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Grace for All: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Jim Stovall, Greta Smith, First United Methodist Church, Maryville, TN
"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
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- Yesterday4 min
A Great Cloud of Witnesses
Hebrews 12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for usOur Grace for All theme this month is ‘What does the Lord require?’ And our scripture reading for today does include a directive: to throw off the things that hinder and the sin that entangles, and to run the race before us with perseverance. Resist evil, the writer of Hebrews admonishes, and finish the job. But this passage includes not only a directive. It also includes a reminder: we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Chapter 11, the chapter preceding these verses I just read in the book of Hebrews, reads like a walk through the Hall of Fame of faith. It names Noah, and Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses. It gives examples of their faith and perseverance. It is meant to strengthen and encourage the reader or hearer of this text by evoking a legacy, an inheritance. Do not forget where you come from, the writer of Hebrews suggests. Know your story. Remember your ancestors. Take up the mantle. You are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.Doing what God requires, obeying God’s commands, and following the Way of Christ can be hard. We daily encounter things that might hinder or entangle us, distracting us from the call to love and serve as Christ loved and served. But we, too, are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, faithful servants who committed their lives to discipleship. Take a moment now to consider those who came before you, the cloud of witnesses that surrounds you.Be strengthened and encouraged as you go about this day, encountering obstacles and snares, yet still striving to run the race with perseverance. You do not go alone.Let us pray:Merciful God, we give thanks today for those who have gone before us to lead the way in the life of faith. We thank you for their example, and we ask for a measure of their perseverance. Strengthen us in the awareness that we are surrounded by their witness even now, that we may finish the race marked out for us. In Christ’s name we pray, amen.Today’s devotional was written and read by Greta Smith.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 days ago5 min
Choices
Matthew 22:15-22 (NIV)Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?"But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose image is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.Notice the setup. The Pharisees don't come themselves. They send their disciples — along with the Herodians. That detail matters. The Pharisees and the Herodians had almost nothing in common. The Pharisees were the guardians of Jewish religious tradition, deeply suspicious of Roman influence. The Herodians were political allies of Rome, comfortable with Caesar's authority. Under ordinary circumstances, these two groups would have had little to say to one another.But here they are, together. And that tells us everything about what is really going on.They want Jesus to choose sides. Answer one way, and he alienates the crowd of faithful Jews who resented Roman taxation. Answer the other way, and he hands his opponents a charge of sedition against Rome. It is a trap built for two, and either door leads to destruction.Jesus sees through it immediately. But what he does next is more than clever footwork. He doesn't simply escape the trap — he dismisses the whole premise. He calls for a coin, asks whose image is on it, and when they answer "Caesar's," he says in effect: fine. Caesar can have his coins back. That is Caesar's world, and Caesar is welcome to it.But then he leaves his listeners — and us — with the question he does not answer. What are God's things?That is the question we live with. The things of this earth — politics, power, the endless demand that we pick a side — these are Caesar's things. They press on us constantly. Every generation faces its own version of the Pharisees and Herodians standing together, insisting we choose between them.Jesus says there is another choice. Put God first, and the world's demands lose their power to define us. Caesar can have his coins. God wants something else entirely — and we already know what that is.PrayerOur Father, help us to remember, in the face of all the world's demands and divisions, that our first and only necessary choice is you. Amen.This devotional was written and read by Jim Stovall.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 days ago5 min
Sola Gratia
Matthew 5:3Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Through the grace of God alone we are all blessed beyond measure whether we acknowledge it or not. However to understand this grace and what it bestows, let us consider what Jesus tells us about who is blessed in this verse. Let's begin with what he does not say.Not those who achieve.Not those who amass wealth.Not those who are beautiful or athletic.Not those who work hard- sorry Martha.Not those who study and are well read.Not those who know right from wrong.Not those who who are confident.When Jesus teaches the disciples, there are many qualities he references, but here in this verse let us look first at what he does not say.Not those who are generous.Not those who help others.Not those who pray.Not those who worship.Not those who follow the law and commandments.Not those who avoid temptation.Not those who forgive.These are teachings that we should strive toward but in Matthew 5:3 we are told “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”What Does the Lord Require? HumilityWho is blessed? Those who live in humility. Perhaps they have a clearer view of God’s love because their vision is not clouded by their own will. The kingdom of God is near when we don’t block the view with our own little castles.If we find ourselves feeling generous because we have given of our money, time, knowledge or love then let us give thanks to God because all that we have shared first came from God.When we have a humble heart, what we see clearly is that we own nothing and have nothing to share beyond what God has shared with us.What Does the Lord Require? To be one. When we stop looking to be superior, when we stop looking for differences, when we stop creating barriers, we can start to be one with God and share grace realizing that we given the grace of our Father.Please pray with me, Father, all that I am and all that I have is your gift. May I always be thankful and share what I have been given with all of your beloved children who I encounter. Not if but when I forget this, please remind me gently so that I may give thanks to You and You alone, Amen.This devotion was written by Jill Pope and read by Susan Daves.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 days ago5 min
Show Me the Way I Should Go
Psalm 143:8-10“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in You. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”I memorized this scripture in April of 2013 and I’ve been using it ever since as a centering prayer. Most mornings it is included as one of my first offerings to God – as a reminder to myself of my part in our relationship.Every request in this prayer Psalm is followed by a promise of what we are doing in the relationship. Please consider them with me as we go through them one by one…First we make a request of God – Remind me of your unfailing LOVE - and then we make a promise – I have already put my trust in you.Next we request – Show me the way I should go – and we promise – I have already lifted my soul to you, Lord.The next request we make – Rescue me from my enemies – and then we promise – I have already hidden myself in You, Lord, I’m well tucked in under your wings.And when we ask “teach me to do your will”, we imply that we will listen and learn, because we already claim and embrace God as our personal God! God, our Center, our #1, our Guide and Comforter.And in that last line, we pray for God’s Good Spirit – The Holy Spirit – to teach and lead us on the level ground of Truth and LOVE in God’s will.So, as we begin our day today, or as we are in the middle of the fray, or maybe we are winding down for dinner time, or prepping for bedtime, when you are saying your prayers to God, let’s remember this Psalm and this prayer.And so to end today’s podcast, won’t you pray with me now…“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. And rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in You. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” AMENThis devotion was written and read by Bernice Howard.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 days ago5 min
Scripture Saturday (July 25, 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. Now, let's listen to the scriptures that have been on our hearts this week. 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 days ago5 min
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/.
- 1 weeks ago5 min
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/.
- 1 weeks ago5 min
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/.
About 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
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