Kimbolton Methodist Church

06/01/2026

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT HYPOCRISY

One of the more damning indictments against a person professing faith in Jesus is the accusation of hypocrisy. The word “hypocrisy” comes from the ancient Greek word “hypokrisis”—which literally translates to “acting on a stage” or “playing a part.” The original word was ascribed to stage actors who put on a costume and played their role—often with such conviction that they helped the audience emotionally engage with the unfolding play. However, once the curtain falls, the actor is the same person they were before they donned the costume.

When people profess Christ, but simply “play the role, it can have a devastating effect. In the fifth chapter of Acts, we read the story of Ananias and Sapphira, a husband and wife who tried to play the part of being generous in their faith but were actually “playing the part” when they lied about something they did in Jesus’ name. Peter called out their duplicity and told them they lied to the Holy Spirit:

“When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.” (Acts 5:5-6)

This was the first church funeral and, to be honest, it was a bit spare. There was no liturgy, flowers, music, eulogy, or even a sermon—just a quick burial. Ananias died for the sin of hypocrisy. Three hours later, his wife died for the same thing.

The story of Ananias and Sapphira is a cautionary tale. Their hypocrisy ended up being deadly to their soul and body. It was also an important moment in the formation of the early church. The call to follow Jesus is not a costume we put on to play a part when the lights are on—it’s a reorientation of our life, being following Jesus as Savior and obeying Jesus as Lord.

Hypocrisy can not only have an eternal impact on our lives, it can also hurt others. The world is watching the way we live, and our unchecked hypocrisy can make it difficult for a person who lives far away from God to be open to crossing the line of faith.

Don’t just play the part, my friends. Live the life! People are watching!

Bishop Jeff Greenway

05/31/2026

05/30/2026

Join us tomorrow morning at 11:15 AM for worship!
Pastor Phil will be sharing a message from Genesis 1 titled “Our God is an Awesome God.” Come be encouraged as we reflect on the power and wonder of our Creator.
Tomorrow is also Music Sunday, making it a special time of worship and praise together! 🎶
We would love to see you there and invite your family and friends to join us.

05/28/2026

SOME THOUGHTS ON GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

In the second book of Samuel, chapter 7, the people had firmly established David as king in Jerusalem, and he built himself a very nice home. But then he felt some conviction:

“Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent” (2 Samuel 7:2).

He wanted to build a house for God. David’s desire pleased God, who responded with this promise:

“The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you” (2 Samuel 7:11).

Sadly, things didn’t turn out the way David thought they would. In 586 B.C., the Babylonians destroyed the city of Jerusalem, blinded the king—David’s distant son—and took him back to Babylon. This appeared to be the end of David’s dynasty and was a terrible shock to everyone who had believed God’s promise.

Centuries later, however, Mary gave birth to Jesus, the son of David (Matthew 1:1). The angel said to Mary, “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David...his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:31-33). So when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the people shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David" (Matthew 21:9), and "Blessed is the king of Israel!" (John 12:13). God was fulfilling His promise to David.

David wanted to build a physical house for God, but God would build David an everlasting household. What God’s people didn't know and couldn't understand was that David’s messianic Son had been ruling from heaven’s throne since before the beginning of time. From a human perspective, the collapse of David’s dynasty was a theological disaster. But from heaven’s perspective, this was no problem at all. David’s Son was the eternal king of heaven and earth—He just hadn’t been born yet.

The promises of God find their ultimate fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). God gave David an everlasting dynasty through his great-great-grandson, Jesus Christ. And when Jesus returns, His kingdom will surpass David’s kingdom in every possible way, and it will never end. God always keeps His promises, even when they seem to fail.

Trust in God’s faithfulness, my friends!

Bishop Jeff Greenway

05/25/2026

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT LOVE ON MEMORIAL DAY

Today is Memorial Day—a day we collectively remember that our freedom is never free. It’s been bought and paid for with the blood of patriots in every generation. Today, we remember the men and women who surrendered their will to the point of being willing to live with a singleness of devotion and give the last full measure of their lives. Thank God for their selflessness.

The psalmist asks God for help in developing this singleness of devotion when he writes:

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Most tombstones display a date of birth and a date of death, separated by a dash. A million years from now, all that will matter is what we did with our "dash." If you live to be ninety years old, you will spend over thirty-two thousand days doing something. You can spend those days for yourself or a greater cause like serving the Lord, but how you spend your days is how you spend your life.

No one knows when his or her life will end. But if you want a hopeful estimate, subtract your current age from ninety, and then multiply that by three hundred and sixty-five. That will give you a rough estimate of the number of days you may have left. Of course, there are no guarantees.

I never served in our country’s armed forces, but I have incredible respect for those who did—as well as for their families, especially the “Gold Star” families of men and women who gave up all their tomorrows so we could live in freedom and peace today.

Why would they do such a thing? I know this may sound simplistic, but I believe it was love. Love for God. Love for country. Love for their brothers and sisters. Jesus calls this kind of love the greatest love known to man. It's an indication that they were determined to live their lives for a higher and more compelling cause than many of us will ever know.

May we learn to number our days, obtain a heart for what is right, and be willing to give our lives for a cause that’s bigger than us. Only this life will soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.

Live and love selflessly, my friends!

Bishop Jeff Greenway

05/23/2026

✨ Join Us This Sunday ✨
“Spreading the Word through the Holy Spirit”
Tomorrow’s scripture readings:
📖 Acts 1:7–8
📖 Acts 2:1–13
We will also have a special introduction to the Hutchinson family.
Come worship with us as we grow together in faith and celebrate God’s presence among us. All are welcome! ❤️🙏

05/23/2026

05/21/2026

SOME THOUGHTS ON YEARNING FOR FORGIVENESS

King David’s sin with Bathsheba wasn’t the first time he sinned. Looking back on his life, David could not recall a time when he wasn’t a sinner. In verses 5 and 6 of Psalm 51, David concluded that his sinfulness began the moment he was conceived.

This is true for all of us, for we’re all descendants of Adam and Eve—the first human sinners. Their righteous natures were corrupted by sin and passed down from generation to generation. The infection of sin is so pervasive that not only are we sinners by nature, but also by choice. We’re ALL inclined toward sin.

Sinning is so prevalent in our nature that not only do we enjoy it, we’re also skilled at it. In our sinful state, we have more in common with the devil than we do with Jesus. But by His grace, Jesus bore our penalties so that we could be forgiven.

David yearned for forgiveness:

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7).

Hyssop is a small plant that could be dipped in water and used in a cleansing ceremony. David was convinced that if God would cleanse him, he’d be whiter than snow. In fact, the words “cleanse me” in this instance can also be translated “un-sin me.” God’s forgiveness is so complete, it’s as if we had never sinned.

David discovered that murder is a difficult transgression to get over, and those who abort their babies often struggle terribly. But God is so good that not only does He want to forgive us, He also longs to help us recover. That’s why He offers to “un-sin” us.

After asking God to forgive him, David wondered if anything good could come from his sin. When he recalled others' struggles with their sins, he surmised that if he could find his way back to God, he could also help others do the same:

“Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you” (Psalm 51:13).

In writing this psalm, David helped countless sinners find their way back to the God who loves them—and assured its readers that if God forgave David, then God can forgive them.

Do you yearn for forgiveness, my friends? Confess, repent, and ask God to “cleanse” or “un-sin” you!

Bishop Jeff Greenway

05/20/2026

This Sunday, we have the pleasure of welcoming Ethan Hutchinson and his family to our church services. Ethan will be sharing with us his mission. The following is some background about him and his family.

Ethan Hutchinson and his family are preparing to step into full‑time mission work after years of faithfully serving in their home church in Delaware, Ohio, where Ethan currently is a worship leader. Ethan and his wife first traveled to Uruguay in 2020, just before the pandemic hit, and the Lord used that experience to plant a long‑term calling in their hearts. Six years and three children later, the Hutchinson’s are now preparing to return, this time to serve long‑term.
Uruguay is the least‑reached and least‑evangelized nation in Latin America, with only about 4% of the population identifying as Evangelical Christian. It is also one of the most secularized countries in the world, with the highest percentage of non‑religious people in Latin America. The Hutchinson family will be serving with a bilingual church in the capital city, ministering not only to local Uruguayans but also to people from many nations who call Montevideo home. Their desire is to share the hope of Jesus in a place that receives very few missionaries and is deeply in need of the Gospel.

We hope to see you all there! Services start at 11:15 💛