Storied Church

Storied Bible Reading
July 3, 2025
Philemon

What kind of effort are you offering the Kingdom of God?

When Paul wrote this short but powerful letter, he was in prison—cut off from freedom, comfort, and community. And yet, he remained fully committed to the mission of Jesus. His circumstances didn’t silence his calling. Instead, he leveraged them to serve, encourage, and advance the Kingdom.

Imagine this: What if we lived like that? What if, no matter our season, our limitations, or our excuses—we showed up with our full selves? What if we believed that our gifts, when surrendered to Jesus, could be used powerfully right where we are?

If you’ve been wondering whether your life can still have Kingdom impact in this season, consider what Jesus believes about His disciples. He doesn’t see us through the lens of our limitations—He sees us through the lens of His Spirit at work in us. To those who walk by His Spirit, He says: You will do even greater things.

Paul believed that. That’s why he kept loving, writing, serving, and showing up—because in Christ, it always mattered.

Fellow Christians, what if we embraced that same belief? That in Christ—and through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit—there are no meaningless moments. No insignificant conversations. No wasted days. Every moment is ripe with possibility for restoration, redemption, and radical love.

What if a modern-day Onesimus comes across your path today? Will you be ready—willing—to respond with the kind of love and boldness that brings someone into deeper relationship with God and others?

My prayer for you is simple but powerful: Believe what Jesus believes about you. You are His—called, empowered, and sent. Just like Paul, you carry Kingdom power wherever you go.

— Tim Hawkins

Thoughts from Pastor Tim...

Storied Family,

This morning, as I was reading through Galatians, one phrase from Paul stood out powerfully: “If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.”

As we step into this year, we’re pursuing one singular focus: confidence in Christ. Not confidence in work, the world, our intelligence, finances, marriages, children, or even in the practices of Christianity themselves. Instead, we are striving for unwavering confidence in Jesus Christ—the One who has called us to follow Him with our full allegiance, faithfulness, and hope.

To be a slave of Christ means voluntarily submitting to His leading, His words, and His commands. It’s about seeking His approval and affirmation above all else. In a culture obsessed with self-pleasure and people-pleasing (which is often just another form of self-service), living to please Christ looks radically different. It’s unbusy, subversive, and full of hope.

Unbusy
Being a slave of Christ simplifies life. When we live to hear and follow one voice—His voice—we let go of the noise that distracts us. Just imagine the margin we’d have if the voice of our Savior was the only one that truly mattered, and every other voice of worth, belonging, and identity bowed to His authority.

Subversive
Living for Christ is a subversive act in a world obsessed with building fleeting, self-serving kingdoms. These worldly “kingdoms” rise and fall like sandcastles on a wave-lashed shore. But the Kingdom of Christ is eternal, His words and ways enduring forever. As slaves of Christ, we are called to plant deep roots in His Kingdom wherever we are, participating in His work to bring about flourishing and renewal in every area of our lives and influence.

Hopeful
To be a slave of Christ is to live in hope. We long for and await the day His Kingdom will come in full. This tension—living fully in the present while holding eternity in view—gives every moment profound significance. Through the Spirit, we have the privilege of revealing the hope of Christ to the world. Whether we do so clearly and intentionally depends on our willingness to acknowledge and embrace this holy calling.

While we live to please Christ alone, we are still called to serve others—not selfishly, but selflessly, courageously, compassionately, and with God’s love.

These are just a few reflections from Galatians this morning. I’m deeply grateful to be on this journey with all of you, cultivating the mind of Christ together. May we continue to live as joyful slaves of Jesus, seeking His Kingdom above all else.

All for Jesus.