Acts 1:3-8
Language
of Love—In 2019, Emma
Schols saved her six children from their burning house—but at the cost of 93%
of her body burned.[1] On
this Mothers Day, we recognize and honor the lengths and depths of a mother’s
love. While we call Emma’s actions “a mother’s love,” the writers of the New
Testament call this behavior storge – the bond of commitment that exist
between members of a family, that incomparable bond and connection that holds
family together.
Interestingly,
Jesus never uses storge but he does use two other Greek terms—phileo
(the affection and commitment that exists between good friends)… and, of
course, agape—a term we casually translate as “love” but is so much
deeper. Today we begin to unpack the new vision statement of the United
Methodist Church which begins, “The United Methodist Church forms disciples of
Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly….” Love
boldly? What does that mean?
To
Love … Agape—One
part of Agape is selflessness—thinking of others before self, or self-sacrifice
for the benefit of another. In our world of self-absorption, thinking of
someone else first is radically countercultural. The second part of agape
is kindness—doing a good turn for another (whether we feel they deserve it or
not), acting in kindness towards another regardless of how we feel. This is a
way we’re called to live towards everyone all the time—everyone. Bringing these
two together—selflessness and kindness—agape is about thinking and
acting with selfless loving-kindness. This is what we see in the life of Jesus.
This is the life Jesus calls us to.
To
Love … Boldly—In our new
United Methodist vision statement, we’re called to love “boldly”—a little over
the top, out of our comfort zone. Jesus points to this in his teachings:
“If
you [agape]love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even
the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what
are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” (Matt. 5:46-47)
Jesus
calls us to love outside the lines—to agape-love people who may not, probably
won’t, possibly can’t love us back:
“You
have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But
I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that
you may be children of your Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:43-45a)
We
have no promise they will stop being our enemies. But there is no end to our
call to love them. Ouch. Who are your enemies? Who are the enemies of your
family? Who are the enemies of your community? Who are the enemies of our
nation? “Love your enemies—think and act with selfless loving kindness towards
them—and pray for those who persecute you.” Woah.
The
United Methodist Church—Through
our UM The General Board of Global Ministries (our worldwide mission,
relief and development agency) we work with partners and churches in more than
115 countries to equip and transform people and places for God’s mission.
In
the Middle East, we provide humanitarian aid, health services, and
critical support to families displaced by war, natural disasters, and conflict.
Most notably, we have worked in Gaza, Turkey, Syria, and Iran in the last few
years.
In
Asia, we support church growth and evangelism, education and leadership
development, disaster response and mitigation, care of migrants and refugees,
and more. We help form and grow United Methodist faith communities…in places
like Cambodia,… Mongolia, … and in the Philippines, we [help coordinate]
effective disaster responses among local churches and annual conferences.
In
Europe, we assist refugees and migrants, support church revitalization
and leadership development, and help communities recover from war and natural
disasters. Our missionaries work with immigrant communities to meet spiritual,
psychological and physical needs. Global Ministries…[helps equip] church
leaders for ministry with migrants and ethnic minorities. Most recently, our
work has centered in Spain, Germany, Northern Ireland, and Ukraine.
Across
Africa, we partner with United Methodist conferences and ecumenical
organizations to support humanitarian relief, health care and clean water
access, agricultural and economic development, education and more. We equip lay
and clergy leaders to expand ministries into local communities. We support
African UM churches as they supply food, nonfood items and hygiene products to
disaster-affected communities and tens of thousands of internally displaced
people…and help to lead and coordinate disaster responses locally.
In
Latin America and the Caribbean, we partner with communities vulnerable
to poverty and climate change to provide health care, clean water and disaster
response and recovery…providing health care and counseling for women, food and
medical care for children and general food and shelter relief to families. Missionaries
promote peace and healing through initiatives in areas affected by violence or
war, and strengthen church growth and leadership development.
In
North America, we support a wide range of ministries – from disaster
response to community development. Through UMCOR, we partner with annual
conferences to help communities recover from wildfires, hurricanes and other
disasters. Our Multiethnic Ministries program strengthens racial-ethnic
congregations and empowers them to lead mission efforts in their local
communities. In April 2023, Hidalgo and Cameron counties in the Rio Grande
Valley of Texas were in the path of a straight-line windstorm and later in May,
a tornado…through the Rio Texas Conference, UMCOR was able to address immediate
needs, and in September 2023 began recovery work in a low-income area where
more than 400 homes were damaged and are still in need of repair.” Our own
Susan Hellums and Whitney Maupin have been instrumental in this work.
United
Methodists love boldly—look beyond self, us, me, ours, mine…and act with
loving-kindness towards those in need…here and around the world. United
Methodists unapologetically love boldy as Jesus calls us to.
Conclusions—So, back to those disciples. Can you
imagine how they heard those words of Jesus? They heard and reacted:
Jerusalem—yeah! Judea—of course! Samaria—wait, what? To the ends of the
earth—uh…? Jesus called them and calls us to cross the lines of separation, to
be a people of agape-love…even, perhaps especially, towards our enemies and
certainly towards those we may be different from.
“The
United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by
the Holy Spirit, love boldly….” Are we allowing God’s Spirit to form and
empower us to be this kind of people? Stay with us—we’re changing the world as
we follow Jesus together! Amen.
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Disciples – Loving Boldly
Watch/Listen: HERE
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