Grace UMC (Franklin, IN) Sermon Podcast
SERMON | Matthew 21:23-32 & Philippians 2:1-13 | MENDED 3. "Humility" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana
SERMON | Matthew 21:23-32 & Philippians 2:1-13 | MENDED 3. "Humility" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana So much of the message I have received over the years of my path toward a mended heart emphasized behavior over inner-motivation. So much of what we see around us from the Big C Church emphasizes saying the right thing at the right time…and then turning the emphasis volume down when it’s convenient. This IS our journey toward a mended heart. We know what we should be about, but it’s hard to actually make ourselves about it when it gets tough. If we’re honest, our behavior doesn’t match what we know we should be about ALL OF THE TIME. Sometimes we realize just how hard humility is. We realize how difficult the truth is to face—when it will cost us some honor, or pride, or reputation… Or simply works against what we want in the moment. But let me be clear, failure to remain in humility is not something we should condemn. Struggling with behavior is not a failure of faith. We’ve already confessed to the room that we are not perfect. The question we should ask ourselves when we’ve said “yes” with our lips, but then “no” with our actions is not “am I a terrible person…a hypocrite…or evil.” The question we should ask is, “What can I learn from this about myself?” Or… “How can I reflect on what happened in the moment that led me to resist what I knew to be right?” Or… “How did I lose sight of even asking, ‘what is right here by God’?” A path toward a mended heart is not some straight and broad path—as much as we might feel like it should be for ourselves and others. The path toward a mended heart is narrow…and full of twists, turns, and steep hills. It’s a hard path to find on our own—impossible, really, to find by ourselves. That’s the whole point of faith and prayer and learning to allow the Spirit to lead us—we NEED help. We NEED God. We NEED grace and mercy and forgiveness every single step of the way. And, we have good news to remind us that’s okay. But…as we try… As we truly humble ourselves… As we strive… As we struggle… As we orient ourselves toward honest motivation… We can know that our imperfect effort is enough. God is really interested in our motivation and intent. Paul says that partnership with the Spirit and experience of love from God in Christ comes from us as individuals leaning into humility in our inward journey of faith…extending that humility outward. Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to you down interests, but to the interests of others. Paul says this kind of mind is the same that was in Christ. He then gives us this beautiful poem about the mind of Christ, who gave up all privilege and power and status and peace to come to us in the flesh… To humble himself… To allow humanity’s resistance to God’s way to put him on the cross. This humility of Christ putting humanity before himself is the basis upon which he was exalted above all of Creation itself—as worthy of being called “divine”…as God’s-self in the flesh of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus, the Messiah/King/Christ, could’ve lorded himself over us because he IS God… But he didn’t. Instead of sitting on a throne of power and might, Jesus left all of that worldly power and might and allowed us to put him on a cross. Jesus revealed true power and true might as God defines them…in complete humility and servanthood to the world. He cast off all status and honor we might still like to assign him as we define them and, he redefines status and honor altogether. First becomes last… Greatest becomes least… Power and might become humility and love. THIS is the image of God Jesus showed us. THIS is the will of God Jesus displayed. And through Christ’s example we learn: only through humility and love can the world ever be reconciled together completely with God’s Realm.
