Pastor’s Page | September 18th, 2025
Sermon Prep (Read Ephesians 4:1-16)
I have in my home a yearbook of sorts. It is from my time aboard the USS Boxer and it was after a successful West-Pac cruise. We had spent over 6 months out at sea and we had accomplished our primary purpose. In this book, there are over 1500 sailors. They all wore the same uniform, but they all looked so different. But that is not the point I want to make today. The point is that all these sailors have a very similar story. They all were recruited by the Navy to serve, they all accepted the call to serve, they all received some sort of “boot camp” to train them to be the best sailor they can be. They all had very similar stories. Yet, when you look at this book they are all divided up into different departments, which is then broken down to different divisions. Why? Because they each had different tasks and responsibilities. I belonged to the Operations Department. We didn’t deal with Engineering, nor did we deal with Administration, nor did we deal with bombs. We were the specialized people who had specific “nerdy” tasks to enable everyone else to do their job. So, in our Operations Department, we had the Intelligence people, we had the radar people, we had the photography people, and then the most important group was the OA division which was the weather and oceanography people (Yes, weather is vital to the mission of any organization…show love to your weatherman!). All joking aside, every division was made of a number of sailors and they each had tasks to do. If one division didn’t do their tasks, then all the other divisions and departments would suffer. If the radar guys didn’t keep a watch out, how would the bomb guys know who to shoot? And if the Engineer guys didn’t keep the ship going, how would we get there? If the Navigation guys didn’t tell us where to go, how would we know how to get there? And if the food service guys didn’t cook the food…then it would be anarchy!!!
The point is this: We were all sailors but we all had different roles to play and gifts to share. It was only when everyone did their part that the cruise was deemed a “success”. And no task was more important than another (besides weather) because one couldn’t do another without each other.
What is true of the ship is true of the church. God has gifted each of us with certain roles and tasks within the church and He has gifted each one of us so that together we can accomplish what He has called us to do. This Sunday we will be looking at the purpose and the giving of Spiritual gifts. We will focus on what they are, how we determine our gift, some of the mistakes we make when discussing these gifts and the pitfalls to avoid.
In addition to our primary text, read up on these other verses to help prepare you for Sunday morning: Romans 12:1-8, 1 Peter 4:10-11, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 2 Timothy 1:6-7, 1 Timothy 4:14, Matthew 25:14-30, 1 Corinthians 4:6-7.
Updates, Thoughts and More
We kicked off our Table Talk series this past Wednesday on the topic of World Religions. This past week we looked at modern day Judaism and how it connects to Christianity. This week we will dive into the religion of Islam. What is Islam and how is it connected to both Judaism and Christianity? Why is it growing so fast and why does it seem to be at odds with the Western world? How is it similar to Christianity but yet so vastly different. Come join us this Wednesday at 5 pm in E101 to learn more.
This church runs on Jesus, Coffee, and Volunteers. We have a great staff, but the staff would not be able to
do what they do without the great work of the numerous volunteers. On September 24 th at 2 pm, the staff would like to have you as our guest for our Volunteer Appreciation party. This is for all of our volunteers at church. Who are the volunteers? Anyone who serves on a committee, sings in the choir, works at the front desk, sticks around to help put up chairs and tables, helps with the kids and youth, serves in our community, prays for our church and her mission, and anything else you can think of that involves volunteering of your time and gifts in the church. We as a staff want to say thank you for giving of yourself to the Kingdom of Christ. We will have some snacks, drinks, and Dr. Rawlianne Rangel and our new associate music director Daria Dodonova will be sharing their gifts of music with us. We do ask that you call the church office to RSVP so we can ensure we have enough food for everyone.
Okay…how prophetic was I Saturday about my college football picks? Good thing I am not a gambling man or I would have crushed Vegas. Let’s keep it rolling this week. First, let me do a non-SEC game. Texas Tech and Utah will be a great game. Utah always seems to have a great defense, but I think Tech has the better team this year. The only trouble is that they are playing in Utah. I think Utah wins in a close game. Now to the SEC. It is not as much fun as last week. Oklahoma will embarrass Auburn this week. Auburn is still trying to figure out who they are as a team. They make so many boneheaded penalties that end up costing them points. Missouri will beat South Carolina because I think Sellers will be out for a while. My hot take for this week is that I think Florida will upset Miami. I think this is one of those games that Napier wins to try to save his job. Miami is the better team, but this is the upset of the week.
For the NFL, I think Dallas defeats the Bears and the talk will be about the coachability of Caleb Williams. (FYI…you can’t make him be an anticipatory, pocket QB. He is more like Brett Favre and less like Peyton Manning.). Also, another hot take! I think the Giants pull off an upset over the Chiefs sending them to 0-3. The Giants are not a good team, but they have a solid defense, and the Chiefs offense is struggling now. The other game that will be good is the MNF game. I think Baltimore scores early and then holds off a Lions comeback in the 4th quarter.
What’s Going On This Week
Sunday (09/21)
Sunday Service - 9am & 10:30am
Monday (09/22)
Stitching Angels - 1:00pm
Tuesday (09/23)
Men’s Meeting - 7:30am
Armor of God Bible Study - 10:00am
Wednesday (09/24)
Prayer Warriors - 9am
Sip and Share - 10am
Stitching Angels - 1:00pm
Volunteer Appreciation Reception - 2pm
Table Talk (World Religions) - 5pm
Youth and Kids - 5pm
Bell Choir - 6pm
Choir - 7pm
Open Gym - 7pm
Thursday (09/25)
Psalms Bible Study - 9:00am
Learning our Faith
Catechism of the Global Methodist Church (Ecumenical Affirmations)
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
What is our greatest hope?
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. (John 6:39-40; 11:25-26; Rom. 6:5-8; 8:22-23; 1 Cor. 15:20-23, 50-55; Phil. 3:10-12, 20-21; 1 Thess. 4:13- 18.)
What are the two ultimate outcomes facing humanity?
The righteous rise to eternal life and the wicked to eternal condemnation. (Matt. 13:24-30, 36- 43; 25:31-46; John 5:25-29; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:1-8; 22:1-5)
Joke of the Week
Bob and Sue are walking down the street when they see a Priest who asks, “Didn’t I marry you two last year?” Bob says, “Yes, you did.”; The Priest asks, “Do you have any kids yet?” Sue says, “Unfortunately, not yet.” The Priest says, “I’m going to Rome, and I’ll light a Candle for you and Bob to be blessed with children.” And the Priest leaves.
Many years later Sue sees the priest again. The Priest says, “Have you any kids yet?” Sue replies, “Yes, we have two sets of twins and six others, ten in all!” The Priest says, “Great and where’s your husband, Bob?” Sue says, “He’s gone to Rome to blow out your Candle.”
Quote of the Week
When we exercise the gifts which Christ has given us we are really saying to our fellow Christians and others: See how much the Lord Jesus Christ loves you and cares for you; He has sent me to serve you in this way; He is using my hands and feet, my lips and ears, to show His love. It is a tragic mistake if we think that the message is: See what a superb Christian I am; see the wonderful gifts I have… Gifts are for service, not self-advancement.
~Sinclair Ferguson
Memory Verse of the Week
“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”
~Ephesians 4:7 (NIV)
