

When believers witness God answer someone else's prayer supernaturally while facing their own grief or unanswered questions, it can lead to confusion and doubt. Examining the accounts of Peter's rescue and James's martyrdom in Acts 12, Pastor Bobby Chandler shows that God's goodness is grounded in His character rather than our temporary circumstances. Through Christ, generational patterns can be broken and difficult chapters can lead to ultimate victory when we trust God's higher perspective.

Themes

God's GoodnessTrusting God in TrialsGenerational Curses & TransformationPeople-Pleasing vs. Pleasing GodSovereignty and Divine Perspective

Pastor's Points

1.

God is still good because your story doesn't have to end like it started.

2.

God is good even when I don't understand.

Key Points

1.
God is still good because your story does not have to end like it started.
2.
God is good even when we do not understand His timing or choices.
3.
God's goodness is rooted in His unchanging character rather than our changing earthly circumstances.
4.
Living to please people is a dangerous trap that forces you to sacrifice your convictions, boundaries, and divine calling.
5.
In Christ, generational curses and inherited toxic patterns can be completely broken because you are made a new creation.
6.
To overcome recurring sins or unhealthy relational habits, you must pull up the poisonous root rather than just trimming external fruit.
7.
A different outcome in life does not signify a different amount of love from God.
8.
Peter was delivered from prison because his assignment was not yet complete, whereas James glorified God through martyrdom.

Sermon Moments

“Don't let the stress of life steal your rest. There can be drama around you, but you don't have to allow the drama to be in you.”

“God's goodness can never be measured by how good our circumstances are.”

“Different Herod, same hatred... different generations, same destructive pattern.”

“Just because it was passed down to you doesn't mean it has to pass through you.”

“If you really want to break the cycle of toxic patterns, you can't keep cutting just the fruit—you have to pull out the root.”

“If God were small enough for me to figure out, He would not be big enough for me to worship.”

“Do not confuse a different outcome with a different amount of love from God.”

“We judge God based on the chapter we're in, but God makes decisions with the whole story in view.”

This Week

Examine your life to see if you are defining God's goodness by your circumstances rather than His character.

Identify areas where you may be pleasing people or fearing their opinions, and choose instead to honor God's word and convictions.

Break family cycles by refusing to pass down toxic patterns, negative mindsets, or explosive anger to your children.

Dig beneath surface behaviors to deal with the root causes of bitterness, insecurity, or fear in your life.

Practice resting in God's peace during stressful trials, remembering that external drama does not have to live inside your heart.

Stop comparing God's timeline or miracles in someone else's life to what He is doing in your personal journey.

Surrender unanswered questions to God, trusting that He sees the entire story even when you are only in a painful early chapter.

Remember This

God's goodness is defined by His character rather than our circumstances, and even when His answers differ from what we expect, His love and ultimate perspective remain perfect.

A Challenge for You

Be honest with God about your questions and heartaches, surrender your outcomes to Him, and pull out the poisonous roots of toxic patterns so that you and the next generation can live in total spiritual freedom.

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