Embracing Rejection: A Journey of Faith and Hospitality
Summary
Today’s reflection centers on the theme of “accepting rejection” as a vital part of Christian hospitality and discipleship. Drawing from John 6, where many disciples turn away from Jesus, we are invited to consider not only the rejection we may face from others, but also the rejection of our own expectations—how life, faith, and community often unfold in ways we never anticipated. The journey of faith is rarely straightforward; it is filled with moments of disorientation, disappointment, and surprise. Yet, in these very moments, God’s presence is most profoundly revealed.
The history of our Methodist conference, with its seasons of division and reconciliation, mirrors the broader story of the Church and our own lives. From the painful debates over inclusion—first of women, then of LGBTQIA persons—to the recent departures of congregations and leaders, we have witnessed both heartbreak and unexpected freedom. These experiences teach us that following Christ means walking into the unknown, trusting that God is at work even when the way forward is unclear.
John’s Gospel, written decades after Jesus’ resurrection, speaks to a community wrestling with shattered dreams and new realities. The story of communion in John 6 is not about ritual alone, but about deep connection—becoming the body of Christ in the world, embodying God’s love in tangible ways. We are called to be the answer to the world’s longing for God, not by retreating into comfort or certainty, but by stepping forward in faith, even when we feel unprepared or afraid.
Our community at Epworth is a living example of this radical hospitality. Whether it’s feeding the hungry, welcoming children and youth, or opening our doors to the marginalized, we strive to be a place where God’s grace is not just spoken, but lived. The challenge is to keep moving forward, to keep saying “yes” to God’s call, even when it means letting go of what we thought church, or life, or faith would look like. In doing so, we discover a deeper joy—a joy that comes not from having all the answers, but from walking together in trust, love, and service.
Key Takeaways
- Embracing the Unexpected Path
Faith often leads us into places we never imagined, requiring us to let go of our carefully constructed plans and expectations. The journey with Christ is not about certainty, but about trust—trusting that God is present and active, even when the road ahead is unclear or difficult. This openness to the unknown is itself an act of hospitality, welcoming God’s surprising work in our lives. [55:40]
- Hospitality Includes Accepting Rejection
True Christian hospitality is not just about welcoming others, but also about accepting the reality of rejection—by others, and of our own hopes and dreams. When the community in John’s Gospel faced exclusion and disappointment, they were invited to find God’s presence in the midst of loss. Our willingness to stay, to love, and to serve even when things don’t go as planned is a powerful witness to the world. [54:42]
- We Are the Body of Christ in Action
The call to “eat and drink” in John 6 is a call to embody Christ’s presence in the world. Our hands, feet, and hearts become the answer to the prayers of those who are hungry for grace and belonging. This is not a passive faith, but an active, lived response to God’s love—a willingness to be the means by which God’s presence is made real in our community. [01:00:14]
- Community is Formed in the Midst of Struggle
The history of our conference, and of the Church, is marked by conflict, division, and reconciliation. Yet, it is precisely in these struggles that deeper bonds are formed and new possibilities emerge. When we remain committed to one another and to Christ, even through disagreement and pain, we become a community that reflects God’s enduring love and faithfulness. [51:39]
- Radical Welcome Transforms Lives
The open-heartedness of our community is not just a slogan, but a lived reality that changes lives—both within and beyond our walls. By making space for the marginalized, feeding the hungry, and welcoming children and youth, we become a church that the wider community would truly miss if we were gone. This is the kind of hospitality that reveals the heart of God to the world. [01:09:52]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[11:23] - Annual Conference Recap
[13:45] - Upcoming Events and Announcements
[43:57] - Reflections on Methodist Conference History
[46:31] - The Call to Ministry and Ordination
[47:17] - Early Challenges and the Role of Women
[48:34] - Struggles Over Inclusion
[50:58] - Personal Encounters with Rejection
[51:39] - Commitment Amid Division
[52:17] - The 2019 General Conference and Its Aftermath
[54:42] - Joy and Freedom After Loss
[55:40] - John’s Gospel and the Reality of Disappointment
[59:02] - Communion as Connection
[01:00:14] - Embodying Christ in the World
[01:09:52] - Epworth’s Radical Hospitality
[01:12:17] - Moving from Observation to Participation
[01:13:14] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Epworth Small Group Bible Study Guide: Accepting Rejection as Christian Hospitality
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### Bible Reading
John 6:60-69
*Key verse: “Because of this, many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him.” (John 6:66)*
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### Observation Questions
1. In John 6, what was it that caused many of Jesus’ disciples to turn back and stop following him?
2. According to the sermon, what kinds of rejection did the early Christian community experience, both from others and within themselves? [[55:40]]
3. What are some examples from the history of the Methodist conference that show both division and reconciliation? [[48:34]]
4. How does the story of communion in John 6 differ from the other Gospels’ accounts of the Last Supper? [[55:40]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus’ teaching in John 6 was so difficult for many to accept, leading to their departure? What expectations might they have had that were not met?
2. The sermon mentions that “hospitality includes accepting rejection”—not just from others, but also the rejection of our own hopes and dreams. What does this mean in the context of Christian community? [[54:42]]
3. How does the idea of “becoming the body of Christ in the world” challenge the way we usually think about faith and church? [[01:00:14]]
4. In what ways can conflict and struggle actually help form a stronger, more faithful community? [[51:39]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon talks about letting go of our carefully constructed plans and expectations. Can you share a time when your plans for church, life, or faith didn’t work out? How did you respond, and where did you see God at work in that situation? [[55:40]]
2. When have you experienced rejection—either from others or in the form of disappointment with how things turned out? How did you handle it, and what did you learn about God or yourself through it? [[54:42]]
3. The preacher said, “We are the answer to people’s desperate prayers. Where is God? Right here.” What is one practical way you can embody Christ’s presence for someone in need this week? [[01:00:14]]
4. Epworth is described as a place of “radical hospitality”—feeding the hungry, welcoming children, and making space for the marginalized. What is one new way you could participate in or support this kind of hospitality in our community? [[01:09:52]]
5. The history of the Methodist conference includes painful debates and even people leaving. How can you stay committed to loving and serving others in the church, even when you disagree or feel hurt? [[51:39]]
6. The sermon challenges us to move from “observation to participation.” Is there a ministry or area at Epworth where you feel called to get more involved, even if you feel unprepared or afraid? What’s one step you could take this month? [[01:12:17]]
7. The preacher asked, “If our church disappeared tomorrow, would the community miss us?” What do you think our neighbors would say? What could we do to make sure the answer is “yes”? [[01:08:09]]
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Closing Prayer:
Invite group members to pray for courage to accept the unexpected, to welcome both joy and disappointment, and to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world this week.
Devotional
Day 1: Accepting Rejection as Part of Christian Hospitality
Sometimes following Christ means accepting rejection, especially when things don’t go as we hoped or planned. There are moments in life when the path we thought we were on suddenly changes, and we are left wondering where God is in the midst of disappointment or loss. Yet, in these moments, we are invited to embrace a hospitality of the heart—a willingness to welcome even the rejection of our own expectations. This is not about giving up, but about trusting that God is present and working, even when the way forward is unclear. As we walk together, we learn to let go of what we thought should be and open ourselves to the surprising ways God leads us, making room for grace and new beginnings. [54:42]
John 6:66 (ESV)
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
Reflection: What is one expectation or plan you’ve been holding onto that God may be inviting you to release today, trusting Him with the unknowns ahead?
Day 2: Joy in the Midst of Change
True Christian joy is not dependent on circumstances but is rooted in God’s presence, even when the community changes or beloved traditions are disrupted. When people leave, when the familiar is shaken, or when we find ourselves in a season of transition, it is natural to feel sadness or uncertainty. Yet, there is a deeper joy that comes from knowing we are free to follow Christ authentically, even if it means letting go of what once was. This joy is not naive or dismissive of pain, but a strange kind of gladness that arises from the Spirit’s work among us, reminding us that God’s love and purpose endure beyond every change. [54:42]
Philippians 4:4 (ESV)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Reflection: Where have you experienced unexpected joy in a season of change or loss, and how might you open your heart to that joy today?
Day 3: Communion as Connection and Action
Communion is not just a ritual but a living connection with Christ, calling us to embody His presence in the world. The act of sharing bread and cup is a reminder that we are Christ’s body—His hands and feet—sent to answer the prayers of those longing for God’s nearness. This connection is not limited to belief in our minds but is lived out in the way we walk, serve, and love others. As we participate in communion, we are invited to become the answer to someone’s desperate prayer, carrying Christ’s love into every corner of our community. [01:00:14]
John 6:53-56 (ESV)
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.”
Reflection: How can you be the hands and feet of Christ to someone in need this week, embodying the connection you share with Him?
Day 4: Walking Forward in Faith When the Way Is Unclear
God often calls us to move forward even when we cannot see the path ahead, trusting that He will make a way. Like the Israelites at the sea or the disciples unsure of what comes next, we are sometimes asked to step out in faith, not knowing how things will unfold. It is in these moments of uncertainty that God’s guidance becomes most real, as we discover that the journey itself is an act of trust. Rather than waiting for all the answers, we are invited to take the next step, believing that God walks with us and will open the way as we go. [01:01:09]
Exodus 14:15-16 (ESV)
The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.”
Reflection: What is one step of faith you sense God asking you to take, even if you don’t see the whole path ahead?
Day 5: Radical Hospitality and Open-Hearted Community
A Christ-centered community is marked by radical hospitality—welcoming all, feeding the hungry, and making space for those who might otherwise be left out. This kind of open-heartedness is not just about programs or charity, but about embodying the love of Christ in practical, everyday ways. Whether it’s providing food, creating safe spaces for children, or simply being present for a neighbor, we are called to be a community whose absence would be deeply felt. Our acts of hospitality are a testimony to God’s grace, showing the world what it means to follow Christ in unlikely and generous ways. [01:11:13]
Romans 12:13 (ESV)
Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Reflection: Who is someone outside your usual circle that you can welcome or serve this week, reflecting Christ’s radical hospitality?
Quotes
We are the answer to people's desperate prayers. Where is God? This is what John is saying to a community struggling over schism and excommunication and struggling over persecution from the Roman church that believed primarily that ancient religions might be okay, but newfangled religions, Christianity was one, was not okay. And struggling perhaps most of all over the fact of where is God? And the answer? Right here. [01:00:21] (38 seconds)
And where we look is in our hands and in our feet and in the walk that we walk, in spite of the fact that we don't quite know the way. We're not the first who've done it. Do you remember that story about Moses? Moses, and they were on their knees. They had Pharaoh's army at their back. They had the swamp or the sea or something impassable in front of them that they couldn't go forward. They were stuck. And Moses was like, oh, come on, God, do what you do, man. Some of that jujitsu stuff, whatever, go ahead. And God says, get up off your knees and march. [01:01:09] (39 seconds)
One of the most damning questions you can ask about a church is, if there were a meteorite that came through one Sunday morning and vaporized us all, we'd all go to heaven, and then just left a crater, what would the community miss? And I can tell you, this community would be devastated. They wouldn't be just hungry for food. [01:09:00] (28 seconds)
Because you're going to do the same thing. You do it every Sunday when you walk through those doors and onto the stage, the stage where people are desperate to know God is near. People are hungry and thirsty for grace that you are so full of, it comes out of your eyeballs. So let them have it. Don't try to plan it. Just walk through those doors and into the arms of Jesus. [01:12:41] (39 seconds)
And Jesus is like, I have food you don't even know about. Do you remember this part of the story? And then do you remember what he said the food was? Which is why I don't think this story is about cannibalism. He said, my food is, do you remember, does anybody remember the story? To do the will of the one who sent me, to walk that walk. [01:03:37] (23 seconds)
Most churches have all kinds of signs, no dogs and skateboarders allowed. And we're that way with a lot of children, the children from our preschool, the children from the Boys and Girls Club, making room, making a ruckus. Just that's the way we roll here. When it's time to have vaccines, to open our doors for the community, that's what we do. That's the way we roll. Following Christ in these...unlikely ways. [01:11:18] (34 seconds)
And sometimes we say it as some sort of lament, but John 6 invites us into that way where there is no way business, because how many miracles do you need? How many oceans do you need to stride into timidly or confidently and to see the way opened up? How many 2019s do you need to see open the way up to a 2024 no one could have imagined? Before you just kind of go, all right, you must know what you're doing, so I'm going to do this. I'm going to forgive this person. I'm going to forgive myself. I'm going to act like a Christian, even though I don't feel like one. How many times? [01:04:55] (42 seconds)
And here we are. Part of a church that gets it. One of the most damning questions you can ask about a church is, if there were a meteorite that came through one Sunday morning and vaporized us all, we'd all go to heaven, and then just left a crater, what would the community miss? And I can tell you, this community would be devastated. They wouldn't be just hungry for food. One of the things I love, I remember I hadn't been here long, where this 14 -year -old shows up with her mom and like this line of cars. This was during COVID. And I hadn't met many of you all, but I could smell your spiritual scent by the way other people acted about you, about us. Can I say us? It's us. [01:08:55] (58 seconds)
Are you hungry? Why, there's more opportunity to get your fill of doing the will of the one who created and fashioned and launched us in this world and sends us all than you could possibly imagine and even better than macaroni in a love -filled house. [01:16:24] (22 seconds)
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