Grow Up

Nothing like kicking off a new year by preaching! And that's exactly what I had the privilege of doing at Covenant United Methodist Church in Arlington, TX. On the first day of 2012, I filled the pulpit for the vacationing Rev. Mike Redd.

There were two morning services. We began worship with the Epiphany carol, We Three Kings of Orient Are and the Charles Wesley classic, Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies. The Covenant accompanist is a music student at Texas Christian University who has some mad concert piano skills!

I led the pastoral prayer and gave the children's message. After the kids gathered on the floor, I brought out my Bible Coloring Book. Blank pages mysteriously filled up with black-and-white sketches of the life of Jesus and, finally, color entered the pictures. I urged the kids to make a new year's resolution to read their Bibles. "Only then will the Bible come alive and color our lives!"

My message was entitled "Grow Up," based on Ephesians 4:11-16. The main idea was that God wants Christians to grow up into the Head of the Church, who is Christ. In order for us to do that, we must become teachable, we must become servants and we must press on toward spiritual maturity.

Covenant UMC celebrates Holy Communion every Sunday. It's always a great honor to issue the invitation to come to the Table of the Lord and serve the elements.

I walked out of the church with a loaf of homemade bread crafted by a couple in the church. The husband told me that they feel that this is their ministry, baking bread for visitors. What a great outreach and one that proves their maturity in using their talents to serve others!