Lakewood United Church of Christ

Sermon: Calling All Disciples

LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

2601 54th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33712

On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga

727-867-7961

lakewooducc.org

lakewooducc@gmail.com

Date: January 18, 2026 Martin Luther King Sunday

Scripture Lesson: Matthew 4:12-23

Sermon: Calling All Disciples

Pastor: Rev. Kim P. Wells

In the early 1960’s, SNCC, the Student Non Violent Coordinating Committee, was formed to further the Civil Rights Movement in the South. Bernard Lewis was a staff person for SNCC and in his book, Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement, he tells us about the early days of SNCC. Notice his book is not a biography of his life, but of the Civil Rights Movement that he gave his life to. Lewis tells us: “Faith, hope and courage – these were all essential ingredients of the work SNCC was doing in the Deep South in those early years. . . .

“We found that most of the people — the people, not the leaders — were hungry for what we had to offer. They felt things were moving too slowly, just as we did. We were telling them, ‘You don’t have to wait until Roy Wilkins comes to Jackson. You don’t have to wait until Martin Luther King comes to McComb. You can do it yourself. There is no more powerful force than you. There is no leader as powerful as you, if you pull together.

“This is a very noble concept, the idea of a leaderless movement, of a truly indigenous, nonviolent revolution. This is what we set out to create in the early years in Nashville, it is what we believed in at the dawn of SNCC, and it is what I still believe in today; that the leaders should follow the people, and the people can and should lead themselves.” [p.188]

Yes, we are about to celebrate Martin Luther King Day, and King was a significant leader, but the Civil Rights Movement involved many, many people, giving themselves for the greater good, often out of a sense of discipleship.

This morning we heard Matthew’s version of the call of the disciples. We are told: Jesus was born. Spared death as an infant. Once grown, he was baptized, claimed by God. He went into the wilderness to confirm his commitment. And then he is back to society to begin his ministry.

Just an aside, as we mentioned several weeks ago that Matthew likes to pattern Jesus as a greater Moses. Moses led the people through the Red Sea into the wilderness. Jesus goes from baptism in the Jordan River into the wilderness, an echo of Moses. And the point of Moses’ journey was to form a new people, a new community, that would serve as a light to the nations. It was not about a great leader, but about a faithful community. Jesus, too, is to form a new community that will be a light to the nations. Again, it is not about a great leader but about a faithful community.

So one of the first things Jesus does when he begins his ministry is to call the disciples. He invites others to be part of creating this new community. From the beginning he signals that this is a joint venture. That this is a movement. That many people will be needed. That he is not a loner. The first disciples follow, having seen no miracles and having heard no teachings. They are not giving theological assent. They are not accepting a set of principles. As the New Interpreter’s Bible describes it, “In this text Jesus appears disruptively in our midst and calls us not to admire him or accept his principles, not even to accept him as our personal Savior, but to follow him.” So these fishers and friends agree to follow Jesus. They are not looking for a new life. They are already people of faith. They are involved in doing something that is useful and important. And yet they are compelled to follow Jesus. They know not where. They have no idea what they will be doing. They have no idea what this will entail. The disruptions and dangers involved. But they say yes. This is the true nature of discipleship. Being willing to follow Jesus. Period.

And this calling of disciples continues throughout Jesus’ ministry. In story after story, people that Jesus interacts with, people who sometimes annoy the disciples, are compelled to follow Jesus. To live his love, in their own setting, with their families, neighbors and friends.

And Jesus calls a wide variety of people. There is not one set job description that he is following. He is not filling in a certain skill set that is needed. Or a certain ability. From what we see in the gospels, Jesus recruits disciples who are:

poor, lame, insane,

loyal, ostracized, vilified,

devout, hard working, greed shirking,

Jewish, Gentile, servile, exiled,

prestigious, effective, reflective,

all of the above,

by God beloved.

This is a movement inviting disciples to create Beloved Community. They commit not to Jesus, but to the well-being of humanity and Creation. It is a cosmic calling. All of the above. And below.

This is very different from religions and organizations that are formed around a supreme leader of some kind. They evolve as a personality cult centered on a person. We have seen this cult of personality in the past. One example is Adolf Hitler. My spouse and I started reading his book, Mein Kampf [My Struggle], recently and after several days, I told Jeff I can’t listen to this right now. It bears too many similarities to what we are seeing going on around us today. So, Mein Kampf is back on the shelf for now.

We know the model of leadership where commitment is to the leader, the person, more than to a set of ideals or a set of principles, to certain values or a vision. The commitment is to an individual. The leader is surrounded not with disciples empowered to serve the greater good but with sycophants.

Let’s pause here to consider that word. Sycophants. Yes, it seems like a lofty word, a high falutin’ word. But it captures something very important. Sycophants are servile and self seeking. They are insincere flatterers seeking gain of some kind. They curry favor. They are parasites seeking their own good.

This model of leadership, the cult of personality surrounded by sycophants, bears absolutely no resemblance to the ministry of Jesus and the call to discipleship. Discipleship asks you to enter the unknown for the greater good. It offers power and commitment to the good of others and the world. We see this kind of discipleship in those who were involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Many of those who protested, marched, and sat were arrested, attacked, jailed, and even killed. They were involved in the movement because of their commitment to Christian discipleship. There were people from other religions and no religion that were also involved, but many, many of those who dedicated themselves to the Civil Rights Movement were followers of Jesus Christ and that is why they were out there making a difference. They knew, as Civil Rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer said, “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.”

Yes, King was a significant leader of the Movement, but more importantly he was a follower, a follower of Jesus. And, like Jesus, he included all kinds of people in the effort to create a better life for everyone.

How do we know King was a follower, a disciple? Well, he was interested not just in the situation of Blacks in the South, but in justice and equality the world over. He was not a single issue leader. He was a follower of the one who was concerned about the whole Creation and every person in it. So, he could observe about America in April of 1967 in his famous speech in Riverside Church in New York City, that America is “the greatest purveyor of violence in the world.” It seems the more things change, the more they stay the same.

And King saw that everyone could be a disciple, could make a contribution, to the betterment of the world as we know it.

Civil Rights leader Dorothy Height describes the diversity of the movement: “We had people of all backgrounds coming together – all races, all creeds, all colors, all status in life. And coming together there was a kind of quiet dignity and a kind of sense of caring and a feeling of joint responsibility.” Beloved Community. A place for everyone. A sense of belonging for everyone. This was the commitment of the Movement and the commitment of Jesus’ disciple, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In the book, An Easy Burden: The Civil Rights Movement and the Transformation of America, Civil Rights leader and United Church of Christ pastor, Andrew Young, tells this story about King when they were in Cleveland working on the campaign of Carl Stokes who was running to become the first Black mayor of Cleveland. He won the election, by the way. So, Young tells us:

“Once, we were driving to a meeting in Cleveland during the mayoral campaign when we stopped for a red light in the heart of the rundown black ghetto. Several prostitutes were working in the area, and one lady approached our car while we were stopped. She peeked inside, recognized Martin the front seat , beckoned to a friend, and yelled, ‘There’s that Uncle Tom, Martin Luther King. What’s he doing here?’ After we had gone about a block Martin said, ‘Bernard [Lewis], turn this car around. I want to talk with that woman.’ Bernard moaned, ‘Oh Doc, don’t pay any attention to those women. They’re just ignorant.’ He just kept driving straight ahead. “TURN THE CAR AROUND, BERNARD!” Martin shouted. He hardly ever raised his voice like that.

“Bernard turned the car around and we returned to that very corner. Martin got out, found the woman who had made the remark, and told her, ‘If you’ll allow me the opportunity, I’ll tell you why I’m here. I’m on my way to a meeting now, but we’re staying at the Sheraton Cleveland Hotel, and if you and your friends meet us there this afternoon at three o’clock we’d like to have a chance to talk to you. Bring as many friends as you want.’ When we returned to the hotel there was a delegation of ladies waiting in the lobby! They had told the desk clerk they were waiting to meet with Martin Luther King! We arranged for a meeting room and ordered coffee, and Martin began a discussion on the necessity for them to register and vote if they ever hoped to get off the street. ‘We can get rid of this ghetto if we go to work politically,’ he said. Maybe he only convinced a few of them, but I’ll always remember how he insisted on going back and confronting them, not willing to give up on anyone whose mind he might change.” [p. 436-437]

Jesus, too, spoke with prostitutes and sinners of all sorts because true love is undeniably universal. Divine Love includes everyone. And you never know whose heart can be changed. Yes, King, was great leader because he was a great follower – of Jesus. He was a disciple. And so are each and every one of us. Amen.

A reasonable effort has been made to appropriately cite materials referenced in this sermon. For additional information, please contact Lakewood United Church of Christ.

We’re Invited! Join Pass-a-Grille Beach Community Church for a Book Launch and Author Event!

Weekly Update 1.16.2026

THIS SUNDAY:

This Sunday is the annual celebration of the Civil Rights Movement and the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sadly, there is still much work to do. Last week was a celebration of baptism. This week concentrates on the aftermath of baptism, discipleship.

Worship begins at 10:30. Childcare is provided.

Bible Study Ahead

All are welcome to participate in an engaging Bible Study about the book of Ruth. You are encouraged to read this short book in the Hebrew Bible and come ready to learn and share. The group will meet on Wednesday Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Church Office. All are welcome!

After Church Lunch

Come enjoy a buffet luncheon with your church friends on February 15th after services! We will be dining at Buffet City, an Asian buffet in West St. Pete. They serve an all day dinner for $21.99 that includes a variety of sushi, cooked seafood, Chinese-American entrees and sides, as well as some traditional American fare. Please be aware that as a buffet, it may be more difficult for certain dietary restrictions to be met.

If you are interested in joining and would like to know more, please speak to Joyce Lee.

All are welcome. The church will cover the cost for those who request it. Please speak with Kim Wells.
Address: 1030 58th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710

Many Smiles and Much Gratitude sent to Lakewood UCC Congregation

Each year the Lakewood congregation partners with Maximo Elementary School to provide Christmas gifts for the students who are houseless. The school provides the names and ages of children and preferred gifts. And Angel Tree is set up in the sanctuary with the names and gifts listed on ornaments. People take the ornaments purchase the gifts and bring them back to church wrapped and tagged. We are so grateful to all who support this effort to bring joy to children in our community.
To view more photos, please visit our website.

Blessing Bags

The Outreach Committee will be featuring our Blessing Bags for the January bin of the month. We will be collecting hygiene items for the homeless until the last Sunday of January so that we can fill 20 bags to hand out. We currently need sunscreen, socks, toothbrushes, shelf stable small snacks (protein bars, cracker packs, etc.), combs, and deodorant. The bags are small, so travel sized items are recommended.

Ladders Needed

The church is in need of two ladders. One eight foot ladder and one ten foot ladder. The ladders need to be light weight and very sturdy. Please contact the church office, if you can help.

727-867-7961

lakewooducc@gmail.com

We’re Invited! Join Pass-a-Grille Beach Community Church for a Book Launch and Author Event!

St. Pete MLK Day Parade

Join in on one of the nation’s largest celebrations of Dr. King! Watch the parade going through Downtown St. Pete on January 19, 2026 starting at 11 AM. For more information, go to https://www.stpetemlkparade.com/

Interfaith Service

Rev. Wells will be leading one of the prayers.

Immigration Vigil Continued

Be with us as we stand together in prayer, solidarity, and witness against the inhumane and unconstitutional treatment of our immigrant community. All are welcome at this peaceful, prayerful vigil.

Sunday, January 18, 2026 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET

Pinellas County Justice Center, 14450 49th St N, Clearwater, FL 33762

Commemoration of the Fall of Roe v. Wade

Pinellas Now, The League of Women Voters, and other groups will be hosting their annual sign waving event to commemorate the fall of reproductive freedom in the United States. People will gather to wave signs at intersections in Downtown St. Pete.

Date and Time: Thursday January 22, 12-1 PM
Event Information Form: https://tinyurl.com/StPeteJan22
Registration Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdIlcuSM_1Dfn5XS8hGMl_uxdMc1VgtxoSrjHhQDo8jRQTdbg/viewform?pli=1

WEEKLY LABYRINTH UPDATE

From January 7th – 28th, the labyrinth will begin at 9:30 am.

Then, starting February 4th, the labyrinth will begin at 10:00 am.
All are welcome!

The focus is on the scripture reading from the previous Sunday. For those who do not feel comfortable walking, a finger labyrinth is available. Please bring your own chair if you can.

The labyrinth is on the southwest corner of the church property, beyond the bike rack. You are welcome to walk it any time.

Care Closet

Good Samaritan Food Pantry

The food pantry has requested pet food and breakfast cereal. Donations may be placed in The Caring Closet here at the church.

Plastic Bags for Missio Dei
Missio Dei is in need of plastic grocery bags for the homeless and needy. Please place bags in The Caring Closet at church.

Toiletries for Celebrate Outreach
Celebrate Outreach is a local ministry with people who are living without shelter in St. Petersburg. An average of 135 people are served each week. Here is a list of donations needed: towlettes travel size, socks and underwear. Please leave your donation in The Caring Closet at church.

USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS

Posts
Lakewood UCC YouTube Channel
Lakewood UCC Bluesky account
You can listen to Hilton’s music and videos for free at https://hiltonkeanjones.com/.

January Birthdays!
7 – Chip Cosper
9 – Jackson Cosper
14 – Deb Kenneda
17 – Julie Huber
23 – Hilton Jones
28 – Bob Bell

Circle of Concern
Cathy Giesey
Ann Cloutier, Michelle’s mother
JoAnne Reid
Dyanne Edds & family. Dyanne’s brother died.
Paula and Tony Pelletier
Barbara Walburn
Nancy Schrepf
Patti Cooksey
Yvonne Riesen
Burt Lee & family. Burt’s sister died.
Denise Williams
Vita Uth
Susan Sherwood
Cate Colgan & Marty Seyler’s dog, Trinity
Jackie Shewmaker
All school students, families & staff
Caregivers
The 280 women and men on Florida’s Death Row

Weekly Update

If you are involved with an activity or event that you would like to share with the LUCC family, please send the information to the Church Office by Wednesday. Please provide the information in paragraph form with pertinent details and links. THANK YOU!

Subscribe to Church Website
You are invited to subscribe to the Lakewood UCC Church website. When you subscribe, every time something is posted at the website you receive an email about the post. This is a great way to keep up on what is happening with the church community and beyond!

Our mailing address is:
Lakewood United Church of Christ
2601 54th Ave S
St Petersburg, FL 33712-4709
On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga on the Gulf of Mexico

Sermon: Who Do You Think You Are?

LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
2601 54th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33712
On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga

727-867-7961
lakewooducc.org
lakewooducc@gmail.com

Date: January 11, 2026
Scripture Lesson: Matthew 3:13-17
Sermon: Who Do You Think You Are?
Pastor: Rev. Kim P. Wells

Who do you think you are? We’ve heard this so many times. Who do you think
you are? Coming in here and telling me what to do. Who do you think you are?
As a student throws the trash can across the classroom in an expression of
frustration and fury. Who do you think you are? Challenging my parental
authority when I let you live here for free and feed you and provide for you? Who do you think you are? I’m the boss here. I own this business. Who do you think you are showing up late everyday and telling me what’s wrong with how things are run here? Who do you think you are? You’re illegal, you have no rights here. Who do you think you are? Challenging my authority when I was duly elected president of these United States. Who do you think you are?

This question surrounds us, forms us, shapes us, infuriates us. Who do you think you are? It presumes putting on airs, assuming undue authority, belittling someone else.

And yet this question is at the heart of the story we heard this morning about the baptism of Jesus. Who do you think you are, Jesus, carpenter’s son from back water Nazareth? But John sees a deeper reality. He has been out there in the wilderness by the Jordan River baptizing and baptizing, trying to get people ready through repentance and cleaning up their act, in preparation for the great thing God has promised to do – send a Messiah. John is watching and waiting and actively engaged in preparations. How will he know? Who do you think you are? Are you the one?

Who do you think you are? The baptism scene is the fulfillment of all that has
been promised. This is the one. Who do you think you are? This is answered in
the story by the dove and the voice from the cloud, clearly audible to those present and to all future readers: “This is my Own, my Beloved, on whom my favor rests.” This is who Jesus is. It’s crystal clear like the shining water of the Jordan probably was in those days.

This is my Beloved, on whom my favor rests. The chosen one. But does this mean that Jesus will be rich? Adulated by the authorities? Respected and fawned over? Catered to and kowtowed to? No. It means for the next three years he will tramp around Judea, Samaria, Galilee, with no home. Trying to respond to the seemingly endless demands of those made poor, the needy, the sick. It means he will be chased down, threatened, publicly challenged. They try to run him off of a cliff at the beginning of his ministry. The leaders and authorities constantly try to make a fool of him or worse. We are told he is poor. He is dependent on the generosity of others, usually people who barely have enough for themselves. It’s no regal, posh life of luxury this being God’s beloved and receiving God’s favor. And yet Jesus is known for being a drunkard and a glutton. He is known for his joy as well as his compassion. He clearly loves his life!

And we know the end of the story. Yes, resurrection, new life, love triumphs over death, but only after the ignominy, the humiliation, and the inhumane torture of crucifixion.

“This is my Own, my Beloved, on whom my favor rests.” And at the
Transfiguration, the voice from the clouds adds, “Listen to him!” Jesus can only do such great good for God, for humanity, and for Creation, because he is completely obedient to the will of God for his life.

In the movie, “The Lion King,” there is a scene in which Rafiki, a baboon, the
spiritual guru of the pride, asks Simba, the lion prince and heir to the throve of his father, Mufasa, “Who are you?” Simba is busy trying to shirk his responsibilities to the lion pride.

We can well imagine being asked, especially at certain points in our lives, Who are you? Like, What are you doing with yourself? Like, It’s time to adult. Like,
Society and those who love you have invested in you, it’s time for you to do
something constructive with yourself. Like, Doing the right thing is not always
going to be easy. Like, You’re here for a reason, you need to live up to that. Like,
Can’t you see you’re betraying all you’ve cared about?

Who are you? Who have you become? What has life done to you? What has
happened to who you were meant to be?

We are not perfect. We screw up our lives and our world in so many ways it may
even defy the imagination of God. That is why Jesus trekked back and forth across the holy land dispensing divine forgiveness. That is why we have a story of Jesus pleading from the cross, Forgive them, Abba, they don’t know what they are doing. That’s why people were coming to John and dousing themselves in the Jordan to wash away the dirt, the crud, the compromises, the capitulations, the nastiness, the dishonesty (especially with ourselves), the negligence, scrub it all off. Create a clean slate. James R. Sherman, author, rightly declares: “You can’t go back and make a new start, but you can start right now and make a brand new ending.”

Later in the movie, “The Lion King,” Simba’s father, Mufasa, the king of the pride who has died, speaks to Simba from the sky. He announces to Simba: “Remember who you are. You are my son and the one true king.” From then on, Simba assumes his responsibility as the heir to the throne for the good of the pride and the pride lands.

Who do you think you are? That is where we started. But the gospels give us a
much different answer to that question. Not one of confrontation or
disappointment. But that question is answered with God’s hope and faith – not only in Jesus but in us! The story of the baptism of Jesus reminds us to hear ringing in our ears, the affirmation of God: YOU are my beloved. Upon YOU my favor rests.

Do we have much to atone for? You bet we do. But we are beloved by a power
that only seeks the best for us and for all of Creation. Our highest good.

Does this mean everything will go smoothly for us, easy street? No. Remember
the challenges Jesus faced. But this is a life to love. To take delight in. To bring
joy.

Who do you think you are? You are beloved. Unique. Powerful. A child of God.
And as this New Year begins, we are invited to begin writing a new ending to our
story. Amen.

A reasonable effort has been made to appropriately cite materials referenced in
this sermon. For additional information, please contact Lakewood United Church of Christ.