“Cloud of witnesses” – Sunday sermon from July 12, 2026

The topic of our conversation today fully reflects the central biblical text and sounds simply: “The cloud of witnesses.”

Living memory of the first steps and the power of togetherness

When we look back at our past from time to time and remember the moment of our first meeting with God, the first steps in the church, special events come to mind that bring encouragement and comfort. For me, one of the vivid memories that have been in my heart for more than 30 years is the first Christian camp on the Irpin River near Osykov and Knyazhychi. It was an amazing time of spiritual atmosphere, morning and evening services, sincere communication with brothers and sisters, after which I did not want to return to ordinary gray weekdays to the unbelieving environment.

Today, we have the great grace to serve our children, teenagers and youth in the same way, organizing camps for them. It is camp spiritual experiences that often lay a solid foundation of faith for decades to come.

The central biblical landmark: where is our gaze directed?

Let us turn to the Word of God, which was central and at that memorable camp for me, Hebrews, chapter 12, verses 1 to 4 (from a modern translation):

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”
Hebrews 12:1-4 KJV

This text reminds us that we are surrounded by great examples of people whose lives inspire us to follow God. In the previous 11th chapter, the author lists the heroes of faith. It is human nature to look for earthly idols, pop or movie stars, and God does not reject our need for reference points. However, He offers us a much higher bar – a cloud of spiritual witnesses.

Everyday struggle and formation of Christian character

The main danger in our daily life is that under the influence of difficult circumstances, bad mood or well-being, we imperceptibly allow the devil and the world to steal from us the basic things – the foundation of Christianity. Skipping services, leaving home groups, missing morning prayer and reading the Bible gradually turn into ⛓️‍💥 destructive practice.

It is not just a mechanical “tick” for a chapter read or a prayer said that is important. What matters is that God Himself begins to work within us when we make a willful decision to do the right thing even when we are not in the mood or feel spiritually empty. This is what the daily struggle is for. In the midst of nighttime shootings, fatigue, brokenness, and life’s worries, we choose to focus on our own selfishness or ask God for strength to serve others. In these moments of overcoming our own “I don’t want”, the Lord forms our Christian character.

Taking an example from other people, even from church ministers, is not easy, because we see their human flaws. I’m imperfect myself, and during the last few events and camps, I’ve suffered a lot physically due to joint disease. But understanding that the right steps bring God’s grace and restoration forces you to move forward. The fall of famous spiritual leaders is often disappointing and becomes an excuse for one’s own laziness. That is why the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews calls us to raise our eyes above human weaknesses and earthly news and to look inseparably at the Head and Executor of our faith – Jesus Christ. Only His sacrifice on the cross and the insult endured can save our souls from exhaustion.

A lesson from the Apostle Andrew: how one witness changes history

Among the cloud of witnesses is a figure who is not mentioned in 11th chapter of Hebrews, but who radically changed the history of the apostolic church and even our Ukrainian land. This is the apostle Andrew. He became one of the first to follow Christ after the words of John the Baptist. It was Andrew who brought the boy with five loaves of bread and two fish, becoming a participant in the great miracle of food multiplication. According to church traditions, he became the first missionary on our territory (in Scythia), preaching in the Crimea and going up the Dnieper to the Kyiv mountains. He was also the first to open the door of faith to the pagan Greeks.
But his most important evangelistic feat is described in The Gospel of John 1:40-42:

“One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.”
John 1:40-42 KJV

The hardest thing is to testify to your relatives. At that time, Andrew knew ten times less about Christ than any of us today. He knew only one thing: Jesus is the Messiah, the Lamb of God. And this turned out to be enough. It wasn’t Andrew who changed Peter’s character, it was Jesus who turned the stubborn fisherman into a fisher of men. If Andriy had been afraid of his older brother’s authority and remained silent, the history of the world would have been different. Even during his martyrdom on the †-shaped cross, Andrew continued to preach to the people for three days, and according to legend, another 2,000 souls were converted to God before his death.

A call to action and sacred responsibility

Today, each of us is called to join this cloud of witnesses. The world may not see you as a great hero, but you can become one for your family and loved ones. Satan seeks to use sickness, corruption in the country, injustice, and domestic troubles to make us give up and leave the ministry. Christ calls us to raise our eyes to Him.
During Holy Communion (breaking of bread) we remember His broken body and shed blood, which gives power to overcome sin. We should pray for two things:

1. Ask God for strength to cast off any sin, pride or oppressive life burden that prevents you from looking at Christ.
2. To make a firm decision to become someone’s “Andrew” – to take at least one of your “Peters” (relatives, acquaintances) by the hand and lead them to the saving knowledge of Christ.

Why is there so much evil, lawlessness, corruption and cruelty around us, even among those who are called to protect? Because someone did not lead them to Christ at one time, did not become a witness for them. Our mission is to change the country through repentance and the birth of new and new churches.