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    How to Make the Most of Your Abilities

    May 4, 2021
    Filed Under:
    From the Pastor
    “When the master comes and finds the servant doing his work, the servant will be blessed.” Luke 12:43 (NCV)

    All of us have unused abilities. Maybe you are still figuring out what your God-given abilities are. Or maybe you have abilities you’ve abandoned or ignored because of life circumstances.

    But God gave you those abilities for a reason: He wants you to use them to serve him and others! There are three ways you can start engaging your abilities so that they are being used for good and for God’s glory.

    1. Estimate your abilities.
    Do an assessment of your abilities. What are you good at? Make a list. If there’s one thing I could say to young people today to prepare for their future, this is it: Know your strengths and weaknesses. Consider the capabilities God has given you. If you have trouble identifying your abilities, ask someone close to you for help!

    2. Dedicate your abilities.
    “Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him” (Romans 12:1 GNT). Tell God, “You gave me these abilities. Now I’m going to give them back to you. I want to use them for the purpose for which you gave them to me.”

    3. Cultivate your abilities.
    That means practice, improve, sharpen, and develop. Any ability God has given you can be improved with use. Ecclesiastes 10:10 says, “If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success” (NIV).

    How do you get skill? You practice. You sharpen your ax and work smarter, not harder. Sharpening your abilities—your aptitudes, your skills—is a spiritual responsibility.

    God has invested enormously in you. First, he created you. Second, he shaped you with spiritual gifts and a unique personality. Then, he sent Jesus to die for you.

    God has made an incredible investment in your life! And he expects a return on the investment. He’s going to ask you one day, “What did you do with what you were given? How did you use your abilities to honor me, to serve others, to make a living, and to be an example?”

    Jesus says, “When the master comes and finds the servant doing his work, the servant will be blessed” (Luke 12:43 NCV).

    God wants to bless your life! When God looks at you, he wants to see you using your abilities in the ways he intended so that you will experience his blessing.

    Talk It Over
    • Why is it important to know both your strengths and weaknesses when you are trying to engage your abilities?
    • How can you show God you want to use your abilities to serve him?
    • What are some practical ways you can sharpen your abilities so you are serving God and other people better?



    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    MEMORIAL ROLL SERVICE will be on Sunday, May 16.


    CRISIS CARE KITS are needed for churches to distribute to people after storms and disasters. Directions on how you can help are here.

    DEBBIE WOODARD’S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS will begin meeting on May 16 in person in the room beside the new office (will also still be on Zoom).

    THERE WILL BE NO CHILDREN'S CHURCH ON SUNDAY, MAY 9. The lesson videos will be posted on Facebook.

    WORKERS ARE NEEDED. Please let us know if you can help in the following areas...

    • the Children's Department.
    • to serve as ushers and greeters.


    CHURCH CENTER:     You are invited to join us on the Church Center app! Church Center is a place to connect with small groups and church events, send messages to your group, update your profile, and more! Download from the App Store and connect today. If you have trouble with setting up or updating your profile to keep your contact information up to date, see Jenn Houchin or Terri Ray.

    LIFE LINE SCREENING, the nation’s leading provider of preventive health screenings, will offer affordable, non-invasive and painless health screenings at Old Hickory Church of the Nazarene on Monday, June 21, 2021. More details including how to register is here.

    WOMEN'S RETREAT: Old Hickory Women’s Retreat with guest speaker Lisa Miller Rich will be May 21-23 at Oasis Christian Center. Registration and payment is due no later than THIS FRIDAY May 7. More information and registration is here.

    MEMBERSHIP CLASS: Connect with Pastor Mike if you would be interested in joining a membership class.

    FOOD PANTRY: The pantry is open on Wednesday from 5:00-7:00pm and Thursday from 10:00am-12:00pm and volunteers and donations are needed.

    COFFEE SHOP: Uncommon Grounds is open every Monday-Saturday from 7:00am-2:00pm. Invite a friend and use this great outreach to introduce the church to your friends.

    CHAIR YOGA: Exercise classes with Anita are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:30-9:30am in the gym. Masks will be required & we will continue to social distance & sanitize our chairs. If you are interested in starting an exercise regime this year, please join us. We follow the silver sneakers protocol using a chair, including yoga, strength & balance, and we even do some "dancing to the oldies." Come join us... it's free & open to anyone.

    CAMP AT THE CREEK ‘21: High School is June 7-11; Middle School is June 14-18. See Brice for registration and scholarship information!

    CLASSES & STUDIES

    SUNDAYS
    Debbie Woodard leads the Young Adult Class via ZOOM for anyone who would like to join. This class will begin also meeting in person on May 16.
    Meeting ID: 868 1977 8952
    Password: Bible101

    Kenneth Ray & Gracie Smith lead the Friendship Class in person and via ZOOM for anyone who would like to join. They meet Sunday mornings at 9am in the classroom beside the office.
    Meeting ID: 846 6822 8046
    Password: Bible101

    Brice Rupert leads the Teens class in person at 9:00am in the Teen Room.

    SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP begins at 10:00am in the sanctuary. The services will continue to be live streamed on Facebook and our website home page for those unable to be with us in the church building.

    To keep your safety a high priority, the Church Board has asked that we go back to our prior guidelines for seating in the sanctuary. If you are wearing a mask you are welcome to sit anywhere on the main floor. If you would prefer to not wear a mask, we ask that you please sit in the balcony. Thanks for your help as we do our best to keep everyone healthy.

    OH|KIDS CHURCH for K-5th grade meets during the worship hour at 10:00am with Pastor Maddie! Parents can take children directly to the OH|Kids room before worship (instead of starting in the sanctuary). THERE WILL BE NO CHILDREN'S CHURCH ON SUNDAY, MAY 9. The lesson videos will be posted on Facebook.


    TUESDAYS
    Coffee & Community Bible Study every other Tuesday at 9:30am in the Coffee Shop. Next meeting is on May 11.


    WEDNESDAYS
    Wednesday Night Bible Study with Debbie Woodard is on Facebook Live (from Debbie's page) at 6:30pm.


    THURSDAYS
    Richard leads prayer and devotional on Thursdays at 7:00 PM via ZOOM for anyone who would like to join.
    Meeting ID: 894 2501 3143
    Password: Prayer605



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