Long Island Church of Christ

06/12/2026

God's Varied Grace Builds Awe

1 Peter 4:10-11 (CSB)
“Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”

God’s grace is wonderfully varied. There seem to be as many gifts, talents, abilities, opportunities, personalities, and callings as there are colors beneath the sun. Some gifts are visible, while others quietly strengthen God’s people behind the scenes. Some teach, some encourage, some organize, some create, some lead, some serve, some listen, some give, and some comfort. Yet every gift, whether celebrated or unnoticed, comes from the same gracious God. The world often applauds the skill it sees in a person, but the believer understands that every talent ultimately points back to the God who gave it.

Sometimes I may not even recognize how God has gifted me. My flesh may compare myself to others, dismiss what I do well, envy gifts that seem more visible, or wait for certainty before stepping forward. But the Holy Spirit reminds me that stewardship often begins before complete understanding. Many gifts are discovered only when I am willing to serve. As I step out in faith to teach, encourage, help, organize, give, visit, create, mentor, pray, listen, or simply make myself available, God reveals how He intends to use me. If I never step forward, I may never see what His grace was preparing me to do.

The Holy Spirit reminds me that I am not the source of the gift. If I speak, God provides the message. If I serve, God provides the strength. How can I boast in what was given to me? How can I despair when the One who gave the gift also supplies the power to use it? God not only commands service; He empowers it. This protects me from both pride and insecurity. I cannot boast because the gift came from God. I do not need to feel inadequate because the power also comes from God.

In relationships, I can use my gifts to build others up rather than draw attention to myself. At work, I can serve with excellence without making success my identity. In the church, I can contribute whatever God has entrusted to me, knowing that every member of the body is necessary for its health. Self-love is not self-promotion; it is gratefully receiving God’s grace and faithfully investing it for His purposes.

As a new creation, the Spirit in me teaches my heart to seek God’s glory above my own. My flesh naturally craves recognition, applause, status, and control, but the Spirit reminds me that the greatest purpose of every gift is worship. God values me enough to entrust me with His varied grace and invite me into His redemptive work. I am a saint, a servant, and a light in a dark world. Whether my gift is seen by thousands or known by only a few, its highest purpose remains the same: that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. The gift points to the Giver, and the glory belongs to Him alone.

06/11/2026

Honoring Love
Loving God—Loving People

Join us as we discuss how we can Honor each other in Love.Sermon ...

06/11/2026

Serving Love
Loving God—Loving People

Join us as we discuss how to have Serving LoveLesson by Rob Young...

06/11/2026

Freed to Love Through Service

Galatians 5:13–14 (CSB)
“For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don't use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

There is a profound difference between being free and merely feeling free. Many things promise freedom but actually enslave me. The pursuit of status, comfort, recognition, control, self-protection, entertainment, political identity, material success, resentment, anxiety, and even my own preferences can quietly consume my attention. When my heart revolves around protecting myself, promoting myself, or satisfying myself, I become less available to love others. What I thought was freedom becomes another form of bo***ge.

This Bible passage reminds me that Christian freedom is not freedom from serving; it is freedom to serve. My flesh often imagines freedom as having fewer obligations, fewer interruptions, and fewer demands from others. The world tells me that happiness is found in putting myself first. But the Spirit in me teaches me that true freedom is found when Christ becomes my satisfaction. If I am secure in God's love, accepted by His grace, and honored as His child, I no longer need to constantly seek validation, recognition, or advantage.

The Holy Spirit reminds me that when I am satisfied in Christ, I become unencumbered to love. I am free to listen instead of demanding attention. Free to forgive instead of keeping score. Free to encourage instead of competing. Free to serve without needing applause. Free to bear burdens, visit the lonely, help the struggling, and invest in God's people without calculating what I will receive in return.

In relationships, self-interest often creates conflict, codependency, manipulation, favoritism, and disappointment. At work, it can produce rivalry, ambition, defensiveness, and impatience. In the church, it can tempt me to seek influence rather than service. Yet God calls me to something far greater. As one of His saints and a light in a dark world, I am invited into the freedom of self-forgetfulness—a freedom made possible because Christ has already supplied everything my soul truly needs.

The more satisfied I become in Christ, the more available I become to love. And the more I love, the more the beauty of God's kingdom shines through His people.

06/10/2026

Greatness Defined by Service

Mark 10:42–45 (CSB)
Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Greatness is often measured by how many people notice me, obey me, praise me, or make room for me. My flesh can easily crave position, recognition, influence, and control. I may want to be seen as important in my family, respected at work, valued in the church, or proven right in political and cultural conversations. But Jesus turns worldly greatness upside down.

The Holy Spirit reminds me that the kingdom does not follow the order of the world. In the world, people often use status to be served. In the kingdom, greatness is revealed when I use whatever strength, influence, experience, or opportunity I have to serve. Since I am a new creation, the Spirit in me helps me reject the old man’s hunger for superiority and teaches me to become useful in God’s hands.

This means I do not serve to be admired, needed, or emotionally validated. That would only turn service into another form of self-exaltation. I serve because my Lord served me first. Jesus did not protect His status; He gave His life as a ransom. That fills me with awe: the King of glory valued me enough to stoop, suffer, and save.

So today, kingdom greatness may look like listening before correcting, helping without being thanked, doing the unnoticed task, supporting someone weaker, refusing to dominate, or choosing peace over pride. God calls me to be a saint and a light in a dark culture, not by climbing over others, but by bending low in love.

06/09/2026

One Body, Many Gifts

Romans 12:4–8 (CSB)
“Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts…” (Romans 12:4–6a, CSB)

The body of Christ, the church, is as diverse in parts as the human body (1 Corinthians 12:12). Each part of the body serves a function. Sometimes I may think my gift is too small to matter. My flesh can compare, withdraw, envy, criticize, or wait for a more visible role. But as a new creation, the Spirit in me teaches me that service is not measured by applause, visibility, or status. God values every member of the body because every gift becomes holy when offered in love. Every talent, opportunity, ability, and spiritual gift I have to offer comes from God Himself.

The Holy Spirit reminds me that the church does not grow healthy when everyone wants the same gift, but when everyone uses the grace (gifts) they have received. Teaching, serving, encouraging, giving, leading, and showing mercy all reveal God’s care through His people. Even a quiet act—cleaning, visiting, listening, preparing, praying, greeting, translating, giving a ride, caring for children, or encouraging the discouraged—may strengthen someone who is weak. What seems insignificant to me may become a powerful expression of God's love to someone else.

In a culture obsessed with platform, power, politics, recognition, and self-promotion, God calls me to humble usefulness. Self-love does not mean protecting my comfort from responsibility; it means gratefully receiving my God-given place in the body and offering myself as a living sacrifice for the glory of God and the good of His people. This is how I know I am not insignificant. I am a saint, a light in the darkness, and a necessary part of Christ’s body. When I use my gift faithfully, God uses me to strengthen His people, advance His kingdom, and help the whole body flourish. To God be the glory.

06/08/2026

How Do I Wash Feet as Jesus Did?

John 13:14–15 (CSB)
“So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.”

Foot washing was one of the lowest household tasks in the ancient world. Dusty roads, sandals, and long journeys made it a dirty and unpleasant responsibility. Yet Jesus—the Lord of glory—intentionally chose the position of a servant. He did not merely teach humility; He demonstrated it. The question for me is not whether I would kneel with a basin and towel, but whether I am willing to embrace the modern equivalents of foot washing when they seem inconvenient, unnoticed, or beneath me.

My flesh naturally wants recognition, appreciation, comfort, and status. It can resist tasks that feel menial, thankless, or invisible. It may quietly think, “Someone else should do that.” But I am a new creation, and the Spirit in me teaches me to follow the example of Christ. The Holy Spirit reminds me that greatness in God’s kingdom is measured by service, not prominence.

This Bible passage reminds me that foot washing today may look like cleaning up after others without complaining, staying late to help someone finish a difficult task, visiting a lonely brother or sister when no one else does, helping an elderly saint with errands, preparing a meal for a struggling family, changing diapers, caring for a sick spouse, driving someone to appointments, or quietly serving behind the scenes when nobody notices. It may mean listening patiently to someone who needs encouragement, helping a coworker succeed without seeking credit, or welcoming someone who feels overlooked and making them feel seen, valued, and loved.

In relationships, foot washing means choosing service over pride, sacrifice over convenience, and encouragement over self-interest. It is not enabling sin or becoming codependent; it is willingly lowering myself so another person experiences the love of Christ. The world pursues status, influence, and visibility. Jesus pursued people.

God has already honored me in Christ. Therefore, I do not need to fight for recognition. I am free to honor others. As a saint and a light in a dark world, I can take the towel, kneel low, and reflect the heart of my Savior. The more I understand how lovingly Christ has served me, the more eager I become to serve others for His glory.

06/06/2026

IT’S BACK!!!!! Faithful Discussions Podcast Episode 3!!! Coming Soon!!!

06/05/2026

Honor Flows from the Love of God

1 Peter 2:17 (CSB)

“Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

Many people are difficult to honor. Some hold authority yet make poor decisions. Some promote values that oppose God's design. Others may have wounded me, disappointed me, or represent groups with whom I strongly disagree. In a culture increasingly shaped by outrage, political tribalism, and suspicion, honor can feel undeserved. Yet God calls me to honor everyone. How can I do that without compromising truth? How can I honor people whose actions I cannot approve of?

My flesh can easily categorize people into those worthy of respect and those unworthy of it. I may show honor selectively based on agreement, social status, political affiliation, ethnicity, education, personality, or personal experience. But since I am a new creation, the Spirit in me teaches me to see people through God's eyes. The Spirit reminds me that every human being is an image-bearer of God and possesses inherent dignity regardless of their behavior, beliefs, or position.

This Bible passage reminds me that the command to honor everyone is anchored between loving God's family and fearing God. When I truly fear God, I recognize that He alone is the ultimate authority. My reverence for Him enables me to honor others because my identity, security, and justice are entrusted to Him. I do not honor people because they are always honorable; I honor them because God is worthy of my obedience. He put Himself into every human being, regardless of what they may think they are worth and regardless of whether or not they chose to fear Him.

What prejudices might block honor in my life? Pride may cause me to think I am wiser than others. Political bias may tempt me to demonize those who disagree with me. Past hurts may make me withhold respect. Social, racial, economic, generational, or educational stereotypes may cause me to judge before listening. Fear may lead me to view others as enemies rather than people for whom Christ died.

In relationships, honoring others means speaking with dignity even during disagreement. At work, it means respecting supervisors and coworkers without compromising biblical convictions. In the church, it means valuing every member of the body of Christ. In society, it means rejecting contempt, mockery, and dehumanization. Honor does not require approval, agreement, silence, or compromise. It is not enabling sin. Rather, it is recognizing the value God places on people while remaining faithful to His truth.

The Holy Spirit reminds me that I am a saint, a citizen of God's kingdom, and a light in a dark world. As my fear of God grows, my ability to honor others grows as well. When I honor everyone while fearing God above all, I reflect the character of Christ, who showed dignity, compassion, and truth even toward those who opposed Him.

06/04/2026

Honoring Those Who Watch Over Me

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 (CSB) — “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.”

It is easy for my heart to feel corrected as if I am being attacked, inconvenienced, or controlled. When someone leads me in the Lord or admonishes me, my flesh can quickly become defensive, angry, suspicious, or bitter. But since I am a new creation, the Spirit in me teaches me to recognize spiritual labor as a gift from God, not a burden to resent.

The Holy Spirit reminds me that those who lead, labor, and admonish are not obstacles to my freedom; they are servants helping protect my soul and the peace of God’s family. Honor does not mean blind agreement or human worship. It means I choose love, gratitude, humility, and spiritual discernment instead of criticism, gossip, resentment, or rebellion.

In relationships and in the church, this means I should receive correction without assuming the worst. At work, I can respect leadership without becoming bitter or proud. In a culture that often despises authority, God teaches me that peace grows where honor grows.

God values me enough to place spiritual care around me. He calls me to be a saint and a light, not someone ruled by offense. When I honor faithful laborers, I help cultivate peace among God’s people.