How do we keep the “whoosh” in our faith when we feel like we have lost the excitement and the energy? The sermon reflects on what the apostle Paul wrote to a young 1st Century pastor, Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:2a-8

Pastor Kim reviews the Easter message from Jesus’ resurrection using all four gospel’s accounts. Jesus is our restorer, our courage, my purpose, and my certainty.

Here are the sermon notes that she refers to:

Why should I have faith in Jesus?

1. Jesus wants to be my courage.

So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Matthew 28:8-10 (NRSV)

2. Jesus wants to be my restorer

⁵ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. ⁶ But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.”

Mark 16:5-7 (NRSV)

3. Jesus wants to be my purpose.

¹⁹ When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

John 20:19-21 (NRSV)

4. Jesus wants to be my certainty

Based on Luke 24:13-35 and the Walk to Emmaus

Roger Marum, one of the lay members of our congregation, gave the message during Pastor Kim’s vacation.  The scripture he explores is the passage from John 6:51-58 in which Jesus asks his followers to eat his flesh and drink his blood – a shocking request, particularly before anyone had been introduced to the idea of communion, and with the Jewish kosher laws prohibiting blood in food.

Pastor Kim’s message entitled “Be Angry But Do Not Sin” is based on Ephesians 4:25 – 5:1, which includes the well-known phrase “do not let the sun go down on your anger”.

Using three stories, Pastor Kim describes John Wesley’s view of God’s grace.

1. Prevenient Grace: An ever-expanding circle of grace…God seeking us.
2. Justifying Grace: An inclusive circle of grace…God claiming, naming, and ordaining us.
3. Sanctifying Grace: A sustaining circle of grace…God keeping us.

Pastor Kim uses the multiplication of the loaves and fishes in the Gospel of John (John 6:1-14) as a parallel to some of the experiences she saw at the UMARMY week.

Paul says that the gift of the Holy Spirit is a down payment on our inheritance in Christ. What is it like to live trusting God? Based on selections from  Ephesians 1:3-14

Here are the blessings that Pastor Kim named and that were up on the slides that you cannot see in the video:

I am: Accepted by God / Beloved by God / Chosen by God / Delivered by God / Enlightened by God / Forgiven by God

I have: Grace of God / Hope for the future / Inheritance in heaven / Justification / Knowledge of God / Love / Mercy of God / Nearness to God / Oneness with God / Peace / Quickening of the Spirit

I am: Redeemed / Sealed with the Holy Spirit / Treasured by God / United with other believers / Validated as an authentic child of God

I have: God’s Wisdom.  And one day I will be: / Exalted with Him!

Y                         Z

As disciples of Jesus, we are called to believe that living a new way is possible, and to share that good news with others.

Based on Mark 6:6b-12