Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

In Good Tidings of Great Joy, Pastor Bryan Hudson teaches that joy is central to God’s redemptive plan and flows from living in God’s presence. Drawing from Psalm 16:11 and Luke 2, he explains that joy is not the same as happiness—happiness is momentary, but joy is constant, like the air we breathe when we remain in God’s presence. The angelic announcement of Jesus’ birth reveals that the gospel itself is “good tidings of great joy” meant for all people. Jesus came to create the conditions for humanity to experience God’s presence, receive new life, and live in sustained joy. Pastor Hudson emphasizes that rejoicing is the outward expression of inward joy, and believers are called not only to experience joy themselves but to share it with others through acts of love, service, and outreach—helping people encounter the lasting joy found only in Christ.

Listen to My Message from Sunday, December 14God's Redemption Design: More Than a Personal Savior Part Two of Designed for Destiny TRANSCRIPT: Greetings, and welcome to another Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute. As a matter of fact, this is talk #200! Praise God! We began this series in January of 2022. I thank God for His grace that empowers me to bring you these inspirational talks. I trust you’ve been blessed and encouraged by them. Our topic today is “The Last Adam Solved Our Problem.” Reading from 1 Corinthians 15:45, “And so it is written, the first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving Spirit.” The problem we had was the disobedience of Adam in the Garden of Eden. He and his wife did not follow God’s instruction. When they disobeyed God, death entered the world. There was first a spiritual death, and then humanity succumbed to physical death. They were not designed to die physically, but sin always brings death—both spiritually and physically. However, this did not take God by surprise. In that same moment, God made a promise that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent, which is a type of the devil. Jesus destroyed the works of the devil.  While neither Adam, nor Eve, nor the serpent understood what God said at the time, we know in hindsight that this Seed was preserved all the way to the coming of Jesus through the Virgin Mary. Romans 5:15 reads: “For if by one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One.” Jesus, the Last Adam, became a life-giving Spirit. This text explains that by one man’s offense, Adam’s, death reigned through that one sinful seed. The Scripture goes on to say that those of us who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, we live in the gift of righteousness, and we reign in life over sin, Satan, and defeat. Amen! So the Last Adam, Jesus, solved our problem. Rejoice in that! God bless. Have a great day, and be encouraged.

DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES In this message, Pastor Bryan Hudson teaches that while Jesus is indeed our personal Savior, God's redemptive design is far greater than individual salvation. From Romans 8:29 and Colossians 1:19–20, he shows that God predestined believers to be conformed to Christ, forming a collective people—His church—through whom He reconciles and influences the world. Salvation is not merely personal but part of God’s broader plan to redeem humanity and creation. Dr. Hudson contrasts man-made design, shaped by sin and selfishness, with God-made design, in which believers are God’s workmanship created for good works. He emphasizes that destiny is expressed through service, not self-service, and warns against reducing Christianity to private spirituality or political power. God calls His people to be “salt and light,” influencing systems with righteousness—not taking them over. Using the parable of the Good Samaritan, he explains that we do not choose our neighbors; love requires us to serve anyone in need, even those unlike us. Jesus transforms “neighbor” from a category into a calling. The sermon also traces the biblical design of redemption from Genesis, showing how Jesus—the “last Adam”—undoes the failure of the first Adam and restores humanity. Dr. Hudson concludes that believers “reign in life” (Romans 5:17) not as earthly rulers but through the shared authority and life of Christ. Salvation is personal, but not for personal ends. God’s destiny for us is collective: a chosen, royal, holy people who fulfill His purposes together.

Listen to My Message from Sunday, December 7Designed for Destiny: Created for Good Works Romans 8:29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. As a visual communications major in college and a designer for almost 50 years, ever since high school, I appreciate God's intention as the ultimate designer. You have also been responsible for design in one way or another, whether formally or by making decisions about how your home looks and functions. On your job, through your volunteer tasks, planning a vacation, or working with others, design is always a vital part of any fruitful task. Design is the engine of purpose, or what we also call destiny. While the concept of destiny is large, the actions of destiny are comprised of consistent small steps—something we also call process. From the foreknowledge of God, our text states that we were predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus. That's a big concept, but it was manifested in many smaller steps. From God anticipating the fall of Adam and Eve, stating, “He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel”—foretelling of Jesus’ death as a bruised heel, resulting in defeating Satan and the power of death, “a bruised, or busted, head.” From that beginning in the garden, God protected and preserved the messianic seed all the way to the virgin Mary.Here's the important thing about design: the designer is always paying attention to his or her design. Because it is an investment of time and resources, there's no way a designer will neglect the design. I say that to remind you that because you are designed by God, He pays attention to you. In the words of the Hebrews writer (2:6), “What are mere mortals that you should think about them, or a son of man that you should care for him? Yet for a little while you made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.” Because you and I were designed or made a little lower than the angels and crowned with glory and honor, your Designer never stops thinking about you and adjusting His work in your life and in our lives together. Let that thought live in your heart and mind today.

DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES Romans 8:29, For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Ephesians 2:10, For we are His workmanship [masterpiece], created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. SummaryPastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min. teaches that every believer is designed by God with intention and created for a purposeful destiny, which Scripture calls “good works.” Drawing from Romans 8:29, he explains that God has predestined us—not by pre-programming our choices, but by providing a divine design we must willingly discover and walk in. Destiny is not a single large event; it is the consistent, faithful, everyday actions done in alignment with God’s purpose. Pastor Hudson contrasts manmade design, which produces spiritual deadness and conformity to the world, with God’s design, which brings life, identity, and transformation through His love, grace, and mercy. Believers are God’s “workmanship”—His masterpiece—uniquely created like fingerprints, each with a distinct role that strengthens the collective body of Christ. Emphasizing that identity in Christ is both individual and communal, he reminds the church that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s special people. As such, we reject the “pandemic of self-service” and embrace a life of service to God and others. The sermon concludes by calling believers to walk in their God-given design, encourage one another, and live as salt and light in the world.