Possessed!
In “Possessed!”, Pastor Tom explores Luke 12:13–21 and challenges us to consider not what we possess—but what possesses us. Through Jesus’ interaction with a man asking Him to settle an inheritance dispute, the sermon reminds us how easy it is to let material wealth and selfish ambition overshadow spiritual truth. The parable of the rich fool teaches that hoarding earthly treasures is futile when done without reverence or relationship with God. Pastor Tom emphasizes that we all have things—time, resources, plans—but if they begin to own our attention, identity, and security, we risk becoming spiritually poor while materially rich.
The message calls us to reflect before we act, especially in planning for the future. Without God in our plans, we build barns of ego instead of barns of purpose. Communion was offered as a moment of soul-searching, reminding the congregation that only Christ can free us from the false security of possessions. The bread and cup are eternal symbols that Christ gave everything—so that we don’t have to cling to anything but Him.
Luke 12:13–21
"13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”
15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.
17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.
19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”"
Psalm 14:1
"The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good."
James 4:13–15
"13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”
14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”"