SERMON | Matthew 16:13-20 | "The Church Jesus Builds" by Rev. Ceciliah Igweta-Keega at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

SERMON | Matthew 15:10-28 | "When Christ Breaks Our Boundaries" by Rev. Ceciliah Igweta-Keega at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

Jesus does so with mercy and grace and invites us (to follow him beyond the boundaries) into the wideness of God's mercy.

SERMON | Matthew 14:22-33 | "Looking Past the Storm" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

What we see in this passage are a few important points to consider about the foundation of faith and how Jesus lived it:

1. Jesus lovingly got the disciples out of the chaos of the crowd
1. The crowd could see Jesus was a powerful king
2. They vastly misunderstood both his power and his kingship

• Not everyone is committed to learning and unlearning from Jesus
  

1. Jesus took time to pray
1. Even as the Son of God, he was constantly finding time alone to recenter
2. Even he needed to remember who was and what he was called to be and do
   
2. Jesus came to the disciples on the water—something only God can do
1. He showed a dominance over the chaos of the sea; a divine sign
2. He identified himself as “I Am”
3. He revealed himself in a new way to the disciples
   
3. Jesus welcomed Peter’s desire to be a good disciple/student

• Peter knows he is called to do and be what his rabbi does and is
• He continues to respond to the original calling, “come follow me.”
  

1. Jesus was there when Peter faltered
1. He encourages Peter when he inquired about his doubts
2. He brought a peace to the situation as a sign for them in the future amid other storms—that they might learn to look past the storms

What keeps you going in your faith?

What drives your life and actions?

What steers your thoughts and wills?

What helps you look past the storms of life so that they don’t distract us from our path?

We don’t have to understand every detail of who Jesus is to follow him.

Instead, we can try to follow his example and allow a lifetime of doing so to teach us what we need to know:

1. Loving and providing for others
2. Taking time to pray and recenter ourselves
3. Respond to the call to do seemingly impossible things—even if we might falter
4. Inviting each other to keep growing in our faith and not be dismayed when we struggle
5. Accept the peace of his presence with us no matter who we are or how much we might doubt

Peter had a little faith, but it was enough to get him out of that boat.

His little faith led him to try—and, for a moment, succeed!!

Jesus’ response to him wasn’t one of ridicule—that wouldn’t fit with who we know Jesus to be.

Jesus addressed his little faith knowing full-well that Peter was committed and would keep getting out of bed, keep following, and keep climbing out of different kinds of boats in order to do things he never thought possible.

Jesus isn’t so short-sighted that he condemns us for our doubts and falters today.

In a sign of God’s grace Jesus looks beyond our doubts to where they might take us.

Jesus meets us where we are and invites us to keep following so we can put our faith in him…

…and learn to look past the storms of life we will face.

That’s what we all committed to with our newest members—to faithfully participate in the ongoing work of the church acknowledging the grace of God already given in our past while committing to trust in the grace of God moving us forward in our future.

If we are committed to keep going in our faith…

Keep trying…

Keep learning…

Keep unlearning…

Keep trusting him…

Keep following…

Then we can have faith Christ leads us to where he intends us to be.

No amount of wind or waves can keep us from getting where God wants us to be—yes?

The question is…will we trust that truth when we feel them all around us?

Will we commit ourselves…prepare ourselves…stay centered, so we’re ready when the winds and waves come?

And when times ARE tough and scary…

let us remember who it is we serve and the absolute fact that he has authority over all of it?

Friends, let us pursue a faith so deep and secure that we can look past the storms we face as we learn and unlearn.

Let us press on, even with our doubts, trusting that today’s struggles and sinking may just be the only way for us to get where Jesus intends for us to go.

SERMON | Matthew 14:13-21 | "More Than Enough" by Rev. Ceciliah Igweta-Keega at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

SERMON | Romans 8:26-39 | "More Than Conquerors" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

We are called to share in this victory, beloved ones of God.

To be more than conquerors;

To be obedient to God’s bigger plan…

To be the BELOVED of God, forgiven and graced…

To be the glorified people of God—alive in full humanity 

who never lose our own humanity or cease to see the humanity in the inhumane around us.

When we truly see the love of Christ displayed on the cross…

When we truly understand its power…

We learn there is nothing to fear.

We become fully aware that we are granted a power unlike any other power.

We begin to accept the truth that absolutely nothing can stand against us…

Absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord

And that, my friends, changes how we live every single day as God’s beloved community called to bring humanity back to this world through the same love which continues to renew us.

We can face the sufferings and trials of today and tomorrow because of our hope AND…because we have each other.

The church is vital to the hope which we share together.

There are days when some of us will be feeling the weight of despair and we will NEED others around us to lean up, cry with, and remind us of the hope we have.

We were meant to walk this path to glory together…

as more than conquerors.

SERMON | Genesis 28:10-19a | "The Lord Is In This Place" by Rev. Ceciliah Igweta-Keega at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

SERMON | Psalm 119:105-112 & Romans 8:1-11 | "Set Your Mind" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

When we do this…we are trying to earn God’s grace.

We make faith about us doing what we’ve decided needs to be done.

As if doing it any other way is wrong.

We judge and condemn others…

We cause harm by trying to force our perspective on other people expecting them to see what we see.

We push people away from us…the church…and, sometimes, God.

This is what the LAW did in Paul’s day.

• The Jewish Christian might’ve thought, “I’m a real follower of Jesus because I am Jewish and I follow the LAW which Jesus said wouldn’t be abolished but fulfilled. By eating certain ways and celebrating certain days I am being a better child of God than those who don’t.”
• The Gentile Christian might’ve thought, “I’m a real follower of Jesus because I don’t put my faith in the LAW whatsoever. I can live into God’s grace no matter how I live.”

Both groups were being egocentric…living in their own ideas and perspectives…living in the flesh.

Paul calls them to live in the Spirit of the Messiah.

• Love God with all your self
• Love your neighbor as your self.
• Christ’s LAW is love.

Loving each other means embracing your own understanding of how to do this while leaving room for others to love by their understanding.

• Stop trying to be right…
• Stop trying to judge everyone else…
• Get over yourself…
• And just love.

Love the best you can and allow your life living in a community of love continue to teach you how to love better and better each and every day.

This bettering of love will not involve words of judgment…

This bettering of love will not involved condemnation…

Instead, this bettering of love will involve faith and hope.

This bettering of love will involved lots of grace and forgiveness.

This bettering of love will involve ENORMOUS growth in our awareness.

This bettering of love will allow us to leave our little egocentric selves behind so that we might actually be able to be connected to everything beyond ourselves.

God and neighbor, by definition…are that which is beyond ourselves.

God wants us to be connected to everything else.

To do that…we have to let go.

NOW…thinking of incredible little Addalyn…

• She will need time to grow.
• She will need to be where she is and we need to trust that she will mature.

That is our commitment when we baptize her—her parents are entrusting God to work in her life through the church.

WE are committing to surrounding her with love and grace and to be where she needs to be today trusting the Holy Spirit will get her where she needs to go on God’s timeline.

And the person next to you right now, they are on God’s timeline of growth, too.

• We are NOT to judge them any more than we should judge precious Addalyn.
• When someone does something you think is worth judging…let go, friends.

Set your mind on the Spirit…not the flesh.

• Love them.
• Encourage them.
• If they ask for guidance, give it.
• If they don’t, pray.
• Whatever might happen, love.

When we love…we live in the Spirit of the Messiah and the Spirit of the Messiah lives in us.

The Messiah who allowed humanity to put him to death responding not with condemnation or judgment, but forgiveness and love.

If we committed ourselves to live by the Spirit of the Messiah—love—instead of trying to figure out which camp is right and which one is wrong and who are the real Christians…good things will happen.

There is enough condemnation out there—and way too much in the name of God.

Instead of joining the fight of the flesh to label right and wrong, let us set the mind to live by the Spirit. —  Let us set our minds on things above.

Instead of joining the fight which causes so much harm and despair, let us set the mind to go and care for the wounded and hopeless.

Instead of playing the game of egocentrism…let us set the mind to live a life of love.

And when we do this…a life free of anything other than what God intends for us—we fill find Life.

SERMON | Romans 7:15-25a | "Delight In the Law" by Rev. Ceciliah Igweta-Keega at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana.

SERMON | Genesis 22:1-14 | "God Will Provide" by Rev. Ceciliah Igweta-Keega at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

SERMON | Psalm 100 | "Joyful Noise" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

God’s steadfast love endures forever

and God’s faithfulness to all generations.

Steadfast refers to covenant: God’s covenant love endures forever

• God’s promise to love God’s people will NEVER cease
• God can be trusted by anyone who calls upon God’s name and devotes themselves to God’s Reign.

All generations:

People hundreds of years ago belong to God just as much as we do…

The Silent Generation…

Baby-boomers…

Generation X…

Millennials…

Gen Z…

Gen Alpha…

Gen Beta…

God is faithful to us all.

God’s promise will never cease.

THIS IS THE GOODNESS OF GOD

God will bring order, goodness, and flourishing to and through those who devote themselves to God’s Reign.

We may feel like these days are difficult or heavy or dark…

We may feel like things are getting worse…

But friends, we have nothing to fear.

Through Jesus all is already accomplished to assure God’s promise coming to fruition.

THIS IS THE GOODNESS OF GOD

Do we believe this?

Do we remember this?

Look at this picture. You can almost hear their joyful screaming.

Each one of them lives in different homes with different kinds of parents.

Each one will get hungry…

Each one will get mad about something they find to be unfair…

Each one of them has bumps, bruises, and scrapes on their little bodies…

But they don’t forget how to look past all of it and simply embrace joy.

When we know we are loved and will have someone to journey through life with us…

we can always find joy.

Yes, evil still excels and gains momentum in many ways…

Hatred and division continue to see their flames fanned by some on this earth…

War and violence rage on and find new venues…

Arrogance, ego, and narcissism are still making a lot of noise every single day…

But we mustn’t lose our hope.

Because God’s promise of renewal for all things is still assured

God’s love for all of creation still endures…

God’s devotion to us endures…

God still reigns…

God still reigns…

God still reigns…

Let us live our lives fully devoted to God’s way of grace, mercy, and love.

Let us live our whole lives seeking out goodness, order, and flourishing.

Let us live our lives to reflect the good ness of God to those who don’t know.

In a world full of all sorts of noise and chaos…

Let God’s people make an even louder noise of order…

Let us make a joyful noise that comes from hearts fully devoted to our good God’s way with full trust that the God to whom we belong is our God…and NOTHING will stop God’s reign from having its way upon this earth.