At The United Methodist Church of Hyde Park (NY) we have a Mission Statement that reads: “Under the Lordship of Jesus Christ we are a worshiping community, seeking the will of God, teaching the Word of God and sharing the love of God.”

Following are my thoughts reflected in a sermon preached at The UMC of Hyde Park on April 14, 2024. The scriptures passages shared in worship are printed below my reflections. You are encouraged to read the texts from scripture to discover the context in which the cited verses are used.

Under the Lordship of Jesus Christ

def. Lordship n. : the authority or power of a Lord, dominion

As those who claim to be under the lordship of Jesus Christ, we are acknowledging that we are willingly placing our lives under the authority, power and dominion of Jesus.

Under the Lordship means we claim the truth of who Jesus is and confess the truth about who we are.

Jesus became a servant and the Lord raised him up. Lowering himself in serving others, he would later be raised up in victory over death. We commit ourselves to serving others trusting that Jesus will raise us up into new life. We are encouraged to consider the needs of others, lowering ourselves and placing ourselves under Jesus’ authority that we also may be raised up in Christ

Philippians 2:10-11 reads “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Stating that Jesus is Lord (kyrios) acknowledges His divinity, being one with God. What all will confess is that Jesus Christ is Lord. This, the earliest Christian creed [Bible Knowledge Commentary, John Walvoord]

In Romans 10:9 we read, “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

With the heart we believe & with the mouth we confess. Our faith is both verbalized and internalized. We see here that “faith in the resurrection is essential” [Faithlife Study Bible] and those who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

By faith, many in scripture have claimed Jesus as Lord. For example, the Centurion’s profession (Mathew 27:54, Mark15:39 & Luke 23:47) “Truly this is the Son of God.” and Martha’s profession before Lazarus is raised She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (John 11:27)

When we claim Jesus as Lord we are committing to modeling our lives after his.

We take on a spirit of selfless-humility and are reminded that Jesus emptied himself [kenosis] taking on the role of a servant and we are encouraged to do the same.

I am blessed by the lyrics of “Kenosis (Sinner’s Prayer)” written by Jimi Myers

“Empty me of me, fill me with you. Peel away the flesh and fill me with truth.

O you have opened my eyes, Jesus I see you.

Please help me open my heart, Lord I receive you.

Oh you’re ever worthy, you gave it all, I am not deserving but I hear you call.

Jesus please come into my life. I alone am nothing without you.

Please forgive me, Father I have sinned. Please forgive me and teach me to forgive.

Philippians 2 – Christ’s Example of Humility

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ² complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Romans 10 – The Message of Salvation to All

⁵ For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. ⁶ But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹ because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. ¹³ For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”