Growth isn’t about me, it’s about we! This weekend Pastor Devin Gough shared a message about the blessing of remaining connected to the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:16
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Growth doesn’t happen in isolation, it happens through connection. How can we do our part in the body of Christ?
1) Grow by being joined.
Hebrews 10:24
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
The church is not an organization, it is a living organism. Each part helps the other grow.
2) Grow by serving in your place.
1 Corinthians 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Every part of the body of Christ has a place. When one part is disconnected, the whole body hurts!
3) Grow by building in love.
Colossians 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Love is the cement that holds each brick of God’s house together. God’s rescuing love for each one of us is the reason we can remain united as one body!
Dirty feet, ugly toes! This weekend Pastor Joaquin Pardo concluded our SUNDAY BEST series with a message about serving one another.
John 13:5
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
In the final hours before His death, Jesus chose to spend His remaining moments humbly serving His disciples, kneeling to wash their feet.
1) Greatness is spelled S.E.R.V.I.C.E.
The Gospel of Luke gives us a glimpse into the conversations happening at the Last Supper.
Luke 22:24
A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
In a moment when Jesus deserved all the attention, all the support, and all the love, His response was unexpected. Instead of demanding to be served, He said, in essence, “Let me show you what true greatness looks like.” And then He showed them—it looks like love.
2) Service is spelled S.A.C.R.I.F.I.C.E.
Jesus sacrificed and served even those who would betray Him. True service means laying down our bitterness, offense, and idols—the things that consume our hearts and blind us to others’ needs. Instead of asking, “What have they done for me?” We follow Jesus by asking, “What can I do for them now?” Sacrifice is giving up what holds us back so we can serve with love.
3) Sacrifice is spelled L.O.V.E.
Jesus washing His disciples’ feet was more than an act of service; it was a powerful picture of the sacrifice He was about to make on the cross. He took on our dirt, shame, and sin to make us clean and free. We sacrifice because we love. As He loved us first, we are called to love others through sacrifice.
Do you have Kingdom reflexes? This week Pastor Steve concluded our ReFormation series with a message from Jesus’ Sermon On the Mount.
Matthew 7:24
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
In Jesus’ closing parable, both men heard his teachings. Both men were building, presumably with the same materials. Both men experienced the same storm. The only difference was the foundation.
1) Foundations are invisible.
Both men are hearing the teaching and building houses that APPEAR SIMILAR. The difference came down to one word: PRACTICE.
“Most Christians are educated way beyond the level of their obedience. We don't need to know more. We need to do more with what we know.”
Pastor Mark Batterson
When we come to Jesus, we have access to a grace that can transform. Spiritual disciplines are the means by which we access that grace on a daily basis.
2) Foundations are deep.
Practice builds a pattern of accessing God’s wisdom and grace that goes so deep it becomes REFLEX.
Hebrews 5:14
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil.
Not every practice has to be a success. The most important part about practice is showing up.
3) Foundations are revealed in storms.
It’s impossible to work on your foundation in the middle of a storm. But when you practice building on the rock of God’s grace and truth, your house will stand through every storm!