Text Messages
Text Messages focus on the backstory of the upcoming text for this Sunday’s sermon. Provided by our pastors, these messages will give some background on that section of scripture text and give a few hints about where the sermon might be going. We hope you find these Text Messages helpful!
Sunday, August 31, 2025
MESSAGE SERIES:
“Grounded In Creation”
MESSAGE THEME:
“Flora and Fauna”
TEXT(S):
Matthew 13:31–32
Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
Luke 12: 22–34
Jesus said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith! And do not keep seeking what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that seek all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
REFLECTION:
From Pastor Michelle Lewis
You are worthy.
Your value does not depend on what you accomplish, how clean your house is, if you keep up on the latest fashions and styles, or if your kids/nieces/nephews/niblings are the best at their activity of choice.
You. are. enough.
Will you trust that promise? If you find yourself awake at night because your worries are waking you, practice trusting this promise. “I am enough. I am worthy.”
To quit worrying is a hard ask if you don’t have a new habit to pick up in place of that worrying. So, when those worries try to disrupt the whole of your life, can you try this two step dance?
- Set aside 5–10 minutes at the same time every day to worry. Write down your worries and later when they come knocking again, remind them, “I won’t forget you. I wrote you down. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
- Pray this mantra: “Jesus, help me trust your promises. I am enough. I am worthy. Take my worries for now. Amen.”
You are worthy. You are enough. You are beloved.