AVBC - Sunday - 05/24/26 - Sermon Title: “New Life, New Creation” – “The Power of Transformation” Sermon Series – (Part 2 of 6) – 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:3 - (Memorial Day Sunday)

 Sunday 05/24/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church

Sermon Title: “New Life, New Creation” – “The Power of Transformation” Sermon Series – (Part 2 of 6) – 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:3 - (Memorial Day Sunday)

(Cover Picture – New Creation)

          This morning,  we are continuing our six-week “The Power of Transformation” sermon series. Last Sunday on our “Live It Out Loud” Sunday, or formerly “Camp” Sunday, we discussed the idea of “When You’re Stuck in the Cocoon.” It is hard to live our faith in Christ out fully when we feel stuck, or not fully who God has called us to be. If we want to continue to be transformed by Christ, and if we want to have the fullness of “The Power of Transformation” in Christ then we need to pursue Christ daily. We need each other, and we need great churches like this where we can live out our faith and lives together.

          This morning, since this sermon series is called “The Power of Transformation,” on this Memorial Day Sunday, I want to talk about “New Life, New Creation.” For those that were here last Sunday, or who watched online last Sunday, you know that we talked about the transformation that a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly. This transformation in Christ that we continue to experience makes us more and more like Jesus. Further, the scriptures talk very directly of about “New Life, New Creation.” The two scriptures that I chose for this morning on this topic, once again are 2 Corinthians 5:17 and John 3:3.

(2 Corinthians 5:17 – Butterfly - Picture)

          In 2 Corinthians 5:17, we hear, once again, this:

¹⁷ Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come (2 Cor. 5:17, RSV).

 

          So, this idea of “New Life, New Creation,” this idea of our sermon series,

“The Power of Transformation” is powerful. How do we come to Jesus, and how do we grow deeper in faith with Him? How do we have “New Life, New Creation?” The first thing that we need to do if have not done so already, is to surrender our lives to Jesus Christ. Jesus loves us, has forgiven us, and He has died for us. When turn Christ and when we give Him our grief, our shame, and our sin, He offers us, wait for it, new life. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 just told us, when we come to Christ, we are a “new creation,” and everything that we have ever done has been forgiven. Or as 2 Corinthians 5:17 says: “the old has passed away, behold, the new has come”.

This being said, for most of us or many of us, there will be a fair amount of time in our lives from when we first come to Christ, to when we go to be with Christ. So, coming to Christ and being a new creation is an amazing thing. “The Power of Transformation” however, goes much further then just when we come to Christ as our Lord and Savior. The transformation continues, as we seek Him. The transformation continues as we read God’s word. The transformation continues as we pray, as we serve, as we love, as we worship, and as we seek the make the world look more and more like Jesus Christ. As we seek justice and mercy. This, my brothers, and sisters is, “The Power of Transformation.”  

(2 Corinthians 5:17 – Tree Stump - Picture)

          Further, the speed of our spiritual transformation in Christ, can happen at all different speeds, and in different ways. We might be like a tree stump, and then we have the “New Life, New Creation” of Christ in us. It might just look like a small sprouting tree. You see, the tree stump is dead, like some people are or feel they are spiritually. Coming to Christ and receiving “New Life, New Creation” might be like having a small plant in a dead tree stump. Imagine over time however, what the Holy Spirit can do with that small “New Life, New Creation”? It can grow into a mighty new creation!

          In our reading from the gospel of John 3:3 for this morning, it says, once again this:

(John 3:3 – Man in the Water - Picture)

³ Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, RSV).

The idea of being a “Born Again Christian” comes from scriptures like this. In this case, Jesus is telling Nicodemus that he must be reborn, but of course Jesus means spiritual rebirth. Jesus is saying that “The Power of Transformation,” occurs with “New Life, New Creation.” Coming to Jesus, asking Him into your heart is “New Life, New Creation.” The process of growing in Christ though, is what we call “Sanctification,” or growing in God’s grace. This is a process that we live out our whole life long. For example, before we get baptized in this church, and churches like this, we must first profess our faith in Jesus Christ. We must first say that we have “New Life, New Creation” in Jesus. When someone gets baptized in this church, and churches like this they go into the waters of baptism to spiritually die to themselves, and to be raised to new spiritual life in Christ. It is as if we are spiritually going into Jesus’ tomb on Good Friday when He died when we go into the waters of baptism. It is also as if we are spiritually rising to new life when we come up from the waters of baptism. Baptism by itself and the waters of baptism in our church, and churches like our hold no spiritual power in and of themselves. The hope though is that we are open to movement of the Holy Spirit, and that we come up out of the waters of baptism with “New Life, New Creation.” This means that our transformation in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit continues from when accept Christ, to when we get baptized, etc. Or to put it another way, when we come to Christ and make Him our Lord and our Savior, He offers us forgiveness, eternity, and salvation. This is not the end of our spiritual transformations here on earth though. Rather, it is only just the beginning.

(John 3:3 – Forest - Picture)

          As we grow closer and closer to Christ, as we become more and more like Jesus, which is the ultimate goal of the Christian life, as we become holier and more righteous. Not “holier than though,” but more and more like Jesus. To be a “Christian” is to be a “mini-Christ,” as the goal of the Christian life is to be just like Jesus. Sometimes though, the journey with Christ towards holiness and righteousness can seem hard. It might seem foggy, or as if we are walking through a forest together. Be encouraged though brothers and sisters, because Jesus designed our faith through the power of the Holy Spirit, for us to walk this road of faith, not just as individuals, but together.

          Here are a couple of other scriptures, out others, which discusses “New Life, New Creation” and “The Power of Transformation.” The first one is Colossians 3:10 that says this:

¹⁰ and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator (Col. 3:10, RSV).

 

          To be a Christian, to come to Christ, is to realize that we are not perfect, as only Jesus is. It is to realize that we need a savior, and that we need God’s mercy and grace. When we do this, we shed the old self, and put the new self that is of God, through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

          In Galatians 6:15, it says this:

¹⁵ For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation (Gal. 6:15, RSV).

 

What the Apostle Paul is saying to the church in Galatia, or the “Galatians,” and us, is that Jewish ritual and belief of male infant circumcision in and of itself does not make us a new creation. For Jesus once again, says in John 3:3 that we must be spiritually reborn. In fact, the founder of the Methodist Movement, John Wesley, preached a famous sermon the 1700’s called “The Circumcision of the Heart.” The idea of this sermon was that a religious belief, ritual, or practice has no meaning if we do not believe in it, and if God is not in it. You see Jesus is telling us that just wearing “church clothes,” and just saying the words, and just singing the songs, does not save us and transform us. Only faith in Christ, through the Holy Spirit can we truly know “The Power of Transformation.” This is how we receive and pursue “New Life, New Creation.” This means that John Wesley’s sermon called, “The Circumcision of the Heart,” is a call to be changed, and be changed, and wait for it, to be changed some more! This why the song called, “Change My Heart Oh God” says

Verse
Change my heart, O God,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God,
May I be like You.

 

Chorus
You are the Potter,
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me,
This is what I pray (https://www.google.com/search?q=change+my+heart+oh+god+lyrics+in+english).

 

This is the Christian journey, the Christian life, and it all starts with saying yes to Jesus.

          How then, on this specific Sunday, Memorial Day Sunday, does this connect to the idea of “New Life, New Creation,” and “The Power of Transformation?” It certainly is a hard argument biblically to say that war is a good thing, and something that Jesus taught and advocated. A saint of the Roman Catholic Church, Saint Augustine who lived in the 300’s and 400’s AD argued though for what is called “Just War Theory”. What is “Just War Theory?” This is what it is:

“Just war theory is a moral and political doctrine designed to evaluate when it is ethically justifiable to go to war and how warfare may be morally conducted. It strikes a balance between total pacifism and unrestrained realism, functioning as the ethical foundation for modern international laws of armed conflict (https://www.google.com/search?q=just+war+theory&rlz).

 

          You see in order to be transformed by Christ, and in order to gain “New Life, New Creation” you have to be alive to turn to Christ and accept Christ. Have there then been times throughout history when war was necessary? Some might say yes, and some might say no. My Quaker friends, also called “The Society of Friends” are generally strict pacifists, meaning no war ever. I admire my Quaker friends and others who are ardent pacifists, but I wonder what we should have done when King George III would not give us “Taxation without Representation?” This of course led up to the Revolutionary War that was fought our nation’s independence two hundred and fifty years ago. Should we have fought the British for national independence? What do you think? While I abhor war, I understand why the American colonists fought for what would become the United States of America. I also understand why the Civil War that was fought in this country from 1861-1865, was largely fought to end slavery, or owning as property other human beings. In understand why our brave soldiers hit the shores of Normandy France on June 6, 1944 or “D-Day” to liberate the world of Nazi fascism and tyranny. Some of these same soldiers liberated holocaust camps where humans being, including 6-million Jews were being massacred.

          What is also true, my brothers and sisters, is that we live in a very broken world. Some of us, per my definition of Saint Augustine’s “Just War Theory,”  might believe that there were times when wars have been “justified,” and other times when we feel that war and military aggression were unjustified. You might in fact, be thinking right now of some wars or military actions that you personally feel were “justified,” or “not justified.” As people though, I believe it is very important in this country and every country to support, love, and respect our soldiers. In both the Republican and Democratic parties in this country, we have elected leaders in congress that are military veterans. They signed up for service likely out a sense of duty to the families, their communities, and their country. Tomorrow, we honor those who have served in our armed forces who never made it home.

          For these reasons, and because I have people in my family and family history that served in the United States Armed Forces, I honor all three of the United State Military holidays of Armed Services Day, for those serving, Memorial Day, for those that never made it home, and Veteran’s Day for those who have served. In fact, I remember doing a special Veteran’s Day service at one of the churches that I served for six years. It turned out that this church had four Vietnam War veterans. As it also turned out, three of these Vietnam War veterans, whom were all drafted into the Vietnam War, never even saw combat. Meaning, three out of four of these never actually fought in Vietnam. Two of these three Vietnam veterans further, were medical soldiers. One was a field surgeon, and the other was a medic. Also, wait for it, both the field surgeon and the medic, at times cared for and operated on North Vietnamese forces too, as that was the side our United States military was fighting against in the Vietnam War. These two Vietnam veterans in particular spent their time in the Vietnam War preserving life and not taking it. Both of these men were drafted from a metal bingo cage rotating with numbered bingo balls. There numbers were called, and they went to Vietnam. They saved and preserved life the entire time that they were in the war, and when they got home, there was no parade. No “thank you for your service,” instead these two men largely were heckled, called “baby killer,” and were even spat upon. The first Sunday that I did a Veteran’s Day service in this church that I served for six-years, one of these Vietnam War veterans came up with tears in his eyes, and firmly grabbed my arm, and said, “Pastor Paul, thank you for that service, we have not been honored like that in years”.

          Friends, brothers and sisters, this is why we need to honor our soldiers, our warriors, our troops. Many of these men and women have seen and endured things that are beyond the comprehensions of many. Today, tomorrow, and always may we respect, may we remember, and may we realize that if we want the “The Power of Transformation” and “New Life, New Creation,” we have to be changed in Christ. Sometimes for us this can be a struggle, but so was the American Revolution, the Civil War, World War II, the Vietnam War, etc. Tomorrow, we honor men and women, who never made it home from serving in the armed services of our country.

          To take all of this, and make this sermon something that we can take out into Adams and the world, here are some application points for this morning message:

Memorial Day is a time to honor fallen service members, whose ultimate sacrifices defend the freedoms that make both physical life and spiritual liberty possible. Many observe the holiday’s somber weight alongside the concept of “new life” and “new creation,” bridging grief with the enduring promise of redemption, renewal, and hope.

The connection between remembrance, sacrifice, and rebirth spans deeply rooted theological concepts and cultural observances:

·       Sacrifice and Redemption: In many faith traditions, Memorial Day’s central theme of laying down one's life parallels the ultimate sacrifice made for spiritual renewal. It echoes scriptural foundations like John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends”.

·       From Grief to Renewal: The transition from the sorrow of loss to the hope of a "new creation" (often tied to passages like 2 Corinthians 5:17) serves as a comfort for mourning families. It emphasizes that out of the darkness of conflict and death, God and the human spirit can bring forth beauty, healing, and restored purpose.

·       Community and Remembrance: For many, visiting war memorials and cemeteries represents tending to the legacy of the fallen. It ensures that the memory of their ultimate sacrifice continues to inspire a peaceful, thriving, and renewed society.

In our closing hymn for this morning, is the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” written in 1863. It says this in the fourth verse:

4 In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me;
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
while God is marching on. [Refrain]

Refrain:
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on (https://hymnary.org/text/mine_eyes_have_seen_the_glory).

          Friends, brothers and sisters, come to Christ and experience “New Life, New Creation” and the “The Power of Transformation.” Happy Memorial Sunday, and may we remember and honor our fallen soldiers tomorrow and always. For freedom is free in Christ, but is so often pushed and fought for here in the United States and in the world. Amen.

AVBC - Sunday - 05/17/26 - Sermon Title: “When You’re Stuck in the Cocoon” – “The Power of Transformation” Sermon Series – (Part 1 of 6) – Romans 7:15-25, Romans 12:1

 Sunday 05/17/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church

Sermon Title: “When You’re Stuck in the Cocoon” – “The Power of Transformation” Sermon Series – (Part 1 of 6) – Romans 7:15-25, Romans 12:1

(Cover Picture)

          This morning, on this “Live It Out Loud” Sunday, what we used to call “Camp Sunday,” I am starting a new six-week sermon series called “The Power of Transformation.” The Christian faith is designed to change or transform us. This means that through our faith in Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are forgiven, we are loved, and we are changed. We are not only changed or transformed when we come to Christ as Lord and Savior, we are not only changed when we come up out of the waters of baptism, but we are also changed every time that we come to Christ. The Christian Church exists to proclaims Jesus and His gospel and then to take the same gospel and “Live It Out Loud” in the world. When the church is at its best, and when the church is “living” our faith, “out loud,” the community and the world is better. We are able to love, heal, and forgive, all in the name of Jesus Christ.

          How we live our faith out can vary, depending on how we are called by God, and by what spiritual gifts and gifts in general that God has given us, but we are called to “Live It Out Loud.” For me, I will not “Live It Our Loud” by signing, because I do not like to inflict spiritual harm on others! We are called to live resurrected lives, and to be the love and the hope of Christ in a world that desperately needs it now more than ever.

While we know all of this, we also know that life on this earth has its difficulties, does it not? We can probably remember points in all of our lives that we were at the mountain top, and everything seemed perfect. We maybe have also had all sorts of moments and experiences from the lowest valleys to everything in between. We know that we are supposed to trust God and we also know that we are supposed to live and love like Jesus Christ. Sometimes though, my dear brothers and sisters, we can get “stuck” in life. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we can get into a place in our lives, whether briefly or for a longer period of time, where we feel stuck. Us getting “stuck” can be for a variety of reasons. It can be because something in our lives did not go the way that we hoped. It could be because we worked hard and got right were wanted to get to, and then the excitement of the achievement wore off. It could be because we are struggling in school. It could be because of the death of one or more loved ones. It could be because of relationship issues or some other stress in our lives. It could actually also be because our lives have become entirely too “normal” and too “predictable.” Sometimes in our loves, we just get “stuck.” Sometimes we maybe have also tried to clean a tight space or go into a crawl space, and we physically got “struck!”

In this new six-week sermon series that I am starting this morning then, called “The Power of Transformation,” what happens friends, brothers, and sisters, “When You’re Stuck in the Cocoon.”

(Caterpillar and Butterfly - Picture)

In this picture a Caterpillar is sitting a table with butterfly, as they do, but not really. The caterpillar says in this picture to the butterfly “”How did you become this version of you?” The butterfly then says, “I stopped being afraid to fail.” You will also notice that the caterpillar and the butterfly have full wine glasses, as well. Since we are in a Baptist Church however, we can assume those glasses are full of grape juice.

We all, friends, brothers and sisters, get into “ruts.” We all sometimes get “stuck in the cocoon.” The church of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ is here among many other things to help us get unstuck. The church, at its best, is here to love us, to challenge us, and to support us, so that as this six-week sermon series is called, we can all know and feel “The Power of Transformation.” If we are stuck, if we are “stuck in the cocoon” then it is holding us back from “The Power of Transformation.” Nothing is more powerful that someone transformed in Jesus Christ. It is a beautiful thing to witness and to behold.

          Further, why this morning do I have this analogy of being stuck or in a rut around caterpillars and butterflies? Well, here is why: according to some research that I have done, this is what I learned about caterpillars and cocoons:

“Caterpillars transform into butterflies through a four-stage process called complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar's body breaks down into a "soup" and reorganizes into wings, legs, and a new body. This incredible transformation typically takes 2–4 weeks.” (https://www.google.com/search?q=catepillar+to+a+butterfly).

          A caterpillar goes into a cocoon within 2-4 weeks and literally become a new creation. Within 2-4 weeks is transformed, and the process of this happening while being “stuck in the cocoon” is nothing short of remarkable. Remember this though, the caterpillar does not stay in the cocoon forever, and when the caterpillar comes out of the cocoon it is transformed into a new creation. This is why this morning’s sermon title once again is called “When You’re stuck in the cocoon,” in this “The Power of Transformation” sermon series.

          So, given all of this, how many of us are “stuck,” in a “rut” or “stuck in the cocoon” this morning? Further, how many of us want to become “unstuck?” Even further, how many of us were “stuck,” in a “rut,” or “stuck in the cocoon” but then got out of it? Maybe at one time it seemed like it would last forever, but we got through it. In the same way when we are “stuck,” in a “rut,” or “stuck in the cocoon” we have to believe that God, our church, our family, and our friends can help to lead us out of the “cocoons” that we get stuck in, in this life. When we are on the other side of being “stuck,” in a “rut,” or “stuck in the cocoon” then say this, “See It Wasn’t A Cage…It Was a Cocoon!” As people of faith and as a church we are here for each other.

(See It Wasn’t A Cage… It Was A Cocoon!- Picture)

          Why then, on this “Live it Out Loud,” formerly “Camp” Sunday, am I talking about being “stuck in the cocoon”? “Way to be Mr. Cheery and Upbeat Pastor Paul!” I am talking about this, this morning, because we cannot fully live out our faith and our love for Christ “Out Loud,” if we are at the same time “stuck in the cocoon.” In fact, of all the of writers of the New Testament of Bible, the Apostle Paul wrote or is attributed to 48% of the books of New Testament. His letter or Epistles to the Roman Church or the Romans, the Corinthians, the Ephesians, the Galatians, the Thessalonians, Timothy, etc., make up 48% of the books New Testament. In fact, there is 67 books in the Bible, 39 books in the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible, and 27 in the New Testament of the Bible. Of these 27 books of the New Testament, the Apostle Paul wrote or is attributed to 13 of the 27.

          The Apostle Paul was also not one of Jesus’ original twelve disciples, as he was converted by a vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus, Syria. The Apostle Paul’s letters or epistles like Romans that we just read some of this morning, are scriptures that contain so much richness and depth. Even so, the Apostle Paul, like us got “stuck,” in a “rut,” or “stuck in the cocoon.” How do I know this? Well in our first reading for this morning, the Apostle Paul say in Romans 7:15, this:  

(Romans 7:15- Picture)

¹⁵ I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate (Rom. 7:15, NRSV).

          So, the great Apostle Paul, who wrote or is attributed to 48% of the books of the New Testament, who was “Apostle to the Gentiles,” tells us about this morning in Romans 7:15 he does understand why he still sins sometimes. He knows he should not do or say certain things, but sometimes he still does? How can this be? Sometimes brothers and sisters, us being “stuck,” in a “rut,” or “stuck in the cocoon,” prevents us from fully living our faith “Out Loud.” So, who got “stuck,” in a “rut,” or “stuck in the cocoon” sometimes, once again? The great Apostle Paul. Yet this same Apostle Paul started spreading Christianity to non-Jews, to multiple places, which is why the Apostle Paul who is called, once again, “The Apostle to the Gentiles.” The Apostle Paul, through the Holy Spirit, brought the gospel of Jesus Christ to places it had never been before.

(Apostle Paul- Picture)

          The Apostle Paul continues to write to the church that he planted in Rome, or the Romans picking up in 7:16, saying this:

¹⁶ Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me (Rom. 7:16-20, NRSV).

          In this scripture, the Apostle Paul sounds “stuck,” in a “rut,” or “stuck in the cocoon,” yet while he has these moments, he gets “out of the cocoon” and God uses him in mighty ways. The Apostle Paul lived his faith “Out Loud,” but still, like the rest of us got “stuck,” in a “rut,” or “stuck in the cocoon.” The Apostle Paul says it is impossible to perfectly follow all of the rules of the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible in the Torah, of the first five books of the Bible. The Apostle Paul tells that only through Christ can he be worthy because sin dwells in him, in his flesh. The Apostle Paul throws himself at the feet of Jesus, over and over, for only through Jesus and His love through the Holy Spirit can we fully live our faith “Out Loud.”

          The Apostle Paul then finishes this scripture telling us, once again, in Romans 7:21-25, this:

²¹ So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. ²² For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, ²³ but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. ²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin (Rom. 7:21-25, NRSV). 

The Apostle Paul tells is that he wants to perfectly follow all of the Old Testament laws of God, but he unable to consistently do this. The Apostle Paul even says in 7:24, ²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? The Apostle Paul then tells us in Romans 7:25, once again, when we fail, when we fall, when we mess us, when get “stuck,” in a “rut,” or “stuck in the cocoon,” ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Rom. 7:25, NRSV). The only perfect one who ever crossed the horizon of this world was Jesus, and because He was perfect and is perfect, and because He was fully God and Fully human, He was and is the only one qualified to die for the sins of the world.

          You see my friends if are get “stuck,” in a “rut,” or “stuck in the cocoon,” we need to realize that we are not in this alone. We have God who creates, we have Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, each other. Through Jesus Christ we are enough. With all of this on this said on this “Live It Out Loud” Sunday, may we live our faith “Out Loud” today and always!

The other scripture that was read this morning was Romans 12:1, which says, once again:

(Romans 12:1- Picture)

The New Life in Christ

12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Rom. 12:1, NRSV).

Friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ if you are “stuck,” in a “rut,” or “stuck in the cocoon,” keep turning to Jesus, keep being in relationship with us, keep seeking the love of Jesus. Come to our ministries, serve and love us. In doing so, we will pray together, laugh together, cry together, and likely hear a few of Pastor Paul’s corny jokes together! Families and churches are meant to live this not only individually, but together! Or to say it another way brothers and sisters, “Don’t Quit in the Cocoon!”

(Don’t Quit in the Cocoon - Picture)

Wherever you are at on this “Live It Out Loud” Sunday, Jesus love you, I love you, this church loves you, and we have cookies. We were designed to live our faith “Out Loud.”

(“Live It Out Loud” - Picture)

          How do we then take this sermon with us to our church dish to pass/picnic after church this morning, and how do we take this sermon with us into Adams and the world, to help us live our faith “Out Loud”? Here are some sermon application points to help us:

Being stuck in the "cocoon" phase is a profound, often uncomfortable, period of life transformation, signaling that an old identity is dying and a new one is emerging. It is a necessary, quiet, and involuntary pause characterized by feeling stagnant, exhausted, and detached from your usual life, requiring radical self-care rather than forced productivity.

Understanding the Cocoon Phase

·       It's Not Laziness: The feeling of being stuck is often a nervous system response to rapid, unseen transformation, protecting you from change rather than indicating a lack of ambition.

·       Signs of the Cocoon: You may feel overwhelmed, deeply tired, socially withdrawn, and that your life is "falling apart"—which is actually intelligent clearing of what no longer serves you.

·       The Purpose: The cocoon is a sacred, liminal space—a "womb" where you move from an old self to a higher self, processing pain, and building internal strength.

·       The Risk of Escaping Too Soon: Like a butterfly that needs to struggle to strengthen its wings, pushing to leave this phase too early can leave you under-prepared for the future, experts suggest.

How to Handle Being Stuck

·       Embrace the Rest: Allow yourself to heal, grieve, and sleep without guilt.

·       Reduce Stimulation: Actively limit social media, busy environments, and toxic relationships to conserve energy.

·       Trust the Process: Believe that this quiet, messy, and "unpretty" phase is preparing you for a major shift.

·       Focus on Small Things: Don't pressure yourself to have a "big" breakthrough. Small, mundane steps can slowly build new momentum.

In short, the cocoon is not a punishment or a dead-end; it is the birthplace of your next chapter. Don't fight the darkness, sit with it—you will emerge at the right time.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, may we today on this “Live It Out Loud” Sunday, and always, live our faith “Out Loud!” Amen.

AVBC - Sunday - 05/10/26 - Sermon Title: (Mother’s Day) “The Rehabilitation (Extending Grace to Others)” – “The Anatomy of a Second Chance” Sermon Series (Part 4 of 4) – Matthew 18:21-35, Colossians 4:1-6

 Sunday 05/10/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church

Sermon Title: (Mother’s Day) “The Rehabilitation (Extending Grace to Others)” – “The Anatomy of a Second Chance” Sermon Series (Part 4 of 4) – Matthew 18:21-35, Colossians 4:1-6

(Cover Picture)

          Friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, welcome once again on this Mother’s Day Sunday, this Baptism Sunday, and this Church World Service Blanket Sunday. Did I miss something else!? Busy Sunday here for sure, but a blessed Sunday! Amen!

          Today we honor Mothers, Grandmothers, Great Grandmothers, Aunts, etc. Today we honor all women who have and continue to have an influence in the lives of others. On one of the back tables here in the church sanctuary, we have books marks for all women that you can put up on your fridge at home, or whatever you want to use them for! I also have some up on the piano in front of the sanctuary, by the session/fellowship room door. Feel free to take a couple of them or give one away. These bookmarks have the first part of the verse of scripture from the Book of Proverbs 31:28 on them that says this:

“²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;” (Prov. 31:28, NRSV).

          In fact, the entire Old Testament or Hebrew Bible Book of Proverbs is often referred to as the “Book of Wisdom,” as it tells us many wise things. Further, in the Book of Proverbs, wisdom is always referred to as a woman. I remembered learning this in seminary, as I did not know this. I got home and told Melissa, “In the Book of Proverbs wisdom is always a woman, not a man.” She then smiled and asked me, “and this is a surprise to you?” The last or thirty-first chapter of the Book of Proverbs discusses a mother, a wife, and all virtuous women and their strength.

          I also understand that some here this morning of watching online might not have had a good mother, and if this applies to you, think of all those great women this day that have helped to love and shape you. Further, I challenge all of us, if we have Facebook to put a picture up of mom, grandma, or any woman that has grown, loved, and shaped you.

          This Sunday is also Baptism Sunday, as Pastor Paul likes to put ten-pounds of potatoes in five-pound bag! As it is, it just happened to work out this way, but we get to honor mothers and all women, and then some of our kids will get baptized right after this message, and two will join our church.

          This morning though, I am completing our four-week sermon series called “The Anatomy of a Second Chance.” This medical or surgery-oriented sermon series, is the idea of failing, turning to God for forgiveness, living in grace, and finally today “The Rehabilitation (Extending Grace to Others).” We talked about how the Prophet Jonah failed, and he turned to God. His medical or spiritual diagnosis of failure, then leads us to our “surgery” or our repentance and turning to God. When the spiritual surgery is over, we then go into the post-surgery recovery room to live in God’s grace. Today we go through the Physical Therapy or the “rehabilitation” of “Extending Grace to Others”

As I said last Sunday, a good definition of the word “Grace” is this:

“the free, unmerited favor and love of God, often described as divine assistance, mercy, or pardon” (https://www.google.com/search?q=definition+of+grace).

 

You see, we all fail, we all sin, and this diagnosis of failure ends with us turning to Jesus. We fall short, we go to Him, we are given grace, amazing grace, and then we can extend that grace to others around us. For if God loves us unconditionally, which God does, and if Jesus will always forgive us if we turn to Him sincerely, then how amazing is God’s Grace? In fact, one of the lofty ideas of the Ordinance of Baptism, is that Baptism was given to us or “Ordained by Christ.” When we go into the waters of baptism, we symbolically die to ourselves. We then rise up to new spiritual life. We give Jesus our sin, our guilt, our shame, and our doubts, and our very lives, and we spiritually die with him, and rise up a new creation. For those getting baptized this morning, when you go under the water, give Jesus everything, and come up a new creation. Rise up in amazing grace!

Even though baptism is a symbol, an ordinance, it is an opportunity for spiritual transformation and rebirth. It is an opportunity to declare before this church, this assembly that you believe in and love Jesus Christ. It is an opportunity to say that not only do we love Jesus, but we want to live and love like Him. We do full immersion or “dunking” as many of my new Baptist friends call it, because that is the way that Jesus was baptized. I even have some water from the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized, some of the same water source will be the baptism waters this morning. What an amazing and grace-filled day this is! Amen!

So once again, today we honor mothers and women, today we have baptisms, and we are also selling CWS blankets. As God changes us, and we turn to Jesus, we are offered grace. We get to live in grace, and we also get to “Extend Grace to Others.” My mother Susan is a great mother, and is combination of love and grace, and if I slip up fear and terror. I told her what I was preaching on this morning, and at that she went on and on, on the phone about some guy and what a foolish thing he had done that day. After she said all of that, she then asked, “Well how are you are going to preach this sermon Paul?” I then said, “Well I was going to tell the church about all the love and grace you given me over the years, but I think I will leave the story that you just told me out!” My mother Susan, and many other women in my life, both past and present, among many other things have taught me the importance and the value of “Extending Grace to Others.” Some of the women here have already taught me a clinic in “Extending Grace to Others.” On this Mother’s Day I have to say that I love all of the women of this church, and like my mother Susan some of you I might also have a little bit of fear and terror of some of you too.

          This morning then, I want to talk briefly about “Practical Ways to Extend God’s Grace to Others”

(Practical Ways to Extend God’s Grace to Others - Picture)

Before jumping into this though, I just want to mention briefly our scriptures for this morning. In our reading from Matthew 18:21-35 that I read a few minutes ago, we hear first in Matthew 18:21-22 about forgiveness.

(Seventy Times Seven Times - Picture)

This is what it says:

Forgiveness

 

²¹ Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ ²² Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times                                        (Mt. 18:21-22, NRSV).

          If go to Jesus, and if He forgives us over and over, we are given grace. We are then called to extend that grace to everyone around us. This means we have to forgive everyone. This is not always easy to do, but if Jesus offers all of forgiveness, and over and over, and we are challenged to forgive and extend grace to everyone, with no exceptions. You see candidates for baptism this morning and soon to be new members, coming to Christ, being baptized in Christ, is amazing, impressive, but it is the easy part. The challenge for us for the rest our of our earthly lives to then live and love like Jesus. Now we have to love our neighbor, but as you have heard me say this, we do not have to like all of our neighbors, but we have to love everyone. We are called to not hold grudges, to turn the other cheek, and to forgive. To live and love like Jesus Christ is often so counter to our culture, but this is the Christian life. This is how we continue to change and how the world around us will change too.

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          In Matthews 18:23-35 for this morning, we have the parable or story of “The Unforgiving Servant”. In this parable or story from Jesus, a man is forgiven an astronomical debt by his king. The servant owed his king ten thousand talents, and one single talent would be about 75-100 pounds of gold, silver, or some sort of other money or something valuable. One talent in the time of Jesus would be the average pay for 15-20 years of work, and yet this servant owed ten-thousand talents. This debt was impossible to pay.

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

 

²³ ‘For this reason, the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. ²⁴ When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; ²⁵ and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made (Mt. 18:23-25, NRSV)

 

The king initially wanted to sell this man who owed ten-thousand talents, which was impossible to pay back. He also wanted to sell this wife and children, and everything they owned. They would work the rest of their lives and never pay it all back.

          Just then though, the king’s servant who owed so much fell to knees and begged the king to be patient with this. Out of mercy and compassion the king, just like that the king forgave the man’s whole debt.

²⁶ So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” ²⁷ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt (Mt. 18:26-27, NRSV).

          After this though, this forgiven slave then when out and grabbed another slave that owed him a very small debt. The slave that owed ten-thousand talents was forgiven, yet he would not forgive the small debt of another slave. This slave also pleaded with the forgiven servant or slave, as he had just done before the king. The forgive slave or servant had the slave that owed him much less to be thrown into prison until the small debt was paid. Yet other fellow slaves saw this happening and went and told the king that forgiven the slave ten-thousand talents.

²⁸ But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, “Pay what you owe.” ²⁹ Then his fellow-slave fell down and pleaded with him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” ³⁰ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt. ³¹ When his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place (Mt. 18:28-31, NRSV).

          The king then summons to man back who he forgave a massive amount of debt to, and because he did not have mercy and forgiveness over the other slave who owed much less, the king handed him over to be tortured until all ten-thousand talents were paid back.

³² Then his lord summoned him and said to him, “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³ Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-slave, as I had mercy on you?” ³⁴ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he should pay his entire debt                                              (Mt. 18:32-34, NRSV).

          Jesus then ends this story or parable of the “Unforgiving Servant” in the Matthew 18:35 saying:

³⁵ So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart’ (Mt. 18:35, NRSV).

          Brothers and sisters, candidates for baptism and soon to be new members of the Adams Village Baptist Church, are we withholding forgiveness this morning? Do have grudges, anger, or other things that we have not surrendered to Jesus? Baptism and church membership are amazing and transformative, but are we committed to becoming more and more like Jesus? This is the Christian life, it is what we are all striving for, to become fully like Jesus.

          One of my heroes was wrongly imprisoned/held in captivity for twenty-seven years but then became the first black president of the country of South Africa. His name, Nelson Mandela.

(Nelson Mandela - Picture)

Why was Nelson Mandela held for twenty-seven years? Well because the way the Southern part of the United States used to have segregation between blacks and whites, South Africa had apartheid, which was basically the same thing in that country. Nelson Mandela envisioned a country who no segregation, no apartheid. After being released from twenty-seven years of imprisonment/captivity, this is what Mandela said: above picture. As our candidates for baptism and our soon to be new member experience all of this, may we all come to Christ anew, may we forgive, and may we continue to strive to be more like Jesus.

(Colossians 4:6 - Picture)

          Finally in our Colossian 4:1-6 reading for this morning, we hear:

4 ¹ Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, for you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

 

Further Instructions

 

² Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. ³ At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, ⁴ so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should. ⁵ Conduct yourselves wisely towards outsiders, making the most of the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.

 

          The Christian life, the life of following Jesus is not always easy, but there is nothing more loving, transformative, and grace filled than knowing Jesus. We all continue to fall, Jesus picks us back up, He forgives, give us grace, and then we are called to “Extend Grace to Others.” Brothers and sisters, and to our candidates for baptism and church members, are you willing to devout your life to being like and living like Jesus, know that we will still fall, still stumble, and still make mistakes?

(Extend Grace – Hebrews 12:15- Picture)

So how do we do this? Here are some application points to help us along the way.

Key Aspects of Extending Grace

 

·       Unconditional Forgiveness: Extending grace means forgiving others without requiring them to "earn" it, similar to how God forgives.

·       Empathy in Difficult Times: Compassionately considering the stress or burdens others are carrying, rather than reacting to their failures.

·       Active Kindness: Responding to rudeness or wrongdoing with a calm spirit and gentle words.

·       Assuming the Best: Choosing to think the best of people rather than jumping to conclusions about their motivations.

 

Practical Ways to Extend Grace

 

·       Listen Without Judgment: Allow others to share their stories without immediately offering advice or criticism.

·       Speak with Gentleness: Use words that build up and encourage, rather than tearing down.

·       Offer Second Chances: Follow the example of Barnabas, who gave Mark a second chance, rather than holding on to past failures.

·       Pray for Others: Actively pray for those who have wronged you or who are in demanding situations.

·       Look for Needs: Actively seek opportunities to serve those who are struggling, providing practical help.

          Today, we are thankful for mothers, for all women, for baptisms, church membership, and the amazing grace of God in Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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AVBC - Sunday - 05/03/26 - Sermon Title: “The Recovery (Living in Grace)” – “The Anatomy of a Second Chance” Sermon Series (Part 3 of 4) – Romans 6:14, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Ephesians 2:8-9

 Sunday 05/03/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church

Sermon Title: “The Recovery (Living in Grace)” – “The Anatomy of a Second Chance” Sermon Series (Part 3 of 4) – Romans 6:14, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Ephesians 2:8-9

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          I have a question for us all to consider this morning. It might sound like a simple question, or it might sound like a complex question. Here is the question, are we living in Grace? What do I mean by this? Are living everyday knowing and feeling God’s grace and love in our lives? Do we feel the love of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit? If you have made mistakes, if you have committed sins, or if you have done something else, which we all have, are you or have you made a “spiritual recovery”? Well, what do I mean by a “spiritual recovery.”

(Spiritual Recovery - Picture)

I ask this and these questions, as we are continuing our four-week sermon series this morning called “The Anatomy of a Second Chance.” This medical or surgical sounding sermon series walks us through failing, as Jonah failed to followed God the first time God asked him to. This was “The Diagnosis (Admitting Failure)” and Jonah failed, as all people sometimes fail. Getting a real medical diagnosis is the first step towards hopefully being on the path towards health and wellness.

Last Sunday we discussed the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Judas Iscariot around the topic of “Repentance and Forgiveness.” In fact, the sermon title for last Sunday once again, was called “The Operation (Repentance and Forgiveness),” as the Prophet Jonah failed in the Book of Jonah, but then succeeded. Peter and Judas Iscariot both failed. Jesus restored Peter, but Judas Iscariot unfortunately took his own life. Failing and falling short, missing the mark and “the diagnosis,” it is admitting failure. When we can admit to God that we have failed, that we have fallen short, then our diagnosis of failure can be forgiven through spiritual surgery. When we go to Jesus and repent of our sin and wrongdoing to Him, and when we receive His spiritual forgiveness, His spiritual surgery is our repentance and His forgiveness.

The question then is, is after we fail and admit it, and after we repent and our forgiven, then what? The answer is part three of this sermon series this morning called “The Recovery (Living in Grace).” Now I do not know about you, but some of the most interesting pastoral visits that I have ever had were when some was in recovery and there anesthetic and other drugs were just wearing off. I learned if you truly want know what someone thinks, talking to them in recovery after surgery is a wonderful way to find out what they think! Oh, the things that I have heard!

          Now as a full disclosure this morning what is Pastor Paul’s actual medical and surgical knowledge. This is probably the best answer I can give you:

(Operation Game - Picture)

I have performed surgery, brothers, and sisters, but only in the game Operation. Who has played Operation here? Further, I am very good at the game Operation as I am starting to look at youth ministries in this church!

          So, we get diagnosed, we admit our failures, our sins, and our missteps, then we repent and get restored like the Apostle Peter did. We then live in God’s grace. The God who loves us unconditionally, the God who never abandons us, and the God who sent His own son in the world to live and die for us. The Jesus that appeared to the disciples and others after His resurrection just so they would get that “holy surgery of repentance and forgiveness.” Brothers and sisters, when we know we have failed, Jesus offers us exactly what we do not deserve, forgiveness, love, and grace. What do we do with it though? I have seen large grown men, through various men’s ministries that I have been part of, that when they realize fully what the forgiveness of Christ is, and when they receive it, I have seen tears and joy. The grace of God in Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit is real and it is offered to everyone. Who gets this offer? All people do, and with zero exclusions!

As I said last Sunday, I believe that if Judas Isacariot had not killed himself out of shame and guilt for selling Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver, that Jesus would have offered him forgiveness. “The Recovery (Living in Grace)” is hope itself. Even so, some of us may have come here this morning, feeling broken, or average, or exhausted, or feeling great today. Some days the answer God gives me, is through one or more of you. The church is therefore my brothers and sisters, a hospital, and we all on some level need some spiritual medical care.

          It is my hope and my prayer whether you have been in this church ninety-years or nine-minutes that you find this church to be a spiritual safe haven. That this church can be your “Third Place.” You see there is where we live, there is where we work or spend a lot of time, but it is also good to have a “Third Place.” A “Third Place” where you can feel safe, a place where you know are loved, where you are cared for. If your spiritual glass is empty, then we can spiritually pour love into each other. You see, on my best days I am your pastor, but on my worst days, some of you just might be pastoring me.

(God’s Supply of Grace - Picture)

For this I know, God’s supply of grace is always greater than our need. Sometimes we get this directly from God, and sometimes God offers us grace, healing, deep faith, and strength from each other. This is why a good Christian Church is important, not just so we can be here for an hour on Sunday, or longer if the pastor is long winded. The church, of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior is a community that lives out this thing called faith, life, hope, and service together. We are stronger together. I am proud to be able to say this is my second and my third place, as I do work here.

          In looking at the scripture that we read through this morning for this message on “The Recovery (Living in Grace)” we first have the Apostle Paul’s letter or epistle to the Romans 6:14 that says, once again:

(Romans 6:14 - Picture)

¹⁴ For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace (Rom. 6:14, NRSV).

Through Jesus Christ we are not under a system of works. The old law before Jesus came required perfection, and none of us are capable of this. We fall, we stumble, we miss the mark, we turn to Christ, and He restores us again and again. This is my friends, grace, amazing grace. For with Jesus, we have abundant and unwavering grace.

          In our reading for this morning from the Apostle Paul’s second letter or epistle to the Corinthians, we hear in 12:9, once again this:

(2 Corinthians 12:9 - Picture)

⁹ but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me (2 Cor. 12:9, NRSV).

There is well over one-hundred verses in the Bible that include the word “grace,” which in the biblical context means:

“the free, unmerited favor and love of God, often described as divine assistance, mercy, or pardon” (https://www.google.com/search?q=definition+of+grace). 

We do not serve it, but we offered through Christ exactly what we do not deserve, grace. Grace that is in us, grace that is abundant and sufficient, and that is perfect in our weakness. Christ dwells in us despite our weaknesses. When we fail, when we repent, we receive forgiveness, we receive grace. We get what we do not deserve, and we get it abundantly.

          The last scripture we discussed this morning, is from the Apostle Paul’s letter or epistle to the church in Ephesus, or the Ephesians. In Ephesians 2:8-9, it says, once again:

(Ephesians 2:8-9- Picture)

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— ⁹ not the result of works, so that no one may boast                 (Eph. 2:8-9, NRSV).

          Our salvation in Christ, our spiritual freedom, is because of grace. A free gift from God that we cannot earn, and something that we should not brag or boast about. We fail, we miss the mark, we make mistakes, we repent are forgiven, and then we receive and live in grace. We then live the love and hope of Jesus that has been given to us through, you guessed it, grace. This is spiritual recovery, this is grace.

          When we get baptized or when we join a church, we are celebrating the grace of God through Jesus Christ. We are celebrated that we have come to know Christ, are a new creation, our future is not our past. We are changed, we are restored, we encounter Christ, faith, and hope, which makes us a new creation.

          To have a sermon that can walk out of the church with us into Adams and the world this morning, here are some application points for us to consider this with this sermon “The Recovery (Living in Grace)”

Recovery and living in grace are centered on scriptures emphasizing God's strength, restoration, and unconditional love over human effort. Key verses include 2 Corinthians 12:9 ("My grace is sufficient for you"), Ephesians 2:8-9 (salvation by grace, not works), and Romans 6:14 (no longer under sin's power), which provide hope and empowerment for transformation.

 

Key Scriptures for Recovery and Grace:

·       Empowerment & Strength: Philippians 4:13 ("I can do all this through him who gives me strength") and Isaiah 41:10 ("I will strengthen you and help you") provide strength when facing struggles.

 

·       Freedom from Shame & Sin: Romans 6:14 states that sin is not your master because you are under grace, not law, while Romans 8:1 promises no condemnation for those in Christ.

 

·       Renewal & Restoration: 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares that anyone in Christ is a new creation, and Psalm 23:3 promises, "He restores my soul".

 

·       Walking in Grace: 2 Peter 3:18 encourages believers to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord," and Hebrews 4:16 invites believers to approach the throne of grace to receive mercy. 

Core Principles

·       It is a Gift: Recovery is sustained by grace, not personal works, relieving the burden of perfection.

 

·       Transformation, Not Perfection: Romans 12:2 emphasizes being transformed by the renewal of the mind, shifting focus to inner change.

 

·       Hope in Trials: James 1:12 blesses those who persevere under trial, offering encouragement for the long journey of recovery.

(https://www.google.com/search?q=the+recovery+%28living+in+grace%29+scripture).

 

     So, friends, have you recovered from your own spiritual surgery, where you admitted failure, and then repented are received for forgiveness? Have you and do you feel the unmerited grace of God in Jesus Christ? For He offers it to us freely and abundantly. Amen.