It never fails to excite and terrify.

And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities” — because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. - Acts 17

I’m preparing for a great day with family on the 25th, but finishing up preparing for preaching on Christmas Eve, followed by Sunday the 28th and January 4. It’s exciting yet excrutiating, exhilarating yet daunting, dynamic yet damning but for the grace of God. Approaching his Word and acting as a herald for the gospel should cause us to tingle and tremble and I’m glad it still stirs the butterflies despite years of exercising that gift.

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. – Galatians 1

Handling the Word of God is not a matter of wordplay and eloquence, though I thoroughly enjoy such things. If a pastor mishandles God’s Word, there is a powerful admonition that should make us quake in our Chuck Taylors.

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. – 1 Corinthians 9

Getting ready to preach is always a sanctifying experience, as it bubbles up weaknesses in the preacher’s own disposition and walk with God. It is only by His grace that I know him and am held above reproach, through the Holy Spirit and the way He works in me and around me in community with good counsel, godly peers, and loving members that pray for their leaders.

Preaching isn’t all the next few weeks holds for me…
on behalf of my wife Kathryn, we want you to know that we’ll be praying for the congregation over Christmas: for opportune conversations, fruitful family exchanges, expressions of hospitality, and most importantly the glimpses of God as we remember Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection and continuing reign.

It’s been a year I will treasure seeing this congregation grow. For the procrastinating sinner who never wanted to be in ministry and chafed at every juncture, I find myself filled with jubilance in the role God has called me to as pastor over those who call MHC | Lake City their church.

Please join us in prayer for those who have lost jobs during the holidays both for their comfort but also spiritual discernment on where WE are called to come alongside them in Jesus’ name. Next year will likely be lean, difficult, and filled with struggle but I am convinced God will use this to reveal His grace in ways we have never experienced before, growing us stronger as a community of Christ followers in ways that will make our light shine brighter than ever.

Merry Christmas Mars Hill,
Pastor James Harleman