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Monday 8:30am - 5pm Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm Thursday 8:30am - 5pm Sunday 9:30am - 12:30pm

Sardis Presbyterian Church of Linden

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Sardis Presbyterian Church of Linden

We are a body of believers who love Jesus and are learning to spread His message and share His love in our community and the world.

We take our faith very seriously, but not ourselves! In January, 2013, we called Sally Henry to be our new pastor. We called her because she knows how to be real with people - in her life and in her sermons. She has a strength in reaching out in the community in love and service, and she's teaching us how to do it as well. We're currently a bunch of retired or almost-retired folks, and we'd love t

o encourage families to join us so we can love on your kids, be parenting and marriage mentors, and simply share our lives with you. Please, come worship with us some Sunday morning at 11am! We'd love to have you join us!

09/06/2026

Minister Shelley Sanders was our guest preacher today. Her message on “Speak Your Faith” was encouraging and filled with gospel references. It was a blessing to have her energy and knowledge focused on Sardis this morning. Special thanks to Constancy Ramey for arranging for Shelley to be with us today. Shelly is a graduate student at Campbell University and an Associate Minister at Watt Chapel Missionary Baptist in Raleigh. Constance also asked the Bannerman youth to assist in the service.

Announcements for the week:

Happy Birthday to PJ Maiello (9/5) and Terry Williams (9/11)

No Choir practice this week - will resume on Sept. 16th at 5 pm

Session Meeting on Sept. 16th at 6 pm

Sardis is feeding the Firemen on Tuesday Sept. 8th. If you are participating meet at the Fire Station on East Reeves Road at 6:30 pm. The contact for this event is Ann Bowen.

The Fall Card Class has been cancelled.

Please remember to bring food donations for DUMA

Bowen Strong Fishing Tournament will be held on October. 10, 2026.

08/30/2026

Announcements

📍We will have a guest minister next Sunday as Don will be on vacation. Shelley Sanders will bring our message on September 6.
📍There will be no Choir Practice this week. Practice will resume on September 9.
📍Card Class- An update will be given soon.
📍The annual BowenStrong Fishing Tournament will take place on October 10, 2026 at Holden Beach Marina. (Details to come)

Today’s sermon was entitled, “God’s Way, Not Ours”. The scripture lesson was taken from Matthew 16:21–28.

How often do we ask God to bless our plans rather than asking God to help us follow His plan? In Matthew 16:21–28, Peter has just confessed that Jesus is the Messiah. Yet when Jesus explains that His journey will lead to suffering, the cross, and ultimately resurrection, Peter objects. Peter loved Jesus. His intentions were good. But Peter was looking at the situation through human eyes rather than trusting the purposes of God.

Jesus responds: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” Jesus was reminding Peter of the proper place of a disciple: behind Jesus, following where He leads rather than trying to tell Him where He should go.

That same challenge confronts us. We live in a world that constantly encourages us to put ourselves first—to pursue comfort, success, recognition, possessions, and personal satisfaction. We are often tempted to believe that we know what is best for our lives. But Jesus calls us to something different: “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

Following Christ means asking ourselves each day: Am I willing to follow God’s way instead of insisting upon my own? We can begin by examining the ordinary choices of our lives. Are our words kind and encouraging? Are we willing to forgive? Do we tell the truth even when dishonesty would be easier? Are we generous with what God has given us? Do we allow anger, pride, possessions, success, or personal desires to become more important than God? Are we serving Christ by serving others?

Discipleship is not simply something we choose once. It is an ongoing commitment—a daily decision to place ourselves behind Jesus and allow Him to lead. That will not always be easy. Sometimes following Christ means giving up something the world tells us we need. Sometimes it means choosing faithfulness over popularity, generosity over selfishness, forgiveness over resentment, or obedience over comfort. Yet Jesus reminds us that gaining everything this world offers means very little if, in the process, we lose what matters eternally: “For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life?”

The good news is that God does not ask us to make this journey alone. Through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, God strengthens us, changes our hearts, and helps us become the people He calls us to be. Jesus chose God’s way even when that road led to the cross. For a moment, it appeared that the way of the world had won. But the cross was followed by an empty tomb. Suffering was followed by resurrection. Death was followed by life. And that reminds us that we can trust God even when we cannot yet see where the road is leading.

God’s way may not always be the easiest way—but God’s way leads us into the life Christ desires for us. May we have the faith each day to pray: “Lord, not my way, but Yours. Lead me, and I will follow.”

Closing Prayer
Gracious God,
We confess that we often want life to unfold according to our own plans and desires. Forgive us when we place our wisdom above Yours or allow the values of this world to guide us away from You.
Give us the faith to trust You when we cannot see what lies ahead. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, give us courage to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and faithfully follow Jesus. Teach us to choose love over selfishness, forgiveness over resentment,
generosity over greed, and obedience over comfort. May our lives reflect the love and grace of Christ to everyone around us. Help us always to remember that Your way is greater than ours and that when we faithfully follow Christ, You lead us toward abundant and eternal life. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, we pray.
Amen.

08/23/2026

Today was the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Pastor Fischer’s message was entitled “Who am I”. A summary is at the conclusion of this post. Scripture readings included Isaiah 56:1-6; Psalm 138; Romans 12:1-8; and Matthew 16:13-20.

Announcements:
Choir practice will be held on Wednesday, August 26th at 5 pm.
Next Session Meeting is Wednesday, September 16th at 6 pm.
Witness and Outreach Committee will be “Feeding the Firemen” on Tuesday, September 8th. Ann Bowen is spearheading the effort and a sign up sheet is on the piano.
Please continue food donations for DUMA - they can be left in the Fellowship Hall for distribution. Items requested include peanut butter, Hamburger Helper, Spaghetti sauce and noodles, Canned soup/stew, canned chicken or tuna.

WHO AM I?

Matthew 16:13–20

There are many important questions we will answer during our lives, but Jesus asks one question that reaches deeper than all the others:

“Who do you say that I am?”

When Jesus asked His disciples what people were saying about Him, they offered several answers. Some said John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. These were honorable answers—but they did not go far enough.

Then Jesus made the question personal: “But who do YOU say that I am?”

Peter answered with one of the great confessions of faith in Scripture:

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

That same question comes to each of us today. It is not enough to know what our parents believed, what our grandparents believed, what our church teaches, or even what our pastor says. Eventually, each of us must answer Jesus for ourselves.

Who is Jesus to me?

Is He simply a great teacher whose words I admire? Is He someone I think about on Sunday but seldom consider during the rest of the week? Or can I say with Peter:

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. You are my Savior, my Lord, and the One upon whom I will build my life.”

And if that is our answer, it should become more than words. It should change the way we live—how we treat our families, speak to our neighbors, forgive those who hurt us, care for those in need, and share God's love with the people around us.

Jesus is still building His Church. He is still calling people, changing hearts, and using ordinary believers as “living stones” to carry His love into the world.

Sometimes we think our mission is simply to bring people to the love of God. Perhaps we should also think of our mission as bringing the love of God to people.

May our lives proclaim what Peter confessed:

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, open our hearts so that we may truly know You as our Savior and Lord. Help us not only to confess our faith with our words but to demonstrate it through the way we live. Use us as living stones in Your Church. Help us bring Your hope to the discouraged, Your compassion to the hurting, Your grace to the broken, and Your love to those who feel forgotten. May our lives faithfully proclaim that You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Amen.

08/16/2026

Today was the 12th Sunday after Pentecost. Pastor Fischer’s message was “The Blessing of Humble Faith” - a summary is included at the end of this post.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
Pastor Fischer shared that our Clerk of the Session and beloved member, Debra Morgan, and her husband, Louis, suffered a devastating house fire yesterday. Both Debra and Louis were airlifted to Chapel Hill Burn Center where they are being treated for serious smoke inhalation. We are grateful that neither suffered serious burns and that they were both rescued so quickly by the area fire department who worked valiantly in the heat to extinguish the fire. We are asking the entire congregation and local community to lift them up in prayers for a full recovery. Pastor Fischer has requested that all members who are able to please attend the session meeting this Wednesday, at 6 pm, to discuss how we can all work together to help the Morgan family and divide up church responsibilities that Debra handled while she is recovering. Choir practice is cancelled for this Wednesday.

We were blessed to have several international teachers who will be working at Harnett County Schools join us today for worship. It was a gift to have them with us.

Scripture readings included: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8; Psalm 67; Romans 11:1-12, 25-36; and Matthew 15:21-28. The sermon synapsis is below.

THE BLESSING OF HUMBLE FAITH
Matthew 15:21–28

Sometimes the most powerful prayer we can pray is also the simplest:

“Lord, help me.”

In Matthew 15, a Canaanite woman comes to Jesus desperate for help for her daughter. She is an outsider, someone whom many in that day would have overlooked or pushed aside. Yet she refuses to give up. She comes to Jesus with persistence, humility, love, and faith.

When Jesus seems silent, she keeps asking. When circumstances appear discouraging, she keeps trusting. And when she finally kneels before Him, she does not demand what she believes she deserves. She simply trusts in His mercy.

Her remarkable response reveals the depth of her faith: even a “crumb” of Christ’s mercy is enough.

Jesus responds, “Woman, great is your faith!” and her daughter is healed.

Her story reminds us that great faith is not necessarily loud or impressive. Sometimes great faith simply refuses to walk away from Jesus.

It keeps praying when God seems silent.

It keeps trusting when we cannot see the outcome.

It humbly acknowledges that we cannot handle everything ourselves.

And sometimes it simply cries out:

“Lord, help me.”

But this passage also challenges us to consider how we treat others. The disciples initially saw this woman as an interruption. Jesus saw a person of faith.

As followers of Christ, we are called to do the same. We are called to welcome rather than exclude, to show compassion rather than judgment, and to remember that God's blessings were never intended to stop with us. Having received Christ’s mercy ourselves, we are called to carry that mercy into the lives of others.

May we become people of humble faith—faith that persists, faith that trusts, faith that welcomes, and faith that believes that the mercy of Jesus Christ is always more than enough.

Prayer:
Gracious Lord, give us humble and persistent faith. When we are discouraged, teach us to continue trusting You. When we cannot find the right words to pray, give us the faith simply to say, “Lord, help me.” Open our eyes to those around us who need compassion, encouragement, and welcome. Having received Your mercy, help us carry that mercy to others so that our lives may bring glory to You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

08/10/2026

ANNOUNCMENTS

📍Choir Pactice resumes on August 19 at 5:00 p.m.

📍The Session meeting will be August 19 at 6:00 p.m.

📍The next Card Class-“Happy Fall Ya’ll” will be September 26 at 10:00 a.m.

📍We continue to accept donations for DUMA

The sermon today was titled, The Storms of Life and the scripture lesson came from Matthew 14:22–33.

Life is full of storms. Some arrive with warning, while others come without notice—a difficult diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, financial struggles, broken relationships, or uncertainty about tomorrow. As followers of Christ, we are not promised a life free from storms, but we are promised that we will never face them alone.

In Matthew 14, the disciples found themselves battling wind and waves while faithfully following Jesus' instructions. Their storm was not a sign that God had abandoned them. Instead, it became an opportunity to discover His presence and His power in a deeper way.

When Peter stepped out of the boat, he walked by faith until he shifted his focus from Jesus to the storm around him. Like Peter, we often become overwhelmed when we focus more on our problems than on our Savior. Yet even when Peter began to sink, his simple prayer—"Lord, save me!"—was met with Christ's immediate and gracious response.

The good news of the Gospel is that our hope has never depended on the strength of our grip on Christ, but on the strength of His grip on us. Jesus reaches out to us in our weakness, reminding us that His grace is greater than our fears and His presence is greater than any storm we may face.

The Lord who met Elijah in the quiet stillness (1 Kings 19), who speaks peace to His people (Psalm 85), and who promises salvation to all who call upon His name (Romans 10), is the same Lord who still walks with His people today.

No matter what storm you may be facing, keep your eyes fixed on Christ. He is faithful. He is present. And He still speaks these comforting words to every anxious heart: “Take heart. It is I. Do not be afraid." (Matthew 14:27)

May God strengthen your faith, calm your heart, and remind you that you are never alone.

Prayer:
Gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for walking with us through every storm of life. When fear threatens to overwhelm us, help us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, trusting in His power, His grace, and His unfailing love. Fill our hearts with Your peace, strengthen our faith, and use our lives to point others to the hope that is found in Christ alone. In His holy name we pray. Amen.

08/08/2026

Over 100 back packs filled with school supplies were given to Linden area students today at Sardis Presbyterian Church. This is the 4th year the outreach committee has held the giveaway and it grows each year. Over 25 volunteers worked hard to set up and man the distribution centers and provided a hot dog lunch. Special thanks to Unity and Palestine churches for their help with this venture. We wish all the students and teachers much success this year!

08/05/2026

Sardis is sponsoring a Back to School Supply ministry this Saturday, August 8th, from 11-2 for families who need assistance. A hot dog and chip lunch is included. Thank you to our partner churches Palestine and Unity for joining us in this effort to help our community.

08/02/2026

Today was the tenth Sunday after Pentecost. Pastor Fischer’s sermon was entitled, “Faithful Hands, Abundant Grace.” A summary follows this post. Scriptural readings included Isaiah 55:1-5; Psalm 145:8-9 and 14-21; Romans 9:1-5 and Matthew 14:13-21.

A reminder that the Mission and Outreach Committee is sponsoring this year’s School Supply Giveaway at Sardis on August 8th (Saturday) from 11 am to 2 pm and will include a hot dog lunch. All members are invited to attend and help at the giveaway and at the set up which will be on Friday the 7th at 10 am.

Choir practice resumes in August. Please bring food donations for DUMA to the box in the fellowship hall.

There are still a few openings for the Fall card making class on Saturday, Sept. 26th starting at 10 am. Let Debbie know if you want to attend.

Special thanks to Wayne Collier (who grows the BEST and BIGGEST watermelons) for sharing his harvest with members today. A very good example of our sermon message.

Faithful Hands, Abundant Grace
Matthew 14:13–21
How often do we look at the challenges before us and think;
"I just don't have enough"?
Not enough time.
Not enough ability.
Not enough money.
Not enough strength.
That is exactly how the disciples felt as they stood before a crowd of thousands with only five loaves of bread and two fish.
Yet Jesus did not ask them to create a miracle. He simply said;
"Bring them here to Me."
When the disciples placed what little they had into Christ's hands, He blessed it, multiplied it, and used it to meet the needs of everyone present.
The miracle reminds us that God is not limited by our resources.
He simply asks for our faith and our willingness to trust Him.
The prophet Isaiah extends God's invitation:
"Come, everyone who thirsts... listen carefully to me... and delight yourselves in rich food." (Isaiah 55:1–2)
That invitation points us to Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, who alone satisfies the deepest hunger of the human heart.
While the world offers temporary solutions, Christ offers lasting hope, forgiveness, peace, and abundant grace.
Paul reminds us in Romans 9 that God's promises find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah who came to bring salvation to all who believe.
This week, ask yourself:
What has God already placed in my hands?
How can I use my time, talents, and resources to bless someone else?
Where is Christ inviting me to trust Him instead of focusing on my limitations?
When we faithfully place our ordinary lives into the hands of our extraordinary Savior, He can accomplish far more than we could ever imagine.
May we travel this week remembering that God is not looking for perfect people with unlimited resources. He is looking for willing hearts that trust Him with what they have.
"Bring them here to Me." (Matthew 14:18)
May God bless you throughout the coming week as you walk by faith, trust in His abundant grace, and share His love with those around you.
Closing Prayer
Gracious God, thank You for reminding us that Your power is greater than our limitations. Help us to trust You with all that we have and all that we are. Give us compassionate hearts to serve others, faithful hands willing to do Your work, and confident spirits that rely on Your abundant grace. May our lives point others to Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, who alone satisfies every hungry soul. In His holy name we pray. Amen.

07/26/2026

Announcements

📍The School Supply Giveaway will be in the Sardis Fellowship Hall on August 8 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. We are still accepting. donations to purchase supplies. Make check’s payable to Sardis and include SSG in the memo line. This endeavor is sponsored by Sardis and Palestine Churches. Volunteers are welcome to help set up and also to staff the tables. POC: Clint Nordan or Becky Rose.

📍DUMA donations are still being collected.

📍We were delighted to have 2 Foreign Exchange Teachers (Jamaica) join our service today. They will be teaching 5th grade at Dunn Elementary. Thanks to all who donated towards helping them get established. We are still taking donations.

Today’s Sermon was titled, “All In”. The Gospel message came from Matthew 13:44-46. Other scripture readings were, 1 Kings 3:5-12, Psalm 119:129-136, and Romans 8:26-39

What do you treasure most in your life? Is it the stuff that you have accumulated? Or the relationships in your life? What in your life do you have that you would give up everything else you own, in order to keep it?

In today's message, we explored Jesus' parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. Both men willingly gave up everything because they discovered something of far greater value.
Jesus teaches us that God's Kingdom—and ultimately Jesus Christ Himself—is the greatest treasure we will ever find.

King Solomon understood this truth when he asked God for wisdom instead of wealth (1 Kings 3:5–12). The Apostle Paul echoed it when he declared that knowing Christ was worth more than anything the world could offer (Philippians 3:7–8). Through the Holy Spirit, God helps us seek His will, strengthens us in our weakness, and assures us that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:26–39).

Following Jesus is not about losing what matters—it is about discovering what matters most. When Christ becomes our greatest treasure, surrender is no longer loss; it becomes joyful gain.
May we live each day "all in" for Christ, trusting Him above every earthly treasure and sharing His love with those around us.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." — Matthew 6:21

Closing Prayer
Gracious God, thank You for the priceless treasure of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Give us wisdom to seek Your Kingdom above all else, courage to follow You wholeheartedly, and hearts that reflect Your love to everyone we meet. Help us to remember that nothing can separate us from Your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Address

4654 Linden Road
Linden, NC
28356

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5pm
Sunday	9:30am - 12:30pm

Telephone

+19109800232

Website

http://www.sardispc.org/

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