Recap:
This morning we welcomed Pastor Roberto Beretta and his translator, Vanessa, from Argentina. The moment they stepped onto the platform, the atmosphere shifted—you could feel faith rising as we prepared to hear the word of the Lord. And Pastor Roberto came with a clear declaration: God has placed an open door before us, and the time is now.
We opened to Revelation 3:7–8 where Jesus says, “What I open, no one can shut. I know your deeds, and I have placed before you an open door.” Pastor Roberto reminded us that when God opens a door, it represents opportunity, influence, responsibility, and a choice. None of us know what lies on the other side—only God does—but when He calls us forward, we step. Even if we feel weak. Even if we feel unprepared. Even if the timing feels uncomfortable. Because the door won’t stay open forever. God’s invitation is always for now.
He explained how the city of Philadelphia stood at the edge of unreached territory. Just like them, God positions us at the edge of spiritual borders—inviting us to bring the culture of His Kingdom into places where the gospel has not yet gone. An open door might look like a new opportunity. A new responsibility. A breakthrough moment. Or even a moment of victory after a long season of struggle. Sometimes it’s a door of revelation in the middle of our lowest moment—just like Jacob with nothing but a rock for a pillow, or John exiled on an island—yet both saw heaven opened.
And then he shared testimonies that stirred our hearts. Years ago, a couple in their church felt called to Morocco. They planted literal seeds in the soil of a coastal town—believing God would do something only He could do. Years later, the very first believer they baptized in Spain was a woman from that same town. Only God can write stories like that.
But Pastor Roberto also reminded us that God not only opens doors—He closes them, and that is just as important. Isaiah prophesied about the keeper of the keys. Acts 16 shows Paul trying to go one direction, only to find the Spirit shutting the door again and again—so God could guide him toward Macedonia and ultimately toward Europe. Closed doors aren’t punishments. They’re protection. Redirection. Preparation. And if we don’t learn to discern them, we risk fighting for something God has already shut down—or missing something He has already opened.
He told us very plainly:
Open doors require urgent obedience. Closed doors require trust.
Both require faith.
Then he shared about Argentina. In one of the worst economic seasons the country has ever faced—when inflation was skyrocketing and money lost value by the hour—their church kept giving. Kept sowing. Kept believing. And in the middle of economic chaos, God allowed them to buy a mobile clinic, support orphanages, house widows, and establish clinics in villages with leprosy. What was worthless in their own economy became miraculous in God’s hands. It was a reminder that our weakness is never a limitation for God’s strength.
He also told us about Spain. It was hard soil. They experienced loss, setbacks, and discouragement. Seven different times they had to move their church. But the door God opened didn’t close—and today, there are thriving congregations, ministry hubs, food distribution to thousands of Muslims, and leaders being raised up all across the nation. When God opens a door, your job is to walk—He handles the outcomes.
Pastor Roberto closed by challenging us to walk through every God-given door:
Immediately. Obediently. Joyfully. Confidently.
Because when God opens a door, no one—not people, not fear, not governments, not the enemy—can close it.
After the message, Pastor Mark led us in a time of prayer over the nations, over our missionaries, and over the open doors God has placed before our church. We celebrated what God has been doing all week, and were reminded that some of the greatest doors in the world—especially in the Muslim world—are open right now. It may not stay that way, but God has called us to step through it now.
We introduced Vanessa, a missionary candidate preparing to go to the nations. Today’s faith promises and missions offering help launch young men and women like her who carry the gospel into places our feet may never reach—but our prayers and generosity will.
We ended with a powerful, Spirit-led moment of commitment. Cards in our hands, prayers on our lips, faith rising in our hearts. We declared together that Cross Points Church will step through every open door God sets before us—for the sake of the nations and the glory of His name.
Group Questions:
Icebreakers (pick 1–2)
- Door Moments:
What’s a door you walked through in life that changed everything for you—big or small? - Unexpected Turns:
Share a time when a “closed door” ended up being good for you later. - Faith Step Flashback:
What is one moment in your life when you felt unprepared, but you stepped forward anyway? - Travel Metaphor:
If God opened a door to serve anywhere in the world for one month, where would you go and why?
Scripture Focus
Revelation 3:7–8
“What He opens, no one can shut. What He shuts, no one can open… I have placed before you an open door.”
Discussion Questions
1. Understanding God’s Open Doors
- Pastor Roberto said open doors represent opportunity, influence, responsibility, and choice.
Which one of these do you tend to focus on the most? Which do you overlook? - Why do you think God often invites us to walk through doors when we feel weak or unprepared?
- Philadelphia stood at the edge of unreached territory.
Where has God placed you at the edge of “spiritual borders”? (Workplace? Family? Community?)
- Discerning Closed Doors
- Paul in Acts 16 experienced repeated closed doors.
How do you usually react when you face a closed door—frustration, confusion, peace, resistance? - Pastor Roberto said: Closed doors aren’t punishment; they are protection.
Share a moment when a closed door protected you or redirected you. - How can we better discern when God is closing a door versus when fear is closing one?
- Faith in Weakness
- Argentina’s story showed God multiplying what seemed worthless during economic crisis.
Where do you currently feel weak or limited, and how might God want to show strength there? - The Spain story showed long-term perseverance: hard soil, setbacks, seven moves.
Where do you need fresh perseverance for something God has called you to? - Which testimony from the sermon increased your faith the most—and why?
- Urgency and Obedience
Pastor Roberto said:
“Open doors require urgent obedience. Closed doors require trust.”
- Which of those two—obedience or trust—is harder for you right now?
- What is one door God may be inviting you to walk through now?
(Serving, giving, reconciling, starting something, stopping something, reaching someone.) - Why do you think it’s important that the door “won’t stay open forever”?
Prayer Focus
Take time to pray for:
- Open doors for Cross Points Church
- Missionaries and global partners
- Courage to step into personal open doors
- Discernment for closed doors
- Vanessa and other missionary candidates
- The Muslim world and other currently open nations