2026-06-07 GOD IS ACTIVELY AT WORK

Discover God's Work Around You: A Fresh Perspective on Divine Activity

Have you ever been so distracted that you completely missed something amazing happening right in front of you? Maybe a shooting star streaked across the sky while you were checking your phone, or a child did something incredible while your mind was elsewhere. You were physically present, but you missed the moment entirely.

Here's a challenging thought: What if God is actively working all around us right now, but we're just missing it?

God Never Clocks Out

In John 5, Jesus heals a man who had been disabled for 38 years. Sounds like a miracle worth celebrating, right? Not to the religious leaders. They were furious—not because of what Jesus did, but when He did it. The healing happened on the Sabbath, and in their minds, God Himself had stopped working on that day.

But Jesus corrects their thinking with a powerful statement: "My Father is still working, and I am working also" (John 5:17).

God doesn't take days off. He doesn't wait for our permission to move. He's not sitting idle until we finally get our act together, show up to church, or start serving. The Father was working before that man was healed, during the healing, and continued working afterward. He never stops.

If God stopped working for even a moment, the universe would fly apart. Hebrews 1:3 tells us that Jesus holds all things together by the word of His power—a continuous, never-ending action.

We Join God's Work; We Don't Start It

Here's where we often get it backward: We think ministry begins when we act. We assume revival starts when we finally get serious about our faith. We believe God will move once we make ourselves available.

Scripture paints a completely different picture. Before Abraham was called, God was already working. Before Moses confronted Pharaoh, God had already heard the cries of His people. Before Isaiah volunteered saying, "Here am I, send me," God was already on His throne orchestrating history.

Last week, our church served hamburgers at Oakland Heights Gardens and shared the gospel with everyone we met. Twelve people came to faith in Christ that day! But here's the truth: those conversions weren't just the result of our team showing up. God had been working in those lives long before we arrived. He'll continue working in them long after.

Are You Missing What God Is Doing?

Before we ever act for God, we must learn to recognize what He is already doing. This is foundational to experiencing God in a real, transformative way.

Maybe you've been frustrated because things aren't going the way you want. Perhaps you've lost excitement for church activities because you haven't personally witnessed God moving. Could it be that you're so focused on your own plans and preferences that you're missing the incredible things God is doing around you?

Take Your Next Step

This week, try these practical steps to tune into God's activity:

Pause and observe. Ask God to open your eyes to where He's already working—in your family, workplace, or community.

Join, don't initiate. Look for opportunities to participate in what God is doing rather than asking Him to bless your plans.

Celebrate others' stories. When you hear about God moving in someone else's life, rejoice! It's evidence that He's actively at work.

God is moving. The question isn't whether He's working—it's whether you're paying attention. Don't miss the miracle happening right in front of you.

Ready to experience God in a fresh way? Join us this Sunday as we continue our summer series on Experiencing God, or connect with a small group where you can discover how God is moving in our community.

Prayer: Father, open our eyes to see what You're already doing around us. Forgive us for being so focused on our own plans that we miss Your activity. Help us join Your work with excitement and expectation. Give us hearts that recognize Your hand in every moment. In Jesus' name, Amen.

2026-05-31 CELEBRATION SERVICE

Remember His Goodness: Celebrating God's Faithfulness Through the Lord's Supper

Ever notice how easy it is to forget the good things God has done? One moment we're celebrating a breakthrough, and the next we're anxious about tomorrow. We're forgetful people by nature, which is exactly why Jesus gave us a powerful way to remember.

At our recent celebration service, we paused to reflect on all God is doing in our community—from youth serving at the Christian Services Center to our growing prison ministry at East Mississippi Correctional Facility. These stories remind us that God is actively at work, transforming lives in the darkest places. But the most profound reminder of God's faithfulness comes through the Lord's Supper itself.

Why Jesus Told Us to Remember

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus gathered His disciples for Passover and did something revolutionary. He took the bread and cup—symbols they'd known their entire lives—and gave them new meaning. "Do this in remembrance of me," He said. This wasn't just another religious ritual. It was an invitation to worship through remembrance.

The Bible mentions remembering over 400 times because God knows we need constant reminders of His goodness. When we come to the Lord's table, we're not just going through motions. We're engaging in an act of worshipful remembrance that anchors our souls in three essential truths.

Three Truths Jesus Wants Us to Remember

We Remember His Sacrifice for Us

When we take the bread, we remember that Jesus willingly gave His body to be broken for us. Our salvation came at a tremendous cost—one we could never pay ourselves. This isn't about our goodness or religious efforts. Our hope rests entirely in Christ's finished work on the cross. That truth fills our hearts with gratitude and joy.

We Remember His Covenant with Us

The cup represents the new covenant sealed by Jesus' blood. In the Old Testament, covenants were solemn promises established through blood sacrifice. Through Christ's death, we sinners receive eternal forgiveness and adoption into God's family. Our acceptance isn't based on our performance—it's secured in Jesus. Since we didn't earn our salvation, we can't lose it. That truth gives us unshakeable assurance.

We Remember His Coming for Us

The Lord's Supper doesn't just look backward to the cross—it looks forward to Christ's return. Every time we observe this meal, we're reminded that this world isn't our final home. One day, faith will become sight. One day, we'll gather at the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is just a foretaste of the greater feast to come. That truth fills us with hope.

Come to the Table with Expectation

When was the last time you paused to remember all God has done for you? The Lord's Supper invites us to remember the past with gratitude, live in the present with full assurance, and face the future with confident hope.

This isn't our table—it's Jesus' table. And He invites every believer to celebrate with thankful hearts, worshipful minds, and eyes fixed on Him. Whether you're serving at a food pantry, ministering in a prison, or simply trying to follow Jesus in your everyday life, you need this reminder of His faithfulness.

Join us for our next celebration service and experience the joy of remembering together what Christ has done, is doing, and will do.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of remembrance. Help us never forget the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. When we're tempted to doubt Your goodness or forget Your faithfulness, bring us back to the table. Fill our hearts with gratitude, assurance, and hope as we remember all You've done. In Jesus' name, Amen.