Locust Bluff United Methodist Church

Excerpts of Pastor Dennis’ Sermon

This may apply to many, but this especially applies to me.

“Our words carry weight, even when we do not fully realize their impact. As followers of Christ, we are called to speak with grace, humility, and respect toward all people and their families. When we fall short, grace invites us to acknowledge it, seek forgiveness, and choose a better way forward rather than defending harm.

May we strive to live in such a way that our speech reflects the love of Christ, building up the body of Christ and honoring the dignity of every person made in God’s image.”

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.” — Colossians 4:6

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Romans 6:1b-11

Pastor Dennis said, “The Apostle Paul addresses the transformed life of a believer, emphasizing that through Christ’s death and resurrection, we are called to die to sin and live righteously, embodying the newness of life that comes through faith”

He said, “This helps us as Christians to understand our identity in Christ and the freedom they have from sin. It encourages us to live out our faith boldly and provides a framework for overcoming struggles with sin by recognizing their new identity as united with Christ.”

We said farewell to to Rev. Dennis and Suzanne Agnew. They have spent about four years leading our congregation.

Pastors, we say thank you for your tenure as being our Pastor . We pray that you continue on this journey that God has prepared for you. As you always told us to go out into the world and be the hands and feet of Christ. We will remember that and try to follow those messages that you so often gave. We know that you will continue on your walk with Christ. May God bless you in all of your endeavors.

Inspired by Bonita Andrews!

Repentance is fundamentally a transformative shift in perspective, moving beyond simple regret to encompass a profound change of heart and direction. At its core, it is the conscious decision to acknowledge past actions or attitudes that have caused harm—to oneself, others, or one's values—and to actively commit to a different path. It requires a difficult, honest inventory of one's choices, demanding the courage to face the discomfort of self-reflection without the shield of rationalization. This process is rarely a one-time event; rather, it is an ongoing practice of alignment, where a person continually recalibrates their behavior to better reflect their true principles.
True repentance finds its completion in restitution and behavioral change, bridging the gap between internal sorrow and external action. While the emotional weight of remorse is a starting point, the efficacy of repentance is measured by the tangible steps taken to rectify mistakes and the sustained effort to avoid repeating them. By taking responsibility, an individual begins the process of healing broken trust and rebuilding integrity. Ultimately, repentance is an empowering act of liberation, allowing a person to release the burden of past failures and move forward with greater wisdom, humility, and purpose.