Tag: david

News, Sermon Audio

A Taste of Sabbath

janagillham

Saturday, September 5, 2026

Stirred up to love and do good deeds!

With gratitude to Mark, Becky, Susie, Chip, Chuck and Jessie, and guest David Fox for leading us in worship today.

We praised God together for prayers answered — especially that Samuel and William are recovering from a serious accident — infection has gone down! We continue to pray for blessing over our church family–healing, wisdom, discernment and specific needs.

The kids were intrigued by Susie’s illustration of the need for some things to be stirred up to be at their best — like milk and chocolate syrup — and the church.

We remembered that God is ever faithful as we sang.

David Fox (son of Dean and Susie) blessed us with the reminder that as we intentionally practice the “one anothers”: love one another, encourage one another, pray for one another, we stir each other up to love and good deeds–and that brings our dead hearts to life.

Speaking from Hebrews 10, David shared that beyond personality types, regardless of natural leanings, we come to God’s word to find out who we are, how we should be, and who He is making us to be.

The Church is God’s “Plan A” to go to the world. Something special happens when believers gather to worship God and share that with others. God is faithful in all that He says, is, and does – this is the starting point of everything we are going to be and do.

The author of Hebrews teaches that because of Jesus, our great High Priest and perfect sacrifice for sin, we can actually enter into God’s presence with confidence. We can draw near to God in worship.

Jesus was both high priest and sacrifice – his blood makes us clean. Jesus gives us rest from our sins.  Jesus promises heaven. He reigns forever. We are saved to good works God has prepared for us to do – and some of that is ordinary life together with other believers

As we consider how to stir up one another (provoke one another) to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24) we know that this a joy, a command, a burden, and a blessing. Sometimes its fun and sometimes its difficult.

But, we can hold fast because God is faithful.  God constantly reminds His people of what He has done – and continues to make more promises.  God is consistent.

What does stirring one another up to love and good works look like?

Encouraging, motivating, provoking one another….

Love one another, serve one another – greet, comfort, serve, bear one another’s burdens.  These are the heart attitudes / behaviors the auhor of  Hebrews had in mind.

These one anothers can only happen when we intentionally gather together. Coffee with a Christian friend, worship together, midweek prayer– they all matter.

Don’t neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some. Hebrews 10:25. Habitually deciding to prioritize other things over gathering with other believers is a form of idolatry. Week to week, we have different needs / gifts – and sharing those stirs us together and makes something new.  It helps us hold fast to God.

… and all the more as you see the day drawing near.  We continue to be faithful to gather together until Jesus returns–which as SDBs state, we believe will happen suddenly, personally, and visibly –at a day determined by God. Jesus is coming back, soon.

As we live in the tension of waiting, we work in the works God prepared for us to do. By God’s grace we encourage one another, and share this good news with people outside the church.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

When Jesus gave this word, only 11 disciples remained. One had already left. Some doubted. Stirring up needed to happen.  They needed to do the “one anothers”.  All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Jesus.  He promises to never leave us or forsake us. As we go, carrying out His great commission, Jesus is with us.

God is faithful – he has both the power and the willingness to carry out the mission.  He commands the disciples to be active and fulfill the mission: in ordinary life–maybe somewhere else – but always here and now. As you go, make disciples. This business of making disciples will happen as we go forth to do all that Jesus commanded. 

Making disciples happens when we gather together in worship, stir up one another and encourage one another to hold fast.  It brings our dead hearts to life, and continues to transform us. This good news makes us holy. 

Amen.

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Join us in person every Saturday for Sabbath School, and Worship, or if you’re far away, join us for Worship online via Facebook.

News, Sermon Audio

A Taste of Sabbath

janagillham

Saturday, August 22, 2026

It was good to be in the house of the Lord!

Thank you Lisa, for especially welcoming all the online participants — and for leading us in prayer. We join our friends Paint Rock Seventh Day Baptist church in Alabama in praise to God for their 100th anniversary!

Susie shared with the kids about how orb spiders weave a new web every night and eat it the next morning as an example of the mystery and perfection of God’s creation. He has a plan for each of his creatures. “God made you and has a plan for you.”

“Even when people did bad things, God made a plan for Jesus to come and save us.”

And we sang praises to God. Thank you Chuck for leading us!

Continuing with the story of King Saul from I Samuel 16, Chuck shared that while people get caught up with appearances, God always looks at the heart.

The Israelites had asked God for a king – and tall, handsome, Saul was chosen. Sometimes God gives us over to the desires of our heart – he does not always intervene when we start making bad choices

After Saul disobeyed God’s instructions, the Lord sent the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king. Samuel was mourning Saul – he had worked with him for years – but things didn’t go the way Samuel hoped they would.  Saul lost favor with God because he chose himself over the will of God.

Samuel knew it was dangerous to go anoint a new king.  He was sent by God to a “random” family in Bethlehem, where the father, Jesse paraded his sons before him expecting the oldest, or tallest or strongest to be selected. God chose the youngest. David.

Regardless of what parents think of their children, and their options – God can do amazing things with them – we need to turn our children over them. 

David was not the tallest and he came from a mixed racial background (his grandmother Ruth was a Moabitess). Humans do not see what the Lord sees.  We’re arrogant when we make major decisions without talking to God. Humans see what is visible, God sees all. 

The WHY you do something matters more than the WHAT.  God doesn’t look at the outside—he looks at what’s happening in the heart. 

What are the reasons you’ve heard out loud , or whispered in your heart for why God would not choose you?  Because you have been chosen. He called you before you were born. You were created for a purpose and on purpose.  So what is the stumbling block between you and God’s goal for you?

Jeremiah thought he was too young – Moses couldn’t speak well. Everyone of us can and will be used by the God of the Universe. Do you feel too old?  You still have work to do for the Kingdom.  We should be out speaking the name of Jesus – fulfilling his calling.  Rebuke the excuses—reject them.  The enemy uses them to stop the growth of the Kingdom of God.

David was out herding sheep.  Not an honored role. But that is who God called. God uses who we are and uses our experiences so we can become who we need to become for the kingdom.

King David went through a lot of hard things before he actually became king – many years passed between the anointing and the crowning. Years of:

More sheep tending.

Fighting giants.

Enduring Saul’s ongoing jealousy and persecution.

Hiding in caves – David’s family was in danger due to his reputation.

God used ALL the experiences to shape David to be who he needed to be to the glory of God.

When bad things happen—your basement floods, loved ones pass away–when you go through hard things – God uses all of these things to shape you for His purpose for you.

It did not make sense to the people watching what David was going through –but today we don’t just think of David the shepherd boy, we think of King David.

I think of my 12 year old self – I am no king—but it is fascinating to see who I was and how God has moved in my life and used me – I have been called to be a prince in the kingdom of God.  Look back to when you first encountered the king of the universe.  What if you had not met him? You have been called. 

Glory to His name!

Join us in person every Saturday for Sabbath School, and Worship, or if you’re far away, join us for Worship online via Facebook.