Nov 3rd: Extraordinary Generosity, with Rev. Dr. Steven Koski.
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Rev. Dr. Steven Koski
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Extraordinary Generosity with Rev. Dr. Steven Koski. Series: Ordinary People With Extraordinary Hearts A Spacious Christianity, First Presbyterian Church of Bend, Oregon. Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1.1-3; Hebrews 12.1-2.
Join us this Sunday, either online or in-person, to hear an inspiring message about choosing love over fear, even in challenging times. Let’s come together as a community and be encouraged to leave a lasting legacy of faith, hope, and generosity. All are welcome.
Love Always Wins: How Will We Be Remembered?
As Election Day approaches, the tension in our world feels palpable. There’s uncertainty, division, and no small amount of fear about what lies ahead. But today, I want to share who I believe will lead us out of this mess.
You.
Yes, you. Regardless of who wins or loses, the real question isn’t about the outcome of the election—it’s about the kind of people we choose to be.
No election can decide whether we’ll become better or bitter. It can’t decide if we’ll live in fear or abundance, if we’ll demonize those we disagree with or seek shared humanity, if we’ll focus on what’s broken or on the good we can do.
These are choices we make.
The Holy Work of Love
When the votes are counted, many of the challenges we face today will still remain. Fear will still threaten to overwhelm us. Hate and violence will still be on the rise. Too many will still be hungry, homeless, and hurting.
But what will also remain is the holy work of love that is ours to do.
No matter the results, the truth of our faith doesn’t change:
- The love of God, revealed to us in Jesus, is stronger than any challenge we face.
- Love wins.
- And our best hope isn’t a political leader—it’s ordinary people with extraordinary hearts, people who choose love over fear and generosity over self-preservation.
The Legacy We Leave
Theologian Barbara Holmes reminds us, “How we handle adversity is our witness to future generations.” How we respond to this moment will echo in the lives of our grandchildren, our great-grandchildren, and beyond.
So, let me ask you: How do you want to be remembered?
- Are you living today in a way you’d want future generations to remember?
- Are you building a legacy of love, courage, and generosity?
Learning from the Saints Before Us
Our faith traces back to a small, fragile community in Thessalonica, whose story is told in the earliest writing of the New Testament, First Thessalonians.
In the face of persecution and adversity, they gathered to worship, to care for the vulnerable, and to live out the love of Jesus. Their courage and faithfulness laid the foundation for our faith today.
Paul’s words to them still resonate:
“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering your work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(1 Thessalonians 1:2-3)
Faith is work. Love requires labor. Hope demands steadfastness.
These early Christians lived their faith boldly, at great personal risk. And their choices became a witness that has shaped generations. The question for us is: How will our choices today shape the future?
The Great Cloud of Witnesses
In Hebrews 12, we’re reminded that we’re surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses.” These saints—both those from Scripture and those from our own lives—are cheering us on as we run our leg of the race.
Think of the people who have shaped your life and faith: grandparents, parents, mentors, friends. What would they say to you today?
At First Presbyterian, we also have a great cloud of witnesses. For 121 years, this community has been a legacy of faith, generosity, and love—a church the Bend community can always count on. We are here today because of ordinary people with extraordinary hearts who left their love behind.
Now, the baton is in our hands.
What Love Will We Leave Behind?
Maury Schwartz, in Tuesdays with Morrie, said it best:
“I don’t want to be remembered for what I took. I want to be remembered for what I was willing to give. Giving makes my heart glad. Giving makes me feel like I’m living. People die, but love doesn’t die. I want to be remembered for the love I left behind.”
Will we be remembered for the love we left behind?
The choices we make today will shape our legacy tomorrow.
The Work of Faith, Love, and Hope
I don’t know what will happen on Election Day. But I do know this:
- Love wins. If love isn’t winning, it just means the story isn’t over yet.
- Ordinary people with extraordinary hearts, like you, will lead us out of this mess.
- How we respond to this moment will be our witness to future generations.
So let’s live today in a way we’ll be proud to be remembered tomorrow. Let’s embrace the work of faith, the labor of love, and the steadfastness of hope.
Together, let’s leave behind a legacy of love that endures.
Amen.
With faith and hope,
Steven
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