TRADITIONAL SERMON
Today, we gather for the final message in our stewardship series: Commitment Sunday. Over these weeks, we have explored what it means to be one with Christ, one with Each Other, and one in Ministry to All. This is not merely the end of a series. It is the beginning of a covenant—a braided cord of calling, community, and commitment. Like Ecclesiastes says, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
In Christian theology, calling (vocatio) is not merely an individualistic pursuit of purpose but a divine summons into God's redemptive mission. John Wesley spoke of "social holiness"—our faith is made perfect in community, not isolation. Today, we reaffirm our Wesleyan understanding that grace leads us not only to personal salvation but to public service. We are not just invited; we are sent.
1. We Are a Called People (1 Peter 2:9)
In the ancient world, the priesthood signified access to the sacred. Priests stood in the gap between God and the people, offering sacrifices and interceding on behalf of the community. The Levitical priesthood in Israel was established to ensure holiness in worship and justice in the community. But in Christ, the veil was torn. The priesthood was no longer reserved for a tribe but extended to a people.
Peter reminds us:?“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s people...”
Our calling is not a profession—it is an identity. God calls us not just to believe, but to proclaim the mighty acts of the One who called us out of darkness. This is not a solo journey; it is a shared vocation. The Church is not a crowd but a communion woven together for God's mission.
Theologically, the priesthood of all believers means that each baptized Christian is a minister. We are not waiting for others to step up; we are being equipped for the work of Christ in the world. Our response is a form of doxology—we live our lives in praise by serving others.
Illustration 1: The Church That Stayed After the Storm
After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, one small UMC in New Orleans refused to close, even though its building was badly damaged. Instead, it pitched a tent, worshiped in the open air, and cooked meals for neighbors with camping stoves. It also advocated for housing, distributed water, and prayed with the grieving.
One member said, “We didn’t have much, but we had the call. We couldn’t not answer it.”
That church embodied 1 Peter 2:9. They didn’t wait for perfect conditions; they lived out their priesthood by simply being present.
2. Ministry Is Our Light (Matthew 5:13 -16)
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls his followers salt and light—two elemental metaphors rich with theological meaning. Salt, in ancient Jewish understanding, was associated not only with flavor but also with covenant (Leviticus 2:13). It preserved, purified, and symbolized God's enduring promise. To be "salt of the earth" means to live lives that preserve God's justice and compassion in the world.
Light is equally powerful. From Genesis to Revelation, light signifies God's presence, truth, and revelation. In Isaiah 49:6, God's servant is made a "light to the nations," prefiguring Christ, who later declares, "I am the light of the world." When Jesus tells his followers, "You are the light of the world," he entrusts them with the same mission: to illuminate dark places, expose falsehood, and guide others to the hope of God.
To be salt and light is not a status of superiority—it is a vocation of servanthood and witness. It calls the Church to be visibly and sacrificially different for the sake of the world. Jesus said:?“You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world... Let your light shine.”
This light is not about spotlight—it’s about service. Ministry is the light that shines in the darkness. Salt adds flavor, but also preserves what would otherwise decay. The Church’s calling is to preserve hope, ignite joy, and expose injustice truthfully and gracefully.
Wesleyan theology holds that grace must be active. Prevenient grace draws us, justifying grace redeems us, and sanctifying grace compels us to be light-bearers in the world. Ministry is the outworking of God's inward grace.
Illustration 2: The Church That Showed Up at the Border
In a Texas town near the border, an older congregation opened its fellowship hall to care for migrant families. The congregation didn’t speak Spanish and had no major funding, but it cooked meals, sang hymns as lullabies, and held weary children.
The pastor said, “We had nothing to offer but our hearts. And it was enough.”
They answered the call, not with programs, but with presence. That is a ministry that shines.
3. A Cord of Three Strands (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
This cord represents:
Calling – the voice of God echoing through your life.
Community – the people around you who journey alongside you.
Commitment – the covenant you make today.
Christian life is inherently Trinitarian: called by the Father, redeemed by the Son, empowered by the Spirit. These three strands make us resilient. We are not an assembly of threads, but a rope woven by divine purpose.
When we commit today, we act not merely out of obligation, but from the covenant theology. Like the Israelites who said, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do," we bind ourselves to God and each other.
Conclusion: A Commitment That Cannot Be Broken
Today, we don’t just give—we recommit. We say “yes” again to the call of Christ. We bring our pledges, but more importantly, we bring our lives.
We say:
I will serve.?I will pray.?I will build.?I will forgive.?I hope.?I will answer the call.
Let your “yes” today be one strand in the great tapestry of New Hope Church’s ministry. When woven with others, it becomes a calling that cannot be broken.
Prayer of Commitment
Gracious and Calling God,?You have braided us together for a holy purpose.?Make us faithful to your call—steadfast in our giving, bold in our witness, tender in our love.?May we shine your light and preserve your truth.?Today, we commit ourselves to be one in ministry to all.?In the name of Christ, our sure foundation. Amen.
INTERACTIVE REFLECTION TIME. NOT A TRADITIONAL SERMON BUT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO TALK AND ENGAGE.
Scriptures: 1 Peter 2:19 | 1 Peter 3:15 | Matthew 5:13-16
?Image: A Cord of Three Strands – Love, Hope, and Ministry
Introduction: What Does It Mean to Be Called?
Calling is not just about clergy, or those who preach, or those who go into full-time ministry.?Calling is about identity and purpose—what God invites us to become and do.
Today, we are reminded that we are all called, not alone, but together.?As Ecclesiastes 4:12 says:
“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
Let us reflect on what it means to be called into one ministry to all, braided together with three strands:?Love, Hope, and Ministry.
I. STRAND ONE: Called to Love – Our Common Identity
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9
“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s people…”
Peter isn’t writing to religious elites—he’s writing to everyday believers.?He tells them: You belong. You are
God’s people.
To be called is first to be claimed by God’s love.?Before we do, we are invited to be God’s beloved, God’s chosen.
Theological Insight:?This is the foundation of the priesthood of all believers. Every person has sacred worth and spiritual authority—not to dominate, but to serve in love.
Cord Reflection: Love is the first strand. Without it, the cord unravels.
Illustration:
Imagine a single thread pulled out of a tapestry. It’s fragile, directionless.?But that thread holds the pattern in the fabric, adding to the picture.?Your love matters—not as an idea, but as a force that has the Church together.
II. STRAND TWO: Called to Hope – Our Shared Witness
Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15
“Always be ready to answer the hope that is in you…”
This isn’t about having clever words. It’s about living a life that makes people curious—a life grounded in trust that God is still working.
Theological Insight:?Christian hope is not passive. It’s resurrection-centered confidence that God’s purposes will prevail even in struggle.
Cord Reflection: Hope is the second strand. It gives strength when we’re stretched thin.
Illustration:
Have you ever seen how ropes are made? The individual strands twist in tension, but that tension gives them strength.?Hope keeps the tension from becoming despair. It reminds us that even when ministry is hard, it’s holy.
III. STRAND THREE: Called to Ministry – Our Active Response
Scripture: Matthew 5:13 -16
“You are the salt of the earth… the light of the world…”
Jesus doesn't say, “You might be” or “You could be.” He says, “You are.” Ministry isn’t optional. It’s the natural expression of a life grounded in love and sustained by hope.
Theological Insight:?Ministry is the outpouring of grace through our whole lives. In Wesleyan theology, we call this practical divinity—faith made visible in action.
Cord Reflection: Ministry is the third strand. It’s where love and hope take shape in the world.
Illustration:
Think of a candle. The wax (love) gives it form. The wick (hope) gives it center.?But it’s the flame—ministry—that gives it light.?Your calling is to shine—wherever you are planted.
Conclusion: Called Together, Woven Strong
We are not called to be lone strands. We are called into a ministry braided together in Christ—love, Hope, and ministry—woven into something stronger than we could ever be alone.
So, what is your strand today?
Is God calling you to love someone hard to love?
Is God rekindling your hope in a dry season?
Is God nudging you to step out and serve?
As we dedicate our commitments today, not just on paper but in purpose,?Let’s remember:
“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)? And neither are we, when we are bound together in Christ.
Closing Prayer:
God, who calls? Bind us in your love, fill us with your hope, and send us in joyful ministry.?Make us one in ministry all over the world. Amen.
