Clinton Methodist Church

May 17, 2026 – I Will Come Again – John 14:1-6 

I Will Come Again

Jesus comforts his disciples, assuring them he is preparing a place for them in his Father’s house and will return to take them there. He declares himself the way, the truth, and the life, emphasizing that no one comes to the Father except through him.

John 14:1-6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Jesus the Way to the Father

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe[a] in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.”[c] 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

May 10, 2026 – You Promised: You Will Find Rest – Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus promises His disciples rest in Matthew 11:28–30. This Sunday we will continue our series on the promises of God as we explore what it means to truly enter into Christ’s rest.

Does the promise of rest appeal to you? I know it does to me.

April and May can be exhausting months filled with celebrations, programs, graduations, recitals, ballgames, and constant activity. Our tanks can get depleted. What do you do when you realize you are not the Energizer Bunny? What if you could go from exhaustion to energized without consuming endless amounts of caffeine? 

I hope you’ll join us Sunday as we celebrate the special women in our lives, consume moderate amounts of caffeine, and discover the rest Jesus promised.

Matthew 11:28-30 is a personal invitation from Jesus to find spiritual rest by replacing the heavy, legalistic burdens of self-righteousness with a “yoke” of discipleship that is gentle and, through faith, sustainable. He calls the weary to come directly to Him for soul-refreshment, promising partnership rather than empty performance.

Verse 28: The Invitation & The Promise

Verse 29: The Method (The Yoke)

Verse 30: The Assurance

Key Takeaways

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

April 26, 2026 – You Promised: To Hear Our Cry for Help – Luke 18:1-8

Luke 18:1-8 features the Parable of the Persistent Widow, where Jesus teaches the necessity of praying consistently without losing heart. It contrasts a corrupt, indifferent judge—who eventually grants a widow justice just to stop her pestering—with a righteous God, who is eager to answer the persistent prayers of His people.

Key Aspects of the Parable:

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge

18 Then Jesus[a] told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’ 4 For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ”[b] 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

April 19, 2026 – You Promised: You Will Hear My Voice – John 10:22-30

In John 10:22-30, Jesus is questioned by Jewish leaders during Hanukkah at the Temple regarding his identity as the Messiah. He states that his works, done in his Father’s name, already testify to who he is, but they do not believe because they are not his sheep. Jesus promises his followers eternal life and security, declaring that no one can snatch them out of his or the Father’s hand, concluding, “I and the Father are one”. 

Key Themes and Details:

Jesus Is Rejected by the Jews

22 At that time the Festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah,[a] tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me, 26 but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, in regard to what he has given me, is greater than all,[b] and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”

April 12, 2026 -You Promised: I Am with You -Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16-20 (the Great Commission) records Jesus meeting his disciples on a Galilean mountain, where he declares his universal authority. He commands them to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Trinity and teaching them his commandments, while promising his presence until the end of the age.

Key Elements of the Passage:

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Commissioning of the Disciples
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him, but they doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

April 5, 2026 – Alive in Christ – Matthew 28:1-10

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Resurrection of Jesus

28 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he[a] lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead,[b] and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

March 29, 2026 – Palm Sunday

This Sunday our Sanctuary Choir will present their annual Palm Sunday music program. There will be one combined worship service in the sanctuary at 11:00 a.m. It is our hope that you will experience the presence of the Holy Spirit through this music and narration as we enter Holy Week in preparation for Easter Sunday morning. Bring a friend to church with you and we hope to see you there!

One service this Sunday at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. I hope you will help us pack out the Sanctuary for our Palm Sunday musical program presented by our choir and guest orchestra. The children will be processing in with palms. It’s going to be an uplifting and worshipful start to Holy Week. Sunday school will be at 10:00 a.m.

March 22, 2026 – Prisoners of Hope – Zechariah 9:9-17

The Book of Zechariah: Embracing the Vision of Hope

Main Takeaway: The book of Zechariah, written during Israel’s post-exilic period, prophesied a humble, victorious king who would bring eternal peace and restoration. This prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who through His covenant blood, offers profound hope to a people who often feel trapped by circumstances. Believers are called to be “prisoners of hope,” gripped by God’s promises and vision for complete flourishing and renewal, culminating in the Resurrection.

The Book of Zechariah: Embracing the Vision of Hope

Context and Background

Zechariah’s Prophecy of the Coming King (Chapter 9)

The Fulfillment in Jesus Christ

The Concept of “Prisoner of Hope”

God’s Vision for Flourishing and Abundance

Invitation and Benediction

The Coming King of Zion

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the war horse from Jerusalem;
and the battle bow shall be cut off,
and he shall speak peace to the nations;
his rule shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River[a] to the ends of the earth.
11 As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
12 Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope;
today I declare that I will restore to you double.
13 For I have bent Judah as my bow;
I have made Ephraim its arrow.
I will stir up your sons, O Zion,
against your sons, O Greece,
and wield you like a warrior’s sword.
The Lord Will Save His People

14 Then the Lord will appear over them,
and his arrow will go forth like lightning;
the Lord God will sound the trumpet
and will march forth in the whirlwinds of the south.
15 The Lord of hosts will protect them,
and they shall devour, and tread down the sling stones,
and they shall drink and roar as if drunk with wine,
and be full like a bowl,
drenched like the corners of the altar.
16 On that day the Lord their God will save them,
as the flock of his people;
for like the jewels of a crown
they shall shine on his land.
17 For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty!
Grain shall make the young men flourish,
and new wine the young women.

March 15, 2026 – How Can I Give You Up? – Hosea 11:1-11

Notes on God’s Love, Sin, and Restoration in Hosea

Main Takeaway: The Book of Hosea illustrates God’s persistent, costly, and amazing love for His unfaithful people, mirroring Israel’s covenant with God as a marriage and emphasizing sin as a betrayal of love, ultimately pointing to Christ’s restorative power and promise of redemption.

The Sinai Covenant: A Wedding Analogy

Hosea’s Story: An Illustration of God’s Love and Israel’s Sin

The Profound Ache and Nature of God’s Love

God’s Compassion Despite Israel’s Ingratitude

11 When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 The more I[a] called them,
the more they went from me;[b]
they kept sacrificing to the Baals
and offering incense to idols.
3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;
I took them up in my[c] arms,
but they did not know that I healed them.
4 I led them with cords of human kindness,
with bands of love.
I was to them like those
who lift infants to their cheeks.[d]
I bent down to them and fed them.
5 They shall return to the land of Egypt,
and Assyria shall be their king,
because they have refused to return to me.
6 The sword rages in their cities;
it consumes their oracle priests
and devours because of their schemes.
7 My people are bent on turning away from me.
To the Most High they call,
but he does not raise them up at all.[e]
8 How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;
my compassion grows warm and tender.
9 I will not execute my fierce anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim,
for I am God and no mortal,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath.[f]
10 They shall go after the Lord,
who roars like a lion;
when he roars,
his children shall come trembling from the west.
11 They shall come trembling like birds from Egypt
and like doves from the land of Assyria,
and I will return them to their homes, says the Lord.

Repentance and Restoration

God’s Enduring Question

March 1, 2026 – Religion Isn’t Enough – Micah 6:1–8 

Micah 6:1–8 is a “prophetic covenant lawsuit” where God, acting as prosecutor, brings a case against the people of Israel (specifically Judah) for their unfaithfulness and injustice. The passage highlights the contrast between empty, ritualistic religion and true spiritual devotion.

Key Sections: 

Key Themes: 

6 Hear what the Lord says:
    Rise, plead your case before the mountains,
    and let the hills hear your voice.
2 Hear, you mountains, the case of the Lord,
    and you enduring foundations of the earth,
for the Lord has a case against his people,
    and he will contend with Israel.

3 “O my people, what have I done to you?
    In what have I wearied you? Answer me!
4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt
    and redeemed you from the house of slavery,
and I sent before you Moses,
    Aaron, and Miriam.
5 O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised,
    what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
    that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.”

6 “With what shall I come before the Lord
    and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
    with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
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?