A Global Methodist Church
Today’s message is Titled “It Only Takes a Spark”. The tongue may be small but it is mighty. Words that come from hate or even criticism often leave a lasting impression. Long after the speaker has forgotten about words they have uttered, the hearer or target of those words are affected. In the same way, words of encouragement can change the world for good by leaving a lasting impression on the one who has been encouraged and inspired. We just don’t know in the moment how big an impact little things like words can have. In the same way that a tiny spark can start a whole forest a blaze, a seemingly small comment can either destroy or start a movement. Our verbal and even non-verbal cues can let others know how we accept them or reject them. Jesus came to meet us where we are. Let us all follow His example and be intentionally welcoming and accepting with words and deeds as we spread His love.
Today’s message is titled “The Blessing of Forgiveness”. In The Lord’s Prayer, we say “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us.” Both being forgiven and the act of forgiving others are freeing. The devil likes it when there is strife among the believers in Jesus Christ. When we carry unforgiveness or a grudge of some sort, we are limited in how we can be used of God. When we do not accept the forgiveness that Jesus Christ gives, we are not free from unnecessary guilt and shame. Everyone that follows Jesus Christ is a child of God. 1 John 5:1-5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Our Father in Heaven wants better for His children than to be weighed down by the heaviness of guilt and shame. God set the tone for His forgiveness early on in the book of Isaiah 1:18-20 “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the Lord, have spoken!” God promises to wipe the stains of our sins away when we follow and obey Him. When we refuse, we are devoured by the enemies of this world.
Today’s message is “Seeing is Believing”. Jesus performed many miracles while on earth and they continue to happen today. Miracles are done because of His love for his children. Miracles are done to bring Glory to God. Miracles are preformed to change lives. Miracles change lives. Miracles point the unbeliever to Jesus Christ in a way so powerful that they cannot help but to believe. The biggest miracle is Jesus Christ taking on your sins and mine and taking the punishment that we deserve when He died on the cross. Forgiveness as only Jesus Christ can forgive is the and always will be the biggest miracle ever. When you see people that have been transformed from the people, they used to be into new persons living through Jesus Christ, you are seeing the result of a miracle. Only God can change lives in such a drastic way that everyone notices. He called His disciples to be fishers of men by showing them that He could control even the fish. He changed Saul’s life so drastically that he was called Paul after his encounter with Jesus and ever after served Him. God is still performing miracles and He is moving right here at Damascus Methodist Church. Come and see all the ways that He is working today.
Today’s message is titled “Ready for Lift Off”. Whether we are preaching the word from the pulpit, or hearing the word preached from the pulpit, it cannot stay there. We are all called to mission work. We are called to take the message from the pulpit and spread it out to the world that so desperately needs to not only hear it. In order to hear the message of salvation, people need to see the hands and feet of Jesus Christ carrying out the mission. When people are loved and cared for seemingly no reason, they notice. We are called to love God’s creation and we do that by caring for them and loving them by meeting their needs. Paul urges us to carry out the mission in Ephesians 4:1-16 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself. Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever, they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. The mission od the church is the mission for all Christians. You have heard, now go and be followers of Jesus Christ!