Worship Program - 5/17/26
- Pastor Gary
- May 15
- 5 min read
Welcome to worship this morning!
We are so glad you are here today as we continue our series on spiritual gifts. We’re talking about how God empowers ordinary people through the Holy Spirit to serve, encourage, lead, and build up the church. But today we pause to ask an important question:
What happens when God’s gifts collide with our human messiness?
The church in Corinth had real spiritual gifts and real spiritual experiences… but they also struggled with pride, jealousy, insecurity, and division. Sound familiar? Paul reminds them—and us—that spiritual maturity is not measured by how impressive our gifts are, but by the character that holds them.
That’s why 1 Corinthians 13—the “love chapter”—sits right in the middle of Paul’s teaching on spiritual gifts. Before God asks us to carry spiritual power, He wants to shape our hearts. Gifts without love can wound people. Gifts rooted in humility, patience, kindness, and grace can help heal and strengthen the body of Christ.
No matter where you are in your faith journey today, we believe God has created you with purpose and has a place for you in His family. Every believer matters. Every part of the body is indispensable.
Our prayer this morning is simple:May God not only reveal His gifts in us, but may He also form the character we need to use them well.
All for Him!
Pastor Gary
Order of Worship
1Welcome | |
Prayer of Adoration | |
Opening Worship | |
Prayer of Confession | |
Prayer of Intercession | |
Message | The Character to Carry It 1 Corinthians 12-13 Pastor Gary Priddy |
Next Steps | What you can do for a “next step” of faith. |
Prayer of Thanksgiving | |
Benediction |
Life is much more than an accident. Wherever I go, I believe God needs me there. Wherever I am, I trust God has put me there. He has a purpose for me being there - Christ, alive in me, wants to do something through me, no matter where I am. I believe this and go in His grace and His love and His power.
Songs for Worship
Wesley Chapel 3 Praise to the Lord, The Almighty 7 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise 44 Great Is Thy Faithfulness | Rock Hall Church King of Kings Blessed Assurance No Longer Slaves Amazing Grace |
Sermon Outline
Living Spirit Led
Luke 4:14-21
Discern the Source
1 Corinthians 12:1–3, 1 John 4:1, Romans 10:9
Not every spiritual experience comes from God. True gifts point people to Jesus.
Discover Your Service Key
1 Corinthians 12:4–11, Romans 12:4–8, 1 Peter 4:10
Spiritual gifts are given by God to serve and strengthen others.
Depend on the Body
1 Corinthians 12:12–27, Ephesians 4:15–16, Romans 12:5
Every believer matters, and no one can do ministry alone.
Develop Christlike Character
1 Corinthians 13:1–13, Galatians 5:22–23, Colossians 3:12–14
The fruit of the Spirit must shape how we use the gifts of the Spirit.
Bottom Line:
God’s gifts require God’s character to carry them well.
TAKE IT HOME:
The Character to Carry It - 1 Corinthians 13:1–7 Where might God be calling you to grow in patience, humility, kindness, or self-control so you can carry His gifts well?
The Gifts That Build Others - 1 Corinthians 12:4–7 How could God want to use your gifts this week to encourage, strengthen, or serve someone around you?
The Humility That Protects Unity - 1 Corinthians 12:21–26 Are you more tempted toward pride or insecurity when comparing yourself to others—and how is that affecting your relationships?
The Discernment That Keeps Us Grounded - 1 Corinthians 12:1–3 What voices, influences, or experiences in your life need to be tested by the truth that “Jesus is Lord”?
The Love That Makes the Church Strong - 1 Corinthians 13:13 What would it look like this week to make love—not recognition, influence, or ability—your highest pursuit?
This Week's Announcements:
Daily Devotional Reading:
Wake-Up Call provides a daily encouragement to shake off the slumber of our busy lives and turn our eyes toward Jesus. Each morning our community gathers around a Scripture, a reflection, a prayer, and a few short questions, inviting us to reorient our lives around the love of Jesus who transforms our hearts, homes, churches, and cities.
SIGN UP HERE: https://seedbed.com/wakeupcall
Prayer Request Policy Change In order to maintain a more current prayer list, we provide a copy of this past week’s prayer requests. Submit prayer requests using the prayer request cards in the pews or the digital prayer request form on our website: pray.yourrhc.com Please make sure you have permission to share other’s information.
Current Prayer Requests
Our children and youth ministries
Caregivers and first responders
Our nation’s leaders
Healing of our nation
People battling addictions
Single parents and their kids
Pastor Gary and family
Dickie & Bettie Porter
Hubbard & Sharon Kendall
Joanne Carson
Audra Ashley
Diane McIntyre
Elma (Sis) Myers
Wilkins Hubbard
Joe Holliday
JJ Foote
John Miller
Lisa Stottlemyer
Edna Cox
Don & Shirley Spagnolo
Rick & Mary Etta Reedy
Elmer & Marsha Gustafson
Susan Medley
David Black
Grant Stoops
Sherrie Jacobs
Alice Dulin
Beverly Beck
Jeanne Geibel
Bobby & Becky Glenn
Joan Stevens
Shelley Hillyer
Andy Cox
Jonathan Callahan
Holly VanDyke
Active Military & their families including:
Trevion Hopkins
Kyle Schauber
Brock Willey
Makenzie Williams
Steve McCarthy
Geoffrey Andersen
Jonathan Conner
Dante Spagnolo
This week's prayer focus:
Join us in focused and specific prayer for our church, our community, and our world. Be prepared to see God do great things as we collectively turn to Him in prayer.
Sunday – The Character to Carry It: Father, thank You for loving us even while we are still being transformed. Grow in us the character needed to carry the gifts and responsibilities You place in our lives. 1 Cor 13:4–7
Monday – The Humility to Serve: Jesus, protect us from pride and comparison. Teach us to see every gift as grace and every opportunity to serve as an act of worship. Phil 2:3–4
Tuesday – The Wisdom to Discern: Holy Spirit, help us to test every voice and every experience against the truth of Your Word. Give us discernment so we may follow what is truly from You. 1 John 4:1
Wednesday – The Fruit That Sustains Us: Lord, let the fruit of Your Spirit grow deeply within us. Make us patient in frustration, kind in conflict, faithful in weakness, and self-controlled in temptation. Gal 5:22–23
Thursday – The Courage to Belong: Father, remind us that every believer has a place in Your Church. Free us from jealousy, insecurity, and fear so we may joyfully serve as part of Your body. Romans 12:4–5
Friday – The Grace to Grow: Jesus, teach us to walk with grace toward one another as we learn to use our gifts. Help us to correct gently, forgive quickly, and encourage constantly. Col 3:12–14
Saturday – The Love That Builds the Church: Holy Spirit, make us people of love above all else. May everything we do—our serving, speaking, leading, and giving—point others to Jesus and build up His Church. 1 Cor 13:1–2
This week’s events:
Monday
6:00 pm - Bible Study @Debbie Elburn’s
7:00 pm - Women’s Bible Study @Nancy Walls
Tuesday:
10:00 am - Bible Study Group @RHCCC
Wednesday:
1-3 pm - Ageless Wonders @ RHCCC
3:30-6 pm Rock Solid Kids @ RHCCC
6:00 pm - Dinner @ RHCCC
6:30 pm - Youth @ RHCCC
Thursday:
7:00 pm - Praise Band practice @RHC
6:00 pm - Wesley Board Mtg @WC
Sunday
8:30 am - Bible Study @WC
9:30 am - Worship Celebration @WC
11:00 am - Worship Celebration @RHC
WC - Wesley Chapel
RHC - Rock Hall Church
RHCCC - Rock Hall Church Community Center
