"The Life You Didn't Expect" Sermon Series - Week 1

"Free For Love" Sunday, July 5, 2026

In this week’s message, Pastor Katy Wheat Borhauer reflects on Galatians 5:1, 13-25 and Paul’s teaching on Christian freedom. Freedom in Christ is not simply the absence of limits or the ability to do whatever we want. It is freedom from sin, shame, self-centered striving, and the need to earn God’s love. But it is also freedom for a new way of life: loving our neighbors, serving one another, and walking daily with the Holy Spirit. Through stories, Scripture, and practical reflection, this sermon invites us to ask: What has Christ set me free from? What has Christ set me free for? As we learn to keep in step with the Spirit, we become people marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May we become people of love.

"Good Shepherd" with Guest Preacher, Rev. Hannah VanMeter

In “Good Shepherd,” guest preacher Rev. Hannah VanMeter explores Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:1–7 and our deep human desire to be known, welcomed, and loved. Through stories from the new United Methodist ministry at The Ohio State University, she shares how God notices every person, searches for those who feel lost or forgotten, carries them home, and rejoices when they are found. This message challenges the Church to become a community where no one is left behind. Who is missing, unheard, or overlooked? How can our conversations, prayers, classrooms, meals, and acts of welcome help others know that they belong? Rev. Hannah reminds us that young people are not simply the future of the Church. They are the Church, and every seed of faith we plant can grow into something beautiful.

Pastor Pete's Final Sunday, "Seasons"

What do we do when one season ends and another begins? In his final sermon as Associate Pastor of Church of the Messiah, Pastor Pete Elliott reflects on Isaiah 43 and the many changes that shape our lives. Some transitions are joyful, while others bring grief, uncertainty, and a difficult period of waiting. Through them all, God promises, “Do not fear, for I am with you,” and invites us to perceive the new thing already springing forth. “Seasons” reminds us that transformation takes time, surrender, and courage. We are called to release what has passed, trust God through the uncomfortable middle, and become part of the restoration God offers to the world. As we give thanks for Pastor Pete’s ministry and send him into a new chapter, we remember that endings can also become beginnings and that God is not finished with any of us yet. Scripture: Isaiah 43:1–2, 5, 18–19.

"The Life You Didn't Expect" Sermon Series - "Pay it Forward"

What happens when we stop pretending that everything is fine? In “Pay It Forward,” Pastor Katy Wheat Borhauer explores 2 Corinthians 1:3–11 and Paul’s honest testimony about suffering, vulnerability, prayer, and the abundant comfort of God. Following Jesus does not protect us from every hardship, but it assures us that Christ meets us in our suffering and that we do not have to carry it alone. The comfort we receive from God is meant to flow through us to others. Our painful experiences may not have happened on purpose, but through God’s grace, they can have purpose. As we share our stories, listen with compassion, pray for one another, and walk beside people facing struggles we recognize, we become witnesses to God’s healing and hope. Join us as we consider where God is inviting us to receive support, tell the truth about what we carry, and pay God’s comfort forward.

"The Life You Didn't Expect" Sermon Series - "Good Company"

In this week’s message, “Good Company,” Pastor Katy Wheat Borhauer reflects on Hebrews 11–12 and the faith of those who trusted God through uncertain, difficult, and unexpected seasons. When life does not come with a clear map, Scripture reminds us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses — ordinary, imperfect people who discovered God’s faithfulness along the way. This sermon is part of our series, “The Life You Didn’t Expect,” an honest look at suffering, resilience, faith, and hope when life does not go according to plan. Pastor Katy reminds us that Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith — the trailblazer who has already walked the road before us. We do not have to walk perfectly. We are invited to keep going, trusting that God is still making a way.