BRANCHING OUT

Today in the Tremont City United Methodist Church is graduation/ mission 
Sunday. A day when we recognize those in our church family who have 
earned the right by hard work to graduate: Ashley Hebb from Tecumseh 
High School who will be attending Ohio University and majoring in 
advertising. Seth Keplinger from Northwestern High School who will be 
attending the University of Toledo and majoring in Business. Jake 
Livermore from Tecumseh High School who will be attending Shawnee 
State and majoring in computer engineering. Justin Sark from Tecumseh 
High School who will be working at Belle Manor Nursing home. Andrea 
Gonzalez from the Wright State University School of Medicine who will be 
moving to the University of Kentucky to do a three year medical residency 
in family practice. Walter Mock from the Ashland Theological Seminary 
who will continue to pastor and work toward being an ordained minister in 
the UMC. 

Today is also the day that we recognize those who are leaving Friday, 
June 10th and returning June 19th from a mission trip to Rocky Mount N.C.
where they will be working on improving the residents lives who were
afflicted by hurricane Isabel that hit in 2003. It will take at least five years
before Rocky Mt. N.C. may have recovered from the damage. 

The youth going to Rocky Mount N. C. are Jessica Billet, Holly and Jackie 
Couch, Ashley Hebb, Jake Livermore, Christie Nevius, Jamie Sark, Scott 
Tatro, and their adult supervisors, Bill and Diane Sark, David and Debbie 
Foster, Tammy Phelps, Don and Gloria Morgan, & Jamie Erret.

Graduations and a mission trips are similar for both encounter a journey 
That God warned us about in the book of Matthew, 

Matthew 7: 13-14, 

Many shall enter into the wide gates and broad roads 
that lead to burning in hell. A journey where few make 
the choice to enter through the small gate and journey 
on the narrow road, which leads one to eternity in heaven.

The choice is like the church sign that read, “Less talk, more rock.” For the 
road that cares about numbers instead of developing disciples is a road 
that will do neither, for it is a road of destruction.

One morning the preacher preached on salvation and then took up the 
morning collection. A parishioner asked the preacher, “Pastor you were
preaching that salvation is free and then you took up a collection. Aren’t 
you contradicting yourself? The pastor calmly replied, “Water is free too 
but someone has too pay for the plumbing.”

Salvation is free for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ paid for it in full on
the cross at Calvary. As others see you and I what is going on with in you?

Matthew 7: 15-16

Be careful of false prophets. They come to you looking 
gentle like sheep, but they are really dangerous like 
wolves. You will know these people by what they do. 
Grapes don’t come from thornbushes, and figs don’t 
come from thorny weeds. 

While we are warned by God to be careful of false prophets what about 
yourself? When you look in the mirror are you looking at the true person 
that the world sees for that look is free? Or when you look in the mirror do 
you know that internally you are not free? Do you claim to know Jesus 
Christ as your Lord and Savior but inside you like to talk about another, 
behind their back?

Looking gentle as a lamb, GOD LOVES YOU, but on the inside being a 
wolf, LOOK AT THEM, WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE?” Yes we have
flesh, but our lives are like the tree that is branching out,

Matthew 7: 17-20,

In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, 
but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot 
produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good 
fruit. Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut 
down and thrown into the fire. In the same way you will 
know these false prophets by what they do.

Remember the promise, Matthew 7: 21-23,

“Not all those who say that I am their Lord will enter the 
kingdom of heaven. The only people who will enter the 
kingdom of heaven are those who do what my Father in 
heaven wants. On the last day many people will say to 
me, ‘Lord, we spoke for you, and through you we forced 
out many demons and did many miracles.’ Then I will 
tell them clearly, ‘Get away from me, you who do evil. 
I never knew you.’

God does not need us to speak for him, God can and does speak for
himself, OPEN THE EYES OF YOUR HEART! 

And we do not force out demons and perform miracles, that is God’s job! 
It’s all about branching out in the name of God to reach out to others so 
that they may see God through our actions, our heart, our thoughts, and 
our walk. 

It is easy to busy ourselves with the work and neglect the word. To get
busy doing and neglect the people, to get busy and neglect prayer, to do 
great things in the name of Jesus while neglecting Jesus. To assume that
full pews validate out ministry when in fact we have become wrapped up
in numbers and accolades and lose touch with Our Father Who Art In 
Heaven. As you go branching out into the world, Romans 12:4-8,

For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not
have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and
individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according
to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our 
faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who 
exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; (a generous 
gift); he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheer- 
fulness. Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good.

Hold fast to what is good and remember graduates, remember mission
workers, we all need to remember, 

John 15:5

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides
in me, and I in Him, he it is that bears much fruit, for 
apart from me you can do nothing. 

Let us pray,

Father, thank you for blessing our lives with knowledge, with gifts.
But Father, may we remember that you, not the world, you 
Father, have given us these gifts and we are called to 
work together as individual parts of the body and as 
one in your name. Father, when we go out into 
the world may we remember that you are the 
vine and we are the branches, the 
extensions of your loving 
arms unto another.
Amen



Image courtesy:



06/05/2005JWM



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