In this week’s sermon, I am going to delve into the significance of the gift of prophecy as outlined by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12. To begin with, I will do a brief teaching about prophecy. I will emphasize that prophecy should serve to strengthen, encourage, and comfort the church community, while also stressing the importance of testing prophetic words. The sermon highlights that these prophecies are not direct messages from God but rather inspired insights that must be carefully evaluated to ensure they align with God's will. I will articulate that prophetic messages, when delivered with pure motives, should ultimately draw people closer to Jesus and facilitate a deeper worship encounter.
Transitioning to the theme of Holy Spirit fire through Jesus’ baptism, I will reflect on humanity's complex relationship with fire—symbolizing both its utility and danger. I will argue that fear of change, often manifesting as a reluctance to engage with the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, hinders church growth and the spiritual journey of individuals. By recalling significant moments in Christian history where the Holy Spirit ignited movements and changed lives, the sermon challenges the congregation to embrace the Holy Spirit's fire, which empowers believers and fosters genuine transformation. In a poignant call to action, I will urge Misty Creek to embrace this divine fire, asking them whether they are ready to allow it to inhabit their lives, ultimately igniting a revival that extends beyond the church walls. I will remind the congregation of the sermon series I did two years ago about the importance of the Holy Spirit.
I look forward to seeing you this Sunday in person or online.
PS
Many of you are participating in our 21 days a prayer and fasting. I want to encourage you to journal and reflect during these 21 days. I believe it would be beneficial if folks were willing to share what God has revealed to them during these 21 days. For those who are willing to share this information with the congregation, I would love for you to email me your thoughts/notes. I would then compose them into a devotion guide that we would share with the congregation.
These are some of the questions that you could respond to that we would share in a simple devotion guide: During the 21 days of prayer and fasting, how did you become closer to the Lord? What did He reveal to you? What did you refrain from during these 21 days? Did you take on something new as a way of leaning more into God? How did the Holy Spirit prompt you to continue to lean more into Him as you spent more time doing things that bear fruit and make a difference for the kingdom? Are there any scriptures that you found especially helpful during this time of prayer and fasting? Please email me your reflections by January 28 at [email protected].
The Power of Invitation
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25
A few Sunday’s ago, I made the bold proclamation that we will witness every seat at Misty Creek filled over the next year or two. How will that happen? Church attendance has been declining for years, and perhaps you’ve noticed it more recently. Empty seats, quiet hallways, and a missing sense of togetherness can weigh heavy on the heart. But this challenge isn’t new. Even in the early days of the church, believers faced the temptation to drift away from gathering together. That’s why the writer of Hebrews reminded us of the critical importance of meeting with fellow believers. Why does gathering matter? Coming together as the body of Christ strengthens us. When we meet, we’re reminded that we don’t walk this faith journey alone. We encourage each other, pray together, worship God collectively, and grow in our understanding of His Word.
Church isn’t just about what we receive, it’s about what we give. Your presence could inspire someone else. Your words of encouragement could reignite someone’s faith. Life is busy, and the reasons to not come to church are endless—work obligations, family responsibilities, vacation homes, or the pull of convenience to worship at home. These are all realities we need to acknowledge with compassion. But at the same time, we must remember the beauty of God’s design for community. It’s within this community that we experience love, grace, discipline, and growth.
Back to the question of how will we witness every seat filled at Misty Creek? The answer is, invite! If you’ve been attending faithfully, take time to reach out to someone you haven’t seen at church recently. A simple text, call, or even a coffee invitation could remind them that they are missed and loved. If you’ve struggled with attending regularly, remind yourself that church isn’t about perfection; it’s about connection. Most of us know folks that are not attending church. The top reason why people do not attend is that they have not been invited. Will you take the challenge to invite at least one person this week? Will you reach out to someone you haven’t seen in a while and let them know they are missed?
Grace and Peace,
Stephen
