SERMON NOTES

Title: Who Told You That You Were Unworthy?

Text: 2 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 9:1-8

Speaker: Bishop Calvin Hooper

Date: 12/28/25

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**MAIN IDEA:**

God’s grace redefines your identity — you are not who you were, or what you did. You are who God says you are.

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**SCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHTS:**

* 2 Samuel 4:4 — Mephibosheth was dropped and became lame.

* 2 Samuel 9:1-8 — David calls Mephibosheth, restores his inheritance, and gives him a seat at the king’s table.

* Romans 8:1 — "There is therefore now no condemnation..."

* Ephesians 2:10 — “We are His workmanship…”

* 2 Corinthians 5:17 — “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…”

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**BIG QUESTION:**

**“Who told you that you were unworthy?”**

This is a modern reflection of God's question in Genesis 3:11:

> “Who told you that you were naked?”

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1. **Crippled by the Fall** – (Our condition before Christ)

2. **Called by the King** – (God’s grace that saves and restores)

3. **Crowned with a New Identity** – (Living in our rightful identity in Christ)

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**KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER:**

I. Crippled by the Fall

* We were spiritually broken and living in “Lo-Debar” — a place of no pasture.

* Like Mephibosheth, many live under shame and low expectations.

* Grace seeks us out, even when we are unaware or unworthy.

II. Called by the King

* God initiated the search — He sought us before we sought Him.

* Grace covers our fear, adopts us into the royal family, and restores our inheritance.

* Mephibosheth didn’t earn favor — it was covenant-based. So is ours.

III. Crowned with a New Identity

* Even after being restored, Mephibosheth called himself a “dead dog.”

* Many believers carry old labels that don’t reflect their new identity in Christ.

* God calls us chosen, called, cleansed, and commissioned.

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**APPLICATION:**

* Let go of labels from your past.

* Receive God's truth about who you are.

* Step into the new year with boldness, not brokenness.

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**DECLARATION:**

> I am not my trauma.

> I am not my reputation.

> I am not my mistakes.

> I am not my limp.

> I am who God says I am.

> I belong at the King’s table.

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**REMEMBER:**

* Your failure is not final.

* Your past doesn’t disqualify your purpose.

* **Grace rewrites the story.**

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**CLOSING ILLUSTRATION:**

A student once turned in a messy essay titled:

> “I’m Not Good at This — Don’t Bother Grading It.”

> The teacher responded with:

> “You may have stopped writing, but I haven’t stopped believing in your story. Rewrite it — this is your Grace Draft.”

> Just like that teacher, God hands you a new page — and says:

> “Let’s start again.”

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**CALL TO ACTION:**

This year, stop living beneath your calling because of a label God never gave you.

Walk in the truth.

Sit at the table.

Live like you’re loved — because you are.