Pastor’s Page | October 30th, 2025
Sermon Prep (Read Philippians 1:19-26)
How do you see death? Oftentimes, death is something that we tremble before. Paul tells us that death is the last enemy to be defeated (1 Cor 15:26) and it was something that Satan used to keep us all in fear (Heb 2:14-15). When my aunt (who we called Mamaw) died, our family decided that it would be best if us kids didn’t see the body because they wanted us to remember her as she was. When my actual grandmother died, to be honest, we didn’t know her all that well and so it just seemed we had to get dressed up and sit in a boring old room with a bunch of folks crying. The same was when my uncle died (except this time, my dad cried which freaked me out…he never cried!). But when death truly hit home for me was when we had a terrible bus crash happen within our community. A church group was going to an amusement park and on the way home they were hit by a drunk driver. It is known as the Carrollton Bus Crash and 27 people were killed, most of them students. What was eye-opening about that crash was first, that many of the kids were my classmates and it was sobering to go to school that next week and see their empty chairs. Death was so final and fatal. It didn’t seem right to me. This was not an older relative who had lived a long life, but these were kids my age. Death took them away from their parents, their friends, and their future. Death was a scary thing. The second thing was that my sister was supposed to be on that bus, but she was unable to go at the last minute. I remember thinking that my sister could have died, and what then? How could I make sure that she never died? Plus, if she could have died, then that means everyone else I cared about could die. It was a scary time for a kid in middle school. Death was a scary thing. For many it still is.
But Jesus changed that for me. I will tell a story on Sunday about my own brush with death and what I experienced when I was in a bed in the ER, but I remember struggling at that time with the very thing that Paul discusses in our passage. “To die is gain”, Paul says. How do we go from death as the enemy to death as a gain for us? It goes back to what is your life. Actually, let me rephrase that. It goes back to WHO is your life. Paul says, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain”. The reason why death was gain wasn’t simply heaven, but it was because of what life meant to Paul. Life was Jesus, death meant that Paul got to be with Jesus. And Paul wasn’t sure which one he wanted. He wanted to be with Jesus, but at the same time he knew he still had so much to offer the Philippians and the other churches.
experienced death in ways that we could never begin to comprehend so that He could transform our experience of death and bring us life. Also, think of the love that Paul had for Jesus where he knew that leaving this life (as great as it may be) meant that He got to experience Jesus face to face and the wonder that would bring. But then think of the love that Paul had for the Philippians when as great as meeting Jesus would be, he knew he still had something to offer them in order to help them in their faith. And all of this impacted how Paul saw his current predicament as he was in the jail cell with the real possibility of death hanging over him. He was confident that he would be delivered, but whether that meant remaining in prison, being set free, or even being put to death, he was okay with it because Jesus would be glorified in it all.
As you study this passage this week, think about your own view of death. How have you experienced the reality of death, and do you fear it? How has your faith in Jesus impacted your understanding of death? Also, think about how your love of Jesus today impacts how you view eternity with Him. Why is death gain? Is it simply for heaven or is it because of Who is there.
This Sunday is All Saints Sunday, so we will be remembering those who have passed away and their impact on our lives. More importantly, we will be celebrating the impact that Jesus has on our life and our death and why we can see death as a gain.
So, as we get ready for Sunday, I have some homework for you. I want you to complete this sentence as honestly as you can (don’t just say the spiritual thing you think the preacher wants to hear). The sentence is this: “For me to live is __________, and to die is _________.” Be honest. Now ask yourself, if Jesus was at the center of your life, how would that sentence change?
Sermon Series “Living For Jesus: A Study of Philippians”
11/02 - To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain - Philippians 1:20-26
11/09 - Living To Glorify Christ - Philippians 1:27-30
11/16 - Living Like Christ - Philippians 2:1-5
11/23 - The Mind of Christ - Philippians 2:6-12
11/30 - Shining For Jesus - Philippians 2:12-18
Updates, Thoughts and More
This Sunday will be our special “All Saints Day” service where we will remember our loved ones we have lost during the previous year. During the Traditional service at 9 am, we will be lighting a candle in their memory and reading their name out loud. This will take place during our communion liturgy.
We will be having our annual church meeting on November 16 th after the 2 nd service. The names for Nominations and other items we will be voting on are located in the narthex. We will once again be having absentee voting two weeks prior.
The Lord’s Acre is upon us. We are so excited about all the great things that we have planned for this year and the items that we will be auctioning off. There is a list of items located on our website for you to browse and to prepare to bid on. Oh…and did I mention that there will be brisket, pulled pork, and sausage (oh my!).
Let’s talk about college football. First, Mississippi State got hosed last week. How Texas won that game is beyond me. Kentucky on the other hand, we got what we deserved (I am not bitter, not one bit!). Now for this week’s games: I think this is a special year for Vanderbilt and I think they walk into Austin and come out with the big W. Georgia will demolish Florida. Oklahoma will wonder what happened to their season after the thumping Tennessee will put on them. Kentucky and Auburn will see which one will lay claim to the most disappointing season, which Kentucky will sadly win (it’s the only football related thing they will win!) And finally, Ohio State will whoop Penn State so bad they will start seeing the disappointing ghost of Joe Paterno weeping in the end zone.
For the NFL, the two games to watch will be Kansas City and Buffalo. Kansas City has looked great these last few weeks but the competition hasn’t been the greatest. Buffalo hasn’t looked all that good, and the competition hasn’t been the greatest either. As much as I hate to say it, I think KC will win this game. The other game to watch is Indy and Pittsburgh. Where did Indy come from? This was not the same team from last year. It shows you the difference a decent QB makes. I think Indianapolis wins this one and Aaron Rogers gets some more gray hair in his beard.
What’s Going On This Week
Sunday (11/02)
Sunday Service - 9am & 10:30am
Monday (11/03)
Stitching Angels - 1:30pm
Tuesday (11/04)
Men’s Meeting - 7:30am
Armor of God Bible Study - 10:00am
Wednesday (11/05)
Prayer Warriors - 9:00am
Sip and Share - 10:00am
Table Talk - 5pm
Youth and Kids - 5:00pm
Bell Choir - 6:00pm
Choir - 7:00pm
Thursday (11/06)
Psalms Bible Study - 9:00am
Fall Fest at Rancho Brazos - 6pm-8pm
Friday (11/07)
Food Pantry at GUMC - 7:30am
Saturday (11/08)
Lord’s Acre - 10am-2pm
Joke of the Week
I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes. She gave me a hug.
Memory Verse of the Week
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
~Philippians 1:21 (NIV84)
Quote of the Week
“Living is death; dying is life. On this side of the grave we are exiles, on that, citizens; on this side, orphans, on that, children; on this side, captives; on that, freemen; on this side, disguised, unknown; on that, disclosed and proclaimed as the sons of God.”
~Henry Ward Beecher
