Invitation to Journey with Jesus – April 5, 2020

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Scripture: Matthew 21: 1-11; 26:14 – 27: 66

And when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up. “Who is this?” they asked. The crowds answered, “It’s the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” (Matthew 21: 10-11)
Holy Week begins with the recognition of Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth and moves toward betrayal and death before the truth emerges about life that will change everything. This was Jesus’ story. It is now OUR story. Palm/Passion Sunday takes us through Jesus’ journey, a journey that mirrors our own.

Falling Upward – March 29, 2020

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Scripture: John 11: 1-45 

When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11: 43)

Most of us tend to think of the second half of life as largely about getting old, dealing with health issues, and letting go of our physical life, but instead, we discover Jesus calling us, like he did Lazarus, to “come out.” We discover ways of living life to its fullest, embracing all its nuances, ups and downs. We join Lazarus on our second journey in life…after dying to self, we are raised to follow Christ.

Shadowlands – March 22, 2020

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Scripture: Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff – they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

By the second half of life, we learn to positively ignore and withdraw our energy from evil or stupid things rather than fight them directly, or dwell on them incessantly. We get in contact with our shadow self, understand our darkest valleys, and trust that God will see us through. We let go of our false personas, and let ourselves be who we truly are. Our cups learn to overflow with goodness and love.

Amnesia and the Big Picture – March 15, 2020

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Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7

But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the LORD, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” (Exodus 17: 3-4)

St. Irenaeus once wrote, “God wanted to give human beings their fullness right from the beginning, but they were incapable of receiving it, because they were still little children.” Like the children of Israel, we, too, suffer from a giant case of amnesia, where our identity as children of God is often hidden from us because we have not been trained to look in the right places. It is religion’s job to teach us about our true identity…so we go on that journey together.

Stumbling Over the Stumbling Stone – March 8, 2020

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Scripture: John 3:1-17

Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3:4)

Sooner or later, if we are on a spiritual journey, everything that we think we know will come into question. We will have to lose at something, change our views about the way we think, and and let go of things we have held dear. We cannot plan our own enlightenment, or simply trust that others will tell us how to believe and what to do. We must be born anew, into an understanding of grace and love and light. We must learn to be human.

 

The Hero and Heroine’s Journey – March 2, 2020

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The Hero and Heroine’s Journey – March 2, 2020

Scripture: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 ; Matthew 4:1-11

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” (Genesis 2: 15-17)

All of us are on a journey, and the aging process is an important part of that journey. When we look at ourselves on the hero/heroine’s journey, we begin to see, as we grow older, that we are being awakened to deep, simple, and mysterious things we simply could not see when we were younger. We need not be afraid of that journey, nor of the temptations that come our way.

 

It’s All About Christ: Going on to Perfection – February 23, 2020

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Scripture: Matthew 17: 1-9 

While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)

While transfiguration is attributed to Jesus, transformation is available to us all. John Wesley believed we are all going on to perfection as we seek to follow Christ faithfully. He was also open to a wide variety of ways of living out that journey, so the recent slogan “open hearts, open minds, and open doors” reflects the genius of Wesley and the early methodists who believed all of creation is beloved of God and part of God’s plan of salvation.

Quick-Draw in the Parched Places: Agreeing to Disagree – February 16, 2020

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Quick-Draw in the Parched Places: Agreeing to Disagree – February 16, 2020

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-12

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. (Isaiah 58.8)

John Wesley coined the term “agree to disagree.”Numerous times, Wesley engaged in heated theological disputes with another renowned preacher named George Whitefield. Though they both debated intensely, Wesley reflected on their contrast in beliefs in a memorial sermon for Whitefield by saying:  “There are many doctrines of a less essential nature. … In these, we may think and let think; we may ‘agree to disagree.’ But, meantime, let us hold fast the essentials. …” This appears to be the first documented use of the phrase. It was an indication of Wesley’s manner of sticking to his convictions while remaining in connection with those with whom he disagreed. What a gift we can bring to the table today.

 

My Flesh Sings for Joy: The Gift of Song – February 9, 2020

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Scripture: Psalm 84

My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. (Psalm 84:2)

Methodists are known for their rich musical tradition. Some of the most well-known hymn writers in Christianity were Methodists.  Most notable was Charles Wesley wrote penned over 6,000 hymns in his lifetime, hymns that are famous as interpretations of Scripture. That joy of singing as a way of naming and claiming our faith are another unique contribution of those scrappy Christians called Methodist.

What Does the Lord Require of You: Acts of Piety and Acts of Mercy – February 2, 2020

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Scripture: Micah 6: 1-8

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

A balance of personal piety with acts of justice and mercy marks Methodism from its earliest days. From class meetings of old to the Walk to Emmaus currently, methods of accountability for our spiritual walk have been an important element of letting our light shine for the world. Many United Methodist churches today are reclaiming this heritage as paths of discipleship are laid out before us in tangible ways.