This passage is part of a letter sent by the prophet Jeremiah to the exiles in Babylon. God promised that, when the 70 years of exile were over, He would bring the people back to Jerusalem. After many years of exile, the future must have seemed quite bleak to the Hebrew people, but these words were meant to encourage them. God promised that when His people sought him, they would find Him. When they prayed, He would answer. Thousands of years have passed, but God’s promise remains. In our world, our church, and our lives we face difficulties and uncertainties just as the Israelites did in Babylon. Still, God promises a hope-filled future. May we be as faithful in praying as God is in hearing and answering our prayers.

Jan Karon wrote a series of books set in Mitford, a fictional town in North Carolina. The main character in the books was Father Timothy, an Episcopalian priest, who, along with his wife, Cynthia, lived in community with the many quirky residents of the small town. Father Timothy and Cynthia often spoke of “the prayer that never fails.” What prayer were they talking about? Anyone who has hung around church for very long will recognize it immediately. The prayer that never fails is Thy will be done. We pray these words every Sunday in church as we join together in the Lord’s Prayer, but do we really understand what we are asking?

Moses first encountered God in the form of a burning bush on Mount Horeb, and God told Moses that He was sending him to bring God’s people out of slavery in Egypt to Canaan, the Promised Land. Moses knew he was a wanted man in Egypt and questioned why God would send him. Instead of answering directly, God responded by telling Moses that the deliverance of Israel depended solely on the character and power of God, not on human strength or ability. Of interest is that the sign God promised would come after the fact; that is, the people would worship on Mount Horeb after Moses brought them out of Egypt. In this age of instant gratification, how willing are we to wait for confirmation that God is leading our church as we follow Him into the future?

Moses questioned how he could represent God when he did not even know His name. God responded, I Am Who I Am. That is probably not the answer Moses expected! The idea behind this name is that God will be known by God’s actions on behalf of Israel. The name denotes continuity; He is the same God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If the Israelites wanted to know who God was, they needed to look at what He had done. God did not say, “I was” or “I will be;” He said, “I Am.” I Am Who I Am reminds us that God works in real time, the here and now. He is always “I Am” – even in 2026. How does God’s mysterious response help us to understand His character and ways?

The third component of the membership vow is to support the church with our gifts. Today we are going to think about our gifts of time and talent. In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul tells us that our Lord gives us different gifts and different ministries, but all are given to serve God and others. Paul continues by comparing the body of Christ to a human body. Our bodies have many parts and each has a
specific job. Likewise, all members of the church have a job to do within the church. Attending church on Sunday morning is important, but being a Christian and a member of the church entails more than sitting on the pew for an hour each Sunday. We are called to share the time and talents God gave us to strengthen the church and make disciples.

God does not always lead in the way we expect Him to lead. Moses with his lack of qualifications? A pillar of cloud? A pillar of fire? Why not a heavenly angel or bright, shiny billboards and streetlights to lead the Israelites? The means of God’s guidance is not nearly as important as the fact that God continues to guide us just as He did the Israelites thousands of years ago. And, He guides so we can keep moving by day and by night, in good times and not so good times. Our church experienced years of daylight; people came to us seeking a church home and growth in worship and outreach was organic. Now the church finds itself in a darker time when most people have no church affiliation and the traditions and values of the church are seen as antiquated and out of touch with today’s culture. However, even now, God guides us. We are unlikely to see pillars of clouds or fire, so how do we see the direction in which God is leading First Houston United Methodist Church?

The fourth component of the membership vow is to support the church with our service. Why do we serve, and what does it mean to serve? The answer is quite simple. We serve because Jesus served and told His disciples to do the same. Christian service is when we choose to put our faith into action and act as Jesus’ hands and feet in the world today. The options are endless! Many opportunities for service are found in the church: be a greeter or an usher, teach a Sunday School class, volunteer with the children and youth ministries, participate in one of the church’s outreach opportunities, or go on a mission trip. How are you called to serve?

The fifth and final component of the membership vow is to support the church with our witness. For many church members, this part of the membership vow is the
scariest. Witness? Share my testimony? What would I say? What if I say the wrong thing? You want me to speak or pray in public? Relax! Take a deep breath. Think about what God has done for you. Then in just a few sentences, share that story. Blaise Pascal, a 17th century French mathematician and philosopher, described a “God-shaped vacuum [hole] in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, only by God, the creator.” How has God filled that hole in your heart? The answer to that question is your witness. May God give you the willingness and courage to share your story.

In this section of Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus, he called the believers to unity by reminding them that they worshipped one God and Father of all. As Christians our first non-negotiable is belief in God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit which are often referred to as the Holy Trinity. In the years since Paul wrote this letter, a lot of other words and phrases have become commonly used in the church. It would be nearly impossible to compose a list that includes all of those words, but there is a list of some “church words” in Appendix B. Think about how each word relates to First Houston United Methodist Church today and how they influence our vision as we move forward.

Psalm 100 is a call to praise, and these five short verses express three profound reasons to worship: God created us and sustains us, His love is forever, and His faithfulness never ends. What timeless and glorious reasons to enter into His presence with gladness and singing! Yet, we all know that sometimes it is easier to praise God than other times. When life is going well, we are happy and it seems natural to lift our voices in praise; but, during times of trouble when our hearts are heavy, it is much harder to come before the Lord with thanksgiving. Happiness is an emotion that comes and goes, but Biblical joy is a state of being that comes from knowing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Even during difficult times, we can draw on that joy to enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.

Moses questioned how he could represent God when he did not even know His name. God responded, I Am Who I Am. That is probably not the answer Moses expected! The idea behind this name is that God will be known by God’s actions on behalf of Israel. The name denotes continuity; He is the same God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If the Israelites wanted to know who God was, they needed to look at what He had done. God did not say, “I was” or “I will be;” He said, “I Am.” I Am Who I Am reminds us that God works in real time, the here and now. He is always, “I Am” – even in 2026. How does God’s mysterious response help us to understand His character and ways?

After hearing God’s call to lead His people out of Egypt, Moses made four excuses as to why God needed to choose someone else: (1) He (Moses) was not qualified, (2) He did not know who God was, (3) The people probably would not believe or listen to him, and (4) He was slow of speech and tongue. When God rejected each of those excuses, Moses came right out and asked God to find someone else. At that point, God became angry, and Moses finally accepted the call to lead God’s people out of Egypt. Excuses. Since the days of Adam and Eve in the garden, everyone has made excuses. God does not want our excuses. When He calls, He longs for our answer to be Yes. From time to time, all of us make excuses for not responding to God’s call. Does our church?

God does not always lead in the way we expect Him to lead. Moses with his lack of qualifications? A pillar of cloud? A pillar of fire? Why not a heavenly angel or bright, shiny billboards and streetlights to lead the Israelites? The means of God’s guidance is not nearly as important as the fact that God continues to guide us just as He did the Israelites thousands of years ago. And, He guides so we can keep moving by day and by night, in good times and not so good times. Our church experienced years of daylight; people came to us seeking a church home, and growth in worship and outreach was organic. Now the church finds itself in a darker time when most people have no church affiliation, and the traditions and values of the church are seen as antiquated and out of touch with today’s culture. However, even now, God guides us. We are unlikely to see pillars of clouds or fire, so how do we see the direction in which God is leading First Houston United Methodist Church?

Is the glass half empty, or is it half full? The question is as old as the ages. The Israelites had reason for great joy; they were free from bondage and on their way to the Promised Land. However, instead of rejoicing, they complained to Moses that they would be better off back in Egypt as slaves where they had plenty of food to eat. Reading this story today, we can easily criticize the attitude of Israelites, but was their attitude much different than ours? Do we cling to the First Houston United Methodist Church of years past, or are we willing to trust that God’s plan for our church’s future is brighter than its past?

As the Israelites approached Canaan, Moses sent Joshua, Caleb, and ten other men ahead to spy on the land God promised them. The spies returned and reported the land was flowing with milk and honey, but it was inhabited by strong men living in fortified cities. Caleb and Joshua were ready to take possession of the land, but the ten other men convinced the Israelites it was too dangerous to enter it. Moses and Joshua pleaded with the people to trust God and claim the land God had promised them, but the people rebelled and threatened to stone Moses and Joshua. As a result of their disobedience, God punished the Israelites, and they spent the next 40 years wandering in the desert. Fear is powerful, but the God we serve is more powerful. How will we trust Him with the future of our church when we see the many obstacles in the way?

God called Joshua to lead the Israelites after the death of Moses. The people had spent 40 years wandering in the desert, and now Joshua prepared to lead them across the Jordan River into Canaan. Can you imagine the fear Joshua experienced? He faced a huge undertaking, which included fighting against the giants who still occupied the area to gain possession of the land. However, in this passage, God spoke to Joshua with words of encouragement. God reminded Joshua of His promises to Moses; He would give His people possession of the Promised Land and victory over the land’s current occupants. Most importantly, God promised that He would go with Joshua and the people. The good news for us today is that God continues to go before us and with us. There is no where we can go where He is not already there. Thanks be to God!

Psalm 100 is a call to praise, and these five short verses express three profound reasons to worship: God created us and sustains us, His love is forever, and His faithfulness never ends. What timeless and glorious reasons to enter into His presence with gladness and singing! Yet, we all know that sometimes it is easier to praise God than other times. When life is going well, we are happy and it seems natural to lift our voices in praise; but, during times of trouble when our hearts are heavy, it is much harder to come before the Lord with thanksgiving. Happiness is an emotion that comes and goes, but Biblical joy is a state of being that comes from knowing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Even during difficult times, we can draw on that joy to enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.

In his letter to the church at Colossae, Paul wrote that, in order to live in unity with one another, the believers needed to set aside their anger, rage, malice, foul language, and untruths, and, instead, clothe themselves in the image of God by putting on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Paul also called the Colossians, and us by extension, to forgiveness. In order to be the unified body of Christ that God intends us to be, we must forgive one another as God forgives us.

Sadly, First Houston United Methodist Church is not unlike the church at Colossae. Over the years, anger, ill will, unkindness, and pride have reared their ugly heads. Our church has struggled with divisions and hurts that have caused some members to leave the church and others to become lukewarm in their attendance and support. In order to move forward into God’s best future for our church, we need to name those divisions and hurts, forgive them, and anticipate, with hope, all God can accomplish through a unified church.

Psalm 90 tells use one thing is certain: God never changes. From everlasting to everlasting, from beginning to end, He is God. What has changed, especially in recent years, are the culture, people’s lifestyles and the relationship, or lack thereof, people have with the church. Years ago, people graduated from high school and then furthered their education, served in the military, or directly entered the workforce; they got married and had children. Their lives tended to follow a linear progression. It was common for people to spend their whole life in their hometowns and attend the same church from birth until death. In 2026 life looks completely different; while some people follow the traditional pattern, many people’s lives are now full of twists and turns. Some adults continue to live at home well beyond their high school years or live with roommates or with a partner. An increasing number choose to remain single and childless; others choose to become parents outside of marriage. People are more mobile; they often live thousands of miles away from their hometowns and make several major moves in their lifetimes. Due to changing lifestyles and a multitude of alternatives competing for our attention, people became less interested in finding a church home.

Another change that has contributed to the decline in churches is technology; instant access to websites and social media platforms allows religion on demand as an alternative to connecting with a specific church community. A changing world necessitates changing how we “do church.” In order to move forward into God’s best future, the authors of Future-Focused Church emphasize the need for churches to be flexible and adaptable as they move from HERE to THERE; and, to understand THERE might be multiple options that continue to iterate, rather than one vision that is set in stone for many years to come.

Your employer just transferred you half way across the country; or, you decide it is time to downsize. Either way, it is time to pack up and move from here to there. How do you decide what to keep and what to let go? That is a process of discernment, of testing. Some decisions are relatively easy. We keep the things we use on a regular basis and those which have extra special meaning. We toss things that are broken, worn out, or stained. We donate or sell items that no longer fit and those we no longer need or use so someone else can use them. Other decisions are more difficult. What about that favorite sweater that you cannot wear until you lose 25 pounds? Then, there is the punch bowl. It has sat on the shelf in your closet for years; you have never used it and doubt you ever will. Your kids definitely do not want it. BUT. . . that punch bowl once belonged to your great-grandmother. Do you keep it or let it go? Just as we need to make decisions about what to keep and what to let go when we experience life changes, we need to make decisions about our church as we move from HERE to THERE. Some things are non-negotiable and must remain unchanged. Other things we must be willing to let go in order to move forward. As we seek God’s will for our church, we must follow Paul’s exhortation to test everything.

Many of us have been through the process to develop a mission statement in our workplace. We have tried to capture in a few words why the company, business, or institution exists. The disciples did not have to sit around in a windowless conference room and think about their mission because, before He ascended into heaven, Jesus gave them their marching orders: Go and make disciples of all nations. The mission statement of the United Methodist Church is taken from Jesus’ command to His disciples. It is to “Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” To accompany this mission statement, First Houston United Methodist Church adopted the mission mandate of “Transforming lives and communities by putting God’s love into action.” Making disciples is what First Houston United Methodist Church has been doing since its founding. The task before us is to reflect on our mission statement and clarify our core purpose.

The acronym GIGO is often used in computer science. Garbage In, Garbage Out.A program can be perfectly written, but if the data entered into it is incorrect, the program will produce incorrect results. Likewise, one of the ways we keep our bodies healthy is to eat healthy foods. A regular diet of lean protein, fruits, and vegetables is more likely to keep us healthy than a regular diet of triple cheeseburgers, fries, and milkshakes. Our thoughts and actions work in a similar manner. If we think about positive and good things, we are more likely to have a positive attitude and do good things; and if we think about negative and bad things, we are more likely to have a bad attitude and do bad things. For that reason, Paul encouraged the believers in Philippi to think about and practice things that were true, holy, just, lovely, and worthy of praise. The Bible is full of values that we as Christians are called to practice. One hundred of them are listed in Appendix A. Think about how these words relate to First Houston United Methodist Church today and how they influence our vision as we move into God’s best future for our church.

In Future-Focused Church, the authors name and discuss “3 Checkpoints;” they write that these Checkpoints are “intentional points on your journey that you need to pass through on the way to your future THERE.” The Checkpoints are grounded in Scripture and reflect recent research and the dynamics of U.S. churches and our world today. The first Checkpoint is Prioritizing and Empathizing with Young People. Statistics show that people age 65 and older make up 33% of today’s churchgoers, but only 17% of the general population. People in the 35-64 age group represent another 33% of current church goers. If the church does not find a way to bring young adults and their families into the church, what will the church look like in 10-25 years?

The second Checkpoint noted by the authors of Future-Focused Church is Modeling the Ethnic and Cultural Diversity of God’s Kingdom. First Houston United Methodist Church is one of the most racially diverse United Methodist churches in the city, but there are still strides to make in order to become more diverse, more reflective of God’s Kingdom. In addition to ethnic and cultural diversity, diversity comes in other forms such as language, socioeconomic status, and ability (physical, mental, and emotional). Sometimes we forget that all people are made in God’s image, and we fail to see people who, because of their differences or circumstances, live on the fringe of society. We serve a God who sees everyone as deserving of His grace and mercy and seeks to draw them close to Him. May we see everyone through God’s eyes and love them as He does.

The third Checkpoint in Future-Focused Church is Tangibly Loving Our Neighbors. In their discussion of this Checkpoint, the authors ask, “Would anyone miss our church if it closed down?” Stop. Think. Would anyone miss our church if it closed down? That is a gut-wrenching question. As members, we would miss our church, but would its closing impact our neighbors? From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is God’s love letter to humankind. First John 4:8 tells us God is love; Jesus said the commandment to love our neighbor is second only to loving God; and, on the night before He died, Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another. Can people look at our church and know we belong to Jesus by the way we love our neighbors?