In his sermon this past Sunday, Pastor Gary Weston reflected on the theme of greatness as defined by Jesus, contrasting it with societal views of achievement and fame. He recalled Muhammad Ali's self-proclamation as “the greatest” and urged listeners to consider who they believe is truly great in today’s world. However, he emphasized that, in Jesus’ eyes, true greatness is not found in accomplishments or accolades but in humility and servanthood.
In a passage from the Gospel of Mark, Gary highlighted how the disciples failed to listen to Jesus as he taught them in their desire for recognition as the greatest. While they argued among themselves, Jesus was sharing important news: he would be handed over to men, killed, and would rise from the dead after three days. It’s remarkable to think that these men were Jesus’ closest followers! This serves as a humbling reminder that if the twelve disciples could be so self-centered, we could easily fall into the same mindset!
Jesus challenged the disciples about their selfishness by saying, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last and the servant of all.” He then called a child over to him and said, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not just welcome me but also the one who sent me.” Through this, Jesus taught the disciples the importance of humility, service, and the value of welcoming and caring for those who are vulnerable, represented by the child. He emphasized crucial lessons about humility, the importance of serving others and caring for the least among us.
Gary discussed how Jesus’ teachings can be applied to our lives and church. He highlighted examples of humble servants within our church, such as the Deacons who serve in the Hospitality, Campus Care, and Member Care ministries. He mentioned the recent ordination of two high school students as Deacons, illustrating how we value our students and fulfill our mission to make disciples as instructed by Jesus. Gary also acknowledged the church's role in establishing the Honduras Hope Mission and noted the commissioning of the Mission Team during worship on Sunday. He encouraged everyone listening to his sermon to adopt a service-oriented mindset, reflecting Christ's humility.
We deeply appreciate Pastor Gary and his wife, Bev, who serve Jesus within our family. Let us pray that Gary’s sermon will bear fruit in our lives and help us answer Pastor Jeremy's question from last Sunday: "What is our church known for in our surrounding community?" Let us pray and adopt a mindset of serving those who need Jesus in our surrounding community.
It's a great day to live the Gospel!
God willing, we hope to see you on Sundays!
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