SERMON  |  Acts 16:9-15 - WE ARE WITNESSES  "Opened the Heart" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Sellersburg United Methodist Church in Sellersburg, IN

The story of Paul and Lydia is one of serious change in human plans leading to divine providence.  Even when things seem to be going wrong...or just taking a long time...we can lean upon our faith to help us trust that The Holy Spirit is still at work to direct us amid disruption.

As individuals, as a church, and as a member of the many groups of which we commit ourselves, we are on a mission to walk with hope which leads to joy...even when circumstances demand a change in direction.

SERMON  |  Acts 11:1-18 - WE ARE WITNESSES - "What God Called Clean" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Sellersburg United Methodist Church in Sellersburg, IN

Change is coming for the early church...

Change is coming for the church of today...

BECAUSE...that's how things work.

Things change.

Are we ready for where God is leading us next?

SERMON  |  Acts 9:36-43  -  WE ARE WITNESSES - "Get Up!" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Sellersburg United Methodist Church in Sellersburg, Indiana

This is a story about Peter...but, really, it's not.  This story is about Tabitha.  Our inclination is to stay focused on Peter because, c'mon, it's Peter!  But part of our role as witnesses is to notice the unnoticed--to pay attention...to see and hear...so we can then share what we've seen and heard.

Tabitha was a witness.  Her story is miraculous long before Peter enters the scene and raises her from the dead.  Tabitha had made an entire life of raising people up.

Let's tell her story so that we can then make her story our own.

SERMON  |  Acts 9:1-20  -  WE ARE WITNESSES - "Who Are You, Lord?"  by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Sellersburg, United Methodist Church in Sellersburg, Indiana

In week 3 of our series, we hear the story of the conversion/turning/repentance of Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul, Greek circles).  His conversion comes when he is on the path of certainty with full conviction.  He is forced and then invited to listen--first to Jesus, then to Ananias (the enemy).

This is a story about what it means to witness as a listener/observer.

Too often, we are tempted to walk our own path of certainty and conviction--which, like Saul, wreaks havoc on the church and the community.

Our calling is to listen and observe.  We cannot witness to what we have seen and heard...until we have seen and heard.  Like Saul, through our listening to those whom we most often do not, we may come to know our Lord all the more.

SERMON  |  Acts 5:27-32  -  "We Are Witnesses"  by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Sellersburg United Methodist Church in Sellersburg, IN

We continue the Easter Season as we build up to Pentecost on June 5th.  We tell the story of the Spirit-empowered Apostles to prepare ourselves as Spirit-empowered disciples.  We begin with the simplicity of our calling to be witnesses.

The word witness can be understood in a variety of ways (some good, others not-so-good).  Let's walk through the idea of witness so we can understand the foundational calling we each have in our world today.  Let's focus on what we have seen and heard.

What have you seen and heard?

Once you know that much, you are ready to be a witness.

SERMON  |  Luke 24:1-12  -  EASTER "God Raised Him" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Sellersburg United Methodist Church

We kick off the season of Easter on Resurrection Day.  The events of that day have inspired billions of people over the last 2,000 years.  The world and all of history shifted due to the events of that morning long ago.  God raised him (Jesus).  When we consider the implications, we find that our world shifts even today.

Let's retell that story and let the truth guide us forward in our faith.

SERMON  |  John 13:1-17, 31b-35  -  MAUNDY THURSDAY "Do You Know What I Have Done?" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Sellersburg United Methodist Church

We read the same passage every year for Maundy (mandatum/mandate) Thursday.  While we celebrate the actions of Jesus once a year every year, they are to be replicated every single day; this is our mandate--to love one another just as Christ loved us.

We will walk through the passage and mandate to remind ourselves of our commitment to follow Jesus Christ as disciples.

SERMON  |  Luke 19:28-40  -  PALM SUNDAY "The Lord Needs It" given by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Sellersburg United Methodist Church in Sellersburg, IN

As Holy Week begins, we come to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem -- young donkey, songs, cloaks, and all.

How we get from the joyful Sunday to Good Friday is worth considering, not only for Jesus' time, but ours as well.  What did the people expect to happen over the course of the week?  What did they expect Jesus to be all about?  What kind of king did they think he would be?  What is the peace the people envisioned?

These are important questions for us as well.

What do we expect from Jesus?

What is he all about?

What kind of king do we think he is?

What kind of peace do we envision?

Let's walk through the passage and let Jesus' own actions and words guide us to a better understanding so that we might walk a different path than the multitude in Jerusalem so long ago.

SERMON  |  John 12:1-8 - "Filled With Fragrance" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Sellersburg United Methodist Church in Sellersburg, Indiana on Sunday April 3, 2022.

We examine the gift of Mary to Jesus as the archetype activity of a disciple compared to Judas who exemplifies what a disciple is not in the scene.

Preparing for Holy Week and our honoring of Jesus' death on the cross, we follow the footsteps of Mary to offer a gift of extravagant generosity.

What will you give to the Lord of life?

SERMON  |  Luke 15:1-32  -  "Lost & Found"  by Rev. Joseph Sanford

Given at Sellersburg United Methodist Church in Sellersburg, IN on March 27, 2022.  Visit our website at sellersburgumc.com to learn more about our church and its ministries.

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Understanding the message behind Luke 15 requires us to pan back and see the larger scene which started a couple chapters prior.  Jesus is calling disciples to move beyond the conventional understandings of shame and honor.  He critiques the religious leaders of the day who are playing power games and grumbling about Jesus fully welcoming sinners to his table.

By learning the message Jesus carries in regards to the dilemma of his day, we can bring it forward to the dilemma in our own.

By foregoing the desire to operate on conventional wisdom, we are freed to recognize the rebirth all around us--to join in the celebration.

It is right to celebrate when something that was lost has been found.

Will we let go of what we think we know?

Will we let go of ourselves?

Will we celebrate?