Hampton United Methodist Church: Recent Episodes
Pastor Tyler Strange
Welcome to the weekly audio podcast for Hampton United Methodist Church in Hampton, SC. Our hope is that this podcast will encourage you in your relationship with God. Want to join us in person? We worship at 11 am on Sunday mornings. Interested in learning more about our community? Check out #ForHamptonCounty.
Psalter: Psalm 100, Old Testament Reading: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, New Testament Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Old Testament Lesson: Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12, Psalm 15, New Testament Lesson: 2 Timothy 3: 16-17
Psalter: Psalm 63, Old Testament Reading: Joshua 24:14-15, and Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:1-6
Psalter: Psalm 31:1-16, Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28, Gospel Reading: Matthew 7:21-29
Psalter Lesson: Psalm 113
1st Epistle: 1 John 3:1-7
2nd Epistle: Ephesians 2:1-10
Focus Hymn: Amazing Grace
The word "tenebrae" comes from the Latin meaning "darkness." The Tenebrae is an ancient Christian Good Friday service that makes use of gradually diminishing light through the extinguishing of candles to symbolize the events of that week from the triumphant Palm Sunday entry through Jesus' burial.
An arrangement of "Were You There" offered to the glory of God in honor of Jesus Christ and the ultimate sacrifice He paid on Calvary by Jack Hutto on saxophone accompanied by Vicki Jacobi on piano.
The message is the first in a series. The story of a rich young man in search of eternal life presents us with a story to discover the promise of eternal life available to all of us...but, it comes with a cost.
This message explores the controversial teaching of Titus 2 with the intent of better understanding the the influence members of a community of faith can have upon one another.
The sister of Moses, quietly possibly, plays the most influential role in her brother's early life. What might she have to teach us about "stepping out and speaking up?"
Our reading from Exodus 1 introduces us to two extremely influential women. While they may not be given the credit they should, Shiphrah and Puah (the Hebrew midwives) would play an influential role in the life of Moses and, therefore, an invaluable role in the history of Israel!
Our conversation around the Parable of the Sower concludes with a reading of Jesus' explanation of the parable. We are reminded to "see" and "hear" the proclamation of Jesus so that we may better understand the kingdom of God! And, we encourage to acknowledge our reception and response to the proclamation will have an effect upon our understand!
Understanding the secrets of the kingdom is a gift from God given to those who have chosen to receive and respond to the proclamation of Jesus.
Jesus encourages the crow to "see" and "hear" the parable of the sower so they might come to a greater understanding of his proclamation of the kingdom.
Allowing our blessings to become our burdens is easily done. Our message, "The Outstretched Hand," encores us to not only to protect our blessings from becoming our burdens, but to allow God to reveal the blessings hidden within our burdens.
A message on Matthew 12:9-14
Have you ever wondered what a cucumber plant could teach us about the Christian community? Well, take a moment to listen to this past week's message, Together, and learn how an intertwining our life can help us grow to a greater exposure of the Son.
Matthew 27:38-44
How might that taunting of the two bandits be similar to our mocking of Jesus?
Might we mock Jesus when we claim him to be the Christ, but attempt to control his presence in our life?
Matthew 27:32-37-- A chance encounter with a Jesus offers Simon an opportunity to offer strength when Jesus was at his weakest. Simon carried the cross of Jesus to Golgotha, but following Jesus would lead Simon in a new way (a newness of life).
Matthew 26:69-75 --
How might your "convenient abandonment" of Jesus withhold the gospel from those individuals most in need of discovering God's love?
Matthew 26:47-56 -- This sermon series is influence by the book, On the Road to the Cross, by Rob Burkhart. His book is an especially good read during the Season of Lent. Go check it out!!
Matthew 26:1-13 -- This sermon series is influence by the book, On the Road to the Cross, by Rob Burkhart. His book is an especially good read during the Season of Lent. Go check it out!!
Beyond a life of blessing, beyond a life of value, beyond a life of purpose, Jesus teaches his disciples to choose his way and discover a life of meaning.
Before offering a single instruction, Jesus reinforces the value of the disciples and proclaims their purpose!
Before declaring a single demand, Jesus conveys his authority to proclaim the Word of God. And, the first word he issues is "blessed!" While following the way of Jesus may lead to an unfavorable situation from the perspective of the world, God declares it blessed! God declares you blessed!
You cannot begin to depend on God until you first accept everything does not depend on you.
Matthew 4:12-23
As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, Christian fellowship is "sharing life together under the Word." Christian Fellowship is a privilege and a blessings. Christians participate in the ministries of their church by their presence as a means of sharing life together in gracious anticipation of their eternal fellowship!
First, and foremost, we faithfully participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers. If a ministry of the church is not about the glorification of God, then it is not worth doing...
One faithfully participates in the ministries of the local church as a way of participating in the continued ministry of Jesus Christ, which is God's ministry of reconciliation.
The popularized story of Daniel in the lion den and the will of God to deliver faithful Israel from the suffering of persecution.
The second message of our series, Children's Bible, follows the epic story of David and the Philistine giant, Goliath. Take a moment to explore this familiar story a little deeper to discover the will of God for the Israelites to know stability, security, and sustainability!
In this message, we explore the popular story of young Samuel hearing the voice of God in the middle of the night. We reimagine the story and discover the certain of God revealed in the midst of Israel's uncertainty.
Our sermon series, Parenthood: Raising our Children by Raising our Faith, concludes with this fourth message. Our message takes us to John 4, where we are introduced to a Royal official, who seeks Jesus after his son falls ill. Jesus informs this father, "Go! Your son will live," and the father believed the word of Jesus. The story of this father is a reminder to us that only the power of God at work in Jesus Christ can brings about the restoration to a newness of life. A parent's faith is influential, but it is only that. As parents, we must believe step away, believing the word of God alive in Jesus, and allow for God to move in the life of our child!
Part Three of our series introduces us to an amazing mother of faith. The Syrophoenician woman (the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15) is persistent in achieving wellness for her daughter. She displays a great faith in Jesus, but she also displays a great faith in her daughter - believing her daughter possesses the potential to be everything God intended for her to be and to have the abundance of life God intends for her. Take a moment to hear the message and discover how this mother is persistent in her faith!
Parenting is not easy under the best of circumstances. Raising children to life is nearly impossible when something "other" stands in opposition to the will of God. This week we look to the restoration of a boy with an unclean spirit (Mark 9:14-29) to discover how to raise a child in a world of evil?
Parenthood is a privilege (and a blessing), because parents are given the opportunity to participate in the life of a child. Parents participate in the life of a child by assuming responsibility for the care, nurture, and development of the child. Parenthood, therefore, has purpose!
From a Christian perspective, there is (still) a greater purpose that goes beyond the care, nurture, and development of a child. Parenthood is more than raising a child through life; rather, parenthood is raising a child to life in Jesus Christ.
Check out this first message in the Parenthood series and discover how the Jairus' faith in Jesus exemplifies how the faith of a parent influences the wellness of a child!
Jesus describes the disciplinary actions to be taken against a member of the community, who is guilt of sin (presently). These actions may seem harsh; and, they may appear to promote exclusivity within the community. In reality, these actions aim to serve the will of God by strengthening the community by discipling the individual believer.
Matthew 18:15-20
Jesus observers Martha as worried and distracted, while Mary has chosen the better part...but, what does this mean for us? How does this story relate to our story?
In this message, we consider the influence of our words on social media and how our daily affairs have become a source of worry and distraction from the one thing that really matters.
After six weeks of considering the influence of our words, we conclude the "Words of Grace" series...but what will our final word be?
Take a few minutes to listen to this final message and consider how the teaching of Jesus "to love our enemy" provides the final word to this extended conversation!
Music by Discover Worship Sung by Jack Hutto Piano Accompaniment by Vicki Jacobi For Hampton United Methodist Church's Worship Service July 3, 2016
Jesus encounters Matthew sitting at a tax booth in Capernaum. He calls out to Matthew, "Follow me!" How does this invitation to discipleship differ from the invitation Jesus extends to the earliest disciples? And, how might this invitation encourage us to speak words of grace to our neighbor expressing their inclusion in the community of faith?
Have a listen to Words of Grace, Part Five and consider how influential are the words we speak to our neighbors!
Our words are powerfully influential. The words we speak to our children are especially influential. Our children hear the words we speak - to them, to our spouses, and to others. Let's be very selective with our words. Let's speak words of grace to our children - words that will bless them and bring them up in the Lord.
Check out "Words of Grace, Part Four" and consider how Jesus' blessing of the little children influences the words we speak to our children!
How we speak to our spouses matters! We should speak lovingly and respectfully to our spouses to that we may convey the grace of God.
In this message, we explore a controversial section of Scripture to determine the influence of the words we speak to our spouses. Have a listen to Words of Grace, Part Three.
All of speak (or think) words no one will hear. Do these words matter?
In part two of our series, we consider the influence of these words spoken in secret. We examine Jesus' sermon on the mount (Mt 6:5-15) and discover Jesus teaches us to place our attention upon God and to pray with purpose. And, we ask how our prayer life functions as the foundation of our speech? Take a moment to listen, and consider how the words we speak in private might influence the words we speak in public!
Words are powerful influencers. Words can be useful for building others up; or, words can be useful for breaking others down. The real power of words is their ability to express the purity of the heart. For this reason, our words can be useful for revealing the grace of God!
The grace of God has been revealed in Jesus Christ. According to your faith, this grace is alive in you. Your heart beats by its power. Why be anything else? Be. You.
The Holy Spirit empowers our proclamation; but also, the Holy Spirit inspires us to overcome our fears and our uncertainties so we can make known the love of God reveal in Jesus Christ.
Listen to this message for Pentecost Sunday on Acts 2:1-21.
Do you hide behind your doubt? Do you use doubt to protect yourself from believing in a false sense of hope?
Take a moment to listen to this week's message and consider if you are finding Behind Locked Doors!
Do you ever get frustrated with the people at your work? Discover why a resurrected Jesus would encourage you to pause and take a deep breath.
John 20:19-23
Discover from our reading of Luke 24:1-12 how an empty tomb promises hope of a double blessing of life!!