Dive deep into the cosmic significance of your personal role within God's universe with Pastor Brandon Holm in our latest episode from the 'I'm In' series, "I'm Invaluable." This episode explores the interconnectedness of our spiritual lives and the universe, emphasizing the unique contributions each of us makes to the celestial body of Christ.
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Greater Guild Announcer (00:03):
Welcome aboard the Greater Guild loading
screen, where faith meets thevast expanse of geek culture.
Today, pastor Brandon takes uson an interstellar journey in
our series, I'm in with thesermon, I'm invaluable. Strap in
as we explore the uniqueindispensable role each of us
plays in the grand universe ofGod's plan. Ready to find out
(00:23):
how you shine as a star in thecosmos of Christ? Let's launch
into today's message.
Pastor Brandon Holm (00:31):
Hey, everyone. I wanna welcome all of
you. And, you know, there was agreat pause there, but I wanna
really welcome all of you backto listening to our messages and
talking with us, you know, notjust on our livestreams, but,
you know, even in ourrecordings. It's it's really,
great that, have thisopportunity for you. But right
(00:54):
now, let's just get into ourmessage, and we're gonna we're
gonna navigate this message in away that will help you
understand it because we are,you know, at this time, you
know, playing a sci fi game, andI'm only hoping that, you know,
the sci fi thing does work foryou guys.
So I want you to do something.You know, I want you to imagine
you're aboard a spaceship, youknow, like the Enterprise or Red
(01:20):
Dwarf or, you know, being one,you know, Battlestar Galactica,
you know, those type of ships.And all of them, they're
journeying through the vastnessof God's universe that God has
created, and we're gonnadiscover in this message where
we fit in this grand design ofeverything. And, yeah, we're
gonna use sci fi for that. So Iwanna start start us off with
(01:42):
the scripture that guides ustoday, and that is first
Corinthians chapter 12 verses 12through 27.
Again, a long one, but it's justso key to everything else we
talk about at this time. Andthis is where the apostle Paul
illustrates the church as a bodywith many parts. Some of you
have heard this. Some of you,you know, who've not gone to
(02:03):
church or heard this. It's it'sbasically all the body parts are
described as the church, andeach is essential to the whole
body.
So just as our spacecraft iscomposed of numerous components,
computers, you know, lifesupport, engines, the whole nine
yards. You know? Each of thoseparts does fulfill a a function
(02:25):
that is critical to the voyageand possibly to the mission. And
so, two, is every individualwithin the church vital to its
mission? And this is what Paulwrites.
He goes, for just as the body isone and has many members, and
all the members of the body,though many, are one body, so it
(02:46):
is with Christ. For in onespirit, we were all baptized
into one body. Jews or Greeks,slaves or free, and all were
made to drink of one Spirit. Forthe body does not consist of one
member, but many. If the footshould say, because I am not a
hand, I do not belong to thebody, that would not make it any
(03:07):
less a part of the body.
As and if the ear should say,because I am not an eye, I do
not belong to the body, thatwould not make it any less a
part of the body. If the wholebody were an eye, and some
angels, I guess, have have thatpeculiarity, where would be the
sense of hearing? If the wholebody were an ear, where would
(03:30):
the sense of smell? But as itis, God arranged the members in
the body, each one of them as hearranged excuse me. Each one of
them as he chose.
If all were a single member,where would the body be? As it
is, there are many parts, yetone body. The eye cannot say to
(03:53):
the hand, I have no need of you,nor again the head to the feet,
I have no need for you. On thecontrary, the parts of the body
that seem to be weaker areindispensable, and on those
parts of the body that we thinkless honorable, we bestow the
greatest honor, and ourunpresentable parts are treated
(04:14):
with greater modesty, which ourour more presentable parts do
not require. But God has socomposed the body, giving
greater honor to the part thatlacked it, that there is many to
that there may be no division inthe body, but that the members
may have the same care for oneanother.
(04:34):
If one member suffers, allsuffer together. If one member
is honored, all rejoicetogether. Now you are the body
of Christ and individuallymembers of it. See what I mean?
Yeah.
I know we talk about the body. Imean, my temple being a little
overstuffed from years ofneglect and which I am
(04:55):
countering. But here, Paulemphasizes that the diversity
and unity within the church,reflecting the complexity and
interconnectedness of a wellorchestrated space mission.
Think about that. The Enterprisecannot do much anything if it's
still going on a science missionwithout its science team and its
(05:16):
away team, and, of course,mister Spock being as the
science officer.
Get what I mean? But they're allpart of the one ship designed to
do that mission. Each role,again, from the from the
navigator to the engineers tothe support crew, they all play
a crucial part in the success ofthe mission. Same thing in our
(05:37):
spiritual voyage for ourselves.Each of you brings unique
talents and gifts that areessential to our collective
mission, to explore and spreadthe gospel across the universe.
But at this point, let's juststick with Earth. Okay? So our
journey begins with a simple yetprofound question. Are you in?
(05:57):
If you're on board this ship,declare now, I am in.
Over these four weeks, we'regoing to be exploring how our
creator sees us, each aspectstarting with in. Last week, it
was in invited. This week, it'sinvaluable. Next week is
influential, and the final weekwill be invested. Think about
that.
We're doing in as aninclusivity, as an included.
(06:22):
Today, we focus on beinginvaluable. Like I said, to be
invaluable means you are soprecious, so critical that your
absence would leave the universedimmer and less complete. Unlike
corporate America, which, youknow, they can always find new
bodies to get, God sees you asvery important. Imagine a star
(06:43):
vanishing from a constellation.
I think, Voyager did somethinglike this. The picture is no
longer whole. Similarly, each ofyou is a star in the
constellation of God's family,uniquely shining your light. So
as we ponder our place in thevastness of God's creation,
let's recall the words fromPsalm one forty seven verse
(07:04):
four. He determines the numberof the stars.
He gives to all of them theirnames. I know many people will
go, well, scientists andastronomers gave and the ancient
peoples did too, but even Godknows those names as well and
gave names to them, probablybecause people needed something
to do and said, here. Here's thename. Boom. Done.
(07:27):
I don't know. I'm not God. I'mnot gonna ask questions on this
one. Though I would like to askhim that question when I get up
to see him. So just as the Lordknows each star in the heavens,
so do too does he recognize eachof us individually, knowing us
by name, aware of our strugglesand our strengths.
In this realization, considerEphesians two ten, where it is
(07:50):
written, for we are hisworkmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which Godprepared beforehand that we
should walk in them. Each of ushas been crafted with precision,
destined to fulfill specificroles that contribute to the
overarching mission of thechurch. You are not an accident
(08:11):
of the cosmic of cosmicproportions. You really are. You
are intentionally designed,equipped with unique skills and
abilities to perform tasks thatonly you can accomplish within
the body of Christ.
And this goes for people who arevery confused about their
gender. God did not make amistake. You are who you are. If
you're having doubts, if you'rehaving confusion, don't talk to
(08:33):
people that will lift up thosedoubts and confusion. Talk to
people who are know you who foryou knew know you for who you
are.
Know, friends, Romans,countrymen, I get it. But
sometimes we need to talk tosomebody who knows us for who we
are. It may not be your parents.It may not be your school
friend, but somebody who knowsyou for who you are. So today,
(08:58):
embrace the truth that you areinvaluable, your presence as
light to the cosmos of cosmos ofour community.
Seriously. Without you, ourmission would lack the full
spectrum of its intendedbrilliance. Now we're gonna go
and talk about a parable that'sreally unique to this whole, you
(09:18):
know, you know, invaluable idea.And I want us to reflect on the
parable of the lost sheep. Ifyou don't know it, that's fine.
I'm gonna give you a bit of ithere. But it is told by Jesus in
Luke chapter 15, and it'swritten in verses four through
six. And Jesus asks, what man ofyou, having a hundred sheep, if
(09:40):
he has lost one of them, doesnot leave the 99 in the open
country and go after the onethat is lost until he finds it?
And when he has found it, helays it on his shoulders
rejoicing. And when he comeshome, he calls together his
friends and his neighbors sayingto them, rejoice with me for I
have found my sheep that waslost.
(10:00):
K? That's the parable rightthere. Now think in the terms of
a science mission in thisregards. Okay? In the above
narrative, the shepherd'sactions mirror the relentless
pursuit of maybe a ship'scommander who realizes that a
valuable star, probably anavigation aid or something like
that, has drifted from thegalaxy.
(10:21):
I think, again, Star Trek hasdone this before. The shepherd
representing our lord valueseach sheep or person so highly
that he is willing to ventureinto the darkest voids of space
to reclaim just one lost star.Think about that. I know
everybody goes, well, it's thecommander. No.
The commander is just one partof that component in seeking
(10:43):
you. God's the one who wants youto be seek. K? And this parable
underscores the truth that inGod's eyes, you are not merely
one in a billion stars. You arethe one in a billion.
Each of you carries a distinctlight. Like, we have different
colors of stars. Each of themare unique. Each of them has
their own properties. Each ofthem has many of them have their
(11:05):
own unique systems, like oursolar system.
And that is unique because thatunique signical glow is
essential for the completenessof the universe God oversees.
The shepherd's joy uponreceiving a you know, retrieving
a single lost sheep illustratesthe heavenly celebration that
(11:27):
occurs when one soul realignswith its divine orbit. In this
case, it's back to God andJesus. So I want you to let this
message resonate deeply. You areinvaluable to God.
Your journey, whether you findyourself on well trodden paths
or wandering through unchartedterritories, is closely watched
and infinitely valued by the onewho created the stars and knows
(11:50):
them all by name. So in thispoint, you are invaluable. If
you really wanna go deeper inthis, and I'm gonna make a
little supplemental to thismessage later on this week, it's
basically everyone who commitssuicide, you know, self deletion
or whatever, it hurts. It reallydoes hurt. And even for me, I've
(12:14):
I've I've unfortunately haveperformed services for people
who have self deleted, and I youknow, and it still hurts me
every day that these people didso.
I you know, you can go on to tox and see the same thing. People
are calling out for help, forprayers that, you know, they're
probably going to self delete.Couple of weeks ago, that
(12:35):
happened. Thank goodness theperson didn't. They're that
important even to God.
So building upon the imagery ofour individual importance in the
eyes of the of our cosmicshepherd, So let's now consider
the apostle Paul's depiction ofthe church as a unified body,
each part indispensable to itsoverall function. This concept,
(12:59):
again, vividly portrayed it infirst Corinthians twelve
fourteen through 21. And heelaborates, like I said, I'm
gonna repeat this, but I cannotreally drive this message home
with this one section. For thebody does not consist of one
member but of many. If the footshould say, because I am not a
(13:20):
hand, I do not belong to thebody, that would not make it any
less a part of the body.
And if the ear should say,because I am not an eye, I do
not belong to the body, thatwould not make it any less a
part of the body. If the wholebody were an eye, where would
the senses where would be thesense of hearing? If the whole
body if the whole body were anear, where would be the sense of
(13:43):
smell? But as it is, Godarranged the members of the
body, each of one of them, as hechose. If all were a single
member, where would the body be?
As it is, there are many parts,yet one body. The eye cannot say
to the hand, I have no need foryou, nor again the head to the
feet, I have no need for you.Imagine our spiritual community
(14:05):
as this starship navigating thegalaxy. Again, going back to
this reference, not just becausewe're playing five five games
this season, but it's just youknow, think about it. If we're
we're on that cusp, I mean,thanks to Elon, and, you know, I
don't condemn or promote people.
But if you look at theaccomplishments, you can see it
(14:26):
just for the accomplishment.That's awesome. But if you even
if you look at what he'saccomplished, look at it
starship, you know, hisstarship. Know? Each component
from the navigation system tolife support plays a critical
role.
Likewise, in the body of Christ,every person contributes their
unique skills and gifts. Whetheryou serve as the hands engaged
(14:49):
in acts of kindness, the eyesobserving and responding to the
needs of others, or the earslistening to the troubles of the
world, you are crucial to thecollective mission. Moreover,
Romans twelve four through fivere further reinforces this idea
stating, for as in one body, wehave many members, and the
(15:09):
members do not all have the samefunction, so we, through many,
are one body in Christ andindividually members one of an
one of another. And as I said,this really, you know,
illustrates ourinterconnectedness. It
highlights that our individualcontributions enhance the
(15:30):
strength and capability of thewhole.
Like the crew of a starship,each person's role, whether
prominent or supportive, ensuresthe success of every mission.
And in this journey of faith,your role is not merely
supportive, but central to ourshared destiny. You're not an
auxiliary cog in a vast machine,but a vital element in a living,
(15:56):
thriving organism. The strengthof our spiritual community, our
church, relies not on the few,but on the many, each playing
their part, each vital to thesuccess of God's kingdom on
earth as it is in heaven. As wehave seen in the harmony of the
body of Christ, where each partcontributes to the whole, we now
(16:19):
reach the call to action,engagement in our mission.
Just as every component of aspacecraft must function
optimally for the journey tosucceed, each of us is called to
fully activate our spiritualroles. Ephesians four sixteen
underscores this, restating fromwhom the whole body, joined and
(16:41):
held together by every jointwith which it is equipped, when
each part is working properly,makes the body grow so that it
builds itself up in love. Let'sconsider our place within this
divine vessel. Are you merely apassenger along for the ride, or
are you an active member of thecrew? Your involvement your
(17:03):
involvement is not justbeneficial.
It is essential. Like a shipnavigating through the stars,
every role from the engineers tothe navigators, as I've said, is
vital to our voyage throughlife's spiritual expanses. The
book of James offers a practicalperspective on this engagement,
and we see it in James twoseventeen where it reminds us,
(17:24):
so also faith by itself, if notif it does not have works, is
dead. What do we mean by works?And we'll get to that later on
towards the end of this season,but this powerful statement
propels us from passiveobservation to dynamic
participation.
(17:44):
Your faith is the engine of ourmission, but it must be ignited
by your actions. Serving,giving, praying, teaching to
propel us forward or evenvolunteering with us at the
guild is part of that mission.So today, I challenge each of
you to step up and find yourstation on this ship. What part
(18:04):
will you be in navigating andmaintaining and powering our
collective journey? If you'renot fully engaged, our mission
lacks the full force of itspotential.
A ship cannot fly on autopilotforever. Neither complain. It
requires all hands on deck,attentive and contributing to
the mission. Imagine what couldbe accomplished if every member
(18:25):
of our crew was fully engaged.We could reach new frontiers of
faith, bring light to thedarkest corners of the universe,
and reflect the glory of God inunprecedented ways.
Remember, you are an essentialpart of this journey. You are
not just valuable. You'reinvaluable. And it goes on, you
know, and I'm going to repeatthat constantly. Without you,
(18:48):
our mission would be socompromised, our vessel
incomplete.
As we prepare to dock back intoour spiritual base, consider
your role, find your calling,and fully engage in the mission
God has set before us. And likeI said, we're gonna conclude
this message today. Let'sremember the call to action and
(19:08):
the vital role each of us playsin this grand mission. The words
of first Peter four ten through11 resonate deeply as we
consider our next steps. As eachhas received a gift, use it to
serve one another.
As good stewards of God's verygrace, whoever speaks as one who
(19:29):
speaks oracles of God, whoeverserves as one who serves by the
strength that God supplies, inorder that in everything God may
be glorified through JesusChrist. To him belong glory and
dominion forever and ever. Thisscripture calls us not only to
recognize our individual gifts,but also to actively engage in
(19:52):
using them for the benefit ofour community and the expansion
of God's kingdom. You are calledto be more than just spectators
in the spiritual odyssey. Youare crew members equipped with
unique abilities and divinepurposes, destined to contribute
to the our collective endeavors.
The apostle Paul, again, inGalatians six nine, encourages
(20:14):
us with these words. Let us notgrow weary of doing good, for in
due season we will reap if we donot give up. Think of it today.
Many of us feel like giving up.Don't.
We get through those trials andtribulations. God has one more
person available to fight on hisbehalf, to be there on his
(20:35):
behalf. This serves as a beaconto preserve in our efforts to
continue contributing our part,knowing that our labor is not in
vain but is integral to theflourishing of God's cosmic
plan. Again, I challenge you torespond to this call. Reflect on
the gifts you've been given, andconsider how you might use them
(20:58):
in fur to further our mission.
Are you called to guide, toheal, to teach, or to console?
Maybe even to moderate some ofour messages in the chat.
Whatever your role, embrace itwith enthusiasm and commitment.
And I do understand that, youknow, as for myself as well, you
(21:19):
know, when I volunteered, you'dget volunteer burnout. I get it.
You know, for us here at theguild, we don't demand constant
volunteering. We ask manypeople, hey. Can you volunteer
just this amount of time? Canyou volunteer this amount of
work? And you may hear from usagain, you may not.
And if you do, it's very rarethat we're gonna come to you
constantly every week. Can youdo this? Can you do this? Can
(21:41):
you do this? We don't do that,but we're gonna put it on you.
Do you want to be part of thisgroup that can where you can be
enthusiastic and committed andjust enjoy and have fun with us?
Because that's what we're allabout. Let this be the moment to
say I'm in, fully and withoutreservation. You are invaluable,
(22:04):
and your role is crucial. As weget back to our base here,
engage fully in the life of thischurch.
Seriously. We're fun. We try tobe fun. You know, I may be, you
know, a boring person when itcomes to gaming, but, you know,
come and talk to me and chat. Itcan be more fun than you think.
(22:24):
I you know, being autistic, Ineed a external stimuli to get
me going into a conversationsometime. And towards the end of
the day, that's usually how itis. But I want you to step
forward in faith. Ready to useyour talents and abilities in
ways that shine forth God's loveand grace across the cosmos. And
we will see you next time.
Greater Guild Announcer (22:47):
Thank you for joining us today on the
greater guild loading screen. Wehope you've been inspired to
embrace your invaluable role inGod's cosmic mission. Remember,
every star in the sky plays apart in the celestial
masterpiece, just like you areessential in the body of Christ.
For more episodes that blendfaith with your favorite geek
culture, keep yourcommunications channel tuned to
(23:09):
our podcast. Until next time,keep shining your light in the
universe.
Safe travels on your journeythrough the stars.
Welcome aboard the Greater Guild loading
screen, where faith meets thevast expanse of geek culture.
Today, pastor Brandon takes uson an interstellar journey in
our series, I'm in with thesermon, I'm invaluable. Strap in
as we explore the uniqueindispensable role each of us
plays in the grand universe ofGod's plan. Ready to find out
(00:23):
how you shine as a star in thecosmos of Christ? Let's launch
into today's message.
Pastor Brandon Holm (00:31):
Hey, everyone. I wanna welcome all of
you. And, you know, there was agreat pause there, but I wanna
really welcome all of you backto listening to our messages and
talking with us, you know, notjust on our livestreams, but,
you know, even in ourrecordings. It's it's really,
great that, have thisopportunity for you. But right
(00:54):
now, let's just get into ourmessage, and we're gonna we're
gonna navigate this message in away that will help you
understand it because we are,you know, at this time, you
know, playing a sci fi game, andI'm only hoping that, you know,
the sci fi thing does work foryou guys.
So I want you to do something.You know, I want you to imagine
you're aboard a spaceship, youknow, like the Enterprise or Red
(01:20):
Dwarf or, you know, being one,you know, Battlestar Galactica,
you know, those type of ships.And all of them, they're
journeying through the vastnessof God's universe that God has
created, and we're gonnadiscover in this message where
we fit in this grand design ofeverything. And, yeah, we're
gonna use sci fi for that. So Iwanna start start us off with
(01:42):
the scripture that guides ustoday, and that is first
Corinthians chapter 12 verses 12through 27.
Again, a long one, but it's justso key to everything else we
talk about at this time. Andthis is where the apostle Paul
illustrates the church as a bodywith many parts. Some of you
have heard this. Some of you,you know, who've not gone to
(02:03):
church or heard this. It's it'sbasically all the body parts are
described as the church, andeach is essential to the whole
body.
So just as our spacecraft iscomposed of numerous components,
computers, you know, lifesupport, engines, the whole nine
yards. You know? Each of thoseparts does fulfill a a function
(02:25):
that is critical to the voyageand possibly to the mission. And
so, two, is every individualwithin the church vital to its
mission? And this is what Paulwrites.
He goes, for just as the body isone and has many members, and
all the members of the body,though many, are one body, so it
(02:46):
is with Christ. For in onespirit, we were all baptized
into one body. Jews or Greeks,slaves or free, and all were
made to drink of one Spirit. Forthe body does not consist of one
member, but many. If the footshould say, because I am not a
hand, I do not belong to thebody, that would not make it any
(03:07):
less a part of the body.
As and if the ear should say,because I am not an eye, I do
not belong to the body, thatwould not make it any less a
part of the body. If the wholebody were an eye, and some
angels, I guess, have have thatpeculiarity, where would be the
sense of hearing? If the wholebody were an ear, where would
(03:30):
the sense of smell? But as itis, God arranged the members in
the body, each one of them as hearranged excuse me. Each one of
them as he chose.
If all were a single member,where would the body be? As it
is, there are many parts, yetone body. The eye cannot say to
(03:53):
the hand, I have no need of you,nor again the head to the feet,
I have no need for you. On thecontrary, the parts of the body
that seem to be weaker areindispensable, and on those
parts of the body that we thinkless honorable, we bestow the
greatest honor, and ourunpresentable parts are treated
(04:14):
with greater modesty, which ourour more presentable parts do
not require. But God has socomposed the body, giving
greater honor to the part thatlacked it, that there is many to
that there may be no division inthe body, but that the members
may have the same care for oneanother.
(04:34):
If one member suffers, allsuffer together. If one member
is honored, all rejoicetogether. Now you are the body
of Christ and individuallymembers of it. See what I mean?
Yeah.
I know we talk about the body. Imean, my temple being a little
overstuffed from years ofneglect and which I am
(04:55):
countering. But here, Paulemphasizes that the diversity
and unity within the church,reflecting the complexity and
interconnectedness of a wellorchestrated space mission.
Think about that. The Enterprisecannot do much anything if it's
still going on a science missionwithout its science team and its
(05:16):
away team, and, of course,mister Spock being as the
science officer.
Get what I mean? But they're allpart of the one ship designed to
do that mission. Each role,again, from the from the
navigator to the engineers tothe support crew, they all play
a crucial part in the success ofthe mission. Same thing in our
(05:37):
spiritual voyage for ourselves.Each of you brings unique
talents and gifts that areessential to our collective
mission, to explore and spreadthe gospel across the universe.
But at this point, let's juststick with Earth. Okay? So our
journey begins with a simple yetprofound question. Are you in?
(05:57):
If you're on board this ship,declare now, I am in.
Over these four weeks, we'regoing to be exploring how our
creator sees us, each aspectstarting with in. Last week, it
was in invited. This week, it'sinvaluable. Next week is
influential, and the final weekwill be invested. Think about
that.
We're doing in as aninclusivity, as an included.
(06:22):
Today, we focus on beinginvaluable. Like I said, to be
invaluable means you are soprecious, so critical that your
absence would leave the universedimmer and less complete. Unlike
corporate America, which, youknow, they can always find new
bodies to get, God sees you asvery important. Imagine a star
(06:43):
vanishing from a constellation.
I think, Voyager did somethinglike this. The picture is no
longer whole. Similarly, each ofyou is a star in the
constellation of God's family,uniquely shining your light. So
as we ponder our place in thevastness of God's creation,
let's recall the words fromPsalm one forty seven verse
(07:04):
four. He determines the numberof the stars.
He gives to all of them theirnames. I know many people will
go, well, scientists andastronomers gave and the ancient
peoples did too, but even Godknows those names as well and
gave names to them, probablybecause people needed something
to do and said, here. Here's thename. Boom. Done.
(07:27):
I don't know. I'm not God. I'mnot gonna ask questions on this
one. Though I would like to askhim that question when I get up
to see him. So just as the Lordknows each star in the heavens,
so do too does he recognize eachof us individually, knowing us
by name, aware of our strugglesand our strengths.
In this realization, considerEphesians two ten, where it is
(07:50):
written, for we are hisworkmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which Godprepared beforehand that we
should walk in them. Each of ushas been crafted with precision,
destined to fulfill specificroles that contribute to the
overarching mission of thechurch. You are not an accident
(08:11):
of the cosmic of cosmicproportions. You really are. You
are intentionally designed,equipped with unique skills and
abilities to perform tasks thatonly you can accomplish within
the body of Christ.
And this goes for people who arevery confused about their
gender. God did not make amistake. You are who you are. If
you're having doubts, if you'rehaving confusion, don't talk to
(08:33):
people that will lift up thosedoubts and confusion. Talk to
people who are know you who foryou knew know you for who you
are.
Know, friends, Romans,countrymen, I get it. But
sometimes we need to talk tosomebody who knows us for who we
are. It may not be your parents.It may not be your school
friend, but somebody who knowsyou for who you are. So today,
(08:58):
embrace the truth that you areinvaluable, your presence as
light to the cosmos of cosmos ofour community.
Seriously. Without you, ourmission would lack the full
spectrum of its intendedbrilliance. Now we're gonna go
and talk about a parable that'sreally unique to this whole, you
(09:18):
know, you know, invaluable idea.And I want us to reflect on the
parable of the lost sheep. Ifyou don't know it, that's fine.
I'm gonna give you a bit of ithere. But it is told by Jesus in
Luke chapter 15, and it'swritten in verses four through
six. And Jesus asks, what man ofyou, having a hundred sheep, if
(09:40):
he has lost one of them, doesnot leave the 99 in the open
country and go after the onethat is lost until he finds it?
And when he has found it, helays it on his shoulders
rejoicing. And when he comeshome, he calls together his
friends and his neighbors sayingto them, rejoice with me for I
have found my sheep that waslost.
(10:00):
K? That's the parable rightthere. Now think in the terms of
a science mission in thisregards. Okay? In the above
narrative, the shepherd'sactions mirror the relentless
pursuit of maybe a ship'scommander who realizes that a
valuable star, probably anavigation aid or something like
that, has drifted from thegalaxy.
(10:21):
I think, again, Star Trek hasdone this before. The shepherd
representing our lord valueseach sheep or person so highly
that he is willing to ventureinto the darkest voids of space
to reclaim just one lost star.Think about that. I know
everybody goes, well, it's thecommander. No.
The commander is just one partof that component in seeking
(10:43):
you. God's the one who wants youto be seek. K? And this parable
underscores the truth that inGod's eyes, you are not merely
one in a billion stars. You arethe one in a billion.
Each of you carries a distinctlight. Like, we have different
colors of stars. Each of themare unique. Each of them has
their own properties. Each ofthem has many of them have their
(11:05):
own unique systems, like oursolar system.
And that is unique because thatunique signical glow is
essential for the completenessof the universe God oversees.
The shepherd's joy uponreceiving a you know, retrieving
a single lost sheep illustratesthe heavenly celebration that
(11:27):
occurs when one soul realignswith its divine orbit. In this
case, it's back to God andJesus. So I want you to let this
message resonate deeply. You areinvaluable to God.
Your journey, whether you findyourself on well trodden paths
or wandering through unchartedterritories, is closely watched
and infinitely valued by the onewho created the stars and knows
(11:50):
them all by name. So in thispoint, you are invaluable. If
you really wanna go deeper inthis, and I'm gonna make a
little supplemental to thismessage later on this week, it's
basically everyone who commitssuicide, you know, self deletion
or whatever, it hurts. It reallydoes hurt. And even for me, I've
(12:14):
I've I've unfortunately haveperformed services for people
who have self deleted, and I youknow, and it still hurts me
every day that these people didso.
I you know, you can go on to tox and see the same thing. People
are calling out for help, forprayers that, you know, they're
probably going to self delete.Couple of weeks ago, that
(12:35):
happened. Thank goodness theperson didn't. They're that
important even to God.
So building upon the imagery ofour individual importance in the
eyes of the of our cosmicshepherd, So let's now consider
the apostle Paul's depiction ofthe church as a unified body,
each part indispensable to itsoverall function. This concept,
(12:59):
again, vividly portrayed it infirst Corinthians twelve
fourteen through 21. And heelaborates, like I said, I'm
gonna repeat this, but I cannotreally drive this message home
with this one section. For thebody does not consist of one
member but of many. If the footshould say, because I am not a
(13:20):
hand, I do not belong to thebody, that would not make it any
less a part of the body.
And if the ear should say,because I am not an eye, I do
not belong to the body, thatwould not make it any less a
part of the body. If the wholebody were an eye, where would
the senses where would be thesense of hearing? If the whole
body if the whole body were anear, where would be the sense of
(13:43):
smell? But as it is, Godarranged the members of the
body, each of one of them, as hechose. If all were a single
member, where would the body be?
As it is, there are many parts,yet one body. The eye cannot say
to the hand, I have no need foryou, nor again the head to the
feet, I have no need for you.Imagine our spiritual community
(14:05):
as this starship navigating thegalaxy. Again, going back to
this reference, not just becausewe're playing five five games
this season, but it's just youknow, think about it. If we're
we're on that cusp, I mean,thanks to Elon, and, you know, I
don't condemn or promote people.
But if you look at theaccomplishments, you can see it
(14:26):
just for the accomplishment.That's awesome. But if you even
if you look at what he'saccomplished, look at it
starship, you know, hisstarship. Know? Each component
from the navigation system tolife support plays a critical
role.
Likewise, in the body of Christ,every person contributes their
unique skills and gifts. Whetheryou serve as the hands engaged
(14:49):
in acts of kindness, the eyesobserving and responding to the
needs of others, or the earslistening to the troubles of the
world, you are crucial to thecollective mission. Moreover,
Romans twelve four through fivere further reinforces this idea
stating, for as in one body, wehave many members, and the
(15:09):
members do not all have the samefunction, so we, through many,
are one body in Christ andindividually members one of an
one of another. And as I said,this really, you know,
illustrates ourinterconnectedness. It
highlights that our individualcontributions enhance the
(15:30):
strength and capability of thewhole.
Like the crew of a starship,each person's role, whether
prominent or supportive, ensuresthe success of every mission.
And in this journey of faith,your role is not merely
supportive, but central to ourshared destiny. You're not an
auxiliary cog in a vast machine,but a vital element in a living,
(15:56):
thriving organism. The strengthof our spiritual community, our
church, relies not on the few,but on the many, each playing
their part, each vital to thesuccess of God's kingdom on
earth as it is in heaven. As wehave seen in the harmony of the
body of Christ, where each partcontributes to the whole, we now
(16:19):
reach the call to action,engagement in our mission.
Just as every component of aspacecraft must function
optimally for the journey tosucceed, each of us is called to
fully activate our spiritualroles. Ephesians four sixteen
underscores this, restating fromwhom the whole body, joined and
(16:41):
held together by every jointwith which it is equipped, when
each part is working properly,makes the body grow so that it
builds itself up in love. Let'sconsider our place within this
divine vessel. Are you merely apassenger along for the ride, or
are you an active member of thecrew? Your involvement your
(17:03):
involvement is not justbeneficial.
It is essential. Like a shipnavigating through the stars,
every role from the engineers tothe navigators, as I've said, is
vital to our voyage throughlife's spiritual expanses. The
book of James offers a practicalperspective on this engagement,
and we see it in James twoseventeen where it reminds us,
(17:24):
so also faith by itself, if notif it does not have works, is
dead. What do we mean by works?And we'll get to that later on
towards the end of this season,but this powerful statement
propels us from passiveobservation to dynamic
participation.
(17:44):
Your faith is the engine of ourmission, but it must be ignited
by your actions. Serving,giving, praying, teaching to
propel us forward or evenvolunteering with us at the
guild is part of that mission.So today, I challenge each of
you to step up and find yourstation on this ship. What part
(18:04):
will you be in navigating andmaintaining and powering our
collective journey? If you'renot fully engaged, our mission
lacks the full force of itspotential.
A ship cannot fly on autopilotforever. Neither complain. It
requires all hands on deck,attentive and contributing to
the mission. Imagine what couldbe accomplished if every member
(18:25):
of our crew was fully engaged.We could reach new frontiers of
faith, bring light to thedarkest corners of the universe,
and reflect the glory of God inunprecedented ways.
Remember, you are an essentialpart of this journey. You are
not just valuable. You'reinvaluable. And it goes on, you
know, and I'm going to repeatthat constantly. Without you,
(18:48):
our mission would be socompromised, our vessel
incomplete.
As we prepare to dock back intoour spiritual base, consider
your role, find your calling,and fully engage in the mission
God has set before us. And likeI said, we're gonna conclude
this message today. Let'sremember the call to action and
(19:08):
the vital role each of us playsin this grand mission. The words
of first Peter four ten through11 resonate deeply as we
consider our next steps. As eachhas received a gift, use it to
serve one another.
As good stewards of God's verygrace, whoever speaks as one who
(19:29):
speaks oracles of God, whoeverserves as one who serves by the
strength that God supplies, inorder that in everything God may
be glorified through JesusChrist. To him belong glory and
dominion forever and ever. Thisscripture calls us not only to
recognize our individual gifts,but also to actively engage in
(19:52):
using them for the benefit ofour community and the expansion
of God's kingdom. You are calledto be more than just spectators
in the spiritual odyssey. Youare crew members equipped with
unique abilities and divinepurposes, destined to contribute
to the our collective endeavors.
The apostle Paul, again, inGalatians six nine, encourages
(20:14):
us with these words. Let us notgrow weary of doing good, for in
due season we will reap if we donot give up. Think of it today.
Many of us feel like giving up.Don't.
We get through those trials andtribulations. God has one more
person available to fight on hisbehalf, to be there on his
(20:35):
behalf. This serves as a beaconto preserve in our efforts to
continue contributing our part,knowing that our labor is not in
vain but is integral to theflourishing of God's cosmic
plan. Again, I challenge you torespond to this call. Reflect on
the gifts you've been given, andconsider how you might use them
(20:58):
in fur to further our mission.
Are you called to guide, toheal, to teach, or to console?
Maybe even to moderate some ofour messages in the chat.
Whatever your role, embrace itwith enthusiasm and commitment.
And I do understand that, youknow, as for myself as well, you
(21:19):
know, when I volunteered, you'dget volunteer burnout. I get it.
You know, for us here at theguild, we don't demand constant
volunteering. We ask manypeople, hey. Can you volunteer
just this amount of time? Canyou volunteer this amount of
work? And you may hear from usagain, you may not.
And if you do, it's very rarethat we're gonna come to you
constantly every week. Can youdo this? Can you do this? Can
(21:41):
you do this? We don't do that,but we're gonna put it on you.
Do you want to be part of thisgroup that can where you can be
enthusiastic and committed andjust enjoy and have fun with us?
Because that's what we're allabout. Let this be the moment to
say I'm in, fully and withoutreservation. You are invaluable,
(22:04):
and your role is crucial. As weget back to our base here,
engage fully in the life of thischurch.
Seriously. We're fun. We try tobe fun. You know, I may be, you
know, a boring person when itcomes to gaming, but, you know,
come and talk to me and chat. Itcan be more fun than you think.
(22:24):
I you know, being autistic, Ineed a external stimuli to get
me going into a conversationsometime. And towards the end of
the day, that's usually how itis. But I want you to step
forward in faith. Ready to useyour talents and abilities in
ways that shine forth God's loveand grace across the cosmos. And
we will see you next time.
Greater Guild Announcer (22:47):
Thank you for joining us today on the
greater guild loading screen. Wehope you've been inspired to
embrace your invaluable role inGod's cosmic mission. Remember,
every star in the sky plays apart in the celestial
masterpiece, just like you areessential in the body of Christ.
For more episodes that blendfaith with your favorite geek
culture, keep yourcommunications channel tuned to
(23:09):
our podcast. Until next time,keep shining your light in the
universe.
Safe travels on your journeythrough the stars.
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