Sunday’s Recap, Monday’s Call

August 24th, 2026

Sunday’s Recap: Power

Yesterday, we began a new sermon series called Lessons in Leadership. Throughout this series, we will explore what it means to be leaders within our church and our community, and what kind of church we hope to build together for the good of the wider community.

Leadership and relationships, for better or worse, always involve power.

Power is not inherently good or evil. Power is the ability to influence what happens. It can be used to uplift others and make life possible, or it can be used to keep others down and bring harm.

Our Exodus story showed us how systems of power can serve the forces of death through Pharaoh’s command to kill the Hebrew infant boys. Yet, the women in the story show us that even limited power can be used to resist those forces. Jochebed, Miriam, Shiphrah, Puah, and Pharaoh’s daughter each used the power they had to protect life.

Then, in Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus shows us the kind of power entrusted to a church rooted in Christ.

The church built upon Christ as its foundation will never die. Buildings may come and go. Denominations and worship styles may change. But the church is not sustained by our ability to preserve every particular form. Its life rests in Christ.

And so, we are free to serve, take risks, imagine new possibilities, and share our faith with the world.

Sharing faith through words is still important, but our words must be supported by how we live throughout the week. We cannot proclaim a gospel of love while refusing to love. We cannot speak about grace while withholding grace. We cannot speak about the power of Christ while using our own power to harm, control, or exclude.

So, as we begin a new week, we are invited to consider not simply how much power we have, but how we use the power we do have to bring the love of Christ to our neighbors.

Monday’s Call:

We encounter power dynamics every day. Some are obvious, while others are easy to miss. We may not always recognize the power we hold or the ways others experience less power than we do.

As you move through your week, consider trying one or more of these spiritual practices:

• 👁️ Notice: Pay attention to the power dynamics around you. When do you have more power or influence than someone else? When might another person have less power?
• 🤲 Uplift: Look for an opportunity to use your influence to make something possible for someone else. Listen to a voice that may be overlooked, speak up for someone who is being ignored, or offer support to someone who has less power in a particular situation.
• 🪞 Reflect: Consider the identities and positions you hold. Where might they give you power, influence, or privilege? Where might you have less power? Ask God to help you recognize both with honesty and humility.
• ❤️ Live the Gospel: Find one way to show the love of Christ without saying a word. Offer grace. Choose compassion. Serve someone. Listen deeply. Be generous with your time. Let the way you live give meaning to the gospel you proclaim.