Introduction
Today is a special day in the life of our church—it’s our local church conference.
And it feels fitting that we pause… and remind ourselves who we are and why we exist.
You’ve heard us say it before:
A ministry of The Wesleyan Church with a heart for community.
That’s not just a slogan…
That’s a calling.
Let me start with a little story.
A pastor was once asked by a man to pray for his hearing.
So the pastor laid hands on his ears and prayed earnestly,
“Lord, we ask that this man’s hearing be restored!”
When he finished, the man said,
“Thank you so much… my hearing is on Tuesday. I just hope I don’t go to prison.”
Sometimes… we think we know what someone needs—
but God is always doing something deeper.
Big Idea
Here’s what I want us to remember today:
God is the one who establishes, strengthens, and sustains His people—
both the church and the individual believer.
And because of that…
We are blessed… to be a blessing.
Transition
The three passages we read—Genesis 12, Matthew 28, and Acts 2—
all point to one truth:
God never blesses His people just for themselves.
He blesses them so they can bless others.
I. God Is the One Who Blesses
Let’s begin here:
God is the source of all blessing.
When we talk about blessing in the Bible,
we’re not just talking about money… or comfort… or possessions.
Blessing is a spiritual reality.
It is a calling.
It is a relationship with God.
From the very beginning—God blessed His creation.
Then He called Abram.
In Genesis 12, God says (paraphrased):
“I will bless you… and you will be a blessing.”
Think about that.
God didn’t just say, “I’ll bless you so you can enjoy life.”
He said,
“I’ll bless you so others can experience Me through you.”
What does that blessing look like?
- God’s presence is a blessing
(think of the cloud leading Israel) - God’s redemption through Christ is a blessing
- God’s Spirit within us is a blessing
This is why Scripture says:
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)
And:
“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house…” (1 Peter 2:5)
Church—this is not just a building.
We are the Church.
Illustration: A Church That Blesses
I grew up in the local church.
My family served as custodians for nearly 20 years.
What I didn’t realize at the time…
was that someone in the church was quietly helping support our family.
Pastor Joppe had asked a man named Ben Foley
to give $25 a week to help us.
He didn’t want to at first.
Years later, he told me,
“I almost didn’t do it…”
But he did.
And that simple act of obedience—
was a blessing that impacted our lives.
Church, hear me:
Sometimes the greatest blessings are the ones no one sees.
II. God Uses Us to Bless Others
Now here’s the second truth:
God chooses to use us to bless others.
This is where it becomes personal.
Each one of us…
has been called…
to be part of God’s mission.
The Great Commission
In Matthew 28, Jesus tells us to:
- Go
- Care
- Share
Not just to a few people…
but to everyone we meet.
This church is not just a place we attend.
It is:
- A place of worship
- A place of fellowship
- A place of responsibility
Illustration: Divine Interruption
I often pray for what I call divine interruptions.
One day, I was at a restaurant meeting a pastor.
And I sensed the Lord prompting me to ask the waitress if we could pray for her.
She looked at me and said,
“Are you kidding me?”
Then she slid into the booth…
and began to pour out her life story—
her struggles… her daughter’s situation…
And right there…
God opened a door.
Church—listen:
A simple act of obedience can become a doorway for God’s power.
The Early Church Model
Acts 2 tells us something powerful:
The early church…
- Gathered together
- Grew together
- Served together
- Reached others together
And here’s the key:
Everyone was involved.
No spectators.
No sidelines.
Just people…
empowered by the Holy Spirit…
living on mission.
III. A Unified Church on Mission
It’s not our structure.
It’s not our programs.
It’s the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Businesses don’t have that.
Organizations don’t have that.
But we do.
And because of that…
We have a mission:
To bring as many people as possible into the Kingdom of God.
Call to Unity
So today, as we gather for this conference,
let me remind us:
We must be…
- Unified in spirit
- Focused in mission
- Active in service
Because together…
we can do what none of us could do alone.
Closing
Let me bring this home.
To be used by God… is a blessing.
Even before we bless others—
just knowing that God would use us…
is a blessing.
Jesus reminds us in the Beatitudes:
God blesses the humble…
the meek…
the dependent.
People who know:
“I can’t do this without God.”
Final Challenge
So here it is:
👉 You don’t build God’s house—He builds you into it.
And as He builds you…
He uses you.
To bless others.
To serve others.
To love others.
Benediction
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.”
— Numbers 6:24–26
