A Word From Our Interim Pastor
The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh
On Sunday, January 21, 2024, I preached my first sermon as your Interim Pastor. That sermon began a series titled, Questions You and The Public Square May Have About Experiencing God. In that sermon, I stated that God was calling us to be the best Jesus someone would see in Wichita. How? By listening well to one another and others, regarding how one is or isn’t experiencing God. I encouraged each of us to engage the questions and begin the journey with one another and others that would sharpen our focus on what unites us is the love of God we know and experience through Jesus. I said that we will become the best Jesus someone sees, when we are known as friends with God and one another; known for seeking and living God’s best; known for proclaiming salvation in the name of Jesus Christ through our words and deeds; known for doing justice, and known for being involved in our community and serving the least of these in Wichita.
By definition, best means “of the most excellent or desirable type or quality.” In a biblical and Christian context, best can be defined and seen in the context of God’s redemptive will for humanity and creation. By definition, community means a group with common interests. In a biblical and Christian context, community can be defined and seen in the context of a group being instructed, guided, and living by God’s redemptive will for humanity and creation.
Every level of ministry in our church must encourage and equip people to lead. We are to be servant leaders after the very heart of Jesus Christ. As disciples of Jesus Christ, thus participants with God, we become servant leaders as Jesus was a servant leader. A servant leader is altruistic, empathetic, respectful, adaptable, patient, encouraging, yielding, honest, positive, responsible, a cheerleader, a learner, a listener, forgiving, humorous, tolerant, supportive, and enthusiastic. A servant leader wants others to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. A servant leader wants to know God’s best and to share God’s best with others.
This summer, the Grace pulpit will continue to address core practices we learn through examining the message of Jesus. Each of us is God’s presence and agents of change. Join me this summer as we examine what it means to be God’s presence in Wichita and participants with God in bringing about change.
On the journey of Christian discipleship and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,
Steve
The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh
Interim Pastor
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