Same Feet, Different Faith | E. Dewey Smith | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Same Feet, Different Faith

One Community Church • Jul 26, 2026 • 47 min

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

Summary

In 'Same Feet, Different Faith,' Dr. E. Dewey Smith examines the spiritual progression of Mary of Bethany as she repeatedly positions herself at the feet of Jesus through different seasons of life. Moving from hearing His Word in Luke 10, to weeping in deep grief in John 11, to lavishing Him in costly worship in John 12, Mary demonstrates that mature faith remains anchored at Christ's feet whether receiving truth, enduring heartbreak, or offering praise. Believers are encouraged to prioritize Jesus's presence and surrender over mere provision, trusting His divine timing even through painful delays.

Themes

Surrender and PostureDivine Timing and DelayGrief and Relinquishing ControlThe Progression of FaithWorship and Consecration

Pastor's Points

1.

1. Share your concerns with God without trying to dictate His response.

2.

2. Sit and relinquish control when circumstances are completely beyond your human effort.

3.

3. Remain at Jesus's feet through the conflict between His Word and your current painful reality.

4.

4. Allow your faith to progress from hearing the Word, to weeping in grief, to lavishing Him in worship.

Key Points

1.
Seeking the feet of Jesus reflects a posture of surrender, devotion, and alignment, whereas seeking His hand focuses primarily on provision and performative blessings.
2.
Jesus's physical body teaches deep spiritual truths: His face reveals His presence, His eyes show perception, His mouth proclaims, His heart represents purity, His hands manifest power, His side provides propitiation, and His feet represent our faith positioning.
3.
Sharing our concerns with God means bringing our feelings and situations to Him without demanding or dictating how He must act on our behalf.
4.
Divine delay is not divine abandonment; God often intentionally delays to display His ultimate sovereignty and refine the integrity of our faith.
5.
Sitting still in the midst of trial is not necessarily passive-aggressiveness or doubt, but can be an act of relinquishing human control when facing overwhelming grief and helplessness.
6.
Like a lifeguard who cannot save a drowning swimmer while they are frantically flailing and fighting, God steps in with supernatural deliverance when we stop striving in our own strength and yield to Him.
7.
Real faith endures the conflict between the past truths of God's Word and the painful reality of present weeping, staying anchored at Jesus's feet through every season.

Sermon Moments

“At the feet of Jesus, that's where our positioning and our posturing should be. Many of us want to be positioned at His hand because His hand represents provision, but at His feet is where surrender happens.”

“Sometimes the love of Jesus is not connected to immediate deliverance, but is connected to His sovereignty. Just because You're absent does not mean You don't have me on Your mind.”

“Lifeguards are taught never to save a drowning person while they are fighting the water, because they will drag both down. You wait until they stop fighting—and that's when God steps in to save you.”

“Being a person of faith doesn't mean life won't hit you. Sitting in where you are and relinquishing control may be the first step to your deliverance.”

“Mary was trying to juxtapose being in His Word in Luke 10:39 and now weeping in John 11:32. Sometimes life throws you into a dichomous motif where you're stuck between what God said and your current reality.”

“When I'm at the feet of Jesus, I don't have any glory. So I take all of my glory and put my glory at the feet of the One who is due all glory, all honor, and all praise.”

“In Luke 10:39, she's learning at His feet. In John 11:32, she's leaning on His feet. In John 12:3, she's lavishing His feet. She went from the Word, to weeping, to worship.”

This Week

Shift your prayer focus this week from asking for God's hand of provision to posturing your heart at His feet in surrender and devotion.

Practice sharing your honest concerns and heartbreaks with God without trying to dictate the exact timeline or method of His response.

When facing situations beyond your human control, intentionally pause and sit in silence, choosing to relinquish control to God rather than frantically striving.

Refuse to misinterpret God's silence or delays as a lack of love, reminding yourself daily that His timing is designed for His ultimate glory.

Bring your tears and grief directly to the feet of Jesus, trusting that He understands your pain even when your current reality conflicts with His promises.

Surrender your personal pride, achievements, and self-glory at the feet of Jesus in daily acts of humble worship.

Express proactive praise this week—thanking God for past deliverances while praising Him ahead of time for what He is preparing to do in your future.

Remember This

No matter what season of life or trial you face, true faith keeps you postured at the feet of Jesus—progressing from learning His Word, to leaning through weeping, to lavishing Him in worship.

A Challenge for You

Look at your neighbor. Say, 'Neighbor, stay at His feet. Stay at His word. Allow yourself to weep. But right now, we're going to worship. We're not going to wait till the battle is over. We're going to shout right now because the victory belongs to the child of God.'

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