Letters to the Churches: To the Church that Grew Comfortable

This follows in a series of letters written to the Advent Christian church. The first letter can be found here; the second letter can be found here.

Introduction: When the Foundations Are Tested

We live in a world where everything is being shaken—morally, politically, spiritually. The storms are not coming—they’re already here. And the question is not whether our churches will face them, but whether we’ve built on a foundation that can withstand them.

Jesus warned us: only those who build on His words will stand when the storm hits. We need fire-tested churches filled with fire-tested Christians that have been built and tested through the application of His word!! Jesus didn’t say if the storm comes. He said when. And only those who build on His words will stand when the winds rise. I think we all have seen ministries that have been built on tradition, personality, and preference. We’ve witnessed churches that have mistaken comfort for strength. But comfort is not a shelter—it’s a setup. Because when the shaking begins, it’s not our polish that holds—it’s our foundation.

This is not a call to panic. It’s a call to prepare. Because storms don’t reveal our strength—they reveal our structural weakness.

Scriptural Foundations: Storms Are Inevitable

Jesus closes the Sermon on the Mount with a warning—not about persecution, but about the location of our Faith foundation. In Matthew 7:24–27 (NIV), He says: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” The wise builder doesn’t wait for the clouds to gather. He builds before the storm is even on the horizon. He hears the warning, trusts the Word, and anchors his life to the Rock. The foolish builder? He’s not evil—he’s careless and unconvinced. He hears the same warning but shrugs it off. He assumes the storm won’t come—or that his house will hold anyway. His failure isn’t only in the materials—it’s in the location of his foundation. He builds based on convenience and ease. And when the winds rise, it all comes crashing down.

Jesus doesn’t warn us about if the storm will come—He tells us it will. The only question is: Are we anchoring our faith on obedience to His words, or on the shifting sands of delay and disbelief? The difference is not in the just materials, it’s in location—it’s in where the foundation is anchored. We are all fully warned, and have been made aware of what is coming soon; are we building our Faith Foundation on His words as we prepare for that final storm?

The Danger of Spiritual Ease

The prophet Amos didn’t mince words. In Amos 6:1 (NIV), he declared: “Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria…” Complacency is not safety—it’s vulnerability. The church that grows comfortable and doesn’t heed the warning of the upcoming storm loses its prophetic edge. They stop watching. They stop warning. They stop weeping. And all too soon, they stop standing in the gap as ambassadors of His Kingdom. 

Comfort is not the goal—Christ is. We must challenge spiritual ease. We must call our people to vigilance, not just attendance. Because the enemy doesn’t attack where we’re strong and anchored—he attacks where we’re standing, unprepared and comfortable, on the soft sand. And hear this warning: the coming storm won’t be held back much longer!

Christ Is the Only Storm-Proof Foundation

Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:11 (NIV): “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Programs can be helpful. Personalities can be inspiring. But only Christ can hold the weight of the storm. He is not just our doctrine—He is our daily foundation. Our preaching must be built on Him. Our planning must be centered in Him. Our people must be anchored to Him. Because when the winds blow and the waters rise, it won’t be our charisma that holds—it will be Christ.

What We Can Be Doing Now

1.     Preach for Structural Integrity, don’t just inspire—fortify. Can we teach, anchored in the Word; and in a way that builds storm-proof disciples. Shouldn’t we Challenge Complacency, and warn that Comfort is a counterfeit shelter? Let’s all call our churches to vigilance, repentance, and readiness.

2.     Re-center Everything on Christ, from the pulpit to the parking lot, can we make Jesus the foundation—not just the figurehead.

3.     Equip for the Storm, Not Just the Season, I pray that we all can build ministries that can withstand pressure, not just attract crowds… Can we break from the bonds of comfort and again rouse the nation with warnings of the coming storm?  Will you join me in that same prayer?

Conclusion: Build Before the Wind Rises 

The end-time shaking has begun. The floodwaters are rising. And the church must be storm-proof—not flashy, not trendy, but faithful. Let us prepare now, not later. Let us challenge complacency. Let us build everything on Christ. Because when the trumpet sounds, we want to be found standing—not swept away. Not built on sand, but anchored to the Rock. 

The Promise from Jesus to the Overcomer: “To the one who builds on Me, I will be your shelter in the storm. You will not be shaken. You will not be swept away. You will stand when others fall. And when the winds cease, you will still be standing and found faithful.”