Pastor’s Page | October 23rd, 2025
Sermon Prep (Read Philippians 1:15-18)
Though I have never watched the shows, I have seen many clips for the show called “Righteous Gemstones”. This show is about a family of televangelists who live crazy and opulent lives at the expense of the tithes and offerings of the flock they fleece. From what I have gathered, the family doesn’t always get along with each other, they tend to get into territorial fights with other money hungry churches, and let’s just say that their life’s choices aren’t making them very Christlike. In a nutshell, these people are awful. In fact, they are the worst kind of awful…they are holy awful!
So I have these people in mind when I read Paul’s words today. What if it was this crazy “Walton Goggins Rhinestone preacher” who was talking smack about the Apostle Paul while he was in prison, using his sermons to get rich and famous. Yet, when you listened to his sermons (in the midst of all the garbage) the Gospel was actually being proclaimed. In his sermon he talked about our need for a Savior and the atoning work of Jesus He had a very high Christological view and even nailed the call for walking in obedience to Christ.
There is a part of me who would like Paul to go over and smack these guys on their head and then write them a very stern epistle but instead look at what Paul says in our text. Paul rejoices that the Gospel is being proclaimed, even from those who are preaching it out of impure motives. That is hard for me!!! Shouldn’t Paul be more upset about preachers who preach out of envy, rivalry, and out of selfish ambition, especially those who were stirring up trouble for him while he was in prison? Yet, Paul says that it doesn’t matter as long as Christ is being proclaimed. Now, I don’t think this means that Paul is saying that these men are okay in doing what they are doing. I also don’t think that he says they are good preachers. I think that Paul is saying that the Gospel can be heard even in the midst of all that other garbage and that is worth praising God for. Those preachers will be held accountable by their Creator, but if their message is faithful to the Gospel and Christ is exalted, then Paul will rejoice at their preaching.
This also leads me to some other thoughts. Why is it that we as Christians are so consumed with envy, rivalry, and selfish ambition? I have been a pastor now for many moons, and I have discovered that many pastors tend to have very thin skin and can easily be made to feel less-than when comparisons are made with other preachers. I once went to a conference at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY. This church at the time averaged about 30,000 every Sunday. Bob Russell was the preacher, and he was committed to preaching the bible and never shied away from the truth. Everything he said was biblically sound and he was humorous and humble. Yet, at the conference I sat with some other ministers who were constantly talking trash about. him. Why? Because he had such a large church. They were convinced that he was watering down the Gospel and that they themselves were much better communicators than he was. I was only 24 years old at the time, and I was shocked hearing this because I thought every preacher rooted for each other. I have found that it can be a cutthroat, dog-eat-dog world…even amongst preachers? Why is this? What does this say about our motives when proclaiming the Gospel?
This Sunday we will be looking at this passage and looking at the difficult task of separating the message from the messenger, the awful ways that Christians go after each other for worldly gains, and why Paul would tear apart those who preached a gospel other than the Gospel proclaimed by Christ (like in his letter to the Galatians), and yet rejoice when these men who preached with such impure motives. Can we spot the difference between a heretical preacher and a preacher we just don’t like? Hopefully this message will give us some guidance and discernment when we are watching those televangelists on TV (or any preacher…including the one typing this message!). Are they proclaiming Christ or themselves? Self-Actualization or Salvation in Christ? Good News or a cheap knockoff? Also, we will look at how Paul could have such an attitude to rejoice because of the Gospel being proclaimed when these scoundrels were being so awful and mean. It takes a big man to rejoice like that. Actually, it takes a Christ-filled man to rejoice like that.
Here are some other verses to help you in your study for this Sunday’s message. 1 Cor 22-25, 2 Cor 4:5-6, 1 Tim 3:16, Phil 2:3, Matt 23:1-34, Rom 16:17-19, Gal 1:6-10, Gal 2:4-7, 1 Pet 5:2-4, Mark 9:38-40, 1 Cor 15:10-11, 2 John 1:7-11.
October Sermon Series
”Partners In The Gospel”
10/25: In Spite Of You (Philippians 1:15-18)
Updates, Thoughts and More
This Sunday we will once again be passing out our pledge cards. These cards will help us in establishing our plans for the budget, for ministries, and for missions. Please carefully pray about your commitment to giving to the church for the upcoming year. We are grateful and humbled by your willingness to be so faithful in your giving to the Lord.
On November 2nd , we will be having a special “All Saints Day” service where we will remember our loved ones we have lost during the previous year. During the service, we will be lighting a candle in their memory and reading their name out loud. If you have a loved one that you lost this past year and you would like to have them remembered during the service, there is a sheet in the Narthex for you to place their name. Also, you can either contact the office or email the pastor.
Have you ever had a person knock on your door and want to tell you about Jesus? If they were wearing black pants and white shirt, they were probably Mormon. Yet, more than likely they were Jehovah Witnesses. Why are they knocking on your door? What do they actually believe? Why don’t their buildings not have any windows? Why don’t they celebrate birthdays and Christmas? This upcoming Wednesday in our Table Talk series, we will be looking at the Jehovah Witnesses. Come and join us this Wednesday at 5pm in Room E101.
This week keeps getting better and better. I want to thank Mel and Kay Stengena and Mo Rogers for blessing us with some Reese’s Cups and some Payday Candy Bars. We are so grateful. Just a reminder, your church staff works really hard, and they do a great job. Please take the time to send them a little note, text or email, or even a little something special to let them know how appreciative you are of their hard work.
We will be having our annual church meeting on November 16 th after the 2 nd service. We will make sure to get the nominations and other items we will be voting on out to every member at least 3 weeks in advance. We will once again be having absentee voting the week prior.
Partnering with Rancho Brazos for their Fall Festival. On October 30 th , we will be joining the Rancho Brazos community in their Fall Festival/Trunk or Treat. We are asking for signups for those who will come and park their cars and pass out candy just like you would do here at the church. If you would like to donate Candy, we have a place in the Narthex for you to drop off the candy. All Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups can be dropped off at the Pastor’s office, and the PayDay Candy Bars can be dropped off in the office.
Let’s talk college football! Can I pick them or what! I must be prophetic (though many would argue that it should be spelled pathetic). And I want to thank all of you who gave me condolences after that heartbreak that was my beloved Kentucky loss to Texas. I also appreciate those who took the time to flash me the “hook ‘em horns” sign during communion. . So here are my picks this week: First, I think Ole Miss will rise to the occasion and defeat Oklahoma (Lane Kiffin may be trying to show off in order to get the Florida job!). Texas will have their hands full with Mississippi State. I think this may be the upset of the week. I think Texas A&M will have a close game against LSU but will pull it out in the last few minutes. Sadly, I think Kentucky will be defeated by that nasty orange colored school in Knoxville.
As for the NFL, the game that I am looking forward to is the Giants vs Eagles. I love to watch Skattebo play. Plus, the Eagles will be looking for revenge after the Giants humbled them a few weeks back. I think the Eagles win (and pretty easily), but the Giants will have made it look like backyard football. Dallas will lose a close one to Denver. Green Bay will look good and dominate against Pittsburgh, and the Chiefs will destroy Washington (especially if Daniels is still out).
What’s Going On This Week
Sunday (10/26)
Sunday Service - 9am & 10:30am
Monday (10/27)
Stitching Angels - 1:30pm
Tuesday (10/28)
Men’s Meeting - 7:30am
Armor of God Bible Study - 10:00am
Wednesday (10/29)
Prayer Warriors - 9:00am
Sip and Share - 10:00am
Table Talk (Jehovah Witness) - 5pm
Youth and Kids - 5:00pm
Bell Choir - 6:00pm
Choir - 7:00pm
Thursday (10/30)
Psalms Bible Study - 9:00am
Fall Fest at Rancho Brazos - 6pm-8pm
Joke of the Week
A priest, a rabbi and a minister are walking through the woods and find a bag of cash hidden under a bush. They decide to give some of the money to God and split the rest evenly between themselves but cannot agree on how much to give to God. To be spiritual about the decision, they agree that an element of chance should be involved.
The rabbi says: we should draw a circle on the ground, stand in the middle and throw the money in the air. Whatever money lands inside the circle we give to God, whatever lands outside we split. The priest shakes his head, and says: no, no, we should draw the circle on the ground, stand in the middle and throw the money in the air. Whatever money lands outside the circle we will give to God, whatever lands inside, we will split.
The minister laughs and says: you’re both wrong: we should take all the money and throw it into the air and whatever God wants, he keeps!
Memory Verse of the Week
“But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.”
~Philippians 1:18 (NIV84)
Quote of the Week
“I am determined, as far as ever I can, to preach the gospel plainly and simply, so that everybody may understand it.”
~Charles Spurgeon
