Sermon Recap of Pastor Matt’s Sermon to the High School Graduates at Heritage United Methodist Church, Clearwater

This past Sunday at Heritage United Methodist Church in Clearwater, we celebrated a big moment—our high school graduates getting ready to step into the real world. As someone who’s been part of this church family for years, this is the 2nd Graduation Sunday in which one of my own children was recognized.  I’m here to tell you, it doesn’t get easier watching your little kids become adults.

Pastor Matt, in true form, crafted this week’s sermon for our graduates.  He did provide the caveat that he was still preaching from the Bible and hopefully we would find value in his words no matter when we graduated.  If you missed it, here’s what really stood out to me from his message to the graduating class of 2025.

“You’re Entering a Sea of Ideas”: Faith Advice for High School Graduates

One thing that really stuck with me was when Pastor described the world our grads are stepping into as a “sea of ideas.” Whether it’s on college campuses or in the workplace, they’ll be surrounded by new perspectives, beliefs, and ways of thinking.

He said:
“You’ll be swimming in the sea of ideas—exploring, learning, questioning. And that’s okay. Just don’t forget who you are and what you’ve learned here at Heritage United Methodist Church.”

While curiosity is good, our faith is the anchor that helps us stay grounded.

Faith Isn’t Superstition—It’s Trusting God When It’s Hard

Another eye-opening part of the message was about the difference between faith and superstition.

Pastor Matt said it like this -

 “Faith is doing what God wants us to do and believing His way is better. Superstition is trying to get God to do what we want.”

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking if we do the “right” things, God will bless us the way we expect. But real faith means trusting God even when we don’t see the outcome yet.

That’s a truth every graduate (and honestly, every adult) needs to hold on to.

Worship Isn’t Just Music—It’s How You Live

We also talked about what worship really means. Spoiler alert: it’s more than just showing up to church on Sunday.

You’ve heard Pastor Matt say this before, “Worship is about what your life is organized around—your time, your money, your thoughts. Whatever that is, that’s what you really worship.”

If someone looked at my calendar and bank statement, would they see a life centered on Jesus? Oof.  That’s a hard question and I probably have more work to do.

For our Heritage UMC high school graduates on our corner of Clearwater in Countryside this was a great reminder to live out worship every day, not just in the pews. Be a reflection of Jesus to those around you.

Changing the World Starts with Making Disciples

Our mission statement at Heritage United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

One of my favorite parts of the message was this:
“You don’t change the world after you make disciples—you change the world by making disciples.”

That’s a pretty bold statement, but it’s true. If we want to see the world become more loving, just, and kind, it starts with helping people know Jesus and follow Him. Whether you're a student or not, this is a mission we all share.

The Real Test of Scripture: Does It Bear Fruit?

How do we apply the Bible in real life? The United Methodist Church uses conferencing to discern and apply scripture.  Is the application of scripture producing the fruit of the spirit?

Pastor Matt said:
“If applying the Bible doesn’t produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control… something’s off.”

That’s such a practical way to check if we’re really following Jesus, not just talking about it.

Being Like Jesus Isn’t Always Easy… But It’s Always Worth It

This part got emotional. Pastor asked, “Do you really want your kids to be like Jesus?” That’s a big question—because Jesus faced rejection, betrayal, and suffering. But he also brought hope, healing, and life.

He reminded us:
“The world needs churches that are willing to be like Jesus. And it needs parents and families who are willing to send their kids to be like Him, too.”

That line gave me chills. It reminded me that we’re not just sending our graduates into the world—we’re sending disciples, and God goes with them.

7 Faith-Focused Life Lessons for High School Graduates

Here’s a quick recap of the life advice Pastor gave our grads (and all of us):

1. Remember who you are in Christ.
   Stay rooted in your identity as a child of God.
   
   

2. Keep your ears and heart open.
   Listen to others without losing yourself.
   
   

3. Worship through how you live.
   Let Jesus guide your priorities—not just on Sunday.
   
   

4. Make disciples, don’t wait to change the world.
   You transform the world through people, not programs.
   
   

5. Apply Scripture in a way that bears fruit.
   If it’s not producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, recheck your application.
   
   

6. Be like Jesus, even when it’s hard.
   Faithfulness sometimes looks like sacrifice.
   
   

7. Stay connected with your church family.
   We’re here cheering you on, praying for you, and always ready to support you.
   
   

Final Thought

James 1:22 says:
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

To our amazing high school graduates from Heritage United Methodist Church, Clearwater: You are ready. You’ve been equipped with faith, with truth, and with the love of a church family that believes in you. Go out with confidence. Jesus goes with you every step of the way.