Sanctifying Grace | 5/18/25
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How do you see sanctifying grace—God’s work to form you in the likeness of Christ—active in your life right now?
Are there areas where you’re being stretched, refined, or transformed?Where have you experienced a sense of peace or “home’ in your faith journey, like some of the grads described?
How did that environment or community shape your relationship with God?Have you ever felt God’s presence through the support of someone outside of your immediate family?
What did that relationship teach you about trust, faith, or grace?How are you offering your “everyday, ordinary life” as a gift to God, as Romans 12 encourages?
Are there parts of your daily routine that could become intentional acts of worship?What does it mean for you to leave a legacy of faith for the next generation?
How are you helping create a church environment where others can grow and thrive?
Transcript:
We are in week three of our series of messages on the movement of grace, and we've had the opportunity in these first three weeks of May to look at our understanding of grace within our Methodist tradition and from our Wesleyan perspective. We’ve tied that to milestones in the lives of children and youth that help us see prevenient grace, justifying grace, and sanctifying grace.
Today we come to the culmination of that, looking at the last piece—sanctifying grace—but we’re going to do a little recap of the other two. Then, you’re going to get to hear a little bit from some of our seniors who are going to join me for a conversation as part of the message today.
In just a few moments, I’m going to start with a scripture reading that comes from Paul’s letter to the Romans in the New Testament. It is a grounding passage for us, offering a snapshot of what it looks like to be growing, in everyday ways, as followers of Christ.
This is from The Message, which is a paraphrase of scripture written by Eugene Peterson. I love the way he articulates the ideas found in these two verses. Follow along with me:
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work (or I might add, going-to-school), and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for God.
Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what God wants from you and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you and develops well-formed maturity in you.”
This is the Word of God for the people of God—and God’s people say: “Thanks be to God.”
Would you pray with me?
Come, Holy Spirit, and breathe life into the words that I speak and that our students share today, that they might carry a word from You—of hope, of life, of good news—into all our hearts and lives on this day. Amen.
Two weeks ago, we celebrated Children’s Sunday, and as we thought about God at work in the lives of the youngest among us, we talked about the notion of prevenient grace. Prevenient is not a word we use daily in our 21st-century context, but it’s a really helpful word. If you break it down, it makes a lot of sense. Prevenient means “to come before,” and so it is the grace of God that is there—present and active with us and for us—even before we are able to recognize or articulate it.
This idea of prevenient grace shapes our understanding and practice of ministry and worship, and specifically of the sacraments. You all hear Marissa or me say every week, as we are getting ready to come to the table, that this is a—what kind of table? An open table. An open table. It is available to everyone, because this is Christ’s table. And if the table is a place where grace might be experienced, then why in the world would we keep anybody from coming?
So, our understanding of that prevenient grace—ready to meet us even before we recognize it—informs that. It also informs our understanding of baptism. Baptism is first and foremost an acknowledgment of that grace. Because that grace is present from the very beginning of our lives, from when we take our first breath, then we can celebrate that presence through the gift of baptism even before children are able to acknowledge or profess for themselves a love for Christ and a desire to follow Christ.
Then, as they begin to grow in grace, learn about Jesus, learn about the love of God, and have guides, mentors, teachers, and families who support them in their journey of faith, they move toward a point where they have the chance to say "yes." We celebrated that last week with our confirmation class—young people who, over the past school year, have been meeting weekly to grow in their understanding of God’s presence in their lives, their understanding of the church and worship, and some of our basic fundamental theological ideas.
Justifying grace is the grace that brings our lives into alignment. You might think about other ways we use that word justify—we justify the margins, right? And things come into alignment. It’s that same kind of idea: that God is at work through God’s grace, and specifically through the work of Jesus Christ, to bring us into alignment. Then we, on the human side, have the opportunity to say "yes." That is the gift of our free will—to have the chance to respond to the grace that has gone before and is ready to meet us whenever we decide to say "yes."
And when we get to that point where we say "yes," that is not the end or the grand finale. It is, rather, just the beginning. That moment of experiencing justifying grace is the time when we say, “And now I want to follow and become more and more Christlike over the course of my life.”
Which leads us to today and the remembrance and celebration of the idea of sanctifying grace. Sanctifying grace is the expression of God’s grace that is always at work, seeking to help us grow more and more in the likeness of Christ.
One way of thinking about the distinction between justifying grace and sanctifying grace, found in the writings of John Wesley, is this: justifying grace is what God does for us through Christ; sanctifying grace is what God works in us by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. It is the lifelong journey of growing in Christlikeness.
Here’s a way that I’ve come to describe sanctifying grace in my own words: it is grace infusing every part of our being until there are no parts left untouched or unfilled with the Spirit of God’s love.
Perhaps you’ve heard the image before—and I think even last week Rebecca shared with us—an image from our understanding of grace using the metaphor of a house. Prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace can be pictured in that metaphor. Sanctifying grace is when, over the course of our lives, we allow that grace to fill up every room in the house.
So I was thinking this past week: what would be a 21st-century way to think about that? And what came to mind for me was biometric screenings. You know how, when you put your thumb on to create an identification for yourself, you have to keep rolling it around until it captures the whole print? That’s kind of an image of what it’s like for God to be infusing every part of our lives with grace. And you know how, when you’re doing that, you’re not done until it captures the full image? Same idea. The goal is for us to be completely restored to the full image of Christlikeness that God has intended for us from the very beginning.
We are moving, through the course of life, on to perfection—as Wesley said—but specifically in the sense that we are growing to be more and more perfect in our love for God and for our neighbor.
So today, we are specifically celebrating the sanctifying grace that has been at work—and continues to be at work—in the lives of all of us, and particularly in the lives of these seniors, who are at a significant milestone in their lives as they prepare to go off to the next part of their journeys.
I thought it would be neat for us to hear a little bit from some of them, and I so appreciate Emma, Elliot, and Taylor for agreeing to be a part of a conversation with me for a few moments today. So if you all will come on up now, let’s join one another up here. I’ve got a microphone for each of you to use.
So let’s start just by—we’ve introduced you—but just give you a quick second to introduce yourself and maybe tell us who you are, where you’re graduating from, and how long you’ve been connected to life and ministry here at Trinity.
Taylor: You want me to start? Is this on? Perfect.
Hi, my name is Taylor Trosper. I’m graduating from Santa Fe High School this year. I’m finishing at Santa Fe College, and I’m going to go to UF—so go Gators! Thank you.
I’ve been a part of Trinity my whole life, as long as I can remember. I’ve been a part of Upward Sports, always been here. I went to Pre-K here. But really, in these past few years, I’ve become more connected as my own individual self in this church, and I’ve kind of found an identity and a home here—and I really appreciate you and all of you for that.
Emma: Awesome, thanks Taylor! Hi, I’m Emma. I’m graduating from Gainesville High School, and I’ll be going to the University of South Florida in the fall. I’ve also been a part of Trinity my whole life—did Upward Sports as well. But I’ve really found a home in the youth group, starting in sixth grade, which has been a really big part of my life and has brought me closer to God and closer to my peers, and helped me grow my faith here at Trinity.
Elliot: My name is Elliot Pancoast. I’m graduating from P.K. Yonge High School. I’ve been a part of Trinity really since sixth grade—that’s when I joined youth and kind of got connected on our first mission trip to St. Simon’s, Georgia. I played Upward here, but really have found a home and a community within the youth group here. I’ve met some of my best friends and really been able to connect with the church and with all of you.
Pastor Steve: Awesome. So I’ve got a few questions, and I just want to give you all a chance—free form—so whoever wants to answer, feel free to jump in. We’ll just take a few minutes to chat about these questions. The first one is: How has being a part of Trinity made a difference in your life as a follower of Jesus?
Emma: So, like I said, I really started connecting with the youth group when I was in sixth grade and got to go on my first mission trip. I think just being able to be in a community that has been so supportive and so encouraging has been something that’s really helped me grow in my faith journey.
Like I said, it was my first mission trip, and since then we’ve been on several more. I think that just being able to experience that mission—something new that I hadn’t really heard of before I joined youth group—was something that’s really helped me grow and see a new perspective of what my faith can be.
I actually got the opportunity to travel to Kenya with Zoe Empowers, and one of the first things I did when I got that opportunity was I went up to Rebekah and I was like, “Hey, what do you think about this?” And she said, “I think you should go. I think you should experience that.”
Having a community that has been so supportive and encouraging as I’ve figured out what this whole “faith journey” thing is has been really special for me.
Paster Steve: I love that. Because of your presence here and your trust in Rebekah’s leadership, you’ve had someone outside your family who could offer you insight and be a steady presence in your life—someone you trust to talk with and process things. That’s really awesome.
Taylor: Like I said, in the past few years I’ve really found a home and an identity in this church. When I started coming consistently and made the decision that this was my home too, I noticed right away the peace and calm here—something I haven’t experienced in every church I’ve visited. This place truly has a feeling of peace and home. That sense of quiet and stillness with the Lord has been transformative. It’s helped me learn so much and continue growing in my journey with Christ.
Pastor Steve: And peace is not easy to find in high school. There’s so much pressure and challenge—and some of those challenges are very specific to your generation. I’m grateful to hear that this community has given you a place of peace.
Emma: Not only has Trinity helped me grow in my faith—it’s helped me grow as a person. I wouldn’t be who I am today without youth group and this congregation. Being surrounded by people who are also followers of Jesus has helped me grow spiritually and personally.
Pastor Steve: How have the relationships you've formed here made a difference or impacted your life—especially as you prepare to take the next step?
Elliot: The relationships I’ve built through youth group have given me some of my best friends—people I’ve done high school with. That’s been so impactful. High school isn’t easy, and having people to grow with has been a huge blessing. Also, Rebekah, Audrey, and all the youth staff have given me people outside my family who I can talk to and lean on. This has helped me become who I am today. Youth group has given me a space to be my full self, have fun, and grow over the last seven years.
Taylor: Jumping into a church fully in high school can be tough—you might feel out of place. But I’ve been so accepted here. There are so many wonderful people in this congregation that I feel like a daughter or granddaughter to them. They’ve poured out their hearts to me, and I appreciate that so much. I want to give a full shout-out to Marisa and her family—we love them to death. Getting to know them has made a huge impact on my life. The conversations Marisa and I have had—I’ll carry those with me through college and beyond. And my family too—thank you for bringing me into this church and giving me the push to find my own path and identity.
Emma: Like Elliot and Taylor said, I’ve met some of my best friends here. Many of the people here feel like family. Rebekah and Marisa—I know I can come back from college and still have a home here. Everyone will still be here.
Pastor Steve: That’s so meaningful—to hear you say you’ll still feel at home when you return from college. I look around and see students who’ve done just that—come back because this place still means so much to them.
Now, I shared a quote with you this week about sanctifying grace. It says:
"Sanctifying grace continuously forms us in the likeness of Christ so that the love of God shapes our hearts, our actions, and our relationships."
Where have you seen God’s sanctifying grace at work in your life?
Elliot: When I was in sixth or seventh grade, I went through confirmation here at Trinity. I’ve grown up in church—my parents both work in ministry—so church has always been a part of my life. But confirmation helped me start making my faith my own, and I’m really grateful to Trinity for that. Ever since then, I’ve continued to grow in faith and figure out who I am as a follower of Christ. When I was choosing a college, one of my top priorities was finding a school with a Wesley Foundation, so I could keep growing in community with others in the same life stage. Experiencing sanctifying grace in that way has been really meaningful.
Taylor: Something I always like to share is that I’ve grown up in church and always felt the love of God and of others. But in high school, there were a lot of bumps in the road—broken legs, a broken arm, rejection letters. It felt like nothing was going to plan. But by senior year, I realized that the rejection was redirection from the Lord. My plan wasn’t His full plan—and that’s beautiful. Now, when something unexpected happens, I’m almost excited to see what God is doing. That shift in perspective has helped me more fully embrace His plan, and see not just His love but also the peace that comes after the pain.
Pastor Steve: What a powerful and mature perspective—to look back and see how God was working through the challenges.
Emma: The first thing that came to mind for me was the quote “everything happens for a reason.” Coming to this church and meeting the people here has led me to where I am now. Elliot and I are both going to serve on team at Warren Willis this summer, and I’m excited to share my faith and what God has done in my life at camp.
Pastor Steve: Yes! Five of our seniors have been accepted to serve on team at Warren Willis Camp this summer—what an amazing opportunity to support and mentor the next generation.
Let’s return to the Scripture from today:
"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering... Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking... Instead, fix your attention on God... God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."
When you hear that passage, what catches your attention as you think about your faith and this next part of the journey?
Emma: It’s a really good reminder to stay intentional. It’s so easy to absorb the values of the world around you. That verse reminds us to stay mindful and grounded in God’s values—and to spread those.
Taylor: Yes! That was beautifully said. For me, the part that stands out is not letting the negative aspects of the world change who you are. We’re called to project the love of Christ into dark spaces, but to stay grounded in our own identity in Him and not let the darkness pull us down.
Elliot: You both said exactly what I was thinking. Being intentional about how we live, how we follow Christ, and making time to be with God—that’s so important. One thing I’m excited about this summer is having time each night for worship, and getting to see how God moves in campers’ lives. Just taking intentional time to grow in faith is something I’m really looking forward to.
Pastor Steve: As I listen to the end of that Scripture—“God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you”—I see it in each of you. Thank you for being a part of this conversation today. Aren’t they inspiring?
[Applause]
What a gift to hear directly from these young people—so steeped in their faith and commitment to Christ. It’s a reminder that faith is not limited by age. In fact, it makes me think of reverse mentoring: some of you out there may be thinking, “I want what they’ve got.” If so, I know they’d be happy to talk with you a bit later during the reception. Let’s thank them again!