GLORIFY

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Sermon Reflections from GLORIFY | Alex Hardt | July 6

When I was in high school, I played the drums. I wasn’t classically trained or anything fancy, but there was one style of music that always captured my attention—jazz.

Jazz is wild and wonderful. It’s full of syncopated rhythms, unexpected turns, and creative improvisation. The melody doesn’t always show up where you think it will, and sometimes the most beautiful moments are born from the off-beat. You don’t control jazz—you join it.

And I think that’s a lot like how God works.

Many of us want life to play like classical music—structured, planned, predictable. We want clean transitions and clear resolutions. But God tends to move like jazz—in the unexpected, in the off-beat, in the moments we didn’t plan for.

The book of Ruth begins in a minor key—famine, loss, grief. Ruth could’ve stayed in Moab, gone back to what was familiar. But instead, she makes a bold, faithful decision:


“Where you go, I will go… your God will be my God.” (Ruth 1:16)

Ruth surrenders the melody she knew and steps into a story she didn’t understand. And through that act of faith, she’s woven into God’s redemptive plan in a way that changes history. She becomes the great-grandmother of King David and part of the lineage of Jesus.

She didn’t know it at the time. She just said yes.

That’s the beauty of faith that begins with surrender—not with answers, but with trust. Not with knowing all the chords, but with following the rhythm of the One who does.
God Is Always Composing Something Greater

Like jazz, God’s story often plays out in real time, moment by moment. You don’t always get to see the whole arrangement. But you’re invited to join in, to improvise with courage, to bring your life—your pain, your gifts, your faith—and let Him weave it into the song.

Sometimes that looks like saying “yes” when God nudges you to speak to someone.
Sometimes it’s giving generously when it doesn’t make sense.
Sometimes it’s forgiving, even when you’re still hurting.
Sometimes it’s just showing up, trusting that God is present even when you feel out of tune.
The Song Is Already Playing

You don’t have to be a spiritual expert. You don’t have to sing on pitch (trust me, I don’t). The melody is already playing. The Spirit is already moving. And the invitation is simple:

Join the song.

Let go of the fear. Let go of control. Trust the Composer.

Because your life—just like Ruth’s—isn’t random or forgotten.
It’s part of something bigger.
Something beautiful.
Something eternal.
One Small Step

So here’s the question for this week:
Where is God inviting you to join His story?

It doesn’t have to be dramatic. It might look like having a conversation you’ve been avoiding, stepping into a new role at church, reaching out to someone in need, or simply praying with open hands.

Whatever it is, take that one step.
Even if it feels off-beat.
Even if it feels like a stretch.
That’s where God shows up.

And when you do—you just might find yourself caught up in a melody that’s been playing since the beginning of time.

“Faith doesn’t begin with certainty. It begins with surrender.”
So listen closely.
The rhythm of grace is already playing.
Will you join in?

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