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The Promise of Blessing

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The Promise of Blessing: God’s Radical Inclusion Alan Swartz - August 16, 2026 - Black Creek UMC Isaiah 56:1, 6-8; Psalm 67; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28 The Promise of Blessing Our journey of faith doesn’t start with a list of rules, but with a promise that reaches across history. In Genesis 12, God initiates a strategic plan for universal blessing through a covenant with Abraham. This was established as a covenant of faith long before the introduction of the Mosaic law or the ceremonial requirements of circumcision. Because faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness, this foundation ensures that he is a source of blessing for all families of the earth. As the story of God’s people unfolded, a strategic shift occurred from external regulations to an internalized relationship with the divine. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of a new covenant where the law would no longer be a series of commands etched on stone, but a living reality written on human hearts. This gracious a...
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Hope in the Morning (Lamentations 3:21-23)

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Have you ever noticed how the heaviest thoughts seem to wait until the house is completely quiet, right before the dawn? It is in those moments, when our worries press in, that the prophet’s words in Lamentations 3:21-23 offer a lifeline: “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Notice that hope does not just happen to us. It requires an intentional act of the heart. The prophet chooses to “call to mind” God’s love right in the middle of deep grief. Grace is already there, waiting for us, but we are invited to actively pivot our attention toward it, cooperating with God’s Spirit to find a way forward. These verses are especially powerful because they are found in the middle of a book filled with grief and sorrow. Lamentations mourns the destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering of God's people after the Babylonian conquest. Rather tha...
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A Transformed Life (Romans 12)

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It is easy to settle into routines that shape us without our even noticing. The world constantly tells us what to value, how to measure success, and who we should become. Paul offers a different invitation. He writes, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2, NRSV). The Christian life is not simply about believing the right things. It is about allowing God's grace to reshape our hearts, our minds, and our daily lives. As we respond to his grace, we begin to see ourselves, our neighbors, and our circumstances through the eyes of Christ. As Paul writes to the Romans... Romans 12:1-2, 9-21 NRSVue 12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transfo...
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Who Is My Family? (Matthew 12:46-50)

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 Who makes up your family? Read these words from Matthew 12:46-50... 46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” 48 But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Have you ever wondered where you truly belong? Many people carry the ache of feeling overlooked, misunderstood, or even disconnected from their own families. Jesus offers a surprising word of hope. When told that his mother and brothers were waiting to speak with him, he replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Then, pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does...
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Repairers of the Breach (Isaiah 58:6-12)

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Have you ever wondered what kind of faith God desires most? It is easy to think that God is mainly interested in religious activities, but through the prophet Isaiah, God points to something deeper. In Isaiah 58:6-12 , God speaks of a faith that loosens “the bonds of injustice,” shares bread with the hungry, welcomes the homeless, and cares for those in need. The Lord promises that when his people live this way, “your light shall break forth like the dawn,” and “the Lord will guide you continually” (vv. 8, 11). God’s concern reaches beyond outward acts of worship to transformed hearts that express themselves in mercy, compassion, and justice. These words remind us that holiness is not separation from the world’s pain, but loving participation in God’s healing work. By grace, God changes us so that we become people who reflect his character. As we respond to his gracious invitation, we discover that acts of kindness and justice are not burdens but privileges. Through ordinary acts of g...
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How Long, O Lord? (Psalm 13)

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Have you ever prayed and wondered if God was listening? Most believers have experienced seasons when prayers seem unanswered and God feels distant. Psalm 13 gives voice to those moments. David cries out, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (v. 1). These words remind us that faith does not require us to hide our struggles. God welcomes our honest prayers, even when they are filled with questions and pain. The psalmist begins with lament, but he does not stay there. As the psalm unfolds, he turns toward trust: “But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation” (v. 5). The circumstances have not yet changed, but the psalmist chooses to place himself in God’s care. This is one of the quiet miracles of grace. God meets us in our sorrow and slowly reshapes our hearts. We live into that grace when we continue to pray, trust, and seek him even when we cannot yet see the outcome. God meets us in our struggles ...
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The Father Who Runs (Luke 15:20)

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Have you ever wondered if God is disappointed in you? Perhaps there have been moments when you felt distant from him, burdened by mistakes, regrets, or choices you wish you could undo. Father’s Day often reminds us of the relationships that have shaped us, for good or for ill. Yet Jesus offers us a picture of a Father whose love is greater than our failures. In Luke 15:20, Jesus tells of the prodigal son: “But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him” (NRSV). Before the son could explain himself or prove his worth, the father was already moving toward him in love. This image reveals the heart of God. The father in the parable does not wait with crossed arms and a list of conditions. He watches, he notices, and he runs. God’s grace reaches toward us long before we deserve it. Yet the son still had to rise and begin the journey home. Grace invites, and we respond. This is the beautiful partnership of...
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