I had the privilege of being with the saints of Trinity Church (United Methodist Church & United Christ of Christ) and Grace Lutheran Church in West Point, Nebraska on Wednesday February 25, 2026. Thank you to Pastor Priscilla Hukki for the invitation and to the congregations for their warm welcome. I was invited to join the congregation for a wonderful Lenten mid-week dinner and worship, to preach on gifts and vocation, and to even lead one of the songs in worship. In addition to the scripture passages for the evening, the confirmation students wrote and acted out a skit offering a modern interpretation of Mark 10:35-45. I refer to this skit in my sermon as well as 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 12-14 and Mark 10:35-45. It was a joy to be with these saints, especially in worship as the youth of all ages led the whole service, and dinner before worship was an amazingly abundant feast as well. What follows is the majority of the manuscript that I preached from.

Grace and peace from God in Christ who is with you, for you, and who loves you. Amen.

I wonder what the typical week looks like in your household. Who does what chores? What sort of things are on your calendar? Where do you spend your time, and doing what?

In my family’s home, I am the one who most often takes out the garbage, collects the recycling, cleans the bathrooms, washes the dishes, and does the laundry. There are other chores to be sure. My wife Allison typically cleans the cat’s litter box, vacuums, keeps our spirits up and cooks more often than I do. Our daughters, well, sometimes they help clean up their room and tidy up the house. They also feel like they are the ones who are responsible to bring the humor to our family, and with their big personalities as 7- and 5-year-old girls, they do that and then some. As for the calendar, well, it involves what you might expect a home with young girls does, with the addition of two full time ministry leaders. When we get free time, we often spend it rooting on our beloved hometown Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks, and other such shared interests. And yes, at least in our home, we loved the Super Bowl a few weeks ago. I share all that because we have some unique gifts. We have some talents and passions. And when we’re in a healthy place, we’re using them well.

I wonder, what you might say about your own situation and story? However you might answer and whatever you might say, as the Apostle Paul makes clear in his letter to the Corinthians, we all have gifts and we all have work to do!

We Are Called and Created to Serve as signs of Jesus’ Love
The Confirmation class just beautifully re-told and interpreted the story from Mark 10. A story about James and John asking to be seated closest to Jesus, at his right and at his left.[1] A story where they didn’t know what they were asking, and where they were missing the point entirely. The other disciples didn’t like the idea that the two were better and more important than the rest of them. So Jesus, much like the coach in the confirmands’ story takes some time to teach. He says, “Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give his life a ransom for many.”[2]

The thing we need to remember is who the one is who his giving his life for us. It’s Jesus. It’s God in Christ. Our Savior and Lord. Who will go to and through the point of death on a cross for you and for me. Jesus will do this and does do this, once and for all. For all of God’s beloved. Jesus does this to bring life, healing, and wholeness. Jesus does this despite our own best actions, efforts, or intent. We can’t earn this gift of God. We’ll never deserve it. The life giving and lifesaving work that God does is God’s work, and it God’s alone. It’s a gift and pure grace. If it were up to us, and our own works or efforts, we wouldn’t stand a chance. But God comes among us. Sees us. Loves us. Meets us where we are at. And offers life itself for you and for me.

The question then really is how will we respond? How will we respond to this gift and promise of life which God alone provides? What will we do, as we have been freed to live, love, and serve? And how will we live? Will we live joyfully and gratefully like our lives have been changed forever? Or will we go about the day kind of “ho-hum,” seemingly unchanged or at least ungrateful?

God Provides For You and Through You
This isn’t about our works though. This is about using what God provides us each with for the sake of the common good, for the sake of our neighbors near and far. The Apostle Paul makes this clear. All people are gifted. All people are called. There are various ways to serve, far numerous than we can ever probably count. And despite what many in the world might have us believe, no one person is more important than another. This is so because God makes it so. Because God activates the gifts, services, and activities in everyone. And with this activation, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”[3]

You have been given the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. I have been given the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Think back to the book of Acts. Remember when the Holy Spirit is set loose at Pentecost, well this is just what that Spirit does. The Spirit is unleashed. God is active and up to something with, for, in, and through you. That activity shows up in how we live our lives as disciples and stewards.

When the Spirit moves us for the sake of the common good, we are reminded that the work of discipleship and stewardship, and the work of ministry itself is not just the work of one or two people. It’s not just the work of a couple want to be all-star basketball players asking their coach for more playing time. And it’s certainly not just the work of a pastor, of your Pastor Priscilla. It’s not just the work of a deacon, like me. Or of a Bishop. Or of a teacher or a doctor. Or of a farmer or even of a retired person. It’s all of ours to do. We do it in response for all that God has done. We get to do it as part of God’s on-going work and mission in the world. What we are called and get to do isn’t limited to an hour in worship once or twice a week, but it’s part of our daily lives- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This work varies from person to person, but it is just as important and holy. Because it is God’s work which we are all a part of.

You Have Gifts for This!
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ…Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but many.”[4] Friends, you have gifts. You have passions. You have talents. You have everything that makes you uniquely the beautiful, beloved, and claimed forever Child of God that you are. And you matter. You matter to God. You matter to your neighbors, because through you and whatever makes you uniquely you, God does amazing things.

God shows up through your hands and your feet. God shows up through your questions and dreams, stories and imagination. God shows up in the world and here in West Point through you, with you, and in you. How cool and beautiful is that? How daunting and important is that? Because God through the Spirit is active and up to something, you can trust that you have gifts for this and that you matter!

I wonder if the two basketball players understood what their coach was trying to teach them. I wonder if the disciples understood what Jesus was trying to teach them. I think both are helping us to imagine and learn a little more about what it means to be a disciple. I think they are helping open us up a bit more to what it might mean to be a follower of Jesus, and to live out our uniqueness and even our unique vocations that God provides. Where we do what God calls, equips, and empowers us for, for the sake of our neighbors. Where we live out our identity as a Child of God and meet the world’s needs in some ways, and where we meet our neighbors where they are at.

Be the unique person that you are. Shine the light of Jesus that you do. For each of us as individuals matters, but together, as we march, dance, pray, and sing, we are not just one, we are many and part of the One Body in Christ. One Body which has many members, but through which God’s love is made known in the world today. Through which, God shows up even now and does amazing things for one and for all. Thanks be to God. Amen.

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Citations and References:
[1] Mark 10:37.
[2] Mark 10:43-45, NRSVue.
[3] 1 Corinthians 12:7, NRSVue.
[4] 1 Corinthians 12:12 & 14, NRSVue.