Category: Sermon Reflections

People Shaping People…

Yesterday I was given the honor of preaching at Hanover Missionary church for their anniversary celebration.  Afterwards I had a few people come up to me and say how much I reminded them of my dad. How I have the same preaching style, mannerisms, and passion. To be honest anytime I’m compared to my dad it’s a compliment.

But it got me thinking about relationships and influence. People who you have close relationships influence and shape you for better or worse. Maybe you’ve seen this with friends, married couples, or your kids. Those who you invite to walk closely with you, will impact and change you. But relationships are a two way street. So those who you are walking closely with, you are also influencing. Whether or not you see it – your life is having an impact.

This is worth thinking about. Who are you shaping? Who is shaping you? And more than that I think this is worth acting on.

For me that means being intentional in the relationships I’m in; seeking to be a person of grace and love. And it also means appreciating those people who have impacted you and shaped you.

So on a dreary Monday why not let someone who has left and impact in your life know about this. Call them, email them, or message them saying your friendship has influenced and shaped me and here’s how.

For me personally, obviously that’s been my parents. But less obvious it has been all the wonderful people at Plattsville Church. You may not know it but you’ve shaped me. The first thing I thought when I walked into work today was: “I missed being here yesterday”. You have shaped me by welcoming me into your family, caring for me, and giving me a home here. Your care and love is shaping me.

Why not share that with someone today? Let someone else know that their love and care matter. The beauty of relationships is that they change us.

So let someone know of how they changed you, and maybe through that they might be changed as well…

by Andrew Mills

Following Jesus Means Being Used By Jesus…

On Sunday I shared how God actually chooses to use you and me to accomplish his purposes. He actually wants to use you to impact others, to be apart of their transformation, and to meet others needs.

Lindsay earlier this week made a comment on the blog, that God uses us in all of our awkwardness and weakness. And that struck me. God actually wants to use you as you are even if you feel inadequate, or awkward, or unsure. God’s doesn’t feel at all inadequate, unsure, or awkward about using you and whatever gifts you have to further his work in the world.

This for me is the beauty of following Jesus. There is something beautiful in knowing that God acutally desires my partnership with him; God actually values me as I am now; God believes I can actually do good in this world; and God is inviting me to join in with something bigger than myself. And he desires the same thing for you…

God sees something in you worth sharing with others…

God is choosing you to be apart of his mission of love and life…because you have value to give…

The questions is do you believe that? And if so are you ready to step out? Because God is ready to direct you…

by Andrew Mills

Following Leads to Becoming…

Yesterday I shared a bit on how Jesus invites regular and ordinary people to follow him. Through that invitation he is actually inviting us to become like him. When you follow someone you become like them. And Jesus has invited each of us to follow him to become like him and invite others on the same journey.

I ended with challenging us to invite people to follow Jesus; and also to recognize, affirm, and encourage people when they are becoming like Jesus. I encouraged us to say to people – that we see Jesus in them and how they act.

And yesterday proved one thing to me so clearly: that Jesus is within PEMC and shapes you.

Yesterday the church welcomed me and my family officially. We’ve already been welcomed into the family, and made to feel apart of it by so many but yesterday was more of the official welcome Sunday. As part of that welcome Krista and I were not only so surprised but so overwhelmed by the support of the church. And I think for the first time in Krista’s life she was made speechless. People gave gift cards, notes of encouragement, food, homemade preserves, and there was even a cake.

So I simply want to say to PEMC:

  • I see Jesus in the way you are generous;
  • I see Jesus in the way you care;
  • I see Jesus in the way you welcome
  • I see Jesus in how you are open and vulnerable;

In short, I see Jesus in you…

by Andrew Mills

Following Where Jesus Leads

This Sunday I shared about how Jesus calls us to follow him. It’s a gift to be able to follow Jesus. But as I was reflecting on following Jesus, I realized that the next obvious question is where is following Jesus taking us?

Or to put it another way – Where is Jesus leading us?

Now that’s a question that I really believe deserves some attention and time. Where is Jesus leading you in your personal life? Where is he leading you in the community…in your family…in your job?

If we are truly devoted to following Jesus then the next step is to find out where he is actually leading us.

This will be the topic of my next sermon – where Jesus is leading each and everyone of us.

And I’m excited to explore this topic because wherever Jesus leads is worth it. And I want to be where he is leading. The question is what about you?

by Andrew Mills

“Learning to Follow Jesus”

This Sunday was the very first Sunday in our new Sermon Series “Learning to Follow Jesus”. We are going to be learning together how we might better follow Jesus. I’m excited about preaching on it and learning about it. So check out our little flyer here to see where we will be going for the next few weeks.

by Andrew Mills