Who We Are at Central United Methodist Church

We are Christians! We believe in the one God, who loves us and who proved his love for us through his Only Son, Jesus Christ. We are followers of Jesus. We take seriously that scripture where Jesus told us to "deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him."
1. Deny self: It doesn't say to only deny ourselves "things." That's only a small part of it. God knows, after all, what things we have need of, and has promised to supply all our needs according to his riches in glory. God knows we need basic necessities of life, and has asked of us, his followers, to trust Him to provide for us, and then "all these things that we have need of will be added unto us."
This call is to deny "self." Be willing to deny ourselves some of our time in order to minister to others in Jesus' name. Be willing to give of "ourselves" in service. That means, above all else, we are a people who take seriously God's Love Command: "Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself." So, we must be willing to give of our "self" as well as our resources in order to fulfill the love commandment.
2. Take up your cross: Just as Jesus had a cross to bear, so do we. Bearing a cross entail being willing to suffer on behalf of others. This goes right back to the love commandment. Scripture says, "No greater love is this, that you lay down your life for your friends." Jesus was willing to lay down his life for us, and he asks that we love others AS HE HAS LOVED US. Bearing a cross is not easy. Some days it is difficult; other days it is easier. But always, Christ has promised to help us bear that cross, carry it where he leads us in life.
Your cross, my cross, is the burden (and blessing) we accept when we become followers of Christ. It is our personal Christian path through life that we must follow to be faithful. As a minister I have burdens, crosses, that you may not have. You may be a Christian teacher, lawyer, doctor, technician, mother, father, caregiver, factory worker, self-employed business persons, etc., but in each of these vocations, in order to be a follower of Jesus, there is a cross one must be willing to bear. In these situations, we ask ourselves, "How can I be a faithful Christian and witness of the love of God and the love of neighbor where I am?" Living this out will, no doubt, bring criticisms, even hatred at times from others, who do not see the importance of God in their lives. So, our being faithful where God has placed us, is a major way we "carry our cross."
3. Follow Me: Follow Jesus. Follow where He leads you in life, where He wants to take you. You and I do not go anywhere alone. When we prayerfully listen to Him, and seek direction and wisdom through Him, we will not go astray. We will obey God's commandments (the Ten Commandments summed up in God's Love Commandments). When we do this, we show others what it means to follow Jesus. He is the only Perfect One who so lived and gave of himself as to point us back to God.
That is, scripture says that Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life." To know Jesus is to know God; to follow Jesus is to discover through Him, the way that leads us to God and eternal life.
May God richly bless you this week.
Rev. Finegan