Grace for All Podcast Por Jim Stovall Greta Smith First United Methodist Church Maryville TN arte de portada

Grace for All

Grace for All

De: Jim Stovall Greta Smith First United Methodist Church Maryville TN
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"Grace for All" is a daily devotional podcast from the laity of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. Each episode presents scripture and a brief reflection, written and recorded by members of our church. These short episodes are meant to inspire you and support your journey of understanding and faith. We believe the central message of Jesus is one of grace. Grace for all human beings. Grace for All is a podcast ministry of First United Methodist Church, Maryville, TNCopyright 2026 Jim Stovall, Greta Smith, First United Methodist Church, Maryville, TN Ciencias Sociales Cristianismo Espiritualidad Higiene y Vida Saludable Ministerio y Evangelismo Psicología Psicología y Salud Mental
Episodios
  • A Holy Life

    A Holy Life
    Apr 12 2026
    Leviticus 19:1The Lord said to Moses, Say to the whole community of the Israelites: You must be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy.Leviticus 19:18You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.Has your morning prayer ever started like this: "Lord, today make me more holy." Probably not. I know that is not how I start my prayers. Unfortunately we often equate holy living with the phrase "holier than thou" an attitude where one sees themselves as better, more righteous than others. Holier than thou people look at others with a condescending attitude. Who would want to pray to be like that? When we turn to chapter 19 of Leviticus we find a totally different concept of living a holy life. It is one of the most important chapters in all of the Old Testament. It is a call for the people to be Holy because the Lord is Holy. This means a prayer to be Holy is a prayer to be more God like in our thoughts and actions. Now that is something we all strive for. But what does a holy life really look like? Chapter 19 goes on to give practical illustrations. Contained within the chapter is much of what we know as the Ten Commandments, with an emphasis on holy living in trying to live out those laws. Being Holy because God is holy in this context means caring for the poor, living with integrity towards all, and not taking advantage of those who are vulnerable, among other things. The summary of this whole section on holiness is "you shall love your neighbor as yourself." The best measure of how we are doing in living a holy life is by looking at how we treat our neighbors. For Christians this takes on even greater importance because when Jesus was asked what law of Moses was most important he said, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself." Matthew 22:38 & 39. Jesus again emphasizes that love of God and living a holy life is seen and lived out in community. So what does it mean for us to be Holy today? To be Holy is to roll up our sleeves and join whatever God is doing in the world. Leviticus gives us examples. To be holy is to care about and for the poor and vulnerable. What can you do this day, this month for the "least of these?" To be Holy is to love your neighbor. How can we show hospitality to the stranger, to be willing to forgive and all the rest that this challenge contains? To be Holy is to be a person demanding justice for all. Where have we stayed silent in the face of injustice? Being Holy is hard work! Loving like this is hard work! There are so many excuses we want to give for why that person or those people are not meant to be neighbors that we have to love. But we know when Jesus was asked who is my neighbor he told the story of the Good Samaritan showing that a neighbor is everyone, even people we might despise.We can't do this alone. But God is with us. God is Holy and wants us to be holy so God will give us the strength to live a holy life in the world. It isn't easy, we will likely fail, but we will also find forgiveness and the encouragement to try again.So this month where we celebrate love I am starting my day praying "Lord make me Holy as you are Holy." Perhaps you will pick up that challenge as well.PrayerLoving God who calls us to be a Holy People help us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Give us the eyes to see where there are needs, a voice to speak up when there is injustice and a willing heart when action is needed. Forgive us when we fail but continue to encourage us to love everyone we meet. AMENThis devotional was written by Bill Green and read by Cliff McCartney.Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.
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    6 m
  • Scripture Saturday (April 11, 2026)

    Scripture Saturday (April 11, 2026)
    Apr 11 2026

    Thank you for listening to Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast produced by the people of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee.

    This is Scripture Saturday, a time when we pause and reflect on the scriptures we have read throughout the week. If you missed any of our devotionals on these passages, you can find them on our website at 1stChurch.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

    Now, we invite you to listen and receive Grace. Welcome and thank you for joining us.

    Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

    If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

    First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.
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    4 m
  • Your Sins Are Forgiven

    Your Sins Are Forgiven
    Apr 10 2026
    Luke 7:47-48“Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little. Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

    Once when Jesus was attending an exclusive dinner party for an elite group of people, an outsider, a woman of ill repute, one of those to be avoided, crashed the party, perhaps slipping in the back door. When the other guests saw her, they shunned her and perhaps whispered about her to each other. How dare she enter here!

    She moved behind the seated Jesus and began weeping in contrition, big tears of regret, sadness, and sorrow for her sins poured down her face, falling onto His feet. She wiped the better tears from His feet with her hair and, falling to her knees, she kissed his very feet, then poured her jar of extravagantly expensive oil onto his feet. Her act of worship complete, she lay exhausted at his feet, silently weeping and kissing his feet.

    Simon, the host and the other invited guests were indignant. Simon said to himself, “If this Jesus were a prophet, he would know who this sinful woman is and shun her as we do!”

    Now Jesus knew Simon’s thoughts.

    "Jesus answered him, 'Simon, I have something to tell you. Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more? Simon replied, 'I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.' 'You have judged correctly, Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, 'Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.' Then Jesus said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.' The other guests began to say among themselves, 'Who is this who even forgives sins?' Jesus said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go in peace.'

    Perhaps we have been guilty of comparing ourselves to others, condemning them for the sins we think are so much worse than our own. We may have reassured ourselves with the thought, “Oh, I’m not so bad, compared to him.” Yet we have no right to judge! Instead of comparing and judging, we should keep praying Luke 23:34 – “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do?” And we should remember that Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged.”

    Let’s pray together now…

    Dear God, please forgive me. I am a sinner, in need of your LOVE and forgiveness. Forgive me for judging my neighbor and for comparing myself to them. Help me to pray for my neighbors and to love them as you do. Teach me to LOVE as you LOVE and to forgive as much as I hope to be forgiven. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

    This devotional was written and read by Bernice Howard.

    Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

    If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

    First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.
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    6 m
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