Sermon Notes May 17, 2026
Finding your Spiritual Voice Sermon Notes: Rev. Sheryl Padgett
Truth has the power to liberate, heal, awaken, and transform our lives.
Jesus taught: “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Speaking truth to power is a spiritual practice rooted in Divine Love, not anger or self-righteousness.
Our words are creative and carry the power to either heal or harm.
Peacekeeping avoids tension; peacemaking requires courage and spiritual integrity.
Jesus modeled courageous truth-telling by confronting hypocrisy, defending the marginalized, and challenging injustice.
From a Unity perspective, Truth aligns us with Divine Mind, love, compassion, and spiritual integrity.
Charles Fillmore:
“Truth is the absolute; that which accords with God as Divine principle…The basic principle of Truth is that the mind of each individual may be consciously unified with Divine Mind through the indwelling Christ. By affirming at-one-ment with God-Mind we eventually realize the perfect mind which was in Christ Jesus.”Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”Desmond Tutu:
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”Howard Thurman:
“Do not be silent; there is no limit to the power that may be released through you.”Marianne Williamson:
“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”Courage does not mean the absence of fear; it means choosing integrity even while afraid.
Speaking truth effectively requires prayer, self-awareness, and grounding in wisdom rather than emotional reaction.
Truth without love becomes brutality; love without truth becomes enabling.
Compassion does not mean tolerating harmful behavior or abandoning healthy boundaries.
Silence in the face of injustice can unintentionally support harm and oppression.
Spiritually grounded truth-tellers remain centered in love while speaking clearly and courageously.
Prayer, meditation, forgiveness, and spiritual community help us stay rooted in peace while confronting injustice.
One voice, one conversation, and one act of courage can create meaningful change.
When our words are aligned with Divine Love, they become instruments of healing and transformation.
Affirmation:
I speak my truth with wisdom, courage, and compassion.
My words are guided by Divine Love.
I stand firmly in spiritual integrity while remaining rooted in peace.
Through the power of Truth, I become an instrument of healing and transformation.
