Spiritual Gifts of Christmas

December 7, 2025

Ben Taylor, Executive Pastor

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights …

James 1:17a

1. God equips the called, not calls the equipped.

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Luke 2:17-18

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

2. Gifts are tools, not trophies.

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.

Romans 12:4-6a

But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

1 Corinthians 12:24b-25

3. Gifts Get us in the Game.

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Luke 2 15-16

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Ephesians 4: 11-12

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4 10-11

Action Step:

I would like to “try on” a volunteer opportunity that aligns with my gifts.

Spiritual Gifts of Christmas

November 30, 2025

Chris Honess, Lead Pastor

1. Super things happen to Natural people.

But after he has considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 1:20

2. We are invited into the story, too.

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

John 1:11-12

3. He gives us gifts for the journey.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

Luke 2:25

Memory Verse

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights …

James 1:17a

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them… There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Action Step: I am interested in the Spiritual Gifts Assessment.

Three Commitments to Grow a Grateful Heart

November 23, 2025

John Elmer, Founding Pastor

1. I will recognize that every good thing I have comes from God.

Every good and perfect gift is from above …
James 1:17a

2. I will not let what I want rob me of thankfulness for what I have.

… for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:11-13

3. I will turn every blessing I have into praise.

Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things…

Psalm 103:1-5 (NLT)

Spiraling

November 9, 2025

Chris Honess, Lead Pastor

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares about you.”

1 Peter 5:7

The Change Spiral

Change makes us feel out of control.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”​​​​​ Matthew 16:22

The joke is on us.

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Matthew 16:25

Navigating change with Jesus:

1.) Know the story that you belong to.

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus …​​ Acts 4:33

2.) Practice the Practices.

A.) Community.

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, Acts 2:46

B.) Prayer.

They devoted themselves … to prayer.

Acts 2:42

C. Generosity.

They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

Acts 2:47

D. Worship.

Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people …

Acts 2:47

3.) The confirmation of the Holy Spirit.

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit …

Acts 6:5

… and God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all …

Acts 4:33

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message …​ Acts 10:44

Spiraling - How we use it matters

Allen Austin

Senior Pastor at Pathway Vineyard

Lewiston, Maine

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

Spiraling

October 26, 2025

Chris Honess, Lead Pastor

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares about you.”

1 Peter 5:7

Politics throws us into a spiral.

Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”

Matthew 22:17

Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Acts 1:6

At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”

Luke 13:31

Following Jesus out of the spiral:

1. Re-orient your allegiance.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Matthew 22:21

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Philippians 3:20

My true allegiance is in __________________.

2. Re-orient your vision.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

My most rooted vision is ________________.

3. Re-orient your preaching.

He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ Luke 13:32

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear [what they fear]; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

1 Peter 3:14-16

My most transformational story is

____________________________________

Spiraling

October 19, 2025

John Elmer, Founding Pastor

Facing the Fears that Ruin Relationships

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares about you.”

1 Peter 5:7

1. My fear of exposure makes me distant.

But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”

Genesis 3:9-10

1. My fear of disapproval makes me defensive.

The man said, “The woman you put here with me – she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

Genesis 3:12

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Genesis 3:13b

3. My fear of losing control makes me controlling.

“Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

Genesis 3:16b

The Antidote:

A. Move with the mind of Jesus in the relationship.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:5

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13

B. Swim in the love Jesus has for you.

Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear.

Job 11:13-15

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35, 37-39

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:11

Spiraling

October 12, 2025

Chris Honess, Lead Pastor

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares about you.”

1 Peter 5:7

Scarcity throws us into a spiral when:

1. We believe the lies about the Good Life.

In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to stave this entire assembly to death.

Exodus 16:2-3

2. We believe the lie that there isn’t enough.

“The Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

Exodus 16:19-20

Exiting the scarcity spiral:

1. Recenter your hope.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

1 Timothy 6:17

2. Invest wisely.

A.) Make all you can.

Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.

Proverbs 28:19

B.) Save all you can.

A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

Proverbs 13:22

3. Practice generosity.

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

1 Timothy 6:18-19

The Scarcity Spiral