Have you ever noticed how easily we find reasons to delay obedience? “I’ll serve after this season ends.” “I’ll get serious about ministry when the kids are older.” “I’ll respond… later.” Pastor Mike McFadden closed out our Four Chairs series with a challenge: stop making excuses and just respond.
Four Chairs, Four Lies
The Four Chairs series walked us through the progression of a Christ-follower’s life: the chair of death (separated from God), the chair of discovery (learning His Word), the chair of devotion (serving others), and the chair of duplication (investing in those who will invest in others). Each chair is good. Each chair is necessary. But Satan has a lie packaged for every one of them.
Chair 1 lie: “This is a chair of comfort.” In reality, it’s a chair of destruction — a life apart from God is hopeless, aimless, and exhausting.
Chair 2 lie: “I’ve read my Bible and done my devotions. Good deeds bucket: filled.” Wrong. Discovery isn’t a checklist — it’s an ongoing posture of learning. The goal is never just knowing more; it’s living it out.
Chair 3 lie: “This is drudgery. Another task I’m not prepared for.” Actually, serving others is the privilege of being used by God. He prepared good works in advance for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10).
Chair 4 lie: “That’s for pastors. I’ve done my part.” But discipleship isn’t reserved for professionals — it’s the calling of every believer. Every single one.
Why We Respond
So why should we respond to God’s call instead of hitting “later”? Pastor Mike gave three reasons:
1. Because He Says So
Not a blind authority — an informed one. God created a finely-tuned universe. If the expansion rate of the big bang had differed by one part in a million, the universe would never have existed or would have collapsed. If Earth’s axis was off by less than 1%, we wouldn’t be here. Gravity, the moon’s distance, Jupiter blocking comets — everything is precisely calibrated for life. Either it all happened by chance, or a Creator did it on purpose. We respond because He is the author of reality itself.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
— 1 John 2:15-16
2. Because He Did So
Jesus didn’t just command ministry — He modeled it. He sat in the synagogue learning Scripture (Chair 2). He fed the 5,000, washed feet, and healed the sick (Chair 3). He commissioned His disciples to go and do likewise (Chair 4). He got in the trenches. We respond because the perfect example of humanity didn’t stay distant — He got in the arena.
“The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
— Hebrews 4:12
3. Because There’s Something In It For Us
Not prosperity gospel — real Kingdom reward. When we pour into others, they pour back into us. Ministry isn’t a solo climb; it’s a body working together. Paul captured it perfectly: “That we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine” (Romans 1:11-12). The blessing isn’t just in heaven — it’s here, now, in the joy of doing life together.
The Four Gears
Pastor Mike illustrated the chairs with a visual: wooden gears. A gear alone, disconnected from the machine, just sits there. Spin it in isolation, and it goes nowhere. But hook it into the system — connect it to other gears — and suddenly it has direction, purpose, and power. That’s what happens when we move from sitting alone in Chair 2 to engaging with the body of Christ in Chairs 3 and 4.
When you’re in Chair 3 (devotion), pouring into someone, they’re pouring back into you. When you’re in Chair 4 (duplication), lifting someone up so they can pour into others — you’re being lifted too. The gears turn together. That’s the design.
Yes, Dad
Mike shared a phrase his kids hear dozens of times a week: respond. Not negotiate. Not explain. Just respond. And when they do, it’s always some version of: “Yes, Dad.”
But as adults, our version often sounds like: “But Dad… after this season. But Dad… when things settle down. But Dad… I don’t feel ready.”
What if we just said yes? What if we trusted that the Creator of the finely-tuned universe knows what He’s doing? What if we believed that following Christ’s model — even the scary, messy, I-don’t-feel-qualified parts — is actually the most rewarding way to live?
No more “but Dad.” Just: Yes, Dad.
So What?
You have heard truth for two months straight. You have been warned about lies. Now the only question is: will you respond? God is not asking you to be perfect before you serve — He asks you to respond in faith, and He’ll work out the rest through the community He’s placed you in. Chair 2 has prepared you. Chair 3 has trained you. Now it’s time to invite someone into Chair 2, pour into someone in Chair 3, or lift someone up to Chair 4. Don’t wait. Respond today.
Scripture References
- 1 John 2:15-16 — Warning against loving the world
- Hebrews 4:12 — The living and active Word of God
- Ephesians 2:10 — God’s workmanship prepared for good works
- Romans 1:11-12 — Mutual encouragement in faith
- 2 Timothy 2:2 — Entrusting truth to faithful people who will teach others