Sunday, October 26, 2025: "The Heart of the Matter: More Than We Could Ask or Imagine"
The First United Presbyterian Church
“The Heart of the Matter: More Than We Could Ask or Imagine”
Rev. Amy Morgan
October 26, 2025
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to God, who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to God be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
He could not have imagined it. He could not have imagined how a tiny startup, operating out of a garage in Los Altos, California, would someday be worth almost 4 trillion dollars. Which is really too bad. Because back in 1976, Ronald Wayne owned a 10% share in Apple as the third original investment partner in the company. He sold his stake to the other two partners, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, less than two weeks after the company went into business, for $800. Today, his share of the company would be worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
Lack of imagination can be costly.
And churches know that, maybe better than most other organizations. Imagination has not always been the strong suit of institutional religion. We had trouble imagining women in leadership, and we missed out, and still do miss out, on the gifts of many people called to ministry. We had trouble imagining God’s love and inclusion of all people, so we excluded, judged, and condemned all sorts of folks and turned them away from faith. We had trouble imagining streaming church online and leaning into new technologies, so we avoided it until it became unavoidable, and lots of folks who were homebound missed out on years of participating in church.
Churches lacking imagination have cut back on programs and staff, stopped giving and participating in missions, and ultimately, ceased doing much of anything that resembles being the Body of Christ in the world. They can’t imagine having the resources to do anything, so they don’t do anything.
But this is not the case for all churches or all Christians. In fact, one example of a Christian with radical imagination is a 19th-century ne’er-do-well named George Muller. Muller spent his childhood and teenage years stealing from family and friends, drinking and gambling, lying and getting in trouble with the law. After a powerful conversion experience, however, he turned his life around and ended up in Bristol, England, during a time when poverty was rampant. He opened a home for orphaned children and operated on the principles that he would never take a salary and never ask people for money. He would exclusively ask God for anything he wanted or needed, including for his mission and ministry. By the end of his long life, Muller had opened five orphanages caring for more than 10,000 children, started over 100 schools, and had received and disbursed more than 1.4 million pounds of unsolicited donations, which would equate to $153 million dollars today. He wrote in his journals all his prayers, everything he asked for from God. And he recorded more than 50,000 answers to prayers, including many times when God provided far more than he could ask or imagine.
Muller’s trust in God’s provision was extraordinary, for certain. But God’s provision for him and those he assisted was not unique. God is in the business of providing more than we could ask or imagine. And the really good news is that God is not limited by our imaginations.
Abraham and Sarah could not have imagined having a child in old age, but God provided more than they could ask or imagine. God provided descendants as numerous as the stars. The Israelites could not have imagined liberation from slavery in Egypt, but God provided more than they could ask or imagine, leading them to the Promised Land. No one could have imagined God becoming human, taking on the form of a helpless infant, but God provided more than anyone could ask or imagine. A paralyzed man could not have imagined walking; a blind man could not have imagined seeing; a hemorrhaging woman could not have imagined being healed; Lazarus’s family and friends could not have imagined him coming back to life - but God provided more than they could ask or imagine. The disciples could not have imagined Jesus dying on a cross, nor could they have imagined him rising from the dead and ascending into heaven, but God provided more than they could ask or imagine. The anti-Christian, Saul, could not have imagined becoming an evangelist for Jesus Christ, but God provided more than he could ask or imagine. John of Patmos invited us to imagine a world where there is no more mourning or crying or pain, where God dwells with people, where the nations are healed – but can we even begin to imagine it? Maybe, maybe not. But God will provide more than we could ask or imagine. God is not limited by our imaginations.
I wonder, could the founders of this church have imagined we’d still be here, worshiping as the First United Presbyterian church, 150 years later? Did those who laid the cornerstone of this building imagine we’d still be gathering here 120 years later? Could they have imagined the thousands of lives that have been transformed through being a part of this community? Could they have imagined the millions of dollars in generosity that have been shared in a century and a half of ministry? Could they have imagined how many pastors and missionaries would grow out of this congregation? Could they have imagined that this church would host an art school, provide space for a community kitchen, and shelter folks without homes?
And could we who are here today have asked for or imagined even half of what we have seen God accomplish? When Cherlyn Gwin hosted a Christmas Tea in 2018 to raise money for laptops for unhoused youth graduating from high school, could any of us have imagined that we’d still be providing that essential resource to almost 30 kids each year? When the pandemic shut down onsite worship and activities, could we have imagined that when we could gather in person more than a third of our congregation on any given Sunday would be worshiping with us online, enabling folks who are ill or unable to travel, or who live far away, to continue to be a part of our faith community? Could we have imagined that our church would include folks from Virginia, California, Alabama, and Illinois on a regular basis? When ten of us went on a mission trip to the Yucatan six years ago to help build a school, could we have imagined that this would grow into the most life-giving mission partnership this Presbytery has had in many years and that dozens of folks from our region would generously give of their time, money, and efforts so that students in the Zona Maya of Mexico could attain high school diplomas and college degrees? When we received a one-time grant almost ten years ago to connect with kids in our community, could we have imagined that Art Hub would still be going strong, even after that grant money was spent? And could we possibly have imagined the inspiring, incredible generosity of this congregation that has sustained our ministry through budget shortfalls, building repairs and renovations, and assisting those in need in our community? Could we have imagined having a Legacy Fund? Could we have imagined a memorial fund to enhance our music ministry for the next generation? Could we have imagined the number of folks who faithfully give, year after year, in uncertain times and through health crises and job losses, who give what they can when they can, who give gratefully and joyfully? Just think about how little we as a society expect of our fellow humans, how little faith and trust we have in each other. How unimaginable that a little church like this can still run entirely on the generosity of people like us?
But God is not limited by our imaginations. God will do far more than we can ask or imagine.
And that’s essential for us to remember right now, friends. Because right now, many of us feel powerless. Powerless to change the political stalemates and division. Powerless to help those most in need. Powerless to quell the anger and hatred and inhumanity that seems to define our society. Powerless to revive a spirit of hope. Powerless to provide the resources needed to create positive change.
But there is a power at work within us. There is a power at work within us individually, and as a community. And this power enables God to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine. It is the power of the love of God in Jesus Christ, a power that heals, a power that hopes, a power that overcomes death and despair, a power that has been at work in this place for 150 years; that is at work in this place right now, today; and a power that will never stop working until God’s vision for a world made new is complete.
So as we dedicate our financial resources for the coming year, we do so because we are rooted and grounded in love; filled with all the fullness of God; and empowered to imagine the unimaginable. To God be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment