WELCOME
Good morning First Baptist. We welcome you to worship this morning. Be sure to remember your brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the week as you pray for them, and as the Holy Spirit brings their faces to your mind. Be sure to also connect with them in the ways that are possible. And if you have any questions or would like to talk to someone, please don’t hesitate to contact the church through the church telephone and leave a message. (519-733-4144)
Songs
Call to Worship
The world cries to us in its distress. How shall we answer? We cannot pass by as though nothing is wrong. We cannot become so focused on ourselves that others mean nothing to us. So how shall we answer? We shall be the neighbour in service, we shall be the friend showing compassion and we shall be the Jesus follower showing love wherever we can.
Songs
Prayer
CONFESSION:
Lord, sometimes we are confused. We hear the bad news continually shouted on TV, radio, in the newspapers, magazines. The whole world seems to be shrieking in pain. Innocent people are being destroyed by the whims of the wicked. Disease and pestilence reign supreme in too many parts of the world. We turn an indifferent ear to the cries of others, often because we are so overwhelmed by the needs and feel helpless in the face of such chaos. We close our eyes. We walk away, often crossing over to the side of self-importance and indifference because we are afraid to become involved. Our society is quick to sue and slow to heal. We succumb to those pressures in our fear. Help us, O Lord. Heal our spirits as well as our bodies. Open our hearts and our eyes to see you, O Christ, that we may be empowered to service rather than apathy. Forgive us, Lord, forgive us. Make us ready to truly become your disciples. For we ask these things in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Do not be afraid. God’s love is reaching out to you, to touch your hurt and wounds and to provide healing. Receive God’s blessing and be assured of God’s eternal love for you. AMEN.
Thanks be to God!
Not So Secret Sauce
The Sacred Rhythm of Godliness – A Summer Invitation
Today's Message: Pastor Marlee Page
Good morning, Church!
We’re in week five of our Not-So-Secret Sauce series where we’ve been exploring the key ingredients of a vibrant, maturing life in Christ. We’ve walked through goodness, knowledge, self-control, and perseverance. Today, we come to a word that can feel a little abstract or intimidating – godliness.
But here’s the truth, godliness isn’t a secret, elite spiritual level. It’s the natural result of a life That’s been with Jesus, learned from Jesus, and been shaped to live like Jesus. And this is where John Mark Comer’s book Practicing the Way has been so helpful to many of us – so we want to circle back to something familiar to you that speaks directly to what Peter is getting at when he encourages us to pursue godliness.
If you think back to the time we spent in the book, he reminds us that discipleship, what he calls “apprenticeship to Jesus” following so close that we are covered in His dust! It isn’t about mastering theology or checking off spiritual boxes.
It’s about three simple movements:
- Be with Jesus
- Become like Jesus
- Do what Jesus did
That’s it. No secrets. Just sacred rhythms.
And That’s exactly what we want to lean into today.
We’re not only continuing our series, we’re also stepping into a Summer Slowdown. An intentional season to recover the pace and practices of Jesus. Summer is often seen as a time to relax, to travel, to unplug a little.
But what if we also saw it as a sacred invitation to return to the heart of godliness?
- Not as performance. But as presence.
- Not as perfection. But as formation.
As we slow down this summer, let’s ask: What if the real secret to a godly life isn’t more striving, but more abiding?
Let’s take a fresh look at godliness; not as a rigid moral code, but as the beautiful overflow of a life rooted in Jesus.
Let’s start by reading Luke 10:38-42
Scripture Reading: Luke 10:38-42
Mary and Martha Worship and Serve
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
GODLINESS BEGINS WITH PRESENCE
“Be with Jesus.”
When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha in Luke 10, He commended Mary not for her productivity, but for her presence; choosing to sit at His feet, listen, and simply be with Him. Jesus called it “the better portion.”
That word presence might sound passive, but in the biblical story, it is anything but. Presence is power.
Biblical Word Study: Presence
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as “presence” is פָּנִים (panim), which literally means “face.”
To be in someone’s presence is to be before their face, intimate, personal, and unhidden. In Exodus 33:14, God tells Moses, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” The context implies more than just accompaniment, it’s relational nearness. Moses responds by saying, “If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”
That’s the heart of godliness: a refusal to move without the nearness of God.
In the New Testament, the Greek word ἐνώπιον (enōpion) also means “in the sight of” or “in the presence of.”
In John 15, when Jesus invites us to “abide” in Him, it’s not a one-time visit, it’s a constant awareness and connection to His presence.
I love the word ABIDE because of this understanding! “A constant awareness and connection to His presence.”
John Mark Comer says it like this:
“The first and primary goal of apprenticeship to Jesus is learning to live in a constant state of awareness and connection to the Holy Spirit.”
Think of an old-school radio. If the dial is slightly off, you get static and distortion. But when you fine-tune the station, the signal becomes clear. The same is true with God’s presence. He’s always broadcasting but we have to tune in. We do that by slowing down, silencing distractions, and intentionally creating space for communion with Him.
Summer Slowdown Practice:
Designate a sacred space and time in your day to “tune in” to God’s presence. Sit quietly with no agenda. Read a Psalm slowly. Take a walk and pray aloud. As you do, picture yourself before the face of God – seen, known, and loved.
Godliness doesn’t start with striving, it starts with showing up. With being seen and shaped in God’s presence. Before we become like Jesus or do what He did, we sit where Mary sat: at His feet, unhurried, unashamed, and fully present.
GODLINESS IS FORMED IN THE SLOWNESS
“Become like Jesus.”
1 Timothy 4:8 reminds us:
“…godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
Godliness isn’t instant. It’s a slow, deliberate formation over time. Just as physical fitness requires steady, repeated training, spiritual maturity is cultivated through daily, often unseen rhythms of grace.
This kind of formation isn’t optional. It’s already happening.
We are being formed every day, either by the pace of the world or the way of Jesus. One produces burnout; the other, godliness.
- The world forms us by hurry, hustle, and the endless pursuit of achievement.
- Social media tells us to curate, compare, and keep up.
- Work tells us our worth is tied to productivity.
- Culture tells us we need more – faster, louder, better.
- This pace promises significance but often delivers exhaustion.
In contrast, Jesus invites us into a different pace, a slower, deeper, more sustainable rhythm. He says in Matthew 11:28–30, “Come to Me, all who are weary… learn from Me… and you will find rest for your souls.”
As John Mark Comer writes: “We become our habits. What we give our attention to is the person we become.”
- If we attend to noise, we become anxious.
- If we attend to Jesus, we become peaceful.
The question isn’t if you’re being formed, but by whom and into what.
Imagine two gardens. One is frantically overworked. The gardener rushes through planting, skips watering some days, dumps fertilizer all at once, and prunes hastily. It grows, somewhat, but the plants are stressed, the soil depletes quickly, and the beauty fades fast.
The second garden is tended daily but slowly. The gardener checks the soil, waters gently, weeds carefully, and allows time for roots to deepen. At first, growth is subtle. But over time, this garden thrives – rich, strong, and life-giving.
Your soul is like a garden. The pace and care with which it is cultivated determine the fruit it bears. The world’s garden is all rush and results.
Jesus’ garden? It’s slow, quiet, and deeply rooted.
Summer Slowdown Practice
Choose one spiritual practice this summer to tend your soul. Maybe it’s silence, creating space to hear God’s whisper. Or simplicity, decluttering your schedule to make room for peace. Or Sabbath, honouring a full day of rest each week.
Don’t try to do everything. Do one thing, slowly, consistently. Let it be a trellis that supports your growth in godliness. Godliness is not behaviour modification it’s soul transformation through slow, Spirit-led rhythms.
In a culture of noise and speed, choose the quiet, slow, Jesus-shaped way. Over time, it will produce fruit that lasts.
GODLINESS FLOWS INTO ACTION
“Do what Jesus did.”
Godliness is not just about what happens between you and God in quiet moments, it’s what flows out of those moments into the world. When we abide in Jesus, as John 15 says, we bear fruit. And the primary fruit of a life rooted in Christ is love.
What did Jesus do most often? He loved.
Not just in big, dramatic ways but in everyday acts of compassion, presence, and truth. He healed the broken, forgave the sinner, welcomed the outcast, and served the least. Over and over, Jesus chose love; not sentimentality, but sacrificial, patient, truth-filled, grace-giving love.
The Apostle Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:5 that “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
This is godliness in motion: love shaped by time with Jesus, love that looks like Jesus.
Three voices from the modern church echo this truth:
- Bob Goff, author of Love Does, writes:
“The world can make you cynical. Love can make you dangerous—in the best way. People who are becoming love see potential where others see problems.” - Rich Villodas, pastor and author of The Deeply Formed Life, says:
“The measure of our spiritual maturity is not how much we know, but how well we love.” - Christine Caine, evangelist and founder of A21, reminds us:
“We are never more like God than when we love.”
These aren’t just sentiments, they’re reminders that the end goal of every spiritual practice, every moment in God’s presence, every step of formation, is love lived out.
Summer Slowdown Practice
How do we reflect this love in real life?
- Be with Jesus daily—not to check a box, but to fill up on His love.
- Train in one spiritual habit—let it shape your heart to love more deeply.
- Look for one person each day to love intentionally—a kind word, a listening ear, a small act of service or even just a smile.
When love becomes our default, godliness becomes visible.
In a world that’s filled with anger and loud judgemental voices, what will mark us as followers of Jesus isn’t how loud we shout truth, but how deeply we live love. Let’s let godliness move through us, not as performance, but as love in action.
CONCLUSION: LIVE THE WAY OF JESUS THIS SUMMER
Church, as we head into the heart of summer, we’re not just inviting you to slow down, we’re inviting you to continue to reorient your life around Jesus. Godliness is not accidental. It’s intentional and it’s formed through a sacred rhythm:
- Be with Jesus – Make space for presence. Sit at His feet like Mary. Learn to enjoy Him.
- Become like Jesus – Let the slow, steady practices of silence, Scripture, and Sabbath reshape your soul.
- Do what Jesus did – Live a life of love, compassion, and grace that reflects the heart of your Saviour.
This isn’t about spiritual performance, it’s about spiritual formation. And the best part? You’re not alone.
We’ve provided a practical guide to help you engage this rhythm all summer long: the Summer Slowdown Document. Inside it you’ll find:
- Weekly prompts to help you create space for God.
- Ideas for spiritual habits you can try.
- Questions for reflection and simple actions to put love into practice.
Use it. Share it. Revisit it. Let it become a tool that anchors your soul to something deeper than your schedule or the summer heat.
Let this summer be a season of intentional formation, not accidental drift.
Let it be marked not by exhaustion, but by presence.
Not by hurry, but by transformation.
Not by performance, but by love.
It’s ok to slowdown; to walk in the way of Jesus. He can’t wait to meet you there.
Let’s pray.
Prayer
Lord, how are we ever going to be your disciples or your apprentices?
We are overwhelmed by the needs of the world. The cries of people who feel threatened by others, those who are in need, those who are in danger and those who are alienated. These cries and noise ring in our ears and in our hearts.
Sometimes we would just like to run and hide, hoping that all this turmoil will go away, but it doesn’t. It sits outside our doors and waits for us to do something.
Lord, help that “something” be service and compassion and love. Help us to remember how you have forgiven and blessed each one of us, how you have called us “blessed and beloved”. Remind us that you delight in us and sing songs over us. You remind us in the scriptures of the compassion a Samaritan had on one who was injured. We like that story, but now is the time for us to take that story to heart. We are called to reach beyond our comfort zone, to those in need, to the alien, the injured, the lost, the lonely. It is difficult for us to do, and we need to feel your powerful presence with us.
Today’s scripture reminds us to long for that presence and to take time to sit at your feet just like Mary because that is a better choice.
Bless us again, O Lord, with a good measure of courage and strength that we may truly serve you. Bless those whose names and situations we have brought before you today for healing and hope. In your mercy and love, help us to reach out to others as you have reached out to us. For we ask these things in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.
Song
Benediction
Place your hand in the hand of God. Stay close to Him.
Go out into this world in complete assurance of God’s presence and love. Bring hope, healing, and peace to all whom you meet. Go in peace and may God’s peace be with you.