St. John's Congregational Church Covington

06/07/2026

Message June 7, 2026 Abraham & the Wheelbarrow
First Reading Genesis 12: 1-4 New Living Translation
Second Reading Romans 4: 13-25 New Living Translation

Listen again to Genesis 12. “The Lord said to Abraham, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.' So Abraham departed as the Lord had instructed." And then — and I don't want you to miss this last line — "Abraham was seventy-five years old when he left." Seventy-five years old. Now I want you to think about that for a moment. Not seventy-five in the abstract. Seventy-five in the real. He had a home. He had a community. He had roots, routines, relationships built over decades. He had a life that made sense. And God shows up and says, leave it. All of it. Pack your bags, say your goodbyes, and go. Where? Well — and here is the part that should stop us cold — God doesn't actually tell him. He says, go to the land that I will show you. Future tense. I'll tell you when you get there. There's no map, no GPS, no detailed itinerary. There's just a word from God and a direction to walk. And here's what the text says Abraham did. It says he departed. Just like that. No record of debate. No record of negotiation. No long conversation with God where Abram says, "Now hold on a minute, let me think this through." The text just says he went. That is a man who trusted God. Not a man who thought about trusting God. Not a man who admired the idea of trusting God. A man who actually, physically, packed up his belongings and walked out the door. Now hold that picture in your mind, because we're going to come back to it. But first, I want to take you somewhere else entirely — to the edge of Niagara Falls.
In the summer of 1859, a French acrobat by the name of Charles Blondin stretched a tightrope across Niagara Falls. Not a narrow little stream — Niagara Falls. One thousand one hundred feet of rope, suspended over one of the most powerful waterfalls on earth, with the mist rising and the roar of the water below. And he walked across it. And then he walked back. And then he did it again — this time blindfolded. Then on stilts. Then carrying a stove, stopping in the middle to cook himself an egg. The crowds that gathered on the banks were enormous. Thousands of people showing up day after day, watching this man do the impossible. One day, Blondin turned to the crowd and asked them a question. "How many of you believe I can push a man across this tightrope in a wheelbarrow?" The crowd went wild. Yes! We believe it! You can do it! They had watched him. They had seen it with their own eyes. Of course he could do it. The cheering was deafening. And then Blondin pointed into the crowd and said, "Wonderful. Who wants to get in?" Silence. Nobody moved. Not one person stepped forward. Because here is what that crowd discovered in that moment — there is a massive difference between believing something is true and actually trusting your life to it. They believed in Blondin. They just didn't trust Blondin. And you cannot call it real faith until you're willing to climb in the wheelbarrow. That crowd is not a curiosity from history. That crowd is us. That crowd is the church. We say we believe God is faithful. We say we believe He can do the impossible. We sing about it, we pray about it, we nod our heads when the preacher talks about it. But when God turns and says, "All right — who wants to get in?" — we get very quiet and we start looking at our shoes. And we have our reasons. Oh, we have our reasons.
I know this congregation. I love this congregation. And because I love you, I'm going to name the excuse out loud, because I've heard it, and if I'm honest, I think some of you have made peace with it in a way that concerns me. The excuse sounds like this: "What can we possibly do? We're small. We're older. Our best days are behind us. We don't have the resources, the energy, or the numbers to make much of a difference. Maybe God can use big churches with big budgets and lots of young people — but us? What can we possibly do?" Let me say this as gently and as directly as I know how. That excuse didn't work for Abraham, and it doesn't work for you or me. Abraham was seventy-five years old. Seventy-five. He and his wife Sarah were well past the age when anything new or significant was supposed to happen in their lives. By every human calculation, their story was winding down, not ramping up. And yet God chose that moment — that specific, unlikely, past-his-prime moment — to call Abraham into the greatest adventure of his life. The adventure that would eventually bless every single family on the face of the earth.
I am not comparing myself to Abraham, I am just saying that I am 79 years old. I did not plan to serve another congregation. I thought I was retired. But the Holy Spirit led me here to St. John’s Congregational Church. And you folks welcomed me into your congregation, and so the adventure began. I don’t believe that any of us could have visioned what God was going to do with us. But here we are. We got up and we followed in that wheelbarrow. And that is what I am asking you to do today. Not a specific project, not a specific program. I’m asking something much bigger than that. I am asking you to decide this week, that you are done saying you believe in God’s faithfulness while quietly living as if it doesn’t apply to this congregation, in this season, at this age, with these limitations. I am asking you to open your hands. To say, God, I don’t exactly know what you are asking, but I am willing. I’m available. I am not going to let the size of this congregation or the number of years on my birth certificate convince me that You’re finished with us. Let’s trust Him enough to actually go where He’s calling us to go. That’s the step. That’s the challenge.

We will continue with part 2 of this message next Sunday as we examine the call of Matthew, the tax collector. An unlikely follower of Jesus.

06/05/2026

Keep it small. Keep it simple.
Did you know that a kind word spoken in someone's ear changes their body chemistry in a measurable and positive way? A kind word is a spiritual gift that touches another's spirit—and helps them physically. This is not new information. Biblical Proverbs proclaimed this many centuries ago.
You may have heard about the profound research project carried out on the East coast in a cardiac care unit. The researchers noticed the very ill patients, all of whom had badly impaired cardiac systems, showed occasional islands of health on the EKG printouts the medics studied. They then reconstructed the events surrounding those healthy moments to determine what had been going on in their care at that moment. Invariably it was when nursing care was being given, or they were being bathed or touched in some caring way. That personal care normalized their sick hearts for a few minutes.

06/02/2026

Bobby Schuller shares: “What if God appeared to you tonight and said, “Ask for anything, and it’s yours.” How would you respond? Many wished for greater peace in their lives, better sleep, a sense of security, financial stability, and the opportunity to own a home. Some people longed for their families to find salvation, while others shared worries about health issues affecting them-selves or their loved ones. Each response revealed deep hopes and personal struggles, reminding us that everyone carries their own dreams and burdens.
Is it truly God’s will for His beloved children to enjoy peace, health, security, and provision? If you feel unsure of God’s answer, turn to the Bible. If you’re unsure, it’s unlikely you’ll fully embrace or receive these blessings. The posi-tive answer is found in Scripture, and it’s encouraging: God does want these things for you.
My friend, there is opposition that wants to keep you confused and uncertain about God’s will for your life. Doubt and uncertainty can cloud your under-standing and make you question what the Bible truly says. There’s good news: God has already revealed His will to us in Scripture. We can know His heart and His promises—there’s no need to guess or wonder. As you move forward, remember that God’s promises are available to all who seek Him with open hearts and trust in His goodness.”

05/31/2026

May 31, 2026 MESSAGE: “WE WILL BE YOUR PEOPLE”
I want us to begin with our signing of the chorus:
“WE WILL BE YOUR PEOPLE”
I want you to hear these words that you are going to sing. Once finish, I want to pose this question: "Do we truly mean what we just declared with our lips?" For if we do, WE ARE A People at the Crossroads — SINGING OF THE CHORUS
Joshua 24:15 -- Joshua standing before all of Israel, calling them to make a definitive choice. Joshua speaking: Verse 15
"But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”
This is where we as a Congregation stand today. The Weight of the Word "Will" — the bold declaration in both Joshua's words(Chose today whom you WILL serve) and the hymn's chorus — "We WILL be your people."
What does it truly mean to make a present-tense, active commitment to God rather than a passive one. What does Being His People Actually Look Like? — Romans 12:1, the call to offer ourselves as living sacrifices.
A living sacrifice. Now that's a fascinating phrase. In the Old Testament, a sacrifice was placed on the altar and it was done. It was finished. But Paul says you and I are called to be living sacrifices — and here's the challenge with that. Living sacrifices have a tendency to crawl off the altar. So what does it actually look like to stay on that altar? What does it look like to be His people — guided by His hand, loving as He loved us, sharing light in darkness, following His way? Let me speak to everyone in this room for a moment. At times we can all act like children young people here today — being His people looks like choosing kindness on the playground when everyone else is choosing cruelty. It looks like being honest even when a lie would be easier. It looks like standing up for someone who has no one to stand up for them. That is worship. That is living sacrifice. For the parents and adults in the middle of life — being His people looks like bringing your whole self to your home, your workplace, your neighborhood. Not just your Sunday self, but your Monday-through-Saturday self. It looks like loving your neighbor — not the neighbor who is easy to love, but the one who is hard. It looks like giving your time, your resources, and your energy not just to your own comfort, but to the Kingdom. And for our senior saints, our elders who have walked with God for decades — being His people looks like finishing well. It looks like continuing to pray. Continuing to encourage. Continuing to pour wisdom and faith into the next generation. Don't you dare think your best days of service are behind you. The church needs your steadiness more than ever. "Sharing light in darkness." "Following His way." The hymn isn't describing a Sunday morning activity. It's describing a way of life — seven days a week, in every room of your house, in every corner of your world. That is what it means to be His people.

Now I have to be honest with you, because this message wouldn't be complete without this part. We drift. All of us. Every single one of us, at some point, has let the distance grow between the commitment we declared and the life we're actually living.
And it rarely happens in one dramatic moment. It happens slowly. Quietly. Gradually. It starts with missing one Sunday and then two. It starts with the prayer life that used to be rich getting thinner and thinner. It starts with the Bible that sits on the nightstand collecting dust. It starts with the busyness of life crowding out the things of God — not because we planned it that way, but because we got tired. We got hurt. We got distracted. We got disappointed.

Maybe someone here this morning made a commitment to God at some point in your life — at an altar, at a camp, at a revival — and somewhere between then and today, that fire has dimmed to an ember. Maybe you're sitting here this morning with the weight of a faith that feels more like a memory than a reality. I want to speak directly to you, and I want to do it with compassion, not condemnation. You are not too far gone. You have not drifted too far.

The same God who met you at that altar the first time is here in this room right now. And just as Joshua stood before a people who had already known God's faithfulness and called them to recommit — God is standing before you today not with disappointment, but with an open hand. Come back. Start again. Right here. Right now. The hymn says "we will be your church TODAY." Not the church we used to be. Not the people we once were. Today. This moment counts. This Sunday counts. Your recommitment right now — it counts.
The Altar Call of Renewal
We're going to close this morning, but I don't want to close with words alone. I want to close with a moment. We started this morning by singing a promise. Let me remind you of what we declared together: "We will be your people, guided by your hand. Loving as you loved us, fulfilling your command. Sharing light in darkness, following your way. We will be your people. We will be your church today." Every line of that chorus is a commitment. Guided — that means surrendering our own direction.
Loving — that means choosing others even when it costs us something. Sharing light — that means showing up in the dark places of our communities and our world. Following His way — that means sometimes laying down our way. Joshua stood before his people and said choose this day. Paul stood before the church in Rome and said offer yourselves — all of yourselves — as living sacrifices. And this morning, I'm standing before you with the same invitation. I'm asking you to make a decision right where you're sitting.
Not because you have to. But because you want to. Because somewhere deep in your heart, beneath whatever weariness or distraction or drift has settled in, there is a flame that still burns. There is a "will" that is still alive. And so here is your moment. If you have never made a commitment to follow Christ — today is your day. Don't leave this building the same way you came in. If you made a commitment once and you've drifted — today is your day

Your day to come home. No shame. No condemnation. Just grace and a fresh start. And if you are walking faithfully with God right now — today is your day to renew that covenant with fresh intention. To say again, out loud in your spirit: I WILL be your person. I WILL be your church. Not just on Sundays. Every single day. As for me and my house — we will serve the Lord. Let's be His people. Not just in the song. Not just in this sanctuary. But in our homes, in our neighborhoods, in our workplaces, in our schools — guided by His hand, following His way, sharing light in every dark place we find ourselves.

Glory to God, Praise the Lord! Amen
And Amen!

05/25/2026

FROM THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER TO THE KNOWN SAVIOR
In Arlington, Virginia, a soldier stands guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 24 hours a day of every day, every week & every year! The inscription on that tomb reads: "Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God."
Memorial Day can be heavy, but I don't want us leaving here today feeling sad. Because the story of sacrifice -- real sacrifice, the kind that costs everything -- is ultimately not a story about death. It is a story about love. And love, my friends, is worth celebrating! John 15:13 "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life..."
Romans 5:8 "But God showed his great love for us by sending Jesus Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
If you have never fully received that love -- never said yes to it - today is a beautiful day to do that! There's no better day to accept the gift of life than a day when we are remembering those who gave theirs. And if you do know it -- if you have been walking with Jesus for years -- let this be a day to let it hit you fresh. Don't let it get stale. Let it move you ! God Bless you! Amen!

Bill

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day

In the summer of 1898, Theodore Roosevelt resigned a comfortable post as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, pulled together a regiment of cowboys and Ivy Leaguers, ranchers and lawmen, and sailed for Cuba. He came home a colonel. Many of the Rough Riders he led did not come home at all.

Roosevelt carried those men with him for the rest of his life. He wrote about them, raised money for their families, and never stopped believing that a free country owes a debt to those who serve it. Two decades later, he would pay the deepest price himself, when his youngest son Quentin was killed flying over France in the First World War.

T.R. believed service was the rent we pay for the privilege of citizenship. As he put it in The Strenuous Life: "A man's first duty is to his own home, but he is not thereby excused from doing his duty to the State; for if he fails in this second duty it is under the penalty of ceasing to be a freeman."

This Memorial Day, we remember the Americans who gave that fullest measure of duty — and the families who carry their absence.

Forty days until July 4.

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will open its doors on America's 250th birthday.

05/22/2026

Check this out:

A welcoming church in Covington, KY serving Northern Kentucky since 1892. Join us every Sunday at 10:15 AM. All are welcome families, seniors, and new believers.

05/22/2026

Friendliness costs you nothing!
When shopping in grocery stores or drugstores, or in a professional environment, like a medical center, I try very hard to read the employees' names, especially their first names, on the tags around their necks or pinned on their uniforms. Then I use their names, as much as I can in our time together, and I certainly thank them by name when we are finished. One more piece I usually add is a comment, always positive, about their name. I will say something like, “That is a pleasant name,” or “I've always liked that name.”

05/21/2026

We will be honoring America this weekend by celebrating Memorial Day. The message: From the Unknown Soldier to the known Savior! Sunday service is at 10:15 at 1235 Highway Avenue, Covington, KY. Hope you can join us!

05/21/2026

Free Pizza Friday, May 22 at 5:00 PM If it should rain, no problem, we will be inside at 1235 Highway Avenue in Botany Hills, Covington, KY