Any Thoughts?

Grow Team is currently looking for individuals willing to share their thoughts from Sunday.

Thoughts from Sunday is a blog ministry that began July 2013, spurred on by a question posed by Rev. Stephenson in his first sermon at FUMC:

What is the mission of the church?

One of Grow Team's missions is to inspire FUMC to diligently study Scripture. It seemed like a natural progression to build on this first post with additional mid-week offerings encouraging members to revisit Sunday's Scripture. Thus Thoughts from Sunday began.

Most weeks, a Grow Team member has been inspired to share a thought from Sunday by posting it here on Growing in Faith at FUMC. In addition to directing people to read the Scripture again, each post offers a taste of another perspective and an opportunity for you to consider how God may be speaking directly to you.

In an effort to gel this ministry, we are inviting others to become part of a team to write devotionals based on the previous Sunday's sermon and text. The invitation is offered this week because the primary contributor was out of town... so... no thoughts from Sunday available to publish.

If you are interested in sharing your thoughts to encourage others through God's Word or just want to find out more, contact:

Carol Weaver -- cbweaver@suddenlink.net

or 

Stacy Boyer -- stacy@jacksonvillemethodist.org

Thanks for considering...

May all my thoughts be pleasing to him,

for I rejoice in the Lord.

Psalm 104:34 NLT

[Please note that comments can be left on any post. Click the post title, scroll to the bottom of the post and you will find the comment box. Shared comments help us study and consider God's Word together as He calls us to. Acts 2:42.]

He has Risen (and so have you)

Easter Sunday, Rev. Stephenson turned our attention to resurrection potential.

Read Matthew 28:1-11. [Click the Scripture reference if you don't have a Bible and read it online.]

The question posed to the congregation:

What kind of power does resurrection have in our lives right now?

A powerful question, and I wonder... Do we know that in Him, His resurrection is ours too? 

I'm struck by the angel's words to the women: 

...tell His disciples that He has risen...

It comes across as a command for today... 

Tell His disciples that He has risen!

Remind one another that the miraculous has happened.

He has risen and in Him, you have risen, too.

What does it mean for your day-to-day life, that He has risen?

The pastor emphasized the women's response: they departed quickly... with fear and great joy... 

There is fear connected with the resurrection life, because it leads us into unknowns. Places we never expected to go or we may not even want to go. 

What would it mean for our lives if we received healing from old wounds? What would be expected of us? Or is it easier to use past and present ailments --- physical, emotional, and spiritual --- as reasons not to step out and do what He created us to do and be?

What would it mean to receive complete forgiveness? And to wholly forgive others? What would change in our relationships and expectations? What grievances, rights, or burdens would we have to lay down? Or is it easier to hold a grudge? Hang on to shame? 

And what about the sin that seems to have a hold of us? The anger we can't control? The addiction that rules our life? Where would we run if we couldn't run to these? Is He enough? What if this resurrection life fails?

Old wounds, hurts, injustices, sin --- they define us if we are not careful. They are familiar. Comfortable. And often a source of attention, power, or pity from others. Excuses we can use as anchors to stay right where we are.

But there is also joy at the prospect of what might lie ahead, if we choose to embrace and fully live in His life and power --- fully live the resurrected life. 

In Christ, we are dead to sin and its power --- now! He has been crucified for all. All have died. In Him we are raised when we believe in and trust His great work on the cross and the power of the resurrection life.

So today, I'm reminding His disciples (including myself):

He has risen!

Live fearless today. Open your heart to the potential for great joy and peace. 

Live resurrected.

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ESV

Passion and Drama

This past Sunday, Rev. Stephenson reminded us that Palm Sunday begins a week of passion and drama.

Take time to read the text from Sunday: Matthew 21:1-11
[No Bible near? Click the Scripture reference to read it online at BibleGateway.com.]

Pastor walked us through an examination of the passage looking for a good role model. Knowing the dramatic events to come in the week that follows, he found fault with most.

The disciples: They would argue over which among them was the greatest. One would betray Jesus, and all would desert Him.

The crowds: In less than a week their shouts would turn from Hosanna! to Crucify!

The religious leaders: A group of men largely infiltrated by corruption.

In the end, he pointed to the donkey and her colt, the ones who simply carried Jesus into the world. The same privilege and opportunity we have as His disciples. A role we should aspire to.

Rev. Stephenson's approach to the passage reminds me that all God's Word is a drama. His story --- the story of Jesus --- runs from beginning to end, Genesis to Revelation.

It's fitting for us to enter His Word with passion, seeking Him, finding our place in His story, our role in His drama.

Anytime you read Scripture consider asking:

Who am I? Where do I fit in Your story?

Father God, show us who we are in Your story

as we go through Your Word.

Note: 

For more passion and drama this week attend the Holy Week services at FUMC:

Maundy Thursday, April 17 at 6 pm -- Holy Communion served

Good Friday, April 18 at 6 pm -- Tenebrae Worship Service

Easter Sunday, April 20 at 10:30 am -- Confirmation Class joining the church

Community wide events:

Holy Week Services, April 14-17 (Monday-Thursday) at Noon til 1pm -- lunch served

      St John's UMC, 2020 Beaumont St

Sunrise Easter Service, April 20 at 6:30 am -- Love's Lookout

Breath of Life

Read Ezekiel 37:1-14. Sunday's text. [If you can't get your hands on a Bible right now, click the Scripture reference and read it on BibleGateway.com .]

Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. ..."

Ezekiel 37:11 ESV

And I wonder... Do we know we're dead? Just a bunch of dried bones?

Then Rev. Stephenson calls this passage a powerful prophecy, one that comes in the wake of God's question to Ezekiel:

Can these bones live?

The answer: Yes --- if they are filled with the Spirit of God.

Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O people. ... 

And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live...

Ezekiel 37:12, 14 ESV

Through Ezekiel, we hear the the gospel prophesied --- proclaimed.

Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath... say to the breath,

Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath,

and breathe on these slain, that they may live."

So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them,

and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

Ezekiel 37: 9-10 ESV

The promise of the Spirit-filled life, making us an exceedingly great army for the Kingdom of God, is the one we have complete access to through Jesus's life, death, and resurrection.

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus

were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism

into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead

by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:6 ESV

Newness of life...by the power of the Spirit. 

Are you living it? This new life? Am I?

Where in your life are you choosing to live by your flesh? Following your natural desires and the things that make you comfortable?

Where are you living by the Spirit? Where are your eyes so focused on Jesus and your ears so attuned to His call on your life that you give no thought to self?

What causes fear, anger, irritation? The results of walking in the flesh.

Where do you find joy, satisfaction, peace? The fruit of a Spirit led life.

Will you join me in asking God to breathe life into the places where we are bone dry? 

As individuals and as a corporate body?

Because according to the preaching... 

God will act on our behalf so we will know God is able!

Thank You Jesus for the good news of new life in You.

Thank You for sending Your Spirit to live in us that we might truly live!

Show us where we walk in the flesh, fill us with a desire to repent,

and the faith to walk in the Spirit in every area of life.

Come Holy Spirit! Come!

One Heart and Soul

This past Sunday, the sermon centered on Acts 4:32-37.
Take time to read it now. No Bible? Click the Scripture reference to read it online.

From this passage, Rev. Stephenson sees the Church learning how to be a community of faith.

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul,

and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own,

but they had everything in common.

Acts 4:32 ESV

The early Church, so close to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, could not not give.

They saw first hand, with their own eyes, the Creator lay down His life for His creation and take it up again, that they might have new life. Resurrected life.

There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Acts 4:34-35 ESV

From this reality, they came together in love.
One heart and soul. 

Just as He loved them, they loved one another.
Great grace was upon them all.

There was not a needy person among them...

And I wonder... 

Have we lost our vision? Or have we never clearly seen? Who He is... and what He has done... out of love? for me...? for you...?

Jesus gave all. And so should we.

What keeps you from sacrificially loving others as He did? 

Lord Jesus, grow us to be one heart and soul with You and with each other.

May Your great grace come upon us all.