Sermon and Announcements May 25

 

May 25, 2025

THE DAILY DOUBLE

GALATIANS 5:22

 

This morning's message title is about the fact we are going to look at 2 of the fruits of the spirit today. I believe these 2 have some similar applications in our lives. The 2 we are looking at are kindness and goodness. When I got thinking about these two, I was led to think of it this way. Kindness is something you do or show to others and goodness is, ideally, what naturally flows out of you.

 

As I was thinking what it means to be kind or to exhibit kindness, I think of how we help each other in times of need. James 1:27 says this “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after widows and orphans in their distress.” In this verse we can see both the fruit of kindness and the fruit of goodness in action. It is truly an act of kindness when we act when we see others in need. What most often motivates some one to show kindness however is a goodness that is flowing out of that person as well.

 

I am sure that everyone of you can think of times when you showed kindness to someone who was going through tough times or could use some sort of encouragement. Each time you have done that it shows that the Holy Spirit led you to meet a need because it was the right thing to do. I’m sure you weren’t looking for anything in return just the joy of knowing you could help. When the fruit of the spirit, kindness, is flowing through us we find the most satisfaction when we realize God has led us to meet a need for others.

 

As we continue to grow in the Lord we are led to the understanding of what God needs us to do and be. In Colossians 3:12 we read this “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” To look at what we are considering today we are reminded to clothe ourselves with kindness. When you clothe yourself, you cover for the most part your entire body. That’s how much kindness is to be part of who we are in Christ.

 

Now let’s look closer at goodness. To begin with I said kindness is what we do and goodness is what we are. When the fruit of the spirit, goodness, is flowing through us as God intends that will be true. When we think about what it means to be good or to exhibit goodness what exactly is that like? We often describe someone as being good at this or that but what does it mean to be good as implied in Galatians 5:22? What makes a good person a good person?

 

Each of us may describe what a good person is like a little differently but we probably all have the same overall thought of what that person is like when we get right down to it. Being good and exhibiting goodness isn’t something you have to think about it just naturally flows from a man or woman of God.

 

When we recognize God for who he is he has even made a promise to us about goodness. In the 23^rd Psalm we are reminded of what God will do for us. We all know how the 23^rd starts out “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.” If we fast forward to the 6^th and last verse we are promised this “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” If we begin each day acknowledging the fact the Lord is my shepherd we are saying to God, we Love you and trust you, in return God is saying to us goodness and mercy are yours to claim.

 

Why should goodness be a part of who we are? Because God has shown us goodness in ways we can’t even comprehend in return, he has given us the ability to have goodness flowing through us by the Holy Spirit. When we consider kindness and goodness, we know we are to be Gods witnesses to a world in need. Jesus Christ has given us everything we need to experience Gods kindness and goodness for ourselves. He has also given us the ability to have kindness and goodness flowing through us to others. As we continue to look at all of the fruits of the spirit we have been given, may we look at more and more ways to share these with not only our families and friends but also with a hurting world in need of kindness and goodness.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Sunday School 9:00

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

 

May 31 9:30 Stem strawberries and then set up tables

June 1 Strawberry Festival 4:00 - 6:00

June 8 Heifer International special offering—to be matched by Witness Commission—more information next week.

 

Are you willing to be on a search committee for a pastor to succeed Larry? Please let Carol know if you feel called to be on this committee. It needs to get started soon.

 

First Sundays: Food Bank donations

Pastor Larry Traxler (217) 454-2362

 

 

Keep in Your Prayers

Vallen (Tracy’s granddaughter); Pat Creviston; Stacie Warren; Nancy Fansler; Ruth Siburt; Dorthea Wood; Mike and Kathy Gentry; Steve Needham; Larry Traxler; Nancy Gorrell; Nora Hanaver; Ron and Kathleen Petersen; Doug Larrick; Louis & Carol Sulwer; Shirley & Carroll Clarkson; David and Jan Bower; Debbie Garvey Leibrock; Adiline Young; Mayo and Darlene Hanaver; many unspoken requests; victims of shootings and of natural disasters; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; the Haitian church; the CoB in the Democratic Republic of Congo; those in the middle of war and violence; military and other services and their families; Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers; immigrants

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for all the historic cemeteries cared for by our churches, including the Coal Creek cemetery maintained by the Canton congregation.

 

 

Sermon and Announcements May 11

 

CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

May 11, 2025

 

The story of the other Mary

John 12: 1-3

 

A couple of weeks ago I said on Mother’s Day we would take a look at Mary the mother of Jesus. I am not sure how good your memories are but as I was looking at Mary’s life, I came to the realization that I shared her story last year. So, this Mother’s Day we are going to look at Mary of Bethany instead.

 

In the verses we read today we see that 6 days before Passover, the Passover right before Jesus crucifixion, Jesus is in the  town near to Jerusalem of Bethany. We see that some of Jesus closest friends live there and they provide Jesus with a special dinner. In the 11^th chapter of John is where we see the story of Lazarus. For a little back ground, Mary and her sister Martha sent word to Jesus that their brother and Jesus good friend was dying, and Jesus needed to come immediately to save him. We all know the story, that Jesus stayed 2 more days where he was at before coming to Bethany, Lazarus’s home town. When Jesus had first reached the outskirts of Bethany he was meet by Martha who told him that Lazarus was dead. After talking to her for a while he sent Martha to get her sister, Mary. Ultimately Lazarus was raised from the dead and Mary’s thoughts about Jesus and his power and authority were forever changed.

 

So, getting back to what is happening in the verses we read this morning we see Jesus is having a meal with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus as well as others. During their time together Mary gets up and gets some expensive perfume that she had and proceeds to wash Jesus’ feet with the perfume and dry his feet with her hair. Judas, who was the money keeper for Jesus, thought this a waste of money implying the perfume could have been sold and could have helped a lot of people. Jesus said in the 7^th verse “leave her alone, it was intended that she should save this perfume for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

 

Jesus was acknowledging the Love and respect Mary had for him as well as a spiritual understanding God had revealed to her of what was about  to happen to Jesus even though she didn’t really understand it at the time. Mary was always the one who would step out in faith and do things that at times others didn’t understand because she was open to the Holy Spirits leading.

 

In Luke the 10^th chapter beginning with the 38^th verse we read this, “as Jesus and his disciples were on their way, they came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me! Martha, Martha the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.”

 

So, we again see that Mary is feeling the need to be a part of what Jesus is doing at the time and even her sister isn’t happy about how things are going at this moment. Whether these 2 dinners mentioned in Luke and John are the same or different we don’t know. There are a couple of differences in what is going on. What we see in both is the fact that Mary has such love and desire to learn from Jesus that she is willing to risk the anger and frustration of her sister to be in the middle of what is happening.

 

Mary is one of the great women of the Bible because she knew what a life changing man Jesus was. In many ways her worship and commitment to the Savior of the world was more powerful and honest than the disciples, who had spent 3 years with Jesus. Mary is a powerful example to, first of all, every woman of how love and commitment is always going to be rewarded when your priorities are in the right things and the right places.

 

To the mothers here this morning the examples of sacrifice and love no matter the cost that Mary examples are obvious in virtually every one of you. It isn’t always easy or popular to stand up for your family and the values you hold dear but with our Savior on your side you have the power to do whatever the Lord inspires you to do.

 

There are many examples of great mothers and great women in the Bible. Whether it be Moses’ mother who loved her son so much she was willing to let him go so he could live. Or Ruth that we read about 2 weeks ago whose love and devotion to her mother-in-law was so undying she would leave her home to go to a new land and worship the God she had come to respect from Naomi. Or Mary, Jesus’ mother who answered the call God placed before her without hesitation saying let it be as you say.

 

Then we have today’s example of a woman who did things as she felt led and every time someone questioned what she was doing Jesus came to her rescue. May each of you women here today continue to find inspiration and courage from these women who stood for the Lord even when people questioned them. Your church needs you; your families need you and your God needs you. Thank you for everything you have done in the past and are

 

doing now in the present. God Bless you may it be said of you what Jesus said of Mary, you have chosen what is better and it will not be taken from you.

 

Thank you, may God continue to bless you and may all of you women have a great and blessed Mothers Day.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Sunday School 9:00

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

 

May 14 Women’s Fellowship lunch 12:00—baked potato bar—sign up sheet in the back

May 17 7:00 pm CGHS Graduation

May 18 Council meeting after worship

June 1 Strawberry Festival—sign up sheet in back for pie crusts and other food needs

 

First Sundays: Food Bank donations

Pastor Larry Traxler (217) 454-2362

 

 

Keep in Your Prayers

Vallen (Tracy’s granddaughter); Pat Creviston; Stacie Warren; Doris Morganthaler; Nancy Fansler; Ruth Siburt; Dorthea Wood; Mike and Kathy Gentry; Steve Needham; Larry Traxler; Nancy Gorrell; Nora Hanaver; Ron and Kathleen Petersen; Doug Larrick; Louis & Carol Sulwer; Shirley & Carroll Clarkson; David and Jan Bower; Debbie Garvey Leibrock; Adiline Young; Mayo and Darlene Hanaver; many unspoken requests; victims of shootings and of natural disasters; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; the Haitian church; the CoB in the Democratic Republic of Congo; those in the middle of war and violence; military and other services and their families; Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers