Grace for All

Jim Stovall, Greta Smith, First United Methodist Church, Maryville, TN
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Christianity

"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

  1. 14h ago

    Living in the Spirit

    Today I would like for us to consider a very familiar passage of scripture from a very different point of view. Romans 8:1-8 (CEB)So now there isn’t any condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. God has done what was impossible for the Law, since it was weak because of selfishness. God condemned sin in the body by sending his own Son to deal with sin in the same body as humans, who are controlled by sin. He did this so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us. Now the way we live is based on the Spirit, not based on selfishness. People whose lives are based on selfishness think about selfish things, but people whose lives are based on the Spirit think about things that are related to the Spirit. The attitude that comes from selfishness leads to death, but the attitude that comes from the Spirit leads to life and peace. So the attitude that comes from selfishness is hostile to God. It doesn’t submit to God’s Law, because it can’t. People who are self-centered aren’t able to please God. The Common English Bible presents this very familiar scripture from a very different perspective. At opposite poles are living in the Spirit and selfishness. Consider also another familiar passage from Paul’s letters: Philippians 2:1-5Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other. Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus. Paul goes on in this passage to describe how Jesus willingly set aside his heavenly position to give up his life for us. This is the epitome of selflessness. Jesus himself presents these polar opposites in Matthew 25 in describing the sheep and goats on the day of judgment. The goats are condemned because, as the Master says: I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger, and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes, and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison, and you did not look after me. The goats were apparently a very selfish lot, looking out for their own needs and ignoring the plights of others. Obviously, there is much more to consider in our spiritual lives than simply selflessness and selfishness. But these scriptures describe how these extremes in behavior are the manifestations of what drives us from within. Is it the same sacrificial mind that was in Christ Jesus, or is it the mind of a selfish goat? Each of us must decide where our focus will be. Prayer:Father God, lead us by your Spirit to watch out for what is better for others. Help us, with humility, to think of others as better than ourselves. Forgive us when we become so self-absorbed that we overlook the needs of others. Amen. This devotion was written and recorded by Charlie Barton. 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/.

  2. 1d ago

    An Ever-Flowing Stream

    Amos 5:24Let justice roll down like water and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. The Hebrew word that we translate justice appears over 400 times in the Old Testament. That’s a lot. It seems like God and the prophets are really concerned about justice and, more importantly, about those who have been mistreated and not received justice. Chief among these are the widows, orphans, and the poor. The prophets saw how the powerful took advantage of them. Amos, in today’s scripture, proclaimed to the rich and powerful that God sees how unjust their actions have been toward the powerless and the time has come for a reckoning. To share what God’s justice is going to feel like, Amos uses the image of water. When he used this image, I am sure he was thinking about the dry wadis that crisscrossed the land. These dry stream beds would come alive with a rushing torrent of water after a rain. The water was forceful and many times destructive. We have witnessed the power of water in our area recently when heavy rains and hurricanes have released torrents of flood waters. They have destroyed property and unfortunately taken lives. Amos’ vision came true for his listeners because shortly after these words were spoken the people of Israel were conquered by the Babylonians and those in power were taken into exile. To them it must have seemed like a mighty destructive torrent, like when the wadis filled with rushing water. Today I am thinking about the more gradual power of water. I think of the Wear’s Valley just south of us. It is one example of where a broad fertile valley was formed over thousands of years as water eroded the hard stone it was flowing through. There might have been an occasional cataclysmic flood, but generally the valley was formed through the slow, continual work of water. A process that is still ongoing. I believe that we as faithful believers are called to be agents of justice. It is unlikely that we will be involved in a moment so dramatic that it changes things for all time. But that doesn’t mean we can’t join the flow of God’s rivers of justice and righteousness. We can speak out when we see people being treated poorly. We can donate to funds to help those who are hungry. We can vote for those who champion the needs of all, not just the rich and powerful. What we can do might seem to be insignificant. But think of Wears Valley. One raindrop doesn’t seem like it makes any difference. But over time, with lots of other raindrops, the land was transformed. We don’t have to see the results. We just need to be on God’s side, working for and with others for justice and righteousness, trusting and believing that God sees what we are doing and ultimately it will make a difference. Let us pray: Loving God, God of the widow, God of the poor, God of the homeless, God of the immigrant, and God of us all. Remind us daily that all are beloved in your sight. Help us to do what we can, even if it seems so little, to work towards a place where all are treated fairly and with respect. For we know that even a little can accomplish much when your faithful people heed your voice. AMEN. This devotion was written and read by Bill Green. 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/.

  3. 2d ago

    Guidance

    Galatians 5:25If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. This verse in Galatians is one of my favorites, but let’s consider more verses from the passage as well, starting with verse 22 and ending with verse 26. “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, then let us be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.” Whoa! There is a lot there to unpack, beginning with the qualities that should identify Christians, and, as human beings, we know those qualities are not easy to maintain. I can be filled with love, joy, and peace, but patience. . .have you ever been caught behind a rolling roadblock that extends miles ahead and behind you? My patience flies out the window after 15 minutes of creeping along. I can be kind, generous, faithful and gentle, but lose all self-control when something happens that provokes my temper, or, even worse, I am staring at a chocolate cake and know I should not indulge. In these situations, we cannot manage things on our own. We must rely on the Spirit to keep us from thinking and behaving in ways we know are not pleasing to God. “If we live by the Spirit, then let us be guided by the Spirit.” The closing verse about not becoming conceited, competing against one another, or envying one another tells us thoughts and actions that lead us away from the Spirit, not closer to Jesus. For context, Paul wrote this letter to the Galatians when Jews and Gentiles were arguing about what a follower of Christ should be and do. Many Jews believed that Gentiles should conform to Jewish law before they could be genuine Christians. Christians believed all they really needed to do was follow the law of love, as preached by Jesus. Does this scenario about what makes a true Christian sound familiar, even over 20 centuries later? This verse reminds me of the WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) bracelets that were popular a few years ago. It seems different people have different opinions of what Jesus would do. Where does that leave us? Allowing ourselves to be guided by the Spirit requires us to surrender ourselves to Jesus, to give up those things that take our time and attention away from the path He has given us, to study scripture and pray earnestly for God’s guidance in our lives, and then to be willing to follow through when that guidance takes us in unexpected and sometimes difficult directions. Only then can we truly experience the joy and peace that Jesus offers and live out his commandment: Love God completely and love others as ourselves. Let us pray: Lord, your expectations for those who wish to follow you are great. We cannot meet them with human strength alone. Thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit to both empower and guide us as we strive to become more like you. Amen. This devotion was written and read by Pat Scruggs. 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/.

  4. 3d ago

    Sing Yourself Into His Presence

    Psalm 100:1-2Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness. Come into his presence with singing. As I have been thinking about this scripture over the last couple of weeks, I am reminded that my star word for 2026 is joy. This word is to be a guiding, prayerful focus for the entire year. I was even gifted a bracelet that is engraved, "choose joy." I really don't believe that was a coincidence. The word joy seems to be popping up in my daily life at an unusual pace. Being aware does help me see God's presence in my daily life and helps provide focus. I remember as a child, this was one of the first scriptures I was asked to memorize. We memorized a different scripture each day in vacation Bible school that summer in the early 60s. I loved vacation Bible school. My teachers were fun and loved us well. As young children, I can assure you we made a joyful noise, at the very least a loud, happy noise. We were delighted to be at church, to be in a loving environment with our friends. We learned Bible stories, made crafts, played outside, and we sang. I loved to sing. I'm sure our teachers were glad when the day was over, but I'm also sure they went home filled with joy. I imagine much like us children, they went home singing or humming those fun Bible school songs. Those songs were our way of worshiping and being in the presence of God. Maybe we didn't really understand, but those songs really had an impact on us. With only a gentle nudge, I can still sing many of those songs we learned. I pass them along to my own children, grandchildren, and now I'm singing them with my great-grandson. The joy those songs bring are filled with lots of emotions, feelings, and a deep, abiding gladness. When you sing those words of faith alone or in a group, you just can't erase the hope, the relationship, the gratitude you experience with God. We are to approach God with joy and gratitude, not obligation. He is waiting for us, waiting to hear love, delight, and joy. Our joy grows naturally and comes from God. Sing with me.Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Praise ye the Lord. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. Hallelujah. Praise ye the Lord. Hallelujah. Praise ye the Lord. Hallelujah. Praise ye the Lord. God is present; you are loved. And if this song doesn't bring you hope, there is another even more precious song for us. Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, they are weak, but he is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so. May you feel his deep abiding love today and every day. We are anchored in his love. Be filled with joy. Let's pray together. PrayerGracious and loving God, we are so thankful for your love, for your plan that includes our joy and happiness. May you hear our loud praises and may others witness our cheerful hearts as we spread joy in this weary world. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, we joyfully pray. Amen. This devotion was written and read by Lisa Blackwood. 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/.

  5. 4d ago

    The Last Laugh

    Genesis 21:1-7Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” When we read the story of Sarah laughing at God's promise in Genesis 18, it's easy to be a little hard on her. After all, she laughed when God said she would have a son. But before we judge Sarah too quickly, it might be worth remembering a few details. Almost certainly, Sarah didn’t know the message came from God. Also, Sarah wasn't twenty-five. She was ninety years old! She and Abraham had spent decades hoping, praying, waiting, and wondering. They had endured years of disappointment and heartache. By the time God repeated the promise, Sarah wasn't being cynical. She was being realistic. "Come on," she might have said. "I'm no spring chicken!" But look at the progression in Sarah. In Genesis 18, Sarah laughed because the promise seemed impossible. In Genesis 21, she laughed again because the promise had come true. That's why I love what she says after Isaac is born: "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." The story begins with laughter of disbelief and ends with laughter of joy. Not laughing at anyone, but laughing together. There's another beautiful detail hidden in the story from English-speaking ears. The name Isaac comes from the Hebrew word for laughter! In a sense, every time Sarah called her son's name, she was reminded of what God had done. "God has brought me laughter." It’s almost, “God has brought me Isaac.” And there he was. Living proof. Sometimes God works quickly. Sometimes God's promises unfold over years or even decades. Most of us know what it's like to pray, wait, and wonder if anything will ever change. I don't know what promise you're waiting on today. I don't know what burden you've carried for a long time. But I do know this: God is still at work in ways we cannot always see. He always fulfills his promises, just not in ways we expect. And sometimes, after all the tears and waiting and wondering, grace gets the last laugh. Let's pray.Father, thank you for your patience with us when hope grows thin and faith grows weary. Remind us that you are still at work even when we cannot see the outcome. Give us the courage to trust you, the patience to wait on you, and the joy to recognize your blessings when they come. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. This devotion was written and read by Donn King. 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/.

  6. 5d ago

    Eagle Flight

    Isaiah 40:31 (NET) But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagle’s wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired. Watching the skies for eagles is a beloved part of my growing up along the rocky beaches of the Pacific Northwest. Sometimes their nests could be sighted high up in the wind-bent trees along the coast or in a forest of evergreens in the mountains. Now, as an adult, I still scan for them as often as possible in the Smoky Mountains, along with other beautiful birds of prey. “Look!”, someone in the family would quickly shout, pointing upwards, “An eagle!”. All eyes would then follow the pointing finger, exclaiming excitedly, “I see it!”. A hush would follow until the eagle, riding the rising wind currents, could no longer be seen. Its magnificence, though, remained, along with the honor and delight of the moment. To the Indigenous tribes, eagles are sacred. They are seen as the strongest and bravest of all birds, being admired for their courage and connection to the sky. With the ability to fly higher than any other bird, eagles are often seen as being closest to the Creator, carrying prayers on their wings and having a divine perspective. For us, as people of faith, eagles can provide an example of soaring above any stressful circumstance we have in our lives, trusting God to help lift our spirits. When the prophet Isaiah shared these words of hope with the Israelites held captive in Babylon, their spirits were low, and they were exhausted. They had endured decades of hardship. Even the strongest of humans gets tired but can rise above difficulties by looking to God for help and by remembering that God’s power remains steadfast. The Israelites needed comfort and encouragement to continue to persevere in the daily hardship of being in exile. When any of us feels overwhelmed or discouraged, and life becomes an intense sprint, there is the reminder that relying on God’s strength can refresh and recharge us. This strength can keep us moving forward without losing heart and becoming weary. At times, though, we can benefit from seeking to find a higher perspective and by renewing our trust in God’s timing. Waiting for God’s help in tough times requires prayer and surrender, just as an eagle opens its wings and allows the wind currents to carry it. Whenever we lift our eyes to the sky, God’s presence and comfort surround us, and we are carried through. Prayer: Loving God, help us rest in your strength. During our steady day-to-day walk of faith, help us gain perspective from a higher place of wisdom. Renew our trust in your timing and refresh us in every sacred moment. Amen This devotion was written and read by Jenny Green. 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/.

  7. 6d ago

    Scripture Saturday (July 18, 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 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/.

  8. Jul 17

    The Porch Light

    Matthew 5:16 (NRSV)In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. My brother and I used to spend whole summer days at my great-aunt Gladys' place in upper East Tennessee, gone from just after breakfast until the cowbell rang. She'd ring it from the porch when supper was ready, and the sound would carry up the holler however far we'd wandered. Gladys wasn't just an aunt who happened to have a huge house and what seemed like a million acres. My grandmother — my father's mother — died when he was a teenager, and her sister Gladys was the one who stepped into the gap, for him and eventually for all of us. Nobody required that of her. She just did it, summer after summer. We'd start back, cutting through brush and tree line, not always sure which direction the house actually was. But then we'd see the light. It wasn't some bare bulb over the screen door. There was a spotlight up there that could've guided a plane in. I was sure you could see it from the moon. Aunt Gladys wasn't standing under it, waving us home. She was probably back in the kitchen. The light was just on, doing its job at full power, and it did the same thing every single evening, whether we were five minutes out or forty. We'd catch that glow through the trees and know two things at once: which way to walk, and that someone was expecting us. Jesus says we're the light of the world, and then tells us what to do about it. It’s not complicated. Let it shine. Not a little. Not carefully. Aunt Gladys never once worried that her porch light was too much. We rarely worry that our own light is too bright. We worry it's not enough, or that someone might actually notice it. Like Aunt Gladys, Jesus doesn't share that worry. After telling us to shine our light, he tells us what the light is for. Not so people see us. So they see good works — and through them, glorify the Father. The light isn't the point. It's the pointer. The men who founded the United States understood something like that, whether they fully lived up to it or not. They didn't claim to have invented the idea that everyone is created equal. They wrote that it was self-evident, endowed by our Creator — a truth they were reaching for, not one they owned. They put their names to it, some of them at real cost, and then left the rest of us holding an aspiration we still haven't finished living into. That's the thing about an aspiration grounded in God instead of in ourselves: it doesn't get to stay comfortable. It keeps calling us further than we've gone. We've had two hundred fifty years of getting parts of it right and parts of it wrong, and the creed is still out there, still unfinished, still asking to be lived rather than just framed and hung on a wall. It was never America's light to take credit for, any more than it was ever Gladys' light to take credit for, or mine, or yours. Jesus didn't say, "Let your light shine so they'll see you." He said, "Let it shine so they see the good works and glorify the Father." The light points past us. It always has. The country doesn't finish that work. People do — one porch, one welcome, one stranger treated like he was made the same as you, all the way down. So leave the light on. Full power. Whoever's out in the dark tonight, let them see it from a long way off — and let them see, past the light itself, who really left it on. Father, thank you for the light you've placed in us, brighter than we give it credit for. Help us leave it on for everyone still finding their way home. Amen. This devotional was written 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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About

"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

Information

  • Creator
    Jim Stovall, Greta Smith, First United Methodist Church, Maryville, TN
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jim Stovall, Greta Smith, First United Methodist Church, Maryville, TN
  • Show Website
    Grace for All

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