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.

We continue our look at this passage considering how the first meal post-Resurrection (of the new age) counters the first meal of the old age (Genesis 3) so that the eyes of humanity are opened to the reality of Resurrection and what it means.

We encounter Christ in scripture AND the table.

Let's consider all this meal has to offer us today.

Of course the Messiah had to suffer--according to all the scriptures about Jesus.

We will explore what Jesus meant as well as understand how this passage was used by the early church as a template for worship. Part one focuses on how we can be distracted and miss the point.

Sermon | Luke 24:1-12 | JITQ - 9. "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

We have heard about the foot washing, but have we understood its deep theological meaning? It's not about washing each other's feet unless that act is understood in its deeper context of the union Jesus is ushering in between humanity, himself, and God.

Let us consider this familiar text to understand exactly what Jesus did TO them.

Jesus chose a very particular way to enter Jerusalem and challenge the corruption of the systems at work (Rome, Judea, and the Temple). Of course he did! Who did we expect?

Sermon | Luke 9:18-27 | JESUS IS THE QUESTION - 6. "Who do you say I am?" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

A sermon about our responsibility in faith.

A sermon about our call to see and hear all people--about how all people (including us) are seen and heard by Jesus.

A sermon about faithing...even in the storms.