John Elliott’s Six Points For Us to Consider - United Church of God

Speaker: Daniel Deininger
Date: December 13, 2025

Summary:

This sermon calls God’s people to sober self-examination, spiritual discernment, and renewed commitment to Jesus Christ as members of His Body. Drawing from a recent letter by UCG President John Elliott, the message emphasizes that God often uses His servants to communicate timely instruction meant to provoke growth, repentance, and deeper faithfulness.

At the heart of the message is a challenge to examine whether we genuinely take our place in the Body of Christ seriously or whether we merely assume our standing without wholehearted devotion. Scripture repeatedly warns against half-hearted obedience, pretense, and spiritual complacency. True discipleship requires loving God fully—with heart, mind, soul, and strength—and allowing His law to be written on our hearts through the New Covenant.

The sermon highlights Christ’s instruction in Revelation 2–3, where believers are urged to listen carefully to what the Spirit says to the churches and to honestly assess their spiritual condition. God expects His people to overcome, hold fast to the truth, and grow in righteousness. This requires vigilance, humility, and a willingness to examine ourselves in light of God’s Word.

A strong warning is given regarding false teachers and deceptive influences. Scripture makes clear that not all who claim to speak for God do so faithfully. Believers are commanded to test all teachings, compare them with Scripture, and judge by fruit rather than personality, position, or emotional appeal. Division, pride, manipulation, and rejection of God-ordained authority are not fruits of God’s Spirit.

The message also emphasizes that God continually tests His people, observing the heart and mind to refine character and prepare them for His Kingdom. God opposes pride, dishonesty, and discord among brethren, but blesses humility, repentance, peace, and obedience. Each individual is responsible for working out their own salvation with reverence and diligence.

The sermon concludes with a call to humility, repentance, and unwavering loyalty to Jesus Christ. Christianity is about following Christ—not personalities, movements, or institutions. Believers are exhorted to hold fast to sound doctrine, remain alert, and live as lights in a confused and deceptive world, always grounded in love for God and love for one another.

The message urges all to seriously consider the weight of their calling, remain faithful, and cling to the Word of Life until Christ returns.