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  • About Us
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    • What We Believe
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    • Upcoming Events
    • Institutional Partners
  • Classes & Small Groups
    • Adult >
      • Classes and Spiritual Formation Opportunities
      • Small Group Locations & Times
    • Youth
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Hope's New Clothing - Colossians 3:12-17

12/31/2019

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In Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, we hear Paul telling us what naked faith looks like as he describes the garments worn by a genuine community of Christians: garments like compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and, above all, love. These are the “style” or “fashion” marks of those who live “in Christ,” who have been blessed as “God’s chosen ones” (3:12). It is the kind of clothing that the newly converted are to wear, contrasted to the old clothing in the preceding verses that the newly converted are to take off, the kind of clothing that comprise moral and spiritual corruption, evil desire, lust, greed, rage, malice, slander, obscene language, lying (3:5-8).

Read carefully, this whole passage speaks of “taking off” and “putting on”: that’s the language of baptism. It’s also the language of conversion. It is the language of endings and new beginnings.

In fact, I am sure this week, when the clock strikes 12:00 o’clock on December 31st, when we all make our New Year’s Resolutions, we all will resolve to take off those things that we want to say “goodbye” to and put on those things we want to improve on: to cut out the carbs and spend more time in the gym, right? We all will resolve to take the stairs instead of the elevator and spend more time working on the waistline. We all will resolve to spend less time on social media and more time conversing with family and friends. We all will resolve, in short, to make a fresh start, to make good changes in our lives, to put on a fresh, new persona.

Now to be sure, I am all for making resolutions, and I hope we all can make resolutions. But I also hope that the resolutions we make are the kinds of resolutions that will make a difference: Be it resolved that the resolutions we make will make a difference!

What inner change needs to happen in our lives to make a difference? What kind of new clothing do we need to put to show the world who Christ is? 

Both inner change and outer clothing are necessary. How may we show forth the kind of changed clothing Christ brings?
​
Pastor Andy Kinsey 
 
 

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Hope in the Dark - Luke 2:8-20

12/24/2019

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In the midst of all that is Christmas; the lights, sights and sounds of such a beautiful season, it is hard to dispute the wit and wisdom of philosopher, Jerry Maguire, a character played by Tom Cruise, when he said, “We live in a cynical world.  A cynical, cynical world.” It seems we see cynicism or some form thereof everywhere.

It seems, people don’t trust people.  We are always questioning motives. We dispute outcomes regardless of what “side” we are on.  We would rather divide and conquer than unite and share success. Numerous polls and research tell us people are more divided than ever before.  More depressed, isolated, fed-up, critical, and angry than ever before. People are tired of the struggle, overwhelmed by their situations, stressed out and pulled in every direction.  Some even wondering where the hope is anymore or if there is hope in such darkness. 

Of all the stories, illustrations, and clever vignettes, or the myriad of ways I could weave together a Christmas Eve sermon, the only message any of us need to hear tonight is really quite simple and speaks for itself.  It is a story that has stood the test of time, surviving threats from government authorities and political rifts. It has remained intact through wars, recessions, stock market crashes, denominational splits, cultural shifts, church growth, church failures, picket lines, majority votes, good pastors, bad pastors, t.v. evangels, environmental debates, and much, much, much more. 

This night we press the pause button on our busyness and the noise that surrounds us to hear again the most important message ever shared.

Read Scripture - Luke 2:8-12 NRSV 

People of God, that is the message of Christmas.  That is our hope in the darkness of this life and in our world.  
“Fear not”  Be not afraid.  Stand with courage as you walk through the uncertainties of your life; as you seek answers in what feels like darkness, or navigate new waters.  Stand firm as you find your way, make transitions, battle illness, face treatment, take on a new job, adjust to a new normal.  

“Fear not, I bring you good news of great joy” I don’t know about you, but I think we could use some good news in the world today.  The good news that breaks through our world is that God’s very self came to be with us; God’s very self came to be with you and me - to live among us - to walk alongside us, and see us through come what may.  We gained access to the very presence and power of God that night in Bethlehem. And it happened in the only way God knew we would be open to it - a baby. 

“I bring you good news of great joy for all people” - Dear Church, the good news of great joy is not only for you and me. The good news is far bigger than our labels, boxes, divisions, sides, limitations, or judgements we put on each other or the walls we construct between the “us” and “them”.  It’s not our job to decide who is in and who is out; who gets to stand in the light and who is pushed to the dark.  

“To you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”  In the middle of our mess - our struggle, fear and shame comes the very presence of God in the form of a baby.  Our sign of God’s greatness, power, and strength is wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger - a feeding trough for animals.  Everything about Jesus turns what we thought we knew on its head. To the stable of humanity in all its meanness, finger pointing, fighting, and cynicism, God came that we might know love.    

I wonder what darkness you might be experiencing this Christmas. 
I wonder where you are in this journey of faith to Bethlehem. 
I wonder where you see, feel, or hear God is in the darkness. 

The birth of Jesus turns our perceptions of darkness on its head.  No longer does darkness shroud us in fear and doubt. No longer do we have to walk in shame and anger.  No longer do we have to be afraid and fight against the darkness but now we can sit with it - learn from it - come to understand its purpose in our lives - and ultimately recognize the flame of hope that flickers in our midst. 

May all people everywhere come to know on this silent and holy night:
That there is not enough darkness in all the world - 
The world of cancer
The world of abuse
The world of grief
There is not enough darkness in the world of racial violence, brokenness, addiction, hate, pain, or prejudice against anyone to extinguish the light of hope found in Jesus.  Not then, Not now. Not ever. People of God, may the light of hope born long ago, continue to bring life, comfort, joy, and peace to you and to the world.

Pastor Jenothy Irvine
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Hope is Real - Micah 5:2a-5

12/23/2019

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When we turn to Scripture, we need to come to grips with hope: in Scripture, hope takes on a bit of a different form or tone, as hope becomes a confident expectation for the good to come. Grounded in who God is as a God of faithfulness, and grounded in how God acts on our behalf to redeem us – hope is the confidence that God will be faithful to what God has promised. It is what the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Carey, meant when he said once, “Expect great things from God.” It is in the very nature of God to bring about what God intends. God will be faithful to God’s purposes.

I believe that this is what the apostle Paul shares with respect to Abraham in Romans: Paul describes Abraham as the great example of faith: Abraham is reckoned as righteous because of faith in God to fulfill God’s promises in the future (Romans 4:21). “In hope,” Paul writes, “Abraham believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations” (Romans 4:18).

“Against hope” means that from a human point of view, there was no hope. After all, Abraham and Sarah were barren. And yet, with God and in God, the full assurance of hope was given to Abraham and Sarah (Hebrews 11:1). A whole new people was born: Israel. Despite all evidence to the contrary, God was able to create a new future, a whole new beginning.  

It is why, Paul continues, hope does not disappoint us: because of God’s grace, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, even things that work against hope only serve to strengthen it (Romans 5:3-5). Nothing is going to stop this hope!

How true! How may we trust God with this hope as we anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ? How may we place our hope in the One whose Birth will bring a new beginning for all? 
​
Pastor Andy Kinsey
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Hope Changes Us - Luke 3:1-6

12/10/2019

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Emily Dickinson once wrote:
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I’ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Hope is a powerful force and one that can change everything from a broken spirit and uncertain mind, to a bitter attitude and selfish perspective.  In the gospel of Luke, chapter three, John the Baptist raises his voice against those of political authority, cultural status, and financial influence and calls to the people of God: Thunder in the desert! Prepare God’s arrival! Make the road smooth and straight! Every ditch will be filled in, every bump smoothed out, the detours straightened out, all the ruts paved over.  Everyone will be there to see the parade of God’s salvation. (Luke 3:5-6 The Message).

Advent is that time of preparation.  This passage reminds believers what we are preparing for, and it is not simply the birth of a baby.  It is the promise that baby has come to fulfill. The promise that every low place in our lives will be filled in and restored.  Every rough spot smoothed out and renewed. Every confusing or uncertain path made clear. In this promise we find our hope and that hope changes us.  It changes how we view the world around. It changes how we face hardships and tragedy. It changes how we navigate the tough times and handle the broken pieces of our lives or the lives of those we care about.  It changes our perspective and gives us the courage and strength to carry on.

If we prepare our hearts and minds to encounter the holy and cling to the promise God gives us through Jesus, then we have no reason to doubt and every reason to hope!  It doesn’t mean it's easy or that there won’t be challenges and disappointments, but it does mean we are not alone and that things will be better, the pain won’t go so deep, the tears will lessen, love will return, joy is possible, and all will be well.  

Have hope people of God.   Have hope those who are young and old.  Have hope those who are ordinary and quirky.  Have hope those who are grief stricken and weary.  Have hope those who are accepted and rejected. No matter what,  have hope.  

For all will be witness to God’s salvation…hope changes everything. 
Pastor Jenothy Irvine

​
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Hope is Coming - Jeremiah 33:14-16

12/3/2019

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The prophet Jeremiah was trying to proclaim hope in the midst of a very dark time in Israel, during a time of uncertainty and instability, when the Babylonians were preparing to destroy Jerusalem. 

Throughout the period leading up to the Babylonian Exile both Israel and Judah had experienced good times and bad times, good kinds and bad kings. There were good times with good kings like Josiah and Hezekiah who carried out great religious reforms, and there were bad times with bad kings like Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, who oppressed the poor, corrupted worship, and persecuted the prophets. It is King Zedekiah who has placed the prophet Jeremiah in prison (33:1). 

And yet, it is from his prison cell that Jeremiah now speaks “a word from the Lord,” saying that “the days are surely coming” when both Judah and Israel will enjoy a truly righteous ruler in the line of David, one who will demonstrate justice and righteousness (33:15). This new king will save Jerusalem and will do so in a way that will bring glory to God (33:16). This new king will keep and fulfill God’s promises and remind the people that God’s word will stand forever, that God’s word does not come back empty (Isaiah 40:8, Isaiah 55:11). There will come from the stump of Jesse a shoot and out of that shoot a branch, and God will raise up a king who will rule in righteousness and goodness. 

In other words: Hope is coming! God will cause “a righteous Branch to spring forth for David” (33:15), and it will be a Branch that will fulfill God’s purposes and communicate hope to the people. Indeed, in Advent, hope is coming and his name is Jesus, God’s righteous Branch! Despite what ails the world, there is hope to mend and heal the world (John 3:16) and provide hope to whatever is confronting God’s children. Hope is coming!

How may we keep hope alive in our hearts? How may we demonstrate hope to a broken and sinful world?
​
Pastor Andy
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Grace United Methodist Church
1300 E Adams Dr,
Franklin, IN 46131

Phone: 317-736-7962
grace@franklingrace.org

Weekend  Worship Services
Saturday: 5:30pm 
Sunday: 9:00am & 11:00am

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