Faith Must Be Tough by Pastor Steve Dow on Sunday, May 31, 2026

Developed for the Wild: Building a Resilient, Cross-Bearing Faith In a world of constant ease and prosperity, the modern church has fallen into a dangerous trap: spiritual softness. We whine over minor inconveniences while ignoring the profound reality of what it means to follow Jesus. In this powerful message, Pastor Steve Dow unpacks Mark 8:31-36 to remind us that true faith isn't built in the safety of a zoo, but in the stretching challenges of the wild. -- Jesus did not call us to a life of comfort; He called us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him through every trial. -- Just like animals in captivity get fat and flabby without tension, Christians who never face adversity fail to develop the resilience needed to survive in the world. -- True emotional stability is wrapped up in our expectations, yet a dangerous sense of entitlement has convinced many that they should never experience pain or discomfort. -- Scripture reveals that the glory is actually found within the suffering, because the testing of our faith is what produces endurance, character, and hope. Scriptures for Further Study -- Mark 8:31-36 -- 1 Peter 1:6-7 -- 1 Corinthians 16:13 -- Colossians 1:11-12 -- Colossians 1:19 -- James 1:2-3 -- Romans 5:3 -- 1 Peter 5:10 -- Philippians 1:29 -- 2 Corinthians 12:9 -- Philippians 3:10 +++++++ You can find our service times on our website: https://www.anctally.com/ You can find sermon highlights on Twitter here: https://x.com/allnationstally