Grace UMC (Franklin, IN) Sermon Podcast

We can be SO OBSESSED with hunting down the splinters in each others’ eyes instead of dealing with the log in our own.This obsession is a symptom of a wounded heart.This obsession is a symptom of a life in need of grace.Are we willing to let go?Are we ready to live our lives on the path to a heart mended by beginning with understanding just how much we are already forgiven?A good place to start is our own sense of self-identity with the truth of God’s grace?Do we understand the our God has compassion for us?Because God understands that we have lived our entire lives in a mixture of broken systems.we’ve been born and raised in a world that keeps trackWe are surrounded by leaders and messages and even theologies that tell us it’s okay to keep track—that the best way to live is with ledgers.But there IS another way.God already relates to us in that other way.God’s grace is present with us to lead us into that other way if we are willing to let go of the way of ledgers and keeping track. And…forgiveness is not only about the past.There’s also foregiveness:Romans 14 is Paul’s appeal to the churches in Rome who have differing ideas about what it means to be faithfulthey don’t agree!!Paul says, “You don’t have to agree. That is not what we are called to do.”What matters to God is not if you agree with each other, but if you are living as faithfully to God as you can in your own heart so that we can live together as family.If a particular practice or behavior is truly right or wrong for you in your own heart, then act accordingly.And…trust others to act accordingly, too.(Trust God’s grace in your own life…and in others’ lives, too)This doesn’t mean we permit anything and everything…This isn’t an argument by Paul that everything is relative…This a way to live right HERE and NOW that doesn’t keep track.This about how to trust God’s grace through the Holy Spirit to get us all where we need to go.Some people in our church are less developed in their faith:They are new…They are young in their faith…They are growing…They simply haven’t had the experience to understand all that they WILL one day when they have more experience and understanding.So…until then…we are all to welcome each other into our space as we are…Doing EVERYTHING we can to help each other learn and grow in our faith.Those who are more experienced…more developed…more capable…stronger in their faith are to enter this space with less expectation of everyone……focused more on how to nurture unity than uniformity……giving of themselves to show love and grace and encouragement…This is FORE-giveness.This is how to live with a heart being mended.And it all begins with understanding our own reality in God’s grace.God has been at work through the Holy Spirit in all of our lives from the beginning.God has worked in countless ways—some of which we are aware and some of which we are not.Regardless…A life of faith inevitably brings us to the awareness of God’s grace at work for us.My siblings, when we can start our day…Start a conversation…Start the discernment process about someone who has wronged us…Start an interaction with other people being founded upon God’s grace in our own lives, it changes everything.

SERMON | Romans 13:8-14 | "Put On Christ" by Rev. Ceciliah Igweta-Keega at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

SERMON | Romans 12 | "Transformed" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IndianaI appeal to you therefore, dear siblings, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.,For the Word of God… My dear siblings in Christ,We’ve spent our entire lives immersed in a world where humanity caters to power, privilege,ego,and playing prosecutor and judge.Having our minds renewed takes time.Our renewed minds transforming our daily lives takes time.Praise God for grace!!!Praise God for mercy!!But know that following Jesus with our whole lives LEADS to a life transformed.May we say “yes” this day to following Jesus with our hearts, minds, and actions—allowing how we live out our faith to be our constant act of worship:Saying “yes” in your own daily faith walk…Saying “yes” to each other in your faith community—offer yourself and your gifts/talents…we need youSaying “yes” out there to people who are your neighbors whether they know it or not—love on them…love on them…love on them…so that everything you say or do is a reflection of the goodness of God shown to us in Jesus and grown in us through the Holy Spirit.Keep saying “yes,” my siblings in Christ knowing that in saying, “yes” we are truly worshiping our Lord while we also are led toward a life TRANSFORMED.

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, IndianaJesus 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, IndianaWhat we see in this passage are a few important points to consider about the foundation of faith and how Jesus lived it:Jesus lovingly got the disciples out of the chaos of the crowdThe crowd could see Jesus was a powerful kingThey vastly misunderstood both his power and his kingshipNot everyone is committed to learning and unlearning from JesusJesus took time to prayEven as the Son of God, he was constantly finding time alone to recenterEven he needed to remember who was and what he was called to be and doJesus came to the disciples on the water—something only God can doHe showed a dominance over the chaos of the sea; a divine signHe identified himself as “I Am”He revealed himself in a new way to the disciplesJesus welcomed Peter’s desire to be a good disciple/studentPeter knows he is called to do and be what his rabbi does and isHe continues to respond to the original calling, “come follow me.”Jesus was there when Peter falteredHe encourages Peter when he inquired about his doubtsHe 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 stormsWhat 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:Loving and providing for othersTaking time to pray and recenter ourselvesRespond to the call to do seemingly impossible things—even if we might falterInviting each other to keep growing in our faith and not be dismayed when we struggleAccept the peace of his presence with us no matter who we are or how much we might doubtPeter 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, IndianaWe 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 LordAnd 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, IndianaWhen 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 selfLove 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, IndianaGod’s steadfast love endures foreverand God’s faithfulness to all generations.Steadfast refers to covenant: God’s covenant love endures foreverGod’s promise to love God’s people will NEVER ceaseGod 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 GODGod 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 GODDo 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 assuredGod’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.

SERMON | Genesis 18.1-15, 21.1-7 | "A Miracle Called Laughter" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IndianaWhen you experience a miracle, it changes everything.When you witness a miracle, there is no going back.So how do you receive miracles today?Are they possible?If you witnessed one, would you allow yourself to recognize it as such?If you’re like me you are not sure what to do with the idea that miraculously good things can happen in my life knowing of the horrific things that are happening in the lives of others.I struggle to make sense of people who pray for and credit miracles in their lives while at the same time supporting some of the heinous activities occurring right here in our own community:some families being discounted by our leaders,some genders being deemed less-worthy of God’s approval and calling by entire denominations,people who look or talk different being treated like they are less-than.It helps for me to remember that Abraham and Sarah did go on to be the ancestors of a great family whose story stretches across our scripture—a family who didn’t always get it right…they had to learn and grow…they had to fall and get back up…So many times this family who was commissioned to be the very source of God’s blessing to ALL FAMILIES across the earth, at times, became so fixated on their own well-being and dominance and greatness that they became persecutors of other people-groups.Time and again this beautiful family failed.Time and again they grew skeptical and laughed in the face of God.And…time and time again they wrote down those shortcomings and failures in scripture!!They never tried to hide their humanity or fragility—for that I am in true awe, amen?But still, their story is of a miracle.God worked through people—a family—who found a way to look beyond themselves and their own people and their own well-being to create a scenario where we, on the other side of the world, now have the hope and blessing of God in Jesus Christ.We share in the same Holy Spirit and commission to serve and love our community of humanity seeing everyone as family.Is this a miracle?How could it not be?Today…right now…is a gift.Our faith is a gift.Our doubt is a gift.What will we do with it?I hope we begin with laughter; not the laughter of skepticism, but of joy and awe.I hope we make a habit of remembering what a miracle it is to have faith and hope.Faith that God is always with us.Faith that God is still at work in our lives in the most unexpected ways.Faith that God will accomplish all that is promised—the healing of all creation.Hope that we get to experience that healing in our own lives.Hope that we can work together for healing in our community.Hope that we are not alone in our calling to be a part of God’s great restoration…to make all things new.I hope we start each day remembering a simple miracle:This church…this group of people around you called Grace UMC…We are a group of people who come from different families, backgrounds, & histories AND YET…are committed to caring together and growing together each and every day—to treat each other as family and, as a family, serving and loving our community.I hope we allow that remembrance to change everything.I hope we embrace that although life brings plenty of hardship, struggle, and fragility,…we can also always have laughter.I hope we are able laugh more and more with the wonder of a people who are in awe of God at work in, through, and for us.I hope we learn to laugh in such a way that others witness the joy we have found in our faith and hope.

SERMON | Genesis 1:1-2 & Matthew 28:16-20 | "Trinity Sunday" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IndianaThis faith, while it is personal, it MUST be social.A heart and soul devoted to Jesus necessitates a mind and body devoted, too.A changed heart is a changed life—we will live differently.We MUST live differently…because we are called—we are charged—we are commissioned—because we follow Jesus empowered by the Spirit so that we can become God’s humanity for the flourishing of our world and everyone and everything in it.Our goal today, friends, is not to be the finished perfected products of God at work in our shared life.Our goal today is simply to take that next step.Maybe you are very early on in the journey of faith and you’re still just trying to figure out why I called Genesis 1 a poem…or you are feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all.—that’s okay.Your next step will look different than some people around you.Some are further “along” the path and others aren’t as far “along” as you.Trust them to take their next step and offer yourself to help them.You can help them by what you DO and what you SAY in our shared life together.Encourage them.If they believe things you don’t, you don’t need to correct them.If they still have a great deal of their life wrapped up in things that don’t reflect a life in God’s Reign yet…love them, serve them, and celebrate every step they take in that direction.If they falter or struggle, love them and serve them and treat them like the precious creation they are.We are in this together.And Jesus is God with us every step of the way.- Jesus is fulfilling what was spoken at his birth: that we would be ImmanuelOn that note:Jesus said, “I am with you always until the end of the age.”For his disciples, the destruction of the Temple in 70CE was the absolute end of an age.Jesus reminded them when he was with them (and the presence of the Holy Spirit continued to remind them) that Jesus is still with them no matter what they face.May we, as disciples…as human beings recovering from our former lives serving ourselves, remember that even hard days, bleak days, long days, dark days, and unbelievably incomprehensible days are no reason for us to despair.God is with us.The Creator continues to create…The Word continues to reveal…The Breath continues to empower us.

SERMON | Acts 2:1-21 | "When God Tears Down Walls" by Rev. Ceciliah Igweta-Keega at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IndianaPentecost Sunday

SERMON | Acts 1:6-14 | "Why Are You Looking Up?" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IndianaJesus is about to leave.The work of God through Jesus is complete and now it’s the disciples’ turn.They understand that God is restoring the family of Abraham when Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit.Long ago the people called Israel had seen the Temple destroyed and rebuilt, but they had always felt that God’s presence had not fully returned to them in some way which is why they were holing out hope for their restoration.Jesus claimed he was that restoration—his crucifixion and resurrection would prove it.He must depart so that the Spirit within him might be shared beyond his body and into the collective family of the new Kingdom which the disciples had become and were to grow upon the earth.They were to go into the world and BE the ones through whom God would work.They were to shoulder the work which Jesus had been doing.They were to travel around, identify where they could work, and then offer themselves to do the work.But notice…Jesus tells them they will be empowered to do this work…but first they are to stay put in Jerusalem.They will wait together and be constantly devoting themselves to prayer together.They need to be patient and in conversation.They need to discern and work as one.They need to know what is to be done before they can just do it.So…what do you see in your world that could be done for the purpose of faith, hope, and love?Where is there struggle in your sphere of influence?Where is there a need for reconciliation?Where is there a need for hope?Where is there a need for loving presence?Where is there a need for forgiveness?Where could things be better?God has gifted each of us to see in unique ways.So…look around, friends.Then, pray together and allow your hearts to help you see how God might work through you.Then, go and do—trust in the power of the Holy Spirit.One of my favorite theologians says, “Pray like it’s all up to God. Live like it’s all up to you.”May we pray. May we do. May we continue becoming more like Jesus—here and now.

SERMON | John 14:15-21 | "The Indwelling Presence" by Rev. Ceciliah Igweta-Keega at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

SERMON | 1 Peter 2:1-10 | "A Spiritual House" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IndianaA Temple is where God is present on the earth.That’s what a Temple is—the place where God’s reality overlaps with our reality.WE are that place—as a community of people WE are the place where God’s presence abides and is experienced on earth.We call this abiding presence “The Holy Spirit”Any questions?We are then called to be a royal priesthood—great, right?!Who doesn’t want to be a priest, amen?But…what is a priesthood?Priests do two things:They represent humanity to GodThey represent God to humanity.Priests traverse space both inside and outside of the Temple.They enter and leave—when the old dead-stone version of the Temple existed.They would prepare themselves…purify themselves…to enter into God’s presence.They would offer sacrifices to God on behalf of the entire people they represented.They would then leave the temple and come before the people as God’s representatives.They would be living examples of God’s goodness in such a way that people could see it and experience it for themselves.WE are a priesthood in the world today.We commune with God, but no longer in a stone building—not even this one.We commune together with the people of God, the Kingdom, the living stones of the spiritual house…We align our lives to the direction of The Cornerstone so that we are assembled in a way that brings grace, love, joy, truth, etc. to our shared life together WHILE ALSO bringing these things into the wider world so that ALL kingdoms and ALL people might come to understand the goodness of God through how we live.Simple!!This is our purposeThis is our identityWe are a spiritual house of living stones who are growing and learning while also allowing the presence of God to be experienced in the world today.This is God’s plan for the world, friends!! We are a part of it!!One last little part: purifying and preparing ourselves to be a priesthood and spiritual house.The priests of old would use blood of sacrificed animals to cover themselves with life.Blood = lifeIf you took the blood out of a living thing, it ceased to live.There were hundreds of rules on how to handle and deal with blood because it was regarded as so incredibly sacred because it was life itself.Priests would cover their imperfect selves with the blood from a perfect sacrifice.This entire symbol is what “the blood of Christ” and “purifying ourselves by the blood” comes from.Except…no more sacrifices need to be made for us to be purified.Purity and life no longer come through being covered in blood.Instead, we drink of the cup as a representation of our purification and cleansing—forgiveness, healing, reconciliation of Christ’s body (the church)…We all share of the one cup and bread to represent that Christ’s death was the ultimate sacrifice to end all sacrifices.We ingest the body just like people from the early temple days would ingest part of the sacrificed animal.We drink of the blood to participate in the receiving of Christ’s sacrifice to end all sacrifices. The blood is the symbol for our purification and cleansing…we remember that we don’t walk around impure and unclean. We are a forgiven people.All of this so that we can continue to grow in our understanding…To mature in our faith…To be built together into a spiritual house so that wherever we go and whatever we do we represent God to the world around us.We are now the place where God’s healing occurs for all of Creation.We remember all that’s been done at the Communion tableWe remember that every person who follows Jesus gathers at the table with us no matter where they are, who they are, or within what denomination or branch of our faith they belongWe remember what the bread and cup mean—all that’s been done and all that is before us to do as we carry on as the spiritual house.

SERMON | John 10:1-10 | "The Voice Worth Following" by Rev. Ceciliah Igweta-Keega at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

SERMON | Luke 24:13-35 | "Walking the Wrong Way With Jesus" by Rev. Ceciliah Igweta-Keega at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

SERMON | John 20:19-31 | "Being Is Believing" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IndianaWe should invest ourselves in BEING disciples:loving, serving, and being an example for others.Let our lived experience being disciples also be a vessel through which we can grow in our faith.Let living like Jesus teach you more about Jesus and his way.Chances are very strong that we are not going to see Jesus like Thomas and the disciples did, but remember:“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”Maybe we’ve put way too much stock into seeing.Maybe we spend far too much of ourselves and our precious time looking for what we expect to see and placing our hope of full-faith too much into our certainties.Maybe Jesus was instructing us in divine wisdom when he gives the commandments to:Serve others as he served us—be in the posture of a servant toward othershow can you view others as sacred?How can you work to NEVER look down on anyone elseRemind yourself to take the extra stepIf there’s a task or chore to be done, be the one to volunteer to do itLeave the better parking spot for someone who may need it moreClean up the dishes after a mealPay attention to who is around you and could use a friend—be that friendLove each other as I have loved you—give of yourself for othersBe wildly curious before you rush to judgment—ask questions when someone says or does something you don’t understand or with which you don’t agreeTreat everyone around you the same as you treat those you love mostBe quick to say others, “You go first”Go into the world as I have come to you—bringing peace and forgiveness.Be known for being the first to say “I’m sorry”See beyond the anger and a hatred of someone to find the fear-stricken soul underneath who relies on that rough exterior to protect themForgive people…and forgive yourself, so that you can better learn to forgive othersBEING a disciple allows Jesus to LEAD us into full-belief.We come to KNOW God by trusting Jesus to be THE WAY.We come to fully see the truth when we live it.So, no matter what is happening in your life,No matter what is happening in the worldNo matter how right or wrong things seemNo matter who you are, what you’ve done, or what you believe…BE a disciple of Jesus:Love—give of yourself for othersServe—place yourself below others in healthy waysNurture Peace—be a source of reconciliation, forgiveness, and mercyContinue, as a community of faith, to read scripture, learn tradition, make sense of our time together in this world, and BE disciples together to allow our experiences to continue to shape us into the people we are meant to be—blessed, whole, and alive.

SERMON | Matthew 28:1-10 | EASTER "A New Start" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IndianaWhile that’s the story of the church through every generation,do we take time to notice how incredible as it is?As wonderful and beautiful as Jesus’ miracles were during his ministry…we could say “Well, he is the Son of God…the divine Messiah…it makes sense that extraordinary things happened around and through him.”But normal everyday human beings…People who struggle and doubt just like us…Coming together in a way that was closer than they were with even family…Entrusting their lives to the new way of life revealed by Jesus and now through his followers…Entrusting possessions…energy…time…ambition…Giving away pride…ego…self-focus…Gathering together in true humility, love, gentleness, and peace to take care of one another…to forgive one another…to grow together…to try new things…to find their joy in their shared lives…This is truly a miracle that in ways is just as awesome as the resurrection.I mean, really…think about it:Of course God could raise Jesus—God is God!!But normal people giving up our self-focused lives to be a part of something that is all about service and giving ourselves away for others in love???Who does that?And yet, the church has done this for 2,000 years!!!We have not been perfect.Our history is full of horrific actions and painful arguments, violence, wars, and disappointment. Yes?But we didn’t let that stop us from rising up into another new start together.Through forgiveness, time, healing, prayer, love, and a whole lot of grace… we got things together with each other and continued to do extraordinary acts of healing, restoration, and reconciliation for our communities and world.And here we are today, friends.We are just as clumsy and ignorant as anyone has ever been.We’ve caused pain to many different groups of people—casting them out, writing them off, and truly harming them.We are not pretending we’ve got if all figured out—but rising up is what we do!We have continued to find new starts—to recognize where we have become oppressors and offenders to love and grace…to other humans and to God.We continue to learn…to grow…to have our eyes and hearts opened to see the world as God sees it……to see people as God sees them……to see ourselves as God sees us……to learn what it truly is to live a life of wholeness, joy, love, and freedom—NOT as the world defines these things, but as GOD defines them.No matter who any of us are today…No matter what we’ve ever said or thought…No matter what we’ve done that we shouldn’t have or not done that we should’ve…No matter the harm we’ve caused… (and the church has caused great harm)No matter the pain we’ve endured…No matter our age or status…No matter who we love…No matter the color of our hair, our eyes, or our skin…No matter what language we speak or where we were born…We can share in a new start together.Why?BECAUSE OF EASTER!!!Because of the empty tomb.Because no amount of denying, abandoning, crucifying, or cowering stopped Jesus from rising up & ushering love, grace, mercy, & fullness into this world for ANYONE would would choose to look for hope.So, my friends, what are you looking for this day?For what do you hope?A new start?A life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?Then I have good news for you!!The good news is God raises up new life and new start right here and right now in the body of Jesus Christ called “the church.”We experience the living Christ when we gather in his name to live as he has called us to live—with hope.This is why we celebrate the empty tomb today.Because LIFE wins over deathGRACE has the last word over sinThe POWER of LOVE wins over EVERY…SINGLE…OTHER …TYPE OF POWERWe celebrate because…CHRIST…IS…RISEN… and WE… are Easter people.

SERMON | Psalm 118.1-2, 19-29 & Matthew 21.1-11 | "Marching Orders" by Rev. Ceciliah Igweta-Keega at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

SERMON | Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 130, Romans 8:6-11, & John 11:1-45 | "Redemption Road" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IndianaThink about a time when you felt stuck… overwhelmed… maybe even hopeless.When worry kept replaying in your mind.When anxiety felt like the default setting.When you didn’t know how things would turn out.Most of us have been there.And sometimes people try to help—but their words miss the mark:“It could be worse.”“Just stay positive.”“God won’t give you more than you can handle.”But those words don’t always touch the real struggle.In Ezekiel’s story, God doesn’t rush the prophet past the valley; God walks him through it—again and again—so he really sees it.That’s what hard seasons are like. We go over them repeatedly. We sit with the pain. We wonder if anything will ever change.Maybe you’ve prayed those honest prayers:“God, are you listening?”“Do you care?”“Do I matter?”And yet… here you are.You’ve made it through things you once thought you couldn’t.Or maybe you’re still in the middle of it—but you’re still here.That matters more than we often realize.Our lives hold both joy and struggle—times of growth right alongside seasons that felt dry and empty.And when we look back, we can often see: God was present, even then.So what about now?Maybe something in your life feels like that valley of dry bones…or like a sealed tomb.Maybe it’s something personal—your heart, your family, your work.Maybe it’s bigger—the state of the world, the economy, the needs around us that feel overwhelming.Maybe it’s something deeper—maybe you’re just not finding the kind of life to your faith that you had at one time…or that you’ve always longed for and simply haven’t found yet.It’s easy to look around and see only what’s broken.So we hear the question again: Can these bones live?Here’s the good news:Even when our faith wavers… God is still faithful.Jesus stood at that tomb alongside people who simply couldn’t muster any hope. He wept for Mary’s lack of faith—but he didn’t stop there.He called Lazarus out.God has always been in the business of bringing life out of impossible situations—creating, restoring, renewing, again and again—filling Creation with Holy breath.And that hasn’t changed.God is still with us. God has not given up on us.So maybe the invitation today is simple as we consider the valleys of dry bones and sealed tombs among us:Lift your eyes, even just a little.Lift your voice, don’t be afraid to speak words of life.Or maybe…simply give God a chance to surprise you.Remember how far you’ve come already on this Redemption Road.Remember that we are on it still—all of God’s people for all of God’s world.Trust that God is still leading you—maybe not in the way you expect,but always toward renewal through God’s mercy.There is still hope for us and this world.There is still possibility when things seem dry.And with God, there is always life.Here, now, and forevermore. Amen

SERMON | Psalm 23 & Ephesians 5:8-14 | "Journeying in Grace" by Rev. Ceciliah Igweta-Keega at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IndianaLENT 2026

SERMON | Psalm 95:1-3, 8-10 & Romans 5:1-11 | "Companion for the Journey" by Rev. Ceciliah Igweta-Keega at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IndianaLENT 2026

SERMON | Genesis 12, Romans 4:1-5 & John 3:1-17 | "Guided by the Promise" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IndianaAbraham and Sarah were approved by God before God even spoke with them.God called them not due to anything they’d done, but because God wanted them!They were regarded as righteous—in right relationship with God—not by doing anything…but by trusting.Yes, they did uproot their lives from everything familiar, comfortable, and affirming…but only after the promise was given to them.They WENT because they were guided by the promise.So, Paul says, their trust is really what made them right with God.So, Paul continues, it’s not our actions or works that make us right with God…rather, it’s our trust.I know, trusting God’s grace is so hard for us because our culture constantly tell us that we have to earn things.We herald those who come from nothing and MADE THEMSELVES something.We expect people to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps…” to work hard… and to not expect anything is theirs unless they deserve it.But this is the exact opposite of how God’s mercy and promise work and our western values can hinder our understanding.God loved us first—the whole world.God loved first.God has already done all that is needed for us to be renewed in mercy and receive the promise.Jesus death accomplished all that was needed.That’s what he said, “It is accomplished.”As in, “What I have done has created a reality that will forever be fulfilled…what I have done will remain done for eternity. It won’t need done again.”God’s love in Jesus is a gift.It’s already ours.It’s like God is giving us a huge hug while we stand there with arms to our sides.We need not do anything to earn God’s love.No amount of following rules or saying prayers or anything is necessary.We only need to have faith…to believe…to trust in this good news of God’s love.Now, rules and commandments and the law help us know what kind of behavior pleases God and helps us live into better relationships with God and people, but no amount of doing any of that affects the love of God that is already ours.Amen?Do you trust the good news even if it sounds too good to be true?Will you trust in God?Will you uproot from what you think you know about yourself, God, the world, others?Will you head out into the unknown of God’s grace and love?Will you be born of the spirit?Will you be born from above?Can you trust… can you place your faith in… can you believe…God’s love is already ours.God is proud of us.We…are…enough.If we can accept this…if we can accept God’s embrace and trust in it enough to embrace God back… it changes how we live and why we do the things we do.Receiving God’s mercy renews our relationship with God.This is an ongoing process, friends.Living into God’s grace is a constant uprooting because we journey into fully embracing God back step by step, day by day, awakening by awakening…Let us, as beloved members of this promise family, trust God in every moment,Trust God in every conversation of self-reflection about who we are,In every opportunity to move beyond our certainties,In every blessed moment we choose to see Jesus in the people around us, especially those who are most vulnerable—even if that’s the face that stares back at us in the mirror.Let us keep saying “yes” to trusting God, that we may allow ourselves to be guided by the promise.

SERMON | Psalm 32 & Matthew 4:1-11 | "Mercy on the Wilderness Road" by Rev. Ceciliah Igweta-Keega at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IndianaLent 2026

SERMON | Matthew 17:1-9 | "The Transfiguration" by Rev. Ceciliah Igweta-Keega at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

SERMON | Matthew 5:13-20 | "The Kingdom of God: The Matter of the Heart" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IndianaIf our hearts are not right, we will not live into this God-willed way of relationship with one another.If you degrade a person’s humanity AT ALL…you’re living counter to God’s will and way.If you think a person is less-deserving of love and grace than yourself, you are living counter to what God intends.If you view a person as an object…as a means to your own end…then you are on the path of darkness, not light.We are all guilty of doing this to other people.There’s a reason Jesus spends so much time talking about it.Thinking about what we do or don’t say to them…Or what we do or don’t do……is just a matter of limiting our darkness.Jesus will spend the rest of this sermon revealing that God is after our hearts.How we posture ourselves toward other people is crucial.When our hearts are not in-line with God’s intended purpose for us…When we are NOT fulfilling the law…Our actions WILL NOT be good fruit.But if our hearts ARE in-line with God’s intended purpose…If we ARE fulfilling the law…Our actions WILL BE good fruit.We don’t need to focus on what we are doing on the outside, whether we’re following rules are able to stop ourselves just short of some sort of human-crafted limitation…We need to focus on getting our hearts right so that we can KNOW how we respond to the world is what God intended for us as the salt of the earth and light of the world.Entering the Kingdom is not about following rules.Entering the Kingdom is a matter of the heart.Saying, “Yes” to God and following Jesus and entrusting ourselves to the Holy Spirit’s leading is us making a commitment to being healed from the inside out.We start in the heart…and the rest will naturally follow.It’s strange how we so often turn this whole effort into an outside-in process in our heads, isn’t it?If we follow the right rules…dress the right way…use the right words…somehow that makes us worthy.That’s the way of scribes and pharisees, friends!As individuals, we will find life when we begin surrendering our will to God.When we desire what God desires…When we see people as God sees them…When our hearts break for the things that break God’s heart…As a church, we will find life when we surrender our mission and vision to the leading of the Holy Spirit.When we stop worrying about what songs we sing…When we stop worrying about how this space is decorated…When we stop living by “that’s how we’ve always done it”…When we stop filtering who can enter into our doors…When we, instead, take time to quietly pray and commune together…When we take time to share a meal and conversation…When we hear each other’s hearts and stories…The Holy Spirit has been at work in this church for over 200 years.The Holy Spirit is every bit as active today as ever!!We need only take some time to consider what might be keeping up from being the salt of the earth and light of the world.We need only take time to notice where maybe we’ve brought other type of seasoning into the mix…perhaps some wonderful traditions of the past have simply lost saltiness—because they served a purpose for THAT place and time more than they serve a purpose for THIS place and time.So much of ministry is about taking time to pay attention…So much of being a witness for God is showing up—coming out from underneath the bushel basket so that the love, grace, mercy, compassion, and truth can be more on display.When we stay true to our calling making sure our collective heart is right, then what we do and how we do it will naturally bear good fruit for the Kingdom of God.We’ll be a place where our acts of service are pleasing to God…Where our very being is a light of hope for those in our community who lack it.We’ll become the Kingdom people God is calling us to be…And, friends, there’s nothing better than Kingdom-living.

SERMON | Matthew 5:1-12 | "The Kingdom of God: For Anyone on the Right Path" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IndianaLiving more and more into the Kingdom of God means living less and less in every other kingdom.Those who are allegiant to other kingdoms will see you as a traitor…as un-allegiant.Experiencing this kind of response from disciples of other kingdoms should encourage us to know that we are actually becoming less allegiant to other kingdoms and, therefore, more allegiant to God’s Kingdom.People telling us we are not acting other-kingdom enough should be a joy to us.And when people go from just telling you to actively working against you…Spreading rumors…Attacking you verbally or even physically…Making life harder for you…You can have joy in your heart that you are walking the path of God’s messengers. This is how Jesus begins his sermon.This is the character of God’s will…God’s Reign…God’s Kingdom among us.This Kingdom of God among us doesn’t look like other kingdoms EVEN WHEN those other kingdoms claim to belong to God.You can misuse God’s name all you want in some vain effort to build up credibility and a sense of self-righteousness all you want…but it doesn’t take much to simply open your eyes—to pay attention to those who are poor in spirit…to those who mourn…to those who are gentle…to those who long for things to be fair, equitable, and just…to those who show mercy…who aren’t caught up in the wrong things…who live their lives bringing healing and wholeness.Friends, if we want to be on the right path to the Kingdom of Heaven among us…we must first place our hope and trust in the Kingdom revealed by Jesus.And just like the crowds around Jesus had to understand, let us understand… God’s blessing doesn’t look like what we define as blessing. They thought their high priests, great leaders, kings, governors, and Caesars were blessed by God to be in their positions.Don’t be fooled by these “blessings” of the world.God will not bring the world back to right through the people who are “blessed” in systems of corruption and terror.Furthermore, to be on the right path in the Kingdom among us,You don’t have to be a pastor…You don’t have to have gone to church for years…You don’t have to have read the Bible (although it certainly helps)…You don’t have to have the answers—in fact, maybe poor in spirit starts with admitting we do NOT have all the answers.Anyone can journey toward the Kingdom among us.Anyone can seek to find the right path.That’s why were here, friends.To not only follow Jesus, but to embody the character of Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven so that others may see a whole different kind of Kingdom…a different kind of reality…a different kind of character. (SET APART)It’s so TEMPTING to respond to the world in kind.It’s easy to become angry and cynical.It’s easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment and say things about other human beings that are simply terrible things to say.It’s easy to stoop down to the level of terrorizers and become terrorizers ourselves…It’s easy to forget that all other people are human beings JUST…LIKE…US.These different groups from Jesus day (Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, Essenes) were only driving people apart and in conflict with each other—this is NOT the kingdom!!The world has seen enough of other kingdoms—enough division. Haven’t we?We’ve spent far too long living in other kingdoms.Let’s follow Jesus…a trust his way of humility, grace, and love a little more today…giving more of ourselves until we are able to give all of ourselves.That by following Him, we may go from being hopeless to having hope…to becoming hope.It’s possible, friends, because Jesus can lead us there.Do you believe in this hope?Do you believe in him enough to follow?Anyone can follow him.Anyone can be on the right path.…and this Good News is a blessing indeed.

SERMON | Matthew 4:12-23 | "The Kingdom Among Us" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IndianaThe whole story of the Bible is about putting things back together as God had intended. All of Creation is meant to be connected and a giant collective where we all gain something EXTRA…a quality that is more than the sum of its parts.There’s a phrase for this:Kingdom of God.Reign of God.Heaven.When things are connected as they should be and living into their intended purpose…they are in paradise…delight…heaven.For centuries God had been trying to get the world back together as it should be through a family coming from Abraham and Sarah.For years God’s people had been longing for this great promise of wholeness for all creation to be fulfilled.And then Jesus shows up and announces, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.”The Kingdom of God is among us.The great collective of humans and all creation is now among us, Jesus says.Living here and now as things should be is accessible.He’ll then spend the rest of this Gospel Account helping people to understand how to access it…how to live into it…how to embrace the way, the truth, and the life as God defines them.All we need to do is repent and follow him.Repent—we must reorient our lives away from what we think it’s all about right now and direct our steps toward the path of Jesus as he reveals the truth.This doesn’t mean you need to leave your home, work, family, or whatever else.The kingdom isn’t a place.The kingdom isn’t even a particular point in time.The kingdom is a reality of a particular quality and complexity into which we can live our every moment alongside of God and others.We don’t have to fully understand it or know the rules or live into it perfectly right now because there’s no way we can.Instead, we say “yes” to it.We say “yes” to following Jesus as he shows us what the Kingdom is all about right here and now.We say “yes” to the body of Christ, the church, where can explore this good news together with the very presence of God’s Holy Spirit who continues to speak to us and draw us into this wonderful reality already among us…The Spirit connects us to the community and to God in such a way that we experience the quality of what the Kingdom brings us that is beyond the sum of the parts.When we truly repent—when we reorient ourselves in God’s direction and choose to live beyond just ourselves—we can experience the reality of God’s presence in every aspect of our lives together.Miracles happen all around us…if we but just lift our eyes from our every day worries and pinings…If we but just drop the nets we are so focused on and have become so accustomed to that we’ve stopped considering something bigger.What you have to offer your church family in this new season of ministry together is NEEDED by us all.What each person in this congregation has to offer is EXACTLY what you need.We are not here by accident.We are here for such a time as this.We are here to do what God has for us to do in this season.We are here to follow Jesus, experience the Kingdom, and be the very vessel through which God can continue to bring the promise of all Creation and people being, once again, back into right relationship with one another…That we can shine the light of the reality of the Kingdom into a world that is so fixated on all of the wrong things we have ceased to be connected and we have ceased to experience Life as it can be with God.The Kingdom is here…Now…Among us.

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.

JITQ #2

Ash Wednesday

Transfiguration

We are invited to go deeper in our faith. Are you willing?

What does it mean to prosper?

Hoping is important when we are struggling.

We are called to love

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