Sermon Review: “Refuel, Part 1 – It’s Not What You Think”

Preacher: Pastor Danny Wolford
Series Theme: Refuel – A three-week study on sustaining spiritual vitality
Primary Text: Ephesians 3:16-19

Pastor Wolford opens the post-Easter season by stressing that believers must renew their spiritual strength continuously, not rely on the emotional momentum of a single holiday. The Refuel series is designed to help worshipers recognize when their “spiritual fuel gauge” is low and to reconnect with the power God provides.​​full service 4-27.MP3

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church is presented as the foundation for personal renewal:

• Inner Strength – The Holy Spirit empowers the “inner being.”

• Christ’s Indwelling – Christ makes His home in the believer’s heart through faith.

• Four-Dimensional Love – Paul’s description of love that is “wide, long, high, and deep” emphasizes its immeasurable scope.

• Fullness of God – The goal is a life filled with God’s own power and character.

Pastor Wolford highlights that this fullness is a gift, not the result of human effort, and is available to every Christian regardless of past failures.

Using a clear progression—Performance → Ritual → Failure → Guilt → Withdrawal → Emptiness—he explains how a works-based approach depletes spiritual energy. Checklists alone cannot sustain genuine faith.

1. Stop Viewing Yourself as a Failure
   Romans 3:23-26 is cited to affirm that believers are “declared not guilty” through Christ’s sacrifice, removing the burden of self-condemnation.

2. Start Relating to God as a Friend
   Referencing John 15:15 , Pastor Wolford encourages the congregation to approach God with the openness one would show a trusted friend, confident of His welcome.

Congregants are invited to replace rigid routines with authentic connection: conversational prayer, thoughtful Scripture reading, and deliberate inclusion of God in everyday dialogue. A brief period of silent intercession during the service models this shift from performance to relationship.

A believer who stays “refueled” will display:

• Joy rooted in grace rather than accomplishment.

• Peace that withstands external pressures.

• Influence that attracts others to Christ through visible vitality.

Pastor Wolford closes by reiterating that spiritual renewal is not achieved by “doing more” but by remaining closely connected to Christ, the true source of life. The congregation responds with a reprise of “He Lives,” reinforcing the message that the risen Lord continues to empower His people daily.