People Are Talking 7-13-25
Scripture: Colossians 1:1-14 (NRSVA)
One Sunday after church, a lady came up to her pastor and said, “Pastor, I just wanted to tell you — people are talking about you!” The pastor looked a little startled and asked, “Oh no… what are they saying?” She smiled and replied, “They’re saying you’re one of the kindest, most humble pastors this town has ever had.” He wiped his brow and said, “Whew! That’s good. I was afraid they’d found out about my fishing stories.” (Source: Adapted from Christian Jokes for the Soul, compiled by L. King)
It can be unnerving when we know people are talking about us, can’t it? Hearing that our name is being mentioned makes us pause. Are they praising us, criticizing us, or somewhere in between? And in today’s world — where conversations happen not just face to face but on Facebook, in texts, emails, and whispered corners — the weight of other people’s words can build up and wear us down.
But here’s the good news: when the church talks about you for the right reasons, it stirs heaven itself. Paul tells the believers in Colossae, “We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints” (Colossians 1:4). People were talking about them — and it was a beautiful thing.
Today’s message is called “People Are Talking” because we’ll see how when you live for Christ, people will notice.
1: People Will Talk — Make It About Your Faith and Love
Paul begins this letter by reminding the Colossians that their reputation has traveled: “We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints” (v.4). And who brought the news? Epaphras, their beloved friend and faithful minister (v.7-8). In ancient Hebrew culture, the testimony of two or more witnesses confirmed truth — and here Paul, Timothy, and Epaphras affirm what they’ve seen in the Colossians.
William Barclay writes, “Christianity is not meant to be a quiet thing; it is a flame to be seen, a voice to be heard. The faith and love of the Colossians had become a matter of common knowledge.” (*Barclay, The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians)
Question for us: When people talk about Pleasant View UMC, what are they saying? Are they saying, “Those folks are kind and faithful”, or is it, “That church has drama”? Let’s commit to making sure that when people talk, it’s about our faith, love, and hope in Jesus.
Last week, I mentioned Corrie ten Boom, who helped Jews escape Nazi persecution during WWII. She once said, “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength” (Source: Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place. 1971). When one asked how she stayed strong in the face of hatred and danger, she replied, “Corrie ten Boom, who helped Jews escape Nazi persecution during WWII, once shared that people would call her a fool or worse for risking her life. Yet she held fast to her belief that her task was to reflect God’s love, no matter the cost.” Her faith and love became known not only in her town but worldwide — because people were talking (Source: Paraphrase as noted below).
2: Be Strengthened with God’s Power
Look at what Paul prays for in verse 11: “May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father” (Colossians 1:11-12).
Paul knew they’d face criticism, opposition, fatigue. Loving people in a broken world isn’t easy — it’s exhausting. N.T. Wright puts it this way: “Christian growth is not a matter of being a passive recipient. It is hard work — but work that takes place in the energy of God’s Spirit.” (*Wright, Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters).
Psalm 82, which we read earlier, reminds us that God stands in the divine council, judging injustice and calling his people to defend the weak and uphold the oppressed. This work is sacred — but it can wear us out. When we labor for love and justice, we need God’s power to endure — not our own.
If you try to run a marathon without training or water, you’ll collapse pretty quickly. The same goes for faith. If we try to serve Christ on our own steam, we’ll burn out. But when fueled by the Holy Spirit, we’re empowered to endure with joy.
Now, for those who would would talk about others and for those who would talk about us, I offer the following poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919) called, “The Gossip”
“Who slanders another behind his back
May find that the path is a thorny track;
For the tongue of the gossip, though smooth it appears,
Is a thing for contempt and a fountain of tears.
Words lightly spoken can ruin a name,
And leave a life darkened by sorrow and shame.
Oh, guard well your speech, let your words be sincere,
And speak of another as though they could hear.”
(Source: Ella Wheeler Wilcox, collected works, public domain. Early 20th century American poet known for moral and reflective verse).
3: Remember Why You Started
Why were the Colossians known so positively? Because of “the hope laid up for (them) in heaven” (Colossians 1:5). Hope changes everything. When we know our future is secure in Christ, we can handle what people say today. When our hearts are set on eternity, we realize that no earthly praise or criticism can define us.
Romans 5:3-5 ties this together: “We also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:3-5 NRSVA).
When people talk, when you grow weary, when ministry feels heavy — remember your hope. Hope that comes from a Savior who “has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13).
Hymn: “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less”
Verse 1: My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Chorus: On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand. (Edward Mote, 1834)”
When people talk, and the winds blow, and life gets hard — we stand firm on the Rock. People are going to talk. So give them something holy to talk about! Let them see your faith, hear your love, feel your hope. When you stumble, remember you’re not alone.
God is still standing in the midst of injustice (Psalm 82), calling us to lift up the weak and walk in the light.
This week, when you hear negativity, respond with kindness. When you feel weary, pray for strength. When you get discouraged, hold tight to hope that one day, you’ll hear the only words that truly matter: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sources:
*Colossians 1:1-14 (NRSVA)
*Opening joke adapted from Christian Jokes for the Soul, compiled by L. King
*William Barclay, The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians
*Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place. 1971).
*Second Corrie ten Boom attribution is a paraphrase of Corrie’s documented attitude and testimony, but it is not a direct, verifiable quote from her published works or interviews. Corrie often spoke of enduring gossip, criticism, and danger, and her consistent message was about reflecting Christ’s love regardless of cost — but this specific wording doesn’t have a published source.
*N.T. Wright, Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters
*Psalm 82 (NRSVA)
*“The Gossip” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, (1850–1919). Collected works, public domain. Early 20th century American poet known for moral and reflective verse).
*Romans 5:3-5 NRSVA)
*“My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” by (Edward Mote, 1834)
Children's Moment Video:https://youtu.be/LX0aeyQyd3Y
Sermon Video: https://youtu.be/uT4Fi7iH-nM
Don't Get Tired 7-6-25
Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10 (NRSVA)
My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. 4 All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbour’s work, will become a cause for pride. 5 For all must carry their own loads.
6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.
7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. 8 If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.
A little boy was running laps around his living room before bedtime. His mother finally stopped him and asked, “Why are you running like that?” He grinned and said, “Because the batteries in my legs won’t wear out!”
(Source: Reader’s Digest, “Kids Say the Darndest Things.”)
Wouldn’t it be nice if our hearts worked like that? No matter what came our way, our patience, our hope, and our compassion would never wear out. But if we’re honest — sometimes we get tired. Tired of forgiving, tired of carrying others’ burdens, tired of doing good when it seems to go unnoticed.
And Paul, in Galatians 6, knew that feeling. That’s exactly what he’s addressing.
Psalm 30:5b (NRSVA) says, “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
Main Idea: God calls us not to grow weary in doing good, because a harvest of blessing is coming if we don’t give up.
1. Carry One Another’s Burdens
Paul begins, “Brothers and sisters, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.” (Galatians 6:1) He then says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.” (v. 2)
In our world, it’s easy to mind our own business. But in the church — in the family of Christ — we’re called to step in and help carry what’s too heavy for others. That might be grief, addiction, loneliness, financial struggle, or a sin they can’t overcome on their own.
N.T. Wright puts it plainly: “To bear one another’s burdens means not standing at a distance offering advice but getting under the weight and lifting it alongside them.” (Source: N.T. Wright, Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians. SPCK, 2002)
It takes strength and heart to help with someone else’s load — and sometimes, yes, it gets tiring.
Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who hid Jews during WWII, was imprisoned in a concentration camp. She told the story of a fellow prisoner who carried a sick woman to roll call every morning. When Corrie offered to help, the woman quietly replied, “When you carry someone else, you forget how heavy your own load is.”
There’s blessing in sharing burdens. Because as Psalm 30 reminds us: “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
2. Don’t Grow Weary in Doing Good
Paul continues: “So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
Some days it’s hard to stay kind. Some days it’s easier to retreat, hold grudges, or stop caring. But the call to goodness isn’t a suggestion — it’s our way of life.
William Barclay writes, “A person’s character is the harvest of their habits.”(Source: William Barclay, The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians. Westminster John Knox Press, 2002)
If we plant kindness, mercy, faithfulness — even in small ways — those seeds grow. The harvest might take a while, but it will come.
2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NRSVA): “Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.”
God never promised ease, but he promised strength for the journey and joy in the morning. As it says inPsalm 30:11 (NRSVA): “You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.”
3. The Harvest Will Come
Paul assures us that what we sow, we’ll eventually reap. “For the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” (Galatians 6:8)
Your acts of love, your patience, your prayers — they are seeds. And seeds don’t sprout overnight. But they will sprout.
Poem: “Don’t Quit” (author unknown)
“When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
Rest if you must — but don’t you quit.”
Paul’s message is the same: Rest, regroup — but don’t quit. Don’t stop doing good.
“It Is Well with My Soul” — Horatio Spafford (1873)
When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.
Spafford lost his fortune and four daughters in a shipwreck. And yet — he wrote this hymn, affirming his faith in God’s goodness and final harvest. This isn’t just a passage for ancient Galatia. It’s for Pleasant View UMC in 2025. It’s for me. And it’s for you.
We have burdens to bear together. We have goodness to sow. And we have a harvest to trust God for.
Receive this challenge:
- Call on friends, family and those who are struggling.
- Volunteer in a ministry you’ve been hesitant about.
- Forgive those you’ve struggled to forgive.
- Sow seeds of goodness no one else will see.
Because as Psalm 30 promises, “Joy comes with the morning.”
And as Paul reminds us, “At harvest-time, we will reap, if we do not give up.”
So don’t you quit. Don’t get tired. Don’t lose heart. The harvest is coming. And I can’t wait to see what God will grow among us. Amen.
Sources
- Galatians 6:1-10 (NRSVA)
- Reader’s Digest, “Kids Say the Darndest Things.”
- N.T. Wright, Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians (SPCK, 2002)
- William Barclay, The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians (Westminster John Knox Press, 2002)
- “It Is Well with My Soul,” Horatio Spafford, 1873
- Psalm 30 and Galatians 6 (NRSVA)
- Reader’s Digest, “Kids Say the Darndest Things”
Children's Moment Video: https://youtu.be/4fyHelGCOE0
Sermon Video: https://youtu.be/7FswkQx98o4
Bearing Fruit 6-29-25
Scripture: Galatians 5:1, 13-25 ( CEB)
1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence,[a] but through love become enslaved to one another. 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
A Sunday School teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with the kids. After explaining the commandment to “Honor your father and your mother,” she asked, “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?” Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, “Thou shalt not kill.” (Source: Reader’s Digest, Laughter is the Best Medicine)
Today is my last Sunday with you as your pastor. And I’m so grateful to have walked this stretch of the journey with you. As we wrap up our series Living as Christ’s Body, it seems only fitting we finish by talking about what that Body should produce: fruit.
Paul teaches us here that the Christian life isn’t about following a list of dos and don’ts. It’s about what grows in us when we truly live by the Spirit of God. And that’s where the fruit comes in.
So, let’s consider what it means to bear fruit as individuals and as a church body. Three things Paul shows us:
- We are set free to serve.
- The flesh fights, but the Spirit bears fruit.
- Fruit-bearing is evidence of belonging.
1: We Are Set Free to Serve
Look at verse 13: “You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only don’t let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses, but serve each other through love.”
The Greek word Paul uses for serve is δουλεύω (douleuó), which means to serve as a bondservant or slave. That might sound harsh to modern ears, but Paul is flipping the worldly idea of freedom on its head. In Christ, freedom isn’t about doing whatever you want — it’s about being so transformed by love that you willingly pour your life out for others. Freedom isn’t for self-indulgence; it’s for sacrificial service.
As N.T. Wright puts it, “Freedom is not autonomy but a new way of being human, modeled on Jesus, and energized by his Spirit.” (Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians, N.T. Wright)
A Methodist pastor named Clarence Jordan, founder of Koinonia Farm in Georgia, lived this kind of Spirit-led service. In the 1940s and ‘50s, Clarence and his interracial community faced constant threats, cross burnings, and boycotts. Yet they responded not with retaliation but with grace — feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, and embracing those who persecuted them. Jordan said, “The proof that you love God is in the way you treat people.”
That’s fruit-bearing freedom. That’s the Body of Christ. Psalm 16:5-6 reminds us, “You, Lord, are my portion, my cup; you control my destiny. The property lines have fallen beautifully for me; yes, I have a lovely home.”
When you live knowing your destiny is secure in God, you are free to serve others without fear.
2: The Flesh Fights, But the Spirit Bears Fruit
Paul gets real about the tension we live in. In verses 16-21, he lists the works of the flesh: jealousy, anger, drunkenness, division — and it’s a pretty ugly list.
But here’s the good news — the Holy Spirit doesn’t just suppress sin, He replaces it with something better, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23)
Notice — Paul doesn’t call them fruits plural, but fruit singular. The Greek word is καρπός (karpos), meaning “that which originates or comes from something, an effect, (or) result.” Other meanings include:
-
- “work, act, deed
- advantage, profit
- praises, which are presented to God as a thank offering”
- An example from Strong’s Concordance is: “to gather fruit (i.e. a reaped harvest) into life eternal (as into a granary)…”
It’s one fruit with nine flavors, all growing together from the same source: life in the Spirit.
As William Barclay observes, “Paul never said that the Christian life would be easy. What he said was that, if we let God have his way, the impossible would become possible, and the life that should defeat us would become a life of victory.” (The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians, William Barclay)
You will still feel the tug of selfishness. But the Spirit’s job is to grow new fruit in you, if you’ll stay connected. Psalm 16:11 promises, “You teach me the way of life. In your presence is total celebration. Beautiful things are always in your right hand.”
If we remain in God’s presence, we find the strength to deny the flesh and allow new fruit to blossom.
3. Fruit-Bearing is Evidence of Belonging
In verse 24 Paul writes, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” The Spirit’s fruit isn’t what makes you belong to Christ — it’s the evidence that you already do.
Jesus said it like this in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” The fruit isn’t optional. It’s the unmistakable sign that the Holy Spirit lives in you.
Annie Johnson Flint captured this truth in her poem, “The Fruitage of the Spirit.”
“Not mere works of duty or self-made plan,
But love’s own witness in deeds to man,
The outflow sweet of a heart at rest,
With Christ abiding, forever blest.”
(Source: Annie Johnson Flint, “The Fruitage of the Spirit,” Poems of Faith and Comfort)
This is our calling. To live as Christ’s Body means bearing the fruit of His Spirit — in our homes, in our workplaces, in the community, and here in this church.
Psalm 16:8 encourages us, “I always put the Lord in front of me; I will not stumble because he is on my right side.” When Christ is our focus, fruit follows.
George Croly wrote the following in 1854,
“Spirit of God, descend upon my heart; Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move; Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art, And make me love Thee as I ought to love. (“Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart.” The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 500),
It’s a hymn both of dependence and longing for the Spirit’s fruit to take root.
As I prepare to leave, this is my hope for you:
That you will not let the sadness of past losses keep you from serving. That you will not let misunderstandings and differences separate you from this loving family, and that you do not settle for merely being busy with church activities, but that you will passionately pursue bearing fruit that lasts. That the Spirit’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control will be visible, tangible evidence of Christ in you.
Not just on Sundays. But at the ball field, in line at Kroger, in traffic, and at home around your table. And remember — the harvest isn’t just for you.
When people taste the fruit of your life, they’re meant to encounter Jesus. They’re meant to experience hope. They’re meant to want to be part of this Body of Christ.
As Psalm 16 reminds us, “You teach me the way of life.” So, here’s your challenge: Bear good fruit this week. Speak one kind word that diffuses anger. Serve one person without expecting repayment. Forgive one old wound. Encourage one discouraged heart. Share your faith with one seeker.
Because when this church, this Body of Christ, lives by the Spirit — Cookeville will know. And though I may not be your pastor after today — you’ll always be my family in Christ. Let’s go bear some fruit. Amen.
Video: https://youtu.be/OhaAKXXbNak
One In Christ 6-22-25
Scripture: Galatians 3:23-29 (CEB)
23 Before faith came, we were guarded under the Law, locked up until faith that was coming would be revealed.
24 So the Law became our custodian until Christ so that we might be made righteous by faith.
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian.
26 You are all God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 Now if you belong to Christ, then indeed you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.
A little boy was sitting in church one Sunday next to his mother. The preacher was getting fired up about the need for unity in Christ. The little boy leaned over to his mom and whispered, “Momma, if we’re all brothers and sisters in Christ, why don’t we all get along like a family should?”
His mother smiled and replied, “Son, because we act too much like family.”
(Source: Adapted from The Big Book of Church Jokes by Paul M. Miller)
Introduction:
We live in a world obsessed with categories — race, gender, nationality, wealth, politics, denomination, age, ability, and so on. Lines are drawn, labels are assigned, and divisions widen. Yet here stands Paul in Galatians 3, declaring to a divided world — and to a divided church — that in Christ, we are one. Not the same, but one. Today, we’ll explore what it means to be One in Christ as part of the living, breathing Body of Christ through three truths: 1. The Law Separates, but Christ Unites, 2. Unity Does Not Mean Uniformity, and 3. We Are Heirs of the Promise — Together.
1. The Law Separates, but Christ Unites
Paul begins in verse 23 by describing the Law as a custodian — the Greek word here is “phroureō (froo-reh-o),” meaning “to guard, protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight“ (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5432/kjv/tr/0-1/).
Words re: The law as a guard. To keep the congregation and place of worship pure.
Words re: The law as a protector. To keep us healthy and sucessful.
F.F. Bruce, a Scottish scholar known for his careful, balanced, and deeply researched work in New Testament studies, writes: “The Law was never intended to be permanent; it was the disciplinary custodian pointing people to Christ.”
(The Epistle to the Galatians, F.F. Bruce, 1982)
The Law built fences. It highlighted sin. It divided people by race, ritual purity, gender, and status. The law, which highlighted sin, was a bandaid that covered humanity until the perfect solution came in Jesus Christ. And though it revealed the holiness of God, it couldn’t reconcile us to Him — or to each other.
But when faith in Christ came, those barriers no longer held. Through baptism, Paul says, we are clothed with Christ — not merely forgiven, but fully embraced, fully equal, fully one.
The notes in the Wesley Study Bible say that, “The purpose of the law was to deal with transgressions by making them explicitly known as violations against God, but this made culpability greater when people (did not follow the law)—they were no longer ignorant of the fact they were violating God’s precepts. Moreover the law could not make its adherents righteous; instead it confined them to sin.”
“Those baptized into Christ now belong to him. They have disrobed the old self, becoming new persons by putting on the character of Christ. Christians share a union and solidarity not only with Jesus but also with one another (WSB, 1427).
In Christ, no human-made barrier can hold. The fences fall down. Psalm 22:19-28 echoes this hope:
“The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise him. May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD.”
2. Unity Does Not Mean Uniformity
Paul boldly declares: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This was radical language for the first-century world. Roman society thrived on divisions. Yet Paul isn’t erasing differences but declaring they no longer define worth or access to God.
N.T. Wright explains, “Unity in Christ is not achieved by flattening out distinctions but by bringing people of all kinds together into a single family.” (Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians, N.T. Wright, 2002)
Let’s be clear — we remain beautifully diverse. There are still men and women, ethnic cultures, nationalities, varied gifts, differing backgrounds. None of these, however, grant or deny worth, dignity, or belonging in the Body of Christ.
In 1994, in post-apartheid South Africa, a black Methodist bishop named Peter Storey recalled leading a communion service where former political prisoners and their white guards knelt side by side at the rail. He said:
“In that moment, the old labels died, and we became what Christ died to make us — one Body” (Storey, Peter. With God in the Crucible: Preaching Costly Discipleship. Abingdon Press, 2004).
Our differences enrich the Body of Christ; they never divide it.
3. We Are Heirs of the Promise — Together
Verse 29 is the climax: “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.”
This is about inheritance. All the promises made to Abraham — about blessing the nations, about being God’s people — are now ours. Not individually, but together.
Psalm 22 again celebrates this wide inheritance:
“All the families of the nations will bow before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD.” This inheritance isn’t just heavenly — it’s the privilege of living in unity and mission here and now.
John Birch wrote,
“There is no race, no class, no gender walls
Within the church where Jesus calls.
One faith, one heart, one Lord, one grace,
United souls from every place.
The cross has made the broken whole,
One Body, one redeemed soul.” (“No Race, No Class, No Gender Walls” by John Birch, 2016).
What we take from this is that our inheritance is a community of grace, a mission of mercy, and a bond of love.
Ephesians 2:14 (CEB) says, “Christ is our peace. He made both Jews and Gentiles into one group. With his body, he broke down the barrier of hatred that divided us.”
A hymn by John Oxenham reminds us, “
“In Christ there is no East or West,
In him no South or North; But one great fellowship of love
Throughout the whole wide earth.” (“In Christ There Is No East or West” by John Oxenham (1908) UMH #548 The United Methodist Hymnal, 1989)
We are the living Body of Christ. Not a divided, bickering family, but one people, drawn together by grace, united by baptism, and clothed in Christ.
Our mission, as God’s children redeemed and united through the blood of Jesus Christ is to tear down barriers. Invite all openly and without reservation into our circles of fellowship. We must affirm the worth of all, whether or not we understand them, or are comfortable with the way they live. Those who society overlooks yearn to be seen, loved, and accepted. As members of this church, you are all uniquely positioned to be agents of unity and love.
*Live as an heir. Live like someone entrusted with the sacred task of loving this world the way God loves it. Let’s show our community what it means to be one in Christ. Let’s build bridges, not walls. Let’s be the church that refuses to let politics, prejudice, or pride divide us.
And remember, if a mother can tell her little boy that church folks act like family — maybe it’s time we start acting like God’s family: one, holy, redeemed, and sent. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Led By Truth 6-15-25
Scripture: John 16:1-15
A little boy asked his father, “Dad, are bugs good to eat?” The dad replied, “Son, let’s not talk about things like that while we’re eating dinner.” After dinner, the father asked, “Now, what did you want to ask me about bugs?” The boy said, “Oh, nothing. There was one in your soup, but it’s gone now. (Source: Reader’s Digest Classic Dad Joke Collection)
Introduction:
Sometimes, we need to hear difficult things to get to the truth we need to hear. Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius once said, “To offend a strong man, tell him a lie. To offend a weak man, tell him the truth.”
In my devotional I published earlier this week, I said we’re all being led by something. Sometimes it’s our emotions — stirred up by our past, our hurts, and our need to be right. Other times it’s powerful people — voices we’ve trusted, even when they steer us wrong. And often, it’s our desires — craving comfort, safety, and things that make us feel good.
But Jesus promised something better. In John 16, He says the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth. Not a truth we invent, not a truth that soothes, but the truth that transforms. And here’s the hard part: Truth might tell you, “You’re wrong.”
It might confront how you’ve been living, loving, and leading. But the good news is — Truth won’t leave you stuck. “The Truth will make you free” (John 8:32).
So today, as we honor fathers and Father figures — the good ones, the struggling ones, the absent ones, and the grieving ones — we remember that every earthly father falls short. But our heavenly Father never fails. And the Holy Spirit leads us, as Christ’s Body, into the Truth that redeems and reconciles us.
1. Led By Emotions
Our emotions drive us, often formed by our upbringing, our wounds, and our disconnection from places like home, school, and even church. When we allow our emotions to take the wheel, they often drive us straight into trouble. We double down on what we feel because it makes us passionate, sometimes angry, defensive, and unwilling to listen.
John 16:2-3 (CEB): “They will expel you from the synagogues. The time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a service to God. They will do these things because they don’t know the Father or me.”
Emotions untethered from truth can lead to violence — physical, emotional, and spiritual.
John 16:7 says, “I assure you that it is better for you that I go away. If I don’t go away, the Companion won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”
The Greek word here is paraklētos (παράκλητος), meaning “Advocate” or “Helper.” In verse 7, Jesus says, “It’s better for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”
The Holy Spirit isn’t just a comforting presence — He’s the one who advocates for truth in your heart when your emotions start lying to you. As Craig Keener writes in his IVP New Testament Commentary, “The Paraclete counters the world’s delusions by exposing sin, righteousness, and judgment according to God’s standards, not human emotions.”
Psalm 8 reminds us, “What are human beings that you think about them; what are human beings that you pay attention to them?” (v.4) God cares enough to correct us. The Holy Spirit convicts us not to punish but to realign us with His purpose.
2. Led By Powerful People
We’re also led by those who speak with authority. Maybe they’ve helped us before. Maybe we’ve agreed with them for years. But what happens when they start leading in harmful directions? Do we stand for truth? Or do we fade into quiet complacency?
John 16:13 (CEB) says, “When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He won’t speak on his own, but will say whatever he hears and will proclaim to you what is to come.”
Notice the Spirit doesn’t invent a new truth — He speaks God’s eternal, unchanging truth.
N.T. Wright, in his John for Everyone, says, “The world’s authorities often pretend to speak for God. The Spirit comes to show what God is really saying.”
Darryl Burton was wrongly convicted of murder in St. Louis in 1984. He spent 24 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Darryl was led by the advice of a jailhouse lawyer and discouraged from trusting God. But eventually, a fellow inmate invited him to a Bible study. There, he heard Jesus say, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
The truth exposed lies. DNA evidence cleared him. Darryl now preaches about grace and leads others to Christ — because someone dared to tell him the truth. The Holy Spirit equips us with courage when powerful people stand against justice. The Advocate is on the side of truth.
3. Led By Desires
We are led by our desires — for comfort, for pleasure, for safety. And when those desires become our guide, they blind us to truth. John 16:8 (CEB) says, “When he comes, he will show the world it was wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment.” Sin is anything that separates us from God and each other. And here’s a hard word for all of us: We tend to call “sin” what others do wrong, while excusing what we crave.
We all pick and choose how we apply Scripture.
But the question is — are we doing it responsibly, guided by the Spirit, through the lens of Christ, with love as the measuring stick? Jesus brought focus to the law: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)
Truth isn’t always comfortable, but it’s always good. And the Holy Spirit leads us not into self-serving desires, but into the kind of love that lays itself down. Listen to this poem by Howard Thurman, from Meditations of the Heart:
“How good it is to center down! To quiet the chattering of our minds, to still the anxieties of our hearts, and to rest in the Holy Spirit who leads us gently into all truth.”
Psalm 8 reminds us that even though we are small, God crowns us with glory and honor. “You’ve made them only slightly less than divine, crowning them with glory and grandeur.” (v.5)
The Spirit leads us into the truth of our worth — not earned, not achieved, but given. Hear the words of this hymn by Clara Scott, “Open my eyes, that I may see Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;Place in my hands the wonderful key That shall unclasp and set me free.
Chorus: Silently now I wait for Thee, Ready, my God, Thy will to see; Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!” (Source: United Methodist Hymnal #454. Words and Music: Clara H. Scott, 1895)
This Father’s Day, I invite you to be led by more than your emotions, the powerful voices around you, or your own desires. Let’s be a church led by the Spirit of Truth. Because when truth reigns grudges fade, divisions heal, the broken find hope, and sinners like us find grace.
The Advocate is speaking — are you listening?
This week:
- Let the Spirit reveal a hard truth you’ve avoided.
- Stand up against a harmful word or lie.
- Love someone you’ve labeled as unlovable.
Because that’s what it means to live as Christ’s Body. Amen.
As we gather on this Father’s Day, we’re reminded that every one of us is being led by something. Maybe it’s our emotions. Maybe it’s the loud, powerful voices around us. Maybe it’s our own desires. But Jesus promised us something better — the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth.
And truth isn’t meant to shame us. It’s meant to set us free.
So today, I invite you — if you’re carrying a burden, wrestling with a hard truth, or needing to step away from the voices and emotions that have misled you — come to the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
The altar is open. You are welcome to pray.
If you’ve never said “Yes” to following Jesus, or if you’ve been away for a while and need to come home to God’s truth and grace, you are invited now.
And if you simply need to lay down a hurt, a memory, or a regret, this is your moment. Let the Spirit of Truth lead you today. Jesus is calling. Will you come?
Empowered & Sent 6-8-25
Scripture: Acts 2:1-21
Happy Pentecost Sunday!
It’s good to be together. There’s something powerful about being in the same room, isn’t there? Whether it’s around a campfire, a family dinner table, or a church pew — when people gather, hearts get tuned to the same frequency, if only for a moment.
And that’s exactly where our story in Acts 2 begins.
“When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place.” (Acts 2:1, CEB)
Before the wind. Before the fire. Before Peter preached one word. They were together. And what happened next would change the world.
Together in One Place
When Luke describes that Pentecost Day scene, it’s easy to jump ahead to the drama — the sound of a rushing wind, the tongues of fire, the speaking in foreign languages. And let’s be honest — it’s spectacular. It’s dramatic. It’s Holy Spirit power at full volume.
But the first miracle of Pentecost wasn’t the wind or the fire. It wasn’t even the message. It was the gathering.
A ragtag group of believers — fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, widows, young, old, rich, poor — all together in one place.
Unity before power.
Theologian Willie James Jennings, in his excellent Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible, says:
“The Holy Spirit binds disciples together first before sending them out. The Spirit’s first act is to draw them together as one body before distributing its gifts.”
(Willie James Jennings, Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible, 2017)
Isn’t that something?
Before God gave them the gift to preach, He gave them each other.
The Spirit Came to All
And then — the Holy Spirit fell.
And here’s what’s striking: it didn’t just fall on Peter. Or John. Or Mary. It came to all of them.
Luke writes:“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:4, CEB)
The Greek word here for “filled” is “ἐπλήσθησαν” (eplēsthēsan) — from the verb plēthō, meaning “to be completely filled, supplied in abundance.” Not a trickle. Not a taste. Filled up to overflowing.
And what happened?
Understanding.
The text says: “Each person heard the believers speaking in their own native language.” (Acts 2:6)
The Holy Spirit didn’t erase their differences. It honored them. Every tribe, tongue, and story was welcomed. God didn’t demand uniformity — He created unity in diversity.
N.T. Wright reflects on this moment in Acts for Everyone:
“The church was born into a world of difference, and from its first breath it spoke to people in the language they could understand.”
(N.T. Wright, Acts for Everyone, 2008)
Isn’t that beautiful? The Spirit made sure no one was left out of God’s good news.
Empowered and Sent
Now — here’s the part I love. The Spirit didn’t fill them so they could stay in that upper room and swap stories about the tongues of fire.
They were empowered and sent.
Peter stands up, preaches a sermon quoting the prophet Joel, and the church’s mission begins.
And it’s still happening today.
Psalm 104:30 declares: “When you send out your breath [spirit], they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.”
Pentecost isn’t a one-time event — it’s a pattern.
Gathered. Filled. Sent.
A few years ago, a church in Kentucky started a Wednesday night community meal in their fellowship hall. The idea was simple: anyone hungry for a hot meal could come.
One night, a woman named Maria, a recent immigrant from Guatemala, wandered in, barely speaking English. People were hesitant. She was different, and no one could understand her.
Then something beautiful happened.
A teenage girl named Lily sat down across from her, pulled out her phone, and opened a translation app. They started talking. Then laughing. Then hugging.
Before long, other church members joined in. Maria began attending worship. She learned English. She was baptized two years later.
That’s Pentecost.
Not a windstorm. Not tongues of fire. But understanding. Unity. Hope.
The Holy Spirit still moves that way — through simple acts of connection.
Listen to this Pentecost poem by Malcolm Guite, a British poet-priest:
“Today we feel the wind beneath our wings,
Today the hidden fountain flows and plays,
Today the church draws breath at last and sings,
As every flame becomes a tongue of praise.”
(Malcolm Guite, “Pentecost,” from Sounding the Seasons, 2012)
Pentecost isn’t just something we remember. It’s something we live.
A Word for Today
In a world obsessed with division — rural vs. urban, young vs. old, left vs. right — Pentecost reminds us that the Spirit of God is still bringing people together.
Not to make us the same.
But to make us one in Christ.
Who is God calling you to speak hope to this week?
Where might you be a voice of unity in a divided world?
It might not mean speaking Parthian or Egyptian — but it might mean learning the language of kindness at the grocery store.
The language of patience in traffic.
The language of hope in a hospital waiting room.
Call to Action
So here’s your Pentecost challenge, church:
Don’t stay in the upper room.
The same Spirit that moved at Pentecost is still moving today.
And you’re not a spectator.
You’re empowered. You’re filled. You’re sent. Amen.
One of Us 6-1-25
John 17:20-26
“I ask not only on behalf of these but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us,[a] so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them and I in them.”
SERMON “One of Us”
Sermon Series: Living as Christ's Body
When I was young, I was relentlessly teased because I was a quiet and shy kid. The more I was teased, the more withdrawn I became and the teasing intensified. In Junior High School, I decided to try something extreme. I thought that if I could become someone else, maybe others would like me. So, I tried out for a musical and got a lead role. I fell in love with the theater because I found a way to escape my reality and become someone else. I was very good at it, winning awards and gaining acceptance all through high school and later in community theaters. The problem is that I became someone else. I never left the spotlight because I wasn’t comfortable in my own skin. I just wanted to fit in. So, I lost myself.
Isn’t that how life works sometimes? We spend so much time trying to fit in, to be accepted, to be part of a group, to belong somewhere. But being accepted isn’t always the same as being one.
Jesus became one of us so we might become one in Him. As part of this series, Living as Christ’s Body, we’re focusing today on the unity Jesus prayed for and how we’re called to embody it in a divided world.
In John 17, Jesus is nearing the cross. He prays for His disciples, and then — in a beautiful, intimate moment — He prays for us. Not just the people standing around Him, but for you, me, and every believer who would ever come after.
Listen to His words in John 17:20-23 (CEB):
“I’m not praying only for them but also for those who believe in me because of their word. I pray they will be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. I pray that they also will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me.”
Jesus prays for unity. Not uniformity. Not sameness. But oneness.
And it starts with this truth:
1: Jesus Became One of Us
The heart of the Gospel is that God didn’t stay distant. God didn’t remain seated in heaven sending down instructions. God did not require that we became someone else before He sought us out. No — God came near and met us where we were. Through Jesus, God became one of us.
The church fathers called this the Incarnation — God with us, God among us, God as one of us. Jesus was born into a family, lived among ordinary people, worked a trade, laughed, wept, and ate meals. He called the disciples to follow Him just as they were and they became one with Him.
And this oneness matters because true unity isn’t about being alike but about sharing an identity in Christ.
There was a missionary named Don Richardson, who served among the Sawi people in what was then, Dutch New Ginea in the 1960s. The Sawi were a tribe where treachery was a virtue and betrayal was celebrated. Don and his family moved in, learned the language, lived their customs, built relationships. And when the time came to share the Gospel, he explained Jesus as the Peace Child, a tradition they valued deeply. Through that connection, many came to faith. Don became one of them to show them the One.
(Source: Don Richardson, “Peace Child,” 1974)
That’s exactly what God did for us.
As the theologian Karl Barth put it: “The church is not a fraternity of the like-minded, but a fellowship of the forgiven.” We come from different places, backgrounds, and opinions, but in Christ, we are one.
2: The Glory of the Lord Draws Us Together
Now, Psalm 97 reminds us why this unity matters. It says in Psalm 97:1 (CEB):
“The Lord rules! Let the earth rejoice! Let all the islands celebrate!”
The psalm speaks of God’s glory — not just as majesty in the clouds, but as the visible presence of God among His people. And that glory isn’t meant to divide us into camps, it’s meant to unite us under one reign, one Lord.
In ancient times, God’s glory filled the tabernacle, the temple, and now through the Holy Spirit, it fills us — the Body of Christ. That’s why we gather around this table for Communion. It’s not just bread and cup; it’s a visible, tangible reminder of the presence and glory of God with us.
As the old hymn says:
“Let us break bread together on our knees, when I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.”
Jesus Himself promised in Matthew 18:20 (CEB):
“Where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.”
Right here. Right now. The glory of the Lord is among us. That glory calls us not to build walls but to build bridges.
3: Living as Christ’s Body — One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
Finally, Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:1-6 (CEB) drive this home. He writes:
“You are one body and one spirit, just as God also called you in one hope… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all.” In a world divided by politics, culture, class, and creed, the church’s witness is our unity. Unity doesn’t mean we agree on everything. It means we love through everything.
Paul’s word for unity in Greek is ἓν (hen) — meaning one. Not as a singular entity, but as a unity of diversity. Like a symphony: many instruments, many notes, one song.
I’ve seen this at work in our community. several churches here in Putnam County — Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Episcopal come together every year to provide a meaningful week of worship experiences, fellowship, and food during holy week. Different worship styles, different theologies, different views on everything from baptism to church structure. But you know what? None of that matters when we were worshipping and eating together.
That’s the unity Jesus prayed for — many notes, one song.
Conclusion: The Call to Be One
So today, as we come to this Communion table, remember:
Jesus became one of us to make us one in Him.
We’re not just gathering to remember what Jesus did for me, but for us. And we’re sent out from this table to live this unity in a divided world.
Let’s think about who in our community, our family, or our congregation feels like an outsider. Who needs to be reminded there’s room for them at Christ’s table? A neighbor? A co-worker? An estranged family member?
Because, it’s not enough to be accepted — we’re called to be one.
Let’s close with this simple poem that captures today’s message:
We are many, yet one bread. Many voices, one word said. Many hands, one cup raised. Many hearts, one Lord praised. (Source: Liturgical poem, adapted from traditional Communion liturgies)
Alive and Dead 5-25-25
Romans 6:1-12
So what are we going to say? Should we continue sinning so grace will multiply? 2 Absolutely not! All of us died to sin. How can we still live in it? 3 Or don’t you know that all who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore, we were buried together with him through baptism into his death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too can walk in newness of life. 5 If we were united together in a death like his, we will also be united together in a resurrection like his. 6 This is what we know: the person that we used to be was crucified with him in order to get rid of the corpse that had been controlled by sin. That way we wouldn’t be slaves to sin anymore, 7 because a person who has died has been freed from sin’s power. 8 But if we died with Christ, we have faith that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ has been raised from the dead and he will never die again. Death no longer has power over him. 10 He died to sin once and for all with his death, but he lives for God with his life. 11 In the same way, you also should consider yourselves dead to sin but alive for God in Christ Jesus. 12 So then, don’t let sin rule your body, so that you do what it wants
SERMON: “Alive and Dead”
Sermon Series: “Living As Christ’s Body”
There was a pastor who was asked to speak at a veterans’ gathering. He said “As John 15:13 says, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his country.’” An old veteran in the front row raised his hand and said, “Preacher, you might wanna check that Bible of yours. I think it says ‘for his friends,’ not ‘for his country.’” The preacher paused, smiled, and said, “Well sir, you are right—and thankfully, sometimes, those are one and the same” (Source: PreachingToday.com, Illustration #30147.)
This weekend, we remember those who laid down their lives for this country. But Memorial Day isn’t just about remembering death—it’s about remembering the courage and hope of life that springs from sacrifice. In the Christian life, we too live in a sacred duality: dead to sin, alive in Christ, remembering the cost, we live the new life, and remembering we are dead to sin, we let new life rule.
1: Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
Paul starts with a question: “Should we continue sinning so grace will multiply?” (Rom. 6:1). We know better, don’t we? Unless we’re psychopaths, we know the difference between right and wrong. But sometimes, we excuse ourselves—twisting scripture to justify behavior we know isn’t godly.
When Jesus said, “Do not judge,” He wasn’t telling us to ignore evil. He was reminding us we can’t judge someone’s heart because we don’t know their full story—the pain, the trauma, the mistakes that brought them to where they are.
In a study group here recently, Patricia Cass used a word I love: empathy. She said, “Empathy is what drives us to serve and give to others.”
Empathy is also what should shape our interpretation of Scripture. Because when Scripture is misused, it can bring death to the spirit instead of life.
Romans 6:3 says, “Or don’t you know that all who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” The Greek word for baptism here is baptizō (βαπτίζω),” meaning “to immerse, to submerge, to overwhelm.” In the symbolic waters of baptism, whether one is sprinkled, poured, or immersed, we embrace the refreshing and cleansing waters of the sacrament of Baptism that drowns the old self and raises a new creation, fully connected to the Kingdom of God.
As The Wesley Study Bible notes: “Baptism signifies death to sin and a new creation in Christ. It’s both symbolic and transformative, marking a decisive turn toward the grace of God” (The Wesley Study Bible, Abingdon Press, 2009, p. 1373). When we are baptized into Christ, we enter his death—and his resurrection.
Point 2: Remember the Cost, Live the New Life
Memorial Day reminds us that freedom isn’t free. Someone had to pay for it. In the same way, our freedom from sin’s power wasn’t free. Christ paid for it with his life. Verse 6 says, “The person that we used to be was crucified with him in order to get rid of the corpse that had been controlled by sin.” I love that phrase—“the corpse controlled by sin.” It’s graphic, isn’t it? Paul is saying that our old way of living, that sin-bound self, is dead. Sin no longer has control over us. We might still stumble, but its power is broken. As The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary puts it:
“Paul views the believer’s incorporation into Christ’s death and resurrection as a definitive, once-for-all act that changes one’s relationship to sin and death” (Leander E. Keck, ed. The New Interpreter’s Bible: Volume X, Abingdon Press, 2002, p. 681).
In baptism, we’ve joined Christ’s death to be raised in his life.
Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who, during a firefight in Iraq in 2006, saw a grenade land amidst his team. Without hesitation, he dove on it, taking the full blast himself. He died instantly, but his team survived.
When asked what would possess a person to do that, a fellow SEAL said, “Because that’s what we do. We die so others can live.”
That’s what Paul is calling us to grasp here. Christ died so we could live. And now, we live in a way that honors that sacrifice—not by indulging in sin, but by embodying grace and life.
3: Remembering we are dead to sin, we Let New Life Rule
Verse 12 says, “So then, don’t let sin rule your body, so that you do what it wants.” We don’t have to live as sin’s slaves anymore. We can choose differently. Psalm 67 gives us a beautiful picture of what that new life looks like: “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.” (Ps. 67:4)
When we live for God, our lives become a blessing for others. That’s what this weekend’s about, too—honoring those who gave everything, and choosing to live lives worthy of that sacrifice.
John Oxenham wrote the following:
To every man there openeth A way, and ways, and a way. And the high soul climbs the high way, And the low soul gropes the low, And in between, on the misty flats, The rest drift to and fro. But to every man there openeth A high way and a low. And every man decideth The way his soul shall go (Source: John Oxenham, “The Ways,” 1913).
In Galatians 2:20 we read, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” This is Paul’s entire message in Romans 6 in one line.
Fanny Crosby declared her sacrificial love for God, writing, “I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, And it told Thy love to me; But I long to rise in the arms of faith, And be closer drawn to Thee (Source: Fanny J. Crosby, 1875).
Conclusion
So here’s the question: Are you alive or dead?
Dead to sin? Alive to God? Or are you letting old corpses walk around in your heart? It’s time to bury the corpses. Sin doesn’t rule you. Death doesn’t own you. Memorial Day reminds us that others died so we could live in freedom. The Cross reminds us that Christ died so we could live in grace.
Hear this invitation: Let’s live lives worthy of those sacrifices. Let’s be a people who, by our empathy, our faith, our courage, and our love, proclaim to the world: We are alive in Christ! If you have yet to proclaim your faith in Jesus Christ, let today be the day. If you have yet to join the Kingdom of God through baptism, let’s get that on our calendar today. Finally, if you have yet to join this church by profession of faith, or transfer, please wait no longer. We value you and your commitment to giving of your time, talents, and resources. Decide and act today as we sing. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Grace That Holds Us Together 5-11-25
Romans 5:1-11
5 Therefore, since we have been made righteous through his faithfulness, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand through him, and we boast in the hope of God’s glory. 3 But not only that! We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance, 4 endurance produces character, and character produces hope. 5 This hope doesn’t put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 While we were still weak, at the right moment, Christ died for ungodly people. 7 It isn’t often that someone will die for a righteous person, though maybe someone might dare to die for a good person. 8 But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us. 9 So, now that we have been made righteous by his blood, we can be even more certain that we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 10 If we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son while we were still enemies, now that we have been reconciled, how much more certain is it that we will be saved by his life? 11 And not only that: we even take pride in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, the one through whom we now have a restored relationship with God.
SERMON: "Grace That Holds Us Together"
Sermon Series: Living as Christ's Body
“A little boy was sitting in church with his mother one Sunday when he started feeling a little ill. He tugged on his mom’s sleeve and whispered, “Mom, I think I’m gonna be sick.” She pointed to the back of the church and said, “Run out the back door, and go around to the bushes behind the church.” The boy bolted for the back, and a couple minutes later, returned to his seat, looking perfectly fine. His mom asked, “Did you make it all the way to the bushes?”
The boy grinned and said, “Nope. I didn’t have to. There was a box at the back of the church that said ‘For the Sick.’” (Source: PreachingToday.com)
Life is wonderful and beautiful, but if can be a mess that requires grace. And that’s what today’s about: grace that holds us together.
We live in a world pulling in a thousand directions. Families are scattered. Friendships are frayed. Congregations are stretched.
But what holds us together — as families, as a church, and as the body of Christ — is the unbreakable, unearned, unrelenting grace of God.
Paul’s words in Romans 5:1-11 remind us of this grace, a grace made visible through the love of Jesus Christ, a grace lived out in faithful people — like the mothers and mother figures we honor today.
1. Grace Grants Us Peace with God (vv. 1-2)
Paul opens this chapter by declaring, “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The most significant Greek word here is εἰρήνη (ay-RAY-nay), meaning not just absence of conflict but wholeness, completeness, and well-being in our relationship with God.
R.C. Sproul notes in his commentary, “This peace is not a mere subjective feeling but an objective reality. The war between God and us is over because of Christ.” (Source: R.C. Sproul, The Reformation Study Bible)
It’s grace — unearned, unbought, undeserved — that grants us this peace. And this peace isn’t just for a few. It’s for the anxious mom, the overworked dad, the lonely widow, and the restless teenager.
It’s for every person in every pew and every home.
Proverbs 31:10-31 describes a woman of noble character — strong, wise, compassionate, and faithful. The peace of God that sustains such a woman is not her own doing but God’s grace alive in her life.
And friends, it’s that same grace that still holds families, churches, and communities together today.
2. Grace Grows Through Trials (vv. 3-5)
Paul then says something that seems backward: “We also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint.”
Grace isn’t just a gift we receive — it’s a strength God grows in us.
William Barclay puts it this way: “The Christian glory is not in suffering as such, but in the results it produces. Suffering, when met with the right attitude, is a stepping stone to character and hope.”(Source: William Barclay, The Letter to the Romans)
This world can be a scary place for those who do not trust in God’s grace. I lost one job when I took a stand against a tyrannical boss. I have worked at 3 companies that have gone bankrupt and one that laid off everyone in my department except for one person. I was not the person. When I was first on my own, I survived on government cheese, food stamps, and Ramen. Trusting in God’s grace does not mean circumstances will always go our way or that we will not encounter difficulties. When we are held by God’s grace, we know that no circumstance will crush us. We keep trusting, keep hoping, keep working because we know there will be a better future and we know that God’s grace will sustain us.
God’s grace holds us together even in the deepest valleys. And just as Proverbs 31’s woman is praised for her strength and dignity, so too are all who endure life’s trials, clinging to the God of grace.
3. Grace is Proven in Christ’s Sacrifice (vv. 6-11)
Paul writes: “While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” This is perhaps the most beautiful proof of grace — that while we were powerless, God acted. It wasn’t after we cleaned ourselves up. It wasn’t once we started attending church regularly or after we memorized John 3:16.
It was while we were still weak. The love of God, poured out through Jesus, is the foundation of grace that holds us together.
And when we live as Christ’s Body, we become conduits of that grace to others — in our homes, in our churches, and in our communities.
Another scripture that ties into this is Ephesians 2:8-9:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — not the result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Hear this poem by Annie Johnson Flint called “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”:
“He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction, He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.”(Source: Annie Johnson Flint, public domain)
This grace has no limit and no expiration date. It holds weary mothers, grieving fathers, tired pastors, and broken hearts together.
As the old hymn reminds us:
“Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.” (Source: Julia H. Johnston, 1910, public domain)
May we live, sing, and share this grace.
Today is about honoring mothers and all the women who reflect God’s nurturing, steadfast love. But more than that — it’s about grace. Grace that grants us peace. Grace that grows through trials.
Grace that is proven in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
This grace holds us together — as families, as a church, and as Christ’s Body in a divided, hurting world.
So here’s your challenge this week:
Be a vessel of grace. Send a card. Make a phone call. Forgive that offense. Offer a prayer. Speak a word of hope.
Remind someone they are loved — not because of what they’ve done but because of what Christ has done. And as you do, you will be living as Christ’s Body in a world desperate for grace. I’m the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Feed My Sheep 5-4-25
Scripture: John 21:1-19 (CEB)
“Later, Jesus himself appeared again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. This is how it happened: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter told them, 'I’m going fishing.' They said, 'We’ll go with you.' They set out in a boat, but throughout the night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples didn’t realize it was Jesus. Jesus called to them, 'Children, have you caught anything to eat?' They answered him, 'No.' He said, 'Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.' So they did, and there were so many fish that they couldn’t haul in the net. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It’s the Lord!' When Simon Peter heard it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around himself (for he was naked) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they weren’t far from shore, only about one hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire there, with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, 'Bring some of the fish that you’ve just caught.' Simon Peter got up and pulled the net to shore. It was full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three of them. Yet the net hadn’t torn, even with so many fish. Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' None of the disciples could bring themselves to ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?' Simon replied, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my lambs.' Jesus asked a second time, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Simon replied, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Take care of my sheep.' He asked a third time, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, 'Do you love me?' He replied, 'Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep. I assure you that when you were younger you tied your own belt and walked around wherever you wanted. When you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and another will tie your belt and lead you where you don’t want to go.' He said this to show the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After saying this, Jesus said to Peter, 'Follow me.'"
SERMON: "Feed My Sheep"
Sermon Series: “Living as Christ's Body”
Today is Older Adult Recognition Day, and we honor the wisdom and faithfulness of those who’ve walked this path called life for many years. This isn’t a celebration of retirement. No, it’s a reminder of calling — a word from the risen Christ saying to each of us, no matter our age: Feed My Sheep.
In John 21, Jesus restores Peter after his denial and gives him a new purpose: “Feed my lambs…Tend my sheep…Feed my sheep.” It’s a commissioning not just for Peter but for every follower of Christ, young and old alike.
And so today, let’s unpack three truths from this passage about what it means to Feed His Sheep as part of Christ’s Body.
- Jesus Calls Us Through Our Failures, Not After Them
- Ministry is a Lifelong Calling, Not a Season
- Love for Christ Must Overflow Into Care for Others
- Jesus Calls Us Through Our Failures, Not After Them
John 21 is a deeply personal moment for Peter. Days earlier, he denied knowing Jesus — three times. And here, on the shore of Galilee, Jesus asks him three times: “Do you love me?”
The most significant Greek word in this passage is agapaō (ἀγαπάω) — the highest form of love, sacrificial and unconditional. Jesus uses this word twice when asking Peter if he loves Him. Peter responds with phileō (φιλέω) — a brotherly, affectionate love. It’s as if Peter says, “Lord, I love you the best I can.”
And that’s enough for Jesus. He meets Peter in his honest, flawed humanity and entrusts him with His flock.
Craig S. Keener writes: “The restoration of Peter emphasizes that failure need not exclude one from leadership in the church if one responds to divine grace.” (*Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament)
Older adults, many of you carry regrets, old failures, moments you wish you could do over. But hear this: Jesus doesn’t call the perfect — He calls the willing. And He still says, Feed my sheep.
2. Ministry is a Lifelong Calling, Not a Season
In verse 18, Jesus tells Peter: “When you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and go wherever you wished. But when you grow old…someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.”
A sobering image, yes — but also a beautiful reminder: the call of Christ extends into every season of life.
Psalm 71:18 says: “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all the generations to come.”
There’s no expiration date on being Christ’s witness.
Clara Hale, affectionately known as Mother Hale, began fostering children in her Harlem brownstone at age 64. By the time she passed at 87, she’d cared for over 1,000 children — newborns to teens, including babies born to drug-addicted mothers. She said, “As long as you live, you can serve. And as long as you serve, you live” (Source: Guideposts).
Older adults, your voice matters. Your wisdom, patience, prayers, and presence are needed. You are the living testimony of God’s faithfulness through the years.
3. Love for Christ Must Overflow Into Care for Others
Each time Peter affirms his love for Christ, Jesus immediately responds, “Feed my lambs…Tend my sheep…Feed my sheep.”
Love for Christ isn’t just personal piety; it’s demonstrated in caring for others.
Gail R. O’Day observes, “Peter’s love for Jesus finds its necessary expression in his pastoral care for the community” (Gail R. O’Day).
Psalm 30 reminds us of the nature of God’s community: “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary). We’re meant to help each other through the night to the dawn.
A poem by Annie Johnson Flint says,
“Christ has no hands but our hands
To do His work today;
He has no feet but our feet
To lead men in His way” (Source: Annie Johnson Flint).
As Christ’s body, we feed the hungry — literally and spiritually. We comfort the grieving, mentor the young, encourage the weary. Whether it’s helping the acolytes, teaching Sunday School, or listening to a lonely neighbor on the porch — it matters.
Conclusion: Living as Christ’s Body Means Living in Purpose at Every Age
Peter’s story didn’t end with his failure, and neither does yours. No matter your age, background, or mistakes, Christ calls you: Feed my sheep.
Maybe that’s a phone call to a homebound friend.
Maybe it’s teaching Sunday school or knitting prayer shawls.
Maybe it’s mentoring a young parent or leading a Bible study at the senior center.
There’s a field of ministry right where you are.
So, older saints and younger ones too — hear this: You are not done. God’s not finished. As long as you draw breath, you have a part in this holy work.
Let’s be a church where no one retires from loving, praying, teaching, or feeding God’s people.
Let’s be a people who refuse to believe the lie that the best years are behind us.
Let’s live out the truth that Christ’s body is ageless — because the call to Feed my sheep isn’t bound by age, but fueled by love. Go forth then, and feed His sheep. Amen.
Video: https://youtu.be/dAYsZ5-aq1M
Anchored 4-27-25
Scripture: Revelation 1:1-8 (CEB)
"A revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. Christ made it known by sending it through his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the witness of Jesus Christ, including all that John saw. 3 Favored is the one who reads the words of this prophecy out loud, and favored are those who listen to it being read, and keep what is written in it, for the time is near. 4 John, to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace and peace to you from the one who is and was and is coming, and from the seven spirits that are before God’s throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ—the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 who made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be glory and power forever and always. Amen. 7 Look, he is coming with the clouds! Every eye will see him, including those who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him. This is so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is and was and is coming, the Almighty.” Christ is risen! Yes, He is risen indeed!"
The beauty of the Sunday after Easter is that we’re not just looking back at the empty tomb—we’re stepping forward into the power of resurrection life. This is not the end of something. It’s the beginning of who we are called to be as Christ’s Body. And that’s where our series, “Living as Christ’s Body,” begins. Today’s message is titled “Anchored.”
I know, when we open the book of Revelation, people often either get really excited or really nervous. But today, we’re not diving into symbols and signs. We’re going to listen closely to what the literal opening words of Revelation 1:1–8 have to say to a post-Easter church. Because this isn’t about beasts or bowls—it’s about being anchored in the person of Jesus Christ. The One who is, who was, and who is to come.
1. Anchored in Christ’s Victory
Here we see the eternal nature of God: past, present, and future. Jesus isn’t a memory of a good man or a moment of inspiration—He is the Living One, victorious over sin and death. And did you catch what He’s called? “The faithful witness.” Here’s where we get our Greek word for the day: (ἀλήθεια) (all-ay-thay-ee-ah) (Strong’s Concordance). According Strong’s Concordance, this word is defined as: “truth, but not merely truth as spoken; truth of idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, divine truth revealed to man, straightforwardness (Strong’s Concordance).
It carries the sense of unveiled reality as it truly is — the opposite of illusion or deceit. In the New Testament, especially in John’s writings and Revelation, it often refers to the revealed truth of God through Christ, both in word and in being. In the context of Revelation 1:5, calling Jesus the ‘faithful witness’ is the embodiment of the full, unveiled, faithful truth about God, salvation, and eternity.”(Strong’s Commentary).
Jesus is the faithful and true witness. Jesus bore witness to the love of God all the way to the cross. Craig Keener, in the NIV Application Commentary, puts it like this, “The faithful witness is one who demonstrates with his blood the reliability of the message. This witness reveals God’s triumph through sacrificial love.” Jesus’ victory doesn’t come by domination—it comes by demonstration. Through His sacrificial love, we are redeemed (NIV Application Commentary).
Psalm 118 says it beautifully: “The Lord is my strength and my might; He has become my salvation.” That is victory language. Anchored not in circumstances, but in covenant. We are not standing in defeat—we are standing in the shadow of a risen King.
2. Anchored in Our Identity
Revelation 1:6 tells us that Jesus has made us into “a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father.”
This isn’t just a job description—it’s your identity.
You are not a spiritual spectator—you are a royal priesthood.
You are part of the ongoing work of Christ in the world.
John Wesley preached: “God’s love is not to be admired only but to be experienced, expressed, and extended.”
If we’re living as Christ’s Body, we don’t just believe the Gospel—we become the evidence of it. Through our prayers, our generosity, our mission, our welcome, our forgiveness—we minister.
You know, in just about every sci-fi movie or space drama — Star Wars, Star Trek, you name it — there’s always that moment when a ship gets caught in a tractor beam or has to anchor itself in the middle of a space storm.
In Star Trek, ships in a dangerous area would “drop anchor” by locking onto a fixed gravitational point or a star’s pull, so they wouldn’t be swept away by cosmic debris or energy waves. It was the only way to stay steady when everything around them was chaos. That’s us. We live in a culture full of moral drift, constant change, and spiritual storms. But as believers, we have what Hebrews 6:19 calls “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” That anchor is Jesus Christ — the One who is, who was, and who is to come.
While the world shifts like space debris in a storm, we stay grounded by locking onto the eternal gravitational pull of Christ’s victory and presence. No matter how wild life gets — our anchor holds.
Kayla Montgomery, a long-distance runner with multiple sclerosis, was known not just for her incredible speed—but for what happened at the finish line. Because her disease numbed her body while running, she would literally collapse when the race ended. So every race ended the same way—Kayla sprinting with everything she had into the waiting arms of her coach, who would catch her before she hit the ground.
Being anchored in Christ doesn’t mean we avoid struggle—it means we press forward, knowing He’s waiting to catch us. Our identity is not defined by what we can’t do—it’s empowered by who we are in Him.
Psalm 118 again says: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” That cornerstone is Jesus Christ—and we are built upon Him.
3. Anchored in Eternal Hope
Revelation 1:7 says, “He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him…” We are not just people of the past or the present—we are people of eternal hope. We’re not just waiting for heaven; we’re living now in the reality that Christ will come again.
Eugene Boring, in the Interpretation Commentary, reminds us: “This is not about the end of the world; it’s about the unveiling of reality—the pulling back of the curtain to show Christ is King now and forever.”
That’s why Hebrews 6:19 tells us: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hope is not wishful thinking. It’s not optimism. Hope, in Christ, is certainty. Because of who Jesus is, what He has done, and what He will do, we are anchored.
Hear this Poem, “Christ is the Rock,” By Annie Johnson Flint
“Christ is the Rock on which I stand,
A Shelter in the storm;
A Shade by day, defense by night,
A Refuge safe and warm.”
What a fitting reflection for a people called to be rooted, not restless.
In the words of “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” by Edward Mote (1834),
“When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.”
That’s the truth of today’s word. Our anchor isn’t buried in sand—it’s secured in the veil, behind which stands Jesus, risen and reigning.
Conclusion: Live Anchored, Shine Boldly
So let me ask you:
Where do you need to re-anchor your soul this week?
Who in your life needs to hear the voice of hope?
How might God be calling you, as part of Christ’s Body, to serve, to speak, to shine?
We are not a drifting people—we are anchored in victory, identity, and hope:
Victory – Because Christ is risen!
Identity – Because You are a royal priesthood.
Hope – Because The King is coming.
So let’s not just sing about it—let’s live it.
Let’s live not like people afraid of the end—but as people secure in the beginning that the resurrection made possible.
Don’t let the storm define you.
Let your anchor hold you.
Let your Savior send you.
Christ is our faithful witness, our resurrected King, our coming Lord.
And we—we—are His Body in the world. Let’s live anchored, together.
Video: https://youtu.be/PKHDif9q6cc
Risen 4-20-25
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:19–26 (NRSVUE)
“19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.
21 For since death came through a human, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human,
22 for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. 23 But each in its own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power.
25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
Easter celebrates the resurrection, light, hope. Joseph of Aramathea made out extremely well by giving this tomb to a temporary inhabitant.
1: Rise and Shine
Paul does not dance around the truth in this passage. If Jesus didn’t rise, we are to be pitied. But he did rise, and that changes everything.
The key Greek word here is (ah-par-KHAY), translated as first fruits. In Jewish tradition, the first fruits of the harvest were dedicated to God as a sign of trust in what was to come (Leviticus 23:10). Paul uses this word to tell us: Jesus is the first of many. His resurrection is not the exception—it’s the prototype.
Wesleyan theology affirms this in the doctrine of prevenient grace—that even before we respond to God, God is preparing a future for us. Christ’s resurrection is God going before us, making a way.
Isaiah 25:6–9 foretells this day with beautiful imagery:
“He will swallow up death forever… and wipe away the tears from all faces.”
This isn’t just poetic; it’s prophetic. Isaiah spoke of a feast on the mountain of the Lord. On Easter, we don’t just remember it—we celebrate that it’s already begun in Christ.
2: Resurrection Is Not Dead
This resurrection isn’t just a happy ending for Jesus; it’s the beginning of a total transformation. Paul says:
“As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:22)
The commentator N.T. Wright puts it like this:
“The resurrection of Jesus is the beginning of God’s new project not to snatch people away from earth to heaven, but to colonize earth with the life of heaven.” (Source: “Surprised by Hope,” 2008)
In other words, Easter isn’t just for the afterlife—it’s for this life. The reign of Christ has begun, and death is on notice.
A nurse named Tanya was working in palliative care when she met Margaret, a woman dying of cancer. Margaret wasn’t afraid of death—what she feared was that her life hadn’t mattered. But one day, Tanya brought her communion. As she broke the bread, Margaret whispered through tears, “I know now… I’m part of something eternal.” Margaret died three days later—peaceful, radiant, resurrected in hope. (Source: Shared in a hospice care newsletter, 2019)
We are not just clinging to heaven as an escape plan—we’re living into it now, reshaping the world in the power of resurrection.
3: Death Is Dead
Paul declares that “the last enemy to be destroyed is death.” Death may still wound us, but it doesn’t win.
Commentator Richard B. Hays writes:
“The resurrection of the body affirms not the immortality of the soul, but the redemptive power of God to restore creation itself.”
(Source: “First Corinthians,” Interpretation Commentary Series, 1997)
In the Wesleyan tradition, this affirms our belief in entire sanctification. God’s grace is not content to forgive sin—it conquers death and perfects love. The resurrection means God finishes what He starts.
Here’s a poem by George Herbert, a 17th-century Anglican priest, titled “Easter”:
“Rise heart; thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise
Without delays,
Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise
With him may’st rise.” (Source: George Herbert, The Temple, 1633)
That’s the image: Christ not just rising, but taking us by the hand, lifting us from the grave, from despair, from hopelessness—right now.
As it says in Romans 6:4, “Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
We don’t have to wait until heaven to experience resurrection. It starts the moment we trust Jesus. The moment we surrender. The moment we say, “Yes, Lord, take me by the hand.”
Hear the words of “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” written by Charles Wesley, 1739
“Soar we now where Christ has led,
Following our exalted Head;
Made like Him, like Him we rise,
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies.”
This hymn captures the movement of Easter: from the cross, to the grave, to the skies—and we rise with Him.
Rise and Live!
if Christ has not been raised, then go ahead and pack up the candles and lilies—we’re just pretending. But He has been raised. So why live like death is still in charge?
Easter is not a seasonal decoration—it’s a spiritual revolution.
So here’s the call:
- Rise from whatever has buried your joy.
- Rise from fear, from guilt, from grief.
- Rise to be a resurrection people in a dying world.
- Rise to be signs of hope, healing, and hospitality in your community.
Because Jesus didn’t just rise to show He could—He rose to make you alive.
Let’s walk out of our tombs today—not someday. Right now. Let’s go and live like we believe it.
Christ is risen…
He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!
Video: https://youtu.be/L9cHq9Vdz0c
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