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Revelation Week 4 Reading Guide

taylor.smith@fumctc.org (Taylor Smith) — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 11:55:17 GMT

Revelation Week 4 Reading Guide

This week in service we'll dig into John's vision of the Dragon and the Beast, exploring concepts of hell, Satan/Devil and systemic injustices. As you read, consider what John is trying to tell us about how sin and evil are manifest in the world. Is it individuals with personal, moral failings? Or institutions and systems that are too big to be controlled? Or both? Either way, John's description is one of this reality at war with the reality of heaven.

Week 4 | Revelation Reading Study

This week’s readings are longer than previous week’s more segmented reading. Feel free to break up throughout the week.

Day 1

Rev. 13

RFNP ( Revelation for Normal People) ch. 5, pg.67-82

Day 2

Rev. 12

RFNP ( Revelation for Normal People) ch. 6, pg.83-96

Day 3

RFNP ( Revelation for Normal People) ch. 7, pg.110-111

Study Guide Questions:

In what ways does Revelation describe “hell” on earth?

How is sinful activity (or evil) portrayed in these chapters of Revelation? (individual sin or systemic sin)

Revelation Week 3 Reading Guide

taylor.smith@fumctc.org (Taylor Smith) — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 12:11:17 GMT

Revelation Week 2 Reading Guide

This week you'll finally dig into the weirdness that makes Revelation so controversial. In this week's readings, you'll see the 3 sets of 7 judgments/plagues. Rather than reading these verses as a prediction of the end, consider reading them as a personification of evil (particularly that of great Empires (including our own)). Notice how John describes the injustices that have become so big, they seemingly can't be controlled. And then notice who DOES have control over them.

Week 3 | Revelation Reading Study

Day 1
Exodus 7-12
Day 2
RFNP (Revelation for Normal People) ch. 4, pg. 49-50

Day 3
Revelation 6:1-17
RFNP ch. 4, pg. 51-55 (stop at 144,000 section)

Day 4
Rev. 7:1-8:1
RFNP ch. 4, pg. 55-57

Day 5
Revelation 8:2-11:19
RFNP ch. 4, pg58-61 (stsop at The Seven Bowls of Plagues)

Day 6
Revelation 15:1-16:21
RFNP ch. 4, pg 61-65

Study Guide Questions:

What is the socio-historical context when plagues occur in scripture (both Exodus and Revelation)? Consider the plight of the Israelites and the plight of the Christians?
What role does God play in the plagues in both instances?
How are the judgments in Revelation different/similar than those in Exodus?
What is the role of the “interludes” found throughout John’s vision?
What is most unsettling about the imagery in Revelation?
Where (if anywhere) is the good news found in this section of Revelation?

Revelation Week 2 Reading Guide

taylor.smith@fumctc.org (Taylor Smith) — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 15:15:00 GMT

Revelation Week 2 Reading Guide

This week you'll finally get a glimpse at the vision John had. We're taken to a heavenly "throne room" where John sees "the one on the throne" and a "slain lamb" (presumably God the Father and Christ the Son, respectively). The descriptions may reinforce or challenge your preconceived mental models of God and Christ. But one thing is for certain: John sees the way things are meant to be, all of creation rightly oriented toward God.

Day 1
Ezekiel 1, Isaiah 6, Daniel 4
Day 2
Revelation 4:1-11
RFNP ch. 3, pg. 33-39 (stop at Enter the Lion Lamb section)
Day 3
Revelation 5:1-14
RFNP ch. 3, pg. 40-47 (rest of chapter)

Note: days 4-6 tiptoe into next week’s readings

Day 4
Revelation 6:1-17
RFNP ch. 4, pg. 49-55 (stop at 144,000 section)
Day 5
Revelation 7:1-17
RFNP ch. 4, pg. 55-57 (read section 144,000)
Day 6
Revelation 8:1
RFNP ch. 4, pg. 57 (read section Summing Up the Seven Seals)

Study Guide Questions:

Compare and contrast Day 1 readings with Day 2. What do you notice? What do these similarities and differences teach us about the author of Revelation?
How would you describe the heavenly realm? What language, symbols, imagery from our modern culture shape your description?
What is your mental model of God? How does it hold up to John’s image in Rev. 4?
What is your mental model of Christ? How does it hold up to John’s image in Rev. 5?
Does your primary image of Christ emphasize his death or his resurrection? What image would you associate with either?

Revelation Week 1 Reading Guide

taylor.smith@fumctc.org (Taylor Smith) — Thu, 23 May 2024 19:40:02 GMT

Revelation Week 1 Reading Guide

This week you'll get an introduction to the author of Revelation and the circumstance that prompts his writing this message to the seven churches. The Revelation given to John involves vivid images and intense descriptions that paint a picture of the cosmic, spiritual reality of things. John addresses seven churches and as you read those letters this week, try to locate yourself in the message to the churches. Pay attention to John's encouragement to persevere, repent, and be victorious.

Day 1
RFNP (Revelation for Normal People) ch. 1, pg. 1-14)
Day 2
Revelation 1:1-18
RFNP ch. 2, pg. 15-22 (stop at The Messages section)
Day 3
Revelation 2:8-11 (Smyrna) & 3:7-13 (Philadelphia)
RFNP ch. 2, pg. 23-25 (section titled: Encouragement: Hold Fast)
Day 4
Revelation 2:1-7 (Ephesus), 3:1-6 (Sardis), & 3:14-22 (Laodicea)
RFNP ch. 2, pg 25-27 (section titled: Complacency: Wake Up!)
Day 5
Revelation 2:12-17 (Pergamum) & 2:18-29 (Thyatira)
RFNP ch. 2, pg. 27-31 (section titled: Idolatry: Repent!)
Day 6
RFNP ch. 2., pg. 31 (section titled: Why All These Messages?)

Study Guide Questions:

What questions do you have about the book of Revelation?
Did Chapter 1 of RFNP challenge any of your conception of the book? What was reinforced for you about Revelation and what is something new you learned?
As you read the seven letters to the seven churches, what message oh John’s feels the most appropriate for you and where you are in this spiritual season?

Getting Your House In Order

taylor.smith@fumctc.org (Taylor Smith) — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 17:51:22 GMT

Getting Your House in Order

This Sunday in worship we begin our eight-week summer series, Trust the Process: Changed People, Changing People . I've mentioned for a few weeks now that this sermon series is running in conjunction with a book by Peter Scazzero entitled: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. The subtitle of Scazzero’s work is a bit longer: It’s impossible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.

His book’s subtitle may not be short and pithy, but it’s certainly jammed-pack with a core Christian truth that we, United Methodists, hold as a core pillar of our faith life: namely, the process of sanctification.

In the Wesleyan faith – so named after John Wesley, Methodism’s founder – we believe that God is constantly present in our lives even before we were born, extending us grace. This we call “prevenient grace.” Hopefully, at some point, a person may experience this grace that comes before us in a very real and tangible way. We express this tangible experience as God’s “justifying grace” – so named because in that moment we may feel justified, set-right, vindicated before God.

For many denominations that’s where the faith journey ends. Confess Jesus and your saved, they say.

This is unfortunate for too many reasons to name in a short devotional. Suffice it to say, for United Methodists, we believe that at the same moment we experience the “justifying grace” of God that is also the beginning point of the journey of growing into God’s “sanctifying grace.” It’s where the hard work really begins.

Every denomination and church and pastor and person may define sanctification slightly differently; but at its most basic level to be sanctified is to be made holy . And we affirm that the hard work of being a Christian, following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, growing in Christ’s likeness, growing in holiness of heart and life, re-establishing the image of God within us… well all of this is the process of sanctification.

And guess what! This process includes our emotions!

Not just our emotions, but our entire self. The good parts of you that you’re aware of and the bad parts you’re are not so aware of (e.g. your strengths and your weaknesses, respectively). Sanctification includes making holy the good and bad parts of our self we’re not aware of, as well.

Scazzero uses the word “sanctification” throughout his book, but this week as we explore chapter one together, I want to highlight this theological theme. Where he uses the image of an iceberg, claiming that often we Christians may work on the tip of the iceberg (that which we can only see), there’s still so much more work to be done beneath the surface – especially when it comes to our emotional wellbeing.

I pray you’ll embark on this journey with us, trust the process, and invite God’s Holy Spirit to change you that you might be moved in some way that will set you up to be a change agent for another person.

Study Guide Questions for Week 1:

Scazzero describes 10 “symptoms of emotionally un healthy spirituality” (you can read more about these on pg. 22-36). They are:

Using God to run from God
Ignoring anger, sadness, and fear
Dying to the wrong things
Denying the impact of the past on the present
Dividing life into “secular” and “sacred” compartments
Doing for God instead of being with God
Spiritualizing away conflict
Covering over, brokenness, weakness, and failure
Living without limits
Judging other people’s spiritual journey

Take a moment and ask: Which of these symptoms is present in my life?
Were you aware of this symptom(s) before now?
Which is a symptom(s) you once experienced but have worked on?
What did that process or journey look like in your life?

Our core passage this week is Ephesians 4:14-15 and Luke 11:24-26

In the passage from Luke, Jesus speaks about cleansing ourselves from “impure spirits.” Paul writes of “maturing” from an infant like state where we are no longer drastically affected by the winds.

Emotions aren’t bad. How can we differentiate between “impure spirits” and our human, emotional responses?
What are the winds Paul speaks of? And how might maturing in our faith change how we respond to the winds around us?
Is your body a hospitable place for impure spirits? For emotions? For Christ?

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Taylor

Discomfort and Heat

taylor.smith@fumctc.org (Taylor Smith) — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 20:36:47 GMT

Discomfort and Heat

I love Texas. Great people. Great food. No state income taxes (can I get an Amen?!) However, Texas isn’t without its flaws either. In particular, our state’s major, glaring issue is one I’m certain you’ve each encountered this week. Texas is hot!

I like to compare Texas to desert (think: Arizona or Nevada). The desert is like copper piping: it heats up fast in the mornings then cools down fast in the evenings. But Texas is like a cast iron skillet. All Fall/Winter/Spring Texas heats up… then when summer is here, She holds her heat with an unmatched intensity paralleled only by the likes of Louisiana, Mississippi and other hot, muggy neighboring states.

Some of you may enjoy the warmer weather, but I think we can all agree that 100+ degree days aren’t ideal. The sweat. The panting. The sweat. The sunscreen. The bugs. The sweat!

We want to play outside. We want to sit on the patio at our favorite restaurant. But it’s hot! And the heat can be uncomfortable. And if we’re being honest with ourselves, much of our Western culture doesn’t handle discomfort well.

AC broken? That repairman better be here ASAP no if, ands, or buts about it!

And if we’re being really honest, we can tend to get a little snippy with others when we’re uncomfortable.

The spiritual reality is that this isn’t just the case with heat, but any bodily discomfort. Arthritis acting up? Hungry? Sleepy? Back twinging a bit? All of these things and more has an effect on our emotions, behaviors, and reactions.

And I’m reminded of Jesus’ words in Matt. 10:38 – “ 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

Jesus is clear throughout the gospels: Following him will lead us into discomfort.

I’m not talking about awkward encounters with people, as in “that was uncomfortable.” I’m describing physical, actual, discomforting experience. After all, Jesus was the incarnation of God. And by nature of being incarnate, God embodied, it’s safe to assume that our discipleship will impact our physical bodies.

But understanding our Christian journey in this way might influence how we interpret other Biblical admonitions to discomforting discipleship :

Acts 9:16 reads, “For I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

2 Timothy 2:3 encourages us: “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

The question is why? Why must we embrace discomfort?

The simple answer is that it mirrors the model of the incarnation: that God embraced bodily discomfort when God become fully human and experienced actual, physical discomfort. And therefore we follow in the footsteps of God when we do the same.

But as a disciple of Jesus Christ, I think embracing discomfort invites us to see the areas of our life where we may need to grow a bit spiritually.

I don’t like being hot and sweaty. A nice, balmy 50-60 degrees year-round would be my ideal climate. But no matter what the temperature is outside, no matter how uncomfortable I am in my skin, surely I can center my spirit and embody a spirit of joy and light and hope to those experiencing their discomforts.

Then again… maybe not, because I really don’t like being hot!

This week, may you be aware of when your discomfort is affecting your spirit. And may you embrace that discomfort in the same way God embraces us. Oh… and stay cool out there!

The Trinity and the Law of Two

taylor.smith@fumctc.org (Taylor Smith) — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 16:03:06 GMT

The Trinity and the Law of Two...

It’s hard to escape the divisiveness and partisanship of our society, culture, and world today.

Nowhere is this more relevant than politics. You feel passionate about your party and your

issue. But your co-worker or neighbor backs the other party or other issue with equal vim.

And the way we live so much of our lives stops right there. Someone takes Position A while

someone else takes Position B; and forever shall the two exist in rivalry and antagonism. World

without end.

This is the behavior we should expect from in a binary system – a place of “two-ness” in

constant opposition. At best – and only after we’ve stopped yelling at one another – maybe we

compromise on a “synthesis” position, birthed out of our competing dualisms.

But if the universe is created in the image of Creator and the Creator is a Trinity, it begs the

question: What if we don’t live in a binary univrersae at all? What if, instead, the universe is

ternary?

If three-ness is more at the heart of the universe than two-ness, that means we can hold our

perspectives with earnestness while also fully awaiting an uncontrived third force to arrive and

surprise us right out of our neat and tidy little boxes. I’m not talking about a synthesis of

competing ideas but a genuinely novel arrive on scene, a Position C.

What form that third force takes is beside the point. And rest assured the third force never

invalidates the first and second force. Instead, the third force redeems each position and gives

everyone a valuable role to play in the creation of something genuinely new.

Cynthia Bourgeault, a faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation writes on

this Law of Three. She describes how the operating principle of the Law of Three creates a new,

fourth possibility.

Take for example Jesus’ comments about a seed of wheat in John 12:24, “Unless a seed falls

into the ground and dies, it remains a single seed.” If a seed falls into the ground it enters in the

sacred process of transformation:

Seed is the first force (Position A). It meets the ground, second force (Position B). These forces

are in opposition to one another. The ground is the place the seed goes to die a moist, damp,

dark death. Unless a third force, Sunlight, is introduced. When the third force enters the

equation THEN the three generate a sprout.

Imagine how much our world would change if we stopped accepting wholesale the Law of Two

and instead embraced the mystery of the Trinity.

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday at FUMCTC. Join us in worship to praise the Three and One God of

the universe.

Grace & Peace,

Rev. Taylor

Jesus Walks on Water

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 19:51:22 GMT

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At the age of thirty-three, doctors told me I would possibly lose my life due to Stage 3 breast cancer. I was a mom of two precious children, and had a life I loved (most of the time). As soon as I heard the word, cancer, I lost focus of everything else and began to listen to my fear - the raging winds, the heavy rain, the loud churning of the waves inside of me, telling me , you're dead . No one survives cancer. Soon after, God reminded me to "trust Him" (Proverbs 3:5-6) Fifteen years later, I'm alive, and I keep my eyes fixed.

Isn’t that how we think? Can God really do the impossible? Can He heal my disease, my marriage, my relationship with my prodigal son or daughter?

Even the Disciples, men who walked and talked with God intimately doubted the signs and wonders, until…

Jesus walking on water is a key miracle in the scriptures. John 6:16-21 (Christian Standard Bible), “when the evening came, his disciples went down to the sea (17) got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. (18) A high wind arose, and the sea began to churn. (19) After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid. Now, can you imagine…the sea is raging, and I’m sure there’s thunder, and the boat was being – as scripture points out – battered by the wind and waves (Matthew 14:24). The disciples see this figure in the distance. Was it a ghost? But it’s Jesus . Jesus says to the disciples, “It Is I. Do not be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him onboard the boat, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading. In Mark 6:51, it says the disciples were astounded at Jesus walking on water and ceasing the winds and rain, because they had not understood about the loaves. Scripture says, their hearts were hardened (Mark 6:52). Remember that these were the same men who witnessed the feeding of the five-thousand just hours before. In Matthew 14:28, we see Peter being somewhat bold in asking, “Lord, if it’s you, command me to come to you on the water.” Climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water, but then he took his eyes off of Jesus and instead, sees the raging waters and turbulent wind, and he immediately began to sink. He cried, “Lord save me!” Jesus quickly reached out his hand and took hold of Peter. Can you imagine that moment? Have you ever sat through a tornado warning, hovered in the bathroom with a pillow over your head? Yes, I’d say we would have been fearful. When they got out of the boat, they worshipped Jesus and said, “Truly you are the son of God.”

What can we learn from the fifth sign: Jesus Walking on Water?

1.) Making room for God in our lives allows the opportunity to know Him more and to recognize His presence and His word. Even though the disciples had been with Jesus, they did not recognize him as he approached them in the storm. When the winds and rain in your life are raging all around you, do you recognize that God can calm the storm?

2.) Do we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus when things around us seem to be caving in? Peter did not sink until he began to focus on the storm instead of the author of life, Jesus.

3.) Restoring faith after trial or hardship: In John 16:33, God reminds the follower of Jesus, that you “will have trouble, but take courage, He has overcome the world.” We all have good intentions, much like Peter and the disciples, but at some point our faith will be tested. We become discouraged or saddened.

4.) Weathering the storm with Jesus: When Jesus got into the boat with the disciples, the storm ceased! It stopped. When we have Jesus in the boat – and in our lives – He is able to calm the raging sea and storms that rock the waters of our life.

We can trust our God that He has all things in His hands. We have nothing to worry about.

With a grateful heart,

Tonya Ainsworth

I Witness: After the Resurrection

taylor.smith@fumctc.org (Taylor Smith) — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 19:51:19 GMT

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This Sunday, April 30th, we wrap up a short series called I Witness, in which we’ve explored a few of the experiences folks had of the risen Jesus’ after the resurrection.

We’ve looked at the story of Thomas who, (in my humble opinion) was unfairly deemed a doubter for merely wanting to have a personal encounter with the resurrected Lord. Last Sunday, we examined those disciples on the road to Emmaus; and I suggested that while there’s certainly a road to Emmaus – on which Jesus meet us, there’s also a road from Emmaus on which we embark to share our experiences.

This Sunday, we’ll look a little further ahead into the book of Acts (2:42-47). We pick up after Jesus has ascended and explore what the spiritual life of the first community of I Witness(es) looked like. That is, while we’ve been looking the personal journey our faith takes after the resurrection, we cannot ignore the communal aspect of our life together as the Body of Christ.

Acts 2:42-47 describes what this communal life looked like for the first ever church plant – of which some of the principles certainly hold true for us still today. And also, as people living life 2,000 years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we’ve (hopefully!) grown and evolved in our faith such that the principles remain but in new manifestations.

For instance, Acts 2:42-47 does not describe an essential aspect of our life together today: service to others outside our community of faith.

In this week’s messenger, you’ll see some new opportunities to serve in the local community. Whether picking up donated groceries from Sprouts and delivering to the NTX Food Pantry; whether packing boxes of food at Children’s Hunger Fund; whether giving blood; or helping pack/deliver lunches during MissionTC, our service is yet another way we witness (see) and witness to (share) the love of God revealed in the resurrected Christ.

I pray you’ll join us in worship with an open hear, listening for the way God may be calling you to serve in this life after the resurrection.

Blessings & Peace

Rev. Taylor Smith

All Signs Point to...Restoration

taylor.smith@fumctc.org (Taylor Smith) — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 21:06:08 GMT

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The Body Not the Mind

taylor.smith@fumctc.org (Taylor Smith) — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 15:38:58 GMT

All Signs Point to...

It was great being back with the congregation this past Sunday as we kicked off the season of Lent and began a new sermon series, All Signs Point To…

In case you missed services this past Sunday, we spent a little time comparing the Gospel of John with the synoptic (syn – same / optics – seeing) Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. These Gospels see and tell the story of Jesus in relatively similar fashion. Whereas John’s Gospel, written the latest of the four, tells the story of Jesus in a much different manner.

In particular, John’s Gospel records seven SIGNS of Jesus. And in John 20:30-31 the author breaks from his narration Jesus’ ministry to tell us listeners: “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

John wrote his Gospel with a very specific agenda in mind, namely he uses SIGNS to help us best understand WHO Jesus is.

The question is: Why?

Well… simply put, as Christians we follow Jesus and therefore it makes at least a little sense that we should try to understand as much as possible about who Jesus is.

Wait! Let me amend that statement: it makes sense that we should try to embody who Jesus was, is, and forever will be!

The difference between these two statements may not seem like much, but the disparity is substantial.

What I mean is this: last week we looked at the Sign of Wonder where Jesus turns water into Wine (John 2:1-11). And I suggested that with all the moving parts in that story—Mary, the servants, the Bridegroom and his family, the Master Steward, and the disciples—what that sign reveals is that Jesus is about redemption. He takes what was quickly becoming a hopeless moment and added life to it.

This week, we look at the Sign of Wonder where Jesus heals the “royal official’s” son (John 4:43-54). In this story, not unlike that from John 2, there are many moving parts. And a number of angles by which we can look at the text. And like last week, I’ll suggest that there is at least one primary spiritual character trait this sign points us to.

But I want to be very clear. That we don’t look at these signs in hopes of understanding Jesus mentally, intellectually what Jesus was capable of. For when we do, we often fall prey to the trap of believing faith is just about mental ascent, gaining knowledge about Jesus. Instead, what if the signs are meant to point us to what WE TOO can do through Christ because of who he was, is, and forever will be. That we can embody these very character traits of Jesus who gives us our power (to paraphrase Phil. 4:13).

I invite you in preparation for church this Sunday to read John 4:53-56 and reflect on this question: What happened to the Royal Official? What was Jesus’ role? And how might we embody that same responsibility?

Blessings & Peace,

Rev. Taylor

Scapegoating

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:26:33 GMT

Scapegoating

Human nature, especially that which seeks power, tends to want to either play the victim or to create victims of others. In fact, the second follows from the first.

That is, once we start feeling sorry for ourselves, we quickly find someone else to blame, accuse, or even attack. These actions settle the dust within our souls quickly, alleviating any immediate shame, guilt, or anxiety that was overwhelming us. Which is to say, blaming, accusing, or attacking actually works… for a little while.

Philosopher René Girard (1923-2015) call this tendency in humans “the scapegoat mechanism” and suggests it is the central pattern for the creation and maintenance of cultures worldwide since the beginning. And honestly, it’s kind of hard to argue against him. We don’t have to look hard to see how hating, fearing, or diminishing others holds us together.

This is a sad and unfortunate reality of the human predicament. When we (here I refer to the “Royal We”) feel victimized, wronged, etc. we scapegoat the blame or shame onto others, leaving others to receive and repeat the process.

And yet a new way has been extended to us.

Jesus’ death on the cross put an end to scapegoating by taking upon himself the lame, shame, and guilt we feel. In Christ we’re re-connected to God and one another by something greater than blame, shame, or guilt… we’re connected by the love revealed in forgiveness.

If the Church exists for nothing else, perhaps one of Her primary roles is to reveal this love and break the “scapegoat mechanism” once and for all.

But there’s two layers to that work: (1) the collective, corporate, communal, and (2) the individual.

This week we continue our four week series: When the Call Comes… and we’ll dig into the story of Moses’ call found in Exodus 3-4.

Now: I’m going to give you some homework this week in preparation for Sunday. And since many of you are frozen in already, I pray you get a chance to take this assignment on.

Your task is thus: Read Exodus 3-4, paying particular attention Moses’ response(s) to God.

Spend some time familiarizing yourself with Moses’ entire call story. Notice how the scapegoat mechanism is at work in Moses’ call narrative. How is he struggling with feelings of self-worth, self-confidence, and fear? And how does the conflict within his soul effect his willingness to inhabit God’s call on his life?

Blessings & Peace,

Rev. Taylor Smith

Sticks, Stones...and Baptism

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 20:20:13 GMT

Sticks, Stones...and Baptism

“Stick and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” – Every Elementary Aged Child at Least Once.

False. Words can hurt. A lot!

We know there’s power in our words. Just like there’s power in our actions. And when paid attention to, it’s not hard to see how our actions impact our words. And conversely, how our words impact our actions.

For instance, growing up as a child I remember every time I saw green beans I would say “ew!” Because I absolutely despised green beans. It wasn’t until I got a little older and came to the realization of how much I actually really enjoy green beans that I wondered to myself: Have I just convinced myself that I didn’t like them?

Because words have power. And the words we speak shape how we act.

Words have the power to give meaning to something. They have the power to speak life into something (or in the case of green beans, the power to take life from something). They have the power to influence and shape, the power to mold and create.

Speaking ill of something (or someone(s)) over and over again will likely shape how you conceptualize that thing or those people. Whereas speaking with grace and kindness of something (or someone(s)) is bound to lead up to positive encounters with them.

Which is why the words spoken at Jesus’ baptism and the words spoken at your baptism are so important.

This Sunday, Jan. 15 ^th , we’ll celebrate the Baptism of the Lord Sunday (Mark 1:7-11). In this passage, we read of Jesus’ baptism and we’ll hear the words that God the Father spoke to Jesus as he began his public ministry.

And while maybe not the exact same words spoken at your baptism, the content is the same. It’s a message that can be boiled down to three life-changing, life-altering words I pray at some point you’ve heard: I love you.

Join us in worship this Sunday to remember your baptism and hear the good news that you are a beloved child of God.

Blessings & Peace,

Rev. Taylor

Falling Into Place

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 17:33:23 GMT

Falling Into Place

Since my wife and I have been together, we’ve celebrated ten New Year’s Eves together. Of those ten, to the best of my recollection, we’ve only stayed up (or out) late maybe three times. Every other time, we’ve basically hit the hay early, waking up by alarm to share a New Year’s kiss then drift right back off to sleep.

At this point, it’s kind of our thing to not make a huge deal out of New Years. However, about five years ago we began a tradition that I greatly value: goal setting.

You know you’re getting older when you find yourself excited about setting financial goals or planning what home renovations you’ll prioritize in the coming year! But we’ve come to realize that goal setting is a wonderful way to stay in sync with one another. It’s a wonderful way to be sure you’re priorities are aligned and still heading in the same direction.

Logistically speaking, we never setting New Years goals the same way. Usually it’s a very informal and organic practice. We go out to eat and scribble ideas on a napkin. Or we sit on the couch taking notes on our phones.

But this year, my wife helped set the tone. And the way we began really got me thinking. As we sat down on Dec. 30 ^th (New Year’s Eve Eve) she named the six categories we should consider: Personal, Professional, Family, Health, Financial, and Spiritual. As she named them she added “in no particular order.”

And it was that comment that most stood out to me: “In no particular order”

It’s a helpful and (in my humble opinion) great practice to set a direction for yourself. But as you think about your goals for the next year, what categories or buckets have you identified as most important? And is there a particular order in which you would place them?

Does family come before profession? Jesus certainly said in Luke 14:26, ““If you come to me but will not leave your family, you cannot be my follower. You must love me more than your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters—even more than your own life!”

Does health come before finances? In Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus tells the parable about those who feed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, visited the sick, etc.

Does the spiritual bucket come before all?

This year one of my goals is to recite one phrase of St. Francis of Assisi’s prayer: “Lord make me an instrument of your peace”

One of my spiritual goals for 2023 is to find and be an instrument of God’s peace. Because, after some reflection, I believe focusing on this will help the other categories all fall into place.

My prayer for you as you lean into the New Year, set goals, and go about your life… is that you pay attention to your spirit – that all else may fall into place.

Blessings & Peace,

Pastor Taylor

Reflecting on Christmas

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 19:33:11 GMT

Reflecting On Christmas

I want to extend a word of gratitude for everyone who made the past few weeks so special. Between our Blue Christmas service, three Christmas Eve services, our Christmas morning PJ gathering and a variety of other holiday events in-between I’m reminded that it truly takes a village to make it all happen.

So on behalf of the whole church, I want to say a special thank you to the media team, the musicians, the choir and vocalists, the ushers and greeters, our volunteer liturgists, the childcare workers, and anyone else I might (unfortunately) have forgotten who helped make this Christmas season at FUMCTC so spectacular.

On Christmas Eve, Saturday Dec. 24th we praised God making God’s self known to us. That is, God has left a first impression on us and chosen to introduce God’s self to us through a baby in a manger. A manger of all places! Where God could have chosen a fortress or castle, a temple or holy ground… God chose a manger – no doubt an affirmation that any place can be made holy.

Then on Christmas Day, Sunday Dec. 25th, we worshipped at a single service in our PJs. We reflected on the story of Simeon who waited his whole life to see the coming of the Messiah. And at the heart of that message is this truth: the wait is over.

With the coming of Christ, we no longer need to pontificate on if it can happen, but willingly accept that it has happened. We rejoice in the words “Emmanuel, ” which, of course, mean God is with us. And if we truly believe and accept those words, then we are accepting that any ground is holy. It doesn’t matter if it’s a church building and we’re in our PJs or if it’s a manure filled field with Shepherds and sheep. God has chosen to be made known: why? For no other reason than to let you know that you are loved!

It was a magical Advent at FUMCTC and I hope we can all enter into 2023 knowing we are loved, so that we might, in turn, love one another and all whom we might encounter in the coming year.

Blessings & Peace,

Pastor Taylor

Advent: Yes to Family

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 17:09:14 GMT

Advent - 'Yes to Family': Elizabeth's Story

If we’re being honest with ourselves… family dynamics can brutal sometimes! And the family drama that can otherwise be ignored throughout the year can really be exacerbated during the holiday season.

It can be simple things like: who gets to host the Thanksgiving supper. Or who gets to hang the Christmas tree-topper. Or deciding what dessert Grandma will make. These and a myriad of other disagreements can cause the biggest family arguments. Isn’t it funny how messing with another person’s traditions and customs can trigger people – even if that person is family?!

On the flip side, for many people the holiday season is the only time of the year we get to see some of our family. Perhaps it’s because your aunt and uncle live states away and other than the holiday there’s really no reason to be in Iowa or South Dakota or Timbuktu. Or maybe your relationship with your grandparents is just really estranged and other than making your own parents happy by attending a holiday party you just don’t see those grandparents that often. These are unfortunate realities that speak to the truth that… family dynamics can be brutal!

But… this Sunday we celebrate the third week of Advent in our series called the Comforts of Christmas. And in particular, this Sunday we’ll explore what happens when we say “Yes to Family.”

It’s easy to take people for granted. And it’s especially easy to take family for granted. The holiday season is that one time of the year that we grit our teeth and make seeing the people we often don’t see – whether consciously or subconsciously – a priority. And despite how chaotic and crazy the season might be, despite how many family arguments we might get into, despite all the disagreements and upset family feuds… we usually get through the season both exhausted and filled up!

So this week, we’ll look again at Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth. What prompts Mary to say “Yes to Family” in spite of everything she had going on in her life? How is Elizabeth welcoming Mary into her home a manner of saying “Yes to Family?”

And what does any of this have to do with us? With our faith? With our walk with God?

In preparation for worship, I’d like to ask you to consider the question: How do you say “Yes to Family?” And furthermore, how has God shown up when you have?

Communication of the Saints

taylor.smith@fumctc.org (Taylor Smith) — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 22:25:46 GMT

November 3rd, 2022

A few years back I heard a young child say, “I believe in the communication of the saints.” While good communication is a relationship essential, our connectedness in Christ extends beyond communicating with one another.

That is, when we recite, as we do in Apostle’s Creed, “I believe in… the communion of saints,” we’re saying that through our connectedness in Christ we not only belong to God in Jesus but we also belong to one another. This isn’t some sort of play-ground-blood-pact you make with your pal to cheer them up after they scrap a knee. The Communion of Saints is a spiritual connection that extends deeply into the very fabric of who we are as people made in the image of God.

And, I believe, that that sort of spiritual connection cannot die. In fact, I believe it extends beyond this life.

Perhaps I can affirm this belief because as a born and bred United Methodist. Meaning, I affirm what the Church has historically confessed: a belief in the "communion of the saints" which openly includes not only all living believers, but also all who have gone before us.

This Sunday in worship, we will celebrate Holy Communion – not communication. And we as we gather at the open-table we do so feasting with believers past, present, and future. Hebrews 12 reminds us that these saints – a “great cloud of witnesses” – surround us and cheers us on!

This, in my estimation, is a gentle reminder that those who have gone before us laid the groundwork for us. And I imagine that now they cheer us on as we journey into what we’ve built and are building. Similarly, we too, one day, will have an opportunity to cheer on those who are coming behind us.

With that being said, maybe “communication of the saints” isn’t the worst image after all. Maybe if we are to be in any sort of communion with those past, present, and future perhaps our primary form of communication is nothing more than a cheer as we, together in spirit, support one another’s growth in faith, hope, and love.

Peace & Blessings,

Rev. Taylor Smith

Thumping Watermelons

taylor.smith@fumctc.org (Taylor Smith) — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 14:14:34 GMT

October 27th, 2022

In the summer months, when watermelons are piled high in the middle of grocery store isles, I always chuckle at folks who are “thumping” melons before making selection. What do they know that I don’t? When I thump those melons, sure some may sound a little deeper than others… but truth be told I can’t really tell a difference from one watermelon’s ripeness to another.

This Sunday we’re wrapping up our stewardship series called Money Matters and I’ll be preaching on a text from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 7:15-20). In this passage Jesus cautions his listeners – including: the random folks who were nearby, his disciples, the religious leaders, and us modern hearers today -- from following false prophets. He says,

Just as, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.

The bad news: we can’t go around “thumping” people or churches in order to determine how ripe they are or are not. It sure would be nice if we could, because that would honestly be a whole lot easier than the good news. Which is this: that our fruitfulness is, in fact, measurable!

That our growth in discipleship is measurable is good news to me, because it means we can celebrate the small victories along what can sometimes be a tough journey. Following Jesus isn’t easy! Discipleship calls us to hard things like protecting and seeking justice for people who are poor, oppressed, vulnerable, strangers, outsiders, and marginalized. Measuring our fruitfulness in these areas can be a tad nebulous. Far less quantifiable than other areas of our discipleship… such as our financial generosity.

During the month of October, I’ve encouraged everyone to pray about their financial generosity to the church and I’ve asked that you take a step further with me on the pathway to Gracious Generosity. No matter where you are on that path – not yet tithing, at a full tithe, or beyond – my hope is that you’ll consider taking ONE step forward, that we as a church might take a step forward in 2023.

In 2018 we had 76 pledged contributors. In 2019 we had 98. In 2020 that number dropped to 83. It then dropped again in 2021 to 50 contributors and remained the same in 2022.

I’m hopeful that 2023 is going to be a year of increase. That we’ll increase in fruitfulness. And if people come by to “thump” us… they’ll find fruitfulness not just in our number of estimates of giving but also in our less easily measured areas of discipleship. Like love of God and love of neighbor.

I hope you’ll join us in service this Sunday to participate in Commitment Sunday where we’ll wrap up our stewardship season and collectively offer our estimates of giving to God. I hope you’ll come prayerfully prepared to give in a way that supports the ongoing mission and ministry of FUMCTC. And I hope you’ll come ready to bear fruit!

Peace and Blessings,

Taylor Smith

The Path to Gracious Generosity

taylor.smith@fumctc.org (Taylor Smith) — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 17:34:03 GMT

Oct. 20th 2022

We’re entering into week three of our stewardship series, Money Matters. In week one I tried to answer the question: How do we honor God with our money? And in a sermon titled For the Love of Money, I suggested that our financial dealings say something to us about the priority of God in our life. Last week, we took up the topic Tithing 101 and I answered some recurring questions about how the church (as a body) deals with finances. I taught on the age ole formula for giving – a concept called Tithing.

This coming Sunday, Oct. 23 ^rd , we’ll be looking at another form of giving that I’m calling Gracious Generosity.

I define Gracious Generosity as giving beyond a biblical tithe, graciously, from an abundant spirit.

At the heart of this week’s message is the biblical passage from 2 Cor. 9:1-11. In that passage, the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth asking that they be ready to give the offering they had committed to Paul for the church in Macedonia. As you read this passage, I hope you’ll notice: Paul does NOT encourage the church in Corinth to tithe. In fact, nowhere in the New Testament is tithing mandated.

Only twice does Jesus ever even take up the subject and both times he does so as a way of naming the hypocrisy of those who give a tenth (remember from week two: a tithe = Ma’aser = a tenth) and do not practice justice (Matt. 23:23) and do not practice humility (Luke 18:9-14).

So why doesn’t Jesus or Paul preach and teach tithing? Well… part of the reason has to do with the relationship between the Law and Grace. You’ll have to come to worship on Sunday to hear more on that. But the other part has to do with the spiritual journey.

Our 2023 Estimate of Giving Cards have a pathway on them. You might have heard these called something differently at different congregations. But at the heart of the movement from Impulse Giving to Intentional Giving to Courageous Giving to Gracious Generosity is one core ingredient: a deepening relationship with God through the Holy Spirit.

Growing in our relationship with God involves countless aspects. But money is one aspect that is easily measurable. So it’s honestly the most simple area of our discipleship that we can tangibly track where we’ve been at different season in our lives. Which means this: it doesn’t matter if you’re practicing impulse giving or a gracious generosity, what matters is that you see yourself on the journey and you’re taking some intentional time to continue in that journey.

Below you’ll find two charts. The first is the total number of people who have submitted an Estimate of Giving Card. The second chart is the total number of people/families who are giving but have not submitted an Estimate of Giving Card.

It is my prayer that we see an increase in each area: as this would be an indication of folks taking a step toward Gracious Generosity. However, I would be remiss if I did not name that the more Estimate of Giving cards we receive the better it helps us prepare for and steward our resources. So… I invite you before Sunday to consider where you and your family are on this journey. And I invite you to begin praying about where the Holy Spirit may be leading you in the future.

Sufficiency and Abundance

taylor.smith@fumctc.org (Taylor Smith) — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 17:28:43 GMT

Oct. 13th 2022

Last week in worship we began our stewardship series, Money Matters. And I attempted (attempt being the operative word) to describe how money is a spiritual matter. I suggested in the message that money is one of God’s primary competitors for our admiration. Most everything in our life has been commodified. And the result is that hardly anything we touch isn’t purchased, traded, transacted or bartered through money. From the clothes we wear to the food we eat, from the cars we drive to the shoes on our feet… money touches almost every aspect of our life.

My question for you to consider this week: Is God bigger than that?

Every moment is a moment in which we have a choice. We can numb out or tune in to the spiritual movement of God around us. And it’s in the moment of tuning in, I believe, that we come to see just how sufficient God is. By sufficient, I don’t mean quantity of anything. Sufficiency, from a spiritual perspective, isn’t about “amount.” It’s about experience. Hence why we have to be in tune with it. It’s a moment. An energy. A context we can generate but also given by God, a declaration, a knowing (in the heart) that there’s enough and that we are enough…

When we embrace and experience the context of sufficiency is when we find freedom in the spiritual sense. We can begin to engage in life form a sense of our own wholeness rather than a desperate longing to be complete. We feel naturally called to share the resources that flow through our lives – our time, our wisdom, our energy, and yes even our money. But because we’re grounded in the sufficiency of God, all this flowing through us is done in service of our highest commitments.

That is, sufficiency as a way of being in the world offers us enormous personal freedom and abundant possibilities. Insufficiency tells us there’s only one way to perceive the world: there’s not enough, more is better, and that’s just the way it is. But the truth of God’s bigness is that there’s enough for everyone. And trusting that truth inspires us to share, collaborate, and contribute to whatever it is God is doing among us!

So there’s a lot of ways to engage in giving beyond just giving financially. In the United Methodist Church, our membership vows are to support (read: give) the church our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. When you’re grounded in the truth of sufficiency – God’s bigness – then giving anything feels natural and right and good, even if it’s money. So the flow of income and outcome, seasons of savings and seasons of spending, aren’t anything to fear. From a mode of sufficiency, we can appreciate money’s power (or anything for that matter) to do good – which is simultaneously our power to do good with it!

No matter how much or how little you have flowing through your life, when you direct that flow with soulful purpose, I believe you feel wealthy… full… vibrant… alive… My prayer for you this week is that in all you say, do, or give it is done from a place of being firmly grounded in the bigness, the grandness, the extravagance of our gracious God!

Peace and Blessings,

Rev. Taylor G Smith

Gymnastics and Generosity

taylor.smith@fumctc.org (Taylor Smith) — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 17:25:25 GMT

Oct. 6th 2022

If I came to you and said, I’ll give you a million dollars if you can do the splits by the end of the year… how would you react?

I’ll tell you how: most likely you’d probably start practicing the splits every single day from now until Dec. 31 ^st , 2022. And I suspect if I actually had a million dollars to give you and if you were serious about winning that money, then you’d probably practice and practice and stretch and stretch until you were able to do the splits and win your prize. And I honestly think if you were committed enough, this is an achievable goal by just about anyone in the congregation. Some of you are thinking… yeah right! But I have faith!

Now… should I say: “I’ll give you a million dollars to become an Olympic grade gymnast by the end of the year…” well, that’s another story.

Why? Because when it comes to being able to do the splits, you really only need to practice your flexibility. In particular, your hip and hamstring flexibility. Every day you could wake up and work your way deeper and deeper and deeper into the exact same split position until finally you’ve accomplished a split.

By contrast, in order to be an Olympic gymnast, you’d need to practice flexibility (yes) and also you’d need to practice cardiovascular endurance, stamina, strength, speed, power, balance, agility, coordination, accuracy and probably a whole host of other gymnastic principles that I don’t even know about. In other words, being an Olympic gymnast is a whole lot more complex than only being flexible.

And the same could be said of the spiritual journey.

If I told you you’ll win a million dollars if you memorized the Gospel of Mark (that’s the shortest of the four Gospels) between now and the end of 2022, I bet you could do it. It would take a lot of practice and a lot of flash cards, but I bet you could likely accomplish it.

But what if I said… you’ll win that pot of money if you achieved Christian Perfection by the end of the year?

It’s not that I think you’re not all capable of achieving holiness of heart and life, but that’s also a pretty lofty goal for a lifelong journey. Why? Because Christian Perfection – the goal of our spiritual journey – much like being an Olympic gymnast includes knowing your Bible, but moves beyond mere memorization to incorporating all of scripture’s principles into your daily life. Principles such as being merciful, moral, kind, compassionate, empathetic, curious, humble, gentle, and loving. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but just goes to show that the spiritual life is complex. In fact, if I can add one more spiritual component to that short list, I’d add the principle of generosity.

That is, practicing a spirit of generosity is a part of the whole of the spiritual life. It’s not the sum total. It’s not the only aspect. Rather generosity is one component of many spiritual components that when healthily developed makes for a well-rounded Christian.

To use this terrible analogy, practicing generosity is like learning to do the splits. It won’t make you an Olympic gymnast, but it will contribute to your gymnastic pursuits.

So this month, I’m asking you to embark on a journey with me. Yes, we’ll be talking about money. But more than money, we’re talking about a specific aspect of our spiritual life, generosity. It’s not the most important aspect, but it’s an aspect nonetheless.

This month in worship you’ll hear from lay-people how their relationship to money has shaped their spiritual journey. And I hope in those testimonies, you’ll hear how we’re all on individual journeys and a corporate journey. You’ll hear how we’re all growing. And ultimately how we, FUMCTC, are setting our sights toward Gracious Generosity… but more on that in weeks to come.

Peace & Blessings,

Rev. Taylor G. Smith

fumctc

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Getting Your House In Order

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Discomfort and Heat

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The Trinity and the Law of Two

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Jesus Walks on Water

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I Witness: After the Resurrection

weChurch

This Sunday, April 30th, we wrap up a short series called I Witness, in which we’ve explored a few of the experiences folks had of the risen Jesus’ after the resurrection.

For instance, Acts 2:42-47 does not describe an essential aspect of our life together today: service to others outside our community of faith.

I pray you’ll join us in worship with an open hear, listening for the way God may be calling you to serve in this life after the resurrection.

Blessings & Peace

Rev. Taylor Smith

All Signs Point to...Restoration

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The Body Not the Mind

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Scapegoating

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Sticks, Stones...and Baptism

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Advent: Yes to Family

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Communication of the Saints

November 3rd, 2022

Thumping Watermelons

October 27th, 2022 ﻿

The Path to Gracious Generosity

Oct. 20th 2022

Sufficiency and Abundance

Oct. 13th 2022

Gymnastics and Generosity

Oct. 6th 2022

October 27th, 2022