The weekly sermons from Washington Street UMC in Alexandria, VA. To learn more about Washington Street UMC, check out the church online at www.wsumc.com.
God's steadfast love provides true happiness to the faithful.
Bad things happen to good people. God's ways are not our way.
Our kingdom building must continue; Jesus paid the price
Jesus died for us all. No one has to settle for the crumbs under the table.
Do we know where our help comes from? How do we achieve eternal life?
There are times in our lives when we feel like we are on those boats in the midst of the stormy waters. The choppy waves leave us wondering, were is the Lord? The text reminds us to be confident in the Lord's presence.
Churches are not meant to be country clubs, which often maintain exclusive membership policies. The apostle reminds us that, as members in the household of God, we are a new creation. With our new body, we have new eyes. With new eyes, we learn to see others not from a human point of view, but from the perspective of the one Christ, who redeems and gifts us all new life.
The church has a lot of old, stuffy rules that often get in the way of important ministry matters. Jesus was not immune to others telling him how he could and couldn't live faithfully before God. As members of the body of Christ, we should ask ourselves, how committed are we to the work to which we have been called?
God could do all the work by himself, but there is a divine plan to use you and me -- so all can have access to God's love.
The disciples had returned to Jerusalem following the ascension, where they worshipped God and prayed. The arrival of the Spirit drives them out, reminding us all that the Spirit does not gift us to remain in social halls of homogeneous comfort, but moves us into the streets to engage and welcome an expansive body that represents all of God's beloved humanity.
The disciples longed to sit in Jesus' presence. They mourned his crucifixion, and locked themselves in the upper room. When Jesus returned, they wanted nothing more than abide in his presence. But Jesus doesn't call us to stay in his presence, Jesus departs, promising the gift of a leading spirit, so that we might go forth to all the world.
This is the invitation of Jesus himself, that we might know we are loved, and that we might abide in Jesus' love by keeping Jesus' commands, commands that require us to love one another as Jesus loved us (that is, laying one's life down for another). And then, in summary, we are told that we are given these commands, so that, once again, we might love one another.
There are only three General Rules for Methodists. The rules lead us in our mission as the Church. Even beyond our stated mission at WSUMC, the United Methodist Church also has a leading mission: To Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.
The third General Rule is "Attend the Ordinances of God." The ordinances of God were those things that Wesley identified as being required of God's people, including works of piety and works of mercy. What does this look like our modern society?
The second of the General Rules is "Do Good." Sometimes the "good" that we are do seems obvious, but at other times, it can be tricky. What does doing "good" look like in our community - in our lives?
The first of the General Rules is "Do no Harm." Sounds easy, right? Perhaps not. This isn't a passive avoidance of intentionally doing harm to another person. This means declaring solidarity with people from all walks of life, and being intentional about the way we live in community with those whose way of life differs from our own.
On Palm Sunday, we remember that Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was not a risk-free, palm party. It was a protest parade—a protest against those in power, a parade to prepare the way for a different kind of king. And this was all happening with plots to kill Lazarus (and Jesus) building in the background. We're reminded that the crowds were brave to show up that day, and that Jesus drew on courage to face his journey to the cross. The root of courage is “cour,” meaning “heart.” Courage is deep within us; drawing on courage is both internal and external. We often find it when we most need it, when everything else has been stripped away.
We desire for God to write on our hearts so that God's law can re-shape and re-form us from the inside out. Reformation is a journey of letting the old fall away for something new to emerge, of returning to God's words over and over, of being drawn into the heart of God. This is the process of justification and sanctification; transformation must be internal and communal.
After inviting Nicodemus to be born anew, Jesus tells him in John 3 that God so loved the world that God sent his son to restore it. Therefore, when we read John 3:16, we remember that Jesus is speaking in metaphor and poetry. Ultimately, love is where God begins and ends. This love, like grace, is a gift we do nothing to deserve. Again and again, love is our refrain. Before we act, think, or believe, can love be first for us too?
According to John, Jesus begins his ministry by showing more than telling. In the temple, Jesus disrupts and overturns the systems of corruption and profiteering taking place, but ultimately points us to the promise of restoration. Paul reminds the Corinthians (and us) that God's wisdom is more expansive than we can imagine. We are shown the way, even if God's way feels foolish, counter-cultural, disruptive, or uncomfortable.
According to Mark, on the first day of the week, the women rise with the sun and buy spices to anoint Jesus' body. They are shocked to find the tomb empty, and leave in fear and terror. Mark's resurrection story is less triumphant than the other Gospel testimonies (as scholars believe the remainder of Mark's gospel was a later addition). In Mark's version, we are reminded that Easter comes to us, again and again, even if we don't know what to make of God's resurrection ways. Again and again, the sun rises. And some days, that is enough.
Like the disciples, we are often stuck in the pattern of messing up over and over again. We cling to power, we climb the ladder, we memorialize and commercialize Christ's teachings rather than embodying them. However, we can't be trapped by shame, guilt, ignorance, or inaction. Humility is required for transformation. Again and again, we are called to listen— to God and to others.
God meets Jesus at the water before he is tempted in the wilderness—this is important. First and foremost, God claims us. God meets us in the liminal space, at the water's edge, at the threshold of something new, and names us Beloved. God's covenant with all of creation reminds us that God meets us where we are—in the midst of our reluctance, doubt, eagerness, or weariness—and proclaims we are good.
As Lent begins, we're invited in—to community, to this season, to our own spiritual journey, to true transformation. We're on this journey together, but we're invited to turn inward. Therefore, spiritual practices are not for show. Matthew 6 and Isaiah 58 remind us that performative acts (of piety and justice) are not the way.
Bernie Sanders may be hailed as the champion of American socialism, but his views on sharing a common cup are nothing compared to the radical communalism of the early Christian community. Moving away from a government mandated socialism, we will find that the Bible is not silent on social welfare.
Is it warm in here, or is it just me? Climate change is a debated issue - does it even exist? It would be impossible to make a Scriptural defense of climate change, for the science to even consider such a topic just didn't exist. Into the conversation, we will consider what the Bible does say about being stewards of God's creation.
Immigration has long been a contentious issue in our nation. Nationally, we've debated from which countries we should allow people to immigrate, how many people we should allow to immigrate, and how difficult the process of naturalization should be. Putting aside our blue and red flags, how might the Bible guide our policies?
We have a bad practice of condemning to hell everyone with whom we disagree. This kind of vitriolic reaction to others usually betrays the call of Christ to love our enemies. How can we engage faithfully with those who have such polar opposite opinions on big issues?
The call is for everyone, just different according to your willingness to hear and obey. Secondly, the call is not about perfection but a call to follow God and walk with God. It may be because someone prayed for you, not that you prayed.
In Jesus's baptism, we hear from the heavens that Jesus is the Son of God, and we witness that he did not come to serve alone, but to share in ministry in the midst of community. We see Jesus's purpose affirmed, as he is filled with the Spirit to be the witness of God in the world. And we acknowledge that Jesus is God's beloved, and that as God's created humanity, we too are beloved by God; this is witnessed and affirmed in the way Jesus serves in ministry and in his willingness to serve God's ultimate call to the cross for our eternal salvation.
Luke's Gospel tells us that when Mary gives birth to Jesus, she lays him in a manger, for there was no place for them in the guest room. The city had no room, but God makes a place here anyway. Let us make room - for strangers and neighbors alike. For this is good news of great joy for all people.
When it comes time to name the child, Zechariah affirms the name given by the angel and by Elizabeth. In that moment of affirming the promise, Zechariah's speech is restored. Everyone is filled with awe. And Mary sings a song about God's liberation, offering hope amidst the promise of justice and joy.
In community, our joy expands. When we can't rejoice, we can carry each other's joy. Through the prophet Isaiah, we hear God speak tender words of comfort; this is the comfort we can give to and receive from each other during this season.
As Advent begins, we start by acknowledging the weariness, grief, rage, and hopelessness we carry—and we also affirm that we are made for joy. Sometimes weariness can harden us and prevent us from living fully and feeling the joy. This is how we show up to Advent.
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