The Communion of Saints | A Sermon on Heb 12:1-2 & Rev 7:9-12

Introduction
Last week, I reminded you to put on the whole armor of God because there is a spiritual war happening beyond the veil of the physical world that we can see.  So much is happening beyond what we can see.  But today I also want to remind you that part of what we cannot see is a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on.

Imagine standing in a great stadium filled with a roaring crowd.
Now, I know we have a lot of football fans here at Pleasant Grove — you’ve been to those stadiums packed with thousands of people. But picture something far greater — ten, twenty, a hundred times larger. And this crowd isn’t cheering for a football team. They’re cheering for you — for us — brothers and sisters in Christ who are striving to do the will of our Father.

Abraham from Genesis is there. Moses from Exodus. Mary, the mother of Jesus. The twelve apostles — they’re all there, cheering for us. Isn’t that incredible? We’ve spent our lives looking up to them, admiring their faith and courage — yet now they are the ones cheering us on!

Martin Luther of the Reformation, Martin Luther King Jr. of the Civil Rights movement, John and Charles Wesley, Billy Graham — they’re all in that heavenly grandstand, lifting their voices for us. And among them are the saints of Pleasant Grove — people whose names you may never have heard, who worshiped in this church 150 years ago, dreaming of the ministry you’re living out today. They are in the glory of heaven, cheering for you now.

And then there are the saints we do remember — Sarah Brooker, T.W.W. Soby, Bonnie Sloan, Eddie Marlow, Sue McKenna, and so many others. I couldn’t possibly name them all; we’d be here forever. But they’re all part of that great cloud of witnesses, watching, hoping, and cheering for you.

Among them are former pastors of this church — Jack Gillespie, Dean Milford, Jack Summers — and even those early circuit riders who came on horseback, preaching in this very place, pouring their hearts into this congregation, loving you just as I have loved you. Now, they’re in heaven, still cheering for you. They haven’t forgotten.

This is the Communion of Saints.  It is the living, eternal fellowship of all believers in Christ–both those living in this life and those living in the afterlife.  Whenever we worship, they worship with us.  They care about us.   The Bible says they are cheering for us.

Hebrews 12:1
¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 

Revelation repeats the vision of the Communion of Saints in even greater detail: 

Revelation 7:9-12
⁹ After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they were shouting with a great roar,

“Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne
    and from the Lamb!”

¹¹ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. ¹² They sang,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
    and thanksgiving and honor
and power and strength belong to our God
    forever and ever! Amen.”

The Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God is so much bigger than we can see or even imagine.  It is a multitude from every nation, worshiping the Lamb — a vision of ultimate unity and joy. 

For fifteen years, we have been on this journey together.  We have loved each other, challenged each other, encouraged one another, helped each other, and learned together.  We have worshiped side by side, and through it all, we’ve seen God’s hand at work among us.

No matter where I am—whether on earth or one day in heaven—I will always be cheering for you. Always.  I will continue serving as the pastor of Pleasant Grove Methodist in Dalton until December 31st. But even after that, though I may no longer be their pastor, I will always be their friend, their brother in Christ, and their biggest supporter.

And thanks to the gift of technology, I will still be able to keep up with them and even worship with them online from time to time.

Most importantly, I will always be their brother in Christ; and in Him, that bond is eternal.
In the meantime, we still have a race to run.  We still have a kingdom to build.

 

Hebrews 12:1-2
¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. ² We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.^[a] Because of the joy^[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Strip Off...
Hebrews says, “Strip off every weight that slows you down.”

When I first came to my church in Dalton, we had a program called Run for God.  For many people, it was the first time they had ever tried to run, and I was so proud of how everyone gave it their all. I went back and looked through some of the old Facebook posts from that time, and it was so encouraging to see the comments like:  “I’m out here trying to run for God… it’s a good thing I’m running for God, because otherwise I’d have quit already!”

You could hear the struggle, but also the determination and joy behind it. Running is hard work—and so is walking in faith. Some people couldn’t run, but they got out there and walked. They were walking for God. And you know what? If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl. Whatever it takes—just keep moving forward for God.

But the writer of Hebrews says, “Strip off every weight that slows you down.”  Imagine trying to run a race with a 50-pound bag on your back, your arms full of boxes, maybe a few grocery bags too. How far do you think you’d get? Probably not very. It would be exhausting—maybe even impossible.

That’s what happens when we try to run the spiritual race while carrying things that weigh us down. The passage says especially sin, because of course, there are things in our lives we know we need to let go of—things we ought not to do, things we know aren’t right. We’ve got to lay them down, like the old hymn says, so we can run freely and effectively.

But notice—it doesn’t just say sin. It says, “Every weight.” There are things that aren’t sinful, but they still slow us down. They still keep us from running the race effectively. It’s like dragging an anchor while you’re trying to run a marathon.

So what are those things?
Maybe it’s worry—carrying anxiety that God never meant for you to bear.
Maybe it’s fear—hesitating to follow God’s call because you’re afraid.
Maybe it’s busyness—being pulled in so many directions that you can’t focus on what really matters. Not everything you do is bad; it just may not be what God wants you to do.
Maybe it’s comparison—constantly looking at what someone else has, how they look, or how they serve, instead of running your own race.

Like Amy said earlier, it’s easy to want someone else’s “nose”—or their talents, their gifts, their circumstances. But God made you to run your race, not theirs.

So let’s strip away anything that slows us down—sin, fear, distraction, comparison—and fix our eyes on Jesus. He’s the one who set the course before us, and He’s waiting at the finish line with open arms.

Eyes on Jesus
Verse 2 says:  "Keep your eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith."
Jesus is the reason “Love Lives at Pleasant Grove”. 
Jesus is the reason so many saints have come from our pews.
Jesus is the reason Pleasant Grove has endured through so many trials over the years ans continued to be a vital part of our community.
Jesus is the reason this church will continue to be a beacon of love and hope for years to come.

I will be leaving at the end of this year to go serve where Jesus is leading me.
But the mission of God continues here at Pleasant Grove.
The same Spirit who brought us together will continue to lead you.
And my sincerest hope for you is that you will continue to follow Him with your whole heart. 

Closing Ceremony
[Invite everyone to take the hand of the person next to them until we are all holding someone’s hand…]

Pastor:  We stand as one body — saints together, past, present, and future.
As I prepare to go where God is sending me,
and as you prepare to receive what God will do here next,
let’s bless one another.

Congregation:  Lord, we thank You for every saint who has run the race before us.
Thank You for the love we have shared, the prayers we have lifted,
and the lives You’ve changed here.

Pastor:  Bless this congregation as they continue their ministry.
Strengthen them in faith, guide them in hope, and unite them in love.

Congregation:
And bless Pastor Chris as he prepares to go serve another part of Your body in January,
that together we may keep running the race You’ve set before us —
so we all gather together at Your throne in eternity.  

All:  Amen.

 

Guest Speaker: Sherry Dickson - Judgement

My prayer this morning is that what I say is pleasing to God and that it will encourage your mind and your heart, and stir you to grow—to love Jesus more deeply and more intimately today.

I did make an outline—a hard copy outline—if you want to hold it and take notes. If you would like one, there are copies available. You can raise your hand and I'm sure Tom would give you one. There are also some in the narthex; Scott can get those for you.

---

The Word of God and the Five Judgments

In 1982, my parents gifted me with this Bible. It is the New American Standard Study Bible, and it has been my go-to Bible since that time. It contains the Word of God, and there are also Christian study outlines in it. I wanted to share one of those outlines with you today.

Most people, when they think about God's judgment, might stiffen a little. But I hope that some of what I say today will round that out for you, so that you can see how wonderful God's judgments are.

I think most people—even on the street—understand that one day, they are going to have to give an account to God for their lives. This outline describes five different judgments. I used to think, "Yes, Jesus is coming, and my life is going to be judged, and I’ll give an accounting." But this outline shows that there are actually five different judgments, and they differ in time, place, and purpose. What they have in common is that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Judge. God the Father has given all authority of judgment to Jesus the Son.

Don’t worry—I’m not going to talk about all five today. I’ll talk about three.

---

Judgment #1: The Judgment of the Believer's Sin (Justification)

To begin with: God is holy. He is perfect in justice. He is great in mercy. He is all-loving, and His judgments are just as wonderful as He is.

Anything less than holiness is sin. It must be paid for and atoned for by death to be made right. This is God’s standard. He wants us to live by a high standard.

The first judgment is the judgment of the believer’s sin. The verse here is John 5:24. Jesus says:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life."

Notice—it says those who believe have passed out of death into life. That’s spiritual death.

This judgment happened 2,000 years ago on the cross. It also happens afresh every time a person repents and is born again.

You might ask, “How can something that happened 2,000 years ago affect me today?” Well, God is supra-time—He is outside and above time. He encompasses time. He’s not limited by it.

Scripture tells us, “To God, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

So God, who is holy, requires righteousness. Unrighteousness has a cost—death. God cannot be pure and wink at sin, no matter how small we think it is. Grace is costly. Anything less than good must be redeemed.

Purpose: The purpose of this judgment was to redeem all of humanity from the curse of the Fall—for all time.

Adam and Eve had the perfect place, perfect relationship with God, and perfect spouse. But they were tested and failed. Spiritual death came immediately; physical death followed later. Everyone born from Adam has a spirit dead to God—disconnected from Him.

But Jesus is the second Adam. He passed the test. He resisted Satan. He humbled Himself and surrendered His perfect life on the cross. He took our sins, died the death we deserved. The perfect Lamb of God, pierced and crushed for our iniquities.

The cross is the greatest act of love ever known.
The debt of sin is paid—not in part, but the whole: past, present, and future.

Jesus triumphed over evil. The cross is where the greatest love met sin and death—and love won.

Think about the events of the cross:

• The veil was torn

• The sky darkened

• The earth shook

• The tombs opened

All sin was laid on Jesus, and He paid the price. The victory is won.

“He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of light…” (Colossians)

Jesus has redeemed paradise lost. He’s opened the doors of heaven. He’s given believers the everlasting gift of God’s grace.

"There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

This first judgment is summed up in one word: Justification.

It’s "just as if I never sinned." God made Jesus—who knew no sin—to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God. That’s who we are.

---

Resurrection Power and New Identity

Jesus’s resurrection is our resurrection. His sacrifice didn’t just clean up our mess—it took care of the root of the mess: our unregenerated, stony heart.

Now, resurrection power lives in us. Our old self was crucified, and now we have the Spirit of the living God inside us to become more like Jesus.

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are."

We are adopted into God’s family. That’s why we can claim righteousness.

We are saints. We are a new creation. A royal priesthood. Born anew. No longer in Adam’s family—we’re in the family of God, the Kingdom of Light.

And God longs for every person to receive this eternal life.

---

Judgment #2: The Judgment of the Believer's Self (Sanctification)

1 Corinthians 11:31–32 says:

"But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world."

Place: Our heart
Time: Ongoing
Purpose: Sanctification—fullness of maturity in Christ

If our sins are forgiven, what’s our relationship to sin now?

We know sin still happens. Christians fail. We disobey. But our relationship with sin is now different.

Sin is still sin. It’s evil, deceptive, and destructive. But now we are not condemned.

We are convicted, not condemned. Conviction is being convinced by the Holy Spirit of our sin. Before Christ, sin flowed from a sinful heart. Now, our heart is new. Sin brings dissonance.

Now, our job is to put off the old self, be made new, and be transformed into the image of Christ.

"Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. We are not our own; we were bought with a price."

Sin is more than disobedience—it hurts the heart of God.

1 John 1:9 is for believers:

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

That restores fellowship with God. This is part of the growth process.

Illustration: Parent and Child
A child born or adopted into a family belongs there. They bear the name and receive all benefits—guidance, protection, discipline, provision, and love.

When they disobey, fellowship—not relationship—is broken. That disobedience creates a barrier. But when the child repents, fellowship is restored. Same with God and us.

Sin doesn’t break our relationship with Christ—but it breaks our fellowship. Restoration comes through confession and agreement with the Holy Spirit.

We must examine ourselves, be shaped more into the likeness of Jesus.

Jonathan Edwards said he resolved every night to review where he had failed.
Charles Spurgeon, John Wesley—all emphasized that justification without sanctification is not salvation. They are inseparable.

---

Judgment #3: The Judgment of the Believer’s Works (Evaluation and Reward)

This is the judgment of the believer’s deeds. Not sin—but deeds. It’s about reward or loss.

2 Corinthians 5:10:

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

This is not about eternal destiny. It’s about evaluating how we lived as redeemed people.

We’ll give an account of:

• Our time

• Our opportunities

• Our resources

• Our gifts

• Our use of grace

There will be differing rewards.

God won’t compare me to Billy Graham or Jimmy Carter. He’ll evaluate me based on what He gave me.

Metaphor: The Builder

1 Corinthians 3:11–15 says:

"No one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, their work will be shown for what it is… If it survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss—but will be saved, even though only as one escaping through flames."

So are we building with eternal materials or temporary ones?

Good deeds done with compassion, love, wisdom, and integrity—those last.
Deeds done for selfish reasons—those burn away.

Good deeds are the natural outflow of a redeemed heart. They are the proof of true faith.

---

Judgments 4 & 5 (Brief Mention)

• Judgment of the Nations – Christ separates sheep and goats.

• Judgment of the Wicked – Great White Throne Judgment; the wicked dead judged.

---

Summary

• The debt is paid.

• Your sins are forgiven.

• You have a new life and a firm foundation—Jesus Christ.

• You are called to examine yourself.

• You will receive rewards.

Let us love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Amen.

Jesus' Ministry Begins | A Sermon on Matthew 4:12-17

Introduction
In the last few weeks, we’ve studied how Jesus went down to the Jordan River where His cousin John was preaching and teaching people to repent of their sins and be baptized.  Jesus asked John to baptize Him in the Jordan River and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus and God spoke from heaven and said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 

 Immediately after that, Jesus went into the desolate region west of the Dead Sea where he fasted and prayed for 40 days and was tempted by the Devil.  After remaining faithful and without sin, it was time for Jesus to officially begin His ministry.

Matthew 4:12-17
¹² When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. ¹³ He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. ¹⁴ This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁵ “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali,
    beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River,
    in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,
¹⁶ the people who sat in darkness
    have seen a great light.
And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow,
    a light has shined.”^[a]

¹⁷ From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.^[b]”

Ministry Can Be Dangerous
First of all, I don’t want us to pass by verse 12 where it points out that John was arrested.  Ministry can be dangerous.  We often forget this in America, where we live sheltered lives.  There are Christians in our own Global Methodist Church denomination who live in Nigeria and Liberia who are facing arrests, beatings, and severe persecution as we speak—simply because they are trying to be faithful to the Word of God.  Next Sunday, in fact, we will host a missionary who has to be careful to protect his identity because it could be dangerous for him or his family if word got out about the work he does to serve Christ in his community.

John the Baptist was arrested and his work to baptize people and prepare the way for the Messiah came to an end.  Now it was time for the Messiah, Jesus, to begin His work.

Jesus Fulfills Prophecy
Matthew quotes Isaiah 9:1-2, “The people living in darkness have seen a great light.”  The prophet Isaiah spoke these words 700 years before Jesus came.  Jesus’ move to Capernaum (in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali) is not random—it fulfills God’s long-planned mission to reach the Gentiles as well as the Jews.  And they are a reminder to us, when things are at there darkest, Jesus comes to call us out into the light. 

These are important words for us to hear right now.  There’s a lot of darkness in our world.  We see the darkness of war.  We see the darkness of injustice.  We see the darkness of hurtful words—of lies, betrayal, of the poor getting poorer while the rich get richer.  We see injustice.  And many here live in fear of what the future holds—whether it is for you personally or for someone you know and love.  And there may be some listening to this message today who are in a very dark place.  And the Gospel Matthew shout the Good News: “The people living in darkness have seen a great light!”

Jesus is the Great Light!  No matter what darkness you may be facing—whether it’s fear, uncertainty, grief, or the weight of the world’s troubles—know this: Jesus is the light that overcomes the darkness. The same God who planned salvation for the world through Christ has not forgotten you. He sees you, He loves you, and He is calling you out of the shadows and into His marvelous light. Even when life feels overwhelming, His light still shines. Hold onto Him, because the darkness will not last—His hope, His truth, and His love will carry you through. 

The Kingdom of Heaven is Here
Before his arrest, John the Baptist prepared the way by calling people to repent.  Jesus continues John’s call to repentance, but His message is even greater—the Kingdom of Heaven is arriving now!  God’s reign is breaking into the world through Jesus’ ministry.

We often think of Heaven as a place we go to after we die.  But Jesus preached the Kingdom of Heaven starts now.  This isn’t just about a future heaven, but a present reality—God’s rule is being established on earth through Christ.

That means God’s Kingdom is not just something we wait for—it’s something we live in now. When we follow Jesus, we step into His reign, where love overcomes hate, truth defeats lies, and hope rises above despair. The way we live, work, love, and serve should reflect that we belong to His Kingdom, not the broken systems of this world. Where in your life is God calling you to live under His rule today? Maybe it’s in your family, your workplace, or in how you treat others. Jesus is not just offering you a future home in heaven—He is inviting you to experience His Kingdom right now. Will you step into it?

The Kingdom Is Just Beyond the Veil
Though the world may seem consumed by darkness, the Kingdom of Heaven is here, just beyond the veil. We may not always see it with our eyes, but it is breaking through in quiet, powerful ways—in acts of love, in moments of grace, in every heart that surrenders to Christ. While the world’s struggles feel overwhelming, God’s reign is already at work, transforming lives, restoring hope, and preparing the way for His ultimate victory. The Kingdom is not far off; it is near, it is now, and it is winning, even when we cannot yet see it in full.

It takes faith to believe in the Kingdom beyond the veil. The early Christians faced some of the darkest times in human history—they saw their Savior crucified, they endured relentless persecution, and many were put to death for their faith. And yet, they thrived. They didn’t cling to power or fight with fear; they lived with boldness, joy, and unshakable hope because they saw beyond the suffering of this world. They knew that God’s Kingdom was already here, breaking through, and that death itself had no power over them. That same faith can sustain us today. When life feels overwhelming, when evil seems to be winning, we can hold on to the truth that the Kingdom is real, that Christ is reigning, and that nothing—not even death—can separate us from His victory. This faith doesn’t just help us survive hardship—it transforms us, giving us the courage to shine His light in the darkest places.

Entering the Kingdom
Jesus came not just to show us the Kingdom, but to invite us in. We are welcome in Christ’s Kingdom, but we must make the choice to enter in. How do we enter the Kingdom? There are two key steps:

First, Repent – Turn Away from Sin and Turn to Jesus.  Jesus began His ministry with a simple but powerful message:  "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near!" (Matthew 4:17) 

 Repentance isn’t just about feeling bad for our sins—it’s about turning away from the darkness and stepping into the light. Sin blinds us from seeing the Kingdom. It chains us to the brokenness of this world. But when we repent—when we confess our sins, surrender our pride, and turn to Jesus—our eyes begin to open. We start to see beyond the veil, and the reality of God’s Kingdom becomes clear.

What is God calling you to leave behind today? What sins, distractions, or false securities are keeping you from stepping fully into His Kingdom?

Second, Die to Yourself to Find New Life in Christ.  Jesus didn’t come just to make our old life better—He came to give us an entirely new life. And that only happens when we die to ourselves.  "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)

The world tells us to chase our dreams, follow our desires, and live for ourselves. But Jesus tells us the only way to find real life is to surrender everything to Him. When we die to our selfish ambitions, our need for control, our old way of thinking, we step into true life in Christ.

The Kingdom of Heaven isn’t just waiting for us after death—it’s here now. But to enter, we must let go of our grip on this world. We must step through the veil and trust that what Jesus is offering is far greater than anything we leave behind.

The question is: Will you step in?

Closing
What’s keeping you from experiencing His Kingdom more fully? Is it a habit, a fear, a distraction, or an area where you need to surrender control? Over these next 40 days of Lent, I challenge you to seek God’s Kingdom more faithfully. Make space for Him in prayer, Scripture, acts of love, and obedience.

Remember, Jesus opened the door to the Kingdom through His sacrifice.
He invites you to repent, to die to ourselves, and to receive the new life He offers.

Will you step into His Kingdom?

I was On Your Mind - A Heartfelt Youth Sunday Sermon by Abigail Mullis and Amy Harris

This past Sunday was Youth Sunday at my church.  It is a time when the middle and high school students lead worship.  As part of this service, my 18-year-old daughter, Abigail, shared a heart felt message followed by a message from her youth pastor, Amy Harris.  I share their messages with you here.

Abigail's Message
This is my last Youth Sunday, which is crazy. I’m a little nervous, so stick with me. I hope you can take away even a little something from my message today.

That song I sang earlier is called "On Your Mind" by John Mark Pantana. If you’re ever looking for Christian songs that aren’t on the radio (because those aren’t my favorite, if I’m being honest), ask me for some—I’ve got some good ones. I decided to sing this song a month ago because it’s about this wonderful thing called prevenient grace. It’s the idea that God is looking out for us before we’re born, before we give our lives to Him, and even before the world began. He had you in His heart. That is incomprehensible, but I see it consistently in my life.

I’ve had the privilege of growing up in a single church, which is really remarkable because most kids of Methodist pastors don’t get that opportunity. I’ve been here since I was three years old, and that’s crazy to me. I’m very grateful for it because you’ve all helped me grow in my faith and made me who I am.

I want to start with a verse that I’ll keep coming back to—1 Corinthians 13:13: “Three things will last forever: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.” Pleasant Grove has embodied this verse for me. After all, where would I be without the love of my church?

Sherry Dickon’s love of prayer has inspired me. David’s love of music has pushed me and nurtured my own love. Angel and Sally have a zest for life that I deeply admire. There are so many of you who cared for me during Sunday school classes and children’s programs, even when I was the only one there. That might seem small, but it meant a lot to me that you showed up, even when it might have felt pointless. I’ll never forget weekends with T.W. and Margie, who cared for me like surrogate grandparents. Emily Andrews looked after me on weekends when my parents went on date nights. Elaine McDonald gave me a book of prayers after my first Youth Sunday sermon because I talked about how anxious I was, and I still read it almost every day.

And Deborah—I can’t forget her. She’s my Sunday school teacher, even though I’m the only one in her class. She takes me on rides and is basically my grandparent. We don’t just do Sunday school anymore; we talk, and it’s the most wonderful thing.

But my biggest thank-you goes to Amy. She makes me laugh every time I see her, tells me crazy stories from her life, and writes messages that touch my soul. She shows me the love of God in a way no one else has. She’s always there to listen and talk, free of judgment, and she speaks pure love.

God put this church, and the majority of you, in my life when I was three years old. Even then, I was on God’s mind. But soon, I’ll leave. In a couple of months, you’ll have new Abigails to raise. I thought I’d give you some advice on how to love others the way you’ve loved me—not just children, but everyone who needs love. Everyone needs love. Being a loving Christian is how we shine our light into the world. True, unbounded, unexplainable love is what sets Christians apart. Yes, we’ll fall short, but when we let God into our hearts, we are changed. In my experience, that makes loving God much easier.

2 Corinthians 6:6 says: “We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.”

Love is more than an idea or virtue; it’s a way of life. It means loving everyone, even if they dislike you, disagree with you, or show you no love in return. When I have a hard day, I wear a cross necklace my parents gave me for my 15th birthday. It reminds me to reflect on how people see me and how God calls me to love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 says: “If I could speak all the languages of earth and angels but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, understood all of God’s secret plans, and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I had to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”

We often approach witnessing the wrong way. It’s not about telling people what God is, what Jesus did for them, or why their thinking is wrong. It’s about showing what God did for you and how He changed you. Show how God loves you through your actions. Empathetic, sincere love touches the soul.

1 Corinthians 9:22 says: “When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.”

Love is our most powerful tool. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being human. When we truly love freely and generously, we see the world through God’s eyes. 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 reminds us: “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me completely.”

God knows us completely, including our shortcomings and darkest secrets, yet He loves us. Humans are beautiful in their flaws, and we are made in God’s image. How wonderful is God’s plan to reach us in a way we can understand?

So now it’s your turn. If you ever question your impact on this world, remember 1 Corinthians 13:13: “Three things will last forever: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.” I love you all so much, and I’m so grateful to have experienced your love for the past 15 years of my life. Thank you.

After Abigail spoke, her youth pastor spoke.  Here is what Amy Harris said:

Amy's Message
Well, I think I didn’t really need to give a second sermon, and I definitely should have let Abigail go last this time. But I did prepare a message, so you’re going to listen to it!

Today is one of my favorite Sundays of the year. I get here, and I’m a frazzled mess. Jeremy and David are up there trying to say, “We’ve got this—you can just walk away from all things technology.” That’s for their benefit, not mine, because I don’t know what I’m doing. They’ve got it under control. I get here, I’m a mess, I’m running around, and then it all falls into place because we are honoring God this morning. These young men and women show up, and they lead, and I love it. I absolutely love it.

What an honor and a privilege it is for our young men and ladies to have the opportunity to represent Christ in such a bold and public way. Not everyone is made to be in front of crowds, and some of these guys and gals are way out of their comfort zones this morning. I’m so very proud of them.

I’ll start my message with an easy question for each of you: What is God’s ultimate will for your life? Where does He see you in 10, 15, or 20 years from now? Everybody good? Got it all laid out? Okay.

God’s will is not a topic that can be covered in a 15-minute sermon. My scripture research alone took two hours because the entire Bible lays out God’s will for our lives. I’ll start with, and put a lot of focus on, the story of Jonah this morning.

I had a lot of fun digging into Jonah this week, and, unfortunately, we can probably all relate to Jonah at some point in our lives. Jonah was a prophet, and one day God called him and told him to go preach to Nineveh because the people there were very wicked. Jonah hated this idea because Nineveh was one of Israel’s greatest enemies, and he wanted nothing to do with preaching to them.

(Side note: When I was much younger, I had a part-time job at the White Wing Christian Bookstore—do you all remember when that was around? At the time, the VeggieTales movie Jonah had come out, and we played that on repeat. That was my favorite movie! The silly fish—do you all remember them? I loved it. Anyway, back on topic.)

Instead of traveling east to Nineveh, Jonah tried to run away from God in the opposite direction and headed west by boat to Tarshish. The boat was full of pagan sailors, so God sent a great storm upon it. The men on the ship were terrified. They prayed to their gods and threw cargo overboard to try to lighten the ship and prevent it from sinking. Jonah, meanwhile, was asleep through all of this. The sailors went to wake him and shouted at him to pray to his God. Jonah had already told the men that he was running from God. Together, they decided that Jonah was to blame for the storm, and Jonah told them the only way to stop it was to throw him overboard.

These pagan men didn’t want to do that. They tried rowing harder and faster to get out of the storm, but it only grew worse. Finally, they sought forgiveness from Jonah’s God and threw Jonah overboard. As soon as Jonah hit the water, the storm stopped. Then God sent a big fish (some call it a whale) to swallow Jonah and save him from drowning.

While in the belly of the fish, Jonah prayed to God for help. He thanked God for not abandoning him. While Jonah never truly repented, he did praise God for His mercy. For three days, Jonah sat in the belly of the fish. Then God had the fish spit Jonah out onto the shores of Nineveh. Where else would our God send him?

A second time, God spoke to Jonah and told him to go to the great city of Nineveh and deliver the message the Lord had given him. So Jonah half-heartedly preached a five-word sermon to Nineveh. (You should be so lucky this morning!) He warned them to repent before the city was destroyed in 40 days. Surprisingly, the people believed Jonah’s short and sweet message. They turned from their wickedness, and God had mercy on them, sparing the city from destruction.

Jonah, however, became angry and bitter because God didn’t destroy the Ninevites, Israel’s enemies. Jonah sat to rest and watch to see what would happen to them. God provided a vine to give him shade, but the next day, God sent a worm to eat the vine. Now Jonah was sitting in the hot sun, complaining and wishing to die. God scolded Jonah for caring more about a plant than the 120,000 people of Nineveh.

Have you ever been in a situation where you were called to issue a warning or message, but the recipients were so terrible and rebellious that you didn’t feel they deserved it? Jonah is a perfect example of how human stubbornness can’t change the will of God. Yet God can still use the most resistant hearts to build His kingdom.

The entire story is almost like satire. Everything that should be isn’t, and everything that shouldn’t be is. The man of God is angry and disobedient, while the pagan sailors and the wicked Ninevites are repentant. But when you desire to know God, you realize this makes perfect sense. We don’t serve an ordinary God. We serve a God full of surprises and miracles.

Then you have the heroes of the Bible who never second-guessed their role in God’s plan. Take, for instance, the woman at the well. Jesus broke down social barriers when He met her. She had a sorted past, yet she immediately followed Jesus when she learned who He was. She went back to her town and told others about Him—this man who knew everything about her and still offered her the opportunity for forgiveness and eternal life. Through her, hearts were changed after just one meeting at a well with Jesus.

Consider Mary, the mother of Jesus. When Mary learned she would be the mother of God’s Son, she could have been put to death. Yet, according to Luke 1:38, Mary responded to the angel Gabriel with, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” She was willing to accept the risk because she trusted God. Every Christmas, I’m reminded and inspired by Mary’s selfless faith.

The disciples also stand as examples of faith. They walked away from their livelihoods, their families, and everything they had known to follow Jesus.

We know that even when we live outside the will of God, He is faithful. He is a God of second chances. Adam and Eve were the first example of God’s faithfulness and His desire to see no one perish. They disobeyed His direct order and lied about it, yet God forgave them. David broke half the Ten Commandments in one fell swoop: coveting, abuse of power, adultery, treachery, and even murder. Still, God forgave him.

Jesus shares the parable of the prodigal son—the ultimate example of an undeserving second chance. This reminds us that unconditional forgiveness is a cornerstone of Jesus’ love for us. Peter, who followed Jesus closely, denied Him three times to save his own life. Yet, Jesus forgave him.

When we fall out of step with God’s will, we have the option to fall right back into it, as if we never left. That’s the beauty of serving a forgiving God.

We talk about God’s will like it’s difficult to understand. We sing, “Thy will be done,” and we pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” But then we hesitate when we’re called to carry out difficult tasks. We forget that:

• The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot keep you.
• The will of God will never take you where the arms of God cannot support you.
• The will of God will never draw you where the riches of God cannot supply your needs.
• The will of God will never take you where the power of God cannot endow you.
• The will of God will never take you where the love of God cannot enfold you.

We tend to think of God’s will as something outward, requiring extraordinary steps to complete tasks. But in reality, God’s will for our lives is about transformation—of mind, body, and spirit. It’s saying goodbye to the old me and hello to the Holy Spirit-filled me. Without this transformation, we may never fully understand the specific calling God has for us.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 spells it out: “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Following God’s will isn’t just about daily actions; it’s about a heart and mind transformation. When we follow Paul’s advice to always be joyful, never stop praying, and be thankful in everything, our hearts are focused on being who God wants us to be. When we’re focused on God, we hear His direction more clearly. There’s less room for the world’s voices to distract us. If we are focused on Him, we’ll recognize His voice, and there will be no mistaking His instructions.

There’s a story about a young woman trying to decide where to go to college. She prayed about it and found Amos 4:4, which begins, “Go to Bethel.” Excited, she thought God was leading her to Bethel College. But if you read the rest of the verse, it says, “Go to Bethel and sin.” This is why it’s important to live a life focused on God’s voice. If we’re not focused on Him, we risk misunderstanding His direction.

Where is the will of God leading you today? Are you, like Jonah, reluctant to take that step God is calling you to take? Are you running in the opposite direction?

I recently came across a pastor named J. John. He told a story about a man who wanted to become a missionary. The man worried about how to provide for his family while pursuing his calling. J. John suggested finding ten people to donate a tenth of his annual income. But God also told J. John to give the first tenth himself. Reluctantly, he did. Today, that missionary has traveled across Europe, established multiple ministries, and has a staff of 35 people. J. John now proudly says, “I did that. God directed me, and I followed.”

God wants you to use your blessings to bless others so you can say, “I did that. I followed God’s directions.”

Where is God leading you today? Are you always joyful? Always praying? Thankful in all circumstances? Not for all circumstances—because sometimes life is hard—but in all circumstances, knowing God works through all things for good.

As we sing our last song today, I invite you to come to the altar. Lift up our young leaders, our youth ministries, and our children’s ministries. Our church has gone through enormous transitions, and I feel like we’re ready to grow. But we can’t grow if our children’s and youth ministries aren’t thriving. They are the future of Pleasant Grove.

Come to the altar, pray for these ministries, and see what God can do—just through your prayers.

Membership Matters | A Sermon on Luke 9:23

Introduction
Today, I want to talk about the significance of membership in the Church.  I want to examine three important questions.  What does it mean to be a member of the church?  Why become a member of the church?  And how do we become members of the church?

Church membership is something that goes all the way back to Biblical times.  The Old Testament took great care to list members of God’s Kingdom. 
It was important to know who was a member of God’s people.  Scribes kept meticulous records.  The first 9 chapters of 1 Chronicles is just a list of God’s people.  9 chapters!  In the New Testament Church, care was taken to list the names of people who followed Jesus.  In Matthew 10:2-4, we are told the names of the 12 disciples.  And Scripture also tracks the number of believers as the movement grew from 12 disciples to 120 believers in Acts 1 to 3,000 in Acts 2 and 5,000 in Acts chapter 5.  Even Revelation mentions a heavenly membership book called “The Lamb’s Book of Life,” which lists all the members of God’s Church who will inherit eternal life in God’s Kingdom.

The Bible also informs us about Jesus’ expectations of his followers.  In Luke 9:23, Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”

This is what it means to be a Christian.  It means to deny yourself and follow Jesus.  It’s nothing less than a willingness to do what our Master did for us.  Jesus left the glory of Heaven to come to our dark, broken world, to show us the way and to die for us so we can be reconciled to God.  He laid down His life for us, not because we deserved it, but because we are sinner and desperately needed His atonement.

In response, Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.  Deny ourselves.  What does that mean?  It means to turn away from your selfish desires, deny yourself, and choose to do what Jesus wants for you instead.   

What does it mean when Jesus says: “Take up your cross”?  It means to willingly embrace sacrifice, the hardships of discipleship, and commit to follow Jesus regardless of the cost—even if it costs you your life.

What does it mean to follow Jesus?  To follow Jesus means to live according to His teachings, emulate His character, and commit to a relationship with Him within a group of other believers.

And that’s where church membership comes in.  If you look, you will see that Christians in the New Testament never followed Jesus by themselves.  They were always part of a group.  Acts 2: 42-47 says Christians were members of a local group of believers who learned together, fellowshipped together, ate together, and prayed together.  And throughout the New Testament, we see believers meeting together in local churches to worship, learn, and serve.  Christians today should also seek to be members of a faithful local church.

What does it mean to be a member of a church?  Being a member of a church means being part of a group of people who believe in God, want to learn more about Jesus, and help each other out.  It involves going to church regularly, learning from the Bible, and taking part in the church's sacraments, activities, and missions.  When you become a member, you promise to follow the church's teachings and support its work, and the church promises to help you grow in your faith and be there for you.  This helps everyone stay connected, serve others, and share the love of Jesus—both inside the church and with people in the community.

Why Become An Official “Member” of the Church?
The second question I want to examine is why do we become members of the church?  Why can’t we just come to church and not make all these promises and commitments?  Well, anyone is welcome to attend this church.  You don’t have to be a member to attend and participate in church activities.  Anyone who is curious about what Jesus is doing in our church can come and check it out.  Membership is only for those who are die hard faithful and completely sold out for Jesus and who decide the people of this church are their Christian family.

In some ways, Church membership is similar to marriage.  Kelly and I dated each other for 2½ years before we got married.  But when we were ready, we stood up before God and the church and vowed to love, honor, and cherish each other for the rest of our lives.  But why get married?  Why not just keep dating and avoid all the commitment?  Many people think that way these days.  But marriage is important because commitment is important.  We need to know that our spouse is going to be faithful to us and forsake all others.  We need to know they will be there for us in sickness and in health.  And they need to know we are committed to them.  Somehow, the promise of commitment enables the relationship to grow to a whole new level.

The same is true of our relationship with God and the people of His Church.  God gave us the Church to help us live as He intends for us to live.  Those who choose to follow God should find a church family where they live out their faith.  And membership in a church is vital step to spiritual growth.  It enables the deep relationships needed among God’s people similar to how marriage enables deeper bonding between a husband and a wife.

How do we become members of the church?
To become a member, you start by letting us know you are interested.  You can tell me or contact the church office.  I will then follow up with you to talk about your background.  We’ll discuss your faith in Jesus, what you think that means, if you've been baptized, and if you are a member of another church.  We’ll discuss what it means to be a member of Pleasant Grove.  Then, if you want to join as a member, we can schedule a Sunday for you to take the membership vows of the church. It's a simple but important process, but it starts with you deciding to become a member.