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Upcoming Sermons & Devotional Message
August Sermons 2026
8-9- Bishop Greenway Preaching
Bishop Greenway is retiring. On the last day of the annual conference he had a teaching he called Some thoughts before I go. Over the next 10 weeks we’re going to use those thoughts as our guide to our weekly sermons
8-16- Play Well With Others.
Proverbs 15:1 Romans 12:18
8-23- Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing
Proverbs 3:5-7 1 Corinthians 1:22-25
8-30- Preach Truth and Grace
Psalms 100 John 1:14
Devotional Message : These will change 1-2 times a week. Stop by often to read the new message.
Some Thoughts on Following Jesus in an “Empire”
When I was a younger man, I was told there were three things one did not talk about in public: religion, politics, and sex—especially in the same conversation! I’m not sure that was the best advice. As people of faith, we are called to be salt and light in every area of our lives. While it is not easy, we are called to follow Jesus in every area and aspect of our lives—including how we politically interact with governing authorities.
When believers in Rome came under the authority of Jesus Christ, they wondered about their relationship to ungodly governments. If Jesus Christ is King, and the government does not acknowledge him, are Christians obligated to obey their ungodly government? The short answer is, yes. The Apostle Paul made this clear in his letter to the Romans:
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” (Romans 13:1)
This is a little surprising since these words were penned when Nero was emperor. Nero was evil incarnate—committing many evil deeds and even killing his mother. He likely set fire to a poor part of Rome to make space for new buildings. When the rumor that Nero started the blaze wouldn’t go away, he blamed the Christians—which was then followed by a period of persecution in which many Christians were burned, crucified and thrown to wild animals in the colosseum. He was not worthy of obedience based upon his virtue or integrity, but Paul admonished them to live under his governing authority.
If Paul required them to support a government led by Nero, then Christians should support their government whenever possible. When a government breaks down, chaos erupts. Theft, murder, and lawlessness go unpunished. This is why Christians should think of government as a gift from God to be valued, obeyed, and supported.
The only time Christians should disobey the government is when it commands something God forbids. When the governing authorities in Jerusalem told Peter and John to stop talking about Jesus, they replied, “We must obey God rather than human beings” (Acts 5:29). Otherwise, we should be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.
Learn to live under authority, my friends!