Untraditional, Unconventional, Unashamed

A message from James A. Holloway, delivered on January 4, 2026

As a new year begins, this message invites the church to look back at the example of the early church in Acts 2 in order to look forward with clarity and purpose. While many people carry assumptions about what church is supposed to look like (comfortable, predictable, and contained) the first church did not fit those expectations at all. They had no buildings, programs, or institutional influence, yet God used ordinary, Spirit-filled believers to spark a movement that changed the world.

Drawing from Acts 2:36–47, this sermon highlights three defining characteristics of the early church: they were untraditional, unconventional, and unashamed. God moved powerfully outside established religious systems, working through surrendered people rather than sacred spaces. The church devoted itself to Scripture, fellowship, prayer, and generosity, living out their faith daily in homes, public spaces, and everyday life. Their obedience created room for God to act, and He added to their number continually.

The message challenges modern believers to reconsider where and how ministry happens. Church is not confined to a building or a weekly gathering. It is lived out in homes, workplaces, schools, and communities. The early church was marked by bold identification with Christ, even when it carried personal cost, because their identity was firmly rooted in Jesus.

This sermon calls us to remember who the church is called to be: a surrendered people, empowered by the Holy Spirit, faithfully living and proclaiming the gospel “here, there, and everywhere.”

You can watch the full message below or visit our sermon archive to see other messages.

Key Takeaways:

  • The church is not a building—it is a Spirit-filled people
  • God moves most powerfully through availability, not polish
  • Biblical faith is lived daily, not contained to a weekly gathering
  • Boldness is clarity without apology, rooted in love and truth
  • The gospel does not need to be protected; it needs to be proclaimed

Scripture References: