The Confusion of Chaos | Stephen Chandler | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

The Confusion of Chaos

Stephen Chandler

Union Church • Jul 6, 2026 • 40 min

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

Summary

In The Confusion of Chaos, Pastor Stephen Chandler examines Elijah's story in 1 Kings 19 to remind believers that God often speaks through a still, small voice rather than through chaotic storms, earthquakes, or blustering noise. When ambient distractions, constant busyness, and isolated self-pity drown out the Holy Spirit, we risk losing sight of our divine purpose. By intentionally creating quiet space and trusting God's direction over human demands, we make room for divine pivots and brand-new beginnings in our lives.

Themes

Hearing God's VoiceSabbath and RestOvercoming IsolationDivine PurposeTrusting God's PivotIntentional Stillness

Pastor's Points

1.

Fight through the noise.

2.

Don't waste time with doubt.

3.

Make room for God to do more.

Key Points

1.
Fight through the noise: You must actively push past external busyness and internal mental chatter to hear the Holy Spirit's direction.
2.
Don't waste time with doubt: When you enter silent space with God, avoid filling it with complaints, self-pity, and negative self-talk.
3.
Make room for God to do more: Give God space to do a brand-new thing in your life rather than merely asking Him to patch up existing problems.
4.
Isolation is often an illusion, so reject self-pity and realize that God is actively working through thousands of others alongside you.
5.
Loud and demanding circumstances do not automatically deserve your attention or signify that God is moving within them.
6.
Failing to quiet the noise and human demands around you will cause you to lose sight of your God-given purpose.
7.
Observing Sabbath rest demonstrates faith that true acceleration comes from the Holy Spirit rather than human striving.

Sermon Moments

“Just because it makes noise doesn't mean it deserves your attention.”

“Driving on autopilot with the GPS muted causes us to miss God's detours around life's upcoming car crashes.”

“If you don't silence the noise, you'll lose your purpose.”

“Working six days instead of seven with God's blessing yields far greater productivity than endlessly striving on our own power.”

“God is not interested in fixing your problem; He wants to make it brand new.”

“There is always a moment of silence before the pivot comes.”

“Pray without ceasing doesn't mean staying on your knees all day; it means keeping an open line of communication 24/7.”

“The market vendor shouting about a dropped bag shows how quickly fake urgency steals our attention away from what truly matters.”

This Week

Schedule a dedicated 30-minute quiet period every day to step away from noise and listen for God's direction.

Designate one day each week as a Sabbath to pause work and income-generating activities, trusting God to sustain your progress.

Take an inventory of your daily thoughts to catch and replace negative, self-defeating mental chatter with God's promises.

Silence unnecessary notifications, ambient background noise, and digital distractions when seeking to pray or meditate on Scripture.

Reject self-pity when feeling isolated by remembering that God has other faithful believers working alongside you.

Learn to say "no" to secondary demands and human expectations that distract you from your core divine purpose.

Practice trusting God in quiet or seemingly stagnant seasons, recognizing that stillness often precedes a major divine pivot.

Remember This

God speaks through a still, small voice rather than loud chaos, requiring us to intentionally create quiet space to hear His direction and receive His divine pivots.

A Challenge for You

Take time this week to give God dedicated space in your daily life, listen closely for the whispers of His still small voice, and expect Him to reveal supernatural solutions and new beginnings.

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