Stories of Faith
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ”
I often describe our life of faith as a journey. Life is filled with uphill climbs, deep valleys, unexpected twists, and sharp turns. Some days, we feel happy and energized, eagerly looking forward to the next steps. Other times, we encounter strong headwinds or carry heavy burdens, making it seem almost impossible to move forward. Despite these challenges, life is an incredible journey, especially when we take the time to appreciate both where we’ve been and where we’re heading.
Each of us has powerful and moving stories of how God brought us on our way. God has worked, taught, saved, fed, forgiven, and loved every one of us. We all have stories to share about our journeys. This summer, I am planning a sermon series built around our stories. “I Love to Tell the Story” is a classic hymn. One of the lines goes, “I love to tell the story of Jesus and His love.” Hearing how God has been at work in one another’s stories inspires us to be better disciples.
I’m inviting anyone who would like to share a story of something amazing Jesus has done in their life to offer their testimony as a part of this sermon series. I’m planning for six weeks, July 20 - August 24, but the length will depend on how many people want to participate. If you’re interested, send me a one-page summary of the story you would like to share. I’d prefer them via email, but that’s fine if you want to give me a paper copy. Please send these to me no later than Wednesday, June 11. I can’t wait to hear some of you share about your journeys with God.
While I’m reflecting on how Jesus moved in my story to this point, I’m also excited about where He is leading us. Recently, the Council of Bishops and the United Methodist Connectional Table shared a new vision statement for the United Methodist Church:
The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.
You can find more information about the vision at resourceumc.org/vision. Although the statement is simple and clear, it emphasizes how others will perceive us as we live out our faith in the world. Having a vision is crucial because it gives us something valuable to strive for. Each of us is doing good work for Christ, but how can we align our actions more closely with this vision? Do people experience our joy as we serve? How are we courageously working to build a beloved community in a world that often focuses on self-centered materialism? Striving toward a vision doesn’t indicate failure; it signifies focus and purpose. I am excited to see how we will grow in these ways as we serve our community and glorify God.
The verse above talks about how Christ is our light, keeping us from walking in darkness. As we consider what an amazing thing it is to be on this journey, praise God as God continues to bless, nurture, teach, inspire, and love us as we move along. Enjoy the journey!
Pastor Scott
