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Grace UMC (Franklin, IN) Sermon Podcast

Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana is a body of people who are caring together and growing together. We gather weekly for worship to offer gratitude and celebrate all that God is doing in and through us as we connect with ministry outreach programming that supports several dozen local, state, nation, and world-wide organizations. We believe we are called to walk with and serve the under-served, unhoused, and under-represented people of this world because that is what Jesus Christ did and empowered us with the Holy Spirit to go and do as his church.www.franklingrace.org

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    Sermon | Luke 24:13-35 | "Breakthrough Encounter" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    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.

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    Sermon | Luke 24:13-35 | "Distracted Encounter" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    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.

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    Sermon | Luke 24:1-12 | JITQ - 8. "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    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

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    Sermon | John 13:1-17 | JITQ - 8. "Do you know what I have done to you?" by Rev. Joseph Sanford 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.

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    Sermon | Luke 7 & 19:28-48 | JESUS IS THE QUESTION - 7. "Who did you expect?" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    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?

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    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

    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

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    Sermon | Luke 7:31-50 | JESUS IS THE QUESTION - 4. "Do You See This Woman?" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

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

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    Sermon | Matthew 5:38-41 | "Holy Creativity" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Facing adversity in faith is not an either/or situation: Jesus invites us to be creative.

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    Sermon | Colossians 3:12-17 | "What Are You Wearing in the New Year?" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Colossians 3:12-17 | "What Are You Wearing in the New Year?" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

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    Sermon | Luke 2:8-20 | THE HEART THAT GREW THREE SIZES - 4. "When Joy Is Our Song" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Luke 2:8-20 | THE HEART THAT GREW THREE SIZES - 4. "When Joy Is Our Song" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

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    Sermon | Luke 1:26-38 | THE HEART THAT GREW THREE SIZES - 3. "When Light Shines" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Do we want God to work in our lives, friends? Do we want divine disruption? of course we don’t want disruption; we like thinking we know what is coming!!! Do we want divine encounter? Maybe ask it this way: Do we feel at peace with ourselves? Do we feel at peace with others? Do we feel at peace with God? Do we have an unshakeable hope? We might think we do until a disruption come, right?? We find the peace we seek only in a life lived in the presence of God’s Spirit. We find the unshakeable hope in a life trusting in God’s holy disruptions… This is how we begin to live with our HANDS OPEN Trusting in God’s love for us to the point where we open our hands completely… Where we can allow divine light to reveal to us what we need…and what we don’t… Where we can be released from having to be “in control” of our lives—if we even ever could be anyway. Essentially, disruptive light is what we seek…whether we know it or not. Advent is anticipating the arrival of God in a new way. Although God enveloped Mary in the same kind of presence the Hebrew people were fully aware of, what they weren’t ready for was God to show up in a vulnerable baby in the darkness of the womb of a betrothed teenage Galilean. No one was ready for that, Mary least of all. Maybe you’re STILL working on that one!!! But Mary was assured that God would envelope her…even in this divine disruption… She could’ve responded like the Grinch did and remained in her own plans unphased …But she didn’t. Every time God shows up in our ancient stories, it always comes with disruption and light. If we cannot handle the light…God provides us with a shadow in an act of grace and love. We await the Advent of Jesus’ coming by telling of the first Advent. We tell of the Light of the World who comes in the darkest of nights. And in the depths of the darkness, we tell of the light of God who comes in the darkness of Mary’s womb. The use of light is no coincidence or convenience—it teaches us throughout our lives. You are here today because you have encountered divine light in some way. Somewhere in your life journey up to now you have encountered a divine disruption which challenged your certainty. Or…you realize your certainties…your plans…your way of life is in need of the disruption divine light can bring. Why else would we be here? Why else did all of this happen in this way? Why else would we tell this story year after year? Why else would we long for God to come and envelope us in presence and power? As we reflect upon our own stories… As we contemplate Advent and all it entailed so long ago… As we anticipate all it might entail moving forward… Let us prepare ourselves the best we possibly can, for the unexpected. Let us hold our certainties with open hands so that we might be ready to respond as Mary did. Let us remember that God illuminates our lives… God disrupts our plans not to bring fear…but to bring us hope, peace, love, and life…that we might begin to live with open-handed trust. As we approach Christmas Day, take time in prayer to reflect upon the light. Ponder the depths of Mary’s story and consider how her story is your story. Take time to wonder, “Where is God at work disrupting my life…and how can I learn to live in a deeper trust that through Emmanuel, God is WITH you?” Because the whole point of this story in to remind us that God is WITH us… And God will continue to bring the divine disruption of light and love that we might live into a life of trust with open hands.

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    Sermon | Matthew 3:7-12 | THE HEART THAT GREW THREE SIZES - 2. "When Christmas Isn't Christmas" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Matthew 3:7-12 | THE HEART THAT GREW THREE SIZES - 2. "When Christmas Isn't Christmas" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

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    Sermon | Isaiah 61.1-3, 6-7 | ADVENT - THE HEART THAT GREW THREE SIZES - 1. "When Everything Is Wrong" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    We cannot ask others to change their behavior or see things differently until we have changed our behavior and done the hard work to see things differently. If Jesus’ home community of people would’ve just let go of their expectation and assumptions long enough to be more curious…to ask more questions…to be open to broader ideas…to a more humble approach to their thought process… maybe things would’ve been different. If they would have been in a place where they actually longed for the entire world to receive the peace God promises, they would’ve been overjoyed to hear the good news Jesus shared. But they weren’t…and they didn’t. If only their hearts had grown three sizes…what might’ve happened??? The New Testament writers tell these stories… The church continues to re-tell them… Because we can learn from their mistakes. Right here, today, in this room, are we any different? Are we overjoyed to hear that EVERYONE EVERYWHERE will be the recipients of God’s favor and deliverance? Even people whom we don’t understand… Even people who don’t want everyone everywhere to have God’s favor… Even people whom we least expect The Year of the Lord’s favor is something God does FOR us… God initiates… Jesus’ presence and power completes… The Holy Spirit within us ignites our hearts…if we but allow it. We’ve got to find the peace we long for in our world. It’s got to start with us. We’ve got to offer our whole selves and our very perspective to God… And…it’s going to take time — this is our 3 hours this Advent!! Even though it will take time, we need not wait to live the peace we seek: While we contemplate… While we ponder… While we take the time needed to evaluate ourselves… We can still live our lives full of grace and mercy and love and compassion…the best we know how. We can still experience the anger and hatred we feel in our hearts because, frankly, it’s not going to suddenly cease to be a part of our lives… BUT…we can choose to deny ourselves and our judgments and our impulses to act out of kindness and grace. Oh, it’s not easy… And it’s not fun… In fact, we could say that it was HARD, HARD, HARD, HARD to live like that, Amen? But the work of offering ourselves up to God takes time and it takes practice. The practice isn’t just contemplation and prayer, but action. Something in the way we engage with the world around us affects us in our own hearts. It’s as if the doing helps in our process of becoming… Our becoming then affects our process of doing… And ON and ON it goes. The Grinch gave in to his hatred and put his disdain in to action that Christmas Eve…but even THAT led to him experiencing a change of heart. 53 years of stewing…and one night of action…and three hours of contemplation changed everything—for him and the Who’s. Let us find faith in the story of the Grinch… Let us learn from the past so we can make a better TODAY… While we await the Advent of Christ’s second coming when everything wrong will be put to right, we are called to live into that reality right now. May we, this Advent season, prepare a place for the coming Jesus NOW. May we anticipate this great arrival by telling the ancient story of his birth once again. May we tell the story and embrace it beyond words on the page. May we consider how we might offer ourselves to our coming Savior…and allow Him to heal our blindness…release us from our own assumptions…free us from the hatred within us and around us… That we might experience a growth in our own hearts this Christmas.

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    Sermon | John 18:28-37 | REIGN OF CHRIST - "Who Is Our King? Who Is Our Truth?" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | John 18:28-37 | REIGN OF CHRIST - "Who Is Our King? Who Is Our Truth?" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

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    Sermon | Hebrews 10:11-25 | "The New & Living Way" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    If we KNOW God is faithful… And we KNOW God will sanctify us and heal us and has already done everything necessary to guarantee our peace for all time… Let us never lose hope, friends. Even when we make mistakes… Even when we still have ignorance in our lives… Even when we will grow and be different in a year from now… We never need to lose hope just because we struggle and fall short… God is only focused on who you will become—SERIOUSLY, how great is that!? God knows the finished product of your life—trust no matter what.  Keep going!! And finally the author lifts up our need for each other: “Provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, and encourage one another as the great Day of the Lord is approaching.” This word “provoke” can also mean “pester.” I’ve been hearing the question a lot these past several months and several days: With all that’s happening in the world around us—in our communities, in our friendships, in our families, in our churches—what do we do? How do we be Christians in this climate and culture? How do we press on when we are so tired and overwhelmed? This author says, "Pester each other to love and good deeds.” Don’t be bashful… Don’t be intimidating… But urge, spur, pester, provoke each other to love and good deeds. If you’re going to use your energy and gifts to impact the people around you, make it count for the way of healing and peace… Make it count for God. Make it count for the love of God and love of neighbor…ONLY…ALWAYS…EVERYWHERE…to EVERYONE. As Wesley says, “Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.” THIS life of faith, hope, and love is our calling, friends. THIS is how we live into fullness of life in Jesus. THIS is how we find peace with God. Make your life about building up, encouraging, doing good, and loving others. Trust in God who is faithful to heal you and provide you with what you need. Trust in Jesus’ body, the church, to be a part of this healing and provision. Regularly come and gather with this body… EVERY WEEK if you can; invest in relationship with God’s people Encourage one another… Leave the judgment and disagreement behind you Pester one another… Remind those who need reminding, that the new and living way has been opened for us to be with God in every moment… That God is not keeping track of your errors or sin. Through the new and living way, God is fixing our sights not on what we have been and done, but on what we will become and do… So that we may no longer look back except to learn and grow… That the Spirit may use every part of our lives to lead us forward… Let us put our whole trust in the peace with God brought into the very depths of our hearts and souls and minds and strength we have in the New & Living Way… All has been forgiven in Jesus Christ…who SITS next to God until that great day when he shall reign over all the earth and everyone and everything in it. Do you trust in that day coming, friends? Do you trust in the Peace with God found in the new & living way? Then let us live every moment of our lives as testimony.

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    Sermon | Hebrews 11 & 12 | "What Does Your Faith Mean Now" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Hebrews 11 & 12 | "What Does Your Faith Mean Now" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

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    Sermon | Revelation 7:9-17 | ALL SAINTS DAY - "Pulling Back the Curtain" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    What a scene, huh?! A countless multitude…made up of all people groups and families…speaking all different languages…standing before God waving palm branches—the sign of victory—making a simple and powerful statement: “Victory/Deliverance/Salvation/Healing and Wholeness belongs to God and to the Lamb!” Saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb” both makes a statement about with whom salvation belongs…while also saying with whom salvation does NOT belong. It’s God, not Rome… It’s the Lamb (Jesus), not Caesar… No person or group will bring the true victory or healing of the world. Only God. And only God through the work of the Lamb. This Lamb is described as slaughtered in Revelation. There is NO WEAKER symbol to present than a slaughtered lamb. Yet…that is the symbol of the great power to rescue all of Creation. A slaughtered Lamb is who people are shouting songs of victory to. This whole idea of Jesus is supposed to be peculiar. But a Lamb who has passed through death… Who has suffered… Who has struggled…is the perfect symbol for what God is doing and will do. A Lamb who has faced the worst the world can throw at it and endured the deepest depths of sin and death is the most encouraging image we can have as we consider those whom we have lost—those who have suffered…who have struggled…who have died. While we may see in our earthly vision that death got the last word… we find another truth when the Revelator pulls back the curtain for the church. We can be assured that those who have endured life unto death are now celebrating the victory won by Jesus Christ the slaughtered lamb. The slaughterer, Caesar, may seem to have gotten the last work… He may seem like the victor—but we know better! And on this All Saints Day… Where would we rather our loved ones be than celebrating victory with God where they are sheltered from decay, hunger, pain, sadness, and death? Where would we rather hope to be one day? We come to this sanctuary every weekend to lift up songs of celebration and praise NOW for the victory that was won LONG AGO which we will all live into ONE DAY. We come to this time and step out of the hustle and bustle of our lives and worries and stresses and fears…to enter a sanctuary created by Jesus Christ. We take a break from a world full of people trying desperately to be in charge and have their way and dictate to us how we should think and feel…to come to a place where we celebrate the one who come out of love to show us a life where we can and will be free of pain and suffering. We come here to pull back the curtain to be reminded that there is a bigger story… a bigger plan… a bigger promise… a bigger Ruler at work for us. We find the truth with God. We find true blessing and glory and wisdom with God… We find Thanksgiving and honor with God… We find power and might is God’s forever! Where do we find salvation and healing friends… Is it from a donkey? Is it from an elephant? No…it is ONLY from the slaughtered Lamb! No matter what storms may come in life… No matter what bad turns we have taken or continue to take as we struggle… No matter how uncertain we might find ourselves to be… May we remember the great reality behind it all… And on this day when we remember and celebrate our Saints… let us remember that it is only in God and the slaughtered Lamb where we find the salvation, hope, and life for which long. It is only in Jesus Christ we find final victory…the last word…the truth and life…and in him we find a hope that cannot be shaken or conquered… For our saints, For our world, And for ourselves… Forever and ever… Amen!

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    Sermon | Psalm 34:1-22 | "Bless the Lord At All Times?" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Psalm 34:1-22 | "Bless the Lord At All Times?" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

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    Sermon | John 4:1-42 | "The Woman at the Well & Living Water" (John 4:1-42) by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | John 4:1-42 | "The Woman at the Well & Living Water" (John 4:1-42) by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

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    Sermon | Genesis 32:24-32 | "Are You Ready to Be You?" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Genesis 32:24-32 | "Are You Ready to Be You?" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

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    Sermon | Mark 14:22-25 | WORLD COMMUNION - "It's a Big World" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Mark 14:22-25 | WORLD COMMUNION - "It's a Big World" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

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    Sermon | John 21:1-19 & Genesis 33:1-17 | OUR MONEY STORY - 4. "Restore" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | John 21:1-19 & Genesis 33:1-17 | OUR MONEY STORY - 4. "Restore" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

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    Sermon | Leviticus 19:9-10; 25:8-12 & Mark 12:38-44 | OUR MONEY STORY - 3. "Reimagine" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Leviticus 19:9-10; 25:8-12 & Mark 12:38-44 | OUR MONEY STORY - 3. "Reimagine" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

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    Sermon | Deuteronomy 15:1-11 & Matthew 19:16-22 | OUR MONEY STORY - 2. "Release" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Perhaps you feel captive yourself. You’re here this morning… You have come to worship and honor God… to give gratitude… But you feel like there is more to this faith than what you have experienced. Maybe you’ve come like that rich man—you’ve come to be told what a great job you are doing by following the commandments and not killing other people and betraying your relationships (because that’s so hard to do!)—you’ve come to remain just as you are. Or MAYBE you’ve come because you want to take the next step… You want to let go…to find release…to live more fully into God’s will & way. - are you truly coming to God to hear THE answer?? This rich man wanted to stay in his comfort zone and was exploring stepping beyond it into the growth zone by asking, “What deed must I do?” OR…he thought Jesus would say, “You’ve done everything you need to do.” I choose in good faith to see as truly coming to Jesus for some guidance. What he didn’t expect was learn he needed to RELEASE the thing he held most dear and comfortable—his wealth and possessions I don’t know what he had or owned… I don’t know if he lived in a large house and had fancy things. We know he had many possessions…so many that to even think about releasing them and be released from them sent him into panicked flight deeply grieved. My guess is more than a few people here today gave your church attendance slightly more thought this week if you knew we were doing our stewardship focus. You might’ve, if even for just one second, thought about how uncomfortable you were willing to be—if you even thought about it being your discomfort. Something might’ve made you think…maybe I’ll just stay home. I hope you came with full knowledge of our stewardship focus because you know you want to grow. My hope is you are ready to see whatever it is you’re holding onto too tightly. You truly want to come and discern your next step of growth. You’re willing to be made uncomfortable for the sake of exploring a more mature faith that is seeking growth. I’m not the only one in need of further growth & maturation, am I? We all need RELEASE. We all are hanging on to our wealth and stuff more than we should. And…our wealth and stuff is hanging onto use more than it should. But how can we find release? We find in our scripture, it starts with REMEMBERING all God has done for us. Everything God did for us we did not and could never earn—we’re not asked to!! Once we remember, then we can trust in the God of RELEASE. God longs to RELEASE us from everything that holds us captive. From our behaviors and practices that tear away at our humanity and soul, yes From our idols — anything that influences our life more than God, yes But ALSO…from our wealth and stuff The Good News is we know where to find our growth… To find life itself: Jesus LEADS us into a Life of RELEASE, if we can just follow him wholly. We all have the opportunity to consider Our Money Story: as individuals and as a church. Does your story tell of someone who is released? Does your story witness to a life holding on to nothing but following Jesus? Does your story MATCH the story God calls you to, where you find the life of the New Age here and now? If we can trust Our Money Story to God: If we can work toward letting go of everything else… If we can free our hands to hold on to Jesus only and fully… If we can follow him completely WHEREVER he will lead us—no matter how uncomfortable… We will find RELEASE and we will find LIFE.

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    Sermon | Exodus 16 & Luke 22 | OUR MONEY STORY - 1. "Remember" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Exodus 16 & Luke 22 | OUR MONEY STORY - 1. "Remember" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana God has a story to tell in our lives--even a money story. We begin a 4-week series to consider what story God is calling each of us and all of us to tell as followers of Jesus Christ. Today we consider the story of manna and the last supper as a way for us to remember the story of God in our life of faith.

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    Sermon | Matthew 7:24-29 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM 8. "How Will You Do It?" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Matthew 7:24-29 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM - 8. "How Will You Do It?" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

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    Sermon | Matthew 7:13-23 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM 7. "Just Do It" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    “The one who DOES the will of God enters into the Kin-dom.” The one who DOES. Not knows… Not memorizes… Not the one who wows and impresses… The one who DOES what the Kin-dom is all about is a part of the Kin-dom. This is how you find life. This is how you avoid destruction. He says to the ones who aren’t doing that they are LAWLESS. The word for Torah is “LAW.” People who don’t do the will of God are living against the law—lawless. The entirety of the Law and Prophets has been fulfilled in Jesus’ teaching from these 3 chapters. He bookended those teachings by saying—I came to fulfill the Law and Prophets. He gave us the Will of God fulfilled. If we do not DO what he taught…we are lawless. We can be a successful church…and be lawless. We can memorize the law and Jesus’ teaching and have lots of people coming in our doors every weekend and build fantastically large and incredible buildings and have everyone in Indiana know who we are…and NOT put Jesus’ teaching into action. I can be a successful pastor…and be lawless. I can be dynamic and popular and have my name known everywhere and publish books and always please everyone with the way I preach and the music that is offered during Sunday worship…and NOT put Jesus’ teaching into action. We can be successful people…and be lawless. We can have nothing but prosperity and blessing and riches and ease…and cry “Lord, Lord!” And perform mighty deeds in the name of Jesus…and NOT put Jesus’ teaching into action. Success is just sheep’s clothing. What are we underneath? Remember, Jesus is announcing the Kin-dom way to his disciples and anyone else who will have ears to hear. He’s telling them… YOU are the Kin-dom. The Reign and Rule of God is more powerful than any other kingdom… We don’t need to wait for the Kin-dom’s coming… We can be the Kin-dom. It starts with his followers… It continues in this room… If we are striving to live this life Jesus has brought to us… If we are accepting his truth as our truth… We will be his disciples. We will be on the hard-pressed road to true life. We will be the Kin-dom. We need the Kin-dom in our very beings… and we need the Kin-dom in each other… and our community needs the Kin-dom… So let’s go and DO what Jesus says… and discover the life awaiting us all.

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    Sermon | Matthew 7:7-12 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM 6. "The Summit" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Matthew 7:7-12 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM 6. "The Summit" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana The Golden Rule is The Everest of living a Kin-dom life and, according to Jesus, "IS the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets"

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    Sermon | Matthew 5:17-20 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM 5. "Yes, and..." by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Matthew 5:17-20 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM 5. "Yes, and..." by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana Jesus fulfills the teaching of God (the Torah) far beyond the expectations of people then and people now.

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    Sermon | Matthew 5:7-12 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM 4. "Blessed Are..." (part 2) by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Matthew 5:7-12 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM 4. "Blessed Are..." (part 2) by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana We, as the Kin-dom, know that all humans are one. Any threat or perceived alternative to that truth is created and sustained by humans, not God. People are obsessed with “sides.” We think we know something about a person if we can divvy them up into labels Liberals and Conservatives Right and Left In and Out They are ALL relative: “Room example” A peace-maker refuses to play the game. A peace-maker stays founded upon God’s way first and only. A peace-maker operates from a place of humility, gentleness, sadness about the division, longing for things to be right among people, and merciful compassion. A peace-maker stands between. A peace-maker never says, “We must take a stand!!” The problem is, when you stand between, you are seen as the enemy by both “sides.” The rules of the game are that you are either “one of us” or “one of them.” Being a peace-maker will disrupt the game. People LOVE the game: Why would they play it if they didn’t love it? People are scared, so they will play the game to be given a narrative that allows them to 1. Know the reason for their fear so they can 2. Know how to defend against it and 3. Kill it. (That’s how it worked for Jesus) Anger…is just fear in disguise, friends. Every political argument being made out there is simple fear that lacks mercy and compassion. Each side wants the other to go away…leave…or even die—because they are terrified of what it means if they aren’t “right” or “in control.” For this game to stop, peace must occur. And peace isn’t the lack of conflict. Peace is the presence of wholeness. We only get that wholeness when we are in unity/community. Not uniformity, but unity. We don’t need to agree—spouses and families should make that truth crystal-clear, amen? This world would be boring and unhealthy if we all agreed about everything. But we can be diverse in thought peaceably—so that everyone is loved, honored,  and regarded with dignity. This is God’s way. It’s not the way of any other system, correct? Focusing on ourselves, on our own people, and refusing to see others is so tempting. So…if it’s not the way we will see in our world, it will never happen without us. God calls us; it starts with us. It starts with YOU in your life, your home, your family, your friends, your community. And, you should know, if you embrace the Kin-dom way and  become a peace-maker, it will be hard and you will face resistance You will be labeled “enemy” in uncertain terms. You will be insulted. You will be denounced, shunned, and rebuked. You will be targeted by institutional and conventional wisdom. You will have your words & actions combed through by those seeking to tear you  down. People will leave your group when you choose to live into the way of peace, mercy,  and compassion. People will say, “You are abandoning God!” because, for them, God is not “merciful, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love.” For them, God and God’s name are being used for their own vanity and purpose. Sadly, that’s a reality we face today. God’s way has been commandeered and used to herald human-made systems, leaders, and groups. But we can be the Kin-dom nonetheless, amen? We can embrace mercy and compassion—not only for others, but for ourselves, yes? We can focus on the Kin-dom alone and know that we will be blessed. Our mourning will be comforted. Our thirsting for God’s way for all people will be satisfied. Our efforts toward peace-making will reveal the truth of God in and through us. We can rejoice! We can know we are pleasing God even when we are not pleasing those who live in  other systems. We can be the pride and joy of God… We will receive God’s mercy and compassion… We can be the Kin-dom alongside of one another following in the footsteps of Jesus. Yes we can friends. Yes, we can. And we must.

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    Sermon | Matthew 5:1-6 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM 3. "Blessed are..." (part 1) by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Matthew 5:1-6 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM 3. "Blessed are..." (part 1) by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

  44. 52

    Sermon | Matthew 5:14-16 & Zephaniah 3:11-13 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM 2. "We are the Light of the World" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Matthew 5:14-16 & Zephaniah 3:11-13 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM 2. "We are the Light of the World" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

  45. 51

    Sermon | Matthew 5:13 & Isaiah 10:20-22 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM 1. "We are the Salt of the Earth" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Matthew 5:13 & Isaiah 10:20-22 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM 1. "We are the Salt of the Earth" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

  46. 50

    Sermon | Mark 5:21-43 | "Fear and Faith" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Mark 5:21-43 | "Fear and Faith" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

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    Sermon | 1 Samuel 16:1-13 | by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | 1 Samuel 16:1-13 | by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

  48. 48

    Sermon | Romans 8 | "God's Love is For..." by Susan Nyquist at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana.

    Sermon | Romans 8 | "God's Love is For..." by Susan Nyquist at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana.

  49. 47

    Sermon | Mark 2:23-28 | "What's the Sabbath For, Anyway?" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana.

    Sermon | Mark 2:23-28 | "What's the Sabbath For, Anyway?" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana.

  50. 46

    Sermon | Romans 5:1-5 | "All in One in All" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

    Sermon | Romans 5:1-5 | "All in One in All" by Rev. Dr. Jenothy Irvine at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana is a body of people who are caring together and growing together. We gather weekly for worship to offer gratitude and celebrate all that God is doing in and through us as we connect with ministry outreach programming that supports several dozen local, state, nation, and world-wide organizations. We believe we are called to walk with and serve the under-served, unhoused, and under-represented people of this world because that is what Jesus Christ did and empowered us with the Holy Spirit to go and do as his church.www.franklingrace.org

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Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

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Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana is a body of people who are caring together and growing together. We gather weekly for worship to offer gratitude and celebrate all that God is doing in and through us as we connect with ministry outreach programming that supports several dozen...

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