New Beginnings October Sermon Series
Rev. Sherri Reynolds
New Beginnings: A Matter of Worship
October 29, 2023
Sermon Notes: 10.26 and 10.29 We are at the end of our journey through Isaiah 43. While the entire chapter has been a message of hope and new beginnings, Isaiah concludes the chapter with a word about what got the Israelites in the predicament that they were experiencing. He says that instead of bringing the Lord, God honoring sacrifices that they only brought him their sins and iniquities. The Lord will forgive them for their lack of worship and keep His promises. Isaiah reminds them that it is not God who wronged Israel, but Israel who was disobedient by not properly worshipping God. Paul writes in Romans 12:1, “That we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship.” Worship is not simply a noun or a time when we show up once a week. Our worship is how we show up and present our best to God. The Israelites failed to honor God with proper worship. How are we doing in worshipping with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness? I pray you consider your worship as you look to your commitment to First United Methodist Church in 2024. Blessings, Rev. Sherri
New Beginnings: A Matter of Worship
October 29, 2023
Sermon Notes: 10.26 and 10.29 We are at the end of our journey through Isaiah 43. While the entire chapter has been a message of hope and new beginnings, Isaiah concludes the chapter with a word about what got the Israelites in the predicament that they were experiencing. He says that instead of bringing the Lord, God honoring sacrifices that they only brought him their sins and iniquities. The Lord will forgive them for their lack of worship and keep His promises. Isaiah reminds them that it is not God who wronged Israel, but Israel who was disobedient by not properly worshipping God. Paul writes in Romans 12:1, “That we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship.” Worship is not simply a noun or a time when we show up once a week. Our worship is how we show up and present our best to God. The Israelites failed to honor God with proper worship. How are we doing in worshipping with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness? I pray you consider your worship as you look to your commitment to First United Methodist Church in 2024. Blessings, Rev. Sherri
New Beginnings-Investment
October 22, 2023
This Sunday marks the fourth week of Generosity: New Beginnings. The prayer question for this week is “How is the “new thing” God is calling you to a kingdom investment?” and the scripture is Isaiah 43:14-21. I hope you are reading Isaiah 43 and praying about how God can use your prayer, presence, gifts, service, and witness and committing them to the Lord for what is ahead in 2024. If you have not turned in your commitment card, I ask that you continue to pray over the commitment and return your estimate of giving card to the office or in the offering plate by the end of the month. The leadership of the church has been blessed by the response thus far, and your response is helping us to prepare for 2024. A commitment for 2024 is not just a commitment for the year ahead, but it is also an investment. Many who heard the prophets’ words would not live to see the prophecy fulfilled. Isaiah was a long tenured prophet, and it would take time for his prophecy to be realized. Yet, Isaiah spoke a message which would bring hope to the current generations and generations to come. It even brings hope to us today. Any “new” of today can continue to bless and encourage for years to come. As you considered “stepping up” for the Lord, realize that you are not only investing in the church of today, but also the church of tomorrow. Blessings, Rev. Sherri
New Beginnings- Investment
October 22, 2023
This Sunday marks the fourth week of Generosity: New Beginnings. The prayer question for this week is “How is the “new thing” God is calling you to a kingdom investment?” and the scripture is Isaiah 43:14-21. I hope you are reading Isaiah 43 and praying about how God can use your prayer, presence, gifts, service, and witness and committing them to the Lord for what is ahead in 2024. If you have not turned in your commitment card, I ask that you continue to pray over the commitment and return your estimate of giving card to the office or in the offering plate by the end of the month. The leadership of the church has been blessed by the response thus far, and your response is helping us to prepare for 2024. A commitment for 2024 is not just a commitment for the year ahead, but it is also an investment. Many who heard the prophets’ words would not live to see the prophecy fulfilled. Isaiah was a long tenured prophet, and it would take time for his prophecy to be realized. Yet, Isaiah spoke a message which would bring hope to the current generations and generations to come. It even brings hope to us today. Any “new” of today can continue to bless and encourage for years to come. As you considered “stepping up” for the Lord, realize that you are not only investing in the church of today, but also the church of tomorrow. Blessings, Rev. Sherri
New Beginnings-- Our Witness
October 15, 2023
Sermon Notes: 10.12 and 10.15 This week marks the middle of Generosity: New Beginnings. The prayer question for this week is “How is your ministry a witness for what God can do?” and the scripture is Isaiah 43:8-13. I encourage you to study and read Isaiah 43 as we work through this sermon series. I believe this additional time of study will enrich your experience as we move through the series. In the scripture reading, the prophet shares that God’s children were once blind and deaf to the works of God. They will know that their false gods were ineffective, and God will deliver them. They will be able to see God’s mighty acts of salvation and they will be witnesses to the power of God. The passage for this week, challenges us to consider how we might be “witnesses” for God. Like it or not, as Christians, all that we do is a witness of God. The question is, “Is this a positive of negative witness?” How we honor God and the church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness is our witness. Do our actions and words tell the world of God’s might saving grace and the Good News of Jesus Christ? Blessings, Rev. Sherri
New Beginnings-- Our Witness
October 15, 2023 • Rev. Sherri Reynolds
Sermon Notes: 10.12 and 10.15 This week marks the middle of Generosity: New Beginnings. The prayer question for this week is “How is your ministry a witness for what God can do?” and the scripture is Isaiah 43:8-13. I encourage you to study and read Isaiah 43 as we work through this sermon series. I believe this additional time of study will enrich your experience as we move through the series. In the scripture reading, the prophet shares that God’s children were once blind and deaf to the works of God. They will know that their false gods were ineffective, and God will deliver them. They will be able to see God’s mighty acts of salvation and they will be witnesses to the power of God. The passage for this week, challenges us to consider how we might be “witnesses” for God. Like it or not, as Christians, all that we do is a witness of God. The question is, “Is this a positive of negative witness?” How we honor God and the church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness is our witness. Do our actions and words tell the world of God’s might saving grace and the Good News of Jesus Christ? Blessings, Rev. Sherri
New Beginnings- A Great Adventure
October 8, 2023 • Rev. Sherri Reynolds
Sermon NotesOctober 8, 2023“A Great Adventure” Scripture: Isaiah 43:4-7; 43:19 We are in the second week of Generosity: New Beginnings. The prayer question for this week is “How have you been led to ‘step up’ for God in ministry at Gadsden First UMC?” and the scripture is Isaiah 43:4-7. I hope you are reading Isaiah 43 and praying about how God can use your prayer, presence, gifts, service, and witness and committing them to the Lord for what is ahead in 2024. Any time that we “step up” for the Lord, it can be a great adventure. You never know where obedience and discipleship might lead. When the Israelites received the assurance from Isaiah that God did not forsake them and they would be restored to the land which they were promised, it was hope-filled, but challenging. There would be obstacles in the return (read Ezra and Nehemiah) and they weren’t certain what the future would bring, only that God was with them. We too may feel challenged in our “stepping up”, but we need not fear. The Lord is with us too! Verse 5 from this week’s reading reminds us, “Do not fear, for I am with you.” Rest in this promise as you consider the prayer question: “How have you been led to ‘step up’ for God in ministry at Gadsden First UMC?” Blessings, Rev. Sherri
New Beginnings-A Great Adventure
October 8, 2023
Sermon NotesOctober 8, 2023“A Great Adventure” Scripture: Isaiah 43:4-7; 43:19 We are in the second week of Generosity: New Beginnings. The prayer question for this week is “How have you been led to ‘step up’ for God in ministry at Gadsden First UMC?” and the scripture is Isaiah 43:4-7. I hope you are reading Isaiah 43 and praying about how God can use your prayer, presence, gifts, service, and witness and committing them to the Lord for what is ahead in 2024. Any time that we “step up” for the Lord, it can be a great adventure. You never know where obedience and discipleship might lead. When the Israelites received the assurance from Isaiah that God did not forsake them and they would be restored to the land which they were promised, it was hope-filled, but challenging. There would be obstacles in the return (read Ezra and Nehemiah) and they weren’t certain what the future would bring, only that God was with them. We too may feel challenged in our “stepping up”, but we need not fear. The Lord is with us too! Verse 5 from this week’s reading reminds us, “Do not fear, for I am with you.” Rest in this promise as you consider the prayer question: “How have you been led to ‘step up’ for God in ministry at Gadsden First UMC?” Blessings, Rev. Sherri
New Beginnings- Hope
October 1, 2023
Sermon NotesOctober 1, 2023 This week, begins a five week emphasis, Generosity: New Beginnings. This entire series engages Isaiah 43, inviting us to consider the new things that God is doing in our lives and First United Methodist Church. How is good taking our prayers, presence, resources, service, and witness to do a new thing in our church? We begin this series by examining the hope that we have in the Lord. During this series, I invite you to… 1) Read and Study Isaiah 43 2) Spend time with the reflection question each week. This week is “What new things do you see for the future of First United Methodist Church?” 3) Participate in the interactive prayer experience (more details to follow Sunday). 4) Pray about what new step of discipleship God is inviting you to do for 2024 and consider how you will live into your membership vows for 2024. God is doing a new First United Methodist! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? In Christ, Rev. Sherri
New Beginnings- Hope
October 1, 2023
Sermon NotesOctober 1, 2023 This week, begins a five week emphasis, Generosity: New Beginnings. This entire series engages Isaiah 43, inviting us to consider the new things that God is doing in our lives and First United Methodist Church. How is good taking our prayers, presence, resources, service, and witness to do a new thing in our church? We begin this series by examining the hope that we have in the Lord. During this series, I invite you to… 1) Read and Study Isaiah 43 2) Spend time with the reflection question each week. This week is “What new things do you see for the future of First United Methodist Church?” 3) Participate in the interactive prayer experience (more details to follow Sunday). 4) Pray about what new step of discipleship God is inviting you to do for 2024 and consider how you will live into your membership vows for 2024. God is doing a new First United Methodist! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? In Christ, Rev. Sherri