HPUMC - Cornerstone Sermons (Contemporary Worship)

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Jesus tells us that in this life, we will have trouble (John 16:33). It is not a matter of if, but when. Yet, we can still experience inner peace as the storms around us do not have to become the storms within us.

In Matthew 14, we see Peter’s incredible act of faith as he walks on water toward Jesus in the midst of a literal storm. However, when Peter’s focus shifts to the storm around him, he is overcome with fear and begins to sink before being saved by Jesus, who brought peace to the storm by his very presence.

Peace is not the absence of trouble; it is the presence of God in our lives. The key to being people who cultivate peace in our lives is not about avoiding the storm, it’s knowing how to navigate the storm.

In today's politically charged culture, it’s easy to view everything through a red or blue lens. But this clouds our vision, making it harder to see Jesus as he truly is, beyond the confines of political affiliation. It's crucial to remember that while we cast our votes for candidates, we cast our hope on God and our peace rests in Him alone. Even when storms and chaos swirl around us, staying rooted in the truth of who Jesus is allows us to experience lasting inner peace and empowers us to be peacemakers in a divided world.

In times that feel the opposite of peaceful, we draw on the wisdom of the Apostle Peter, who encourages us to humble ourselves and cast all our anxieties on Jesus, trusting him to carry our burdens (1 Peter 5:6-7). Peter also employs us to stay alert and sober-minded, resisting the enemy who seeks to divide and destroy (1 Peter 5:8-9). In these ways, it’s possible for us to be at peace, regardless of what’s happening around us.

Throughout this sermon series, we have learned that joy is not dependent on our circumstances. But how do we claim joy in the midst of uncertainty or challenges? In Acts 9, Ananias is called by God to go find a man named Saul and minister to him. We know him today as the Apostle Paul, one of the most influential leaders in the history of the church. But at that time, he was a well-known Pharisee who persecuted Christians. Despite his concerns, Ananias obeyed and God used him to change Saul’s life and the course of history. Ananias was open to what God wanted to do and put himself in a position to experience joy by simply saying, “Here I am, Lord” (Acts 9:10).

When we have to go places we don’t want to go, or are asked to do things we don’t want to do, or to be with people we don’t want to be with, we can choose to claim joy with those three words: “Here I am.” No matter where we find ourselves in this current season, this simple prayer can help center us and make us available to what God might want to do in our lives.

The apostle Paul knew one thing about how to cultivate joy that we so easily miss today. In his last meeting with the elders from Ephesus, Paul charges them to watch over and serve the church (Acts 20:28). He also reminded them of Jesus’ teaching, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Finally, he knelt down with all of them and prayed (Acts 20:36). 

Ultimately, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, what Paul knew is that we claim joy through humility—thinking less about ourselves and more about others. We can practice humility and cultivate joy by reorienting and prioritizing our lives in the following way:

Jesus (first)

Others (second)

Yourself (last)

You don't have to be Christian to experience joy. However, the joy that is offered by Jesus is unique in that it does not depend on circumstances and it can coexist with suffering. Why? Because the resurrection of Christ changes everything!

As followers of Christ, we have a living hope because of his resurrection (1 Peter 1:3). It changes the way we experience our circumstances and how we respond to suffering. In faith, we look forward to the day when God will restore all things. But in the meantime, our suffering is not wasted (1 Peter 1:6-7). As we follow Jesus, our soul is being saved and the byproduct of this process is joy (1 Peter 1:8-9).

In Nehemiah 8, we find the people of God celebrating and praising God with the completion of the wall in Jerusalem. However, when the priests read the Law, they became convicted of the sin that had resulted in their captivity, and their joy quickly turned into despair as doubt and fear crept in. In a similar way, we can allow insecurities, cynicism, worry, and anxiety to turn blessings into burdens and rob us of our joy. What if I’m not good enough? What if I’m not ready? How am I going to do this? What will others think?

As followers of Christ, our joy does not depend on us or someone else. Nor is it dependent upon or deflated by our circumstances. Just as Nehemiah told the people of God, the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). No matter what may be going on in our lives, we can claim joy and know that God is still at work.

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As we conclude our series on cultivating love, we focus on what has been and will continue to be the guiding principle for cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives:

We cannot make growth happen, but we can create an environment where growth is more (or less) likely to happen. 

It is the Holy Spirit that produces the fruit; Our role involves creating the kind of environment where fruit can grow both in us and around us. So, how do we do that, specifically for our children and youth? By studying Jesus’ childhood and upbringing (Luke 2:40-52), we discover that it requires a family that practices the faith together, a community of trustworthy family and friends, and a church the whole family loves.

We understand the importance of our own spiritual growth, but God is also calling us to be a part of the growth of the next generation, whether it be within our biological family or our spiritual family. If we look back and reflect on our own faith journey, we can see a pattern of generational discipleship. Somebody told somebody who told somebody who told us about the love of God. Now, it is our time to tell the next generation!

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In John 15, Jesus identifies himself as the true vine and explains that we, as the branches, must stay connected to him in order to bear fruit. To be the kind of people for  whom love comes naturally, we must remain (abide) in God’s love. But how do we do that? We remain in God’s love by keeping His commandment to love one another. In other words, we become more loving when we love others. Sounds simple enough! 

But what about people who are difficult to love? When it comes to loving others, it is important, and even loving, to establish healthy boundaries as unconditional love does not equate to unconditional access. Sin violates God’s boundaries, separating and detaching us from Him. But, Jesus came along and renewed our access to God, reattaching us to the source of all life and empowering us to become people of love.

Forgiveness is foundational to the Christian life and yet, it is often misunderstood. This misunderstanding creates one of the greatest obstacles to cultivating love in our lives. Originally used as a financial term, to forgive means to cancel a debt, choosing not to collect it now or in the future. With the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35), Jesus teaches us that we should forgive others because of the forgiveness we have received from God. To cultivate a life in which God yields love in and around us, we must be people for whom forgiveness is not only freely received, but freely given.

What is love? It’s a word we often use, but do we really know what it means? Although the ancient Greeks had several words for love, “agape” is the term that appears 259 times in the New Testament. This word refers to an unconditional, sacrificial kind of love that combines feeling and action. A classic definition of agape love is to will the good of the other; it means wanting what is best for another person and actually working for their good. This is much easier said than done! 

Like the other Fruit of the Spirit, we cannot force growth in this area, but we can cultivate a life with God that yields love in us and around us. If we are to grow in our ability to love, we must both know what love is and want to love. Then, through prayer and practice, we can become people for whom loving others becomes second nature.