Grace for All
"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, TN
Holding Godâs Hand (Lent)
Isaiah 41:10 (Common English Bible)
Donât fear, because I am with you;donât be afraid, for I am your God.I will strengthen you,I will surely help you;I will hold you with my righteous strong hand.I recall a story I heard a pastor tell. His granddaughter and another girl got into a lively game of comparison. One would say what they could do and then the other would come back with something even better. Finally his granddaughter said, âI can walk fifty-nine miles.â The other girl said, âYou canât!â His granddaugh...
More Than Enough (Lent)
John 6:11-12
And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.This story of Jesus feeding the five thousand appears in various forms in other Gospels.
A childrenâs book tells this story. A young boy has heard that Jesus is coming near and he wants to go...
Fighting our Goliaths (Lent)
Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.A pivotal figure in the book of Psalms is King David. Each of the Psalms shows a different aspect of the life of King David and his unwavering faith in his Lord, which is what I find perhaps the most impressive about David as a character.
What I find even more impressive about David is how far back this faith traces: to his battle with Goliath, in which it seemed the odds were stacked...
Fear Not Your Inadequacies (Lent)
John 6: 5-9
Lifting up his eyes then and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, âHow are we to buy bread so that these people may eat?âPhilip answered him, âTwo hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.âOne of the disciples, Andrew, Simon Peterâs brother, said to him,âThere is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?âThis is the famous story of Jesus and his disciples feeding the 5,000, the...
Have Faith - Believe! (Lent)
Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.Isaiah 40:31
. . . but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.When I was in elementary school, I loved to read biographies written for young readers. The one that had the biggest impact on me was on Glenn Cunningham, the great middle distance runner. In one part of the book, he...
Collective Effervescence (Lent)
Psalm 149:1
"Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people."Have you ever been in a group of people who are all in the same place for the same reason and felt the energy of the room gathering together? For me, itâs like youâve taken a bunch of lightning bugs and scooped them up in a jar. Itâs vibrant - much brighter than they would be on their own. You can still see each one of the creatures doing their own thing...
United to Receive Godâs Grace (Lent)
Matthew 18:20 (KJV)
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.and
Psalms 133:1 (KJV)
Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!We hear the word unity in many labels, slogans, admonitions, and challenges.
In simple arithmetic, we know that 1+1=2 and 2+2=4, but when Godâs people come together, a new way to add comes to our attention. Each person comes into a group with their individual ta...
Food for Everybody (Lent)
Luke 9:12-13 (The Message Version)
As the sunset, the Twelve said, âDismiss the crowd so they can go to the farms or villages around here and get a room for the night and a bite to eat. Weâre out in the middle of nowhere.â âYou feed them,â Jesus said. They said, âWe couldn't scrape up more than five loaves of bread and a couple of fishâunless, of course, you want us to go to town ourselves and buy food for everybody.â (There were more than five thousand people in the crowd.)
As a child I remember...
The Sheep and the Goats (Lent)
In Matthewâs Gospel, Chapters 24 and 25, Jesus is teaching his disciples and telling parables. Our scripture for today tells one such parable and clearly emphasizes how we should treat strangers in need.
Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV)
âWhen the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left...Love with Everything You Have (Lent)
Luke 6:32-36
âIf you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you wi...The One Mark That Matters (Lent)
John 13:34â35 (CEB)
âI give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.âIn a world divided by politics, denominations, and doctrinal disagreements, we often look for ways to distinguish whoâs âinâ and whoâs âout.â Is it the way we baptize? The name on the church sign? The theological statements we affirm? But Jesus cut through all of that with a single, unmistakable command: âLove each other.â
T...
Kindness in the Face of Need (Lent)
1 Corinthians 10:24
No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.Proverbs 19:17
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.Several years ago, I was heading up a USAID project in Southern Africa and I found myself in Mozambique at an agricultural experiment station. The grant I had contained little room for unplanned expenses. But with that grant, we trained more than 15,000 farmers in Lesotho, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe and greatly improved...
Feeding the Hungry â Part of True Worship? (Lent)
Isaiah 58:2, 4, 7
Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. (Isaiah 58:2)Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. (Isaiah 58:4)Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy...The Coat (Lent)
Luke 3:9-11
The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.ââWhat should we do then?â the crowd asked.John answered, "Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same."(Luke 3:9-11)I volunteer at a local non-profit called Good Neighbors. We provide emergency assistance for rent, rent deposits, utilities and utility deposits. I have had many memorable experiences while working there but on...
Who is my neighbor? (Lent)
Luke 10:25-29 (NIV)
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. âTeacher,â he asked, âwhat must I do to inherit eternal life?â26 âWhat is written in the Law?â he replied. âHow do you read it?â27 He answered, ââLove the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mindâ; and âLove your neighbor as yourself.ââ28 âYou have answered correctly,â Jesus replied. âDo this and you will live.â29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, âAnd who is my neighbor?âWho is my neig...
Sowing Seed (Lent)
Matthew 13:31-32
He told them another parable: âThe kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.âSo many sermons and commentaries focus on how small and insignificant a mustard seed appears, but there is something else to be noticed. More attention should be given to the act of planting it in the fiel...
A New Thing (Lent)
Isaiah 43:18-19
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."We live in a world where every day we are bombarded with sounds and images of new things. Often, they are images of violence and destruction. It is easy to forget that some things in our world are eternally new and beautiful: the changing of the seasons, a babyâs laugh, voices lifted up...
Who is My Neighbor? (Bonus)
Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Grace for All podcast. With this episode, we are stepping out of our normal format to bring you this 25-minute reflection by Herb Sadler. In it Herb takes us deeply into one of Jesus' most famous stories: the Parable of the Good Samaritan. We hope you enjoy this episode.
The Christian faith comes down to the great commandment. If you distill it, the essence of Christian living is to love God and love your neighbor with equal regard to yourself. The two most famous and best-loved stories Jesus told...
One Little Word (Lent)
John 19:28-30 (ESV)
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), âI thirst.â A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, âIt is finished,â and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.When Jesus said, in verse 30, it is finished, every Jewish person who heard him would have immediately understood their significance. Every year, on the Jewish holiday...
True Perfect Peace (Lent)
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.A very wealthy man publicized that he was willing to pay a substantial price to the artist who could best illustrate the presence of peace. Several artists submitted pictures depicting sunsets, lazy rivers, and serene landscapes, but none of those were what he was looking for. One day he came across two paintings: one was a quiet mountain lake as still as glass and reflecting the bright blue sky and the mountains...
A New Thing (Lent)
Isaiah 42:9-10
See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth!Isaiah 42:1-9 is often referred to as the first of the Servant Songs. Early in the history of the Christian church these songs became associated with the life, ministry and death of Jesus. God, through the Prophet Isaiah is proclaiming new things will happen. And new things require a new song, sung not just...
Renewed Life (Lent)
Psalm 30:5 (NIV)
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.This verse is part of a Psalm that is a direct conversation with God. It moves from the emotions of dismay, despair and wailing to dancing, joy and praise. The Psalmist moves from the realm of death to renewed life and hope in the Lord.
We all have moments in our lives that cause us dismay and despair. These moments stop us in our tracks...
The Mustard Seed (Lent)
Mark 4:30-32
He also said, âWith what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.âA tiny seed growing to great stature! That is what we can all be! Through our actions we can...
The Gift (Lent)
Romans 5:15
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did Godâs grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
Adam
Jesus Christ
Dust and breathe to dust
The Word incarnate, eternal
Sin
Grace
Broken
Unbreakable
Selfish sin
Grace-filled sacrifice and forgiveness
Take and take and take
Fr...
The Mission (Lent)
Luke 4: 16-21
When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: âThe Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the ti...A New Command (Lent)
John 13:34
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34)
To love others seems so easy. A statement we hang on our walls or draw into notebooks surrounded with red hearts. However, when God calls us to love, he doesnât always mean easy love. Love that comes natural to others who look, talk, act and love like us. Thatâs simple love. Thatâs not commandment love. Thatâs not love that even needs to be taught.
God is constantly remindin...
The Armor of God (Lent)
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devilâs schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to st...More Than Words (Lent)
Joel 2:12 -13 CEB
Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your hearts, with fasting, with weeping, and with sorrow; tear your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, very patient, full of faithful love, and ready to forgive.The Prophet Joel was tired of the shallow faith he saw in the lives of the people around him. Theirs was a âsurfaceâ type of faith. Saying all the right things but without remorse or commitment to real and serious change. He chal...
Will We Forgive Them?
Matthew 5:44 NIV
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.Jesus said these words in His sermon on the Mount, and he emphasized this command again in Matthew 6:14-15: âFor if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.â
Forgiving is very important and sometimes quite difficult for us. Think that through. If I asked you to sit down and write a list of your enemies, who...
Wrapped in Love
1 Peter 4:8 (First Nations Version)
Above all, never stop loving each other, for like a warm blanket love covers a great number of broken ways.The comforting warmth a blanket can give on a chilly day or a cold night is something we all have enjoyed since we came into the world. Babies are swaddled, children are tucked under comforters, and adults sometimes enjoy the warmth of quilts made by family members or previous generations. The first people who walked this land had only blankets, animal skins, and wood fires for keeping warm. In the rich imagery of...
As Mundane as Dirt
Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.Sometimes I think we have completely forgotten how to be humble. So I asked myself, what does it mean to be humble? I looked it up, and I reviewed the etymology, âfrom the ground, i.e., humus.â For the language lovers listeningâhow mundane. But on the other hand, how profound. From the dirt, just like every other creature on the planet, we are all mundane from birth until death.
As I pondered the world I live in, I real...
Scripture Saturday (February 14, 2026)
Welcome to the Saturday episode of the Grace for All podcast. Thank you for joining us today. Saturday is a special time when we take a few moments to review the scriptures that we have cited in the episodes this week.
If you missed any of those episodes, you might want to consider listening to them today. And even if you heard them all, there may be one that you might want to listen to again. We hope that each of these scriptures and podcasts will bring you a full measure of joy, peace, and love.
<...Love That Stays
Proverbs 17:17 (CEB)
Friends love all the time, and kinsfolk are born for times of trouble.Friendship is an easy word to use when life is calm. It becomes harder to define when circumstances change, and the structures that once held relationships in place fall away.
Over more than twenty years of caring for our disabled daughter, Iâve learned that some relationships fade not because people are unkind, but because endurance asks more than sympathy. When a situation becomes long-term instead of temporary, love is tested quietly.
When Hannah moved in...
How to Love
I Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.I John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.God is love. This simple truth is the heart of the Christian faith. God...
Lamentation
Lamentation
Letâs listen to some words of lament from two people discussing anger toward God:
PERSON 1: Hey my friend, why so glum? PERSON 2: Oh, you know, workâs not going well; Iâve got family issues, and my marriage is on the way out. PERSON 1: So life is hard, but God is good, right? PERSON 2: If you say so. PERSON 1: What do you mean? You canât blame all your problems on God. PERSON 2: Why not? If Godâs so good and so powerful, why is he allowing life to dump all this stuff on me? PERSON...Loving Others Isnât a Choice
1 John 4:12
Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; If we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.The fourth chapter of 1 John, is the fullest discussion concerning the love of God that we find in our Bible. It is a richer and more challenging message than is to be found in 1 Corinthians 13, often called the âHymn of Love.â It gives us a definition of God: âGod is love.â Think about that. From the beginning of time...
Love is a Verb
Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.Proverbs 17:17 (The Message)
Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.I believe the kind of love spoken of in both of these scriptures is Agape loveâlove which is selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial. It is rooted in goodwill and action rather than feeling.
I have heard it said that it is better to have a friend nearby than a brother far away. I ha...
Serve Humbly
Galatians 5:13 (NIV)
Serve one another humbly in love.This is an eye-opening scripture for me. As I have been thinking and reflecting on it these last couple of weeks, memories have been flooding in of people I have known and know who serve humbly often. First, it is important to think about what a humble servant actually looks like. They are not proud, donât believe they are better than others, respectful, modest, gentle, and unpretentious. Admirable qualities, though they donât always come naturally. In James 4:6, we read that âGod opposes the proud but shows favor to the...
Scripture Saturday (February 7, 2026)
You are 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...
Where is the Love?
Proverbs 10:12 (NIV)
Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers all wrongs.There have been several songs written through the years about love being something the world needs now more than ever, with such examples heavy on my mind lately being âWhere is the Love?â by the Black-Eyed Peas and âWhat the World Needs Now is Loveâ by Dionne Warwick. In watching recent news stories regarding the atrocities that have taken place in Minnesota at the hands of ICE, I feel that the lyrics of each of these songs are something that we ought to be payin...
