Theme: If the deepest desire of our heart is to know God and be in relationship with God, then the Bible is best place for that relationship to begin. The Bible is the story of God desire to be with people. The Bible was not meant to be a history book, it was not meant to be a science book, nor was it meant to just convey information. It is for transformation and simply information. I’m not a fan of reading through the Bible in a Year programs. Besides the goal becomes getting it read in 365 days. The primary goal of reading the Bible should always be a better understanding of God and a deeper relationship with God. Practicing Lectio divina is the best way for us to read scripture. Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:10-17 (NRSV) 10 Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions, and my suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is[a] useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

Theme: If the deepest desire of our heart is to know God and be in relationship with God, then the Bible is best place for that relationship to begin. The Bible is the story of God desire to be with people. The Bible was not meant to be a history book, it was not meant to be a science book, nor was it meant to just convey information. It is for transformation and simply information. I’m not a fan of reading through the Bible in a Year programs. Besides the goal becomes getting it read in 365 days. The primary goal of reading the Bible should always be a better understanding of God and a deeper relationship with God. Practicing Lectio divina is the best way for us to read scripture.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:10-17 (NRSV) 10 Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions, and my suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is[a] useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

Jesus sets a great example of going off to a deserted place to prayer. Prayer more than anything else is about relationship. Monologue prayers of requests and suggestions do not deepen relationship with God. We must find time to be silent before God so that we might hear from God. Prayer can lead to intimacy with God which is scary for some people. Intimacy requires something of us. It requires we give something to the relationship. Often the way we relate to God is patterned after the way we relate to each other. Cultivating a quieter way of praying greatly increases our opportunity of transformation, a deeper relationship with God and the discovery of the deepest desires of our heart.

Jesus sets a great example of going off to a deserted place to prayer. Prayer more than anything else is about relationship. Monologue prayers of requests and suggestions do not deepen relationship with God. We must find time to be silent before God so that we might hear from God. Prayer can lead to intimacy with God which is scary for some people. Intimacy requires something of us. It requires we give something to the relationship. Often the way we relate to God is patterned after the way we relate to each other. Cultivating a quieter way of praying greatly increases our opportunity of transformation, a deeper relationship with God and the discovery of the deepest desires of our heart.

Theme: The deepest desire of our heart is a longing for God; however, we can’t always name it as such. Sometimes our spiritual life gets out of focus and before long the out of focus life becomes a new normal. We often try to separate our spiritual life from the rest of our life. However, our spiritual life in intricately woven into every part of our life family, career, leisure, friendship, etc. We are spiritual beings, but we do not always attend to the spiritual. We need to be more intentionally active in cultivating our spiritual life. We need to create conditions which allow for spiritual transformation to occur. Spiritual transformation will help us name the deep longing in our heart.

Scripture: John 10:1-10 (NRSV) 1 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Theme: The deepest desire of our heart is a longing for God; however, we can’t always name it as such. Sometimes our spiritual life gets out of focus and before long the out of focus life becomes a new normal. We often try to separate our spiritual life from the rest of our life. However, our spiritual life in intricately woven into every part of our life family, career, leisure, friendship, etc. We are spiritual beings, but we do not always attend to the spiritual. We need to be more intentionally active in cultivating our spiritual life. We need to create conditions which allow for spiritual transformation to occur. Spiritual transformation will help us name the deep longing in our heart.

Scripture: John 10:1-10 (NRSV) 1 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

We are all living into a transition today. Transitions have three stages, 1. Endings, 2. Neutral Zone, and 3. Starting over/New Beginning. Transitions are about loss and gain. With any loss there is grief that must be named and excitement around what might be gained. One of the greatest promises in scripture is Psalm 121, God is with us in all our going outs and coming ins (transitions).

Wesley’s metaphor of the house is so important. If prevenient grace is the porch and justifying grace is the door, then sanctifying/perfecting grace, are the rooms of the house. The Wesleys spoke of sanctifying grace as being “perfected in love.” This means that not only are we forgiven our actual transgressions, but also there is born in us a desire to sin no longer and to live only to please God.For the Wesleys this meant we were moving on toward perfection. We are striving to be made perfect in love. It means that we respond to all people in the manner that God, who is perfect love, would respond.

Wesley’s metaphor of the house is so important. If prevenient grace is the porch and justifying grace is the door, then sanctifying/perfecting grace, are the rooms of the house. The Wesleys spoke of sanctifying grace as being “perfected in love.” This means that not only are we forgiven our actual transgressions, but also there is born in us a desire to sin no longer and to live only to please God.For the Wesleys this meant we were moving on toward perfection. We are striving to be made perfect in love. It means that we respond to all people in the manner that God, who is perfect love, would respond.

Rev. Tom Smith delivered his final sermon as a pastor. He spoke on all the lessons he learned through his 37 years in ministry. MUMC will miss you Tom. Best of luck in your next chapter of life.