The Kingdom of God in Mars Hill UMC
June 22, 2025 Mars
Hill UMC
Dear
Mars Hill UMC family, today marks our last Sunday together. I vividly recall
the mix of joy and nervousness from my first Sunday, feeling much the same
today. Preparing this sermon has been a profound honor and a unique challenge,
requiring considerable reflection and preparation.
Two
and a half years may seem short compared to the long and faithful lives of many
in our church. Yet, your lives—your stories—have profoundly shaped this
ministry. There is so much to reflect on and give thanks for. As I prayed for
today's sermon, one central theme emerged: The Kingdom of God.
God
brought us this same theme on my first Sunday here, October 26, 2022, titled
"Heaven Among Us." Amidst our collective pain—shocked and empty after
suddenly losing a pastor—God profoundly comforted us. Other churches helped;
you remained steadfastly faithful. God granted us peace that transcended our
difficult circumstances.
Driving
to Mars Hill that day, witnessing autumn's beauty, I felt the Kingdom of God.
Meeting each of you, seeing the powerful UMC connection—churches extending a
hand, embracing hurts—I felt the Kingdom. When Houlton and Hodgdon UMC
generously supported us, watched my children, and gave me time to prepare each
service, God vividly revealed His Kingdom.
Jesus
spoke extensively about heaven. The phrase “Kingdom of God” appears 68 times in
10 New Testament books, while “Kingdom of heaven” appears 32 times, exclusively
in Matthew. Jesus tirelessly preached the Kingdom of God before His crucifixion
and after His resurrection, even teaching His disciples about it for forty
days. Before He ascended, He promised to return. This assures us we are
journeying towards the Kingdom of God. Jesus wants us to live in the Kingdom of
God.
God
desires for us to live within the Kingdom of God, right here and now. Today,
God speaks to us about His Kingdom again. Indeed, I have personally tasted the
Kingdom of God through your lives.
In
Mark 10:14, Jesus lovingly declares, "Let the little children come to me,
and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
I
believe I now understand that profound verse better because of Elizabeth in our
church. When Elizabeth greeted people, diligently read Scripture,
enthusiastically rang the bell, danced with uninhibited joy, and eagerly joined
every pageant—I could tangibly feel the Kingdom of God alive within her. All of
us at Mars Hill UMC cherish her deeply. Truly, by nurturing and raising her,
you have simultaneously raised the Kingdom of God within our church community.
I
have had the privilege of preaching about the Kingdom of God many times from
this very pulpit. And each time, I’ve seen it vividly expressed in your lives.
When we sang “I’ll Fly Away” together, I saw it. When I witnessed our elders
live such remarkably faithful lives, I saw it. Even when confronting the
ultimate challenge of death, you, the faithful, unequivocally demonstrated how
to live profoundly within the Kingdom of God.
We've
experienced many funerals: Joan Walsh, Donna, Jackie, Bob Blanchard, Nathan,
and others. Each time, we remembered faithful saints who truly embodied and
lived within God's Kingdom.
Thank
you for allowing me the profound privilege of getting to know each of you.
Thank you for helping me, daily, to live more fully in the Kingdom of God right
here on earth. Through the inspiring stories of John and Nina, I find myself
wanting to fly with the adventurous spirit of John the pilot, and to possess
the unwavering faith of Nina.
Just
last week, Victory interviewed Andy and Bonnie, and Joan and Blinn. I couldn't
stop crying as I absorbed their words. They taught us how to live with
unwavering faith amidst profound suffering—divorce, sickness, death—yet still
demonstrate remarkable joy, salvation, forgiveness, adoption by God, and
abiding peace. Through Bonnie and Andy’s selfless acts of fostering and
adoption, they didn't just talk about the Kingdom of God; they lived and shared
it generously. I personally felt undeniable peace, faith, and joy emanating
from their home during Bible study. The Kingdom of God was undeniably present.
Joan
and Blinn consistently offered steadfast support and encouragement. Through
years of serving as Sunday school teachers, organists, trusty chairs, and in
other roles, they have consistently shown the life of the Kingdom of God. I
vividly remember Diane playing the piano just days after her son's funeral. Her
tears silently fell as the choir sang, yet she continued to worship. In that
profound act, she truly lived within the Kingdom of God. Brian always shared his
kingdom of God through wreath, jelly, fiddlehead, and etc.
Joan
Walsh taught us how to embrace laughter, even until the very end. She lived a
life anchored in unwavering faith, consistently trusting and obeying God's
Word.
In
2022-2023, I wrestled with anxiety about becoming a Local Pastor, facing
significant health challenges like thyroid cancer, and navigating
denominational division. It was easy to lose sight of God's Kingdom. But
through you, Mars Hill, God raised me up, helping me live fully in His
Kingdom's midst.
As Luke
17:20–21 beautifully states: "The Kingdom of God is not something that can
be observed… because the Kingdom of God is in your midst."
And
you, Mars Hill, truly showed me that truth. Through your palpable inner peace,
your vibrant community, and your unwavering faith—I caught glimpses of heaven.
I saw the very essence of the Kingdom of God.
We
sing of the Kingdom of God. We prepare ourselves for its coming. We long for
its full manifestation. And indeed, we are almost there.
Just
last week, Victory and I watched 'Lars and the Real Girl.' It portrays a man
grappling with grief, treating a doll as his girlfriend. The church members did
not judge; they compassionately stayed with him, nourished and supported him.
That film powerfully reminded me of our own Mars Hill UMC. Here, we do not
judge. We embrace people precisely as they are. We stay with them through their
struggles. And in doing so, we beautifully share the Kingdom of God.
In
Matthew 13:31–32, Jesus taught, "The Kingdom of God is like a mustard
seed… Though it is the smallest of all seeds, it grows into the largest garden
plant." And in verse 33, "It’s like yeast a woman mixed into flour
until it worked through all the dough."
God
has sent new people into our midst. Their presence may seem small now, like a
mustard seed or yeast, but I firmly believe this will grow. It will become
bread; it will become the flourishing Kingdom.
Matthew
13:44–48 speaks of a treasure hidden in a field, a fine pearl, and a fishing
net. The Kingdom of God is precisely like that. It's not always readily
apparent to human eyes—but it is profoundly visible to spiritual eyes. You,
Mars Hill, have sacrificed so much for the Kingdom. You truly understand the
immeasurable value of that treasure, that precious pearl, that abundant good
fish.
As
Matthew 6:33 faithfully reminds us: "But seek first His Kingdom and His
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Indeed,
because of your faithful example, we now actively spread the Kingdom of God
together. Just as Houlton and Hodgdon extended their help to Mars Hill, so now
Mars Hill is extending help to Patten UMC, a church that had been without a
pastor for two years.
At
the Annual Conference, our Bishop shared his care for seven states and over
1,000 churches across two Conferences. He advised: "Have joy in the
chaos," and "Loosen up in the tension." He then invited us to
close our eyes and prayerfully receive the Holy Spirit.
This
upcoming change feels significant. A full church family with shared pastors and
expanded ministries can feel overwhelming. While we experience a form of loss,
I assure you, we will also gain something profound.
As
Jeremiah 29:11 beautifully reassures us: "For I know the plans I have
for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans
to give you a future and a hope.'" And I wholeheartedly believe that
truth.
Now,
we are excitedly preparing for a cluster-wide One-Day VBS. As small churches,
this would have been impossible, but together, as a unified cluster, we can
make it happen. We are also planning a women's retreat on August 5th with four
churches, a wonderful opportunity to share and discuss our life journeys.
In
his profound book "Life of the Beloved," Henri Nouwen beautifully
articulates that "The spiritual journey is not about arrival, but
return—returning home." We all originated from the Kingdom of God. And
throughout our lives, we are continually learning how to make our way back, how
to return. It's always time to go back home—to the comforting, everlasting arms
of God. Our earthly journey, ultimately, is not about worldly achievement, but
about the sacred path of returning home.
As
Bonnie once shared, her life goal is profoundly simple yet powerful: "to
be happy, live in the Kingdom of God, be kind, help others, and make the
Kingdom of God here on earth." Indeed, that is precisely the way we truly
return home.
Thank
you, Mars Hill, for teaching me what the Kingdom of God genuinely looks
like—how to live it daily, and how to anticipate its full revelation. It has
been an immense honor to serve Mars Hill UMC as my first appointment. This
sacred space has truly become my home church.
Here,
I felt the warm embrace of mothers, fathers, grandmothers, and grandfathers,
reminding me of our Heavenly Father's comforting arms. As we live in God's
Kingdom on earth and within our church, let us again seek first His Kingdom and
His righteousness. Trust that all things will be given to us again, in His
perfect time. Let’s live "I will fly away" through our lives! Amen.
Matthew 13:31-33 (The Parable of the
Mustard Seed and the Yeast)
He put before them another parable: “The
kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his
field; it is the smallest of all the
seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree,
so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
He told them another parable: “The
kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three
measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
Matthew 13:44-48 (The Parable of the
Treasure, the Pearl, and the Net)
“The kingdom of heaven is like
treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he
goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he
went and sold all that he had and bought it.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like
a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48 when it
was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but
threw out the bad.
This
is the Word of God for the people of God
Thanks
be to God
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