Birmingham Global Methodist Church

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06/04/2026

Some Thoughts about Living in the Present and Looking forward to the Future
Philippians may be my favorite of the Apostle Paul’s New Testament letters. It has been called Paul’s last will and testament. It may not be the last of the letters he wrote, but it is the most personal and revelatory about his situation.

It was written while he was under house arrest, chained to members of Caesar’s Praetorian Guard, for up to two years, while awaiting his eventual ex*****on. He is writing to dear friends from his sweetheart church in Philippi who had been supportive of his ministry from the very beginning.

The average person writing from this situation may have had a difficult time being hopeful, but not Paul. The entire letter can be summarized with the word “rejoice.” He can rejoice because of his unswerving belief in the Lordship of Jesus. That belief was the lens through which Paul looked at his past, present and future.

In chapter 1, he declared:

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

That belief changed everything Paul believed about his life, death and eternal life.

In chapter three, he shows us his priorities as he faces death:

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

Two things were important to Paul as he raced toward heaven: forgetting the past and straining toward the future. He didn’t dwell on former achievements or failures. He kept his eyes on the finish line and pressed on with all his might.

If you have ever done something good for God, you might be tempted to rest, as though you have done enough. And if you’ve ever done something terrible, you might be tempted to dwell on it. But neither one is worth the time, and both must be forgotten in order to press on.

God remembers the good we do, so we don’t have to keep track. And he forgets our sins, so we can forget them, too! God forgets our sins and lawless acts (Hebrews 10:17). Like Paul, we can forget about the past and strain toward the future as we approach the finish line.

Forget what lies behind, and press forward, my friends!

Bishop Jeff Greenway

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!

05/29/2026

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

05/21/2026

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

05/18/2026

How do you respond when life hurts? The Old Testament character Job is a tragic figure whose life experiences heartache and loss. However, what makes Job remarkable is his response, even when those who "love" him the most urge him to "curse God and die." In Job chapter 1, Job's response to tragedy and heartache is uncharacteristic:

“At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: 'Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.' In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” (Job 1:20, 21).

Even in his devastation, Job chose to worship God instead of cursing Him. Praising God in heaven is easier than praising Him on earth. And praising God when things go right is easier than praising Him when things go wrong. By worshiping God in the face of loss, Job brought more glory to God than the angels above.

Job was able to respond this way because he understood two important things: First, everything he had on earth was only temporary. “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart,” he said. Job came into the world with nothing, and he would leave with nothing. The more important thing that Job had was God.

Second, Job understood that God was in control of his loss. “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away,” he said. Job wasn't in the hands of fate, chance, or the devil. He was in the hands of a good and loving God who is always worthy of praise. So even in the midst of loss, Job gave praise to God.

Whenever evil strikes, it may seem like God isn’t doing His job—or is doing it badly. And if the disaster is overwhelming, we might even think that God is evil. No matter how things appear, however, we must trust that God is good and is doing something good for us.

Trust in the goodness of God, my friends!

Bishop Jeff Greenway

05/16/2026

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19 & 5:5-11
“Don’t Be Surprised”
Service starts at 9 am, come join us.

05/14/2026

Some Thoughts about Faith in the Midst of Adversity
The beginning of the Old Testament book of Job reveals a conversation between the enemy of our souls and the Lord:

“Does Job fear God for nothing? Satan replied. Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face” (Job 1:9-11).

We can learn five important lessons from this conversation.

First, we have an enemy. We expect punishment for our sins and reward for our righteousness, but it’s not that simple. We live in a broken and fallen world where a powerful evil being delights in seeing the righteous suffer.

Second, God is our Protector. God has the ability to surround us with a hedge of protection from all harm. He put a hedge around Job and everything he had. God's protection is like a fence that keeps out everything that doesn't belong inside.

Third, our lives aren't private. Job’s ordeal was played out in the presence of God, Satan, and angels. The New Testament adds, “a great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) who’ve gone to heaven before us. God and many witnesses see everything we do.

Fourth, hardship reveals our loyalty. Satan thought Job was serving God because of what he received from God, not because of his loyalty to God. If God were to take away Job’s prosperity, Satan assumed Job would turn away from God. Herein lies the heart of the issue and the question we must ask ourselves: Are we loyal to God or is our faith conditional?

Fifth, Satan wants us to curse God. Satan urged God, “Stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face” (Job 1:11). God is the object of more and greater cursing every single day than any other being in the universe. Some even curse God for the evil pleasure it brings them. Sometimes, even the righteous are tempted to curse God. This was Satan’s goal for Job, as well as for us.

Stay faithful, my friends!

Bishop Jeff Greenway

05/11/2026

Some Thoughts on Being Attentive to God's Word
The Bible is a gift to those who choose to read it, study it, and live under its authority.

The Apostle Paul reminded young Timothy:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).

When we read, study, and live under the authority of His Word, God will speak to, guide,and shape us. But when we neglect to read, study, and live under the authority of God’s Word, we risk forgetting the Lord and His ways.

Such was the case in the years before and during the first 18 years of King Josiah's reign in 2 Kings chapter 22. Josiah called for a renovation of the temple, and as they were preparing for the work:

“Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord’” (2 Kings 22:8).

In reality, God’s Word had been missing for years, and no one seemed to notice. While the priesthood was operating and there was religious activity, adherence to the recorded instructions of God was conspicuously absent. Then, while the temple was being repaired, God’s Word was rediscovered. The rediscovery of the Book of the Law lead to a reform of faith and practice in ancient Israel.

This would be more difficult to imagine if it wasn't so common today. Many churches have leaders who busy themselves with everything but the instruction of God’s Word. As a result, many church attendees don’t know the Bible and subsequently live contrary to its teaching. Hear me: religious activity isn't the same as fidelity to the Word of God.

The apostles provide a better example. When they were asked to do other things that might distract them from God’s will and way, they replied:

“We will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word...” (Acts 6:4).

The first responsibility of Christian ministers is attention and response to the Word of God. Their prioritization of God's instructions represents their most important service to the church. Remember, religious activity is not the same as fidelity to the Word of God.

It’s time for God’s people to rediscover the Bible, my friends!

Bishop Jeff Greenway

05/08/2026

Some Thoughts on Staying in Your Lane
We can categorize leaders in the Old Testament as follows:

1) Prophets—who spoke for God, anointed kings, and called God’s people to confession;

2) Priests—who handled holy things, made sacrifices, and forgave sins; and

3) Kings—who led armies, governed the people, and (most importantly) served as the lead worshiper of God among their people.

Someone could be a prophet and a priest, but not a king. A king could not serve as a prophet or priest.

When those called to these roles stayed in their lane, life was good—but problems arose when these individuals did things for which they were not called and equipped.

Whenever kings failed to stay in their lane, trouble followed. Uzziah was not content with political power—he wanted religious power as well. The second book of Chronicles, chapter 26, reads:

“But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall” (2 Chronicles 26:16).

Uzziah once went into God’s temple to burn incense, which was something only priests were permitted to do (Numbers 3:10). Putting their lives at risk, some of the priests followed Uzziah into the temple and opposed him directly to his face. When he refused to back down, God struck Uzziah with leprosy. He lived in isolation for the remainder of his life and was banned from the temple of God (2 Chronicles 26:21).

An abundance of earthly success can lead to pride, which often leads to a downfall. As King Solomon reminded us:

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

And King David instructed:

“You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low” (2 Samuel 22:28).

We learn from Uzziah's story that starting well does not guarantee finishing well. When he lived righteously, God gave Uzziah success. When pride filled Uzziah and he strayed outside his lane, he experienced a tragic fall. We would be better served to struggle throughout our lives than succeed at the cost of our souls. “Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil” (Proverbs 15:16).

Stay in your lane and stay humble, my friends!

Bishop Jeff Greenway

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