What's Your Street Name?

(Romans 5:1-11) 

5.18.25 Hodgdon

<Lots of Street Names>

Yesterday, my children had a Bike-a-thon fundraiser at school. We rode past many houses and saw so many different street names. We waved to neighbors, greeted fellow riders, saw butterflies, and heard the beautiful sound of a flowing stream. When we came to a hill, our legs tensed, and we pushed with all our might. Downhill, we'd lift our bottoms, raise our legs, and scream excitedly as the wind rushed by!

Then, on our way back, I followed the person before me and took a wrong turn. I was having too much fun speeding downhill to look at the street names! When I had to climb back up that big hill, I truly regretted not paying attention to the signs. Finally, with the thought of ice cream, I gave my last bit of strength to finish the four-mile journey with Hannah. We hugged, so happy to be done!

Our lives are a lot like that bike ride. We meet many people and experience many things. We enjoy moments with those we journey with, wave to passersby, and feel happy for joyful events. Sometimes, we're speeding downhill, cutting through the wind with excitement. But other times, we encounter hills. We might struggle with studies, deal with difficult people, health issues, or face experiences we'd rather avoid. Like us, we might take a wrong turn, regretting not checking our map or remembering the "street names." Yet, we keep walking this path, thinking of our Lord, who will be standing at the end of our life’s road, in a house made of gold, holding out ice cream for us!

Do you remember "Sesame Street"? What is your favorite character? For our family, it’s Cookie Monster, because we have many cookie monsters. I always thought it was beautiful how diverse characters lived together, enriching each other to become a true community. What’s your "street name"? What kind of events happen there, who do you meet, and how are you engaging with others? Who is living at the end of the street? 

 

<Journey to the Golden Street>

In church history, there was one street until the Middle Ages. After Jesus’ resurrection, the early church grew, walking together as the Catholic Church. But then, Christians divided into two paths. The church sold "indulgences"—tickets for forgiveness and heaven. Seeing this wrong, Martin Luther, the Protestant church, began.

Protestants cried, "Let's go back to the early church! Back to the basics!" They emphasized five key things, some found in Romans 5:1-2: "Scripture Alone!" Reading, meditating, and living by the Bible is so important; it must be the standard for everything.

"Faith Alone!" Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore, since we are justified by faith…" We are not saved by good deeds or our own righteousness, or tickets, but by believing in God alone. Martin Luther lived devoutly, but struggled with how to be saved. Do you have that assurance for heaven? Luther finally understood Romans 1:17, "The righteous will live by faith." He realized his salvation was "Christ Alone" and Grace Alone"—purely God's undeserved gift.

Romans 5:2 says, "…through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand." When you truly believe in Jesus, who died and rose again for you, and when His grace deepens in your heart, you understand why we live. This leads to:

"Glory to God Alone!" Romans 5:2 also says, "…and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God." Everything we do—eating, drinking, studying, exercising, even breathing—is for God's glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). As Protestants, our spirit is to constantly check our "street name" and strive to return to the early church, to the basics. We want to walk this path together with these five core beliefs. Our 7:30 AM/PM prayer movement is part of this return. Please remember our church and pray at 7:30.

As we journey through life, pain will come, just as fiddleheads grow stronger when they struggle. Everyone faces different pain, but the Bible tells us to rejoice even in suffering! Why? Because "suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:3-4). If you recall your own painful memories, you'll see God always gave greater grace, and you grew through those moments. This is because our path is made of "God's Love." "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Yesterday, after the bike-a-thon, we had a "ball drop" from a fire truck. The children eagerly reached out for prizes! The Bible says, "God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). A gift beyond compare is pouring out to us! Through the Holy Spirit, God tells us, "I love you, [your name], I love you!" Romans 5:8 says, "But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us." Jesus loves us even when we're not being nice. Every morning, with birdsong, the breeze, and spring's scent, God pours His love like a ball drop. When we feel that love through the Holy Spirit, we eventually meet God at this path’s end. The Bible calls this "reconciliation" (Romans 5:11). At the end of our life’s journey, our Lord is there with ice cream, waving and calling, "Come and eat with Me!" What’s your street name?

 

Aldersgate Street in London

<Aldersgate Street>

This Saturday, we remember a person who stood on a very special street: John Wesley. The founder of Methodism was a pastor's son in England. He almost died in a fire as a child, but God saved him. As a pastor, he went on a mission trip to America, which he considered a failure. Returning home, he faced a storm, terrified, unlike the calm Moravian Christians. He wanted their faith. His brother, Charles Wesley, who had a strong Holy Spirit experience a week before, invited John to a meeting on Aldersgate Street on May 24, 1738. There, while listening to Luther's preface to Romans, John Wesley's "heart was strangely warmed."

After this, John Wesley gained strong, personal faith. His life completely changed—his preaching, his writing, everything. Charles Wesley began writing hymns after that experience, composing over 6,500! This Saturday, the nine churches in our county will gather to celebrate Wesley's experience. Children from six churches will perform handbells. Caribou and Patten churches, inspired by us, recently started children's handbell choirs, and will participate with worship dance and a pick-up choir. I pray God will give us the same Holy Spirit experience He gave John Wesley. And I believe that today, like on Aldersgate Street, God will meet us on our path and reveal our "street name." What’s your street name?

 

<My Street Name>

Last week, for my M.Div. coursework, I wrote a 17-page spiritual autobiography. There were times I wandered like a child on an unknown road, unsure of who I was or where to go. But on that road, when I met Jesus and believed, I knew my direction. Of course, I met good and difficult people, and experienced joys and sorrows. But climbing those tough hills built my spiritual muscles and made me healthier. It also made me long even more to meet the Lord, who waits with ice cream at the end of the road.

I live at 28 School Street. For almost 11 years, God has met me here many times, just like on John Wesley's Aldersgate. And he is shaping this humble person into a pastor. I’ve named this road: PPP! (The Pilgrim Praying Preacher). Until I enter heaven at this road’s end, I will live the life of a praying pilgrim, sharing the Gospel.

What’s your street name? God is calling us today. He wants to show us which street we are standing on. If you've strayed from His path, He longs for you to return. He wants us to remember: Scripture Alone, Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Christ Alone, and Glory to God Alone. For those on a very difficult uphill path, God is cheering you on, saying, "Keep going! I'll be right here with ice cream, so come quickly!"

May we all receive God's abundant love and continue to walk this pilgrim's path together with joy.

<Prayer- Changing Street names>

Dear Lord,

John Wesley had an internal shift on Aldersgate Street. His experience was a re-naming, a transformation from a legalistic faith to a "strangely warmed heart," moving him from a "street of duty" to a "street of grace."

Lord, please change our street names, too. If we are on "Sorrowful Street," "Prideful Parkway," or "Ambition Avenue," let us instead be on "Grace Lane" or "Service Street." May "Striving Street," "Anxious Avenue," or "Dutiful Drive" be changed into "Peaceful Pathway" or "Justified Journey," leading to "Hopeful Heaven." Let us walk on "Resilient Road" or "Spirit-Filled Street."

Like Sesame Street, where characters learn and grow together, what kind of "street" (community) are we building in our churches and lives? Are we on "Inclusion Street" or "Exclusion Alley"?

Please change our street names. Please change the location, identity, relationships, and purpose of our lives. Let us know what our true street name is. We are grateful for Your love that grants us reconciliation with You at the end of the street!

We pray in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.